Which is better - Cleansing Oil or Cleansing Balm?

Is there really something better than the other? 

The order is in no way any indication of the question because I believe it's all personal preference - as long as it cleanses your skin without drying out! To be honest, I'm not a fan of cleansing water as I quite dislike the idea of dragging cotton pads across my face anymore than I need to. And not forgetting the fact that I always find that with cleansing water, it's like, you're just adding another layer of product over your skin. Something like Febreeze when you don't really wash your clothes but you spray another layer to deodorise the smell. Not too sure if it's making any sense, but I'm always a "wash-off = clean" girl, and whatever stays should be beneficial to your skin like 'sheet masks' and 'sleeping packs'.

So yeah, here's how I choose what to use - since I always have both Cleansing Oil and Cleansing Balm at home (featuring my favourite products).

NeoGen Real Cica Micellar Cleansing Oil

This is something I've discovered very recently - only late last year and it has served me well.

Photo credits: Google

I will recommend people with sensitive skin to use this as this cleanser has 'Cica' and 'Cica' is believed to be able to soothe and repair irritated skin. I usually use this when my skin is inflammed (when I battle acne on my 'magical days'), sensitive, or when I only have sunblock on.

Tip-Bit! Always remove your sunscreen with a make up remover no matter what the your sunscreen bottle says because no sunblock can be a 100% non-comedogenic. 

Banila Co "Clean it Zero"

I've written a detailed review on this a few years back and I stand by it! Till date, 'Clean it Zero' is my favourite cleansing balm. They've (not so) recently changed their packaging from a more 'sophisticated' design to a more 'clean' design - which I actually prefer.

Photo Credit: Google

I'll usually use a cleansing balm when I have eye makeup on. The reason? Personally, the cleansing balm is easier to control the 'seepage'. When I use cleansing oil on my eyes, it often seeps into my eyes no matter how tight I shut them and well, that is not healthy for anyone. When I use a cleansing balm like the 'Clean it Zero', it is easier to control, does what it should, and cleans everything out. What's best, because it is easier to control, it does not seep into my eyes and I don't open them to a milky vision.

Tip-Bit! It's always a good practice to rinse your eyes with water no matter what cleanser you are using. Rinse out your eyes so that there is nothing remaining - whether you see it or not - so that you don't get an infection. 

Anyhow. Speaking of sunblock, I will be writing something about it very soon.

Toner and my mist recipe

Talk about toner and my "mist-ing" recipe. Pun intended. I know I've promised my facial mist/ toner recipe for quite some time and it's still missing. By the end of this post, you'll know!

I love the Hada Labo Whitening Lotion as a toner. In fact, I love all the various Hada Labo lotion lines for its cheap price and its clean ingredients. It's ph balanced, free of fragrance, mineral oil, alcohol and colourant and most important of all, all ingredients are non-comedogenic! I also love myself a good mist I can use throughout the day without feeling too sticky and yet, it has to have a good balance of moisturising effect because I fly a lot for work and I got to keep my skin moisturised during flights. I've tried a lot of facial mists and nothing really stuck. So I thought to mix my 2 loves together. But as much as I love the Hada Labo Whitening Lotion, I cannot use it as a spray mist because it is too viscous. If you use it on its own in a spray bottle, it will come out as a jet and trust me, that hurts! HAHA. So I am always trying to dilute it but diluting it with water is like mehhh. So I was super happy when I came across the Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner. It comes in a very generous 500ml bottle that only retails at approximately 11SGD. You can find it in Guardian or SASA stores in Singapore and you can snap more up during the regular Guardian's 3 for 2 sale. Super worth it!

With some DIY, I found my all-time favourite mist:
♥ Hada Labo Whitening Lotion,
♥ Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner,
♥ Mario Badescu Rosewater Toner (optional), and,
♥ a spray bottle!

Depending on the size of your spray bottle, mix them all up with 1 part Hada Labo Whitening Lotion, 2 parts Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner, and 1 part Mario Badescu Rosewater Toner. 

Rose water is actually optional but I add it in because my skin is quite sensitive and it tends to look a little reddish in the afternoon, so on top of the wonderful smell, I like that Rose water helps to calm it down. It's up to you if you want to add it!

In the previous post, I was talking about storing a pump bottle of toner in your bathroom so that you can lock in the most moisture in your skin. Thing is, I actually have 2 bottles of toner in my bathroom - one in a pump bottle and the other in a spray bottle.

The reason? 

Well. Koreans talk about layering your toners - the 7 skin method - the Klog talks about it as well. But depending on your skin condition, the 7 skin method may not be the most effective for you. In fact, you may not need 7 layers after all. Also in a humid country like Singapore, you're probably gonna feel very sticky very quickly if you're doing all 7 layers of toner, especially if your toner is very rich. So how do you go with layering your toner?

I keep one pump bottle of the Hada Labo Whitening Lotion in the bathroom that I use for the "Toner Dry" method (this bottle only contains the Hada Labo Whitening Lotion). Pump a few pumps onto dry cotton/ toning pads and dry your face with it. 

Then comes my 2nd spray bottle of toner that I also keep in the bathroom. I usually spritz it on before leaving the bathroom and this is technically the 2nd layer already. From the bathroom to my room, I'll usually spray on another layer when I get to my room before slathering on my moisturiser. Yes, I have another bottle of the mist in my room amongst my vanity closet too! Personally, I think 3 layers is more than enough for me. Any more and I will feel sticky and uncomfortable. So, don't just go smacking 7 layers immediately. Listen to what your skin needs and your skin will thank you for it. Hope these little tips help! Cheers.