It’s time for some beauty talk again! This time it’s one of my favourite topics – Skin care.

Skin care is very important to me but it wasn’t always a smooth sailing journey. It took me a few years of trying and testing before I finally found a routine which suits my needs. When I started out clueless, I learn about the most basic skincare routine consisting of 3 steps: cleansing, toning and moisturising. Nobody told me about serums and essences and they are not as widely advertised.

Whitening and hydration is my skin care objective and if I were to use a basic 3 step skincare, I would have to use a thick moisturiser which packs all the properties but that will also break me out due to the humid weather in Singapore. As a result, this routine didn’t work for me and I dealt with problem skin for a while until a few years back, when I got to meet YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan while she was Singapore. According to her, the most important steps in a skincare routine are serum/ essence and moisturiser.

It was a life changing piece of advice. And from then onwards, I realised how important the serum/ essence step is and have always included it in my routine! Instead of a heavy moisturiser which claims to do everything, I can use a lightweight one which acts as a sealing layer, and to meet my skincare objectives, I depend on serums/ essences layered below! A serum/ essence have way lighter textures but stronger active ingredients than a moisturiser typically, and is meant to be applied first. To layer my serums/ essences, I wait about 5 to 10 minutes between each product so my skin absorbs everything well.

My usual night routine goes like this:

cleanser – > lotion/ toner/ softener -> pre serum/ essence -> whitening serum/ essence -> hydrating serum/ essence -> eye care -> gel moisturiser

The products I use can vary according to what I have and I switch them around sometimes.

So why do I use whitening products? Well, to be the fairest of them all of course! But there are also other valid reasons.

I try to stay away from the sun as much as possible, not only to remain fair, but because I know how much damage it can do my skin. Whether you like it or not, you’d be exposed to UV rays, even just sitting at home with sun coming through the window, or even just being in front of the computer. If you don’t do something, spots will form and even if you do not aspire to be fair skinned, I’m sure nobody wants to have spotty skin – unless you’re a Dalmatian. I didn’t start out wanting to be super fair, but I realised early that spots on my skin or uneven skin tone is unsightly can make me look older!

I know some women out there aren’t keen on skin whitening but I’m sure no women want to look older. Did you know that recent studies show that above wrinkles or loss of firmness, discoloration is the #1 perceivable sign of aging amongst women? Most with even skin tone received significantly higher ratings for attractiveness and health, and were judged to be younger in age. Products that address discoloration are in high demand amongst women of all ages looking to have more even, younger-looking skin. That said, whitening / spot correcting products are not only for girls seeking fair skin but it’s something everyone can use.

Today I am happy to receive the new Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector from the Sample Store, just as I was looking for a new whitening serum to try!

Palmer’s WHITE & EVEN range uses unique skin tone correcting formulations, formulated with an advanced blend of potent yet gentle ingredients that reduce hyper-pigmentation. It appropriate for all skin types, affordably priced and is free of parabens, phthalates, sulphates, harsh dyes, synthetics dyes and fragrances.

Check out this advertisement featuring Sonia Sui!

This product contains several whitening active ingredients like liquorice, vitamin C, niacinamide and a unique ingredient called Synovea – a whitening & tone enhancing complex. From clinical trials, Synovea Complex was found to be as effective at lightening skin as Hydroquinone 2%. I have personally used Hydroquinone, prescribed by a doctor, and it really did lighten my spots.

When used daily, the advanced blend of ingredients in Palmer’s White & Even products, works in two ways:

• Lightens surface skin cells producing more uniform skin tone within 3-5 days
• Acts on the deeper skin layers to inhibit over-production of melanin. Even skin tone develops as skin cells rise to the surface after 4-6 weeks, depending on age, health, and exposure to sun

One pump of Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector.

When spread out.

I only just started using this so I can’t comment on the effectiveness yet but the texture is very light weight and will definitely absorb well and sit nicely under your normal moisturiser. The smell is fragrant with faint chocolately smell from the cocoa butter content!

I applied it on my face after my first few skin care steps (as mentioned above) and the product absorbed in easily. If your skincare routine is just 3 steps, apply it before your final moisturiser.

My piece of advice for everyone is that the concentration of ingredients in the corrector is bound to be more than you would get in a moisturiser, so for maximum efficacy of whitening/ spot lightening, always use a whitening serum or essence before your moisturiser. The Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector costing only $29.90/30ml is an affordable choice for those who are just starting out!

Fair and spotless skin is a lifetime pursuit because continued exposure to sun will work against the effects and discontinued use of will allow the overproduction of melanin to resume, and dark spots will return. I highly recommend using sunscreen every single day, as long as the sun is out, to remain youthful! Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing even applies sunscreen while using a computer.

Another product I was given to try was the Palmer’s White & Even CBB Cream (Fair/Light). This product is something like a BB cream, but with skin whitening properties of course, since it contains the same whitening ingredients, just probably less strong compared to the Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector.

The coverage is almost nothing when spread out but it works to even out faint spots! Look at how even my hand became after using it. It looks super natural as though I have nothing on!

When used over my face, it evened out my skin tone without looking like there’s a layer of foundation. I don’t require heavy coverage on some days so this is good when I want to go light with makeup!

And with the rest of my makeup on! (Check out this post to see what makeup I use).

*****

Palmer’s White & Even range can be found at Watsons, Guardian, BHG, Robinsons, John Little, Essentials Pharmacy, Nishino Pharmacy, and all leading pharmacies, departmental and cosmetics stores with the Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector going at $29.90/30ml and Palmer’s White & Even CBB Cream (Fair/Light) going at $22.90/30ml.