Tried & Tested: More moisture, please

MOST women dream of having healthy and radiant skin but that can’t be achieved without proper hydration.

Just like the body, skin needs an adequate amount of water to protect itself against environmental influences, failing which, skin would appear dry, itchy or even wrinkled.

No matter your skin type — dry, oily or combination — it’s crucial to keep it moisturised.

Moisturising can help your skin look plumper, healthier and smoother. this is where a good skincare regimen comes in handy.

Elizabeth Arden recently introduced a skincare line called Visible Difference to help balance skin, revealing its natural health. the daily treatment process promises to deliver visible improvement in six days. really?

I tried three products meant for combination skin. usually, I am excited when it comes to trying new products. this time, I was surprised!

When I squeezed the Skin Balancing Exfoliating Cleanser on my fingertips, it almost dripped through my fingers because of its glycerin content.

this is actually good as it provides optimum hydration to replenish moisture. Most of the cleansers I have used stick on my fingers until I lather up.

the cleanser also foams easily and massaging it on my face was a breeze. It also has micro-beads to remove impurities.

however it has a strong smell. I also had to rinse a few times to get rid of the oily feel. the cleanser is non-comedogenic and is priced at RM96 for a 125ml tube. OPTIMUM EFFECT

the Optimizing Skin Serum is my favourite of all three items. the advanced treatment formula is meant to renew skin’s clarity and texture, giving it a healthy glow.

I love it because it blends into the skin without making my face oily. It also has Vitamin C derivative which provides antioxidant protection and helps brighten the skin appearance.

After using it for a week, I noticed my acne scar has lightened. however the packaging is quite a turn-off. If you don’t read the instructions, you’ll probably fumble when trying to open the bottle. to unlock the pump, you need to turn its top counter-clockwise until you hear a clicking sound. Then press to release the serum and after use, turn it clockwise to lock the pump.

at RM229 for a 30ml bottle, it is a bit pricey but worth trying.

the Skin Balancing Lotion SPF 15 (RM195) is meant to reverse dryness and maintain skin’s moisture. the first time I tried it on my hand, I didn’t like the oily feel it left. however, it blends well into the skin. this lightweight lotion for combination skin acts as an advanced moisturising system. I also used both the serum and lotion before applying make-up and thankfully, my skin wasn’t oily.

the only downside is the strong fragrance it leaves on the skin.

After using the products for almost two weeks, I can see my skin improving. It feels softer and the tiny pimples on my T-zone have also dried up.

but the results certainly took a little longer than six days. Now I am hoping for the acne scar on my cheek to completely disappear.