My in-depth skincare routine

Firstly, hello and welcome to the new and improved eselle blog! I begun working on this about a month ago and after some major procrastinating, I finally have everything up and running! It’s going to take me a while to get back into the swing of blogging again, but I hope you can bare with me and enjoy my blog posts!

Secondly, it was a struggle to decide what to write for my first blog post. So I thought I’d start it off with an in-depth review of my skincare routine, to give people an overview of the products I use and how I use them. Although, I’ve only really been taking care of my skin for just under a year now and I’ve been exploring Asian beauty for about 7 months, so there is still improvements to be made. My skin is always changing and my routine adjusts to that. I’m still trying to search for what works for my skin and what my skin hates. This is my current full skin care line up of all the skin care products that I currently have in use (I also have products to be tested and added into my routine, but testing takes time!). If you want to have an idea of what my skin type is, it can be found on my about page!

Cleansers

Garnier Express 2 in 1 Eye Make-up Remover

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Kose Speedy Cleansing Oil

Hada Labo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam

I only cleanse in the PM to remove all the make up and dirt from my face. In the AM, I would just splash my face with water and move onto hydrating steps. Although, I hope to add a konjac sponge into my routine soon to give me some extra exfoliation. I’m currently switching between the Kose speedy cleansing oil and a mixture of the Garnier Micellar cleansing water and eye make up remover to remove my make up and/or sunscreen. I have my suspicions that the Kose cleansing oil is breaking me out, so I’m being very cautious when using that product and taking extra care to clean off every last bit. I’ve only been using the Hada Labo Cleansing Foam for about a week now (preciously using the Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser, which I had no problems with but I wanted to try something new), so far I’ve been loving it. My skin doesn’t feel tight or dry after washing it off and it’s quite an amusing application too!

Acids

Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum

Cosrx BHA Blackhead Powder Liquid

I’ve currently only recently reintroduced acids back into my routine. I previously dived right into them not realising that hydrating steps are essential to have before using acids. So I had to take a step back and get my hydration in check before using them again. I’m using them on alternating nights, simply because I don’t have the patience to wait 20 minutes after cleansing, 20 minutes after AHA and then another 20 minutes after BHA. When I introduce a PH adjusting toner to my routine, I will start doing them both everyday. But at the moment, every other night seems to be working fine for me.

Hydration

Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion

LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence

Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream

The Hada Labo lotion is classed as a hydrating toner rather than an actual lotion, since the consistency is very light. I don’t think this has an amazing whitening effect on my skin and I haven’t noticed much of a difference in my hyperpigmentation since using this, but I do love the hydration that it gives. The LJH essence is holy-grail status for me, I’ve been using this for about 3 weeks now and I’ve noticed that my acne clears up so much quicker; it hasn’t been preventing any acne but it does a perfect job at healing my current break outs. I’ve been switching between the Benton soothing gel and the Mizon snail gel, they both aren’t amazing for me, they give me a nice amount of hydration throughout the summer months, but I’m definitely going to need something heavier for the winter.

Spot Treatment

Quinoderm 10

Boots Skin Clear Ultra Rapid Action Spot Gel

Mizon A.C Care Solution Acence Blemish Out Pink Spot

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch

I’m currently trying to use up the Quinoderm, it’s incredibly drying and makes my skin pretty sensitive but it does a really good job at healing any breakouts. I brought the Skin Clear gel on a whim a few weeks ago, I wanted to try out a spot treatment with salicylic acid in it rather than benzoyl peroxide to see how it’d compare. It was pretty cheap and the ingredients looked good, so far I’ve used it once or twice and I prefer it to the Quinoderm since it seems to be less drying but it can still make my skin flaky. The Mizon pink spot is a meh product for me, I wanted it to work and I had such high hopes for it but I feel like it doesn’t do much to any of my breakouts. I keep trying it out, hoping that it’ll impress me someday, but so far it just slightly reduces redness and the size of the breakout. I didn’t reach for the Body Shop tea tree oil for a while, but when I found a love for the LJH essence, it made me want to try it out again. It works well for any mild breakouts and helps to speed the healing process along without being over drying. The Cosrx patches are a recent purchase and I’ve almost finished 1 packet. These are my favourite spot treatments for (as gross as it sounds) sucking out all the gunk and reducing the size of any pimple dramatically.

Sunscreen

Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun SPF45/PA+++

Hada Labo UV Creamy Gel SPF50PA+++

The importance of sunscreen has only recently been drawn to my attention. I especially became aware that sunscreen helps with acne scarring and aging but also using an AHA in my routine may increase my skin’s sensitivity to the sun. So wearing sunscreen particularly when UV levels are medium to high (even on a cloudy day or when I’m inside near a window) became essential in my routine. Out of the 2 sunscreens that I use, I prefer the Missha to the Hada Labo. The Missha Safe Block doesn’t give me as much of a shiny finish than the Hada Labo does and doesn’t seem to be breaking me out like the Hada Labo one does.

Masks

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Facial Clay + Apple Cider Vinegar

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

My Beauty Diary (2015 version) Royal Pearl Mask

BeautyMate Oil-Free Skin Restoring Mask

My Scheming Mandelic Acid Brightening Silk Facial Mask

I’m currently using 2 types of masks, clay and sheet. The Innisfree clay mask is my go-to and I tend to use this about 1-2 times a week, it’s been great at reducing my pores and my skin never feels tight or over dry after using it. I use the Aztec Secret Clay about 1-2 times a month or this would increase if my skin is freaking out; I would also add a few drops of tea tree oil and apply it to the areas where my skin is bad. This clay is amazing and should be an essential to anyone who is acne-prone. It really does draw out all the impurities, shrinks my pores immensely and leaves my skin very silky smooth. The only draw back is that it’s pretty drying on my skin, I normally layer lots of hydration and do a sheet mask after using this to help with that. I’ve only used the Elizavecca clay mask twice, it’s a nice mask if I want to do a clay mask but I’m feeling lazy or I fancy something different. I don’t think the effects are as well as the innisfree mask, but it does a good job pretty good. Although, these 3 sheet masks are only a selection of my ridiculous collection, they are my current favourites and have been helping my skin with brightening and moisturising effects. I try to do sheet masks daily, because they make my skin look so healthy and bright. Some also help to reduce redness and others just do nothing to my skin, but they’re always fun and relaxing for me to do.

To anyone who has stuck around and read this entire post, thank you and props to you! Are there any products you’d want me to review in greater depth?

Sophie Bond I'm a 23 year old aspiring UX designer, coffee addict, cat lover and beauty enthusiast from the UK. My blog hopes to share with you my beauty secrets, lifestyle habits and a variety of my experiences.



