Updated Daily Basic Skincare Routine

It’s time for an update, people! The last time I posted about my skincare regime was back in April last year so it’s been a year since and things have changed. I was using mostly Hada Labo es (for sensitive skin) to improve the moisture levels of my dehydrated skin and the products have worked well.

Nowadays, I’ve been digging natural and organic skincare ranges and recently have loved a couple of New Zealand brands. I like smelling and eating herbal plants, so slapping some on my face seems like a good idea to me.

Let me start by telling you what my skin type is like. I have an oily t-zone with dry/dehydrated cheeks. My chin and sideburn area are prone to breakouts. Not major ones but they are annoying enough. My cheeks tend to get red very easily and can sometimes be quite sensitive. In general, I’d say I have combination-oily to dehydrated skin.

I must admit I was initially turned off by the weird dark amber liquid that oozed out of the bottle. The Antipodes Juliet Cleanser smells kinda strange too, like sweet flowers with a hint of spice, which I later found out to be cardamon. But I love how gentle it is and that it doesn’t strip my skin leaving it tight.

It produces very little foam, which is probably a good thing because foamy cleansers tend to be more drying. My skin feels clean and comfortable. The downside is the RM108 price tag. It’s expensive for a cleanser but one bottle will last a while because I don’t need to use too much each time.

Yes, I was sucked into the hype when the Estee Lauder Micro Essence Lotion started exploding across several local beauty blogs a few months ago. I’m not sure what it’s supposed to do exactly because other than moistening my skin, I don’t think it actually does anything. Anyway, since I’m saddled with a big (and expensive) bottle, I’d might as well use it up. I’ll probably move on to an Antipodes toner after I’m done with this.

I like using Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair serum together with heavier facial oils. It somehow lightens the oiliness and my skin just laps up the stuff. I know it’s not particularly “natural” but it just works on my skin. This is my 3rd bottle and is in the reformulated II version.

When it comes to facial oils, I rotate between the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, the Antipodes Divine Face Oil and the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil. I use about 2 to 3 drops of the oil mixed together with the a serum, and just lightly pat onto my face. Out of the three, Kiehl’s has the nicest scent, it’s a soothing blend of lavender and primrose oil. The Antipodes one smells rather pungent but again, I don’t mind the scent because I do like herbs. The Tarte oil doesn’t smell like much and has a faint nutty scent.

Each of them have specific functions but they do share a common trait and that is to deliver moisture and repair skin. Our skin is exposed to all forms of stress throughout the day so it’s nice to treat it at night. I do notice a difference whenever I use a facial oil because I find that my skin feels more nourished.

The moisturisers I’ve been using more often are the evolu Balancing Day Cream (I sometimes use it at night) and the Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream. Okay, so it doesn’t really smell like avocados or pears but more like a tangy herbal plant. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I do like the way it smells. This is a very thick cream and I usually use just a teensy-weensy bit to gently spread on my face.

I was using the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream Intense Hydration almost every evening but I now rotate with the Antipodes and evolu moisturisers. They all leave my skin feeling moisturised and soothed. I suffer from red and sensitive cheeks so I like using products that have calming properties.

I’ve been trying to be good and use eye creams more because my undereye area is so dry. I’ve had the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery one for a year and I think it’s almost finished. It’s creamy and smooth and smells similar to the face oil.

The Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream may look thick but it spreads out quite lightly and moisturises really well. This comes in a fairly large size and contains 30ml of product, which is double of the usual eye creams. I can use this during the daytime too because it is not heavy and absorbs quickly. I’m not sure if it’s my imagination but I think it has helped smooth out some fine lines too. I think this may be my favourite eye cream to date. There’s hardly any scent to it, which makes it suitable for those with sensitive noses.

It is very important to use sunscreen especially if you’re living in a hot and sunny tropical country. I’ve gone back to using Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF50 PA because I had a limited edition large tube sitting in my drawer. It hasn’t expired yet so I’d better start using it up first. I go through sunscreens every 3 months and pretty much stick to one until it finishes. This sunscreen is creamy but feels lightweight. Folks with oily skin can probably use the sunscreen alone without a moisturiser.

And ta-dah, this more or less completes my daily routine. It may seem like I’m using a lot of schtuff but they have kept my skin happy. I find my skincare needs evolving over the years. I don’t have young, bouncy skin anymore (boo hoo) and am trying to age as gracefully as possible. That’s why I’m investing a bit more time and care into my skin these days.

So, what is your current skincare routine like? Do you have any favourites to recommend? Do you stick to a particular brand or range, or do you just mix things up? Be sure to share your thoughts as I’d love to hear what you use too.

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