Last year, I shared some of the skincare I was using on a daily basis and 2 years ago, I shared my day and night skincare routine. I thoroughly enjoyed how everyone chipped in to share all of your day and night routines too! I thought it would be interesting to revisit it annually and see how far or not we have come and whether my and your routine have been working for you.
Towards the end of 2012, and in early 2013 my skin went crazy. I had a lot of problems with breakouts and for some reason, everything went out of control. I didn’t even change my skincare which really puzzled me. What I did then was to pare back my skincare to the bare minimum – cleanse, tone and moisturise. Slowly, I got things under control and then, I started getting back into a routine.
It might interest you to know that for the most part, I have been using this range of skincare day and night for at least 6 months now in various combinations and I’ve had the best skin that I’ve ever had in all my years *touchwood*! Granted, it’s not flawless nor perfect, but it’s the best I’ve ever had, I can walk out without makeup if I wanted to (imperfections and all) and that makes me very happy.
So here is my present skincare routine and some quick notes on what I might change or switch out as I go along. I can’t say I’ll be using this same routine in another 6 months, but who knows eh? Do share your routine too! Has it changed from a year ago? Is your skin doing better now than it was 6 or 12 months ago?
Skincare routine – Day
My day routine is as simple today as it was 2 years ago. The only thing that has changed are the products I use. For some reason, I’ve found that everything I’m using now is keeping my skin clear and treating it better than it has ever been. Perhaps its the combination? I can’t tell, but if it works, stick with it!
- Cleanse – Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser – I like this one. It’s very gentle on my skin and very refreshing. I tested it, liked it and then set it aside. But then, I started using it consistently and it seems to help my skin stay clear. Its not drying at all and it lasts ages! I have a selection of face washes to pick from but I pick up this one every morning. I sense a repurchase coming on when the time comes.
- Tone – Estee Lauder Nutritious Radiant Vitality Energy Lotion Fresh Moist – Ever since I rediscovered the benefits of using a toner, I have kept one in rotation but this one has made me sit up for the first time, and notice how well it works on my skin. I wipe a moistened cotton pad over my face and it refreshes my skin and seems to infuse it with a layer of moisture and awakens my skin, leaving it feeling and looking more radiant. Is it just this toner? I don’t know. All I know is that since I added it to my routine, I’ve had better looking skin than before. I’m down to the last few ml and I will be trying out other lotions, but there is a chance I might keep a bottle of this on standby.
- Serum – Diorsnow D-NA Control White Reveal Day Essence – I do think that this, together with the Anti Spot Serum does keep my skin tone clearer and more even, but freckles and pigmentation are still there in their glory. I am presently using this purely to finish it up and then move on to a hydrating serum. No plans to repurchase.
- Serum – Diorsnow Anti-Spot Serum – Ditto what I said above. I only use this one on my cheeks where the pigmentation is worst, but its still there. I feel like my skin texture has improved somewhat but I can’t tell if its this serum or just overall care that is sparking this change. I have no plans to repurchase this either and am only using to finish it up. Its taking a surprisingly long time!
- Moisturise – Origins Make A Difference Plus+ and Ginzing moisturiser – I just introduced the Ginzing moisturiser into my routine about a month ago and I’m liking it so much I decided to include it here. I was previously using the Make A Difference Plus+ for the past 3 months and it definitely made a difference in my skin for the day. Ginzing is lighter but they both work well as day moisturisers and I like how far they go! Barely making a dent in either pot although I can forsee myself finishing up the Make A Difference Plus+. My skin loves it and it has made a difference!
- Sunscreen – Shiseido Perfect UV SPF50 – This is my sunscreen and makeup primer in one. Best thing ever. No plans to replace this in my routine. Ever!
Skincare routine – Night
You could say the basics of my skincare routine doesn’t change. I always have in there a cleanser, toner, serum and moisturiser. At night, I include a makeup remover. In the past 2 years, my makeup remover was cleansing oil but things have changed somewhat.
- Eye makeup remover – Face of Australia Gentle Makeup Remover – I’m about halfway through this one and it’s a very nice, very gentle makeup remover. Face of Australia is from Australia as you might expect, and I think it’s a good and affordable product. It is a bi-phase makeup remover and does a good clean job so I have absolutely no complaints! Well, except for the fact its not available here in Malaysia 😛
- Face makeup remover – Bioderma Sensibio Micelle Solution – This is perhaps the biggest change in my routine in the past 2 years. I now eschew cleansing oils as I find them too drying on my combination-dry skin and I’ve found that micellar cleansing waters work better for me. Might this be the reason for my clearer, less clogged skin? I don’t know. Perhaps it is, perhaps its a whole combination of everything else. This one is a mainstay simply because I like it!
- Cleanse – Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel – 2 years ago, I told you this was my bathroom staple. It’s still holding onto its title. No change there. You may notice I use different cleansers in the day and night. Its by choice for a couple of reasons. I use a more gentle cleanser in the morning when my skin isn’t at all dirty after a night’s sleep. I use something a little more clarifying in the evening to remove all the day’s dirt from my skin. So, if I come across a gentle face cleanser, I slot it into my day routine and I keep something a little stronger for the evening. So far, this is the only one I ever want to use so the point is moot 😛
- Tone – Estee Lauder Nutritious Radiant Vitality Energy Lotion – Back to a quick wipe of this lotion all over to refresh my skin as I did in the morning.
- Serum – Diorsnow Anti-Spot Serum – Again, another item I use in the morning that I repeat at night. The primary reason is to use it up because I don’t see my skin getting any clearer and whiter 😛
- Anti-Aging Serum – Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair – Brown bottle of goodness all over! I’ve gone back to using this one because my skin just seems better with it than without.
- Additional oil – Estee Lauder Nutritious Essence Oil – I actually blend this with No. 8 so it shouldn’t sit on its own. At one time, I was using this first and then a moisturiser blended with the oil but I wanted to cut back on the items I use so I cut out the extra step.
- Moisturise – Dior Capture Totale Night Cream – I end my evening routine with a rich thick layer of this lovely night cream blended with 2-3 drops of the EL Nutritious oil. I used to blend it with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate but I found that the Nutritious Oil seems to work better with the cream because my skin looked better. I blend the oil because the cream itself is quite thick. Adding a couple of drops of oil thins out the texture and seems to make my skin more supple. On its own, this cream is amazing. If I have to attribute the turning point of my skin it will be this cream. My best investment so far!
If my skin gets clogged or starts to breakout, I sometimes use 2 moisturisers, using a La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo cream as my moisturiser for the problem areas until it gets better.
Once or twice a week, I slap on a sheet mask to cool my skin down and to boost hydration. When my skin feels a little dehydrated, I pat on a little Dr. Lewinns Line Smoothing Complex Super Hydrator and it immediately feels better. I don’t use a physical scrub anymore. My skin now finds it too harsh so if I feel the need to exfoliate, I use the Impress Brightener or Diorsnow Wipe Off Gel Exfoliator but rarely. I somehow feel that using a cotton pad with a toner and to remove my makeup somehow already helps exfoliate my skin somewhat and I don’t feel the need for an additional exfoliator anymore. Strange I know, but it somehow works for me.
Oh and eye cream? Erm… yeah I’m horrible at remembering to use it so when I do, it’s still the EL Advanced Night Repair eye cream. Nothing special but it seems to work well enough for me.
It seems like I use a lot but in actual fact, I’ve realised that I’ve streamlined my skincare a lot from the past. I sometimes switch products in and out as I have in the past 6 months, but they are usually the serums that I play about with. Sometimes its a whitening serum, sometimes its a hydrating serum; but in the main, these have been my products of choice. You may notice that some are staples and I may have identified a couple more that will make their way into that list of staples. You may also notice that there is no hydrating serum in there this time around, which puzzles me as much as it puzzles you! 😛
Care to share your own day and night skincare routine? Has it changed from the past year or two?
Have you found a skincare routine that works for you? I’ve also realised that being faithful and sticking out a skincare regimen for at least 3-4 months at a stretch is paying dividends for me! Looks like my skincare hopping days are over! I wonder what that’ll bode for the blog LOL 😛
Paris B
Hi Paris! I love your blog and this is my first time commenting! 🙂 I also have been having a bout of good skin days! I have oily skin and it’s been behaving since I switched to an oil moisturizer instead of a cream. My routine:
Morning:
Splash face with water
DHC acerola toner
Boscia tsubaki beauty oil (my new fav!)
DHC concentrated eye cream
Shiseido oil-free sunscreen spf 42
Night:
DHC deep cleansing oil (I’ve been using this for a while and it’s the best!)
Shiseido benefiance extra creamy cleansing foam
Clarins toning lotion with iris (great for oily skin)
Clarins double serum (it’s great but only every other day or else it’s too much!)
SK-ii facial treatment essence (alternating every other day so it lasts longer)
Boscia tsubaki beauty oil
DHC concentrated eye cream
EOS lip balm
Wow! That seems like a lot. And I thought I had a simple regimen too. :/
Hi Sarah! Thank you for leaving your first comment! 😀 I always love hearing from the silent ones 😉 It’s very useful seeing your regimen for oily skin since I don’t have it and I’m sure it will help others who share the same skin type. I see your fave is the Boscia Tsubaki beauty oil. That’s interesting! I’ve never tried anything by Boscia before but I’ll bear this one in mind – sounds like a winner! 😉 Don’t be a stranger!
Good morning! I salute you for your day and night time skin care routine! Just this morning I was counting how many bottles of “stuff” I use each morning (answer is 6) and I remember thinking… can life get more complicated that this??! I am now using the Laneige water bank range. There are 2 products after toner but before moisturiser. It doesn’t say serum… just essence or something like that.
My skin care routine has changed A LOT, since regularly reading your blog posts!! HAHA Apart from the basic stuff, I have now added serum and cleansing oil. Hail the power of blog education! I think it’s also because of increasing age, and also I wear more makeup more now (yep… no more laziness) so it’s better to take good care of it while I still can.
I have been a diligent lady when it comes to skin care. But somehow about 4 years ago when I gave birth to my first child, my life was turned upside down as nobody told me having a child was going to be like that –> up many nights, putting my baby’s needs in front of mine etc. Sometimes I went through a day without cleaning my face in the morning (eeww… right?) as the daytime tend to be quite hectic, usually. So during those times, my skin lacks the healthy natural glow. My cleansing routine then was only cleaner + moisturiser.
When life with a baby became more settled, and I got back to my old routines, but I also introduced a Body Shop vit-c serum (read from your blog) which I found restores the radiance and I love the citrus smell of it! At that time I was new to serums so I wanted to try something not so expensive, in case I don’t like it.
I don’t use double serum at the moment. But I love your idea of mixing the oil + thick moisturiser. I will try it tonight. 🙂 The routines are nerve calming, especially at night. 🙂
Oh by the way, my routines are:
Day: cleanser, toner, Laneige Emulsion, Essence, day moisturiser, sunscreen
(To be honest, I am not entirely sure if emulsion goes under essence or vice versa!:p)
Night: Eye+lip makeup remover, cleansing oil, cleanser, toner, oil, night moisturiser, sleeping pack (sometimes)
Hiya Ting! Haha you know what? I don’t even notice the number of potions and oils I apply anymore! 😀 Its a good thing that you’re back to taking care of your skin. I’ve seen many mothers just let go after they have their kids and while I understand that taking care of kids is a full time affair, I do think the mothers deserve that little me-time putting on their skincare. Its juggling the time and finding a rhythm that’s the hard part I’m sure 🙂 I’m glad reading my blog has helped somewhat (even if your wallet feels lightened 😛 ) Oh and as for your question, it should be Essence then Emulsion. Emulsion is the moisturiser which usually goes over everything to sort of keep it in, if you get my meaning. The Essence is the serum that has more concentrated ingredients and you want that right next to your skin 😉
Hellooo! Thanks for correcting me! Today I started using things the right way round. No wonder the Essence comes in smaller bottle than Emulsion!!! Duh! :p
And for mums who let go… what a pity. They really don’t need to crown themselves “yellow face woman” just yet, you know. 🙁 After all, children will grow up and by that time, it may be too late to rescue the skin…
HAHA! Also because Essence is more expensive, mah so, its a smaller bottle 😉 I agree with you about mothers. So I made sure my sis had a steady supply of skincare and made sure she used it!
Hi Paris – Thanks for sharing your skincare routine. Like Ting, I’m also re-discovering my pots and potions and love this post. I’ve got combination-dry skin – is that the same as dry-combination? If yes, I will be checking out the cleansers and creams you’ve used. Love the tip on blending oil + night cream – a real time saver!
Ting – I’m a mother of two and I’ve definitely gone down the “no time to wash face” road twice for both kids 😉 Things are getting better now that they are bigger.
Haha yes to me, combi-dry and dry-combi is essentially the same thing. I have the similar sort of skin too! A wee bit oilier on the T zone but drier cheeks. The challenge is to keep the dry bits well hydrated! Blending the oil + cream also helps make the oil and cream absorb more easily! Its surprising but it works 😉 I remember reading your blog from waaay back when I think you were having No. 1 and you have 2 now! Congrats! 🙂
Hello Paris,
I love your blog and I recently purchased Dior One Essential after reading your excellent review. You were right, I love it too. I also suffered from several breakouts ( cystic acne / adult acne ) and I found out about Paula’s choice products for acne treatment. Works really well in my skin, along with Dior serum and Lamer moisturiser.
Morning :
1. Paula’s choice hydralight cleanser
2. Lamer brightening lotion intense ( toner )
3. Paula’s choice skin perfecting 2% BHA liquid
4. Dior one essential
5. Dior eyes essential
6. Lamer eye balm intense
7. Lamer moisturizing lotion
8. Lamer spf 30 UV protecting lotion
Night :
1. Lamer cleansing fluid for makeup remover, followed by Paula’s choice hydralight cleanser
2. Lamer brightening lotion intense
3. Paula’s choice resist daily smoothing treatment 5% alpha hydroxy acid
4. Dior eyes essential
5. Lamer eye balm intense
6. Lamer moisturizing soft cream
Sometimes when my skin feel drier , I will add Lamer hydrating infusion after toner and before serum.
Pheww! I just realised so many steps in my routine. I am so glad to share it with you and your reader.
Lucy
Hi Lucy! So happy to hear from you – I love hearing from first time commentators! (I hope this won’t be your last ;)) You know, I’d forgotten about the One Essential! OMG 😛 I mean I have it on my table but I don’t use a lot. I think I should get back to using it because it really does make a difference to the skin doesn’t it? I notice you’re using the Eyes Essential too! I salute your diligence because that’s one product I just know I can never be good at – eye cream! HAHA BTW do you like the La Mer Soft Cream? I’m thinking of trying it 😉
Paris,
I love all Lamer moisturizer, especially soft cream and cream texture. Some people might say the cream texture would be too heavy, too greasy, for me it’s perfect for drier climate , winter or night time only. As for soft cream, I also love it for summer, warmer climate, and day time moisturizer, and only need approx. 5 second to be warmed up on my palm. Very soft texture , yet can provide good moisture to my skin. Bottom line, I love it and sure won’t be my last purchase .
If soft cream still too greasy for you, can try lotion instead.
Hope this will help. I know that you’ ll love it too , Paris.
Lucy
Thanks for sharing, Lucy 🙂 I used the La Mer Lotion many years ago out of curiousity because I had oilier skin then and was recommended to use it instead of the cream. Much later, I scored a sample of the cream and found it absolutely lovely in cooler climates, but a little heavy here. Now that my skin is drier, maybe it’ll work better 🙂 The reason I was keen on the Soft Cream is because I don’t have to do the whole rubbing thing anymore! That really put me off 😛
Sorry I forgot the last step in my night routine.
Lamer lip balm , and sometimes swith with dior lip maximizer.
Mmm the lip maximizer is really fun isn’t it? I sometimes use it in the day and the tingling is so fun haha!
Hi Paris, hmmm… let me think, my regime since 1 years ago:
Morning:
SK II Gentle cleanser ( I loveee this cleanser but too bad the price, dont know will repurchase or not because of the price)
SK II Cell in mask lotion
SK II FTE
Lancome genefique
SK II Cellumination essence Ex. ( love this one, make my skin a little glow)
SK II stempower cream
Lancome eyecream ( just got a sample)
Sunblock ( I rotate between Kanebo IC and The Face Shop SPF45)
Night:
The Face Shop Cleansing Oil (this is my 2nd bottle, and still have 1 stock left)
SK II gentle Cleanser
SK II Clear Lotion ( have the sample size)
SK II FTE
Lancome Genefique
SKII cell essence EX
SK II Stempower
lancome eyecream
I consider changing my stempower to stempower rich cream or LXp, but still looking for the review. 🙂 Oh BTW, I start using eye cream and Genefique essence from Lancome for a few days. so dont know the result yet
Its interesting seeing how our skincare regimen may have changed, right Lynda? Thanks for sharing! I notice you use a lot of SKII – must be a big fan! 😉 I think you might like then that there will be a Stempower Essence coming out soon. I can’t use SKII at all (breaks me out) but I hear it’s quite promising!
It’s true, PB. Yupp I use a lot of skincare from SK II, but some of them also broke me out , but Stempower and cellumination series looks do something good to my skin. Anyway I wish I could switch to something cheaper . hahaha..
You know, when I was using La Mer, I switched to SK2 because it was cheaper then I had to switch because I was breaking out and I went to… Olay Total Effects! HAHA Funny right? 😀
My routine changes with my skin. It’s been behaving for the last few months, so this must be working.
Day:
Cleanser: Vichy Normaderm
Toner: Diorsnow Lotion in Fresh
Serum: Aesop oil free hydrating serum
Moisturizer: Diorsnow Ultra Purifying
Eye cream: Lancome Renergie eye duo
Sunscreen: I alternate Clinique City Block Anti Pollution with Shiseido Perfector
Night:
Makeup remover: Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil
Cleanser + Toner: as above
Serum: Diorsnow Anti Spot
Moisturizer: Diorsnow Anti-Tache + Estee Lauder Nutritious Oil
Eye cream: Estee Lauder ANR for eyes (the new one) before Lancome Renergie Eye Duo
Then, I alternate some sheet masks with my Dior One Essential Mask and my Estee Lauder Nutritious 2-step treatment 🙂
Sounds like a lot, but it’s werkin’!
Yep, mine changes here and there too to compensate for how my skin feels at different times but its so great to be able to see nice, well-behaved skin right? 🙂 Wow and I see you use 2 eye creams! Diligent coz I use one… and only if I remember haha! 😀
I’ve always wondered, what is the recommendation for timing of the night routine skincare since it is on the heavier side.
Say you get home ~ 7pm (and not going out after that), do wash your face and then complete all the night routine? Though u will be preparing & eating dinner, watching tv etc…
Or should you just wash and lightly moisturize then wash again before sleep and complete the whole night routine?
That’s a good question SH, I never really thought about it before 😛 If I’m home early enough then I usually have my shower and do my night face anyway. Sometimes, if I plan to do a mask before bed, then I wash my face but put on a light moisturiser and then after dinner and while relaxing, I do my mask and follow up with my skincare routine. But generally, I don’t do it twice, just once, at whatever time I have my shower.
My routine is based on my skin condition. It will change once my skin gets better, read as no breakouts.
My (current) AM skincare routine
1. Cleanse – Gamila Original Cleansing Bar or Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser
2. Tone – L’occitane Angelica Face Toner
3. Eye care – Strivectin – TL 360° Tightening Eye Serum
4. Essence – SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
5. Serum – Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules
6. Serum – Sothys Hydradvance Intensive Hydrating Serum
7. Moisturizer – Sothys Hydradvance Light Hydrating Cream
8. Protect – Cremorlab Sun Protective SPF35
My (current) PM skincare routine
1. Make up remover – Dr. Fuch’s Secrets Cleansing Milk or Biotherm Clarifying Cleansing Milk
2. Cleanse – Eve Lom Cleanser or Gamila Original Cleansing Bar
3. Mask – Origins Out of Trouble & Origins Drink Up or Eve Lom Rescue Mask & Eve Lom Moisture Mask
4. Tone – L’occitane Angelica Face Toner
5. Eye care – Strivectin – TL 360° Tightening Eye Serum
6. Serum – La Mer The Concentrate
7. Moisturizer – La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream
Ooh you’re the second person I’ve seen in the list using the La Mer Soft Cream. Do you like it? I’m thinking of trying it, well once I run out of the Dior 🙂 Also I noticed you’re using the Strivectin 360 Tightening Eye Serum – I tried it but it makes the skin around my eyes smart every time I use it so I’ve set it aside 🙁
I like the soft cream. In fact, I am using 4 out of 5 textures available. The original is too rich for my skin and our weather. I alternate the 4 based on my skin condition daily.
According to the BA and the leaflet in the box, it would smart when you first use it. This is due to “weak skin around the eyes area” or something like that. I experienced it when I started to use it but it went away after few days. You should see my eyes area. No more annoying deep and fine lines. I love it.
Ooh it says so? Oops guilty of not reading the leaflet LOL! I’ll try again but it kept making my eyes water so much so I had to give it up. But wow, no more lines! I could do with that!
Not only the deep and fine lines are gone, it helps with dark eyes circles too. These days, I don’t have to do eye treatment when I go for facial. The eye serum is worth the $ paid.
Ok I better go and try it again! Been neglecting the ol’ eyes 😛
Try it. You will love it. Pair it with the eye cream if you have it. It works better. I use the eye serum alone. Too lazy to apply the eye cream. Haha
Wow you have a big skincare regimen, Paris! As does everyone else above! Hmmm I’m a bit embarrassed to share mine now, hahaha! It is quite sad and lonely haha. But I’ve realized that with my skin, the less I put on it, the better.
DAY:
Clinique Liquid Soap
Clinique DDML oil-free Moisturizer
Clarins HP Plus sunscreen
NIGHT:
Same minus the sunscreen!
Hahah I told you, it’s pretty sad! 🙂 I’m looking to add a more intense moisturizer for the night time; I’ve been using an Anti-Aging one from Aesop. It’s really great (reviewed on my blog sometime back) but I won’t repurchase as it is SO expensive. My goodness!
Wanted to ask you if Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair is any good? Been hearing about it loads! Thank you. 🙂
x Renee
Now that’s a nice trim skincare routine right there, Renee! Not sad at all – it’s whatever works for us and you’re lucky to have a short routine, rather your wallet thanks you profusely LOL! 😉 I love the ANR and have been using it for years. I definitely do see a difference when I do use it – skin looks better – so its one of those things I keep on hand 🙂
1st time comment here 🙂 although I have been following this blog for quite some time. Mainly because after many switches , I have finally found these products works for my oily, acne-prone skin, and would like to share this info.
AM routine:
1. Neutrogena cleanser (or just any cleanser I can get my hands on)
2. Hada Labo toner
3. Envie De Neuf Fullerene C60 Complex (love this!)
4. Envie De Neuf Mattfying Hydragel
5. Cellnique Daytime Protector SPF 20 (love this!)
PM routine:
1. Hada Labo cleansing oil (love this !)
2. Hada Labo cleanser
3. Sulwhasoo First Care serum (love this !)
4. Cellnique Vital Cellular Repair Emulsion
Hiya KL! Nice hearing from you and thank you so much for sharing your routine for oily acne prone skin! its so useful to have different points of view 🙂 I saw you’re using Sulwhasoo First Care Serum! I’ve heard so much about it, and have been planning to try it – maybe soon!
AM routine:
1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
2. Aquamoist Moisture Lotion
3. SkinMedica Vitamin C+E Complex / Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+R] Serum (since both of these are kind of siliconey and works well as a primer)
4. SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream (only only the dry areas)
PM routine:
1. Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil
2. TheBodyShop Facial Cleansing Polish
3. RMK Skintuner Brightening Light
4. Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum
5. Lancome Genifique Repair Youth Activating Night Cream
Still sounds normal doesn’t it? Haha.
Yaay good to see someone using SkinMedica/Cosmeceutical stuff! 😀
Hi Natalie! I love SkinMedica! I’ve also had really good luck with Neostrata and Exuviance exfoliating products (the Ultra Moisturizing Face Cream and the Evening Restorative Complex respectively). You should give them a try!;)))
Haha yep! Very normal indeed, Terry! 😉 I saw you’re using the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum – I’ve been told that its really good! Are you loving it or just using it up?
Hiiiiiiiiiiiii Paris!! It’s so exciting to get a personl reply LOL I sound like such a dork now. I bought the Cadalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum after watching Lisa Eldridge’s French Pharamacies video. I was a bit disappointed with it really… I’m not sure if it’s the hot and humid Asian weather (I live in Hong Kong) but it seems to stay tacky for a really long time after applying. It is only slightly moisturizing but definitely does not do anything to even out my skintone. I am currently just using it up since it’s much too expensive to let it go to waste, but I can’t wait to go back to my Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & Photo Damage Corrector, which I absolutely adore, and which I treat as a more reasonably-priced alternative to the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.;)
Hi Terry 😀 You took the trouble to leave a comment, its only fair I take the trouble to reply 😉 Hmm… not sinking into skin is a right bummer isn’t it? I have read of people who love it and say it works and it does make me curious. Yet I have a lot of scepticism for brightening products because so few of them actually work as advertised, and so many of them are drying as heck! I remember that I liked the Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus too! Its good stuff! 😀
Mine is mainly Dermalogica, except I have recently added Clinique to my range.
Morning:-
1. Toner – SKII Clear Lotion
2. Serum – Dermalogica Hydrating Booster or Firming Booster
3. Moisturiser – Dermalogica Skin Soothing Cream
4. Sunblock – Dermalogica Solar Defense Oil Matte Free 50SPF
5. Cleanser – Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser (best cleanser for sensitive skin!)
Night:-
1,2,4,5 the same, except my moisturiser is Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. I am thinking to change it to Clinique’s moisturiser cuz it works better and cheaper than Dermalogica.
Hehe you know, other than PreCleanse, I’ve never used anything by Dermalogica! Weird right? 🙂 But since its working so well for you perhaps its a good thing sticking to it? Although if Clinique’s moisturiser works for you too then a switch will make your wallet happy 😉
Ah, I always love these kind of posts and get delighted when the bloggers that I follow update their skin care routine regularly 🙂 I have to agree with Ting that since I started reading your blog, a lot of my skin care purchases has been due to your influence. Hahaha. My skin care routine is only for the last 7 months since I changed it late last year and I have recently added 2 new products. My skin still has room for improvement and I am hoping to settle on products that I can use in the long term because it does get a bit tiring to change skin care too frequently. LOL. Here are the products that I use:
Day:
1. Iskin New York Cleanser
2. Yves Rocher Hydrating Toner
3. B.Liv I’m Dark Circle Reliever
4. B.Liv Off With Those Heads Serum
5. Cosmetic Skin Solutions Vitamin C+E Serum (2nd week of usage)
6. Estee Lauder Advanced Time Zone Age Reversing Line/Wrinkle Hydrating Gel Oil-Free
7. Shiseido Perfect UV SPF50
Night:
1. Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil
2. Same cleanser
3. Same toner
4. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum and TimeZone Anti-Line/Wrinkle Eye Crème (both are samples)
5. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
6. Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream (Just started using this 2 days ago and I previously used Yves Rocher 24H Intense Hydrating Gel Cream)
I also scrub twice a week with Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Skin Brightening Exfoliator and double mask with Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask and Clarins Hydraquench Cream Mask.
I am planning to change my cleanser and toner when it finishes but still deciding on which one. Is it advisable to use cleanser and toner from different brands? Just curious because I notice a lot of bloggers including yourself that does that. Another question is whether the Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel suitable for combination skin or is it for skin that had a history of acne. You have certainly gotten me interested in the Estee Lauder toner since you mentioned that it is a hydrating toner and it seem to have made your skin more radiant 🙂
I do too! That’s why I decided I’d do this annually if not bi-annually. It also helps me keep track of what’s working and what isn’t 😀 I hope the blog influence has been a good one! 😉 How are you liking the Cosmetics Skin Solutiosn Vitamin C+E Serum? I used up about half a bottle but I didn’t see a lot of the wonderful results that many people were reporting which puzzles me.
As for using cleanser and toner from different brands, I don’t think that’s an issue to be honest. I may like the cleanser from a brand but dislike the rest of the products. So with cleanser and toner, I don’t mind mixing it around. It’s the treatment products e.g. whitening, acne that you will want to stay within the same range/brand for maximum effects. I believe the Vichy cleansing gel is targeted more at those who have blemish prone skin so if you aren’t prone to getting spots, for any reason then you may not like it as much as I do.
Thanks for the reply. This is only my second week of using CSS C+E so the effect would not be visible so soon. I will give it another 2-3 weeks to gauge the effect. Bought this on Tine’s recommendation as it was either this or Kiehl’s Spot Corrector and she said this was way better 🙂
What do you think of Hada Labo’s Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser? I know you mentioned that it caused your hands to peel? Seen a lot of raves about it and since it is quite affordable, was thinking of getting it. But I am trying not to add too many new brands to my skin care as I do not know how my skin would react.
Oh yeah, the Kiehl’s spot corrector doesn’t do anything for my spots 😛 The Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid cleanser (in the white tube) is a good one. I’m fine with that one, and it is a very nice and affordable non-drying cleanser. It’s the green one the Tamagohada AHA/BHA cleanser that makes my hands peel. Also very good because it does leave my skin feeling very smooth, but my hands hate it so out it had to go! I’ve generally found Hada Labo products quite gentle and generally quite effective too!
Realise mine is so short.
Day: Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera
MUJI Moisturizer.
Night: Thayers Rose water again.
Ole Henriksen Nurture Me for Sensitive Skin
Short and sweet! 😉 No cleanser?
Have! haha, forgot that cleanser is skincare.
I use a beautician cleansing gel in the morning, and Philosophy Purity 3-in-1 Cleanser for night.
This is because the gel one is lighter, and more natural, more refreshing, while the Purity Cleanser can clean off makeup. So I use the Purity Cleanser as a double cleanse, after I wash off my cleansing oil.
haha, the truth is, I have two cleansers because I wash my face at the basin in the morning and in the bath at night, and I don’t want to walk in and out of the bath in the morning, just to grab cleanser!!
*hands up* I’m guilty of the same reason for having 2 face cleansers LOL! One sits in the shower, one sits by the basin 😛
My skincare changed A LOT. I had oilier and acne prone skin. Now Im more normal-dry. I also noticed that water in many different places makes my skin to behave differently too…
I dont have one routine, I exchange serums, oils and creams all the time really and I dont separate them on day&night (except for sunscreen of course).
At night I have tendency to ‘sandwich’ serum-oil-moisturiser-oitment under eyes.
I wouldnt mind to have routine but my skin has its oilier, dryier, more irritated etc. days.
Like you Catherine, I noticed my skin changing a few years ago and I now treat it for combination-dry skin and it behaves a lot better! It definitely pays to pay a little attention to how our skin is looking/faring. I have noticed that being a little more faithful to a set routine or products is making my skin look better but it doesn’t stop me switching things in and out as and when I feel I need something more 😉
My husband once asked me how many types of chemical do I put on my face everyday… *lol*
Day:
Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Wash Gel
Kielh’s Calendula Herbal Extract Toner
Origins A Perfect World for eyes
Payot Elixir Purete serum
La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Riche SPF20
Night:
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution to remove makeup
Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Wash Gel
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Origins A Perfect World for eyes
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum
Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion
^ They are my favourite products. Most of these brands aren’t available in the CZ, so I’ve to stock them up when I’ve a chance.
HAHA your husband is quite right to be honest 😛 Ooh I saw you’re using LRP in the day! I bought a tube from escentual on my last haul from there, because I thought it looked interesting. I haven’t tried it yet, but knowing that someone else out there uses it makes it more promising!
I like LRP moisturisers. I was using the same one without SPF for night before. It’s perfect for cold and dry winter evenings. I hope you’ll like LRP too 😉 Is it available in Malaysia?
Nope, we still don’t get LRP here, but I picked it up on an escentual order. Knowing Escentual ships here for an affordable price has done damage to the wallet haha! 😀
Oh I noticed u use a few types of serum at night. Which order to follow? Whitening then hydrating then anti ageing ? I only use one serum at nite
Hmm I use the whitening first then layer with anti-aging because I only use the whitening on my cheeks and the anti-aging all over. I’m not sure if there’s supposed to be a set method to follow or if I’m doing it right or wrong! LOL!
Awesome! I keep meaning to do a post like this, but the prospect of collecting all of my skincare products from various places (dresser, bathroom, sink counter) makes me give up before I even start, lol! I’ve changed my routine recently, though, because I guess I’m getting older (/cries) and my skin has changed a little bit.
Ahem! This is why it’s taken me so long to get around to doing this one, Larie! HAHA! I had it sitting in drafts but only managed to drag myself to photograph all the products over the weekend. Just gotta do it! 😉 It’s very useful knowing where you stand with your skin and how it is affected by age (sob!) or weather.
I keep my routine simple nowdays, but very effective 🙂
AM
Perricone MD Gentle Cleanser
Aspect Vitamin B17
Aspect Vitamin C
Cosmedix Simply Brilliant (Pigment Blocker)
PM
Dermalogica PreCleanse oil
Cosmedix Purity Clean Cleanser
Cosmedix Simply Brilliant
Cosmedix Serum 16 (Vitamin A)
Plus Derma roller every 2nd night and professional peels every month 🙂
Simple and effective! Nice! I haven’t tried anything in your list except the PreCleanse which I thought was awesome stuff! But since I don’t use cleansing oils anymore, that’s out 😛 I haven’t come across Cosmedix before – is it a dermalogical brand?
Yeah I saw whole lot of weird chemicals in Shu oil, so I switched to PreCleanse lol. How come you don’t use oils anymore? Did you find something that effectively remove your makeup? Yes Cosmedix is cosmeceutical, which are prescribed by clinicians or skin therapists. As I get older, I need products that work at cellular level, inside out! Grr ageing is not fun 😀 😀
Yep, I realised cleansing oils of every sort was drying my skin out and that led to breakouts too. So I switched around to cleansing milk and have now settled on cleansing water. Am using the famed Bioderma for now and my skin is looking and feeling so much better! 😀 You said it, ageing is a horrible process to go through but on the bright side, we come out at the other end, wiser and more informed? 😉
Oh really? Did it feel dry after double cleansing (oil & another cleanser afterwards)? I think I have Koh Gen Do cleansing oil sitting somewhere in my drawer but never tried it 😀 I love aromatherapy so I love Dermalogica PreCleanse as it contains lots of essential oils 😉
Haha, I would like to think I am more informed now especially I work in the aesthetics field. I think I saw somewhere in the comments that you had a bad IPL/laser experience? 🙁
Actually, my skin would feel dry after the oil and worse if I double cleanse. Also I was starting to get all these clogged pores which I suspected was due to severe skin dehydration. But since I stopped, my skin has looked clearer and better so I’m not overly fussed about it 😉 The Dermalogica one was good I remembered. Very relaxing too! Yes I had a poor laser experience where it was supposed to lighten my sunspots but seemed to make it darker? I can’t say for certain. Then, I was prescribed hydroquinoine under doctor’s supervision but my skin turned yellow. Dr. refused to believe me so I got irritated and I stopped it. It took me at least 5 months to get things back to normal and I’m just too terrified of seeing doctors anymore. Will rather live with it (and good foundation & concealer haha!) 😀
I am glad you found the right cleanser for your skin. The darkening of skin after laser/IPL treatment is called Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIHP) and it is usual for dark skins and Asian skins. The problem with doctors is that they do not know much about homecares, which plays crucial role in maintaining post treatment results. Your skin should have been prepped with a pigment blocker 3 weeks before the laser treatments, which would helped from developing PIHP. Hydroquinone is banned in Australia, because it makes your skin more susceptible to UVA & UVB rays and once you stop applying it, you will get even more pigments 🙁 A course of lactic and vitamin A peels would be great for your pigmentation, while using vitamin C serum in the morning and vitamin A serum at night 🙂
Ah what you said made perfect sense, Natalie. I had little confidence when asked to use hydroquinone coz I know its banned in many countries and I wasn’t comfortable using it. I suppose I will have to someday bite the bullet and give peels a try, but will have to find a good doctor first. I have little confidence in many of the doctors even if they are qualified, after this one experience.
This is my bunch of lotions and potions that I’ve been sticking to for the past 3 months. The combo seems to be decreasing the amount of breakouts I’m getting.
AM:
Cleanser – Clarins Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed
Toner – Clarins Toner with Iris
Serum – Ole Henriksen Truth Serum
Eye cream – Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair Eye
Moisturizer – Olay Total Effects Fragrance-Free Moisturizer
Sunscreen – Hada Labo UV Lotion (just finishing this up. Will be trying Shiseido next)
Night:
Cleanser – Clarins Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed
Toner – Clarins Toner with Iris
Serum – Murad T-Zone Pore Refining Treatment Gel (Godsend for clogged pores)
Eye cream – Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair Eye
Moisturizer – Olay Total Effects Fragrance-Free Moisturizer
Special Treatments: (why not? 🙂 )
Scrub – Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Cream with Mimosa (twice a week)
Mask – Kiehl’s Rare Earth Mask; First Aid Beauty Oatmeal mask (twice a week, alternating between these two)
Intensive treatment – Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil (once a week, using this in place of my moisturizer)
Just to add…
However, my face still gets oily after 2 hours of washing. Is that normal? Or am I just nit-picking? The husband thinks so.
If anyone has a recommendation on products that I should try, please share. 😀 I’m totally stumped.
Skin profile:
Combination skin – oily T-zone; normal-dry elsewhere
Pores on nose gets clogged really easily
Starting to see fine lines on forehead
Redness around nose and cheeks
I have combination skin. My skin doesn’t get oily after 2 hours of washing. It could be the products that you are using. Previously, when I had another AM and PM routine, my skin became oily after few hours of washing. I don’t experience this with my current AM and PM routine.
The fine lines on your forehead could be your skin telling you that it is dehydrated. I have fine lines on my forehead due to dehydration. Currently, I am using hydrating serum to keep my skin hydrated, besides trying my best to calm and soothe it. Had a bad breakout last month because I was sick.
Redness around the nose and cheeks, it could dry. My sister has redness on her cheeks. I hope it doesn’t turn from dry skin to sensitive skin. Therefore, I recommended her to use products with more hydrating properties.
To be honest, I’m not sure – it could be any number of reasons including the weather. Since it’s summer where you are and likely hot, your skin could be reacting to that after the cold in the past few months? Or, it could be that the products aren’t suitable as Angelina has pointed out. I have noticed that the Olay Total Effects can be rather heavy, and fine line is usually the first sign of aging or dehydrated skin. So a hydrating serum may help with that 🙂
I suffer from oily t-zone, but then Sze Ling, you will thank the oil flow one day as it will keep you young! 😀 I will get the redness checked out though. If it is due to telangiactasia (dilated capillaries/vessels), you might need to review your skincare regime so the condition doesn’t get worse 🙂
Wow! Thank you all for the replies.
It’s definitely subjective and hard to just pin-point on one root cause. Will persevere and hopefully find something that would work out.
And I’d definitely start looking into a hydrating serum. Seems like it might be a good place to start.
Good to hear it’s helping your skin! Sometimes, breakouts could be due to food or weather too 🙂 I saw you’re using the Olay Total Effects moisturiser! Its one of my faves from the drugstore – effective and cheap! I went through bottles of them and would always stock up during sales haha! I like the idea of the intensive treatment using just the oil! I might try that too 😀
That Olay moisturizer is definitely a cheapie and a goodie. In fact, your review turned me to that. 😀
The frustrating part of this routine that I have is: it solved my breakout problem, but not the oily and fine lines issue. So, yeah, it’s annoying. It’s almost like rocket science!