The Art of Switching your Skincare Regimen by Season

When it comes to maintaining proper skin care, it’s important to follow a few rules: Establish a routine that best addresses your concerns, be vigilant in adhering to your regimen (consider good skin your religion and your nightly routine akin to bedtime prayers), and fine-tune your plan whenever necessary. 

Your skin care regimen needs to be updated at least twice a year, particularly when the seasons change. Here, my tips on adjusting your repertoire.

" I don’t care if it’s winter—you still need sunblock,” I always mention this to my children (6yo & 8yo) adding that the sun is active regardless of whether you can see it. It is recommended an SPF of 30 every day, year round. But the sunscreen you use in the spring and summer may not be hydrating enough in the fall and winter. You probably need to add more elements to draw water into the skin.  

In November 2012, the Therapeutic Goods Administration announced a new standard for sunscreens sold in Australia, increasing the maximum sun protection factor from SPF30+ to SPF50+.

The standard requires the same level of Ultra Violet B (UVB) protection, with improved Ultra Violet A (UVA) protection for new formulas.

UVB is the major cause of sunburn and increased skin cancer risk, while UVA contributes to ageing of the skin, as well as skin cancer risk.

The SPF50+ offers only marginally better protection from Ultra Violet B (UVB) radiation than SPF30+. SPF50+ filters out 98% of UVB radiation compared to 96.7% blocked by SPF30+.  The SPF50+ sunscreen still needs to be applied just as liberally, re-applied every two hours (or after swimming, exercising and towel drying) and used in combination with other sun protection measures including sun protective hats, protective clothing, sunglasses and shade.

Artistry Ideal Radiance UV Protection SPF50 UVA UVB

Luminous, even-toned, translucent skin is possible with UV Protect, now enhanced with IDEAL RADIANCE 3D technology. This breakthrough sun protection comes with SPF50+ PA++++ and a formula that safeguards skin from sun damage, future dark spots and discolouration.

Skin-tone correction should always be a mainstay in your evening routine—winter, spring, summer, and fall. But it’s important to mitigate the intensity of your anti-aging products in the colder seasons, as ingredients like retinol can be drying. If you use a retinoid or [prescription] Differin on a daily basis in the summer, you may find that that as the weather changes your face has a harder time tolerating it.  Try cutting back to every other day in order to keep your skin feeling comfortable and looking good.

While daily exfoliation during the spring and summer can result in a smooth surface, that’s not always the case in the cooler months. Grossman notes, “Even if you’re tolerating daily home peels or acids, manual exfoliation, microdermabrasion, or Clarisonic use without a problem, you may need to cut back in the fall and winter, as your skin will be more sensitive.” 

While those afflicted with oilier skin may be tempted to bring out the big guns, Grossman advises that gentle cleansers are actually your face’s best friend, especially in the winter. “You don’t want to overstrip,” she cautions. She also suggests toning down your alpha-beta hydroxy acids, retinoids, at-home peels, and at-home microdermabrasion for the season. Instead, she advises, “Use a light cleanser or makeup wipe at night. If you’re feeling a little dry, you can use a hyaluronic acid–based gel or a hydrating aloe.” And if you are embarking on a Bahamian vacation or dreaming of next summer? “In warmer and more humid climates, people with oily skin tend to need a lot less moisturization,” Grossman says.  

In general, regardless of the season, Grossman tells her patients to apply serums first, then gels, lotions, and creams—in other words, to move from the least inclusive to the most inclusive (think thinnest to thickest textures). “I tend to encourage people to use a sunscreen-moisturizer combination in the morning and then add moisturizer over that,” she explains. “If you have drier skin, the evening is a great time to go for that really rich nighttime moisturizer. If that’s still not enough, add a hyaluronic gel. You can even mix in some oils for extra hydration. And if you’re super, super dry add an additional oil on top of that.” 

During the fall and winter some people really focus on their skin, but they don’t think about changing their environment,” says Grossman. She recommends adding a humidifier to your bedroom and any other area where you tend to spend a lot of time. “If you’re in a really dry environment already, put central humidity into your whole heating system,” she adds. “If it’s really, really dry you want to double-duty it.” 

Visiting AMWAY Business Centre at Bella Vista

CAUDALIE Instant Detox Mask

CAUDALIE Instant Detox Mask is the strongest mask treatment that I haven't experienced for a long time! It's like a traditional clay/mud mask that will draw out impurities, oils and tighten pores. This one shows instant results, I found a thin layer dried within 6 minutes. This comes in a pink clay color that will dry and tighten after you apply it. As it dries you can see small dark spots where it's drawing out the oils from your pores. I have never seen a mask shrink and tighten pores like this one does. It's non-irritating and leaves the skin feeling super clean. If you have dry skin like me, you may want to leave this on for a shorter period of time or just use this on spots.

Main ingredients:
- Grape Marc: Detoxifies and drains.
- Pink Clay and Coffee: Purify.
- Papaya Enzymes: Delivers immediate radiance.
- Eight Essential Oils: Nourish skin.

Full ingredient list: Water, Bentonite, Glycerin*, Acacia Senegal Gum*, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Alcohol*, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Sodium Citrate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract*, Coffea Robusta Seed Extract*, Citric Acid*, Papain*, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil*, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil*, Commiphora Myrrha Oil*, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil*, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil*, Petroselinum Crispum (Parsley) Seed Oil*, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Algin, Limonene, Linalool. *Plant Origin

BEAUTY IS FLIRTY makes preparing for your short working trip completely stress-free with beauty packing lists customised for working events. Written By LILIAN HII

AN INSTANT EVENING LOOK

An easy, 3-step approach for a speedy makeup transformation.

1. A deep cleanse your face by using your favourite cleanser.  I love Omorovizca Cleansing Foam.  This cleanser is sweet-smelling and baby-blue, this refreshing cleansing foam is a delight to use first thing in the morning or last thing at night.  It removes make-up and impurities without stripping the skin of moisture as it does not contain harmful sulfates.

“Gentle yet effective, this fragrant blue cleansing foam leaves the skin clean, refreshed and hydrated - the perfect step to a beautiful complexion” – Harper’s Bazaar

2. Put on SKII Facial Treatment Essence Mask to pick me up.  Hide the tiredness and show off your most refreshing look even after a long busy day! ( SKII FTE Mask really works!)

3. Good moisturiser is a important to our skin especially if you wake up early to prepare any work, caffeine fixed am & pm  and straight to work function.  Skin will get dehydrated easily as we someone's too busy and forgot to drink H2O!  My lately discovery - La Mer The Concentrate and La Mer Soft Cream are everything I need to get my skin plump and brighten up.

4. When I travel I pack light especially for the beauty products.  Tom Ford Eye & Cheek Palette can transform from day look to evening look.

5. Bright red lippy of your choice is intent pick me up as well.

Here are the pampering options if you have little bit more time!

1. Brush your teeth instead of chewing Extra.

2. Quick warm bath by using your favourite Bath Oil, smell refresh and unwind your stressful day.  Jo Malone Bath Oil is my favourite and I always carry travel size wherever I travel. 

If you are multi- tasking, while you are soaking in the bath oil, put hair treatment on your hair and facial mask sheet at the same time - you just need 10-15 mins for this .... 

See you again!

Lilian 

Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack

    

Benton's Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack is for all types of skins including sensitive and troubled ones. Instead of water, the product uses Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Snail secretion filtrate, Bee venom and EGF to cleanse your rough and damaged skin from various stresses and pollution. In addition to the skin-trouble care, moisture supply and skin tone improvement functions, Arbutin and Adenosine contented of the product help you whitening your skin and remove wrinkles.

 

[Capacity]

20g * 5

 

[How to Use]

Step 1. Use toner before using the mask.

Step 2. Attach the mask on your face well.

Step 3. Remove the mask after 20~30 minutes and lightly pat on the face for the essence to absorb better.

I really enjoy using this mask because my skin plump instantly and skin looks great the next day.  

                      

                       

Pamper your mother at Mother's Day !

For those who follow my Instagram and my blog you will know I am the #skiifever and I love SKII as the products work on my skin! 

Mother's Day is coming soon and as a mother myself I do love to receive a beautiful box of this gorgeous skincare gift box!

I would like to share with you below a few kind of gift boxes to suit your mother! :)

Pitera Starter Set / RRP: $99 AUD

*Facial Treatment Essence 75ml.

*Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser 20g.

*Stempower Moisturiser 15g.

Radiance Set / RRP: $199 AUD

*Facial Treatment Essence 75ml.

*Cellumination Deep Surge Ex Moisturiser 50g.

Anti Ageing Set / RRP: $259 AUD

*Facial Treatment Essence 75ml.

*Stempower Moisturiser 50g.

Stempower Eye Cream 15g.

Anti Ageing Indulgence Set / RRP: $359 AUD

*Facial Treatment Essence 150ml.

*Stempower Moisturiser 80g.

*Stempower Eye Cream 15g.

*Skin Signature 3D Redefining Mask (1 mask).

Bonus Gift:

Receive a limited edition SK-II travel set containing:

*Facial Treatment Essence 30ml.

*Facial Treatment Mask (I pc)

*Stempower Moisturiser 15g.

*Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser 20g.

*Available when you spend $150 or spend $500 to receive a Stempower Essence 30ml. (Myer and David Jones only)

In my opinion there's better gift than the gift of good skin, and SK-II will always give you that.

SK-II products are available at Myer,  David Jones stores nationwide and Sephora Australia.

Have you decided which one suit your mum better?

SKII Mid-Day Miracle Essence

SK-II PITERA™ Mid-Day Miracle Essence has the following features: The all-new SK-II portable skincare spray, a specially designed formula with its famous PITERA™ ingredient; a simple spray will penetrate through skin makeup to lock in moisture and deliver a boost of crystal clear skin.  Due to our hectic schedules, most of us only have time for skincare in the morning and at night before bed, but all those hours in between are stressing out our skin in multiple ways – exposure to harmful UV, pollution, and smoke means oxidative damage throughout the day.  Like a mobile charger, this spray replenishes skin’s moisture and pampers skin with PITERA™on the go.  Exclusive advanced technology turns PITERA™ into fine mist particles, which are a quarter the size of visible skin pores, penetrating skin and makeup to enhance skin’s anti-oxidizing function and strengthen skin barrier.  Added with new MoistureLock Complex, which contains Sodium PCA – a component of the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factors, for binding water with skin tissue to lock in moisture.  A single application can give long-lasting moisturization for up to 4 hours.  When used as part of a regimen with Facial Treatment Essence, it provides an 80% increase in skin’s hydration levels.  After 14 days of regular use, the skin is 4 times more hydrated and 1.3 times more translucent, while wrinkles look 75% less visible.

How to use:

Spray onto skin from a distance of about 20cm as desired, with eyes and mouth closed.  Easily carried in your work handbag or discretely tucked into an evening clutch, SK-II’s Miracle Essences ensure you can have gorgeous-looking skin anytime, anywhere. Can be used over makeup.  Recommends using the Miracle Essences 5 times daily, as studies have shown that using the Miracle Essence five times a day boosts the skin’s hydration levels by 13.5 times, compared with one-time use.

SK-II SPECIAL: UPGRADE YOUR REGIME & GET OUT OF THE BEAUTY RUT

They say, don’t fix what’s not broken, and that’s probably most of us have a specific regime that we’ve been sticking to for a long, long time. That’s until one day, we realise that our trusty regime doesn’t seem to work so well anymore.

There can be a few reasons why this is happening:

1. Your lifestyle has changed and thus, your skin needs are now different. For instance, you may have moved to a city with more pollution, and need more antioxidant in your products to help fight environmental aggressors.

2. Your skin condition has changed, due to age or body changes.

A great range of products to upgrade your regime to would be the SK-II LXP range. This power-packed range of products promises to deliver skincare benefits including firmness, smoothness, luminosity and hydration. The highlight of this range is the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Essence that is fortified with the Highest Concentrated Pitera and the Golden Regenerating Complex, which is made up of the Centella Essence, a highly-purified extract of the Centella Asiatica (a herb primarily found in India). The range is said to be the most powerful line in the SK-II brand. In fact, the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Essence delivers benefits that are 200% more visibly than SK-II’s renowned Facial Treatment Essence. I use mine faithfull, I have seeing visible improvements to my skin in just three days!

A Regimen of Masterpieces 

“The LXP Ultimate Perfecting series is the most powerful of all the SK-II products, and for me, I would say that this series is so powerful and concentrated that I noticed the extra boost and the difference in my skin in a matter of days,” said Cate Blanchett, SK-II Global Ambassador. 

Luxury skincare at its finest, each masterpiece in the LXP series features the exclusive Highest Concentrated Pitera™ – SK-II’s signature ingredient at its most powerful. Meticulously produced to perfection via a thorough concentration process, Highest Concentrated Pitera™ encourages the production of a key enzyme for promoting the regulation of the skin energy cycle.

The first step to the ultimate transformation to crystal clarity, the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Essence with Highest Concentrated Pitera™, Centella Essence and a trio of moisturisers in the Golden Regenerating Complex strengthens skin’s resilience and firmness. 

Next, the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Serumwith Highest Concentrated Pitera™ and Skin Regenerating ActiV™ penetrates quickly and deeply into skin to accelerate skin cell regeneration at the root of skin surface. 

The most premium cream ever crafted by SK-II, the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Cream is the third step in the regimen. The cream with Highest Concentrated Pitera™ and 9 skin-conditioning ingredients infuses skin with moisture for up to 12 hours, working to refine its texture and plump up its firmness. 

The exquisite fragrance of Rose Absolute carefully harvested from a field of sweetly scented rosa centifolia, found only in Grasse, adds a touch of French luxury to the Serum and Cream.

I have used all the SKII LXP SERIES I either full size or samples.  

Product: LXP Ultimate Perfecting Essence (AUD335) 150ml

Purpose: This precious skin enhancing essence is infused with SK-II’s Highest Concentrated Pitera™ and Centella Essence to strengthen your skin’s resilience, while drenching it with an intensive boost of moisture.  Your skin feels firmer, smoother!

Supply: Full Size

Personal rating: 5/5
Why: No matter how tired I feel or how little sleep I got the night before, my skin is positively GLOWING and my skin just looks fresh.
Will I buy again? YES!!

HOW TO USE?

Step 1: After cleansing, prep your skin with the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Essence (AUD335). Similar to the Facial Treatment Essence, you could either use a soaked cotton pad to swipe it across your skin to tone it and to get rid of dead skin cells at the same time, or pour out a little on your palm, and then pat it gently onto entire face.  I love to pour out on my palm and  gently press the Essence onto entire face, neck and décolletage. I love this way because I think this Pitera Essence will also work in my hand!  Do not neglect our hand because they will show our age! 

                   

Product: LXP Ultimate Perfecting Serum (AUD395)
Supply: Sample
Purpose: This indulgent super serum is perfectly blended with SK-II’s Highest Concentrated Pitera™ and Skin Regenerating ActiV™ penetrates the layers of your skin’s surface for transformation that starts from within.  Subtly fragranced with Rose Absolute, the most exquisite scent in the world, to comfort and lull your senses.
Personal rating: 5/5
Why: I love how the serum is rich and velvety and make my skin so smooth.  It absorb quickly without greasy.
Will I buy again?: Yes!

How to use?

Step 2: Pump out a small amount of the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Serum (AUD395). This potent formula is composed of the Highest Concentrated Pitera and Skin Regenerating ActiV to penetrate deeply into the skin. This is also infused with a rose scent that makes the experience even more indulgent.

Product: LXP Ultimate Perfecting Eye Cream (AUD245)
Supply: Sample x2
Purpose: It has Highest Concentration Pitera, super anti-oxidant Lychee Extract, and rice oligo peptide, it promises results in a matter of days.
Personal rating: 5/5
Why: soften fine line around the eyes 
Will I buy again?: YES

How to use?

Step 3: Apply a small amount of  LXP Ultimate Perfecting Eye Cream (AUD245) morning and night gently massaging into the skin around the eyes.  This eye cream is the masterpiece for your eyes, the Ultimate Perfecting Eye Cream contains SK-ll's highest concentration of pitera and unique fruit extracts to target hydration, fine lines, dark circles, discolouration & crow's feet.  It contains Pitera, fruit extracts and rose fragrance. 

Product: LXP Ultimate Perfecting Cream (AUD475) 
Supply: Sample pot 2.5g
Purpose: SK-II LXP Ultimate Perfecting Cream is a richly-textured, quick-penetrating cream Formulated with 8 times concentrated Pitera™ contains Cell Regenerating ActiV™ & Rose Absolute to rejuvenate skin Remarkably refines skin’s texture while boosting levels of hydration Specially developed to slowly deliver its nurturing ingredients to skin Maintained well conditioned skin for up to 12 hours unveils.

Personal rating: 5/5

Why: My skin feel full supply of Moisteriser and no longer dehydrate.  No kidding but true! I admired the healthy glow it gave me.
Will I buy again?: Definitely!!!

How to use? 

Step 4: Finish the regime with the LXP Ultimate Perfecting Cream (AUD475). This moisturiser promises to lock the skin’s moisture, as well as the goodness from the products you’ve just applied, for up to 12 hours, so your skin remains radiant and luminous.

The newest addition to SK-II’s most luxurious boutique, LXP Ultimate Perfecting Essence is the first step to kickstart your skin transformation.
Comprising a powerful cocktail of exclusive ingredients including the Highest Concentrated Pitera™ and the Golden Regenerating Complex with Centella Essence, the high performance essence helps prep skin in the first step of the LXP regimen.

The LXP range is available at all SK-II counters, including Myer and David Jones.

Tips: Shopping for Your Skin Regime?

When you go to Myer, David Jones or Pricelines you will find overwhelming of beauty products and we do not have a lot of information of the new beauty products and also how to use the new products.  Normally we as consumers we self- thought ourselves to know the products that we bought and we ensure we get the right products worth the money!

If you’re planning to shop for skincare products this Autumn, here are a few useful tips.

Tip #1: Buy only what are suitable

Just like dresses a size too small that we impulsively buy, thinking we’ll be able to fit perfectly into them if we invest more hours into our fitness plan, purchasing skincare products that are not suitable for you is going to disappoint.

Understand your skin’s condition by going through a skin analysis with an expert. The SK-II counters, for instance, are equipped with the Magic Ring, a device that measures your skin’s condition, age and also tells you which of the five dimensions of skin you need to work on. The five dimensions are: Texture, radiance, firmness, spots control and wrinkle resilience.

Ask the beauty advisor to recommend products that are suitable for your skin and request for samples so you can try out the product for yourself before you make a purchase – this is like bringing your clothes to the fitting room before you get it! 

Tip #2: Take note of expiry dates

It may be tempting to “stock” up products because they’re going at an attractive discount. However, most skincare products have a shelf life of three years (after date of manufacturing) if they’re unopened, and usually about a year if you’ve opened it.

Check the usage of your existing products and only buy what you need. Find out the manufacturing date of the products you’re buying too – this information is usually found on the box. Make a prudent purchase, because after all, you can always buy more the next time.

Tip #3: Try products at the neck

If you tend to have sensitive skin or may be allergic to certain ingredients, do a patch test before you buy anything. Apply some of the formula from the tester either around your neck or along your jawline and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Typically, if your skin forms an allergic reaction to the ingredients in the product, redness and itch will show up within five minutes.

Trying the product on the back of your hand only gives you an idea of how the product texture is like. Because the skin on your hand is different from your face, it’s best to do the patch test on skin that’s closer to your face.

Tip #4: Learn exactly how to use the product

It may be tempting to lay your hands on all the best promotions. But the last thing you want, is to go home with a bag of skincare products you have no idea how to use.

Usually, instructions can be found on the labels of the product packaging, or on a slip of paper inside the box. However, find out from the beauty advisor as much information as you need. Questions such as how often you should use it, what the correct technique of application is, and whether it’s recommended for day or night use are important.

My experience with The history of Whoo Spa Moisturiser

The History Of Whoo Spa Moisturiser is Whoo's premium body moisturiser effectively and actively delivers the herbal spa ingredient to the skin. 

Helps eliminate itchy skin, promote metabolism, remove toxins and improve skin quality.

Verdict: 

I really like this moisturiser because it smells really nice and make my skin really soft. I am definitely going to get the full size of this.