What are my daily reach for skin care

I'll like to first mention that I don't have the world's greatest skin. It is in fact often plagued with horrible acne outbreaks and such due to my skin's sensitive and oily nature. It has been much better recently with medical intervention. However, I do not think it's all due to the medication. I feel that I do know my skin a lot better after a lot of trial and error with products all these years (and yes with all the money blown when they don't work). I'll like to emphasize that these products may work for me but they may not work for everyone. I have tried so many products that people raved about and they either do nothing for me or break me out horribly before. Therefore, I seriously advice that you exercise caution when you try new things and that you take my recommendations with a pinch of salt.

I'll like to first start with facial cleansers. I've been changing facial cleansers every now and then for around 4 years or so. I've tried basically everything and often then not, they either dry me out or they break me out. Believe it or not, even brands for sensitive skin such as Cetaphil breaks me out. *shake head* Up to last year, I held on to the concept that I should use products for oily skin because I have serious oily skin. However, I did not realise all my skin problems -oiliness and sensitivity- were due to the lack of proper moisturizing and  usage of wrong products which made my skin very sensitive and oilier than usual.

I now stick to my "holy grail" facial wash - the Aloe Gentle Facial Wash by The Body Shop. It doesn't break me out and does not make my skin feels botoxed (tight) after washing. I am already at my 4-5 bottle. It is self foaming as well, superb news for the lazy people.
 The Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Hydrating Face Wash is my latest favourite after my Perth trip. As mentioned earlier, the trip left my skin very dry and flaky due to the dry and cold weather. This wash has made my skin look softer and more mositurized after around one week of use.  It did give me the usual "conditioning period" spots though. But I'll stick to it for a while longer and give an updated review about the Hada Labo range of products.

The next two products are my "reach to toner". I do not term them as favourites because I am HORRIBLY afraid of using toners. They often break me out or make me feel like I just used alcohol from my lab to sterilize my face (you know how some toners are loaded with alcohol). These two hasn't break me out even after around a month or two of use. The DiorSnow White Reveal Lotion doesn't dry me out but doesn't do much for me. It doesn't lighten my acne pigmentation nor anything else. The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner smells really nice, removes dirt and dry flaky skin off well and seems to control my afternoon sebum production. As you can see these toners are just sample size. I have already repurchased The Body Shop Seaweed Toner in its full size but I am not planning to repurchase the Dior Toner. In fact, I am thinking of passing them (I have two) to Nic to try as they seem to be quite rich which may be suitable for the Aussie drier environment.

Next are my moisturizers. I use the The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream as a day moisturizer because it appears to be able to control my sebum production during the day quite well. This is essential as I count on it to make sure my make up don't end up like a melted cake at the end of the day.


I either use the The Body Shop Aloe Protection Serum or the Olay White Radiance Day Cream for night. As you have noticed, I do not use night creams. I feel that they are a bit too heavy for me and that I may end up breaking out. But I having said that, I have already purchased The Body Shop Seaweed Night Cream to try in the near future as this range has been nothing but fantastic so far. When I get to try it, I'll do a review.

My special treatment stuff are basically anti-aging products. I'm already almost mid-twenties and I already have a few deeeeeep fine lines on my forehead and such. I do not use these frequently (only as and when I feel like it) but I feel they are a must have to start preventing those fine lines from becoming wrinkles. Haven't been using enough to review them though. Will update about them in future.


The Mentholatum Ointment was bought at the Taka Cold Storage. I really LOVE Mentholatum products and saw that the "balm" like product actually relieves irritated skin conditions. So I thought I might try it out for my occasional itchy mozzie bites and such. So far, it has been great. It really relieves the itchiness of dry skin or insect bites.  I'll definitely repurchase it when I'm done with it. (Not gonna be soon though, the bottle packs in a lot of balm for the price)

My favourite make up removers right now are the Loreal Gentle Eye and Lip Make-up Remover and the Mandom Make Up Remover Cleasing Express Cleasing Liquid. I have the normal Mandom Cleasing Moist which I have transferred into a "spray bottle" so that I can spray some to Q Tips for some hard to remove eye make up areas.


These make up removers don't dry me out. The Loreal eye make up remover is gentle on my eye. I have really found better removers so they will stay as favourites for now. They are not superbly awesome but they do the job well. And they are not pricey so what is there not to like.

For removal of black heads. I have 3 favourites thus far. The Kose White Mask, the White Mud Nose Pack by the Face Shop and Heal Pharm Sheet Nose Packs. They all remove black heads really well. I'll post some of their awesomeness when I can get my hands on some picture of some junk and gunk they are capable of removing.


The Body Shop Aqua Lily Body Mist is one of my personal favourite scent after baths. Its a luxury and a non-essential in a person's routine.


I have been using the Nivea Deodorant Extra Whitening for ages. Its my 3rd Bottle now. But it doesn't seem to do much for whitening. I'm still at it as it takes ages to use finish one and I bought a huge pack last time. Any recommendations for better whitening deodorants?

For Lip Care, I use the Mentholatum Deep Moist Menthol. This is just superb stuff. But I'm a lazy bum when I'm out. So don't blame my chapped lips on this product. =) This lip balm makes my lip soft and moisturized minutes after every application. The only other lip balm that I feel might beat this maybe the Hada Labo one. But that is yet to be known.

I seldom slap on sunscreens. I know it is important yada yada yada. But I'm just TOOOOO lazy? I have so many things on my mind and so much to slap on already. If I add on more, I'll have to like wake up 3 hours before going out??


But, I do know that I have to try to trim down my beauty routine and add some more SPF to my routine before pigmentation and dark spots plague me. *shame face* For face, the Neogence Mineral Soothing UV Protection Emulsion with SPF 30 (with mineral uv protection and oil control factor) and the Nivea Sun Immediate Sun Protection SPF 30+ PA++ works for me. I like them as they are not greasy and they are good for daily use under make-up. A lot of my friends do ask me why I do not use higher SPF products. But I have tried products with very high SPF and they often make my makeup look like a grease ball at the end of the day. I'll stick to SPF 30 for now. Neogence is a Taiwanese brand (and a case of Nu Ren Wo Zui Da, Nu Er Lao Shi made me buy it) and the product is said to be suitable for sensitive skin type. The Nivea Sun has advanced collagen protect that is said to prevent wrinkle caused by frequent sun exposures. Not sure which one is better thus far but the Nivea one sure beats the Neogence one in terms of price. I believe I bought the Neogence one for close to 30bucks. Quite pricey for a 30ml sunscreen.


The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock with SPF 30. I like this one as it works and is not sticky in Singapore's humid weather. Years ago, I was into whitening and I used this sunblock religiously. It really made me 2 shades whiter (with use of whitening lotion) even with frequent sun exposure. So its been my holy grail and I have yet to change my body sunscreen since.

Okay. I have to honest and say that I haven't been using the above regularly. So I'll just like to mention these are my only footie products. I'll do a more detailed review in my future post(s).

Nic and J love their Crabtree and Evelyn. No joke. Nic has a more serious problem than J though. She has like TONNES of Crabtree and Evelyn. *shake head* Ask her for a post of all her stash!

I have two favourites from them. I love the rosewater hand therapy. I do not need a heavy hand cream as I do not have dry hands so I am just fine with this. I love the rose scent (though Nic swears it sucks).

The La Source Body Lotion was a gift from Nic. (Told you she's obsessed) It smells great and is not greasy. It really relieved my itchy dry skin after coming back from Perth. Will be more discplined and apply body lotion more often. As you can see from the amount of products left  in both, I've been really lazy with my beauty routine. OPPS.

Lastly, the below products are stuff recently bought. Will do a review when I get through them. The Imperialis was a youtube made me buy it (okay its more of youtube made me ask Nic buy it). I first heard of it from Holly Ann-AeRee.


*editted* Neogence is with J's US friend now because she didn't have time to go grab some "awesome Asian stuff" for her and so I threw in my new mositurizer. Didn't get to try so no reviews for that. So sorryyyyy!

Okay, I am SUPER tired after this long post. I spent like 3 hours typing these.


See ya!


Love,

J