Skincare Drama

My skin is acting seriously crazy recently, and I think it just may be a combination of not-so-great food choices, lack of a proper sleeping cycle, water, and unsuitability of the skin care products I'm currently using (including the type of Clarisonic brush head).

After switching to the Sanctuary Spa Hot Polishing Cleanser, I realised when I tried using it as a regular cleanser by rinsing it off with water that as nourishing as it was, it was too oily and rich for my combination skin.

So, I went out and bought a some new skincare products hoping that it will make a difference! I ran out of my Chia seed cream, and didn't want to buy a new one because I'm getting a few of them next year when a family member comes back from Korea.

Along the way, I also got a new hand cream because I have also run out of my Jurlique one. I have to admit, Antipodes stuff seems a bit gimmicky to me because the prices are quite high and not a lot of people say that the products do what they claim. But I do think you won't know anything until you actually try a product on your own skin.

The H20 plumping serum seemed to have pretty much the same ingredients as the Tone correcting serum, just without some extra added fancies. The price was much lower as well, so I purchased it for a good deal, $38 from priceline (there was a 20% off sale). Just a few drops is enough for the entire face (but it absorbs insanely fast so I have to spread it out as quickly as I can), and it leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturised in the lightest form of hydration possible. Great for oily/combination skin!

The hand cream is my new favourite - I love the smell so much! It smells like oranges and reminds me of orange chocolate. I don't need as much as I do with the Jurlique hand cream, and price-wise it is also cheaper. I think I will go back to this brand more often from now on.

The Moreish sensitive moisturiser is nothing amazing to be honest, I think it's just a cheaper version of any other natural New Zealand skincare brand (similar to Trilogy, Antipodes, etc), but the price is really great for what you get. I think it's a bit rich for my skin when I use both the products, but I think it would be a great moisturiser for winter.

After trying out a Sanctuary Spa product (which was so-so for me), I took a risk and snagged another product of the brand. I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed by this mask compared to the polishing cloth cleanser! It's amazeballs! I don't care much about the thermal shenanigans, it just feels hot when you first rub it in. But, after I rinse this off, my skin feels sooooooooo soft, soothed and hydrated! No new spots, reduced redness/swollen spots and supple skin the next morning, sweet.

Hopefully these new products will keep my spots at bay, considering I have a pretty decent skincare regime in removing my makeup properly, cleansing twice a day, applying toner and what not. So far, so good!

Hand-care Products

My hands are almost always dry, whatever the weather or season. I wash them far too much because I have a slightly phobia of germs and dirt. Not only that, I always pick around my cuticles and peel the skin off , which is a habit that I cannot get rid of no matter how hard I try. So I invest in a few good quality hand products to take care of them, from nails to skin.

Missha // Acetone-free nail polish remover

 A very mild acetone free nail polish remover - I find that most acetone-free nail polish removers just substitute acetone for some other horrible chemical. This one is my favourite, it's effective and okay for my nails.

Jurlique // Rose hand cream

I usually go through one of these a year - it seems to the the most rich yet pleasant to use hand creams. They all smell pretty good too, I usually go for rose because I like rose.

Essie // Microdermabrasion hand refiner

Seeing as this is my favourite nail polish brand, I decided to try out a hand product of the brand. It's basically a scrub for hands with very fine granules, and it leaves my hands feeling silky smooth. I just rub a 20 cent coin amount all over and rinse off. One thing I don't like about this is the smell, but it's not that bad. Your hands will just smell like grandma after a bit, but it goes away anyway.