Recently I had a bad breakout. I’m still breaking out till to this day, can you believe it? This has got to be my longest, most miserable breakout of all these years. So I took a drastic change with my skincare routine. Because I have not had breakout like this for years, I was actually clueless as to what to do.

The first thing I did was to stop everything I was using and re-plan my new skincare routine. The key is to go back to basic. But what? I start from the cleanser and move upwards. And these are what I had come out with.

Day time routine

To me day time was the easiest to plan. I don’t really pile up a lot of skincare products as I was before. So it was just cleanser, toner, eye care, beauty oil, moisturizer and sunscreen.

Cleanser – Neal’s Yard Remedies Deliciously Ella Rose, Lime & Cucumber Facial Wash
This one is easy. It is my existing cleanser and I’m ran out as I’m typing this. It’s very mild, doesn’t foam up a lot but does a good job in cleansing the face.

Lotion – Estée Lauder Micro Essence
Micro Essence is actually my night time toner and I’m also using it in the day time. When used along with ANR, the result is amazing. Alone on itself it is just any other lotion, only more sticky and moisturizing lol.

Eye Care – Clarins Enchancing Eye Lift Serum
I’m trying to get through this as this eye serum is not enough when used alone. As it is a serum, it is recommended to use alongside an eye cream. You know me, I’m lazy these days

Beauty Oil – Trilogy No. 15 Limited Edition Beauty Oil
I should stop using this beauty oil as well and be on a super basic regimen but since I just started using it, I didn’t want to leave it alone. It’s harmless and such a waste if I stop using it so there you have it.

Moisturizer – Clarins White Plus Pure Translucency Brightening Emulsion
I have a theory with breakout. You MUST implement at least one whitening skincare in your skincare regimen so that the marks are easier to tone down or get rid off. I never ever ever go on with my day without any whitening product. I find that by using a whitening product, the marks are less red and heals faster

Sunscreen – Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++
And of course, always end your day skincare routine with a sunscreen. I’m always on min SPF50. Nothing less. Recently I took out this Murad’s new sunscreen to use. It’s slightly tinted and heavy on the skin. Not my favourite at the beginning but it grew on me. Now, I like how it makes my skin healthy.

Forea Luna Play Plus
This is a new toy I purchase recently from Sephora. I’m using it once a day aka in the morning after I woke up and it makes my skin so smooth and glowy. Weird. It works!

Night time routine

From cleanser to moisturizer there are only 6 products, same as the day time. I thought it’s more. Hmmm.

Cleanser – Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser
I really like self-foaming cleanser. Recent discovery and love is this one from Caudalie. Night time is the time I really indulge in my beauty routine. Even this cleanser which I’ve been saving is only meant for night time as I’m scared I ran out lol.

Eye Care – Clarins Enchancing Eye Lift Serum
Nothing different here compared to day time. Still the same product for the eyes but sometimes I do stray to others. Sometimes

Lotion – Estée Lauder Micro Essence
Same as day time, Micro Essence is the essential as I’m pairing it with ANR.

Serum – Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Now, this is the main key product in the whole Breakout Skincare Routine. As I was re-planning my entire skincare routine, I was thinking hard on one product that can help with skin rejuvenation. I mean, most of the anti-aging products claimed to be one but I only knew ANR would work and worked before. So I bust into a brand new Limited Edition Golden ANR bottle from the Monkey year. Nothing feels as good as a brand new bottle of ANR haha.

Beauty Oil – Trilogy No. 15 Limited Edition Beauty Oil
Because I was using this beauty oil in the day, why not continue at night as well? Plus I feel more moisturized if I had this on to sleep.

Moisturizer – L’Occitane Reine Blanche Whitening Rich Cream
Like I said, I must have at least one whitening product to reduce acne marks and to accelerate the healing process. This cream is potent! It’s not drying for the skin and does a good job. I still do ended up with breakout marks but I believe it will be gone in no time with continuous use of this cream. I’m left with just a medium blob. Hope it will last me lol.

Treatment

On every alternate days, I would be putting one some kind of mask. The only I can’t stop using is the L’Oreal Pure Clay Mask Anti-Pores. I don’t care what people say about PRC made or UK made. This is what I can get in Malaysia and that’s what I’ll be using. Other masks on rotation are REN Evercalm™ Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask (review here) which works in calming down the skin or redness,Dr. Brand Magnetight Skin Recharging Magnet Mask (review here) to suck out all the impurities from the pores, and hella lots of sheet mask. The one I’m currently using are of course from my LoveFace X #IWillBeOkay collaboration box

Tell me, what do you do when you have breakout? Do you stop using everything or do you go back to the basic 3-steps?

The post Breakout Skincare Routine appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

While I am still on the whitening Olympic game, I also took on the L’Occitane (pronounced as “LOX-EE-TAHN” for those who still scratching head on how to pronounce the brand name) challenge on trying out their new addition, Reine Blanche Whitening Rich Cream, which is now a part of the Reine Blanche range that was launched 2 years ago. Reine Blanche range was launched with 6 products. This year, L’Occitane added another additional 3 products into the range.

P/S: I don’t think I will ever be off the whitening bandwagon just FYI lol

Reine Blanche Whitening Rich Cream, as its name would suggest is a rich cream. I still remember vividly that a few years ago, whitening range is known to be drying on any skin especially dry, dehydrated and matured skin. Not anymore. With this new rich cream formula, you will be expecting not only a bumped up whitening formula but it also nourishes skin and re-plumps it with moisture. The formula contain Reine Blanche Complex that also works to even out skin tone.

The jar itself is very hefty. It look like it is more than 50ml because no matter how much I used it seems full still. I have to triple check the ml to double confirm it is just 50ml

L’Occitane products are typically fragranced. However this Reine Blanche Whitening Rich Cream is not as strongly scented as I thought it would be. The scent is sensorial, without overpowering the nose. The scent disappears almost right after application so that is a good news for those who are not a fan of scented skincare.

The Reine Blanche whitening and illuminating range are formulated with Reine de Pres, a unique flower that grow whiter over time, lightening itself from creamy shade when it first blooms to a pure white color. That is what the skincare targets to achieve as well.

Consistency wise, it is definitely thicker and creamier than any other cream product. It has a pure white cream color but not the type that gives you a paint-like mask on the face like the one I reviewed previously by Dr. Jart. It does leaves a thin white cast over the face but it disappears soon after.

I have been quite lucky with whitening products so far including this L’Occitane Reine Blanche Whitening Rich Cream. It gives me the brightening effect that I want and further lighten past acne marks as daily maintenance for me. I’m quite comfortable with my skin these days that I even go out to the mall without any makeup on but just my eyebrow done. Although there are still a lot of work to be done to further lighten those uneven skin tone but hey, I am quite happy about the product and that I know nothing works overnight. A complete skincare routine, lifestyle and diet plays a big part in a beautiful skin too. I also always believe in using whitening products to compress future pigmentation from deep inside from emerging up to the surface. Prevention is always better than cure.

This is me, bare face. No makeup on as me and 40 others more participated in #IWillBeOkay Trail Hike. Imagine meeting 40 people and I have no makeup on. I must have had some kind of confidence boost that day LOL.

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post L’Occitane Reine Blanche Whitening Rich Cream Has Been Making Me Leaving The House Without Any Makeup On appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

Gift shopping for our own self is so much easier than shopping for other people, especially for loved ones. I think maybe because we think or worry too much that the other party will not like the gift? Well, stop thinking too much and you will be fine. I always say this and I am going to say it again. Gifting is not about receiving but also gifting from the heart. It is so much joy to gift than receiving if you are at my age LOL

Gifting is easier over the recent years because the millennial men are as self-conscious as the women. Thank goodness for that as that means we no longer need to scratch our head thinking what to get for the opposite sex. Naturally gifts for men is lesser option than the women. And that brings me to a place where you can get gifts for everyone. L’Occitane. No, this is not sponsored or paid  #notsponsored

Walking into a L’Occitane store is also less intimidating than other stores because you get to roam around the store browsing, trying out the products and they even offer you tea to drink. I love tea when shopping. Who doesn’t like that right? And being an OCD person, you will appreciate that every products are properly categorized by the collection. If you stand in front of the Almond collection, you will see everything that the collection has. That makes picking up a customized gift so much easier and fun.

If you are undecisive like I am (sometimes), you can take a look at their pre-packed gift sets available. However if you are into personalizing your gifts to make it a bit more special, walk around and pick what you want. Consult with the store’s friendly retail consultant if you need to. Then the retail consultant will help you to pack it into a beautiful gift box.

More option for you to shop for your loved ones this fesive season. I just picked mine up last Friday . If shopping physcially is not your thing, you can also shop online. Many store offeres online shopping now. For me, I would prefer to touch, pay and collect on the spot unless the brand is not available in Malaysia, online shopping it is. Another reason to shop online is the online exclusive deals that you cannot find at the physical store.

Happy gift shopping!

The post L’Occitane Holiday Gifting Made Easy appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

The L’Occitane Immortelle 28 Day Divine Renewal Program was made available at our local L’Occitane stores in October 2015 and at that time I was dealing with some life issues that I was not about to put this program for a trial and to tell you about it. But fret not. I am finally on my last week of the program and I can finally tell you about it.

This L’Occitane Immortelle 28 Day Divine Renewal Program would be my first time ever indulging into such skin renewal program and honestly, I do not know what to expect but a skin that is 100% better than my current condition. Afterall this program does not come cheap.

Let’s take a step back and learn a bit about the best-seller range – the Immortale Divine anti-ageing range. This face care collection was created in 2009. The secret to the Divine range is the golden elixir that is precious but yet so natural. It is called Immortelle. The signature bright yellow hue of this legendary flower (known as Helichrysum in Latin) simply means ‘golden sun’. Immortelle flower is known for its ‘eternal life’. That is because this particular flower does not wilt even after they are picked. AMAZING.

Now, L’Occitane Immortelle 28 Day Divine Renewal Program, as the name suggests is a skin renewal program for 28 days. Basically you only use this at night and nothing else for subsequent 28 days non-stop. In a year, it is only recommended to use maximum 2 times. Why 28 days? Well, our skin takes 28 days to regenerate. This program is designed to work in harmony with our skin’s natural rhythms. It comes in a super luxe golden box, which contain 4 rows of weekly treatment vials.

Each row of vials has number printed on them as an indication of which week is the treatment for.

• Week 1: Gentle Exfoliation – getting rid of pore-clogging dead cells.
• Week 2: Hydration and Nutrition – strengthen new cells, nourish and moisture skin.
• Week 3: Balance – rebalance skin, promote skin wellbeing and preparing the skin for final step.
• Week 4: Renewal – gives skin radiance and plumpness as well as to prevent signs of ageing.

The oil is dry oil, which means it is not as oily as other beauty or face oil. However it is still oil so it tends to get messy AND oily especially if each vial (1ml) is for one usage only. No matter how you don’t like it, you will still need to use up the whole vial each application, not saving it for next day or whatsoever. Remember this is a 28 Day renewal program, not 56 days

I was told to use nothing but this oil at night time only. I have to say, I like how simplified my night routine has been. The effect will be more enhanced if I used Melvita Nectar Supreme The Eye & Lip Contour Cream and La Créme, which I will talk about end of this week .

Week 1

The first week is the toughest for me as the oil is somewhat more oily and heavy. But I managed to find away around it. What I do is to use an exfoliating cotton pad with toner and wipe it all over my face before using this face oil. Somehow this small step of mine managed to help the oil absorption. First I dispense some oil onto my palm ,warm with both palm and pat onto my face. Then I do the same and apply onto my neck and décolleté. Since there is some oil left, I repeated the same process onto my face again and then neck. The gap application gives my face time to absorb the oil so when I go back for the second round application, my face just soak everything in. However, there are still a lot of oil left on the surface of my face.

Week 2

The second week is better. The oil feels lighter comparing to first week. By the second week, I notice some changes with my skin. I have a brighter and smoother skin. I have heard that some experienced small bumps or breakout but I had the otherwise. No breakout. Instead, breakout seems to subside even faster with this oil.

Week 3

On week three, I had some breakout but not from the oil. It was hormonal breakout aka monthly breakout. I knew the oil will helped to tame it down and it did. I still keep my toner routine the same i.e. using an exfoliating cotton pad to prep the skin. I still feel this helps a lot in the oil absorption. Week 3 oils are lighter than week 2. I only left with very little oil for my face and décolleté. But this particular week I feel a bit tired with all the excess oil floating on my face.

Week 4

My favourite of all. Not because I was about to finish the program but the oil seems smoother and lighter. It feels as if the content was lesser. It’s not . Still the same 1ml each vial. The oil feels more watery and less oilier. The whole week I did not have extra for my neck and décolleté at all. My face takes in everything. I used what’s left on my palm for the neck and décolleté.

The above is the Before and After. With the amount of oil I piled up on my face for the past 28 days, I did not feels that my face is oilier during the day. Instead my face was glowing underneath makeup. Although I have heard that some people can’t take in that much oil on their face and they experienced bumps and breakouts, I was the opposite. I honestly did not think my skin would take it. I envisioned massive breakout . Whenever I have a pimple popping out, it disappeared the next day. I believe my skin regenerated much more faster with this oil. If I have itchy fingers and I tried to pop a pimple, the oil will clear the wound away the next day.

My advice is to avoid the eye area during application. Sometimes I forget about it and just pat away, only to get a slight sting on my eye when I was about to sleep. No reaction on my eyes, just blurry vision lol.

Overall, I think this is a worthwhile renewal program to splurge once or twice a year. Thank goodness it is not recommended to use all year long or I will go cray cray with the amount of beauty oil on my face. I like the scent most of all. It smells, divine! I definitely like how the oil cleared my pimples and how smooth or glowy my skin is under makeup. I am also thankful that my crazy skin takes in all the oil like a trooper and not giving me breakout. Definitely a recommended program if you want to regenerate or renew your skin from the dull state

Disclaimer: Press gift. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post L’Occitane Immortelle 28 Day Divine Renewal Program: A quick way to regenerate and renewal your skin state in a month appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona