Barely thirty days in working at Calyxta, I’m slowly (but surely) getting my make up game going. What was once a simple 10-minute make up routine of using the same products day in and day out has become a morning ritual of trying out different shades of eye shadow, lipstick, primer and hair products at our office “dresser.” It’s hard to resist when there are samples of over a dozen brands waiting to be road-tested. At first I was hesitant—who has time to put all those layers early in the morning? But as I’ve come to discover, resistance was futile and I reasoned that for me to write an honest to goodness product review, I had to try them on myself. It also meant coming in 30 minutes earlier, which surprisingly I didn’t mind (being a complete slave to sleeping) at all.
With the increase of products that sit on my face for a good 8 hours, I had to step up my evening skincare routine as well. In the past, I simply used a cleanser to wash off my light make up and went straight to bed. Recently, I’ve amassed some of our best skincare products to use daily—some weekly—after bathing to take my make up off. I read somewhere that if it takes 20 minutes for you to put on your “face,” it should take the same amount of time to take it off. So be it!
Here’s my new before-bedtime routine with products I got from the shop.
- Make up Remover – Banila Co. Clean It Zero is Korea’s top-selling make-up remover that definitely lives up to its reputation. The solid sorbet-like balm melts into oil upon contact with your skin and instantly dissolves make up residue like magic! It also contains Papaya extract that gently exfoliates and brightens complexion. Massage a small amount on the face until you see all the gook melt away then wash with water or wipe with facial tissue.
- Cleansing – Once all the make up is gone, proceed to washing your face with Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam. This isn’t your usual run-of-the-mill facial cleanser as it contains volcanic scoria from Jeju province in South Korea defined by its volcanic landscape. Scoria has a powerful sebum-absorbing capacity that’s free from impurity, washing away debris while moisturizing skin and leaving it healthier than before!
- Exfoliate – Every hour, we shed dead skin without our knowing. Though the numbers are just in the miniscule ounces, it still helps to manage it with a product like No 7’s Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoliator to make way for clean, new skin. Just a few uses will reveal a more flexible and supple surface. The manmade beads roll over the skin to gently remove dead surface skin cells and Jojoba Oil provides much needed moisture and protection. Exfoliation can be limited to just twice a month concentrating on the T-zone and blackhead prone areas.
- Toner/Refresher – I used to think that toner was too strong a chemical to swipe on your face everyday. Turns out that it’s actually an essential step to take out residue left by the cleanser as well as banish pollutants that can clog pores. Tony Moly Toner has a gentle formula that isn’t harsh or drying. It prepares the skin for the Essence, which is the next step, making it more absorbent to the product. Place a few drops on a cotton ball or pad and wipe on your face and neck.
- Essence – I had to do a bit of research on what an Essence really is. Apparently, like the Odbo Shape Memory Lifting Essence, it assists in lifting tired, sagging and aging skin to its natural, smooth texture. It’s pretty much the anti aging product I’ve been looking for. It’s also more lightweight and less concentrated than serums and when used after toner, prepares the skin by adding a layer of hydration before applying serum.
- Serum/Ampoule – Serum is basically a more concentrated version of Essence. Apart from excellent anti-aging qualities, it contains a couple of key ingredients that addresses dark spots, lines and wrinkles while brightening the complexion. No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum is our go-to at the office.
- Sheet Mask – I have combination skin and live in the city where humidity is sometimes off the charts. I only wear masks about twice a week to lock moisture in for the essence or serum to be fully absorbed and get the full benefits. I love Innisfree’s It’s Real Squeeze Mask in cucumber for the refreshing finish and suppleness my skin receives.
- Eye Cream – I admit I’ve been using eye cream on and off for years since I was in my 20s. I’ve committed to using it more religiously now having found Welskin Time Stop Wrinkle Recover Eye Cream to decelerate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. One major thing to remember when applying eye cream is to use your ring finger (the one with the gentlest touch) and tap very lightly avoiding tugging or pulling. This practice will also help your skin absorb the cream more.
- Moisturizer – We’re almost done! After all that product, there’s still the need for moisturizer because one can never have too much of the good stuff while catching your beauty zzzzzs. Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer is our new kid on the block from the UK. This gentle moisturizer provides PH balance for all skin types, more so for sensitive skin. It’s fragrance-fee and is chockfull of Vitamins E and B5, soothing chamomile and fatty acids that nourish skin.
- Night Cream – Last but not the least, apply night cream to wake up with a nice dewy face. Tony Moly Moisture Cream uses only the purest and most natural water, replacing tired skin while giving a nice, cooling sensation without the shine. Apply an adequate amount onto your face and neck for maximum benefits.
There you have it! It may seem daunting and so time-consuming to do this every night. Some products can be applied every few days or weeks only. But the benefits you’ll get by setting aside a few minutes before bedtime can make all the difference in preventing ageing. Now get to it, Calyxta beauties!