My Skin Care Routine

I just want to share to you my skin care routine (as of now...). Not all of the products that are going to be shown are my "Holy Grail" product since I haven't found some of them yet. Anyway, here it goes.

1. Cleanse

The first stage of my skin care routine is cleansing. In the morning, I use Likas Papaya Soap which was bought in the Philippines to rinse whatever I put on the night before.

In the evening, after having a day out, whether from work, a date or a mommy-day-out with Lulu, I use wet wipes first before washing my face. Why? Well, it's simple. To take off those lazy, lazy make-ups that I put on for the day that cannot be taken out with just one rinsing.

Why I use Likas Papaya? Well, I have an oily-combination skin. Papaya Soaps are rumoured as "skin-whitening" but in fact, it makes your skin dry. I'm using Likas Papaya Soap for years now, in fact ever since my college days, I'm already using it. I noticed that whenever I switch to other cleansing soap, I get break-outs. Likas Papaya Soap does dry my skin without making it very dry, making it healthier than using just a normal soap nor another cleanser.

2. Prep

To prepare my skin from the moisturizers that I need to put into my face, I use a facial toner to keep my pores open before moisturizing. I haven't found my holy grail facial toner, but my favorite from the bunch that I've used is the Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Toning Lotion. I love this because it has this good and refreshing smell, plus the after effect of this toning lotion on my face once it is rubbed onto my face is very good. It has this minty-good smell effect on my face after toning.

It's ok, but I'm looking for a toner that has a whitening formula since I need to even out my scars that I've developed last year.

*** I use toning lotion the same with day and night. ***

3. Repair

I haven't found nor tried out any good serum for the repair part of my skin care routine so, I'll give this a pass for now.

4. Moisturize

I love using Sana Uroitaishi, The Moisture Ambassador! Moisturizer for the moisturizing part. It is in gel form which makes it non-sticky and easy to dry. It didn't give any bad reaction when I tried it, which is a good thing. It has this funny smell, a little smell of alcohol, but it doesn't really bother me. I use it only for the face area, but not on the eye area. Same usage with night and day.

5. Moisturize ( Eye Area )

I have two steps when it comes to my eye area. As you know, I have dark eye circles, which is one of my big problems as of now. As a solution to this problem, I use Laneige Eye Designer Cream as my first step, same for morning and evening, after toning. I let it dry first, and then after that, I put on Benefit's EyeCon. I love its vanilla-like smell, and the fact that it's very moisturizing. I don't experience those "very dry eye area" days anymore, ever since I started using this. I can say that this is my Holy Grail eye care product. Only that, I hope I could find an eye cream that is all in one, instead of using 2 creams in one.

Whenever I use these two creams together, the results are gorgeous. It whitens my dark eye circles, moisturizes my eye area and prevent it from getting dry.

6. Extras

a. Clinique - Rescue Balm

As of the moment, I use an after-sun treatment whenever I go out and get exposed from the sun. I use Clinique's Sun Balm. It's not really that helpful, since the sun here in Hong Kong is not that hot compare to Philippines. Also, it's not that necessary, because you don't usually get "sun burn" with staying under the sun just for a few minutes.

Anyway, this was a really big help when we went to the beach without sunblock and my daughter stayed under the sun for hours. When we got home, she was all red because of sunburns and I put this on her. Magically, the following morning, there are no peelings and sunburns! Magic!

b. Laneige - Water Sleeping Pack Ex

I use this as a mask replacement since I really don't like using mask. I use this as an overnight leave on to keep my face hydrated. It really works, and I noticed that after using it, my face does feel very much hydrated the following morning. I use this twice a week, as recommended by the Sales Assistant from Laneige.

c. Scrub - Clinique - Exfoliating Scrub

I use this scrub from Clinique twice a week only, to take off those hard-to-remove dirt on my face.

More Skin Care For This Month :)

I'm in a little bit of cash crisis lately because I have to take care of all my daughter's school fees (I'm divorced / separated) because it's her first year in school this coming August. I've been cheating with beauty and fashion for school fees last month and this month.

I don't have enough cash to purchase everything in my wishlist, so it's more of my skincare line for this month. Anyway, here's my purchases for this "end of month."

1. Laneige - Eye Designer Cream

2. Laneige - Water Sleeping Pack Ex

3. Laneige - The Secret of Snow Crystal Powder Blush in Water Peach

4. Clinique - Exfoliating Scrub

5. MAC - Powder Blush in Notable

6. MAC - Liberty of London Beauty Powder in Summer Rose (Finally! I got it!)

7. MAC - Lipsticks ( Fast Thrill, Milan Mode, Colour Crafted )

Benefit - Eyecon - Brightening Eye Cream

I must say, I'm in love with this eye cream from Benefit! Opposite from most of the bad reviews on the internet, I really find it good on me. Actually, it works for my skin. I didn't get any bad reactions when I first used it, and I'm using it for a month now. It is very creamy when applied to the eye area, not to mention its very good vanilla-like smell. I love its texture, and it prevents my skin from tightening and getting dry.

It takes longer time also to finish because I've been using it for a month now and I've emptied not even a half by now. Meaning, a jar can be consumed for 2-3 months span. Wow! That's quite a long time!

The only downside of this product is that it claims that it brightens dark eye circles, but then, actually it doesn, but very, very less results. But, when I use Laneige's Eye Designer Cream after this, the results are awesome! It brightens my eye area and it makes my eye area more refreshed and looking younger.

I would definitely repurchase this product again from Benefit!

Rica's Rating : 5 / 5

Laneige - Eye Designer Cream

Okay, okay... I must admit it, this skin care product from Laneige really does the trick. I got a tester of this product as a freebie when my friend went here in Hong Kong for a vacation. One of her friends' mom asked us to purchase something for her and voila! We got a free gift! LOL! Anyway, this is like a pre-moisturizing cream for your eye circles.

It claims:

"Creates a water layer to protect the delicate skin around the eyes. Effectively reducest the appearance of fine lines; enriched with Vitamins and Minerals and can also speed up blood circulation to resolve dark eye circles."

Usage:

Apply to your skin after using essence. Follow with your cream. Gently pat around the eye area.

Within the few days of using this eye cream, I noticed that my eyes doesn't look tired and it looks as if my eye area is glowing whenever I remove all my make-up. Having make-up and exposing my skin into our everyday surrounding makes my skin looking very stressed out. But I noticed that after using this, my eye area looks healthier than without it. Also, when I tried touching it, it is smoother than before. I love this product from Laneige. I'm going to buy a full-sized one of this and give it a one-month trial before deciding if this is a HG skin care product or not.

Anyway, there's one thing that I don't like from this product. IT ADDS ANOTHER STEP TO MY EVERYDAY SKIN CARE ROUTINE. That's the only con for this product from Laneige. But besides that, I'm all pros.

Rica's Rating : 4/5

MAC - Fast Response Eye Cream

I tried to like it. As you have known, I'm looking for my "HG" eye cream but unfortunately, this one from MAC doesn't suit me.

I bought it a few weeks ago from MAC for HKD 240 / 15 ml. Out of 5 stars, I would give this product from MAc a 2-star rating.

Why? Well, it states that it has a "caffeinated cream" and it is actually true. Everytime I put this on around my eyes, I feel awake even though sometimes I feel like I want to go back to bed and sleep.

It also states that if de-puffs and erases the look of dark circles? Well, I would say that it's "NOT" true. I have dark circles around my eyes and this doesn't do anything with it. It still looks the same, and not to mention it's not good to use during winter time.

It's not that moisturizing enough during winter time and I need to put my MAC Moisturelush Creme after putting the Fast Response Eye Cream just to prevent it from getting dry. Oh well.. The search must go on!

Estee Lauder - Cyber White Ex Extra Brightening Eye Creme

Estee Lauder Cyber White Ex Extra Brightening Eye Creme ( HKD 380 15mL )

I've been using this eye creme for quite some time now. I got it as a free sample from my recent purchase from Estee Lauder. I need an eye creme since the area around my eyes are darkening. I need some cream to repair and to prevent it as well. Since I love the Cyber White line from Estee Lauder, I gave this eye creme a try, but unfortunately, this eye creme doesn't work for me.

It didn't give me any breakouts, kept my eye area from getting dry. But the effect of its formula has no reaction with my skin. It was supposed to be a whitening creme but nothing has happened for my case. I guess the search must go on...