Photo credits: newbeauty.com
Beauty stuff. That’s what you can call it, stuff. Awhole-lotta stuff! I love make-up and skincare! In fact, I can never have enough beauty products and one thing I’ve managed to hone in on is skincare. As we all know, it’s always ‘summer’ in Malaysia. The climate is hot and humid and with all the countless beauty products available, how can we minimize which products are the best to use? Well, here are some of my favourite skin savers to beat the Malaysian heat:
Skincare Savers to beat the heat:
1. Hydrating Moisturizer (Yves Rocher – Hydra Specific Seve Moisture Boost Day Cream): Even though Malaysia’s climate is hot, you still need to make sure you moisturize daily to keep your skin nice and supple. I personally have oily combination skin which still requires some moisturizer, especially after spending hours in the office air-conditioning. But before you pick a moisturizer, first determine your skin type. Here’s a helpful guide: How to determine your skin type. Having combination skin means it’s a combination of oily on my T-zones and dry on the other areas of my face, such as my forehead, cheeks and chin. I notice that light or gel-based moisturizers work best for me, as they aren’t as heavy as a ‘cream’ moisturizers. Gel-moisturizers tend to absorb faster and feel lighter in texture. Also check out this facial mist spray, which would be a good addition to help hydrate your skin.
2. BB Creams (Elianto – Hydra Rich BB Cream): BB creams are a great option to add to your daily make-up routine. I’m sure many of you ladies don’t have much time in the mornings to put on a lot of make-up. I like to stick to a quick 5-minute beauty routine which works well, just a few minutes with some products and I’m good to go. BB Creams are a combination of moisturizer, light foundation and some SPF (good for keeping those harmful UV rays at bay!). BB creams give you light coverage without the heaviness of make-up foundation. This is also a good option for people with sensitive skin.
3. Facial Scrubs (Sexy Girl – Sweet Sugar Scrub, Pear Compote): We spend our fair share of time outdoors being exposed to free radicals and airborne pollutants. It’s all too familiar, that feeling of coming home at the end of the day to find your skin feeling grimy and dull. Well, facial scrubs are vital to help keep your skin feeling fresh! There are many facial scrubs in the market, and each differs by the size of the scrubbing granules. Sugar scrubs like this one are a good option because the texture is coarse enough to polish skin and wash away any dullness and roughness. Try to use a facial scrub once a week, to not only ensure that your skin will feel smooth, but to also help prep it to absorb moisturizers better.
4. Face masks (Lierac – Comfort Mask) : Moisturizers and facial scrubs aren’t enough for your beauty routine. Why not treat yourself to a calming face mask every now and then? I love using masks as a beauty treat on the weekends. Just like moisturizers, choose a mask to suit your skin needs. My skin is also sensitive, so I tend to pick masks that are sensitive and calming to my skin. Just apply, sit back and relax while the mask work’s its magic! (cucumber slices are optional!).
5. Lip balm (Rosebud – Strawberry Lip Balm & Rosebud – Mocha Rose Lip Balm with Vanilla): People tend to overlook the care for the lips, especially when you’re going about your daily routine under the extreme Malaysian heat. Lips need just as much care as the rest of your skin. I’m a big fan of lip balms, and always make sure to carry one (or two!) in my bag. Lip balms help keep your lips moisturized and banish those nasty ‘cracks’ which you might get from being dehydrated. Apart from drinking a lot of water, always keep your lips moisturized with lip balm. There are several varieties, depending on your own preference of course. They come in tubes or nice tin pots (I love tin pot lip balms for their vintage-look!), or you can pick one that has subtle flavours such as vanilla, or strawberry or one that gives you a hint of colour.
6. Bronzer (Elianto – Baked Marble blush): Bronzers are a good option to brighten up your features. It gives the illusion of a healthy just-got-back-from-the-beach glow! I carry a bronzer for quick touch-ups, it adds subtle colour to my cheeks without having to redo my make-up. Bronzers come in different colours and finishes. If you’d like to brighten up your features, pick a bronzer with a slightly pearlescent finish. If you’d like to go for a subtle healthy-glow, pick a matte bronzer which is less ‘shiny’.