"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139.14

My 10-Step Skincare Routine.

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It doesn't really matter how many steps you have in your skincare routine - you could have as little as four steps, as long as it works for you.  This is what works for me.  *Click on products for links.

Step 1. Remove eye makeup. I use Philosophy Just Release Me Eye Makeup Remover or Japanese makeup remover wipes from Daiso on lazy days.
Step 2. Remove makeup with an oil-based cleanser on dry skin.  I use The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Oil.  This cleansing oil seriously gets the job done and it smells really nice.
Step 3. Wash your face with a water-based cleanser.  I use Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser.  I love this cleanser so much.  I also use use Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, but I ran out of that a few weeks ago. Yup, I double-cleanse - it's a very effective way to wash your face. Try it!
Step 4. Exfoliate your skin (1-2 times a week).  I use Skin Food Black Sugar Mask Wash Off (works well without being abrasive) or my Clarisonic Mia (usually with any sample cleanser I have in the bathroom).
Step 5. Apply toner.  I use Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner.  I'm trying the Lavender one right now and it's also really great.
Step 5. Apply a sheet mask for 15-20 minutes (twice a week). I refrigerate my sheet masks because it cools my face while hydrating it at the same time.  I like to keep sheet masks in stock - running out of them would be a nightmare.  Try Skinfood Hydro Fitting Snail Mask Sheet.
Step 6. Apply eye cream.  I use Fresh Rose Hydrating Eye Gel Cream.
Step 7. Apply moisturizer generously.  I use Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb.
Step 8. Apply face serum or essence.  I'm not committed to any one face serum, but I'm using Ora's Amazing Herbal Advanced Nightly Skin Repair right now.
Step 9.  Apply facial mist for extra moisture.  I use Heritage Store Rose Petals Rosewater.
Step 10.  Apply lip balm.  I use Glossier Balm Dotcom.  Your lips need some love too!

Click Here to read an article about the 10-step Korean Skincare Routine featured on Into The Gloss.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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#gowngoals

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Seriously. How beautiful does Lily James look in this gown? Well done.


Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Latest obsessions.

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1. Game of Thrones.  I finally started watching Game of Thrones a month or so ago and it quickly became one of my favorite shows. Dragons, epic battles, castles, mythological blue-eyed creatures - what's not to love?  This show was made for people like me.  And, of course there's Jon Snow - bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark and Lord Commander of the Night's Watch - I love him. #youknownothingjonsnow #winteriscoming 

2. My Nike shoes.  I got a pair on sale when I was visiting my brother in Florida last year.  We locked eyes and I knew it was meant to be. #nikeforever

3. Barefoot Contessa.  I got pretty sick over the holidays, so my Christmas weekend was spent indoors, binge-watching Ina Garten's show "Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics" on Netflix and not much else.  She is the queen of everything.

4.  Lip tint.  I'm sort of obsessed with lip tint right now - so is Jessica Alba.  I have three lip tints from innisfree, hand-delivered to me from Korea!  Thank you to my wonderful friends who love me. #hearts When you visit Korea, stock up on skincare and makeup products - it's the smart thing to do. 

5. Redbox.  Yes, there are still people who rent movies from Redbox kiosks inside of grocery stores and I am one of them.  It is a weekly ritual for me to drive to Ralph's on my way home to pick up a movie and sometimes popcorn. Movie. Check. Popcorn. Check. Dog sitting next to me on couch. Check. A perfect night in!
Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Life goals.

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Instead of making a list of New Year's resolutions I never really follow, I decided to make a list of life goals.  They are major lifestyle adjustments, but I am committed to making it happen.

1.  Eat breakfast.  "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper." -Adelle Davis  |  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet it's the easiest for me to skip.  Granola bars, oatmeal, fruit, bagels, yogurt - whatever the food is, I want eating breakfast to be the most important part of my morning.  No exceptions.


2.  Be kind.  "You must simply have courage and be kind." -Cinderella  | Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate - it's very different from being nice.  Nice is merely being pleasant and agreeable, but kindness is entirely about other people.  I want my life to be about kindness.

3.  Live an eco-friendly lifestyle.  This means using reusable bags for groceries, not buying packaged food, buying fruits and vegetables at the farmer's market, making my own products, shopping second-hand and downsizing.  Laura Singer explains her zero-waste lifestyle HERE - it's truly inspiring.  Man, this is going to be tough.  Haha.

That's it for now, but I'm sure this list will continue to grow...
Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Life changing moments in 2015 - Moment 1.

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My dad passing away was the most devastating thing to happen to my family...ever.  I know he's gone and I've accepted that, but sometimes it doesn't seem real.  He passed away on September 7, 2015 - my mom, brother and I were by his side.  He didn't open his eyes to see us one last time and he didn't get to say anything heartfelt before he left us, but we held his hand tight.  The three of us just cried and held onto my dad as long as we could. 

Telling you that I miss my dad is such a huge understatement - there's this giant void inside of me without him here.  My dad was...something else.  He was kind, but not just normal kind - the superhuman kind.  And, he was so funny - the kind of funny that makes you feel warm and happy inside.  He was my twin - we had the same mannerisms, eating habits, unnecessary road rage; we were major foodies, appreciators of well-made documentaries, etc.  My mom often says I'm just like my dad - it warms my heart to hear her say that. 

I know he's in heaven now, celebrating with other people who have passed on - but, he's not HERE.  I can't walk Belle around the neighborhood with him, I can't share Sunday meals with him or go to the movies just because.  All of those things are just memories now and I don't get to make new ones with him...  

But, then I remember his face and his voice, the meals we shared and lots of laughter - those are the things that keep me going and the sadness leaves.  I will miss him calling my name and making fun of me.  I will miss his invitations to go to Costco to eat pizza and hot dogs.  I will miss him telling me that I drive like a maniac.  I will miss him telling me I sing too much in the shower.  I will miss the way his face lit up when I'd walk through the front door or the pure excitement he had going to the Korean market with our family.  I will miss making him laugh...I was good at that. 

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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My not-so-glamorous morning routine.

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My life is not a movie.  I never look the way I imagine Cindy Crawford does every morning.  Sad face.  It's not pretty, people.  I snooze my alarm at least twice before waking up successfully 30 minutes later, but I don't get out of bed until l check Instagram and play a quick game (that shall not be named) on my phone.  I wash my face and brush my teeth, all the while listening to Weeknd's "In the Night" on repeat. Love that song right now.  

Next comes tonermoisturizer and sunblock - the most important elements of my skincare regiment. I never leave the house without sunblock on, just as vampires never walk into sunlight without wearing a special ring for protection.  How stupid would that be?  I frantically dress for work in less than a minute and slap on some makeup before walking out the door with some kind of breakfast food in hand.  When I get to work, I quickly read theSkimm and my day officially begins.  Tada!  Impressed?  Probably not.  Oh well.  Good day!   
Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Top 20.

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Top twenty movies I will never get sick of:
1) While You Were Sleeping
2) Bridget Jones's Diary
3) Good Will Hunting
4) Pretty Woman
5) Jurassic Park
6) Die Hard
7) The Dark Knight
8) Inception
9) Hook
10) My Best Friend's Wedding
11) Home Alone
12) The Sound of Music
13) The Imitation Game
14) The Theory of Everything
15) Pitch Perfect
16) The Social Network
17) The Italian Job (2003)
18) My Week with Marilyn
19) The Hundred-Foot Journey
20) National Treasure
Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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