Is a spritz a slap on the face?
Let’s get the bad news out of the way. Here’s Joshua Wong, Guardian senior patient care pharmacist, on the perils of one too many pumps of an atomiser: “Excessive use of a facial mist can strip skin of its natural layer of protective oils, making it even drier.” Darn, my life is officially over.
Hey, chin up, girl. There’s hope yet for facial mist addicts (yours truly included). Pouring oil on troubled water is Joshua Wong again with this note of reassurance: “When used following the guidelines on the packaging, facial mists can offer significant beauty benefits.”
TIP #1 So uh, what exactly should you do to rehydrate when you’re wilting midday? For starters, remember that this is a facial mist, not a facial wash. Here’s what our go-to grooming guru recommends: “Holding the canister at arm’s length, spritz just once or twice so you don’t drench your skin. If you overindulge and spray too liberally, the tiny water beads will coalesce into large droplets that can quite literally wipe off your makeup.”
TIP #2 Okay, so go small on the spritzing. What else? Here’s another cautionary comment courtesy of the good pharmacist at Guardian: “A common mistake when using a facial spray is leaving the mist to sit on the skin. When you allow the excess droplets to dry on its own, moisture from the skin may be drawn out as well.” One word: Evaporation. Elementary chemistry, my dear.
The solution is incredibly intuitive, really. Whenever you spritz on a facial mist, use soft cotton pads to dab off the excess after a few minutes. You want to prevent the evaporation process from wicking precious water off the top layer of your skin.
TIP #3 Finally, not all facial mists are created equally. When perusing the beauty aisles, zero in on bottles boasting moisturising ingredients. Pick the good stuff and your spray will serve you well when it comes to rapid replenishment of parched skin. Take it from Dr David Orientrich, Clinique’s guiding dermatologist: “When skin is properly hydrated, it functions better and better resists environmental stresses.” Sounds good to me!
Product recommendations, please. What’s sitting pretty on my powder dresser right now? Clinique’s Moisture Surge Face Spray Refreshing spray, for one. I adore the alleviating aloe and trio of moisture magnets by way of hyaluronic acid, toning trehalose and soothing sorbitol. Use over or under your facepaint for softer, smoother skin in one spritz.
Then there’s Kiehl’s exceptional Oil Eliminator Refreshing Shine Control Toner Spray, technically targeted at men but who’s keeping score, anyway.
The atomiser works like a dream, yielding a lovely, light mist supercharged with cooling menthol and a botanical derivative dubbed capryloyl glycine, said to aid in sopping up sebum, sweat and shine for a perfectly matte mien.
Also very scrumptious indeed is Skinfood’s new Premium Tomato Whitening Mist, which comes chock-a-block with a brightening broth of carefully selected Korean tomatoes and an especially stable form of vitamin C. Oh yeah, bonus points for the pretty pink packaging, too, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Right, then, recap time. Facial mists can deplete your skin of moisture – but only when a squirt becomes a spurt. To do mists the right way, always use a light hand, blot off excess and choose a hydrating formula. You’ll go from lethargic and lacklustre to divine and dewy in seconds. Good luck!
Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray, $47 for 125 ml, is available at Clinique counters. For more information, visit www.clinique.com.sg and follow Clinique Singapore on Facebook.
Kiehl’s Oil Eliminator Refreshing Shine Control Toner Spray, $40 for 180 ml, is available at all Kiehl’s stores. For more information, visit www.kiehlstimes.com and follow Kiehl’s Singapore on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Skinfood Premium Tomato Whitening Mist, $35.90 for 100 ml, is available at all Skinfood stores. For more information, visit www.skinfood.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.