Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector and Optimizer

I'm so stoked for my trip to Bali in May with my girlfriends. We're planning to do a ton of outdoor activities including surfing! I'm pretty much a beach person, I enjoy lazing around the beach clubs soaking in the sun, feeling the sand at my feet, wearing as minimal make up as possible. Now that's going to be a problem if my blemishes, dark spots and past acne marks don't cure in time. They sure aren't going to magically disappear so I'll have to do something about them. I don't want to have to worry about them showing while I surf and I definitely don't want to have to bring my concealer along with me wherever I go, I mean it'll be impossible to bring it along with me into the sea, right?

These spots have been on my skin for the longest time and it's taking me forever to get them off. I've tried various facial products, and they work but not as fast as I would like them to. However, two weeks ago I found the remedy to my problem! I've started using the Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Optimizer... Whew! That was a mouthful. 

Anyway if you were familiar with their Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, you'd probably already be aware of how awesome it is. Apparently it is their prescription-strength serum that treats existing pigmentations and dark spots with a patented CL-302 complex consisting of five synergistic brightening ingredients. Let me repeat myself, PATENTED. I've learnt from the movie Joy that that means you can't get it anywhere else.
The Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector contains a key ingredient, gyokuro extract that has loads of antioxidants! They help calm skin and fights hyper pigmentations!

The reason why people get dark spots (in more specific terms, they're called hyper pigmentation) is because of exposure to the harmful UV rays. I don't have any at the moment but if I don't protect my skin against the damages from the sun and pollution from living in the city, I will get them in time to come. And that's a really scary thought because hyper pigmentations are very difficult to remove. 

Just to make it clear, everyone has pigmentations (it simply refers to the colouring of our skin), but hyper pigmentation occurs when there's an excess of melanin (the cell that produces skin colour), resulting in the patch of skin looking darker than normal.

My mom has hyper pigmentations due to excessive exposure to the sun when she was younger. She didn't use any sunblock and the spots started showing up much later as she aged. Moral of the story is, everyone can be a victim of hyper pigmentation, which can make one feel really insecure. The thing is, we won't know how serious our conditions are until the spots start showing up, and it'll be too late then. 

The best way to avoid getting them is to prevent them from forming. That just goes to show how awesome the new Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Sport Corrector & Optimizer is! It has a dual chamber, one filled with the Corrector (to treat existing dark spots) and the other filled with the Optimizer (to treat future pigmentations). When pushed down, the nozzle evenly distributes both corrector and optimizer. Who says you can't have the best of both worlds? hehehe.

The optimizer contains a cocktail of 4 different botanical ingredients. 

Since I don't have any hyper pigmentation at the moment *touch wood*,  I won't be able to show you the differences the serum does to them, but you can always google for results... or you can try it for yourself ;) I tried the serum on my past acne marks though, check out the difference the serum did!

Before

After two weeks.

The Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Optimizer is gentle to be used all year round and it leaves skin looking and feeling smoother. I use it as my serum everyday before applying moisturiser, before I head to bed, waking up with clearer skin. hehe. I'm glad that I have a more even skin tone now! My skin's so much more radiant that I can head out without foundation anymore, which also means I can be totally makeup-less for my trip to Bali in May! Yayy!

Thanks for reading!

#SP

Quick Updates X Happy 20th Anniversary Tea Tree!

Almost everyone's asking me what I'm busy with at the moment, so I thought I'll just update you guys here. Besides taking care of my new puppy, I took a break from blogging and spent the last couple of months filming two television drama series - one of which is Mata Mata season 3.

We shot the bulk of the show in Penang, because it is almost impossible to shoot it in Singapore given that the plot is set in the 1980's. I play a character named Emily, a young (really young) teenager from the states. She's a fun-loving, mischievous teen that often gets into unwanted trouble. I am having the time of my life playing this role because I get to do several things and get away with them, since it's not real life. hehehe.

Since the show is set in the 80's, we actors have no choice but to dress up in really hideous colour blocking outfits, accompanied by mismatched accessories and over the top hairdos. What were people in the 80's thinking?! Oh gosh... 

It goes without saying that we also have to pile on layers and layers of make up every single day. Do you have any idea how dreadful that is for our skin? For sure, I'll get a few blemishes and break outs since my pores can't help but get clogged with oil and dirt all the time!

In moments like these, I am always prepared with my skin emergency saviour kit - consisting of mostly facial products from The Body Shop's best seller Tea Tree range. You know me; I've been a fan of this particular range for the longest time. I mean who wouldn't be? These products have proven to work time and time again. I've tried numerous facial products from various brands over the years, but I don't think I'll ever see myself deducting the Tea Tree range from my daily skincare regime.

They just work really well for my skin type, which is oily to combination. This is largely because the Tea Tree products are made to target and eliminate blemishes thanks to its anti-bacterial properties, while keeping your skin shine free. They are especially great for someone like me who always has heavy make up on.

The best part is that these products come from steam-distilled tea tree leaves that are hand-picked and hand-harvested by Community Fair Trade farmers from Kenya. These farmers are fairly paid and now, have a steady source of income. By purchasing products from The Body Shop, you are also helping the less fortunate :) It is a beautiful value that The Body Shop stays true to, which made me an avid supporter of the brand.

This year marks the 20th Anniversary for Tea Tree! In celebration, The Body Shop will be offering limited edition Jumbo size 20ml Tea Tree Oil (usually only 10ml)! They are available in any The Body Shop stores right now, so what are you waiting for? Grab these lovely products because these bigger bottles are absolutely amazing value for money!

For my review on the Tea Tree range, head over to HERE to find out more. 

And The Body Shop has come up with a game app in commemoration of its Tea Tree 20^th Anniversary! To play, please head on down to http://bit.ly/TTBlemishSlashing

Alright! That's all I have to say for now, thanks for reading!

#SP