Routine Update - Part 1, Morning Routine

1 year Blogiversary. Yay, go team!

A year ago my skin was in shambles.  Today I'm on Imuran and actually had a Dermatologist appointment yesterday. Let me know if you want to know more about Imuran - I do mention it a fair bit.  The Imuran is for eczema treatment.

Way back in November of 2015 I did a long post on what my AM/PM routine is for skin care.  At that stage I was still early in the days of my treatment with Imuran and on a low dosage, combined with Prednisolone.  I've been on Imuran now for nearly 6mths and am at a higher dose.
Imuran has helped immensely with the improvement of my skin and thus my routine has changed - I dont need the 10 or 11 or 12 steps I used to do. My routine has become shorter and lighter.

(I feel the need to explain that I am on medication to help with my skin so you don't think my improvements have been due to JUST skincare.#imuranlifestyle)

So Part One - Morning Routine!

I don't spend a long time on my morning routine.  Pretty much I grab my basket of goodies, my cup of coffee and watch the morning news for about 20mins, this gives the product time to sink in and be rady for the sunscreen layer later on.  Some things are AB, some are Western. I tend to follow the AB routine of layering products but have been switching item in and out.

1. Wipe down with micellar water.  Currently finishing off a Garnier micellar water.  I have lined up next the Simple miceller water (it has niacinamide in, main reason why I bought it).  I avoid a heavy cleanse in the morning because of my dry skin, I find that the micellar waters to a good job for my skin type.

2. Toner - I am using the Rosette Ceramides Lotion as my new toner, as I have just used up the Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner - rosewater, chamomile and aloe.  But I will buy more of the Sukin Toner in the next Priceline sale - this is very refreshing on hot days.  During Feb I kept it in my work bag as a spray for during the day at work.  The Ceramide lotion is ok so far.

3. Serum - I've started using POND'S Collagen Serum (from this post).  The texture is slick and a little goes a long way - 3 drops is actually enough.  I have moved the Mizon to night only to give the POND'S a whirl.  I mentioned in my old routine that I was also using the DermaVeen Serum.  That was utter crap.  Irritated my skin and did not help at all.  So I'm using it on my legs to finish it off.  I also have been using extra Hydraluron Indeed Labs if I get a bit flakey.

4. Eye Cream - I have finished my QV Eye cream and am now using POND'S dual eyecream (can't remember where I picked this up - I was rummaging through my skincare stash for a new eyecream and found it.  So started using it.  Nice stuff).  I have the L'Oreal Revitalift eyecream lined up next.

5. Light moisturiser - either the SkinFood Lettuce and Cucumber Emulsion or the Mizon Collagen Emulsion.  The Lettuce and Cucumber is still going strong.  The bottle seems to never end!

6. Heavy moisturiser - Nivea Visage Pure and Natural Moisturising Day Creme (haul in this post).  I like this a lot.  Its quite rich and soothing. OR  EgoSilic15 cream - this is a barrier cream with dimethicone in.  Specifically for eczema use.  I use this everywhere as well as my face

7. Suncreen - Hamilton Face (from this post, it has become my favourite sunscreen)

I usually get up to stage 6 then get dressed, and then apply suncreen before my makeup.

I have found from having a large "wardrobe" of skincare items I can change it up as my skin needs change.  If I'm really dry I will put more steps in, as the weather changes I can put different items in.  I've learnt over the past year that it is important to adapt your routine to your lifestyle and the weather.  I used to have just one moisturiser and micellar water, thats all I used.  There are days when all I do is use micellar water, serum and a moisturiser.  But there are days when I do 11 steps - I do these now somewhat more as a "spa day" type of treat.

But I am determined to finish of that SkinFood Emulsion!

Do you have a skincare "wardrobe"?  How do you change your routine?

Wipe it off, wipe it off!

This is one of the stranger hauls I have done.

I suddenly had an urge to go and buy makeup remover wipes.  No idea why.

I used to use these frequently, my favourite was the Priceline Beauty Essentials Make-Up remover Wipes for Sensitive Skin and still have some stashed away, but once I was introduced to Micellar Water I lost interest in the wipes.  But these days I find that I come home from work and my skin feels really heavy and icky, and the micellar water is not enough to get rid of the "greasy-dirt" (oh how appealing) sensation.

Thus the face wipes.  They have a bit more heft than the micellar water so I wont need to rub away as much.  My plan is to use the micellar water in the morning as I have been doing - excellent for getting rid of the stuff that accumulates overnight and not too drying.  Then in the afternoon when I get home from work, use a wipe and finish up with a single cotton round (instead of 3 cotton rounds, I wear much makeup...) of micellar water.

I bought some micellar wipes to have in my handbag for days when I need to refresh/redo my makeup at work - such as long days with Parent Teacher Interviews and Info Evenings.

Not surpisingly these are all aimed at dry and/or sensitive skin. Some are from Woolworths (Safeway), some are from Chemist Warehouse.  This haul was driven by the sales/specials at both - if you wait, it'll be on sale at some point.


From Woolworths (Safeway)

Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Cleansing Wipes (25)

Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Wipes (25)

Smartskin 25 Moisturising Facial Cleansing Wipes (25)

Woolworths Select Daily Balance Gentle Facial Wipes (25)

Chemist Warehouse
Nivea Pure and Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes (25)

Byphasse Micellar Make-up Remover Wipes (25)

So over the next few months or so I'll have a battle of the Make-up Remover Wipes and fill you in along the way!
What things have you randomly hauled for a specific item?

Any suggestions for other Makeup Remover wipes for dry and sensitive skin?

The Sunscreen Edition UPDATE!!

So way back in October in 2015 I did a post on my Suncreen Haul.  I had intended using each for a week and then updating, but thought it would be better to go the whole spring and summer before updating so I could tell you my opinion based on longer, daily use.

It will be short and sweet because there was a clear winner.

If you recall, I was comparing the Nivea Sun Light Daily Face Veil SPF 30, Olay Complete Defence Moisturisiing Lotion SPF 30+ and Hamilton Sunscreen SPF 50+ Everyday Face Cream.

The winner, that I have used ALL summer, is the Hamilton Sunscreen SPF 50+ Everyday Face Cream,  I will definitely repurchase once I've used it all up.  This did not irritate at all.  It sinks into the skin really quickly and because its tinted there is no white cast.  I did not get burnt (sun or chemically) while wearing this at all.  Its gold!  I have only found it at Chemist Warehouse.

The worst - Nivea Sun Light Daily Face Veil SPF 30.  I used it for a week.  I could not use it anymore.  It irritated my skin and was not a nice sunscreen to apply.  I'm using it up by using on my arms/legs.  It is going nowhere near my face.

Meh - Olay Complete Defence Moisturisiing Lotion SPF 30+.  It did not offend me, but it did not wow me like the Hamiltons.  I will try to use this up before I repurchase the Hamiltons.

What is your favourite Suncreen?

Sheet Mask : BeautyMate Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Moisturizing Mask

I do love me some Hyaluronic acid.

This is a mask from a Sasa haul I did last year - around June/July.  As part of my effort to use up more masks of my stash (cough: 120ish : no idea how that actually happened : cough) I'm alternating so I do two new masks for everyone old mask (so my last old mask was the 3W Clinic Collagen - which I still really like).  Also using a new mask on a Saturday night allows me time on Sunday to recover.  Normally I would have done this on Friday night but I was far to exhausted to do so (Conference that required 2 hours of Public Transport BOTH ways).

Back to the mask.

Heaps of ingredients.

Key ingredients
White Horehound - marrubium vulgare - one of the higher botanical ingredients.  This helps with skin repair and inflammation.
Hyaluronic acid - draws water into the skin.
Aloe - moisture and skin repair
Ginkgo bilbo - contains antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal compounds that help reduce redness and inflammation.  It has also been shown to help with skin firmness (wrinkles, sagging etc)
Arbutin - skin brightener - through a series of chemical processes helps to reduce melanin production in the skin.

This mask comes with a plastic backing and the fibre itself is very thin, but easy to take apart and apply.  As I still cant smell much so I have no idea if this has a fragrance.  Which makes sheet-masking a different experience if you're not being assulted by fragrance.  The mask is cut smaller than most of the other masks I have tried.  The eyeholes are a little too close together.  The mouth is a slit, and I thought it would be uncomfortable but it seems to make the mask fit better due to more tension around that area, also there are no slits around the edges for fit.  However I found it didn't move around and held onto the skin firmly despite its thinness.

3W Collagen on top, BeautyMate Hyaluronic bottom.  3W is one of the larger masks I have used.

This is supposed to hydrate and brighten your skin (as given by the ingredients like arbutin and white horehound).  Face looked brighter after I took it off and still looked really clear and bright the next day.  There was no visible irritation and no stinging during wear, there was a bit of tingling at the start.  I had this mask on for 20mins but easily could have left it for longer.

I dont know which ingredient was the star for me - seeing how far down the Hyaluronic acid is, I dont know if I would call it a straight up "hyaluronic acid" mask.  Definitely moisturising and brightening.

I've very glad I got this in a 5 pack, as I will definitely use up the rest of them.  maybe even repurchase if the results are consistent after I use the other four.  This for me, would be a good mask to use the night before an event or such.

Do you prefer the reviews when I go and do research on the ingredients, or a short and sweet "hey this made my skin bouncy/this made my skin burst into flames'?