Skincare Chat featuring Laneige, Aesop and lots more [June 2014]
Skip the next paragraph if you just want to get on to the main point of this entry, which is my updated Skincare Routine from March onwards til currently.
And this one entry in particular I have mentioned wanting to do it for a month.. gasp! Where has the time gone to?
I am currently off work this weekend, and I will be out of town next week, so I hope that in the next couple of days, I can catch up on some entries at least during the day time. Many friends and readers have also noted the severe lack of updates and reviews.... and I really want to apologise... part laziness, part lack of any motivation to keep updating regularly. But trust me, when I do sit down and write about something, I MEAN IT. I used to be able to blog spam during the weekends (esp the whole of last year) but that was also done at the expense at other aspects of my life. But now, let's just say that my lifestyle and habit changed somewhat. I am getting out of the house more often - not doing much mind you, but stuff like working out, errands, gatherings, outings etc etc etc... I still enjoy playing around with and trying out new products, and I still do... everyday, but for me to sit down and have to take photos, write about them have somewhat taken a backseat. Of course, I could have churn out mindless entries that aren't very informative nor illustrative, but that's really never been my style, and that's not what we are here for. I have also cut down on attending launch events save for a few that I am personally am very keen in, and I really want to just keep my blog to sharing what I love (as opposed to whatever is NEW) in the first place.
So anyway, back to the main point of this entry - my skincare routine. We should note that by the time this entry is posted, the products which I am listing in this routine are half gone/ emptied, and I am in the process of finishing up most of these items, and also thinking of which range of skincare to try out next. Most probably Clarins and a bit of Lancome thrown in. Having said that, I think I can give a very good overview of these items that I am going to mention, since I have been using them all for a good 2 months at least.
The current state of my skin now leaves me with little room for complaint/ concern. I have never seen better skin texture - and breakouts seem to be a thing of the past (TOUCH WOOD) - and as a result, foundations which I found blah in the past, I am now rediscovering them with my better skin condition. To be fair too, skincare has become one of my high priority in the past couple of years, I may not be an expert in the technology and ingredients, but I am very disciplined with it comes to application and knowing (in my own blur ways) what works for me. No amount of skincare can work wonders if you don't maintain a good healthy lifestyle - drinking enough water, sleeping well, your diet and also exercising. I try my best to be as 'clean' as I can... and let these myriad of skincare products do the rest.
I will list products by categories in the order in which I use them and give my general thoughts on each (bear with me, we have a LONG list) and I will also be including worthy mentions which might not be pictured (cos I forgot to, dang!). So, here we go!
When it comes to cleansing, I always double cleanse - removing my makeup, and then using a foaming cleanser.
Here's my current makeup remover products - some are more effective than others, and depending on WHERE I am doing the removal (in my room or at the bathroom.
BIODERMA Sebium H2O - I believe this is for sensitive skin, and to be honest, I still think that the original one is the best. I think that this doesn't clean as thoroughly, let alone with eye makeup (pretty much hopeless). If you want to try out Bioderma, definitely go for the original one. It is so clean and gentle I can't imagine anyone being sensitive to it anyway. I only use such cleansing water when I am removing makeup in my room with a few pieces of cotton pads - before I go take a shower at the end of the day. There's also a Bioderma for kids - which I have also used, but I guess it is too 'gentle' for me... but probably good for cleansing very young delicate skin without any makeup.
Ettusais Gentle Make Off - this is a liquidy gel like solution which I use only for cleaning off base and brows. Not for lips and eyes. It is a gentle remover, smelling slightly of alcohol. I am not impressed by its efficiency, but as a basic daily remover, it does the job. The pump dispenser is a bonus, and can we note how cute the LE packaging is??
Shiseido The Skincare instant eye and lip remover - I have this for a long time, and I am surprised it is still lasting well! I only use this after the whole double cleanser, like when I am about to do my skincare, and I realise I still have residual eye makeup or lipstick stains on me. Then I would use this to rub off any stubborn makeup. Which isn't really the proper way to use it, obviously...but I have soak cotton pads with this remover, and press them over my eyes to remove eyeshadow, liner, lash glue etc etc and it is quite effective. It is an oil based remover which doesn't feel greasy and doesn't leave an oily film after I wipe it off. Highly recommend.
* Not Pictured: The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter - This is the bomb! I like to work this into my skin, and it cleans off all makeup, and it feels so smooth and creamy, my skin doesn't feel stripped at all. And for $20 I think this is really one of the affordable and yet effective cleansing balms out there in the market. Definitely need to try this. I have since finished my tub, and I will re-purchase sometime soon.
After removing most of my makeup, I will move on to cleansing my face, preferably with something very foamy. Here are a few that I am rotating.
Laneige White Plus Renew Bubble Cleanser - this is a mousse foam cleanser - it smells refreshing (vaguely citrusy) and cleans my face well without leaving that dry squeaky feeling. You will notice that I am using several products from Laneige's White Plus range... that's the 'core' of my current skincare routine. It is a decent cleanser, but not anything super impressive that I can mention about it.
Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser - I never use it DAILY. I think it might be too harsh if I use it daily. It is a clay foaming cleanser - and contains some bits that also exfoliate your skin. I like that it makes my skin feel super clean but like I said, I would never use it everyday. And I usually only use this at night when I am double cleansing, not in the morning when I shower.
L'Occitance Cleansing Gel - this is from the Angelica range, and it is very refreshing. Nice to use in the morning, when my face is relatively clean anyway, and I just want something very gentle. Again, a nice gentle cleanser, nothing much that I can comment on.
NOT PICTURED: VDL Cleansing Foam - very densely foamy and creamy and I love such cleansers. It is only $13 for a huge tube, and I highly recommend this cleanser. I am using mine in the scent 'clean scent'.
I have other foaming cleansers which I am loving, but they aren't in my current rotation, so I shan't mention them here.
So besides regular cleansing, one 2-3 times a week, I would exfoliate - either with a traditional scrubby thingy or a exfoliating solution, or with my Clarisonic. Here are three relatively gentle ones:NARS double refining exfoliator - refreshing like a cocktail, and the scrubby bits are gentle enough for you to use 3-4 times a week. Leaves my skin quite brightened up after each use.
Ettusais Peeling Mlik - this is one of those exfoliating solutions which you rub into your skin and you can rub off the 'dead skin' bits off your skin. It is quite mild and best to use it on dry skin. It doesn't rub off well on wet skin. This is great for those who want to exfoliate but perhaps want to avoid those with scrubby beads.
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate - This is awesome stuff. The tiny bits are densely packed and the 'paste' of the product is very regenerating. Everytime I use this, my skin becomes so SMOOTH, and super soft. No wonder this is one of the brand's star product. I swear by this, and I use this very sparingly seeing as I only have such a small tube. Haha.
Another interesting exfoliator that I am using comes in a wet wipe version - the ETTUSAIS Peeling Sheet - which is one of their new products - it is like a normal facial wipe, but it gently removes dead skin dull skin and the best thing is, you don't have to rinse your face after. Great for lazy days. I keep this in my room, and after I use it, I can move on to my skincare routine.
And here we have the MASKS - complicated affair containing various types, performing all sorts of functions, masks are the only thing which I get easily suckered into and very game to try.Here's the first group - and these are the cleansing/ exfoliating masks:
I have mentioned the GlamGlow masks before in this entry here so I shan't go on about this. These masks are serious stuff! I feel like my skin is properly cleaned right down to the pores, and my skin feels super smooth after each time I use it. But because they feel so 'strong' I use them only every other week.
A more gentle option is the Kiehl's Deep Pore Cleansing Masque - I used to think this is strong stuff, until I tried the Glamglow. Haha. This is great for my T-zone, I don't need to use it all over the face. If you want a good decent pore mask, this is definitely worth looking into.
Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask - this is a very mild relaxing mask, I think it is quite brightening and moisturising, but other than that, nothing very groundbreaking.
Aseop Parsley Seed Masque - I love love love the scent of this. It is very gentle, despite it being a 'clay' type mask, and it claims to deep cleanse your skin - and removes impurities. I like using this mask, and it is also very refreshing (how many times have I used 'refreshing' in this entry....) but yeah, this is highly raved in the beauty community, and I am not disappointed.
NOT PICTURED: LUSH BB Seaweed Mask - this is a handmade fresh mask, I usually leave it in the fridge, hence forgot to include in the line up.. but it is a very nice mask, smells awesome, and makes my skin feel really smooth and soft.
Next, a totally different type of masks - those that totally subsitute my entire night skincare routine. For my lazy days - which is 2-3 times of the week. Cos at the end of the day.... sometimes I really don't feel like using 4-5 products on my face, when I can slap on any one of these and call it a night and jump into bed. I really really enjoy these ones that I am currently using.
First is the Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask - I got this at only $50 at the airport duty and I need to buy this again the next time I am at duty free. I NEED THIS. Firstly, I love the scent - that herbal ginseng scent that feels so relaxing and nourishing. The cream itself is a rich cream but not heavy, and it is very moisturising....you know what, I feel like I don't need any other serums, creams or whatever when this alone can do the job.
NARS Skin Aqua Gel Mask - very lightweight, like a sleeping mask, nothing super amazing that I can notice, but the next day my skin feels clear and recharged. Great for those who have oily skin cos this is really light.
Aesop Triple C Balancing Gel - the most unique among all the nourishing masks - it has a very honey sticky gooey formula, that balls up when you rub it onto your skin, and then when you blend it into your skin, it sort of disappears into this rich thick formula that covers and protects your skin. It is very heavy, and sticky... but next morning, NOTHING. Everything is absorbed... and my skin looks and feels very firm and clear the next day. LOVE LOVE LOVE this.
La Prairie Ice Crystal Cream & Dry Oil - I have reviewed this set before, and for the hefty price tag ($500 each for the full sized), you get this luxe rich cream and dry oil... very nice, but I don't see myself running out to purchase, when I equally enjoy the Sulwhasoo and the Aseop (which is about $170 btw) masks.
NOT PICTURED: Laneige White Plus Capsule Sleeping Pack - I use this probably once every fortnight (I always forget!) and it is a very thick dollop of cream essence that is suspended in a clear gel. I didn't notice much effects, but this range of Laneige white plus products are surprising in terms of the rich formulations which I enjoyed... most people would find it too thick or rich, but I enjoy such formula personally.
Next, we come to the 'regular' skincare stuff - one of the star products in my current routine is the new Biotherm Life Plankton Essence - this is a pre serum product - which I use before all my creams. My current routine is not a serum intensive one anyway. This reminds me of SKII Facial Treatment Essence - but with a more pleasant smell, but the same properties. It serves to boost the efficacy of your skincare products and also helps to boost moisture and radiance of the overall skin texture. I can't pinpoint a specific area of improvement, but this is a step which I really do enjoy in my routine. Highly recommend this... and you can see how much I have used it... actually the pic was take a month back... by now I am further gone with this product. Okay this is the main moisturising part of my skincare routine - the Laneige White Plus range - I use the skin refiner the least often... and even the serum is not well used at all. I use the Emulsion as a day cream, and the original cream for night time.The emulsion is light enough for day use, and the original cream is this thick whipped rich cream that feels very heavy on my skin - which I don't mind, and it is all absorbed into my skin after ten min... sometimes I also use it in the day time.
The entire White Plus range is working well for me, I haven't notice any side effects, and there is certainly overall brightening of my skin, I have noted some spots which are fading (I mean zit spots) but for other sun spots which I guess are more deep rooted, I haven't notice much results.
Overall, this is a range that I would recommend.
Thanks for reading!!!
