goodies for the skin

Some of my skincare products ran out recently, so I thought it timely to try out a few new things.

First up was the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate which Fleurette and a good number of my friends have raved about. I admit I bought this at a vulnerable moment (don't buy beauty products when you're feeling bad about your skin!) because I felt like my skin looked dull - it's definitely a sign of ageing! I love the smell - so soothing as you press the oil onto your face. I use it every alternate night. I'm impressed that I can use it on its own without a moisturiser (this being humid Singapore), and it might be imaginary, but the texture of my skin looks better too.

It's made from a mix of natural essential oils (evening primrose, lavender, squalane), and upon buying it, I did wonder if I just spent money on the same essential oils you can get from any store. Hmmmm.

The only way to find out if a beauty product has been effective is to finish using the whole lot, and stop for a week or two and see what your skin looks like without it. If it noticeably degenerates, then you know you have a winner. I guess I've got six months to go to see if I have a winner.

The second product is my body moisturiser - I love the Boots Body Cream I bought in Thailand, inexpensive and the texture and scent was amazing, but I've finished mine, and there isn't a Boots here.

In any case, I've been wanting to gradually switch to organic products, so I checked out Aesop and Jurlique. Aesop has killer packaging, but I didn't like the way any of their body creams (called Body Balms) smelt.

So off to Jurlique I went, and I plunked for their Jasmine Body Care Lotion, because it smelt heavenly and the texture was perfect for our weather. It makes me feel like I'm in a spa.

Both products have a great scent, but it isn't chokingly overpowering (some Body Shop and L'Occitane products have that problem). Some people prefer unscented products, owing to sensitive skin perhaps. But it's never made a difference with me, and I like the ritual of massaging something that smells soothing into your skin (good for circulation too, all that massaging).

I had never used Jurlique products before so I opted for this as a starter product - if I like it I may try more of their stuff as I go along - I'm running out of sunscreen next.

Apart from growing their ingredients on their own biodynamic farm, they also have minimal packaging made from recycled materials - not sure if the plastic is though. If you think about your carbon footprint and all the chemicals we wash off our bodies every day, I think it's worth looking at where you can minimise there, and taking small steps in the right direction.