Skincare Regime (May 2015)

This is what seems to be working for me the past few months.  I am writing this down to remind myself to stick to what seems to be working.

Here goes:

Morning

Cleanser - Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleaning Gel.  This doesn't foam up and feels non-drying.  Only left with 10% but unlikely to re-purchase because I have an Avene facial foam unused.  

Toner - Avene Thermal Water

Serum / Essence - SKII Treatment Essence + Aubrey Organics Pure Aloe Vera Juice / Porcelain Aloe Vera Gel

Lotion / Moisturiser - NUXE 24hr Soothing and Moisturising Concentrate + Sulwahsoo Essential Firming Cream (when my skin requires extra moisture)

As you can see, I try to go light in the morning.  Despite having dry skin, my skin does get oily throughout the day.

I don't have sunscreen but this is changing as I just received my purchase of SKII Facial Treatment UV Protection today which I am going to start using daily.  Before this, my foundation (which is SPF50) was my only sunscreen and I don't always use foundation.

Night

Makeup remover (waterproof makeup) - Bifesta Cleansing Express (blue bottle)

Makeup remover (base makeup) - Plante System Cleansing Micellar Water

Makeup cleanser - Porcelain Makeup Cleanser

Facial cleanser - Porcelain Hydro Cleanser

Exfoliator (occasionally) - Porcelain Natural Skin Refiner

Toner - Porcelain Botanical Tonic

Serum - Porcelain Essence Sebum Control Essence + Aubrey Organics Pure Aloe

Gel - Porcelain Aloe Vera Gel

Moisturiser - Sulwahsoo Essential Firming Cream

Pimple Gel - Porcelain Hydraclear Gel

Masks (sheet) - a mix but SKII Facial Treatment Mask is a favourite (which I use sparingly due to the cost)

Mask (gel) - Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX

Mask (cream) - Sulwahsoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask

I of course do not use the masks every night or together when I do use them.  I use sheet masks most often (about twice a week) and cream/gel mask every other week.  I do not leave either of the gel/cream masks overnight.  I leave it on for about 20 - 40mins and wipe off.  I get bumps if I leave it on the whole night. 

Generally

I don't always use the products as listed but its currently a mix of the products listed.

I know there is a number of Porcelain products.  I was given a set of the products when I signed up for their facial package.  The products generally are not heavy and seem to work for my skin.  I purchased backups of the Makeup Cleanser, Facial Cleanser, Natural Skin Refiner, Aloe Vera Gel and Hydraclear Gel when they had a promotion for CNY.  All in all, I should have enough for the rest of the year and some part of next year as I really only use them at night, preferring even lighter products for the day.

I am well aware that my skincare products are of the higher end.  I am not proud of it but it appears my skin prefers these products.  I don't often stray, and I shouldn't, since I just got another set of SKII products.  I have enough of my base products to last me a year I believe.

I do not suggest in any way that anyone should spend this much on skincare.  If drugstore products work for you, congratulations, because they did not work for me and I wish my skin is less high maintenance.  Although I never had acne, my skin had been problematic the past few years and these products (together with monthly-ish facials) kept it in check.

The real purpose for my writing this down is to remind myself that I have more than enough and to STOP BUYING MORE.  

Skin Condition and Current Routine (September 2014)

My skin has generally been quite clear.  However, these past few years, especially after leaving home, I dealt with spots that take forever to clear.

Earlier this year, I had two weddings to help out and attend in one month and tried desperately to work on getting my skin to calm down.  That is when I started doing 2 (hydrating) masks a day, at night.  Now, I still do that, but much less regularly (perhaps once a week) but I still mask about 4 - 5 times a week.  Here's my current routine:

AM:
1. wash with sulwahsoo (a deluxe sample size I got and started using in August)
2. apply Sulwahsoo first care serum
3. apply Nuxe hydrating serum
4. sulwahsoo cream (very very lightly and only occasionally.

If I were going to apply makeup, I doing usually skip step 4.  I dislike the feeling of having too many creams/lotions on my face.

PM:  This is where it gets interesting
1. waterproof eyemakeup remover (if I used waterproof makeup in the day)
2. makeup remover water
3. clay wash/mask
4. (occassionally) mask during shower
5. first care sulwahsoo
6. nuxe serum
7. sulwahsoo cream
8. (couple of times a week) mask

Step 8 varies, it could be a sleeping mask, like Laneige or Sulwahsoo or it could be a cream mask, like Avene or Nuxe or it could be a sheet mask, like My Beauty Diary (my go-to).  My focus is on hydration.

I should explain step 3: this is a mixture I make myself from different types of clay and liquids.  My options are:
I change it up in accordance to what I think I need.  If I am extra spotty, I use tea tree oil.  If my skin is calm, I use the rose water. Its troublesome but I think rather useful. It also provides some physical exfoliation, which I think my skin prefers, compared to chemical exfoliation.

As to step 4:  this started when I purchased a fresh face mask from Lush (I tried the Oats and Blue berry ones).  As they get messy, I apply them during my shower and wash off when I step out of the bathroom.  Nowadays, until I get another fresh face mask, I do this with Dr GL's gel mask.  This is a bit difficult to get off by just wiping so its easier to just wash off in the shower.

The night time routine extended my bathing routine from 15mins to 25 - 30 mins.  But it is also a time for me to wind down as I will usually read a book or magazine while I let the masks dry/work their magic, so unless its really late at night or Im rushing, I dont mind.

The result of this routine is not perfect.  I still get spots and have to deal with them.  But my skin did calm down quite abit. Hydration is key I found.

Things will continue to change but I just want to put this down so that I have something to return to at a later time.

Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub

I have had this body scrub for (possibly) more than 2 years and am about to finish it.  I have an innate inability to finish any skincare or makeup so that is not due to the product itself although I do have some comments to make. 

One of the reasons it took me soo long to use this is because I was told I could use the product on dry skin.  This is what Clarins.com.sg say on their website:
Massage onto dry or damp skin 1-2 times per week (including the bust area and concentrating on rough areas such as elbows, knees, feet and thighs). Rinse thoroughly. 

Since I wanted to get the full effect of the scrubbing action, I tried my best to use it on dry skin but it really hurt! Granted I have sensitive skin but I would not suggest anyone use this scrub on dry skin.  The powdery texture of the scrub does not help in spreading the gritty parts on the skin and it is very gritty.  Using this on dry skin causes way too much friction.

The product smells alright, slightly powdery and flowery.  Not overpowering though I believe the scent lingers after bath.

To use this up, I started using this on wet skin.  That really helps to spread the product on the skin but I dont think you exfoliate less.  In fact, with increase in spreadability, I would massage the product in circles on the skin before rinsing it off. I think my skin is sufficiently scrubbed when I do that. Also, using this on wet skin also means it is easier to remove.  When I used this on dry skin, I tend to find bits still remaining on the body when I am towelling off; its quite off-putting.

Repurchase? No.  The main reason for this is the price.  I do not think a body scrub that does not seem to do much else needs to cost so much.  I cannot recall how much I paid for this but I have since purchased The Body Shop body scrubs during one of their atrium sales and I will use those after I finish this. It is just not exceptional enough for me to want to repurchase. 

Watsons Beauty Buys (Aug 2014)

So, I went to Watsons end of August, for their members sale.  The Toa Payoh outlet was crowded but the queue at the cashier wasn't particularly long. 

Here's what I got, beauty-wise.    

Mascara
I have decided long ago that I wasn't going to buy department store mascaras. Aside from the prices, I have tried a few samples (Clinique, Dior), and did not like them.  Maybelline works best for me.  Usually I use the Volume Express (the yellow tube) but I noticed lately that the curl doesn't last the whole day for me so I decided to try another type, so, hello Lashionista. This was sort of an impulse buy -- I needed a new tube but I didn't know which is good so I just got what looked interesting.

Liquid Eyeliner
I also got the K Palette 1 Day Tattoo eyeliner.  I have not tried any department store liquid liners todate as I am still learning to use liquid liners.  I don't use eyeliners (much less liquid eyeliners) often, so I didn't want to buy something expensive which will dry up before I use them.  The only other liquid eyeliner I've tried was the Kiss Me Heroine Make Impact Liquid Eyeliner.  This was very black, very hard to remove but difficult to use for a novice.  It came with a brush that you have to dip into an "ink bottle" and the brush had a tendency to split into three parts, making it hard to draw one line.

Pencil Eyeliner
Other things I got - pencil eyeliners.  I have previously used more expensive brands (think Urban Decay, Lancome, Makeup Forever) but they smudged on me! I tried the tester at Watsons and these don't seem to smudge and considering the price point, I figured there's no harm in trying them out.  I got two, one black, one white.  I used to apply white eyeliner to my lower waterline, and want to go back to doing that.  I previously used an eyeliner from KATE for that purpose but Watsons don't seem to carry that anymore.

Shading/Eyebrow Palette
Also got the shader/eyebrow powder palette from Heavy Rotation.  I just started getting into filling in my brows.  I had my eyebrows shaped twice and I don't like the feeling, not only was my skin irritated and stayed red for awhile, both times I feel that my brows looked too thin for my wide face.  Instead, I'm going to try to just define them. 

MISC
I also got two My Beauty Diary masks and an Alcon Tears Naturale II.  MBD masks are a favourite of mine - cheap and convenient.  I love to use the Natto ones as my skin is dry but I don't mind switching it up once in a while.  As for the Alcon, it was recommended to me by my GP as my eyes feel dry very easily.  It keeps the eyes moist for longer than the usual eye drops.

I have not used any of the make up items yet as I still need to finish up what I have.  I will try to update after trying the products.