I’m going to start this blog post with one simple line. Everybody needs some Su Man in their life.
It really is amazing when I get into conversation with a beauty expert and they turn my perceptions and knowledge on its head. Staying in your beauty comfort zone can be a dangerous thing and something we are all guilty of. This is why my facial with Suman was a riveting experience. Not an adjective you normally associate with a facial, but this is the word I choose to sum up the hour and half I spent with her at her treatment room at the W Hotel.
Apparently I’m using a heavy night cream and I’m suffocating my skin…“But my skin is dry”, I cry.“That’s why!” She cries back louder….
This women is a stellar, A ++++ skin facialist-genius. I’m practically throwing myself onto the therapist couch begging for her expertise, which of course, she doles out liberally in a hushed and calming voice. Her words are like nectar and I hungrily absorb it all. Please please wave your beauty wand and FIX. MY. SKIN.
First Impressions
Prior to meeting for a facial with Su Man the PR tells me that the products are for “every skin type”, which makes me raise one eyebrow at my monitor. An every skin type product line? This is something I have literally never heard of..
As far as first impressions go the packaging does seem a little dated and “spa-predictable”. The notes that the products come with are very personable, very Su-Man, and I love that her personality is in there with 6 of her own tips for better skin when using her range. I’ve since tried the DIY pre bedtime honey and apple cider vinegar masks she swears. It’s a nice touch.
The range includes and Rehydrating Toning Essence (there’s that beauty buzzword that keeps creeping up!), Purifying Cleansing Gel-Oil that proudly display the Tatler beauty awards winner stick from 2014. A Coffee Exfoliating polish, again winner of the Pure Beauty awards 2014, and The Velvet Skin Brightening Serum, winner of the Beauty Shortlist Awards, you guessed it, 2014. 2014 really was Su-Man’s year. I’m kean as a bean to find out if these products have harnessed her own brilliance when it comes to treating skin.
Purifying Cleansing Gel-Oil
When it comes to cleansing I’m a cream or oil girl. This gel oil looks like a milky gel formula but when massaged into the face feels more like an oil. It’s cleansing yet replenishing on the face. I put it to the test for 1 month expecting my skin to be parched after a week of “deep cleansing and purifying action” and I’m excited to say my skin is still loving it. Unlike with most oil cleansers my skin feels thoroughly cleansed and clean but unlike most purifying cleanser my skin isn’t left tight and parched. It melts makeup at super speed. My face feels so nourished so soothed. Ingredients are wintergreen, rosehip oil and dragon’s blood extract. It’s LOVE. 2 months on and I’ve just ordered my 2nd bottle, this has only happened with 1 other cleanser and that is the legendary Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish.
Exfoliating Facial Polish
The perfect wake up cleanser for any coffee addict, that is this stuff whacks you in the face with a big old caffeine hit. I do tend to shy away from a physical exfoliator as they can be quite abrasive on my sensitive skin. Su-Man’s is definitely more of a polish and not scrub. The coffee granules, which are great for tackling inflammation, sit in a rosehip oil including, Camu Camu – bursting with Vitamin C to help lighten dark spots and protect from free radicals; white lily extract acts as a natural exfoliate and helps to counteract hyperpigmentation and dragon’s blood extract.
Rosehip is a common ingredient in Su Mans product which I love because the benefits of rosehip oil are unlimited in skincare, (anti-ageing, soothing, nourishing, healing).
I massage into the areas that need it and wipe away with a warm damp muslin cloth. I look perked up revived and smoothed out. Pores are minimised but skin is supple and feels hydrated. It’s a solid product. like, 10 out of 10 solid. I use it about once a week when I need to slough away some dry skin.
Rehydrating Toning Essence
Asian toners are not the same as western ones which tend to focus on oil absorption and pore tightening. This formula is somewhere in-between a gel and water and has Hyaluronic acid to hydrate and rose petal, green tea and honey to soothe and replenish skin, post cleansing, leaving it prepped and plumped for serum and moisturisers.
Post cleanse I pump twice into my hand and pat into the entire face and neck. Things look firm and smooth. I’m glad this step exists and I’ve found another great toner that isn’t a completely moisturise sucking devil.
Velvet Brightening Serum
This is the last product I’m trialling from this brand. It’s an anti-ageing serum and I’m pretty much always thinking about the old AA right now. Hyaluronic acid? Check! Tranexamic acid? Check! Wait what’s that? “Tranexamic acid is a medication used to treat or prevent excessive blood loss from trauma, surgery, and in various medical conditions but has been discovered to be very effective in reducing Hyper Pigmentation”. OKAAYYY. Ceramides? Check! Omega Oils? Check! Cool, this sounds promising.
The velvety nature of this serum blurs fine lines around my eye and creates a great base for makeup, all velvety and smooth. I’m initially concerned that it’s not hydrating enough as it settles matte on the skin but I’m wrong, it’s the perfect base to my moisturisers. I’m finally learning that I may be overwhelming my skin and that more of less is more (?!).
Final Thoughts
My initial reservations about the line is that there seems to be a lot of emphasis on clarifying and purifying, words I’ve now begun to disassociate with products for acne prone skin.
For me it’s hard to find a balance in my skincare routine that sufficiently cleanses and removes impurities and tones without stripping my already dry, dehydrated skin. Su-Man’s range has struck this balance perfectly. I feel, with every step of her face cleansing regime, my skin is being gently cleanses and renewed, as well as nourished and hydrated. I am a convert to the multi-step cleansing routine at the sink each night and happily incorporate some much needed muscle massage to release tension and make the product penetrate deeper.
We’d be silly to expect everything from one product and I’m starting to warm to the idea of the more extensive Asian skincare, it takes longer and can start to get pretty costly but I’m quid’s in if it means the results are what I want. This is the most exciting and satisfying skincare discovery I have made in ages. Not wanting to repeat myself but Everybody needs some Su Man in their life.
SU-MAN debunks skincare myths and basically turns my world on its head by answering my 4 questions below…
- We agreed my skin was dry and dehydrated. I agree and use a heavy anti-ageing cream at night-time. You disagree and said that a light cream should be used at night and heavier in the day and that a heavier cream will be making my skin drier? Can you explain this a little more?
Skin is a living organ so it needs rest and recovery just like the rest of our body. If you load the skin with heavy creams at night time your skin (rather than rest) will have to work overtime to absorb the ingredients. This leads to ageing faster because the skin is unable to regenerate itself without stress. It’s like eating late at night, which sends your internal system into overdrive as it begins to breakdown the food. It’s totally unhealthy and an efficient use of the body’s energy. It actually wears the skin and body out!I always encourage my clients to use light dewy night creams, which absorb easily and helps protect against moisture evaporation. If you have super dry and mature skin then its best to use a richer day cream as that is when the skin has to work hardest and needs the most protection due to constant changes of environment and temperature.
- How are we applying our skincare incorrectly?
People tend to just slather their products on the face and wish for magic! If only it was that easy!What’s most important is to choose the right products and know how to get the best out of them. For me, skincare goes hand in hand with face massage. In my range of six products I spend about two and half minutes twice a day massaging them into my skin with some simple techniques. This energises my skin and improves its health, which ultimately makes it look more youthful and full of vitality. Quite simply, massage accelerates the healing process and amplifies the benefits of the product. It’s like eating good food is not enough to stay healthy. You need to align it with exercise. Its common sense and for just those extra few minutes a day on regular basis you can knock years off your age!
- Why does your skincare range work for all skin types?
With fifteen years of experience and having worked with over ten thousand faces from all over the world I’ve learned a lot about what’s needed to achieve perfect skin. I tested all my products on my client’s faces before I launched them and discovered the perfect balance for all skin types that gave immediate and long lasting results. To improve skin quality it needs balancing – resurfacing – hydration – moisturisation and energizing. It’s this experience and wisdom, which you will find in Su-Man Skincare plus some amazing home-grown Asian beauty secrets!
- Can we over cleanse our faces?
Yes, over cleansing is one of the biggest mistakes people make in their skincare regime. It may give the impression that the skin feels cleaner but by doing it you are only stripping the skin’s natural oils, making it less supple and imbalanced. As soon as this happens the skin over reacts and creates excess oil leading to breakouts and irritation. It’s better to clean with an oil based cleanser which replaces oils and if you really feel the need to cleanse more than twice a day do it with just warm water and afterwards apply a light amount of moisturizer to lock in water.
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