Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer

July Empties: Actual Skincare & Makeup

I’ve got the day off and even though I’m feeling sort of like I’ve been run over my a miniature dumptruck I figure that it’s time for the second part of my empty products post from July. I’m only slightly bitter that I did not in fact manage to finally finish up a particular foundation of mine… I promise.

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Sephora Collection Lotus Face Mask ($8/0.84 ounces)

I’m a bit funny about spending money on single use skincare so on my own I probably would not have bit the bullet and tried out one of Sephora’s newer sheet masks on my own but I will say that I was impressed with this moisturizing and soothing mask – it actually did what was on the label without any real amount of marketing nonsense or misleading ingredients. I felt hilarious with the mask on and was surprised to find that I still found it kind of large on my large face but I found that it came with a generous amount of product in the packet so although the mask was only one use, I got another two out of the excess product left on the sheet itself. It was really great for plumping up my skin, conquering dehydration and calming it overnight – in a visible way. I wouldn’t repurchase on a regular basis, but I would consider picking some up again on one of the buy-four-get-one free deals that Sephora has on.

Paula’s Choice Resist Moisture Renewal Oil Booster Trial Size ($15/0.12 ounces)

I really did enjoy this irritant and fragrance free oil when I had it to instantly nourish and soothe my skin and I do appreciate how unique this product is, being formulated without fragrant essential oils that can wreck havoc on the skin. With that said, this does not impress me enough to warrant purchasing the full size, especially when you take the smaller-than-average size of the bottle into account.

Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster Trial Size ($20/0.12 ounces)

On the other hand, I found that this Paula’s Choice 15 % vitamin c antioxidant did last for a longer amount of time and was so good that it prompted a second order when I missed it tremendously as part of my routine upon using up my bottle. Obviously a repurchase has happened and I’m enjoying incorporating my larger bottle into my daily routine because it has helped to smooth the texture and the overall clarity of my skin. It’s the best.

Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil ($55/ 1 ounce) | review

This luxurious facial oil might not be the cheapest and does have the potential for some irritation with some synthetic fragrance and potentially problematic essential oils, but it has the most indulgent fluid texture and has helped to deeply hydrate and soothe my dehydrated sensitive skin. Because its pricier, I’ve switched to use a more affordable organic rosehip oil but I miss it terribly and am contemplating picking it up again.

Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer ($46/2.5 ounces)

This Kiehl’s moisturizer is definitely a great one and it’s great for dehydrated sensitive skin – plus you do get a great deal of product for the price – but it’s not my absolute favourite and does not compare with the Caudalie one that I’m going to discuss next. It’s free of fragrance and all things irritating and has the nicest lightweight soothing texture with glycerin, shea butter and a few anti-irritants, but it’s not like an instant skin drink and treatment. I wouldn’t be opposed to using it again in the future but I have no immediate plans to try it.

Caudalie Vinosource Riche Intense Moisture Rescue Cream ($40/ 1.3 ounces) | review

After using up the lighter Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet and loving it last year, I was shocked to learn that I did the impossible, fell for the richer formula even harder. I might even say that it approaches holy grail territory with the instant lightweight hydration and soothing factor with its blend of emollients and antioxidants. It was almost a repurchase in the first place being the richer moisturizer in the same line but I’m definitely planning on coming back to it again after finishing my current one on the go.

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Light ($31/0.35 ounces) | review

Being someone who finds it difficult to get along with most powders and use any quantity of them even when I do, but I’ve managed to use this soft matte natural-looking powdery until it shattered with just the inner rim remaining. It’s my favourite powder of all time, not offering much in coverage and just a small amount of oil-absorbing action but it doesn’t highlight dry patches, give a dry appearance to the skin or look powdery. I would definitely recommend this as a natural powder and will likely purchase again but I’m off to try others as I haven’t used many.

L’Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighting Concealer in 860 Fair ($14-16/0.05 ounces)

While I don’t love the high (and noticeable) alcohol content in the formula or just how pink and uber-pale this concealer-highlighter brush product is, it converted me to the realm of these highlighting pens that brighten the area whilst adding some coverage in moments. I quite liked it for brightening, either on its own for less serious bag days or paired with a corrector underneath the eyes, on the nose, chin and the center of the forehead. The sheerer illuminating texture was great, though,for highlighting with a concealing product without looking too heavy handed or makeup-y and now I want to try out different products of the highlighting pen variety. It would be great for anyone uber-pale though as it might actually serve as a highlighter for them…

Use up anything as of late?
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

Evening Skincare Routine

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Like loads of others, I’m sure, my evening skincare routine is a wee bit more intensive than my morning one and although I would describe myself as someone who is dedicated to their routine, although it tends to vary night to night throughoutthe week in terms of treatments – I’ll get onto this later.Because my eyes are so sensitive and dry, I always begin with two cotton pads soaked in the cult-favourite Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Solution ($22) and hold them over my eyes for up to a minute to thoroughly remove mascara and other stubborn makeup although I’m sure others could get away using the cleansers to remove eye makeup as they are so gentle.

Not just because of the recent widespread belief in double-cleansing at nighttime, I’ve been dedicated to washing my face twice at night because I have the kind of skin that makeup clings to like nothing else in this world; I’m fortunate that I’m someone whose foundation stays on the skin for an amazing amount of time but this characteristic has made intensive but supremely-gentle cleansing essential to the whole skincare shebang. For the first cleanse, I alternate between the Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil ($9-12) and the Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser ($12) as both textures of products nourish the skin while cleansing gently and removing makeup with ease. I might be tempted to say that the cleansing oil has slightly stronger makeup removing power as it can remove makeup completely and to be honest, I can be satisfied with a single thorough wash with this one (on a rare occasion when I’m feeling spectacularly lazy) but it is the messier option of the two and contains mineral oil – I know mineral oil is problematic to some but it isn’t for my fragile skin type. I make sure to always use a washcloth with the first cleanse to ensure that the makeup has been truly removed.

I have the kind of skin that holds onto foundation and the like in the same manner as glue I reckon and therefore even before all of that double cleansing hoopla took over, I was faithful to cleansing the face twice; unless I’m not wearing makeup (or sunscreen – naughty), I cleanse my skin the second-time with the basic fragrance-free non-foaming lightweight thin gel-cream Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser ($11-12). This cleanser actually does remove makeup as well but I prefer to go in with a more nourishing oil-based cleanser beforehand and strikes me as the superior version of Cetaphil. 

Five (or six on occasion) times per week, I go for a product of the gentle chemical exfoliant variety. I’m still faithful to my long-time trio of gentle exfoliants of this variety – the BHA-based Clinique Mild Clarifying Solution ($16) and the slightly more concentrated Neutrogena 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment ($10-12) as well as my much-loved AHA-based Indeed Laboratories Pepta-Bright Cream-Serum ($40) – but I’ve also recently brought the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads ($14/37) as my supply of the cream-serum is dwindling. Although it isn’t strictly a chemical exfoliant but rather a gentle alcohol-free retinoid and antibiotic gel that rapidly increases the cell-turnover, I figured I would include the expensive prescription-only topical called Bianca ($90) that I’ve added back into to my routine 2-3x a week at this stage. I will warn you, however, that these retinoid products are one of the very few products that cause purging in the skin initially before the improvement begins.

If I haven’t already applied a serum-textured product in the above stage (the Neutrogena, Indeed Labs or Bianca), I’ve been applying the lightweight La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense ($35) serum before moisturizing with the soothing Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer Stress-Minimizing Daily Hydrator ($45) that am a huge fan of. A few times a week, when I’m not going for a chemical exfoliant or I’m opting for one of the serum-textured-variety, I go for the soothing and brightening Organic Rosehip Oil, applying it on top of everything in the case of the first scenario and applying it over the chemical exfoliant in the second, skipping the moisturizer altogether.

When I’m not entirely too lazy to remember, I slather my poor chapped lips with the lovely multipurpose La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 ($16). 

This might seem rather exhaustive or unlike a routine at all but I promise that it is a constant routine that I follow and takes less than five minutes and it’s entirely worthwhile, for my skin at least.

Have you tried any of these products? What does your nighttime routine look like?

Maggie, x.

P.S. There will most likely be a weekly treatments post up in the near future…

 

My Skincare Saviors

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Tuesday’s post covered a description of my skin and what in my experience is essential for caring for the skin so I’ll spare you the long ramble; I already shared my general advice for skincare so I thought it was about time to discuss my specific hero skincare products. I’ve already said this last post but thanks to these products in particular, my skin is the clearest it has ever been in terms of texture and brightness and is the least red as well.

Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion ($16)
I’m a wee bit passionate about the chemical exfoliants and this is why it is completely rational – for me – to include multiple products in this category here and to be honest, I was tempted to include one more but I tried my best to narrow it down… This offering remains one of my favourites and in constant although I haven’t mentioned it as much in light of my discovery of more intensive chemical exfoliants. This offering might look just like another clarifying lotion within the Clinique 3 Step System but unlike those belonging to the system, this one does not include any irritating alcohol or anything of the sort and is not the strongest BHA, as its only 0.5 % – because of this it is a gentle acidic toner for everyday use. It did not have crazy results overnight but after consistent use, it really has helped with the overall texture and clarity of my skin. It never irritates my extremely sensitive skin and if anything actually reduces irritation and inflammation.

Indeed Laboratories Pepta-Bright Intense Brightening Treatment ($40)
This is the other chemical exfoliant that I attribute to the improvement of my skin but this one contains AHA’s and is more concentrated, focusing intensively on brightness along with texture. Unlike the acidic toner, this one is more of a concentrated treatment so I tend to use it less often, say four times a week at night — while there aren’t instant results with this, this cream-serum over the span of a few months of continuous use radically improved the brightness, evenness and texture of my skin. The cream texture actually is impressively hydrating on its own — I tend to follow with something but I don’t have to, which is impressive and it doesn’t have irritating ingredients or fragrance within it. I adore this serum and I wrote much more on it here when I reviewed it.

Organic Rosehip Oil                                                                                                                                                                                                 While my product is produced by the brand By Nature, I don’t think that the brand is significant in any shape or form as it’s just a pure oil. This oil does what its hyped to do, nourishing and deeply hydrating the skin with its non-greasy dry oil texture, soothes and calms the skin while helping to fade hyperpigmentation and promoting overall clarity. Also, I find when I have a blemish coming up underneath the skin, if I apply this on the area, it not only goes away much sooner but it also doesn’t leave any angry marks or other sources of irritation — this sounds kind of strange but it is true. However, I should mention that the oil has sort of a brassy tinge so if you’re wearing it during the day you probably should be wearing something on top.

Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer Daily Hydrator ($45 CDN)                                                                                                                               While I’m not quite ready to classify this moisturizer as holy grail or anything of that declarative sort, I must admit that this rich moisturizing treatment that remains lightweight and at the same time contains skin-soothing ingredients such as squalane and chamomile is impressive. While doing the above things in a practical pump container with a sufficient amount of product, it protects the skin against the elements and can quickly get my skin out of that cycle of irritation, itchiness and flaking. And it’s fragrance-free which is a nice change of pace.

Neutrogena Ultra-Gentle Daily Cleanser ($10-12 CDN)                                                                                                                    To be honest, it was rather difficult to chose whether to include this cleanser or the extremely similar Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser but ended up going for this offering because while it wasn’t quite as creamy and as hydrating, this gentle fragrance-free cleanser also has the ability to remove makeup completely. This cleanser never leaves my skin feeling stripped and is a lightweight creamy-gel kind of texture – similar to Cetaphil but notably superior in my opinion – and is the perfect cleanser to go in for the second cleanse at nighttime – or first for that matter – but it’s a great one for the mornings as it applies and rinses without the aid of a washcloth with ease.

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm ($11 CDN)                                                                                                                                 This appears to be another one of those products that I actually have evidence of my adoration of here in review form. To be honest, I’ve actually just finished this product – after using it daily for a good ten months – and have moved onto the very similar Hot Cloth Cleanser from the same line but regardless, this nourishing and creamy cleanser removes makeup like a dream and leaves the skin soothed but cleansed like no other. I wouldn’t actually describe it as a balm cleanser but rather as a rich cream; I’m not complaining though, here. I occasionally use it in the mornings as well but this is my go-to cleanser for the first cleanse at nighttime to remove the bulk of my makeup gently.

The Body Shop Aloe Protective Restoring Mask ($22 CDN)                                                                                                               When I discovered this product a few months back, it was a riskier purchase as I tend to be skeptical of stores like The Body Shop as they tend to overload their products with fragrance and call them skincare but as I stated in an earlier post here, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is this moisturizing mask packed with the soothing and healing aloe, it doesn’t contain any sort of fragrance or irritating ingredients either. This might not be the most groundbreaking moisture mask in existence, simply loaded with calming aloe that truly nourishes the skin but it does what it sets out to, calming down the skin overnight, adding intensive hydration without feeling overly heavy on the skin. And the next day, you wake up with brighter more radiant skin. I’ll warn you, though, this is the first moisture mask that I’ve tried so I haven’t really got anything concrete to compare it to.

What are your top skincare saviors?

Maggie, x.