Welcome to your very first demi-post. This is actually a supplementary blog entry to an Instagram skincare post that just went up. I didn’t have the patience to write a loooong caption over there so all the reasoning behind my current capsule skincare routine will be documented here.
Firstly, I’ve been having a bit of a ‘good skin moment’ after a massive hormonal breakout (ok, slight exaggeration here) few weeks back. So I got back into a lot of my go-to’s to make sure my skin get’s back to it’s normal, healthy glowy state.
Overall my skin is pretty well behaved (touch wood). My only concerns are tackling dehydration, fine lines and also evening out my skin tone. Also I am of a combination dry skin type FYI.
Cleansers
My cleansing routine always starts with Bioderma (micellar/water cleanser) followed up with an oil or a balm cleanser (double cleansing is a must in my opinion if you wear makeup on the daily).
The usual suspects are SK2 Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil or the Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm. Between the two, the Omorovicza is my absolute favourite it’s great for all skin types (even sensitive skin) and I consider it more skincare than a cleanser. Basically cos it’s NOT JUST for removing makeup and dirt, which is why I use this as a second cleanse after my Bioderma has removed a majority of my makeup. It’s more of a DEEEEEEP cleanse so there’s no residue dirt or anything that would clog my pores.
Most people find a balm cleanser annoying, it’s a pain to get off in a hurry (you definitely need warm water and a wash cloth) and this one’s freaking expensive. BUT, whenever my skin is in a bad state, I make sure I switch to this to ‘heal’ it. (full review here)
The SK2 cleanser is my second in command. If my skin isn’t particularly fussy, I use this. It’s my favourite of all oil cleansers (i’ve tried quite a few) and I find it very gentle, taking off makeup with ease. The mild rose fragrance is also a plus. Helps you get into wind-down mode before bed.
For removing eye makeup my holy grail is the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover. This takes of everything (even stubborn waterproof makeup like mascara) super fast and I love it. Always have a back up ready for when I run out.
Toner
These days (and for the past year) my go-to toner is Serozinc by La Roche-Posay. It’s a bit of a pain to source since it’s only available in France but I have quite a few back ups from my last trip to Paris and I’m really happy to have a good supply. This is basically something to spritz on after cleansing, before you pile on your skincare. The active ingredient here is Zinc Sulfate & Sodium Chloride. It basically kills any bacteria and soothes skin. I also use this whenever my skin feels itchy or sensitive and this instantly calms it down. Also if you are prone to breakouts it’s a good product to have at hand as it purifies skin and stops bacteria breeding in your pores. Acne flare ups can be cured twice as fast and great for those with fussy skin.
Eye Care
There are currently 4 products in rotation at the moment. It’s basically a La Prairie mix and Shiseido mix. I tend to alternate these over the week and both are combinations that have worked for me in the past.
I use the La Prairie combination for hard core anti wrinkle action + brightening and the Shiseido for extra hydration, wrinkle prevention and building up skin immunity (this is where Shiseido Ultimune Eye comes handy)
Between the two my under eyes are doing well. And it’s the best products i’ve found so far.
Night Serums
Whenever my skin has a B**** fit I turn to my HG serum combo for tackling blemishes, evening out skin tone, plumping, brightening AND reducing acne scaring. This basically covers it all. The duo is Lancome Visionnaire and the Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate.
I have reviewed them both here. Highly recommend this combo for keeping skin looking healthy and youthful.
For days I need a boost of hydration, my go to is Hydraluron serum by Indeed Labs. I haven’t reviewed this yet but as a quick intro, it’s great for layering before night or day cream for combatting dehydration. A super product at a fantastic price point (drugstore skincare from Boots).
Night Creams
I don’t have too many that I rotate but from all I’ve tried these two are my current go-to’s that work well over my serums.
First up the Omorovicza Rejuvenating night cream. LOVE this stuff. It’s basically a slightly richer night cream that plumps up and deeply hydrates skin. If you have dry, combination-dry or normal skin, THIS IS FOR YOU. But of course like all Omorovicza products this too is pretty much of a luxury purchase. However, I LOVE it and recommend it to every one!
Next up, an Estee Lauder cream I haven’t talked about yet.
Nutritious Vitality 8 Radiant Moisture Creme is fairly new to my routine (in comparison to my Omorovicza) and have been using it on and off for the last 3 months. This is a new release by EL for building up skin immunity/radiance and works great over any serums you may use. First up, I believe this is actually a day cream, BUT is slightly richer and thicker in consistency so I love it for night time use since I have combination skin. This cream smells soo good (a fruity delicious smell I can’t get enough of) and absorbs easily once smoothed in. I always end up waking with plump, nourished skin and HIGHLY recommend you try it yourself. Amazing product at a good price. (Full review to follow)
Peels & Exfoliators
To maintain fresh skin without dead cell build up, I try to use a chemical peel or some exfoliation at least once a week. This is a great way to ensure your nightly skincare penetrates well.
My HG is the Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant. I’ve talked about this before and it’s a great product that takes off any dead cell build up with ease! I feel the name ‘Gentle’ cream exfoliant is slightly misleading as this is potent stuff. But as long as you follow instructions and don’t leave it on longer than recommended you should be fine. I recommend this to everyone except the severely sensitive skin types. A wonderful product for weekly use.
The next exfoliant I have quite recently added to my routine is the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask. It’s this yummy jelly like mask that removes dead cells in a more gentler manner. You can use this up to 2-3 times a week depending on how often you feel like your skin needs exfoliation. It smells like roses, soooo calming and a delicious treat for sluggish skin. (P.S- mine’s a smaller version and not the full sized product in case you were wondering)
Brightening & Hydration Masks
All skincare routines should include a brightening mask and hydrating masks and my recent go-to’s have been by Skin Inc. A brand i’m just discovering. So far i’m loving everything i’ve tried and the stand out products have been the Pure Deep Sea Hydrating Mask (great as a sleeping mask or a primer under makeup for dry skin types) and the Get Glowin’ Brightening Mask. I’ve got a longish review planned for this weekend so stay tuned for that. But without giving too much away, the brightening mask is a must try. Seriously, go buy it NOW.
That concludes my chatty skincare entry of favourites. Hope I didn’t bore you halfway but certainly better than killing you with a long caption on IG so yeah >.<
P.S- Thank you for stopping by and hope this entry proved a good read!
xx,
Michelle.
