It was high time for a reset. I have been testing so many new things these past months that I hadn’t much of regular regimen left. A month or so ago, I knew that I needed to regroup and fall back on the products that work best for me. Interestingly, though that includes some new ones, as well as some old favorites. My current regimen for face has a few surprises – even for me.

I guess the biggest is that Hydropeptide Hydrostem+6 ($160) has become part of my life. This is a show-stoppingly effective serum (right up there with the greats like ReLuma, E’shee, Chella’s Master Protocol). I first tested this plant-derived stem cell and peptide potion on my neglected forehead and was amazed to see how it smoothed my furrowed brow. I am now also using it around my chin and jawline and I am impressed with the firming results and the disappearance of some fine lines. We have a bottle out with another tester and I am eagerly awaiting her results. If she likes it nearly as much as I do, then this will for sure be a candidate for a future Five Best. I do think Hydrostem+6 is a keeper, but I do implore Hydropeptide to revisit some of the ingredients such as sodium benzoate. You can read my full review of Hydrostem+6 here.

Another new fixture is Prana’s AU 24K ($96 in the TIA shop). I’m not sure why I decided to try it on the little thread veins on my cheeks, but I am glad I did. It is doing a very good job of fading them and calming redness and mild rosacea in general. Perhaps it is the anti-inflammatory action of the real gold flakes, or the fancy forms of B vitamins. I also find E’shee’s serum to be very good at diminishing broken capillaries, but at half the price of E’shee, Prana AU 24K may be in reach of more wallets. You can see my recent post on Five Best for broken capillaries (Prana and E’shee are included) and read my full review of Prana AU 24K here.

I am still using Your Best Face Define ($70 in the TIA shop) on my lips, although I have put aside ReLuma’s serum (even though I was pleased with the results I was getting on my lip lines) because I am testing out DNA EGF’s serum with barley stem cells (two weeks or so in and jury is still out).

For eye creams, I have been making a grab for ReLuma or La Vie Celeste (the old formula, of which I still have some left). But it has to be said that the other day I noticed a little crepeyness on my right lid and went straight for Your Best Face Correct – this is still the eye cream that suits me more than anything else.

Once a week or so, especially if I feel in need of a hydrating boost, I use the Heaven Bee Venom Mask, which does give a dewy and refreshed look, and for brightening things up I still love the gentle effectiveness of La Vie Celeste’s glycolic Mask and I just bought myself a new one.

As most of you know, my beauty routine depends on LED therapy as many times a week as I can (I aim for two or three) and I must say I do default to the Sirius Aurora, while my older and more expensive Baby Q gathers dust.

I’ll do updates on body and hair regimens in the next week or so.