No-Frills Skin Care Routine for Mature Acne-Prone Skin

I've received quite a few queries about my skincare,

especially about why my face is up to 2 shades LIGHTER than my neck.

And the specific question is, "What WHITENING product are you using?"

I hate to burst your bubble with regards to the all-miraculous whitening product...

because I've NEVER used a product in my life to specifically lighten my skintone...

which is highly unusual considering I live in Asia...

where even deodorants come with whitening ingredients! ^_^

Have always been satisfied with the colour I was born with...

...and always will...

Well, granted there ARE moments of frustration when it comes to BB creams not matching me... ^_^

Anyway, the simple answer is:

My face is lighter than my neck due to YEARS of using benzoyl peroxide to keep my adult-acne in check.

Simple as that.

I only started the Anti-Aging & the Hydration parts 2 months ago!

Prior to that, I jumped straight to the OXY Oil-Control Moisturiser and the OXY 5% Benzoyl Peroxide after cleansing...

I kid you not when I say put my skin through that for more than 7-8 years.

It's only THIS year, when I turned 35...
that I forced myself out of my comfort zone...
to hydrate my poor parched skin =_=

(I suffered breakouts trying out various moisturisers and serums,
but the routine below seems OK so far...
And yes, I probably just jinxed myself by saying that! +_+)

Note:
If you are a skincare aficionado who thrives on layering 15 products,
you might as well stop reading now
because you will probably grab your heart in horror and say
"OMG! She's gonna shrivel up like a prune, if she hasn't already..." ~_~

Let's just say I look for efficiency in products.
If the product has the ingredient/ingredients I need (which I've highlighted in ORANGE),
I'll use it.
I don't need a long list of other optional/value-added ingredients (essential oils, etc) which ironically breaks me out.

I use the same products A.M. and P.M.;
the main difference is the AMOUNT of product used.

Note 2:
I am in the market for a good anti-oxidant serum.
Probably something with a high-concentration with Vitamin C,
so I'm open to suggestions! ^_^
Oh! And a non-greasy braod-spectrum sunscreen too.

Note 3:
I don't think I'm at all prune-like (for now :P),
but the main problems I face (HA! pun intended!) are:
- breakouts - I'm still very acne-prone - sneeze at me, and a zit'll probably pop up within 24 hours!
- scars from breakouts - I heal VERY very VeRy slowly.................cell turnover slows down with ageeeeee...
- deep naso-labial/laugh lines
- developing frown lines between my brows
- on the BRIGHT side, NO SIGN of crows feet yet! HA!

Anyway, on with the ROUTINE!

 

Cleansing Tool - Image from Official Clarisonic website

Clarisonic MIA in "Hope Is Beautiful" LE ("MIA")

Eye Makeup Removing - Images from products' official websites

1. Mandom Eye Makeup Remover
2. Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover (Oil-Free)

Base Makeup Removing - Images from products' official websites

1. Kao Biore Cleansing Oil ("Biore Oil")
2. Kao Biore Cleansing Oil – In Cotton Wipes ("Biore Wipes")
3. Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Lotion (Oil Free) ("Neutrogena Lotion")

Basic Cleansing - Images from products' official websites

1. Eucerin: DermoPURIFYER Cleanser (Oil-Free) ("Eucerin")

Active Ingredients:

6% Amphotheric Surfectant, Salicylic Acid
2. Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser (for all skin-types) (Oil-Free) ("Neutrogena Cleanser")

Active Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid

3. St Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Face Wash Blemish And Blackhead Control ("St Ives")

Active Ingredients:

2% Salicylic Acid

Anti-Aging - Image from http://www.sasa.com

1. Skin Peptoxyl Hydrating B5 Complex ("B5 Serum")
Ingredient List:

Aqua, Hyaluronic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B5, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (More INFO on how this is linked to Matrixyl 3000 & Dermaxyl), Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (More INFO on how this is linked to Matrixyl 3000 & Rigin), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Hydrating - Images from http://www.sasa.com

1. Neogence Hyaluronic Hydrating Acid Essence ("Neogence Serum")
Ingredient List:
Aqua, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Methylisothiazolinone
2. Skin Peptoxyl Hydra Boosting Complex ("Squalane")
Ingredient List:
Squalane (Please note that SqualAne is DIFFERENT from SqualEne)
Edited 7 November 2011:
3. On some days, depending on my mood, I use Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate ("Kiehls")
Ingredient List:
Far too long :P

Blemish Control - Image from http://my.cellnique.com

Cellnique Skin Action Gel Plus ("Cellnique")
(Please note that this is NOT the infamous "Skin Action Sebum Gel" which does absolutely nothing for me,
and for what it's worth, this ONLY works in conjunction with the Clarisonic MIA)
Ingredient List:

Purified Water (Aqua), Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, SD Alcohol 40, Salicylic Acid, Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-Ursi) Extract, Vitamin C (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Extract, Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Oil, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) Oil, Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), Polysorbate, Triclosan, Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) Gel, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Allantoin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin.

Blemish Control - Images from http://www.mentholatum.com.my

1. OXY Oil-Control Moisturiser ("Oxy Moisturiser")
Active Ingredient:
Triclosan
2. OXY 5% Benzoyl Peroxide ("Oxy BP")
Active Ingredient:
Benzoyl Peroxide

Edited 7 November 2011:

I've downgraded to 2.5% Benzac or Acne.org Benzoyl Peroxide,

so I need not dilute it with the Oxy Moisturiser anymore!


MORNING / A.M.

Image from http://www.graphicsfactory.com

~~  99% of the time, I would have removed my base makeup before crashing.

Thus, I only cursory cleanse my face with the St. Ives.

~~  1 drop of B5, warmed up between my ring & middle fingers, patted onto my laugh lines, frown lines and eye area (avoiding eyelids).

~~  2 drops of B5, warmed up between my ring, middle and fore fingers, smoothed onto my neck.

~~  3-4 drops of Neogence + 1 drop of Squalane warmed between my palms, patted onto the whole face, excess onto neck area.

Note: 

The Neogence dropper is MUCH larger than the Squalane's;

thus the ratio is closer to 6:1 rather than 3:1.

~~   1 mung-bean-sized (2 mm) of OXY BP mixed with 1 large fresh pea-sized :P (1.5 cm) Oxy moisturiser all over face and below chin.

NIGHT / P.M.

Image from http://www.graphicsfactory.com

When it comes to the P.M. routine, the MOST important bit for me is

removing . every . last . bit of base makeup.

Note:

Although I don't use a toner, whenever I'm trying out a new base,

I use some toner after cleansing to see if my makeup remover/s did it/their job.

~~ Depending on how heavy my base is, I would either use the Biore Wipe (when I'm in a hurry), Biore Oil or Neutrogena Lotion. I skip this step if my base is very light.

~~ Followed by the Eucerin.

~~ Followed by the Neutrogena Cleanser used with the Clarisonic MIA.

~~ Followed by the St Ives.

The rest is very similar to the day routine. Difference highligted in ORANGE!

~~ 1 pump of Cellnique,  warmed up between my ring, middle and fore fingers, smoothed over my nose and cheek area.

~~  1-2 drops of B5, warmed up between my ring & middle fingers, patted onto my laugh lines, frown lines and eye area (including eyelids).

~~  2-3 drops of B5, warmed up between my ring, middle and fore fingers, smoothed onto my neck.

~~  3-4 drops of Neogence + 1-2 drops of Squalane warmed between my palms, patted onto the whole face, excess onto neck area.

Note: 

The Neogence dropper is MUCH larger than the Squalane's;

thus the ratio is closer to 6:1 rather than 3:1.

~~  2 mung-bean-sized (4 mm) of OXY BP mixed with 1 large fresh pea-sized :P (1.5 cm) Oxy moisturiser all over face and below chin.

And that's it. Simple, eh? ^_^

Hope this helps someone out there!

I don't do much other than the above. Saving that for an uber short blog post ;)

Thanks for reading! <3