i take skincare very seriously. in fact, even before i got interested with make up, i already have a skincare routine. it’s something i got from my parents (yes, my tatay is a big pond’s and olay user) who never went to bed with their faces unmoisturized. let me introduce to you my current (in the past year or so) skincare team:
Cleansing
if i am wearing eye make up (eyeshadow + liner + mascara), i take it off first with maybelline’s eye and lip make up remover. this is one is like l’oreal’s eye and make up remover, which i also used before, only cheaper as it comes in two sizes (the P99 smaller bottle and P199 bottle, seen on the picture).
then i follow it up with pond’s cold cream (around P80) (straight from my parent’s dresser. lol) for initial cleansing. i like it because i get to massage my face while thoroughly removing all traces of make up. another option would be cetaphil. i wipe off the cream using facial wipes.
Washing, Toning, Moisturizing
i use this trio on regular days (read: days when my skin is perfect, no zits, no reactions, nada).
wash: pond’s pure white deep cleansing facial foam with activated carbon (P150 something for a 100g tube). before i switched to this awesome facial wash, i am a neutrogena deep clean facial foam user. i still have several tubes of neutrogena in my drawer for days when my skin is acting up. i told you, i do keep back ups. lol. i like this product from pond’s as it doesn’t dry my skin after washing. the first time i used this, my face really felt clean and smooth, no exagg.
tone: i love this human heart nature tomato and lemongrass toner (php99.75)! it’s organic and doesn’t sting. prior to this product, i am a fan of neutrogena’s alcohol-free toner. heck, i’ve even used eskinol way back in high school! lol. i’ve learned that alcohol hastens aging that’s why i’ve used an alcohol-free toner ever since. i skip this step during daytime though.
moisturize: when myra launched their skincare products, i never hesitated to get myself a tube of their moisturizer! their moisturizers do their job well without being greasy and oily. when their whitening moisturizer came out (vitawhite, Php80), i tried it immediately and liked it. now i use it day and night because of its spf 15. but when i know that i’d be out in the sun, i use my neutrogena sunblock spf50.
however, there are days when my face is plagued with pimples and rashes. during these times, i turn to my ever reliable clinique 3-step skin care system. a few days of following the very basic cleanse, tone and moisturize routine using these specific products, my skin is soft, smooth and glowing again, i swear!
Weekly Ritual
aside from my daily cleanse, tone, moisturize habit, i also have my weekly routine.
i do either of the following:
1. wash using my neutrogena wave. i only do this once in two weeks. i tried using it every other day for a week and small bumps mushroomed on my forehead. i discovered that it’s more effective if i just whip it out once in 2 or 3 weeks for deep cleansing.
2. facial mask, baby. on weeks that i don’t neutrogena wave, i use facial masks from purederm or montagne jeunesse. both brands can be found in watson’s. i particularly like the chocolate mask from montagne (seen on picture, php80) and the ultra hydrating shea butter mask from purederm (php70). i am not exaggerating when i say that after washing off the mask, my skin really feels cleaner and looks brighter.
3. pore strips. i only started using purederm’s pore strips last month, before leaving for the US. my nose is really a problem area as whiteheads and blackheads populate it. of all the nose strips i have tried, purederm’s is really the most effective. i just used their chin and forehead strip last night and unfortunately, i wasn’t too impressed. but i’ll give it a second chance and try again maybe next week.
my current beauty ritual is so amazingly good (buyag!) that i haven’t gotten a facial in almost 6 months. and no, i don’t regularly visit a dermatologist. if this keeps up, i may only get a facial once a year, which is a huge way of saving money. even when belt-tightening, i haven’t given up my manicure, pedicure and facial as those are my only sanity-savers. plus, my job requires me to look presentable (not an excuse, promise! lol). i only wish though that we have a salon or spa allowance. lol.
i generally have okay skin but still, it doesn’t hurt to take care of it. i never sleep with my make up on. if i can’t tone and moisturize, just to wash it thoroughly is enough.
how about you, what’s your skincare routine?
