Here is my simple beauty routine without gimicks or brand names.
- On wake up: Drink water right away. Your body will be dehydrated overnight and needs a fresh start. A simple bedside carafe helps! Water drops motivate.
- Take vitamins
- Ritual 50+ Women daily - $35 every 2 months / $17 a month. I take one pill a day, not two.
- vitamin D ($7)
- cod liver oil ($23)
- Pill for Eye health
- I took a synbiotic but gave this up as I didn't feel any positive/negative effects.
- Morning meditation (alpha, when the mind is not quite awake, for effective visualization and creation of your day). The type of meditation I do usually fall into 3 categories:
- Visualization (Law of Attraction, Esther Hicks)
- Gratitude
- Loving Kindness
- Morning Brew: Boiled water mixed with
- Honey
- Tumeric
- Fresh grated ginger (or powdered alternative)
- Icelandic marine powdered collagen (Formerly $30, now $40)
- a splash of apple cider vinegar ($6)
AM
- I use a two-step cleansing system
- Wash hands in warm water with soap to rid all bacteria first.
- Use Elemis foam micellar cleanser ($28) with a Konjac sponge ($12): The best of both worlds. Micellar does not strip the skin, the foam is an effective cleanser. The more bubbles you have, the cleaner your pores, so foam it up!
- Follow this up with a Japanese oil cleanser ($30). While applying the oil cleanser, I do some quick facial massage to help increase circulation on my face, forehead and neck.
- The Ordinary Niacinamide + Zinc ($9)
- Strivectin Neck cream ($59)
- If going outside, Neutrogena Daily sunscreen ($12)
- Minimal makeup if going out, takes me one minute to apply: Eye/Cheek/Lip all in one application with Miracle Cream Jones Road by Bobbi Brown ($38)
PM
For the evening, I apply the products which are chemically stronger because the sun doesn't mix well with these. It's best to apply these at bedtime.
- Faded Topicals on cheeks to even out skin tone and discoloration ($38)
- The Ordinary Buffet Anti-aging Serum with Copper Peptides ($24) for face and neck
- Burt's Bees sensitive eye cream ($10) for eyes, teeniest amount goes long way. Very mild.
- Strivectin Neck cream ($59) again
- Laniege Water Sleeping Mask ($30) to finish the routine
- I still have yet to find a retinol that I like. I tried Neutrogena ($20) but not wow'ed.
Weekly
- 1x week Facial Dermaplaning ($12): this helps the skin to absorb products more effectively and operates as an exfoliant
- 3x week Infrared Mask ($430) (I won this as a prize from work! There are cheaper alternatives.)
Hair
Bless my mother's genes. I wash only 1-2x week to avoid stripping hair of natural oils and avoid using blow dryer unless going out as heat damages hair.
- Argan Oil ($7 from TJ's or The Ordinary): daily massage into my hair ends
- Viori Rice Shampoo and Conditioner
- Eyelash Serum ($11) + Castor Oil for eyebrows ($10)
- I tried Vegamour to get rid of white hair which partially worked, but a one-time purchase.
- Madison Reed subscription has been home hair dye of choice.
Don'ts
- No abrasive exfoliation or chemical peels
- No invasive procedures or Botox injections
- No expensive application machines. Using your fingers is best for skin!
- No heavy makeup or all skin make up coverage: the skin needs to breathe. That's what it was meant to do.
- No alcohol. Death to my Asian system.
- Highly processed foods containing artificial sugars, fried and processed don't do you any favors
- I eat very minimal amounts of meat (avoid pork and beef), opting for raw/cooked vegetables as largest base for meals and plenty fish.
- I avoid dairy, opting for oat or almond milk. Occasional cheese and ice cream.
- I avoid the nightshades plants (tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, peppers) to maintain good gut health
