Current Winter Skincare Routine

My current skin condition is normal to dry with hormonal breakout from pregnancy for the past 2 months. It is not too bad, about 3-4 small whiteheads around my T-zone area.

Night Routine:
- St. Ives Green Tea Cleanser
- Kiehl’s Washing Milk Cleanser (I use this as a makeup remover, first step of double cleansing or on days when I want to take a break from the St. Ives cleanser)
- Sana Collagen Toner
- Arcona Gentle Solution (2-3 times a week)
- DHC Acerola Serum (on nights that I don’t use the Arcona Gentle Solution)
- Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer
- Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Eye Serum
- Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Lift Eye Cream

I am also still using - Dermalogica Clean Start Bedtime for Breakouts to the Rescue as spot treatment if needed.


Morning Routine:
- Wash face with water
- Sana Collagen Toner
- DHC Acerola Serum
- Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Lift Eye Cream
- Bliss Youth As You Know It Sunscreen

I tried Bliss Youth as You Know It Sunscreen back during the summer and it was too heavy. I thought it would be better during winter when my skin is drier. However, I find that it is still too greasy. I am still in search for a moisturizing sunscreen that is hydrating and also at least SPF 30 for winter.

Do you have any skincare products that you love? I would love to hear your recommendation.

Double Cleansing Solution for Every Skin Types

The method of double cleansing using cleansing oil became popular in the US a few years back. The idea behind cleansing oil is “like dissolve like” so using an oil base cleanser will more effectively remove the oil and grime on your skin. After you removed the oil and makeup on your skin, you then cleanse your skin again using your regular cleanser. Hence the term “double cleansing”, the act of cleansing your skin twice.

I started double cleansing a few years back. I find this method useful when I am wearing water resistance sunscreen or full makeup. At first, I only use cleansing oil as the first step as I thought that it was the only way to go. Through experience and research, I learned that I am not limited to using cleansing oil. Actually no one product work for everybody and some people with sensitive, acne prone skin may find that cleansing oil can irritate skin or clog pores. Therefore, what really matter is that you take the time to cleanse twice by first removing makeup and dirt.

So what else can you use? A combination of any two cleansers that is appropriate for your skin type. For example, if you have dry skin, you can use a cream cleanser then a gentle foaming cleanser. If your skin is really dry, you can even use a cream cleanser then another (or the same) cream cleanser again. Now I am not recommending this but simply sharing a story. When I am on vacation and in a pinch, I sometime use eye makeup remover to wipe my face to remove makeup before I cleanse it with a cleanser. Anyway, bottom line, if your skin is dry or does not appreciate cleansing oil, there are other options. Give one of your other cleanser a try.

FDA's New Law for Sunscreen Manufacturers

Everyday, there are more and more awareness on the important of proper sun protection. Base on an article from InStyle, the FDA just issued new guidelines for the sunscreen labeling, designed to give us more information about its effectiveness, the L.A. Times reports. The changes are expected to take place by next summer. In the meantime, here are six things you need to know:

1. Time to toss the SPF 75! Sunscreens will no longer be able to carry an SPF value higher than 50, and the highest category will now be 50+. Studies found that sunscreens with an SPF higher than 50 don’t actually provide greater protection.

2. For the first time, sunscreen labels will be allowed to claim that the products protect against skin cancer and wrinkles.

3. Sunscreens may be labeled “broad spectrum” if they block UVB radiation and a percentage of UVA radiation. UVB causes sunburns, while both UVA and UVB can lead to skin cancer and early skin aging.

To read the full article, please visit InStyle.

Are You Supposed to Cleanse Twice a Day?

Last week I got questions from a reader and I thought I should share it with you, as some might find it helpful. Roxanne asked:
I was wondering are you supposed to cleanse twice a day? or just at night? and what would you use in the morning?

To answer her question "are you supposed to cleanse twice a day?", I think it really depend on your skin type. For me, since I have sensitive and dry skin, I don't use a cleanser in the morning. I just splash it with room temperature water and wipe it with a toner to prep my skin. If you have dry skin, using a cleanser twice a day can dry it out further. However, if you have combo or oily skin, you can use a “gentle” cleanser in the morning.  I am currently liking Kiehl's Washing Milk which, I will be reviewing next.

7 Beauty New Year Resolutions You Should Adopt

Happy New Year!  We do it every year, we like to start the year with some sort of new year resolution whether it be to exercise, save money, or travel more.  Well how about also adopting some good skin care and beauty habits this year?

1.  Wash your hands before you cleanse your face. The last thing you want is to slather the germ, oil, dirt from your hands onto your face. You should do the same before you apply skincare and makeup.

2.  You should practice the double cleansing method especially if you wear full face makeup or waterproof sunscreen. We all know how bad it is to have left over residue on your skin.

3.  If you have dry skin or want better absorption from your skincare, use a toner beforehand. I know some people deem it as unnecessary but it is definitely incorporated in most Asian Skincare Routine/Line and I do see a different since I started using it 3 or 4 years ago.

4.  Don’t pop your pimples. It is tempting but you risk leaving behind scars and dark spots.

5.  Limit hot shower and bath time. It is winter so the air is already dry and low in humidity, which sucks the moisture out of your skin. Long hot shower and bath only make matter worse. Don’t forget to moisturize your skin right after your shower to trap in the moisture.

6.  Clean your makeup applications and brushes frequently. The bacteria build up can cause acne and skin irritation.

7.  Complement your skintone. If you have a distinct warm or cool undertone, makeup looks better when it complement your skin tone. I have yellow undertone and while I can wear both cool and warm tone, I notice look more natural and flattering when I wear warm tones.

Image source

My Skincare Routine

Hi there. Just thought I share with you all what my current daily skincare routine is like. Just as a reference, I have dehydrated combination skin that is also sensitive and prone to redness.

Night:
Lumene Oil Cleanser
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cottonseed
Thayers Rose Witch Hazel Toner
DHC Acerola 100
DHC Acerola Cream
First Aid Beauty Relief Cream
Olay Pro X Eye Cream

Day:
Thayers Rose Witch Hazel Toner
100% Pure Organic Acai Berry Antioxidant Eye Cream (I find one is better suited under concealer than the Olay Pro X)
First Aid Beauty Relief Cream
Kiehl’s Eye Cream Spf 30 (when spending time outdoor)
Clinique Face Cream Spf 50 or Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 - Sensitive Skin or whatever else.

For like a month, my skin was very problematic until I started using First Aid Beauty Relief Cream. It's awesome, full review coming up...

How to Prep Your Skin Before the Big Day

Hi everyone. Hope you guys are having a great long weekend. Today post is a continuation of my series of special posts written specifically for brides. It is no brainer that we all want to look our best on our wedding day. As the days are fast approaching for me, I thought I share with you a mini series on bridal skincare and makeup. But really, this applies to anyone who is seeking healthy skin and flawless makeup. Beautiful skin makes a beautiful canvas for makeup. Depending on the condition of your skin, it may take work to get that gorgeous glow.

6 months before or longer: If you don’t have one already, you should develop a daily skincare routine, consist of at the minimum: cleanse, moisturizer with spf 30 or higher in the morning, and a night moisturizer. However, this is very basic and may not be enough to give you that glow unless you are blessed with good genes. You can add toner, serum, and a weekly exfoliation and mask that is appropriate for you skin type. Many argue that toner is unnecessary but I find that it adds a layer of moisture and it also preps your skin for other treatment. You can read on more tips and the sequence to use these products in this article.

I know that many of you will also be tempt to get a nice tan. Do so without actually sunbathing outside or in a tanning bed. Not only does the harmful UV ray cause wrinkles, you also don’t want to develop any hyper pigmentation problem. Read here for more do and don’t for maintaining healthy skin.

Two Weeks Before: Two weeks leading up to the day, do NOT use any new skincare or makeup product. The last thing you want is panicking over an allergic reaction that can take days to heal. Allergic reaction flares up are normally a lot worse than the occasional zits here and there; they can be rashes all over the face. So make sure you test whatever product(s) you want to use way in advance. If you do get irritation, try rubbing your skin with Aloe Vera as it sooth inflammation. You can also try Pangea Japanese Matcha Green Tea with Acai and Goji Berry mask, which works wonder for my delicate sensitive skin.

The Night Before/Day of: Get plenty of sleep. If you eyes are puffy, cut two cucumber slices and put them over your eyes for 5 minutes. If you have time that morning, if not the night before, apply your favorite moisturizing mask (make sure it is one you tried before and have no allergic reaction to). The boost in hydration will help your makeup go on more smoothly and blend easier.

Most importantly of all, don’t sweat the little things. There is no do over so just enjoy your special day and dance till your feet hurt.

Image credit: Marie Claire

Get Healthy Skin Now!

Image Credit: Sephora

It is no surprise that we all want beautiful skin. The emphasis on perfection is more so today than ever because I think the media can put added pressure to both young girls who are dealing with acne and middle age women who are battling wrinkle with Photoshop celebrity photos and ads of flawless skin. So, just bear that in mind and do what you can to keep your skin healthy and age gracefully.

Here are some of my do and don’t when it comes to skincare:

-Do develop and follow a skin regimen. At the minimum, you should wash, moisturize, and use sunscreen. But it would be better to also incorporate serum and other treatment. You will find tips on how to in this 5 steps skincare article.

_Do always always remove your makeup and wash your face at night.

_Do wear sunscreen, even in the winter.

_Do eat your 3 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

_Do eat fish at least once a week or take omega supplements.

_Do exercise. Exercise keeps you young in general and it’s the one advise I am giving you that I myself struggle with…sometime it’s just so hard to find time.

_Don’t smoke!

_Don’t sunbath.

_Don’t over exfoliate. Do not use harsh scrub if you have sensitive skin or rosacea.

_Don ‘t overdo with skincare and treatment. Sometime I feel like doing too much all at once can stress your skin out.

_Don’t neglect your neck and décolleté area.

Do you have any do and don’t to share?

Save Your Skin This Winter!

Credit: Makezine.com

This winter is colder than usual. We actually already have a few snow storms since December, which is rare where I am at. So between the blistering wind outside and indoor heating, it is understandable if your skin is not very happy right now. Here are a few tried and true tips to help your skin out this winter.

1. Nothing feels better than a hot shower on a cold morning. But don’t do it! Hot water will dry out your skin. Instead, take a warm and quick shower.

2. Apply body cream right after shower when skin is still damp.

3. Put a humidifier in your bedroom. The humidity will help your skin retain moisture.

4. For facial skincare, use a hydrating toner after cleansing. It does wonder.

5. Your skin type will most likely be different between winter vs. summer. Change your skincare products to something more hydrating.

6. If you still are not getting enough hydration from your routine skincare, apply a moisturizing mask once or twice a week.

In What Order Should You Apply Your Sunscreen?

Prevention against skin cancer and aging takes diligent. I always thought that you are safe as long as you do not suntan and always apply your sunscreen before sun exposure. It was until recently when I heard on dermTV from dermatologist Neil Schultz that you need to apply sunscreen before moisturizer. According to Dr. Schultz, sunscreen has to be the first thing you apply to your skin for the active ingredients to bind to your skin and do their work. Simple enough? However, I think most of us have the habit of applying our moisturizer, then sunscreen on top. If you are one of those people, you have to remember to reverse your habit.

What if you also apply toner and serum in the morning? Dr. Schultz believes you can apply toner before sunscreen but serum is only to be use at night. I can live with that, as I don’t normally use serum in the morning anyway. However, I think there are women out there that would not want to give up on their morning serum regimen. I did more research about the topic. According to a pharmacy website from Canada, it is not necessary to apply sunscreen first. It is about applying products in the order of their consistency. This totally makes sense to me and it is a practice I have been doing for years anyway. Let’s say your serum is in a liquid or light milky texture. If you apply the serum on top of your cream sunscreen, I doubt your serum will get a chance to absorb properly.

In essence, my two cents is that it will simplify things if you find a moisturizer that also contains sunscreen of at least SPF 15 or higher. If you must use additional moisturizer, it would be on top of your sunscreen. Also, if you use toner and serum in the morning then you would follow your cleansing with toner, serum, then sunscreen, in the order of your product consistency, from lightest to heaviest.

Related Post:
Avon and Neutrogena Sunscreen Review

How is your skincare packaged?

It seems like every where you turn, in every skincare brand, there is a line for anti-aging. Obviously, most of these anti-aging products contain either antioxidants or peptides, or both. There are two crucial factors that affect how effective a product is. First factor is the ingredients themselves and their concentration. Second is, believe it or not, the packaging.

Many antioxidants, especially Vitamin C will degrade as it is expose to air and light. Therefore, glass jar is the worse form of packaging. The glass will let light through and the jar opening is way too large to be airtight. Imagine you spent $100 on a jar of cream and only half way through, the product already lost its effectiveness. It boggles my mind as to why so many companies are still packaging their product in a jar. If your beloved product only comes in a jar, the only thing I can think of is to transfer it to a safer container. You can purchase empty airtight pump online. Or an easier but not as effective way is to put half of the stuff in another jar and tightly seal it.

In this instance, a tube is preferred as it is more airtight and hygienic. However, the best option would be an “opaque” or dark airtight pump container. Aside from this, keeping your products in a dry and cool place is also important.

Homemade Toner

This is a good and easy recipe to make.

-Water
-Green Tea
-Aloe (optional)

Boil about ½ a cup of water. Then steep about 2-3 packs of green tea for 30 minutes. If you have fresh aloe plant, add some aloe gel (about a teaspoon). Just refrigerate and it should stay fresh for about a week or so. See, simple huh?

Green tea is a good antioxidant as it contains polyphenols. Polyphenols have protective effects against free radicals that age our skin. Aloe is good for healing and anti-inflammatory.

Related Post:

Double Cleansing

Asian 5-steps Skincare Routine

TOTD: Is your skincare product working for you?

To really know if something is making an improvement on your skin, use it continuously for about 4 weeks. (Unless of course, it is causing you an allergic reaction) Don’t expect miracle overnight.

Asian 5 Steps Skincare Routine

The best things you can do for your skin is to develop a skincare routine and be diligent about it. Often time when I see a Korean movie stars, I always admire over how smooth and porcelain their skin are. It’s probably a combination of good gene, healthy food intake, makeup, and diligent skincare.

Below is a step by step routine for night time:

1. Cleanse/Double Cleansing: A while back I wrote about double cleansing which provide more information on this process. When necessary, use cleansing oil to remove make up and dirt. Make sure not to pull on the eye area. Then cleanse your face with a gentle facial cleanser that is suitable for your skin type.

2. Tone: Use a toner to remove any last trace of residue. It also help balances out your skin PH level after washing and help prep your skin for better absorption of serum. Find one that is suitable for your skin type or for your specific treatment need (example: such as brightener).

3. Use a mask and facial massage once or twice a week: Masks comes in a variety, such as brightening, purifying, hydrating, exfoliating, etc. For summer, a gentle clay mask is ideal as it help eliminate oil. Then there is also the weekly facial massage to encourage good blood circulation. Some Asian brands carry facial massage cream for this purpose. However, I imagine you can just use your regular face lotion or cream.

4. Serum: It is basically a “more concentrated” amount of active ingredients than what you would get in a cream. Also, since its texture is normally in a liquid or light gel form, it is easier for your skin to absorb. On days that you don’t wear a mask, you would apply serum right after your toner. Personally, I think if you are still young, it is okay to skip the serum step to save yourself some time and money.

5. Moisturize: Depending on the season, you will want to find a suitable moisturizer. It also helps seal in the serum. If you have very dry skin in the winter, use a cream instead of lotion. For oily skin, try a gel type like Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer.

There you have it. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it? =) I have to admit, I myself don't always follow all the steps. But when I do, I always enjoy the relaxation and benefit a good mask provide.

Related Post:
Double Cleansing

TOTD: Seasonal Products

If you live in an area that have 4 seasons, spring is the time of the year where we need to change our hair, skincare and makeup products to better suit our need. For example, my skin is normal/dry in the winter but normal/oily in the summer. Same with my hair, it gets all frizzy in the summer.

Double Cleansing

Have you heard of double cleansing? Well, the whole concept was very new and interesting to me when I first came across it about a year or so ago. This is part of an Asian skincare regime.

Double cleansing is a two step cleansing process. The first step is to apply cleansing oil on dry face and start massaging to remove make-up, sunblock, dirt, etc. Afterward, rinse with lukewarm water. Then follow it with a gentle cleanser.

Yes, I said cleansing oil. I know the thought of putting oil on your face is not only foreign but also not very clean. However, cleansing oil is an effective and gentle method to remove makeup. It is also good at dissolving oil and dirt that build up on your face especially during hot, humid summer day. I tried DHC cleansing oil and it clean without stripping my skin from its natural sebum. It actually removes my eye makeup better than any makeup remover I ever used, with no stinging. Almost all Asian skincare brands carry cleansing oil. Some of the Western brands are starting to as well.

Final note, if you have oily skin, your skin may be able tolerate this method nightly. If you have dry or sensitive skin like mine, I would only do this when needed, not daily.