Dermalogica Vs Proactiv

Hello Everyone,

Having problems with acne? Feeling self conscious? Everyone deals with acne at least one point in their life, unless they are the few who are lucky. For me, I started having acne problems when I was in middle school going to high school. The annoying place that I would have it is on my forehead. It wouldn't be one or two pimples, it would be a cluster of 5-6 pimples. Also, when I was younger, I love popping them especially when I am bored in class. Gross, I know. Even though people tell me to stop, your fingers are dirty, it's going to make it worse, etc.... I couldn't help it.

I got to a point where I just want them to go away. I heard about Proactiv and I really really want to try it so I paid $19.99 a month for them with a special deal I saw on QVC. This was years ago when it first came out and before it started to get popular.

After using Proactiv for 2 months, I saw my acne clearing up. In 3 months, I was pimple free. This product works for my skin, but I also heard that it may not work for others. After using it for a year, I kinda stopped, and I haven't gotten such bad acne problem since then. I do still get pimples here and there but just not as bad.

Proactiv is a simple system to use. It is just 3 steps- a Renewing cleanser, Revitalizing Toner, and Repairing lotion. I use to think there is nothing else that I would want to use besides Proactiv for my pimples, but after trying out Dermalogica.... wow, it blew me away.

It may look more complicated than it is because there are so many bottles to choose from. I will go into that later in the blog. First, I love the packaging. I ordered this when they had a free giveaway of the bag shown below and in addition a free bottle of the Bedtime for Breakouts. The Bedtime for Breakouts was the main reason I ordered it because I heard so much good things about it.

With a $35 purchase of the travel size kit, I got the two items mentioned above for free.

I will go over the Clean Start kit first. Inside the bag there are 5 products.

This is the back of the bag that has all the products listed.

Inside there is a small booklet about how the company got started and what products they have. Dermalogica Clean Start originated in LA, California and their packaging is either recyclable, photo-degradable, or biodegradable. They also don't do testing on animals.

It comes with a bottle for Wash Off which is a shower gel that helps take on breakout-causing dirt on face, body, back, etc... The spray bottle is something I also enjoy using after I wash my face. It helps control shine and keep breakouts away. All the products do not contain any artificial fragrance or color so it's good for those who are allergic or just don't like products with scents.

The next two products are Moisturizer with Oil Control SPF 15 and Bedtime for Breakouts. The moisturizer help matifies your face so it's not to shiny if you have oily skin. I have normal to oily skin which is why it is a good product for me to use underneath my makeup. The Bedtime for Breakouts is my favorite because that is what helps get rid of your pimples.

If you can only buy one item from this line, it would be the Beditme for Breakouts. Again, my purchase came with one in the travel kit and also I got a regular size bottle for free.

The product is a clear gel and I recommend you to just apply it to the area that is a problem. Don't rub this all over your face. Wash your face and apply this to your pimples before you go to bed. By the next morning, you should see the pimple flatten out against your skin. It doesn't have the bump that you can see even with your makeup on. I have tried it on a pimple that I have on my chin and after 6 hours, I feel like it has gotten better.

Pimples always come in the worse time and by dabbing a little of this the day before definitely will help reduce the appearance of it the next day.

The last product in the kit is the Ready, Set, Scrub. This is sort of like your facial scrub that helps scrub away clogging dead skin cells and controls shine.

All-in-all, I am loving these products. I believe it is more expensive than proactiv which is a CON for me, but Dermalogica did win me over with their packaging and I do feel that their products are more fit for my skin. Not to say that Proactiv did not help me with my acne because it did, I feel Dermalogica Clean Start is better for my skin now.

Acne problems can be a serious issue and can affect a person's confidence level. These two are great treatments for acne, it just depends on how your skin reacts to it. The main active ingredient for all acne products is the salicyclic acid. For Dermalogica, order the travel size so you can try all the products first to see if you like it and go from there.

Have a nice night!
<3 <3 <3

What's in my Bag #2

Hello Everyone,

I haven't done a What's in my Bag blog in a while and a lot of people always wonder what really is in my bag because it's so heavy. I don't personally thing its THAT heavy, but of course, I can see why people feel that way. It is true, that the bigger the bag, the more stuff you are going to carry. Sometimes, I will stuff more things in my bag than it can hold.... to a point where I cannot even close my bag. That is when I know I need to clean it out.

I do feel all the things in my bag are necessities.... but I know it may seem a lot or too much to others, especially my boyfriend. I do try to lessen the load in my bag, however, things just happen to fall back in... maybe there is a ghost who is doing this (I just don't want to admit that it is me). =o)

So, here is my purple leather bag that I got on Hautelook.com. I never owned a real purple leather bag before and it's nice to add some color to an outfit. I love how soft the leather feels.

Inside this bag is full of wonderful things:
My Juicy Couture leather wallet- a definite must have in my bag.

My cute pink makeup bag with my initial on it. This bag holds a lot of goodies.

The goodies I have in here are: floss (a must-have), q-tips (in case my makeup smears), carry-on size lotion, hand sanitizer, MAC lipstick in Lazy Day, NYX lip gloss in frosted beige, cherry carmex, MAC Fulfilled plushglass, MAC Hue, MAC VIVA GLAM 2 Lady Gaga Amplified, MAC Pet Me blush, Hello Kitty roller, Hello Kitty mirror, bobby pins, and LUSH Honey trap lip balm. I know I have a lot of lip products more than anything else, but it gives me options.

Of course, most of you know by now that I collect coupons. If I go shopping I can see what I have to help me save some money. I also carry my iphone charger because I don't like the feeling that my phone is going to run out of power.

I do carry two sets of gum with me because I know people would ask me. As you can see I love the fruity flavors. I carry a roll of doggy bags just in case when I want to walk my dog and she has an accident- BAM! I am prepared. I also have to bring a set of ear phones when I feel like listening to music. My ID badge for work.

See, all of these items are necessities.... I don't know why my bag gets so heavy.....

Another lotion that is great for giving me that summer glow. Then I have another lip balm and of course, my sunglasses.

I also carry a camera with me just in case I want to take some pictures. This is the best camera I have ever used. LUMIX is the way to go for a digital handheld camera.

These items are also important to carry in my bag..... a note pad, pen, and a marker for any quick notes. A spoon.... yes, the spoon is for my yogurt parfait that I eat every morning. The orange is a snack that I like to have just in case I want to munch on something and it is also healthy.

I know.... more lip products.... I just feel again, more options.... As a girl, sometimes you want to put on something different and it's all here.

I can probably take this out of my bag, but I just love the scent.... These are travel sizes and I can see myself using them from time to time. EOS lip balm is also a great product to carry too.... shucks! I guess that's what adds up....

Lastly, my keys and my phone. These are a NEED!

By reviewing what's in my bag, I know I need to take some lip products out. And once I do take those products out, that's when I want to use it the most. It always happens like that.

I wonder what are in other people's bag.....
Have a wonderful night!
<3 <3 <3

Zhong Zi- aka Asian Rice Tamale

Hello Everyone!

Happy Tuesday! The weather is getting so much better in the Bay, starting to feel like summer. It's around the time where my mom would start making rice dumplings called Zhong Zi in Mandarin. Rice dumplings are made for the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This is one of my favorite food in the world, besides the million other ones.

I believe there are two version to this legend of where the origin of the rice dumpling begins. The first version is about a famous well-loved poet named Qu Yuan who drowned himself in the river and people would make rice dumpling to prevent the fish in the river from eating his body. The second legend is about people making rice dumplings to appease a dragon that lived in the river.

There are different ways that people can make Zhong Zi. I have seen sweet and salty ones, rectangular and triangular ones, pork or vegetarian filings, etc... but the main ingredient are the bamboo leaves and glutinous rice. My favorites are the salty ones that are filled with pork, chinese mushrooms, salted duck eggs, peanuts, and dried shrimp. YUM!!!

The day before my dad would tie several strings into a big knot and soak it in water over night. This is use to secure the leaves around the dumplings and to make it easier to boil.

I wish I was there when my mom was making it so I can capture the steps for all of you, but I was at work. After making the zhong zi and tying them together in batches, my dad would bring it outside to the backyard to boil them. It's all setup and ready to go!

When the water starts to boil, drop a knot full and let it cook for 1.5- 2hours.

After it's done, we hang them outside for a bit to let it cool down. Yep, the Asian way--- hanging them on a stick.

The way this is made and folded makes it look very delicate.
Now, we can take a look to make sure it is done on the inside and if it is then it's time to eat!

Once you unfold the bamboo leaves, you can smell the aroma of the pork, mushroom, and peanuts coming out this little triangular dumpling.

And the inside is like a little tasteful surprise.

This tradition has been passed down from my great grandparents to my grandparents and then to my mom. I told my mom that I want to learn how to make this so I can teach my children one day, and hopefully keep the tradition alive.

I know this is ruining my diet plan, but it only happens during certain time of the year so I will cheat a little.... BUT I am still going to run/workout as planned.

<3 <3 <3

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Getting back in shape

Hello Everyone,

Summer is approaching and I want to start getting back in shape. Another reason I am trying to get back in shape is, I am getting older and being healthy is one of my priorities in life. Besides my boyfriend pushing me to start working out, I have been inspired by a picture of Kourtney Kardashian jogging on a beach with a tone ass body. I am sure everyone has their own sort of inspiration and it's good to have that because that is what motivates you to want to do better.

Here is the picture that I look at every time before I start jogging. =)

In addition to running, I would also tone up on the side at the gym (sometimes). I would run 4-5 miles every other day. Eating healthy and regulating your calorie intake will help you lose weight. I find that this part is the hardest for me because I am a foodie and I used to be able to eat anything anytime I want. Now, I can start to feel my metabolism slowing down and I need to start regulating what I eat and how much I eat. I also notice after walking up 10-15 flight of stairs I tend to have shortness of breath(SOB) but now that I am running, it's not that bad.

Why running is good for you:
Strengthen your cardiovascular system- by getting your blood flowing and pumping.
Creates balance- if you decide to jog outdoor (which I do) because there are objects, people and pets that you need to avoid so you need to control your pace at time which strengthen your balance.
Creates endurance
Lose body fat
etc...
All of these are great for your body besides your feet hurting. If you are running on concrete, make sure you are wearing a pair of comfortable running shoes

What I eat on a normal day:
Morning- I would have a yogurt parfait (I know there is sugar) or honey nut cheerios for breakfast with a piece of fruit on the side.

Lunch- salad or fruits. I am trying to substitute a small bag of chips for nuts... but I just love potatoes.... arrggghhh... =o)

Dinner- I tried to take out the carbs but I crave for rice and noodles which I will have sometimes because I don't want to take everything out. Just in moderation. So, dinner will be either rice with a plate of lean meat and veggie or pho.

When you are jogging, wear something comfortable. For me, I usually wear a sports bra with a tank top with running shorts. If it's cold, I will wear a T-shirt on top with running shorts.

I love pink running shorts. It's a must. Run with style!

I hope this inspired some of you too.
See ya!

<3 <3 <3
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Thanks for the support.

Milani Blush and Eyeshadow Collection

Hello Everyone,

Happy June!! My goodness....The weather in San Francisco is crazy this week.... Mr. Sun, I love you, but please make up your mind. I am currently trying out my HD camcorder which I have forever. I find that it is easier to capture any close up images than my Canon 60D camera. I will be using both depending on the setting.

So, I went to Target to pick up some storage items and I decided to stop by the beauty aisle, of course. I heard great reviews about the brand Milani, but i don't think it's getting the publicity that it should. I would consider this as a high-end drugstore store product. Milani is great on all skin color, especially people who have dark skin. The products I want to review are the baked blushes and eye shadows from Milani. Let me say this, "Gorgeous colors!"

I want to start with the two blush colors:
This one is called Berry Amore in 03. It is a peachy coral color with some gold shimmer. One thing to keep in mind is a little goes a long way. The gold adds a glow to your cheeks and that is something we all want during the summer.

Look how pigmented it is with just one swatch.

This one is called Luminoso 05. This one and the one above is kind of similar in color but the Luminoso does not have the chucky gold glitter inside. It does have a gold shimmer to it, but doesn't show up too much on your cheek. In the picture above, I have Milani Luminoso on my cheeks.

I love MAC products, but these are great cheap dupes for MAC shimmer blushes. Trust me.

On to the Milani eye shadows. This is called Bronze Doll in #03.

These eye shadows can be used wet or dry. If you wet your brush and then dip it into the eyeshadow, the color will be more intense and dramatic whereas if you pick up the product with a dry brush, it will give you a different effect. The reason I like these a lot is because you can use one color as two.... one to give a softer effect and you can deepen the color (by wetting the brush) on your outer V to give it the smokey effect. I have been using this for3 days straight and it doesn't seem like I made any dent on the product.

This swatch is straight from the palette (dry) and it's already very pigmented. Just imagine how the color will look like wet.

This color can be use for an everyday look.

The color here looks lighter than the color on my hand.... just to show that it can look different in different lightings.

This color is called Beach Sand in #11. It is a lighter shade of nude which I thought will be great to dab onto the middle of your lid to make your eyes look brighter. It does have shimmer in it so I don't recommend you to put it under the arch of your eyebrows unless you are wearing matte eyeshadows and just want a bit of shimmer on top.

As you can see, it is a bit light. I just love the color.

Moving onto the darker shades. This one is from the newer collection that just came out for Milani Marbleized baked eyeshadow. It is called Fusion #615. Gorgeous color and it looks even better on.
Again, all of these eye shadows can be applied wet or dry.

BAM!! Look at that... it has purple and gold mixed together. Damnnnn! That's Hot!!
Ok, calm down Diana, it ain't that serious.

This is a nice purple color by itself and it is called Aubergine #13. Purple looks great on all eye colors so it's nice to stock up on it.

All of these colors look fantastic on. I am crazy for them now and I have ordered some more colors online because there was a 25% discount on this site called: Cherryculture. I don't think the discount is there anymore, but I am sure there are coupons out there for Milani products.

Happy coupon hunting!

<3 <3 <3