Top Gel update

It's been exactly one week since I started using Top Gel. So far, the purging action has stopped and I haven't seen any new acne growth. Most of the acne from the initial purging period has disappeared. It seems to have healed faster with regular use of Top Gel. I think this stuff is pretty comparable to Retin-A and Differin-like products. It has the effect of promoting faster cell turnover, so you might flake a bit (I experienced minimal peeling), but not nearly to the extent that the stronger prescription ointments produce. I've been able to use the gel in the corners of my nose, something I could never do with Retin-A because it was such a strong product.

As far as I know, this isn't an FDA approved product, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Today I used my L'Oreal Power Buff and noticed that my skin felt much more sensitive to the microdermabrasion action than usual. I don't know if I should be concerned; I probably have to switch to something gentler. For now, I'll continue to use Top Gel until I'm done with this jar. I don't know if I'd buy another simply because the greasiness bothers me. It doesn't seem to be effective for redness, but it helps acne marks fade faster.

Pros: It's a cheaper and gentler alternative to prescription acne medication. I'd recommend giving this a shot if it's available to you--can't beat $2.

Cons: It's greasy (but it hasn't clogged my pores) and I found it uncomfortable to sleep with my face spackled with the stuff. The smell bothers me a bit (my bf said I smell like Asian medicine, but it smells more like powder to me), and it's difficult to find for some people.

I just started getting into Gossip Girl. Not so into the story lines, but I LOVE the clothes. It's like Devil Wears Prada for me; no substance and all about superficial oggling. And I also love the Serena actress. She has such a fresh-faced look. I wish I could raid their closets! Now to get back to T.V. and Top Ramen. I swear, Top Ramen sounds gross, but when you jazz it up it's yummy.

Top-Gel

After reading Anna's (Beauty Junkie) review on a miracle Asian fade cream, I immediately recognized the cheesy packaging and thought to myself, "That stuff's for your face?" Honestly, I wouldn't have known what it's for, because the package doesn't contain any directions, nor does it list its ingredients. Pretty suspect, no? However, Anna's gorgeous glowy skin had me sold. I went looking for Top-Gel today.

Nothing fancy, and at $2 it's not a bad deal. I found this at my local Wing Hop Fung (I mistakenly called it Tak Shing Hong on Anna's comments section). The product is incredibly dense. It's not like a lotion at all... more like a really thick cream blush? But not nearly as greasy. In fact, it doesn't feel greasy at all. It also leaves your face Casper white, so you might want to keep this baby for your nighttime routine. There's also a powdery smelling fragrance that sort of reminds me of old lady, but that's not bad enough to stop me from using it. Of course, I don't have any idea if this will work for me, but I'll update in a week or so. I'm having a mini breakout, so I'm hoping this will clear things up along with whatever scarring I already have.

On another note, my Shu Uemura drawing pencil smudged on me today. How?! I wasn't exactly involved in any rigorous activity; yet, I was left walking around with blackened eyes, not even realizing it--how embarassing. Don't think I'll be buying this again. I'll stick to fluidline, thankyouverymuch.

I took the car out for a spin for the first time today. Definitely an upgrade.

Outlet finds

So I'm back in L.A. again. YAY! Every trip back/from home I always pass by the Camarillo Premium Outlets. Of course, that means that nearly every trip my wallet feels a bit lighter and I have something new. Today I actually didn't find anything worth buying at the CCO, but I'm never one to leave a shopping center empty-handed, so I wandered into the Designer Fragrance & Cosmetics Company Store. This is a completely different shop, because they carry Lancome, Shu Uemura, Giorgio Armani... No MAC! That's fine, since I've been meaning to find some more Shu and some less MAC. Here are my buys:

I chose three Shu single eyeshadows in IR Pink 100, P Green 500, and ME Gold 340 at $5 each (originally $19). The three nail varnishes (1 Lancome and 2 Shus) were priced at 3 for $10, so that's about $3.33 each (the retail prices were around $20 each). And the Shu Depsea lip conditioner was just $5 (originally $16.50). So I just paid $30 for some really expensive shit.

I've gotta say, I LOVE the eyeshadows. They're so soft and super blendable as well as being well pigmented. MAC shadow quality pales in comparison. I just hope that store continues to have the clearance sale on my way back... lol. The lip conditioner is extremely thick--I had a little battle with squeezing it out of the tube. It's kind of like squeezing regular chapstick out. At $5 I'd totally buy more! I might even stock up. :p