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| Image credit: emphasiseventsinc.com |
CLEANSING
1. Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Face Wash
I have combination skin, but most of my face is dry, which is why I always need to keep my face hydrated or else risk unsightly dry patches showing up – especially when I put on my makeup. But this face wash, which is part of Hada Labo’s hydrating care line, is one of the best I’ve ever used. It really is hydrating and it always cleanses my skin gently but thoroughly. My face also feels smoother after washing! I like it so much that I don’t intend to replace it until I find something that’s leaps and bounds better.
2. Shiseido Perfect Whip Foam
As soon as I saw this baby during my trip to Singapore last year, I immediately snatched up a couple of tubes. I had heard so many good things about it and the commercial for the product where they showed the amazing, luscious foam you could build with it when washing your face fascinated me! I love this cleanser because it really deep cleanses without the ‘squeaky clean’ feeling after. It can make your skin a little dry if you leave it on for too long though, which is why I immediately rinse it off once I’m done massaging my face with the cloud-like foam. I don’t use this all the time, usually once or twice a week for that extra deep cleaning that my face needs or when I’ve worn heavy makeup earlier in the day to make sure my face is super clean before bed.
3. Eskinol Classic White astringent
I’ve been an Eskinol girl ever since high school when I started taking skin care seriously and was exploring the world of beauty. My face cleansing routine just never feels complete without a proper astringent. I use this to mop up any remaining traces of dirt and whatnot after washing to make sure my face is properly clean!
TONING
1. Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion
Don’t be fooled by the word “lotion” because this baby is pretty much just a toner. Since I have uneven skin tone and dark, post-acne spots, I use this to brighten my face and help lighten those pesky marks. It also has hyaluronic acid so it’s moisturizing too! I just dispense 2-3 drops onto my palms and pat this gently all over my face every morning and night.
EXFOLIATING
1. White Result Exfoliating Gel
Peeling gels are a must for me to get rid of any built up dry skin on my face. I got this gel from Sample Room some time last year and it’s what I call the poor man’s Cure Natural Aqua Gel. Haha! It does a pretty good job at exfoliating and is quite affordable too. Only thing I don’t like is that the consistency is a bit too watery/runny for me. Once I finish this tube up I’m going to buy a brand new bottle of Cure instead!
2. St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub
I use this scrub every morning after washing my face in the shower to give it a good yet gentle buffing that lets me prep my skin properly for the day. It doesn’t really help with clearing my breakouts and calming redness like it claims, but I just love how I can use it everyday to keep dry patches at bay and make my skin a tad bit smoother.
ACNE TREATMENT
1. The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil
I got this primarily because of all the rave reviews I had read about it and how it was so great at quickly getting rid of and even preventing acne. True enough, it did just that for me…but only for a period of time. I guess my skin just got ‘immune’ to it and it’s no longer as effective for me. I still sometimes use this to treat smaller zits though, or when any areas where the acne are is already dry because it doesn’t dry it out further or irritate the skin unlike with other typical acne treatments.
2. Celeteque Acne Solutions Acne Spot Corrector Gel
This is one of the new additions to my skin care regime having bought it just last week. So far I can’t yet say if it’s really effective, but it does seem to be helping clear up or shrink the smaller zits on my face without drying out or irritating my skin.
3. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Every so often, but still more often than I’d like, I get those really nasty, monstrous looking zits. You know those ones with a ghastly whitehead attached to it? They’re a nightmare and I all I want to do is get rid of them as quickly as possible. That’s why I reach for this when I need to do just that. This only works quickest though (1-2 days) on those zits which are pretty much at their ‘peak’ and look like it’s impossible for them to get any bigger. For the smaller ones, it might take a couple of days or more. But at least it does the job of drying them out and shrinking them down!
Note: My skin is sensitive to benzoyl peroxide which is common in a lot of acne treatment and prevention products. It irritates my skin by making it red and sensitive and also dries out any areas I apply it to. If I use any product with benzoyl peroxide, I have to use it sparingly or only as a spot treatment.
MOISTURIZING
1. NIVEA Creme
It was actually my mom who introduced this to me product a couple of years ago and I’m never without it. I don’t use it a whole lot, but I always have one in stock for days when my skin is acting up and is horrendously dry. I sometimes apply it around my nose and the corners of my mouth where my skin can get so dry that it flakes.
2. Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Essence and and Moisturizing Cream
These two products have pretty much cemented my already big love for anything Hada Labo. Ever since I’ve used these along with my face wash from the same line, my skin has never felt more supple and hydrated. The moisturizing cream takes too long to absorb for day use, so I only apply it in the evenings, but it allows me to wake up to fresh and still moisture-locked skin.
3. Minnie Mouse Point Pads (Strawberry)
I saw this in one of the Disney stores during our trip to Tokyo. It was too cute to resist getting even if I wasn’t completely sure what it was at first! I use this on my dry cheeks and equally dry chin once a week to let them soak up the moisturizing essence. It also has a nice cooling effect when you put them on.
EYES
1. Benefit It’s Potent! eye cream
The skin around our eyes is just as important as the rest of our face so I make sure to keep mine moisturized with this every night. It’s supposed to also help lighten dark circles but since my dark circles are ‘natural’ (they’re because of my allergies), then I knew this wouldn’t really help much in that department. Nonetheless, keeping the area around your eyes moisturized is the key to prevent them from aging pre-maturely which is why I use this religiously, especially since I already have some fine lines under my eyes and I don’t want them to get any worse.
FOR BLACKHEADS AND/OR SEBACEOUS FILAMENTS
1. iWhite Nose Pack Whiteheads and Blackheads Remover
Up until I saw this product, I had been using traditional nose pore strips to help with my blackheads. But when I saw one that was in ‘cream’ form, I immediately concluded it must be a lot better because it can seep or settle into my pores properly to be able to pull out all the gunk inside them. My blackheads are stubborn so I still need to see a dermatologist to get rid of them entirely, but this nose pack does a pretty okay job on its own.
2. Watsons Hawaiian Volcanic Ash Nose Pore Strips (with Witch Hazel Extract)
Just because I prefer cream nose packs to tackle my blackheads, doesn’t mean I’ve stopped using the traditional ones entirely. In fact, I really like this one from Watsons and it’s the most effective traditional strips I’ve tried so far. I see it pull out a lot more whiteheads compared to others I’ve tried before.
MASKS
1. Origins Out Of Trouble
Having acne-prone skin definitely equates to it being classified as problem skin. I use this mask 1-2 times a week to calm any flare ups, especially with new acne, and to give my skin a good cleaning as it’s supposed to get rid of excess shine, as well as any dead skin cells and ‘debris’. My face definitely always feels fresher, cleaner, and a little softer after every use.
2. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
If I want a more thorough cleaning though, then I use this DIY mask instead. Getting the right consistency is still a bit of a trial and error process for me, but it’s all worth it in the end. I used to use this a lot some time ago but when I ran out I never bothered re-purchasing because I wanted to try other masks. Then I remembered that this did actually help my skin before (prevented breakouts, cleared out pores, etc.) when I was using it consistently and so I got myself another tub. Fingers crossed that if I keep on using it again it’ll still have the same good effects!
OTHER SKIN NEEDS
1. Lucas’ Papaw Ointment
So pretty much everyone who has this ointment loves it, just like me! There’s good reason why it’s another product that’s been raved about. I love to use this on my lips when they’re super dry and chapped to instantly repair and hydrate them again. I also grab this whenever I have a negative reaction to a product, such as when I tried a particular facial soap and it made my skin really dry, itchy, and red. I applied this to the affected areas throughout the day and I’m confident it helped to speed up the healing process of my skin!
So pretty much everyone who has this ointment loves it, just like me! There’s good reason why it’s another product that’s been raved about. I love to use this on my lips when they’re super dry and chapped to instantly repair and hydrate them again. I also grab this whenever I have a negative reaction to a product, such as when I tried a particular facial soap and it made my skin really dry, itchy, and red. I applied this to the affected areas throughout the day and I’m confident it helped to speed up the healing process of my skin!
2. Rosehip PLUS Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil
I use this rosehip oil for pretty much the same reasons I use my Lucas’ Papaw Ointment, except just for my face and not my lips. I opt for this instead when I feel my skin needs a tad bit more moisturizing than what the ointment can offer. Since it’s organic, it’s also great to help with any skin healing and renewal since there are no artificial chemicals to add to the mix.
I use this rosehip oil for pretty much the same reasons I use my Lucas’ Papaw Ointment, except just for my face and not my lips. I opt for this instead when I feel my skin needs a tad bit more moisturizing than what the ointment can offer. Since it’s organic, it’s also great to help with any skin healing and renewal since there are no artificial chemicals to add to the mix.
As you can see, I try to keep my overall skin care regime as simple as possible. No need to apply an unnecessary amount of serums and creams on your face after all! In the end, that could do more harm than good. All I do is identify my skin needs and concerns and get the appropriate products for them. I don’t have the best skin in the world, but I do what I can to keep it looking the best it can at least!
What’s your current skin care routine or regime like? What are your favorite, or even HG, skin care products? Do you use any similar or the same products as I do? I’d love to know!