taking care of your skin ....

let's do this cosmo style ... so what's in my vanity kit these days?

origins a perfect world anti-oxidant moisturizer with white tea - its a very nice moisturizer that leaves skin feeling velvety smooth. its a bit pricey around the range of murad but i think its one of the excellent moisturizers i have used. some other moisturizers i've tried that works - murad essential-c day moisture, l'oreal white perfect deep whitening moisturizing cream, aveeno clear complexion daily moisturizer, and clinique's dramatically different moisturizing lotion. believe me, moisturizing really works - it does prevent wrinkles and keeps you looking young.

murad essential-c toner - the citrusy smell of this is really invigorating and keeps the skin clean after cleansing. i also use l'oreal skin refiner (pore minimizing astringent). another great product that works really well is clinique's clarifying lotion 2.

clean & clear persa-gel 10 - use this to quickly dry up pimples. i actually use this on my nose area everyday as a preventive since i remember the rudolph the red-nose reindeer pimple days.

l'oreal uv perfect ultimate protection fluid spf-50 - i think sunscreen is the most forgotten skin regimen of all. but having read too many magazines saying the importance of sunscreen to protect against the harmful effects of the sun. i never go out without a sunscreen. also great is clinique's super city block and vmv's sunscreen.

murad essential-c cleanser - cleanse, cleanse and cleanse morning & night before bedtime. i also like noxzema's cream cleanser because i love its menthol cool feel. well, likas papaya is also a good cleanser cause it really whitens but it can leave skin feeling tight and dry.

st ives apricot scrub - scrub at least once a week to minimize blackheads and slough off dry skin.

the body shop's vitamin-e eye cream - i think when you hit 25 or so, you better start putting on eye creams. i'm only starting eye cream now (at 31) after reading in many magazines how important a separate moisturizer is for the eyes. i read that one other great product is dermalogica's intensive eye repair.

kiehl's lip balm #1 - this is the best lip balm i have tried so far. it really conditions the lip and reduces chapping.

the body shop's olive oil dry mist - pamper your body after showering or taking a bath with this and then pat dry. the lite olive smell is awesome and it leaves you skin feeling soft and smooth. follow on with the body shop's olive body butter. this is guaranteed to leave your skin soft and smooth with none of that greasy feel. another body lotion that is worship worthy is aveeno's moisturizing lotion - i swear this is one of the best lotions i have tried.

visine eye drops - you need to take care of your eyes too.

oil-blotting paper - there's really no particular brand here. i think this is just a real necessity. you don't want to look like you just came from the grease pit right? so blot those oil right out of your t-zone. those oil-blotting paper which have some powder with it actually works better.

there's a lot here right? they can really be expensive especially if you buy all of them one shot. i think taking care of your skin is a worthy investment. the products (which sometimes look small, 15ml, 30ml, 50ml) lasts a long time so you actually have time to save for your next stock. so go ahead ... find the products that work for you ... pamper yourself cause its time to start taking care of yourself.