2014 Beauty Resolutions + My Visit to the Sulwhasoo Spa in Hong Kong

This will be my first time to make any beauty resolution because change is truly needed. In order to keep it realistic, I've decided to go with two of the most important ones.
First, I prioritize my skincare regimen. I would always tell myself this is important and then forget about it mid-year. The thing is, my rosacea was at its worst last year and I was (kind of still am) plagued with other skin concerns. I need to pay more attention to skincare because, as Shu Uemura once said, "beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin."
Second, I need to drastically cut my beauty budget. Aside from the dent in my pocketbook, I have run out of storage space. What makes this worse is half of the products I purchased have not been used! My hoarding tendencies got the best of me in 2013... and that's not good. Heck, I even adopted more cats (a story for another day). Anyway, I may have to move some of the unused makeup to my professional kit.

This also means that I will focus blogging about products that I already have. Instead of running to the mall the minute a new collection arrives, I will exercise will power. There are some items from the NARS Spring 2014 collection that I am dying to get and it's pure torture exercising self-control... thankfully, I heard that these are going to be part of the permanent line. Whew. That somewhat kept my panic at bay. The only two LE items I will allow myself to splurge on - Chanel Illusion D'Ombre and Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks since I have been collecting these from the start.

I spent the latter part of my holiday in Hong Kong. When I usually travel there, I go nuts shopping for cosmetics that are hard to find (Japanese and Korean brands) or cost more elsewhere. This year, I told myself I would only get the Cle de Peau Concealer that I have been longing for and the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Apparence because I somehow missed out on this limited edition piece.
The rest of the beauty budget was spent at the Sulwhasoo Spa. Getting a facial there is something I've been longing for ever since 2010. I can't even find the words to express how pleased elated I am to finally go there!

When I arrived, I was asked to stay in the waiting area and after a few minutes was lead to the locker room. They provided me with all sorts of disposables - slippers, a hair brush, underwear and skincare samples. Inside were dressing rooms, showers and vanity tables. Although these facilities are typical of any spa, the design of Sulwhasoo Spa is smart, sophisticated and luxurious.
I did not take any photos out of respect for other clients and I also did not want it to get in the way of my treatment.
Since I had a lot of redness, they recommended a sensitive skin facial. This also included a warm ginseng foot bath and a massage (legs, arms and shoulders). The treatment room was air-conditioned but I was on a heated bed. I can't remember any other time I was THAT relaxed. I felt like I was in heaven!

After I was done and had changed back to my clothes, I found a tray with tea, cookies and an envelope with my name on it. Inside the envelope was a thoughtful note from my therapist and a separate card with recommended products.
Although I was tempted to buy a few items, I kept in mind that I already had some similar ones back home. So the only thing I bought was the First Care Activating Serum since I had nothing like it.
The visit to Sulwhasoo Spa was just what I needed to kick-start my path to better skincare. I'm so glad I did it.
So.... here's to a better year for all of us. I wish you all the best in 2014! What are your beauty resolutions?