How-to: Unclog pores in 40 minutes or less - At-home facial for the At-home Mom

When your babies have learned to sleep on their own and you can get at least an hour away without them waking up, you know it's time to ease back into the life you once had before they came along.

For myself, I waited until they could sleep through the night (about 1 year for each) to return to my nocturnal activities. This includes pampering my skin with weekly at-home facials. And since my HG facial oil  no longer had any HG effects, my nose was clogging up with blackheads as badly as during my pre-skincare days (aka uni). Yeah, I didn't wash my face until I was 17. Get over it.

Anyhoo, within the last couple of months, I have perfected my routine to the point that I feel it works better the salon facials I have been to. Here's how it goes:

Step 1. Oil Cleansing Method

If you don't know OCM, Google it. It's awesome. To save time, I do it before showering. 10 minutes of massaging the oil firmly into the skin, focusing on the clogged up areas. Do it like you're prepping your chicken for the oven. Within 5 minutes, I can sometimes feel bits of gunk dislodging already.

Cheap and good extra virgin coconut oil

I use coconut oil for this. Now, for OCM to work on your skin, you have to choose the right oil. Because I have dry skin, coconut oil works pretty well. I have tried olive oil previously but it was too drying on my cheeks and broke me out. Mineral oil works ok too, but maybe I'm just biased from all the disreputation it has. Besides, coconut oil is edible, so it's fine if it gets in your mouth from overzealous rubbing.

In case you're wondering, I usually pre-cleanse with a makeup remover if I do have makeup on. I just don't like the idea of rubbing the emulsified makeup back into my pores.

Step 2. Exfoliate

After the massaging is done, I jump into the shower. Since my skin is dry, I don't rinse the oil off immediately, but that's just me. Instead, I exfoliate with a good scrub.

Expensive stuff, probably wouldn't buy it again

 I like to use a manual exfoliator, so it also works to cleanse off some of the oil from the massage. I suppose if you prefer chemical exfoliators, you would do this step after showering.

Now, because not all exfoliators work as cleansers, I find that quite abit of oil will still remain on the face. So it is important to wipe off the oil with a hot (or warm) towel until there are no traces of oil left on the skin, as per the original OCM. This has made a huge difference in how many blackheads accummulate on my nose during the week. This is a must especially if you don't plan to cleanse or use a manual exfoliator.

Step 3. Extract

After softening oil clogs and opening pores, it is time to extract. It has always been the case that I take great pleasure in digging out/removing stuff from various orifices and surfaces. Thus, it is no surprise that this is my favourite step. There is so much fulfilment and satisfaction in evacuating gunk from places where it should not be and I take great joy in the process.

This cheap tool can be bought for less than $2

To those who say I don't have pores: don't be ridiculous. Everyone has pores. And look what's in it? That's crap that shouldn't be there. With softened skin and opened pores, these babies slide out like maggots from stale bread. Just make sure to get the extractors that have rounded, not flat edges. I have used those before and have torn my skin countless times. Not fun.

Step 4. Clarifying Mask

I know the OCM is supposed to already be deep cleansing, but I needed to use this up anyway. And I found that it probably has helped to lessen my blackheads.

Any regular clay mask should do

  If you find your skin clean enough and you don't think you have excess sebum, you could probably replace with a hydrating sheet mask or something. Either way, it just feels nice to use this as an excuse to go read a book, watch a quarter of a Korean drama episode, or contemplate life in general.

For those with dry skin, prepping with a hydrating mist or rosewater should help reduce the tight afterfeel. Or if you're like me, go for products suitable for sensitive/dry skin. I have heard good things about Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, which I'm dying to try next.

Step 5. Complete your regular skincare routine

For those who didn't do the hydrating mask in Step 4, you could do this at the end of your routine, depending on what type of mask you use. But since my routine is pretty intensive, I usually skip this. I would like to note, however, that I apply more of my anti-acne products to counter the agitation I've done to my skin during extraction.

Atorrege AD+ Cool Lotion

I use this with the Atorrege AD+ Acne Spots over my T-zone to protect against probable breakouts. Works well for me. I don't usually have any residual redness by the next day.

So there you go, your easy at-home facial in under an hour. Would love to know if it works for you too!

Review and compare: MooGoo Eczema and Psoriasis Cream

My trip to Oz resulted in the discovery of this cream that was recommended by the pharmacist. Before I begin, some background...

Those of you who have been following this blog (thank you!) know that I'm always on the lookout for new products since E1 suffers from bad eczema, triggered by sensitive airways, ie every time he gets some allergic respiratory symptoms, he also gets eczema. But, unfortunately,  I too had a brush with the weirdest and one of the most severe cases of eczema ever experienced for myself. Before our trip, my finger pads and some bits of the fingers broke out in horrible dry patches, worst on the left hand. I deduced it was stress-related since I had been rushing 2 assignments prior to leaving and was chewing my brains out over 2 more that were due at the end of the trip. Later on, the dry patches started peeling off, turning leathery, sometimes bark-like, and reducing my sensation by half. I also developed a small fissure on my right index finger (meaning the skin split, yes ouch).

Anyway, this was my hand at the beginning. The skin was dry, peeling off, and it hurt. In a hypersensitive way, kind of like when you scald yourself.

This was painful, literally

So in addition to looking for my next HG cream for E1 (we ran out of Physiogel and didn't bother restocking), I needed something for my poor fingers.

I had initially bought a tub of John Plunkett's Eczema Cream. It was a weird little concoction with fish oil and therefore smelled godawful, but I had to return it after I realised it was expired. The chemist recommended MooGoo, but unfortunately, they were out of stock.

Now, I took that as a good sign of it's popularity and efficacy, and I wasn't put off looking for more stockists since we coincidentally were tasked to bring back some MooGoo Moisturising Cream for a friend (she wanted 4 bottles and everywhere we went, we only managed to get 1 or 2 bottles).

Anyhoo, I eventually found the cream (scroll down for specific locations) and tried it on myself, religiously applying it 2-3 times a day.

I thought it was a good cream, but the smell was slightly off-putting. So I went out and bought another tube, but this time in the old formula. So, these are the hauls:

Left - Old formula; Right - New formula

Ingredient-wise, they are quite different. Where the old formula has sage oil and chamomile, the new formula has elderberry, marshmallow, calendula and coconut oil. Both feature aloe vera, almond oil, olive oil and Vitamin E as the excipient ingredients.

Both have yummy ingredients

As mentioned, it was the smell that distinguished them for me. Where the old formula smells herbal, which I suspect is the sage, the new formula smells like a mishmash of ingredients and while not unpleasant, is not what could be described as pleasant. It reminds me of stale bread. If you can stand the first 5 min of it, it does dissipate after a while.

The new version (right) looks like coffee cream..mmm....not

The feel of each formula is different as well. Both, however, have medium consistency and is easy to spread. The new formula is greasier and takes longer to absorb, but it did feel more moisturising after the 5 min mark.

And that's probably what helped make a difference in my fingers. This is what it's like now, 2 weeks after the initial onset:

Almost normal

but still peeling

Note: I was using the new formula when I was still in Aus. Of course, this is actually not a fair comparison because I did not control for factors such as temperature, humidity and activity level (I was washing alot more dishes there, yes while on holiday - don't ask me why). But I did think that it helped to control the symptoms and prevented further peeling.

What sold me was when I touched E1's skin and it was remarkably softer and smoother, almost like E2's, who has been blessed with silky smooth toufu skin - obviously my genes. Even GY commented that E1's skin has been much better, even though it was only apparent when we returned to Sg.

Verdict: Ravenous Raving
This is the cream that I will stock up on and ask every friend who is coming back from Oz to get for E1. Since the moisturising effects of the new version appear more lasting than the old one, I will save the new version for him and keep the old one for my own use. He has developed a sweaty-boy-smell anyway and I don't think the odour of this cream is noticeable on him. For extremely dry areas, though, I would still use the new formula.

I got these creams from major chemists like Go Vita and Amcal, ranging 18-19 AUD for a 120g tube. If you live there, you could also easily get it online direct from the company for a good price.

For locals, MooGoo ships internationally with a shipping fee of 10 AUD. Stockists can also be found here. Take note that this is marketed here as Irritable Skin Balm. But if you are after this particular product, be sure to phone ahead as not all outlets may sell the full range. The price is also approximately 1.5 times that of Aus, after adjusting for exchange rate.

Review: Sukin products

In the blink of an eye, one month has passed since my last post! Been busy with the exam, then mum's surprise birthday bash (which was a partial success), looking for things to write about....which brings me to this. I'd been using some new Sukin products that I am now finally getting around to review - the shampoo, body wash and cream cleanser.

Shampoo

This is a big bottle

As with other organic brands, this one is sulphate-free, so it lathers minimally. I've gotten used to sulphate-free shampoos so the lathering is enough for me and I even find it relatively rich for an organic shampoo. I've even gotten GY to use it, whose reaction to it is the standard "it's ok" response. But I use this every other day (remember, scalp and roots only!) and I don't think my hair has been this healthy for a long time. I also love the scent, which is a citrus and vanilla blend, that is signature to almost all their products. The only problem I have with it is the pump, which I find rather weak (yes as in, bo lat).

The shampoo is a clear, gooey liquid

Body Wash

See how the packaging is exactly the same?

It comes in the same packaging and has the same consistency and scent as the shampoo. In fact, there was a time after my maid swapped the bottles after cleaning the shelves that I, with the visual acuity of a naked mole rat, lathered the body wash into my hair and didn't realise it until I was rinsing it off. When applied to the hair, it rinses off squeaky clean, whereas the shampoo leaves a healthy coat of moisture. Anyway that's not really where it's supposed to go. I use poufs with my bodywashes, so with this, there's an acceptable amount of lather. 1 pump is enough for my whole body, but I usually use 2 for a more indulgent experience.

Even the stuff that comes out looks and smells the same??

Cream Cleanser

I'd been looking for a smallish cream cleanser for use when travelling and/or staying at mum's house and this was perfect. It's surprisingly thick and feels slightly heavy and greasy to apply. But it does wash off easily and doesn't leave that oily film behind. The scent retains the strong vanilla note but with less hints of citrus, making it almost smell like cinnamon. Which is a weird thing to be putting on the face in my opinion. Nevertheless, it's pleasant enough to use and leaves my skin soft and plump.

The cream is pretty heavy and thick

Verdict: Raves
Of the three, the shampoo and body wash are definite keepers. They are half the price for double the amount of the brand I was using previously - Akin. When on offer, both products go for $20+ for each 1ltr bottle, which is a steal considering the purity of the ingredients. But while I won't be replacing my Jurlique cleanser with the Sukin cream cleanser any time soon, it is admittedly a cheap alternative for travel purposes - around $12 for 125ml.
Sukin can be found at selected Unity, Guardian and Watsons outlets, as well as other independent health stores. Check it out here.

Review:Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum

This breastfeeding business has really taken a toll on my skin. I am, as confirmed by other signs, dehydrated. My cheeks have become bumpy and the corners of my nose occasionally peel.

So I decided my skincare routine needed more thirst-quenching products to bump up the hydration.

The only thing left that I didn't have was a serum. So after days of searching for an ideal candidate, I decided to stick with the brand and get the Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum.

As usual, I was excited to try this new addition after purchasing a huge bottle. But as I sat down to begin my ritual -lo and behold!- I found two samples of the serum from previous hauls. Even more exciting! So I tore into the sachets and quickly squeezed out the contents.

Slightly runny, has a weird smell like the Daily Exfoliating cream

Common sense says that you should always read the instructions before putting anything on your face. Yet in the throes of my eagerness, I had forgotten this important step. Too late. I had squeezed out enough product to slather on my face thrice and to cover my neck as well.

And then my face burned like the fiery bowels of hell.

Ok it wasn't that bad, but it stung pretty badly. I had to wait a good 5 minutes before the feeling dissipated and I felt normal enough to apply the next product. At least I know there's really potent stuff in there.

Oops that dedinitely wasn't 1-2 pumps' worth

But when I started massaging my Skin Balancing Oil in, gross balls of stuff started coming off my face! Think of a gommage or face peel - I was rubbing off gunky yellow bits and it didn't feel nice at all. I had to pat the rest of the oil and my moisturiser in, which I just wasn't used to.

After such an unpromising start, I was dreading the feeling that I would regret buying this very expensive product. But after 15 minutes of letting everything sink in (literally and figuratively), I discovered that my face felt heavenly and I couldn't stop touching it. It was so smooth, with the finishing effect not unlike that of a silicone cream, and the bumps on the left side of my face were less palpable. Wow! What is in that thing?

Ingredients

My guess -and I'm really taking a stab here- is the magnesium silicate, which is really just talc. That's probably why it got gunky when I tried applying the oil after the serum. Lesson learnt. But what's the proper sequence to apply these products then?

I had never bothered to ask the salesgirls as they had always looked somewhat clueless. I had also tried to search online but to no avail. So I had simply decided to follow the Korean method of skincare, which is basically to apply products based on consistency, starting with the thinnest and finishing with the heaviest. While this method worked with the old routine, throwing the serum in obviously derailed the entire system.

So I trawled through the net one last time and chanced upon a blogger who had experienced the Jurlique facial and had shared the proper sequence as used by the beautician. Prepare for a moment of epiphany...

1. Cleanse
2. Massage with oil, remove excess
3. Toning mist
4. Eye cream
5. Serum
6. Moisturiser

What?! My step 4 was actually supposed to be step 2? Dammit. But even with the 1-yr plus of wrong application, I still get compliments on my skin. Which really attests to the quality of Jurlique's products.

So I started the next day anew, following the proper sequence and using the serum sparingly. Great results, no more clumping goo.

Verdict: Rave (ish)
I haven't used this long enough to say anything definitive about the long term effects, but I do like the short term results. The drawback, though, is the cost, even though per volume it is cheaper than the one I used previously. The biggest bottle, which is 100ml, burned a 3-figure sum through my pocket. You could get the 30ml bottle for around $130 but the bigger bottle is only double that price. I suspect that once my skin goes back to normal, if it ever does, this pricey addition may make an exit from my routine.

Review: Atorrege AD + Acne Spots

Ok I've been waiting for a chance to do this review but I haven't actually had any breakouts thanks to steady hormone levels and good regular skincare. Then the occasional zit visited and I had to whip out my latest pimple-zapping procurement.

A red spot appeared on the right side of my nose last week. Underneath that, I could feel the beginnings of a zit - slightly hard, swollen, tender when pressed. This is a telltale sign I needed to incorporate my spot treatment into my skincare regime.

Most births are celebrated but not this baby

I've tried a few products before and found that I didn't like most of them for being either too harsh or too useless. I do stock a bottle of pure tea tree oil but it does take a few days to see any results.

If you haven't heard of this brand, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I hadn't either, until my itchy fingers brought me to some pretty good reviews about their products. I couldn't find much info about the brand and the company, but I shan't bore you with the details. I did like the fact that the products have naturally-derived active ingredients.

As for Acne Spots, the product comes in an amber glass bottle with a dropper. It's a gel base that is quite viscous but spreads well. One full drop is enough to dab on 2-3 spots for me. But because the gel doesn't really dry or get fully absorbed, I'm careful to press on my subsequent products rather than massaging them haphazardly like I usually do.

The consistency is similar to thin, runny mucus

And what a wonder it does. After 2 days of twice daily applications:

No photoshop required

Gone like wham, bam thank you ma'am! This red spot had no chance of festering into a fully bloomed painful whitehead in all its pus-filled glory. Ok that may be a little dramatic, but I really wouldn't want that to happen because it's very difficult to exercise self restrain when there's a big pimple screaming at you to burst it. And what comes after squeezing a zit? Yeap, immense satisfaction followed by a whole lot of guilt and 2 weeks of scarring. That was the whole point of spending money to avoid it in the first place.

Verdict: So Rave
I believe that effective products in general are worth the money, as long as it isn't overly ridiculous. This little glass bottle will set you back $59 for 10ml of product. But it is available at selected Watsons outlets and major department stores like BHG and Robinsons so it's worthwhile to make use of their incentive schemes to get it at a discount or even for "free".

Review: Cetaphil Restoraderm body wash and moisturiser

Someone from the good folks at McGallen & Bolden sent me some samples from Cetaphil's eczema care range after she read my post on Physiogel AI. This is fairly new in the Singapore market but I've actually used this before on E1 when he was a babe.

When E1 was around 4 months old, he developed a horrible heat rash in the skin folds of his arms and legs. It was weepy and pruritic (i.e. wet and gross). Nothing worked, even low-dose topical steroids and anti-fungal creams. One of the test subjects was Cetaphil Restoraderm cream which I got my mother to source from Australia. But it didn't help and then I threw it away after the pump cap broke and it was way past its expiration date.

However his skin now has true eczema, which means its dry and flaky. So since the opportunity popped up, I thought why not give it another shot?

Anyway E1's skin was flaring up again after a pretty long hiatus. I know that when it starts to get red and bumpy, that's when the creams need to start piling on again.

So this is his skin 3 days ago:

Classic eczema: dry, reddish skin

Itchy back. Yes those are claw marks.

To give this product a fair chance, we stopped his usual organic body washes and all other creams. Then we used the Skin Restoring Body Wash during showers and the Moisturiser after (up to 3 times a day).

Body wash ingredients. Shea butter and sunflower seed oil are high up on the list.

The wash itself is a white creamy formula that lathers quite well, compared to the normal Cetaphil wash which doesn't lather much and, in my opinion, is reminiscent of a certain bodily fluid that is usually ejaculated. It does have a weird smell, like musty books kept in the cupboard too long. I don't use shampoo on E1 but usually double up his body washes, since his hair is short (honestly, most of the ingredient are the same anyway). When I did wash his hair with the Restoraderm body wash, GY noticed it and commented that the lingering smell was "funny".

Moisturiser ingredients. It does contain silicone.

The moisturiser is quite runny and thin. It takes a bit of massaging in before it gets fully absorbed and usually by that time E1 has already turned restless and whiny. For some reason that escapes me, he really hates getting stuff put on him. I strangely do like the smell even though it smells like - get this- buttery croissants!

Anyhoo, the main point is in the After photos:

Nope.

Nope! That actually is redder and drier than before. And it's starting to flake.

Uhh, it looks really bad here but it did become less irritated. 

Sadly, this range failed to rehydrate E1's dry skin like it promised. It did help to control the itch on his back though. I suspect it's because E1 either perspires too much that the moisturiser keeps sliding off, or his skin is too thick that it doesn't penetrate deep enough ha ha.

Verdict: 50% Rave for the Body wash ; 0% Rave for the Moisturiser
I did think the body wash was quite good and I have half a mind to persuade GY to switch his normal Cetaphil wash to this, nevermind the smell. The moisturiser on the other hand, while it didn't give me reason to dissuade others from trying it, simply didn't have enough magic for E1's skin. Don't worry Galderma, GY is still a fan of your regular wash.
The Restoraderm range is available at selected pharmacies, including SGH retail pharmacy.

Review: Jurlique baby bath oil

I always knew Jurlique had a baby care range, but I never bothered to even check out the products because it felt over-indulgent and I suspected it probably cost a bomb.

Recently, I met up with a girlfriend who had lovingly selected some baby care products for the boys. She gets a staff discount, that lucky bitch. One of the products she gifted me with was this Jurlique baby bath oil.

It comes in a standard 100ml amber glass bottle with a drip top.

The oil is very viscous and slightly yellowish. But oh, the smell is heavenly. It's a heady burst of lavender and it left my head swimming for a bit when I opened the cap. Not the cheap or diluted nonsense that other companies sell, but real Lavender. So if you're not a fan of lavender, stay clear from this.

The instructions are to pour a capful to baby's bath and swish it around with your hands, which I totally did not follow, being a non-conformist and all. No, really, the drip top was so minuscule it took 3 seconds of vigorous shaking to produce one drop. No way I was gonna try and fill the cap that way. Eventually, I ended up with about 5 drops of oil which I dripped under running water. This actually caused the water to foam like a bubble bath, although it dissipated quite quickly.

But while 5 drops is a far cry from the intended amount, it was sufficient to produce a relaxing scent that probably pushed me to the throes of half-consciousness quicker than it did my babies. I liked it so much I put it in E1's bath as well, which doubled up as a pampering foot bath for me (and I even got my feet rubbed, how nice). So far, it doesn't seem to have irritated his sensitive skin. Also, it  didn't make the skin too slippery even without a final rinse.

The question is, would I buy this product? I don't know, that's a tough one. It seems a little too luxurious to be used on babies who, honestly, don't need anything more than mild soap and water to be clean. This oil would probably do well for your own use, if you are in need of some pampering and you do happen to have a bathtub. I did find it intriguing that Jurlique came up with a bath oil for babies and not for adults, even though there are body oils available in different scents. Probably a statement about their product being pure and gentle enough for baby, I suppose. Aaaanyways.

Verdict: Rave
Notwithstanding the lousy drip cap, I would probably buy this for myself more so than for my babies, if I had regular access to a bathtub and actual time to soak in it. However I don't know the retail price of this product, but I'm guessing it to be somewhere in the range of S$40 based on website comparisons and currency conversions. It is though, an awesome gift.

Review: Jurlique skincare

People have been asking me about my skincare regime and which products I use. Really, you want to know? Ok then...

But first, my naked skin [cringe]:

I have dry skin, worst along the T-zone. After giving birth, it's now dry everywhere and more sensitive.

There's still some old acne scars concentrated on my forehead, as a reminder of the era when I was poor, lazy and misinformed. Thanks, puberty.

Years ago, I was told by a dumbass beautician or salesperson that I have combination skin. Meaning I have dry areas and oily areas at any given time. So of course I shopped for products marketed for oily/combo skin. What a waste of money and effort, because that only dried me out even more. Long story short, I visited a derm who saved my skin in time for my wedding.

Although her products were good, I wanted to overhaul my skincare once I fell pregnant with E1. Natural and organic would be the way to go then.

So my 10-step regime was whittled down to 5, and replaced by natural or organic products where possible. While Jurlique is not certified organic, I've chosen to stick to their products because 1. It works for me 2. It smells loooovely.

Step 1: Replenishing Cleansing Lotion
Now that I know I'm dry, I avoid anything foaming, but look for milks and lotions instead. I love this cleanser for its scent - floral with hints of rose. Although you're supposed to tissue off before rinsing, I don't, so it takes awhile to get it all off, but it washes away without any residue.

Step 2: Rosewater Balancing Mist
Ok I'm cheating here. This is actually a sample and I don't intend to purchase the full size. It smells like walking through an English rose garden but I can't justify the ridiculous price for just rosewater and some essential oils. For this step, I use an antibacterial toner instead to prevent breakouts.

Step 3: Purely White Brightening Essence
This bottle has just about run its course, after which my regime will be down to 4 steps. It lasted a good few months but I don't think it caused any drastic change in my skin's radiance. I don't think anything really can, except a good 8hr uninterrupted sleep, which won't happen for another few more months I guess.

Step 4: Skin Balancing Face Oil
This is a lovely light face oil that I use as a serum. Just 3 drops for my whole face, pressed or massaged in. Or in the mornings, slapped on before I rush out for my daily cuppa.

Step 5: Moisture Replenishing Day Cream
Don't be fooled by the "day" label. This cream is thick and rich. A small pea-size is plenty to layer over the previous step. It may feel like too much to some, but I find that it really locks in the moisture from the oils and keeps me hydrated for longer. I'm so glad that Jurlique changed the old apothecary style packaging to something that doesn't develop holes after extended use.

Left: holey old packaging
Right: new plastic packaging with flip cap 

So there you have it, my current skincare staples.

Verdict: Raves for half of the items.
The cleansers, oils and moisturisers are safe bets when it comes to quality and performance. Others can be more miss than hit, or too pricey to use on a regular basis. Jurlique is available at Ngee Ann City, Robinsons and various online stores.