my favorite skincare 2015

I'm a bit obsessed with taking care of my skin and whenever my friends ask me what I use for my skin, I'm a tad embarrassed about the multitude of products I use.  This year I did manage to streamline my routines (day/night) so I thought I would list out my favorite/most used products.

Now before I get into actual products - in order to properly nurture and protect my skin thoroughly - I know I can't simply rely on slathering products on my face.  I still have to eat well, exercise consistently and drink plenty of water.  Sunblock everyday is a must.  And obviously smoking and/or doing drugs will not help the situation.  When I was younger I was able to get away with eating lots of junk food and drinking lots of alcohol without any effect on my face or body, but age is a bitch and it has finally caught up with me.  With that being said, here are my favorite skincare products of 2015.

Cleansing

I wash my face every single morning and every single night before bed.  I never ever go to sleep with makeup on my face.  I double cleanse which means that if I have makeup on, I will use micellar water and cotton pads to do a "first cleanse" and then go in with a cleansing oil or balm for a "second cleanse".  If I am not wearing makeup (i.e., in the morning), I will just use a cleansing oil or gentle face wash.  When I was younger I was really afraid of using oils on my face, but now I find it very comfortable, soothing and effective.

• Bioderma is still my favorite for my first cleanse.  I've tried other micellar waters (e.g., Koh Gen Do, Simple), and while they are good, I still find myself coming back to Bioderma.  My skin feels balanced and comfortable after using it and it doesn't sting my eyes and does a pretty decent job of removing eye makeup.  It's much cheaper in France so if I happen to be there, I stock up.  Otherwise, I order it on amazon or go to Japanese beauty stores.
• Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm.  It's a pretty no-nonsense, straightforward and gentle cleanser that really cleans away any makeup or grime, without stripping the face of moisture.  My favorite cleansing balm of all time is actually Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm but it's expensive ($60 compared to Clinique which is $29) and hard to find in the U.S.  A friend recently told me that Travel Beauty ships Emma Hardie to the U.S. and I ordered one immediately.  You can use this link and get a 15% discount for a limited time.
• Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil (I use the green one).  Again very gentle and comfortable way to cleanse the skin.  Also much cheaper to buy in Japan.

Toning

When I was younger, I would skip the toning step or use super astringent/drying toners if I were breaking out.  Both were bad ideas.  Now, I consistently use toners and I find it does balance and even out my skin very well.  My favorites for 2015 are:

• SKII Clearing Lotion - I didn't notice results until after consistent use; now I can't be without it.  I really think this helped balance my skin from combination normal/oily to more normal.  I also do feel that my skin is clearer and brighter with consistent use.
• La Roche Posay Serozinc - a very calming toner spray that is perfect for use in summertime.  I can't find this in the U.S. so I stocked up in Paris. 

 Serums/Essences

I typically rotate a few serums and essences at any given time, depending on the season and how my skin is feeling.  However, the following are ones I used the most in 2015.

• SKII Facial Treatment Essence - I used this at night after my SKII Clearing Lotion and the combination has worked wonders.  I didn't notice an immediate change, but with consistent use, my skin definitely behaves better generally.  And, if I stop using it, my skin definitely shows its displeasure.  SKII products are expensive so I try to get them in Japan or at any duty free store at the airport when I'm traveling.
• Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair - This is a very soothing, anti-aging product and I found that I kept coming back to this product over and over again throughout the years.  This is probably my 4th bottle and I have another backup.  I usually use this at night time (and I often combine it with my Sunday Riley Luna Oil), but it can also be used during the day despite the name.  It absorbs quickly into the skin and goes well under makeup.
• Sunday Riley Luna Oil - This retinoid oil does give very fast results - I noticed a change in the first few days - clearer skin, smaller pores.  I also noticed that it kept breakouts at bay.  I like layering this after other more moisturizing serums such as the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.  Because it does give your skin a blue tint for a little while, I only use this one at nighttime.  Recently I got the Sunday Riley Good Genes treatment for daytime and I plan to layer it with the Luna Oil at night also, since I've heard they work very well together. 

Eye Cream / Eye Treatment 

• Forever Flawless Diamond Infused Eye Serum - I've only ever seen this sold in Las Vegas and I was somehow smooth-talked into buying a ton of product by a very savvy salesman.  However, this particular product was amazing but it's about $500 which seems absurd.  It was the first time I experienced almost instant results which appeared to last with periodic use.  I actually use this quite sparingly - only about once a month at night, but I do see the difference every time.
• tarte Pure Maracuja Oil - I only use this during the day in place of an eye cream.  I find it super moisturizing and not greasy.
• 3Lab Super Eye Treatment - I only use this at night, and I find it effective at keeping away fine lines and keeping my undereye area plump and bright.  But to be fair, I've never really had issues with dark undereye circles.  While I enjoyed this, I'm not sure I will repurchase since it was expensive and I am not convinced that there isn't something better and more affordable out there. 

Moisturizer

I used to use a day lotion with SPF (Oil of Olay or fresh) and a heavier nightcream, but now I just stick with one good moisturizer  for both day and night, and add a separate sunblock during the day.  This year, the standouts were:

• 3Lab WW Cream - This cream was for anti-wrinkle and brightening and was very comforting to the skin.  I didn't break out or have any adverse reactions, and my skin definitely felt brighter.  However it's ridiculously expensive ($460) and I think I can get similar results with something more affordable.
• fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Cream - I got a small sample of this and loved it so much I had to go out and buy the full size ($95).  I even took it with me while I was traveling - which is usually when my skin reacts badly - but this cream really kept my skin at its best.

 Sunblock

I wear sunblock religiously everyday even though I live in Los Angeles where I drive everywhere and work in an office setting.  I truly believe that is one of the key reasons that my skin still looks youthful and bright in my 40's.  This year I increased my spf and started wearing the Clinique City Block which has an SPF of 40.  I just put it over whatever moisturizer I'm wearing that day; let it settle in; and then apply my makeup over that.  It doesn't break me out or interfere with my makeup and I definitely noticed that I haven't been getting any additional sunspots.

Masks

I am an avid believer in masks and I probably mask about three times a week depending on whether I want a clarifying mask, an anti-aging mask,  or a moisturizing mask.  Fortunately it's easy to find sheet masks for all sorts of different purposes at Sephora or Japanese/Korean beauty stores so you can try lots of masks without making a huge commitment or investment.  I also recommend doing a exfoliating scrub once a week, but this year I didn't have any real standouts - I tried Bliss, 3Labs and Tatcha scrubs and they were OK but not memorable.  My favorite masks this year include:

• SKII Facial Treatment Mask - OK, so this one is a bit of an investment but it feels amazing on the skin and is an all-around treatment mask.  I don't indulge too often, but when I do, my skin thanks me.  Also a great thing to stock up in while in Japan or at a duty-free shop.
•  Aesop Parsley Seed Mask - I find this very clarifying and relaxing.  It has an odd herbal-ey scent that I find appealing but which may turn off others.  I get my Aesop stuff at Barney's New York so you may want to smell it before buying.
• SkinFood or FaceShop Tea Tree Oil Sheet Masks - I get these at Asian beauty stores or sometimes I can find them at Urban Outfitters, but I like using these if I feel a pimple coming.  Very soothing and clarifying.
• Manuka honey -  I get this on Amazon or Whole Foods - just slather it on your face and your skin will feel detoxified and moisturized.  You can of course also eat the honey.

Other 

• Tea Tree Oil - I get the Body Shop oil but you can find this at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.  I use this directly on any pimples or breakouts.  I also add it to water in a spray bottle to spritz my face as a facial mist or to clean my makeup brushes between actual washings. 
• Clinique Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover - If I'm wearing very stubborn eye makeup that won't come off easily with Bioderma, I'll use this.  Gentle and effective.