Current Skincare Routine

I think this is my simplest, most random skincare routine ever. I only use 3 products, which follows the basic skincare step-by-step which is cleanse, tone and moisturize.

Even the products are random because they are from 3 different brands. I typically like to use one brand for my whole skincare routine because I think it produces the best result, but strangely, my current skincare routine works!

Without further ado…

1. Cleanser – Mud Rang Cleansing Foam

I’ve never heard or seen this cleanser/brand in any store until I won this in a giveaway. I was quite sceptical to use this at first because I’m afraid it will dry me out (‘cause, you know, it states “clay” on the packaging) but surprisingly, it doesn’t! It foams up easily so you don’t have to use much, and it cleanses the face pretty thoroughly. I feel that my face is really, really clean after using this but it doesn’t strip off all the oil from my face because I don’t feel it dries out my skin. So far, I’m loving it.

I don’t know the price or where to get it so I cannot provide you that information should you are interested in it. Sorry! I don’t know whether I would try to find it once I run out but I’ll worry about that when I finish this product.

2. Toner – Dr. G Super Aquasis Moisture Toner

I like trying out new products, and since Dr. G brand never breaks me out, on one fine day, I decided to try this toner. I was debating between this and one from Avene brand, but in the end I chose this because it claims to be super hydrating. It has quite a thick consistency compared to what I used to, maybe pretty much like Hada Labo toner, but it works well and I think it lives up to its claim.

One thing I don’t like is that it comes in a glass bottle so it is quite fragile and not really suitable for travelling because it is heavy. I also found that it runs out pretty fast, maybe because of its thick consistency. I like this toner but I’m not sure whether I would repurchase this.

3. Moisturizer – Hada Labo Perfect Gel

Read my review here.

I’m loving my current skincare routine! It makes getting ready so much faster now. I did have an eye cream but I don’t know where it went. I lost it somewhere. I will replace it eventually because I feel awkward without an eye cream, but I can say that face masks, scrubs, pimple cream, etc. are not important to me anymore – it used to. I can live without them, I’m sure.

Timotei Shampoo & Conditioner

Have you ever seen this duo in the store before?

They are the Timotei brand shampoo and conditioner. I first saw them when I was in KK last Christmas holiday. I was staying at a hotel near Guardian Gaya Street, needing a shampoo, rushing to Guardian to get one and bought it. Just the shampoo though.

At first I was quite sceptical about it because I’ve never seen the brand before. Of course I doubt it; what if I use it and doesn’t suit my hair thus damaging it? But nothing else attracted me except this shampoo, so I just closed my eyes and picked up the one with avocado image on it (there were two others but I don’t remember).

It retailed RM 16.90 if I’m not mistaken. At Guardian. But I think I got in on sale, maybe 10% off, so I paid less than the original price.

Okay, so what attracted me so much about the shampoo? First, it claimed to be 100% natural extract. Second, it claimed it contained 0% paraben. However, when I looked at the ingredients’ list, it contained SLS so that threw me off a bit. But the smell was really, really good so maybe that was the third factor that contributed into me buying this product.

At first I thought it smelled like chocolate but after washing my hair, husband commented that my hair smelled like coconut oil. I sniffed…and it really did!

My hair did smell like coconut oil…and a bit chocolaty, I must say.

Fourth, it was made from avocado oil and macadamia oil. From the knowledge I got from watching beauty videos on Youtube, I know that macadamia oil was really good to nourish the hair. So I was sold.

The thing about the shampoo being intense repair/nutrition intense and specifically targeted for dry and damaged hair, I cared less about it. But I did have dry hair so I guess it suited me.

I left my shampoo back at the kampung and when I returned to Kuantan, I searched immediately for it. But if I only knew how hard it was to find this specific brand and type of shampoo, I wouldn’t have left it.

After countless trips to different Guardian stores (I only ever find it at Guardians), I finally found it. There was only one pair left for the Timotei avocado shampoo and conditioner duo, in bad condition nonetheless, but I didn’t care because I was searching for it for so long so I just bought them.

I liked how using the shampoo alone could make my hair less dry and smelled so good. Paired with the conditioner, it was less dry, smelled so good, quite shiny and less tangled. I think it was my hairbrush that did this but I also have less hair fall than before.

Oh, I think I can bravely say that this Timotei shampoo and conditioner duo would be a good dupe for Kiehl’s Amino Acid shampoo and conditioner that I was so crazy about before. But the Kiehl’s were really expensive, RM75 for 250ml of product, whereas Timotei you could get for RM16.90 for 300ml of product. They were similar in scent and performance so Timotei is a really great bargain!

Loving it and highly recommend it!

I Take It Back…

In this post, which I wrote way back in August last year, I talked about how Kiehl’s lip balm disappoint me. The reasons were in the post, if you want to know why. Anyway, I’m glad I didn’t throw away the lip balm even though I don’t like it very much (I tend to do that with products I don’t like) – maybe because it was kinda expensive – because a few months after that, it became an essential daily product to me. I could not live without it.

During the first few months of pregnancy, I had terrible morning sickness. My nose became so sensitive; I hated almost everything that smells. I stopped using makeup almost altogether. I still wore lip balm though – I cannot stand dry/chapped lips. But the one I was using at the time was flavoured, I think it tasted and smelled like strawberries. It made me sick.

I didn’t want to buy a new one because I didn’t know which one I would like – don’t want to waste the money. Plus, I didn’t have a mood going into Sasa or Watsons, etc. One day I sort of saw the Kiehl’s lip balm tucked in the corner of my vanity. I took it out, tried it and used it ever since.

The reasons were obvious: Kiehl’s lip balm didn’t taste or smelled like anything. It was easy on my nose and tongue, and it was the only product I can wear when I was suffering from morning sickness.

I take back what I wrote in my August post. It doesn’t disappoint me anymore. In fact, I love it so much now!

My Kiehl’s lip balm now. It is well-loved :)

Hada Labo Perfect Gel

I have a new product to rave about. Based on the title above, you know it is a moisturizer ♥

My skin has gotten so dry again (blame the pregnancy hormones!) so the Avene moisturizer that I used and loved before doesn’t work anymore. I had to find other solution, fast. I was thinking on switching to the richer Avene moisturizer but then I changed my mind. I don’t know why though.

I went to Guardian and there I saw it, the possible solution to my problem. I know Hada Labo is famous for its ability to hydrate the skin, and hydration is all I need. As I was browsing their moisturizers, I saw this Perfect Gel and immediately was drawn to it. Basically because it claims to provide intense hydration.

The fact that it acts as an essence, sleeping mask and moisturizer also caught my attention.

Label at the box said Hada Labo Perfect Gel contains:

1. Collagen – to replenish skin nutrients and refine skin for healthy radiant skin.
2. 3 types of Hyaluronic Acid – to provide intense and long lasting hydration.
3. Ceramide – to continuously penetrates moisture into the skin to deeply hydrate and repair dehydrated skin.

It is also pH balanced, offers low irritation and free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol and colorant.

Here’s the list of its ingredients:

The fact that Hada Labo never give me allergies making me wanted to try this product. I was also quite confident that it would give me the hydration that I need so I bought it without hesitation. Hada Labo Perfect Gel comes in a jar that contains 80g of product. The price ranged between RM75.90 – RM85.90, depends on where you buy it. I bought mine at Guardian with 10% discount so I only paid RM77.31.

From its name, you could guess that Hada Labo Perfect Gel has gel texture. It is quite slippery when I swatch it on my finger. It is quite sticky when I first apply it on the skin, like it gives a heavy feeling. I had to rub the moisturizer for about 30 seconds for it to fully be absorbed into the skin. And when it was completely absorbed, the sticky feeling was gone. My skin feels smooth and silky afterwards.

I noticed the difference in just a few days. My skin is more hydrated and smooth, and it seems that my pores have shrunk.

Overall, I think Hada Labo Perfect Gel lived up to its name!

Highly recommended!

January Favourites

I never done this before, but I saw so many of these “favourites” going on on Youtube so I thought I should try doing a blog post about products I’ve been loving for this month. I don’t have a lot though.

In clockwise direction:

1. Hada Labo Air BB 10-in-1 Function SPF50+PA+++ & Eau Thermale Avene Hydrance Optimale Light Hydrating Cream

My Avene moisturizer does not have any sun protection and I’m not really fond of the Hada Labo BB cream texture – I feel like it is quite heavy – but I love combining these two to use as my foundation! I just squeeze a little bit of each onto the back of my hand and blend, and apply it to my face. The result was amazing! The Hada Labo BB cream gives coverage and the Avene moisturizer dilutes the BB cream and makes the texture light on my skin and hydrates it as well!

2. The Body Shop Cushion Wooden Pin Hair Brush

I just bought this and I cannot express how much I am in love with this brush! Since I’m currently pregnant, I chose to use a natural shampoo and let’s face it, natural shampoo doesn’t clean as well as shampoo with SLS. And I don’t use conditioner at all because I’m lazy haha. That makes my hair really tangle after I wash it, and pretty much stays that way all day everyday. Every time I run my fingers through my hair, they will always get stuck. Same goes if I try to detangle my hair using a wide-tooth comb. That will result in hair fall.

So I thought using a large brush could solve my problem. I want a good quality brush that is gentle on the scalp and hair. I know The Body Shop sell some hair brushes and the reviews on them are good too, so without hesitation, I bought one. This particular hair brush cost me RM 58.00 but I have no regret in buying this because this brush is awesome!

It detangles my hair easily with minimal hair fall and also very gentle to my scalp. If there’s a hair fall, my hair doesn’t stick to the brush unlike any other brushes and this brush is easy to clean too. Major love!

3. Shaklee OmegaGuard

Before, the thought of swallowing a couple vitamins a day makes me nauseous. That’s why I only take what is necessary for pregnancy i.e. folic acid and obimin. Since I no longer experience morning sickness, I think it is time for me to add supplements to my diet. I chose fish oil for baby’s brain development and calcium pills because I don’t really like to drink milk.

I only consume OmegaGuard for about a week but I already notice a difference. I no longer constipated and I sleep more easily at night. And no matter how much I eat, it seems like my weight gain is slower this time (maybe because I poop almost everyday haha). I took only 1 capsule a day. Not sure if it’s because of OmegaGuard, but I eat pretty much the same everyday and the OmegaGuard and calcium pills are the only thing that changed in my diet.

4. Safi Olive Oil Plus Rose Hip

Someone recommended this to use as stretchmark prevention and I bought this specifically for that reason. Even though I love it, my belly is allergic to it. It does moisturize my belly but it makes my belly itch. I also got a few rashes on my skin. Strangely, that only happens to my belly. I’m not allergic to this product on other body parts so I use it to moisturize my hands and sometimes I use it on my hair.

This product is so multifunctional because it is also great to use as massage oil! I asked my husband to massage me the other day using this and it works wonderfully. Although this is an oil, it doesn’t feel sticky on the skin at all. It absorbs to the skin easily.

New Love: Eau Thermale Avene Cleanser & Cream

My skincare routine is very simple nowadays; just wash, tone, put some eye cream and moisturize. I don’t know if it’s because of pregnancy that made me skip a few steps (I’m lazier), but I definitely need less products than I used to. I don’t use serum or oil anymore, and I never do a facial or use face mask like before.

Since my pregnant hormones stabilized (I guess I could say that), my skin has changed from very dry (earlier in pregnancy I suffered from really dry skin condition) to almost normal. I think my skin is normal-sensitive now. It has the right amount of oil – no excess oil on my T-zones, I don’t break out (neither on face nor body) even when I only wash my face once a day, and without the use of serum or oil, my skin is never dry. It’s the best skin condition I’ve ever had in my life.

I’ve been loving two products recently; Eau Thermale Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser and the Light Hydrating Serum. I just switched to these two – the gel cleanser I have used for over a month and the cream for only a week – but what a wonder they do to my skin! I will review the products one by one, starting with the cleanser.

1. Eau Thermale Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser

Forgive my pregnant brain, but I don’t know how much this was priced because I bought it over a month ago. I think it was around RM 79.00? Around that price range la. Bought it at Guardian. This has 200 ml of products and this could last me a very long time, maybe over 6 months. But I use this often and quite generously so I will be surprised if I ever reach 6 months! This cleanser has a sturdy plastic bottle that feels almost like glass, with a pump so it is very hygienic. The only thing that I didn’t like about the packaging is that it didn’t come with a cap, so it’s not travel-friendly.

It has gel texture so it doesn’t foam up very easily. Use it correctly, it will clean your face without stripping off the excess oil so it won’t dry out your skin. How I use it: first, I’ll wet my face, then pump a decent amount of product on my fingers, put a little on my forehead and evenly distributed the rest on my cheeks, chin and nose, gently massage the skin for 30 seconds and rinse it off. After cleansing, my skin doesn’t feel as tight as other products did to me. It still feel a bit moisturized.

Another thing I love is the scent. It has a gentle, pleasant scent that is calming to me. My nose is very sensitive nowadays, and normally I would avoid any products that smells, but I give an exception to this cleanser.

Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser is specifically for normal to combination sensitive skin.

2. Eau Thermale Avene Light Hydrating Cream

This product is to replace my Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream that I had long loved. The reason is simple: there is no Kiehl’s store in Kuantan, thus it is hard to replace a product once I’m out of it, and I have fallen in love with Avene.

I bought this moisturizer once I’m sure that I really like Avene and ready to use moisturizer other than Kiehl’s. I bought Avene Light Hydrating Cream in Sasa. It was originally RM 89.00 but I got 10% off so I only paid RM 80.10. It has 40ml amount of product, so since I use it day and night, I don’t think it will last me very long.

This moisturizer comes in a tube so it is hygienic, has a pleasant signature Avene scent, has a very light texture and spreads easily on the face. Although it is light, it is very hydrating. It is more hydrating than Kiehl’s I must say.

I found that this product doesn’t produce excess oil on my face. I only use it for a week but I already notice a huge difference on my skin! My skin is more soft and supple, more hydrated, my blackheads and whiteheads have significantly reduced and I don’t have a single zit on my face. I have great love for this product.

Avene Light Hydrating Cream comes in two version; one with SPF and one without. Mine is the one without SPF because I overlooked the detail. I only realized that it has SPF version once I reached home. I was bummed for a moment because isn’t it good to have a moisturizer with SPF so that I won’t have to use sunscreen anymore? But then I thought I will use up this moisturizer so fast that will be able to buy the one with SPF next time.

Avene Light Hydrating Cream is specifically for normal to combination sensitive skin.

Bonus: I still use Kiehl’s Cucumber Toner (which I really love but I might change it to Avene once I finish it) and my eye cream is from Shaklee.