After an ego-restructuring moment back in January, I decided to forge ahead with plans for a new me, for a new decade.
So far, plans are going relatively well. I am drinking several tall glasses of water a day, my search for a super pretty canteen to carry my on-the-go water was quite fruitful, and I even engaged in some hot yoga to boot. (Although I’m not sure how Zen I feel when I am pouring out sweat like an open tap, contorted like a 100 year-old twisted juniper.)
That being said, I have also ventured out into the world of new skincare products. While we wear our age in many places on our bodies, our face is most often the red flag, so I started there.
As I set out to browse the endless shelves of shops like Murale, Sephora and Holt Renfrew, I started to remember how much fun exploring all the different vials, and jars and tubes can be.
As a result, the last two months have been spent slathering, spritzing and absorbing my way through more than a few new products, with a few replacing some from the old routine. Here are some of the standouts:
Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil: Yes, I was initially worried about this one too. Rubbing greasy-feeling oil on a dry face (you lather up after a couple minutes with some additional water) seemed like a recipe for clogged pores and eventual breakouts. But living in such a dry climate, my skin reacted with ‘hurrahs’ and grateful overtures rather than rebellious blemishes. Soft, smooth and without the usual post-wash tightness, this one is a definite keeper.
Firmology by Benefit: A toning product that after being used just once, left a touchable difference in my skin. It also left a really fresh-looking, post exercise glow--without the grunting and requisite sweat.
Crème De La Mer Eye Concentrate: Well, I’ll simply call this one magic in a jar. While I try to get the recommended 7-8 hours of nightly slumber, more often than not, it is more like 5-6: often leaving my eyes puffy, and with hangover-like dark circles screaming for a disguise. Well make-up be damned. A tiny slather of this miracle, and my eyes suggested 9 hours in dreamland had been had.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream: The only product in my old arsenal that survived the cut. Hands down, the best moisturizer for this climate I have ever found.
Look for my venture into the world of medical aesthetics next month!