I currently live in Hong Kong, and the winter season is particularly dry. You'll know when you need to change your skincare products to a more intense one when your skin feels tight after you cleanse, and if your foundation looks flaky when applied to your face. Winter is coming to an end and spring is nearly here, but I'd still like to share with you all what I loved using during the super dry months of the year:
I absolutely LOVE the following products from Clarins, but I only use them during the winter, as they are too oily for me to use during the humid summer months in HK. Of course, Clarins has many other products too that I love, but I shall talk about those in other posts...this post is mainly for my fav products during the winter months :)
The product claims to make your skin look firmer, reduce wrinkles, more even skin, and pores less visible.
Outlook:
It comes in a bronze coloured plastic bottle with a pump dispenser, and you can only see one side of the bottle. It's a double serum because there are actually two serums inside the bottle, so when you pump out the serum, an oil along with the orange serum will be pumped out, and that is why you need to mix the serums together in your palms before applying it to the face.
Personal Experience:
I started buying this product in Dec 2012, and I am currently into using my third bottle (I have the 50mL jumbo size bottle now). I only use this during the winter - 1 pump for the morning and 2 pumps at night. I bought the 50mL bottle at the beginning of winter, and the bottle has lasted me for an entire season. The results have not been so obvious for me, apart from having moisturised skin, but it has proved great results on my mother-in-law's face the first time she used it. She has always had very dry and flaky skin, but upon the first use of the Double Serum, her face became very soft again. I also find that my skin is more firm and soft after prolonged use of the product. There is a slight scent to the product but it's not very strong. It absorbs into the skin fairly quickly so your face won't feel sticky for too long.
How to use:
Pump the amount that you need onto your palms (1 or 2 pumps in the morning, and 2 pumps at night), and mix it in your hands ("warm up" the product) before pressing it down gently onto your face and neck every morning and evening before your usual cream.
For more information, please see:
Price:
HK$630.00 for 30mL, HK$880.00 for 50mL
The product claims to bring a youthful vitality to extra dry, devitalised skin - even in the most extreme climates.
Outlook:
It comes in a blue matte glass bottle with a golden lid and a pump (looks quite posh). After shaking the bottle, the liquid inside becomes white as you mix the oil and the serum together. Despite the serum having oil inside, it is surprisingly not sticky at all.
Personal Experience:
I started buying this product in Dec 2012, and I am currently into using my second bottle. Unlike the Double Serum, I don't use this everyday unless my face needs an extra boost, and I tend to only use this at night after using my Double Serum. I also use it after I've done a home facial. Again, it has a slight scent, but it's acceptable and quite nice also. When you pump the serum out onto your palm, it actually turns out to be a slightly blue colour. It is not sticky or oily in anyway after applying it to your face.
How to use:
Gently shake the bottle to mix the oil together with the serum. Apply morning and/or evening to thoroughly cleansed face and neck. Gently press down on skin, working from the middle of the face outward.
Price:
HK$525.00 for 30mL
This product claims to be an anti-aging care for dehydrated skin, and will help prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines.
Clarins has three types of face treatment oils:
Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil for dehydrated skin
Santal Face Treatment Oil for dry skin
Lotus Face Treatment Oil for oily or combination skin
Outlook:
It comes in a glass bottle with yellow oil inside. The sample only comes with a white lid, but the full size bottle comes with a glass pasteur pipette/dropper.
Personal Experience:
I received a few of samples of the Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil from my previous purchases (the samples are 2mL bottles), so I have yet opened my full size bottle yet. I don't use this oil everyday unless my face is very dry, and when I do use it, I will use a small drop and mix it with toner in my hand, or apply it after applying my toner when my face is still wet - this helps the product absorb better and also so that it won't leave any stickiness to your face. If you apply it in the right way, it does not leave an oily nor sticky feeling to your face, and will definitely not cause breakouts, in fact, it balances out your skin's oil.
How to use:
In the evening, after thorough cleansing, apply a small amount to the face and neck still damp with Toning Lotion, avoiding the eye contour. Gently dab face with a soft tissue to remove any excess product.
Price:
HK$420.00 for 30mL
Outlook:
It comes in a plastic bottle with a lid that clicks when it's fully closed, which ensures that it is closed properly and avoid any spills.
Personal Experience:
Clarins has a few different types of toning lotions, but I use this one which is for normal or dry skin. The thing I love about it is that it is alcohol-free (perfect for the pregnant me), and it has a very faint chamomile scent. It also softens, soothes, and smoothes irritations. I've finished using the full size bottle, so the photo is showing a smaller size of 50mL. It's not drying for the skin and it makes my skin feel relaxed, especially when I use it at night.
How to use:
After cleansing, soak a cotton pad in the Toning Lotion and smooth over the face and neck.
Price:
HK$230.00 for 200mL
"A soothing moisturiser for chapped lips. This rich balm conditions and softens the lips, keeping them moist and supple."
Outlook:
The lip balm comes in a metal tube. The balm itself is yellow in colour and the texture is quite thick.
Personal Experience:
Unlike other lip balms, this product does what it claims to do - condition and soften the lips! I've always had really chapped and flaky lips, especially during the winter and when I'm pregnant, and none of the other lip balms helped to resolve this problem, except this one. It's quite expensive to use all the time, and there's no applicator on the tube, so I only use this before bedtime, like a lip mask, so I don't get my hands sticky all the time. There is a very faint scent of beeswax, but hardly noticeable when applied to the lips. The balm is great, but the design of the tube is not great - I've used around 2/3 of the tube, and I find it quite difficult to squeeze the balm out of the hard metal tube. I've rolled up the bottom of the tube to make things easier, but it also got quite messy when the end of the tube popped open. This lip balm always runs out of stock (I had to order my first one), so I've stocked up recently to ensure I don't run out!
How to use:
Apply to lips throughout the day, using cotton bud or fingertip. Apply under and over lipstick as required.
"A made-to-measure lip balm that beautifies and durably enhances the lips' natural colour. A customised colour result: thanks to its Colour Reviver technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman's lips before releasing its colour ingredient. Lips seem revived from within, amazingly fresh, full and radiant. In addition, its formula enriched with wild mango and luffa cylindrica continuously protects and moisturises. A universal balm for all lips."
Outlook:
This lip balm comes in a very pretty silver tube inside a transparent pink casing. The lip balm itself looks light pink, but don't go applying layers of it on your lips just because you can't see the colour well enough - when applied to your lips, the colour will change according to how dry/moist your lips are, and it may change throughout the day too.
Personal Experience:
This is absolutely the BEST lip balm I have ever used. It's a very moisturising lip balm that comes with a customised colour result, and I just love how the colour changes every time I put it on. I seldom put on makeup, and even when I do, it's just very light makeup, so this is perfect for a natural look yet with a glow! It's a great gift too!
Outlook:
The primer comes in a transparent matte glass bottle with a lovely design. The pink colour of the lid represents that it is the moisturising version, as opposed to the Protecting Foundation Primer that comes with a white lid. It also comes with a pump dispenser for easy and hygienic access.
Personal Experience:
I never used to use primers until I started purchasing the primers from Paul & Joe. I also have the Protecting Foundation Primer from P&J (with a white lid) for the summer months. I have fairly white skin, so I use shade 01 dragee. Shade 02 miel is slightly darker in colour, and shade 03 creme does not consist of any foundation and does not have any SPF properties. The primer is very light and moisturising, and it does not sink into dry wrinkles. It has a slight scent but it's quite a nice one. There aren't many problems with my skin, so this is the only makeup product that I normally use during the day to help minimise the size of my pores and also even out my skin tone. Unfortunately, they only have two coloured shades, so if neither suit you, you may have to use the transparent one (shade 3 creme), but some people prefer to use a colourless primer anyway, especially if they're going to be applying foundation and other makeup to their face after.
How to use:
Pump the right amount onto the back of your hand and gently spread out before applying it to your face. Always use a makeup remover to remove the primer before cleansing your face with a cleanser.
Price:
HK$300.00 for 30mL
I used the Double Serum, HydraQuench Serum, and Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil in my Egypt trip in 2013, and I had no issues with dry skin or flaking skin throughout my trip, and it was VERY VERY DRY in Egypt during the winter! One of my friends brought aloe vera masks to apply during the trip, but it still wasn't hydrating enough, and she ended up having flaking skin on her face. Please note that Clarins has their own special way of applying their products, and in order to receive the best results from your products, please do follow their guidelines! You can visit your local Clarins store for a leaflet.
These are the products that I have bought over and over again for use in the dry winter months. I hope these suggestions will help you in finding the right products for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below!
Have a nice day everyone!
