There’s just no other way to write this post without revealing that I am guilty of watching Vampire Diaries :S. Yes. I do (kind of) like the show. And have been liking it more now that Kelly’s character, Pearl, is getting more screen time. Pearl is up to something. Her daughter, Anna (biological?), released her from captivity along with other resident vampires and now they are back with a vengeance. Pearl is up to something. Oh, she’s brewing something good over at Mystic Falls, alright.

Speaking of the show, not a huge fan of Elena. I don’t know why, and believe you me I have tried, but I find her character a little bit on the dull side and she has gotten even more dull during the past couple of episodes. Apart from falling for tormented vampire hero, Stefan, the worst she has done so far is speed. But hey, that’s just my opinion. Anyway, getting back to the main topic: Kelly Hu.

Is she hot or is she HOT? Can you believe she’s in her 40′s? She can pass off for someone in their early to mid 30′s. Seriously. I could not find any of her beauty secrets, but clearly she moisturizes her skin well. So, kids, let it be known: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

Want to take it up a notch? Using moisturizers with anti-oxidants is a great way of amping up your skin care. Anti-oxidants help prevent skin damage from free radicals — villains of skincare-land that attack healthy cells causing our skin to age prematurely. And excessive sun exposure leads to more free radicals, so you may want to cut down on tanning.

When it comes to choosing moisturizers with anti-oxidants, or pretty much any skin care products, it helps to be a discerning consumer: cheaper does not mean it is less efficient or vice versa. Look at the back of the box and read the list of ingredients closely. If a product claims to have anti-oxidant X and/or Y but is/are in the last 5 ingredients listed , then it means that said product has less amounts of X and/or Y in it. What does this mean? You are paying too much for moisturizer with a tiny amount of anti-oxidants. Acids (BHA, AHA, etc.), however, are meant to be in weaker concentrations.

Here are some products with anti-oxidants:

$$ Neutrogena Anti-Oxidant Day Lotion”>Neutrogena’s Anti-Oxidant Day Lotion My bf, knowing my fondness for trying new products, bought this for me two months ago. I love that it has built in SPF 20 (Helioplex, said to be the best kind around), though I still try to go with at least SPF 30 or 50 depending on how long I’m staying out for and how strong the sun is. It could be more moisturizing, in my opinion.

$$ Korres Yogourt Cream Full-fat Greek yogourt, olive oil, macadamia nuts… Mmmm sounds good enough to eat! What’s great about Korres products is that they don’t have chemicals like Parabens, Sulfates, Pthalates, Triclosan, etc. that are purportedly harmful to your health.

$$$Clinique’s Super Rescue Anti-Oxidant Night: I have yet to try this personally, but I have been told that this product is just great. Plus, nighttime application means it is not interrupted by dirt, grime, and pollution.