Fact is, ladies and gents, I have used loads… and I mean LOADS of different skincare in my time. It’s part of the reason I started blogging it. I wanted to share how the different products out there have worked, or not, for me. Who knew that it would blow up the way it did! 🙂
But over the years, I’ve been whittling back down my skincare arsenal and I can safely, hand on heart tell you, that I have found some faves that I am willing and happy to repurchase over and over. In fact, I have. In fact also, these are skincare I have been using over the past 6 months – some even longer – they are staples in my skincare regimen and I have found them to be so good, I’m actually loathe to switch out any one of them.
Yes, I’ve only found 5 to date. What does that make me? Extremely loyal? Extremely fickle? Or just Extremely picky? 😛
Before I unveil them, see if you can hazard a guess as to what they are. For a couple of them, the packaging shape is a giveaway and I think one might surprise you 😉 Got your guesses ready? Here they are in my first (and a possibly sporadic feature) Paris Picks! :D.
Did you manage to identify any? 😉
I’ll run them down for you here just very quickly. They have all been reviewed on the blog at one point or another and I will link you to the original review so click on the links to read my then-first impressions of it and how I have changed or not changed my impressions of them over time. Listed in no particular order 🙂
1. Dior Capture Totale Intensive Night Restorative Cream
This has been my night cream for the past 6 months. I was having really problematic skin for a while towards the end of 2012 and at the start of 2013. My skin was uneven, dull, dry, flakey, breaking out… you name a problem, I had it. I was quite at my wits end as to what to do, so I stripped down my skincare to the bare minimum. Then, I trawled my skincare archives (I knew starting this blog was a great idea! 😉 ) and an old review of this cream caught my attention. I’d remembered that it was very nice but I’d given away the tub to my Mom who was looking for a night cream at the time. So, I bit the bullet and bought a new tub. I swear this cream turned my skin around.
I was still operating on a minimal skincare routine at this point so I knew any improvements were thanks to this particular cream. In a few weeks, I noticed that my skin looked better and felt softer. Its been about 4-5 months since I started using this cream and my skin has never been better. It looks better, my skintone looks much more even, and my skin is hydrated. I do blend this cream with a few drops of either Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate or Estee Lauder Nutritious Essence Oil as its quite thick. I took this with me to Prague and it kept my skin well moisturised all day in the cold dry air. It’s a nice dent in the wallet, but because it’s so thick I don’t use too much and I only use it at night so its going a long way. Loving this one and am so loathe to try any other night cream at this point so this will explain why there are no more night cream reviews for a long while 🙂
2. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex
Uh, where do I even begin?! I started using this back when it was just called Advanced Night Repair without the fancy embellishments. The texture then wasn’t as lovely as it is now. It was thicker and a bit more sticky but I liked it, for some reason. I’d also dabbled into the Whitening version but that sucked (i.e. did nothing) so I went back to the original. I’ve picked this one up off and on over the years (especially at Duty Free where there are duo packs for excellent value!) and every time I pick it up, I’m reminded why I like it.
I told you before about going back to using ANR and since then, I’ve always kept a bottle on my dresser. How often or rarely I use it varies depending on what else I might be using at the time, but whenever my skin needs perking up or I want to just say “Hang it all! I don’t want to use anything new!” I go back to ANR and every time, it gives me what I want. Truly, if I never use another Estee Lauder product, this will be the one I’ll never give up 🙂
3. Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel
This is the reason I am so upset that Vichy products are no longer available in Malaysia. I use this face wash as my evening face wash after removing my makeup and it seriously is the best I’ve ever used to keep my skin under control. Not only does it cleanse without drying, the salicylic acid in there keeps spots at bay so I am less plagued with pimples and random spots.
I picked this out years ago as my bathroom staple face cleanser and you know what? My opinion has never changed! I bought back ups when Vichy pulled out but when I ran out, I tried a few alternative face cleansers but nothing did the trick. So I couldn’t take it and ended up buying a bottle from the UK through escentual.com (they often go on sale!). I could get it from Singapore too if I wanted, but I’d have to rely on people to help bring it back while ordering it online means I can have it sent to my doorstep at my convenience 🙂
4. Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF50+ PA+++
This is bottle No. 3 of what is the only sunscreen I ever want to use. Ever since I was introduced to it, I have been hooked. The texture is lovely. Its light and non-oily and doesn’t leave that greasy sheen on skin. It contains zinc oxide but for some reason, doesn’t break me out the way zinc oxide in sunscreens usually do.
It makes an excellent makeup base so I have never found the need to use another makeup base on top of it, and it isn’t oily or heavy or greasy or anything yucky. I use it daily over face and neck (yes, even on weekends and even when I’m just staying at home) and when I’m at the beach or somewhere hot, even on my arms. I do run through it quite quickly as I’m generous with my use – about a 1 inch squeeze for each part of my face.
I’ve got my backups in place and I pick them up when there are deals and GWPs to be had. It’s about the only item I actually repurchase from the Shiseido counters and I got my friend hooked too! These days, when we see deals at the counter, we just snap up 2 bottles because we know, it’ll always come in handy 🙂
5. Lucas Papaw Ointment
I know, no one would have picked up on this one because I showed the tub not the tube haha! 😀 Actually, I just picked up the 75g tub recently because the pharmacies had run out of the tubes and I didn’t want to walk all over looking for a pharmacy that had it. I’m actually very glad I got the tub version because I realised that the contents do not liquify as much as the ones in the tube! Its less portable of course, but I only use it as a nightly lip treatment so it stays on my dresser.
Yep, this is the only lip treatment I use and I’ve gone through 3 tubes of it. I slather on a thick layer at night before bed and wake up to lovely soft, flake free lips. Of course, having sufficient water intake plays a major role as well, but whenever I do have flaky or chapped lips, I go back to Lucas Papaw Ointment. I have tried using another version of papaw ointment by a brand called Pure made without petroleum derivatives and which I believe is an organic product, but I disliked it. The taste and smell was awful and it was much too runny, being practically almost liquid in our heat. I tried keeping it in the fridge but even then it never properly solidified. Also, I had some problem with sensitive lips recently and Pure did nothing for my lips except taste awful. Lucas Papaw Ointment on the other hand, helped keep things under control so that was the end of my experimentation and the reason I chose to invest in a tub.
There you have it. Just 5 skincare items that I’ve found worthy to repurchase over and over. I was quite pleased to realise that my fave products are quite well distributed between the pharmacy and the department store 😀 Its tough you know, this skincare business? Who knew applying products to the face could be so trying 😛
Have you tried any of my Top 5 skincare picks? Have you any skincare that you are willing to be loyal and faithful to and what are they?
I’d love to know of your top skincare picks too so if you have any that you are very loyal to do share. Who knows if I could discover a Top Pick in there some day too! 😀
Paris B
Not many as i always change my skincare products.
Bioderma Cleansing water and La Roche Posay i guess but both haven’t stood the test of 5 years time with me yet.
Ah I’m sure you’ll find some some day 🙂 That one product you don’t want to stop using – I never thought I would coz I’m so fickle too!
From bad skin to great skin, I owe everything to Perricone MD products! 😀
Wow! You know, the only product I’d tried from Perricone MD is the No Foundation Foundation which turned orange on me haha! But I’ve always read very good things about the brand and wanted to try them but for some reason, no one seems to be able to point me in any direction! Yes, not even the SA so I’ve given up 😛 What do you like from them Natalie? Maybe you can help me where the SA can’t haha!
Haha SA from the Perricone site? What are your skin concerns? My favorites are Acyl Glutathione for the face and eyes (for wrinkles), Vitamin C Ester15 tubes (for pigmentation & strengthen vessels), Hypoallergenic firming cream and Cold Plasma face & body. They now have NFF in lighter shade, but I have not tried that yet 😉
Well I’ve read they’re really good for anti-aging products. I have been curious to try Acyl Glutathione for a while! I tried the Cold Plasma eye cream once. It was nice. Seemed to work… but smelled of rotten fish! >.< I couldn't take it 😛
I love the latest version of Estee Lauder ANR too. But i never tried the older version of it, so i can’t compare them. My sensitive skin doesn’t work quite well with most serums, but this one works quite well. And i can actually see it repairs my damaged skin. So it kinda live up to what it claims.
For suncreen, i currently use biore uv perfect face milk. I think it’s a great affordable sunscreen without the greasiness that i don’t like. The shesheido uv protector looks kinda promising too. I might give it a go.
U know somehow i could not find the Lucas Papaw Ointment. I tried to find it at the drugstores in Midvalley, but i can’t seem to find it. And when i asked the SA, they all looked very blur. Well, maybe i should searched more carefully.
Great to know that EL ANR works for your skin too Liyana 🙂 I know the Biore sunscreen gets a lot of love from everyone and you’re absolutely right about the description! Too bad for me that my skin can’t handle it 🙁 I was really disappointed coz everyone I know raves about how wonderful it is! For the Lucas Papaw Ointment, the only store in MV that I have found it in is Vitacare (LG floor, near the Gardens side) They have been out of the tubes for a while so only have the tub and usually only have very limited stock. I never quite understand why!
Haha! You’re picky? Nah… I don’t even have a top 5, only a top 2. Who’s the picky one? :p
In no particular order of preference:
1. Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser – on my 3rd tube and still going strong.
2. Estee Lauder ANR Eye – 2nd bottle, and it lasts forever!
I really, really wanted to fall head over heels for the Estee ANR, but every time I introduce it back into my routine, I’d start to breakout. Sob… So now I only use it on my neck, just to finish up the bottle. I know, what a waste of good product.
We should do one of this list for makeup items too! 😉
LOL!! Ok you win, Sze Ling 😛 I have to agree with you on the EL ANR eye. I’ve tried so many eye creams and its still the only one I have any faith in even if it doesn’t seem to do anything 😛 I do wish it came in more user friendly packaging though. Sorry to hear the ANR serum breaks you out but I’ve heard that happen too 🙁 Good idea about makeup! Let me go see if I have any must haves hehe… Now that’s a lot harder you know. So much of it never finishes 😛
I so love this post! Although I have only recently change my skin care (December 2012), the following are my picks which I can foresee repurchasing in the future:
1. Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF50+ PA+++ (Just love this. I purchased my 2nd bottle this month)
2. Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil (On my second bottle now. Although I need to get it from a friend in Singapore, I will continue to use it unless I can find a better alternative)
3. b-Liv Off With Those Heads sebum gel (I saw this on Tine’s blog last year (Thanks Tine :-)) and love it. So effective in removing and keeping blackheads at bay)
4. Clarins Hydraquench Anti-Thirst Cream-Mask (Love how soft and supple my face feels after my weekly masking routine with this mask)
I have tried samples of EL’s ANR and I do like it but since I already have a bottle of Kiehl’s MRC, I would not be buying the full bottle of ANR.
Thanks for sharing your picks and I like that Clarins mask too! It feels so lovely doesn’t it? I’m not crazy about the scent which is why I don’t use it very often. I could be mistaken, Victoria but I may have seen a Fancl store at Pavilion near the Daiso. Do check it out the next time you’re there
Thanks for the heads up about the possibility of a Fancl store at Pavilion. It is not in the Pavilion website store guide so the next time I am there, I will go find out if it is true 🙂
Hmm… I do hope I’m right 😛 There’s definite a skincare store there, just next to Daiso.. Maybe its HABA Oh dear! 😛
I’m currently working my way through a bottle of ANR. It works ok but I’m not sure if I love it enough to repurchase.
So far the only skincare product I have been loyal to is sunscreen – Hada Labo UV Moist Emulsion. I’m on my 4th bottle! 🙂
Ah that’s a pretty good one, Sarah. I went through about 2 bottles of it before I moved on. I do like the one in the blue tube a little better though 🙂
I love the mysterious pictures 🙂 Boo hoo hoo, I got 1 guess correct – Dior by brand but I wasn’t sure of the exact product. Anyways, my ANR would be very upset that I didn’t recognize her shape. I thought it was Kiehl’s MRC. And to think that I’m already into the second bottle of ANR. It is the first serum that I have used and I am still loving it. I cannot pinpoint the effect but I think my skin looks better these days, no more dry flaky skin and red angry patches.
Here are my favourites:
1. ANR
2. Biore UV Perfect Face Milk
3. Hada Labo lotion
4. Kose Emulsion
5. Hada Labo AHA/BHA Face Wash
Haha Oh dear! You didn’t recognise ANR! 😛 I think ANR is great. I always have a bottle on hand whether or not I use it all the time. It seems to ‘calm’ my skin and perhaps you’re deriving the benefits already! 😀 I think Hada labo made great products too. Simple and effective and above all, affordable! Good picks
I’m using several items which I would not even think twice to repurchase.
1. Kiehl’s MRC
2. Shiseido sunblock (the same as yours)
3. Clarins lotus oil (alternating this with MRC, helps to reduce breakouts and clarify skin)
4. Freeman’s pink grapefruit exfoliating scrub
5. Clarins pure and radiant mask (discontinued in sg, helps to refine pores and reduce inflammation, on my last tube)
Haven’t found THE moisturiser yet because my skin needs change overtime and I’m going through moisturisers much faster than before as I slather them on as my skin is very very dehydrated. No matter how much I put on, my skin will just slurp up everything, if I put lesser I will wake up with flaky skin. On nights I sleep in air conditioned room, I have to put on twice 🙁
Maybe next time you come sg you can stock up on the Vichy cleanser 🙂
I have to agree with you about moisturiser, Kay. I don’t think we should be using just one forever and ever anyway because our skin keeps changing over time. Its very extravagant but I usually have about 2 different types around for use in the day and in the night and they don’t even come from the same brand! 😛 When I had very dehydrated skin at one point, I found that what helped was oils and serums. Not the MRC, its too light, but something a little heavier and then topped up with moisturiser. Or a hydration serum + hydration cream for the night. It just seals things in better. And yes, the next time I’m in Singapore, you bet I’ll check out the Vichy counter!
Top products for me would be:
1. A’kin Organic Rosehip Oil
2. Nivea Soft moisturiser
3. Cetaphil cleanser
4. Carmex lip balm with SPF15
Paris, I don’t mean to be a grammar nazi but I wanted to point out that you’ve been using the word “its” wrong. “Its” refers to possession whereas “it’s” means “it is”. Throughout this post, you mean “it’s” but keep using “its” in its place. If you can just rectify that mistake, it would be fabulous since it wouldn’t ruin the flow of your posts. Thanks for the great post!
Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing and for pointing out the grammar errors. Sometimes, I think I type more quickly than I think and I’ve gone back and edited it 🙂
A big thumbs up to Estee Lauder’s Advance Night Repair, I keep coming back to it.
It looks like so many of us are fans of the Little Brown Bottle! 😀
finally have some time!
Mine goes for EL ANR, Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector and Vichy Normaderm moisturizer.
The other 2 spots, are empty because I rotate and change stuff ever so often. But for now I do like Innisfree Green Tea eye cream and It’s Skin Power 10 serum range. Though can’t say if they’ll be with me for a long time like the other 3 items 😛
Oh I like the Clinique Dark Spot Corrector too! Its the only product I’ve used that actually lightens spots but I haven’t used it in a while. I should go back to it, thanks for the reminder!