My #ChokChok Skin Care Essentials

image via M C on Pinterest

You may have noticed by now that I'm so obsessed about caring for my hair and my skin. Apart from a very stressful swing shift job, I'm not exactly blessed with the best genetic cocktail reason why I have to pay extra close attention on how I do my skin care dance number routine. As your resident beauty blogger who's tried a lot of possible treatment and product combinations, over the years, I'm very happy to report that I may have found my current holy grail of products according to my current concerns:

• oily T-zone, extremely dry cheeks (ugh!)
• occasional, very red pimples
• fine lines around the eye area and temples (the curse of going on your mid-30s)
• light post-acne pigmentation on the cheeks
• sensitivity on some makeup causing itching and mosquito bite-like patches (IKR!)

Without further adieu, let me share with you my "chok chok" (aka. glass skin) essentials.

First, you need a professional treatment that's meant to address your skin care concerns and give you that much needed moisture boost. I was recently invited to try the O2 Korean Facial Therapy (Php 1200) by O2 Laser Skin Clinic in Taguig. This clinic's a well-kept secret among their clients who love the said signature facial that's therapeutically concocted to deeply cleanse, rejuvenate, and hydrate the skin. Just like Korean skin care routines, this facial has multiple steps to take your skin and your senses la la land.

1st Step: Cleanse. Cleansing the face with our Cleansing Milk and Cleansing Gel. This step will involve removal of makeup (if patient has any on) and dirt from the environment.

2nd Step: Scrubber. Using a machine, we will scrub off deep seated dirt for a more thorough cleansing

3rd Step: Ultrasonic. Using a special gel, a flat device emitting heat is made to go around the whole face. This helps open and soften the pores to prepare it for extraction.

4th Step: Extraction/Pricking of Whiteheads, Blackheads, Pimples.

5th Step: Destressing. This is done through a relaxing face, shoulder and back massage using our special Korean massage oil for 10-15 minutes.

6th Step: Antioxidant Infusion. Using another machine, we infuse a high end Vitamin C from Korea which helps lighten the skin as well as slow down the aging process. In this treatment, you will feel a mild stinging sensation especially in the bony areas. This is the machine infusing the Vitamin C inside your skin.

7th Step: Calming and Anti aging. Cold Collagen mask is applied and left on the face for 10-15 minutes. This is another anti-aging procedure and the cool sensation of the mask will help reduce the redness from the extraction done prior.

8th Step: Removal of mask and application of Moisturizer and Sun protection Korean creams.

trying out the O2 Korean Facial Therapy

One session is worth 90 minutes and feels far longer than that! Apart from the typical facial you would expect, you are also in for a superb face and shoulder massage that's guaranteed to relax, invigorate, and refresh you after you pop out of the clinic. I tried this treatment one Friday when I felt like I had everything on my shoulders. I met my friends after and they kept on quipping how fresh I looked like (oh, if only they knew!). Two thumbs up, highly recommending this facial treatment!

Dear Derma, if you're reading this, sorry from deviating from your very strict instructions. :)

Ahhh my skin care routine!  This roster's been working wonders for me, feel great during and after use, and hey -- they're not over the top expensive too!

My morning routine's relatively simple. I cleanse my dry skin with O2 Laser Skin Clinic Cleansing Milk, rinse with cold water, pat dry, and tone up my skin with the clinic's Moisturizing Skin Toner. I know I shouldn't but this tag team makes me want to always touch my super supple-feeling face! These products feel very gentle and calming on my skin, I always look forward to using this when I wake up. Like most IG citizens, I recently discovered The Ordinary and I use 3 products during the day to target fine lines and mild pigmentation. After the first two steps of my AM routine, I layer on "Buffet" (my current HG peptide rich serum that knocks out multiple signs of ageing at once), Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG (to reduce eye area puffiness and shadow), and top off with Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% (to correct skin tone unevenness and reduce signs of ageing in one go). I wasn't able to include it in the photo but I cap the routine by patting on some parasol (aka. sunblock) gel formulated by my dermatologist before stepping out.

My night time routine nearly has the same cast of characters above, sprinkled with some pink goodness. My good friend Liz recently came up with her own skin care line and I was so stoked for her every time we had a chance to chat about it. I ran out of a great $20ish cleanser last June when I remembered that I've been meaning to try the In Her Element Low pH Rose Gel Cleanser. It set me back by Php 715 including the shipping and it arrived in my doorstep in a couple of days. I know what you're thinking -- why use expensive products that's just bound to be rinsed off. Easy answer: this is the foundation of my skin care routine. I've had hit and miss experience with cleansers recently and sad for my wallet, my skin's only been working well with non-drugstore brands. :( Anyway, going back to the In Her Element Low pH Rose Gel Cleanser, if you have sensitive skin, this is THE bomb dot com. It doesn't bubble much (LOVE) yet removes an entire day's worth of mistakes without over drying my trouble areas. It's also super economical since I only use 2-3 pumps nightly. Post cleansing, I follow the same toner + The Ordinary AM routine then every other night, pat 2 drops of The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil (to reduce signs of photo-ageing). I initially used this nightly and thought it made my T-zone oilier. Determined to make it work, I tried using it every other night and BAM! Just like magic, it made my face softer than a baby's bottom. Totally daring you to (lightly) pinch my cheeks to feel it for yourself. To complement my chokchok skin, I also put on some Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask to ensure that my lips heal overnight after a full day's worth of lipstick loving.

After 1 month of these skin care products and 2 weeks from the treatment, here's how my skin looks like with minimal concealing on the eye area. I think you can tell that this whole chok chok craze has done me well. <3

If you're interested to try the O2 Korean Facial Therapy, you can visit the O2 Laser Skin Clinic at Ground Unit A, Waypoint Building, 4 Bayani Road, Taguig City. They only have 3 parking slots, best check with them if they can hold a slot for you. You can call them at 09208361132 or visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/O2laserskincenter.