Olay Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher

I have to say once again, this is really very good.

I finished my first tube and have not been using it for a few months but a week ago, I started on it again.

Previously, I used it along with the Clarins 21-day whitening program and the results were stellar. My complexion lightened and evened out. Pores looked smaller (not just because they were unclogged but also cos of adequate moisture) and I was constantly radiant.

This time, I've decided to use it alone first (on top of usual regime, but minus Clarins), because you've got to test variables one by one.

I've these tiny whitehead-ish bumps just under the middle of my lower lip and two days of the product later, the area is flatter and smoother. On the whole, skin is softer and smoother to the touch. It looks a tad more even, definitely less blotchy.

Most excellent. Can't wait to start on the Clarins program again.

Just a few notes if you use it. It is daily exfoliation after all and there are beads involved, no matter how micro, so the urge to apply too much pressure should be avoided. No thoughts of invigorating scrubbing here, it's your face you're sloughing away, and over-exfoliation can bring on a whole slew of problems.

If your cleanser has exfoliating properties, whether physical or chemical, you should switch to a gentler one while you're on this skin polisher. On the whole, I don't like cleansers with exfoliating properties but I like the Boots No 7 whitening one so much I'm willing to ignore this rule for a bit. But even though I love it and its round beads, I'll be using a Shiseido White Lucent one for now. It's a gel formula that is totally gentle but I do not usually like because it doesn't rinse off cleanly or quickly enough. But paired with an after-exfoliant, it works.

Back to Olay, do spend a few moments massaging the product gently into the skin and use water to prolong the warmth. Just concentrate on getting all areas of the face, including edges of nose and corners of mouth. The heat is utterly relaxing, so for a couple of minutes, you can even take the chance to quiet your mind and just blank out everything else but the task at hand.

The Inability To Live Without Mascara

Got my new tube of Clarins Fix Mascara today. Staff discounted. Happy.

I've oily lids and mascara tends to run after a few hours, leaving me with appalling undereye circles. Waterproof mascaras are slightly more helpful but unless they're sebum resistant, I will get a real shock in the mirror at the end of the work day.

I went through a phase of wearing super heavy mascara and it wouldn't have been possible without Fix Mascara. It's a clear gel mascara that is water and sebum resistant. You swipe it on as the last coat and that's it, smudge-free till at least after work, if not longer. Even after dinner, shopping and coffee, it will at most leave a smoky eye effect which can look pretty nice.

Also works as an eyebrow gel to smooth unruly sticking-out strays.

One thing I stupidly didn't do was clean the wand after each use. So my last tube became a dubious grey. Well I've learnt my lesson.