Current Evening Skin Care Routine

I'm definitely no skin care expert, but the post-shower, pre-bed routine I've been diligently carrying out for the past couple of weeks appears to have paid off. Before, my skin was inexplicably dry, in that foundation didn't apply as smoothly, but rather emphasised flaky areas (particularly around my nose), even when I slathered on the moisturiser and face oils. Now, my skin looks to have gained back some suppleness and clarity, and become smoother in texture. I accept the number of products here may be overkill, but the combination and order seems to have worked for me. I'm also concentrating on using up old stuff I still have lying around, so really, it's win-win.

When I started this blog, I had minimal interest in skin care, dismissing fancy, expensive creams and seemingly hi-tech formulations as mostly hocus pocus and deceitful marketing. I believed that I could get by just fine with cheap supermarket cleansers and generic, no frills moisturisers like Nivea Soft. I barely knew what exfoliation was except something I did occasionally for the fun of it with a coarse, grainy scrub, and I didn't touch toner (what a waste of time and money!). Oh, how far we've come. I blame a large part of it on the influence of Caroline Hirons and my participation in the general blogging community. At the end of the day, I ain't getting any younger, and I'd like to think any measures I'm taking now will be incalculably beneficial in the long run. Prevention is better than cure, right? I do draw the line at elaborate daily facial massages, despite Lisa Eldridge being living proof of the rewards.

I'm the kind of person that doesn't care as much about what I use to take off makeup and cleanse my face as I do with what I put on after. Lately, I've been really lazy and relying on Swisspers Cucumber Facial Cleansing Wipes to get off face makeup and a soaked Daiso cotton puff with Bioderma to dissolve eye makeup. I then usually follow with a foaming cleanser in the shower. If I haven't pre-cleansed with a makeup towelette and/or Bioderma, I'll use Dove Foaming Make Up Remover or my DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, then do a second cleanse with a foaming cleanser.

The whole nighttime routine starts with Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile on a Daiso cotton puff. This is a gentle, hydrating toner that restores some moisture into my face after relatively harsh cleansing while getting rid of any remnant product. It rebalances the skin and ensures a neutral, blank canvas ready for serums and creams. I also find the mere act of wiping a cotton pad all over my face is in itself exfoliating, even if the contents of the toner aren't.

I then liberally spritz Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist all over. And by liberally spritz, I mean a good dousing. Part of the reason for my exuberance is that I want to get rid of it ASAP (and I've been successful, in that there seems to only be about 20% left), since it technically expired a while ago. So long as I'm not breaking out because of it, I figured it shouldn't cause me any harm. It has a high alcohol content (it's the second ingredient), which I'm a bit iffy about. There's also lactic acid in there which always makes me think of it more as an exfoliating toner, though the amount probably isn't enough for it to be effective in that capacity. I find the mist to be fairly drying on its own, so the trick is to not wait until it's completely evaporated off the skin before going in with the next product.

Enter Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum. Once again, a case of mainly trying to use up a product I'm not crazy about. I know my indifference borders on sacrilege for a skin care item that I've not read a bad review about, but it never did much for me. If anything, I was paranoid for a long time it had a tendency to break me out. Having said that, I realised that I don't have many dedicated serums. Caroline Hirons rates serums as the #1 skin care product you should spend money on for those aged 20+, which essentially has granted me permission to treat myself to Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II or possibly Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment (lottery win permitting) once the Caudalie runs out. The S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum is very thin, watery and lightweight. Applied straight after the two toners (and when the skin is still slightly damp from the second), it does provide immediate suppleness and sense of increased hydration.

Onto a face oil. I've been reaching for the Sanctuary Spa Therapist's Secret Facial Oil because it's one of the less heavy and greasy options I have. The oil feels relatively light and refined on the skin and absorbs well. I can't really tell apart the ingredients that go into different face oils, but I like the sound of the rose oils and extracts in this. I usually use about 4 drops all over my face, staying clear of the eye area. Any migration of this or any oil around the eyes is guaranteed unwanted irritation.

Finally, a dedicated nighttime moisturiser. This step after the layer of face oil is probably optional and perhaps entirely superfluous, but I do it anyway. The blurb on the box/jar of Grown Alchemist Regenerating Night Cream Neuro-Peptide & Violet Leaf tries valiantly to convince me the product is worth its $85 price tag, but luckily I only paid $12 for this. It's not too oily or thick despite being quite emollient and you need only a small amount for the entire face (though I apply a fairly generous dollop regardless).

Sometimes I'll skip the Clarins and go straight for the Jurlique (usually after I've already exfoliated in the shower), or use Iluka Hydrating Toner Mist instead. I'll also mix it up with the face oil, preferring Antipodes Divine Face Oil or NUXE Huile Prodigieuse. But the order and the essence of the products remains the same. I wake up the following morning to visibly rested, smoother, softer, and more evenly textured skin. The dry patches have for the most part been banished and active breakouts kept to a minimum.

2014 Favourites: Skin Care

Time for the yearly roundup of best-loved products, and this time I'm dedicating an entire post to skin care (beauty favourites to follow). Some of these products I discovered this year, others were purchased the previous year but continued to serve me well throughout 2014. The funny thing about skin care is that unlike makeup, where I can usually tell straight away whether something will be a hit with me or not, it's not uncommon for me to develop a deeper appreciation or understanding of a product weeks or months after forming an initial lukewarm, or perhaps even slightly negative, opinion. Perhaps the key is continued use and the patience to stick with a routine that eventually pays off with results.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Silky, slippery and nourishing, this olive-oil based cleanser gets absolutely everything off efficiently, while your face receives a relaxing massage every night when this is smoothed onto the skin in circular motions. When washed off, it doesn't leave any trace of greasy residue, nor does it feel drying.

Antipodes Joyous Protein-Rich Night Replenish Serum
A wonder product for dry skin, this can be worn alone before moisturiser as a serum, or mixed in with your regular cream for an extra hydrating, skin-loving boost. Lately, I've been slapping onto my face 3-4 drops of this with a small dollop of Nivea Soft before bedtime and waking up to smooth, soft and visibly rested skin. If you buy the 10ml size in the $20 Anti-Ageing Minis set (which also contains a 15ml tube of Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream), it's terrific value.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
My go-to product to fix dry skin, stat. It's deliciously fruity and feels calming and instantly thirst-quenching, minimising any flaky patches and generally restoring moisture to the skin overnight. My only (slight) complaint is that it does feel a bit sticky and doesn't absorb entirely, especially when applied liberally, so there might be a bit of transfer on your pillow if you rest your cheek on it.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm
After initially not being all that enthused, I finally saw the light in February this year when I started using this as a morning cleanser. Now, it's hard to imagine being without what is undoubtedly the most luxurious skin care product I own. With a heavenly fragrance that demands to be inhaled deeply, this ultra-nourishing and skin-plumping balm wakes up the senses with its premium ingredients and pampering feel.

Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist
Yes, it's an eye-watering £46 (or $91) for 100ml, and the main appeal might be the glamorous name and elegant packaging rather than what's inside. I wasn't completely convinced it was worth the price at first. But now? I'm leaning towards repurchasing when I run out (I'll definitely need a discount code though). Firstly, like all sprays (except Avene Thermal Spring Water, which I go through like toilet paper), it takes ages to be used up. I've had my bottle for 16 months and it's still about 50% full. Granted, I'm not religiously spritzing it every hour of every second, but I'm not exactly rationing it either. But more to the point, when I follow with this after an exfoliating toner, my skin loves the injection of hydration and suppleness. It feels properly prepped to receive and absorb the benefits of any serums/face oils/creams that are subsequently applied.

Pixi Glow Tonic
Along with the Emma Hardie and Omorovicza, this is yet another Caroline Hirons recommendation I simply had to take up. I remember the sheer joy of finding this in stock at the Pixi shop off Carnaby Street on my London holiday in September 2013, back when you couldn't purchase it online and it was notoriously difficult to get a hold of at the physical store. Although I've been alternating Glow Tonic with the excellent First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads for my post-cleanse exfoliating toner, I find the Pixi more economical and gentler, more hydrating. Consistent use helps to improve the texture of my skin and forms part of a more complete skin care routine when paired with a hydrating toner before moisturiser.

NUXE Rêve de Miel
I was a naysayer at first. Now the backup's already in my drawer, waiting to be utilised the second my existing tub is emptied. If you've never tried this before, then it probably won't be like anything you know. This is a weird thick paste with exfoliating BEADS. The trick is to apply a small amount and really work it into the lips, letting the heat of your skin almost melt the product so it starts to sink in. I use this every evening as an overnight lip treatment to banish dry, flaky lips, but also whenever my lips are calling out for some intensive repair.

Dove Triple Moisturising Deep Nourishing Body Wash
You know what? Forget about philosophy or Lush and all those fancy shower gels with their gourmand or oriental scents. This stuff is simply the best. While I love a bit of bathing in a foamy cloud of cookies or spice, most of the time, you just want to keep it simple. This is pristine, soapy goodness. The actual product and the way it feels on the skin is positively luxurious for something seemingly so pedestrian. It's lusciously thick, lathers like a dream, feels slick and intensely nourishing and washes off without leaving the skin feeling dry or slippery.

Grown Mandarin and Rosemary Leaf Body Cream
I never thought I would use up a 500ml bottle of body moisturiser, but 18 months later, here we are. Let this be a resounding testament to how good this stuff is. Dare I say it almost makes me look forward to moisturising my body after I step out of the shower? The formulation is perfection. It has a herbal, somewhat citrusy scent that isn't too heavy, and is the furthest thing from sugary and cloying. But best of all, this is a body cream that actually absorbs into the skin. There is no stickiness or dampness after you've applied it, which I find nothing short of a miracle given the deep hydration it provides.

Skin Care Sale Stock Up

Is it a bit tragic to look forward to a twice-a-year skin care sale? Well then, tragic I am. Back in May when I purchased the Antipodes Anti-Ageing Minis set, I mentioned I was eagerly anticipating Priceline's next 40% off skin care sale, given they now stock brands like Bioderma, NUXE, La-Roche Posay, Avène, Trilogy and Antipodes (all they need to do is include Caudalie in the mix and I'm pretty much set). On Tuesday, July 29, that day finally arrived. I actually had no clue beforehand and a friend I was meeting for lunch told me about it in the morning. I literally made a dash to the nearest Priceline within an hour of hearing the news.

Though I made it to Priceline at about 11am, I was surprised to see all three items I'd jotted down on my list to be completely gone. I wanted to buy the Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream, Sukin Purifying Facial Masque and a backup of my NUXE Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm, but everything was unavailable or sold out at the store I visited. I left empty-handed and a bit peeved.

I checked out another Priceline after work but it was exactly the same story. The sale was only for 2 days, so I contemplated making a trip to the city on Wednesday to survey other stores, but instead asked friends who were in the city to check for me. One managed to find NUXE Rêve de Miel, but had no luck with the other products. That night during the remaining few hours of the sale, I made one last visit to my local Priceline and the irrational side of my brain took over. It was thinking, "CHEAP! GOOD DISCOUNT! 40% OFF, THAT'S BASICALLY HALF PRICE, RIGHT?!" rather than "Was I planning on buying this in the first place?"

The Trilogy night cream I wanted still wasn't there, so I settled for the Balancing Face Lotion. I figured it's a generous size (100ml), making it good value for money and something that would last a long time, it's packaged conveniently and attractively in a heavyish dark frosted bottle with a pump, has quite a few overlapping ingredients with the night cream, and can be used day and night, year-round. I find it similar to Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream but lighter, more fluid in consistency and less rich, and easier to spread over the face. It absorbs well and doesn't leave the skin feeling heavy or looking shiny. It has a pleasant, relatively subdued, sweet botanical scent that's not cloying or irritating. It's probably more suited to summer use but I've been trialling it the past week during winter here in Australia and I haven't felt it lacking in the hydration department.

I picked up another Antipodes Anti-Ageing Minis set because at $12, the Joyous Protein-Rich Night Replenish Serum (10ml) and Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream (15ml) were $6 a piece and I simply could not say no to that. Speaking of a price that can't be refused, I managed to nab one Grown Alchemist Regenerating Night Cream Neuro-Peptide & Violet Leaf Extract for $12. Yes, $12. Considering the cream is retailing on the Myer website currently for $84.95, I think I did well. It was already hugely slashed down to $20, but a further 40% off was entirely welcome. The consistency and colour remind me a bit of cake batter. It's one of those "natural" creams that take a while to be worked into the skin (Yes to Carrots Daily Facial Moisturiser with SPF 15 had the same issue). It leaves the skin slightly tacky to the touch but absorbs fairly well. I don't find it overwhelmingly hydrating and nourishing, nor have I noticed that my skin looks markedly better in the mornings, but we'll see with prolonged use.

Finally, an addition to my list of products for which I have a backup, namely NUXE Rêve de Miel. My existing pot is far from empty, but I use it every evening as an overnight lip treatment. Despite initially finding it odd and somewhat uncomfortable when applied, I've since embraced its thick, paste-like texture and weird exfoliating beads, especially when the result is dry, chapped, flaky lips are kept at bay.

July Favourites

HOW is it August. I don't understand. July was mostly cold, which encouraged as much sleeping in as possible and lazy makeup practices. I was experimenting with the newly released CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation but the shade I bought, Buff Beige (825), proved too light, so I had to mix it with Rimmel Wake Me Up in Soft Beige (200), which kind of defeated the point. The rest of the time I was relying on Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation but I never felt completely satisfied with it. Near the end of the month, I crawled back to my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. There was a tonne of skin care experimentation going on in July, but nothing I found particularly revolutionary. All that cleansing, exfoliating, moisturising and treatment didn't seem to make any noticeable difference. If anything, I started to break out, mostly on the lower half of my face, which I tried to remedy with Formula 10.0.6 Overnight Success Spot Minimising Patches from Priceline's skin care goodie bag. It was quite the novelty to paste transparent oval stickers onto my spots and peel them off in the morning. Can't say they did much, but at least I half used up something.

Grown Mandarin and Rosemary Leaf Body Cream
There's a bit of a funny story with this one, and by funny, I mean sad, and by sad, I mean pathetic. I spotted this body cream at Priceline one day, slashed down to $20 (normally $50). The only problem was there were none left. I tried some of the cream from the tester, really liked it, and lamented not scoring such a bargain. That night, I did some research online, trying to find a similar price point, but failed. I then simply couldn't get this stupid body cream off my mind. I'm sure there's a psychological phenomenon that can account for my behaviour. I would've never looked twice at it had it not been so reduced in price (me? Body moisturisation?), but missing that opportunity, I now wanted it regardless. In the end, I purchased it from Myer when they had 25% off Grown. Nowhere near $20, but at least there was some discount. The cream reminds me a lot of Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Balm. I did a side-by-side ingredients comparison and there are a lot of commonalities (including sweet almond oil, macadamia seed oil, wheatgerm oil, mandarin orange and carrot root extract). The scent when I'm applying it to the skin is a bit more sharply herbal/leafy than the sweet-but-tart citrus I was hoping for, but it's a pleasure to use nonetheless and sinks into the skin quickly, leaving no greasy or sticky residue.

Caudalie Divine Oil
I've featured this in a previous favourites, but I've relied on it heavily this month as well. Once we get over the distinctive, rich scent (which I've warmed to considerably) and how it's a bit drier than other face oils, it manages to be a truly versatile, high performing product. The luxurious 100ml spray bottle is much easier to use than the mini 15ml cylinder from the Caudalie Must Have Set. I typically spritz one pump into my night cream and then rub my palms together to mix them, then massage it onto my face. I find the Divine Oil adds that much-needed boost to my regular moisturiser as I sleep. I wake up to generally smoother looking, well-hydrated skin that looks just that bit clearer, plumper and more well-rested. I've also really enjoyed adding it to purified water and making my own goodness-knows-what toner in a small, generic pump bottle. When I've slept in way too late on Saturday and can't be bothered washing my face, I do this 3 step routine of Avene Thermal Spring Water, Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist and my DIY water/Caudalie spray. For reasons that elude me, it leaves my skin feeling toned and looking softly polished and radiant.

Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Crème in Rose Gold
Another product that I've written about before, this was basically the only highlighter I used this whole month. I think my appreciation for my Dewy Glow has intensified threefold with the knowledge you can't get this anymore. As time goes on, I'm just so grateful that I bought it off BeautyBay back in the day. This is one of the more subtle highlighters that I have, which I find more suitable for everyday wear. I prefer the skin-tone peachiness of Rose Gold to more champagne (yellow) or pearly (pink/white) options. It glides onto the face without being overly emollient or slippery, barely requires any blending for a seamless finish and has surprisingly good wear time for a cream product. I've had it since February 2012 and haven't even hit pan yet, so hopefully it'll last me for some time to come.

Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush
The Pixiwoo sisters are always using this brush and the Deluxe Crease Brush for their concealer, and with the breakouts I'd been having, I finally gave the Domed Shadow Brush a go for that purpose. Instant love. I use my Maybelline Fit Me concealer, dabbing it onto my spots directly with the applicator, then start feathering the edges of the blemish out with the brush, blending the concealer into the surrounding skin as delicately as possible, patting on the spot itself to smooth the surface without moving the concealer around too much. My technique still requires a bit of fine-tuning and practice, but the results aren't anything you can get using just your fingers (trust me, I've tried). This brush has become an absolute necessity if I'm applying concealer for the purpose of covering up spots. I've even made a makeshift cover for it with a discarded plastic tube and sticky tape so I can pop this in my makeup bag without worrying it'll become contaminated. I'm interested in finding something with a pointy tip for even more accurate concealing.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze
If we're keeping these favourites real, then this has to make an appearance. I've already mentioned Bad to the Bronze in countless other posts, so I'll try not to harp on. Basically, this stuff is the best. It's both a primer and a base, as well as a standalone eyeshadow. Ridiculous lasting power. Metallic finish without being overly chunky, shimmery or glittery. So easy to whack on. Ideal everyday colour, not too warm-toned or cool. Other shadows blend nicely with it. Not too soft so it slides all over the place and goes on patchy, not too dry so it's impossible to get any product and hard to blend. My brainless, automatic, go-to choice, time and time again.

l-r: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze, Jemma Kidd Rose Gold