As I have revealed my indispensable skin care products for daytime, now, I now reveal to you the things that I must use before I go to sleep.

My Hardworking Pore-Cleaner : M2 Skin Refinish 20%

For someone who has hopelessly oily, blemish-prone skin, and pores that just suck up dirt and oil every single second, at the end of the day, I want my pores clean, despite all the dirt and potential breakouts these little comedones ( whiteheads and blackheads ) are brewing up. After using my facial wash and my facial toner, I proceed to slather my face with a sticky layer of M2 Skin Refinish 20%. It prides itself with the highest concentration of two powerful ingredients – Mandelic Acid and Malic Acid, being 20%, the highest concentration allowed for home/consumer use. Both ingredients are powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acids ( AHAs ) that help micropeeling/microexfoliation throughout the night that is a helpful aid in anti-aging, as well as prevention of dull skin cell buildup, that when mixed with dirt and oil, is a recipe for disaster ( clogged pores = eventually, inflammation ).

Mandelic Acid is a natural antibacterial, which is a must-have for acne-prone skin, and malic acid is a natural humectant on the other hand, that keeps skin hydrated. Maybe that’s why when I wake up, I feel that my pores are unclogged – whiteheads are purged out of my pores, really ready for extraction, while my skin does not feel scaly or dry. My dermatologist is always happy whenever she extracts my comedones, because they’re always so easily extracted, thanks to M2 Skin Refinish. I believe I can’t live without this, as I even bring this with me during my out of town trips, as I do not want my whiteheads and blackheads to progress into inflammations or cystic acne. I want to target the problem by preventing it in the first place.

To sum up, M2 Skin Refinish is my hard working pore-cleaner in the evening, while it microexfoliates my skin to prevent acne formation, and keeps my skin young. I just love it to pieces!

Replenix Eye Repair Cream

I’m quite particular about my eye creams as much as I am particular about my anti-acne skin care products. I thought that I could be low-maintenance with eye creams, but boy was I so wrong! I found myself disliking overly rich eye creams that cause some tiny white lumps near my eyes to form , and I don’t lie eye creams too thin in texture that I don’t feel any effect of. I like my eye creams with about the right consistency – seeping in my skin, and yet mildly moisturizing, and slightly making my eyes tight as I want a firming effect.

From reading online reviews, I was encouraged to buy Replenix Eye Repair Cream. It is formulated with powerful anti-aging ingredients such as green tea polyphenols that neutralize free radicals, vitamin E that nourishes the skin, and Vitamin K and Arnica that help get rid of dark undereye circles. It also has cucumber extract that soothes the eyes. Wait, I’m not quit done yet! There’s one more – age-defying peptides that helps firm up sagging skin and wrinkles. Wow. Imagine how sold I was when I read about this, and convincing testimonials from happy users!

It’s been three weeks of me using Replenix’s Eye Repair Cream, and I’m really, really happy. My dark undereye circles as not as dark as they would be when I’d neglect my eyes – in fact, I don’t see any trace of dark undereyes now and sometimes, I even forget about applying undereye concealer! My undereyes feel really firm, and I’m not really as conscious as I usually am with the lines under my eyes. They’re still there – it’s a hard battle reversing lines under your eyes, but I am determined to repurchase and repurchase until I don’t see the lines anymore. I’m THAT happy with this product as it got rid of the darkness under my eyes!

Well, these are my favorite night time beauty products so far! I find them quite indispensable – they’re only two, what’s there to subtract? ( of course, I do have my regular cleansers and toners but these are the add-ons) It is evident that I don’t use moisturizers at all, right? I really don’t, and I don’t see the need. So how about you? Care to share with me your indispensable beauty products at night?

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You might find me most enthusiastic when you ask me to talk, or blog about skin care. Call me frustrated, I certainly do not deny that I’ve made mistakes in the name of skin care when I was young, that I am always trying to make it up to my skin, as I know there is still hope for good skin as long as I’m willing to commit myself into a good skin care regimen, and good skin care practices.

I had really horrible acne in the past, and there are even permanent scars to prove it. I have that “mark” of a person who has suffered acne. I am trying to do something about it, though ( I shall tell you about this soon, that’s another chapter .haha! ) Right now, my skin is very much oily, and my skin is still acne-prone and is prone to microcomedones showing up every single day, so here is my heaven-sent set of skin care products that definitely prevents acne inflammations, and controls my comedones ( whiteheads, and blackheads). Aside from my acne problem, I am also giving much effort into anti-aging, as I know that I am not getting any younger.

Thus, I am sharing my skin care, with the hopes to be of help to those suffering the same problems, as I have tried almost EVERYTHING, and this is the best set of products that I am currently using, and results are quite good!

Let’s start with my hardworking facial cleansers :

I always want my facial cleansers to have either Salicylic Acid ( BHA) AHAs, or even Mandelic Acid because not only do they help in alleviating and preventing acne formation, they also mico-exfoliate the skin somehow that prevents dull skin cell buildup that leads to clogged pores, and inflammations ( which is painful acne ). I also want cleansers that really clean the skin, and remove dirt and oil. I want them hardworking, just like the products below:

Obagi Clenziderm MD Foaming Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin

Oh, this is my favorite, HG facial wash to date! Infused with the anti-pimple ingredient salicylic acid, it washes out the dirt and oil that my skin has accumulated in a day’s worth, and gives that squeaky, minty feeling afterwards. Not only is my skin thoroughly cleansed, it also feels great afterwards!

To date, this is the cleanser that has cured me of acne. I think it was two years ago when I first visited my dermatologist, and she recommended me the Obagi Clenziderm Set. I tell you, life was never the same after that. I finally found my perfect acne-busting skin care.

M2 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser
M2 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser has star ingredients mandelic acid, and malic acid, that gently exfoliates, and removes impurities from the skin. It microexfoliates your skin so that you will constantly slough off dead skin cells little by little, not only keeping your skin acne-free, but it also has anti-aging benefits, as we need to slough off dead skin cells to reveal new, fresh skin to keep our skin looking young and healthy.

This is soap-free and SLS free, and is great not only for acne-prone skin, but this is also great for those who have dry, sensitive, or mature skin. Yes, those who have dry skin need to exfoliate to be able to have fresh, glowing skin always, and who said that those who have dry skin do not have impurities on the skin? You have to be careful, because this is more of impacted impurities, so regular exfoliation is a must to prevent buildup inside the skin.

Oh, and I love this because this bottle lasts me forever. It’s my happy substitute when I’m on a saving mode!

CURE Aqua Gel

CURE Aqua Gel is one of my happy finds two years ago. As oily skinned gals are always in danger of clogged pores due to dead skin cell buildup + dirt + oil on the skin ( deadly mixture, eew! ), I need to exfoliate at least twice or thrice a week! I’m not really into abrasive exfoliating products, so I choose CURE as this is non-abrasive. I only need to pump in product on my palm, apply it on my face, wait a few seconds, gently rub my skin, and voila! byebye, dead skin cells! This is so gentle, and my skin feels really clean and radiant afterwards. I love this to bits and I don’t think I can live without this product.

Toners that really clean and purify the pores.

Obagi Clenziderm Pore Therapy MD Toner

Shen and I absolutely agree on this, that Obagi Clenziderm Pore Therapy MD Toner is the BOMB when it comes to removing dirt and oil on the face. I don’t really rely on facial cleansers to do everything, so I always have a salicylic acid-based ( or sometimes, glycolic-acid or clindamycin-retinoic acid based ) toner to further cleanse my pores, remove all the remaining oil and dirt on my face. I really hate my face when it gets greasy or when I oil up a few minutes after I wash because I know that there is still dirt and oil on my face.

Obagi Clenziderm Pore Therapy really removes dirt and oil ( like you’ve never seen your cottonball that dirty before! ), and gives me that minty feeling again. You can now conclude that I am into minty products.

This one, certified, I love to bits. I can always substitute this baby for my occasional clindamycin and glycolic acid-based toners when I’m on a saving mode, but whenever I do have the cash, I definitely give myself a treat with this toner!

My Hardworking Serums That Keep My Skin Hydrated and Healthy

Now, you will not see moisturizers in my skin care arsenal because though I use them from time to time, I can tell you honestly that I can live without them. I firmly believe in serums that they can fill in my moisturizers’ purpose, as serums hydrate the skin and infuse the skin with the much-needed nutrients that I really, really see the effects of!

Obagi Pro-C 15% Serum
Vitamin C is a wonder vitamin not only for the body, but also for the skin! It brightens the skin, boosts your sunblock ( makes it more effective ), it hydrates and moisturizes your skin, improves your skin tone and texture, and even boosts collagen synthesis ( which keeps you from aging ). To sum it up, it makes your skin glowing, and young, keeping your fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Nu Skin’s Celltrex Hydrating Fluid is put on a halt in my purchase list as I find it too expensive – shelling around at least P 2000 for a month’s worth of usage. (maybe this Christmas. haha!) Obagi PRO-C 15% Serum is not cheap, as well – around P5,000.00, but I feel that this will last me more than 2 months! The texture is somewhat like oil during application, but I appreciated that it gets absorbed into the skin easily.

Initial effects that I have noticed are – my skin looks great, I feel that my skin is glowing because of this serum, but it makes my skin a tad bit oily. But then, no clogged pores. ( whew! ) Who’s not to like a serum that makes your skin glow and just beautiful? I shall update you with more information about this serum I am using so far. But so far, I am loving this!

Aceceuticals Phytoextract Brightening Serum

Such a small bottle, right ? It’s actually a sample bottle given to me by my dermatologist. My second sample bottle, actually. Haha! She really loves me! It’s a very nice serum infused with botanicals and arbutin that does not only hydrate the skin, it also has a whitening agent (arbutin!). What I love about this serum is that it softens my skin and yet it feels like water when I apply it. No oilies, everything’s perfect with this. The brightening factor would still have to be attributed to Obagi’s Pro-C Serum, but for comfort, I love this Phytoextract Brightening Serum. For P 2,500.00, this is not bad, but I feel that I will be using alot of product on my skin as the consistency is just like water. I’m saving up for a full bottle that I’m getting myself when I next visit my dermatologist.

Hardworking Emergency Spot Treatments that Treat Problem Areas

For spot treatments, I have found new allies with Celeteque’s Acne Solutions line ( yay! )

For angry zits, and inflamed skin, my emergency spot corrector would have to be Celeteque’s Acne Solutions Acne Spot Corrector Gel. I have noticed that zits dry up in 2-3 days upon application. If it persists, I usually go to my dermatologist for a steroid injection, for it might be cystic already.

For my neck and for my back, yes, sadly, I am very acne-prone all over ( I hate it! ). I spray my back and my neck with Celeteque’s Acne Solutions Back Acne Spray. It keeps microcomedones from developing into acne, and calms my backne somehow. It doesn’t dry up miraculously, but it does really help dry up my backne somehow (say, a few days)

Hardworking Sun Protection Products That Keep the Skin Burn-free, Lines-free, Pigment-Free, and Young

Sunblock products are almost a NEED nowadays, because it is a product that will be your ally against premature aging – preventing fine lines and wrinkles because the sun’s harmful UVA rays make your skin age, preventing burns ( UVB rays ), and preventing pigmentation issues from showing up, which are quite difficult to reverse. Sun protection products are preventive products that can help you maintain good skin in the long run. Consider it a commitment!

For sunblocks, I appreciate the new developments in skin care products that heed to our concern that WE HATE STICKY AND GREASY SUNBLOCKS! I have two prized sunscreen products that certainly give me the comfort that I need :

Obagi-C Sunguard SPF 30
This is what I use when I don’t feel that my skin is THAT oily. Yes, it does not feel greasy on the skin, but it can also work as a moisturizer already for me because it feels like a light moisturizer. I remember people asking me if they still need to apply moisturizer prior to sunblock, and my answer is, if your sunblock makes your skin feel moisturized already, then let it serve you as a moisturizer and sunblock in one. Obagi-C Sunguard SPF30 feels just like that, and it makes my skin glow, with the Vitamin C component as well.

Obagi Nu-Derm Sunshield SPF 50
For really hectic days when I am in the pressure cooker where I am pressured to look my best, I use my best products that make me feel my best (ergo, with no risk of greasy feel because I am really irritable when I am pressured and tensed! ). Obagi Nu-Derm Sunshield SPF50 has a really light texture that feels so light on the skin, and dries into a matte finish. My skin feels really good with Obagi Nu-Derm Sunshield. No breakouts, no comedone formation. It melts on my skin, and I really, really like it.

A Hardworking Eye Cream That Keeps Eyes Young and Bright!

For eye creams for daytime, I really, really rely on Eylipex-2

The morning de-puffing gel really, really works to keep my eyes de-puffed, and looking not so harassed, even if I stayed up late the night before. I am actually sharing this product with my dad, who has been religiously using this to keep his crows feet at bay. So far, his eyes are less haggard-looking, and he seems to be hooked with this product! I want my eyes looking as young as possible, so I really am exerting effort to use eye cream every single day. Hopefully, my eyes don’t age too soon! If you ask me if this eyecream works? Well give me a year or so, because eyecreams are so hard to gauge in terms of effectivity! We can only try to trust them for their immediate benefits, for the meanwhile. ( yes, I can be a cynic, but it’s reality! )

Whew, this was such a lengthy post that I certainly got carried away! But really, I am so happy with the products that I am using now, that I can say that my skin is manageable and clear, though I have those bad skin days during certain days. But I think that this is the best that my skin has ever been, and I really hope that I will have better skin in the future. Right now, I am just sticking to the skin care products that I have shared with you to maintain my skin, somewhat.

Well, I am about to share Part 2 of this post, which are the skin care products that I am currently using for Night Time. Stay tuned!

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