I’ve converted into a skincare junkie, at least for now anyway. For more than 5 years, I’ve been so lazy when it comes to mere cleaning that my facial therapist chided me every time I updated her that I still slept with make-up on once a week. Also, even though I’m aware some of the creams I was using were not effective especially after 8 months or so, I continued with them. Finding replacements are simply tiresome. Which brand to try? Which product? What are other users’ experiences? The thought of making intelligent choices sounds like a mega project. Which it certainly proved to be. From a skincare slug, I’ve turned into a hardcore junkie who invested an insane number of hours the past month reading up various beauty sites, blogs, etc.
Alas, I’m happy to share the fruits of my labour and what new mythical products my skin has been lapping up recently. Let me disclaim the following first by sharing my condition: ‘normal to dry’, occasionally sensitive skin and an easily clogged nose. Averse to strong scents and impatient for results — I expect to see and feel visible difference after 2 weeks of daily use! I live in humid Singapore, but travel regularly within Asia and to Europe, so my skin is periodically stressed and dull in spite of tweaking my skincare regime during autumn-winter. Apart from the random anxiety of being 35 yrs old, no major skin problems. The good stuff that stopped working on me after a year are La Mer de la creme, SKII Signature Cream and their Eye Cream, as well as StriVectin. What does work continually perfectly, even after all these years, are the Shu Uemura (ShU) basics and La Mer Refining Facial (superb exfoliant).
My AM Regimen. The Really Good Stuff — ShU Pore Clarifying Cleanser, ShU Depsea Hydrating Lotion (toner). Caudalie (CAU) Pulp Vitamee Eye & Lip Cream, CAU VinoPerfect Radiance Serum for face & neck (UPDATE: now that my skin is radiant, i use this not more than thrice a wk), The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF 30 (yes, I’m even open to drugstore brands) , OR, Peter Thomas Roth Max All Day Moisture Defense SPF 30. The Ambigious Stuff — CAU Beauty Elixir which I alternate with ShU Lotion, Clarins Advanced Extra Firming Neck Cream. The Waste-of-$$: Burt’s Bee Beeswax Lip Balm.
My PM Regimen. ShU Cleansing Oil Premium A/O instead of its Clarifying Cleanser. Everything else follows the AM, apart from the day/night cream. Still hunting for the perfect night cream and eye serum. (UPDATE: found and love L’occitane’s Immortelle Very Precious Cream though I use a teeny dab each night only so it’s not too rich.)
Bi-weekly/weekly/fortnightly Treatments, depending on scale of laziness
La Mer’s The Refining Facial. SKII Facial Treatment Mask. SKII Signs Eye Mask. One Babor’s Collagen Booster Fluid (ampoule) used over two nights. My skin LOVES Babor’s ampoules; they are little miracles that lift, clarify and give me the dewy glow even for days after! (UPDATE: added those popular, really affordable and effective Taiwanese sheet masks twice a wk as well.)
Recommended Websites for Your Own Research
1. Compare reviews from: MakeupAlley, Essential Day Spa and Total Beauty
2. Blogsite from a model with great skin and make-up: A Model’s Skincare Routine
3. For best-sellers and more reviews: Sephora and Skinstore
Long and short of it — nope, I haven’t attained nirvana skin in spite of the Herculean effort, but it has improved and strengthened considerably within 2 weeks. I also read, belatedly, that I ought to have turned to the worldwide sensational Avéne Skin Recovery Cream during travels (especially autumn and winter). I’m still hungry to unearth more ‘Holy Grail’ items, particularly from Ren, L’occitane’s Immortelle range, Shiseido’s Bio-performance range or Liérac. So, if any of you have experiences, please share generously!
