The Beauty Edit: Winter Skincare

I was going through my old blogpost from 2016 and saw how much my skincare game has changed. A lot has changed. My skin type, my routine, my approach--everything. It has certainly been a learning curve, especially now that I'm in a new continent. It's my first winter and so much has changed from the way I approached my skin health.

The way I approached my skincare then is so much different from how I approach it now. Now it's more self-care than anything else. I have also shifted my routine to K-beauty. I thought that I have been using products designed for people who have never understood Asian skin, they also have never lived in a hot and humid country. While Korean and Japanese beauty does not cater much to humidity as well, their perspectives of skincare is more or less in line with what I hope to achieve. Japanese, for example, is more ritualistic. They stick to what works. Korean beauty, on the other hand, is more innovative but really focused on hydrating and evening things out.

Getting diagnosed with PCOS last year was also a game changer. I suddenly understood why my body has changed and I felt slightly more prepared to address the issues. I know that what I eat and do has a lot to do with my skin and health in general. I try to avoid dairy as much as I can (but cheese is life, so it's hard). I also try my best to stay away from carbs (rice is also life). Recently, I've been so stressed I've been craving for all things junk. I had one of the worst breakouts a couple of weeks ago thanks to a combination of 5 assignments due all at the same time, homesickness, other personal stress and bad meals. My skin has only started to calm down but it's still a work in progress.

Unfortunately, I moved to a country where there's not a lot of access to Asian beauty, too. I've been worried about running out of products lately because there are some products or brands now I feel like I can't live without. Luckily, the options for Western Indie skincare brands are available.

It doesn't rain here but the wind and cold draft can be harsh on the skin. My skin started breaking in Autumn. It completely freaked out and I started pruning even on my fingers. Now that it's winter, I think my skin has slowly acclimated to the cold. I don't feel as cold as I did in autumn which is weird.

Winter skincare

Double cleanse!

I stopped using cleansers in the morning and started to just wash my face off with water. At first, it was tough not using a cleanser because I never felt clean but now I'm okay. My skin is not as oily as it used to be, too, and I noticed how healthier it has been since I skipped using a cleanser in the morning. I don't use a face towel like I did before, too. At night, if I am wearing mascara, I sometimes go over with my Son & Park Beauty Water. But most of the time, I skip that and I begin my first cleanse with the MUJI Sensitive Skin Cleansing Oil. I have to be honest, I'm not an oil cleanser kind of girl. I prefer rich emollient balms that emulsify. Sephora Australia does not carry the entire Farmacy range and I don't think I have ever seen the Green Clean in any of their stores which is such a shame because it's one of the best cleansing balms I've ever tried. I will have to go back to Clinique Take The Day Off Balm next time. I have the Senka Perfect Whip which I find too drying and definitely not a fan of. I recently got a sample bottle of the Eau Thermale Avène's Extremely Gentle Cleansing Lotion. It's supposed to be no-rinse but I still rinse my face anyway. I find that this does not irritate my skin. If I forget to use the cleansing oil and find myself already in the shower or really feel like my skin barrier's in absolute mess, I use Cereva Hydrating Cleanser, it's my body wash but it's okay to use for the face.

Hydrators

After a good face wash, I rehydrate with the MUJI Light Toning Water in Light. I've decanted mine and placed it in one of my old face mist bottles. I don't exactly know whether this works or not but I heard that they use water from Mt. Omine which has supposedly one of the purest water mineral in the world. For all I know, I could just be spraying tap on my face. Sometimes I swipe the Son & Park Beauty Water instead. On days when I need extra moisture, I use the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner. This has been such a Holy Grail especially for this winter.

My skincare steps have significantly changed from its step by step routine. I rotate and change my products every now and then now. Sometimes, daily but really depends on how my skin is feeling right now. My SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is something I brought with me from home but have neglected recently, well my entire SK-II range (I buy the 3-piece set) has been neglected, if we're being really honest. I still love it and it's one of the products from the first time I jumped into skincare that I still use. I think using this in conjunction with the Cellumination and Genoptics really makes a difference. For hydrating serums, I reach for the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5. I love everything about this serum except for its fragrance and the pump. The fragrance is so overpowering that sometimes it gives me a headache and the pump is not really a pump and you end up getting a messy bottle. But the product is divine and I just love how it plumps up my skin thanks to its blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 and madecassoside. I'm currently trying The Inkey List's Polyglutamic Acid which is supposedly like a stronger version of hyaluronic acid.

Texture is important!

I recently finished The Ordinary's The Buffet and am still deliberating whether it's worth repurchasing. I love using it on less problematic areas of my face such as my eyes and cheeks and I do notice how it just plumps everything up. The reason why I'm iffy about repurchasing is because they're quite particular about not mixing it with other actives which I have hopped on to. It contains several kinds of peptides such as Matrixyl and has a pH level of 4.5 to 5.5 which is slightly acidic than the other offers from The Ordinary. One thing I have repurchased is The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1%. I use it primarily on congested areas of my face--my chin, my forehead, the sides of my nose and the cheekbone area. I know it does not help active breakouts but I know it helps with congested skin. The good thing about indie brands is their simple approach to skincare. Aside from The Buffet, The Ordinary pretty much tells you the ingredient you're getting because they're basically just called by that. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that helps with congestion while the zinc tackles sebum production. I am loving The Inkey List's Q10 serum. Q10 is an antioxidant that's naturally occurring in our body that helps fight free radicals, but it's something we lose more and more as we age. Q10 I think is a great ingredient to help combat those environmental stressors and just add a bit of life back into our skin. I love it except for the packaging. The cheap packaging makes it so hard to get the product. I haven't used an eye cream in a long while but recently purchased The Inkey List's Caffeine to try out. I'm still trying it out and I haven't noticed anything. This supposedly contains Matrixyl aside from caffeine but I have yet to notice any difference.

Skin supplements

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane is something I occasionally use. While they say this does not cause any irritation, I feel like I get super flaky using this so I use this in moderation and always mixed with a moisturiser. The Ordinary 100% Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil, on the other hand, is a holy grail. It's something I put on it's own or mixed with a moisturiser. On days when I need to step back and reset my skin, I do a simple cleanse, spray my face with the gentle toner from MUJI and just go straight to this. I think this really helps calm any irritation while still is hydrating. As Rosehip is a form of Vitamin A, they suggest using it only at night but I still use it in the morning because I just love it so much. Life-Flo's Pure Tamanu Oil is an oil I occasionally use as well. I use it for hyperpigmentation which really helps (it just takes forever to notice the difference).

Triple threat

The SK-II Genoptics Aura Face Essence is a luxury holy grail and it's something I haven't had the chance to enjoy much of since moving here. The reason is because I've been breaking out a lot. I feel like using SK-II while my skin's a mess is just pure waste. But using this alongside the SK-II Cellumination Deep Surge Ex is just divine. Whenever I use the SK-II line, I always get compliments with how bright my complexion looks. The Mamonde Ceramide Light Cream is another Holy Grail. I'm gutted that I only have like 2 use left. I also have my second jar of the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. This is a really good mask to add that extra hydration. I'm guilty of not using it enough though. In my fridge space, I have a bunch of sheet masks chilling. I haven't used any of them since I got here, though... Just trying to calm my face and wait until it's pretty clear.

For acne, I this would be the second time I was prescribed to use Epiduo. This is one cream I have to be careful with because even if I just spot treat, my entire face tends to dry out. Sometimes I use Tea Tree Oil from Thursday Plantation as a spot treatment depending on my mood. CosRX Acne Pimple Patch is also a Holy Grail. I can't believe third-party retailers here sell them for $10 a pack, such a rip-off!

For sunscreens, I always go for Japanese. The truth is: sunscreens confuse me, like I still don't know which ingredients are chemical and which are mineral. I still don't know which one's better to use or what to pick. But I really believe that Japan has the best sunscreen technology. With Anessa, I don't have to worry about what sort of UV filters they have because they have both physical and mineral. It's also cosmetically elegant which means it's milky, non-sticky and does not leave a white cast. I have just run out of my favourite sunscreen: Anessa perfect UV Skincare Milk. I actually prefer the mild version because the normal ones sting my eyes but it's super difficult to come across. Now it's impossible to get this here in Australia.

Let me know if you have any product recommendations or tips on how to survive this winter!