Skincare Update (2)

Since my last update I've gone through two different water based cleansers and my Etude House toner! (Sorry) so I'll quickly review the new products incorporated into my routine before I get to the point where everything has been replaced with a different product. My eyecreams, moisturisers, exfoliators and treatments are still going strong, but I can't wait to use up my Lioele foaming cleanser so I can fill its place with something else I've had my eye on... more on that soon. Hopefully!

The Faceshop - Rice water bright/rice cleansing water

The water based cleanser is the product I get through quicker than anything else because I use it liberally pretty much every day to remove makeup in the evening, or to get rid of any residue from overnight treatments in the morning. Once I came to the end of my 500ml Bioderma solution, I replaced it with a Korean product - faceshop rice cleansing water so it would pair nicely with my rice water oil cleanser of the same brand. It really didn't measure up in my opinion. It's not enough to go over with a cotton pad, it needs to be rinsed off with warm water to remove a slightly greasy residue that deposits with liberal use. It didn't make a huge change to my routine as I normally follow up with my oil cleanser/massage, and then a foam cleanser anyway; it was just more what I'd characterise as a mild inconvenience that I had to incorporate another water rinse. It wasn't as good at removing makeup/dirt as the crealine, but I did notice a slight brightening effect with consistent use. Not really jumping at the opportunity to repurchase unfortunately. In any case, I may have to resign myself to the fact that I'm probably better off using a western brand for my water cleanser; I get through these in the blink of an eye, and I'm not always in the proactive mindset of placing an order a month in advance of me running out.

 Garnier micellar cleansing water

This is what I'd call an acceptable substitute for the Bioderma solution. In essence all aqueous cleansers containing micelles are supposed to be effective all round cleansers, but I'm not especially blown away here. I found the mild celery-esque scent a little off putting at first, but I've grown accustomed to it with consistent use. I think I will be looking into other French brands such as Avene and La Roche Posay for the best micellar solution.

Mamonde - Rose water toner

My favourite so far - it helps to hydrate and brighten my skin as well to minimise pores and prep for further treatments. And it makes my face smell like a rose garden :)

Koelf - Gold royal jelly hydrogel eye patch

I love using these - I keep them in the fridge with a few other bits and bobs I put on my face in the morning to de-puff my eye area. The patches go under they eye and feel incredibly soothing after the initial discomfort of the cold, (I'm one of those that flinches with a splash of cold water in the morning) and more importantly, they stay put! Which is not something I can say to a lot of the other hydro gel patches I've tried. After about twenty minutes you remove and discard, and you're left feeling significantly more awake and less tired looking eyes. Brightening and strengthening the under eye area is something I strive for on a daily basis to combat aging.

The yin/yang layout inside the packaging is something I find aesthetically pleasing, as well as the little flecks of gold that become more prominent in the sunlight.

Despite managing to retain a youthful appearance, I still look a little washed out and ill sometimes without makeup.

"You need to eat a good steak!" they say.

Steam Cream Moisturiser (Humphrey)

(Handmade in Japan)
This lightweight yet extremely effective and nourishing cream has rapidly become my one and only heavy duty moisturiser. I don't use night creams; instead I use either a sleeping pack or my normal daily lotion to go to bed in. As the nights have gotten colder however, I thought I'd better buckle and add something a little heavier to stave off morning patch dryness. The steam process holds the cream together in a nice light and 'whipped' formula which allows for a better absorption rate. It doesn't sit on the skin at all (provided you don't overdo it) and makes your skin feel fresh, plump and nourished. One of the key ingredients is lavender essential oil, which smells nice if you're a fan of lavender, but I'm really not a 'can tell my lavender from my rosemary' type. It can be used on the body as well as the face (I would only ever use it on the face/neck area) and comes in lots of really beautifully designed limited edition tins. I chose the snake skin design because...well I would wouldn't I? ;)

And that's my skincare update/routine, which should hopefully remain the same for the time being. Anything I run out of and replace will be reviewed after I've had enough time to experiment with said product. Bye!

-Leo-