(1) Cleanse
This is one of the times I don't mind using the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. I rub it on with my fingers and kind of massage my facial muscles until I'm sure I got every pore. Then I mist my face with the Rose water (smells so good!) and when the oil turns milky I wipe it away with a soft washcloth.
(2) Scrub & Peel
I scrub the vitamin c crystals gently but consistently over my entire face, concentrating on my cheeks and around my mouth area where my skin tends to be the dryest. Then after 2-3 minutes of slowly massaging it on my face, I apply the activation gel liberally all over until I get a warm sensation. Then I leave it on like a mask for 10 minutes. Gently rinse off with lukewarm water.
(3) Mask
An awfully expensive line, but there's a good reason for it. The Facial Treatment Mask drenches your skin in Pitera, and gives you an immediate youthful glow. It boosts radiance and moisture levels immediately and leaves my skin soft to the touch.
(4) Tone
Then I apply this Shu Uemura's Equiwater as a toner, a great way to close up my pores and remove any excess products any of the above items might have left behind.
(5) Purify
Right before I go to sleep I apply Darphin's Purifying Balm all over my forehead, cheeks and throat, skipping over my nose and below my lips, where I tend to be a little oily. This balm corrects problems and brightens your complexion overnight. After using this balm my skin is dewy (but not oily) when I wake up.
(6) On-The-Spot
Then of course there are times when parts of our skin need a little pick-me-up. If it's been an especially stressful or sleep-deprived week I make sure to smooth on some Shu Uemura eye cream. I just dab a little bit on my forefinger and smooth it around my orbital bone, not too close to my actual eye. Someone once taught me that the sensitive eye area will soak up moisture from surrounding skin when it needs it, so smoothing it on to the orbital bone is more effective than dabbing it directly around your eye, which can damage the sensitive skin as well as make the eye area oily. And when I have whiteheads, this is the best time to apply Mario Badescu's drying lotion; it dries out my erupted areas without drying out the rest of my face.
