Pen Pretty

Back to my SK-II favorites

As you all know I went on a mission to see how well SK-II worked a year-and-a-half ago, and last fall, I ventured off it for a few months testing natural brands like Arcona. Well dear readers, I am happy to report, I am back to SK-II again and my skin is more than happy about it. While on the other stuff, I had weird irritation issues and ugly bumps, and now that I am back on the Facial Treatment Essence and Serum, my skin is calm and smooth again. But if you are reading this but dreading the effect SK-II will have on your wallet, let me give you a little shortcut. These are the MUSTS in the line that you need to get. You can pretty much skip the cleansers and do the masks once a month (if you can afford it), but get these items for everyday:

1. Facial Treatment Essence 

2. Facial Treatment Serum (night)

3. Facial Treatment Milk (day)

If you must pick one of the two moisturizers mentioned above, get the Serum and use a less expensive moisturizer you like on top. And my last tip? For god's sakes buy them from Bon Bon Cosmetics.

Even though Bon Bon is out of the country and it takes a little while to get it, you save nearly half price and it comes from Japan where SK-II originated. Who cares if the writing on it is in Japanese. It's the real thing baby! My hubby got me some stuff when he was on a business trip in Taiwan (where Bon Bon is I believe) and it was the real thing from Japan as well. 

Unless SK-II goes under, I will never stop using these 3 products again. SK-II, my skin missed you!!

 

 

 

Countdown to NUDE's Anticipated Antiaging Serum

In September, Nude Skincare (one of my favorite organic skincare lines) is releasing their much anticipated Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum. In typical NUDE fashion, this serum pulls from natural botanicals to help smooth fine lines and improve texture at the cellular level using bioactive peptides, hyaluronic acid, japanese sea kelp, and their own probiotic technology which are "sourced from milk, fruit, nut and plant extracts." In addition to SK-II this is the one of the few brands I also use on my skin, especially the Facial Cleansing Oil and the Facial Cleansing Wash. I have been one of the lucky few who have been given the chance to try this serum before it launches and I can hardly wait to get my bottle in the mail! I will be reporting my results directly to the fabulous folks at NUDE, which will be so exciting to speak with them personally. I once interviewed their founder when I was an editor at Sephora and he was so inspirational to me. I truly am impressed with how far he has taken organic, and truly natural, skincare. This new serum, 10 years in the making, I am sure will not disappoint. I'll keep you posted on the results!

-j

Six Weeks And POOF! It's Summertime :)

  Filoli Garden taken May 2010

The last six weeks of my life has been a whirlwind of job-hunting, house hunting, and soul searching. You know things are changing in your life when you suddenly start swapping your Allure subscriptions for Natural Health magazines, and trading your weekly gossip rag (In Touch) for Sunset magazine. All of a sudden, the type of house we want to buy (Eichler = Modern/Simplistic) is dictating my entire lifestyle, and being home more is truly an indulgent luxury that I am lucky enough to be able to do (Stay-cations, woohoo!).

My cooking skills have launched me into an obsessive state of dietary rebirth - digging into Nina Planck's work of genius "Real Food" which has completely changed my entire view of eating. My new part time job working for my beloved acupuncturist Rick Bernard, has been so rewarding and I come home smiling after working my two-day-a-week gig there. With the help of my brilliant BFF (and PR rockstar) Amy, he has successfully rolled out a new beauty-related therapy at his practice that treats wrinkles the natural way with acupuncture needles (more on this later). It's an all-natural alternative to Botox, and after 10-12 treatments, the smoothing results can last up to 10 years. Amazing.

I am proud to say, my SK-II skincare regimen is the only thing left that touches my body that's got less-than-desirable preservatives and chemicals in it. I have reduced it down to just the Facial Treatment Essence, and am now doing more LED light therapy to keep my skin glowing. This is going to be a great summer and I can't wait to pen all the pretty little details ;)

-j

My SK-II Review: Results At The 10-Month Mark

It's been a while since I have posted about my results with SK-II, and to be honest, I have been diligently following my regimen religiously so there hasn't been much to say. Well, of course, there is the fact that I cannot go a day without it, and I absolutely contribute my smooth, foundation-free skin to it completely. So far, this is what I am using in my regimen:

AM:

A Hot-Towel (using filtered water) pressed on my face first thing

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C Serum (or the Milk, if I am really dry)

SK-II Facial Treatment UV Serum

PM:

Facial Treatment Cleansing Gel 

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Signs Treatment Totality

Once A Week:

Facial Treatment Mask or the Whitening Mask

Believe it or not, the only thing I have had to replenish is my Facial Treatment Essence - I am on my 2nd bottle for the year now. My hubby got an awesome deal on a business trip to Taipei and got me another large size bottle with a small size bottle GWP for $114!  (That's about $280+tax here in the US). Check out the loot. (Thanks, babe!)

If you are reading this and want to buy just one thing from SK-II to try - invest in the Facial Treatment Essence. That is by far the product I have gotten the best results from. It is truly my key beauty must-have. The Masks are also amazing if you can afford to do it weekly, but  you will still see results with the Essence.

I noticed real results at about 8-months, when I realized I no longer needed foundation or powder anymore. In this photo, literally all I have on is blush, lip gloss, and mascara. That's it! I swiped some mascara on my brows to touch them up a bit, but basically, there is no foundation or powder on this face - WOOHOO!!!

In a nutshell, SK-II is my forever skincare routine. It has literally stopped my skin from aging. I just turned 39 in March and I still get carded or told I look 10 years younger. Seriously, I will FREAK if they ever pull this stuff from the shelves. I will even travel to Asia to restock if I have to. The best part is it's so simple: wash, splash, moisturize - that's it!

In 2 months it will have been a year of using this stuff and I will definitely post an update when it comes up!

-j

Ahh, the first day in April...time to re-group!

Phew! Last week was a whirlwind meeting friends, cooking, yoga and shopping without any need to rush things. These last couple of months have been absolutely heavenly, and while I know it won't last, I am definitely taking advantage of this indulgent time.

So for the April kick-off blog, I just want to put down in my Pen Pretty Journal all the things I am obsessed with during this heavenly hiatus. My plan is to make sure all these new things I have learned will stick in my next working life, since it's already a part of my life now. It's all about consistency, people! It's a true lesson in committing to something and sticking to it. You can talk all you want, but it's what you do that really counts.

DAILY YOGA:

Whether it's 20 minutes or an hour, I cannot get enough of Yoga Download. They have an amazing range of classes that fits into my schedule and I cannot go a day without it. My favorite classes are Yoga For Back Pain, Yoga For Weight Loss, and Hot Yoga. Yeah, you heard it here. You know those Bikram classes you pay and arm and a leg for? You can do it at home with a space heater and a small room. Amazing! They've just boosted their library of Slideshow classes which I highly recommend so you can see each pose right on your computer screen. I pay $87 a year to have unlimited classes and it's SO worth it.

COOK, EVERYDAY

It's amazing what happens when you start making your own food. Suddenly, things like boxed sugar cereals and sodas are taboo, while using your own ingredients puts you in more control over your weight, mood swings, and everything else sugar and preservatives adds to our unhealthy lifestyles. I've been fortunate to be able to cook all 3 meals daily because I have time, but even when I jump back into my writing career again, I will always be sure to (at least) make dinners, and my own homemade oatmeal to take to work for breakfast! Last night I made a chicken and saffron rice dish in my Le Creuset french oven and the flavors were so different compared to if you had bought the whole dish frozen. Oh, and don't even get me started on cupcakes. I am obsessed. The picture in this post is my inspiration for my next batch - how cute is that??? Cupcakes in a jar. Adorable.

LET'S SPA IT OUT, BITCH

Ok, that's a bit harsh but like the famous words of Ari Gold in Entourage, nothing says love like a good hug-out session, or for the beauty obsessed like myself, a daily pampering session. Whether it's in the morning or night, I am either doing a mask or light therapy session with my Tanda to keep my face perfect and line-free. Since I have a stash of goodies from my last beauty writing gig, I have been doing everything from peels, to scrubs, to my SK-II masks, and even whitening therapies to banish dark spots on my face. And even if you don't have the goods, you can still get a good facial in with steaming hot towels, an apricot scrub, and a hydrating yogurt mask straight from your kitchen.  If you have an hour, break it up like this:

20 minutes: cardio

20 minutes: yoga

20 minutes: facial

...and you're done! This way, you get it all out of the way in an hour and your beauty & soul are fed - with the glow to prove it! And vary it up a bit. I've been known to do weights with a mask on to make up for time!

LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD:

One thing this hiatus has taught me is that I have a lot of shit. And I mean A LOT! Right now, my husband and I have the guest bedroom stuffed to the gills with crap that needs to be filtered through and even dumped. It just nauseates me when I see that I have 10 black dresses and 20 pairs of jeans when I only wear maybe one or two out of the whole lot! Anyway, this month I will be putting one thing up on eBay everyday and whatever I don't sell goes to charity. After that, I will make it a point to put something up on eBay that I am not using once a week to keep the rotation (and eventual reduction) of junk moving. Now, before I go out and buy it, I make sure to see if I have it first. Try it. You'll be amazed at what you find. And hey, we could all use a little extra cash. Why not let go of that meaningless vase Aunt Vera bought you so you can get something you really want!

-j

Kicking Off The New Year With A Facial

On Jan 1st, I woke up with the realization that 40 is just around the corner. Even though I've been told I look more like 28 instead of 38, I am still paranoid about those old-age wrinkles coming to torture me sometime soon. I had my last SK-II Facial on Dec. 24 where the aesthetician said my skin has improved in "texture" according to their fancy face-evaluating machine. I can tell she's right, and will post pics later for my 6-month mark follow up so you can see. I bought another big bottle of the Essence and I am realizing that it's really the true secret to my super-clear skin. I cannot live without it. I have been alternating it with SK-II's Signs Moisturizer and C Serum. Anyway, here are the other beauty staples I am sticking to this year on a regular basis, which were also all the things I used for my New Years Day morning ritual. That took about 2-hours. I can see this being an every weekend treat!:

Weekly Masks with either SK-II or Korres' Thyme & Honey (my pores literally disappear):

 

 
Weekly Treatments with my Tanda light-therapy device. It keeps my skin glowing. I use this right before I apply my SK-II Essence:

 

Daily use of my Clarisonic so my treatments actually "sink in." Used this first thing before applying ANY product:

 
 

A full face and body splash with Shiseido's Eudermine water. It leaves the perfect amount of moisture all over without the thick greasiness of a lotion. It literally goes on like an after-shave splash. It's also scented with the smell of rain-washed Peonies so you can literally skip perfume if you want. It smells so pretty. I love it!

 
 

My Christmas Wishlist/Gift Idea #3: SK-II Skincare! (Of Course)

Since I've got my facial at Saks coming up, I've been thinking about what SK-II products I need to stock up on for the New Year. I am definitely out of the Essence, which I will probably get (YAY! Love my holy water), but right now, if you spend $325, you get a full size Repair C free. It's a great deal because it's a $150 value, something I use everyday, and one of the BEST products in the SK-II line IMO.  If you are looking to give an SK-II gift, go for Cate Blanchett's Essentials Collection. It's a great deal, and comes in a gorgeous box which I still use to put all my SK-II essentials in. It's the perfect starter kit for someone you know who wants to start an SK-II regimen.

SO, for my SK-II wish list, these are the items I still have yet to try: 

SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser 

Because I still love a soapy kind of clean even though my SK-II rep says I have dry skin and should steer clear.

 

SK-II Whitening Source Skin Brightener

Not sure what's going on with their Brightening line in the U.S. but it has seriously diminished in the last couple of months. There are literally only 3 Whitening items now, this Skin Brightener, the Whitening Masks, and the Whitening Source Clear Lotion.
 

  

My Christmas Wishlist/Gift Idea #2: Mike & Chris Leather Jacket

I know I am a little behind in the times with this one, but here's my dilemma, I am torn about buying leather. That's really what's held me back from buying one. I am really trying to stop buying leather or anything Made In China. Good luck with that, right? Anyway, I have been a huge fan of Mike & Chris for a couple of years now and their leather jackets are stellar. From the cut, to the detail, and the unique designs - you can almost spot one right away if you're a die hard like me. Even their knit pieces are amazing. Slouchy, loungy, urban, yet definitely not your basic hoodie brand. I am lusting over this 80s revival gray one called "Maurice" at Saks, coincidentally, my one-stop-shop for all my SKII supplies! (Oh no, I am in trouble). SO, while this is definitely a gift from a guy to a girl, or a gift for yourself, it's definitely an uber chic way of saying "they or you" are appreciated ;)

-j

Fifteen Days Till Christmas, 15 Wishes/Gift Ideas For The Next 15 Days & An Unusual Find For My SK-II Arsenal

 
 

Phew, I have just finished shopping for all my gifts and now I am looking forward to wishing for things that I "hope" I will get this year :) I am also loving bundling up at home in this cold weather, and looking back on the many amazing things that happened to me this year. Oh, I am also looking forward to wrapping gifts, which strangely, I love to do! But I do have one sad note about Christmas this year, not getting to spend it with my beloved Bulldog Mugzy who died October of last year. Here's a pic of him by our fireplace. My first wish? That my baby Mugz is in Doggie Heaven :)

I re-scheduled my SK-II facial for next Tuesday and now planning what I'm gonna need to get. I am nearly finished with my small bottle of Essence, so I may need to get some more. I did find something at my local Sur La Table while Christmas shopping for my mother-in-law, the perfect sized funnel to transfer Essence from big bottle to little bottle for traveling purposes. It's obviously made for the kitchen but whatever works, right? It doesn't fit perfectly but at least this way, I get most of it in the bottle!

-j

 

Pen Pretty Reviews: SK-II Facial Treatment Milk

 
 

Ok, I never thought this would happen, but I am not loving SK-II's Facial Treatment Milk. It's supposed to regulate moisture on the skin without being too heavy, and it does just that, but it leaves this shiny film on my face that is NOT attractive. Lately, I have been mixing it with the UV Serum as a daytime moisturizer and dulling down the shine with a dusting of face powder after it dries. 

This isn't an item in the U.S. SK-II line, so some of you may not have even seen it, but I got mine on eBay for a steal and I am glad I didn't pay full price for it. For the mean time I will continue using it as a daytime moisturizer, and I do like that it has Pitera in it. This is definitely for oilier skins or if you don't want heavy moisture, like in the summertime. It's very light and almost watery, I do love that part of it because it's refreshing on a hot day.

If you're ok having a shiny layer on your face (hey, some people might think it's a 'glow'), then this Treatment Milk should work for you. It definitely was light and hydrating, i'm just not digging the shiny after effects. Definitely don't want my moisturizers to work like Armor All.

My 3rd facial is next week and I can hardly wait. Winter is upon us here, so I definitely will be looking for some serious hydrating and soothing benefits. Till then, my Whitening Masks and Signs Treatment Totality (RIP) is keeping my skin looking amazing. Next month will be my next 3-month mark update! Stay tuned for the pics! (Groans from me)

-j