LIFESTYLE@LXG: Karryl discovers the secret to hydrated skin!

Take good care of your skin and hydrate. If you have good skin, everything else will fall into place ~ Liya Kebede

We all know that good hydration is key to clear, glowing skin. But finding the right moisturiser for your skin can sometimes be a challenge, especially when you are dealing with a skin identity crisis. I’ve always thought that I have oily skin, based on the fact that my face could soak up an entire blotting sheet by mid-day. 

Until a year ago, however, a skin analysis revealed something else – as if being an oil field isn’t bad enough, my skin is also severely dehydrated. 

While this may sound contradictory, dehydrated oily skin (yes, there’s actually a term for it!) is actually fairly common, according to the consultant.

That said, finding the right juice for my Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde skin remains a work in progress, as many of the products I’ve tried are either too drying, not hydrating enough, or way too rich. But this seems set to change after I got my hands on a bottle of EHA’s Hydra Serum. To be honest, I was initially skeptical of what the serum could do. While I love its water-like texture and quick absorbency, I wasn’t so certain if it delivered enough hydration to my skin. 

Nonetheless I decided to give it some time to see if the product could live up to its claims. 

Apart from using it twice a day as instructed, I also indulged in a weekly DIY beauty routine using compressed sheet masks soaked in the serum for a more intense hydration boost.

A month later, and here’s my verdict – I absolutely love, love, love EHA’s Hydra Serum! I might not have the perfect skin (at least not yet), but the difference is remarkable. 

Not only does my skin look clearer and plumped up, it stays matte longer and feels incredibly healthy. Priced at $120 for a 30ml bottle, EHA Hydra Serum may be a little pricey, but I say it’s totally worth the investment!

EHA brand products are made in Japan and are available exclusively at EHA Skincare which is located #03-28 Shaw Centre in Orchard. The staff are very helpful and will guide you in finding the right product for your skin type and condition. 

LIFESTYLE@LXG: The LADY embraces pure hydration with Sothys Hydra3Ha

"Healthy hydrated cells are the key to ageless skin and a healthy body" 

- Howard Murad

If you have read any of my posts, you will know that I have been having itchy and disgusting eczema on my face for the past two years (since I can’t seem to shut up about it). Anyway, the biggest problem with having eczema all over your face (apart from the itching, flaking skin and ugliness that is) is that it dries your skin almost to the very core, enhancing lines and wrinkles that no amount of moisturiser can heal.

This is where Sothys comes in. Recently, I decided to pop on down for the Sothys launch for their new Hydra3Ha cream and serum launch and it was love at first try. I personally love Sothys products, my must-have or I will die product is their Energising Night Cream which makes me look like I actually manage to sleep eight hours each night, when in fact I am lucky to clock around six or seven. 

But unfortunately, it does not help with my eczema and in some cases can even aggravate it, which is why their new Hyaluronic Acid range is a godsend, as its very gentle and keeps my parched skin deeply hydrated.


The cream is lightly scented and does not aggravate sensitive skin. In fact, the next morning, the skin on my face feels plumper and more hydrated. So if you have dehydrated skin, you really must try this range as its gentle but deeply hydrating! 

LADY@LXG: I HEART my La Roche Posay sleeping mask

The best thing you can do for your skin is to keep it hydrated and protected from the sun. Its actually as simple as that. 

I actually got this product from La Roche-Posay to feature in a magazine article I was working on, but unfortunately the direction of the story changed and I couldn't feature it. 

However, since it was a trial and review article, I had to try the product, and decided to use it before bed. The next morning, I woke up to plumper, hydrated and very happy skin. Even my stupid eczema decided it was happy and didn't flare up for a change (hoorah!). 

The Hydraphase Empowering Thermal Water Sleeping Mask is Infused with the highest concentration of La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water and Hyaluronic Acid, perfect for sensitive and dehydrated skin (like my own) to absorb and retain moisture, which helps to protect and strengthen the skin’s barrier function. 

The mask's time-release hydration function, continuously quenches the skin when you most need it most, which is at night when the aircon is blasting away. The mask locks in the moisture within the skin all night long, restoring and preserving the skin's barrier. 

Skin cells are strengthened and recover their anti-oxidant and anti-pollution defences to better fight daily aggressors like the haze and pollution. 

I love this mask so much that I use it almost every night, especially when my eczema is acting up. I also plan to use this on the plane on my upcoming trip, to keep my skin hydrated and protected from the ultra drying airplane air (yay!). 

The Hydraphase Empowering Thermal Water Sleeping Mask is $42.90 and is available at Derma Center (Westgate Mall), major pharmacies like Watsons, Guardian, Unity and selected hospital pharmacies.