Sheet masking 101 + Tony Moly "I'm Real" roundup

I love sheet masking! The application couldn't be easier: just open the pouch and slap the mask onto your face (no painting required). 20 minutes later, you're left with smoother, more hydrated skin.

Proper hydration is key to curbing issues like acne and wrinkles, so I've turned sheet masking into a weekly ritual. The cool (temperature-wise) sensation of having a sheet mask on my face feels like therapy to me – I think of it as my weekly "me" time (no spa appointment required!). I also love that you can sheet mask from almost anywhere: the thin, portable packaging makes it easy to slip a few sheet masks into your suitcase for trips.

Snails on my face? Yes, please!

We're three weeks into the new year, and I've yet to experience a breakout in 2017! For someone whose acne used to be so bad that she underwent three courses of Accutane, that's a huge feat. So what's been the game changer for me? Spironolactone has helped, especially to curb oiliness. But my skin wasn't breakout-proof until I supplemented spironolactone with the most magical topical I've tried: Mizon All-in-One Snail Repair Cream.

Snail mucus...yes, I know it sounds like some make-believe fantasy skincare ingredient. Something mythical my parents would read about in the Korean newspaper (cue fan death). I was super skeptical until a coworker recommended the Mizon product to me, and I read rave reviews from Into the Gloss and Peach and Lily. Thank goodness I decided to give it a shot! After using snail cream for two months, my skin is smoother, I'm not breaking out, and my acne scars and hyperpigmentation are fading.

Why snails?
Snails constantly slither over sharp rocks and other bacteria-laden surfaces, but their smooth bodies appear to stay free of cuts and infections, thanks to their mucus coating. That's likely what the ancient Greeks had in mind when they prescribed snail mucus as a topical anti-inflammatory (see references here and here). Fast forward to the 1980s, when Chilean escargot farmers (and their French customers) noted how quickly hand lesions healed (with no scarring) after handling snails. The French figured they were onto something and began exploring the use of snail mucus in skincare. Check out this French video and this Chilean one (narrated in French) on how they harvest snail mucus.

Citing the potential of snails recorded throughout history, the Korean skincare industry took the idea and ran with it. Dozens of snail mucus-containing products from Korean skincare companies debuted in the 2000s. Despite the initial "ick" factor, skincare enthusiasts worldwide embraced snail mucus as an anti-wrinkle, anti-acne, scar-healing miracle worker. It's no wonder: snail mucus is full of moisture-retaining hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and anti-bacterial glycoproteins that can heal scars and boost collagen for firmer, more elastic skin.

Dermatologists remain divided on the efficacy of snail mucus, but there are enough studies on its benefits to sustain a thriving snail skincare industry: on top of all the snail products out there, Thailand boasts a facial in which snails literally crawl over your face (there are also more conventional facials that incorporate snail mucus). I'm all for products that are bona-fide approved by the scientific community (a la Retin-A), but when a product works this well for me, I can't help but sing its praises. Here's to hoping that snail mucus works for you, too!

How I use snail cream
1) Double-cleanse with Banila Clean It Zero and Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
2) Tone with L'Occitane Immortelle Essential Water
3) Apply a pinky's worth of Mizon All-in-One Snail Repair Cream
4) Apply moisturizer (L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cream, or in the drier winter months, Benefit Cosmetics Total Moisture Facial Cream)

I use snail cream twice a day - once in the morning and once again in the evening. The only difference is that in the morning, I use a mineral-based sunscreen (Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40 or MDSolarSciences MD Crème Mineral Beauty Balm SPF 50), and in the evening, I apply Retin-A and moisturizer 20 minutes after the snail cream, per the lazy girl skincare regimen.

Properties to note about Mizon All-in-One Snail Repair Cream
- Fragrance-free and odorless
- Gooey, syrupy texture
- Feels velvety upon application
- Dries to a non-sticky matte finish
- Has 92% snail filtrate - the highest percentage I've found on the market so far
- Despite "All-In-One" branding, this product is definitely not a moisturizer in and of itself - you'll need to apply a conventional moisturizer after using it

The results I've seen
- Less acne
- Smoother, softer skin
- Reduction in fine lines
- Less-prominent acne scars and hyperpigmentation
- Overall evening of skin tone

2017 resolution: go concealer and foundation-free as much as possible. Took a bare-faced (still wearing eye makeup) selfie this past weekend, and the zit-free skin is brought to you by these multi-tasking snail products. From left to right, See N Tree Snail 100 Mask Sheet and Mizon All-in-One Snail Repair Cream

What else is out there?
The only other snail-based skincare product I've tried so far is the See N Tree Snail 100 Mask Sheet, which I recently received as a gift from Korea. Like I do for most sheet masks, I loved this one's cooling effect, and it helped my skin flake less during these winter months, but no earth-shattering results from using it only once.

I've heard great things about the snail skincare lines from Benton and Missha in addition to another more "premium" black snail cream from Mizon. Have any of you tried these products? Let me know what you think of them (and snail mucus in general) in the comments!

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Adult acne: When nothing's working (and you don't want to go on Accutane)

Oh, the joy of a Sightglass macchiato on a rainy day! Now that I'm taking spironolactone, I'm able to enjoy macchiatos without stressing about caffeine and dairy-induced acne.

Happy 2017! The holidays were a whirlwind for me: traveling, spending time with family, and baking up a storm. I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season as well! This year, I'll continue sharing my favorite anti-acne and anti-wrinkle discoveries with you all. Thankfully, 2017's been a pretty acne-free year for me so far. Read on to find out why :)

Within three years of finishing my last course of Accutane, my skin had relapsed to a less severe (but still annoying) version of its natural state: oily, pimply, and full of clogged pores.

I was at a loss for what to do - my usual zit-fighting tactics weren't working for me anymore:

• Topical Aczone helped with oil control and as an acne spot treatment, but not for those stubborn PMS pimples.
• Nightly applications of Retin-A prevented pimples somewhat - but whenever I traveled to a new climate or had PMS, my skin became a greasy mess.
• Going caffeine and dairy-free also helped a little, but I discovered that a completely latte-free lifestyle simply wasn't sustainable for me. Plus, I'm an avid baker who loves using traditional ingredients for her cakes and pies (read: lots and lots of butter). Doesn't help that I got obsessed with making cheesecakes over the holidays!

One of several cheesecakes I baked from this recipe during the holiday season! Full of skin-unfriendly dairy ingredients: cream cheese, brown butter, heavy cream...but the joy I get from baking and eating these cheesecakes is worth the occasional pimple or two. Though I haven't gotten any yet in 2017, thanks to spironolactone.

I was considering a FOURTH course of Accutane, but because my husband and I are planning to have a baby in the next 3-5 years, my dermatologist advised against it (Accutane can cause severe birth defects when ingested in the months leading up to pregnancy). She instead recommended that I try a small daily dose (25 mg) of orally ingested spironolactone, a potassium-sparing pill that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low.

While spironolactone is typically prescribed as a treatment for heart and kidney disorders, it's becoming more common to prescribe it off-label for acne treatment as well.

Sounds scary, but my dermatologist assured me of spironolactone's safety, especially at such a small daily dosage. I'm so glad I listened to her. Here are the benefits I've experienced since I started taking spironolactone a few months ago:

• I'm now able to consume dairy and caffeine in modest quantities without stressing out about zits.
• No more dreaded PMS oiliness or acne.
• I can travel without climate-induced breakouts!

Spironolactone curbs acne by acting as an androgen inhibitor, blocking the effect of male hormones that contribute to acne. It also blocks activity of sebaceous glands, helping with oiliness. It's no wonder that being on spironolactone feels like I'm getting the benefits of Accutane, without the severe side effects.

Pros of spironolactone (for me):

• Smooth, shine-free skin, even leading up to my period and on trips when my skin has to adapt to a new climate.
• Almost completely zit-free (I get a few small pimples monthly, but they come to a head and disappear quickly).
• Able to consume dairy and caffeine without problems.
• Small pill that's safe (only 25 MG once a day, and I check in with my dermatologist regularly).

Cons of spironolactone (for me):

• Didn't see results until about 3 weeks into taking the medication.
• Have to get a blood test every 6 months to make sure potassium levels are normal.
• Slightly more frequent urination (this went away within 2 months).
• Initially irregular periods (this also went away within 2 months).
• The possibility of birth defects if spironolactone is taken while pregnant (but I don't have plans to get pregnant anytime soon, and according to my dermatologist, spironolactone is safe to take leading up to pregnancy - just don't take it while you're pregnant).

Other cons of spironolactone:

• Guys can't take it (can lead to gynecomastia).
• In large doses, it can cause hyperkalemia (but the derm says 25 mg/day should be safe).

Traveling with spironolactone versus traveling without spironolactone was like night and day: When I went to Asia two years ago, I was breaking out like crazy, especially on my forehead and around my jawline, where I tend to get oily. My skin couldn't handle the changes in temperature and humidity. But on this year's Asia trip, spironolactone made acne a non-issue: by the end of my stay in Taiwan, I was barely using concealer anymore. Less time putting on concealer means more time for fun and adventure when I'm traveling! Spironolactone is a game-changer for an acne-prone girl who loves travel as much as I do.

Guzzling a latte at Red Circle Cafe in Taipei from our recent Asia trip. I was engaging in three acne triggers here: travel, dairy, and caffeine – any of these on their own used to be enough to cause a massive breakout, but on spironolactone, I could do all three at the same time without worrying about my skin. Which is a relief because I love trying new cafes and milky coffee drinks when I'm on vacation!

In conclusion - spironolactone combined with a solid topical skincare regimen has helped me curb my adult acne, without having to resort to another course of Accutane. If you're frustrated with your acne like I was, and you tend to break out before you get your period, I highly recommend talking to your dermatologist about spironolactone.