My Skincare Routine: Moisturisers & Sunscreen

Moisturisers are something that everyone should use regardless of what type of skin you have and regardless of whether your wear makeup or not. Everyone has some extent of dehydration in their skin, which can lead to dull, uneven skin, dry patches, and an overproduction of oils as your skin is trying to compensate for the lack of moisturization. I think moisturization is the key to a lot of skin problems; if your skin is not moisturized it won't be able to repair itself, and any other skin care products that you put on your face will lose its effectiveness. So choosing the right moisturiser is the key to better skin as increased hydration can lead to faster cell turnover and repair, and better absorption of other skincare products.

In the morning, I'll use the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier on my T-zone, which helps to control my oil production throughout the day. I then use the Clarins Daily Energizer Cream-Gel all over my face for hydration purposes. These two are both oil-free and feel super light on the skin. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Mousse is the sunscreen I've been using lately. It has SPF 50+ PA +++ which is usually what I go for. It comes out like a mousse and once you smooth it over your face, it melts down to a watery consistency and is super easy to blend. It feels super light on the skin and doesn't leave a white cast on my skin.

For the nighttime, I like to use something richer that's going to repair my skin overnight. Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins is an oil-free moisturiser that contains tons of minerals and vitamins that will help to resurface your skin and gently sloughs away any dull or dry skin. I've mentioned the Clarins Lotus Oil before in my go-to skincare post, which you can click on to read a more in-depth review. It basically helps to put back the oil that my skin has lost during the day and rebalance the water-oil ratio of my skin, which eventually leads to less oily and more supple skin. Caudalie Divine Oil essentially does the same thing; it is a multi-purpose oil that can be used on the skin, hair, and body. I find that the Caudalie one is a little richer and more hydrating than the Clarins one, but they basically do the same thing. The Caudalie one also contains their patented polyphenol, which is an anti-oxidant ingredient that helps to increase the blood circulation to your skin and repair your skin overnight. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Current Favorites #2

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I've been getting into lighter makeup. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is a water-based fluid foundation that is oil free and non-comedogenic. It has a light and buildable coverage, and helps to create a fresh and natural complexion. It evens out my skin tone and covers up any redness, while still letting my true skin show through. This is great if you want to look like you are not wearing any makeup, and I've been getting a ton of compliments lately when I wear this.

To set my foundation, I've been using the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, which is one of my holy grail face products. Like the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, it provides buildable coverage yet still looks natural on the face. No matter how many layers I put on my face, it still looks natural and not powdery at all. Unlike most powders, this one doesn't make my face look so matte to the point where it looks cakey and lifeless, but it still controls oil and sets to a very natural finish. Mineral powders in general are very good for people with oily and acne-prone skin because they are anti-bacterial.

To help me to achieve that summer beachy tousled hair look, I've been using the Bumble and Bumble Hair Un Dressing Cream. I work it between my hands, and scrunch my hair with it while my hair is damp. It just helps to give tons of volume and texture to my hair.

To get my legs ready for the summer, I've been using the L'occitane Almond Shower Oil to help with the moisturization department of my legs. It has an oily consistency and you just work it over your whole body when you're in the shower. It makes my legs look super moisturized, smooth and glowing, and you don't even need to use a body moisturizer when you get out of the shower if you're lazy like me.

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My Skincare Routine - Serums

Serums are potent skincare products that can totally revamp how your skin looks. There are so many different types of serums on the market that are all meant to target different skin problems such as dehydration, dark spots, fine lines, large pores, uneven skin, etc.. Serums are meant to be used under moisturizers as the particles in serums are much smaller than that of moisturizers, allowing them to be better absorbed by the skin and target deeper layers of the skin. Serums can also maximize the efficacy of any moisturizers that you put on afterwards.

La Roche Posay Derm AHA has been a lifesaver for me as I have really congested pores and bumpy, uneven skin, and this just helps to clear out my pores and smooth out the texture of my skin. This contains 10% glycolic acid which works to chemically exfoliate the skin and promote cell turnover.

REN Resurfacing AHA Concentrate is a much gentler version of the La Roche Posay Derm AHA as it contains  a smaller concentration of lactic, glycolic, tartaric and citric acids. I find that this helps  to minimize the imperfections of my skin and gives my skin a healthy, radiant glow.

Lancome Visionnaire is one of those serums that promises to do everything for your skin. It claims to diminish wrinkles and pores, and correct any imperfections such as acne scars. This product is highly rated by beauty blogs and magazines everywhere, and I have to say that this product doesn't disappoint. It truly blurs out any imperfections on my skin and also increases the moisture retention of my skin; overtime my skin looks more supple and healthy. I find that I also break out less when I use this product thanks to its non-comedogenic formula.

Lastly, the Cosme Decorte Moisture Liposome is a pretty famous product in Japan as a lot of celebrities use this. This helps to penetrate deeper layers of the skin to repair damaged skin cells and continuously moisturizes the skin throughout the day, and helps to improve the moisture retention of any other moisturizers that you put on afterwards. I can't emphasize enough how moisturization is the key to better skin- when your skin is moisturized, it repairs and regenerates itself better, allowing any skincare product that you put on it to work much quicker and more effective.


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Favorite Drugstore Face Products

I'm pretty picky when it comes to face products as I have quite acne prone skin and I don't like to try out a lot of drugstore face products as I find that they often have really harsh ingredients that can be quite irritating on my skin. However these products are some of my favorite face products in general and are very comparable to some of my high-end face products.

Bourjois is one of my favorite drugstore brand, although it is a bit more on the pricey side. Their makeup are really high quality and well-made. I have the Bourjois Powder Blush in 54 Rose Frisson which is bright coral color that's great for the spring and summer. It is a finely milled powder that's super soft and easy to blend, and lasts forever on the skin. Bourjois Bronzing Powder is a good drugstore bronzer that won't look muddy or orangey on the skin; it's completely matte and gives the skin a nice sun-kissed glow. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation is definitely one of my go-to foundations; it feels super light on the skin and gives the skin a natural coverage.The reason why it's called a serum foundation is because it contains vitamin-rich fruit extracts in it to help to give the skin moisture and an overall radiance. It never feels greasy or cakey on the skin and is great for all skin types. I like to use the Boujois Healthy Mix Concealer for my undereye area because it is super moisturizing and doesn't settle into my fine lines.

Speaking of undereye concealers, the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is another one of my favorites. It contains micro shimmers which help to instantly brighten up the undereye area to make you look much more awake, and once you blend out the concealer you won't be able to see the shimmers at all.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer is what I use to cover up any discolorations or acne scars on my face. It is super opaque and long-lasting, and is great for the summer time. This is a UK drugstore brand, but you can find it on ebay for around $10.

The NYX Powder Blush in Taupe is such an unique color in that it is a pinky taupe color that can be used both as a blush and a contour. It has a grey undertone which makes it great for contouring your whole face to give your face a subtle definition. When used as a blush, it makes your cheeks look super defined and chiseled. Again, I've never seen this color anywhere before and I find that it looks much more natural on the face than the typical bronzers which are often brown-based; however because this NYX blush is grey-based it helps to create natural shadows on your face.

Here is a closer look:

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My Skincare Routine- Toners

Toning is an essential step in my skincare routine- not only does it help to remove any makeup or facewash residues from my face it also helps to balance the pH of my skin and exfoliate my skin at the same time. I usually will alternate between these toners as I don't want my skin to get used to one product and lose its effectiveness.

The Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner contains many great natural ingredients that are anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial while still being moisturizing. It helps to calm down the redness in my skin and prevent any future breakouts.

Lush Tea Tree Toner is another one of my favorite; it contains tea tree oil which also has anti-bacterial effect on the skin. It also gives the skin a cooling sensation and helps to mattify your face on those hot summer days.

If you want a cheaper alternative, then check out Thayer's Witch Hazel. Witch hazel has been proven to have many beneficial effects on the skin- it helps to moisturize and heal the skin while also having anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects on the skin. You can find this for under $10 at any grocery store.

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir has been highly-raved about lately; it contains a mix of essential oils and plant-derived ingredients that just helps to give your skin a  boost when your skin is looking dull and lackluster. It helps to tighten pores and calm down any redness, and adds back any moisture or nutrients that your skin may have lost.

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