Shiseido – Bubbly Michelle

31st Night makeup feat. Shiseido Festive Camellia holiday palette

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015by Bubbly Michelle8 Comments

Hi guys! Wow it feels like I haven’t blogged in aaages but Christmas got me so busy I haven’t had time to take a breather from all the madness! But i’m here now, so today’s all about creating a makeup look with this gorgeous Shiseido palette that’s limited edition for the holidays. Apart from the really unique packaging, I find the inside just as lovely as the outside with a selection of colours that should be workable on all skin tones through the seasons! It truly is a stand out product.

The colours I am working with today are the pink, the midnight blue, tan & sparkly violet. Almost all shades seen here are super finely milled and highly pigmented. The only colour I felt didn’t match up to the standard was the blue. It appeared faded when worn and a little dry in comparison.

Here’s today’s menu.

Shiseido Festive Camellia palette
Maquillage lipstick RS354 (new for the season & an everyday favourite)
Chantecaille gloss in Pink Melon
No 7 Lip pencil in Nude
Clé de Peau highlighter in 11 (the blue toned one)
Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme Mascara (Holiday 2015 collection)
Mac Extended Play Gigablack Lash mascara (for lower lashes since the wand is tiny)
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen
MAC Fluidline eye pencil in Black Brilliance
Glitter eyeliner by Make Up Store, in the shade diamond
Illamasqua blush in Hussy
Lashes by Eyelure

To create this look I started off with the eyes. I primed my lids with Benefit Stay don’t Stray primer (great for oily lids and also creates a nice base for the eyeshadow as it conceals any redness) and then went in with a soft ivory (Burberry Trench) all over. This step makes blending easier as the other colours won’t stick directly to your lids and can be moved around easily.

Then I went into the tan shade and ran it across the outer corners of the crease with a soft blending brush (where I plan on layering the pink over top). This basically is the transition shade that helps everything blend together nicely, with the colours grading from navy, to pink then tan.

For extra intensity I then took a Dior Kohl liner (any kohl pencil would do) and smudged it close to the lash line and outer 1/2 for extra depth. This creates a sticky surface for the navy blue to catch on and also deepens the look while making it even more longer lasting.

I then added the pink to the entire inner corner and above the navy to blend in with the tan. Lastly pressing the glittery violet shade to the middle of the eye lid with a flat definer brush. This final step transforms the navy to a purple and gives all the colours a smooth flow.

I then finished up with liquid liner and also tight lined my upper waterline with my MAC fluidline pencil. This one’s EXCELLENT for the waterline. Super creamy so it won’t irritate and also hella long lasting. Just make sure you use a cotton bud with miscellar water to take it off at night 😉 you don’t want to sleep with eyeliner residue!

Now you are ready for the base! Clean up any fallout (I use Bioderma) and prime with a mattifying primer if you have difficulty keeping your t-zone matte. It will stop your base from sliding off after the oil kicks in.

If you have combination skin, moisturise the dry areas so your foundation goes on smoother without catching on to flakes (if you have any). Ladies with dry skin can benefit from a little hydration before foundation. Just make sure you give your moisturiser a few minutes to absorb well into your skin before applying your regular primer or the extra layers will cause the foundation to slip off. Overall work in thin layers and never pile on product. That’s key to making sure your makeup stays put.

Once the base and under eye concealer is done I then added the tan eyeshadow following with the navy on the lower lash line smoking it out with a pencil brush. Doing this step last after concealer creates a true blended effect so the lower lash line doesn’t look too harsh 🙂

For the lips I chose this Maquillage colour in a soft pinky nude.

It’s super hydrating adding a touch of colour to the lips without feeling heavy. In general red lips are so high maintenance I’d rather use a nude so I don’t have to touch up all night! Just make sure you fill in the lips with a liner so everything stays in place longer.

Lastly, it’s a bit of blush and highlight! For a longer lasting blush you can always go in first with a light cream blush and top with your desired powder blush. As always, a cream before a powder really extends wear. Though keep in mind to pat the cream blush on as you don’t want to move the already perfected base!

For the brow routine I lightly filled in my brows with the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor. Also topping off the pencilled brows with a powder will extend wear and give a more perfected look. Additionally a brow mascara or brow wax will really help seal your brows in place. A few extra steps to make sure your brows stay on point all night long!

Lastly to keep everything in place, a makeup setting spray will be your best friend! I spray on a nice coat of Urban Decay All Nighter for makeup to stay put. It does help.

So here’s the final look.

I added some individual lashes. No pressure, but let’s be real it does glam up the entire look. My method of application was 4 long lashes at the outer end keeping the inner corner quite bare as I wanted my pink eyeshadow to show through. Of course a medium lash length would have looked more natural but I wasn’t going for natural today! haha

IF you hate applying individuals, you can go for a shape as these Ardell ones below, or even use a half set (they sell a shorter pair that’s basically just the outer half) which are actually really easy to put on and very comfortable worn!

So there you have it! A little walk through my suggested makeup look for 31st night. I hope you found the post useful and gathered a few helpful tips in the very least!

And finally, A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you! ❤ Thank you for being here with me this year. I look forward to posting exciting new content next year as well! So see you back here in 2016! Cheers!

Makeup

Shiseido Autumn/Winter 2015 Collection Review, Photos & Swatches

October 2, 2015October 2, 2015by Bubbly Michelle2 Comments

I have to hand it to Shiseido for consistently creating such wearable and good quality products. They are for everyone! I’ve never seen anything too bold, too nude or too bright to the point where it’s unwearable. Everything is created to make women look gorgeous and confident. I for one, am totally smitten and happy to welcome Autumn with open arms just to enjoy these new colours.

The Shiseido A/W 2015 collection consists of 4 new Perfect Rouge lipsticks, 4 Veiled Rouge lipsticks, 5 new Shimmering Cream Eye Colours, a brand new mascara & a Lash Serum.

My favourites without a doubt were the cream colour bases for the eyes. So let’s start off with those!

Of all cream eyeshadows i’ve tried, I find Shiseido to be my top favourite for day to day use. I reach for them regularly as they are so easy to slap on.

The new colours for this season are :

Starting off with packaging as always, these cream shadows come in little plastic pots with a screw top lid. They are so compact and fit into any travel makeup bag with ease. Best of all, they are lightweight so you can pack as many as 4-5 if you must!

Formula & Application

The Shiseido cream shadows have an almost balmy, smooth base. Something that lends itself to applying with fingers, so perfect for lazy girls like moi. I like to layer on colour gradually building up intensity as I go till I achieve the result i’m looking for. I also appreciate that these have enough play time and I never have to feel rushed to blend them, a perfectly smoked out wash can be created with ease.

Once set, these feel comfortable on the lids. Weightless and never tight or dry.

The two I have for review are VI 730 (Garnet) & BE 728 (Clay)

Clay is a sophisticated warm grey with very fine golden shimmer. A colour most likely dismissed as boring. I on the other hand find it unusual and almost something likely to be seen on a runway. One of the more unique shades for A/W.

So far been loving this as a light layer on the eyes finished off with just a touch of mascara on rushed days. It corrects the redness on my eyelids instantly making my minimal makeup look more polished.

Garnet is a neutral toned dusty violet. This too infused with a fine shimmer which gives it dimension with it’s golden sheen. I would wear it as an all over lid colour with well concealed under eyes (especially the inner corner that tends to have the most red/purple pigments).

It’s a nice alternative to a smokey eye. Something you can even wear during the day and not feel like you have heavy eye makeup on.

Onto some swatches!

…and a closeup in direct sunlight.

Next up, lipsticks!

The Perfect Rouge Lipsticks are my top picks from the lipstick selection. Housed in a luxurious black casing, these elegant lipsticks pack a punch. The pigmentation is rich and very smooth as they glide on like silk. The end result, a glossy vivid lip.

I find these to wear comfortably for a good 3-4 hours. Lips never feel dry or parched. In fact they feel mildly hydrated though out.

Colours released for A/W 2015 are as follows,

The two I have for review are Cocoa Rose and Empress. Both stunning shades which swatch opaque in one swipe!

Veiled Rouge Lipsticks are the less pigmented cousins of Perfect Rouge and come packaged in a slimmer, longer holder.

Opacity wise they are sheer to medium, buildable coverage and wear approximately 2 hours before fading.

The shade range for the new season is as follows,

I received Honeydew and Enchantment. Both luxuriously hydrating on the lips and perfect for everyday wear. If I had to pick a favourite, it’d be Honeydew. Mostly as it’s a unique shade, but also beautiful worn.

Onto swatches.

Lastly, here’s a look I created using the Shimmering cream shadow Garnet softly blended out on the entire lid, paired with a plummy stain courtesy of Empress! A tonal look that compliments the cosy season to come.

Overall thoughts on the collection

If I had to pick just one product, it would be the cream shadow bases. These creams are wonderfully easy to work with, last long (I’m talking 8-9 hours wear time with no creasing!) and wearable throughout the year regardless of season. They make excellent eye bases too and can be layered with eyeshadow for even longer lasting colour!

Lipsticks as always, a winner! Specially when they are new shades for the season. Personally I like the Perfect Rouge best, I find the extra coverage with EXTRA hydration an unbeatable combo! If you enjoy a glossy lip, you really can’t go wrong here. The more you pile on, the glossier it gets ❤

The only miss from the collection would have to be the mascara. Unfortunately it did nothing to volumise my lashes and therefore a deal breaker for me. If you are looking for curl rather than volume, this should then suit you perfectly.

Product Information

All products currently available at Shiseido counters.

(Veiled Rouge SGD40, Perfect Rouge SGD43, Shimmering Cream Eye Colour SGD32)

*Mine were samples sent for review by the ever so kind Shiseido team!

P.S- Lash Serum review to follow, stay tuned :-*

Skincare

Shiseido Ultimune Eye review

September 5, 2015September 5, 2015by Bubbly Michelle1 Comment

Helloooo fellow skincare lovers! Back with a new post and it’s all about the freshly released Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Eye Concentrate.

It’s essentially a serum in my eyes (pun intended), something you’d use as a base before layering on an eye cream.

Foreword

Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate which released last year, is a product built on the theory of ‘skin immunity’. Where Shiseido labs discovered the key to beautiful skin stemmed from strong ‘skin immunity’. As a healthy immune system is essential for a body to stay protected from illnesses, skin immunity is important for skin to continue looking younger and luminous without giving into aggressors such as stress, lack of sleep, so on and so forth.

****According to studies dryness is the no 1 cause behind compromised skin immunity. And Ultimunes key ingredient ImuMoisture Extract directly addresses this issue by restoring the declined function of the skins Langerhans cells (the cells that control immunity) and maintain hydration levels even in harsh environments. Ultimune Eye also carries a mixture of botanical compounds, Ginko Biloba leaf extract, Perilla extract and Wild Thyme for their anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to further reenforce the enhanced immunity.

In essence, Ultimune Eye focuses on building skin immunity specifically around the delicate eye area to ensure more beautiful skin, resilient to common aggressors. It also boosts the effects of any other creams you’d be using in conjunction to achieve optimum results. With continuous use, the eye area is proven to feel less dry leading to lesser wrinkles, firmer & brighter skin.

Packaging

The Ultimune Eye comes in a sleek red plastic bottle fitted with a pump dispenser. Easy to use, fuss free and travel friendly. I also like that the amount of product dispensed can be controlled. You could pump out as little or as much as you’d like, ensuring no product is wasted in case one pump is a bit too much for ones requirement.

Formula & Texture

The product itself is a lightweight gel type which feels soothing & cooling when massaged in. It absorbs quickly leaving the eye area hydrated, comfortable and nourished and prepped to accept any further treatments to follow. The light consistency also makes this ideal to use under makeup and doesn’t affect the overall finish of your concealer, specially important if you are used to more liquid formulas (and would normally skip an eye cream). It’s built to seamlessly fit into your daily regime without any disruption.

Observations & Findings

With daily use over a month the most evident change was how much more brighter my under eye looked. Dark circles were noticeably reduced. I didn’t see any improvement on wrinkles as yet and given i’m only into around a months use, there’s still a possibility of improvement although at the time of this review i’ve no indication that Ultimune Eye has ironed out wrinkles in the eye area.

However in general different products take varying amounts of time to show any claimed results and it’s not unusual for a product to start ‘working’ or visibly improving an existing condition after 2-3 months use. Therefore i’m looking forward to seeing how Ultimune Eye continues to transform my skin.

Bottom Line

It’s an extra step to your routine but a worthwhile addition. I personally ALWAYS use an eye serum before any eye creams to maximise efficacy. Some might find this unnecessary step, though I believe every bit of extra help is welcome as maintaining a youthful eye area is of utmost importance to me.

I feel that since the product is for prevention more than correction, it’s something that can be recommended to even the younger ladies (as early as 24). Building up a stronger and more resilient eye area to prevent/postpone the worst of the results of ageing.

Product Information

Ultimune Eye comes with 15ml of product retailing at SGD 98.

Available at all Shiseido counters starting 1st Sept.

*Sample sent for review

Ingredients list

Makeup

Shiseido Perfecting Stick Concealer: Review, Photos & Swatches

April 11, 2015July 31, 2015by Bubbly Michelle24 Comments

Along with the spring 2015 makeup release, Shiseido also introduced a new concealer stick. The Perfecting Stick concealer.

Being an ardent fan of the Clé de Peau concealer stick, I was curious to see how this performed against it. Specially since the Shiseido retails at a very competitive price!

So let’s get right to it!

Packaging

Given they both come under the Shiseido brand, packaging is very similar, except for the iconic navy blue tipped cap. The Shiseido instead has the logo up top, still maintaining a very luxe finish.

Overall both look sleek and compact and ideal for keeping in your makeup bag.

Also no worries of leaks or spillage, the cap secures with a firm click.

Formula & Coverage

According to Shiseidos press release, the concealer contains a special ‘Bind & Fit Wax’ which allows a high coverage while also delivering an easily blendable smooth formula that helps you achieve a finish that looks skin like and never unnatural or cakey.

From my experience I found the concealer to be smooth and creamy, a little more emollient than the Clé de Peau. Therefore making it perfect consistency for concealing blemishes and spots too. I mostly use this to cover dark circles though and it does a pretty good job of it. It looks less dry on the under eye when compared to the CDP, something a lot of users complain about.

The coverage of this is on the higher side of medium. Almost opaque when blended in. In comparison to CDP, it’s slightly under. For those with regular under eye darkness this should be a good fit.

Finish

The concealer melds well with the skins surface and gives a very natural finish. Never looks patchy or parched.

Longevity & Wear

I noticed it creases. But then so does the Clé de Peau. I have come to peace with the fact that no concealer on earth would be crease free on me as my ‘fine lines’ are pretty deep! I remedy this by wearing as little eye cream as possible (sometimes I skip it altogether) which reduces the chance of ‘slipping’. And of course powder, powder, POWDER!

Here’s what a mix of 22 and 33 looks applied on my under eye. (Left with concealer and right eye is without)

It makes my eyes look less tired and the red undertone in the inner corner is now concealed. I also applied it on the inner corner of my cheeks around the nose to conceal any pigmentation and redness. It’s virtually undetectable.

Shade Range

This concealer comes in 6 shades.

11 Light

22 Natural light – Neutral beige toned

33 Natural – Yellow toned

44 Medium – Peachy Beige toned

55 Medium Deep

66 Deep

I ended up buying an additional two apart from the 22 Natural Light I was sent for review. So I basically ended up with half of the collection released!

These suit, Light Medium to Medium complexions.

I found the Shiseido colours were slightly brighter in comparison to the Clé de Peau. And there are no shades that are exact matches to the CDP.

And some swatches,

I currently use CDP Almond for my under eyes. And the match from Shiseido is a mix of 22 with 44 or 33.

22 on it’s own is far too light and looks ghostly on me, a typical ‘reverse panda’ eye.. If you are a NC 35 you could choose between 33 or 44 which would suit a medium, difference being the undertone. 33 is more yellow toned while 44 is a neutral peachy beige tone.

A good match for NC 25-30 would be 22 Natural light.

For those of you around an NC 15, 11 Light is the shade to go for.

For NC40 and above, 55 and 66 should suit well. I can’t recall undertones of these though. Sorry!

Overall thoughts

I feel this is a close match to the CDP. If price is a concern, you could try this and achieve a similar outcome. Although I won’t be ditching my CDP concealer in a hurry! I still enjoy the thicker and heavier coverage.

If your under eye circles aren’t too severe or if you find your CDP concealer too drying for the under eye, try this!

Note – For those of you with deeper fine lines with oilier skin, this would most likely crease on you. So be sure to test this out at a counter before you purchase.

Product info

The Perfecting Stick Concealer comes with 5g of product and retails at SGD 46. Available at all Shiseido counters.

Skincare

Skincare essentials – Travel edition

January 19, 2015August 1, 2015by Bubbly Michelle16 Comments

There are some things in life I just can’t live without, and that’s a decent skincare arsenal. Here’s mine, stripped down to a bare minimum. These are all I need to keep my skin happy during a short getaway.

Bare in mind that this is just what I packed for a couple of days at the beach so I haven’t included a heavy duty cleanser as I’m not wearing much other than a concealer and brows. Somedays I do a little eye liner, but that’s about it.

To me a good skincare routine includes an effective cleanser. For now I’m relying on this one by Murad. I’ve repurchased this and it’s been my go to cleanser for the last 5 years or so. It’s their Soothing Gel Cleanser formulated for sensitive skin. The texture is very light weight and jelly like. It doesn’t foam much but cleans my face without stripping it of all moisture. Skin feels comfortable and bouncy. I use this morning and night.

If i’m wearing any eye makeup, I use the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover to cleanse it off at the end of the day. I pack this smaller travel size bottle and it doesn’t take up too much space in my travel pouch. For speedy eye makeup removal (even waterproof mascara) without any sensitivity I highly recommend this one.

After cleansing, it’s moisturiser and sun screen. No matter how humid or sweaty the weather is, it’s a non negotiable step. Ideally with my extra oily t-zone, i’d happily go without moisturiser, but since it’s something I don’t compromise on, next best thing is my Hydraluron hydration serum. It gives my skin a burst of moisture and absorbs immediately leaving NO oily feeling.

I then follow with my daily sunscreen which is the Avène Day Protector UV EX SPF 30 PA ++++. I like that it’s formulated for sensitive skin and also absorbs well into the skin leaving it velvety and supple. Again, no oiliness. On the down side, I am convinced this blocks my pores. But until I find something as good as this, it’s a necessary evil i’m willing to put up with. Sigh.

For eyes I always, always use an eye cream. Even during the day, under makeup, I use one.

For travel I mainly pack these three. One serum and two eye creams.

For the ultimate line busting solution, my go to is the Zelens Triple Action Advanced eye cream. It’s a light gel texture and feels amazing on the eye area (for those of you who have very dry under eyes or love richer night creams, this one will feel rather under nourishing as it absorbs completely).

Usually I apply this after I have prepped my under eye with the Lancôme Génifique Yeux. Which is a serum that absorbs immediately and leaves no greasy feel under the eyes. The reason I pair all my eye creams with the Génifique Yeux is that I notice it boosts the anti aging benefits of my eye creams and I love it.

For nights I prefer to alternate my Zelens eye cream with the Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Corrective eye cream. This is my holy grail hydrating/anti-aging eye cream. Although it’s not as effective on deep, stubborn wrinkles (compared to Zelens) I love it for how hydrating it is. It actually does an amazing job hydrating so I always repurchase this.

If you don’t have any major wrinkle issues and/or in the mid 20’s to early 30’s this is the one for you! It keeps eyes looking bright and youthful as well as controlling the appearance of any new fine lines.

The one thing I NEVER ever leave home without is my Lancôme Visionnaire Serum, reviewed here. It’s been my holy grail serum for the last three years or so.

If uneven, blemished skin with noticeable pores are your concern. This is what you need. It will make your skin look rested and glowing overnight. I have several of these at home, including this tiny version I use when I travel.

Lastly, I also pack two SOS treatment products where ever I go. One is the Avène Soothing serum. It’s what I rely on when my skin feels sensitized and red. If you suffer from sensitive skin, this product is gold. It instantly calms angry, red blotchy skin.

My second SOS product is the Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel. It’s god sent for banishing those pesky, holiday ruining breakouts. Apply this at the very first sign of a blemish and you could control the breakout as well as enable it to heal without leaving any discolouration or marks. Certainly a product worth investing in.

So there you have it. My skincare essentials for travel. They all fit into a relatively small pouch so by no means is it a burden carrying them around. And at the end of the day, my little bag of magic comes equipped with everything I would need for any holiday emergency!

Makeup

Shiseido Sale : Info & Haul

October 21, 2014August 4, 2015by Bubbly Michelle11 Comments

It’s that awesome time again! The bi-annual Shiseido sale we all look forward to!

Today was the media preview day and I went bright and early so I could grab some stuff and make it back home in time to photograph and get my blog post up so you can start making your shopping lists. I didn’t get much for myself, (let’s face it, I have more than I can possibly use up!) but of course I did shop for some of my friends who don’t live here, so they can enjoy some Shiseido and CDP goodies too.

As you may have noticed, from past sales. I usually make a beeline straight to the NARS and CDP stands. Little surprise there, as they are my favourite brands! However this time around I spent a little more time at Shiseido as well, mostly since I had just received some eye palettes and lip products from their Fall collection and i’m currently LOVING the texture of these.

So without boring you with words.. let’s take a look at what’s available.

First up, Clé de Peau Beauté lipsticks.

My two picks were R5 and T5. These retail at $35. A steal, given that they normally retail 100+!

I also picked up an Ettusais Lip Essence. Which I hear are excellent lip oils for nourishing lips and keeping them supple. So I picked up one 🙂 This was just $15.

Onto some really exciting stuff!

I was soo thrilled I got to pick up these…. the Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Colour Trios

This fabulous green trio GR 305 (How gorgeous is that khaki and sea foam green!) as well as the beautiful orange black n silver trio OR 302 which I found very unique! At just 25$ per palette it was an amazing buy as they usually retail around $50 I believe.

Another great Shiseido buy that I highly recommend are their Lacquer Rouges. At the time I was there, testers weren’t out yet, so it was a bit difficult picking colours. However I didn’t leave empty handed, and brought home two lovely deep reds.

These rouge lacquers are liquid lipsticks which are incredibly vivid and opaque and are among my all time favourite Shiseido products. (Sale price- $20)

Lastly, NARS.

To be honest, NARS prices at the Shiseido sales are some of the best deals. The eyeshadow singles go at $18, palettes start at around $20 and this time there were also candles available for $35 which is heavily discounted! (Seen above is Acapulco, which smells like a mix of chocolate and vanilla! ❤ )

I picked up two of the Voulez Vous Eye & Cheek palette which includes my all time favourite NARS blush, Deep Throat (left); Dolce Vita blush (right) and three limited edition eyeshadows as well as Lhasa, one of the permanent eyeshadows. At just $35 this is incredible value!

I also highly recommend checking out Lola Lola. A well pigmented & buttery smooth,medium warm brown.

Other products I highly recommend.

The Clé de Peau Beauté primers. Since these just got reformulated, they are getting rid of old stock!

Clé de Peau Beauté eyeshadow palettes.

Clé de Peau Beauté Voyage gift set. Packaging is beautiful and make gorgeous luxury gifts!

Shiseido sunscreens.

Ettusais powders & cheek products.

NARS brushes.

Tips for shopping

Check expiry dates. Some may have as few as 6 months left while others had 2-3 years to go, such as the NARS palette which was expiring March 2018!

Always head to your favourite brands first, chances are they are the popular stands and most of the good stuff sell out early. *Warning: on public days there can be a bit of pushing and shoving! So be prepared!

Lastly, go early. People start queueing as early as 9.00 a.m. And as they say, the early bird catches the worm and in order to get your hands on the best deals you need to make the effort.

Sale details, venue and times.

23rd Oct 2014 10 a.m to 8 p.m

24th Oct 2014 10 a.m to 8 p.m

Orchard Building Level 12 (This is the H&M Building)

1, Grange road, Singapore 239693

Lastly, happy shopping you guys!

Skincare

Night time skincare routine

April 29, 2014April 29, 2014by Bubbly Michelle8 Comments

So today’s post is about my night time skincare routine. I have been meaning to do this for quite some time, but as the requests kept coming in, I decided to dedicate this week to covering my routines and new skincare which I’m trying without further delay.
So the night time routine I am about to share with you is pretty much what I’ve been keeping to for the last 1 year with maybe just a few tweaks. Although just so you know, I do change my eye cream n my cleanser daily according to my needs at the time (as in I would use a richer cream if the skin around my eye is feeling dehydrated or maybe a cleanser for sensitive skin if my skins a bit irritated and red… so on and so forth).

Now I am no expert in skincare, and these products I’ve selected are based on reviews I read at the time of purchase.

Basically this me just sharing what has been working for me.

To start with here’s a look at how my nightly skincare is stored. Everything I might possibly need is kept in this single drawer Muji box.

And as you can see I have quite a little collection going on there 😉 But of course I don’t use them all at the same time! I am not that nuts, I promise!

So as all routines go. I start with taking off my makeup. If you want more details on that i’d suggest you read my previous post, which was about all my cleansing and makeup removing lotions and potions.

Then I move on to this new product, the Zelens PHA+ Bio Peel Resurfacing facial pad. Which is basically an acid resurfacing liquid.

This I use in place of the old fashioned ‘toners’. Basically it is a daily exfoliating pad which is gentle yet effective and is suitable for use twice daily and lightly clears skin of any dead skin build up. As you may already know, skin absorbs moisturizer and serums better when there isn’t a thick layer of dead skin acting as a barrier. So a daily exfoliant is ideal to keep skin ready and excited to receive it’s anti ageing treatments.

A little info about the genius scientist behind Zelens.

Dr. Marko Lens is a plastic and reconstructive plastic surgeon who’s also renowned internationally for his work in the fields of skin ageing and skin cancer. He combines his knowledge in skin ageing and chemistry to bring this line of skincare which is high tech and prides itself on it’s clinical proof.

And best of all his skincare is formulated without Parabens (which I’ll talk to you more about in a later entry). But for quick reference Parabens are basically preservatives which are now a dirty word in the world of skincare as it’s suspected to cause cancer. So yeah, I know. Important to slowly switch all my skincare to Paraben free products!

So after I wipe my face with this, I then go in with a lotion. The Avène Deep moist lotion. And before I confuse you, this is not your everyday ‘moisturizing lotion’, it is more like an extra step before any serums are applied. Almost a hydrating toner (it’s a liquid, slightly ‘fuller/thicker’ than water) if you may. It’s designed to add moisture after cleansing. And I really love to sneak in an extra dose of moisture into my routine wherever I can cos dehydration is one of the main culprits behind premature wrinkles and fine lines. I love how this makes my skin feel super hydrated and supple. And since I have sensitive skin, I have come to love the brand Avène over the years.

Another thing I must mention is that even though I have combination skin I never try to go crazy with oil control, more so in my night time routine cos it’s a known fact that oily skin ages slower than dry skin and I like to keep the natural oils going during the night to help my skin stay youthful.. Trapping moisture and keeping it there. That’s what the oil does! So I wont complain.

On a side note, if you have combination skin and love that ‘squeaky clean’ feel after cleansing. Don’t! You need to keep your skin hydrated. So try not to overdo it with toners and cleansers that strip your skin. Although you might not realize, oily skin can get dehydrated too… And stay away from foaming cleansers! Unless you are a teenager, these are not for you. At least switch to a gel type, they are milder and don’t dehydrate skin as much.

Bottom line, if your skin feels ‘comfortable’ and not tight after cleansing. Then you are using the best suited cleanser for your skin. If not, time for a change, opt for a milder version of what are currently using.

So back to the routine, the application of Avène lotion was the last step of my prepping. Which I understand is a bit of a process as you read it, but in order to allow better penetration of my serums and moisturizer it’s a necessary sequence that can’t be skipped (it all only takes me about 2-3 mins max!).

My power duo when it comes to serums is by Lancôme. I have become so attached to them that it’s a bit scary. Nothing makes my skin look radiant and supple like the Lancôme Visionnaire serum. I have been using this for years (and was recommended by the lovely Alex to whom I’m forever grateful). Recently I added the Advanced Génefique Youth Activating Concentrate to the mix. All thanks to the super kind folk at Lancôme Singapore who sent me a load of the Génefique line to try out which I am slowly incorporating to my routine. It’s a bit too early for me to comment on how this combo works but I will definitely do a separate post on just these two when I feel the time is right.

Next up is moisturizing. I really have not been using anything but this La Mer Soft Cream for the past year and a half. In the mornings my skin feels plump and youthful and just healthy. I know some of you read the ingredients list and freak out cos it has mineral oils, silicones and Parabens and all those bad stuff. But at the end of the day this worked. And you can’t deny it. Would I have repurchased this if I hadn’t researched up all that info? YES! But after everything I’ve read about how mineral oils and silicone clog pores and Parabens being a health risk obviously I’d rethink my purchase. So yeah, for the time being this is my savior. But once this jar is done… onto new stuff 😉

The last step of my routine is eye cream. And all I can say is, it’s a never ending quest for the right one…. So far I have found a few that work well. Namely this lovely one by Shiseido, the Bio-Performance Super Corrective Eye Cream which I LOVE for hydrating and general anti aging. It’s what a sip of water is to a man lost in the desert. I only use this when my eyes feel tight or tired and I wake up with my eyes feeling refreshed and alive! If you don’t have major wrinkle concerns and mostly dryness issues with anti ageing, GET THIS ONE. It’s amazing.

But of course I am on the look out for heavy-duty wrinkle killers so I settled for this Sensai cream that’s said to have rave reviews and was recommended to me by a SA at Neimans. I’ve been using it for a while now and I can’t really say it’s doing a fab job. But it’s been only like two months into using this, so I wont trash it. Eye creams take time to work. Also should note, this is loaded with Parabens…. Sigh.

My third eye cream is the Lancôme Absolue Eye Premium, which was a GWP I received when I was in San Francisco. Although the SA recommended this for mature skin, I like the consistency a lot and it’s a good hydrator. Also it’s from Lancômes premium line, and I get a bit excited trying expensive things!

So those are the three I keep in rotation for my night time eye care.

And with that we come to the end of my lengthy nighttime skincare routine post. Hope I was able to bestow upon you some valuable skincare ‘secrets’ or tips 🙂

let me know your thoughts on the whole ‘toning’ and peels etc. I would love to hear your opinions. And also if you have any tips of your own!

And as always don’t hesitate to ask me any questions that you may have about this post.

Big kisses,

Bubbly M.