I’ve been getting some questions about my skincare routine lately, but because it’s so…involved…I felt a blog post would be the best way of relaying all the information. In other words, long post warning!
First of all, here’s what you need to know about my skin: I’m oily and acne-prone, and a break out for me usually means a few painful cysts on my cheeks and/or closed comedones on my forehead along with an overall rough sandpaper-like texture across my face. When I’m in a dry place, my skin can also become tight and flaky in addition to all of the above.
Last month, the dust from construction in our LA home broke me out terribly, and the (popular but incredibly overrated) acne products I tried just dried my skin up without doing anything for the bumps. Flying back to Singapore made things even worse – travel left my skin so dry and tight that just splashing water on my skin would sting.
I’m pretty sure none of this would have happened if I’d just packed my regular skincare products for the LA trip, but I got complacent from having good skin for so long that I figured I could just use whatever was available when I got there. Nope! As they say, you live and learn.
The second I got home I started on my intensive skin rehab routine and can honestly say I’ve seen results within a week. Everyone around me has noticed the dramatic differences: my forehead is much smoother, the red spots on my cheeks are lighter and less noticeable, and overall my skin looks even-toned and glowy even without makeup (or filters, or photoshop for the record)!
What’s my secret? Mostly SK-II…and lots of it!
Because we’re still unpacking and my bathroom is a mess, I accidentally missed a few things in this photo (DHC, Clarisonic, OXY) but they are listed and linked below.
As promised, here’s a detailed breakdown of the intensive rehab routine I use to treat skin emergencies. Please note that the US and Asian names for these SK-II products vary (I’m using the Asian names).
Every Morning:
Wash face with SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser and dry gently.
1. Pat 3 drops of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence directly onto face with my hands.
2. Apply a half pump of SK-II Facial Clear Solution* (or SK-II Stempower if my face is dry)
3. Pat 2 drops of SK-II Whitening Power Spots Specialist over areas with acne scars
4. Apply 3 drops of SK-II Cellumination Aura Essence all over face.
5. With a Q-tip, dab pure tea tree oil directly onto any bumps or developing cysts.
6. Apply sunscreen, primer and makeup.
*Discontinued but still available at some SK-II counters.
Every Night:
1. Remove makeup with 1-2 pumps DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.
2. Wash face with SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser and dry gently.
3. Apply 4 drops of SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion to a cotton pad and wipe face with it.
4. Pat 3 drops of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence directly onto face with my hands.
5. Pat 2 drops of SK-II Whitening Power Spots Specialist over areas with acne scars (cheeks)
6. Apply 3 drops of SK-II Cellumination Aura Essence all over face.
7. Apply SK-II Signs Wrinkle Serum* between my brows.
8. Apply small amount of SK-II Stempower all over my face, if needed.
9. With a Q-tip, dab pure tea tree oil directly onto any bumps or developing cysts.
10. Apply OXY 10 (benzoyl peroxide) on any areas with bumps, or over developing cysts.
*Discontinued and replaced with SK-II Wrinkle Specialist Moisturising Serum
Exfoliation:
Twice a week I do a light peel with Cure Natural Aqua Gel followed with SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C. Every two weeks I give myself a good Clarisonic scrubbing, followed by a SK-II Facial Treatment Mask.
For maintenance:
Once my skin is back to normal, I use everything as above except for the Cellumination Aura Essence and Whitening Power Spots Specialist, which I bump down to using every other day. My exfoliation routine also changes – I use Cure/FT Repair C once a week and my Clarisonic/FT Mask once a month (or whenever I need my skin to really glow).
I’ll probably be switching to my maintenance routine in another week or so if things continue to go this well. I can already get away with just my concealer and a bit of translucent powder, so I’m pretty optimistic.
Admittedly, using this many products from the same brand can seem a little extreme, but I believe that “stacking” really does give me better, faster results…and is still cheaper than the alternative of regular facials and laser resurfacing treatments. If you already have good skin but want to try the radiance-boosting effects of this range, I suggest starting with something like the Pitera Essence Kit – it’s what got me hooked on the brand in the first place!
Disclaimer: I purchased all the above products myself, and am not affiliated with SK-II or being compensated in any way for this post. Also, skincare can be incredibly subjective – what works for me may not work for the next person. This just happens to be my personal experience and opinion.
