February 25, 2013
My apologies for the radio silence over the past week! Work has been keeping me ridiculously busy lately, but happily I’ve been able to squeeze in a tiny bit of pampering time after a loooong day at the office. I can’t lie, I’d love to go to an actual spa and get a real facial, but I just haven’t had a chance to squeeze one in. So here are my favorite masks (or masques, if you’re fancy) when I want to keep my skin looking more alive and glowy…and not just from the glare of my desktop computer. Lavender/random fragrant plant spa water not included.
Ren Skincare F10 Smooth and Renew Peel Mask: In my opinion, this is the only stand-out product from all the Ren products I’ve ever tried (they were actually my first foray into clean beauty). And although this mask has been labeled for exfoliation, I actually find it to be ideal for hydrating and brightening purposes. I also love the soft muslin cloth that comes with it!
Gloss Moderne High Gloss Masque: I workout in the mornings so in addition to all the lovely chemical damage, I put my hair through its paces on an everyday basis. For that reason, it’s especially important that I baby my hair whenever I can. For the longest time, I thought hair masks were sort of useless, but this one has made me a convert. I just rub it in for 10 minutes 1-2x a week and find that it leaves my hair ridiculously soft and air dries especially well. I’m also very partial to the coconut smell…so if you usually don’t like coconut scents, I’d probably stay far, far away.
Yuli Skincare Purifying Mask: A magical mask for all skin types. I don’t know how but it somehow manages to be both clarifying and moisturizing. I particularly like that you have to add water to create a paste before applying, so while the bottle does look small, it doesn’t contain any fillers, like water, so you know you are really getting your money’s worth!
Categorized Beauty
Tagged Gloss Moderne, Ren Skincare, Yuli Skincare
November 19, 2012
As a follow-up to my summer skincare post, I thought it may be helpful to give a quick update on what I’ve been using since its become much cooler and drier. Writing this blog gives me license to try a lot of new products, but I’ve found myself returning to these few products over and over again. I’m sure I’m not alone here when I mention that my primary goal is to prevent aging caused by from harsh environmental conditions (city living? Can’t get much harsher than that). My personal motto? Always be moisturizing. And these products aren’t only addressing my long-term aging concerns – they also help me stave off a massive pet peeve of mine, those little white flakes that appear on my cheeks when I’ve been lazy about keeping things supple and soft.
Day or night, I first start with a few quick spritzes of Yuli Skincare’s Metamorphic Elixir (1). It is meant for anti-aging / dry skin, the perfect toner to act as my first defense against the onslaught of dry air. Next, I dot on a small amount of Joelle Ciocco’s Intensive Eye Care Anti-Ageing Treatment (2), a product I started using after my wonderful facial with Isabelle Bellis. I am absolutely vigilant about using eye cream. The non-stop exposure to computer and smartphone screens is extremely stressful on the eyes, making it crucial that you pamper them as much as possible!
For day, I’ve been using Josie Maran’s Argan Oil (3) (a very thoughtful gift from my lovely roommate!) all over my face and neck. Quickly followed by yet another year round main stay – John Masters Organics Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 (4). Yes, the sun is not nearly as strong as it is in the summer, but I’m not one to take chances: I wear sunscreen every single day. I just make sure to wash it off carefully at night to avoid clogging my pores.
At night, I’m very focused on preventing hyper-pigmentation, a common ailment for Asian skin. With that in mind, I’ve been using Yuli’s Cell Perfecto PM Serum (5). It is an oxygen activated serum, meaning you need to give it a vigorous shake before use to “wake up” the active ingredients. Since this particular serum is targeted at acne scars, pigmentation and dark spots, it is ideal for my particular skincare concerns. It’s so rich and moisturizing that I don’t need to use anything else at night. Effective and efficient? No wonder I can’t stop reaching for it.
What are your fall skincare essentials?
Categorized Beauty
Tagged Cell Perfecto PM Serum, Isabelle Bellis, Joelle Ciocco, John Masters Organics, Josie Maran, Metamorphic Elixir, Skincare, Yuli Skincare
