Are You Applying Moisturizer the Right Way?

Applying moisturizer seems pretty easy, right? If you are the slap-it-on-and-go type, think again! Putting on moisturizer properly helps give softer, smoother skin. 

Here’s how to make the most out of your hydrating regime.

Choose the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin Type
One of the keys for hydration is to pick a product that is suitable for your skin, because an unsuitable product may cause breakouts and irritation. 

Oily skin: Look for lotions instead of creams. Find formulas that have exfoliating ingredients, such as lactic glycolic and salicylic acids.

Recommend: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Dry skin: Definitely use a cream, especially in the winter weather. There is more oil in a cream, therefore it is more moisturizing. 

Recommend: Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance

Combination skin: Lotions with no acids, something simple such as Cetaphil, Aveeno, or Neutrogena.

Recommend: Neutrogena Fine Fairness Clinical Muiti-Protect UV Fluid

Normal skin: Moisturizers with natural oils work well.

Recommend: Dr.Ci:Labo Aqua Collagen Gel

Sensitive skin: Avoid moisturizers that contain perfumes and other chemicals.

Recommend: Avene Very High Protection Mineral Cream 

The Best Time to Apply Moisturizer?
Within a minute of cleansing. This is because your skin is still moist and will receive the maximum benefits of the moisturizer. 

Massage It In
Take some moisturizer on your palms and rub your hands together, as it will warm up the cream and allows faster absorption on the skin. Gently massage it into your skin in small, circular motions to promote better penetration.

Remember, the keys to moisturizing skin are choosing the right product and applying it at the right time and in the right way. No more dryness and flakiness this winter, but beautiful, bouncy, and supple skin!  

The best moisturizers - Paper masks

I just came back from US and I discovered something quite interesting there.

Since I forgot to bring my paper masks so I thought "it's ok, I will get some there in the supermarkets or beauty stores." To my surprise, I could only find one brand and it doesn't look like it's good quality. So I didn't buy it at the end, I just used my cream moisturising mask, which wasn't bad, but I think it's always good to use paper mask like twice a week to really replenish the skin. And I have been using it every day since I came back a week ago to give back the moisture needed for the month in the US! :P But still I really don't understand why there aren't many paper masks in US?!

Here are some good paper masks I used and recommend (I suggest getting at least 3 pieces of a brand to really see the result):

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Mask Sheet

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Mask Sheet contains essence formulated mask sheetsupplies rich collagen and moisture to facial complexion. Contains active ingredients: Baobab Tree extract and Collagen.

b.liv Japan Silk Mask Sensitive Salvation Repair & Rescue 

b.liv Utmost Moisture Immerse Me covers your skin with a generous boost of hydration! Immerse me acts like a balm for parched and dry complexion as it gets absorbed in a blink of an eye and makes sure your skin's longing hydration will never turn tail.

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask boosts radiance and moisture levels and can be used by all skin types throughout the year. The mask literally drenches your skin in SK-II Pitera, resulting in a fresher and more hydrated complexion.

 For Beloved One Extreme Hydration Extreme Hydration Bio-Cellulose Mask

Innovative ion-inducing bio-cellulose masks contain multiple moisturizing ingredients that provide outstanding moisturizing effects and restore the youth of skin. For Beloved One Extreme Hydration Bio-Cellulose Mask is well-known for its pioneering invention of bio-cellulose as the facial mask sheet.

2-Step Skin Thirst Aid

When waging battle with dryness, skin breakouts can happen at any moment when you neglect the special care for a healthy moisture level of skin.  Be always ready to give ‘Thirst Aid’ to your skin!

2-Step Thirst Aid Skincare Set

 

 

Step 1: Exfoliation removes the outermost dry and dead skin

 

Desperately applying moisturizers once your skin feels dry? Hang on… To rescue dry skin, first of all, we need to exfoliate the stubborn dead skin cells on the epidermis for a better absorption. Otherwise, all the beautiful moisturizing nutrients are clogged within the dead skin cells, accumulating a thick barrier blocking the delivery of moisture and nutrients.

 

My skin feels: When I know that this peeling gel is characterized by 100% natural ingredients, it is a great temptation that I cannot resist.  The super sweet corn cob deeply pumps up the moisture and removes the rough surface of skin. Just use a little and gently massage into my skin.  Some yellowish eraser rubbings (dirt and dead skin cells) come out. It has no heavy oils, giving my skin light and pure feelings.  Look at the mirror and feel so indulged with the egg-like slippery and tofu-like smooth texture of my skin.

 

    

             Ricco Di Nartura Micro Peeling Gel

 

 

Step 2: Intensive Hydra-Boosting treatments

Don’t miss the best moment to trap moisture underneath.  Skin’s barrier is loosened after exfoliation.  Wrap your skin with a moisturizing mask to penetrate the moisturizing nutrients deeply into your skin along with it repairing the dehydrated skin cells.

 

 

My skin feels: I really adore it, Albion Skin Conditioner Essential Paper Mask, which conditions my skin with the queen of grains, Job’s Tears seeds (Barley), which is known as the guardian angel for skin in China and Japan. The feature of this mask is to accelerate skin’s metabolism so as to regain moisture and healthy complexion.    Acne and blotch breakouts are less likely to happen and my skin’s immune system is regulated back on a right track to fight for the dry air.

 

            Albion Skin Conditioner Essential Paper Mask

1 week to younger looking skin - Anti-aging and Rejuvenating skin-care

Sounds incredible to have younger looking skin in 1 week!  In a long run, a proper beauty and health maintenance is the only way to turn back the time and reverse the aging process.  Taking anti-aging nutrients externally to your skin and living a healthy lifestyle create an instant effect to restore the glow and radiance to your skin.

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule

I call it miracle magic serum.  This Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule from Missha really surprises me!  It strengthens my skin’s original power for a prompt improvement of skin’s conditions.   The lactic acid fermented ingredients, Bifida, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus, are DNA repairing agents, eliminating accumulated cell damages and fortifying new cells to reveal younger and fresher skin. I start incorporating this ampoule into my night beauty routine to stimulate skin’s natural healing system during sleep.  My skin feels reborn in the morning!

High Concentrate Coenzyme Q10 Moisture Cream

After the ampoule is deeply absorbed, applying the face cream with different kinds of anti-aging nutrients for a diverse collection of anti-aging properties.  I choose High Concentrate Coenzyme Q10 Moisture Cream which contains an effective dose of CoQ 10 protecting collagen and elastin from free radicals and resulting in an outstanding face lifting.  In the morning, I integrate this cream with sunscreen for a better sun protection.  CoQ10 helps neutralize skin oxidation caused by UV rays.

EVE LOM Rescue Mask

 

For a weekly intensive facial treatment, EVE LOM Rescue Mask is my favorite!  All the naturally occurring minerals work the best to draw out the impurities from skin and meanwhile to soothe sensitive, dry and reddish skin.  One of specialties of this mask is that it wakes up your tired eyes.  Just use it as a normal wash-off eye mask.  One of the active ingredients, Camphor, stimulates blood circulation, eliminating dark circles and bags under your eyes.  For the best rejuvenating result, having a regular deep clean enhances the skin’s absorption of nutrients and thereby anti-aging nutrients can permeate much effectively into clean skin. 

Take charge of your skin’s age!  Age is nothing but a number.  As long as you aspire to maintain your beauty and health, you can be an ageless beauty.  Not forgetting, anti-aging nutrients need to be taken externally and internally.