Fast forward to two years later, when Amal finally joined Female Daily Network for full time. I still remember her first comment when she saw me in the office during her first week. “What happened to your skin?” and when she found out I only use moisturizer and nothing else for my skincare regimen, she was so surprised, and the next day she brought several jars and bottles and asked me to use them regularly. And she kept track! She used to check on my face from time to time before she finally sure that I have now understand the importance of skincare.

However when she asked me to write this article, I was reluctant for around 2 months, until now, when I got my skin tested and the result shows, that, even though my skin condition is not as good as I want it to be, it is not on it’s worst condition So here’s my skincare arsenal.

(Notes: I have very dry skin, spots and sideburns, so as you will see below, I try to keep my skin extra moisturized all the time as well as focussing on brightening care)

Morning:

1. Muji Liquid Face Soap It was silvershore_lake who first introduced me to this product. I never tried any other liquid face soap before, so I can’t compare, but I really like this one. It smells good and quite moisturizing. This soap packaged in pouch, but I put it in refill bottle that will form it as foam when you pump it.
2. Olay Total Effect Anti Ageing Serum This serum gives the soothing feeling when used. Maybe because it’s silicon-y texture, or maybe just because I like the smell. This serum is absorbed really fast and not greasy at all. I couldn’t say this serum delivers the result as it’s claimed to be (fight 7 signs of aging), but my skin feels nice and supple after using it.
3. Olay Total Effect Moisturizing Day Cream with SPF15 What I like about Olay products is because it’s quite reliable for drugstore brand. And that’s what I feel about this moisturizer. It claims to help in reducing fine lines, minimizing pores, gives the healthy radiant glow and evens skin tone. But for me, as long as it is moisturizing and lasts for the whole day (which it is), it’s a keeper.
4. Biore UV Perfect Face Milk SPF50+ It’s non greasy, affordable and SPF50. What else can we ask?
5. Clinique Moisture Surge I use this product on top of my moisturizer whenever I think my skin is extra dry.

Night

1. Tsukika Cleansing Cream and Cleansing Wash I have been using Tsukika Cleansing Cream and Wash for more than a year now, ever since I tried on the Saturday White Fever event. Bottom line, it cleanses your face thoroughly.
2. Artistry Polishing Scrub I use this scrub every two weeks and every time I finished with the routine, I can immediately feel my skin smoother and the blackheads reduced. If there anything that I think can be improved, is that every time I use it, it makes my eyes watery because the scent of this scrub vaporize to my eyes – and no, I don’t use it on my eyes.
3. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid I’ve been using this product for two years now. I use this all over my face every three days (because if I use it every day it makes my skin feels very dry) and on the nose area every day, because I have lots of blackheads there. Few months ago I ran out of this product and unfortunately it was out of stock in Paula’s Choice Indonesia, and you won’t believe how bad my blackheads problem were once I stop using this product.
4. SK-II Facial Treatment Essence This product is indeed a miracle water. I can immediately feel my skin improved on the first week after I tried this product. Some people I know said that the product lost it’s touch after you finish your second bottle. But from the information I gathered, this product helps in enhancing the benefits of your skincare as well as the product that you’re using. If you feel it doesn’t work anymore, it means that your skin has reached it’s limit and you need to move on to another treatment or probably you don’t have anything to treat anymore. I need to underline that this product is not a miraculous product where it can work on its own, but you should still use other products in your skincare routine.
5. Hada Labo Super Hyaluranic Acid Moisturizing Lotion Widi has written about this product on her skin arsenal article. And I agree with her. After I use this product, I can feel my skin moisture level increase immediately.
6. Estee Lauder Cyber White Brilliant Cells Serum I have a dark spot on my sideburns area. Both left and right, but the right one is much darker than the other. And it’s quite big, it looks like a bad shading. So I use this products while hoping it will help. It does. The spots are less visible now. The one on my left cheek is even almost gone by now (I’ve been using this serum for around a month). But I think I will need extra help on the right cheek, though.
7. The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream I consider this as an okay product. It doesn’t make your skin improved much, but it’s more than enough to keep it moisturized, even when you have super-dry skin like me.
8. Olay Total Effect Anti Ageing Eye Cream Don’t you think by now I have announced myself to be an Olay fan? Well, I am I don’t really have much problem on my eyes. I am quite lucky for not having the puffy/eye bag problem (yet!) and not many fine lines either. The only trouble is the dark circle from lack of sleep. And I think this eye cream does a great job in reducing the dark circle and keep my eyes moisturized
9. SK-II Whitening Spots Specialist Concentrate This is the newest step on my skincare regime. The product has just been launched few days ago. One pack consists of 28 small packages for 28 days usage. The product claims to help reducing stubborn spots! (Stubborn spots! That name fits very much!). This is the new hope for my dark spot. I will keep you updated on the result 28 days later

When I first use Menard Tsukika, the BA told me that in order to cleanse my face thoroughly I need to make the washing cream that is just as big as a pea into a foam as big as tennis ball. That really give me the scare. Like how is that even possible?

If you need to know why you need foam as big as a tennis ball is because your face pores are shaped like a half concave, and one bubble is needed to clean each pore. They said it’s impossible for one bubble that already sits inside your pore to jump into the next one. So in order to cleanse each and every pore thoroughly you will need foam as big as a tennis ball for the whole face. You can read my complete review about Menard Tsukika if you’re still confused.

As for making the foam into as big as a tennis ball, here’s a video on how to make it so you would believe me that it’s possible.

It’s really a lot of fun to do and you’ll know soon enough that by making your foam into the size of a tennis ball your face will feel cleaner.

With the purchase of any washing cream from Menard you will get a foaming net. What’s a foaming net? It’s a tool that will help you to make the foam cleanser to be as big as a tennis ball in no time. If manually it took me around 3 minutes and more muscular arms to come out with foam as big as that, with the foaming net it would only take me around 15 seconds! So it’s really no hassle at all once you have this tool to help you.

In Menard they have different kind of washing cream that caters for different skin condition. Other than the Tsukika Washing Cream which target for those who do not have specific skin concern, other washing product from Menard are:

1. LS Washing Cream: A cleanser with added bonus that gives your skin brightness, lucidity and fine texture while removing the dirt and at the same time tones the skin into a healthy state.
2. Saranari Washing Cream: Removes old dead skin cells and any dirt from your skin’s surface while at the same time protect your skin’s essential moisture. It contains ingredients such as Zymomonas Ferment Extract, GL II Extract, Soluble Collagen, Elastin and the infamous Hyaluronic Acid Amino-acid as well as Botanical cleansing ingredient.
3. Embellir Washing Cream: Feels rich and creamy with the finest quality ingredient there is. It leaves the skin well-prepared for absorbing your moisturizer and leave your skin moist and supple for hours to come. Not only that it also helps to brighten your skin but it will also give you clearer complexion with long lasting effect. With Natural amino acid cleansing ingredient, red and black reishi extract moisturizing ingredient and BRG-N treatment ingredient. A state of the art product in terms of washing cream.

So if you’ve watched the tutorial video, feel free to try it yourself at home. Don’t forget to share your experience with us!

Later I found out that Menard have different line of skincare products with varied price points. The cheapest one which I’m currently trying is Tsukika. Of course they have different product line namely LS, Saranari and Embellir to name a few. They cater to different people with different needs and they also have different price tag. I went home with six different products at hand, which I was really unsure whether I needed the whole lot at first. I really thought this must be a marketing strategy to get me to buy every single thing but after I used them and do the research I understand that every single product have its own purpose. What I also found out is that apparently Menard product is available more easily now at Seibu Grand Indonesia, Sogo Mall Kelapa Gading, Sogo Emporium Pluit, Sogo Mall Central Park, De Salon Plaza Indonesia and a their showroom at Mall Pondok Indah.

Tsukika is catered for those who just begun to use skincare product or who wants to try Menard and don’t really know what they want, in short a starter! As I said the price tag is affordable but this doesn’t mean that they trade on their quality. Even though this is a basic care but they never get rid their motto that is to lead the skin to a healthy condition so that you can avoid from the appearance of skin problems such as dull skin, hyperpigmentation, fine wrinkles and dehydration. As a matter of fact, Tsukika contains one of Menard’s original ingredients which has been patented which is Selenicereus flower extract or in Indonesia known as Bunga Wijaya Kusuma which only blooms during midnight. It contains faint fragrance of selenicereus flower which I think gives a soothing feeling because sometimes skin care ingredients original scent can be such a turn off

Each bottle came with a number on which one to use first and there’s a picture on the packaging box on how much you need for each for product for you to use. Apparently each product has been calculated carefully on the correct measurement to enable it to work effectively for your face. Using less might cause not enough product in cleansing your face (i.e. in the case of cleanser or facial foam) or too much moisturizer will make your face oily. Which I’ll explain more below. There’s also special technique involved in using each of the product, which was explained step by step by my beauty advisor when I get my products. Skincare is not just a matter of product, but it’s also a matter of application.

Anyway here are some more in-depth review on each product so you can understand more about them:

Step 1: Tsukika Cleansing Cream

Creamy formula cleanser which turns into oil afterward. Cleanse even waterproof makeup.

When: I only use this cream during the night where I came back from a full day of activity and I use makeup/sunblock.

Price: Rp 275,000

How much: one knuckle part of my thumb, that’s the easiest way to remember it. They teach the measurement for each product with the easiest method possible.

Whether you’re using thick or thin makeup, this is the measurement you will need to cleanse a whole face. Remember it’s about the area it cleanse (your face) not about the thickness of the makeup you will cleanse. For as long as I used this cleanser, it works for both sheer or opaque makeup application. It works for even the most stubborn mascara and most opaque foundation! That’s how I knew that the cleanser work.

How: I divided the product evenly on five spots: my forehead, right and left cheek, chin and nose. After I put them on the five spots, I spread the product all over my face. To do the cleansing job, I start to glide my fingers (all five of them just rest it in your face) on circular motion. Let it slide, don’t put any pressure at all on your face. The more pressure you put, the harder it is for the product to glide with ease on your face. Let your hand surf and glide on your face. Do the circular motion all over your face and eyes\ area until the cream texture turns oily. You will see by then that the makeup have melted with the oil. Cleanse your face with water afterward.

Skip cleansing when your face is already clean, for instance when you wake up in the morning and go right into step 2.

Step 2: Washing Cream

When: Every morning and night.

Price: Rp 275,000

How much: One knuckle of your pinky fingers.

How: The BA gave me this foaming net (as seen below) which I will use  to make a foam as big as a tennis ball (I kid you not!). It takes me around 2 minutes to make the winning tennis ball by rubbing the washing cream that I put into the center part of my palm with the net that have been put under running water beforehand to make it wet and adding one or two drop of water into the net every now and then. The foam need to be bouncy. Don’t worry when you go to the Menard counter, the BA will explain the process to you and we’re planning to make a video on this.

I split the foam into two part to my left and right palm and put it evenly into my face. Afterward I will move the foam into circular motion and if you have the correct amount of foam your hand will not need to touch your face. It’s the foam that does the cleansing motion. Keep on doing the circular motion with your foam until you cover all areas in your face. Cleanse with water afterward.

The reasoning behind this is that your face pore is shaped like concave every concave pore will need one bubble in able to lift up the dirt inside it. It’s impossible for one bubble when they already sit inside the pore to jump into the next one. So it will need a tennis ball big of foam to fill in the entire pore within your face so it will lift every dirt within each pore.

One more thing I learned from the BA at the counter is that washing cream ideally shouldn’t leave your face dry, because each product in Menard should already work on its own. When you feel dry using the washing cream that means the washing cream isn’t suitable for you.

Step 3: Massage Cream

I’ve explained the benefit of massage here, basically it helps your skin to maintain it’s elasticity, suppleness and producing enough moisture for the skin. I wasn’t sold at first, but after several months using the massage cream I realized a huge change when I wake up in the morning when I don’t use it the night before and when I do. It makes a great difference to my skin glow and texture.

When: Night

Price: Rp 330,000

How much: One knuckle of the thumb.

How: Like cleansing cream I would put it on five spots and spread it all over my face. There’s an instruction inside the package on how to do the massage. Basically you will only need to do 1 minute massage to receive a full benefit of a healthy skin. Afterward, cleanse your face with water.

Step 4: Lotion

Lotion is important because it will help your skin fresh and softer. It doesn’t act as exfoliator or cleanser. By this stage your skin should be squeaky clean already.

When: Day and night.

Price: Rp 330,000

How much: Use cotton pad, the amount of lotion needed will need to be as big as an old Rp 100 coin (the heavy silver one) and it should be transparent on both side or see through.

How: It can be used all over the face including eyes area and it does not contain alcohol. Don’t drag the cotton pad, pat it on one area first until  you feel that your skin feels fresh and cold then move on to the next area until you cover all face area. This will regulate your skin condition to normal condition (be it dry or oily) and prepare your skin for moisturizer.

Step 5: Emulsion

Emulsion is actually the moisturizer that will act as a retainer to your skin moisture condition. The formula is very milky and it feels really silky on the skin as well as easy to absorb.

When: Day and night.

Price: Rp 330,000

How much: pea size.

How: Divide the emulsion into five spots as usual and spread evenly to allover your face. A pea size is enough for the whole face. If you put too much moisturizer on your face it will only make your face oilier. Spread the emulsion until you feel that your face is dry and not wet from the emulsion. Because leaving the emulsion not completely sinking into your skin will make your face oilier as it only stay on the surface on your skin. This moisturizer should be enough until night time. For both oily and dry skin, both use the same emulsion because the lotion has done pre-emptive move by regulating your skin to normal level.

Step 6: Day/Night Cream

When: Night.

Price: Rp 440,000

How much: soya bean size.

How: Same as above, divide it into five spots and spread it evenly until it dries out. If you read here i’ve explained that even though emulsion is the moisturizer but you will still need day/night cream on top of it. I gave the foundation analogy, where the emulsion will act as the oil in the foundation or else without the oil, the water in the foundation will evaporate. While the emulsion retains the moisture in the skin, the day/night cream gives the extra nourishment and moisture that the emulsion will retain. It feels really creamy but as you will only need a little it doesn’t feel oily at all or too rich.

Overall review

I don’t have major skin problem other than the normal very dry skin condition. But I started using this skincare regimen after going back from out of town holiday where the humidity level is very different. Usually my skin will start going patchy, cracking and really dry. I did not feel anything in specific at first, only that I feel my skin is really healthy. I did notice that my skin looks really glowy and healthy, I started to let go thick foundation and able to go out of the house with mere tinted moisturizer! I feel that my skin is that good.

Then my mother and friends started to praise on how my skin improve which came as a surprise. They said it just has this healthy glow that makes it looks fresher.

I noticed big difference when I tried not using the skincare regimen for 2 days, suddenly I lost the glow! Even when I have to face sleepless nights and busy schedule during JFW, my skin still looked fresh and it did not looks dull at all (although I can’t cheat on the dark circles!).

My verdict: I’m loving it and I will definitely repurchase. Will try to get my hands on the better line though sometime in the future.

Below are the contacts of Menard counters should you want to pay them a visit:

Showroom

I know I’m acting solely on trust. But bear with me as I’m trying to give you my rationalization.

I’m in awe of how Japanese women seemed to age ever so gracefully. No matter what age they are, they seemed to have skin that is supple, radiant and youthful. It’s been note in some studies that they also have lower incidence of wrinkles compared to women in western world.

Of course eating healthy diet contributes to their healthy skin. Their obsession toward fresh and MSG free food are of no match. Not to mentioned the usage of seaweed in most of their food, which are known to be a healthy ingredient and a secret on giving your skin a healthy glow from within. Sea weed is also a known ingredient in skincare product in Japan, for instance Beauness S - a product called lotion which is actually a toner – from Menard also use this ingredient.

When the Americans and Europeans are busy building their empire based on the latest anti-aging technologies that targeted on wrinkles and restoration of youthful skin, the Japanese are investing in creating the bright complexion for every women out there. They focus more on prevention on the sign of aging for skin as well as brightening products. They also pay attention to process, not just to the ingredients of their products. Where most of the skincare that we knew probably just go from two to four steps, Japanese skincare products tend to extend to as much as six products and this is a common number. Japanese women think that skin are an asset that they have to invest in a lot, they don’t believe in quick fix because it’s a long term investment so you need to pay attention to it carefully. They want to prevent their only skin from deteriorating from its condition. After all, we’re no reptile that can change skin whenever we see fit, we stick to what we have for the rest of our life. This is also the reason why Japanese makeup don’t really focus on makeup base that offers coverage and concealing because they believe that a healthy skin do not need excessive makeup to look beautiful. The colour palette of their makeup also dominated by softer hues for this reason.

Coming back to the six products, the skincare regimen can consist of:

1. Cleansing product where it will remove makeup or just a day worth of dirt, usually an oil-based product that can lift up everything in one go.
2. Washing where you cleanse your face thoroughly.
3. Lotion as they call it, or we know it more as a toner where it will make the skin fresh and softer. Usually the toner will differ for different type of skin, because toner will regulate your skin condition.
4. Serum is used next when your skin need that extra boost targeted specifically to the skin need. Well I shouldn’t add this as the basic step though because it’s an optional step.
5. Emulsion is the next product in line and this is where we usually get lost. We tend to confuse it for the usual moisturizer but it actually has a different purpose. So if you buy Japanese skincare don’t ever think that an emulsion is enough! You know when you go to the cosmetic counter, some product (i.e foundation) tend to have an oily part at the top and you wonder why sometime it separates from the product itself that it require you to shake the product first before you use them? Well under the light, this oil part will help the product below it from evaporating. So the emulsion works just like the oil in those products, it helps to bridge your skin with your moisturizer and help to lock the moisturizer in place so it doesn’t evaporate below the sun ray or heat of lamps. The texture is light just like liquid cream and it’s less vicious too than your moisturizer.
6. Next up, is your usual moisturizer or a day/night cream (glad that I found a familiar thing here!). Just a dab of moisturizer to finish up your skincare ritual and you’re all set. This cream doesn’t actually act to moisture your skin but it helps to nourish your skin and give coverage from the sun ray (if it have a SPF within it).

I hope after reading all those steps I haven’t lost all of you yet. Because I have, yet another step to add!

I think I have found the secret to that healthy skin that the Japanese women have! They not only have all those six products with them but they add a massage ritual to their regimen (which goes somewhere after cleansing/washing and right before lotion). Before going to bed, they will apply their massage cream and massage their face to relax all the muscles and to give food to fiboblast. Confused on what it is? Fiboblast is the factory that creates collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid which get its food from the blood. If we accelerates the blood circulation then the fiboblast will get more food therefore will produce more collagen (which affect your skin elasticity), elastin (helps skin’s suppleness) and hyaluronic acid (produce moisture for the skin). Therefore in short, massaging your face will help to prevent sagging and wrinkling. Believe me, I was not sold at first. But once I tried  it, one day without it and I completely see the difference. Call it a placebo effect, but I really think I see a difference. Will tell you more about this later on after I tried the massage cream for more extended period of times.

Japanese cosmetic product also invest a lot in researching the latest magic ingredient. Some of them are native to our region, for instance black and red mushroom, as well as selenicereus flower used in Tsukika line. Selenicereus flower or known as the illusionary flower as it only blooms at night is called bunga wijaya kusuma in Indonesia. I’ll tell you more about the use of this ingredient and the result of my venture to Tsukika skincare line in another post, just give me another few weeks so I can give you all an extensive review about it. I’ve used this line for couple of weeks time, but I already see a notable difference in my facial skin. The slenicereus flower contained in this skincare line gives a really nice soft smell into the product, but not one that bother me. It’s really nice and soothing so I kind of enjoy how relaxing the smell is everytime I put it on.

Basically, there are three types of facial, you got the same service, the only difference is the product line they were using. They are:

• Tsukika Skincare Line Rp 220,000 – This skincare provides moisture to create dewy and translucent skin. It is suitable for all skin types with no specific concern.
• Saranari Skincare Line Rp 350,000 - If you’re looking for skincare to rejuvenate your skin condition, because it’s condition is worsen by age, UV rays and other environmental condition, then this is probably the right one for you.
• Embellir Skincare line Rp 500,000 – For those whose skin started showing the sign of aging. This skincare will help extends the lifespan of your skin cells. It delivers the best result for achieving skin tranlucency, combating wrinkle, moisturizing, high in anti oxidant and cleanses every cell.

I chosed to use the Tsukika skincare line, which is the most basic skincare line that they have.

Once you arrive at their counter, Menard Beauty Advisor will take you to their facial room at the back of their counter. The BA told me that she was trained by a trainer from Japan and even the entire towels came from there. So I quizzed her a little when she begun cleansing my face as to why she massaged my face on an upward motion, and when her fingers were motioning downward she was doing it ever so slowly. According to her, we shouldn’t massage our face on downward motion as it will most likely make our skin loose it’s elasticity faster. Which is very correct! She was very careful when doing the facial, so I was very pleased, since I’m not very eager on the possibilities of people touching my face. So by this time, I’m already convinced that she knows what she’s doing and I even gave in to whatever offer she gave me. Like for instance, trying on one of their best product called the Herb Mask.

The facial itself was divided into the below step:

1. Cleansing: The BA will cleanse your face with a product called Exceed Shalmin, where it will lift all of your makeup before you start the facial. The BA also cleanse her hands with this product, because before touching the customer’s face they have to make sure that their hands are clean.
2. Massage: This is where the BA will start to turn on the little steamer machine. She said, this will help opening up the pores so all the products that she will use during the facial will certainly sink in more effectively. She started to turn on the slow music and do a very relaxing massage on my face, neck and shoulder. This is also about the time, where I almost loose my consciousness :p The BA wipe off the massage cream using hot towel, and boy that felt really good! The massage helps your face to relax and improve the blood circulation.
3. Extra care: The BA told me that they’re against poking around on the nose area for getting white heads out of there. So I ask them on what they do for this situation? After cleansing the massage cream, she showed me a vacuuming tool that they used for getting white heads out. I also tried their Herb Mask, which said to cleanse, moisture and brighten your skin instantly (I got a tub already, I want to know whether it really going to work or not ).
4. Lotion: In Menard, they don’t really have a toner. They called it lotion instead, like most Japanese skincare.
5. Mask: Next is a moisturizer mask where they will pump your moisturizer into a mask sheet and leave it on your face for 10 minutes. This time I really did fall asleep :p
6. Cooling: After taking off the mask, the BA put a cold towel on my face to freshen up my skin. I feel like I’m ready to face anything on Monday by that time. Afterward they will pat your face again with a lotion.
7. Finishing Care: This is where you can try their skin care product! The BA will start with putting on emulsion (or moisturizer) and afterward followed by day cream. If necessary they will add a serum to the step. The choosing of day cream and serum is selected based on the customer’s skin condition.

The vacuuming act to remove white heads! Hello clean pores

Overall, I really enjoy the facial. It was really relaxing and when I got home my face did really look brighter. The next day I only use Tinted Moisturizer and Face Powder to see the improvement on my face and it really look more glowing. I’m going to try the Herb Mask every other day or 3 times a week. I think, it’s a really great way to try on the skin care line you want to try from Menard. They really have great skin care line, but investing in the whole set will take a lot of faith. This way, you got to try it first and feel it on your skin. After I’m finished with the facial, I only put a powder on top of my face so I can see how my skin improve afterward.

If you’re keen in trying the facial from Menard, they’re currently offering three vouchers for free facial for Female Daily Members. You can also get the voucher for free facial by purchasing their product with the minimum purchase of Rp 175,000 in single receipt until 30 July 2010. To know more about this deal and promotion read it here.