Hello lovely Pickies 💗

I just wanted to share with you how excited I am to now be part of the Picky Squad!

I haven't been on the app for much longer than a couple months, but I have already benefited A LOT from this amazing community! 

I love to share and learn from everybody! And of course I love all the perks that the amazing Picky Team gives us!

I hope that I am worth of the Picky Squad status, I am trying to learn new skincare-related things every day and I hope I am being helpful 😊

A wonderful day/evening to you all 🥰

Hello, Picky Squad 👋😊

Hello lovelies 🥰 

So a thought got into my head when doing research for my K-Beauty skincare purchase using the wonderful Picky X  Wishtrend promo.

I live in the US and am used to skincare marketed around ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, retinol, etc.

When looking at the K-Beauty skincare products, I saw that they were mostly advertised around ingredients such as Centella asiatica, rice, mugwort, aloe vera, propolis, honey, etc

So, my question for those of you lucky peeps who have had the chance to try both the "western" and "eastern" skincare types is:

Do you think ingredients from one category have overall had more benefits on your skin compared to the other category, or do you think they have similar benefits?

Let me know what you think down below and I would love to learn from you 👇🥰

"Western" vs. "Eastern" skincare ingredients 🤔

Hi lovely Pickies 👋💗

I have been using a makeup brush for years to apply my foundation.

But now I have a multi-step skincare routine so I am wondering if using a beauty blender sponge would be more "gentle" and would help not disrupting my skincare layers? 🤔

Also if it makes the foundation look better on the skin it is a huge plus 😊

What is your experience with beauty blender sponges when it comes to applying makeup after skincare? I would love to know your recommendations 🥰

Beauty blender sponge to keep my skincare "intact" underneath makeup? 🤔

Hi Pickies! 👋💗

I hope you are doing well!

It is getting really cold where I live and I wanted to ask about when to incorporate a facial oil in my routine to really lock that moisture in and prevent transepidermal water loss? 

Should it be before or after my moisturizer?

Also, can I apply makeup on top, or will it prevent the benefits from the facial oil? If so, how long should I wait to apply makeup? 

Thank you all so much for your input 🥰

How to incorporate facial oil when wearing makeup? 🤔

Hello Pickies 👋

I have seen quite a bit of promotions on social media for "tone up" sunscreens with "no white cast".

But to me it seems like all sunscreens from that category do leave a white cast? 🤔 At least what I see as a white cast shows everytime the sunscreen is either swatched on the back of the model's/influencer's hand or on their face.

I don't mind the "tone up" feature, but I would rather purchase sunscreens that do not leave a white cast.

Could you please explain the difference between "tone up" and "white cast"? Is it just marketing or is there really a difference?

Thank you for your help 🥰

Help me understand the difference between "white cast" and "tone up" in sunscreens 🙏

What I didn't like about this product:
You only get 20 g of product, which in my opinion is too little for the price point ($19 at full price)

I received this product for free from Picky and SKIN1004 in exchange for my honest review. 

Claims: Blocks UV rays while simultaneously hydrating the skin. Leaves skin with a moisturized, silky finish. 

Packaging: Retractable balm stick (20 g) 

Color: Baby blue on the stick, turns clear upon contact with the skin 

Scent: Nothing noticeable 

Texture: Velvety balm 

How I use it:
At the last step of my morning routine, I swipe product multiple times on all parts of my body that will be exposed to sunlight. 

Key ingredients:
• Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polysilicone-15, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine - Chemical sunscreen filters
• Synthetic wax - Prevents transepidermal water loss 
• Dimethicone - Skin protectant
• Vitamin E - Anti-aging 
• 3 forms of hyaluronic acid - Hydrating
• Jojoba seed oil - Nourishing 
• 19 plant extracts, including eggplant, centella asiatica, aloe, coffee, turmeric, green tea, and grape - Soothing 
• Glycerin - Moisturizing 

Verdict:
What I liked about this product:
This sunscreen comes in a retractable balm stick format that is very convenient and hygienic to take on the go so that there is no excuse not to reapply sunscreen during the day. The sunscreen has a lovely baby blue color on the stick that goes on clear on the skin. It has a pleasant light balm texture that glides effortlessly on the skin and absorbs quickly without leaving a white cast or feeling sticky or greasy. It also doesn't stain clothes and doesn't transfer onto anything your skin touches. It is very effective at protecting my skin from sun damage when reapplied in appropriate amounts every 2-3 hours throughout the day and is hydrating. It is non-irritating and also fragrance-free, which is a plus for my sensitive skin. 

• As with any BHA, I felt a tingling sensation every time I applied the product on my face, but it fades away within an hour
• As much as I like the recyclable container, I would have liked it to be transparent so that I can easily see how much product I have left

I have used this product 2x a week during my evening routine for the past few weeks on my combination skin to target my enlarged pores and dark sebaceous filaments.

Container: Opaque bottle that is made of recyclable plastic 👍 It also has a seal on the bottle opening to prevent leaks and preserve the freshness of the content 👍👍

Texture: Watery 💧

Color: Transparent 

Scent: None 

Key ingredients:
- 2% salicylic acid (BHA): exfoliant
- 1% Chestnut shell extract 🌰: soothing
-  Sodium salicylate: humectant (hydrating)

How I use it: I apply a few drops in the palm of my hands and gently pat the product on my face until it completely absorbs and my skin is dry. I wait 5 minutes before applying the next product in my routine so that the BHA has the time to act.

Verdict: I was very impressed by the quality of this product! I noticed a reduction in the appearance of my pores and sebaceous filaments within only 1 week of use! It also looks like this product brightens my skin tone, which I was pleasantly surprised to see.

• What I didn't like about this product:
- I have to apply a lot of product to properly moisturize my body
- I would prefer if the product came in of jar instead of a pump bottle

Claims: Seals in moisture to help protect and heal extremely dry and compromised skin 

Container: 400 mL pump opaque bottle 

Color: White 

Texture: Thick cream 

Scent: None 

Key ingredients:
• Mineral oil, isopropyl palmitate, and cetyl palmitate - Moisturizing 
• Propylene glycol - Hydrating 

How I use it: 
I apply a generous amount all over my body and gently massage until fully absorbed. 

Verdict:
• What I liked about this product:
I enjoy the silky and creamy texture of this lotion. It absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves it thoroughly nourished and velvety smooth. This lotion saved my neck when it got irritated due to retinol in a matter of a couple days. It is also extremely affordable: $12 for 400 mL of product which I am sure will last a long time. 

What I didn't like about this product:
- Does not absorb well into the skin
- Leaves a feeling on the skin as if you had just sprayed alcohol on it
- When I wake up in the morning my skin feels oily
- Too much fragrance 
- Only has 2 types of peptides even though thus ingredients is highlighted in the product's name
- Even though this product claims that it contains EGF, it is nowhere to be found in the ingredients list

Claims: Moisturizes, prevents transepidermal water loss, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fines lines, brightening. 

Packaging: The full sized product is a 50 mL jar, but I had a sample that lasted me for 6 uses. 

Texture: Light cream 

Color: White 

Scent: Floral 

Key ingredients:
• Glycerin - Moisturizing 
• Niacinamide - Oil control, pore care, brightening 
• Vitamin E - Anti-aging 
• Panthenol - Skin barrier support 
• Hydrolyzed collagen - Hydrating 
• Green tea extract - Antioxidant, soothing
• 1 type of non-copper peptide - Anti-aging 
• 1 type of copper peptide - Anti-aging 
• 15 types of plant extracts - Soothing 

How I use it:
In the evening, I apply a pea sized amount of product on my fingertip, distribute it into dots all over my face, and gently massage the product into my skin until fully absorbed. 

Verdict:
What I liked about this product:
- Good ingredients list
- Light consistency 
- Moisturizing 
- Dewy finish 

I don't mind the silicon applicator on the tip, but some people might like applying the product with it.

I received this product for free from Picky and SKIN1004 in exchange for my honest review. 

Claims: Nourishes and soothes skin, helps promote a healthy skin barrier, and helps with skin firmness and elasticity. 

Container: 30 g white and golden brown tube 

Texture: Balmy 

Color: White 

Scent: None 

Key ingredients: 
• Centella asiatica extract, cacao extract - Soothing
• Glycerin - Moisturizing
• Niacinamide - Brightening, pore care, oil control 
• Squalane, Shea butter, Macadamia ternifolia seed oil - Nourishing 
• Lactobacillus/Centella asiatica extract ferment filtrate - Brightening 
• Bakuchiol - Antioxidant 
• Panthenol - Skin barrier support 
• Sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed extensin - Hydrating 
• Ceramide NP, phytosphingosine, phytosterols - Skin barrier integrity 
• Madecassic acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic acid - Brightening 
• 1 type of peptide - Anti-aging 

How I use it: After serums, I apply a small amount on my fingertips and distribute the product evenly on my under eye area until fully absorbed 

Verdict:
I was pleasantly surprised by the big 30 mL format and rich, soft texture of this product. The tube packaging makes it easy and clean to apply the eye cream on the skin. The silicon applicator tip is a nice addition. It contains antioxidant, moisturizing, nourishing, and brightening ingredients. This eye cream melts easily on the skin and is quickly absorbed without leaving a greasy or sticky feeling. It leaves the skin nourished and protected from oxidative damage. 




theskinilivein