I was walking around a Lotte department store one day trying to find the perfect products for my combination Asian skin.
The winter had brought out some dry patches on my skin, and it was imperative to find products that will hydrate my face without leaving it oily.
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My masseuse had been chastising me for having dry body skin, but after I started using L’Occitane soaps, she asked me what I’d done differently on my skin to make it so soft.
L’Occitane Soap. Smells amazing and leaves skin soft. Buy it on Amazon.
I figured that was a good sign about the quality of L’Occitane products, so I decided to check out their skincare line. After a lengthy conversation with the sales associate, I decided to buy the Aqua Reotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream, Aqua Reotier Prep Essence, and the Divine Harmony Serum.
The day after I used these products for the first time, I saw a noticeable difference in skin moisture and brightness. Within a week of using these products, my complexion got brighter and more even-toned. People started asking about my skincare routine, so I wrote this blog post.
For your reference, I have combination Asian skin that tends to get dry patches in the winter. Here’s the scoop on how to make your skin look better…
How to Cleanse Your Skin Thoroughly
The first step in any proper skin care routine starts with thorough, yet mild cleansing. If you wear any type of face makeup (sunscreen, powder, foundation, BB cream, etc), you’ll want to remove the makeup with micellar water first before washing your face with cleanser.
What’s Micellar Water and Why Do I Need It?
Micellar water is a combination of purified water, hydrating ingredients, and gentle surfactants that contain micelles. Micelles are cleansing molecules that go deeply into your pores to draw out the oil and dirt from your skin.
This is important because facial cleansers by themselves can’t always go deep enough to remove oils and makeup from your pores. Micellar water helps to dissolve this layer of oil and makeup from your skin so that your cleanser can do its job well.
You’ll know if you need micellar water when you see tiny pimples that pop up from time to time on your face. These tiny zits are the result of clogged pores that weren’t properly cleaned. If your skin is perfectly clear all the time, then you may not need micellar water.
Micellar water is great if you are acne-prone because it helps remove skin impurities without drying your skin. Some dermatologists also recommend cleansing with micellar water before you reapply sunscreen to prevent clogged pores.
I really like the Cleansing Micellar Oil from Yves Rocher. It’s very easy to apply and rinse off. It cleanses the skin thoroughly while keeping the moisture in your skin. It also has a very light, slightly sweet chamomile scent that smells amazing!
Cleansing Micellar Oil. Shop Now.
For a more affordable micellar solution, you can buy the most highly-rated micellar water: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Cleansing Water.
Bioderma Micellar Water. Top-rated on Amazon. Buy it now!
Bioderma’s Micellar Water is made for sensitive skin and sold in pharmacies in France, so you can rest assured that it will be gentle on your skin.
Cleanse Your Skin with a Mild Cleanser
After removing makeup with the micellar solution, it’s time to cleanse with a mild cleanser.
I really love the Sebo Vegetal Cleansing Gel from Yves Rocher. It feels luxuriously smooth and lathers well. After I wash off the cleanser, my face feels deeply cleansed yet hydrated. I highly recommend this gel cleanser!
Sebo Vegetal Gel Cleanser. My favorite facial cleanser! Buy now.
The other cleanser that I use is the Hydra Vegetal Cleansing Gel from Yves Rocher. This one was recommended by the counter clerk from Yves Rocher as a great cleanser for the winter because it has more moisturizing properties.
Hydra Vegetal. Great for drier months. Shop now.
It feels similar to the Sebo Vegetal, so I can’t really tell the difference between the two except the smell. The Sebo Vegetal cleanser has a light watermelon smell and the Hydra Vegetal cleanser has a fruitier, less sweet smell than the Sebo Vegetal.
I prefer the lighter scent of the Sebo Vegetal, so I like the green cleanser better, but they both cleanse well without drying out my skin. If it’s wintertime, I’d recommend the Hydra Vegetal for its extra moisture. If it’s summer, then the Sebo Vegetal is an awesome choice!
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Restore Skin’s pH Balance
Once you’ve thoroughly cleansed your face, make sure to restore the skin’s pH balance. Now, you might be asking: what the heck is pH?
pH is a figure that measures the amount of acidity of your skin. It measures the amount of oil, amino acids, and lactic acids that are protecting your skin from the environment (dirt, bacteria, etc).
The ideal pH level of skin is 5.5, which is slightly acidic. If your skin’s pH level is too far off from this 5.5 level, then it can cause problems such as dryness, breakouts, and even inflammation.
This is why it’s important to restore the pH balance of your skin after cleansing. It will help your skin retain its natural ability to stay hydrated and clear.
My pH balancer of choice right now is L’Occitane Aqua Reotier Prep Essence. I really like the gel-like texture that makes the application much easier than the liquid consistency of toners.
L’Occitane Aqua Reotier Prep Essence. Buy it on Amazon!
Apply Skin Serum and Lock in Moisture
It gets absorbed into the skin instantly and creates a hydrated base to allow the skin to better absorb skin treatments such as L’occitane Divine Harmony serum.
L’Occitane Anti-aging Serum. Buy it now!
I apply the serum by placing a small amount onto my fingertips. Then I massage the serum in an outward circle from the center of my face. Massaging in outward circles helps to prevent wrinkles on the face, according to Chinese Medicine. This is why most application instructions will instruct users to apply in outward circles.
To make sure that the serum doesn’t evaporate from the skin, the last step is to apply a night cream to lock in the serum. For this, I use L’Occitane Aqua Reotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream.
L’Occitane Aqua Reotier Cream. Buy it now!
The cream has a very light consistency. It absorbs quickly and is very moisturizing. A great cream to battle dryness during the drier months of the year!
Your mileage may vary, but using the products above has helped revitalize my tired complexion. My skin is now brighter and has a glow to it that garners a lot of questions about my skincare routine. Give it a try!
How do you take care of your skin? Share your tips below!
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[…] How to Improve Your Complexion Overnight SummaryReviewer Victorine VienReview Date 2019-03-12Reviewed Item Yves Rocher Gel Effect LacquerAuthor Rating 5 […]