Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Classic Liquid Soap: A Natural, Green Alternative to Makeup Cleansing Oils

I'm not gonna lie; I'm an extremely lazy person.  I simply cannot be bothered when it comes to removing makeup.  Why do we need so much cleansing and wiping?  That's why I find cleansing oils so wonderful.  I can remove a full face of makeup in one easy step.  I mean, think of all the waste in cotton pads and tissues!  Think of your raw, irritated skin!!!  Why put yourself through all of that when a good cleansing oil will take care of everything???

As I mentioned before, cleansing oils are more of an Asian thing.  Although cleansing oils are gaining popularity here in the States, it still tends to be the Asian brands that make them (e.g. Shu Uemura and Shiseido, to name a couple).

You can generally find these at your local Sephora or department store counter, but these brands tend to be a little pricey.  As I write this, a 150 mL (5 oz) bottle of a Shu Uemura cleansing oil is upwards of $31 (USD), and a 450 mL (15-16 oz) bottle is upwards of $67.

If you have an Asian grocery store near you, you may be able to find a more reasonably priced bottle of cleansing oil in their cosmetics aisle.  My last one came from my local Mitsuwa - a 150 mL bottle of cleansing oil from Kracie's Purenavi line ($15).

Now, here's the thing - the main ingredient in most of these cleansing oils is mineral oil.  You can find mineral oil in many cosmetic products, from high end moisturizers to your run-of-the-mill baby oil.  People have used it for ages - it does the job.

But what is it exactly?  The name "mineral oil" sounds like it could be a type of fancy essential oil derived from natural minerals...  Alas, a quick search on the internet will tell you the truth: it's a petroleum by-product.  Yes, "petroleum," as in Vaseline, fossil fuels and crude oil.  "Petroleum," as in it could be harmful to your skin and overall health.

So, what does one who wants to lead a more green and natural lifestyle do?  Run to your local Target, drug store, or health food store, and pick up a bottle of Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Classic Liquid Soap.  You know the one I'm talking about - that plastic bottle of clear, amber-colored liquid with all the crazy writing on the label.

From their website:

Unlike any you’ve ever used. A combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils, creates a unique soap that cleans effectively without being aggressive and produces a velvety-lather that leaves the skin silky-smooth and refreshed.

Completely Biodegradable and Vegetable-Based Made with Certified Fair Trade and Organic Oils Multi-Purpose: 18-in-1 Uses No Synthetic Foaming Agents, Thickeners or Preservatives 100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Cylinder Bottles and Paper Labels Simple, Ecological Formulations Based on Old-World Quality and Expertise #1-Selling Natural Brand of Soaps in North America

INGREDIENTS: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut*, Organic Palm* and Organic Olive* Oils (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Essential Oils**, Citric Acid, Vitamin E * FAIR TRADE Ingredients ** Available in Peppermint, Lavender, Almond, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Rose and Citrus Orange

Sure, you could use a bottle of any regular, natural oil (jojoba, olive, coconut, etc.) to work in and wipe off, but that method tends to leave greasy messes both on your face and in your sink.  Not only is Dr. Bronner's made from organic, natural oils, but it's formulated so that it rinses off clean.

Dr. Bronner's comes in several scents, but my sensitive skin and I prefer the unscented, "Baby Mild" formula (pictured above).

Directions

How do you use it?  Not too different from how you would use a cleansing oil.  Starting with a dry face, put about half a tablespoon or so of the liquid soap in your hand.  Mix in a little bit of water (the soap needs to be diluted for easier use).  Some sudsing is okay.

Apply the soap directly to your face.  Work it in so that you break down all the makeup.  Just be careful not to get any of the soap into your eyes - IT WILL STING.

Once you're confident that you've worked the soap into getting every bit of makeup on your face (takes me about a minute or two), rinse off well with water et voilà!  Your face should be spick-and-span!  Even the waterproof mascara - no sign whatsoever!

(NOTE: In this video, you'll see that I have some black marks on my hands.  I wrote on the back of my hands with a black Sharpie before applying the makeup so that I could tell which cleanser I used on which hand.  If you look carefully, you can see that one says "cleansing oil" and the other "Dr. Bronner's."  I just want to make it clear that the marks are not from leftover makeup.)


The only thing that I've noticed is that Dr. Bronner soaps tend to leave a little bit of a squeaky feeling on your skin.  I think it's a characteristic of using an all natural, oil-based soap rather than it being the result of any sort of residue.  But if you're used to a more slick feeling after washing your face, just follow it up with a quick once-over with your regular, daily cleanser.

How much will a bottle of Dr. Bronner's set you back?  I bought a 32 oz bottle from Target for $16.99.  Go to town!

So You Want to Cook Korean Food

As a Korean American, I find it heartening to see that Korean food is gaining popularity outside of the motherland - especially in the U.S. When I was a kid, I would feel embarrassed trying to describe what I had for dinner. It was a little difficult trying to jump into conversations about meatloaf or spaghetti when all I ever had in my arsenal were rice and banchan (bulgogi or "Korean barbecue" on a good day). It was even more difficult to have my friends over for dinner. A dinner table consisting only of rice and a bunch of vegetables (many of which are pickled or fermented) is rarely pleasing to the average American, let alone the average American kid.

"Cooking Korean Food with Maangchi" is one of my favorite Korean cooking blogs and YouTube channels. Run by a Korean woman who goes by the nickname of "Maangchi," the cooking videos consist of fun, step-by-step instructions on how to cook a variety of Korean dishes, from more popular dishes, like homemade kimchi and bulgogi, to more obscure or lesser known dishes, like hwajeon (sweet flower pancakes) or my personal summertime favorite, kong guksu (cold soy milk noodle soup). Maangchi has that "fun and exciting aunt" vibe, making her videos equally fun and exciting. If you dig deeper into her website and videos, you'll find fun little gems, like her trip around the world visiting and cooking with her YouTube fans.

If you have ever been curious about Korean food, or have wanted to try cooking it but thought it might be out of your league, try spending some time on Maangchi's YouTube channel or website (which also has a crowd-sourced list of Korean grocery stores around the world). You'll be a connoisseur of Korean food in no time!

Cold Soy Milk Noodle Soup


Kimchi

Pretty in Pink Ribbons: Health and Cosmetics

This time last year, I was in South Korea on business.  While there, I had the pleasure of attending the International Women's Film Festival in Seoul, where I watched an eye-opening documentary about cause marketing, called Pink Ribbons, Inc. (2011, Dir. Léa Pool).

From the film's website:

The ubiquitous pink ribbons of breast cancer philanthropy – and the hand-in-hand marketing of brands and products associated with that philanthropy – permeates our culture, providing assurance that we are engaged in a successful battle against this insidious disease. But the campaign obscures the reality and facts of breast cancer – more and more women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and face the same treatment options they did 40 years ago. Yet women are also the most influential market group, buying 80 percent of consumer products and making most major household purchasing decisions. So then who really benefits from the pink ribbon campaigns – the cause or the company? And what if the very companies and products that profit from their association have actually contributed to the problem?

In showing the real story of breast cancer and the lives of those who fight it, Pink Ribbons, Inc. reveals the co-opting of what marketing experts have labeled a "dream cause."

Trailer

Needless to say, my mind was blown after watching this.  That's not to say that I was completely ignorant of the subject matter.  I've been aware of various online databases that list and rate carcinogens in cosmetics for several years now.  I know many (most, I should say) cosmetics and skin care products contain various chemicals that are suspected to be carcinogens (at the time of this writing) and that many of these same cosmetics companies promote breast cancer awareness and research.  The hypocrisy of it all is pretty obvious, but I just never cared enough nor was skeptical enough to connect the dots and put it all together the way this documentary did for me.

It isn't hard to find all natural cosmetics and skin care products these days.  Many companies have jumped on the "natural" and "organic" bandwagons in the last few years (cue buzzword "paraben-free"), making these products more accessible to a wider market.  Walk into any CVS or Target, and you'll find entire shelves in the beauty section devoted to natural products.  Many are still a bit pricier than your run-of-the-mill drugstore brands, but I would say that it's similar to the difference of buying organic vs. non-organic food.  Whether the extra cost is worth it to you financially, and personally, is for you to decide.

Online cosmetics safety databases:

• Cosmeticsinfo.org - "Your source for safety information about cosmetic and personal care products, their ingredients and how they are tested and regulated."
• Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep® - A database that "provides easy-to-navigate safety ratings for tens of thousands of personal care products."

Where you can watch Pink Ribbons, Inc.:

• Netflix
• Buy the DVD
• Download (Canada only)
• Rent for 48 hours (Canada only) 

Jung Saem Mool - My Most Recent YouTube Beauty Tutorial Find

Even though I've been sorely neglecting this blog, I've still been keeping up with makeup and beauty blogs and YouTube channels. I have to admit that my obsession with makeup has relaxed in the last few years, but I still like to keep myself updated with all the new products and goings-on.

I first came across Jung Saem Mool's YouTube Channel through Eat Your Kimchi, a blog devoted to Korean popular culture (K-pop for the most part) and everyday life in South Korea. It wasn't long after I first discovered EYK's website and YouTube channel for myself that I spent an entire evening trying to watch all of their videos and happened to come across an interview they did with these wonderful makeup artists.

Jung Saem Mool is a professional makeup studio in South Korea, run by the makeup artist of the same name. She and her colleagues are makeup artists to most, if not all of the top South Korean celebrities and are responsible for creating many of the iconic looks of your favorite K-pop stars (assuming you're familiar with K-pop).

AND they post tutorials for these looks on their YouTube channel. This isn't a random YouTube beauty guru recreating a particular look for you (not that there's anything wrong with that). You are getting firsthand lessons from the artists who actually created these looks!

All of the videos have English subtitles (some of the older videos have the subtitles in the annotations, so make sure you turn those on) and are pretty easy to follow. Many of the celebrity makeup tutorials go right into the point or color makeup (eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, etc.). Base makeup (foundation, etc.) is a given in these videos, so keep that in mind. The tutorials range from makeup to hair styling to skin care, so they really give us a well-rounded lesson.

I have to warn you: what these women perform is magic, making these videos highly addictive. Granted, these women are professionals, so their skills are light-years ahead of most of ours. You may not have all the tools and makeup that they use to create these looks, but that doesn't mean there's nothing for us to take away here. Regardless of our own skill level and access to certain products, there is a lot that we can learn from watching these masters perform their art.

Jung Saem Mool and Eat Your Kimchi collaborated to recreate Lee Hyori's look for her "Bad Girls" music video.

Lee Hyori's Original Look from the Music Video


Base Makeup, Contouring, Cheeks and Lip


Eyes


Eyelashes

Wow!

To be honest, I thought I deleted this blog a while ago (not too long after the last post, actually). I found it hiding in my Blogger account just the other day, still getting views. 3½ years later, and it's still hanging on.

Many things have happened since then, so I don't know where I'll end up going with this once I pick it up again. But I do want to pick it up again...  Hopefully, you'll see some new posts from me soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hard Candy Back at Walmart!

Remember when, not too long ago, Hard Candy Cosmetics had their massive sale? It seemed like it was the end of the line for the company, but it's back!

Revamped, Hard Candy is back in business with America's favorite(?) mass retailer to provide consumers with affordable (nothing over $10), edgy make-up (just in time for Halloween!).

The products are available in stores and online.

Some Online Discounts

I hate promoting irresponsible consumerism, especially these days. However, here are a few discount codes for those of you who have been planning to purchase from these brands anyway:

Urban Decay
30% Friends & Family Discount (valid through August 20): FNFF1

Korres
30% Discount, courtesy of Musings of a Muse (valid through September 15): MUSE

These discount codes are only valid on their respective websites (i.e. not at Sephora, Ulta, etc.).

Remember, shop smart!

Budget-friendly Beauty: Jojoba Oil

In the last few years or so, I started developing an interest in natural skincare products. I could go on and on about this topic but, to make a long story short, I got on a "natural, chemical-free" products kick and decided that it would be better for my problem skin in the long run.

This led me to start researching various companies and cosmetics lines for products that were deemed "organic" and "natural" and could help my skin become more healthy. I started out with Dr. Hauschka, then moved onto Zia, and, with a smattering of various other products in between, my last major investment was with Lush. While I loved their skincare products, there was a slight problem with my continued use of them: they are expensive. Dr. Hauschka's products average around $40 each, and the small jars of moisturizers I purchased from Lush are both around $30 each. Yes, it may be worth it to spend a little more money for quality products, but it's no good if you don't have much money to begin with.

My last major "organic," "all-natural" purchase was Josie Maran's argan oil, which was literally a $50 (small) bottle of oil. No additives or "infusions"; just plain oil. Speaking as someone with oily skin, you'd think that using oil as a moisturizer would defeat the purpose of maintaining good skin. Seriously, though, it was probably more effective at balancing out my oily skin than a mattifier or something that was oil-free (don't want to really get into a long discussion, but basically the idea that trying to dry out your skin only makes it produce more oil). In the end, I felt like the bottle of argan oil was a worthy purchase, but probably something that I wouldn't get again.

So, what to do? Was it possible for me to get a decent, natural moisturizer without racking up the credit card debt? Yes, and that answer came in the form of jojoba oil.


I first came across the idea of using plain jojoba oil as a moisturizer on Daniel Kern's Acne.org website. According to many sources, including him, jojoba oil is the closest to your skin's natural oils than are other vegetable oils (which are included in most, if not all moisturizers, "all-natural" or otherwise) and is non-comedogenic (i.e. it won't clog your pores). But the best part is that a 4 oz. bottle only costs around $10, and since I only use 3-5 drops at a time, this will probably last me at least a year.

I've been using jojoba oil for a few months now (after having used argan oil for about 6 months), and my skin continues to feel soft and healthy (well, as healthy as it can be, considering...). Also, since I'm using just the oil, there aren't any additives to irritate my skin, which can happen even with many natural skincare products.

If you're looking for a good, inexpensive moisturizer for your skincare routine, I highly recommend grabbing yourself a bottle of jojoba oil. Even if it doesn't agree with your face, its many other uses (body moisturizer, makeup remover, hair care, etc.) will still make it a good investment.

ByLaurenLuke Cosmetics Available Soon at Sephora!!!

It's been quite a "hwile" since I posted anything on this blog. The usual (work, life, etc.) got in the way, and I just sort of put this on the back burner (waaaaaaay back).

I've come back with a post that is actually about a very inspiring story that I've been following for almost a year now. I don't know how many of you are familiar with Lauren Luke (a.k.a. YouTube beauty vlogger Panacea81). If you aren't, here's a little video that'll catch you up to speed:



Not too long ago, this amazing gal started coming out with her own cosmetics line (available online, at bylaurenluke.com). If I'm not mistaken, they only became available for purchase last Fall (November, I think). Well, it's been less than a year and, lo and behold, her fabulous wares will soon be available at the almighty Sephora!

I'll be honest, these kits are a smidge on the pricey side ($32.50 each), but from the reviews I've read, they are well worth the money. I'm not really keen on palettes (I feel limited by them), but I may take the plunge and grab that "My Smokey Classics" palette I've had my eye on.

In any case, if you haven't already, check out Lauren's makeup tutorials on YouTube, and be sure to swatch her products when they become available at a Sephora near you. No one is more deserving of all this success than her!

Urban Decay 30% Discount

It's that time of year! Enter code FNFS9 at checkout, and get 30% off your entire order from Urban Decay.

If you've signed up to receive newsletters from other skincare/cosmetics companies, you probably noticed that many of them are having similar discount events right now. These are tough times for many, so it's that much more important to shop wisely. Of course, not spending your money at all is the best way to save, but these discounts are great for those things that you "just need to have". They come about twice a year (one right around now and another around Fall), so plan wisely!