Welcome to my skincare journal!
Why a journal?
I’m motivated by “I can’t find recommendations that work for me!” If I want to try a new foundation or facial serum, like you, I turn to the Friends & Family Seal of Approval – and honestly most women don’t share their secrets – and increasingly I look to online beauty bloggers/forums. A typical beauty blogger/vlogger is a Millennial or Generation Z who has porcelain clear, acne-free, age defying skin. When these Captain Marvelesque ladies suggest products based on 7 or 14 day test-run, I am like, this just ain’t gonna work for my old and pigmented skin. Their suggestions are even less worthy of my attention because RARELY, does anyone test the entire product range from the same brand, even though brands will split as many active ingredients into as many products as possible (more sales revenue).
Also, I’m hindered by my own skin – if I have an adverse reaction to a product – its not a rash but my entire face becomes Hive Central station. If a product suits me then, it takes at least 2 months for there to be any noticeable change in my appearance.
My proposal
For 60 days, I am going to use Forest Essentials products for my face. These products have been recommended to me by a Forest Essential salesperson based on what you see in the attached photos:
I have extensive brown spots right under my eyes and the salesperson, noted that I don’t have wrinkles (yet) but I do have uneven skin tone and I have dry to combination skin and not the normal/oily skin that I thought I had. A full list of all the products is at the end of this post.
My proposed routine in the following order:
AM: the Facial cleanser, Rasa activating serum, Tejal balancing water and the Eternal youth day cream. I will add my own sun protection as Forest Essential do not make a standalone product.
PM: In the evening, its the Facial cleanser, Rasa activating serum, Facial tonic mist, Soundarya serum and Soundarya cream.
For the first week, I will use the Soundarya serum every alternative day, giving my skin time to adjust to the high quantity of oil in the products.
Weekly: Twice or thrice a week I will use one of the sheet masks listed below, but never two of the same face masks in the week. If I have a facial then I will highlight that.
What are my expectations?
- Reduce the intensity and colour of brown spots under my eye. If the skin regime is able to achieve this, then this is a big deal – like Virat Kohli becoming our next Prime Minister – completely unexpected and blows your mind. If there is no change in appearance, then this is generally what I expect.
- Hydrate my skin, so that it is visibly more supple. To help optimize the products performance I already have 3 litres of water/day, but I am going to cut down on coffee (I have no black tea), sugar, fats and oils.
- Reduce the size of my pores, which are huge and make applying any type of foundation a nightmare.
- No additional damage to my skin, so essentially no pimples or breakouts. I am nervous, as the creams and serums have sesame and almond oils as their principal ingredients.
- Products should not cause my skin to dry out or become darker and the latter may happen if there is an increase in melanin production, indicating my skin has gone into protective mode.
- Facial hair should not darken or increase. This may happen as the creams and serum contain almond oil….
Measuring progress
Each week I will add a short update and then after 60 days, I will share my thoughts and experience, answering the ultimate question:
is this worth my dime or time?
This really goes back to my mission statement (see About Me)
Sun protection – I use ultrasun, as it’s a really no-nonsense proper sun protection brand. I like to imagine Swiss people wake up in the morning, cover themselves in ultrasun and have their cheese fondue, all with the military precision of a cuckoo clock. (I get bored easily).
List of products
- Delicate Facial Cleanser – Mashobra Honey, Lemon & Rosewater (₹1,175, Batch No B18024)
- Facial Tonic Mist – Panchpushp (₹1,275, Batch No B18009)
- Rasa Activating Serum (₹2,750, Batch No B18010)
- Tejal Balancing Water (₹1,875, Batch No B18007)
- Soundarya Advanced Serum with 24K gold (₹3,795, Batch No B18014)
- Eternal Youth Formula – Date & Litchi (₹3,895, Batch No: B18006)
- Soundarya Radiance Cream with 24K gold & SPF 25 (₹4, 600, Batch No B18011)
- Sundari Deep Hydration Ayurvedic Sheet Mask, Tejasvi Brightening & Lightening Ayurvedic Sheet Mask and Ojas Age Arresting Ayurvedic Sheet Mask ( All are ₹995, Imported, Registration Certificate No RC/COS-000557)
Till next week!