I have been trying very hard to reverse the damage done by reckless sun-bathing during my uninformed youth. Discolorations, fine lines and every other sign you don't on your face. I've been using this serum for more than a month now and it has helped speed up the repairing process. 

This herb-scented serum smells green - organic. The lightweight texture of this serum makes this wonderful for all skin types and for humid weather conditions. It goes on easily to reveal a fresher, smoother complexion. 

With daily use, my fine lines softened while the overall tone of my skin improved. Its firming properties is another appreciated factor - with age, collagen decreases and this helps to promote collagen growth, which in turns leads to firmer, younger-looking skin. Who doesn't want that? 

Get this Origins Youthtopia Age-Correcting Serum with Rhodiola 30ml/1oz for US$52 at Strawberrynet.com

As you get older, collagen level in your skin decreases which leads to wrinkles and enlarged pores (among other things). Note that you can't physically change the size of your pores (it's pretty much genetically defined) but you can alter the way they look. Like refining them via the use of products.

I am a sucker for products that get rid of blackheads and ones that refine my pores. So having used a bunch of Murad products with good success, this pore refining gel was next on my list. 

The lightweight texture of this serum is great for humid climates and so is the sebum regulating properties of this handy serum. With retinol glycolic and salicylic acid, this gel not only works to refine pores but also shed dead skin cells and even out skin tone. 

With twice daily use of this, I saw a refinement of my pores in 3 weeks. I very much appreciated the oil regulating effect - great for nights on the town. Since the glycolic and salicylic acid work to gently exfoliate skin, an improved texture and softness was the end result. 

This is perfect for times in your life when you don't want your pores to be the center of attention. Get this Murad Vitalic T-Zone Pore Refining Gel 50ml/2oz for US$40 at Strawberrynet.com.

I get the occasional breakouts caused by the lack of sleep and stress - you know, the usual suspects. I just had an outbreak last week and I seem to always get zits at the worst time. So out came the trusty sulfur masks and the zit creams - the zits were gone in a few days.

But my skin was left feeing tight and it didn't help with all the air-conditioning it had been exposed to. So whenever I am in such a skin situation, I swap my usual acne cleanser with a milder gentle one. Like this useful one here. 

Its mild formula removes daily dirt, oil and grime easily while keeping moisture locked which helps deal with the post acne treatment tightness tremendously. The soy lipids keeps my skin hydrated and all it takes it just one wash to feel the difference and to get my skin back on track.

Which also makes this great for long flights when you need a cleanser that cleans and hydrates while making sure your skin doesn't get dried out further. 

Get this Nu Skin Creamy Cleansing Lotion for US$17.10 at Nu Skin. 

Shaving is a daily routine and this two-in-one product from Clarins helps make it that much easier. Two products - one water-soluble and one oil-soluble works to soften facial hair and slow down regrowth while moisturizing at the same time. 

I slapped this on the night before I want to shave and go to bed with it. This allows the product to penetrate and work its magic while you sleep. The next morning, shaving is a breeze. I could feel the difference. It's noticeably easier and quicker when I shave the next day. Plus waking up with hydrated and softer skin can't hurt either. 

Get this Clarins Men Skin Difference 2x15ml for US$36.50 at Strawberrynet.com

 

I used to have severe teenage acne when I was in high school. I went to bed one night with clear skin and the next morning, my whole face was filled with zits. It was the least enjoyable aspect of puberty - at least for me. 

I tried many different products and getting a acne kit was the most economical and convenient. I used ProActiv for a while and it helped but then it stopped working because my skin got used to it. So I switched to AcneFree which worked great. I had to deal with an outbreak recently and I was looking for products and I found this. 

It comes with a cleanser fortified with 2% Salicylic Acid, a day moisturizer with 2% Salicylic Acid and a stronger night moisturizer with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide. The good thing about this kit is that it also contains Aloe Vera and Chamomile extract which helps soothes red and inflamed skin. 

Both moisturizers absorbed quickly and easily and they worked! My zits cleared up in a week and my skin looked better. And the best thing is, you don't have to break the bank ever for good skin!

At US$15.99, this wonderful kit is super affordable. Get this ZAPZYT Acne Pack for US$15.99 at Drugstore.com.

I test and go through plenty of grooming products for this site and I feature the good ones; ones that are worth your hard-earned dough. I came up with a list of my top 10 grooming products for last year in conjunction with Definitive Touch's 2009 Wrap-Up.

Besides grooming products, Definitive Touch's 2009 Wrap-Up features the best shoes, gadgets, shirts and editorials etc of 2009. Definitely worth taking a look. 

Do check out Style Flavors' feature and I hope you had a great New Year's! 

Toning is the often skipped step of the grooming regimen and it's not just men who choose to pass on toners. I know women who forgo this after cleansing step too. Toning is quick and easy and will take you only a few seconds. It helps complete the cleansing process and prepares your skin for the next step of serums and moisturizers.

An alcohol-free one is the way to go. I have very oily skin and even though most toners made for very oily skin contain alcohol to combat sebum production, alcohol dries out your skin and is generally harsher.

I've been using this toner on and off for about 1 year now and it was just the other day that I was at the Kiehl's store that I picked another bottle up. What I like is how this calms my skin after shaving. Natural extracts of Great Burdock (helps improve dry skin), Lavender, Ivy, and Allantoin that work together to soothe inflamed, sore skin.

The brown toner has a light, herbal scent and the cool, mentholated effect courtesy of the Corn Mint Oil is a good pick-me-up in the mornings. The Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5) ingredient works to enforce the skin's natural barrier. My skin feels clean and comfortable after every toner use.

This works well for both normal and oily skin. Get this for US$19 (250ml/8.4oz) at Kiehl's.

I have thick, oily skin and as such, regular exfoliation is a must for me. Not only does regular exfoliation help get rid of dead skin cells, it also stimulate new cell growth while clearing out pores and pave the way for a more even complexion. 

I love facials only because of face massage part. Facial massages are one of my favorite things in life and if I could, I would give myself one everyday but I can't so sometimes I go have a facial. But I get a glow for a few hours and then nothing. So it's really not worth the 3 figure price tag. So what I do is I have a pre-party home/hotel grooming routine - exfoliate and double masks (what mask depends on the condition of my skin at the point in time). 

So I've been using this awesome microdelivery peel for a couple of weeks now and I have to say that it's my current favorite exfoliator. This is how it works: First apply a teaspoon of Vitamin C crystals to clean dry skin then gently massage it for about a minute. Next, you use a teaspoon of activator and spread it all over your face to cover the crystals and a warm, tingling sensation signals the product activation. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes and then massage again for extra exfoliation benefits. 

So the end result is clear, radiant, smooth skin with less uneven patches and refined pores. My skin felt smoother and softer after the first use and with subsequent use, looked brighter and healthier. The infusion of Vitamin C helps reverse sun damage and perk up your skin tone, making this great for post-beach vacations. 

I use this twice a week or before a party/event - and let's just say the results from this peel doesn't go unnoticed! Get this Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel for US$65 at Beauty.com.