My Everyday Skin Care Routine Part 1

My everyday skin care routine!

3 years before, skin care routine wasn't a part of my everyday life. I don't really care whether it is necessary or not to put moisturizer on my face. Not until it came to the point that my face became very dry, as if cracking up my face into two.

Anyway! Here's my everyday skin care routine.

First off, I wash my face with a papaya soap. I have a oily / combination skin and papaya soap helps me to lessen the oil on my face a lot. Likas Papaya was supposed to be my first choice ever since college days but then, it became popular and very pricey. One day, my mom bought a pack of these Silka Papaya Soaps and fortunately, it works! It's much more cheaper than the Likas Papaya and I love the smell! Whenever I get a chance to go to the Philippines, I would buy tons to stock up these soaps at home because it is very expensive here in Hong Kong.

After washing my face, I use a toner to make sure that my face is extra-clean. I use the square make-up cotton pads from Muji. Why? Because I tried using a lot of cheaper ones and I really don't like them. They don't really absorb much liquid, nor take off the dirt from my face. I find this cotton pad from Muji as the most effective one for my preference.

I tone my face with an Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion. I don't really like the water-based toners and I am in love the after effect of this balancing lotion. It has a minty-like after effect after massaging your face with this toner. Also, it doesn't give me any break-outs and prevents my face from being oily.

Next off, I put on a moisturizer. At the moment, I use the Clinique Moisture Surge but I haven't really find my holy grail moisturizer. It is either too oily or too dry for my skin. I am still in the search and I will update my skin care routine as soon as I find my holy grail moisturizer!

Since the tags won’t allow me to put more, please don’t forget to look at the Part 2 of my Skin Care Routine. Thank you for reading!

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.

Estee Lauder - Cyber White Ex Extra Brightening Moisture Lotion

One reason why I bought this product from Estee Lauder is that I am in love with Estee Lauder's Cyber White Ex Extra Brightening Collection. They are exclusively released only here in Asia and is perfectly fit for Asian skins. Anyway, I love their products from this line (the ones that I already tried) and so, I gave this one a try. I already tried one toning lotion from Estee Lauder and it is quite ok for my own opinion. This Estee Lauder Cyber White Ex Extra Brightening Moisture Lotion quite disappointed me because it did not really react to my skin at all. First of all, it claims that it can make your dark spots whiter than it used to be, making your skin an even shade, the longer time you use it. But unfortunately, it is not applicable for my skin. I've been using this for quite some time now, but still, it is still not reacting to my skin. I'm not sure if it is one of the cause of my breakouts right now (pimples and acnes) but, I am currently having one now (and my period is no where near from now).

Also, the toning lotion itself, does not react to my skin, not unlike Estee Lauder's Perfectly Clean Toning Lotion which gives me a minty reaction once applied to my skin. It really does nothing at all for me, just cleaning, making sure that I already rinsed off all of my make-ups for today. That's just about it.

Obviously, I'm not going to repurchase it, will still continue with my HG Toning Lotion search...

*** Estee Lauder Cyber White Ex Extra Brightening Moisture Lotion can be purchased at your local stores for HKD 340 per 200 mL ***

Sana Uroitaishi, The Moisture Ambassador! Moisture Mist

I got this together with my Sana Uruoitaishi Moisture Cream at City Super for less than HKD 100. I already made a review about the moisturizer and you can find it here.

I use this Moisture Mist as a toning lotion after washing my face up and before putting on my Moisture Gel (moisturizer). Well.. It is a very, very light kind of toning lotion, which is very recommended if you have a sensitive skin. But for me, I don't like it because I would prefer something a little bit stronger than this one. Not too strong, but not light as well. I love this products from SANA because my skin doesn't have any surprising and violent reactions with this, not to mention the very, very cute packaging they have.

I remember one time, my mom asked some moisturizer because she ran out of hers and before opening the lid, she was looking at it. Probably, she was thinking, "Is this really a moisturizer?!" and even our helper at home thought that it was just a toy before. LOL! I would certainly repurchase the moisture gel because of its soft and buttery effect on my skin but not this moisture mist.

Estee Lauder - Perfectly Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion

I've been using this toner for a week now and so far, I like it! It did not give me any break outs at all and it's very hydrating for my skin. It also has a good smell and it has this light minty effect right after you apply it over your skin. It keeps my skin soft and prevents it from getting oily. I'm very happy and contented with this toner from Estee Lauder, only that I need a whitening toner for the dark spots on my face... Well, I still need to try the Cyber White Ex Toning Lotion.. If that's not going to work for me.. I'm going to stick with this... :) Another HG! :D

A Mini Haul..

I'm a bit busy lately because I've been doing some whole day jobs... Anyway, just a quick pick for today...

Yesterday, I had a little haul for myself...

Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion HKD 220

MAC Lipsticks in Saint Germain and Pretty Please (HKD 125 each)

Sorry guys... I'll do the swatches for you soon... I'm busy lately...

:)

Esprique Precious Samples...

I bought my first purchase from Esprique Precious in Seibu a few weeks ago and got these two as a freebie from my haul. I got a sampler of their skincare set which is their Live Charge Lotion, Moisturizer M and a mask.

Actually, their skin care was ok for my own point of view. Didn't give me any break-out. But, there's nothing special about their skincare set.. It didn't give my skin a smoother look or anything at all. It doesn't have a good after effect on me.

I didn't like their Moisturizer because it's too liquidy for my opinion. It takes time to let it dry. Their lotion is also ok, it's very light and very good on the face (but no after effect on my face.. :( ).

Well.. So much about Esprique Skin Care for me... I'm moving on to find my HG Skin Care set...