Blog Entry Week 1 - It's all about Skincare~
✨Blog Entry Week 1✨
Hey beauties!💖 This post marks a very important date as this is my very first blog post~ *cues applause and fireworks* That’s right folks! So, I thought, what better way to mark an important date than to talk about one of my subjects of importance (and quite knowledgeable mind you~),
💟Skincare!💟
Skincare has been an integral part of my life. It’s just one of those things that gives me a sense of balance in life.
This blog post will mainly consist of my skincare journey,
my skincare routine and the active ingredients found in said skincare products, and the benefits of the ingredients listed.
First off, my skincare journey hasn’t been the best one. The
only reason I really became the dermatologist of my familial unit is because I have
had to experience one of the worse acne attacks of my life up to date. It
happened just as the Covid-19 pandemic (or dubbed as Ms. Rona for comical
purposes) was making its rounds globally, and we were all stuck at home. I
decided to experiment with some skincare products that I had no idea I was
allergic to! That and coupled with an extremely high stress environment due to
me taking my STPM examinations at that point of time, it was horrendous. To
those of you that don’t know, STPM (Malaysian Higher School Certificate) is one
of the hardest pre-university exams in the entire world! You can read more
about my STPM experience here. I had to create a new blog post for that
as that’s another rollercoaster of emotions. Back to the topic at hand, I
“broke out” and had no clue on what to do. After months of going to Aesthetic
centres for facials, I decided to go to a dermatologist. Since I’m based in
Penang, the most famous dermatologist here is Dr. Lim, who runs his own Skin
Clinic called Lim Skin Clinic. He gave me the necessary meds such as
Isotretinoin, and today, I don’t need those meds anymore, and instead did my
own extensive research on different skincare products.
There was so much that I didn’t know about skincare, and
even now I learn a new thing or two each day. As usual, if you didn’t know by
now, you should have a basic skincare routine that consists of:
1. 1. Cleanser 🌸
2. 2. Moisturiser 💦
3. 3. Sunscreen 🌟
This is the basic of the very basic. Some people seem to get
away with just a cleanser, or maybe even nothing. However, clearly those people
have genetically great skin to begin with, passed down from their lineage. My
skincare routine includes some extras such as Serums, Acids, Toners, and Sheet
Masks. Let me run you through my skincare routine. For slightly more context, I
have sensitive acne-prone skin, so do what you will with that information.
Firstly, I cleanse my face with a cleanser called Senka
Perfect Whip(120g). It is a foaming cleanser that is extremely moisturising,
which is what you essentially need really. It offers double hyaluronic acid
(moisturising agents) and really gives you that dewy look. The packaging for
this toner is a dark blue colour, that is supposed to resemble water and the
importance of it as moisture (just my opinion). This cleanser is readily
available at most Health and Beauty stores such as Watsons and Guardian. The
price range should be about RM20+. Remember folks, stay hydrated and
moisturised!
Next, I use my toner. If you are looking for an extremely
gentle toner that has no alcohol in it, I highly recommend Neutrogena’s
Alcohol-Free Toner(250ml), and I swear by this toner as it has helped me a lot!
The packaging is a light blue bottle, minimalistic and cute. I usually buy this
from any Guardian or Watsons outlet, and the price should be about RM20+ as
well. So, what I do is I take a cotton pad, pour about 5 drops of the toner on
it so it’ll soak in, and then lightly glide it over my slightly damp face. The
purpose of a toner is to cleanse and prepare your face for the next skincare
product. Think of it as double cleansing.
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| Image 1: Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner |
Image 2: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum (30ml)
After letting my skin to air-dry for a minute or two (I fan
myself if I’m in a hurry), I use two different products as the final touch,
depending on whether its my AM or PM routine. If it is my AM routine, I use the
very simple Aloe Vera Gel as my moisturiser! However, for my PM routine, I use
The Ordinary’s Mandelic Acid 10% + HA (30ml) for even more moisture! It has a
slightly oily consistency but will dry off after a while. I have reverted to
using Aloe Vera Gel as my moisturiser as it is very friendly to all skin types.
If you remember, I have stated that I have sensitive acne-prone skin, so if I
can use this, you most definitely can too. Aloe Vera Gel may feel tacky and
slightly sticky when it dries off at first, but after a while, you’ll get used
to the feeling, and it becomes normal. I don’t use too much though,
approximately the half-length of your pinkie finger should suffice, and use it
all over the face. While I spread the gel, I take the opportunity to massage my
face a little, to get rid of the puffiness one usually gets in the morning. For
my evening and night routine, I use Mandelic Acid 10% + HA on alternate nights.
The Ordinary’s Mandelic Acid 10% + Hyaluronic Acid offers superficial dermal
peeling that is gentler than other alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) to exfoliate the
skin. Mandelic Acid is one of the gentler chemical exfoliants out there, and
AHAs are good at that.
Up to this point, my night time routine is done, and I try
my best to get a good sleep. Here’s a little PSA, do your night time skincare
routine 1-3 hours before your usual bed time to avoid your skincare going to
waste by it going all over your pillows and such. By giving it time, you’re
allowing the skincare to really absorb into your skin! Anyway, moving on to the
very last step for my AM routine, and it is none other than sunscreen (SPF)! In my opinion, this is one of the most
important steps in skincare which is vital for your skin. Sunscreen helps
protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. The sun’s rays are even stronger today
than they were decades or even centuries ago, due to the depletion of our ozone
layer among other things, be it human-related or not. So, make sure you get
yourself a good sunscreen! I swear by the Biore UV Watery Essence SPF 50+
PA++++ Aqua Rich! its so light, doesn’t leave a white film, and it’s not tacky at
all. It has little to no fragrance, and spreads with ease. The price range should
be around RM25+ but it’s definitely worth the bang for your buck.
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Image 3: Biore UV Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ Aqua Rich
That was the final step! As for my closing remarks, I just advise that you be careful if you were to experiment with any products. You need to make the conscious effort to search up reviews, read forums, and discuss with others about products before using them. Your skin as a whole is extremely important, and the skin on your face is much sensitive compared to the skin everywhere else on your body. So, you should be taking good care of it, as it will take care of you too! I purchased my serums and acids online via the Shopee application. Be sure to only buy from their official sites, as resellers could sell you fake products, and we both don’t want that to happen. I will be posting links to a few websites on the skincare products that I've mention here for your perusal, so do look it up if you have the time.
Here's a little sappy note; surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are, those that will always support you, and those that will be with you and love you unconditionally. My skin improved a lot when I met a special someone too~ 💓
That’s all folks! Until my next blog post then~ A pretty lengthy first post wouldn’t you say so? That’s how important skincare is to me :3
Links:
1. Senka Perfect Whip Cleanser
2. Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
3. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum (30ml)
4. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid serum(30ml)
5. The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + Hyaluronic Acid (30ml)
6. Aloe Vera Gel - Chriszen 98% Aloe Vera & Rice Milk Collagen Plus - Soothing Skin Gel (250g)
7. Aloe Vera Gel - MISEOUL Aloe Vera Soothing Gel (300g)
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