Spring skincare staples for sensitive skin

My skin becomes easily irritated and dehydrated during Spring. There are little bumps (whiteheads) here and there. I pretty much need to shuffle all my winter products away. 

春天來臨，我的皮膚變得乾燥及容易起暗粒及酒米。以前常用暗瘡產品，不得其反，令皮膚更加敏感及乾燥，出油更多。

In times, I avoid using any vitamin C, PCA, or acne products. I learnt that acne products which are supposed to treat my whiteheads tend to make my skin worse and dry.  

因我有雀班，平常晚上我也會加vitamin C serum 或一些美白產品。但我都會暫時停止使用，直到皮膚穩定。

There are a few skincare staples that can keep my skin hydrated and calm during this transition. 

以下是多年來我小小的心得及喜愛產品去迎接春天帶來皮膚的轉變。

1. Vichy foaming cleanser for sensitive skin 

This cleanser is amazing. Great power to remove light makeup without stripping my skin dry. 

這款洗面膏，不但可以去簡單的化妝，更不會令皮膚乾。

2. Vicky mist spray

Use this right after washing my face. I feel so good. The spray smooths and clam the skin. 

十分滿意這spray. 感覺我的皮膚立刻補水。

3. Cetaphil moisturizing lotion -sensitive skin. 

這lotion 簡單，沒加任何香料，鎖水一流。

4. Spot treatment 

Biacna topical gel - clindamycin phosphate 1.2% w/w and tretinolin 0.025% w/w

這是醫生介紹的，只是晚上用。

5. Sunscreen -Bioderma photoderm spray SPF 40 

This sunscreen is very lightweight. It creates a bit white cast after applying but it disappears once blending in. 

Sunscreen 不可缺少。要有很好的防曬功能。塗上後，完全感覺不到！

I hope this helps for anyone who has dehydrated skin and experience irritation causing acne in Spring. All these products are easily accessible in Shoppers Drug Mart. The Biacna spot treatment is a prescription though. 

Vichy Purifying exfoliating cream Review

I picked up a few products from Shoppers: Etival Gel Cleanser (an new skincare line in Shoppers), Vichy purifying exfoliating cream and Clarins pore minimizing serum.  

With the purchase, I am very glad to receive a lot of samples to try:

Lancome detoxifying body scrub

Lancome Age fight anti-age perfecting fluid & eye cream (going to give them to my husband)

Dior pro-youth protective cream SPF 15

Dior Capture Totale (will give them to my mom)

Dior Jadore Eau De parfum (I received a full size as a gift, but this sample size would come in handy for travelling) Scent: Floral with the combination of Ylang-Ylang, Rose and Jasmine.  It's pretty refreshing.

Alright, lets get back to the topic.

Review of Vichy Purifying exfoliating cream 75mL (2.54 fl. oz) -Made in France

Packaging: A plastic tube with a flip lid. (I love the hygenic packaging)

Appearance: White consistent cream with very fine blue beads

Scent: very light

Suitable for all skin type, even for sensitive skin

The cream is consistent and easily to spread on skin, even without wetting the face beforehand.  The exfoliating is quite gentle. I like the moist feel it gives when applying on skin.  It makes my skin smoother, refined and moisturized. This is the best exfoliating that I have ever tried.

For your reference, here is a  brief summary of the scrubs that I had tried before:

- Shiseido Pureness exfoliating gel - doesn't do anything.

-St. Ives Scrub- the beads are too harsh for my combination/normal skin.  I could only use it on my T-zone area.  This scrub is too drying for my cheeks.

- Pangeas Organics Facial scrub- This is actually a pretty good scrub.  I also gives an extra brownie point for organic product.  My skin became smoother, brightened, refined and moisturized after use.  The only downside is hard to rinse it off and it is not good to rub the skin too much.

-Nuxe Scrub - very creamy scrub which is good for sensitive skin. However, I don't see much difference on my skin after use.

-Origins Modern Friction -you can just check out my previous post.

Overall, Vichy purifying exfoliating cream is my favourite exfoliator based on the results and price.  I got 20% off (Shopper's promotion) from the regular price. I paid around $15 CAN.

Ingredients:

AQUA, Butyrospermum Parki Butter, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Paraffin, Paraffinum Liquidum, PEG 100 Sterate, Glyceryl stearate, Polyethylene, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-2 Sterate, Stearic Acid, sodium benzoate, salicylic acid, sodium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol, jojoba esters, tocopherol, hydroxyethylcelluose, polysorbate 60, Acrylates, cetyl alcohol, acrylates, alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, parfum