new skincare!

for the past couple of months, i've been looking for a new moisturizer/night cream to replace my old one (creme de la mer). don't get me wrong, i really like la mer but it's just so expensive! $230 for a 2oz pot!

when looking for a moisturizer, or any skincare product, you should first ask yourself what your skin needs the most. for me, my problem is hydration. i have combination skin (oily in the T-zone, dry in other areas) so it does have oil, but w/o makeup, my skin looks dull and lackluster -- this is due to dehydration. one of the best things you can do for this is to drink more water, but quite honestly, i don't like drinking loads of water because i hate having to go pee so often. that's why i need to seek help from some good topicals. ^__^

a friend of mine - who is actually younger than i am - recommended that i check out estée lauder. (yes, the brand your mama uses. but know this: they own more than half of the cosmetic companies you see @ the department stores.) from estée lauder's line of moisturizers/creams, i tried Hydra Bright, Daywear Plus, and Time Zone and decided on:

Hydra Bright


i liked Hydra Bright because it really sunk into my skin and made it feel well-hydrated and supple. my skin didn't feel like it had something sitting on top of it. unfortunately, by the time i made my decision to get this moisturizer, it went off the shelves to be "reformulated." grrrrr-eat. i guess i'll wait until it comes out again (in JANUARY!) and test it again.

another line i'm testing (and i did get to purchase!) is derma-e. for now, i'm only testing the moisturizer and the face wash.


why all the fuss w/ DMAE, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and C-ester? well ladies, we're not getting any younger! and even though we may not look old, we should do our best to preserve what we have now.

dimethylaminoethanol or DMAE has been found in clinical studies to tighten skin and to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, dark under-eye circles, and nasolabial folds (the "smile line" some ppl get). in addition, the results of this anti-aging agent has been noted to last even after you stop using it (so you know it's not just a quick, superficial pick-me-up). don't believe me? read here.

how about alpha lipoic acid? ALA is a powerful natural antioxidant found in plants and animals. when taken orally, it offers many benefits to your body (i.e., regulating cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function). for your skin, it helps to prevent and minimize wrinkles. maybe i'll start taking the oral pills in the future, but for now, i'll use the topical version.

C-ester (ascorbyl palmitate) - everyone knows that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, but vitamin c-ester is thought to be better by some skincare professionals because it is more soluble. per dr. weil (from the Origin's line), vitamin c -ester helps to "reduce the redness and inflammation of sunburn and thus protect against sun-related skin aging." and we all know (or should know) that sun-related skin aging is the most powerful and damaging kind!
ok, i'll update again when i've tested the goodz.

ciao!