To take nothing but pictures
To kill nothing but time
To leave nothing but footprints
A change of pace from what I have been posting thus far in 2018. It has actually been almost a year since I last edited non-beauty, travel related photos. I guess I lacked the motivation to share since those posts aren't generally the most viewed on the blog.
An unsaid resolution I had for this site, along with trying to post at least once a week, was to share whatever the heck I wanted regardless of how well or terrible it would be received. I am not an influencer nor monetize from this teeny blog. It is and has always been, first and foremost, a place where I stored my thoughts and memories.
I have done fairly well with the consistency goal (until this month); here goes to shyly greet the ever more personal side of my life (even if I randomly share images from years ago).
RoozenGaarde
15867 Beaver Marsh Rd, Mt Vernon, WA 98273
My family and I visited the Pacific Northwest three years ago to the day. This was a trip of many firsts. It was our first time to Seattle, Vancouver, and nearby cities. It was the first overnight trip we'd taken together in six years. It was the first trip we rented a car and drove around. It was the first trip I had the job of setting some kind of an itinerary.
So much responsibility. So much stress. So many options. So many people's different interests to consider. So many unanticipated meetings and reunions with friends and family. Maybe being ferried around on bus tours wouldn't have been that bad?
The peace and nature that is the Pacific Northwest though, is an environment that is hard to stay stressed in. All the greenery and bright skies are hard to be grumpy in. Of course, Seattle is known to be rainy but it uncharacteristically was not when we visited. I can never imagine living there because of the potential allergy attack I would have to all the pollen but for the brief week or so we were there the lively colors and relaxed lifestyle (when compared to New York City) was a breathe of fresh air.
I wasn't even looking to buy cleanser at the Peach & Lily sample sale. One whiff of the bar soaps spread across the table and my mind was wavering...kind of refreshing, definitely light and fruity. I had never heard of the brand Abib before and bar soaps are very far down on the cleanser wishlist; who knew scent could be such a big trigger?
I have faint memories of asking the person manning the area which of the four types (black, grey, pink, and ivory) she recommended and was told she only tried the black one but liked it. There wasn't much of a description at the time in-person or on the website because they had yet to release the brand officially. Somehow, against my typical shopping habits, found Abib's Facial Soap in Black Brick in my basket and with me at home.
Abib describes itself as a brand "dedicated to perfection and purity" whether in their products or as tools to help one achieve said traits. They seem to focus heavily on high performing ingredients.
Peach & Lily's description:
While minimalistic in its design, there's nothing basic about Abib's Facial Soap Black Brick. Chock full of charcoal, it provides a deep (yet gentle) cleanse eradicating dirt from pores and helping to curb excess sebum production. Hazelnut oil, lemongrass essential oil and witch hazel keep the soap balanced by helping to hydrate, purify, and calm skin. Unlike most soaps, Abib's Facial Soap Brick microfoams to better penetrate pores and helps keep skin healthy.
Directions
1. Unwrap soap.
2. Wet brick and gently work into a lather with your hands.
3. Massage foam over face, hands, and neck (careful to avoid eyes and mouth).
4. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
5. Follow with toner and the rest of your skincare routine.
6. Can be used both morning and evening.
Ingredients
Sodium Stearate, Sodium Laurate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Palmitate, Glycerine, Sorbitol, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Gevuina Avellana Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Peel Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract, Charcoal Powder, Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Powder, Fragrance
Soap 100g / 3.53 oz.
Abib (Korean retail): ₩18,000
Peach & Lily: USD $19.00
StyleKorean: USD $18.00
Packaging
Their packaging is minimalistic. Their products itself also look minimal, as in cleansers are plain blocks of soap and creams come in prescription like tubes and are colorant-free. The same cannot be said for their ingredients list but they try to make it appear so by printing only a carefully select few on the packaging itself. I don't have a major problem with it as long as the full ingredient list is available elsewhere.
All of Abib's Facial Soaps come in a small pouch made of a fibrous, thick paper. There isn't any helpful information on the packaging to describe how the Black Brick would be helpful for a particular skin concern. The ingredients list is super condensed and uses mainly scientific names.
Color, Texture, & Scent
The bar of soap is completely black. The edges of the fresh soap are surprisingly more sharp-feeling than expected. It is smaller than an average body soap in length and width but taller by height. (There doesn't seem to be a big difference quantity-/weight-wise.) Abib's soap feels waxy to the touch and has a fruity scent. The smell can sometimes be overwhelming, especially on days I feel extra sensitive. It generally isn't a big issue for me. The facial soap doesn't create a lot of foam. I only get a smaller lather and a bit of suds when rubbing the bare soap against damp hands.
How I Apply
I use the Black Brick in the PM only after removing my makeup/sunscreen with a cleansing balm or oil. I wet a foaming net and rub the Facial Soap back and forth a few times onto the net. Knead the net together to create foam (like in the above photo). Squeeze all the foam off the net and massage onto my face. Rinse off well with water.
Thoughts & Recommendations
Abib promises the Black Brick to cleanse and purify pores with the charcoal while calming with a bunch of other ingredients. I don't generally put much thought into these kinds of claims because I only need cleansers to remove excess makeup remover residue. With that said, I haven't noticed an improvement or worsening of my clogged pores and redness while using the cleanser either.
The Facial Soap is a nice basic cleanser. It does what a cleanser should do and isn't irritating to use. I did not get a squeaky clean feeling after rinsing nor did my face feel immediately dry. However, the waiting period between cleanser and toner is far shorter than other cleansers I have used in the past. My face starts to feel very parched if I don't apply something hydrating within a few minutes of cleansing. The soap also leaves an unpleasant sudsy/residue-like feel on my hands that I haven't experienced before with facial cleansers.
Bar-style soaps may not be for everyone. There is some maintenance with them in the sense that it should ideally be put away or covered between uses. The bars should also be rinsed and placed on something elevated to help with drying and avoid collection of excess water. I personally think bars work best with a foaming net as the lather without is insufficient.
I think this small bar of soap would last me just as long as a tube of cleanser would. Given the option though, I would not repurchase a bar soap (unless the price was right) purely because of the convenience of other types of cleansers (whether it be a stick, foaming, gel, etc.). I could leave those on the counter and not have to worry about bacteria. If given the option, I probably would not repurchase this particular soap because the residue-issue and how quickly my face starts to dry out. Abib Facial Soap - Black Brick may work better for those with oilier skin or those who don't wait around after cleansing before moving onto the rest of their routines.
This was my first foray into one of Deciem's other brands outside of The Ordinary. It sadly doesn't have the same attractive price tag. I was, instead, captivated by its promise to target the most unnoticeable yet biggest body issue I have: dry, calloused, and tough feet skin. The Chemistry Brand's Heel Chemistry claims to approach the issue without the removal of skin like the beloved foot peels does and in only 2 weeks time to boot. Something about a special active complex that hydrates deep layers of skin to put a stop to the skin hardening cycle?
Deciem's description:
pH 5.00-6.00, alcohol-free, nut-free, vegan, & cruelty-free
Unlike traditional heel creams which focus on removing the hard skin, our 19.5% active complex hydrates the cracked skin topically whilst supporting below surface hydration to avoid the traditional hard skin cycle. Contains a marine complex clinically proven to improve visible skin texture and hydration, while counteracting extreme dryness. This formula contains no urea and no acids.
Heel Chemistry contains an extraordinary 19.5% active ingredients. Our Antarctic Marine Complex increases skin health and moisturization, showing a significant increase of skin hydration of 90% in 14 days. Calendula provides a healing and regeneration effect for both immediate and long-lasting results. Our active complex includes: Pseudoalteromonas Complex, Tremella Fuciformis, Purified Calendula Extract, Hydracool and Maize Propanediol.
Directions
Apply twice a day to dehydrated areas for 14 days. Continue application as needed. Can be used on heels, hands, elbows and other areas suffering from extreme dryness.
Ingredients
AQUA (WATER), PROPANEDIOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, ALANINE, PROLINE, SERINE, TREMELLA FUCIFORMIS SPOROCARP EXTRACT, PSEUDOALTEROMONAS FERMENT EXTRACT, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, TOCOPHEROL, BETAINE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, HYDROXYPROPYLCELLULOSE, CELLULOSE, XANTHAN GUM, MENTHOL, MENTHYL LACTATE, METHYL DIISOPROPYL PROPIONAMIDE, ETHYL MENTHANE CARBOXAMIDE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, CHLORPHENESIN, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), LIMONENE, LINALOOL
Cream 100 ml / 3.3 fl oz
Deciem: USD $15.00
Packaging
Highly flexible, transparent squeeze tube with a flip-top cap—basic but gets the job done and I appreciate that the tube is see-through. A new lotion comes sealed with a security sticker.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
Heel Chemistry is a lightweight cream with a strong minty scent that lingers for a very long time. It is white in color but spreads invisibly. The cream dries to a matte finish but leaves behind a silicone-slipperiness.
The Before and After photos were taken during a 2 week period where I only applied Heel Chemistry on both feet. The picture below that is of a period, maybe a month or so after that 2-week timeframe, where I applied Heel Chemistry to the right foot only and Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion on the left foot only for 2 weeks. Outside of those two 2-week sessions, I did not do anything extra to my soles other than wash with soap and water daily.
How I Apply
Squeeze a generous dollop onto my palms and smooth all over one foot, top and bottom. I apply more and focus on the heels where it is the driest. Repeat for the other foot. Immediately wear socks after to keep the lotion contained.
Repeat above steps twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, for 2 weeks.
Thoughts & Recommendations
I didn't know what to really expect with a "specialized" lotion. I kind of hoped it would work some kind of magic to make my heels look baby soft in 2 weeks. But that is usually a bit of a stretch unless it is an exfoliator. Anywho, I just knew I had a lot of trust in Deciem because of the success I had with a couple of their The Ordinary products. With all that said, I am a bit ambivalent about the Heel Chemistry.
Does it work as claimed in 2 weeks time? Sort of.
Did it make my feet softer? Sure did!
Did my heels look as smooth as the after photo on their packaging box? Not at all.
Does it work better than any other lotion? I am not so sure.
It is really difficult to notice a change in the images. The real difference has to be felt. The parts where my feet skin were thinner (everywhere but the heels) felt soft and showed the only noticeable changes—less ashy and wrinkly. Otherwise, the tough calloused skin barely budged.
I tried using a more accessible and affordable lotion for the same 2-week treatment period, just out of curiosity and found both to work more or less the same. Heck, I think the Cetaphil may have worked a little faster and better.
The Chemistry Brand makes the tube of cream sound like an end-all-be-all product that "stops the hard skin cycle" with just 14 days of use. Perhaps that is why there is so little product in the tube for a foot cream—they think it works so well and is that concentrated. A new tube is also only filled about 60% of the way. Why?! However, to be real here...no effect will last if it isn't consistently applied every day even after those promised 14 days. I know my skin started to feel less soft each day immediately after I stopped using the cream (regardless of the brand).
Then there was the issue I personally had with the scent. I am not a fan of mint and anyone that knows me well can attest to it. If it only lasted for a while like toothpaste, I could handle it. The strength of the minty "fresh" scent is too overbearingly strong and continues to linger long after application.
To no fault of Heel Chemistry, but just a matter of personal preference, I could not find myself getting into the routine of applying lotion on my feet. The two weeks felt like a dreaded chore than something I enjoyed doing to potentially get soft skin. I also hated the fact that I had to wear socks all the time because the lotion made it too slippery to walk on wood floors barefooted (and I imagine tiled flooring would be even worse).
For the results that I had and the active effort it required, I am not going to repurchase this particular product again. Foot peels are messy but I can get better results with having done just one day of "work" (sitting in the exfoliating serum), the rest is a battle with time. Heel Chemistry may be good to help keep exfoliated skin baby soft; for me, it isn't a replacement product like I was hoping for.
