Balancing Act
Keep your T-zone matte and your cheeks hydrated with Aesop’s latest skincare line, In Two Minds. By Anne Lee.
Summer had not arrived yet, but it might as well have as the air enveloping Hong Kong Island felt thick and muggy—exactly how it would feel like before a heavy downpour. As soon as I stepped out of my airconditioned hotel room, the change in temperature and humidity already signalled trouble for my combination skin. And since combination skin is one that is in a confused state— think oily T-zone and dry, flaky cheeks, easily irritated and vulnerable—it definitely didn’t take long before my T-zone began to shine and felt a little tacky around the eye area. Cue the oil blotter to dab my shame away.
Discomfort aside, there was hope just moments away; Aesop was launching its new skincare line, In Two Minds, which promises to restore balance to combination skin types. “Combination skin is not something to be cured; it’s to be managed,” explained Suzanne Santos, chief customer officer of Aesop. “It’s not meant to be a negative story. You want your sebaceous glands to work.”
Held at its largest flagship store in Asia—a two-storey street-level store in the historical area of Old Town Central—this was also Aesop’s first launch of three products in a skincare line, which consists of a cleanser, a toner, and a moisturiser. “When we began 31 years ago, the majority of people had dry skin, and today, combination skin has become more and more aligned with many on this earth. Both men and women,” said Santos.
TWICE AS NICE
“Combination skin holds, at its heart, too much bacteria. The pores are often clogged and they need to be cleansed,” she added. On top of that, living in a warm, humid climate also means that the air tends to hold more airborne bacteria, which leads to inflammation and blockage. To tackle this issue, Santos advised washing the face twice a day with the gentle but effective In Two Minds Facial Cleanser, which is concocted with salicylic acid to mildly remove any impurities from the skin.
SET THE TONE
However, the journey to healthy skin doesn’t stop at cleansing. In fact, as we wash our face, the act itself tends to leave a disruptive effect on the skin, and that is why we should not skip the toner, Santos emphasised. Featuring ingredients such as niacinamide and panthenol, the In Two Minds Facial Toner will not only soothe skin and restore balance, it will also help the skin better receive the moisturiser.
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to moisturising combination skin types is that the oil produced on our skin will keep skin sufficiently hydrated. “While we do not need a bucket load of moisturiser, we do need a thorough use of moisturiser that sits comfortably on the surface and doesn’t aggravate,” said Santos. Understanding that the T-zones tend to shine after a few hours, the In Two Minds Facial Hydrator has been purposefully designed as a lightweight moisturiser with a matte afterfeel. So, rest assured the T-zone will feel comfortable for the entire day while parched areas of the skin will be nourished.
Aesop’s In Two Minds may promise to keep sebum at bay, but let’s be honest, these are not miraculous potions that will transform combination skin to normal skin types. “If you are born with combination skin like me, that is not going to be eroded by any product,” confessed Santos. “And I assume that’s not what you’re looking for.” However, if there’s a promise and offer for a calmer and more pared-down T-zone, as well as aptly moisturised cheeks, that’s a proposition I’ll be glad to accept any time, any day. In Two Minds is available in Aesop stores nationwide.
“Combination skin is not something to be cured; it’s to be managed. It’s not meant to be a negative story. You want your sebaceous glands to work.” – Suzanne Santos