Dedicated Posts

We are all too familiar with winter skin woes, but now it’s finally spring and the warmer weather and milder conditions mean we don’t have to worry too much about our skincare anymore, right? Sadly, wrong. As it turns out spring (allergy season anyone??!) brings with it its own set of skin challenges — but don’t worry, we’ve outlined a few must-do’s so your skin can be as happy as you are this season.

1. Exfoliate more. Wintery conditions make skin dull and sallow, so make sure to exfoliate during this transition period to unveil soft, radiant skin. However, it’s important to make sure you don’t overdo it — be sure to use an extra gentle product that won’t hurt your skin. We love the Simple’s Skincare Smoothing Facial Scrub, which is formulated with hypoallergenic rice granules and is effective at removing surface dead cells without causing pain or irritation. (more…)

Longtime readers of this blog will know that the product which first turned me onto Simple Skincare is their Cleansing Facial Wipes, a product that I’d been hoarding ever since I first came across it in 2008, long before I was a Simple brand ambassador. Given my longstanding love affair with the wipes, I was particularly excited (maybe a little too much so) to get my hands on three more wipes that Simple has added to their collection. Below, I review one of my favorite new products from Simple, their newly launched Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes.

When I tried the Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes, I thought that they must’ve been made just for me! I have combination/oily skin and these wipes are so great for refreshing mid-day and really keeping that oil production in check, without drying skin out or accentuating the few dry patches I have. I always start developing a film of shine by early afternoon, which incidentally, is also around the time when my makeup starts to feel a little messy. A simple (haha, no pun intended) swipe of the Oil Balancing Wipes across my T-Zone and cheeks helps to remove any makeup that’s strayed and refresh my skin for the second half of the day. I simply wipe, reapply a bit of BB Cream and blush and am back on my merry way.

The Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes contain Zinc PCA, which is effective as a sebum inhibitor and keeps my oil production in check and reducing the buildup of dead skin cells. Incidentally Zinc PCA is also an antibacterial and is known to fight odors. I don’t really think my face is secreting anything offensive smelling, but it’s also good to know that the ingredient also fights bacteria that could come into contact with skin. I find that after using the wipes as a mid day refresher, shine and greasiness is controlled for the remainder of the day so I don’t have to worry about it again later in the afternoon. I still keep the Cleansing Facial Wipes by my bed for evenings, but the Oil Balancing Wipes have made its way into my handbag for every day use!

This post was created in partnership with Simple Skincare. 

Usually getting me to finish a skincare regime to the bottom of the bottle is pretty challenging, but when it came to Olay’s Pro-X Even Skin Tone Protocol, I found myself loving the products so much that it wasn’t too hard to stick with it for the entire month. To recap, about a month ago, Olay approached me to give their new products a whirl, and report back — honestly — how I enjoyed using them. And since skin discoloration is one of my biggest concerns, it wasn’t too hard to get me to say “yes” to the challenge. Olay’s approach to this issue isn’t just attacking skin with aggressive bleaching ingredients, but rather, addressing the problem in a 360 degree approach, by taking into consideration factors that contribute to hyper-pigmentation  including improper sun protection, lack of hydration, surface free radicals, and a weak skin barrier. As such, the Pro-X Even line of products is more of a wholesome skincare regimen that is designed to be used long term.

I thought I would approach this review in a bit of a different way, by ranking the different products in the kit from my most to least favorite. as well as benchmarking each product against two of the product claims: brightening and lightening. This way, readers who are curious about the products can figure out which ones to try first. (more…)

If there is one big takeaway that I’ve learned from working with Simple Skincare for the past year, it is that taking care of your skin requires a multi-faceted approach. The great thing about Simple Skincare is that — yes, the products themselves are kind to skin — but the brand also encourages users to look beyond creams and toners and approach skincare holistically.

Thus the brand has set up the Simple Advisory Board, featuring a dermatologist, nutritionist, psychiatrist, makeup artist and fitness expert. I can only dream of having my own personal advisory board composed of such experts, so I’ve been paying close attention to all the advice that the Simple team has been dispensing. Check out the super cute video above where skincare darling Allison Williams introduces the Simple Advisory Board, and logon to Facebook to get to some great tips. (One of my favorites that I’m already incorporating into my routine? Apply makeup with upward strokes – that great tip comes from Simple Advisory Board makeup artist Gita Bass).

This post was created as part of my partnership with Simple Skincare. 

Just credit my Asian genes, but every time I see new products that claim to fade dark spots, even skin tone, or brighten complexion, I just must get my hands on them. Many say that us Asians are lucky because we are less likely to wrinkle as we age (up to a certain point, of course) thanks to genetics that give us larger oil glands that keep our skin more supple (I guess that’s a nice way to put it). On the flip side, we do have to worry (a lot) about developing age spots and skin tone discoloration. Actually  scratch out the “age” in “age spots.” I’ve been battling discoloration on my legs since I scratched too hard at mosquito bites one summer when I was 12. The sad truth is, I (and my fellow Asian sisters and brothers) are more susceptible to hyperpigmentation and melasma — which brings me back to my original point: I love trying out a good product that promises to even skin tone, fade dark spots, and most importantly, prevent them from forming in the first place. (more…)

As a brand ambassador for Simple Skincare for the past year, I’ve really grown to love the products. They are effective yet very gentle on the skin and many of them (such as the Cleansing Facial Wipes I live by!) have made their way into my daily routine, travel luggage, and gift bags for friends. Having talked about these products for so long, I really wanted to give readers the opportunity to try them as well – on TDO – so we’re hosting our first Simple giveaway (directions below).
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As you know, I’ve been trying out Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture Lotion for the past few weeks and the timing could not have been better! As soon as I received the products, the temperature in New York took a major dip, resulting in tight, itchy skin and extra chapped elbows and heels. Since Vaseline Intensive Moisture Lotion promises to relieve dryness in only one use and actually help heals skin from after just three uses, needless to say, it was a very welcome addition to my beauty routine.

For the past few weeks, I applied the product daily – mostly after showering in the morning (and before venturing out into the cold) and whenever a particularly dry spot needed some extra TLC. The non-greasy finish and scentless formulation made it super easy to use – I never had to worry about it getting on clothes or skin or causing any kind of irritation. Plus, the product spreads well so it’s easy to moisturize my entire body quickly and effectively. Shortly after embarking on the Winter Skin Challenge, I stopped noticing my skin completely – as in no more itchiness, no more tightness or dryness that caused me to feel uncomfortable in my own skin.

This week, I took the challenge to a new level when I decided to venture out and go ice skating for the first time (ever!). Since its been fairly cold and windy all week, I took extra care to apply the lotion everywhere but especially on my hands and arms because they would be exposed to the elements. Plus, as a first timer, you bet I’d be gripping the side rails the entire time! Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture Lotion helped keep my skin feeling comfortable and moisturized the entire time so I could focus all my energy on staying upright instead of being uncomfortable – a savior for dry skin and novice skaters.

We’ve teamed up with Vaseline to give away five sets of a 10oz. bottle of Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Lotion and a 7.5oz jar of the classic Vaseline Petroleum Jelly so you too can feel comfortable as you go about your winter activities. Entering is easy:

- Simply tweet to us at @TDailyObsession and to @VaselineBrand telling us your favorite winter activity and the hastag #Vaseline. We’ll be picking winners on Friday January 18!

One of the nicest things about being a Simple Skincare Ambassador is constantly being introduced to (and inspired by!) empowered women who are really making a positive difference in their communities. By partnering with the MAKERS program, Simple provides these women with funding to further the work they are doing, whether its foster youth advocacy or fighting against human trafficking.

In the past such trailblazing women such as Sheryl Sandberg, Hillary Clinton, and Diane von Furstenberg have all been celebrated by the MAKERS program. But what is really inspiring is the new crop of women that are now being recognized and honored as a Next MAKER. We wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to introduce you to one of the Next MAKERS, Olivia Joy Stinson, a 19-year-old who is the founder of Pen Pals Book Club For Children of Incarcerated Parents. Click through to watch the video and be inspired (honestly she has an amazing story!!!)

Even though (I feel like) I know all the beauty and wellness rules, there are things that I know I can do better. So here are my four resolutions for a healthier, happier, and more beautiful New Year.

1. Drink more water — just starting with the basics here. Yes I know that I should drink plenty of water every day, but I’m totally guilty of reaching for coffee or (even worse) diet soda throughout the day (thanks –but no thanks — to free office beverages.) For 2013, I’m going to try to limit the coffee consumption to just one a day and reach for good ol’ ice water – or plain seltzer when I need to get a bubbly fix. After all, drinking water is one of the best things you can do for your skin (and health!)

2. Wash my face at night, every night. Even though I’m a huge fan of Simple’s Cleansing Wipes, I’m going to try to limit my usage of them to just touch ups throughout the day, rather than relying on them as my entire pre-bed routine at night. Instead, I’m going to give my face the proper cleansing and conditioning it deserves with Simple’s Moisturizing Facial Wash. And I’m also going to try a new tip that I recently learned – to take off all my makeup the second we’re home to minimize the risk of “being too tired” later on.

3. Find my next workout “obsession.” Throughout my life, I’ve had different workout obsessions whether it’s yoga, or running, or a 6 month period when I went spinning almost every day. Next year, I’d love to try something new and find something that I’m excited enough by to stick with – at least for long enough to see results. Taking recommendations for workout suggestions now!

4. Get into the habit of using an eye cream. I’ve never been completely committed to using eye cream, but I’ve noticed that the skin around my eyes could really use a little extra TLC. I’m going to start incorporating Simple’s Soothing Eye Balm regularly into my beauty routine to help keep the super sensitive skin moisturized and cared for.

What are your New Year’s Beauty resolutions? See you in 2013!

It’s been really great to end the year with the Meaningful Beauty partnership — not only has it introduced me to a fabulous line of skincare, but it also encouraged me to explore beauty in ways that I otherwise might have been too busy to think about. Things like consciously buying healthy and fresh food, spending more time being active outdoors, surprising friends and family with extra holiday gifts, incorporating more fresh juice into my diet, etc. — all activities I’ll make an effort to continue into the New Year! This week, post a very indulgent holiday, I’m starting on my 2013 Beauty Resolution early, and trying out some different work out classes to find one that I’ll love enough to stick to for a significant amount of time. Any reader recommendations are welcome!

I hope you all had a very meaningful holiday as well! And remember to share your 2013 Beauty resolutions on our Facebook page to enter to win a Meaningful Beauty kit of your own. For full contest rules, click here!