• essential and advanced beauty routines. Essential is suitable for people with a single concern, advanced for those with multiple concerns.
  • ESSENTIAL (morning and night):
    • 1. cleansing
    • 2. toning
    • 3. exfoliating
    • 4. moisturiser
      • with sunscreen in the morning
      • can skip in hot weather if using moisturising toner, but make sure to apply sunscreen in morning
  • ADVANCED (morning and night):
    • 1. cleansing
    • 2. toning
    • 3. exfoliating
    • 4. treatment
      • e.g. anti-wrinkle, anti-acne
    • 5. moisturiser
      • with sunscreen in the morning
      • can skip in hot weather if using moisturising toner, but make sure to apply sunscreen in morning
    • 6. enhancement
      • e.g. skin lightener, lip care, oil blotting papers
      • add any time during the day after beauty routine
  • It is important that products are applied in this order.
  • Except for letting toner dry, there is no need to wait between applying products.
  • Makeup can be applied straight afterwards.
• how to treat acne and wrinkles at the same time
  • BHA exfoliant will treat acne without drying skin (good for ageing skin). Use the 1% for mild acne or 2% for severe.
  • use a light moisturiser/serum with antioxidants. gel, not creamy. use twice a day after cleansing. avoid irritants such as essential oils or fragrance.
  • use sun protection - helps prevent breakouts as well as ageing.
  • avoid heavy, pore-clogging makeup. always remove makeup at night, using a non-creamy cleanser and gentle scrubbing with a facewasher.
• blackheads
  • avoid products with irritants such as peppermint, menthol, essential oils. pore strips don't work, either.
  • use a gentle, water-based cleanser and scrub gently with a facewasher to exfoliate.
  • use a light gel moisturiser to avoid blocking up pores even more.
  • use a BHA (salicylic acid) exfoliant, and oil-absorbing clay masks and blotting papers.
  • AHA exfoliant will speed up cell production and help prevent clogged pores. use one in the morning and the other at night. if the AHA product dries out the skin, discontinue.
  • if that doesn't work, use a blackhead remover (instructions in article).
  • whiteheads can also be treated with a BHA product, however they are more stubborn and cannot be squeezed. if the BHA doesn't work, they may need to be removed by a doctor.
• how to apply AHA/BHA products
  • if using just one, it can be applied once or twice a day.
  • if using both, do not apply both at the same time. apply one in the morning and the other at night.
  • do not apply to the eye area - under eye or eyelid.
  • apply after cleansing and after toner has dried.
  • after products is absorbed, it's ok to apply other usual products, e.g. moisturiser, foundation, sunscreen.
• do I need a toner?
  • yes, it is recommended. Must be water-based, with skin repairing and antioxidant properties. avoid astringents such as witch hazel, alcohol or citrus.
  • in hot weather, there's no need to follow toner with moisturiser, as long as the toner has moisturising ingredients.
• pimples: apply plenty of BHA exfoliant. Apply benzoyl (sp?) and cover with a bandaid overnight.
• Razor burn: (men & women) avoid scented shaving gel; change your razor regularly so that it is always sharp; apply soothing lotion afterwards.
• puffy eyes:
  • to prevent puffy eyes: sleep with your head slightly elevated; take an antihistamine; make sure to remove all mascara: use cotton bud if necessary.
  • if you have puffy eyes already: use a smoky eye makeup look to disguise it. When applying night cream, don't put any right next to the eyes and blend it away from eye, as it tends to migrate into eye when lying down.
• hot weather: treatments will be effective even if you sweat, as long as they've been on for at least an hour. The only thing you need to reapply is sunscreen.
• seasonal skin care
  • don't change products just because the season has changed. pay attention to your skin - is it oilier, drier, etc.?
  • wear sun protection all year round.
  • if skin becomes dry - use a creamier moisturiser, products that treat irritation, a BHA to clear pores.
  • if lips become dry or chapped - use a lip exfoliant and emollient lip balm.
  • warmer weather can cause oily pores to liquefy, resulting in shiny appearance.
    • use a non-oily foam cleanser and cleanse very thoroughly to remove oil.
    • switch to a very light gel moisturiser or stop using altogether and just use a light serum.
    • use a BHA product to unclog pores.
    • use oil-absorbing makeup and/or oil blotting papers.
    • if normal sunscreen makes your skin feel greasy, use a mattifying sunscreen.
• how to treat the neck and decolletage area
  • use the same products as you use on your face, every day (except if you use products for specific reasons, e.g. acne cream on your face and you don't get acne on your chest).

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