Tatcha body butter, dry skin savior

Much of my taste has changed over the years, but Tatcha's Indigo Soothing Body Butter has staunchly remained my favorite body moisturizer. To illustrate: I sang its praises in this 2014 blog post; I've switched partners since but my current boyfriend also refers to it as "the nice stuff" and thinks of it as special occasion lotion.

My body is oddly attuned to the seasons, and its first indication that Winter is Coming™ is a bout of rash on the back of my thighs. Out of the moisturizers I've used, this Tatcha one remains not only the most luxurious but also the only one that keeps those pesky spots at bay. Do I wish my legs would quit being so high maintenance? Of course I do. But every winter I give Cetaphil a whirl and my body mocks me with an outbreak. At some point one just has to concede and give it what it wants.

The body butter got a facelift sometime last year and went from a dark purple jar to a blue that better matches its contents. The cream itself also became lighter in color, though its function remained the same. It has the signature scent that accompanies the Indigo collection (which I like) and melts into skin on application. I love applying skincare on my face, but usually find moisturizing the body a slog (too much surface area). The Tatcha experience makes it more palatable.

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Body Butter is $48 and available at these retailers:
Tatcha
Violet Grey

Butterfly Makeup Tutorial Inspired by Lisa Eldridge

Two events inspired today's post: 1) Suffering from an unexplained case of milia and breakouts and need a pick-me-up, 2) Watched Lisa Eldridge's butterfly makeup tutorial. I happened to have similar products at home to recreate the look, so here we go.

I briefly considered cleaning the pans up before taking this photo, but that's just not how real life looks.
Items: Addiction Brown Toast Cheek Mix, Addiction Mustard Tree Eyeshadow (see here for swatches), Chanel Rose Initiate Blush, Shu Uemura Brow:Sword, Tatcha Cherry Blossom Lip Pencil, Tatcha Cherry Blossom Lip Balm, Suqqu Blending Brush, Shu Uemura 8HR

I apologize in advance since most of the items pictured above are limited edition or discontinued, but I'm sure it's not too difficult to find similar shades in the current beauty ecosystem. Case in point: a casual Sephora browse led me to this Natasha Denona palette, which pretty much has all the shades one might need. Other than the yellow shadow, you could also probably search your stash for a blush or bronzer that might fit the bill.



I followed Lisa's tutorial pretty closely. First, I used Addiction Mustard Tree all over my eyelids, washing it out past the crease. I also placed it on my lower lash line. Then, I applied the orange part of Brown Toast Cheek Mix on my inner and outer lids with a small blending brush, being careful to leave a swath of yellow in the center of the lid. Finally, I used the tip of the brush to apply Chanel Rose Initiale to the inner corners of my eyes and the outer edges of the bottom lash line.

If any of the above terminology confuses you, Temptalia's impeccable eyeshadow placement guide is a good place to start.

Unblended

After placing the shadow, remember to blend it out! I didn't realize how stark mine was until I took the photo above. Compare it to the one below, which was taken after I used a clean blending brush to smooth out the edges. One is more polished than the other.

Blended

Lisa didn't use eyeliner for this look, opting only to enhance the model's eyelashes. I am not genetically blessed in that area, so I tightlined with black eyeliner before applying two coats of mascara. Couldn't get my eyelashes on both eyes to look the same (lopsided eye woes), but again, that's just real life so I'm okay with it!

I also darkened my fading microbladed brows with some eyebrow pencil because I preferred a stronger contrast with this look.



After that, some concealing under the eyes and lightweight foundation to even out the skin. I highlighted the tops of my cheekbones and nose as usual, and applied Chanel Rose Initiale Blush on my cheeks. Like Lisa, I placed it a little higher than usual and used a big fluffy brush for a more diffused look. To finish, I lined my lips with a pinkish nude pencil and topped it off with a balm for comfort.

This look was SUPER fun to create and timely since I paired it with a day trip to Hudson to take in the fall foliage. Coupled with the other look I created with my new THREE goodies, you basically know how I'm going to look this fall.

Products used in this post:
Shu Uemura Brow:Sword in Seal Brown
Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Intense in Medium Pink
Guerlain Multi-Perfecting Concealer in Medium Cool
Addiction Brown Toast Cheek Mix
Addiction Mustard Tree Eyeshadow
Chanel Rose Initiale Blush
THREE Mesmerizing Performance Eyeliner Pencil 10
Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara
Glossier Haloscope in Quartz (you can get $10 off as a new customer with this referral link)
Tatcha Cherry Blossom Lip Pencil
Tatcha Cherry Blossom Lip Balm

PSA: Tatcha Friends & Family Sale 2019

I have two kinds of friends when it comes to skincare. The first kind is meticulous about their multi-step skincare routine and could rattle off ingredient names and its benefits off the top of their head. The second kind asks me for recommendations and purchases the same thing forevermore. I've recommended Tatcha to more people than I can count over the years, and one of the things we all look forward to is the annual Friends and Family sale.



If you happen to fall into the second bucket and need recommendations, or want to try something new, here's a handy list of my favorite Tatcha products:

1. The Essence
Mini review here. My current bottle (shown here) is one application away from being a sad empty. Good thing I already have another one waiting in the wings.

2. Dewy Skin Mist
I talked about this product so much on this blog it's not even funny. Do I have three of them casually lying around my apartment? Do you really even have to ask?

3. The Indigo Cream
When my skin inevitably gives up in a giant rash-y, dry mess in winter, I pull this baby out.

4. Sunscreen
I've used this every single day for the last four years. You might think I'm exaggerating, but I know this to be true because Tatcha launched this in 2015, and I happened to join the PR agency that represented them that year (I no longer work for that agency). Mini review of it here again.

5. Lipstick
This may sound odd but I use Messy Wands as a resource a lot. Like, if I want to remember how a particular eye shadow or blush looks on me without putting it on, or if I'm contemplating a purchase of a brand that I no longer remember if I liked. You would think I would remember, since I wrote all of it. What can I say, eight years of blog posts is a lot.

Anyway, the point is my recent post swatching all of Tatcha's lipsticks is really handy right now for a quick refresher on how all of them look. The one I use most is Cherry Blossom, shown below.



I'm half a tube down and somewhat seriously contemplating a backup. Thoughts?

Tatcha's Friends & Family event is running now through 10/20. Enter code FRIENDS19 at checkout for 20% off!

Empties, Volume 1

Wow, that last month flew by quick. If you ask me what I've been doing the past month, all I can say is I wasn't vigilant enough in protecting my mental health, which was why it went by in a not particularly enjoyable whirl. In between learning new ways to be stressed at my new job, I accidentally over-scheduled myself to meet people every day for one week and was also trying to plan a vacation to Yellowstone for next summer. Planning to go to Yellowstone, especially with a family, is its own beast. Every decision you want to make comes with a cascading set of research. For example, I originally started looking at going in July, but a friend told me that it's high tourist season so it's less enjoyable, so I pivoted to May, but had to research when the lodges/hiking trails/park in general opens (the answer: dates vary). Then after doing all that research, flying end of May was apparently prohibitively expensive, so I had to look into which week in June had reasonable flights...

I won't bore you with the rest, but my brain spiraled real hard for a couple of weeks. I had to consciously choose to step away and be kind to myself, hence some alone time this week and a precious sliver of time to read and write for fun. I finished up a lot of skincare last month and thought I'd do mini reviews of them!



1. Tatcha Cleansing Oil ($48 for 5.1 fl oz / 150ml)
For years, Tatcha's cleansing oil was my HG. It unfailingly removed even the most stubborn of makeups and didn't dry out my skin. It didn't feel too heavy, didn't stick to my skin after cleansing (yoohoo, Shu Uemura), and didn't have an overwhelming scent (L'Occitane, I'm looking at you). The only reason I am now partial to another cleansing oil is because I found another one I equally liked for a quarter of the price (Hada Labo, I love you). Since I use a substantial amount of cleanser everyday, seems like a no-brainer to switch HGs. I still love this Tatcha one though. I dream of the day they will create a cleansing body oil.

OMG. CLEANSING OIL FOR BODY. Gotta investigate this now.

2. Shangpree S-Energy Facial Mousse Cleanser ($35 for 4.73 fl oz / 150ml)
Okay, I took this photo over a month ago, and at that time I thought I was finished with this cleanser because it started pumping out air. Turns out, it had another month's worth of legs, which brings its total life span to possibly a year and a half of daily use. The mind, it's boggled.

It's definitely a pleasurable foam cleanser. For some reason, I currently have four other facial cleansers in my bathroom, three of which are foam types. All of them require vigorous hand rubbing to generate foam. I realize now that this Shangpree one is gone that I prefer the pump style much better, since it requires wayyy less effort. Usual requirements (not drying, no overwhelming scent) satisfied. If I ever run out of facial cleansers at home (current time horizon for that... 4 years?), I would repurchase.

3. Holy Snails Kadi Cleanser ($25 for 4 oz / 150ml)
Also a pleasure to use! The overall experience is understandably less premium than the Shangpree one since it's an indie skincare brand, but I think it's important to support small businesses. It creates a denser foam than the Shangpree cleanser, but that doesn't matter to me. Again, fulfills all usual requirements and would repurchase.

4. Holy Snails Shark Sauce ($29-36 for 30ml)
Briefly touched upon this serum here. I'm already using my next bottle! If you're interested in the brand in general, you can get 10% off using my referral link!

5. Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter ($10 for 6 oz)
Another indie skincare brand that deserves much love for making excellent but affordable products — $10 for a 6 oz jar that lasts through the cold months. Would I enjoy a more premium packaging design and experience? Probably. But I know I'll have to pay more for it and at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. So there, please never change.

6. Tatcha Sunscreen ($65 for 2 fl oz / 60ml)
Recently learned that people cut tubes to get to the last of the product so I did that with my Tatcha sunscreen when I thought it was empty and there was at least one week's worth of product still in there. I learned a valuable lesson indeed. I've used this sunscreen on my face almost exclusively for years. I don't plan to change. Bonus: it's 20% off on the website right now.

Did you use up anything noteworthy lately? Let me know!

Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream Review

I've had the oddest skin in the last few weeks. What was once normal/combination, perhaps even a tad oily in the summer months, became bone dry especially around my mouth. There wasn't anything I did that made it so. I was perfectly normal one day, and the next the bottom half of my face could no longer hold moisture.

The silver lining in this unfortunate turn of events is I now have the appropriate skin type to test Tatcha's Dewy Skin Cream. I actually purchased one when it launched in February, but quickly returned it because it was too much for my skin then. While finding ways to soothe my dry skin, one of the things I tried was using increasingly occlusive creams. I went from a gel cream to the stuff I used in previous winters, but nothing worked. That was when I broke out this beautiful purple tub, hoping that what was "too much" half a year ago is exactly what I need now.

Bear in mind that I'm not relying on the occlusive layer (aka last layer of skincare) to provide me with the hydration I need. To fix my dry skin, the essence/toner/serum parts of my routine went on overdrive. However, I've found in addition to all that I needed a heavy layer at the end to ensure the hydration stays locked in.



I mean it in the best possible way when I say the Dewy Skin Cream is the thickest, most emollient occlusive cream I've ever tried. It almost feels like a facial oil without actually being one. This is exactly what I want, especially during the daytime. Facial oils are incredible at locking in hydration as a final step of skincare, but doing so in the morning is impractical due to its dry-down time. The Dewy Skin Cream is a good alternative. I'm free to put on sunscreen or makeup immediately after application, but I have a strong barrier to prevent evaporation.

As you might guess from the name, the Dewy Skin Cream takes after the Dewy Skin Mist, which to this day remains my favorite face mist. Both products impart a glow upon use. In fact, to test this theory, I applied the Dewy Skin Cream to my face without any other skincare product. By the third hour my skin felt parched, but it looked glowy, as if it was plump with hydration (it really wasn't). The light scent of the cream is similar to the one used in the mist, which I personally find pleasant.

I definitely wouldn't recommend this cream to anyone with normal or oily skin. In fact, the skin on my forehead is still relatively normal, which means when I use this cream on that area it ends up being too oily. So yes, I am currently using two different moisturizers on my face and yes, I know it's a little ridiculous. But you gotta do what you gotta do!

Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream is $68 and available at:
Tatcha website
Sephora

Products in this post were provided by the company for editorial consideration.

Super Pared Down Travel Makeup

After over three months of anxious waiting, I finally got my Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which allows me to legally work in the US but equally importantly, leave the country and safely return. I have been agonizing about having all this precious free time and not being able to spend it with friends and family back home, so trust when I say I'm vibrating with anticipation to get on that flight.

I like traveling light when I go home, mostly because I want every extra ounce of unused weight to go into bringing snacks and Asian skincare back to New York. I own a Rimowa Lite Large Check-In (best suitcase ever) and I would fill up less than a quarter of the space. This does mean cracking down on what makeup to bring. There are people like my older sister, who only uses one blush, one eyeliner and one dedicated lip color — clearly this isn't a problem for her. Asking me to choose JUST ONE BLUSH to go with every look I might want to do in 1-3 weeks plunges me into a rabbit hole where I'll start drawing decision trees in my head, because that blush will affect what eye and lip colors I can bring, and the pile would get bigger and bigger until I'm stuck under an avalanche of palettes, wondering how I got there.

After years of agonizing and still bringing more stuff than I would use, I have now narrowed it down to my most basic kit. With this, I don't even have to bring makeup brushes. I just use the ones provided and my fingers:

• Concealer and/or foundation, depending on how much coverage I need at the time.
• Eyebrow pencil I microbladed my eyebrows and no longer have to fill them in! Best decision ever!
• Burberry Earthy to double as eyeshadow and blush.
• Eyeliner and mascara, usually black.
• Highlighter. My relationship with the Glossier Haloscope went from meh to grudging respect, which is a story for another day. I like bringing this for travel because it's meant for finger application.
• One nude lip and one fun lip. I've been partial to the Chanel lip balm and powder duo in recent trips because I can either do a light stain or build up to a full red.

This is the base look that I create with the kit above, though lips are bare in the photo. It's my-face-but-better, versatile with lip color, and photographs well. There's honestly not much more I can ask for.



Another way to police how much to bring is to have an inviolable rule. I can only bring what fits into my Issey Miyake pouch, which does double duty as a clutch when I travel. If only I would enforce this rule on skincare...

How do you pack for travel? Do you bring your entire kit or mercilessly choose your favorites?

Every Tatcha Lipstick, Swatched

I've always had a soft spot for Tatcha because they were one of the first brands to ever support Messy Wands. Such was my love for them that I once reached out to the founder Vicky for a job, and though I've never worked for them directly, I did join the public relations agency that represented them, and happily they gave me the Tatcha account.

As you can probably guess, public relations is not my thing. However! I've never stopped loving the brand. While I've moved away from having an all Tatcha skincare routine (more out of a compulsive need for experimentation than anything), I usually still have one or two of their products in my lineup.

But today is not about skincare. It is another opportune moment to talk about lipsticks, the reason for which will be clear by the end of the post. I happen to be the fortunate owner of every single lipstick shade Tatcha ever made, which seems to mean that I'm duty bound to swatch them, especially when all but one, Peony Blossom, are still available on the website.

Left to Right: Twilight: A Cherry Blossom, Plum Blossom, Magnolia Bloom

First, let's talk texture. Tatcha maintained the same formula for all its lipsticks, varying only the colors. This is a fantastic thing, because it really is one of the most comfortable lipsticks I've worn. They're fragrance free, taste free, non-drying and has a buildable formula, which means you can wear them sheer or fully pigmented.

I swatched all six in one sitting, wiping each color off with a cotton pad doused with micellar water and applying a light layer of Tatcha lip balm in between color changes. Multiple lipstick posts aren't my favorite because my lips would be crying by the end, but being rigid about the balm application made this a breeze.

Cherry Blossom is my go-to nude pink, as you can see from the well worn bullet. I try to keep the diamond facets of Tatcha lipsticks intact as I'm using it, but one can only do so much. Plum Blossom is a nude that pulls the slightest cool plum, whereas Magnolia Bloom is a curious warm in-between red-pink.

Cherry Blossom Silk Lipstick

Plum Blossom Silk Lipstick

Magnolia Bloom Silk Lipstick

Left to Right: Peony Blossom, Beautyberry, Kyoto Red

Peony Blossom's brighter, more vibrant case always trips me up, because on lips it's a much lighter coral pink. Beautyberry is, as you might imagine, a true berry shade. I talked extensively about Kyoto Red in this post, so I won't repeat myself, but I giggle a little thinking about how all my photos used to be of the deer in headlights variety.

Peony Blossom Silk Lipstick

Beautyberry Silk Lipstick

Kyoto Red Silk Lipstick

From July 21 to 29, Tatcha is offering a free mini Plum Blossom with $100 purchase, mini Plum Blossom and Kyoto Red with $125 purchase, and mini Plum Blossom, Kyoto Red and Cherry Blossom with $150 purchase. Use code KISSES19 at checkout to redeem!

Summer Skincare Routine

Let's get the scary part out of the way. Here's how my skin looks now. On a better day, that minuscule pimple on my nose wouldn't exist, the raised bumps on my right cheek would magically disappear, and I wouldn't have two random gashes on my forehead. But it's important to acknowledge that this is still a good skin day. Impossible expectations have a way of weighing us down, let's try not to do that to ourselves!

Skincare has always been a ritual for me. I grew up watching my mother slather creams on her face day and night and dutifully started doing the same when I was a teenager. I disliked Clinique's astringent toner as soon as I tried it, precipitating years of being annoyingly meticulous about the textures and effects of what I use on my face. I've finally reached a place where I think my skin is as good as it gets without more drastic intervention.

As with all talk of skincare, your mileage may vary (YMMV). What works for me may not work for you. I subscribe to the belief that skincare is part science part psychology, which is why one person's HG is another person's dud. Here are the products that work for me.

Mr. Plant Pot says hi!

Essence
The two in my current rotation are Tatcha The Essence and Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Water. The Tatcha essence looks and feels just like water out of the spout, which makes applying it without spilling a couple precious drops an exercise of dexterity. Ironically, the Sulwhasoo water is viscous and requires a good ketchup shake to get out. It's stickier but doesn't bother me, and sorts of smack you in the face with its delicious ginseng scent (which, unghhhh, give it to me).

One of the hardest things to definitively answer about a skincare product is "how do you know it works," which my partner brings up every few months as he puts on whatever toner's on our vanity. I notice the difference this step makes to my skin because I usually skip it when I'm traveling and my skin is less... good. Nothing would be outwardly wrong, I just know it would not be up to its usual standards. And I can safely say it's the essence step because the rest of my skincare pretty much stays the same.

Serum
If there's one item I wouldn't like to be without, it's this $21 miracle worker Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. It's a tad slimy, which might take getting used to, but every time I put it on my skin soaks it up like it's been thirsty for days. The fact that it costs a fraction of the other stuff in my routine is icing on the cake.

Close on its heels is Holy Snails Double Shark Sauce (or its OG Shark Sauce or Sauce du mois variants). Preventing age spots and unevenness is my #1 goal, and having a healthy dose of niacinamide (10% in the double!) is key. I'm partial to supporting Holy Snails because she started out as a blogger and created this product for her friends. I would caution that form factor aside, it doesn't travel well. I've had at least two heartbreaking instances of shark sauce blowing up in the plane.

The Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum is pure decadence for me. Do I have clinical, scientific proof that ginseng does something for my skin? No. Do I like the hanbang smell and does it make me feel extra fancy? Yes. The optimist in me hopes that the anti-aging stuff is true, and maaaybe that's why I don't have wrinkles and fine lines. But I'm also 30, so that sounds like a stretch? You know what, it's okay to just do a thing (that doesn't make anything else worse) because it makes me happy. Pardon me as I sniff the ginseng off my face.

I've started incorporating vitamin C into my routine since learning that it's one of the few ingredients in skincare that has been clinically proven to reverse signs of aging. I haven't gone all out and optimized for concentration and pH yet, mostly because I'm using up what I happen to have at home. Currently going through Glo Skin 15% Vitamin C Serum, which is as straightforward a vitamin C serum as it gets, housed in a bottle with dropper that repels sunlight. I apply to face twice a week or so, but I'm gauging effectiveness by putting it on a blemish on my knee caused by an errant curler.

Eye Serum
I dismayed when trying a sample packet of the Sulwhasoo Timetreasure Renovating Eye Serum and seeing my eye bags vanish the next day, because the $260 price tag is hard to swallow. Fortunately, my brother's girlfriend was on a trip to Korea and got me one for less. I use this sparingly and only on days I didn't get enough sleep or want an extra boost. In my experience, the effects are more pronounced when used overnight.

Cream/Lotion
I question whether the occlusive layer is strictly necessary in summer, but I do it out of habit anyway. I'm using Tatcha The Water Gel to give myself the lightest of watery layers.

Sunscreen
I'll go more into sunscreen in another post, but please! Apply it every day, rain or shine, and put on way more than you think is necessary (like 1 tsp just for your face). Preferably SPF50 and broad spectrum, every two hours that you spend outdoors. I've repurchased many tubes of Tatcha Pore Perfecting Sunscreen throughout the years because it's scentless and I happen to like its creamy texture for the face over other, more aqueous Japanese sunscreens. But the best sunscreen is the one you would use.


This might sound like a lot, but it takes no more than a couple minutes to complete and I've come to relish that bit of time that's wholly for my self-care. We'll talk about acids and exfoliators and masks and cleansing another day. In the meantime, I'd love to hear about your own skincare HGs and journeys!

Tatcha Kyoto Red Silk Lipstick

I remember hearing whisperings of this since May last year, when Chloë Sevigny hit the Met Gala red carpet with a custom shade of bright red on her lips. It was made by Tatcha, Style.com reported, but only two were in existence. Since then, I've harbored hope that Tatcha would produce more of this brilliant lipstick. With Vicky's tendency toward perfection, I envisioned that the makeup she created would equal or rival those from my favorite Japanese brands.

That day came. The Tatcha Kyoto Red Silk Lipstick is a piece of art. The black and gold custom tube is hefty and substantial. I love that it opens and closes with a satisfying click, and only if you align the logos correctly. The tip of the bullet calls to mind the facets of a diamond, and after almost a month of wearing it, I can personally attest that it allows for a very precise application.

As you know, I have tested many lipsticks in my life. This one makes me, someone who has more reds than any other lip color I own, want to buy back ups for my back up. It's smooth and creamy and moisturizing and incredibly pigmented and lightweight and scentless and just gorgeous. The only other formula I love as much is the Creamy Glow Lipstick from Suqqu, but they erroneously and devastatingly discontinued most of the lineup a couple years ago. The lipstick is capable of lasting all day, with minimal touch-up required only after meals.

My father once told me that people who wear red are more confident because it's such a strong color. While I think my father had his own biased reasons for his belief (his wardrobe consists of red shirts in various shades), I don't think he's altogether wrong. Since most of my clothes are in monochromatic hues of black, blue, and gray, I like that through a little thing like lipstick, I am able to inject bright and dazzling color, maybe also a little strength, in my life.

Only a limited number of these lipsticks were made! The pre-order for the Kyoto Red Silk Lipstick will begin any day now, but the best way to ensure you'll be the first to know is by signing up for their mailing list. (Update: Here's the direct link to the pre-order!)

Products Used:
Shu Uemura Mechanical Brow Pencil
Shu Uemura Pressed Eye Shadow Refill M 864
Clé de Peau Concealer in Ocher
Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara
Three Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil 07
Guerlain Météorites Perles De Blush
Ellis Faas Glow Up
Tatcha Kyoto Red Red Lipstick

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample product(s) sent by the brand for editorial consideration. This entry also contains affiliate links.

How to effectively moisturize in winter

I have a love-hate relationship with winter. I love the crispness in the air, the promise of soft snow, and sticking two sticks on my feet and skidding down a mountain, but I detest the myriad of bodily problems that pop up during the season. We've discussed my nose freezing up (which a few of you identify strongly with), so let's get to another big problem: skin.

Every year in November, if I don't keep up a regular moisturizing regimen, I will inevitably get rashes on various parts of my body. Once, I had to go to a doctor because I was suffering from dry skin even after constantly moisturizing. I wasn't prescribed anything, but I did walk away with valuable tips on how to avoid it happening again.

The best time to moisturize is after getting out of the shower. Your pores will be open from the hot water and thus absorb product better. Pat down (do not rigorously wipe!) your skin so that it's still a little damp, then apply lotion liberally.

Some days I don't have time to moisturize immediately out of the shower, which is when I layer a body oil and lotion later in the day. I've found a few products that work marvelously together and provide me with that elusive 24-hour hydration (no matter what the marketing people say, it's hard to find them). In fact, nowadays I only get rashes if I don't moisturize within a week!

1. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Spray ($46 for 3.3 fl oz / 100ml)
I'm on my second bottle of this cult classic. If Nuxe was known for one thing only, it would be their Huile Prodigieuse oil. I like the nutty, gourmand scent, and the oil hydrates skin without leaving it greasy. It also comes in a splash bottle, but I prefer the spray for ease of use and especially to access hard-to-reach areas. That said, while a spritz would be enough for summer or fall, this oil is more of a layering item in winter. I use it as a base before applying my other body creams so they absorb better.

2. Haus of Gloi Aether Pumpkin Butter ($10 for 6 oz / 177ml)
I almost didn't want to share this because it's difficult enough for me to procure as it is. Haus of Gloi is a small vegan business that sells handmade bath and body products, and the Aether Pumpkin Butter is their best selling product. The proprietors describe the scent as "absolute nothingness." The butter itself is lightweight and easy to spread (ha!). Right now, it's out of stock again, but when it's available I usually just purchase in bulk. This is a glorious product, especially at this price point!

3. Tatcha Soothing Silk Body Butter ($46 for 6.8 oz / 200ml)
This product is geared toward people who have sensitive, inflamed, or irritated skin – perfect for a rash-prone individual like me! The indigo extract contains actives that help reduce irritation. The formula is lightly creamy, smells wonderful, and the blue hue disappears into skin upon application, leaving in its wake sighing soft skin. I will always remember it as "the nice stuff."

4. Tata Harper The Royal Treatment Ultimate Antiaging Body Set ($125 for both; 4.1 oz / 125ml each)
I'm on a Tata Harper kick lately. I love discovering products from her brand, because each of them is more decadent than the last. This limited edition set is the definition of indulgence, price and product-wise. The body oil has an intriguing formula – it pumps out of the nozzle as very fluid liquid, but applies like rich, slightly heavy (but not gross and greasy) oil. If you made me describe the scent of the oil, I would say it's nice smelling insect repellant (dear Tata Harper, I'm sorry my nose sucks). The application instructions echoes my doctor's advice: massage generously onto damp skin.

The lotion is much lighter in texture and less distinct in scent. While not entirely necessary, since the body oil is rich enough as it is, I apply the lotion after the oil dries as extra immunity toward the frigid weather. Both products boast a long list of Good Things in its ingredients.

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by the brand for editorial consideration. This entry also contains affiliate links.

How to treat dry nostrils in winter

I'm having a Karen Smith (from Mean Girls) moment when I say this, but my nose can always tell when winter is coming. Without fail, one nostril will be caked in blood because of a mysterious cut due to dryness from the cold. I suffered for years without a cure, because I didn't think there was a moisturizer for our nose the way we do for other parts of our body.

BUT I WAS WRONG. And boy, was I glad to be wrong. After hearing about my plight (perhaps also weary of my incessant misery), my boyfriend found an ointment called Boroleum that's now my #1 winter must-have. It allows you to lubricate your nostrils. Something that sounds so negligible has made my winters much more bearable. In fact, the few people I've introduced this to now swear by it.

One side effect to having cake-y nostrils/stuffy nose in cold weather means the area around my nose also gets dried out. For some reason, regular moisturizers can't soothe a constantly irritated nose, but the Tatcha Revitalizing Eye Cream is a godsend. Perhaps it works so well because the intensive moisturizing formula is meant for application on a concentrated area in the first place?

Anyway, if you suffer from similar symptoms, do give these a try. You can purchase Boroleum on Amazon (anything between $4 to $11) or at your local pharmacy, though you may have request it. The Tatcha Revitalizing Eye Cream is available for $135 at tatcha.com.

The Face Mist Guide to End All Face Mist Guides

If the key to happy, hydrated skin is a balance of humectants and emollients (translation: this is why you need serum and moisturizer, not just either or), where do mists and toners stand? I've heard it all when it comes to toner: last step in cleansing, the restorer of skin's pH balance, a more effective base for your skincare routine... They're not necessarily fundamental to a skincare routine, but a nice plus to have, like vitamin supplements in a well-rounded diet.

Mists, to me, have become toners-to-go – a quick spritz to save time (and cotton!) while delivering the same effects. They're also great for refreshing your face mid-afternoon, especially in air-conditioner/heater-enabled offices. When I was testing the various sprays in this post, my colleagues never turned down an opportunity for a pick-me-up. Since most face mists are chock full of basically the same hydrating/anti-aging ingredients, the determining factor for which is worthy of your vanity then becomes scent, packaging, price point (you can find face mists from $8 to $80), and personally, nozzle pressure.

Below are a few that are in my current rotation:

1. Aubrey Sparkling Glacier Complexion Mist with Fragonia ($7.98 for 3.4 fl oz / 100ml)
"It smells like a spa," said not one, but two of my co-workers when I gleefully spritzed this over their faces. I readily admit that I am a spoiled beauty consumer, since this is the first time I've seen a mist with an ingredient list filled with good things priced so low. The packaging is standard white with a stick-on label and the pump is basic (uneven spray), but if you're not a stickler for those things, this is absolutely a steal.

2. La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water ($12.99 for 5.2 fl oz / 150ml)
The only ingredient in this is, you guessed it, water. This water is purportedly rich in the antioxidant Selenium and is 100% pure natural spring water (bottled in France!). It has no scent. When sprayed, the sensation reminds me of the times I was allowed to stick my head out of the sunroof when my dad drove us through the hilly countryside (humidity levels in Malaysia average 70 to 90%). But, you know, it's just water.

I would say out of all the sprays featured, La Roche-Posay has the best nozzle. You can hold your finger on it and just keep going till the bottle runs dry, unlike the others, which require repeated pumps.

3. Miyu Beauty Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence ($34 for 2.7 fl oz / 80ml)
I've been keeping this face mist/serum at my boyfriend's apartment for over a year. I use it 2-3 times a week and am finally nearing the end. I wrote a more comprehensive review of it last November, but basically this is a hydrating mist with a light rose scent that could be a substitute for a serum (contains sodium hyaluronate) for people with combination/oily skin.

The nozzle spray, however, is not my favorite. It delivers a more concentrated burst of liquid rather than a fine mist over the face if held too close. I have to be sure to hold it 8 inches away from the face for an even spread, but the pressure is not particularly strong so fair amount of product ends up below the chin. To avoid waste, what I like to do with this particular product is spray it into my hands and apply to my face as I would a serum.

4. Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($49 for 3.4 fl oz / 100ml)
The writer in me thinks of the scent as a "hint of mint," though this spray is more like a giant wake up call. I use it exclusively in the morning, when everything I do is in service of me resembling a functional human being in a very short span of time. The spray contains a good number of oils, so it might not be the best for those with oily skin. It is one of Lisa Eldridge's favorite French pharmacy products, 'nuff said.

5. Sulwhasoo Hydro-Aid Lifting Mist ($45 for 3.38 fl oz / 100ml)
If the Aubrey spray smells like spa, this Sulwhasoo one smells like my mother's soup (any association to my mother's cooking, by the way, can only mean good things). Officially, it's a Korean herbal seaweed mist, with two key ingredients purslane and rehmannia that moisturizes and relaxes etc. More importantly, it's a mist that works as it's supposed to and reminds me of my mother's cooking.

I giggle at the fact that its use description on the Neiman Marcus website takes into account the very powerful nozzle ("spray at a 20cm distance"), because it really does deliver concentrated bursts of mist. As an aside, while Sulwhasoo continues its expansion in the US, I applaud its commitment to making its products smell like an Asian kitchen, because all my non-Asian friends and colleagues have strong negative reactions to the scents in Sulwhasoo products. A fact I'm sure they're well aware.

6. Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist ($48 for 1.35 fl oz / 40ml)
I must be on my 5th or 6th bottle of this at this point, yet I still took advantage of their recent Friends & Family sale to procure eventual replacements. For the sake of brevity (ha!), I will link you to my original review and add that one of my favorite uses for this spray is to set makeup. Foundation tends to look dried up on my skin, especially around the edges of my nose, but it takes on a dewy finish with this spray.

If you need a luxury point to justify the price tag, it's housed in a beautiful glass bottle (as are the similarly priced Caudalie and Tata Harper sprays) and features an elegant gold pump that distributes the mist in a wide circumference, so you need less spritzes to cover your whole face.

Tatcha Friends & Family Sale: 20% off all orders at tatcha.com with code FF2014. Valid through December 7.

7. Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence ($65 for 1.7 fl oz / 50ml)
When I was a child, my mother cultivated organic wheatgrass in black trays outside my house. They looked like mini golf courses. I thought they looked funny, until I realized that my mother intended our family to consume them raw and unadulterated, though (just slightly) mercifully in juice form. I didn't even get to add honey to the drink. I believe we all revolted after a few weeks, and even my mother had to admit that it tasted vile, even if it was good for us.

Where was I going with this story? One, I am glad that the organic/natural food movement has come a long way since then. They actually know how to make things tasty now. Two, if I wanted to splurge and buy my mother new skincare, Tata Harper would be among the top of that list. After all, it's so natural you can eat it. Lest I be carried away with superficial associations – natural doesn't always mean good – this face spray contains hyaluronic acid (water retention), witch hazel (controls sebum production), rose and lavender (calms skin and smells good), and I'm only skimming the surface of a seriously impressive ingredient list.

Tata Harper Friends & Family Sale: 15% off all orders at tataharperskincare.com with code FF2014. Valid through December 7.

It might interest you to know that it's possible to get over-moisturized skin from just face mist, due to countless spritzes while I wrote this post.

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by the brand for editorial consideration. This entry also contains affiliate links.

A Gift Guide I Can Vouch For

Have you noticed the extraordinary amount of pressure to shop recently? My inbox (both Messy Wands and personal) has been inundated by brands advertising holiday gifts and paraphernalia, all persistently nudging me to get them before it's "too late." Never mind the fact that it's still one whole month before Christmas! I always find the end of the year rushing toward me too quickly, maybe this is why.

That said, we are days away from Thanksgiving and the anxiety-inducing Black Friday – Racked has listed 150+ sales and counting on this handy page. Clearly, other publications/blogs will be much better resources for you in terms of scoring deals, so I will not attempt to replicate that. Instead, I created this little gift guide of products I've personally used and loved and would recommend to everyone I know. May it be a guide to you when thinking of gifts for the women in your life.

1. Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask, $28 each / $95 for a box of 4
What sort of praises have I not sung about this mask? If I had to choose one Tatcha product to gift, this spa-in-a-packet would be it. My general philosophy about gift giving is to buy things that others usually won't buy for themselves, and the mask's hefty price point is unfortunately a deterrent to most. However, if anything is well worth the splurge, this is.

Tatcha Friends & Family Sale: 20% off everything at tatcha.com with code FF2014, valid from 11/28-12/8.

2. Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel Sensation, $15
My favorite part of showering is the suds. I remember spending ages in the bathroom as a child, with the door locked, mischievously soaping up every surface and sliding across them with glee. Needless to say, my mother was not amused. Rituals is a new-to-the-US Dutch brand that offers home and body cosmetics with beautiful packaging at a surprisingly low price point. This shower gel transforms into a rich foam when it comes into contact with water. I like it for the clean scent and ease of use, and for allowing me to indulge in my favorite childhood pastime as an adult.

Rituals Black Friday Sale: 50% off select products at rituals.com, valid from 11/28-12/1.

3. Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo, $57
I've been clamoring to repurchase this ever since I pumped out the last drop. This shampoo is particularly effective in removing product from hair, and the claim that it doesn't "strip the natural oils" of your scalp is true, since I occasionally skipped conditioning without ill effects. I was devastated to find that the brand no longer offered discounts during Black Friday. Instead, they bundled up complementary products into gift sets. I'm sorely tempted by the Cleansing Oil Gift Set (with shampoo and conditioner and a travel-sized Essence Absolue), but cannot justify it since I've cut down my hair washing to twice a week and still have multiple shampoo/conditioners to go through.

4. Alterna Bamboo Smooth Moisture Masque, $26
I'm always pleasantly surprised when hair treatments (shampoo and conditioner excluded) actually work. Many volumizing/smoothing/repairing treatments I've tried didn't make a difference, but I am happy to report that this Alterna mask bucks the norm. After suffering from severe tangling all week, I applied this mask during my last shower and emerged with hair that was so soft, my hair brush practically slipped through it.

5. L'Occitane 13 Desserts of Provence, $69
Here's an advent calendar that will make the ultimate stocking stuffer (or make it easy for you to stuff those stockings). The 13 products in this gift set reads like a L'Occitane "best hits" list. If nothing, it'll make your next trip very easy to pack for.

L'Occitane Black Friday deal: Receive a free gift of three 10ml hand creams with any purchase at usa.loccitane.com on 11/28.

6. RMS Beauty Glowing Gift Set, $120
I have long held that RMS Beauty is superior to other natural brands when it comes to makeup. While most brands flounder by delivering products with subpar pigmentation, RMS Beauty shocks by serving up bright, nuanced shades. I swatched the whole collection a couple of years ago, but since then they've added a couple of products to their lineup. If you want to try the brand, I think this gift set is an excellent introduction. It features four of their bestsellers: Living Luminizer (one of the best highlighters I own), Un-Cover Up (I am shade #22), Lip2Cheek (Promise and Modest are my favorites) and Cream Eye Shadow. Bonus: you get to customize your own set with the shades you want.

7. Jo Malone Red Roses Scent Surround Diffuser, $85
It's a treat to return home to the scent of Jo Malone Red Roses ("a voluptuous blend of seven of the world's most exquisite roses"). This diffuser is strong enough to perfume my bedroom and then some, for I smell it even from the corridor of my apartment. It's been three months since I placed the reeds in and the bottle is still half full. This six-month investment is one that I'm very willing to make.

8. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis, $175
When my mother asked me to get her a "nice, light fragrance," I sent her a bottle of Aqua Universalis. I will not assault your imagination with my poor description of scent (objectively, the notes include bergamot and Sicilian lemon, lily of the valley and sweet mock orange, as well as musky wood) but as proof of endorsement, I've been wearing this nonstop for the past six months.

9. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $42
I wish I could spray this on my hair everyday. Without fail, it gives my hair ridiculous volume and life and bounce. And the heavenly smell! It's no wonder that the brains behind Oribe decided to bottle their signature scent into perfume form.

The holidays are out to get us

I always approach the end of the year with a mixture of excitement of trepidation. On one hand, it's Thanksgiving! Christmas! I get to go home and spend two whole weeks with my family! On the other, one whole year just whooshed by and another is looming.

Seriousness aside, the holidays are a great time for beauty lovers! As you probably know, the Sephora VIB/VIB Rouge sale is well underway and there are excellent holiday-only sets to be purchased. Now, I have been on a beauty cleanse for over six months now (my last actual beauty purchase was the Dior Addict Fluid Stick in April), and while my mind knows I clearly do not need more stuff, my heart says gimme gimme gimme.

For example, this Benefit Box O' Blushes. I already own Coralista and Dandelion separately, and I've never wanted any of the other shades even after swatching them countless times. What is it about putting them together in a cute bigger box (that's probably even less travel friendly) that makes them so much more appealing? I've been thinking about this for weeks.

And then, yesterday while walking through Macy's to pass time, I paused by the Jo Malone counter. My eyes were involuntarily drawn to the boxes of holiday gift sets stacked up at the corner and I slunk over for a closer look (instead of joining my friend, who dutifully sniffed at scents). Again, rationally I know that these candles are not my cup of tea (too incense-y), but because they're wrapped up in a pretty box with a pretty bow, I want them.

Don't get me started on advent calendars. Just a couple months ago, I gave away over 50% of my nail polish collection in an effort to downsize for my move. I was feeling pretty great about myself. My friends had new polishes to play with (and liked me a lot more) and I had more space in my room. And yet I did not hesitate to say I wanted one of these Ciaté Mini Mani Manor Advent Calendars. Is it the box again? Is it the perception of great value? What is it about giving me 24 random shades that makes this all the more enticing?

Lastly, Tatcha just unveiled nine holiday sets for easy gifting. They range from über luxe (the Kaiseki Complete Travel-Sized Assortment) to very simple and functional (the Kokoro Indigo Travel Duo). The two sets I'm most tempted by are pictured here (top: Nagomi Luminosity Set, bottom: Miyabi Golden Glow Beauty Set). Both feature some of my absolute must-have products from the brand, and the Miyabi set comes with the extra Obon tray and mirror, which I unabashedly covet.

At time of writing, a few of the Tatcha sets are already down to single digit stock, so if you want them, better scoot on over now! They're all exclusively available at tatcha.com.

That said, if you've always wanted to try out Tatcha but have been hesitant because of price, it delights me to inform you that their annual Friends & Family sale will commence November 28 through December 8. It's a once in a year opportunity and everything will be 20% off with code FF2014. These sets will probably be long gone by then, but you will still be able to purchase individual products!

What holiday sets have you been eyeing/have already purchased? I can't be the only one!

It takes a village...

... or what feels like every single product I own to heal a sunburn. Woe the hidden curse of great, warm weather. (Before you admonish, yes I was wearing sunscreen. No idea how I was only burned on my forehead and not everywhere else.)

I have never been sunburned till one month ago, when the flaky, peeling skin on my forehead gave me the biggest scare of my life. Understandably, I became frantic when something's wrong with my skin, so imagine what I was like when my skin ended up having problems for one whole month. To add fuel to fire, my cheeks suddenly started sprouting little red spots (I suspect it was another reaction to being under the sun).

I could have gone to a dermatologist, but I'm a crazy beauty blogger at heart, and I wanted to test everything in the market before throwing in the towel. Amazingly, my experiment worked. My face is almost completely back to normal now after using only products you can buy in a store. It's still drier than before (my face is no longer an oil slick, shocking!), but I'll take it for now.

Daytime Care

L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Oil (launching September 2014) – This is a new product in the Immortelle range. Made from the fragrant Immortelle flowers (I smelled the actual flower during the PR event and wish I could make tea out of it), this oil absorbs quickly into the skin to provide an instant moisture boost. I had this on my office desk and applied it liberally onto my forehead to combat the peeling.

Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel – When I asked for help on Twitter, three separate people suggested this to me for sunburn relief. On application, my skin sighed in relief. It's like I placed a cool cucumber on my forehead. Because sunburned skin requires more TLC, I actually brought my bottle wherever I went and applied it every hour or so (layering it over the L'Occitane oil) the first few days to stave off the return of peeling skin.

Aloe Vera Gel – My intern at work was shocked to find that I didn't have any aloe vera gel at home, which considering its superior moisturizing properties should really be the first defense for sunburned skin. This was also one of the things I layered on my forehead.

Nighttime Treatment

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Renewal Treatment – When all my efforts managed to alleviate but not cure the problem, a friend of mine suggested using an anti-inflammatory cream. I was excited to tackle my skin issues from a different angle, and also because it meant finally testing this Tatcha cream. I applied it on my forehead and on the little bumps on my cheeks and the symptoms lessened considerably in a couple of days. Note: you should only use this cream at night as the high concentration of Indigo extract leaves a blue tinge on your skin (don't worry, it'll wash off both your face and your pillowcase).

Tatcha Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask & Lifting Face Mask (not pictured) – No re-hydration effort would be complete without a mask, and Tatcha's are hands down, the best. I've always wished the effects of the mask could be permanent, because my skin is never better than after 15 minutes with a Tatcha mask.

La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Cream (not pictured) – I used the heaviest cream in my arsenal to rebuild my skin's moisture barrier. Normally, this would be saved for winter but it worked fabulously in this case to return my skin to normal. Very, very decadent.

Tatcha Revitalizing Eye Cream (not pictured) – Similar in concept to the La Prairie cream, I used the Tatcha eye cream to soothe the spots on my cheeks, to great results.

What products do you use to combat sunburned skin?

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by the brand for editorial consideration. This entry also contains affiliate links.

Beauty PSA: Tatcha on Gilt City

Tatcha Ritual Discovery Kit

I know I probably talk about Tatcha way too much (I swear I really do use other products! There's a Shiseido serum I would like you to meet...), but I feel like I'd be remiss if I didn't share the ~40% off Tatcha deal I found on Gilt City. I am very tempted to get the $90 credit to splurge on a 10 pack of Revitalizing Eye Masks (reviewed here).

In other news, after two amazing years of staying at my Hell's Kitchen apartment, it's finally time to move on. My next apartment will be in a quiet neighborhood located in the Upper West Side. It's going to take some time for me to set up a new photography space (fingers crossed for everything to go well) so you may see more Instagram-style photos in the meantime. My apologies in advance!

Also, if you haven't already signed up, today is the last day to participate in the Tatcha x Messy Wands giveaway. Don't miss out on your chance to win a generous-sized Radiant Deep Brightening Serum, or at the very least, receive an exclusive promotional offer when the giveaway ends. All good things, my friend.

TATCHA x Messy Wands Giveaway

The lovely people at TATCHA have generously provided a special sampling opportunity for Messy Wands readers! They're giving away travel-sized samples of the Radiant Deep Brightening Serum to 50 lucky winners. All you have to do is sign up here by August 23, 2014.

If you weren't one of the 50, do not fret! Everyone who signs up will receive an exclusive email promotional offer when the giveaway ends, which is a pretty sweet consolation prize.

I first reviewed this serum two years ago in my first ever post on TATCHA. While I still believe that the effects of serums are difficult to measure and nothing can replace eating and living healthy, I do think the Deep Brightening Serum is a bottle of particular magic. Throughout the years, I've seen the proof that it lightens acne scars and combats hyperpigmentation, and whenever my skin flares up due to product testing (occupational hazard), this serum calms the skin down and heals the ill effects within a couple of days, without fail.

I've never been without this serum on my vanity since I first had it, and I never want to be. It's my skincare anchor, if you will. I took five months to finish the full-sized serum with daily use, so this travel-sized version should easily last over a month. I urge everyone to give it a try!

Click here to enter the TATCHA Deep Brightening Serum giveaway!

*The giveaway ends on August 23, 2014. Valid for US residents only.

Tatcha Water Collection: Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum + Revitalizing Eye Mask

As a beauty blogger (who also has a day job in beauty), I've had the incredible fortune of being exposed to many brands – I affectionately/despairingly call my office desk a magpie's nest, and more often than not, apologize for the beauty products littered on my apartment floor when visitors take a peek. With such product overload, there are few brands that I am absolutely loyal to. There's a constant need to try new things and form opinions. Occupational hazard, I joke.

If there is one brand I return to over and over again, it's Tatcha. Since my first post on their Beauty Ritual in October 2012, my love for them has only deepened. Very rarely do you find a fledgling brand (it's only ~4 years old) that maintains such integrity and dedication to detail, from marketing to customer service to the products they sell. It's funny to reread my old Tatcha posts and see that I offered suggestions, like hoping they'd create an eye cream, and know my wishful thinking did come true in a few months. For the curious: According to posts on their social media, they're working on sunscreen (!) and lipstick (!!).

This summer, Tatcha introduced two new items to their Water Collection, adding the Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum and Revitalizing Eye Mask to its already impressive roster (comprising of the Dewy Skin Mist and Lifting Mask).

While the Radiant Deep Brightening Serum works as a radiance serum that combats hyperpigmentation and discoloration, the Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum ($90 for 30ml/1 fl oz.) is purely for hydration. According to the Tatcha blog, Vicky was inspired to create this serum after makeup artist Daniel Martin told her that he loved using the Deep Hydration Lifting Mask on models' faces before painting them, but needed something that worked quicker. Vicky essentially bottled the deeply hydrating spa-in-a-sheet mask and created this serum.

In addition to firming and plumping effects, this serum contains crushed 23-karat gold that brightens the skin ever so slightly. The soothing scent features hints of green tea.

The Luminous Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask ($12 per sheet/$95 for 10 sheets) is essentially a concentrated version of the Lifting Mask, temporarily banishing signs of fatigue from the eye area by giving it a firming hydration boost. I wore it while writing this post, and within the 15 minutes of application, noticed a marked improvement in the skin around my eyes. I looked as if I'd slept undisturbed for 12 hours. Loathe to waste the extra serum (and because my mouth area sorely needed help), I stuck these to the sides of my mouth and enjoyed the same benefits.

It is a shame that the effects of masks are ephemeral, because my post-mask skin looked radiant, happy, and healthy. I highly recommend use before important events. When I get married, I'm going to make sure I have a stash of these in stock.

Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum and Revitalizing Eye Mask are available for purchase online at tatcha.com.

P.S. Tatcha just launched an amazing gift with purchase offer! For every $75 purchase on tatcha.com, you'll get a complimentary "Summer Essentials" kit that contains the Dewy Skin Mist, Original Aburatorigami Blotting Papers (super essential), and Deep Hydration face and eye masks. Use code SUMMERFUN14 at checkout to redeem. Offer is valid till July 3, or while supplies last.

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by PR or the manufacturer for editorial consideration.

Give Mom The Best

We interrupt your daily blog reading with a regularly scheduled Messy Wands/Tatcha PSA! Long story short, this is the best skincare brand ever so get thee some goodies and see your skin glow.

Okay, joking aside (though nothing I said above was a joke), if you're stumped on what to get mom for Mother's Day, Tatcha has a nifty little kit – complete with a heartfelt note – ready for you.

The Okasan Mother's Day Gift Set contains a Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask, the Gold Camellia Beauty Oil and Nourishing Lip Balm (I'm on my second bottle/jar for both), and just to sweeten the whole experience, a little box of sweets imported from Kyoto.

Needless to say, I think any mother will appreciate a (skin)care package like this. Other great gifts are the Ritual Kiri Gift Box, or the Indigo Collection body and hand creams. The box above is en route to my mother back home, who instilled in me the importance of taking care of my skin. It is through watching her that I developed a love for the fifteen minutes I get to spend on myself every night.

Tatcha Okasan Mother's Day Gift Set retails for $135 and is available at tatcha.com.

As you probably know by now, I have blogged about almost every Tatcha product I've ever had the pleasure to lay my hands on, so if you are curious about any product, feel free to browse through the Tatcha category. For your convenience, links to my past reviews below:

• Tatcha Beauty Ritual
  
• Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist (I think I'm on my fifth bottle)
  
• Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask
  
• Tatcha Revitalizing Eye Cream (I've been applying almost everyday and am still finishing up the same pot from this post)
  
• Tatcha Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm and Camellia Beauty Oil (Best in class)
  
• Tatcha Soothing Silk Body Butter and Hand Cream

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by PR or the manufacturer for editorial consideration. This entry also contains affiliate links.