For the first time in my life, I am finally able to confidently proclaim that I have good skin!   My skin is more evenly toned than ever before that I am brave enough to avoid foundation, my pores are clear without needing a daily dose of Clarisonic, and my skin so luminous that even the sheerest of BB creams makes my skin look “made up”.

Further to my previous post on “How to achieve skin so radiant it’s a shame to cover it up“, so many of you were eager to know MORE (as though I was holding back) about how I managed to over haul my problematic skin into flawless skin, that inspired me to write up this post.

The tips I have for you today are the labour of trial and error (lots of it), research (from trusted fellow beauty bloggers), determination (there’s nothing more motivating than prepping for wedding), and adapted for my normal/dry skin type.   Achieving flawless skin does not happen overnight and in my case it took 2 years.   If I had known what I know today, I’m sure it wouldn’t have taken quite as long as 2 years, but I guess that’s the “beauty” of hindsight.

1. Start with a clean & clear complexion

Before addressing all other skin issues, the most important step is to start with a clean & clear complexion.   By eliminating breakouts caused by build-up & bacteria, you’ll be able to see your skin for what it really is & determine which targeted treatment to proceed with next.  Skin that’s clear and regularly exfoliated maximises the absorption of other treatments.  When your skin is in distress, it can be difficult to determine the source of breakouts & you may mistakenly blame it on the wrong product.

• Daily gentle exfoliation:  I start my morning with a non-foaming enzyme cleanser  (eg. Trilogy Age Proof Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream  ($39.95 AUD / 150ml) or Pod Liquid Detox ($60 AUD / 150ml) which gently breaks down dead skin cells and and brightens skin.   Twice a week, I’ll use Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($83.50 AUD / 50ml) which micro-exfoliates and brightens skin.  I find that daily gentle exfoliation has proven more beneficial for my skin in that it also reduces redness & prevents dehydration.

• Deep cleansing is as much about double cleansing, as it is about regular deep cleansing.  If your skin is oily or prone to being clogged up, use a clarifying toner (eg. Clinique Clarifying Lotion) and purifying masks to keep pores clean.  Now that my skin type is dry, I treat my skin weekly with Alpha-H Liquid Gold Smoothing and Perfecting Mask ($ 63 AUD / 100ml), a fast acting multi-tasking mask that contains 15% Glycolic acid for deep exfoliation, but also hydrates and skin instantly feels clear, radiant and plump.  Every 2 weeks, I’ll pause the glycolic acid mask & alternate with Clarisonic, using the sensitive brush combined with a finely grained scrub for a deep cleanse, especially on days after I’ve used foundation.
  

• Less is more with base makeup.  It’s easy to get addicted to covering your flaws with heavy coverage makeup.  The irony is that the path to clear skin is to wear less of it.   The less foundation you wear, the easier it is to keep your pores clear, and you’ll get fewer breakouts caused by clogged skin.  It’s sounds so simple & yet most of us are afraid to take the plunge away from foundation.

2. Give your skin a chance to be flawless & listen to your skin

There is nothing more frustrating when people ask me for tips on flawless skin, but refuse to wash their makeup brushes or even use a cleanser.  Your skin won’t stand a chance of becoming flawless if you’re inflicting bacteria onto your skin.   I’m fortunate to not suffer from severe hormonal acne, and these simple lifestyle changes have worked for me.

• Know which foods cause your skin to breakout. For me it’s excess sugar, spicy food and highly processed food (eg. instant noodles).  If I get a breakout after eating these foods, I blame myself and avoid those foods until my skin recovers.

• Go to bed with clean hair & change your pillow case regularly.  Think about it – your skin is not going to be happy nesting on a pillow that is contaminated with a build up of dust and pollutants that have transferred from your hair to your pillow & ultimately your face.  Not to mention saliva build up.

• Drink plenty of water.  My skin doesn’t look its best if I get slack with drinking water. Dehydration lines emerge & my skin doesn’t look as radiant.  Thankfully I don’t mind the taste of plain water & on most days I manage to get through 8 glasses a day.  If you’re the type that loves to procrastinate at work, use that moment as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water.

• Keep your hands clean & away from your face.  Wash your hands before applying skincare or makeup, and avoid leaning your face / chin on your hands that have been contaminated with bacteria from your keyboard. 
  

3. Nip your breakouts at the bud

• Prevention is more effective than cure when it comes to breakouts.  At the first signs of a breakout, I followed Go Hyung-Jung’s advice to wash my face with salt water.   In just 2 days they disappeared without kicking a fuss.

• Salicylic acid should be applied not only on the pimple, but the entire affected area as well – a tip I learned from Wayne Goss from Gossmakeupartist.   I apply it even when I’ve washed the area with salt water, and also after removing blackheads from my T-zone area.  I use Naruko’s Tea Tree Oil Out Targeted Acne Treatment.

• Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion also works really well in drying up broken pimples, particularly large & nasty angry ones.  But I haven’t needed to use mine for months, now that my breakouts disappear with just salt water and salicylic acid.

4. Invest in high performing brightening skincare

It’s not everyday I am totally blown away by a brightening skincare range.  But Dermalogica’s ChromaWhite TRX Pure Night ($142 AUD / 50ml) – a lightweight night cream, and ChromaWhite TRx C-12 Concentrate ($165 AUD / 30 ml) – a brightening serum, have truly taken my skin to another level of clarity.  Acne scars fade AMAZINGLY FAST & my skin looks milky, bright and evenly toned – something I never thought I’d be able to have without undergoing professional treatment.  When I took a break to try brightening products from other brands, my skin lacked the same radiance and needless to say, it didn’t take long for me to switch back to Dermalogica again.

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So there you have it!
I hope this helps you on your quest for flawless skin.
I’d love to know which miracle products & skincare tips that worked for you!

Maybelline is celebrating its association with New York Fashion Week with a limited edition NYFW Baby Lips Lip Balm for the month of February.  Baby Lips is one of my favourite stick lip balms, with its on-trend packaging, moisturising sheen, SPF20 and less than the cost of an extra tall latte.  The limited edition lip balm features a delicious berry scent.

There are 10,000 Baby Lips up for grabs! Here’s how to enter:

• Visit facebook.com/MaybellineAU and register your details
• Between 9-16th February, follow the clues on Facebook to find the treasures hidden within Maybelline’s exclusive Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week NY coverage.
• If you’re fast enough, you’ll receive your free Limited Edition Baby Lips.

Happy 2012!

To kick off the new year, here’s a very special treat that mum and I prepared over the Christmas break.

Go Hyun-Jung, a Korean actress best known for her luminous and youthful skin, published her skincare secrets in a “beauty documentary” titled “Go Hyun-Jung’s Texture” in 2011, the same year she turned 40.  The book (a bestseller that sold out in just two days of its launch), covers Go’s beauty philosophy as well as her tips for leading a healthy lifestyle. The beauty tips in this book written in Korean, have been translated and summarized into this post together by me and my mum over Christmas.

Go’s beauty tips affirm my philosophy that beauty is as much about rituals as it is about specific products and brands.  So many people ask me for “miracle” product recommendations and are surprised (almost disappointed) when my response is that cleansing and exfoliating are the foundations of clear skin.

I hope you find these beauty tips helpful in your quest for clear skin!

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1. Know Your Skin Type & Treat Your Skin from the Inside Out

• If you are prone to problem skin, keep a food diary and observe the effect different foods have on your skin.
• Go avoids salty and spicy foods to keep her skin clear, and alternates her diet with plain / bland food to re-calibrate her skin from the inside.
• Interestingly, she does not stick by the “8 glasses of water per day” rule.   She simply encourages “following your thirst” and drink when you feel you need to do so.
• Her favourite beauty foods are raw salads, fresh apple / blueberry/ carrot juice, grapefruit tea (which suppresses her appetite & keeps her regular), honey, and she takes organic Vitamin B and C.

2. Cleansing is the Key to Clear Skin

• Wash your hands before applying any makeup or skincare.  Also try to avoid touching your face except when cleansing or applying makeup
• When washing your face, mix foaming cleanser with warm water and work up a foam the size of an egg. Start from behind the ears and the jawline, and once the cleanser is warmed up, move towards the centre of your face.
• It takes her 15 minutes to cleanse her face, partly because her skin has very fine hairs (like peach fuzz).
• To treat skin breakouts naturally, wash affected areas with salt and lukewarm water to sanitize the area and prevent the breakouts from getting worse.
  

3. Skincare Commandments

• Whilst she cleanses her face from the jawline moving to the centre, she applies skincare (Eg. serums, toner) from the centre and outwards.
• For neck cream, she starts from beside the jawline down to the decolletage in an outward ‘C shape’ motion.  (Imagine yourself applying neck cream in the shape of the Chanel double ‘C’ logo)
• Apply skincare once it is warmed up in your hands, and press both palms onto your face to improve absorption of all the skincare layers.
• She discards skincare after 2 months of use for hygiene reasons – a steep contrast to the 12 months we’re usually told by other beauty experts.
• Hand cream should be applied up to the elbows, and neck cream all the way down to your decolletage.
• It takes her 20 minutes to apply body lotion, leaving no areas un-moisturised.
• Apply toner with your hands, not cotton pads to reduce redness.
• She has a two step facial mask routine, starting off with a cleansing mask followed by a nourishing mask.

Go Hyun-Jung at her book launch in 2011

4. Makeup Philosophy

• Go prefers using her fingers to apply foundation.  Unless the sponge is brand new or the brush is fresh and clean, she avoids using them for hygiene reasons.
• Brows: Her philosophy on makeup is centered on beautifully shaped brows.  She believes that an hour spent at a brow bar pays off for an entire month, compared to a professional makeup artist where makeup only lasts for moments.
• Primer: Before applying base makeup, she applies a generous amount of hydrating cream to avoid looking tired by the afternoon.
  
• Foundation: The secret to natural looking skin is not to apply foundation all over the face.  She applies foundation only on the shadows of the face (under the eyes, under the cheek) and keeps the high points of the face sheer.  Avoid foundation around the nose to prevent caking.   Even when filming, apparently she never has a full face of foundation.
• Lips: Her typical lip routine starts with BB cream & lip balm in the morning, followed by lipgloss in the afternoon and lipstick/liner in the evening.
• Sunscreen:  Apply a matte sunscreen on your forehead and nose, and a dewy formula on cheeks and other dry areas.
• Contouring: Using 2 different shades of foundation, a sheer application on the high points of the face, and using both matte/dewy formulas not only contours the face but also creates natural highlights without the need for a separate highlighter.
• Eyes: For natural looking eyes, use only eyeliner and mascara, and matte powder under the eyes to prevent smudging.
• Blush: She doesn’t apply blush!

5. The Bathroom is Her Sanctuary

• Go apparently spends more time in her bathroom than any other room in her house, including daily home spas with drops of essential oil.
• In addition to that, she soaks her hands and feet in warm water with half teaspoon of salt to relax and relieve tired hands and feet.  She also likes to use grapefruit oil to massage her calves.
• Drink a cup of tea or water before having a bath to prevent dehydration.
• To reduce puffiness in the face, soak a face towel in ice water and cover your face with it after twisting it dry.
• She applies body oil after body lotion & applies it from the legs and moves upwards.
• As for hair, she finishes off with a cold water rinse, lets her hair dry naturally if she’s staying indoors & ties her hair back in different positions to prevent hair loss in concentrated areas.

6. Include Facial Stretching in Your Exercise Routine

•  Go’s exercise routine not only involves stretching her body but also her facial muscles.
• The most effective way to do facial stretching is to coordinate it with your breathing.  Expand your facial muscles  & jaw on the exhale, then when inhaling, contract all facial muscles including your eyes, nose and cheeks.
• Although she believes that laughter is the best exercise for the face, she also exercises her lip and cheek muscles by pronouncing  “Ma Me Mi Mo Mu” 10 times – much like the phrase used in singing exercises.  This is apparently common practice among most Korean actors.

7. The Miracle Angle

The best angle for photographs is 45 degrees above your face. But if the camera is directly in front of you, then tilt your face 30-45 degrees with your “good side” facing the camera.  This ensures your neckline and jawline is emphasized and creates the appearance of a slimmer face.

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Sources: Yonhap News, Drama Beans, Hanbooks.com

I purchased this book from HanBooks.com

Treat yourself to a new lip shade this Christmas! Whether you’ve been meaning to try Chubby Sticks, the sheer tinted berry lip trend or simply want to instantly multiply your gloss collection, you’re spoilt for choice this year with a myriad of gift sets that are guaranteed to please.

1. MAC Dazzlesphere! Ornaments - $65 AUD
Available in Corals, Neutrals and Pinks.

2. CLINIQUE Chubby Stick Set -$59 AUD
Shades: Whole Lotta Honey, Mega Melon, Woppin Watermelon and Strawberry.  Shade Strawberry swatched here.

3. BOBBI BROWN Lip Gloss Trio – $75 AUD
Shades: Aubergine Lip Gloss, Bare Sparkle High Shine Lip Gloss and Pastel Pink High Shine Lip Gloss)

4. MOR Lip Sync Trio - $24.95 AUD
A trio of lip macarons individually fragranced with French Vanilla, Rosebud and Peach Nectar.

5. THE BODY SHOP Lip Balm in “Cranberry Joy” – $9.95 AUD
Cult favourite fruity balm with a delicate shimmer, made with Community Fair Trade beeswax and a fruity cranberry fragrance.

6. LANOLIPS Lip Ointment with Colour SPF 15 in “Mulberry”
Available as part of a gift set together with the cult favourite 101 Ointment and Rose Balm Intense for Very Dry Hands & Nails for only $24.95 AUD (valued at $43.85).  Available exclusively at Myer.  Previously swatched here.

7. DIOR Limited Edition Christmas Collection Bejewelled Lipsticks – $50 AUD
Available in eight shades all blended with a fine golden powder for a luminous glow.   Shade “Cinderella” swatched here.

Every month I sum up the hits & misses and lukewarm verdicts of beauty products that come my way.  Think of LOVE IT as products I would swear by, and NOT FOR MEis for products that didn’t work for me, but might for someone else.   LIKE IT is for products that I feel differently depending which day you’re asking, which really means I’m hanging on until I find something that ticks all my boxes.

Here’s my picks for November.

1. LA PURETÉ Okuru Resurrection Night Crème

If the thought of needles and knives is too much to handle, you’ll be pleased to know that French scientists have discovered Okuru - a plant grown for centuries in Western Africa -  to contain a combination of peptides that minimises lines in a similar way to Botox.  The key difference is that Okuru is all natural and can be applied topically.   This cream combines the peptides of Okuru and Sweet Pea with another star ingredient dubbed “The Resurrection Plant” known for its antioxidant and intense hydration properties capable of 24 hour moisturisation.

My mum, whose skin type is very dry, with noticeable loss of elasticity and thinning, could not stop raving about the stellar results after this cream.   Despite living in the dry climate of South Australia (where the water is also hard), this cream provided long lasting moisturisation, and noticeable reduction in the depth of crows feet and improved elasticity.  I didn’t even need to tell her that it’s only RRP $59.90 AUD (50 ml), she already spotted it her local chemist’s catalogue and has her mind set on restocking it soon.

2. TAUT Collagen Infusion Mask

“These are much better than SKII facial masks!”  These were the exact words that came from mum, who benefited from the fact that I wasn’t able to trial this product due to the concentration of squalene (shark liver oil).  Exactly how good was it you wonder? Well! Firstly the masks was so rich in moisture that mum didn’t even need moisturiser after patting in the excess essence & her mature dry skin stayed hydrated right through to the morning thanks to the squalene, hyaluronic acid and hydrolysed collagen.   Not only that, her wrinkles were noticeably softened, skin plumped and radiant – like she had a facial, except she hadn’t.   I feel like I’ve missed out big time, but I was hesitant to try it given the squalene in Taut’s Collagen Orange Drink set off my seafood allergies & didn’t sit well in my stomach.  For mums who are afraid of shopping online, these masks are also available at GNC Live Well stores for RRP $44.95 AUD (5 masks per box).

3. ORIGINAL MINERAL Seven Day Miracle & Power Base

A picture says a thousand words, and I shall leave you with a photo that sums up nicely why I am hopelessly in love with these two masks.   To pick a favourite out of the two is too difficult – I love Seven Day Miracle for its intense moisturisation, and Power Base (protein treatment) for its ability to restore damaged hair with into high shine, bouncy and strong locks.  I was in a hurry the day I had this photo taken, so I used the two maks together for maximum effect.  The shine is more obvious in the 3rd pic with flash, but the shine was visible even in the 2nd pic, so much that even fellow bloggers at the Oscar Oscar event commented on it!  Sulfate free and does not contain Parabens, MIT, Propylene Glycol, Phthalates or Triclosan. O&M products are Not Tested on Animals.  Seven Day Miracle will set you back RRP $32 AUD  (250ml) and Power Base $29.95 AUD (250ml). Both are available at Adore Beauty & selected salons.

8 hours later (after brushing it out several times), some of my curls stayed tight from the Cloud Nine Wand, but my chemically straightened hair seems to be stubborn in the middle section.

4. ORIGINAL MINERAL Rootalicious

This month I bring you yet another hair volumising product. This time it’s not a mousse, but a root lifting foam that you spray directly at the roots to form an invisible barrier around the roots to give them support and life.  Unlike some lifting products that can make hair crunchy, Rootalicious contains Australian Kakadu Plum, Lilly Pilly and Quandong to protect and condition.  The result? Amazingly long lasting volume that’s weightless and strong hold. Sulfate free and does not contain Parabens, MIT, Propylene Glycol, Phthalates or Triclosan.  Not Tested on Animals.  RRP: $29.95 AUD  (270ml) available at Adore Beauty & selected salons.

5. AEOS Refreshing Hydrating Mist

To calm my skin and senses after a shower, I like to spray this blue coloured facial mist several times all over my face to refresh and re-hydrate my skin with essential oils & flower extracts as the first step in my skincare routine.  With organic and bio-dynamic ingredients such as rosewater, lavender extract, orange extract, spelt oil and lemon myrtle oil, the relaxing fragrance is incredibly therapeutic at the end a long stressful day at work & helps me unwind ready for bed time.  At $89 AUD  for 100ml, it’s definitely a spritz of indulgence compared to other mists, but its therapeutic calming effects are second to none. Available in Australia at www.begenkishop.com 

6. AEOS Realive Serum

This serum is perfect for those that like their skincare to be natural yet luxurious, organic yet highly effective.  Unlike other natural serums, this serum is gentle enough to use around the eyes, and features crystal essences (like opal, amethyst, turquoise, even emerald) along with hyaluronic acid to provide multi-layered hydration and moisture protection.   For my skin type (normal / dry) this helped to keep skin hydrated and dewy with a slightly sticky finish, but I found it was not hydrating enough on its own for air conditioning and I needed to top up with another hydrating serum.   Its lightweight texture makes it the perfect summer time serum, or if you have combination skin.  Other than hydration and soothed skin, I didn’t experience any particular improvements to the other signs of aging, bringing down to the “Like” rather than “Love” category.  The blue colour of the serum is 100% natural and derived from gardenias.    RRP $165 AUD (50ml) available in Australia at www.begenkishop.com 

7. CLINIQUE High Impact Mascara

I confess that when it comes to mascaras, Clinique wasn’t exactly front of mind if I was asked to name my top 3 favourites.  That was until I tried Clinique High Impact Mascara.  It lengthens, thickens and somehow manages to multiply my short sparse lashes by a hundred, in a deep black colour.   The fine bristles grip onto the lashes so you can feel it hugging your lashes and separating them while thickening them.   At $38 AUD, it’s smduge proof, washes off in warm water and  is ophthalmologist tested.    Instant holy grail status.

8. BENEFIT They’re Real! Real Mascara

Don’t get me wrong, this mascara thickens beautifully, is smudge proof and lengthens with a jet black finish.  But the type of bristle is just not right for my lash type.  Its spiky bristles are too widely separated to create thickness and evenly coat my short sparse lashes.   Also my lashes are so short that I need to get close to the roots, and it can get uncomfortable if you accidentally poke yourself with the stiff spiky bristles. At $38 AUD, I recommend this type of bristle for those that have naturally thick and full lashes.

 Have you tried these products?  Vote below on which of my November Favourites  you actually love.

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Products marked with an asterisk were purchased by me.  All other products featured were sent for consideration.