As the title suggests, this is Part 2 of my winter skincare routine series. If you haven't seen Part 1 yet, head over HERE. As you may notice, my skincare regimen consists of many steps. But as the cosmetician Helena Rubinstein famously said, "There are no ugly women, only lazy ones." Having an extensive skincare routine may not be for everyone, and I'm sure many people can have good skin with a simple 3-step skincare regimen; unfortunately for me, I have to do a little more than others to maintain my skin's condition, especially in the winter.
Shiseido Ibuki Softening Concentrate [DAY & NIGHT]: This isn't the best toner that I've tried, but I picked this up because it's much more accessible and cheaper than my favorite one (Albion's Essential Skin Conditioner). This makes my skin feel very soft and it does feel like it's preparing my skin for subsequent products. Other than that, I don't see any other benefits, which is why I'll probably switch back to Albion when I finish this bottle. If you are interested in getting your hands on this, you can purchase this at any Shiseido counter, Sephora, and Nordstrom.
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate [DAY & NIGHT]: This product is probably my favorite skincare purchase of 2014. I use this as a booster, as it is meant to be applied before essences and serums to facilitate their absorption. One pump is all I need for my entire face and neck and it sinks into my skin immediately with no sticky residue. Since using this twice each day, my face has been looking so much more radiant and feels plumper. I'll be posting a more detailed review of Ultimune in the near future explaining how exactly this works. You can purchase this at any Shiseido counter, Sephora, and Nordstrom.
Mizon Mela Defense White Capsule Essence [NIGHT ONLY]: I've mentioned this in my post about hyperpigmentation. I still use this religiously every single night to prevent dark spots from forming and to lighten existing spots on my face. Though it takes awhile to see results, I have concluded that this gentle essence is effective on my skin. I highly recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin who is looking for ways to brighten and prevent hyperpigmentation. I purchased mine from Peach and Lily's website.
Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 serum [DAY & NIGHT]: I recently posted a review on this, which you can find here. I always include a hydrating serum in my regimen, and this serum does not disappoint. I think this is great for any skin type (including sensitive skin) and is effective at keeping my skin moist from deep within. I purchased mine from Peach and Lily's website.
Be the Skin Pore Botanical Serum [DAY & NIGHT, when needed]: I always use this right after I exfoliate or use a deep-cleansing mask to help minimize the appearance of my pores. It doesn't make the look of pores disappear completely, but I think it does help a little. I only use this when my pores look larger than usual. I appreciate that this isn't astringent at all and is very gentle on the skin. Unlike other pore serums, this isn't drying, and it is actually quite moisturizing (without clogging pores, of course). I purchased mine from Peach and Lily's website.
Now, on to some tips that I swear by.
Tips that Work for Me:
1. I generally follow this order when applying these products: Cleansing-> toner/softener --> booster --> essence --> serum(s). Then, I follow up with my moisturizer. If you're still not sure of which order to apply your skincare products, always start with the thinnest substance (which is usually more liquidy) and end with the thickest, most viscous product.
2. I avoid using astringent toners; instead, I look for one that is intended to soften the skin. Astringents tend to be way too harsh for my sensitive skin, whereas moisturizing/softening toners are better at preparing the skin for subsequent products.
3. I tend to invest more money in my essences and serums because they are meant to be the most effective in maintaining your skin's health, compared to cleansers and moisturizers. Thus, I always try to get samples before purchasing serums and essences before forking over the money.
4. If you are still young and would like to try a serum, I suggest investing in products that hydrate your skin. Keeping your skin hydrated can help to prevent early signs of aging, as having dry, dehydrated skin creates a terrible environment for collagen growth. I look for hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and argan oil.
So there you have it: Part 2 of my skincare routine. Stay tuned for Part 3, where I will talk about my go-to moisturizer, eye creams, and sun screen for the winter!
So please share: Do you use any toners, essences, or serums? What are some of your favorites?
Till later,
Eva
FTC statement: This is NOT a sponsored post. There are no affiliate links. The reviewed products were purchased by me, with my own money.
Mizon is one of my favorite skincare brands. I've found that their products are effective yet gentle on my sensitive skin. In addition, Mizon heavily relies on solid research and development to produce high-quality products. Their Hyaluronic Acid 100 serum is no exception. I decided to pick this baby up because of its high concentration of hyaluronic acid, which one of the best ingredients for hydrating the skin.
Product Details
This serum promises to deliver hydration to the skin, as it has a 50% concentration of hyaluronic acid. The serum itself is a clear substance with a runny texture. It is packaged in a cute, sky-blue 30 mL bottle with a dropper. I purchased this serum for $42.
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, 1,2-octanediol, Ethylhexyl-glycerin, Tropolone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Carppyl/capric Triglyceride,Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearic Acid, C12-c20alkyl Glucoside, C13-22 Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate, Cholesterol, Ceramid 3, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Betula Platpyhlla Japonica Juice, Portaluca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Amica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Rasberry) Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA
How I Use It
I take one and a half drops of this and pat it gently onto my cheeks and neck/décolletage after my cleanser, toner, booster, and essence. I follow it up with my moisturizer. I apply this both during the day and night.
Results
1. I love how my skin absorbs it immediately after applying. This makes it so much easier to apply subsequent products. Moreover, it does not leave any greasy residue at all.
2. This does an incredible job keeping my face hydrated. My skin tends to get dehydrated in the summer (due to excessive air conditioning) and winter (due to the harsh winds and indoor heaters). I rarely get flakey skin and my skin looks so much more vibrant and much less tired.
3. As I mentioned in my post about my skin condition, I believe that this product has been the most effective in minimizing my keratosis pilaris. The texture of my skin is so much smoother now!
4. While I can't say this serum caused my skin to appear firmer, I believe that its hydrating effects contributed to the elasticity and firmness of my skin. I'm still relatively young (26 years old), but I find that products that help with firming minimize the appearance of my acne scars and pores. Because of this serum, my skin feels plump, my scars are much less noticeable, and my skin's surface appears to be more even.
5. As with other Mizon products I've tried, this is incredibly gentle on the skin. I had no adverse reactions to this serum.
Verdict: 5 out of 5
After using up two bottles of this, I can confidently say that I love this serum and I will always have this in my skincare stash. If you're interested in trying a serum with hydrating properties, I can't recommend this Mizon's Hyaluronic Acid 100 serum enough. It's suitable for any age and any skin type.
You can purchase this serum from Peach and Lily for $42 (which is where I bought mine) and from some Korean beauty stores. I saw that Amazon sold this for a much lower price, but I am hesitant to recommend it because some reviews indicated that the seller sells fakes. (If you have any thoughts about this, please comment below.)
So please share: What are your favorite serums? And have you used products with hyaluronic acid?
Till later,
Eva
FTC statement: This is NOT a sponsored post. There are no affiliate links. The reviewed product was purchased by me.
Due to my Asian heritage, I am highly prone to getting hyperpigmentation, which occurs when my skin overproduces melanin. When I used to get lots of blemishes, they would always leave really ugly dark spots on my skin that took ages to disappear. Nowadays, I worry about getting hyperpigmentation from photosensitivity.
For me, the best way to avoid dark spots is prevention. Here are some of the ways I prevent hyperpigmentation from forming.
1. I protect my skin from sun exposure. Based on my observations on my own skin, sun exposure elicits sun spots to form and darken my acne scars. Thus, I always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVB and UVA rays, rain or shine. It is important to apply it even when it is cloudy because clouds do not protect you from UV rays. Some of my favorite sunscreens include Shiseido's Urban Environment UV Protection Cream, and Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Defense 50+ . Regardless of what sunscreen you use, make sure to reapply it throughout the day, especially if you are exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Unfortunately, using sunscreen does prevent you from getting Vitamin D; however, I get my daily dosage of vitamin D from my diet (specifically from salmon, fortified cereal, and eggs) and supplemental pills.
2. I use a brightening essence or serum. Every night, I use a brightening essence religiously. I'm currently using Mizon's Mela Defense White Capsule Essence (pictured above), which has worked so well for me. This product is the reason why I rarely get any sunspots and my blemishes don't leave nasty marks anymore. I didn't see any lightening effects until 4 weeks of using this product, but I definitely think this is much better as a preventative measure, rather than as something you use when you have a severely dark spot. I also think this is perfect for my sensitive skin because it relies on gentle ingredients like cherry blossom extract to brighten dark spots.I have not gotten any adverse reactions from this. In addition to the brightening benefits, this makes my skin glow and feel soft to the touch. One note I must add is that when selecting brightening treatments, avoid harsh chemicals like hydroquinone and other bleaching agents; though they do work to lighten dark spots, I personally would stay away from these because they are extremely harsh on skin, particularly on sensitive skin.
3. I eat fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C. I've been eating food rich in vitamin C such as tangerines, kiwis, bell peppers, and spinach. Intaking vitamin C is great for preventing hyperpigmentation because it inhibits your skin from producing too much melanin. Also, Vitamin C in general is just good to have for your overall health (duh!), regardless of whether or not you are prone to getting dark spots.
So tell me: Is hyperpigmentation something that you worry about like I do? Do share!
Till later,
Eva
FTC statement: This is not a sponsored post. Links provided above are not affiliate links. Item pictured above was purchased by me.
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