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We reveal mom, entrepreneur, and creator Chriselle Lim's evening beauty secrets and top-rated products in our Before Bed series!
The perfect skincare regimen for your complexion exists, it just takes a good deal of research and practice. However, if you find yourself in a constant loop of hits and misses, make things a tad bit easier for yourself by learning from skincare enthusiasts and specialists. Gone are the days of only dreaming of a flawless face as now we feature various personalities who seem to know the key to achieving their best skin.
The first belle of Tatler's Before Bed series is creator, entrepreneur, and mom Chriselle Lim. Join Lim and discover her skincare secrets, hacks, nightmares, and tips:
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What is your skin type?
'Combo-oily' but it changes from season to season and I’ve also noticed some changes as I’ve gotten older.
Who influenced your skincare routine?
Definitely my mom and my Korean heritage. My mom definitely taught me at an early age how to employ a holistic approach to skincare that includes consistent routines, proactive vigilance and healthy skin care habits. My mom also taught me the importance of sunscreen beyond just applying SPF to staying out of direct sunlight for long periods of time, always carrying a hat around if you are partaking in outdoor activities, and also wearing sunglasses to prevent wrinkle-producing squinting.
See also: Reef-Friendly Sunscreen: Why You Should Use Them And The Products To Try
How did you find a skincare routine that works for you? What was your trial and error process?
I am so lucky that as a content creator, I am sent a lot of great products from great brands to try. As skincare is a true passion of mine, I absolutely love testing and discovering new brands to add to my regimen. I am also incredibly lucky in that I do not have sensitive skin and therefore, I am able to test out a lot of new products and ingredients on my face without adverse effects. Also when you are a single mom and an entrepreneur with multiple businesses and teams, time is so valuable so unfortunately, I don’t always have the time to spend 20-minutes each morning on my skincare routine (evenings are a bit better as I have more time when I’m not rushing to get the kids to school). I will say that as I’ve gotten older, my skincare routine has definitely simplified. I don’t have a 10-step skincare routine but the products that I do always have in my routine are a gentle cleanser, a hydrating toner to revive dull complexion, a powerful serum, and then a moisturiser.
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What products do you consider the holy grail of skincare?
Clé de Peau La Crème. There is nothing more luxurious than this cream. With a subtle, soapy floral scent, it has an extremely smooth and lightweight texture that glides beautifully across the skin. Despite feeling very light and easy to blend, this is a rich night cream that leaves a fairly heavy finish that really makes your skin feel hydrated and nourished.
Lancome Advanced Génifique Face Serum. Their hero product that’s both well-known and well-loved. Really amazing rapidly-fading hyperpigmentation and [it] brightens my overall complexion!
See also: Cop Or Drop: 5 Of The Most Expensive Skincare Products
What is a skincare hack you think we should know?
The one thing that completely transformed my skin has been drinking more water. I know we always hear people say that water is amazing for the skin and I didn’t believe it until I made a conscious effort to drink more water. It is beauty’s best kept secret and it is far more effective than any thousand dollar skincare routines, supplements, facials, and dermatologist appointments. I cannot stress enough how important water is for your skin- it improves skin tone, prevents acne, reduces puffiness, prevents premature ageing, and really gives you a glow that no amount of skincare can do for you. I aim to drink about a gallon of water a day and not only does it improve my skin but it noticeably increases my energy and energy and prevents me from mindless snacking by curbing my appetite.
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I notice you love face masks. What kinds do you often use?
Yes, I love using facemasks. I try to do a sheet mask every night as it has become part of my wind-down routine. After I put the girls to bed, I love getting into my pyjamas, putting on a sheet mask and enjoying a cup of tea or red wine (though sometimes it can be hard to drink wine with a sheet mask on). I will then light a candle, turn off all phone notifications, lay in my bed and read a book or journal. I’ve found that “nighttime routines” help with unwinding, destressing, being mindful and gaining quality sleep.
I love trying different types of masks but if you are looking at a sheet mask at more of the high-end level, I love the SK-II Pitera Facial Treatment Mask. This mask will give your skin a smooth, bouncy, and radiant texture. This mask is especially great for days when I am shooting and wearing heavy makeup all day. Sometimes I even use another mask in the morning when I wake up!
See also: 5 Must-Have Face Masks for the Holiday Season 2021
I also love Dr Barbara Sturm’s Face Mask. I love all of Dr Barbara Sturm’s products but I especially love these masks. I love bringing these masks with me when I travel. For international overnight flights, I love wearing a sheetmask to give my skin a boost of hydration.
For something a bit more economical, I also love all of Mamonde’s sheet masks. They are about US$3 per mask and they have such a great variety. I personally love the Flower Lab Essence Rose Mask.
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Do you have a skincare horror story?
I think we all have a beauty horror story and I think a lot of us have a similar beauty horror story as it relates to the overplucking of our brows during our teenage years. If you partook in this 90s trend like I did, you likely tweezed your eyebrows into thin lines. Tragically, my brows never grew (thank goodness for modern-beauty techniques like microblading and non blading). So for any of you that are contemplating plucking your brows (apparently there is a new TikTok trend that has Gen-Zers adopting the pencil-thin 90s brows again). Put those tweezers down right this second as the return of the thin eyebrows won’t last forever and I promise you, you will regret it!
Are there any skincare rules you’ve broken that have done wonders to your skin?
It may sound cliché but honestly, joy and inner peace will do wonders to your skin and will make anyone appear more attractive. While negative emotions such as stress can contribute to skin damage, positive emotions can help improve it. Happiness releases all the feel-good hormones like endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin and these hormones help your body function properly, your blood circulates well, and oxygen is efficiently passed throughout your body. That said, I will tell everyone to focus on their inner well-being instead of living such a regimented life so if you want to treat yourself to an extra glass of red wine or extra serving of dessert once in a while, you should do it because it can be good for the skin lol!
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Credits
Images: Courtesy of Chriselle Lim
Christine Andas is a features writer and the style lead of Tatler Philippines. She mostly covers style-related content but enjoys writing about space, sneakers, and her favourite stars. She acquired a master's degree in Creative Writing at the University of Santo Tomas and has written young adult short stories which can be read online.
