Happy 19th day of Christmas!
It has been a while since I last contributed a MNBR but to be honest this is because I have not really engaged in any since falling pregnant! Not because I have been too tired or too busy but because my skin loves being pregnant. I am usually an oily skin type with a tendency for dehydration but since falling pregnant my skin – and my scalp – has been a lot drier. So for oily skin to feel dry it pretty much means I now have that elusive ‘normal’ skin. I have also avoided my usual skincare active products, like vitamin A (retinol), salicylic and glycolic acid – although I did finish up a bottle of Alpha H Liquid Gold Daily Polyoxidant Complex which has some glycolic. Anyway, aside from careful cleansing, a nice serum, eye cream and a richer than usual moisturiser, I have pretty much left my skin alone. I hardly even need to exfoliate anymore either, which may be due to my nightly Clarisonic ritual. I love my Clarisonic – it is like an electronic toothbrush for the face. I have had it for several months and at first I wondered what the fuss was about but after using it for a while I noticed that my pores needed less attention and I only just recently realised that I had not exfoliated for almost two weeks and my skin looked none the worse for it. It seems my Monday Night Ritual has become my nightly supersonic ritual.
However now that Christmas is almost here I thought I would share one other product that I tried recently and immediately fell in love with – the SKII Facial Treatment Mask. This came as part of a nifty value pack I purchased from Adore Beauty and it is the perfect festive season tonic as it brightens and tangibly cools and calms the skin. I kept mine on for almost two hours of Sex and the City DVDs then massaged the remaining liquid into my skin once I removed the mask (a tissue-like actual mask with holes cut out for the eyes, nose and mouth). I looked like I had been sleeping for a trillion happy hours and had just come back from a refreshing walk on the beach.
So the moral of this Christmas story is: Pregnancy + Clarisonic + SKII Facial Treatment Mask = Super Nice Skin. Although removing the pregnancy bit from the equation will no doubt bring similarly happy results.
*Top image of a Canadian white Christmas via Apartment Therapy.
Krysty
December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas! I’m currently using SK-II’s FTE and the Skin Signature Cream. Tried the FTE mask, too. Of the three, I’m most impressed with the mask. SK-II has been quite a let-down, as I don’t see its effects (well, if I compare it to what the ads are saying, that is). Since I have to order it from overseas, I don’t think it’s worth the hassle. I’m going back to Sekkisei after this :)
The Beauty Philosopher
December 26, 2011
I’ve not been using the others for long enough to make a call on their performance but I’m guessing that as with any targeted skincare you’d need to wait a couple of months at least to see noticeable results. Unless you have been using them for a while already :)
Krysty
December 26, 2011
I guess so, as I’ve been using it for only three weeks :) I’m a bit impatient. The mask is really, good, though! So hydrating, and my skin was noticeably brighter right after using it. I think you have to use the mask regularly to get serious results, but it’s crazy expensive!
The Beauty Philosopher
December 26, 2011
It is expensive especially as each one is single use. I do find the Treatment Essence quite calming too.