Updated Skincare Day Routine – Fighting Winter Dryness and Hyperpigmentation

Hi all, since my last skincare haul here, I’ve added some new products to my day skincare routine which I’ve been very happy with.

My main concerns are treating and preventing further sun damage to my skin, as well as keeping it moisturized during the winter time.

I love trying new products and evaluating their efficacy, but I think this new routine will keep my skin happy until I run out of it within the next 2 months:

Day Routine (March 2013) (listed in order of application)

1) Face wash – Shiseido Perfect Milk – this is a foaming type cleanser which has a very pleasant scent and leaves my skin smooth and clean, but not tight. I either use either by itself or with my Clarisonic Mia face brush. I bought this at a local Japanese supermarket, but it can also be found on Ebay or Amazon. It’s fairly affordable at $12 – $16/ 150 ml which I predict will last at least 3 months.

Shiseido Perfect Milk

Shiseido Perfect Milk

2) Skinceuticals CE Ferrulic – An antioxidant combo containing 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% alpha tocopherol, and 0.5% ferulic acid, which happens to smell like sausages. Yes, Skinceutical’s CE Ferrulic does smell like sausages. I’m sure I didn’t get a bad batch either because I bought it from an authorized vendor, the color is a very pale yellow, which means that the Vitamin C has not oxidized, and I’ve read other reviews that mention the strange scent. The smell doesn’t really bother me because it dissipates after a while. Although my skin is sensitive, I haven’t experienced skin irritation and it has brightened my complexion. Research has also found that it increases protection from the sun and stimulates collagen production. All pluses in my book! I use three drops in the mornings only.

Skinceuticals CE Ferrulic

Skinceuticals CE Ferrulic

3) Skinceuticals Phyto+ – As reviewed here, this is my current holy grail brightener. I use three drops for my face. (Yes, I neglect my neck. I will probably regret this in 20 years!)

4) Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 gel – This came in a combination pack together with the CE Ferrulic and it is a clear gel formula which is scent-free. I apply three drops post layering CE Ferrulic and Phyto+. It absorbs well into my skin and leaves it plump. It is running out much faster than the CE Ferrulic or Phyto+ due to the viscosity of the formula. I apply 3 drops, but the drops seem… larger. I’m almost halfway through my bottle and it’s only month 1. Will probably not repurchase.

Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 gel

Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 gel

5) Atopalm MLE Intensive Moisturizing Cream – Final step prior to applying sunscreen. This is a light-as-air moisturizer contrary to the name (Intensive Moisturizing Cream) which sounds…intense. It absorbs quickly despite the 3 products that went onto my skin before it and I think this is always a sign of a quality formulation. One of my pet peeves is a heavy moisturizer which sits on my skin and makes my face look greasy. This does the moisturizing trick without the heft and I’m happy with the price tag as well. ($24/100 ml tub)

Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream

Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream

6) Jan Marini Physical Protectant SPF 45 – This came recommended to me by my esthetician. My skin is sensitive and some chemical sunscreens irritate it. This sunscreen comes with 6% Titanium Dioxide 6% and 8% Zinc Oxide and protects my skin sufficiently. It is tinted so a note of caution to those who aren’t used to wearing tinted sunscreens. I’ve actually come to like the tint because I find that it evens out the redness and blotchiness in my skin tone and I actually don’t wear any foundation/powder on top of it. I believe it has some oil control properties because I’ve found that my T-zone requires less blotting around the afternoon in comparison to when I don’t use it.

It also contains two antioxidants, green tea extract and ubiquinone as well as bisabolol, a chamomile extract which conditions skin and protects against flaking.

Jan Marini Physical Protectant SPF 45

Jan Marini Physical Protectant SPF 45

7) 302 lip balm – MUST HAVE. This is another product recommended by my esthetician. She slipped a tube to me at Christmas time and I’m hooked. I love the clean ingredient list (includes avocado, jojoba and beeswax), the smooth creaminess, and the fact that my usual flaky lips are no longer to be seen!

302 lip balm

302 lip balm

Phew… Does that sounds like a lot to slap on my face in the morning?

It actually doesn’t take too long in the morning because all these products absorb fairly quickly and I layer them on top of one another within minutes.

These 7 products together with my trusty Clarisonic Mia are my arsenal against winter flaky skin + the sun!

 

Tokyo Trip: Sushi Dai at Tsukiji Market

On my first visit to Japan last month, I had 4 things in mind, Laduree (macarons + makeup), Suqqu (makeup brushes), Tsukiji market (food and sights), and Addiction (more makeup). It was a short layover, a 20 hour sprint, that left me wanting for more!

I had made no plans to visit Tsukiji at the ungodly hours mentioned by other bloggers upon research (4.30AM?!), but as I lay tossing and turning in my hotel room at 2 AM, an idea came to mind. I had already missed out on visiting Laduree and SUQQU since the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store closed at 8PM and my flight got in late. (*wails)

I decided to do the next best thing, eat my sorrows away!

I arrived at Tsukiji by cab at 4.45 AM since trains don’t start running till 5AM and was greeted by a flurry of activity! I sighted a few  tourists sprinting out of the way of the workers zooming around in their motor carts and I was almost mowed over myself in my indecision at a cross walk. Hint, there is NO cross walk.

Tsukiji market especially in the early hours of the morning is a busy place. I wouldn’t recommend coming here with any luggage or dainty shoes. Being able to sprint out of the way of traffic is also highly recommended.

The guards at the Tsukiji gates are helpful and provided me a map of the market and directions to get to Sushi Dai.

Sushi Dai is located in Building 6 in the third alley, and it’s the third restaurant with no English sign. Here’s what it looks like in Japanese.

Sushi Dai sign

Sushi Dai sign

Sushi Dai Alley peaceful at predawn

Sushi Dai Alley peaceful at predawn

 

I got to the restaurant at 5AM sharp and got in line. They open their doors at 5AM and admit the first 10 – 12 people. I did not enter with the first batch so I waited in line with some other early birds including a middle aged Tokyo native who had never been to Sushi Dai before (?!). There weren’t too many tourists in the early batch of people. However, by the time I got in at 5.45 AM, the line had snaked around the block. Yes, please do go early if you don’t want to wait for over 2 hours like some reviewers have.

The restaurant itself is tiny and I was marvelling at the economy of space. I chose to go with the chef’s special “Omakase” which costs 3900 yen and includes green tea, miso soup, 10 chef choice pieces + 1 personal choice (10 +1). I was greeted by 3 cheery chefs who promptly served up a round of fatty tuna (o toro)

Fatty Tuna

Fatty Tuna

Umm, that was seriously yummy! It set the bar really high. We were also served regular tuna, golden snapper, snapper, sea urchin, tamago (egg roll), spanish mackerel, still alive red clam, eel, baby shrimp, fish eggs, and tuna rolls. For my final choice (it was a 10 + 1 omakase combo), I decided to go with the eel again because it tasted so fresh and unlike any other eel I’d had in the US.

I was pretty stuffed by round 6 and shared my early morning breakfast with my neighbor.

Some more foodie pics!

Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin

Red Clam and Tuna

Red Clam and Tuna

Here are the friendly chefs! They will advise you on the necessity for soy sauce with certain types of fish.

Sushi Dai Interior

Sushi Dai Interior

I’m very glad I made it to Sushi Dai without a long wait and had the best sushi breakfast! I hope to visit Japan again this year and plan a longer trip…

- Edwina

 

 

 

Skincare Haul!

Hi all,

I’ve just returned from a overseas trip and while I was there, I gave away my HG (Holy Grail) products to family for them to try it out.

When I got back, I replenished my stash…

Here’s my latest skincare/haircare/lip care haul that I’m really excited about! I repurchased one tried and true favorite and couldn’t resist some new toys… Umm, I mean skin stuff. (I have way too much fun with experimenting with myself!)

All these products are targeted for anyone concerned with skin dryness especially in the winter time as well as hyperpigmentation and aging skin.

Skincare Haul #1

Skincare/Haircare/Lipcare goodies from WEI, Skinceuticals, Atopalm, Jurlique, and Alterna!

  1. WEI Gingko Leaf repairing face treatment pad   (first time)
  2. Skinceuticals Phyto+  My tried and true favorite for hyperpigmentation. See review here.
  3. Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0 New to this, my skin doesn’t actually react well to retinol. Will experiment on SO
  4. Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 gel. I’ve tried B5 gel before (not the Skinceuticals brand) and I thought it didn’t work so well on it’s own, but it worked great when layered with a moisturizer after. My skin is still dry from the East Coast winters so hopefully this will do the trick.
  5. Skinceuticals CE Ferrulic. Antioxidant powerhouse serum meant for boosting sunscreen protection, boosting collage levels, improving wrinkles. Hope I like this one! (first time)
  6. Alterna Bamboo Smooth Pure Kendi Oil. Strengthening and smoothing hair oil containing organic bamboo extract and organic kendi oil + other goodies. (first time)
  7. Atopalm MLE Intensive Moisturizing cream. For dry and sensitive skin. This is right up my alley! (first time)
  8. Jurlique Rose Love Balm. To treat winter lip blues. (first time)

Will report back on my findings soon!

- Peace and awesome skin ;)

 

Goats Milk Soap & a confession to make.

In the winter time, my skin gets particularly dry. I was looking around for a healthy, organic and nice smelling soap and discovered goat’s milk soap. I was a little skeptical at first, but I found a brand that won me over.

Meet the Goat Milk Stuff aka Jonas family, mom and dad + 8 kids.

goatsmilkstuff

 

Does goat’s milk soap smell anything like goat?

Ummm… No. Thank goodness!

Why goat’s milk soap?

Goats milk soap is awesome for people with sensitive, dry skin, or conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It contains AHA, alpha hydroxy acids, which help remove dead skin cells leaving skin smoother and softer. There’s a host of other benefits that you can check out here at Goat Milk Stuff.

The MOST awesome part about the Goat Milk Stuff soap is the scent.

I get the OMH Scrub – Oatmilk, Milk, and Honey Scrub. 5 oz’s of awesome smelling soap which leaves your skin soft and smelling like… YUM! The added rolled oats which are part of the scrub soften in the shower and are not too abrasive or scratchy.

True Story

My SO discovered my secretly stowed away OMH stash. (Hey, gotta make the good stuff last!) Curiosity killed the cat and I caught him swiping some, not in the act, but after, because the culprit smelled so good!

And the confession:

I travel frequently for work and have built up a veritable stash of… hotel soaps. Yup, those mini bars that dry out your skin. Well, being the scrooge that I sometimes (ok, maybe always am), we use these at home and boy, is there a world of a difference.

Now I bring my goat’s milk soap with me on work trips. Say “No More” to hotel soap!

goatsmilkstuff2

Check out all the scent options!

 

My Hydroquinone Experience Part 2: PCA Skin pHaze 13 Pigment Gel

Hi all, I survived my hydroquinone trial with PCA Skin pHaze 13 Pigment Gel (HQ 2%).

I was initially impressed with the clean ingredient list and in theory, this product should work. It contains a fairly gentle exfoliator, lactic acid, which helps slough off dead skin cells and preps the skin for the triple dose of brightening/whitening ingredients, namely 2% hydroquinone, azelaic acid, and kojic acid. I’ve had a positive experience with kojic acid in the past when I tried Skinceuticals Phyto+ (see review here).

Unfortunately, my hydroquinone trial was a bumpy 2 week ride.

Continue reading →

Trying out Hydroquinone Part 1: PCA Skin pHaze 13 Pigment Gel

Hydroquinone (HQ) is strong stuff. It’s currently banned in the European Union, Japan, and Australia. Studies conducted in rats have linked hydroquinone with cancer and some individuals have developed ochronosis, a skin disorder resulting in the blue-blackening of the skin, due to hydroquinone use.

Why then would anyone use hydroquinone?

Simply put, when it works for you, it works well. (Some people are extremely sensitive to HQ and cannot tolerate it.) If you’ve ever tried to lighten dark spots, you’ll know how stubborn they are. Hydroquinone has proven to be one of the most effective skin lighteners and many dermatologists prescribe it to treat hyperpigmentation.

Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, I decided to try it out for the following reasons:

Continue reading →

3 month experiment with Skinceuticals Phyto+

I’ve been testing out Skinceuticals Phyto+ a brightener for 3 months now and here are my thoughts… My primary skin concern right now are my sunspots and hyper pigmentation due to sun exposure without sun screen. (yikes!)

This skin brightener contains kojic acid which is a milder brightener than hydroquinone.

Continue reading →

Follow on Bloglovin
Follow on Bloglovin