Category: Western Products

Though this is primarily an Asian beauty blog, that doesn’t mean I don’t use–and love–Western cosmetics as well.

  • How to (Safely) Fade a Tan (If That’s What You Want to Do)

    If there were an official AB FAQ, “How do I fade a tan?” would be right near the top, yet it’s one of the easiest to answer (though not to do). To fade a tan, you don’t need products marketed as “whitening.” You’ll need sun protection, progressive exfoliation, melanin inhibition, and a buttload of time and patience.

  • Curology Month 5 Update

    It’s that time again! I finished off another bottle of my Curology anti-aging prescription and am back with an update. Just a quick one this time. No B&As, as I think results are easier to see with a longer wait in between, but definitely some progress to report!

  • Dry Skin Megapost: 3 Great Facial Oils and 3 Ways to Use them

    I’m not really a sucker for tradition (in skincare or anything else), but even I have to admit that when our ancestors weren’t busy smearing mercury-laden blush onto their cheeks or dropping dead from makeup-related lead poisoning, they were doing some things right. Like moisturizing their skin with oils. Facial oils are some of the oldest beauty products around. From  ancient Egypt and…

  • Casual Tuesday: Enter the Acid Toner

    Guys, I’ve added a new step to my skincare routine! And I know you may be wondering, Where do you even have room for a new step? or maybe Do you really need another step? Well, the answer to the second is up for debate, but I wouldn’t be here blogging about it if it hadn’t…

  • Curology Month 3 Update, B&A, + a Chat with My Provider about Tretface Skincare

    Man. Time sure flies when you’re taking your fine lines and sunspots to church with actives so powerful that only licensed medical professionals can provide them. I’m now in my third month on Curology prescription skincare. I’ve gone from 0.012% to 0.02% to 0.05% tretinoin, one bottle at a time (with the first, weakest prescription…

  • Review: Haishen 80 Sea Cucumber Nutritive Fresh Cream

    The product featured in this post was provided for review by BeautyKorea Mall. All opinions and recommendations in this post are my own unless otherwise noted. Learn more about my rules for store partnerships by checking out my sponsorship policy and sponsor list. Being of Taiwanese descent, I will eat just about anything as long as it’s supposed…

  • Curology (formerly PocketDerm) Month 1 Update and Mini-Review

    Holy crap. I can’t believe more than a month has already passed since I received my first shipment of PocketDerm Anti-Aging prescription tretinoin. During that month, I finished off my first prescription, and PocketDerm became Curology, merging the anti-aging and acne offerings into one seamless prescription skincare service. I don’t have progress pictures to share just…

  • Adventures in Prescription Medication
  • My New Favorite Skincare Learning Resource

    Every night when I go to bed, I put on a few podcasts to listen to as I go to sleep. I find it easier to fall asleep when there’s some talk in the background than when it’s too quiet or the background noise is just blank noise such as rain sounds. Usually I listen…

  • Lavender FOTD Take Two; Makeup (and Skincare) as Hobby and Art

    For those who don’t share my passion, it must sound really weird to hear makeup called a hobby or an art. Over the last six months or so, however, those are exactly what the act of applying makeup has become for me. Makeup as art I can’t draw or paint or decorate a house to save…