I received an interesting email question from reader, Wan a while ago, where she asked me what sorts of skincare I’d splurge on. Basically, out of the different products I use, which ones will I splurge on and on the flip side, which I might save on.
Well, Wan the answer might be glaringly obvious in the photo above 😀
I have, over the years, used products from the very high end of the price spectrum, down to the low end from the pharmacies. Some products I use still come from the pharmacies although I am increasingly drawn to pricier counterparts.
It’s never the case that cheap = bad and expensive = good. It is all about how it works for your skin, how much you can afford at any given time and your personal beliefs. So, let me tell you the type of products I’d splurge on and why don’t you share your thoughts with me as well? 🙂
When it comes to skincare, the products I splurge on and dig deep into my pockets for are my serums, face oils and anti-aging creams. Primarily, I splurge on serums.
Higher concentration of ingredients and higher quality make it more pricey
I have learned from trial and error over the years that for a serum to work, the concentration of ingredients has to be high. Higher concentrations of ingredients come at a price so efficacy of a product too, comes at a price.
For face oils, I want that high quality oils be used in the product. The higher the oil quality, similarly the higher the price tag. If it contains essential oils, I too want something of high quality. So while I don’t doubt that there are affordable options out there (which is great if they exist), I will pay for a higher quality oil product and this applies to both face and body.
Anti-aging products too get my money, because again, for it to work, it needs a high concentration of ingredients and that comes at a price tag. So during leaner times, I’d save on everything else – cleanser, toner, moisturiser but I’d splurge on a serum.
I save on cleansing oils but not on cleansing balms
When I use an emulsifying cleansing oil, I go for cheap options, because I’ve found that cheap or expensive, they all work the same on me and most of them do use mineral oil anyway. But when I use a cleansing balm, I’m not above paying a little more for a high quality one. Ditto toners. I have found that some toners actually work on my skin to make it look better, and they cost more, while the ones that just “do the job” cost less.
I save on face sheet masks
I have used face sheet masks from the high end brands and the cheaper pharmacy brands and I’d do the lower end ones any time. I still like L’Herboflore a lot (not pharmacy but not expensive) and on other days, I go with My Beauty Diary. I have good results from both of these brands and they are affordable per use so I don’t mind using them more often, the way I should! There’s no point having an expensive product that I’d only be able to bear using once a month when I could be using something more affordable once a week and get better results!
Good products can be found at the pharmacies
Ultimately though, it still doesn’t mean that an expensive product will work for your skin where a more affordable option may suffice. Pharmacy brand options like Vichy and La Roche Posay have very high quality products at an affordable price. We don’t get them here in Malaysia, but if you have them and operate on a smaller budget, consider using them.
I have also had good experience with Eucerin products and I’ve read good things about Uriage as well. I haven’t gotten round to trying them, but the reports are promising. Avene too gets good feedback. I also find that Olay used to work for my skin (Total Effects, but not Regenerist) when I was on a budget, and so did L’Oreal Revitalift range (but no others in the L’Oreal line). My skin tolerates Western (particularly French) skincare better than Asian so I am less enamoured with Asian brands of skincare, both high end and drugstore.
Work with whatever your skin likes
Ultimately, listen to your skin. It is so important. A product could cost you RM4,000 (US$1,500) and still break you out or not deliver the results you are seeking. A product might cost you under RM50 (US$15) and deliver. So, there’s no need to keep up with the Joneses.
There’s no need to keep up with the Joneses so work within your budget
There’s nothing wrong with using affordable skincare. I’ve seen people feel embarrassed that they’re using something from the pharmacy and I want to say “Why? If it works for you and has a small pricetag, why be embarrassed about it?” As long as you are sure it is working for you, and that you are using sufficient product, it’s enough. Don’t skimp or save on product use. You need a decent amount and consistent use to see results in the long run. This isn’t like instant noodles – adding hot water doesn’t make it work faster or better.
After all, it would be far better having a good skincare routine that is within your budget, than trying to live beyond your means and cutting down on your product use. If I didn’t have the budget (and I’ve been there) I go back to the pharmacy. At least I don’t feel the pinch when I replenish and I don’t feel bad using generous amounts of product on my skin.
So, your turn then. What skincare products do you splurge on? If you’d like to share, what do you save on?
I have dabbled in skincare a long time, and have run the gamut from high to low end. I’ve found gems in both and while I am now using pricier products because my budget allows me to, it doesn’t mean I’ve never been in the pharmacy. I have, I’ve found my gems in there and they stood me in good stead, protecting and nourishing my skin through the lean years until I got on my feet and can treat my skin a little better. So, nothing embarrassing about using affordable skincare at all! 🙂
Paris B
I agree with you that serums are worth spending more on for its concentration of effective ingredients. The other thing I’d be happy to pay more for is eye cream -for the same reason.
My facial wash has been a pharmacy “cheapie” for as long as I can recall and more recently, I was very pleased to find that I could “downgrade” my sunscreen to a pharmacy product thanks to your post on the Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion! It’s less than half the price of my previous sunscreen and even though the content is less, I fancy I can stretch it to last just as long because the UV milk is so easy to spread and apply.
Good point on the eye cream, Isabel. I think for eye cream, it would make even more sense to pay a little more because you use so little anyway, that little tube can last ages! Am glad to know you like the Hada Labo sunscreen! I’ve been using it recently to finish it up and have reminded myself why I like it. Oh but don’t skimp, especially on sunscreen 😉
With skin as pale as mine, I can’t afford to skimp on sunscreen application! So all the more I’m pleased about the cheapie option 😀
Oh even better then! 😀
I bought the UV Whitening Emulsion too, after reading Paris’ review. I initially wanted the moisturising version (white bottle) but it was out of stock. I am naturally tan with dry oily skin; but I’m glad this one leaves no cast on me.
Thanks for your review, Paris! ^___^
I also recommended it to a friend with darker skin because she problems finding a sunscreen that doesn’t leave that whitish cast on her skin. She has similarly reported that it works well on her!
I actually trialed two sunscreens after reading Paris’ reviews – the Shiseido one and this Hado Labo one. Both worked well but clearly, I’m going for the alternative that’s lighter on the purse! 😀
And yes, lots of appreciation for the reviews Paris. Makes it so much easier for us to make up our minds as to what to trial!
Very happy to hear this Isabel! 😀 And you and Sandra have just reminded me that I could well provide a Save & Splurge post using both the Shiseido and Hada labo sunscreen! 😀
OMG, please do! The Hada Labo one made me itch though…
I like Shiseido’s because it is sweat and water-resistant! The Perfect UV Protector has lasted me through many sweaty ballet sessions (not light perspiration, mind you, like donkey/buffalo sweat… and I break into a sweat very easily even walking to the bus stop WITH an umbrella!).
Sorry to hear that Firn! I like both and think they’re both very good. I do stick with Shiseido because I think it a touch better and it is very water resistent as you said. Double cleansing is definitely a must when using it. For the Hada Labo one, it’s one of those better ones that is wallet friendly. I don’t play well with Biore like other people hence I don’t experiment anymore with sunscreens like this 🙂
I don’t double cleanse for Shiseido (I don’t use a makeup remover) but I do have a glycolic/salicylic acid toner to follow my facial cleanser and I haven’t experienced an increase in the number of blackheads. So I think their claims that their sunscreen can be rinsed off with facial wash are pretty true?
I do, because I found out when I applied the Shiseido on my arms that it would leave a white layer on my skin that regular body wash can’t remove. So, if it did that to my arms, I’d rather be safe than sorry for my face 😉 But then maybe it was just me coz I was reapplying layers of it by the beach and with the sticky beach air and the sweat maybe it all mixed up.
Eee so happy it works for you too Sandra! Its definitely one of the better pharmacy ones I’ve used 😀
I agree on that you have to find products that agree and actually work for you. Skin care is such trial and error. But I don’t use anything from the department store right now, with the exception of the new Estee Lauder ANR. The rest of my skin care is all drugstore, which for me is La Roche Posay, RoC, Vichy, and Neostrata. That’s what I use and love the most! Oh, and I do love some Kiehl’s as well.
Ugh! So true about trial and error, Tracy! I mean, I wish there was some sort of manual we could consult haha! I think of we had LRP and Vichy here I would switch too! Lucky you to find something light on the wallet
Hey Paris, I agree that it’s worth it to splurge on serums! I’d also splurge on dry oils, but I find basic moisturizers work well enough (Caudalie Vinosource ones come to mind), so for the moment I’m not going super high-end for those. I don’t use toners or sheet masks anymore, so I guess I’m saving on those!
Just curious… why not toner or sheet masks? :p
Hey Ting, this is personal and I’m sure many would tell you otherwise, but I don’t think any of those do anything substantial for my skin in the long run. My skin prefers serum and dry oil to sheet masks, and except for the pleasant factor, I really can’t say toners have done anything for my skin.
Haha! Your answer surprises me. 🙂 Sometimes we layer on so many products that we don’t know which one is really working. :p I haven’t used dry oil before. Wouldn’t it make skin really oily?
I tend to slowly introduce new products into my routine and observe closely. That way I get a better idea which product does what. I have combination skin, and even my T-zone reacts well to dry oil. As long as you’re not very acne-prone, I’d suggest you try a dry oil ad see how your skin likes it!
oh cool! I have combination skin as well! Which dry oil would you recommend, may I ask? 🙂
For dry oil beginners, I’d recommend something with a lighter texture (so you don’t get too weirded out haha), like Bodhi Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil and Estelle & Thild Rose Otto Facial Oil. If you want a budget-friendly multi-tasking one, Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil. Once you get more used to dry oils, Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment is my all-time favorite! I use it once or twice a week for a good boost. They also have a rose dry oil that I tried sample packets of. I’m getting that when I run out of the parsley seed one! Give the dry oil several minutes to sink in and follow up with a light (or heavy, depending on your needs) moisturizer on top to lock everything in. Prepare to wake up with soft, smooth, and plump skin! Hope this helps.
Thanks, Sunny! All those you mentioned… I think not available in Thailand! HAHA! But online shopping is still OK, so I’ll look for those. 😛
Hmm… do you put a droplet or two on palm, rub together and then pat it on? It seems quite time consuming having to wait several minutes… but if the effect is as you said… I am willing to try! 😀
Hey Ting, apparently we can’t extend this thread anymore so I’m replying to this comment instead. bodhi, Estelle & Thild, and Pai are available on Beautybay (they ship worldwide for free), and Aesop is available on Beautyexpert and so on.
I put about 3-4 drops (or a pump for the Estelle & Thild one) onto my palm and warm it up, before pressing it onto my face. Several minutes might be an exaggeration. Just make sure the oil has sunk in, and it doesn’t take long for the lighter ones!
oh thanks for the tips and online store! I shall definitely try dry oil soon! 🙂
Mmm oils! Hehe I didn’t think of the oils you mentioned to Ting (thanks so much for helping out with the replies!) as being dry oils but I love using oils too! I want to try some of those you described. Maybe I’ll do the Aesop one since its available here 🙂 I like mixing in a few drops of oil into my night creams. In our weather it helps to absorb a little better and my skin loves it!
Yes Paris, I remember you mix oil with cream and it was a bit of Eureka moment… :p
Yep! Still mixing away! Hehe
A question… rather stupid one… is Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate considered dry oil? Why is it called dry oil anyway? It’s not like… powder sort of dry… >.<
Not stupid at all Ting! 🙂 From my experience with dry oil, it quite literally feels “dry” on skin when applied. Like powder dry. I hate that texture 😛 But from Sunny’s descriptions of the oils she uses, they don’t strike me as being that sort of dry oil. I am curious to try one or two of the ones she recommends so if I find that the texture is different from regular face oil (which can sometimes be heavier and oilier, and sometimes lighter) I’ll update.
hi..wan in the haouse y’all…
Thx PB for the great blog today.
Since i’ve started reading your blog, i’ve been influenced of looking through my skincare and my skin condition.
Now i splurge on my skin care from cleansing oil(shiseido),clensing gel(avene-pharmacy),toner(clarins),aquamoist(moisture lotion),eye care(origins),moisturiser(clarins),ANR(EL),sunblock(shiseido)/Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion.
Hydraquench mask(Clarins),Beauty DIary Mask,Shiseido Purifying mask.
As you can see, most of my skincare was influenced by your blog…mainly because we have almost the same skin condition and you described it well in your writing of how i would feel about my skin.
Now, using the cloth cleansing method, my skin has improved, no more redness and bye2 acne and pimples. Still having some congested pores here and there but not that obvious..
I purchased my skincare not at one go…sometimes looking through blog sales and all.
Thx PB
P/s: sorry for the long post 😛
Hi Wan! Thanks for asking such an interesting question! So many people have enjoyed sharing their views too 😀 also, its nice to know some of what I’ve recommended have helped your skin. I especially love the cloth cleansing method! Isn’t it just amazing what it does for the skin?! I swear mine looks a billion times better too! And its such a cheap tip to follow hehe… Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this too. Always refreshing to hear another’s opinion
I’d splurge on skincare in this priority: 🙂
(1) serum
(2) moisturiser
(3) sunscreen… some brands sting the eyes… 🙁
(4) mask (not the sheet mask)
(5) toner
(6) cleanser
My answer would be exactly like Ting’s!
Yay Lily! 🙂
High 5! Me too haha!
Love this! I use the same order of priority too 😀
Serums all the way. I’m willing to spend more on good serums and sunscreen. But I have an exception. If my skin choose to favor pricier product, and is behaving well with it, I’d still spend the money. I’ve tried way too many products only to find out that my skin favors high end moisturizer.
And I’ve stopped using sheet masks for 8 months already. So maybe I’m saving in that department? 😛 (self consoling)
Lol! Guess your skin isn’t missing the sheet masks! One more thing to save on 😉 I would do what you do too re: going for whichever your skin favours. At one time, I was using Olay Total Effects and ANR because my skin couldn’t let that go 😛 if I’m to be perfectly honest, I’ve never really found a good ‘serum’ from the pharmacy or drugstore, unless you count hyaluronic acid serums.
This is such an interesting discussion 🙂 I was having the same internal debate with myself on what products I can save on due to budget constrain but have not really reach a satisfactory conclusion yet. I would definitely splurge on serums and masks because I am unable to find similar drugstore brands that give me the same effect as departmental store brands. I am trying out Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting moisturiser as my anti-aging moisturiser at night but I have not yet decided if I would repurchase it once I have finished it.
I was hoping to save on cleansers and toners but I noticed all drugstore toners has alcohol as the main ingredient so that was a no-no for me. I even thought of continuing usage of Yves Rocher cleanser and toner (as the brand is very affordable) but the former’s main ingredient is Sodium Laurate Sulfate and the latter has alcohol as well. So it looks like I will still need to purchase cleansers and toners from departmental or stand alone stores.
I am happy with my Shiseido sunscreen because I have managed to stretched it to 8 months of usage although I am tempted to try the Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion. My search is now for a decent eye cream for my dark eye circles but I have already tried many high-end and low-end ones and there has not been much difference. LOL.
Do please write a review on that Purity Cleansing Balm from REN in the tube that I saw on your Instagram. I am thinking of jumping on the flannel cloth bandwagon soon but have not made up my mind. Hahaha.
Sorry for the long reply. I really like discussions such as these and plus I had been thinking this question over the last few months 🙂
Don’t apologise Victoria! I love it when others share their thoughts, long or short! I haven’t tried the Olay mosituriser myself, but my mom really liked it. Olay is pretty good, I find for a pharmacy brand. You are right too about ingredients and contents of products. Quite often, cheaper products have a lot of fillers so efficacy is lower. The less products there are, or the purer the product is, then the pricier it is, because it is made differently or with pricier ingredients. In many ways, I don’t fault organic and natural brands for being pricier than normal. Just like food, whole foods are pricier than chemically processed foods. Same with skincare. I will definitely be sharing my thoughts on the Ren Purifying balm. But in the interim, by way of preliminary thoughts, the Body Shop Camomile cleansing butter isn’t bad too! Quite happy using it and yes, with a face flannel 😉
upcoming review on the body shop cleansing butter?..
Yep! Hoping to get it out in a week or so 🙂
Interesting question, loved to read other people’s opinions.
I’ve started to splurge a little more on a few skincare items just lately actually, I used to go for the cheaper option before.
Now I could never think about a skincare routine without Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery or Aesop’s Parsley Seed mask!
Ah, but S you have great products from your pharmacies! I sometime think I should move to Europe. My skin definitely loves it better there haha!
My splurge is on the estee lauder ANR, but now im curious about the josie maran argan oil since it gets rave reviews everywere and its also cheaper
I’ve heard a lot of raves for the Josie Maran Argan Oil too! Haven’t yet tried it but I reckon there are other Argan oil options too that are more affordable? 😉
Yes im pretty sure they are, but since the ANR is $92.00 US for 1.7 oz and the josie maran is $45.00 US for 1.7 oz its already cheaper 🙂
Try Melvita’s argan oil. It’s about RM110 and it does the trick for me
Oh good point! I’m not sure how much the Josie Maran retails for here because it’s only sold in Sephora. One of these days I’ll check 🙂
I couldn’t have said it better myself! This post seriously could have been written by me – I feel the exact same way as you about skincare apparently! lol. I saw the question, got ready to write a big long comment about my opinion, but when I read what you said I just thought, “Yep. That’s exactly what I do”
That’s good to know we’re on the same wavelength, Brianna! 🙂
Since I don’t use a lot of skincare because I’m on medication & prescription, this isn’t a difficult one for me to answer. I love love love my Kiehl’s Dark Spot Solution. It’s the best dark spot solution for me, it really works! I haven’t gotten myself to repurchase it yet (because I’m a student & RM200 for a bottle? Yikes!!!) but I will when I think it’s time. That stuff works wonders I tell ya. Worth every penny!
Oh Hani, it’s so interesting to know that the Kiehl’s DSS works for you! It did nothing for me sadly but it’s great to know that someone out there debunks my theory that it doesn’t work one bit haha 🙂 Yeah it’s pricey, but then many serums are. Hope you get to replenish some time
I owned Kiehl’s DSS also, start using it in Jan 2013 till now, still have one third left. Hehe I didn’t use it daily. Overall it really brightened up my skin, however, my dark spots ard eye areas didn’t fade away. Maybe it evens out the tone of my whole face, that’s why the dark spots seems not fading? I hope I have results like Hani =(
Hi Sam, I hope so too because I really hated it for not doing a single thing (other than brightening skin, but I felt that it shouldn’t then be called a Dark SPOT Serum 😛 )
haha! I don’t splurge on any! I keep trying to buy the most value for money one. what I have is normally not more than $35 per bottle per item (moisturiser/cleanser, etc).
I keep telling myself I will pick up ANR, but I have not yet!
That’s one way of looking at it! 🙂 Have you tried the ANR though? Some people have found that it doesn’t work for them (in which case, money saved!)
After past bouts of skin allergy as an attempt to save, I now save on dermatologist trips and splurge on serum, eye cream, lotion/toner and moisturizer. As for cleanser, I have learnt to try economical drug store ones as I recall reading in your blog once that you have picked up somewhere that it is wise to splurge on what stays on your face (e.g. moisturizer, toner etc) and save on what goes off from your face (cleanser). I stand to be corrected though. Anyhow, I have been practising that. So no more high end cleansers these days because they work generally the same as some decent drug store ones like Hada Labo 🙂
For make up products like BB cream, eyeshadow, powder and blushes, as I am still a noob, I am starting out with drug store products that work for me. Nonetheless, as I get better with my skills, I am considering to move on to counter brands.
Lastly, for regularly used product like sunscreen, I am still on the fence regarding the counter brands. So I stick to drug store ones. I find it a pinch to splurge on such staple products but don’t mind spending on serums and what-nots. Haha, I am biased!
I absolutely agree with you that “cheap = bad and expensive = good” is not always true. Some people like my mum have low maintenance skin and she can practically use soap and water. Still has almost flawless skin! Everyone’s skin is unique, so someone’s expensive HG product may end up to be our breakout product. Other than that, affordability is certainly another major factor. Spending within maximum financial means in the long run is fine, but to spend on thousands of buckaroos worth of moisturizer for instance…is a little hard to sustain 😛
Haha yes indeed! I used to live by that philosophy re: saving on what I wash off (which is still true when it comes to facial washes like Vichy) but I have also found that for things like a cleansing balm that I end up massaging into my skin, I want something better and thus far, I’m having excellent results! I also embarrassingly use a rather pricey cleanser in the day (Antipodes Juliet) but it’s been good too so erm… I don’t practice what I preach do I? haha. That said, Hada Labo makes great products at nice wallet friendly prices! I find most of their stuff pretty good considering my skin doesn’t play too well with Asian brands. A lot of the time, genetics have to do with skin too. I look at my grannies and they have great skin and don’t even care for them! And here I am slogging away splurging on skincare. Sigh…
very good topic,Paris.But i don’t think using all department store,high-end products will make our skin perfect looking.High-end products are expensive because of their rich ingredients which means they have more chemicals and not appropriate for sensitive skins like me.I still prefer less chemical pharmacy products.
Hi Sevinj, I disagree too that all department store/high end products are good. Not all are but some are, depending on each person. Often, many lower end products have more fillers/less effective chemicals or use chemicals instead of natural products (which cost more) and aren’t good either. We have to know what works for our skin, irrespective of price 🙂
Hi PB, now that I’m a busy college guy I don’t comment a lot and seriously I’d missed many important post to comment, but I didn’t want to miss this one.
Right now, incredibly the products I spend more money are cleanser (La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel, marvelous for dehydrated, combination and acne prone skin) and toner (Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion doesn’t dries my skin and has already cleared part of my acne). And the ones I’m not splurging is moisturizer (Pond’s Hidrarevital Gel, God it is lightweight but really moisturizing) and acne treatment (I’m experimenting again with benzoyl peroxide).
I always splurge a little on sunscreen since many low end are too oily for me and I haven’t had the opportunity to buy Bioré one online again.
Hi Efrain! Ooh college guy now! 😀 It’s great to know you have found products that work for you, whether affordable or pricey! The important thing is that it works. Its great to know you have LRP there. I think they make great skincare! I wish we had it here so I could switch haha 😉
It’s a matter of finding the right product in my case. Recently, i have been using e.g. Lamer’s refining facial (which many might say it’s only a scrub, can jolly well save? But, i can see a difference between this and not using this.) and saving on night moisturizers. E.g. AMPM’s super triple HA night gelly and a honey leave-on night mask from holika. And it works good. I’m impressed by the performance for something less than $30. I tried to save on cleansing oil in recent months but regretting it terribly. Gonna switch back to my DHC oil very soon. My switch to drugstore cleansing oils have been giving me some not so good results on my face. For serum, I only splurge on ester lauder’s ANR though. It’s my reliable serum to date. Nothing to contest against. I’m just so contended with my ANR buys. 😉 Eye cream too…I’m always (almost) on the save route. Low end or high end works the same. Makes not much difference, does it?
Good point Lisa on finding the right product for you. Granted, sometimes, it could be a splurge but hey, if it works, it works! Haha… I haven’t gotten round to trying many La Mer products. I used the cream and lotion many many years ago but then gave up on it because I was clearly living beyond my means then haha! But I like how you mix high end and low end products and still get a good result out of it 🙂 I suppose for cleansing oil, I am a little in the minority because many high ends ones break me out e.g. Shu, DHC etc but leaving the cleansing oil scene has been good for me 🙂 To be honest, I don’t know about eye cream. I don’t get good results either way from any 😛
Pls give Nuxe oil a try. Its slight cheaper and have been working wonders for my skin. I splurge on essence too.
Hi Josephine, did you mean Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse? I had a sniff of it recently and didn’t like how that smelled 🙁
With all the splurges on skin care , do you still splurge on facials ?
For me , after my splurges , I tend to cut down facials , as I will feel guilty about spending too much moolah on my face every month.
But the resolve usually last 2 months max , and I will be plotting to put my next splurge on either products or facials.
Yes I do, KL 🙂 Facials are among my vices as I don’t treat them as skincare per se, but more like a bit of relaxation and me-time, like a body massage. While we may put on good skincare, we may not perform the face massages necessary to keep blood circulating properly. I have found that on my current skincare routine, I could go for 2 months without going for a facial, and my skin still looked clear. But I like the pampering, and the unclogging of any clogged pores help of course.
I splurge on serum (heavy hitter), cleanser (my skin hates SLS and is very sensitive to being overdried) and sunscreen (again, sensitive and very fair and prone to breakouts if a product doesn’t suit me) in that order.
In Singapore’s humid climate, I don’t really need a heavy moisturiser, least of all, a heavily fragranced and potentially irritating one even for nights.
My entire skincare routine is by prescription, so kind of a splurge there… But at least, I can hold someone (who actually had a clue) accountable when I get an adverse reaction!
Oh and I do splurge on medical facials (lasers etc).
I like your thoughts, Firn, because it clearly shows that you know your skin and how much it can tolerate and are able to adjust accordingly! Not many people have reached that level. From my experience, everyone just wants quick results without thinking too much. I think being in tune with our skin is the most important thing of all. p/s I still can’t bring myself to go for laser treatments or medical face treatments haha! Too chicken 😛
Haha, my skin is quick to punish me if I don’t respect it (as one year of horrid experimentation with skincare products and hormonal acne has taught me) but when I treat it right, I get to reap the rewards that my genes have blessed/cursed me with. I am very fair but my facial skin tends to be translucent (hello, broken capillaries!) and flushes (blotchy lobster face) very easily. My body skin is much more resilient haha.
I get my facials (non-laser type) from a medispa in Singapore, DrX Medispa. They do have a branch in Malaysia at Plaza Damas. Well worth a try, especially if you have dry skin, try the O2 facial.
Hmm that’s interesting. I’ll look up the medispa thanks! 😉 You know so many people in your position would just sit around and whine about how their skin is acting up etc and slap on the makeup without thinking about how to address the problem and how to avoid it. There’s so many factors that can cause us skin problems aren’t there?
Haha, growing up my mum never encouraged me to wear foundation. In fact, she maintained that girls who wore a lot of makeup had bad skin! I did go through a phase wearing foundation daily, but it was a great deal of hassle and I find that foundation works best on good skin anyway!
I now eschew foundation because I am too kiasu that I am blending away my sunscreen in the process (and I’ve also started topping up my sunscreen at lunchtime!). I only do spot foundation for big events in the evenings and I have to really moisturise or it comes out all patchy. 🙁
I guess since I don’t wear foundation anymore I need to work on getting my skin in tip top condition. It’s quite freeing, actually and I don’t have to worry about foundation smearing/touching up before I go out in the evenings. And my boyfriend hates me wearing foundation too haha…
I never wore foundation till I started work and felt a little insecure about the condition of my skin haha! Never really had guidance either way so it was all trial and error for me. Gosh! Lucky it worked out! LOL! It’s great you’ve been able to stop wearing foundation. Your skin must be fab or at least fab enough! 😉 I need that little touch to even things out. But on the bright side, I now use less. Yay! 🙂
I did stop wearing foundation even when my skin was a horrible mess because I felt it was clogging my pores and locking me into an endless foundation cycle.
I still have residual ruddiness and some uneven skintone from the year of serious hormonal acne but ever since I went to my new derm, things have improved tremendously. And I find that the uneven skintone thing takes some getting used to. I used to get really depressed after removing my makeup because all my flaws would suddenly appear all at once! Even though things weren’t that bad, it’s just more shocking to see it at the end of the day. And then I’d spend ages picking at my skin too, another bad habit I’m trying to break…
That’s very true 🙂 I guess I don’t have that level of confidence yet haha, especially if I have to look a little more polished at work. I just tell myself that since I”m using a lot less, it’s better than wearing an inch thick of base (which every makeover wants to teach you to do. Jeez…)
For my work, I do wear a mask so half of my foundation would end up getting wiped off anyway haha… Which is the main reason why I stopped wearing it. Since reapplied liquid foundation never looks as good as when I’ve freshly washed my face and applied my skincare. 🙁
OMG my pet peeves are bad foundation shade matching (especially those pink-toned ones on yellow-toned skin) and THICK powder foundation. I want to see nice skin, not nice foundation. And all foundations emphasize my pores which look better without it!
Sorry for replying here, on your website, the reply to your latest comment button is not visible due to the parsing (I am using IE). 🙁
That’s a very practical reason, Firn. If I had to wear a mask at work all day, the last time I’d want on my face is foundation too! Colour matching is so tricky. I was told that in some countries, they purposely buy foundations that are one shade lighter, so they look fairer. Oh and they pile it on too so all you see is “photoshopped” skin. I blame all the photoshopping going on 😛
I think that phenomenon of buying lighter/pink-toned foundations is an Asian thing. I’ve noticed it in Singapore when the BAs try to steer me towards pink-toned foundation for my neutral skin on the basis of my fair skin. OMG Singaporean women really do pile on the makeup with full-false lashes and everything. And circle lenses that make their eyes perpetually water and look irritated. I blame it on the instagram/FB-tagging culture. You have to look photo-ready at all times!
The lighter foundation is definitely an Eastern/Middle Eastern/SEA thing. The example I was given was a middle eastern lady. I don’t notice too much makeup on local girls here in KL but definitely among the younger crowd. I dislike the coloured contacts culture and you’re absolutely right about being always camera ready. The worst part is that I’ve learned that coloured contacts can leech colour and damage eyes yet people are still buying them online from dodgy sources just because it’s cheap. That’s a full rant on its own 😛
I’ve been using Etude House’s Moistfull Collagen essence and moisturizer for 3 years now and I love it! Its not too greasy and leaves my face moisturized and glowy the next morning.
Doesn’t matter if Etude House is supposed to be a brand for tweens and teens, it works well for my skin. And I pay only SGD $19 for it as I get it imported directly from Korea.
Thanks for sharing, Dawn! I have heard a lot of good things about this Moistfull Collagen series but my skin doesn’t handle Korean skincare very well so I didn’t dare try. I say, so long as it works for you, go for it! Maybe you have teen skin 😉
Haha thanks! I’m nearing my mid 20s but am pretty blessed with good skin (not too dry, not too oily) so people tend to gauge that I’m 19-20.
I’m quite cautious about Korean skincare myself. I tend to stay away from most Korean sheet masks as it contains too much alcohol and fragrance, so it irritates my skin and my nose!
Blessed wiht good skin indeed! I have found that Korean and Japanese skincare do go quite heavy on the alcohol. Doesn’t really bother my skin per se, but I guess it’s nice to have an option not to use it hehe…