My Skincare Hunt & First Impressions of Clinique 3 Step System

I realise that while I've written about some skincare products, I haven't really been clear about where I stand in my "skincare hunt" for a perfect routine :) I've sorted it all out in my head, so I thought I'd put it down on paper (screen) - it's a bit rambly but I hope you enjoy!

To start off, I have combination/normal skin - I get oily in the t-zone in the warmer months, and normal on my cheeks. Since I've gotten rid of my teenage acne last year, it's been a bit difficult assessing whether something is good, because I'm now after the luxury of perfect skin as opposed to just getting rid of things that shouldn't be there - if that makes sense?

I have a few bits and bobs of my skincare that I can say, "Yes, I love these products and I will rebuy them" but I'm still on the lookout for that perfect combination of products for a perfect routine. Anyway, here's the present standings:

* Face Wash

- Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser

- The Body Shop Seaweed Face Wash

* Toner

- MUJI Light Toning Water (works well with Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser)

- The Body Shop Seaweed Toner (only works well with the face wash)

* Moisturizer

- Day: Liz Earle Skin Repair for Combo/Oily Skin

- Night: Boots Botanics Night Shift Cream

As you can see, a bit complicated, and a lot of ties! So the other day while I was roaming around the cosmetics section, I stumbled by Clinique which I heard lots about from Steph, and the kind lady at the counter explained a lot about how the system works, and gave me a 3-day sample kit to try.. (needless to say it's lasted me about 4 days already)..

Left: Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 (toner)

Centre: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Right: Clinique Facial Soap for Oily Skin

Used together, this set has ticked all of the boxes. Firstly, the soap leaves my face squeaky clean, and my face always appears brighter or maybe even whiter than it started off with. I'm guessing this is what the lady meant when she said it lifts the dead skin cells, to prepare for the next step.

The clarifying lotion, which is like a toner, then exfoliates and removes the dead skin cells. I genuinely feel this works, but god the smell is horrendous! I feel like I'm putting nail polish remover on my face, it's unbearable to smell and the lady told me strictly that I can't use it near my eyes or mouth - I wouldn't want to! That being said, at the end I feel refreshed and I feel it does its job.

The moisturizer feels like somewhere between a typical gel and a silica skin primer - it has that smoothing-over effect, but it's also quite wet. I think it does a decent job of sinking into my skin, but I also feel like I've felt others do a better job. That being said, the thing I like about this is that when I wake up, I'm not half as oily as I am when I use other moisturizers, and I have no qualms about using this for both day and night - which in the long run may save some dosh!

All in all, the bits of bumpiness and redness on my face has been seriously reducing - sounds perfect, right? But I'm still not 100% sure what I should be looking for, as I don't have any blatant problems anymore! Should I be aiming to have 'normal' skin as opposed to combination? Should I aim to have baby skin? Idk! (any help appreciated :P)

So my plan is on the 26th of August, to head over to the counter again and take full advantage of a campaign where for a few extra hundred yen (lol) added to the cost of a full-sized Clarifying Lotion, you get loads of 1 month sized products, like the face wash, the moisturizer and other things. AMAZING. I'm not sure if this offer is only in Japan though..

After that I hope to figure out if the full Clinique's 3 Step System would really work for me, or if I need to cut and paste from the previous list mentioned above. I personally don't really want to give up the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish nor her moisturizer, nor the MUJI Toner (it's paraben, alcohol, fragrance free!) - but I've got to admit, they're all running for their money with these 3 Clinique bad boys in town :)

Does anyone have 2 skincare routines, is that even possible? :P

Have you found your perfect skincare routine?

What do you look for when deciding whether a product stays in your routine? :)

<3yu

Review: Liz Earle Skin Tonic & Moisturizer

A couple of months ago, I absolutely raved about the Liz Earle's infamous Hot Cloth Cleanser, and since then I decided to purchase another bottle. The PR team were very kind and sent me some Instant Boost Skin Tonic and Skin Repair Moisturizer for Normal/Combination skin to complete my routine - thanks very much! :)

I also happened to have gotten the Skin Repair Moisturizer for Combination/Oily skin off a blog sale, so I had a shot at that as well ;) (I sadly don't have pics of it though, as I took these pics ages ago and gave the Combo/Oily away to my boyfriend to try - see his review of the Liz Earle's Men's Hot Cloth Cleanser here!).

I think the most important thing to note before I start this review, is that the second time around with the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, it did not work as well with my skin - and only thing that changed in my routine were these two products :( So apologies if this sounds more like an interrogation.. LOL but here goes the review :)

Instant Boost Skin Tonic

The Liz Earle Skin Tonic is Liz Earle's replacement of a typical toner - it's used the same way, but I believe it doesn't have the alcohol in it so it's more gentle for your skin. You get 200mL of this product for £11.75 - so it wont break your bank, despite it being outside the drugstore range and stuffed with a lot better ingredients :)

Firstly, I love the packaging - the bottle is sturdy, and the lid is very unique and kind of cute, as it's not your typical screw top, it's like a little spout that you push down on to open :)

That being said, the smell was much too strong and perfume-y for my liking to be putting on my face. I can't put my finger on what it smells like but I never quite got used to it after 2 or 3 months of using it. If you are sensitive to smells or are picky like I am, I'd definitely give it a sniff first!

And personally, I felt that my previous toner did a better job of removing the last traces of make up and dust on my skin that the Liz Earle Skin Tonic. I don't really remember being 'wow-ed' by the amount of crap that was left on my face.

So sadly, the Liz Earle Skin Tonic is a no repurchase for me - the price is ideal, but there are others in the market that I think works better for me that are also alcohol, scent and paraben free.

Skin Repair Moisturizer for Normal/Combination Skin

(and Combination/Oily Skin)

The Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizers are a bit more expensive, at 50mL for £17.60. Although it seems like a bit much to be spending at once on a moisturizer, a little does go a long way :)

Again, I love the packaging - it's sturdy and very stylish. However, it does make things a bit less sanitary when you're sticking your fingers in a tub, but this doesn't put me off too much as I always have clean hands before applying face products.

The smell for me was a bit awkward - it isn't extremely refreshing like the Hot Cloth Cleanser but it's not offensive (for me) as the Skin Tonic - it was somewhere in the middle, but unlike the Skin Tonic I got used to it :)

As for the consistency, it was much too thick for me to be using as a day cream, so I used it as a night cream. I don't think I made the wrong decision in choosing the Normal/Combination type judging from my skin type, as I have a slightly oily t-zone and am normal everywhere else. On the website it says that it does provide a natural and healthy glow - for me it turned out more like a shine, and I don't feel it absorbs as quickly as some other moisturizers.

As a night cream, I thoroughly enjoyed it. As you can see it has a consistency of a balm and for this reason I felt like overnight it really did sink in and when I woke up in the mornings my skin did feel very supple, and my skin never woke up oily and gross (unless I'm in humid Japan - nothing will do the trick here!).

That being said, again, £17.60 is a lot to spend in one go especially when the routine on my first bottle of Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser had a drugstore night cream incorporated in it and worked fine. For this reason, I probably wont be repurchasing this either, atleast until I can afford to! However, I would love to try it out again in the winter when my skin is a bit drier - I have a feeling that the thickness will work better for me then :)

The Combination/Oily Skin Repair Moisturizer, however, was a completely different story. I adored it as a day cream, and will probably go as far to say that it is the best day moisturizer I've used and will go to purchase my own as soon as my current day cream is finished.

The reason why is because, obviously, it's a lot lighter, but the key difference I find between this and other moisturizers, is that it's not wet in the slightest. It's light in a way of 'air' as opposed to 'water' - if that makes any sense at all, it's more like 'whipped' (it's not whipped, I'm just trying to describe the lightness lol!) rather than 'watered down'. And for this reason you don't deal with any shiny-ness like you do with most moisturizers, and you get the balm-ey protection that really sinks into your skin and plumps it from within.

So yes - the Combination/Oily Skin Repair Moisturizer is a definite repurchase for me - yes it's the same £17.60 as the Normal/Combination Skin Repaire, but I don't mind paying a bit more if I know I can't find something similar for cheaper. This product, I feel, is quite unique to Liz Earle's range :)

Conclusions..

Now I'm not sure if my misunderstanding of my skin has caused this massive dispute between the Normal/Combo and Combo/Oily moisturizers - but I'm pretty sure my skin is normal/combo according to what I've learnt here on the web. Has anyone else had this before?

I'm not 100% sure what to suggest for people who are looking in to getting Liz Earle's moisturizers, so I'd definitely recommend emailing one of their customer services at ccare@lizearle.com because they are brilliant at explaining skin problems you may be having and suggesting products for you - they did such a good job explaining to me what I was doing wrong that I was getting so much millia!

Maybe the Skin Tonic held back the potential of my second bottle of the Hot Cloth Cleanser for my skin - but judging from other reviews, it may not be the case for everyone! However, I think the Combo/Oily moisturizer is one of a kind and I personally will be repurchasing in the future! :)

I know that was an incredibly long review - congrats if you got to the end, and hope you got some good out of it ;) If you want to try out any of these products, head over to Liz Earle's website :)

Have you tried any of Liz Earle's range before?

What do you suggest I try next? :)

<3yu

Picking Up Some Essentials.. #2

These days I've been buying a lot more beauty 'care' products than make-up, and because a lot of them are feeling like they'll be essentials, I decided to do a second part of a post I did ages ago about picking up some essentials :)

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in Clear - £4.75

Tangle Teezer - £11.99

Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturizer - £8.16

The BodyShop Lip Roll-On in Orange - £3 (introduction price)

The BodyShop DeoDry in Fresh & Floral (refill) - £2

LUSH Grease Lightning - £5.65

The Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser caught my eye on Ellie's Beauty Blog's May Favourites and as the summer was making oilier than usual I had high hopes! I love that it has such good ingredients, very light and the smell is berry-like. It lingers for a short while, and is quite strong so if it wasn't as fruity I probably wouldn't like it, but because it's a very natural smell I don't mind it. As for the mattifying effects, I don't find it amazing - I find it reasonable. For that I'd recommend Boot's Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Mattifying Lotion, but that one smells horrible! So I think I'll be sticking with this :)

After not being able to locate my hair brush, I bit the bullet for the Tangle Teezer which I've been lusting after for ages! It's a lot lighter than I thought it'd be, but the results are about what I expected. I didn't expect a 100% WOW factor, and while I was right, I'm still impressed! My hair does feel softer, and brushing my hair is easier - I love the idea of protecting my cuticles and the instruction leaflet was so helpful. I'm not sure if it was £12 worth, but other than that, no regrets here at all! :)

When I got my nails done in Malta, the nail woman told me my nails were weak, and recommended Decleor's treatment oil.. for £52. I quickly refused and went on a search in Boots yesterday - as you can see I haven't opened this Sally Hansen Hard As Nails yet, partly because I'm not 100% sure how to use it.. most people recommend it as a base coat, so I'll be doing that soon :) A bit concerned that it's not natural and doesn't promise an infusion of nutrients.. anyone have any cheap recommendations? :/ But I did learn that when you paint your nails you have to leave a gap at the bottom because that way the live cells on your nail can breathe :)

I had no plans to get the new BodyShop Natural Lip Roll-On in Orange but I'm so glad I did, I am in LOOOOVE! Again, the natural ingredients are a major plus for me and the applicator is a metal ball that applies the oil onto your lips. And I LOVE the idea of applying oil onto your lips because that way your lips actually absorb the oils, instead of a cream that just sits on your lips, and so they feel moisturized from within. This deserves a post of its own really, but definitely recommend picking up while it's on introductory offer price! It comes in Orange, Mint, Rose, Coconut and Grape :)

The BodyShop DeoDry in Fresh & Floral is my staple deodorant - full review here :)

I first heard about LUSH Grease Lightning from Vivianna and I've been quite impressed! While I was a bit skeptical because the tea-tree oil from the BodyShop never worked on me, this one has been great! It's an antiseptic, with a gel-like consistency and a pump, and smells like a mix of tea tree oil, lavender and rosemary - gorgeous. I had two under-the-skin pimples right next to each other on my chin, which made me look like I had a Siamese chin, but since I've applied it each evening underneath my night moisturizer it's been getting a lot smaller - very impressed :)

So there it is! My recent essential purchases :)

What have you been buying/loving in your essentials recently? :)

<3yu

Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack Review

This is a review for the Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack, which I liked to use after the Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Peel. I don't know if the two products work better together, but it has been suggested by the SA every time I bought this product, and I like to use them together because I like to indulge myself in the lovely strawberry scent. The two product combos were my staple for more than 2 years. Like I mentioned before, I have since stopped using the Strawberry Yogurt Peel, and I have also stopped using the Laneige Strawberry Pack with it. However, I continued using the concept of the Strawberry Yogurt Pack because I loved it, only a cheaper and "healthier" version. Hehe, my Korean derm have helped me develop a homemade recipe for this strawberry yogurt pack, with different variations for different skin types, and I wish to share it with you in my next article. This article will be a review of the Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack.

This Strawberry Yogurt Pack has a very pleasant smooth gel consistency, just like a typical American yogurt, but with strawberry seeds. :) The smell is lovely like a strawberry milk shake. I like to store it in the fridge so that when I apply it, it has a cooling feeling, and also prolongs the shelf-life of this product, which is said to be prone to expiration.

Pros:
1. Very cooling and soothing after application.
2. Moisturization: this strawberry yogurt pack moisturizes rather well, perhaps not so much as my favorite night cream, but enough to not feel dry after using the Strawberry Yogurt Peel (which I would feel otherwise). 

3. Soft and dewy skin: used with the Strawberry Yogurt Peel, I get very smooth and soft skin after use. I realize that the smooth skin is from exfoliation, but after using this pack, I feel my skin is very dewy and elastic. Like if I press my finger on my cheek (which I shouldn't do :)), I can almost see the skin spring right back after I remove my finger. 

4. Very good consistency: not thick enough to feel suffocating and not thin enough to feel runny. 

5. Prevents acne: yogurt has good bacteria in it, and strawberry has salicylic acid in it, both of which are good for acne-prone skin. I've found that even though using this weekly does not neccessarily prevent a lot of breakouts as to be noticeable, but it does help any acne I may have at that moment go away faster. Very good for a gentle treatment.

Cons:
1. Sensitivity issue: I've known a lot of people who have very sensitive skin report that they are a little allergic to this product, or that this product does not do much. I think this may be due to the scent of the product, which may irritate some people when left on the face for a long time (20 minutes is suggested). 

2. Fast expiration: This product seems to have a fast expiration process because it is recommended to be stored in the fridge in the summer. To me, this is a good thing because quite a lot of preservatives would have to be put into a product like this to keep it from expiring soon. 

General Comment: 

I thought I should mention how I use this product. I know quite a lot of people who wipe this product off with a tissue after 20 minutes and not rinse off. However, I rinse off, and then apply my toner and moisturizer as usual. I think doing this prevents me from becoming overly allergic to the scent and preservatives in the product. And I would advise people with sensitive skin who haven't had much luck with this product to try doing this. :) I honestly think that any nutrients the skin could absorb should have been mostly absorbed within the 20 minutes. 

Overall: Really great skin mask that I used once a week for two years. I still use a home-made version of this product, and it works great! :) 

Son Bahyu Horse Oil Review

I recently got a comment from a reader that a product I really love doesn't have a good ingredient list and even have some ingredients she termed "poison". I would like to thank her for this comment because it has reminded me to review some of the "all natural" skincare items that I have been using, and surprisingly like.
First off, I should say that I have tried to go all natural in terms of skincare for a long time. I dread the "potentially carcinogens" in ingredient lists, but I rarely stick to any item of natural skincare, since they do not work for me that well. They are usually pretty irritating and make me breakout. However, every now and then, I still cannot resist the temptation of all natural, guilt free skincare. This horse oil is one of those products I found in those endeavors. If there is a lot of interest, I will gradually review the 22 kinds of oil I have tried to use on my skin. :)

This Son Bahyu horse oil has been the highest ranking moisturizer on cosme.net for a long time, and has always been the top 1 in the category called "facial oil".
Perhaps I should first introduce the concept of facial oil, since the concept is new to most of US beauty consumers. We have always been told that oil is bad for skin, and that it might cause acne. Actually, many of my friends only buy moisturizers that are oil-free.
Of course, I realize that oil is not really that novel a concept to all US consumers. Many of my US friends' grandmothers use oils on their face as moisturizers, and many organic skincare lovers has been using oils for a long time. The Japanese do the same. They use an oil for the face at night, or on days they do not expect the need to go out, or do not need heavy moisturization. Or sometimes, when Japanese women feel their skin is very dry, they use their facial oils beneath facial creams. This works really well because creams seal in the moisture, so the oil moisturizes and does not appear overly oily.
It took me a long time to get used to the idea of using oil on my face, but I do because my grandmother does, and her skin is beautiful. This is just another oil I picked up on my trip to Japan because it has such a high ranking.
It can be used all over your body, and is supposed to have some soothing properties like aloe. I applied this on my mosquito bites I got in a warmer part of Asia, and it really relieves the itching and redness.

This is completely natural and very 100% additive free. I don't really know how quickly it will expire, because my Japanese is really horrible. If someone could tell me, it would be really great.

Pros:
1. A lot of moisturization. My neck got really dry last week after I got stuck in the cold for a long time (actually I don't know how it got so dry), but it was swelled up a little, and stung when I applied any products with Vit C in it. I used the horse oil on my neck, and then covered with a thick layer of my Laneige White plus Renew night cream on top. In half a week, the hives was gone and my neck no longer feels dry.
2. No breakouts even though it is an oil.

3. seems to calm some pimples if applied in moderate amounts, but not really significant compared to my other night creams

4. calms redness and itching from mosquito bites

5. makes skin really soft

Cons:
1. Doesn't absorb as fast as it claims to, especially if you apply in large amounts.

2. Looks oily if you apply more than just a dab

Overall: Great Moisturizer that should not be used during day time, at least if not in very small amounts

NOTE: I am extremely sorry if horse oils upset you. I have met US girls who criticize the East for using horse oils, which is so cruel to horses. I love animals, but I could not control myself from getting this because it was so popular and works so well. 

Sofina Jenne Day Protector SPF 50+++ Review

This is not the "star product" of Sofina Jenne, but I think it should be, not only for its quality, but also for its concept. This is often mistaken as a mere sunscreen of the Sofina lineup (or so the SA told me), but this is actually your day time moisturizer. Sofina realizes that young women are often in a hurry in the morning, so may often neglect to put on their sunscreen, which will lead to photo-aging, so they developed this convenient product that is a sunscreen and moisturizer all in one. I absolutely love the idea because me too is pressed for time in the morning. :)
All right, I admit it, this is not the first moisturizer with SPF in it, but I think this is one of the first moisturizers with SPF that functions very well both as moisturizer and sunscreen.
Every morning, I wash my face, put on my toner, and then slather on a large portion of this (you should squeeze it out on the back of your hand, and it should be 2cm in diameter, which is not as much as it seems since the lotion is very runny). I sometimes walk to work in the blazing morning sun, and I don't get burned as I sometimes do with my other sunscreens :)
Oh, there are three kinds of day protectors. Two with SPF 24 PA+++, one is supposed to be refreshing and the other is supposed to be hydrating. And the third is the one with SPF 50 PA+++, which I chose.

Pros:
1. Very moisturizing. Most moisturizers with high SPF isn't really moisturizing enough.
2. Fast absorption: sinks in within a minute of application
3. Great sun protection given that you apply the required amount

4. gentle enough to use on your eyes

5. Nice natural finish

6. No noticeable white cast

Cons:
1. Sensitivity: If you are very sensitive to scents, the scent this carries is strong! It has a jasmine flowery scent that I'm currently trying to find in a perfume. :)

2. No primer functions: this is no big deal except that Sofina Jenne claimed this can be used a a primer, as they claimed their Perfect UV sunscreen (which I will review soon) can. Their Perfect UV sunscreen actually is a great primer, which led me to have high expectations in this area, which are disappointed.

3. look horrible after sweating: I went to the gym one day, and worked out crazily. I had sweat running down my face, and later when I looked into the mirror, I can actually see the route where sweat ran down

4. Expensive pricing. This costs about the same as a 60 ml bottle of Perfect UV sunscreen, but has only 30 ml in it, which is okay, since this has moisturizer built in, but it is still a bit too expensive for my taste.

Overall: Pretty great sunscreen if you are lazy in the morning and don't have a super active lifestyle (which I don't most of the time). However, if you can spare the extra minute in the morning (which I believe I can), you can try not using this product, and using the Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer along with Sofina Perfect UV sunscreen. Much cheaper and better results. 

Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer Review

This has been cited as Sofina Jenne's most important and most popular item, so I thought I would review this first. :) This item was a really successful product for Sofina, since only 20 days after its launch, it became the 2nd most popular product in the moisturizer category on cosme.net, a huge Japanese website devoted to beauty.
Japanese girls say this cream is good for sensitive skin, moisturizing, and it has generally been very well received. I usually hate those popular popular products because I think most of them are over-hyped. However, I was surprised to say I really like  love this moisturizer.

I bought this in Japan when I had to go over for business for a few days. As I mentioned before, the Sofina Jenne line is made for people in their early 20s, which is a rather perfect age group for me. I tried it out at the counter because a few of my coworkers and also my cosmetician in Korea tell me that Japanese skincare products tend to be superior because the quality control is really high, and they are sensitive of the fact that people have different skintypes. I've noticed this as well. Most Korean skincare products tend to target people with one specific concern, e.g. whitening, dehydration, sensitivity, aging. However, they do not really create different products for different skintypes, e.g. combination, dry, oily, etc. Japanese products tend to be more sensitive to the fact that people have different skin, and you will usually find that in one lineup, they have a huge range of products for different skintypes. For example, Sofina Jenne has two kinds of lotions and 3 kinds of sunscreens, with basically the same target in mind, but for different skins.
To be honest, I bought this cream as well as the whole Sofina Jenne lineup hoping to prove my coworkers wrong--that for some people, at least for me, Korean skincare (which I had stuck to for more than a decade) is better than japanese skincare. Well, I can't say that the Sofina Jenne line proved me wrong, but it is at least equal, if not better than Laneige White plus Renew.

So I've been using this as a night cream for around a month now. I think it's very moisturizing and soothing for my skin.

Pros:
1. Great moisturizing. Sometimes when I have been in a air conditioned room all day, my skin feels dry. When I take off  my sunscreen using an oil cleanser and then double cleanse, my face feels drier. However, a few minutes after putting this moisturizer on, my skin feels supple and "happy" again.
2. A little goes a long way. I believe the suggested amount is a pea sized amount, so the tub will last a long long time.
3. Great for sensitive skin. I usually get some kind of small reactions when I switch skincare products. I've got no reactions this time! 

4. Absorbs in 4 minutes! How great is that?

5. I love the texture. It is not runny like a lotion, or thick (and oily) like a cream. It is something in between: jelly. It is easier to apply than lotion (not for me, since I'm very very used to lotion), but I've read a survey that many women hate lotion because of its runny texture. The survey also states that because of the runny texture of lotions, you tend to use more because as you try to rub it in, 40% of the lotion is lost in the process, so there is a waste of products. I don't know if that's true, but that's what I read. And it absorbs so quickly, much quicker than a cream.

6. Refreshing feeling after applied.

7. If you accidentally overapply, it does not give you breakouts (like my old Laniege white plus renew night cream doe). I think this means that the oil content is either low or it's a very good oil. 

Cons:
1. Sensitivity: If you are very sensitive to scents, the scent this carries is strong! It has a jasmine flowery scent that I'm currently trying to find in a perfume. :)

2. Small looking jar that makes you think this product is super pricey. The content of the jar is actually the same as Laneige White Plus Renew night cream, but the jar is smaller by at least 1/3rd. When I first took this out of the box, I thought I got the trial product :D

Overall: Really great night cream that I would really really recommend to ladies with sensitive skin. 

Laneige White Plus Renew Hydrator SPF15 Review

As promised, I am reviewing all the items I use in my skincare. I wanted to do the White Plus Renew lineup first before I do the cleansers and weekly treatments, etc. because I thought this sounds a bit more logical to me. So anyway, this is the review of the Laneige White Plus Renew Hydrator, which is my daytime moisturizer. It looks awfully like the skin refiner I reviewed yesterday, doesn't it? Yes, they are identical except for the little labels on the bottle.
This hydrator is thicker in texture than most daytime moisturizers you'll find. I would say its texture is really similar to a cream. I don't know how to explain this except that when you get a drop out of the bottle, it comes out in a cylinder, and will stay like a cylinder on your hand for around a minute if you don't touch it. This is partly due to how thick it is. I was really wary at first because of this texture and I used really little in fear that it might be too much for me. My skin also wasn't willing to absorb more than a pea sized amount for my whole face at first, so I only applied a little, thinking that the bottle will last me a long time. Eventually, I started applying more because my skin seemed to be a little more used to it, absorbs more quickly and you know, you apply moisturizer until your skin feels comfortable, and that's what I did. I think I doubled the amount I initially used by now, and I got no breakouts. And no, you don't have to use more and more everyday. I think I have been using the same amount for 4 or 5 months now.
I love this hydrator. This absorbs really fast despite the texture, especially when I apply this after the skin refiner (which I always do now). This has SPF 15 in it, and I think I use enough to get 15, but I still don't rely on it for sun protection, because I don't think SPF 15 is enough and because it didn't offer a PA (UVA protection) value. Like the refiner, this has a heavy scent, which I personally find to be great.

Pros:
1. Very moisturizing
2. Absorbs in a flash
3. not runny at all
4. SPF
5. makes my skin feel plump after applying
Cons:
1. Sensitivity: If you are very sensitive to scents, the scent this carries might irritate your skin or your nose
2. Heavy texture: You might find it too heavy at first, so I suggest using small amounts until your skin is used to it

Overall: I love this product. No skincare item can be absolutely perfect for one's skin unless you customize it, but if I had to choose an already made product, it is this one

My skincare regimen

Many of you have asked about my skincare regimen. I am very flattered that you want to know. I cannot say that  my skincare regimen is absolutely perfect or that is absolutely suits me, because I think that I can't accomplish that with commercialized products, no matter how expensive they might be. Regardless, I thought maybe I should share my regimen with you.
First off, it might help knowing what kind of skin I have. I have mostly normal skin with a slightly oily area around the nose. I have rather light skin, and I am happy with the color. Unlike most people nowadays, I want clear translucent skin that's white white white (but not an unnatural kind of white, just my skin color at birth that is not the least bit tanned).
Now on to the regimen. I use mostly Laneige products right now, even though I used Mamonde products for many years before I finally switched to Laneige. Mamonde is like a brand that costs half as much as Laneige, and is more basic. It was pretty ideal for my young skin.

AM:
Cleanser: I alternate between a clean and clear BP cleanser, a clean and clear SA cleanser, and Laneige's foaming professional cleanser. I am trying to eliminate the BP cleanser from my regimen because I found it causes hyperpigmentation after each pimple heals on me. I'm trying to slowly decrease the use of that cleanser until i don't need it. I will post how it goes because I know going off BP and SA cleansers are difficult moves, but moves that will benefit some skins in the end.

Toner: Yes, I use toner. I am not sure whether it's necessary, but I like the idea of it balancing my PH value. I use the Laneige white plus renew toner.

Moisturizer: I use the Laneige white plus renew daytime hydrator with SPF 15, although I don't rely on it for SPF.

Treatment: I'm trying to introduce the Laneige White plus renew essence into my regimen, but again, changing just a little of your regimen should be done slowly if you don't want to risk reactions. I found that the essence is a little rich, so it might give me some whiteheads as I start to use it, so I'm using it one to two times a week to slowly introduce it to my skin. I plan to use it daily eventually, at least in the colder months when skin is dryer.

SPF: I use the Laneige SPF 41 PA++ sunblock on most days and SPF 50 PA+++ sunblock when I know I'm going to be outdoors a lot. I touch up with the Laneige powder sunscreen 15 minutes before I go outside. It also controls some oil on my face.

Facial makeup: I made the conscious decision to not use makeup base or foundation even though they give some a glow to my face. I don't use them daily, but whenever there is a special occasion, I go with my trustworthy Laneige dual base and white plus renew foundation. There is one exception to the rule though. Whenever I test BB creams or products for review, I use them exclusively for two weeks or so.

PM:
My night time regimen is pretty simple.
Makeup remover: If I'm just wearing sunblock, I don't use a makeup remover. However, when I'm testing BB creams or wore foundation for any special occasions, I remove makeup with Laneige oil free makeup remover. It is similar to a cleansing oil but thicker in consistency, and I feel safer because it's oil free. I'll review this soon if you are interested.
Cleanser: I made the transition half a year ago into using Laneige Multi Cleanser. It makes my face squeeky clean, which can be drying at times, but I immediately follow with toner and moisturizer. Just in case you were wondering, I was using the clean and clear BP wash and SA wash before I made the transition.
Toner: I use a toner that I make myself, and I am 100% satisfied with it. I think one day, I might make my own skincare for myself (and not for commercial use) so that I can know all the ingredients that goes into it, and enjoys the peace of mind.
Moisturizer: I used to use no moisturizer at night because I thought I don't need it, but I found doing cleanser, toner and moisturizer in the morning and at night is better for my skin. I use the Laneige White plus renew night cream. I love it, and I'm about to pick up more this time in Korea.

Weekly treatments: When I finally get off BP completely, I will use Laneige's strawberry yogurt peel, but right now, my skin doesn't need any more exfoliation. I will follow up with some homemade strawberry yogurt.

Oh and I just realized that I haven't actually reviewed my beloved skincare items yet, but don't worry, I will very soon.