Hello everyone, I am back with another installment of Our Wedding Notes today. In this post, I will be talking all about the Facial Treatments and Skincare products I used to achieve “the bridal glow” during my wedding in May.

I tried my very best since beginning of the year to prep my skin for the big day and I think my skin’s condition was at its peak. Other than facials and products, I think a balanced diet and exercise also helped. Remember, this is what worked for me and everyone’s concerns and skin reacts differently.

I aim to keep this post short and sweet — won’t be going into details for each and every item, if you want to know more, pop your question below.

Before I post photos of the wedding, here’s a peek at my Hen’s Night, with my sister. My sisters made me wear all sorts of funky accessories that night. They made me stand on the sofa (at the hotel lobby) to announce my marriage, ask for mobile numbers from random guys and give a random man a massage.

Sadly, I wasn’t drunk enough to forget any of those embarrassing moments but having said that, I enjoyed every minute — thank you ladies. And remember, I will go to Africa if I have to for any one of your Hen’s Night — better watch out ladies, muahaha.

FACIAL TREATMENTS

I have been going for regular facial treatments ever since I started working — slightly over 6 years now. I switch every now and then but usually I stick to one salon and one therapist. Having one therapist helps as the therapist will know my skin’s condition best. I may try a few therapists if I am new to the salon, until I find the one I am comfortable with and I will start requesting for her.

Depending on your personal preference, I prefer having extractions done — some say this is not good for the skin but I feel the need to extract all those black and white heads away.

I have sensitive skin, I get red after facials but the redness goes away in a few hours. At times, I get a few pimples the following few days after facial — which is normal for me. For my type of skin and reaction to facial treatments, I scheduled my facial 1.5 weeks before the wedding so my skin can heal and regenerate.

REGULAR FACIAL AT KANEBO [Grace]

I get my regular facial treatments done at Kanebo with Grace. I have appointments with her every month and each session lasts for approximately 2.5 hours including an eye treatment. I don’t use products from the brand but the products have never caused an adverse reaction on my skin.

Facial is done at the Kao’s Office located at 83 Clemenceau Avenue #16-08 UE Square — they have a designated area for facial, a very secluded space.

“PERK ME UP” FACIAL AT CLARINS [Candy]

This “perk me up” facial at Clarins was totally unintended. I have always been tempted to try facials at Clarins because I am an avid fan of their products but like I mentioned above, I prefer facials with extractions — Clarins doesn’t.

Since it’s for my big day and Clarins doesn’t do extraction, I have decided to try their popular The Lifting Face Shaper with customized whitening treatment. I went for this facial 4 days before the wedding — if I can, I would do this facial the day before because it is jaw-dropping amazing.

I loved every bit of it and the results are immediate. The shape of my face is more defined, my skin felt smoother and definitely brighter. I am so glad it lasted until my wedding day and even up to 1.5 weeks later.

Basically, I can add a secondary concern to The Lifting Face Shaper treatment which helps enhance, refine and rejuvenate facial contours. My therapist Candy recommend adding the whitening treatment which is a top favourite of all brides-to-be. This combination is stunning and I need to go back for more — I reckon a monthly maintenance package is needed very, very soon.

SKINCARE

What I have done to my entire skincare routine is not recommended — well, it depends. It depends on how comfortable, confident and daring you are. Well, I changed my entire skincare routine 1 month before my wedding into something totally new, something I have never tried before — I have only tried the brand’s facial masks.

1 month before the wedding, I had the sudden urge to change my skincare routine. I don’t know what’s up but I followed my heart — closed my eyes and pray that everything will turn out fine.

And it did.

Sulwhasoo, everyone helped me achieve radiant and luminous skin. I think this entire line also helped stabilizes my skin’s condition — I don’t break out as often any more (touch-wood), at least not that I can remember since I started my journey with this premium Korean herbal medicinal brand.

Many thanks to a reader, Ros (Hi Ros, if you are reading this, thank you for introducing this brand to me in 2011 — I have finally explored the brand and I am loving it.)

This entire skincare routine is also cotton pads free, all products should be gently patted and pressed onto the skin. I have linked all products to the brand’s product information site, you can read more about the products as well as directions of use.

Alternatively, you can also head down to TANGS Orchard to check out the brand — look for Evelyn Cheong.

DAY ROUTINE

The star product for Sulwhasoo is their First Care Activating Serum which is found in their Essential Line. This is a boosting serum which is the very first step (after cleansing) to the regime.

Featured in my July Favourites Post is the Timetreasure Renovating Eye Cream. This is a rather huge tub of eye cream, usually eye creams come in 15ml but this comes in a whopping 25ml. And all I need is a pea size each time — when am I ever going to finish this?

Don’t expect this eye cream to be silky smooth in texture, it’s not but the texture equally luxe. The formula is lightweight yet rich which keeps my eye contour area well hydrated throughout the day and night. After using it for a good 3 months, I noticed my under eye area is smoother and brighter.

Also from the Essential Line, the Essential Balancing Water is almost like thicken water, gel-like water? It provides deep hydration which lasts.

Step 5 of this regime is the Hydro-aid Moisturizing Lifting Cream — a lightweight gel moisturizer from their Hydra-aid Line. I love the texture of this moisturizer, perfect for the day and it helps promote clear, radiant skin.

I have recently added the Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream SPF30 PA++ into my regime. It hasn’t launch when I initially started — this cream doubles up as moisturizer and sunscreen. I like how convenient it is and SPF30 sounds about right for daily use. This product claims to protect skin from light and heat for younger-looking appearances — yet to find out about that.

But I feel that this product oils up a little during mid-day on my combination skin, especially the T-zone. Blotting is a must whenever I wear this, with or without makeup.

STEP 1: Cleanse – Snowise EX Cleansing Foam

STEP 2: Prep – First Care Activating Serum

STEP 3: Eyes – Timetreasure Renovating Eye Cream

STEP 4: Tone – Essential Balancing Water

STEP 5: Moisturize – Hydro-aid Moisturizing Lifting Cream

OR

STEP 5: Moisturize & Protect – Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream SPF30 PA++

NIGHT ROUTINE

After removing my makeup at night, I wash my face with the Snowise EX Cleansing Foam — works well and cleanses face thoroughly without stripping the skin’s moisture.

Everything from Step 1 to 4 are the same as during the day but at night, I add in the Snowise EX Whitening Serum because I try to keep my day routine as minimal as possible (time restrictions as well as piling some many products on my face during the day is just.. not so nice).

This whitening serum is lightweight and has a watery consistency which I find ideal for layering. It helps to brighten and rejuvenate the skin. I noticed my complexion is more even after using this serum but no signs of improvements shown on my dark spots yet.

I am so in love with this Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream — it’s heaven on earth (but first, you must be able to stand the smell of ginseng but with that being said, the ginseng smell goes off in a matter of minutes). This cream is ultra luxe, silky and smooth. It almost felt as if it’s melting in my palms.

No doubt it nourishing my skin and keeps my skin well hydrated throughout the night. I use a very, very small amount of this because it’s quite rich for me — a little goes a long way.

I also substitute this cream and rotate between two overnight masks. The Overnight Vitalizing Mask makes my skin appear more radiant the next day and I find this mask particularly good for dry, flaky skin. Trufresh Soothing Mask is very new in this regime, yet to fully test it out but I find it pretty good for soothing the skin.

STEP 1: Cleanse – Snowise EX Cleansing Foam

STEP 2: Prep – First Care Activating Serum

STEP 3: Eyes – Timetreasure Renovating Eye Cream

STEP 4: Tone – Essential Balancing Water

STEP 5: Special – Snowise EX Whitening Serum

STEP 6: Moisturize – Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream

OR

STEP 6: Repair – Overnight Vitalizing Mask

OR

STEP 6: Repair – Trufresh Soothing Mask

MASKING ROUTINE

After Chinese New Year this year when we have sort of decided to get married, I started applying masks every other day. Usually clarifying/purifying and hydrating wipe off masks because more is more (to me at least).

But I have also incorporated a few sheet masks because days get shorter and tougher — as the big day draws closer, there are more and more things to look into and plan, some nights, all I want to do is laze in bed and have no energy to get up. Sheets masks are very convenient as I can remove them in bed and massage rest of the residue while watching tv.

I am very in love with the Lancôme Blanc Expert “Sun Loving Zone” Bio-Cellulose Mask* because it hugs the face perfectly and instantly brightens up the cheeks area — where I have a few dark spots.

The new Dior Capture Lift V-Liner Ultra-Stretch Corset Mask* is another mask worth mentioning because it tightens and shapes the jaw line immediately. Sadly, both the serum and cream weren’t available for sale in May yet so I only had the mask to play with. I let Mak and my sister try and both of them also think it’s very effective.

I have recently purchased the serum to go along with this mask and the effect is really worth a try — for anyone who desires a “V” shape face. It worked very well for my double chin and I could see the lifting effect the morning after.

• Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Mask
• Lancôme Blanc Expert “Sun Loving Zone” Bio-Cellulose Mask*
• Dior Capture Lift V-Liner Ultra-Stretch Corset Mask*
• Clarins Pure & Radiant Mask
• Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask
• EVE LOM Rescue Mask (reviewed here)
• EVE LOM Moisture Mask*

EXTRA CARE

Besides daily skincare and masks I apply, there are also a few extra items I use to define and rejuvenate my skin during this crucial period. I exfoliate my skin once every week to help remove dead skin cells and brighten my skin. Exfoliating also helps in product penetration.

I continued using the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum to shape my jaw line and I add in a drop or two of either Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil or Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil into my moisturizer or massage onto my face prior to applying a wipe off mask.

• Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum
• Clarins White Plus | HP Gentle Brightening Exfoliator (reviewed here)
• Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil
• Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil*

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Skincare is highly subjective. Follow your heart and listen to your skin — if your skin can’t take it, don’t force it. Do what’s best for your skin. All products and steps mentioned above really worked for me — I have combination/sensitive skin.

Although the routine above may seem rather intensive but I have used most products before for a long time, for example — I have been a long time user of products from Clarins and I know they will work on my skin type. Changing my skincare routine to Sulwhasoo was the riskiest move but also a lucky one.

I have received so many compliments after this transition despite the lack of rest and the amount of stress I was going through.

I sincerely hope that this post has helped in one way or another. For all brides-to-be, how’s your skincare routine like now? Are you up for a change or do you prefer staying in your comfort zone? Do you go for regular facials and what are your must-have facial masks?

Let me know, I would love to hear from you.

Good luck — remember this is a joyous occasion and a beautiful one, enjoy the process and don’t be too stressed up (well, I know, it’s stressful).

Thank you for reading.