One of my favourite ways to use facial mists is to give my skin a spritz post-cleansing, before I apply any serums or moisturisers. By misting my skin, I find it better absorbs any serums I use after. Alternatively, I treat my skin to a pick-me-up spray after lunch, which helps a great deal if my skin has begun to look a little tired and dull from the dehydrating office air.
Tip: If your facial mist of choice is just plain thermal spring water, make sure you dab off the excess droplets after a minute as the water will evaporate, drying out your skin in the process. If it has botanicals however, the botanicals will help bind the water to your skin so that the mist can be absorbed.
Click through the gallery for seven of my current favourite face mists!
One of Kiehl’s more recent launches, this provides a really light and refreshing finish on the skin. One of my favourite things about it is the scent, which is a mix of floral and herby, likely from the blend of lavender, geranium and rosemary essential oils. This makes it rather comforting but still a wonderfully awakening scent. The two key ingredients are meant to keep skin hydrated even in harsh conditions, while boosting its resilience against external aggressors. I use this twice a day under my hydrating skincare serum, and would love to have it in a travel-friendly 30ml bottle that I could throw in my handbag.
This luxurious mist is packed with hyaluronic acid and onsen water, and is alcohol-free to boot. It promises to contain soothing and healing properties, likely from the mineral-rich onsen water. It does feel incredibly hydrating on the skin, although the nozzle (at least on my bottle) doesn’t quite produce the finest of mists. It’s not a big concern as I just pat the rest of the droplets into my skin anyway. I find that this one actually makes my skin feel instantly softer, which I love. Because the mist isn’t superfine, I use this strictly before my skincare in the mornings and evenings, and not on top of my makeup during the day.
This alcohol-free mist is an absolute life-saver for oily and blemish-prone skin! It’s been extremely popular since it first launched in France, and has finally made its way to Singapore (where it’s well and truly needed). The mist contains the brand’s signature Thermal Spring Water, Zinc as well as sodium chloride, both of which are said to work in tandem to regulate sebum and soothe any angry red acne or inflamed skin. It also gets rid of any shine or oiliness pretty much instantly, which makes it an oil-blotter in a spray. I find that it leaves my skin feeling really smooth and matte, and its affordability makes it a major win. Just remember to dab away the excess with a tissue after letting it sit for a minute, as the spring water can evaporate and dry out your skin instead.
Early birds can order it from Lazada.sg from now till the end of November 2016 and get 24 percent off (it comes down to $9.90 for 50ml or $18.90 for 150ml), or wait until it’s available at La Roche-Posay counters starting this weekend (October 29) at the regular price.
While this is the most pricey mist of the lot, it was created with Asian women in mind and feels extremely well suited for the Singaporean lifestyle. For starters, there’s what the brand dubs a Climate Conditioning Complex in the formula that is supposed to protect your skin from the effects of shifting “micro-climates” such as the constant moving between the hot and humid outdoors and dry and cold indoors that we experience several times a day. Typically, shifting between hot and cold environments can bring about dehydration, irritation, and dullness in our skin, which this face mist aims to prevent!
The nozzle dispenses a nice and even mist when sprayed, and coats the skin without leaving droplets behind. While it dries down to a slightly tacky feel initially, it does appear to help my skin absorb the rest of my skincare products better.
If you’ve got sensitive skin, I think you’ll definitely like this because it’s all-natural and alcohol-free. It contains a ton of hydrating, toning and soothing botanical actives the likes of chamomile extract and aloe vera, which makes it great for even ultra-sensitive skin. The mist has a lovely rosy scent that’s not too overpowering, and the nozzle disperses the product nice and evenly over the skin. I layer this under the brand’s Olive Oil Serum by applying the serum while the mist is still damp on my face.
This toner mist from homegrown Singapore brand Allies of Skin is such a thirst-quencher for dry skin. It contains aloe and rose water plus a host of probiotics and antioxidants that are going to keep your skin looking radiant and glowy. The silk amino acids and cucumber seed promise to refine the appearance of your pores and tackle tired skin, which makes it a really good perk-me-up mist in the morning. The mist does sit slightly heavier on the skin relative to other thermal spring water or lightly hydrating mists, but that’s because it’s packed with such nourishing ingredients. I find that after spritzing your face, patting in the excess with your fingertips will help the product to absorb faster and get rid of the slightly tacky finish. One last thing: The brand even claims that it can reduce acne lesions by about 43 percent in 28 days. Anyone looking for a vegan and cruelty-free mist, look no further.
This mist is a cult favourite among professional makeup artists and beauty buffs alike. It does contain alcohol, which some people may prefer to avoid, but it also packs a punch with the myriad of plant extracts and essential oils that are said to work to brighten and hydrate the skin.
Its pore-tightening properties mean that you can actually use it as a makeup setting spray as well, or as a primer before you start applying makeup. If your skin is looking a little dull over the course of the day, this mist will get your skin looking radiant again. Bonus: The tingly sensation upon application is rather fun and quite refreshing indeed. The 30ml bottle is the perfect size for carrying around in your bag as well!