Current skincare routine

The last few weeks/month or so was super stressful and busy for me, hence the huge gap in between each post. I was nearing my graduation, which meant final exams and projects. It just also happened to be in the month of November/December when everyone is going full speed planning from Christmas, which means crazy shifts at work as well.

I meant to do this post a long time ago, regarding my skincare routine, my completely revised routine that helped improve my skin by 100 times. In my earlier posts, I posted about an Algenist regime that I had been going through, that had helped tone down the inflammation of my acne, but not completely take it away. But recently, I switched to two skincare brands: Cle De Peau and Revive.

Cle De Peau is a high end Japanese brand owned by Shiseido. The reason why many have not heard of it, is because it is still a very exclusive and luxurious brand, and in all of British Columbia, you can only find it in one location, which is Holt Renfrew.
Revive is another high end American skincare brand under the same company as Laura Mercier. This brand focuses on science in skincare that helps to retexturize and hydrate the skin.

So with that little introduction done, lets get down to my routine!

1. Cleanse (Using Cle De Peau Refreshing Cleansing Foam)

 If you ever do your research for Cle De Peau skincare, you'll realize that most of the products are split into Gentle and Refreshing. Gentle is good for those that are more dry/combination skin, and Refreshing is suitable for those that are acne proned/oily/combination skin.
This cleansing foam is probably the best and current only cleanser I've used that will do it's job without drying out the skin. Usually, a cleanser's job is to get rid of impurities on the skin, which means excess oils and dirts that are leftover on the surface of your skin. This also means it will strip and take away some of the oil that we need to retain our skin's natural moisture.

2. Tone (Cle De Peau Gentle Balancing Lotion)

Using the Cle De Peau cotton pads (click to see why you should apply toners/emulsions using cotton pads instead of your hands), I apply the balancing lotion starting from my t-zone and working my way out. The purpose of the toner is to bring the Ph of your skin to balance. So whether you have more dry or oily skin, it is going to bring it to a regular skin type. This well help prep your skin, so that you can feel the rest of your skincare that go over feel more deeply penetrated into the skin.











3. Serum (Cle De Peau Brightening Serum)

Serums are a little bit like your moisturizer's side kick. It will help you fix problems quicker, allowing deeper penetration because of the consistency of the product compared to a thicker cream. It could either be for blemishes, anti-aging, brightening, dullness, environmental damages, pores, oil control, hydration, evening out skin tone, etc.
For me, I needed my serum to help me hydrate as well as brighten (to help get rid of the pigmentation and acne scars that had formed after my acne had healed, but unfortunately not the scars). Cle De Peau's brightening serum does not use vitamin C or any glycolic acid that causes skin to be sensitive to sun damage, therefore it can be used for both day and night.








4. Condition during the day (Cle De Peau Refreshing Nourishing Emulsion)

 In the day time, we want to hydrate and prep your skin for makeup application to go on smoother. This also means we want a moisturizer that isn't oily, and will allow your foundation to hold onto your skin. We don't want it to just sit on top of the skin where the foundation will easily move out of place. This is why I like using Cle De Peau's light emulsion. I use this both during day and night. During the day I use it alone with my toner and serum, and during the night, I layer another night cream on top for extra hydration.










5. Moisturize during the night (Revive ultra retexturing hydrator)


This product was literally the miracle cream, that in my opinion made the most impact on the improvement of my skin. The main ingredient being glycolic acid, it completely helps to retuxturize your skin and deeply hydrate so your skin feels rejuvenated and radiant. The glycolic acid also helps get rid and prevent future acne as well as help to smooth out the texture of the skin.
For some people with extra sensitive skin, you may feel a little bit of a tingle, but not to worry, it is just the ingredient settling into your skin. But remember, glycolic acid, although works wonders, it does make your skin more sensitive to sun damage, so be aware that you are only using this during the night time. And do not forget your sunscreen!






6. Protect with SPF (Estee Lauder sunscreen SPF 50)

If your primer/foundation/tinted moisturizer does not include an SPF, please make sure you are wearing sunscreen especially if you are using treatments that help with pigmentation/help to lighten your skin. Even if you're just going out to the office, or are going to be at a friend's day all day, they build up of the little times your skin is in contact with the sun will make a huge impact on how fast your skin ages when you reach a certain age. So if we can start preventing, why not start asap! And it's just a simple step of applying your sunscreen.










Weekly treatments (in no particular order):

1. Cle De Peau Massage Cream

I didn't start using this until about 95% of my acne was cleared. This product does many things:

a. hydrates
b. firms (tightens the skin)
c. helps to increase blood circulation)

For me, I needed it to hydrate and to help with blood circulation. The reason why, is because any darkness in your skin is caused by something called melanin that comes to the surface of your skin. Massaging the skin will help to break apart the melanin, making it easier for my serum to brighten up those dark spots.


2. Cle De Peau deep cleansing oil

You've probably heard this a million times already, but beautiful makeup means firstly having beautiful skin. If you don't exfoliate, or get rid of that gross layer of dead skin trapped on the surface of your skin, you can't expect your foundation to go on smoothly, no matter how expensive or hydration the formula is.

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My final advice here for those acne proned people is to be consistent with your routine. Be patient, and most importantly, don't lose hope in your skincare! The worst thing you can do to yourself is consistently be changing your routine because you feel like it isn't doing anything. But acne is a difficult thing to treat, and skincare and medication both take time to have affect. It took me a whole year to find my routine and clear my skin. For others, it may have taken longer. I know it is depressing watching a new pimple grow every day, but it'll get better I promise!

I hope this picture will motivate you to stay confident and believe that it will get better!

Thanks for reading!

The benefits of using cotton pads to apply your skincare

Happy Tuesday!

So a very popular question that I get asked all the time is, "Why would we use cotton pads to apply skincare?" I guess a lot of people understand why we use it to remove makeup... but how would it work to apply skincare?
People have the misconception that cotton pads (like sponges) absorb your product, so it seems like a lot of your $200 toner would be going to waste. Well, I'm here to tell you that it is only true depending on the brand or type of cotton that you're using. So the next time you go shopping for one, do your research and facts about the cotton pads before you purchase. Because even though they could be cheap, they could cost you to lose a lot of product.

Right now two of the hottest cotton pads on the market is the Shisedo and Cle De Peau cotton pads. These two brands (which are actually under the same company), have a different technology in their cotton pads that actually helps your skin absorb the product better.

So let's cover the main reasons why you should be applying your skincare (at least your toner and serum, and your more liquid skincare) with a cotton pad instead of your bare hands.

1. Helps your skincare penetrate deeper into your skin

Like I mentioned above, Shiseido was able to come up with a new technology in their cotton pads which absorbs the product that is poured onto it. But once you apply the cotton pad onto your face, it releases your toner right on to your skin. The reason why this happens is because the cotton contains large holes that is going to help take in the product, but at the same time have the ability to pour it right back on when it touches your skin. So using a press and rolling motion, start from your t-zone and work your way out. You'll definitely see and feel the difference. Trust me, it won't feel as sticky and watery as it used to.

2. Allows your skincare to be evenly distributed across your face

When you use your hands to apply your skincare, because of the way our palms and fingers are shaped, it causes products to be applied unevenly. Since the cotton pad is like a cushion which your fingers will help to adjust its shape, it's really going to help get your skincare into all the corners of your face. That's including close to your hairline, under and around your nose area. You don't want to risk uneven application from happening.. especially when you are using a toner or serum to help with any pigmentation or discolouration you're trying to fix. If you accidentally apply more brightening toners on one area than the others, it's just going to cause your pigmentation problem to become even bigger.

3. Is more sanitary to apply using the cotton pads rather than using your bare hands

Even though you wash your hands a million times, there will always be some sort of bacteria that stays attached to your hands. Unless you literally do a deep cleanse, detoxify and sanitize your hands before you use them to touch your face. Just make sure you keep the cotton pads in a box or container so that it doesn't absorb or trap in any dust.

4. The cotton doesn't come loose and drag across your face as you apply your skincare

It really depends on which cotton pads you purchase, but the Cle De Peau cotton pads have a layer of silk that compacts the material together. In doing so, it prevents the cotton pieces from getting all over your face when you spread your skincare across your face, or when you're using it to remove makeup. It's also a bigger piece, enough for you to remove your whole face of makeup. So although you're paying a bit more for cotton pads.. just think of all the benefits you'll be receiving from spending that extra money. At least you don't need to spend another $150 on a moisturizer that you thought you needed because your toner wasn't giving you enough of the results you needed, when you only needed the little sidekick cotton pads.


I hope this helps you guys! And for those skincare junkies out there who haven't already tried using cottonpads to apply your skincare. Try it out, you definitely should try it at least to see and feel the difference. I'll guarantee you, you're going to see and feel wonderful results.
Please let me know what else you wanna know about! I really need to get started on my looks with the Vice 2 palette... super excited!

Have a good rest of the week!

-Carol


#nowplaying: summertime sadness - Lana Del Ray

New hair & updates (braid obsession, Cle De Peau)

Interviews, projects, work, I need a day of break!! Well, I finally do get one next Sunday, I'm totally looking forward to that next week... but as usual on my days off, I'll literally just sleep in, do nothing, pig out on my bed, and sleep early. Honestly, that's what a comfortable day off sounds to me right now..because I have too little energy to do anything else anyways.

Last week, I kind of got a day off I guess, I had the whole morning off, until later in the afternoon when I got called in to work because of a big launch (that didn't even turn out to be as much of a hype as the company thought it would be). So I took advantage of the day off and went to get my roots touched up finally, my hair re-toned, and went for a nice walk in Yaletown.
As usual, I went back to Muse Hair Salon located on Cambie Street between 14th and 15th, returning to my trusty hair stylist Sally. Blondes are usually super hard to maintain, and dye evenly, but she does a great job every time! This time, we did a bit of a more darker ash brown as well, but it usually does fade into a lighter ash blonde by 2-3 weeks of wash. After a relaxing day at the salon, she finished off my pampered salon trip with beautiful beachy waves, and waterfall braids. Oh I'm still killing myself learning how to do those cute braids! And yes, they are also a current obsession for me... french braids, fishtail braids, and now these waterfall braids.

How can we not end a hot summer day without beers at the patio? That's obviously what I did before we headed down to the gorgeous summer seawalk at Yaletown Roundhouse. Summer feels to short...we literally have less than a month left.. I wouldn't say I wasted it, but I spent way too much indoors doing homework, going to school, and working. Next year, I can see myself working my way to the top, doing a full time job, and still moving up like I always push myself to do!

Oooh, as you can see, I did a fishtail braid today (continuing with my current obsession), and even when I'm just standing/sitting there doing nothing, my fingers just automatically start braiding. That's how much I've been doing it... but still sucking, there are days where I take an hour trying to figure out how to do a braid, and just unraveling it in frustration and putting my hair in a high ponytail. This is a picture of my little camwhore session before leaving for work. Today was a hot sunny day, of course it would call for a cute fishtail braid and a boho chic top from zara! Yes.. ignore my little sister at the back, she just likes getting into my photos all the time, at least this time it wasn't with her feet up or something crazy haha! 

Here's just a quick snapshot of today's makeup. As you can see I look a lot lighter than my usual days..and that is due to me trying some new products. I decided to try some Cle De Peau products, which to my surprise brighten your skin more than anything I've ever seen! You know them Asians and liking their complexion to be super light.. and being a CBC, I'm totally not used to that. I'm usually more into that tanned sun kissed glow. But I like experimenting.. so I thought I'd try. It literally was just the makeup base that made me this white, because I only put a thin layer of powder over it, which looked darker than it really turned out to be. As you can see I tried to bronze the crap out of my skin to make myself not so ghostly...Well, at least it made my skin super smooth and healthy. 

Cle De Peau sounds like a really luxurious brand, and  I'm looking forward to trying some of their other stuff, so please look forward to seeing some of their product reviews from me!

Thanks for reading, it's time for me to get to work! 

-Carol

#nowplaying: Holy Grail - Justin Timberlake ft. Jay Z