(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best beauty

We found 65,232 Reddit comments discussing the best beauty. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 24,229 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.

21. Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, 3.38 Ounce

    Features:
  • The Real Snail Essence: Formulated with 96.3% Snail Secretion Filtrate, this essence repairs and rejuvenates the skin from dryness and aging. It improves skin vitality by reducing dullness and soothing dehydrated skin.
  • Simple Yet Effective Light-weight Essence: A lightweight essence which fastly absorbs into the skin and gives you a natural and healthy glow. Guarantees long-lasting hydration without heavy feeling on the skin.
  • Key Ingredient: Snail Secretion Filtrate contains "Mucin"- an EFFECTIVE ingredient for enhanced moisturization. It instantly soothes damaged skin and delivers moisture deep into your skin. Perfect for dehydrated and damaged skin.
  • NO Snails are Harmed: Snail Mucin is obtained in a safe and environmentally friendly way in a favorite environment of snails and then processed as a cosmetic material. 100% Natural, Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist-tested.
  • COSRX Standards: All COSRX products are formulated with skin-friendly ingredients that alleviate irritated skin. Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist tested, Animal Testing-FREE, Parabens-FREE, Sulfates-FREE, Phthalates-FREE. Please inform that the expiration date on the product is written in the South Korean format, which goes by Year/ Month/ Date (YY.MM.DD)
Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, 3.38 Ounce
Specs:
ColorAdvanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Height2 Inches
Length1 Inches
Number of items1
Size3.38 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Weight0.3 Pounds
Width0.8 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

22. Tweezerman Men's Shaving Brush

    Features:
  • 100% Badger hair bristles
  • A must have for a close comfortable shave
  • Ideal for creating and distributing lather
  • Gently exfoliates the skin
Tweezerman  Men's Shaving Brush
Specs:
Height1.25 Inches
Length3.76 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateJune 2006
SizeS5
Weight0.2 Pounds
Width1.25 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

23. Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam, 160ml

Instantly foaming and easy to massageContents: 160mlMade in Japan
Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam, 160ml
Specs:
Height1.968503935 Inches
Length3.3070866108 Inches
Number of items1
Size5.41 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Weight0.52 Pounds
Width6.1417322772 Inches
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24. Cosrx Bha Blackhead Power Liquid 100 Ml

    Features:
  • --
Cosrx Bha Blackhead Power Liquid 100 Ml
Specs:
Height2 Inches
Length8 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateJune 2019
Size3.38 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Weight0.330693393 Pounds
Width2.7 Inches
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32. Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet, 16 Combo Pack

    Features:
  • REPLENISH YOUR SKIN - This Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet is packed with Hydrolyzed Collagen. We break down the collagen into more dissolvable amino acids to absorb easily by the skin. Collagen is best known for increasing elasticity while effectively minimizing and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Buy these Korean facial masks for women with confidence and elevate your skin’s tone with a replenishing boost of peptides.
  • VERSTILE MASK: This Korean facial mask for women comes with a lot of benefits for your skin. You can always count on it when it comes to skin rejuvenation, toning, skin moisturizing, elasticity, skin vitality, skin nutrition, and conditioning.
  • CUSTOMZED FOR DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES: This healthy and skin-friendly self care face facial mask Sheet is divided into three product lines that include soothing care, moisturizing care, and nutrition care. It has vitamin E and collagen, which keeps your tired skin lively and healthy. It does not contain artificial ingredients making it suitable for oily, dry, or sensitive skin. The mask is ideal for all ages, and you can also try it out at a girls' night party or a spa day.
  • BRIGHTENS YOUR SKIN TONE: Our face pack for glowing skin has contouring, visible smoothing, and plumping effect that makes fine lines and wrinkles look less noticeable. If you have dry skin, we have you covered. Our collagen mask will help in radiant your skin and improve skin elasticity while reducing signs of aging.
  • EASY TO USE: The good thing about our Collagen Essential Lifting Mask is that it is easy to use. Ensure you wash your face thoroughly and take out the mask sheet. Apply it around your nose, eyes, and lips to make it adhere to the skin. You can leave for at least 15-20 minutes before removing it—Pat the remaining essence into the skin for full absorption.
Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet, 16 Combo Pack
Specs:
ColorSet A 16 Colors
Height1.9 Inches
Length5.3 Inches
Number of items16
Release dateOctober 2018
Size16 Count (Pack of 1)
Weight1 Pounds
Width4.8 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

35. Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, 7 Fl. Oz

    Features:
  • CLINICALLY PROVEN: Dandruff stays off your head & shoulders with this dandruff treatment shampoo that helps relieve itchy & flaky scalps. When using your regular shampoo and conditioner use twice a week between washes. Works on all hair types & gray hair.
  • KETOCONAZOLE: This dandruff relief shampoo is made with ketoconazole 1%, an effective ingredient that binds to your hair's natural protein to kill dandruff. Your scalp remains flake-free with the shampoo's thick lather & leaves hair manageable & shiny.
  • ITCHY SCALP: Dandruff is caused when scalp-cells regenerate at an accelerated rate faster than scalps can handle. With hormones, diet, stress & genes, dandruff can be fought with the clinically proven anti-dandruff shampoo Nizoral, with ketoconazole 1%.
  • DANDRUFF TREATMENT: Clinically proven Nizoral helps maintain a healthy scalp with the anti-dandruff shampoo that kills dandruff & controls itchiness & flaking. A soft shampoo with ketoconazole, use it twice a week between shampoos for a flake-free scalp.
  • SELF-CARE SOLUTIONS: At Kramer Laboratories we focus on consumer needs to help provide innovative solutions to everyday healthcare problems. Fight dandruff and flakiness with Nizoral anti dandruff shampoo
  • Hair type: All hair types,Thick
Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, 7 Fl. Oz
Specs:
Height7.17 Inches
Length1.54 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateJanuary 2019
Size7 Ounce (Pack of 1)
Weight0.43651527876 Pounds
Width2.99 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

🎓 Reddit experts on beauty

The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where beauty are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
Total score: 2,637
Number of comments: 179
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 2,395
Number of comments: 709
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 1,831
Number of comments: 484
Relevant subreddits: 4
Total score: 627
Number of comments: 123
Relevant subreddits: 4
Total score: 456
Number of comments: 171
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 373
Number of comments: 176
Relevant subreddits: 3
Total score: 324
Number of comments: 307
Relevant subreddits: 3
Total score: 311
Number of comments: 136
Relevant subreddits: 4
Total score: 172
Number of comments: 134
Relevant subreddits: 4
Total score: 169
Number of comments: 128
Relevant subreddits: 4

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Top Reddit comments about Beauty:

u/jv_level · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Hi and welcome! I tried answering earlier, but Reddit wasn't connecting for me. I know you already got some good advice from teddy, but in case you want more information or someone else it reading, here is what i wrote:

There are many things to help you on your quest for brightness! I got completely carried away here as this is the first comment I haven't address acne/dehydration in a looooooong time. Got a bit too excited looking at a different subject. So hopefully you find it helpful still!

First thing is that you definitely do NOT need to be washing your face 4 times per day plus the 1-2 extra times per week, which is what you would be doing with the two aveeno cleansers and Nip+Fab. In general, the best cleansers for your skin are pH-balanced (maintains your skin's acid mantle and general skin health) and are as gentle as possible. In basic routines, washing the skin is actually the most irritating step. For most people, washing their face as little as possible is best (barring things like getting physically covered in dirt). For example, with my drier skin I only wash my face with a cleanser about 3 times per week...I rinse with water in the mornings, and when I shower in the evening I do the oil cleanse method.

Second, if you are starting chemical exfoliation, you should be wearing sunscreen every day. UV still travels through the clouds and the sun still shines in winter! Glycolic and lactic acids make you sun sensitive so wearing a daily sunscreen is a necessity! (also I would take a look at EltaMD UV 46Spf. It has niacinamide which is good for evening skin tone...but it is a separate product rather than incorporated in your moisturizer).

So! What to do!

  1. The Aveeno cleanser isn't bad...I am slightly wary as it has added fragrance and sodium lauryl sulfate (and a bit of mica to make you sparkle. Just a bit! it's not glitter, but that's where the 'radiance' comes from I think), but it can definitely work for you. Alternatives: CosRx Good Morning Gel Cleanser (here), or the Innisfree Blueberry Cleanser (here). Or even just a basic CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. The CosRx has tea tree oil, so it might end up being too drying if you skin is sensitive to the tea tree.

  2. For your exfoliation, I would definitely go with a leave on product (either swipe pad-style or a serum). Washes tend to not be effective as they don't spend a long time on the skin. But if you are worried about the strength of a leave on product, do short-contact therapy and just rinse your face with water after 5-10min of applying your chemical exfoliant. Using a gentle chemical exfoliant will actually provide a more even exfoliation and is more gentle than physical scrubs, which are dependent on things like how hard you push on the skin and how wet your skin is while scrubbing. One very popular product to consider is the Neogen Gauze Peeling Pads (here). It's a very gentle chemical exfoliant on a double sided pad which gives you a bit of chemical, a bit of physical. It also comes in three 'flavors'. Other options: Nip + Fab 5% glycolic pads (here). Or for serum style, the is the 5 or 10% lactic acid serums from The Ordinary. Or it you want to spend A LOT of money...Sunday Riley Good Genes is a raved about product with lactic acid. Lactic acid is larger molecule size than glycolic, so it is more gentle...I would say the 10% would be on par with a 5-8% glycolic. For a gentle physical only exfoliant, I would look at the Skinfood Rice Wash Off here. The grains of the scrub are quite large and rice is supposedly a brightening ingredient! But you can also just use a cloth in the shower to physically exfoliate (remember! No more than 1-2 times per week!). When watching over over-exfoliation keep an eye out for lingering redness, stinging when you apply products, excess dryness and a general feeling of your skin being like 'plastic wrap'. Redness and irritation start first, so if that starts to linger, just stop exfoliating for a while and focus on moisturizing!

  3. The Kiehl's Vit C is a good starter Vit C. Just remember to put it on bare skin directly after cleansing and even before your chemical exfoliants if you happen to use them in the same day. Vit C. was my favorite powerhouse ingredient in terms of evening skin tone. I now use the Drunk Elephant Day-Firma, but it's a bit expensive for a first jump in.

  4. A good moisturizer in general will make your skin look healthier/brighter, so I do recommend moisturizing in the PM as well as the AM. A good moisturizer will also help you handle any irritation that might arise from exfoliation, cleanser, dry weather, etc.... Also, something with niacinamide specifically might provide more benefit. Options with niacinamide: CeraVe PM (oldie, but goodie!), Beaty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, CosRx Overnight Rice Spa Mask, Mizon black snail all in one cream, Ponds Clarant B3 (2 versions here I think, one for dry, one for oily skin).


    Absolutely optional things (getting deep into skincare addiction here)

    Niacinamide is another great product for evening out skin tone and helps with the appearance of wrinkles! It also improves ceramide production in the skin which strengthens your moisture barrier and can make your skin look more bouncy/healthy. I would consider a niacinamide serum...Something like Stratia Rewind (only available here on their website) or the Holy Snails Shark Sauce. They both have licorice root extract which helps with skintone as well.

    If you want another hit of licorice brightening, you can take a look at the Acwell 5.5 Licorice toner. This would be applied after your actives (chemical exfoliants/vitamin c), before serums and moisturizers. Some people do a '7-skin' method of layering on this type of hydrating toner to really give your skin a big drink of water! Of course you don't have to do a full seven layers, but even 2-3 might give you that extra little sumthin' sumthim' of bouncy, bright skin!

    Also First Treatment Essences...they are essentially very watery layers applied just after your actives, before toners. They contain a yeast extract that some absolutely people swear by to get dat glow! The classic here is the SK-II FTE, but it costs like a million bucks. The Missha FTE or the Secret Key Rose Edition are dupes. The CosRx Galatomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence is also similar (in asian brands they often use the word whitening in place of brightening..don't be alarmed, it is not a skin bleach!).

    -------------------------------------------

    Anyways, I'm rambling on now. I hope you find something useful in there! Remember, you know your skin best, so please ignore advice that won't work for you. Good luck!


    Edit: fixed link formatting!
u/bekahfromspace · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Your skin is very sensitive and you should never use scrubs or vinegar, they only act as irritants will make your skin irritated and flare up with more acne.

With combination skin this means you are both dry and dehydrated. Basically this means that you need to moisturize the fuck out of your skin.

Don't go anywhere near anything with alcohol in it as that is going to act as an irritant as well. Rehabilitating your skin needs to be handled gently and will take a bit of time but trust me, the patience is worth it.

You want to start out with a gentle cleanser and a gentle, hydrating moisturizer. Cetaphil products have alcohol in them and will only harm your skin.

Try the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, or Cosrx Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser (you can use it any time). My preference is for the Cosrx as it has some tea tree in it that is super soothing for the skin. Both can be found on Amazon and depending where you are, you may be able to find CeraVe in a drug or grocery store.

For a moisturizer I would definitely check out the Cosrx Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap for the mornings and the Hada Labo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion for night. The Cosrx is going to keep you hydrated during the day without feeling heavy on the skin which is perfect if you're using makeup. The Hado Labo is basically the best thing on the planet for anyone. It's great for all skin types and the addition of the hyaluronic acid is great for trapping moisture in your skin overnight and it helps with anti-aging. Both can be found on Amazon.

If you're wearing makeup you need to find a good cleanser that isn't going to strip you of the natural oils you need or be too rough on your skin. Oil cleansing with Jojoba oil is good, but I really think you should look into using Rice Water. It's super gentle and takes the makeup off without stripping your skin and won't leave you feeling dry and tight. Some people like to cleanse with the oil and just wipe everything off, but I like to gently cleanse to make sure I'm getting all the oils, make up, and general dirt that accumulates on your skin throughout the day.

There are other steps and products you can add that will help but this is a good starting point.

Please check out Renee a.k.a. Gothamista on Youtube. She discusses products that are best in each category, and most importantly what's best for each skin type. My skin has been absolutely perfect ever since finding her:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-X4BAoKxwGYIKrKfqk7yug


PRODUCTS(pretty much everything in my skin care routine comes from Amazon but they can be found elsewhere):


CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser:
https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Hydrating-Facial-Cleanser-Washing/dp/B01MSSDEPK/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1522612169&sr=1-6&keywords=cerave&th=1

Cosrx Good Morning Cleanser:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016NRXO06/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cosrx Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CLTKI4A/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hada Labo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Lotion:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSS993I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

The Face Shop Rice Water Cleanser:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00809ERAM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

u/theboysaccount · 1 pointr/SebDerm

hello everyone!! so here is my routine (i’ll admit it’s pretty simple and mostly stolen from others on this subreddit so don’t credit me for this stuff!! just passing it along)


-www.amazon.com/dp/B076Q6442Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_g0aEDb4CR75R3

-First of all, this shampoo brush has been a game changer. So my basic understanding is that you really want to get those flakes off your scalp when you shampoo, but you also don’t want to scrub so hard that you scratch your scalp with your sharp nails which is why this brush is perfect. It does a fantastic job of massaging the scalp and just feels amazing. Don’t scrub too hard with it either!!

INITIAL SHAMPOO TREATMENT (2-3 weeks)

Okay so pretty much i’m alternating between three different shampoos:

  1. Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, 7 Fl. Oz

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AINMFAC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pnaEDbGAET57X

    • Monday, Wednesday, Saturday

    • Right now I use this 3 times a week because it’s early on in my sebderm treatment. Pretty soon i’ll be reducing how much I use it once my sebderm is really more fully in control for a while. It’s pretty strong so you really shouldn’t use it daily which is why i’ll be switching up my routine soon. I’ll include what i’ll be changing my routine to at the bottom of this post.

  2. Dr. Eddie's Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo for Children, Treats Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis, Clinically Tested, Fragrance Free, Stops Flakes and Redness on Sensitive Scalps and Skin, 8 oz

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07857W8MS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_e9aEDbTA9R4M6

    • Tuesday, Friday, Sunday

    • This has really become my favorite shampoo by a long shot. It’s gentle because it’s generally for babies but as you can see in the comments, great for adults too. Doesn’t strip the oils in your hair so I also highly recommend this on days you don’t want frizzy hair but feel like you should wash your hair.

  3. Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Original Formula

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E96OWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dWaEDbP3581SG

    • Thursdays

    • So while this has helped my scalp in the past a bit, I mostly still use it because I have a few bottles left over and it’s smart to switch up shampoos so you don’t become immune to one. Someone on this sub recommended the generic amazon brand of this shampoo which i’ll probably be trying soon once I run out of the name brand stuff.

      Okay so, although I really want to nuke the shit out of my scalp, I know it’s not smart in the long term so i’m going to translation into a new routine pretty soon. The only new product i’ll be adding to my routine is:

  • Dr. Eddie's Happy Cappy Daily Shampoo & Body Wash for Children, Soothes Dry, Itchy, Irritated, Sensitive Skin, Dermatologist Tested, Fragrance Free, Dye Free, Sulfate Free, 8 oz

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C66WVDJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1-aEDb49FSARW

    • This is just a daily, not medicated version of the Dr. Eddie’s shampoo i’m using right now.


      I’ll update if it changes but as of right now my projected routine will be:

      -Monday: Nizoral
      -Tuesday: Dr. Eddie’s Daily Shampoo
      -Wednesday: Dr. Eddie’s Medicated Shampoo
      -Thursday: Dr. Eddie’s Daily Shampoo
      -Friday: Dr. Eddie’s Medicated Shampoo
      -Saturday; Dr. Eddie’s Daily Shampoo
      -Sunday: T-Gel

      I’m hoping even to only do this routine for just a bit if my sebderm is fully in control. My IDEAL routine will eventually be:

      -Monday: Nizoral/T-gel (Switching back and forth between these)
      -Tuesday: No Shampoo
      -Wednesday: Dr. Eddie’s Medicated shampoo
      -Thursday: Dr. Eddie’s Daily shampoo
      -Friday: No shampoo
      -Saturday: Dr. Eddie’s Daily shampoo
      -Sunday: Dr. Eddie’s Medicated shampoo

      Hope this helps! My sebderm and shedding isn’t completely gone yet, but it’s DRAMATICALLY improved. I honestly almost want to cry tears of joy when I run my hands through my hair without a BUNCH of hairs on my hands afterward. I’m also going to experimenting with tea tree oil on my scalp soon to retain moisture. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE SHAMPOO BRUSH!!! Let me know if ya have any questions!


      I also just want to mention that this has been after a long journey of seeing several doctors who didn’t have a clue how to help, dermatologists who claimed to know how to help, and hair transplant specialists that had to assure me I most likely did not have male pattern baldness when I was freaking out that I might. Don’t give up! Treat your scalp well and eat well! Also avoid hairloss subreddits lol even if your hairloss IS genetic lol
u/Cillakha · 1 pointr/TwoXChromosomes

Might be a little late but I had really bad acne for a kid and still would as an adult if I didn’t adopt a strict skincare routine and diet (it’s not that bad). Drinking water and changing your pillowcases frequently (every week to two weeks) also will help especially if you start putting all this product on your face. see note at the end*

For some, cutting out either, some, or all of the following helps alleviate acne: Dairy, Oil, Sugar, Gluten. But since you said you had no changes in diet I won’t go into that. Sorry in advance for formatting errors as I did all of this from mobile. Some products have instruction in Korean but I will tell you how to use them. Everything is used everyday/every night unless specified.

  1. If I wear makeup, I use Jeju Deep Cleansing Balm. When used, it creates a layer of moisture but this can make rags feel congested, so I recommend wiping this with toss-able towels. It smells good and is good for getting the eyes especially. Just put a little on there towel/wipe and rub face until makeup is removed, then use another wipe to remove the excess balm.
  2. I use African Black Soap after removing heavy full face make-up. For light/no make-up/mornings I use Senka Perfect Whip Foaming Cleanser. It takes about a month to come through Amazon, but if your local Asian market has a skincare store and most do, it can usually be found there. Works best if you have some kind of Spin Brush for face or a Whip Maker. It doesn’t work as well as it does with either of these products using just hand or rag. You can also use cheesecloth (examples on YouTube).
  3. I use either of these masks if my skin feels dry or looks dull. Just rub on face and leave for 5-7 min then rinse off. This brand also has peeling masks as well that I use every other day in place of these. The peeling masks work similar to the nose strips people use to pull out nose blackheads and can be used to substitute them but can be used on whole face as well.
  4. With my face cleaned and moisture somewhat restored, I soft exfoliate (I use everyday. If I wear makeup I use it same night and if I plan to wear makeup the next day, skip morning and use at night again. To use - rub soft side on face first to spread, then rub gently with textured side. Otherwise I use in morning. I hard exfoliate with this. I don’t scrub harder it’s just a sugar kind of scrub so it has the potential to cause inflammation if you’re rubbing to hard. I use every other day, this also works great on body and legs when shaving.
  5. After exfoliating, I use Thayers Witch Hazel Toner. Remove with a cotton pad. I’ve found towelettes and pepper towels don’t work nearly as well as something cotton based. Toner helps to pull excess dirt from deep skin pores. On Sundays/Wednesday’s only I use Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask. Instructions say specifically to use after Toner.
  6. Now that face is cleaned and restored, I use a squeeze Vitamin C serum only at night. I got this from my local Asian market but if you ask they’ll know what you are talking about. I dab it ONLY onto any dark spots/acne scars on my face. Vitamin C has lightening/brightening properties and using it on your whole face may lighten it. I let it sit for 5 minutes minimum to as long as I can before I need to sleep so it absorbs into my skin. I dab off any excess after with a paper towel.
  7. After that, I use The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid. You can look up the full benefits but it can help with skin elasticity and smoothing wrinkles/scars from pimple popping. You can get this MUCH cheaper at Sephora - they’re $7 I believe and this company has a bunch of other serums I want to try. On Sundays and Wednesday’s, I use a Mask Sheet. Asian markets sell them but they usually sell them individual and I pay for the big back of 48 here. Helps restore tons of moisture in face and provide different benefits based on the mask you choose but most are the same. They also smell nice!
  8. One I use the mask and rub it in, I use a mixture of three oils: Kukui, Rosehip, TeaTree Oil. All of them can be found on amazon and have different benefits that tie together. I mix them into a tiny container and do very small dabs into my skin and rub it in. Kukui oil also works as a massage oil as it’s very light and great natural sunscreen (though if you plan to go to the beach wearing regular sunscreen and using the Kukui to seal it in is best).
  9. Finally, I finish with my Elizabeth Arden Moisture Cream. $55 seems expensive but a little goes a LONG way, I use about enough to cover the whole tip of my finger, a light dip like if you want to taste something for example. You don’t need a lot because at this point your face is already moisturized enough that it should just glide on.
  10. To finish, since I have hyperpigmentation and get dark spots at the slightest raise on my skin, I use Ambi Dark Spot Corrector. Can be found at target I think, my mom usually buys it. Put light amounts on affected areas and sleep.

    *Note: you may need to slowly introduce these products. Most of them are geared toward moisturizing and preventing aging as well. If you do anything, I’m at least recommend exfoliating often, changing pillow cases and properly moisturizing your skin using the sheet masks as well as possibly vitamin E serums. I plan on getting some but have no money rn, but Belei sent me free samples and I loved it. I think The Ordinary also carries some. Also, properly washing your face will probably help as well, and I’d recommend getting at least a spin brush. Over rubbing your face can be harmful to the skin and skin brushes usually clean well enough without harm.

    I hope this helps! This is my whole routine but if anything jumps out feel free to not look at everything! I’m of course not a dermatologist but this helped me and I now only get pimples usually if I eat excess of the previously mentioned triggers :) my skin is now brighter and dark spots clear up in about 2-3 months but are usually lighter after about two weeks.
u/Apples-and-kitties · 25 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Oh gosh that routine sounds quite drying.. The tea tree oil could be burning your skin and I'm not sure about using vinegar straight in your skin... Water doesn't dilute the tea tree oil or the vinegar, it's just floating around it. You are basically putting household cleaner on your face. The excess oil your skin is producing could be because it's stressed and dehydrated and you've damaged your moisture barrier. I'd stop both of them immediately and start looking for some soothing healing products and try and baby your skin back to health. If you want to learn more about your moisture barrier and why it's important this is a super in depth and helpful article - http://skinandtonics.com/the-importance-of-fatty-acids-ph-moisture-barrier-how-i-eliminated-my-acne-decreased-my-skin-sensitivity/.

To address each of your concerns:
-blackheads and sebaceous filaments can be helped with BHA products BUT these will only damage your skin further, I'd get it back to good health before adding this in. Eventually you could try something like this routine (which I do once a week) - https://fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/ but seriously it will make your skin worse for now, it's better to wait till its in a better condition.
-spots around your mouth I'm really not sure about sorry. Ingredients like niacinamide (sp?) or alpha arbutin could help but I'm really not sure.
-small bumps could be fungal acne, try googling a bunch of images and see whether any look familiar. If you think it is fungal acne here's two good resources on what ingredients/products to avoid - https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/6ohgsx/discussion_fungal_acne_my_experience_and_how_i/ and https://simpleskincarescience.com/pityrosporum-folliculitis-treatment-malassezia-cure/.
-sensitive skin - as you start trying new products keep track of what makes you more sensitive so you can pinpoint your triggers and learn to avoid. It'll be a painful process but you'll get there in the end I promise. I have a very basic spreadsheet to track what I buy, how long it lasts and how my skin reacts. If there's a few different things flaring up your skin you can cross check ingredients to work out exactly what sets you off and avoids products with that in it. It'll be a long process but you've got many more years to live in your skin & it'll be worth it.

Now in terms of what I suggest you should do here's my two cents... Stop everything you're currently doing and focus on gentle hydration, hydration, hydration. Take it all with a grain of salt though, I'm no expert, just a gal trying to get her skin looking good and staying healthy. As you've got sensitive skin you might find it quite hard to find your holy grail products so I'd recommend getting sample sizes and patch testing excessively to try and reduce the effects of products your skin disagrees with. I put a small dab on my neck, cheek & eyelid for at least a week, although two weeks is the gold standard.

Specific things:
Coconut oil has a reputation for breaking people out, but if it's working for you keep going. If you want to try something else mineral oil is supposedly pretty non reactive. I personally use the pricey shu uemura cleansing oil which is my to die for product if you can justify the $$ (££) - https://www.shuuemura-usa.com/Cleansing-oils/skincare-cleansing-oils,default,sc.html
I think a more hydrating moisturiser would make a big difference, the stratia liquid gold is known for helping repair damaged moisture barriers - https://www.stratiaskin.com/products/liquid gold. The Dr Jart+ ceramidin cream is also super hydrating, I'm working up to dropping the $s on that again - http://www.yesstyle.com/en/dr-jart-ceramidin-cream-50ml/info.html/pid.1035926021. The Cerave PM is very highly regarded as a gentle moisturiser too - http://www.cerave.com/our-products-moisturizers-pm-facial-moisturizing-lotion. I also tried this brand once when a friend had it and it was very gentle - https://helloskinshop.co.uk/products/zeroderm-ointment?variant=24620997383.
You could also consider adding in another hydrating product after oil cleansing before your moisturiser. Hyaluronic acid is super hydrating, it's molecules can hold like 6 times their weight in water. Hadalabo is a popular brand with a few variations on a HA "liquid" this is the most popular one - https://www.amazon.com/Rohto-Hadalabo-Gokujyn-Hyaluronic-Lotion/dp/B000FQUGXA. There's a premium one that is more hydrating that I'm about to start using once I'm done with the regular one - https://fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2016/03/26/hail-hydra-hada-labo-gokujyun-premium-lotion-review-hada-labo-lotion-tips/.
Snail is a nice soothing product if your skin doesn't react to it (it might! Get a sample and patch test) this is a nice one I slather all over my skin - https://sokoglam.com/products/cosrx-advanced-snail-96-mucin-power-essence.
Honey is another nice soothing ingredient, there's lots of options you could try some regular ole honey on your face to see if it reacts. I'm using this product at the moment although I think it might be breaking me out so I'm taking a few weeks off in case - http://www.holysnails.com/2015/07/scinic-honey-all-in-one-ampoule.html. I don't have oily skin though, so it might be too much for you.
Facial oils could work for you, rosehip gets a generally good rap. You can use on its own or mix into a moisturiser to make it more hydrating. Google facial oil and try out ones that seem like they'll suit your skin.
I talked about niacinamide earlier, the ordinary has a nicanimade + zinc serum which is quite nice and VERY good value - http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-niacinamide-10pct-zinc-1pct-30ml.
Sunscreen is always critical in skin health, you might struggle to find one for your sensitive skin, but if you can find a moisturiser try a sunscreen in that range. And if in doubt try Japanese, they do the nicest. I use this one which is alcohol heavy but very light overall - http://www.refinery29.com/biore-uv-aqua-rich-watery-essence-review.

If I was you I'd stop everything but the oil cleanse and find a veeery gentle, very soothing moisturiser and just do the two of them for a few weeks and see how that goes and slowly add in other things. You only need to oil cleanse at night, in the morning a splash of water should be fine. If you're not wearing make up its still worth cleansing off your sunscreen and the general pollutants of the day, go for a low PH cleanser to be more gentle with your skin. I use this foaming one - https://www.amazon.com/Hada-Labo-Gokujyn-Hyaluronic-Cleansing/dp/B0036MDUEM. I've seen other redditors with sensitive skin prefer milk cleansers eg https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/674uya/discussion_favourite_creammilk_cleansers/. Please no more tea tree!

As you can probably tell from the products I've suggested I use a more Asian skin care regime which really works for me. It focuses on hydration and being gentle with your skin. It can get very complex but doesn't have to be. I started with an oil cleanser and now two years later I have a hydrating toner, essence, serum and ampoule... not all necessary but all I enjoy! If you want to know more here's a good start: https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/wiki/new_user_guide.

Good luck with your skin! No quick fixes unfortunately just lots of trial and error and eventually you'll get there. I think without the stripping tea tree and vinegar & with a repairing moisturiser you should see some improvements pretty quickly. Stick with it even if it doesn't. Research other people's routines, learn about what different ingredients do, how your skin works etc. Definitely not wasted time, eventually you can help others on reddit :)

u/RestingGrinchFace- · 2 pointsr/askwomenadvice

You can find anything online these days. Pinterest has a category just for women's fashion. You can find any tutorial under the sun on YouTube, especially anything to do with skincare, makeup, haircare, hair styling, and fashion. You could even just search YouTube for "look put together". Find a YouTuber whose personal style you enjoy and see what they have to say! There are even personal stylist courses on Udemy for like $10.99.

​

If you're starting at ground zero, it may be worth it for you to save up a little bit and be willing to invest that money into yourself. You'll have to decide what's worth "splurging" on and what isn't.

​

The basics. Women who always look put together don't skip basic upkeep. The things you need to focus on are going to be specific to you and your body but you need to willing to keep up with these things.

  • Skin - Focusing on skincare is more important than being able to do a full face of glam makeup.
    • Start with r/SkincareAddiction. There's also r/30PlusSkinCare, they're just don't have as many members.
    • The majority of my makeup advice comes from YouTube. I tried visiting Sephora to find recommendations on products or ask advice but haven't had much luck. YMMV.
      • You can even search YouTube for makeup dupes to find affordable makeup that performs like some of the higher-end products.
    • Don't care for your face but neglect the rest of your body! Exfoliate and moisturize regularly.

      ​

  • Hair - Focusing on a hairstyle that flatters your face, is easy to maintain and style will make a much bigger difference in your day-to-day life than spending hours trying to perfect a fancy 'do.
    • If you know someone who has a hairstyle that you really love, ask them what salon they go to. (If you're comfortable with them, ask what products they use.)
    • You may want to consider a salon visit. Make sure the stylist knows your level of comfort with doing your hair, how much time you can commit to doing your hair in the morning and what you're looking for. Ask what they think would look great on you.
    • Find two to three basic hairstyles and perfect them, such as having one style when your hair is down, one simple updo (like a bun) and either another updo or a half updo. You're really just looking for something that's going to be a no-fail style that you can quickly (and easily) accomplish yourself.
    • If your hair is in need of TLC, make time weekly to pamper yourself. Clarify or use a deep conditioning mask or an oil treatment. Take care of your hair weekly and you'll be rewarded daily with hair that's easier to manage.
    • Brows - If your brows are in need of attention, give it to them. If you need to go to a salon to have them shaped, do it once and keep up with them after that.

      ​

      ​

  • Hands/Nails - You cannot look put together with chipped nail polish. I prefer not to wear colored nail polish at all for this very reason. I follow the routine here and only use OPI Nail Envy, which is clear. My hands get very dry so I use O'Keeffe's Working Hands lotion and Badger Cuticle Care. (My cuticles are a mess if I don't give them special treatment, maybe that isn't an issue for you.)
    • If your hands and nails are a mess right now, it may be worth it for you to go to a salon and get a BASIC manicure (about $12-15). Once you're all fixed up, use the guide above to care for your hands and nails regularly (weekly, at least).

      ​

  • Clothing - Focus on classic quality pieces (this does NOT have to mean expensive) that fit well and that you enjoy.
    • Launder your clothing according to manufacturer instructions and care for anything that needs attention, such as stray threads or loose buttons.
    • Find styles that fit your current body type. YouTube is a great resource, again.
    • Getting your clothing tailored is not as expensive as you may think and will make a world of difference. Something as simple as adding a dart to the waist or hemming pants that are just barely too long is going to make a noticeable difference.
      • Alternatively, you could hit up YouTube again and learn to do these things yourself on a cheap sewing machine that you can find on Craigslist or at a yard sale.

        ​

  • Shoes - You don't need a shoe closet to rival the real housewives. A pair of nice flats in black and pair in nude will get you started. A pair of heels in black and a pair in nude are a plus but not if you can't walk in them.
    • Keep shoes in good condition. Treat scruffs and watch for excessive wear and tear.

      ​

  • Accessories - A few simples pieces will get you through.
    • Post earrings in silver, gold or "diamond"
    • Dangle/drop earrings in either silver or gold
    • Simple necklace in silver or gold
    • One "statement" necklace in a neutral color to match the majority of your wardrobe. Maybe something like this.
    • A simple bracelet, if that's your thing.
    • Sunglasses in a neutral color

      ​

  • je ne sais quoi - Aside from the fact that women who always look put together have taken the time to care for themselves, I think there's another thing that these ladies do that makes a noticeable difference. These ladies know what looks good on them by knowing their skin tone, undertones and season so that they're always choosing clothing, accessories, and makeup that is going to compliment them and enhance their natural beauty. You don't need to hire a personal stylist to get an idea of what's going to look good on you. Try searching "personal style", "find my skin tone", "find my undertone", "what's my season" "how to dress for my body shape". (Sephora can, at the least, do their Pantone Skin IQ reading give you your results and recommendations.)
u/i_like_oliver · 11 pointsr/scacjdiscussion

I would like to preface this by saying this is what I would do for me personally knowing what I know now about my own skin. If I were making suggestions for someone else I think this list would be very very different.

Under $50:

Heimish All Clean Balm [$17]

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion [$11]

CeraVe Healing Ointment [$9]

Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen [$13]

This particular budget was actually a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. I prioritized Sunscreen first, because that is an important product to me and it is a product that was difficult to find something I was happy using every day. I picked the cleanser next because I knew it was going to be pricey at this budget. I really think oil cleansing has done wonders for my skin. I especially like balms. I find them much easier to use. I occasionally like to use a straight oil, but on a daily basis using something with an emulsifier is just more practical. In reality if I had to stick to this budget all the time, I would probably sub out the Heimish for an emulsifying cleansing oil like Kose or the Simple one. I just haven't used either of those yet, I wasn't comfortable substituting that for the sake of this exercise.

I don't think I would be totally happy with this routine long term. It's not as hydrating as I tend towards and it doesn't have any actives. The CeraVe lotion is nice, but I wouldn't LOVE using it. I picked this over the CeraVe cream because I find that the cream does not actually sink into my skin. It's nice over other thinner formulas, but it tugs at my skin uncomfortably if used on its own.

Under $100

Heimish All Clean Balm [$17]

Stridex Maximum Acne Medication Pads [$4]

Dear, Klairs Supple Proparation Facial Toner [$22]

Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution [$15]

Holika Holika Skin and Good Cera Super Cream [$17] (this is discontinued, but as long as it's $17 at Amazon or CVS where I bought it I will probably keep using it)

Jojoba Oil [$8 @ Trader Joe's]

CeraVe Healing Ointment [$3] [Travel Size]

Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen [$13]

TBH this is making me realize how much money I actually spend on my routine. GEEZ I DIDN'T NEED THIS TODAY. Essentially I just took out the CeraVe lotion and added my HG Hydrating/Moisturizing Layers. The Klairs seems like so much of a splurge here, but it really truly is one of my favorite products to use. It is very hydrating and soothing to me. I also added the Stridex because it's cheap, effective, easy to use and this is one active I know I can tolerate if I keep up my hydration/moisturization.

I think the CeraVe Healing Ointment is a true workhorse and I would never be with out it, BUT I don't actually use very much of it. I mean I bought my first 3 oz. tube 9 months ago and I don't think I've even used half of it. With the smaller budget it makes more sense to get a bigger tube because it can be SUCH a multitasker, but since I have a few more items in the way of "moisturizing" here, I would probably purchase a very small tube of the ointment (mostly for my lips and the corners of my nose) and also incorporate Jojoba Oil. I love Jojoba for cleansing and for mixing into other products. My very chapped lips also DRINK UP oils like no one's business.

I am ashamed to say this routine is still short of some things I use pretty frequently, but I would still be happy with it. It has everything I actually need.

Under $200:

Heimish All Clean Balm [$17]

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser [$15]

Stridex Maximum Acne Medication Pads [$4]

Stratia Soft Touch AHA [$14]

Dear, Klairs Supple Proparation Facial Toner [$22]

Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution [$15]

Stratia Rewind [$16]

Stratia Liquid Gold [$24]

Holika Holika Skin and Good Cera Super Cream [$17]

Jojoba Oil [$8 @ Trader Joe's]

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm [$15]

CeraVe Healing Ointment [$3] [Travel Size]

Raw Honey [$7ish]

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask [$5]

Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen [$13]

Again these all the same products as before. The three additions I use frequently are the LRP B5, Stratia Liquid Gold, and Stratia Rewind. The Raw Honey and the Queen Helene are masks that I know work for me and are fun to use. I very rarely use the honey buy itself, but it is lovely as a mask mixed with the Klairs (thanks to u/LGBTQBBQ for that tip). I've also included the Stratia Soft Touch here because it is on my list to try. I'm pretty sensitive to actives and I think a 10% Mandelic is something I could handle.

I actually really enjoyed having to think about my routine like this. I really thought I had paired down my routine quite a bit and I suppose I have, but even the $200 budget would not be enough to repurchase everything I use on a monthly basis. This (mostly) doesn't even include things I want to try or things I have around just in case or just because. Realistically I would have a couple more wash off masks, and eye cream (even though it is not at all necessary imo), at least one other kind of sunscreen, and maybe one or two other moisturizers.

But I guess I'm that kind of extra bitch.

...and like its a hobby right? It's ok to spend money on a hobby.

At least that is what I'll tell myself.

u/krissycole87 · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Oh youre welcome!! Something about your post I really related to.
Rosehip oil is life. Omg. I looooove it and so does my skin. I mix it with my snail cream and it makes this magical goo that my skin literally drinks up so fast its crazy. Its kind of a think oil by itself but mixed with a moisturizer its like magic haha
Yeah its crazy, I lurked r/compulsiveskinpicking for like.. ever before I actually subscribed. It was as if the day I subscribed was the day I had to admit to myself that I was indeed a skin picker. Almost like joining AA or something "hi my name is krissy and Im a skin picker." haha but it was actually empowering, and so helpful knowing I wasnt alone.
For cleansers I have recently been doing Ole Henriksen's Balancing cleanser in the morning, and then I use Kose speedy Oil Cleanser at night. The kose rinses cleanly so I do not double cleanse, I only use that. Its part of my efforts to moisturize like mad at night. Oil cleansing also helped me curb my picking because I do the full process of letting it sit for a few mins then massaging it for a few minutes and I feel like I can feel my pores being cleaned and that is somehow super satisfying.
I just got my bottle (today! woo!) of CosrX low pH morning cleanser to replace the OleHenriksen in the morning. I decided to switch because of how much Ive come to love Cosrx and their products seem to really agree with my skin. Sometimes I feel like Ole's can be drying (because its part of their acne/oily skin line, in fact its basically the last product in my routine aimed at acne and its getting replaced). I can report back later with the findings but it comes highly recommended on this sub as a gentle cleanser.
The snail cream omg. I became a believer almost instantly on the slug life. I have both the snail power essence and the snail all in one cream from cosrx. I love love love them. I use the essence in the morning before my moisturizer and I use the cream at night mixed with my rosehip as my second to last step before my overnight mask. Sometimes just for fun Ill use the essence at night before my other serums too. I honestly cant get enough. I think its because its so healing that I feel like I see improvement in any blemishes and scars every time I use it. Of course, YMMV but seriously Id take my snail to a deserted island with me.
My overnight mask also comes from Cosrx, the honey overnight mask, I may try their rice one after I finish this just for fun, but I am completely happy with the honey one. Its a good occlusive on its own, but sometimes I will even spot treat over top of it with vaseline on blemishes and areas where I deal with scarring.
And definitely dont worry about the questions. You shouldve seen me firing off questions to everyone on this sub when I first got into it!! Im glad to help :)

u/friendlypegasus · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

So I have a few suggestions, because my skin used to be exactly like yours. I realized that after getting my basic skincare routine down that my skin isn't actually oily, it was just the products I use (which may be a different scenario for you) but I do have to take a lot of measures to combat my dehydrated skin. I also have redness that once required full-coverage foundation and now I wear tinted moisturizer to just even out my super mild redness. This is my routine:

AM:

Mario Badescu Keratoplast Cream Soap. This is less of a true cleanser in the way that it won't really work at removing makeup, but it is really fantastic at soothing redness/any irritation and making my skin feel super soft.

I then use Etude House 10-in-1 House Wonder Pore Freshener. This is a new addition that I really like for sebum control and pores. Not a neccessity for you it seems like, but I figured I'd suggest it. It's a toner. I find it actually works for me, when in in the past I'd use a toner and be like ok..... this is doing nothing, lol.

Then I use Nature Republic New Soothing Moisture Aloe Vear GEL 92% moisturizer. LOVE this for soothing redness and providing some serious hydration! I was really worried about this being sticky, especially because I have an aversion to textures sometimes, but I actually really like this. I know a lot of people say you shouldn't use stuff from jars, but I find that as long as I continue to see results, the jar continues to work for me. I just switched to this from the Clinique gel moisturizer and not only is the price decrease amazing, but I saw/felt results so quickly!!

For days that I know I need extra hydration in the AM (i.e., winter), I use Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion prior to my moisturizer.

Last morning step is sunscreen - I just switched from a western sunscreen to Missha All-around Safe Block Aqua Sun Gel Spf30/pa++ and I really like it, and that'll help your redness, too.

PM:
Cleanse with First Aid Beauty cleanser. I really like this, but I find it to be on-par with most cleansers, although this is gentler for sensitive skin.

Every other day: Too Cool for School Egg Mouse Pack. LOVE THIS. Improves brightness/radiance and gives hydration.

After I get out of the shower, I use the toner I mentioned above.

Cosrx BHA. Some say it reduced their redness, but I found it just helped with sebum/blackheads. I like Stridex better as a BHA, honestly.

I use the Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion every night, and follow with my moisturizer I mentioned above. I'm currently searching for a good night cream, I used Eucerin anti-redness prior and I didn't like it very much.

Throughout the week, I'll use the First Aid Beauty
Skin Rescue Purifying Mask With Red Clay
, which I really like, but since you're on a budget I'd say it could wait. I find it reduces redness but works best for blemish control. I also use Tony Moly sheet masks, particularly ones that combat redness/dehydration.

Overall, if you could only afford 1/2 products, I would most recommend the Mario Badescu and the moisturizer I mentioned - but I also would highly recommend the Hado Labo lotion regardless due to your severe dehydeation.

u/h0t0togisu · 3 pointsr/AsianBeauty

Here's a blog reading list for you: the venerable Fiddy Snails, Fanserviced, and Snow White and the Pear. These blogs have been INVALUABLE resources for me in learning about skincare and AB.

And here's a very, very, very, VERY loose shopping list, with one major caveat: PATCH. TEST. Don't just buy a new product and slap it on your face. Choose a spot on your face - somewhere where you break out easily, like next to your nose - and dab a little of that product there every day for 10-15 days. See what happens. This is how I learned that my beloved Hadalabo Gokujyun lotion doesn't break me out, but it does break out a lot of other people.

CLEANSERS:
You need two. An oil cleanser to use in the evening to thoroughly remove sunscreen and makeup, followed by a foaming or gel cleanser. I like Hada Labo Gokujyun foaming cleanser as a second cleanser (it's the only one I use in the morning). Kose Softymo is an affordable oil cleanser for the evening.

ACTIVES:
These are ingredients that Do Things to your face, such as exfoliants (BHA, AHA, vitamin C) and disinfectants (benzoyl peroxide). I am drastically simplifying. At the moment you're using two products that contain benzoyl peroxide, a disinfectant. It's time to round out your active diet, with the big caveat that irritation = redness. I'll say it again - ditch the astringent, it's only causing the redness you're trying to avoid. If you're going to add new actives to your routine, do it very gradually. Patch test, then start using it every other day.

Things you could try: I'm in love with C21.5 vitamin C serum. This is an affordable powerhouse of vitamin C, that promotes skin cell turnover and does a bang-up job of dealing with pigmentation. It does oxidise easily, though, so you need to keep it in the fridge and toss it when it starts to turn yellow. In terms of exfoliants, Cosrx BHA Power Liquid and AHA Power Liquid are fan favourites. They feel remarkably gentle on the skin, and do a great job of gently exfoliating. If I were you I'd start with the BHA, as BHAs are great at exfoliating within the pore, soothing redness and treating/preventing acne.

SUNSCREEN
I'm here to give you the greatest lesson you'll ever learn: the best anti-ageing treatment is sunscreen. You are 15. It's time to set up a lifelong sunscreen habit. And Asian sunscreens feel better than any western equivalent. RatzillaCosme is a goldmine of sunscreen reviews. The first Asian sunscreen most people try is the legendary Biore Watery Aqua, which is inexpensive and easy to snag on Amazon.

DA SNAILZ
Snail products are wonderful at reducing redness and inflammation. There are just... so many snail products out there. A great starting point is Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream, which is a great final moisturiser at night if you've got oilier skin. I'm also partial to the all-in-one repair cream, which is actually more of a 'whipped' essence than a cream, but feels wonderfully soothing on my oilier skin.

Hope this helps!

u/KrullX · 2 pointsr/Sissies

Magic Fragrant Shaving Powder

Review on this product had great insight on how to use it...


That's not to say it doesn't work at all. Just that it doesn't work nearly as well on coarse hairs that it does on fine hairs. In other words, if you're wanting this for your back, legs, arms...you'll be largely amazed at how well it takes off hair. You're unlikely to be impressed with groin, face, etc. where the hairs may be more coarse.


For my case, I bought it for my face. There, it took three treatments before I saw even the slightest hint of smooth, hairless skin. Even then, it still left stubble on the neck and under my jaw. Comparing this with a safety razor where I could get these hairs quite easily, this was a bit depressing. What it did do a good job of was minimizing razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

A lot has been made of the mixing strategy. Yes, it's pain. But that's because the instructions are faulty. If you mix the way it tells you on the can, not only will you be stirring forever, you'll end up with a very slimy, very inefficient solution that will make you think you got scammed. I'm going to help you.

You need:

  • A mixing cup. You can use any cup, or you can get official and get something like Edwin Jagger Porcelain Shaving Soap Bowl With Handle, Black

  • A spoon. Or something else to stir with. I prefer a spoon but it's up to you.

  • A shaving brush. You can use your hand, but I strongly recommend against it. Just get a shaving brush. Like Escali 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush

  • A large towel - you'll use both ends. Or if you're not into messing towels up, consider something like Kleenex Hand Towels Everyday, 60 Count where you can throw them away when done.

  • A preshave balm or lotion, or oil. You want something that is NOT alcohol based. Something like John Allan's Slick Water Lotion, 2 Ounce

  • Something to tame the skin afterwards. Something like Proraso Aftershave Lotion, Refresh, 100 ml

    Mind you, the above are just recommendations. Choose whatever products you want, just make sure they are comparable to the above. Or don't use them, but be prepared to be frustrated with your results.

    First, to give you a sense of scale and scope. A heaping teaspoon is enough for a grown man's entire face. If you're doing legs, arms, chest, etc, bump it up to two teaspoons. This is just to have enough when you're done mixing. Next, your water ratio should be just enough to end up with a consistency between pancake mix and cake batter; not runny, but not overly thick. You'll know it when you see it. Imagine perfectly made oatmeal "stick to the ribs" style. That's what you want. So if you have a heaping teaspoon of powder, put maybe a barely full teaspoon of cool water in. Then stir slowly using the spoon (or whatever). It will look like it's not mixing; it is. It just takes a while.

    Here's the hint: you'll know when you're almost done because you'll get hit in the face with a smell that I can't describe, but you'll know it for what it is. If you've ever used NAIR, or any similar depilatory, it's the exact same smell. Once that smell hits you, you'll notice the mixture getting thicker and it'll all make sense (finally). Usually takes me about 2 minutes end-to-end. If you end up with a consistency that seems watery, use a flat edge (i.e. a knife or something) and add a bit more powder, then continue to stir. Conversely if it feels way too thick (like paste), add a half teaspoon of water and continue stirring. After you do it once, you'll get the hang of it.

    Second, DO NOT do this after a shower or after washing your skin. It should probably be the first thing you do after getting up on the days you do it (which is every other day, NOT once a day). Why? You want your skin to be oily, to have some coating to protect it, in addition to the preshave. This is how you can get the best result without burning sensation. So don't wait until after showering to do this.

    Now, prep your location. By prep, I mean use the preshave, something that is designed to protect your skin from burn and irritation. DO not use regular lotion, it won't do anything.

    Now, it's important to note that this, when mixed, is essentially a plaster. It will go on wet and then dry, just like a cast. That's okay. But be prepared for it to "flake" everywhere. Try not to move too much. You don't want to make a mess.

    Apply using the shave brush as if you were applying shaving cream or foam. But go in strokes against the grain. The goal is to lift the follicles and help the mixture do its thing. Make sure you get good coverage. You'll notice that the bottom of the mixture looks dry; that's okay. It'll still apply like a plaster. But feel free to drip a bit of water in there if you're not sure.

    You'll need to wait between 7 and 10 minutes (depending on skin sensitivity) for the mix to work. During this time, clean out your mug and shave brush. The mixture should rinse rather cleanly in cold water, but the brush will take some hands-on help (it's safe). Depending on how long it stays on you may or may not feel a tingle. That's a good sign. It should not burn.

    After the time has passed, this is where people get confused. You can use a dull pseudo razor (like Pseudo Shaver), if you want, but I found much better results just using a warm, damp towel. You can warm up the water while waiting for the mixture to dry, and if you use the disposables, have one that is your warm water towel and one that is your dry towel. Or you can use a single towel that serves both functions. Wipe the mixture off in firm, slow strokes against the grain. Then clean the towel off and go back over the area vigorously to get the remainder. Dry off with the other towel. Finish up with the aftershave.

    If you did everything I noted above, you should see amazing results, with certain exceptions (I could never get the mixture to work at all above my mustache, it did 97% of the job in the groin area, and 99% of the work under my jaw). Figure 15 minutes total time to do. But again, you only need to do this once every other day minimum. My arms have been smooth for three days.
u/galeguinha · 8 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Hi! Due to the recent drama around here, a lot of the sidebar links take us to nowhere right now. The sidebar is usually a lot more welcoming! I think the mods are working on finding alternative sources of info, but in the meantime, here's a really good breakdown of how to evaluate your current routine to see how you might want to go about changing it, and here's sort of a crowd-sourced list of things the members here recommend, separated by skin type.

Until the beginner guides routines get retooled and put up, the search function might be a good place to start looking for recommendations, as well as sister subs like /r/AsianBeauty, /r/skincareaddicts, and /r/skincareaddictionuk, and outside sites like MakeupAlley and Beautypedia (although be aware of the bias towards Paula's Choice products here).

Now, as for your specific routine, you have a few options: you could look for a new cleanser and/or moisturizer, or you could add a few steps to your routine to level up on moisturizing. Which of these you choose to do and why is completely up to you, but here are a few common considerations among those whose skin feels dry or irritated.

  • 1: your cleanser might be drying you out. Generally, the closer your cleanser is to skin's natural pH (around 5.5), the less it will disrupt your skin's barrier function, which helps protect your skin from bacteria, irritation, etc. I'm not familiar with your cleanser, but if it's above 5.5, this might be what's happening. Off the top of my head, commonly recommended cleansers at pH ~5.5 include: CeraVe foaming cleanser (found in most drug stores), CeraVe hydrating cleanser (ditto), Hada Labo Foaming. You can find more if you search this sub and places like /r/AsianBeauty (who have a spreadsheet color-coded by pH) and other subs linked here on the sidebar.
  • 2: you want a heavier-duty moisturizer. This is pretty self explanatory. You might need something with more emollients and occlusives in it; emollients make your skin softer, while occlusives form a barrier over your skin to prevent water loss. Look for things with mineral oil or petroleum jelly (occlusives) and things like fatty alcohols (cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl) and oils for emollients. A lot of people on the sub like to recommend CeraVe in the tub or CeraVe PM as a starting point, but be aware that some people have negative reactions to fatty alcohols. EltaMD's Melting moisturizer is usually a safe bet, since it includes so few ingredients, and my all-time favorite is DML Daily Facial Moisturizer. Again, these are the things I can think of off the top of my head since I've used them, but the sub search will bring up plenty more.
  • 3: you might want to keep your current products and consider adding in more steps to your routine. Like they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? If you know your current products aren't breaking you out and feel like your skin just needs a little push over the edge to get to Happy Moisture Land, you could just add in a step or two to your existing routine. One of the easiest changes would be to slap on a thin coat of Vaseline or Aquaphor at night after cleansing and moisturizing; these both act as occlusives to prevent moisture loss overnight. If that's not enough, you could also add in a humectant between cleansing and moisturizing. Humectants help to retain moisture, and they pull up water from the dermis to the epidermis. Common humectants include glycerin and hyaluronic acid, so ideally look for products with those in the ingredient list--you often find them in things categorized as toners (although, as a side note, beware of any toners that contain alcohol, which can be drying). Some people have bought vegetable glycerin from the store and love it, while others prefer light serums with hyaluronic acid, such as this (also available at Ulta with different packaging), this, or this. Finally, you could also include a separate emollient step, like incorporating a facial oil before your moisturizer. You can get a great sample pack of oils from Garden of Wisdom, or you can pick up something from a Whole Foods, a vitamin store, or any kind of natural foods store. Popular oils include jojoba, sunflower, safflower, coconut (this breaks some people out in a major way, though), rosehip, and meadowfoam.

    Anyway, this has turned into a comment of gargantuan proportions, but I hope this helps you in some way, shape, or form. In general, I really recommend using the search function, as there are droves of information on products, on pH-related stuff, on emollients/occlusives/humectants and what products contain which, etc. Don't forget to patch test any new products before putting them on your entire face, just to make sure they play nicely with your skin. I'd also be remiss if I didn't suggest adding in a sunscreen, but that's a topic for a whole different novel-sized comment.

    *Edited to add in a missing link
u/RainaaaGrace · 5 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Ranked from most favorite to least favorite

Garnier SkinActive

Website & Ingredients

  • Surprisingly my most favorite of the bunch. Never tried any Garnier skincare but heard good things so I gave it a shot.
  • Super saturated, which felt amazing.
  • Use for up to 20 minutes. I usually always do 15
  • Doesn't leave any weird residues on your skin
  • Goes on after your very last serum and before moisturizer.
  • Skin felt amazing afterward
  • $2.50 at Target

    Avatara

    Website & Ingredients

  • Also very saturated
  • Has an extra film that is pulled off the mask after placing it on your face. I find that it makes it more difficult to place the mask on my face.
  • Very thin material, and it does rip if you aren't careful
  • Also leaves skin feeling refreshed.
  • The second time I used it my skin felt itchy and I couldn't figure out why. Skin felt better once I put moisturizer on. I personally think I might have waited too long after taking it off my face before putting on my moisturizer. I'd have to try it again to know for sure.
  • $3.99 at Target

    Neutrogena Hydro Boost

    Website & Ingredients

  • I tried the hyaluronic acid from this line after hearing really good things about this specific line and loved it.
  • Decided to try this mask and it's awesome.
  • Hydrogel so it's not paper.
  • Can stay on your skin for up to 30 minutes without drying
  • Put in on your skin after washing and before your serums.
  • Doesn't leave a strange film which makes applying serums on your skin afterward easier
  • I have the Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid and I put it on before the mask before realizing it should go on second, but I don't think it made a difference. Stronger serums should go on after.
  • $2.59 at Target

    Masque Bar Pretty Animalz

    Website & Ingredients

  • Another surprising favorite.
  • The eyes aren't covered, which I personally love. I hate the extra flaps because I'm not going to sit with my eyes closed for 15 minutes with a mask on.
  • Can be used 10-20 minutes
  • Dogs, Cats, Sheep, Bunnies, Penguins, Reindeer. Most are holiday focused. Dogs, Tigers, Pandas and cats are always on the shelves.
  • Also saturated and fits the face almost perfectly. I have a small round face and most are a bit too large for me.
  • They make cute selfies if you're into that!
  • $4.99 at Target. Would buy again.

    Slice Mask Sheet

    Website

  • Not a full face mask
  • Small circles that are supposed to be spot focused. I read online that they do it this way to better fit your face and so you can hit spots that need it more.
  • I had no idea it wasn't a sheet mask when I bought it so I thought I ripped it at first.
  • Smells exactly like the fruit it represents. The smell is strong if you are sensitive to that.
  • Skin did feel amazing after.
  • Stays on for up to 20 minutes
  • Although this is a different mask, I would buy it again.
  • $4.99 at Target. Price was a turn-off, would buy again, but not likely because it's a little too pricey.

    SpaLife

    Couldn't find any ingredients

  • My least favorite sheet mask.
  • Thick material which made it feel less saturated
  • Eye shapes are small and make it almost impossible to see through. They have the small flaps and they don't like to stay down.
  • Stays on for up to 20 minutes
  • $2.50 at Target. Will not purchase again.

    Avatara Lip Mask

    Website & Ingredients

  • Gel-like material
  • Ripped before it even made it to my lips
  • Doesn't feel like anything special
  • I think it's just sold because it's trending online
  • Stays on lips for 10 minutes
  • $3.99 at Target. Will not purchase again.


    Shea Moisture Mud Mask

    Website & Ingredients

  • This isn't the least favorite, I just didn't feel like it belonged in this set of reviews because it wasn't a sheet mask.
  • Not drying at all.
  • Says to only put on your skin for 10 minutes, so I'm not sure if it wasn't drying because it wasn't given time to dry or if it's just not drying like most mud masks.
  • Didn't notice a huge difference. I don't use mud masks normally so it's hard to speak on this.
  • $2.50 at Target

    Other Sheet masks that I've used


    Dermal Sheet Mask

    Amazon

  • I buy these in bulk off amazon. Usually making each mask $2.00 a piece
  • Each mask is different, but I honestly can't tell. I've been buying these masks for a year and they all seem the same. I don't mind it, others might.
  • Pack of 16 for $8.50

    Yes To Sheet Masks

    Website & Ingredients

  • We had a bunch of these for my sisters Bachelorette party. There were 8 girls and 5 of them complained of this mask burning their face. The reviews online also have a bunch of people stating the same. We had every single type at the party so I'm not sure what the deal was.
  • I recently did the Coconut one because it was sitting in a drawer.
  • It felt weird the whole time it was on my face and left a very strange residue afterward.
  • Didn't burn my face, but I tend to have a bit tougher skin.
  • $2.50 at Target. Will not purchase again.

    That's it. Let me know if you've got more questions.

    For reference, I have normal skin. Somewhere in the middle. Not extremely dry and not oily. I don't have severe acne but get occasional hormonal breakouts.

    I usually use a face mask every other night, sometimes every night. It mostly depends on how tired I am or how gross my face feels.

u/bluebuckeye · 2 pointsr/AskWomenOver30

This is long. Sorry!

Disclaimer that there are different types of rosacea and everyone responds to medications a little differently. What works for me may not work for you and I am not a doctor. Check out /r/skincareaddiction as they have a lot of resources for most of the stuff listed below. Also, sometimes rosacea is actually caused by mites called demodex. (Gross I know!) Treatment for that is a prescription for ivermectin. I don't know how to verify if that's what causes yours, but asking your derm couldn't hurt.

I was diagnosed with mild rosacea about 10 years ago and had the metro gel prescription (same active as in your metro cream) and honestly it did not help me. My flare ups are the the result of temperature, exercise, and strong emotions, so diet changes didn't do much either. I recently went to try a new dermatologist and they said that the only thing they think would have any significant impact is laser treatment. That's out of my price range so I've just been working on keeping it from getting worse, and using skin care products that make it less noticeable. I've been happy with my routine which includes the following products.

Things that have helped to keep it from getting worse and in general make me less red:

  • Azelaic acid. This is my holy grail, the absolute best skincare product I've ever used. If you only use one thing on this list, use this. It's helped both my cystic acne and the occasional rosacea specific breakouts. I responded so well to the OTC stuff my derm recommended against a prescription which has higher % of active ingredients than the OTC. I really like Malezepam because it's cheap and lasts forever. Be warned, it can sting and be itchy. The Ordinary has some too that works almost as well, but their tube is small and doesn't last as long. Use this at night because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. This is my last step after my moisturizer has sunk in.
  • Vitamin C serum. It both seems to calm down my redness in the morning, and also boost the effectiveness of sunscreen, which is helpful because with rosacea you're extra susceptible to burns. I have used a couple, but am currently using Avalon Organics and like it ok, the fragrance isn't my favorite. Do research on this if you get Vit-C serum as it breaks down quickly and not all formulations are useful. Simple Skincare Science is a gold mine of good research on skincare products, and I like this write up on Vit-C. Use this in the morning before you put on sunscreen/makeup.
  • Cicapair. This is supposed to help calm skin down during flare ups, but I've not really experienced that. It's just a green tinted moisturizer with SPF that nicely tones down redness for me. The link above is a dupe of Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment that they sell at Sephora for far too much. :) I use this in the morning as sort of a BB cream.
  • [A313 Retinol] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GLZY90A/) non-prescription strength retinol. Feels like petroleum jelly, but helps reduce redness. Use at night after your moisturizer has sunk in. I only use this once or twice a week to replace the azelaic acid.
  • Snail mucin. I like the stuff from Cors RX but there are a bunch out there. This helps your skin stay hydrated, (after flare ups my face gets really dry) and helps lessen healing time after breakouts. It supposedly has anti-aging properties too, though I haven't noticed any specifically. A lot of snail mucins are paired with bee essence. Those made me flush, so be careful with those. I use this right before nightly moisturizer.

    Good luck. Rosacea can be so demoralizing so I hope at least something here will work for you. <3
u/peaches-and-pears · 2 pointsr/birthcontrol

Great!

When picking something with salicylic acid in it you'll want to start out gentle if you haven't really used it in the past. Don't go over something that claims to contain more than 2% salicylic acid.

These ones by Stridex are popular and easy to get: https://www.amazon.ca/Stridex-Salicylic-Maximum-Strength-Packaging/dp/B000NUN8BK/ref=pd_sim_121_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3WTHS1W2HEMFG7D9K8SR

I have also used these by First Aid Beauty: https://www.sephora.com/product/clear-complexion-pads-P411873?skuId=1856939&icid2=first_aid_beauty_lp_whatsnew_carousel_ca:p411873

And I've heard great things about these ones by COSRX, a Korean skincare brand: http://jolse.com/product/cosrx-one-step-original-clear-pad-70ea/4363/?cate_no=371&display_group=1

Use these products after cleansing, but before moisturizing (and you absolutely should moisturize every time you cleanse, and especially if you are using products like these!). Do not use any of these everyday. At first it might feel like you're not getting anything done by not using them often, but in the long run it is way better to respect your skins moisture barrier by being gentle with chemical exfoliation than to dry your skin out. Start out by using them just every two days and then maybe move on to every other day if your skin does not seem to be getting dry. Again, really focus it on your problem area if the rest of your face is happy and clear.


Moving on to spot treatments, here are the two I've found to work for me.
Clean & Clear (contains benzoyl peroxid): https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Persa-Gel-Treatment-Medication/dp/B00KZ22ED4/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511920947&sr=8-3&keywords=clean+and+clear+benzoyl

LUSH Grease Lightning (contains tea tree oil): https://www.lush.ca/en/face/cleansers/grease-lightning/02896.html

Put a generous amount right the zit after moisturizing. Some people put a thin layer and leave it on during the day, but I've always found it ends up looking flaky and weird.

Pimple patches have also started to gain popularity recently. They started out mostly as an Asian Beauty thing I believe and now their making their way over to some western stores as well. They're basically these packages that contain some sort of something (science) that draws the gunk out of your skin. Put them on before bed and in the morning you wake up with a lumpy yuck-filled sticker! Here are some options for those as well.
COSRX: http://jolse.com/product/cosrx-acne-pimple-master-patch-24-patches-10-sheets/7765/?cate_no=371&display_group=1

Nexcare (I've started seeing these ones in North American pharmacies): https://www.amazon.ca/Nexcare-Absorbing-Covers-Sizes-Count/dp/B00ISN35OO/ref=pd_sim_194_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=J2TMQDKY2PFRHGETPNEQ

If you want more resources and ideas check out /r/SkincareAddiction and /r/AsianBeauty. I would also highly recommend the YouTuber Liah Yoo if you care to look more into skincare. She's all about taking a gentle approach to healing your skin.


WOW THIS GOT LONG.


Don't get discouraged if takes some trial and error, everyone's face reacts differently to different products. Above all else remember to start slow and gentle with new skincare products. Good luck!

u/amatambi · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

My skin is super sensitive and very combination. My T Zone is an oil slick while the rest of my face is pretty normal, if not a bit dry. I don't tend to have problems with acne except for the PMS breakout I get every time my period comes around.


Look into products that are more catered to sensitive skin rather than oil/acne. These products can be extremely irritating to sensitive skin and can end up making issues a lot worse.

I used to use a lot of scrubs for oil and acne and after a lot of hopping around trying different products I've found that products that cater to sensitive skin, or even dry skin, are so much better for me personally. Something that people with oily skin should consider is the possibility that using all of these products that strip the oil from the skin is actually making your face produce MORE oil.
You know that dry, tight, itchy feeling you get after using a scrub or a mask? That's your skin after it's been dried out. It creates more oil to help with an damage that the overuse of these stripping products can cause.

Instead of using a scrub (which, even the gentler ones can be harsh) I stick to using a gentle gel cleanser with a wash cloth to gently exfoliate my skin.

The products I'm currently using and having good results with are as follows


Nutrogena Hydro Boost Gel
Yes, this is a cleanser targeted at people with dry skin. Before you say NO WAY though, I urge you to try products from the opposite end of the skin spectrum to see if you may have an underlying issue of dry skin.

Pacifica Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Wash
Pacifica is considered a more natural brand, you can find it in the organic/health food area of the grocery store. They have a lot of different cleansers but this is the only one I have tried. I like it because the scent is natural and pleasant and there is a nice lather when using with a wash cloth. This one is targeted at more oily skin, which means it is going to be a bit harsher.. so I tend to use this one sparingly, around my period when my skin is extra wonky.

Skyn Iceland Glacial Face Wash
This is my main, every day cleanser. It is expensive. However, a little goes a long way and this is the best cleanser I have ever used. It lathers extremely well and leaves my skin feeling very clean but not to the point where it's stripped and irritated. The only downside is the smell. It kind of smells like a cheap bar soap but I believe the results I've gotten make that okay to deal with.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Scrub
Yes, a scrub! This one is different though. For one it smells absolutely delicious..just like pineapples. And it is chocked full of great oils like vitamin e and jojoba. That's great because while it does still give your face a good exfoliating, it replenishes what your skin needs as well. Because it has so many good oils in it, you're going to feel them on your face after you use this scrub. It's going to feel weird, like it's not clean...but your skin will thank you when it's not a red irritated mess.

As far as masks go, anything clay or mud based is going to soak up ALL the oil from your face. It's what those types of masks are meant to do. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's IMPERATIVE to put that moisture back into your face after you use one of them.
If I feel like my skin is extra gross or just needs a pick-me-up (once again usually around my period) I will give myself a little facial.
I'll start by using the Kale wash to clean my face, followed by a clay mask. I have a lot of them, you can get them cheap from the store, I've never really felt a significant difference in any I've tried.
Once it's dried, I'll take it off normally and dry my face.
Then, I always ALWAYS follow a clay mask with a sheet mask. Sheet masks are literally DRIPPING with amazing serums for your face...after being purged of all the gross dirty oil, your skin will love being able to soak up some healthy, softening goodness. Look for ones that contain aloe or colligen. Right now I have a 16 pack that I got from Amazon and really really like them. There are a ton at Ulta, Sephora, etc. Experiment!

u/space-honey · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Warning: long rambling comment ahead. My skin has recently been dry and acne-prone as well. I'm not as much of a skincare expert as some of the folks around here, but I'll tell you what's worked for me.

  • Cleansing with an oil. This may sound silly if you get breakouts and YMMV, but I've found they clean my skin well without drying. I've used sunflower oil from Walmart in the past and a lot of people here swear by this mineral oil that is marketed for polishing wood.

    Alternately, you could try a Cleansing Oil type product, which are sold for the purpose of skincare and usually contain an emulsifier to make it easier to wash the oil off your face. A lot of Asian lines sell cleansing oils; I've used and liked this one. Currently, I am using a solid oil product from Clinique. It's marketed as a makeup remover but I find it cleanses my skin very well on its own. I sometimes follow it up with a cleanser but I don't seem to need to if I wash the oil off thoroughly. Oils are the gentlest way I've found to cleanse my skin, and I'd recommend them to anyone with dry skin. Just avoid the highly comedogenic ones (e.g. coconut oil) and know that you might have to test a few before you find one you love. I just saw that you've ordered hemp seed and argan oils; I have a feeling you'll like them. (Side note: argan oil is a wonder drug. I use it basically like a serum, rubbing it into my skin and just letting it on.)

  • I ditched my benzoyl peroxide products after it became apparent to me that they dried my skin out without doing all that much to help my acne. Are you putting the BP on your whole face or just using it as a spot treatment?

    Most (helpful) acne products I've found are drying to some extent, so I weigh the benefits against the side effects, meaning that a drying product has to be pretty damn amazing at fighting zits if I'm going to use it. Benzoyl Peroxide was not that product for me, unfortunately, though it may be for you. I found that it sped up the healing process of spots only minimally compared to doing nothing to them, so I threw it out. I've replaced it with Stridex pads and Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion. Like I said, they are quite drying (the Buffering Lotion actually has alcohol in it) but they offer enough tangible benefits that I am willing to accept that.

    I use the Stridex pads 2-3 times a week, and only on areas where I have sebaceous filaments, blackheads, and breakouts. I know a lot of people here love them for SFs, but I've found they shrink cystic spots pretty quickly as well. They smell weird and sting, especially if you put on moisturizer too soon after using them, but they work really well.

    The Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion is a great spot treatment, and the only product that's ever helped me with cysts that are still under the skin. I've actually used it on deep cysts before and had them disappear before ever coming to a head; it's like magic!

  • I've recently started using honey as a mask and it's one of the few things that has helped moisturize my skin while simultaneously shrinking zits. You may not be into using a mask and, if you try this, you will feel like a sticky lunatic until you wash it off. It's a very gentle treatment though and quite calming on days when my skin feels extra dry and irritated. Some people will use raw honey but I just bought a cheap generic bottle after checking that the only ingredient listed was honey. You literally just slather it on your face and let it sit for a bit; I usually read for about an hour before washing it off with water. The next day my skin is soft and my spots are smaller.

    I hope at least some of that giant comment was helpful to you! One last thing I would recommend is adding an additional moisturizer at night. You said that the AHA cream helps with your PIH so I wouldn't stop using that, but you could always layer another moisturizer with it to combat the dryness. As long as neither product breaks you out I don't see the harm in using two! I have no specific recommendations on a moisturizer as I've been looking for one myself (just bought this one though and it looks promising) but I'd look for something richer and non-comedogenic.

    Edit: Sorry for the wonky formatting, I do not know how to fix it!
u/MsMerriam · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

> I'm definitely fascinated by the Kikumasamune Sake High Moist Lotion and the Tosowoong ampuole, but also totally intimidated by r/asianbeautyexchange (baby steps).

Haha well the user I mentioned is super sweet and will walk you through the process should you decide to take the plunge, and I have a brand new bottle of the Kikumasamune I'd be happy to decant for you at any point. I also don't mind walking you through how the exchange works (it's pretty simple! c:) whenever you feel brave and adventurous.

Girl yes you will feel like the fanciest broad in town with that adorable Sulwhasoo ginseng trial bottle. I keep it on my nightstand instead of with my skincare basket just so I can look at it, haha.

> And yes, I have read most of Fifty Shades of Snail and have to be careful not to automatically buy whatever she likes at the time (which lately has been fancy Sulwhasoo stuff I can't afford so that's convenient).

This struggle is real. Thanks for having expensive tastes right now, u/Sharkus_Reincarnus. You're breaking hearts and saving wallets all at the same time. c;

Omg that's exactly how I feel about that Drunk Elephant serum. I love the packaging and the formulation seems nice, but I'm afraid to love it. This is one a lot of people love that I've been considering. Also, formulations with MAP (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) instead of L-AA (l-ascorbic acid) tend to be more shelf stable and gentler on the skin. c:

u/zena-marie · 3 pointsr/AsianBeauty


Edit edit edit

  1. out of the 2 oil cleansers, skinfood gets suuuuuch a good rap on this sub. The other one, I've never heard of. Here's another uuuuuuber omg so beloved product in this category. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0080M092E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420457157&sr=8-1

  2. check out the holy grail list for each product category! https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/2k2j9z/holy_grail_and_honorable_mentions_fall_edition/. I find it super helpful.. And terribly enabling. Beware. Though, I personally use and love this particular US version of a popular Japanese (?) brand, hada labo. http://m.target.com/p/hada-labo-tokyo-hydrating-facial-cleanser-3-5-oz/-/A-16512820#prodSlot=dlp_medium_1_5&term=hada+labo+tokyo sold at target, Walgreens and Amazon. So gentle. Non stripping. Removes oil... Yay :D. Other popular foaming cleansers: http://www.amazon.com/Missha-Super-Oxygen-Visible-Cleanser/dp/B00CJI974Q & http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036MDUEM/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1420457088&sr=8-6π=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

    3). I've never personally tried secret key! Maybe the holy grail list. Can help? What I do know, as far as 3 in 1 products go, hada labo perfect gel http://www.amazon.com/Rohto-Hada-Labo-Koi-Goku-Jun-Whitening-Perfect/dp/B00BQV36BM I have heard only good things about. (try searching the product name in this subreddits search function and are what people say!) None of those 3 are exfoliants. Here http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F35GT0W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420455918&sr=8-1&dpPl=1&dpID=31IYRNG-byL&ref=plSrchπ=AC_SY200_QL40 is an aha exfoliant (for exfoliating dead skin), here http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_3_5?ie=UTF8&k=Ciracle+bha&sprefix=Cosrx are a few bha exfoliants (for exfoliating inside the pore). I personally have only ever used bha and aha exfoliants from paulas choice, also found on amazon, and have only good things to say about it. If you don't want to pay that much for their products, stridex pads are a good non-asian beauty alternative for a bha and st ives exfoliating pads or nip + fab glycolic fix are good non-ab options for an aha. all found on amazon. Please also note that exfoliants don't typically go on third. They go on first, and are generally allowed to sit on the skin for a half hour at least to work uninterrupted before beginning the rest of your routine.

  3. I have heard only good things about both of those ampoules. I fucking love mizon products. If your skin is dull you neeeed vitamin c serum in your life. STAT
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EHAXCUY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420457337&sr=8-1. I use and love this essence http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_17?k=benton+snail+bee+high+content+essence&sprefix=Benton+snail+bee+ , very popular. The first two products on this page http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_?ie=UTF8&k=Missha+time+revolution+ aka the missha essence and ampoule... So. Many. Good. Things. Have been said about it.


  4. I say go for the snails. Snails snails snails. Well it's the only product I've had any experience with out of those 3.

  5. Emulsions are lotions yep.

  6. holy grail list holy grail list. So many good creams. Too many good creams.

  7. holy grail list holy grail list.

  8. NICE. That's on my wish list, Hope you like it!


  9. here http://www.skinandtonics.com/asian-skin-care-guide/ is a link that takes you step by step through each product category with reccomendations. Good luck!
u/soggy_waff · 30 pointsr/beauty

Skin

I'd recommend for skincare to start with the basics : cleanser, moisturizer, and spf.

Cleanser is to clean the dirt, sweat, and sebum off your skin.

Moisturizer is basically to put back into your skin what you took out when cleansing (cleansing removes some good stuff with the bad) and helps keep your skin healthy, a lot of moisturizers contain things that are important in your stratum corneum (the skin that we see) like lipids and ceramides (don't worry too much about this, it's just the sciency stuff, all you really need to know is that moisturizer restores good stuff to your skin).

SPF is to protect your skin from the sun, there are UVA and UVB rays. The SPF rating on a sunscreen is a rating on how well the product protects your skin from UVB rays (rays that cause a burn) and broad spectrum on american sunscreens means that it protects you from UVA rays as well (rays that age you and I believe can cause skin cancer). If you're looking at asian sunscreens, they rate protection from UVA rays with a PA+ rating, and I believe UK sunscreens use a PPD rating although I'm not sure how that works exactly. (basically you want broad spectrum, PA with 3 or 4+ signs, or a high PPD rating depending on where you're getting your sunscreen from).

For product recommendations, I'd say try cerave, they're a good brand and have quite a few options. I'd say try their hydrating or foaming cleanser, and either Cerave PM moisturizer or Cerave moisturizing cream (I'll leave links). Sunscreen is up to you, I prefer physical sunscreens (meaning they contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) but they can leave a whitecast. You can try some neutrogena sunscreens, I've heard good things about those too. So I'll put what your routine should be pretty much :

AM

u/topknot1975 · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Happy to help! This is gonna be lengthy but I wanted to give you a thoughtful routine that’s approachable with scientifically-driven suggestions:

AM: Cleanser* \> Actives (BHA) \> Hydrators (hyaluronic acid and/or squalane) \> Occlusive \> Sunscreen

PM: Cleanser \> Serums/Ampoules (Niacinamide) \> Hydrators (hyaluronic acid and/or squalane)* \> Occlusive [*Benzoyl Peroxide – either apply via short contact therapy method pre-cleanse/leave on for 2 min, or mix into a creamy hydrator and leave on overnight]

Cleanser: Some people love Cetaphil cleanser and you could certainly continue to use it while you could swap out/introduce new products. If you do decide to switch, get a low pH cleanser.

BHA: Yep, it's a chemical exfoliant! BHA is oil-soluble so it can penetrate pore linings to dissolve oil (AHA can only exfoliate surface). Its pH needs to be between 3 – 4 and be a concentration of 1 – 2% and most OTC products out there aren't formulated to be effective. I'd use this 3x a week to start to see how your skin reacts, adjust as needed. Use anywhere you have acne or get oily. Two proven formulations: Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid or Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (Korean brand. Korea restricts OTC salicylic acid to 0.5% or less so this solution solves that by using betaine salicylate in an equivalent concentration (4%) to the 2% salicylic acid found to be effective).

Note about Actives and Toners (pH adjusting not hydrating types): So VitC (not an active exactly but an acid), BHA and AHA are pH dependent; they’re only effective when formulated at the right pH and in the right concentration. It's also most effective to apply them from the lowest pH to highest pH so they don't negate each other out. Ideally, you also want to allow a 15-20 minute absorption/activation window per product before layering the next product. But who has time for that? So that’s where a true “toner” comes in. pH adjusting toners force your skin back down to 4.5 – 5.5 which allow actives to work effectively. For right now, keep it simple. No need for a toner.

Niacinamide: It’s effective at a relatively higher pH, so def apply after your pH dependent actives. I’d go with Holy Snails Shark Sauce (sample size for $9) or Stratia Rewind - $16. Shark Sauce has a bit more beneficial ingredients. (If you use any CeraVe product, niacinamide is in there; the exact amount is not known though but you get a little boost at least).

Hydrators: So when you use actives/BP, you need to hydrate the crap out of your skin with humectants (hyaluronic acid is a popular one b/c it can absorb up to 1,000x its weight in water; squalane falls in between humectant and occlusive). You want to slough off dead skin and kill acne bacteria but keep good healthy skin intact; it's a fine balancing act. Using hydrators will keep your moisture barrier intact, and the more hydrated your skin, the easier your skin absorbs product. The problem is humectants evaporate quickly and/or will suck moisture from within your skin layers so you need to seal this moisture up with an occlusive (oils, silicones, petroleum). Here are some good ones to try: Hada Labo Rohto Hadalabo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion (HA based) - $12 or Timeless The Original Hyaluronic Acid Serum - $11; Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream - $15 (squalene based) or Timeless Squalane 100% Pure - $11.

Occlusive: I’d consider Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion to be an occlusive more than an actual hydrator even though it does have glycerin as its second ingredient (Water, Glycerin (humectant), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene (synthetic oil, prevents hydration loss), Cetearyl Alcohol (texture enhancer), Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil (Macadamia Nut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)) and I’d use a different one b/c the macadamia nut oil and shea butter are potentially comedogenic (MNO is 60% oleic. Acne-prone skin tends high % of oleic acid in the sebum and a low % of linoleic acid; it’s thought that these low levels could be one of the things causing acne). Try good ole’ CeraVe Facial Moisturizer PM Lotion (Purified Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-II, Ceramide). You can use it day and night, ignore the marketing. If you feel like you need something stronger to seal it all up, these are good too: CeraVe Moisturzing Cream (tub), La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, or the heavy duty petroleum based ones: Acquaphor or CeraVe Healing Ointment.

Benzoyl Peroxide (BP): Apply a 2.5% formula in acne prone areas. BP can seriously damage the moisture barrier and acid mantle so try buffering it or applying it via short contact therapy method. Use 2x a week, up usage as you build tolerance. 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Dr Song Acne Gel Treatment Lotion.

SPFs: Asian formulations are definitely more elegant (less gloopy, chalky, white cast - they are are way ahead in the SPF game) so I'd swap out the Cetaphil SPF: Mineral based - Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF50+ / PA+++ Korean. (first 5 ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether) or chemical based: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+/PA++++. Japanese. Highest SPF rating per Japanese system (first 5 ingredients: Water, Ethanol (SPF for UVB), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (SPF for UVB), Methacrylic Acid Lauryl/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer, Alkyl Benzoate (C12-15), Bis Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (SPF for UVA1, UVA2, and UVB), Hexyl Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Benzoate (SPF for UVA2).

u/thehelsabot · 1 pointr/waiting_to_try

The Korean brand COSRX makes some great, sensitive products with AHA and BHA. Using products with tea tree oil might help, but be wary of anything that could potentially alter your hormone profile. The basics of Korean skin care are consistent, everyday use of a clear step-by-step process. I suggest this site for how-to.

You don't need every step necessarily, but I would start slowly with 3-4 and build up slowly as to not agitate your skin. The important ones for you are going to be the two part cleansing, toning, essence, spot treatments and ampules, and light moisturizer-- so about six of the steps or so.

Here are some things that I find help, and seem to be very popular for acne prone skin. I have used all these, as well as my sensitive, acne prone DH and had success:

  1. Acne Patches

  2. A good toner with BHA & AHA

  3. A good essence/light moisturizer

  4. Good oil free moisturizer

  5. Good water-base face wash 1, and good face wash set with oil cleanser and water based cleanser, good oil based with added makeup removing

  6. Good spot treatment


  7. Some fun and cheap masks that sooth and treat your skin. I recommend one a week. Either Sephora or Tonymoly make some good ones.


    Finally, be very careful ordering similar "discount" products off amazon because it is rife with counterfeits from China. This can be dangerous as the contents of the product/ingredients are not necessarily listed correctly, which is a problem. Buying reputable brands from verified sellers or soko glam or Sephora is absolutely recommended. I get a lot of Amazon, but I always use Fakespot.com and also check the seller out carefully. If the well-known brand manufacturer is selling it direct to Amazon, that is a pretty safe bet.

    All of these thing start with the skin down, but also consider the bottom up. Look at your diet, look at your activity level, how often you clean your sheets, how stressed you are, and your general health. Have you been evaluated for gynecological or endocrine issues? It's a good idea to know that before you jump to conclusion. Make sure to consult a doctor, because sometimes our skin is a good indication of something off inside.

    Good luck and I am sorry you are suffering!
u/[deleted] · 2 pointsr/Makeup

honestly, i haven't tried very many sunscreens yet. i am currently using Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer SPF 30 -- it is good for daily use -- but some people may consider it quite expensive ($34 for 3 oz.). it doesn't really leave a white cast once you get it rubbed in, and it kind of gives me a glowy/dewy look. i buy it from sephora - you can read the reviews there. it has 20 percent zinc oxide (it is hard to find sunscreens with a high percentage of zinc like that - that are actually wearable for daily use -- usually, if you find a cheap one from a drugstore that has a high percentage of zinc like that - then it will leave a terrible white cast).

i recently started using asian sunscreens - which are very cosmetically elegant. i so far have used Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++ (i really like it - and it's not too bad price-wise per mL - although it comes in a very small tube; it doubles as a makeup primer and it pretty much just feels like a moisturizer when you are applying it). basically, asian sunscreens are nothing like american sunscreens - they are something you may actually look forward to applying every day. i have ordered another that i haven't tried yet (skin aqua moisture milk SPF50+ PA++++ --> https://www.amazon.com/ROHTO-Skin-Super-Moisture-SPF50/dp/B01MRBST6H).. basically, i have been on the hunt for a sunscreen that i actually want to wear every day (not greasy, provides adequate UVA ray protection).. asian sunscreens have advanced chemical filters that confer better UVA ray protection (UVA rays penetrate skin deeply and cause aging- wrinkles, dark spots; UVB rays cause burning). most american sunscreens pretty much suck IMO. chemical sunscreens (american) typically contain several ingredients -- including avobenzone - which is typically the only ingredient in the sunscreen that protects against UVA rays (but it is not stable - so it degrades when exposed to sunlight within some time basically and then you aren't getting great protection from UVA rays). since i want adequate UVA ray protection (because i am not really worried about burning on a daily basis - i am more worried about protecting my skin from sun damage&wrinkles), i decided to get an american physical sunscreen with at least 20 percent zinc oxide (i read articles from TheSkincareEdit (https://theskincareedit.com/2017/06/19/zinc-sunscreen-for-face)- and she recommends physical sunscreens with high percentage of zinc oxide to get adequate UVA ray protection). anyway, then i caved and ordered asian sunscreens even though i originally said i was only going to use mineral sunscreens (better for sensitive skin) - i wanted to take advantage of the advanced chemical filters that offer superior UVA ray protection (i have tried combo ones - physical and chemical).. you can order them from places other than amazon too. other countries are ahead of the US when it comes to sunscreen ingredients because sunscreens in the US are regulated as drugs by the FDA - and so it takes forever or something to approve new ingredients ? i don't know really... you can visit the subreddit AsianBeauty for more info on asian sunscreens. anyway, since all of this i have recently ordered a sunscreen from france which apparently offers super high UVA ray protection (http://www.frenchcosmeticsforless.com/proddetail.php?prod=456736).. basically, i am not willing to use american chemical sunscreens - but i am willing to use asian and european chemical sunscreens because they have great chemical filters that are more stable and give great protection against UVA rays. sorry, this is prob more info than you wanted! Lol. i basically started all of this because i am outside quite a lot at school (on campus walking around).. i don't know that i would've worn sunscreen daily in high school. but for sure since it's summer and you may be outside more - you could consider finding a sunscreen to wear more often.

a tinted moisturizer generally contains more humectants (than a regular foundation) – which means it helps keep moisture locked into your skin. tinted moisturizer is pigmented – which means it’s perfect if you just need a light correcting base. But while it does offer color, a tinted moisturizer normally won’t give you a full coverage effect (foundation does provide full coverage). i never liked foundation that much, but i find that i really like tinted moisturizer because it has a lighter texture and less pigmentation - so it's good for like a no-makeup makeup look.

u/imabratinfluence · 5 pointsr/curlyhair

Hi! Don't feel bad about all those years of shampooing and not conditioning. I was raised female, and still made that mistake. I'm 29 and didn't start conditioning until April of this year. I thought I was too greasy for conditioner!

On to your questions!

  1. Nizoral is the bomb! I have scalp issues too-- my scalp gets super greasy, and I have eczema. Grease + sweat and dirt and debris = major issues with scalp eczema. If you want to pick it up at a store local to you, I find it's usually in the Beauty section. It's the only shampoo that's helped with my scalp issues, and the one sulfate in it is low on the list. Before I went mod CG, I loved the way my hair felt after washing with Nizoral, and hadn't had that kind of luck with a shampoo in a long time, despite trying all the usual dandruff shampoos (and some odd ones).

    If you want to totally ditch sulfates but still take care of your dandruff, you can experiment with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle, Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat, or Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo. I'm pretty sure there are more CG options I'm forgetting, but those are the ones that I remember off the top of my head. I've been experimenting with the Giovanni TTTT, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It seems fine with my hair, but my scalp seems to have issues in general with every tea tree product I try. It's often paired with mint/mentholatum, which is a skin irritant.

  2. You can dry your hair with an old t-shirt (the softer it is, the more absorbent it seems, to me). You can scrunch your hair with the towel, and Curly Penny gives a pretty decent demo of this. You can also use a hair dryer, and the general consensus seems to be: use a finger diffuser (also called a bowl diffuser), use low speed/air, and low-medium heat and don't dry all the way with a blow dryer. You can also use a microfiber towel (the ones in the automotive section are cheaper, although they're smaller). Experiment to figure out which method works best not just for your hair, but for keeping your routine manageable.

    I get the best results with using a t-shirt to get my hair just dry enough not to drip, and then air-drying. But if I need my hair to be dry for some reason, I do break out the diffuser.

  3. A lot of people swear by using a wide-tooth comb, with their head upside down, in the shower, with their hair full of conditioner. The conditioner does help, by providing slip so tangles come out easily and gently instead of causing hair to break or rip when you detangle. A wide-tooth comb reduces the likelihood of breakage as well.

    A Denman brush is this. As near as I can tell, it just means the bristles are spaced further apart, again to help prevent breakage and further tangling when you detangle-- but bear in mind that I don't really understand the Denman brush thing, either. It just looks like a brush to me. A wide-tooth comb has the bristles or tines spaced further apart as opposed to a fine tooth comb. I like a comb that has the tines almost chopstick-width apart. You can also just comb your hair in the shower with your fingers and your conditioner-- I like using a comb better because it feels more effective, to me.

    The other reason we don't comb after showering is because it breaks up clumps-- you want clumps if you want strong curls and good definition. Otherwise it can look stringy. I recently read someone talking about curly haircuts saying "ends need friends"-- and so they do, for curls to look right.

    I think this stuff is hard, and a lot of us just don't get good info on hair or skincare. Good luck to you.
u/mamaddict · 15 pointsr/thebachelor

I will be that person for you, lol. For reference, I have normal to oily combination skin and am prone to occasional breakouts.

AM routine:

  1. Cleanse with Amorepacific Treatment Cleansing Foam (Note: This isn’t an actual foam but more of a cream cleanser, so it’s poorly named, but that’s its only flaw.)

  2. Tone with Son & Park Beauty Water

  3. Moisturize with Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Moisturizer

  4. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. I like the Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF, but only because I work from home and seldom have to go outside during the week. Otherwise, it’d be too expensive for daily use, and I’d recommend something more affordable like Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV, Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence or Perfect Face Milk, or Skin Aqua Moisture Milk.

    PM routine:

  5. Cleanse with Amorepacific

  6. Tone with Beauty Water

  7. Moisturize with Cloud Cream

  8. Treat eye area with Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum

  9. Treat lips with Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

    Once per week:

  10. Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial followed by Drunk Elephant Marula Oil

    Also once per week:

  11. Herbivore Blue Tansy AHA + BHA Resurfacing Clarity Mask , also followed by the marula oil

    Three things to note:

  12. Many people double cleanse at night in order to more effectively wash off the impurities of the day. Personally, I’ve found that the Beauty Water does a pretty good job of picking up what my cleanser has missed, but if you do decide to go the double cleansing route, you’ll probably want a cleansing oil or balm to start with, so that it’s not too drying. I’ve heard that Farmacy and Tata Harper have some good options.

  13. I’ve heard that retinols are the key to anti-aging, but I haven’t found one yet that I’d recommend (other than the eye serum). I tried the Kate Somerville RetAsphere Night Cream but didn’t love it. So if anyone has any suggestions, I’m all ears!

  14. The Drunk Elephant items are really pricey, so if you’re looking for a dupe, you can try products from The Ordinary. I haven’t personally tried either of these yet (going to finish up my DE products and then give them a whirl), but I’ve heard great things about the brand, and it’s so cheap that even if you don’t like it, you’re not out too much money.

    Dupe for the Drunk Elephant Sukari Babyfacial:

    http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-aha-30pct-bha-2pct-peeling-solution-30ml?redir=1

    Dupe for the Marula Oil:

    http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-100pct-cold-pressed-virgin-marula-oil-30ml?redir=1

    There are also minis of some of these products at Sephora or on the brands’ own websites — that way, you don’t have to invest too much money off the bat if you’re not yet sure. Sephora also has a great return policy (which I will be utilizing for that retinol) and will give you samples of any of their products if you just go into a store and ask! (Somehow I did not know this until just recently.)

    Hope that helps!
u/TastefulSideb00b · 1 pointr/AsianBeauty

Hi! I'm just getting into AB (maybe 2, 3 weeks in); would appreciate any comments on routine!

Skin Type: Normal | Country/Climate I'm in: San Francisco, CA | Top Skin Concern: Redness, pores, brightening (in that order)

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM

Second cleaner: Skinfood Egg White Foam Cleanser (really loving it so far!) I don't double clean in the morning; would y'all recommend that?

Toner: I /was/ using Son & Park's Beauty Water followed by Missha's Revolution/Time FTE Essence, but the beauty water felt a bit grainy on my skin. Currently trying just the FTE essence. (Have heard good things about Klair's Facial Toner and Cosrx Galactomyce 95 Whitening Power Essence as well; how could I incorporate this? Should I?)

Vitamin C: Buena Skin Vitamin C Serum. So far, I like the fragrance and feel of this on my face.

Eye cream: Mizon snail repair eye cream. No noticable results yet.

Sunscreen: Biore Sarasara UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+ feels amazing!

I hadn't been using a moisturizer since I used to use Tarte's tinted moisturizer on top as makeup. Now that my skin is getting brighter and clearer (thank you, AB!), I don't put that on as much. I'm waiting for Mizon's Snail Recovery Gel Cream to come in as my new moisturizer!



PM

First cleaner: Banila's Clean It Zero. This is great for removing makeup! I feel like I scoop too much out of the jar, though, since it feels so light and unnoticable on my skin.

[Same second cleaner, Missha FTE essence, vitamin C, eye cream as AM]

Sleep pack: Tony Moly intense care dual effect sleep pack. This was a gift from a friend; I might look into replacing this at some point.

Sometimes, I'll use Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling in wine as an exfoliator after cleaning. My skin feels so soft after letting it soak in!! I also bought these sheet masks off Amazon, and might look into Etude House's Therapy Air Masks after I run out.

Thanks in advance for any comments!

u/miznomer · 2 pointsr/AskWomen

First, for grooming products, it has been my (vicarious) experience that once you convert to using Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream you will never, ever go back. I ordered it for my father on the recommendation of a male friend who has since converted others. It's a little expensive as shaving creams go, but that little pot lasts you a good six months or more, especially if you use a shaving brush with it (you want something like boar bristle if you do that). The Sandalwood scent is your safest bet there, but feel free to go for something like Lavender if you feel adventurous.

But now for my real love...cologne. I adore cologne. It's been a while since I've taken someone cologne shopping (I used to always take my brother...which became a problem when I noticed too many attractive men smelling like my brother), and my ex refused to wear it, so I may be a little out of touch. However, I do have some recommendations.

Boss Bottled is excellent if you want a warmer, sweeter scent. It kind of reminds me of vanilla. I had a friend who regularly wore this scent, and I kid you not, my girl friends and I used to gather around taking turns smelling his jackets after he took them off. He would specifically wait to spray it on until one of us was at his place so that we could maul him over it. We LOVED that stuff.

Gucci by Gucci is a stronger, sharper smell - it's got notes of bergamot, black pepper, and leather - very "manly," one might say. Also extremely sexy, and totally ruined for me due to its association with my brother. Though I'm told it has brought him much success.

Aqua Di Gio is very common at this point, but it's popular for a reason. Avoid it if you want to smell unique, keep it if you want a step above the generic "clean man" smell.

Polo Blue is another standby, as is Armani Code...I can't remember either one specifically, but they're also well-known for good reason.

I haven't personally smelled this one, but a good friend highly, highly recommends Versace Man.

If you don't want to get fancy, most ladies like Old Spice.

And no Axe. Never, never Axe!!

(Note: all links are from random Google searches, so you may be able to find better deals elsewhere.)

Edited to add some things to the first paragraph.

u/puddle_stomper · 2 pointsr/gifs

Razor: I started with this Merkur razor (and I'm still using it after two years). Edwin Jagger is probably equally popular, but I haven't tried them.

Brush/bowl: I was given this bowl/soap/brush/holder kit as a gift and still use it, but the brush broke after about a year (I could probably fix it with some good glue but haven't bothered yet. The holder is nice, but you might be able to find just a brush and bowl separately slightly cheaper if you're on a budget. I didn't use the soap in the kit because:

Soap: Proraso soap was suggested and I ended up liking it a lot. Some people like to buy sampler packs of soap/cream as well, but this was good enough for me, and it would take me forever to get through samples. This Proraso got me through 15 months with an average of one shave per week.

Blades: I started out with a sampler pack of blades from Maggard Razors, and Gillette Silver Blue and Gillette 7 O'Clock (both yellow and green were the same to me) ended up being the easiest on my face. I tried Feather, but they were way too harsh at first, I think because I hadn't really gotten the technique down yet. Gillette was more forgiving, but once I got better at shaving, I was able to use Feathers.

Other: Lastly, I really like using an alum stick after shaving to help close up pores/tiny nicks (weepers), but they're not necessary. I also now use Shave Secret as a first layer when I start my second pass (against the grain). Again, not necessary, but I think it helps me personally a little to have that extra layer of protection to prevent razor burn. It does gunk up your razor a little, though, so just be sure to keep it clean.

--------------------------

I still only shave once a week, and I have a 3 day minimum in between shaves, otherwise I'll still get razor burn. Read up on some info in /r/wicked_edge. /u/Leisureguy has a ton of great comments in that sub. Sort his comment history by top, and you'll get plenty of good advice right off the bat. He also has a blog. My best tips: Make sure you use a shallow angle (as opposed to the perpendicular/90-degree shave you're used to with cartridge razors), and don't let your lather be too dry. Also, if your area has hard water, consider using distilled water to make your lather. Maggard Razors has been really great at shipping fast and having good prices for me and carries everything I mentioned, but there several reputable online shops. I know lots of people prefer to use Amazon, so I linked everything on Amazon except the blade sampler pack.

u/bewareamascara · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Welcome to SCA! Hopefully I can be of some help as you start building a routine.

Cleanser
Cleansers don't stay on your face like a moisturizer does, so especially if you don't wear makeup that needs to be washed off at the end of the day, you don't have to be too picky. I'd go with something inexpensive and gentle like the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser or the Simple one. (Avoid anything containing alcohol or any active ingredients, even if they advertise as fighting acne. They're often very harsh.) Once you're settled into a routine, cleanser is a good element to change up if your acne is healing but you're still oilier/drier/tighter than you'd like to be.

Exfoliant
The Stridex and Neutrogena products are both good BHA options, but the Stridex contains alcohol, which can dry out your skin and cause it to produce more oil, and the Neutrogena is a lotion formula, which isn't the best for oily skin. The big favorite here is from Paula's Choice (the BHA gel is especially user-friendly for a skincare beginner), and the Cosrx Blackhead Power Liquid is a less expensive alternative. I'm a student on a budget too - if you don't want to commit sight unseen, the Stridex is a good place to start.

Moisturizer
I would recommend investing in a moisturizer without SPF that you love. This is because you'll want to use moisturizer AM and PM, and it's better not to apply SPF if you're not going outside. You can pick up a separate sunscreen for daytime (or if the moisturizer that you love also comes in an SPF 30+ version, you can pick that one up for daytime and skip a step). If you can get your hands on a trial size of the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, I think it's one of the best moisturizers out there for difficult skin. I also really like CeraVe moisturizers - the PM version of the one you linked above is a great option.

Sunscreen
If you're using Stridex or any exfoliant (or even if you're not, for that matter), you need to wear sunscreen. I like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer, which comes in a million SPF levels. Anything over 30 is good. I live in southern California, and I prefer my SPF over 50, so use your judgement. If you end up loving the CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion, use the AM version of that.

Often, skin produces oil because it lacks moisture, which is why I've recommended a flight of products that err more on the nourishing side than the oil-control side. BHA is a staple for fighting acne, so definitely use that, and once you settle into a skincare routine, you will get a better sense of if your skin is truly oily or if it has been overproducing oil due to lack of moisture. From there, you can go in and tweak things to get the skin you want.

Change comes slowly, so stick to a routine even if you don't see results right away. Drink lots of water. Wear sunscreen. We are always here if you need advice! I hope this helped!

u/LNG · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Sorry in advance for the length of my comment but speaking from personal experience, your acne could be caused by fungus/yeast, not bacteria. It's called Malassezia Yeast and we all have it on our skin, but it can cause issues when it becomes overgrown. This overgrowth is called Pityrosporum folliculitis and looks almost identical to other forms of acne.

Other evidence that points towards fungus is the fact that you're breaking out on other parts of your body. The fungus spreads easily, especially if you give it a nice environment to thrive, like sweaty workouts!

I had perfect skin until I was about 22, and suddenly developed acne on my face, chest, and back. It was so bizarre and none of the traditional acne treatments were helping because, as I later figured out, most products are geared towards bacterial breakouts, including benzoyl peroxide. In fact, overuse of these products can cause fungus/yeast to take over the balance and cause all sorts of issues!

So, after months of research I came to the conclusion that I did indeed have fungal acne, so I started a routine to combat it. I was desperate at first, so I bought an anti-dandruff shampoo (because dandruff is commonly caused by fungus). [This one is great because its SLS free!]
(https://www.amazon.com/Regenepure-Shampoo-Treatment-Supports-Growth/dp/B0032FSDOA/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485317432&sr=8-1&keywords=dr.+regenepure) In the shower, I slathered it all all over my face and body, let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinsed it off. All of the breakouts started disappearing overnight, literally.

I felt strange using shampoo on my face so I decided to do more research and discovered that zinc is an amazing natural antifungal. So, I purchased this bar of soap, which contains 2% Pyrithione Zinc (an antimicrobial) and it was also very effective. I only use that about every three days now, and only on my body, because I have super sensitive skin and it is too drying for my face.

For my face, I now use Curology because they offer Zinc Pyrithione as an ingredient! My current formulation is .25% Zinc Pyrithione, 1% Clindamycin, and 4% Niacinamide and it is AMAZING. I'm now free of any and all breakouts.

I also use this mineral sunscreen because it uses zinc oxide - another form of zinc that is an antifungal!

For me, I have to maintain a routine or else the overgrowth returns, so I also take zinc picolinate supplements.
So, yeah, I hope this helps give some insight on your skincare journey!!

*EDIT!

I also want to point out the necessity of being super gentle on your skin, in general. I always think "kill it with kindness" when it comes to skin issues. You definitely don't want to make things worse by over-exfoliating (chemical and physical), using harsh cleansers that strip your natural oils, and above all you must keep your moisture barrier in tip top shape because it will protect you from excess fungus and bacteria!

I decided to give you my whole routine as an example, so here it is! I focus on moisture.

AM:

u/marley0609 · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddicts

I am very certain that you have dehydrated skin. Not the same as dry skin, though you may have that, too. Tight feeling skin, getting very oily very quickly, redness. Oily and dry at the same time. Your moisture barrier has been compromised. This will take time and patience to repair, but believe me, it is worth it. I once had very similar skin.

Fair warning, I myself use a mostly AB routine, and my product suggestions will reflect that.

Find a simple low pH cleanser. I like this one because it's cheap, easy to find, and lasts forever. Cleanse twice daily, with tepid water.

(I am a fan of the double cleansing method when wearing foundation and/or sunscreen. You can learn more about that here.)

Then I would work on finding light hydration that doesn't break you out. I have found that my skin absolutely loves multiple layers of light hydration. And that was key to restoring my barrier. Just putting one thick heavy layer didn't work because my skin couldn't/wouldn't do anything with it. But multiple light layers was something my skin could work with.

This, this, this, this, and this are all super suggestions. Pretty simple, basic, and gentle choices. No, you don't need to go buy all of them. Try one. See how your skin likes it after several weeks. Maybe add another. Or, some people like adding multiple layers of the same product.

Then find a humectant to layer on top, to seal moisture in. This is a very popular one. This, this, this, and this are all good choices.

Once you find a routine that your skin seems to like, stick with it for a few months. Like...3 to 6 months. It won't be an immediate fix. But over time you'll start to notice less of the tight feeling, less of the dry thin skin with an oil slick on top, less redness. Only then will you be able to see what your real skin type is. Maybe you start to see more dryness or flakiness, and the oil slick goes away. Then maybe you have drier skin. Or maybe the tight and dry feeling goes away but the oiliness stays. Then maybe you have oily skin. But until you heal your moisture barrier, nothing you throw at your skin will do any good.

  1. How many times should one cleanse each day? twice

  2. After washing your face and putting on moisturizer, is it normal for your skin to still feel slightly tight and dry? no

  3. When moisturizing my face, if I use something more watery it just feels like it dries up and takes all the moisture from my skin leaving it dry. Is this supposed to be normal? no

  4. If I put on more moisturizer afterwards, the oiliness gets too much and my face turns red. When that happens should I cleanse again and put more moisturizer on? Or should I use a cloth or something similar to wipe my face instead? keep blotting sheets on hand and blot at the oiliness (no rubbing)

  5. What should I be doing if my skin turns red and irritated? this is a sign that your skin is damaged - find gentle products that restore balance

  6. If I put on sunscreen my face gets oilier but still remains dry. What should I do during times like that? again, this should get better as your skin gets stronger

  7. How many times should one be using 8~10% AHA per week? if I were you, I would stop using this, at least for several months

  8. Would you agree that dry skin is generally darker and tougher and oily skin is reddish and blotchy? no, I think those are unrelated
u/aquajack6 · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

I have that Olay Complete lotion! I like it. I would suggest spritizing a hydrating mist on it for added hydration. One of my favorites is Ariul 7 Days Vitamin Mist but there are loads. I've also found adding in an oil can sometimes help too. I like jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is a powerful emollient that will soften your skin (there's research it promotes wound healing; it would be good for your hands). Most oils have strong emollient properties that would help soften your skin.

That Olay Lotion is thin; I would consider a thicker cream to put on top of it. I often layer over my lotions with Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream, because it has petrolatum in the ingredient list it acts an an occlusive that locks everything in. There are loads of creams though. Cerave has a popular cream.

For hands - seriously consider Amlactin. I've found that helps my hands a lot. Amlactin has 12% lactic acid and there's research it boosts ceramide & lipid levels in the skin and promotes wound healing.

O'Keeffes has a good hand lotion that wouldn't bust in your bag at school b/c of the packaging: https://www.amazon.com/OKeeffes-Working-Hands-Cream-ounce/dp/B00121UVU0

At night, I would really grease up your hands. Layer on Amlactin, maybe some oil like jojoba oil (optional), and a strong occlusive like Aquaphor (Aquaphor has lanolin which is more moisturing than plain Vaseline). Put on gloves, at least for a while, to make sure it all stays on your hands. Gloves like these work well

This Aveeno Baby Cream for Eczema is a moisturizing cream that acts as an occlusive and could replace Aquaphor. It's super moisturizing, I love it and have even used it on my face.

With cracked and bleeding hands you really have to up the ante for awhile. I've found that once my hands start healing using Amlactin regularly alone works well as maintenance.

u/teenyleaf · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

It's my birthday today and went on a purchasing splurge!

New Purchases:

Refillable Atomizer Bottles - Came in 6 pieces and a little soft bag! Originally I was gonna use this for my colognes and perfumes; easily fits in pockets so I can spray on the go (also bonus point quick air freshener for bathrooms cuz some men's rooms be rank af.....); but then I was on the hunt for misters for my toners and realized I could use these perfectly for them! It's color-coded too so I don't mistake one of my scents for a toner!

-I filled the pink one with Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion
-the red one with Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner w/ Rose
-the blue one with Secret Key Milk (new)
-and the gold one with Secret Key Aloe (new)
The secret key ones are new purchases im trying out B) giving them about 2 weeks trial runs each before I rotate them in my routine!

Benton Snail Bee Essence - I enjoyed using the sheet masks once a week beforehand, and figured I'll up it to a more frequent usage so I went ahead and got the essence bottle! \o/ Dipped my toes with sheet masks first cuz I wasn't too sure about the bee venom ingredient (especially considering I get a bad reaction from stings) but it's gentler than I thought and no allergic reaction!

Etude House Sunprise Airy Finish SPF 50+ PA+++ - Received this 2 days ago! Previously I used Cerave AM and disliked the pilling and white cast on just a beige skintone! This is my first time using a sunmilk and the consistency is really nice! Goes on smoothly and can layer easily, with no whitecast after absorbing! If I wanted to, I could layer a moisturizer underneath without worrying about it pilling as well! Since I'm oily enough I'm not as concerned with it's lack of moisturizing and I find just toning layers is enough for me underneath! Great for oil control so far!

Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Tinted Face SPF 50 - Got this about a week ago! Since summer is around the corner, and the etude house isn't a waterproof sunscreen, I went with this that I bought at ulta! This matched my skintone pretty well so there was pretty much no whitecast. If it's a really sweaty day or I'm gonna be somewhere where there happens to be water/rain, this waterproof sunscreen was perfect! (and reef-safe for ocean trips)

Rohto Melano CC - On the way in the mail but excited to try this out since I was looking for a vitamin C, but wanted to start out gently!

Kao Success Scalp Washing Brush (Normal Type) - Sort of skincare since it has to do with the scalp, this is also on it's way on the mail. I'm a fan of scalp brushes since my hair is pretty thick (and also dandruff woes). The tips of it has little bumps on them and there's 3 types of tips on a single brush for that jam packed scalp action, so gonna give it a whirl and see how different it is from the standard silicone scalp brush!

-----------------------------------------------------

Repurchase:

Tony Moly Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream - I realized using stridex as my gentle BHA exfoliator and a Cerave SA cream on top of that meant I technically had 2 BHAs in a night routine, so I'm returning back to chok chok! Good point to change tbh since the cream is too heavy for summer. The tony moly one is pretty light and had good oil control!

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads - Bringing back AHAs into my life for my PIH; I'm gonna rotate them with my BHAs. I prefer low %s so the 2.8% was perfect!

u/Lereas · 12 pointsr/AskReddit

I've been shaving with a very similar one (the "hefty classic", it has a shorter, thicker handle but is otherwise the same) for the last 10 years, having learned about them from a youtube video about why they're better.

After that initial investment, I get blades for like 20 bucks for a lot of 100 on ebay or amazon which last me the whole year...with a mach3 or whatever, it's 14 dollars for 4 cartridges, if I'm lucky.

I also have a badger hair brush that I got for pretty cheap...there are super super expensive ones, but this one and a couple similar ones are great if you don't have the disposable income for a 200 dollar vintage restored brush with an ivory handle or something like that.

The shaving soaps and creams smell tons of times better than the aerosol goops you find, and last way way longer.

There is a learning curve, and you will cut yourself at first a little. I highly recommend watching a bunch of videos, and heading over to Badger & Blade and joining the forums. They will answer any and all questions you have, and most of the time won't even tell you to search first...they'll just reanswer them or direct you to the right post without a single complaint.

I've recently bought a straight razor and I'm still working on the technique. When I shave with my DE (double edge, or safety razor) like the one in the link, I can get a baby butt smooth face that I don't have to reshave for two days or so, because the second morning it feels like I just shaved with a regular gillette. With the straight, I can get a pretty good, very close shave...but I still razor burn the crap out of my goatee area cause my technique sucks. Still, drinking a dram of scotch and then shaving with a bare blade against your face makes me feel so goddamn manly.

Edit: the B&B forums are your best bet for questions, but I"m happy to answer anything here if you've got a couple.

u/my_fair_leidy · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Try using Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 2-3 times weekly (at first, then can increase if your skin isn't sensitive to it) after washing and toning. I used to have some serious blackheads, and this stuff helps get them under control. It wasn't irritating at all to my skin, and I'm typically very sensitive to strong products and irritants.

I also use Karuna's Clarifying Mask 2x weekly (effective but gentle and moisturizing). These sheets masks are a bit pricey, around $8 per mask, so adding that in depends on your budget. You can also check out the Tony Moly Aloe Masks which are inexpensive and good for calming sensitive, acne-prone skin. These masks are optional, but I love them and find them helpful in maintaining clear skin.

The biggest game changer for me was learning about the "double cleansing", which is apparently a common practice in the Korean skin care regime. This involves starting with an oil-based cleanser (trust me on this, promise) like Banila CO Clean Zero in Purity (this is the one for acne-prone, sensitive skin because it doesn't have any added fragrances or dyes). After that go straight into washing one more time with a calming, foaming cleanser (you can use your CeraVe here for that still). This is probably the biggest reason why my blackheads went away, as many times when we only wash with one of these we miss out on cleaning everything off the skin that might break it out.

Best of luck! I added links below to what I mentioned above. I hope this helps!!

Links:
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid: https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Bha-Blackhead-Power-Liquid/dp/B00OZEJ8R8

Banila CO Zero in Purity:
https://www.amazon.com/Banila-Co-Clean-Purity-100ml/dp/B00Q2BJZC0/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1485324382&sr=1-3&keywords=banila

Tony Moly Aloe Mask:
https://www.amazon.com/Tonymoly-Real-Facial-Sheet-Package/dp/B00NRIGPWE/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1485324409&sr=1-1&keywords=tony%2Bmoly%2Baloe&th=1

Karuna Clarifying Face Mask:
https://www.amazon.com/Karuna-Clarifying-Face-Mask-Pack/dp/B004MXQEFQ/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1485324448&sr=1-4&keywords=karuna&th=1

PS—Change out your clarisonic for a Foreo Luna for Combination Skin if you like. You can clean it with antibacterial soap instead of replacing those brushes all the time, and it didn't dry my skin out like the clarisonic one did when I used to have it. :)

u/shortmk · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Looking at your above comments- I agree with the other poster, patch test a little area on your cheek or something with the squalane but honestly you should be fine. It's a great oil, I haven't met a face that doesn't like it! Fun (well sorta fun I guess) fact- the Squalane Oil from TO was the founder who recently passed away, Brandon Truaxe's favorite product. The company gave it away for free with purchases made in stores after he died because he was so passionate about the product.

Ahh hydrating toner recommendations-

Dear Klairs

Corsx essence

Missha essence

Those are the three I see recommend on here the most, like all the time. I use the STUPIDLY expensive SK-II would never recommend this it does nothing that every other hydrating toner/essence does- I have one or two more applications left in the bottle then it's going in the trash. I also use and love the Son & Park Beauty Water it's a huge bottle and it just feels wonderful on the skin!!

​

You'll know things are working trust me. Your skin will look and feel better, glowing and happier!! And yes in a month (??) once your face is plump and happily hydrated the routine you came up with looks good!

u/mixtapelovesongs · 1 pointr/AsianBeauty

Hey all,

I've been a lurker of this sub for a few months and am finally beginning to incorporate AB products with my fairly extensive green beauty line up. I've been using several Dr. Jart products for the last few years and finally made more AB purchases in the last few days based on extensive research:

u/shaveandahaircut · 1 pointr/wicked_edge

After some careful deliberation and lots of research here on w_e, I bit the bullet and made a $100 purchase (more than I would have liked, but I think I can justify it):

Merkur 180 razor $31 for my large sized hands. Good reviews all around and price seemed comparable to the Edwin Jagger that was recommended.

VDH Men's Luxury Shave Set $32 I went with this set basically because I wanted a shaving mug. Also, I'm not convinced I could purchase each component separately and save more than a few dollars while retaining quality. The soap has great reviews, the brush seems decent (good for a starter brush) and the stand is bonus. If I purchased each component separately I might have been able to save a few dollars, but it's easier to start out with the kit, I think.

[This blade sampler] (http://www.amazon.com/FEATHER-Oclock-BLUEBIRD-Blade-Sampler/dp/B004UIZFQW/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1331009882&sr=1-2) $16 This was a recommended sampler on one of mpperry's links, I went with it because it's a good variety of brands I recognize from research and gives me more than one or two blades of each brand.

[This alum block] (http://www.amazon.com/Tulumba-Barber-Alum/dp/B000VXELII/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1331010211&sr=1-3) $8 incl shipping Again, found this through research. Alum block was said to be a non-essential, but I have sensitive skin and it sounds like alum will help me with razor burn and dryness. Plus, I figure, if I'm making the change, might as well go whole-ish hog.

Finally, This nick stick $8 because I know I'll screw up a few times, and I can't be bleeding all over the ladies all the time.

I skipped an aftershave, mostly because I didn't want to pay for shipping. I can probably find a decent one at Walgreens or something.

Although I didn't buy many of the things mpperry recommended in his awesome comment, I plan to use those things in the future when I'm no longer a beginner. Better soaps, better blades and better brushes are in my future, when I'm getting better shaves!

Shipment should arrive over spring break, I figure that's a good time to learn. Can't wait!

u/theauxiliaryclub · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

If you don't want to research I would recommend Curology. It's a 20USD a month prescription that comes with someone with some sort of medical-related degree to act as a dermatologist. Mine's a PA, and no where near qualified to be dermatologists, but for this purpose I find it's good enough. You upload photos of your skin and fill out a quick survey of your goals and you receive a 1 oz/30mL topical prescription with their recommended ingredients for you (e.g. mine's azelaic acid/clindamycin/niacinamide to target PIH and acne) that you apply once a day at night and usually follow up with a moisturiser. Because Curology is technically a prescription, you will also have access to tretinoin, which is one of the most studied retinoids for addressing anti-aging issues and can't be bought OTC in the US. If you want to add anything on top of your prescription, like a Vitamin C serum, you can also talk that over with your derm and they can recommend you products and talk about what to look for or tell you it's unnecessary. If 20USD a month is too expensive for you, then you can sign up for one month, receive the prescription topical treatment, and then cancel your subscription until you run out and then start the trial again when you need more product. The downside of this is that you won't have access to your dermatologist when your subscription isn't active.

If you're not interested in Curology, then to answer your questions

  • Sunscreen: Yes, especially for anti-aging. I'm preferential to the asian beauty sunscreen recommendations. Just pick a random one--that's what I do. Biore Watery Essence is popular and available on Amazon.
  • Moisturiser: CeraVe PM is a solid, no-fragarance no-nonsense moisturiser. I would apply twice a day.
  • Retinoids: I don't know where you live but in the US most retinoid products by popular brands like Olay have very low concentrations. I would recommend Curology for this.
  • Vitamin C: I recommend a 20% serum applied in the morning every 1, 2, or 3 days. This product is more effective if you apply it right after washing your face (your face should be dry though) and wait as long as possible, up to 30 minutes. Timeless is a generally effective one. Toss it it turns dark orange.
  • Other Products: Some people like alpha hydroxy acids for anti-aging purposes. You could try out Alpha Hydrox lotion; it's got 10% glycolic. Nip+Fab is often recommended but it's like 2% and didn't do shit for me.
  • Cleansers: I don't use a cleanser in the morning but I would wash your face with a washcloth/your hands in the shower. All you did was sleep so it's not like your face is that dirty. I would recommend washing your face at night though, so it's clean and the following products can work more effectively. CeraVe Foaming and CeraVe Hydrating are plain, effective cleansers.
  • Other Products: If you have a slightly larger than drugstore budget I would check out Paula's Choice products. They make lotions/AHA's/Vitamin C/everything I listed above and people seem to find their products effective.
u/_ThePalmtopTiger_ · 6 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Ugh! These marks are so frustrating, aren't they? Acne is crappy enough, but then I get these red marks and they take forever to go away. It's totally unfair, and I empathize with you. Luckily, I actually do have some advice! Now, these products aren't miracle workers, and it didn't cure my spots overnight. However, I have found my recovery time has been shorter.

  1. Mizon Snail Recovery Ge & Mizon All in One Snail Repair Cream: I attribute some of my success with conquering red marks to these other products below, but I think it's mostly the snail products. They've been super gentle on my skin and are pretty affordable. If you're going to go with just one of my suggestions, make it the Snail Recovery Gel. I like the Repair Cream, but I think the Recovery Gel is what's made the most progress with my spots. Bonus, I have a very pink skin tone, and it helps take a little of the redness out of my face as well. Also, keep in mind that the Recovery Gel is not a moisturizer, so you'll still need to use one with it.

  2. Paula's Choice - Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol: Retinol is a good choice for long term minimizing marks, and I haven't had any trouble with this product burning my face or making it dry. (I have quite dry skin, and that's a real issue for me.)

  3. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA & Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel: I'm sure you've probably already heard of these products. I know they're big on this sub, but I just wanted to throw it out there because I do think that chemical exfoliation has helped some with my marks.

    Good luck with your skin! I've been going through a bad breakout right now which is leaving new red marks on my skin, so I'd love to think that this sucky experience might help someone else even just a little.

    Edit: I was reading some of the other comments, and I just want to second the sunscreen comment. Super important!
u/queenblackacid · 2 pointsr/Rosacea

I have erythematotelangiectatic rosacea with a papule or two every month. My cheeks are covered in permanent telangiectasias, but I don't mind them because I can cover it with makeup easily. I've had them since I was a kid. Occasionally I get a small papule or two

My nose has worsened over the last 5 years. I have no telangiectasias but my whole nose up to the bridge has diffuse erythema. Above the bridge of my nose has some redness too, leaving the bridge of my nose white... The redness goes away if I press on my nose (it blanches - not permanent). It is difficult to keep makeup on my nose throughout the day without it coming off. This is the most annoying thing about rosacea for me.

My forehead has patches of eczema either side that I've had success treating with elidel (pimecrolimus cream) and a better skincare routine. I have rosacea in the middle of my forehead. Easy to cover with makeup.

I've tried metrogel and finacea, both without effect. Finacea just hurts my skin. I'm taking 50mg doxycycline capsules and I thought they were working, but then I forgot for a while. It's difficult to tell. Rosacea is difficult to control, unfortunately.

___

I currently use the following of an evening:

  • Mineral oil massage to remove makeup - emulsify and remove in the shower with water.

  • Sulwhasoo Snowise Ex Cleansing Foam - low pH cleansing foam that leaves my skin lovely and clean without over-cleansing.

  • Actives - Elidel for eczema if required.

  • Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Toner - Not astrigent at all. Super slippery base makes the next steps more effective.

  • Holy Snails Shark Sauce and Snowbang Essence - Small amount, mix together in hand and wipe across face. Contains ceramides to help replenish lipid barrier, niacinamide and n-acetyl glucosamine for anti-inflammatory effects, lots more lovely stuff.

  • Mizon Snail Repair All In One cream - Small amount all over face. It's a very light cream, almost like a gel. It has a lovely texture.

  • Shara Shara Honey Bomb Ampoule - niacinamide, so good. Small amount, all over face.

  • La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP+ - One pump to cover whole face (400ml bottle has a pump). I love this stuff. Niacinamide (anti-inflammatory), glycerin (humectant), shea butter (emollient), mineral oil & silicone (occlusive emollients).

  • CosRX Ultimate Moisturising Honey Overnight Mask OR Mizon Snail Repair Recovery Gel - Moisturising gel to "set" the layers of moisturiser beneath. I'm still testing out the snail recovery gel, not sure if I like it because it doesn't "set" as well.

    In the morning I gently wash the set slippery layers off with water and apply:

  • Actives - Elidel for eczema if required.

  • Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Toner

  • Holy Snails Shark Sauce & Snowbang Essence

  • Mizon Snail Repair All In One cream

  • Lipikar Baume AP+ on bad skin days, or CosRX Ultimate Honey Overnight Mask on good days.

  • Shiseido Hada Senka Mineral Water Gel SPF 50+ - I love the finish of this sunscreen. Sunscreen is super, super important, especially with the niacinamide use. Use a sunscreen every single day, even in winter, even if only inside. Every day!

    I take a resveratrol capsule every day to combat sirtuin inhibition caused by niacinamide.

    I've been following this routine for four months and my skin has improved a lot in terms of texture. The flaky patches went away and the eczema almost completely disappeared with occasional maintenance use of elidel and just generally looking after my skin. The rosacea erythema has stayed the same, but I have developed fewer papules. Hopefully, if I can remember to take the doxycycline, the redness of my nose may also improve.
u/ladysyazwina · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction
  • Since it's your first time, i'd recommend a 0.5mm dermaroller. Anything lower than that would not be deep enough to stimulate collagen growth. Also, don't cheap out and get a low quality one.

  • Well, you can but it's best that you just buy one size first, in case you find that microneedling isn't your thing. Some people can take up to 6 months or even a year to move from 0.5mm to 1mm. Your skin needs to get used to it first. One dermaroller can last you a couple of months btw. If the needles start looking dull and blunt, replace it with a new one or else you'll end up damaging your skin instead.

  • A 0.5mm shouldn't hurt too much but anything higher than that would definitely hurt so in the future, once you move up to a longer needle size, you would probably need a numbing cream. Also, always wash your face first before you dermaroll!

    In terms of sanitizing the roller before and after, this is what I do. First, I clean it with water (you can also use soap if you like) then I put it in head first in a clean plastic cup and pour 70% Isopropyl Alcohol in the cup so it's just enough to cover the head (I prefer 70% because a higher alcohol content will make it evaporate faster and logic says it won't have enough time to sanitize!). Anyway, just let it sit in the cup for 10-15 minutes, take it out and then wait about 2 minutes or so. Once it's dry-ish, I run it under hot water and let it completely air dry before applying it to my skin.

    After you finish rolling, repeat the same procedure. Wash the roller, dunk it in alcohol for 10-15 minutes, run it under hot water, let air dry then put it somewhere clean (preferably in a box).

  • It depends on the size. With a 0.5mm, you can use it once every 2-3 weeks. If you go higher, like 0.75mm or 1mm then you should use it sparingly like once every 4-6 weeks because it takes time for your skin to properly heal. Do not use it everyday.

  • I noticed you said that you don't really have a routine? You should definitely have at least a moisturizer and a sunscreen (this is a given) before you start dermarolling. After you dermaroll, your skin will be a bit sensitive and tight and it will definitely feel like a bad sunburn so you should pamper it a bit. I find that sheet masks are also great to calm down the redness and irritation.

    The most important thing for me is using a Vitamin C serum. I use one with 20% L-ascorbic acid everyday (also right after I dermaroll) and it has significantly reduced some of my scars (it stings a little bit though). This is where sunscreen is important!!! Wearing sunscreen helps protect your skin (and scars) from getting darker. Those products you linked look great but you should definitely patch test them first to see if you have any bad reaction to them or not before you start microneedling.

    Here are some other Vitamin C serums which are well loved by many:

    http://www.amazon.com/NuFountain-L-Ascorbic-Hylaronic-Youthful-Complextion/dp/B0039LZW78

    http://www.amazon.com/20-Vitamin-Ferulic-Acid-Serum/dp/B0036BI56G

    Lastly, one important thing about microneedling is patience. You won't see improvements right away but you will if you keep on maintaining it. Hope that helps! :-)
u/virstulte · 2 pointsr/wicked_edge

Plugging TOBS Sandalwood for a recommended cream... If you don't have a soap, it's notoriously easy to lather. I use it when I rush my shaves, or if I don't have time. Very good shaving cream IMHO, and it always gives reliable shaves.

Not better than my Stirling, but we're talking Amazon here, and TOBS Sandalwood Cream would be my recommendation for something to get latherin'.

For a brush, although I have not tried boar knots, the 10048 looks pretty good, and I've seen someone else recommend it already. If I was buying on a budget from Amazon, that would be my first pick.

The TOBS cream and Omega brush will set you back about what you would have paid for the VdH kit, which is rubbish from what I've heard, although I have no experience with it.

Face or palm lather the TOBS and save yourself a bowl. The mug in the VdH kit is only to put soap in anyway, and shouldn't be used to lather - only to load your brush. Even if you did try to lather in it, it's not really the 5-6 inches diameter you're gonna wish you had.

Also, if you have leftover cash, spring for some Witch Hazel. Stuff is frickin magical. Apply right before you apply aftershave balm, and let it sit for a minute or so to really tighten up your face.

If you have even more leftover funds, or opt to get WH at your local drugstore, apparently Clearly Natural Glycerin Soap is a good pre-shave. I use MR GLO, but people have told me that any high-glycerin soap makes a nearly equivalent MR GLO substitute. And, for the price of less than one puck of MR GLO, you get 3 bars of Clearly Natural. Hooray for hydration and slickness!

And if you're in for a splurge, get a fancy stand. Adds counter appeal - totally unnecessary, but cool.

Good buy on the Nivea Sensitive ASB, and sub the EJ for a Parker 24c, per /u/leisureguy's post. He's never steered me wrong. Both purchases I've made based on his recommendations have worked out great, which were my Plisson brush and MR GLO.

As for the sample pack, you're probably better off spending some out-of-pocket dough on tryablade.com, or any of the other sample pack resellers. Get your money's worth.

P.S. - Don't forget to soak your boar brush (should you select it) in hot water for a few minutes before you try lathering with it. Boar brushes also have a break-in period, so be mindful that your first few shaves/lathers may be less than desirable.

u/agsrhg · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

After looking at your skincare and assuming you are a dry/normal skin type as you've posted, your routine is very invasive and more suited for an acne prone oily skin. The products you use are excellent because they are dermatologically effective, but you need to cool it with all the chemicals morning and night.

  1. You shouldn't be worrying about what kind of cleanser you use but what kind of moisturiser you use for different seasons. Skin is drier during the winter so you need to use a richer moisturiser. And as you have pale skin it is also important you use a fitting moisturiser for the summer. For your skin type I recommend the hydrating cleanser, the foaming cleanser will be too drying.
  2. BHA/AHA/Retinoids are too invasive for your eye area, stay clear from your eye area unless its an eye cream specifically for your under eyes. The formulation for under eyes and face is slightly different as your under eyes are more sensitive than the rest of your face, do this and you will have less wrinkles in the long run. If you want a good eye cream for dark circles I recommend this french brand.
  3. Sure you can use BHA and AHA on your body but thats just a waste of money and time. The products you use on your face will have little to no effect on your body because the skin on your body is more thicker and resilient. I recommend exfoliating with a naturally derived product and moisturise your body as well because the moisture in your body's skin is as much important as your face. Mixing a few drops of rosehip oil to your moisturiser should help lighten the acne scars lighten over time.
  4. I don't know what kind of skin products you mean, but simplicity is best. Use a moisturiser at night and then sunscreen on top during the day.
  5. You don't need to lotion your whole body because your skin naturally produces oils to protect and moisturise itself. Make sure you do not shower or bathe in hot water because it strips your body from these natural oils, but if you have dry skin use the CeraVe lotion.
  6. You will be more efficient and less messy as you become used to cleansing, grow a pair and suck it up.
  7. Never self medicate or diagnose yourself with products you've researched on the internet, if you have rashes on your beard it is most likely because of the type of razor you use. You need to make sure you change your razor as frequently as possible (prevent bacterial infection) and also make sure the razor isn't too rough on your skin. Rashes could also be because your skin is dry (moisturise) or clogged follicles (use tea tree oil with your moisturiser).
  8. Your normal moisturiser should be fine.
  9. We don't actually reapply sunscreen, but we have sunscreen built into our foundation as well, so there is another layer of protection when we go out. Just make sure you carry a hat with you on extremely hot days, and wash your face and reapply sunscreen if you sweat during the day.
  10. I prefer the pump as tubs are tricky to use in that you could contaminate the whole tub by dipping your fingers in. Pump is more hygienic and you can add a few drops of oil to your lotion if you want extra moisture.
u/dafukisdat · 2 pointsr/AskMen
  1. So that type of scrubbing wont be too effective in cleaning your face up and is more likely to cause damage to your skin. Apart from damage to your skin, doing that every shower likely isn't too much (in terms of drying out your skin or anything like that). But I'd generally suggest going with a more effective and less potentially damaging approach. Depending on the washcloth and how hard you're pressing/scrubbing it's probably better than, but there's some better options. I'd suggest an exfoliating scrub (i.e. something like this) to replace the scrubbing action. Basically there's very small "abrasives" that when you wash your face with it, it scrubs off the dead skin etc on the surface of your skin. I put abrasives in quotes just because of their size they aren't really abrasive to your skin in a bad way how one would typically think of it. A physical scrub is easy, quick, and works well. Recently there's been talk about moving away from physical & chemical exfoliators to only chemical. The "abrasives" used to mostly be plastic microbeads which are generally awful for the environment; they've mostly moved away from the microbeads now though. But there's also been recent studies that suggest that physical scrubs might cause microtears in your skin. Not a huge deal as there hasn't been a huge amount to back this up, but a chemical exfoliator would be preferable. I didn't go into it because people see chemical and think the process is involved and potentially dangerous. An AHA (i.e something like this) you put on your face just like you would a moisturizer and that's it.
    After exfoliating use a cleanser. You said your face is a bit oily, and I'm in the same boat there. Go with a foaming cleanser (i.e. something like this). This replaces the soap part of what you're doing now. Actually (physically) exfoliating will be better because of the size of the things actually doing the scrubbing compared to the looped fibers of the washcloth. Much smaller and will be much more effective without causing (significant) damage to your skin. Chemical exfoliation would be even better. I'll talk more about the cleanser here:

  2. I've got the same issue and I use a foaming cleanser and then moisturize after. It's better to go with a foaming cleanser than a hydrating one because if your skin is already overly hydrating itself (the oil), and you use a hydrating cleanser, and you use a moisturizer it's just going to be too much. You'll feel like you're sweating. If you use a foaming cleanser, wash it off with water after using it, pat your face dry and let it air out a bit, your skin will be quite dry (borderline dried out). Put a relatively small amount of moisturizer on (one pump from the bottle, glob smaller than a fingernail). This will provide enough moisture that your skin hopefully doesn't feel the need to overly produce that oil, not too much that you're going to be even shinier than before. If even a small amount of moisturizer is too much and your skin is too shiny, maybe skip it and instead use the foaming cleaner periodically through the day. It will get your skin dryer (less shiny) and also keep it clean. It's worth pointing out that often the cause of overly oily skin is that your skin is in fact too dry by itself and your skin feels the need to put all this oil out there. I'd give the moisturizer an honest effort.

  3. Absolutely. It's the reason I got into skincare in the first place. Exfoliate once a week, cleanser everyday and moisturizer after. Easiest and most generally effective approach to skincare. If you want to look into more specific issues, adding a BHA (i.e. something like this) into the mix can work well for people. Works well for blackheads, and shrinks pore size to prevent in the future - also can help with acne. General advice is to use after cleanser and before moisturizer, leave on for ~30 min, then moisturizer. r/skincareaddiction usually has some good advice for just about any specifics further than that.

  4. Aftershave typically has an antiseptic like alcohol or something to avoid infection of post-shave cuts etc. and to clean out now-exposed pores. I use an electric shaver and don't use aftershave because there's never any cuts and I wash my face as described above after shaving to clean everything. And the alcohol will dry out and damage your skin.
u/_-Mayday-_ · 1 pointr/AskWomen

I try to keep mine simple while still doing what I can to prevent further damage. I didn't take care of my skin at all in my 20s so I'm undoing damage now, but the vitamin C serum and sunscreen combo have helped a ton. I have fairly sensitive skin, and it gets easily dehydrated as well.

Morning

u/syaami · 4 pointsr/RedditLaqueristas

Just start painting your nails and you will figure out what works best for you eventually. I've compiled a list of helpful links/videos that I've found helpful for me.

Dotting Tools:

  • Cutepolish's video on how to make your own dotting tool.
  • <$2 on amazon. It might take a while to get to you if it's being shipped from China though.

    Stripping tape:

  • $1.08 on amazon.
    The trick when you use stripping tape is to make sure your polish isn't old and too goopy, otherwise it will not be so crisp.
  • And use tweezers like this or this.

    Cleaning

  • You will get the hang of cleaning once you start practicing. If you get better at application you will have to do less cleaning. This will come with practice. I suck at doing nails with little mess. So I use acetone and a slanted brush. This might be a good set to get.
  • /u/ReneeJade 's post about cleaning up with toothpicks is very helpful too.

    Nail Polish Brands

  • This depends on how much money you want to spend. I started with Sinful Colors because no mula. But the formula is kinda bad and takes forever to dry. And Sinful Colors stain your nails really bad in my experience. Sally Hansen is pretty good for the price. I only just acquired a couple of China Glazes and Essie's. They are pretty good but I only buy it when it's less than $3. I don't have experiences with Orly, O.P.I.
  • Julep is okay in my opinion. Personally, I feel like they're not worth the price. One of my bottles just broke when I was turning the cap. And the other one (Julep Sasha) stained my nails really bad :/
  • There are nail polish programs like Julep Maven (who do a free first box with code FREEBOX) and other ones that I don't know about but head onto /r/BeautyBoxes to find out more.

    Top Coat and Base Coat

  • Orly bonder is a good base coat that I use. I don't have experiences with other ones, so I can't compare.
  • Getting a fast drying top coat is probably a good idea. I use Seche Vite but it has a really strong smell and it shrinks your polish. I'm trying to find a new one but Sally Hansen Insta Dry didn't work for me. It smudged my nail art even though it dries pretty fast. Poshe is supposed to be good but I don't have experience with it.

    Nail Strengthening

  • O.P.I. Nail envy is a lot of people's favorites but it didn't work for me personally. Just search this subreddit with "nail envy".
  • Quimica Alemana. This stuff has good reviews and I want to try it.

    Nail file

  • Use a crystal one. This one has good reviews or use an O.P.I. one. I use an O.P.I, pretty happy with it.

    Have fun painting!
u/kitty_hawkins · 3 pointsr/AsianBeauty

I LOVE AZELAIC ACID. So I pretty well thought I would live with a red face forever along with a severely damaged moisture barrier. The biggest thing that helped me was azelaic acid. I use Melazepam from Amazon. Cheap and works! It's thick at first but smoothes into my skin leaving it kinda matte. At first it itched like crazy and I wasn't using it consistently enough. Then after more research, I decided to use it up and give it a chance. Along with anything high in ceramide, my skin got used to the 20% AzA. Maybe around the 10th day of twice daily use, my skin finally started to look normal. I also switch my oil cleanser to an olive oil based one and saw even more improvement in my redness. I've just added in Vit C to my under eye area and continuing to use Melazepam around the rest of my face and neck and my ENTIRE COMPLEXION is EVEN NOW! Would never have believed that was possible. Melazepam has also minimized my SFs on my nose, has finally stopped this ingrown hair on my neck from forming (I've had it for years!!!), and has cleared all the CCs on my forehead. I repeat: I loooooove azelaic acid, specifically Melazepam!

Current routine:

AM

Garnier Micellar Water - pink cap or Cerave Foaming cleanser

Cosrx Aha/bha Clarifying Treatment Toner

BELITAE Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid to my under eye area and upper cheeks

Melazepam to the rest of my face and neck, especially my nose. Sometimes I wait after the Vit C but not usually since I don't use them in the same spots.

I do wait 15-20 minutes after my actives step.

SCINIC First Treatment Essence 3 skin method. My face loves this more than the Missha FTE.

SCINIC Snail All In One Ampoule or SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule depending on the day.

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion

A'PIEU PURE BLOCK Natural Sun Cream SPF45/PA+++ I don't see much sunlight at all but when I do, this one keeps me from turning beet red imediately upon application.

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Derma Green-Cure Solution Recover Cream This is the best thing I've found for redness and skin barrier repair! My skin loves ceramides so much and this soothes like nothing I've found yet.

Medela Tender Care Lanolin Tube on my lips. Yes it's nip cream. I couldn't use it all up while nursing and it causes my skin to redden so it's perfect for a little lip color.

PM

ROHTO Hada Labo Gokujun Cleansing Oil My skin reacted to Holika Holika Soda Pore B.b Deep Cleansing Oil so this is my second one to try and I'm really enjoying it.

Cerave Foaming cleanser with a konjac sponge but waiting on
Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam in the mail.

Cosrx Aha/bha Clarifying Treatment Toner

BELITAE Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid to my under eye area and upper cheeks

Melazepam to the rest of my face and neck, especially my nose like the AM.

SCINIC First Treatment Essence 3 skin method.

All depending on how I'm feeling that evening:

LJH TeaTree 90 Essence

SCINIC Snail All In One Ampoule

SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule

Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

MIZON Snail Repair Eye Cream

Petitfee Black Pearl and Gold Hydrogel Eye Patch Not sure if I like these or not honestly...

Some or all of these layers followed by CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion and

Guerisson 9 Complex Horse Oil Cream

Pretty sure my shower filter, Mermosis, has also helped my skin and hair.

I also use sometimes REVITABOOST PEEL Anti-Aging Peel Pads or Cosrx Bha Blackhead Power Liquid but I skip my AzA on those days and just go back to my regular routine the following day. These are rare for me though because they make me ridiculously red again.

Things I'm waiting on in the mail:

ROSETTE Aqua Ceramide Gel

Rumase BIFIDA Snail Toner

Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam

It's Skin Power 10 Formula - PO Effector

Hoping the all work well for me too!

u/RabiesScabies · 5 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Oh man, I have so many ideas. Just ideas though, you can take them or leave them.


First, your skin looks fairly irritated to me, dryness is a part of that. It can make your skin vulnerable and inflamed like you're seeing - mine was similar. A really easy, idiot-proof way to test this is to use some sheet masks nightly for a few days and look for improvement. I love these. And it feels nice. =)


Another super nourishing ingredient is niacinamide, which I'm completely obsessed with and bought for all my friends. I prefer the Paula's Choice ($40), but the Ordinary stuff ($7?) is also well received (made me break out though). I feel pretty hopeful about the sheet masks and niacinamide for you!


Glycolic acid is typically considered a stronger acid, and might be irritating. I'd maybe leave that out for a while and experiment with some mild 2% salicylic acid, just make sure it's not loaded with alcohol. I use Paula's Choice for that as well, I think the sample size is like $9.


I also learned to start giving myself gentle at-home acid peels through MUAC (amazing customer support). My oily/combo skin got a lot less oily after I switched to an oil cleanser (Banila or Shiseido are great). I just started using azelaic acid for redness (Melazepam), with good results so far, but I'd get the moisture thing figured out first.


Also, FYI, Sephora (and I think Ulta) will give you samples AND have a super generous return policy (check your local store), and I'm pretty shameless about trying new stuff out/returning it. Shit's expensive. =)


Let the hivemind know if anything works!


Edit: I learned so much from https://simpleskincarescience.com/, I can't recommend it strongly enough!

u/pleasekisumi · 5 pointsr/AsianBeauty

Welcome! :) Ceramide products are good at repairing your skin's moisture barrier and are good moisturizing products. If these sound like things you are looking for, I highly recommend getting some products with ceramide in them! A popular product is the Rosette Ceramide Gel.

Vitamin C is a good idea, just make sure you start slow, like once a week. Also, actives such as vitamin C are a form of chemical exfoliation. You want to make sure you have a few solid moisturizers at the ready to compensate for the drying nature of actives.

Snails are a great idea too, but they don't have the same mind-blowing affect for everyone who uses them. Its a very Your Milage May Vary (YMMV) sort of thing! A popular snail product is the Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. This product has 96% snail mucin, so it'd be a good way to see if snail is an effective ingredient for you. (because 10% snail in a good cream may give you good results, but it may not be because of the snail if you catch my drift!)

However! First and foremost, if hyperpigmentation is your problem and you have no routine, start with a sunscreen! If the word makes you cringe, don't worry, AB sunscreens don't tend to be as thick and sticky as Western suncreens.

Which brings me to two threads you should start with. The AB Beginner Guide is a good place for basic information. The Holy Grail Thread is a good place to see what products people with your same skintype swear by.

ALSO I wouldn't recommend using sheet masks meant for your face on the rest of your body. Sheet masks are usually a temporary fix for your skin issues and I would not rely on them to do any major skin whitening. I'd pick a product that you can use on the body and that will give you consistent results. Try products with niacinimide and arbutin, which are whitening ingredients.

That's what I have to contribute! Feel free to ask more questions and good luck!

u/vika999 · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

I have VERY oily skin as well. I don't want to tell you what to do with your routine... With that being said, I think for your skin type, your morning routine might be too focused on moisturization. I used to be the same way and would try and do the most morning and night, but then I felt like I could not even wear makeup because even the most matte finished products would leave my makeup falling off my face.

I recently changed things up for my skin type and have seen awesome results in how my makeup wears.
I now start by washing my face with a light gel cleanser (drunk elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser ), then toning with a rose water witch hazel (I only do this step when I think it will be a particularly hot day), then I use a Vitamin C Serum ( Timeless Skin Care 20% Vitamin C Plus E Ferulic Acid Serum ). This serum is NOT oily or tacky, and is not meant to moisturize. I only use it to help brighten my acne scars, which has been a life-changing product for me. Lastly, I do an SPF with hyaluronic acid (CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30) which adds hydration without being moisturizing! It is super light and has a whipped texture.

I have not found a primer that I love for mattifying my super oily skin but would love to hear anyone else's suggestions. Or a sunscreen that acts as a primer? I am definitely a fan of lessening the products used in the AM so any dual-use products are a plus for my oily skin type!

u/bad_wolf_chick · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

This is what i posted on AsianBeauty, but i also really wanted to post on here because you guys helped me A LOT in understanding the way the skin works (pH, AHAs, BHAs, oil cleansing, etc... even my moisturizer!! i got it from your guys' recommendations!!❤ )

I work in an environment where there is a lot of bicarbonate in the air. Since bicarbonate is alkaline, im worried that im messing with my skin's pH. I was wondering if anyone knows a way to combat the alkalinity with maybe a toner, or lotion, or anything?!! something that would bring my skin's pH down to the slightly acidic level it should be at. I've also noticed my skin get a lot drier ever since starting work there. Has anyone tried ROSETTE Ceramide Gel?? How does it compare with the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion i currently use in my routine?
I'm asking AsianBeauty because your products & recommendations helped me a lot!!
PS, i think my skin is clog-prone, so keep that in mind when recommending products!! (i've read a lot that people got clogged skin from the CeraVe that i use, but to me, it doesn't clog my skin at all! just thought i'd mention it since even though it clogs a lot of people's skin, it doesn't clog mine, so still recommend whatever it is that came to mind!! even if it may clog skin!!)

Skin type: on the sensitive side || Country/Climate i'm in: Canada // colder weather approaching now :(((

Top Skin Concern: CCs and hyperpigmentation, and acne :(((

Current Routine / Products I'm Using:

AM

  • splash face with water; pat dry; apply CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

  • apply EltaMD UV Physical SPF 41 Sunscreen

    on Thursdays and Sundays, after splashing my face with water and patting dry, i apply ZOMEDICAL Glycogent and then follow up with the rest of the routine (Cerave and EltaMD)

    PM

  • remove sunscreen with KOSE Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil

  • wash face with Rohto HADA LABO Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam

  • apply the same CeraVe lotion that i use in the morning

    on Thursdays and Sundays, instead of washing with the Hada Labo cleansing foam, i wash with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and then apply ZOMEDICAL Brightenex, and i DO NOT apply the CeraVe lotion over that

    I'm an 18-year old female, if that helps, who may or may not have hormonal issues (don't get a regular period :/) and i eat gluten- and dairy- free, and i limit the amount of sweets i have (mainly i eat protein and veggies, or protein and fruits throughout the day). Also, i drink only teas and water (no fruit juices, coffee, or pop!). I also don't eat artifical things/things with preservatives, etc. (i like to eat things that are minimally processed).
    Any help is appreciated
    Sorry for the lengthy post, i just want to make sure you have as much info so you can best recommend something for me!!

    TL;DR started working where the air is alkaline. worried about that fucking up my skin's pH and the horrible clogged skin, dry skin, reddness, etc, that results from that. wondering if there's anything i could add to my routine to combat the alkalinity -- perhaps a toner, lotion, etc, that will bring down my skin's pH to a more acidic level (as it naturally should be slightly acidic). ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED ❤❤

    *edited for formatting lol ❤
u/Rawtashk · 301 pointsr/funny

Fellow balding brothers, there's hope for you yet. /r/tressless

"What do I do? Do I have options??" Yes, but you really only have 1 option....."Do 'The Big 3'".

1: Propecia

2: Rogaine

3: Nizoral shampoo.

Get generic Proscar (have your doctor write you an RX). Proscar is 5mg of Finasteride (propecia is 1mg of Finasteride) used to treat BHP. Get a $3 pill cutter from walmart and cut them into quarters. This means $9 for 120 days of propecia, whereas getting actual name brand propecia is around $70 or so a month. Tell your doctor that you can't afford name brand, and that Proscar is LITERALLY the exact same thing as Propecia, just a 5x stronger dose. Most people can be sympathetic towards wanting to save money. Just be upfront and honest with him. If you don't have a doctor, PLEASE DO NOT GET GENERICS ONLINE!! Pay for one doctor visit (or a dermatologist visit) and then get the RX for Proscar. You will STILL pay less overall for that than you will getting generics online. Source? I did generics for 4 years before I wised up. I think I paid around $30-$40 a month for generics. You'll save money in the long run, so long as it's not $400+ for one doctor visit.

Get generic rogaine from walmart. Start with 1 month of the liquid and see how it works. Only get 1 month to start because it MIGHT irritate your scalp (PPG is the delivery vehicle, and some people get really itchy where it's applied [I had a horrible itch]). If it doesn't bother you, then after a month get the 3 month supply (I say liquid because it has a slightly better rate of growth than the foam). If it bothers you (either because it's itchy or because it feels like it makes your hair too greasy), then get the 3 months supply of Rogaine foam.

Nizoral is hard to find these days, but what you want is a shampoo that has at least 1% KETOCONAZOLE as the active ingredient. Keto has been shown to have anti androgen properties. By itself it's not going to do much, but it helps in conjunction with the other things. It's usually back on Amazon for about $14. Another option for Keto shampoo is Regenepure DR. I haven't used it, so I can't attest to it, but many others have said it worked well.

I also use Bosley Revive for my normal shampoos. It SAYS it's suppose to help with thinning hair. I have my doubts, but I like the way it makes my hair feel. It's much more manageable and better looking when I use it. It's not super cheap, but buy the liter bottles and they'll last you for at least a couple months, if not closer to 3 or 4 months. You need to get 2 kinds, cleanser and scalp therapy. Buy them both, then just buy them individually as needed.

Propecia: Some people say that taking propecia makes them kinda tired for the first few hours after they take the pill. I think that's kinda bogus, but I always take mine right before bed...just in case.

Rogaine: Take a shower in the morning, towel dry your hair, then put the rogaine in and let it sit while you get dressed. After that, style your hair as usual. Put it in again before you go to bed (needs to be in 2x a day), but do it as the FIRST thing before your nightly ritual so that it sits on your head and can be absorbed and not run down the side of your head when you're sleeping.

Nizoral/Nioxin: You want your hair to be somewhat clean from normal oils so that Nizoral will suds up and hit your scalp. I use generic T-Gel from walmart for the first round of hair washing. Rinse, then apply Nizoral. After you do that, then start washing yourself off. Get all sudsy and clean, then rise your hair out (you do this to let the Nizoral sit and soak your scalp for a while. DON'T RINSE OFF YET!). Next you use the Nioxin cleanser. It doesn't have to sit, so just lather up and rinse out. Now for the Nioxin cleanser. It's basically a conditioner, so put it on and let it sit while you rinse off. You want it to sit on your head for about 2 minutes. After that, rinse off, get out of the shower, towel dry your hair, then put on your Rogaine.

Source: I've been doing this for about 6 or 7 years.

Proofs:

7 years ago

7 years ago with totally dry/no product hair ("That's not so bad!!!" I know, it wasn't THAT bad, but it had gotten to that point in about 2 years, and it was only going to get worse. Imagine what it would be like after 7 additional years)

4 years after starting

4 years after starting, with wet hair

2 year frontal difference

Still from a short film I was in. Outside in the bright sun this Feburary

Modeling gig I picked up, with a bright flash from my right (about 2 months ago)

u/abthrowawaymale · 1 pointr/AsianBeauty

I get pretty obsessive with things so I'm not sure if you really want my routine since you want something simple to travel. Taking out the actives, aha/bha, essence, serums, and eyecream that I'm using, you can basically strip it down to a cleanser, toner, moisturizer.

If you want a cleanser, everyone here is really into the hada labo gokujyun foaming cleanser (http://www.amazon.com/Rohto-Hadalabo-Gokujyn-Hyaluronic-Cleansing/dp/B0036MDUEM). It has a ph of 5.5 so it's a solid cleanser that won't raise the ph of your skin. Follow that up with a toner. I'm currently using the Mizon AHA/BHA toner. Ph is too high for the bha to exfoliate and too high for the aha to exfoliate (they each exfoliate differently, though) so it's really just a useful toner to get your skin ph at a good point. Then the moisturizer. Like I said, I'm using the Mizon all in one cream and it's really awesome. It feels like I didn't put anything on afterwards but my skin is really hydrated and soft. Depending on how dry your skin gets, though, you might also need the recovery gel to use right after, which basically adds a little more hydration and seals it in.

If you decide to add an essence, that would go right after the toner. You said that you were using some of your girlfriend's sk-ii products--were you using the essence? It's kind of expensive (at least out of my budget as a student) so I'm using the Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence.

If you do decide to use any actives, specifically aha, make sure to use sunscreen because your skin gets a lot more vulnerable to uv rays and then everything is counterproductive since you're damaging your skin. Paula's Choice AHA and BHA are really popular, but so are the CosRX AHA and BHA and those are apparently gentler on your skin. If you're really sensitive to chemical sunscreens, go for a physical sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). Keep in mind, though, that most physical sunscreens leave a whitecast, but there are some that don't. Some pretty popular sunscreens on here are the hado labo UV creamy gel sunscreen, but apparently it doesn't dry very quickly. I'm not really trying to make my face shiny and I'm already getting the moisture from the mizon AIO, so I'm using the biore watery essence sunscreen-dries quickly and doesn't smell like sunscreen. If you do add the aha, meaning you add the sunscreen, you're going to want to add an oil cleanser.

Double cleansing is when you use an oil cleanser and then use a facial cleanser afterwards. The regular foaming or face cleanser doesn't take out makeup (or sunscreen) very well, so to make sure you get all that out at the end of the day, so that you don't start breaking out, use an oil cleanser at night before using your regular foaming or facial cleanser (I'm using the DHC oil cleanser since most people are in love with it).

At night, like twice a week, I just add either a sheet mask (my beauty diary ones are a pretty popular choice but the face shop also has good ones) or a sleeping pack(I'm using the laneige sleeping pack_ex).

If you decide you want to add any vitamin c or any aha or bha, let me know and I can give you more info on where to include that in your routine/some stuff to consider (like waiting twenty minutes after vitamin c).

There are lots of sites to buy from but I'm a big fan of beautynetkorea

u/aberrasian · 5 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Clinique's products are fine, but you may just be using the wrong ones for your skin type, or maybe Clinique's fomulas just don't agree with your skin. It happens. Either way, I'm close to a teenager (22) and also had dry, dull skin full of blackheads and acne. So I'm going to post what helped me and I hope it helps you too.

But remember that taking care of your mental health may be half the battle won on its own! Stress and insomnia is a big underlying factor for troubled skin.

My basic routine for dry skin (plug for r/AsianBeauty which is a great resource):

  1. Oil cleanse and then low-ph gentle wash thoroughly but with your hands, not anything rough/scrubby. I use iunik Calendula Cleansing Oil and Cerave Foaming Facial Wash.

  2. Hydrating toners! You'll never go back to putting straight cream on your face. I use Hadalabo Gokujyun Premium and then isntree Aloe Vera Toner.

  3. Serums. Not strictly necessary but here you can add thicker more moisturising stuff to boost the hydration you've just gotten from your toners, and when you get more into skincare there are all sorts of cool ingredients and products out there that target specific issues. I use Cosrx Snail 96.

  4. Moisturiser. In the PM I use Cerave SA cream. In the AM I use Murad Nutrient-charged Water Gel.

  5. Occlusive. This is what's going to seal in all the goodness from those previous steps and prevent TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss, what makes your skin dry out again). In the PM, many SCA's like to use Vaseline or Aquaphor because we extra. #sluglyfe. In the AM, I use 100% squalane oil.

    Don't forget to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily too.

    If you really can't drink more water, which is understandable as after a few gulps plain water takes a real nosedive flavour-wise, trick yourself by making the water delicious. Put honey in it. Some tea. Make jello! Eat fruit. Anything reasonably healthy that's high in water content. Or my personal favourite: Eat something so spicy you HAVE to drink fuckin gallons. Water tastes like the dew of the gods when you're dying of capsaicin overdose.

    Dark circles wise, pretty much everyone has them and everyone conceals them. There's not much you can do about it but keep patting on the concealer. Primers don't work much for me either. Pixi Brightening Peach concealer followed by powder followed by Skindinavia's Bridal Makeup Setting Spray does!

    Not sure if makeup advice is allowed here but while I'm at it, dull yellowy-white skin is called sallow skin, and can be colour corrected with some nifty purple primer! E.L.F makes a good one.
u/CinnaStacks · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

First of all, I am an employee at a major western beauty retailer in none other than the field of skin care. I am very familiar with ingredients and quite savvy at building skin care routines to fit my clients' needs... and I'm proud of it. That being said, I've found that many of the products my employer offers are too harsh or contain ingredients I don't agree with; in addition, we don't sell a huge variety of AB, at least not enough to satisfy my liking.

SOOOO, this is kind of new territory for me. I know one thing for a fact: I LOVE love LOVE snail. Below, I have a tentative list of AB products I have researched and have added to my Amazon.com cart and would love to hear from this community about my choices. I would love to hear recommendations as well. Below, I'll list the products by AM or PM routine (as I've planned).

A little background:

u/randomusername177 · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

I really like the Cerave PM Moisturizer. Most of their products are really nice. Recently, I been switching products I use to some cruelty free alternatives. Right now I am using Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream. Its supposed to be a dupe for Drunk Elephants Protini moisturizer. I tried it last year when it was a free sample during Sephora's birthday gift. I really do like this Acure cream, and so far it works well. I have dry skin with eczema around my eyes and haven't had any issues. I also use the Ordinary's Lactic Acid 10%. I first started with 5% and would highly recommend people to use that one first to see how you react. 10% works great for white heads for me. Stridex in the red box works great for any acne I get. I been wanting to swap it for the Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% Solution since Stridex isn't cruelty free. It's been out of stock since August though, so I had to cave and buy Stridex the other day at Walgreens. It works though!

I just got Colourpops new Zero to Hero set. It's makeup based off Megara from Hercules. I am in love with it! A berry lip and a lavender highlighter. It looks great on my pale skin! Packaging is super cute and fancy too.

For Christmas, face masks can be great. Kbeauty really excels in that area I think, and Amazon has a set of 16 for 10 dollars or 24 masks for 16 dollars. Can be tricky though if you don't know the persons skin type that you are getting the gift for.

u/ihatespunk · 5 pointsr/SkincareAddicts

Hey! I have super sensitive, dry, breakout prone skin with some intense hair growth on my chin. Before I got to this routine people were asking me what was wrong and someone told me it looked like I must wear a chin strap (charming!), and now I have little to no breakouts or irritation.

I've found shaving to be the least irritating method (I'm prone to ingrowns so plucking, waxing and threading made for even bigger problems). I use a 5 blade razor that is ONLY for my face and gets switched out to be my pits/legs razor as soon as it starts getting dull at all. I'll also rinse it with alcohol after every couple of shaves, every time if I've been having skin problems (note: let it dry completely, the drying process is what kills everything).

My best tip is to shave with a super mild face wash. I really like the hada labo hydrating face wash, it's extremely mild and really thick and foamy so it makes a nice cushion for the razer (like a men's shaving soap does).

After shaving I pat my face dry and slap on some BHA - huge game changer right there. BHAs exfoliate and reduce redness and inflammation and I find them to be waaaaaay more effective and less irritating than any manual exfoliation. I really like The Ordinary's salicylic acid but it's pretty heavy duty, they recommend using it as a spot treatment (I slather my whole face with it, but my skin loves acids). If my skin has been feeling dry I'll do Cosrx's BHA power liquid, it's a milder form of BHA combined with niacinamide, a holy grail ingredient for many, it brightens skin and reduces acne (and I think it's anti-aging? I lurk on /r/asianbeauty but I don't have it all down!), though it can interact badly with some forms of vitamin c (causes flushing)

Next steps are all about hydrating and soothing. My skin breaks out from being sad and dry, and it makes any irritation or ingrowns a million times worse. I've found I get my best results from layering my products. I really like cosrx's snail serum, and right now I'm topping it with 2 moisturizers (again, very dry skin, plus it's a very dry winter where I am). First moisturizer is The Ordinary's Natural Moisturizing Factors, then Cerave in the tub.

I then top it with sunscreen, either clinique super city block, biore water essence, or cotz sensitive depending on how my skin is feeling.

Sometimes I'll wear makeup too, I've found bareminerals hydrating gel and any of dermablend's products go over my freshly shaved skin just fine (as long as I use a good makeup remover in the evening!)

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions :)

u/Bzttid · 3 pointsr/transpassing

Google it, then.

(A) Nothing, I'm not trying to attack you or anything. You asked for brutal honesty and it just doesn't help you when you're trying to pass with makeup.

(B) Moisturizer isn't going to matte your face throughout the day over your makeup. By itself maybe, but still.

Again, just CC, look how you want.

This is a bit heavy but it's your preference.

You aren't a guy, you're a girl. Literally, right now as much as you may not feel it, your hormones have made you biologically female. Also, it will be a very healthy exercise in moving past the concern of what people think of you.

After you shower, when you're getting ready, and whenever it's tangled. I don't know, just brush it? Run the comb through your hair until you don't feel resistance? Again, google it, it's something that I've been doing since a very young age so it's a bit hard to explain. It will make your hair softer, healthier, promote growth, and train it to go a certain direction rather than just going everywhere. Don't yank clumps, hold your hair between your scalp and the tangled hair and brush through. Also, go look for some sort of frizz control or detangler hair stuff. Also, conditioning will help. Price is one factor, and people's reviews are another. There is an absurd amount of info on the internet: google it. And also, Head and Shoulders is junk. If you have a problem with dandruff consider using Nizoral two times a week.

To me, it sounds like the self hatred talking. See someone, express this. You need to get past it. If anything is poisoning your mind it's yourself.

Well, if you feel like you look weird with makeup then maybe you need to take a step back and understand that what you're doing isn't working and you need to change something. Not all makeup products are equal. You need to get better stuff that fits you.

Well, you need to. And it's not even a "guy" thing to not care about skin, it's just an uninformed thing. You need to care about at least your skin and your hair. It's part of basic care for yourself. If you don't take care of your skin you get cancer, and if you don't take care of your hair it'll become matted and damaged. I get the exhaustion part, that could be a number of things. I'll reference a few of them in the next few lines.

  • First off, what's your diet like? Diet will affect EVERYTHING. Food is fuel, and if your fuel is shit, your engine is gonna run like shit. Make sure you're eating veggies, fruits, and healthy proteins. Avoid processed food like the plague. This could also potentially help your energy levels as when I used to eat like shit I felt tired ALL the time.

  • Second, do you take any vitamins? I would personally look at a good multivitamin. Go to your nearest health food store and ask for a good multivitamin (without potassium obv). Also, I would personally suggest a B-complex, which will help massively with energy and with mood. A few other good ones would be C, E, fish oil capsules (omega-3s), and biotin.

  • Third, wash your face with cleanser once a day (usually at night) and with cold water in the morning.

  • Fourth, moisturize your skin twice a day, morning and evening, after you wash your face.

  • Fifth, physically exfoliate two to three times a week instead of your night time routine, or (not and) chemically exfoliate according to the chemical exfoliants directions. (Curology.com will formulate a custom chemical exfoliant for 20$ a month, works pretty good, is what I use)

  • Lastly, get some skin masks. I love Korean sheet masks for how fun they are. Skin masks are healthy and make your skin look glow-y, but most of all it makes me feel girly and it's fun!

    Hair dryers are cheaaaap, and your hair would benefit from one. You could probably get one for almost nothing at a goodwill nearby. Head and shoulders, like I said before, is bad. All sorts of drying components to it, just not great. Like I said before, I use nizoral because if I didn't I would have an insane dandruff problem (due to serrb derm), I'd suggest it if you do have flakes, if you don't get something good and suggested by the curly hair sub I linked earlier.

    Well, I can't say much there if you don't like it.
u/lillycrack · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

I need help with my routine. I’ve just changed it up and have added a new product once at a time. It seems to be working so far! But my only issue is that my moisturiser is too heavy, but the old daytime one I used wasn’t heavy enough.

So I’m mainly needing a daytime moisturiser for oily skin, but also would love some toner suggestions to add to my routine. I’m on a bit of a budget but any suggestions of products available in the Uk are welcome!

My skin type is oily, but the skin around my nostrils always seems to dry out and flake easily. The rest of my skin is oily.

Routine that I’ve been doing for 3-ish weeks.

Morning

u/aisakumi · 1 pointr/AsianBeauty

Hello~ I've been stalking the Korean beauty industry for years, but have never committed due to random reasons. I want to try my hand at it next year (need to use up my stupidly expensive Sephora products). Here's a routine I created - mostly from Snow White & The Pear's reviews. For the record, I have eczema (thanks god, no flares right now) and sensitive (contact allergies), oily skin. I know. How can I have eczema and oily skin? OTL

u/CH4C4RR0N · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

Hey everyone,

I suffer from Seborrheic dermatitis, so the only products I am using are from this helpful list. I am currently using the Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel mixed with The Ordinary's Squalane and the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser and for the first time I feel like I am having actual success.


So I wanted to make the next step and introduce sunscreen. I ordered the CōTZ FACE Natural Tinted
SPF 40
, but unfortunately it breaks me out.


I definitely wanted a mattifying sunscreen, since regardless of which product I am using, I always get noticeably oily/greasy 1-2 hours after applying products. So to try other sunscreens from that list, I ordered the Biore Uv Perfect Face Milk Spf50 + / Pa ++++ and the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk (SPF50 PA ++++). It is going to take some time until they arrive, but I thought I could already ask some questions:


According to Fiftyshadesofsnail the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk dries down to a clear satin finish that can go more matte or more dewy depending on your skin condition and what skincare you have underneath. Considering my situation, it might end up too dewy for me. My inital idea was to simply apply it over my Benton Aloe Propolis Gel + Squalane mix and in case that this will end up too dewy, I wanted to test using this over the Benton Gel without the squalane. However if this still ends up being too dewy, would it be okay to use the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk without any actual moisturizer under it, or would I be missing out on some important skin benefits?


My next question would be if the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser will be enough to remove the Biore and the Skin Aqua sunscreens. I have read somewhere that I might need an oil cleanser for this. I currently have this Mystic Moments White Mineral Oil Carrier Oil 100% Pure, but I didn't like how it doesn't really get off when using water. I have read that if you mix it with 10-15% cromollient SCE it'll be better, but I live in Europe, Germany and I don't know where I can get that here.


Thank you for any kind of help!

u/scaredofpants · 3 pointsr/Accutane

For dry hands, I recommend Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter by LUSH. It is hands-down (pun intended) the most moisturizing product I've used on my hands. If that's out of your price range, or if you don't like strong lemon scents, Trader Joe's has a nice balm for a fraction of the price. Still a bit lemony, but fades faster.

For body wash, I've been loving Dove's deep moisture line. All my old body washes and soaps became so drying on Accutane, so I had to make a change.

For face, Aquaphor is a godsend, and is required nightly to seal in all my moisturizer and oils. Moisturizer and oils are pretty personal, I just use coconut oil and CeraVe, but I highly recommend having an open mind and being prepared for some different products. My whole routine changed for Accutane, and that's the case for many people!

Also: SUNSCREEN. Sephora will let you try samples of any products, so I'd advise you go get a bunch of sunscreen samples and see which ones you like. Some leave a white cast; some felt a bit burny due to increased sensitivity of skin on Accutane. I eventually settled on CeraVe's SPF 50--it has white cast, but didn't burn or sting.

Overall, your skin will be super sensitive. I recommend shopping at places with solid return policies, and being patient with your skin. Good luck!

u/I_dont_like_pickles · 1 pointr/RandomKindness

Can you maybe make an amazon wish list to give some ideas? Something work related might be good, but something just for fun could be good too.

For example, do you think he could use something like this http://www.amazon.ca/Youngstown-Glove-03-3200-78-XL-Anti-Vibe-Performance/dp/B0000950RG/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_2?

Or this http://www.amazon.ca/3M-Tekk-Protection-Folding-Earmuff/dp/B00467AHXI/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_2

For something work-ish related.

Or for a little pampering something like this?
http://www.amazon.ca/Dr-Scholls-DRFB7010B3-Vibrating-Foot/dp/B005967L7U/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_3

Or this: http://www.amazon.ca/OKeeffes-Working-Hands-Cream-3-4/dp/B00121UVU0/ref=lp_6371091011_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1418632243&sr=1-6

Or something like a daddy-time box that has things like hot chocolate pouches, his fave candies or other treats like nuts or popcorn, a small book or calendar with nice scenery in it, a book of short stories or one of the chicken soup for the soul books, or a comic book or something, an audio book or 2 he could listen to on his work commute, things that won't nec take up a lot of time for him to use but some new little things to show your appreciation.

Throw out any ideas you can think of and maybe some of Santa's helpers can help you out :)

u/0761 · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Hey, new here to ScA. I saw this thread was active even after being posted some days ago; so I signed up with hopes to become an active member of the community :)

Little about me: I haven't been doing skincare stuff all that often. In fact, I'm quite new to it. In addition, I'm currently rather young, and pursuing skincare in the hopes that once all of the 'problem areas' of my skin are clear, I can establish a daily 'up-keep' routine; preferably as minimalistic as possible (anti-bacterial soap & moisturizer).

Anyhow, the below is the information relative to my current situation. Feel free to flame me for what I'm doing incorrectly; although I would greatly appreciate hearing the reasoning behind your opinion(s). Looking forward to hearing some feedback and, hopefully, contributing at a later point (perhaps when I'm more informed on the matter).

Skin type: Blemish Prone (per my take on the guide)

Current routine:

  • Morning:

    • [Shower] Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash (excluding facial application) (https://www.amazon.com/Dove-Deep-Moisture-Nourishing-Ounce/dp/B001ECQ4WQ)

    • [Shower] Neutrogena Rapid Clear Foaming Scrub (SA 2% - facial application only) (https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Rapid-Clear-Foaming-Scrub/dp/B003YCF4XO)

    • Equate Beauty Spot Treatment (BP 10% - facial application only (spot treatment)) (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Beauty-10-Benzoyl-Peroxide-Acne-Treatment-Gel-1-oz/43436404)

    • Neutrogena Rapid Clear Daily Leave-On Mask (BP 2.5% - applied everywhere spot treatment wasn't - facial application only) (https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Rapid-Clear-Stubborn-Leave/dp/B0195I8UMM)

    • CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion (Hyaluronic Acid - face & neck application) (https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-12-Ounce/dp/B000YJ2SLG)

  • Evening (12hrs later):
    • Same as the morning

  • Occasionally used:
    • Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine gluconate solution 4.0% w/v - Spot treatment applied via directions on bottle with q tip - tested extensively via separate patches of skin) (https://www.amazon.com/Molnlycke-HIBICLENS-LIQ-8-OZ/dp/B00E5R65SA)
    [?] Applications are extremely conservative, but becoming less-so over time

    Note: In addition, I'm changing bedding, towels, and wash-cloths often.

    How long: I've been using the above routine consistently for around two to three months now. And although my skin is getting better, the transition has been extremely slow. At times it causes me to wonder if there are things I can be doing differently. My motto when doing this has resembled something of "Rome wasn't built in a day". In that time I've effectively reduced all cysts, nodules, and pustules down to papules and open/closed comedones. I am happy with the progress that's been made thus far, but I am working towards clear skin altogether.

    Anything new: Pimples will appear (and re-appear, respectively) from time to time, but I usually am able to eliminate said blemishes within the realm of a week (or sooner). I figured this was a good sign. Other than that, I speculate that I have found some instances of staph infection on the surface of my skin, and am planning an appointment to the dermatologist when I get the chance.

    Location: Arizona (aka the surface of the sun). I feel this will prompt quite a few responses regarding sunscreen, and I have recently embraced the idea of including it within a routine; especially in my recent quest to eliminate the vestigial red-marks (PIH?) lingering on my skin.

    Matters of concern:
    I'm very liberal in my application of the above BP 10% 'spot treatments'. This my be irritating my skin unnecessarily, but I haven't experienced any obvious irritation. I'm also considering purchasing more Hibiclense with the intent of wide-spread usage (in an effort to clear the additional acne from my chest and back), but I don't know how effective that would be considering it wouldn't penetrate the skin like BP.

    Of course, thank you all again for the (potential) input. I greatly appreciate anyone who puts in the time to help a new-comer like me. <3
u/commiecat · 1 pointr/wicked_edge

Well a brush isn't necessary to build the lather, but it certainly makes it much easier to whip it up into stiff peaks like a meringue. If your lather now provides enough lift on the whiskers and moisture on the skin then that's the most important part.

For me, using the brush to make and apply the lather is quite enjoyable, and there are subtle but practical benefits; natural bristles retain water for moisturizing, they also help lift whiskers and massage the lather into them to soften, and having a brush with a nice soap/cream looks kinda neat by the sink (people always ask about my shave gear the first time they visit the house).

So it's perfectly fine to hand-lather, but I don't think you'd go back if you ever tried a brush. I got sticker shock when I first looked at brushes as they can get quite pricey. I wasn't even thrilled with paying like $45 for my first one (which was worth it in retrospect), and I've made two of my own since that one (details here). If you're just looking to try, then the Tweezerman badger is both adequate and affordable at less than $15 on Amazon.

u/ecologista · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

Does she use any skincare (not makeup, but lotions, etc) currently? Ideally we suggest things based on a person's skintype, current products, etc.

A good bet would be some sheet masks - a paper mask with a serum on it you use for 20-30 minutes - they come in a variety of flavors and are one-time use. Unfortunately, you're cutting it close and most of whats available in a timely matter from amazon will be Korean/Taiwanese (if she's picky about japanese stuff).

Some amazon options are:

u/ginger_faerie · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

I haven't heard of the BHA-claymask-Oil cleanse method. I actually don't have much need to oil cleanse, as I don't wear makeup or sunscreen (Bad girl! BAD!) and the Good Morning Cleanser works as both a 1st and 2nd cleanser (2 in 1 bonus! Score!). I am working to get better with the sunscreen, but only just got in my first 2 this week.

The blackhead liquid does kinda sit on my skin, but I feel like that's kinda what it's supposed to do - soften the oil plugs so my AHA can be more effective. That's also why I cleanse again after using it.

I do use (and love) kaolin clay and masks. The Body Shop Tea Tree 3-in-1 cleanse/scrub/mask I mentioned before is one of my HGs. I use it while in the shower about once a week: scrub it on, let it sit while I wash the rest of me (it does have a strong tea tree smell and gets tingly on your skin, but I like that) then scrub it a little more before washing it off. After getting out of the shower, I use the pH adjusting toner, then add my BHA liquid and let it sit. I will admit, I have no idea what the pH of this product is, and don't have a way to test it myself. I find that after this routine (Body Shop TT 3-in-1 or the GM cleanser, BHA, AHA, warm water scrub) my blackheads and SFs are drastically reduced. It was actually pretty shocking to me the first time I did it - I was looking in the mirror going, The pores on my nose are gone!!! lol

I can't really tell you what to get - Sorry! But getting the Green Tea samples is definitely worth it, as if you don't like it, you're not out very much $. Fortunately, both the Mizon Snail and TonyMoly Green Tea are pretty cheap. The Snail comes in a 2-pack on Amazon for $17, or one for $11. The Green Tea samples linked above are super cheap (<$2), and the full size is only $13 on YesStyle or RRS.
Like with most K-beauty products, a little goes a long way with both.

if you live in a dryer environment (or your skin is crazy dehydrated and thirsty like mine!), maybe go for both, or maybe try the Green Tea in the Skin or Essence. I can't choose between the two because they do different things - The Green Tea is plumping and hydrating, and the Snail is pigment-reducing and healing (and occlusive, but not greasy).

Sorry, I blabber on...

u/tripunctata · -1 pointsr/AsianBeauty

I would recommend the following:

Avoid skin-clogging makeup as much as possible (bronzer, concealer, primer, etc.). I don't use any of this - no BB creams, no CC creams, no foundation, nothing. Keep the skin unclogged, is the goal. Use something that has salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to wash your face, 1-2 times a day (morning and night) because that will actually kill the acne-causing bacteria. Then use non-comedogenic face moisturizer - I like Clinique's Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief and use either Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF50+ or Banana Boat Kids spf 50 (it's a physical sunscreen not got a lot of oily sunblock ingredients). You have to moisturize and gotta make sure you protect your skin from wrinkles and cancer!

After showering, I put Thayer's Witch Hazel (the rose petal kind but I don't think it matters which "flavor" you choose) on. Just a thin layer applied with a cotton ball. It's essentially another cleaner. Then I wait for it to dry and add the same Clinique moisturizer and then, to get rid of pigmentation, you will need a cream with retinol to stimulate growth of new and fresher skin cells. I recommend using it at night, before you apply the moisturizer so it will penetrate the skin. I use Alpha SkinCare Deep Wrinkle Repair from Ulta.

Be gentle with your skin - don't wash it too hard and pat it dry and use warm water, not too cold or hot. Once a week, make a gelatin pore cleaning mask (recipe here but there's a billion out there you can use) and use a clay mask as well to drain your pores of oil after you've yanked any gross globs out.

This is going to take time, of course. And make sure that your pillows you sleep on are clean (wash pillowcase once a week) and that you don't let your hair brush against your face (oils can get on your skin and clog it).

I've done this for 12 years and that's how I've kept my skin essentially completely blemish free (occasional pimples, small, once every few months?)

The goal is to keep skin clean and moisturize it just enough. It's not very complex, to be honest. I don't ever listen to anecdotal crap about why some products work better than others. I look at the ingredients list and then read studies to see why it might work. Sure, if you're just looking for moisturizing, fine, rely on anecdotal stuff and weak evidence, but for things where you really want to see results like less wrinkles or fewer pimples, ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and retinol are very important.

*ETA: when applying ANYTHING to your face, make sure you wash your hands first!!! No point to use these wonderful products if the tool applying them is dirty. And then it gets the product as well as your face dirty. Clean hands, clean towels to dry your hands and face! Wash the towels a minimum of once a week. Don't have to use a lot of soap to launder the towels - bc that can be irritating - but needs to be clean.

u/VaginaDentata · 2 pointsr/wicked_edge

Get yourself a variety pack of razors. Your face will react differently to each one and after you've tried several you'll know which to buy more next time you make a purchase.

As for building a lather, check out some of the many videos like this one by mantic59. After some time you'll find what works best for you but this video provides some basics. Once you've committed yourself to wetshaving you'll find all sorts of ways to build lather - mug, palm, stick, scuttle and others. For the college student I'd recommend Proraso's shave soap or one of the many Taylor of Old Bond Street options as they are both in their own bowl, which saves a bit, for now.

Since prep is critical for a nice shave I'd invest in a nice pre shave soap and/or cream. I use Musgo Real Glyco Lime Oil soap and Proraso's pre/post cream.

The Merkur 180 razor you've listed is what I use and I love it. I don't have experience with the Col. Conk soap but I'm sure it's fine. Leisureguy has recommended Proraso's glycerin soap in previous posts. I think I use the same brush you linked to and it's fine. If you'd like to check out some better options Bull Goose Shaving offers some good priced horse hair and Whipped Dog offers some neat options for silvertip brushes. BTW, Larry over at Whipped Dog can make you a brush and bowl combo, just pick out the color options yourself.

*edit: a less expensive sampler pack.

u/notahotdesk · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

That's fair. It is pretty overwhelming and there are a lot of good products out there, but they won't necessarily all work for you.

If you bought one of everything in the actives list, you'd probably a) end up spending way too much money and b) end up with really unhappy skin.

So, with that in mind, here's my personal recommendations from where I'd start if I was in your shoes (i.e. decent skin, no routine to speak of, but looking to make some anti-aging protection moves).

AM:

u/-katekiko · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

Hi guys, I've been loving AB for about a year now but I haven't stuck to one routine for more than a few months at a time, mainly due to travel and addiction to trying new things 😅 I'm sorry for the epic novel to follow, skip to the bottom if you want. I'm just so tired of dealing with crap skin!


I've had a horrible breakout in the last few months on my back that I can't seem to shake. I don't know why. I got back on the pill after being off it for several months in the hopes of fixing the breakout; it's helping a little but I'm only just starting my second month back on the pill so it might take a while to see results.



Of more concern to me is a new cystic breakout along my jawline--I haven't had such sore acne in years. I'm 19 and I've gotten my acne a lot better under control thanks to the pill and PocketDerm (don't like the name Curology lol) but I've dealt with it in varying forms of severity since like 6th grade.



Before the cysts (bear with me here!) were all these closed comedones, as well as tiny white marks on my face--some raised, some not--which are either CCs or scars, I'm not sure. I plan to eventually get laser treatment because I hate the texture of my skin and all the PIH I have but I want to make sure I'm stopping new breakouts before I spend a ton of money on treating old scars.


So basically I've stripped down my routine to complete, tried and true basics in the hopes of not irritating my skin and making sure nothing's breaking me out. And yet I have like three whiteheads on one side of my face near my mouth and cystic acne on my jawline and near my temples. Nothing has changed in my lifestyle, I haven't added anything new to my routine...please give me any ideas or product suggestions!

TLDR my skin is somewhat freaking out, may be hormonal but I want help setting up a routine to help my moisture barrier, acne, and PIH

Oily/Acne-Prone: | Boston, USA/Dry, windy: | Acne, PIH:

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM


u/Vicktaru · 2 pointsr/beards

The picture gallery is empty, how long have you been growing for and how old are you? If you've been growing for less than a month the answer is to just keep growing. If you're past the month and your beard is a faster growing one you can cut your cheek and neck line. If your hair doesn't grow that fast give it longer, personally I think you should wait until your face is obscured but your hair is not yet too think for a pass or two of a DE razor to cut.

If you're past the two month mark and your hair grows thick you may want to start thinking about grooming. Personally I like to start my shower by putting a good conditioner in my beard and letting it sit as I shower. I wash it out last and then after the shower put some leave in conditioner on it that will stay in my beard the rest of the day. This keeps my beard shiny and soft, and makes it easier to work with while combing.

If you're past three months and your hair grows thick you can then start thinking about trimming. This is not something we can help you with, it really depends on your personal style. I can almost guarantee that everyone here is just going to tell you to let the beast grow. It's not a bad idea either, it's easier to cut beard off than to grow it back so why not let it grow for a while. Personally, I'm almost at three months now and my expectations of what I wanted have completely changed. At first I just wanted a nice flat bit of hair on my face, a very neat and tidy full beard. Unfortunately my hair doesn't grow that way and it had to get pretty thick before it covered my face well. Now that I have grown it thick I find I like the size of the beard and want to keep growing it. Does that mean I'll have a yeard? Couldn't tell you until I get there. I plan to keep growing it until I don't like how it looks anymore, then and only then will I trim it back to the point where I do like it. This is my recommendation to you. That and get your pictures working, everyone wants to see that beast of a beard!

u/DragonBorn76 · 4 pointsr/30PlusSkinCare

For your melasma , I would use a sunblock, most of the time that is caused by sun exposure so you don't want to undo whatever treatment for them you are doing.

For sunblock I would explore the Asian brands which designed to be cosmetically elegant and even if you buy them online, they aren't usually too expensive. A really popular brand is Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence. It can be purchased on Amazon. Another brand , Canmake gets really good reviews here on Reddit for being moisturizing and working well under makeup. It is moisturizing as well so during the day you probably won't need a separate moisturizer .

I would skin the brightening face washes and invest in face washes which will be gentle and non-drying. Facewashes aren't on the skin long enough IMO to really help.

Just depending how bad your melasma is , it just may not be able to correct using OTC products. It may need laser treatment but a few things you can try which is known to help is hydroquinone and 20% glycolic acid ( you will want to build up tolerance to 20% ).

I would also add vitamin C serum for skin brightening .

For a moisturizer , I love La Roche-Posay double repair. It has Niacinamide which has anti-aging benefits and it's very moisturizing. If you DO use the glycolic acid peels you will want something like this that can help restore your moisture barrier.

u/cheeryowl · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Hello! Longtime lurker, first time poster (female, 27 years old). Since my early 20s, my routine has consisted of using sunscreen in the morning and washing it off with water at night, and overall I am happy with my skin. However, for the last couple years I've been wanting to add in some products for exfoliation and to fade some spots; in order to add an AHA/BHA/vitamin C/other similar products, I figured I needed to get a good skincare routine with a cleanser and moisturizer in place first before incorporating actives. After reading Skincare Addiction and Asian Beauty posts for years I finally started building a skincare routine a few months ago, but I am confused and I need some help!

Pics of skin: https://imgur.com/a/BIDre I think the lighting is more flattering in the first picture, but my skin was also in a better place. The redness and bumpiness in the second picture started a few days ago, and I stopped using the moisturizer that was causing it so hopefully it will get better soon.

Issues: old scar on my cheek (from a weird patch of dry skin that lingered for months), sunspots/freckles on cheeks, PIH, a few CCs, dry skin flakes (especially in winter), one stubborn milia on my cheek (a milium?), occasional acne around that time of the month

Skin type: dry, sensitive (reacts to many products, but overall fairly resilient as long as I stop using all products for a few days after a reaction)

Current routine:

Morning:

  • splash with water

  • Bobbi Brown SPF 50 Protective Face Base: link (no makeup after, even though I think this sunscreen is for use under foundation)

    Evening:

  • rinse with room temperature or lukewarm water

  • use La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ moisturizing cream; previously Nivea Creme

    How long/anything new: I just switched to the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm last night. For 2-3 weeks I was using Nivea Crème every night, but I noticed new whiteheads, redness, and bumps around my mouth recently. I have been trying out new skincare products for around 2-3 months.

    Goals for skincare routine over next 3 months: find a moisturizer that I can use morning and night, ideally one that also heals skin; add a cleanser for nighttime

    Goals for skincare routine over next year: add an AHA for exfoliation and fading scar on cheek, sun damage, and PIH; possibly add a vitamin C or other product to fade spots more; possibly switch out expensive Bobbi Brown sunscreen for one of the AB sunscreens I have (the Bobbi Brown sunscreen sort of doubles as a moisturizer for me, and my skin felt dry when using the AB ones since I didn't have a real moisturizer underneath. Once I find a good moisturizer, I'm planning to try the AB ones again)

    My location: USA

    Need recommendations for:

  1. Do I in fact need a cleanser and moisturizer before adding an AHA or vitamin C if I already have a sunscreen?

  2. The order in which I should build my skincare routine. The newbie recommendation says to focus on finding a cleanser (Step 1) and a moisturizer (Step 4), but it doesn't say which to incorporate first. I have sensitive skin and have reacted badly to skincare products in the past, so I can only introduce one product at a time and I need to do a lot of patch testing. I have a sunscreen in my routine already. I tried adding a cleanser first (La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin, most gentle cleanser I have ever tried), but after a week my skin got somewhat dry and I developed some little red patches that went away when I stopped using the cleanser, which suggests that my skin needed a moisturizer after cleansing. I am currently trying different moisturizers (Cerave PM, Nivea Crème in blue tub, now La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+), but after a few weeks of each one I notice new whiteheads trapped under my skin on my cheeks, and now after the Nivea Crème I have some redness and bumpiness around my mouth (see pics above). When I got whiteheads after using the Cerave PM I thought I was reacting badly to fatty alcohols, but now I'm thinking it just means I need a cleanser because Nivea Crème doesn't have fatty alcohols. Do I continue my quest for a moisturizer first and then add a cleanser next? Arrrgh! I'm so confused and frustrated because I feel like my skin looked better when I was only using sunscreen. I also feel like my confidence has taken a hit because I obsess over little spots that I'm sure no one else notices.

  3. Product haul from Amazon. I got $50 in giftcards for my birthday (woo!) and I am interested in buying hydrocolloid bandages and some moisturizers and/or essences to try out over the next few months, especially ones that are not available at CVS/Target/etc. Eventually I want to get actives, but I think I should wait until I have the basics under control. I have narrowed it down to the following options after reading HG recommendations here and on the AB subreddit for dry/sensitive skin, but I would appreciate any suggestions if I have gone wrong somewhere and guidance in narrowing the list to total around $50, or additional recommendations if I missed a good HG product:

    Hydrocolloid bandages:

    COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch, 24 Patches ($5) link

    Moisturizer:

    COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence ($20) link

    COSRX Honey Ceramide Full Moisture Cream ($20) link

    Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream ($15) link

    Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream ($9) link

    Sorry for the giant post! If I should ask this somewhere else in Skincare Addiction or post this in Asian Beauty instead, please let me know.

    (edited for formatting and clarity. new to reddit formatting)
u/mastiii · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Oily skin is sometimes aggravated by harsh treatments, which can make oiliness even worse. It's recommended that every skin type, even oily skin, use moisturizer. It can actually help balance your skin.

Bar soap in general is way too harsh for skin because of the high pH. I don't know specifically about the Neutrogena one, but you may want to research and find out the pH. Ideally the pH used to wash your face is 5-6. Bar soaps can often have a pH of 9 or so. Another thing is read the ingredients of your toner. Does it contain alcohol? If so, this is drying and not recommended, even for oily skin. As I mentioned before, you're possibly drying out and irritating your skin with the bar soap, alcohol in the toner, and lack of moisturizer. And finally, are you certain that the coconut oil doesn't break you out? I think occasionally people continue to use oils that aren't suitable for their skin which makes them break out. Coconut oil is comedogenic for many, but of course some people can use it without problems. Mineral oil, jojoba oil, and sunflower oil are supposed to be less comedogenic (although anyone can have a reaction to anything so be sure to test it if you try it!)

There is a moisturizer called Dr. Lin Daily Hydrating gel. It's unlikely to break you out and good for oily skin. You can get it at stores like Ulta and CVS/Walgreens for less than $8. CeraVe PM moisturizer is another good one, but some people break out from using it.

Alternative cleansers to look into are CeraVe foaming cleanser or Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam.

Oily and acne prone skin can benefit from salicylic acid but it must have a pH of less than 4 to work properly. Again, it is preferred to avoid alcohol but it's really hard to find salicylic acid that doesn't contain it. Paula's Choice 2% BHA is hugely popular and for good reason (let me know if you need help getting discounts for this, I can show you how). If that is not affordable, Stridex max strength pads are effective for many.

I think reformulating your routine is the first step. It is possible that your acne is caused by being too harsh with your skin and throwing it out of whack. But if you're still getting acne with a reformulated routine, you may want to see a dermatologist or use the online dermatology service Curology (I've had amazing success with them and let me know if you want more info!).

Check out the SCA routine page for more info about creating a routine.

u/GlossyProse · 20 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

For bacne:

  1. Change to a salicylic body wash. I recommend Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash.

  2. Use a salicylic acid exfoliant on the back, once or twice daily. I recommend Stridex Med Pads.

  3. Finish with a salicylic moisturizer. I recommend CeraVe Renewing SA Lotion.


    You’ll notice the trend here: salicylic acid.

    Salicylic acid penetrates the skin, causes a softening and sloughing of the top layer of skin, and helps unclog pores to resolve and prevent acne. This acid is also lipophillic, which means it can even penetrate oily skin and already clogged pores, resulting in a deep cleaning. Salicylic acid can reduce sebum secretion, which is another way it can help reduce acne. Lastly, it's also an anti-inflammatory, which can help calm inflamed acne and promote healing.


    As a final note, unrelated to the bacne.. please stop using R+F products. The products are of average quality at best, way over-priced, and even more overrated. Not least of all that MLM schemes should be avoided. If you need help with your skin care, the community info in this subreddit has a really excellent FAQ and wiki, and members are more than happy to answer questions.


    Best of luck.
u/Papander · 6 pointsr/wicked_edge

Read this pretty long post about DE shaving. The "HERE" link inside that post has good information as well.

Some comments about the products you have chosen:


> So I've been looking into buying a DE starter kit and looked at all the suggestions and I've sorted out this much so far.
Razor: DE86bl
Blades: Sampler
Pre-Shave Soap: Glycerine
Alum: Alum
Styptic: Clubman Pinaud

The Edwin Jagger is a very good razor.

The sampler comes only with 2 blades per brand, which could be enough but in my opinion 5 blades per brand would be better. Blade samplers in amazon are somewhat expensive.

Clearly natural is a pre-shave soap which is not necessary, but some people do find them helpful. You use it to wash your face before you lather your shaving cream/soap. You are missing the shaving cream/soap from your list.

Alum again not necessary, but some users like it.

Styptic pencil, do you bleed a lot? I ask because I hardly ever bleed, my blood coagulates really fast. So I have never seen a use for a styptic pencil.

> So for brushes it sounds like boar or badger, which I believe is preferred, hair is the way to go, but then the recommendation for the $75 level is bamboo and at the $100 one of the 2 recommended is synthetic.

The Ecotools bamboo brush is a women's makeup brush. Using it for shaving seems rather extreme. However I'm not sure how its making process differs from a shaving brush, do they use different glue or what. But I have seen threads posted where people say that the brush has died on them. If you are on a very tight budget and want a very soft brush that you can also find locally, then I think the Ecotools is a good option. That being said you can get Omega boar brush for about $10 from various online stores.

> I was looking through some of the threads and somewhere I found someone recommend this set which seemed nice, has a badger brush a little cup for lathering and a thing to hang the brush on to dry and comes with little starter shaving soap (although I have no idea if the soap is any good). So thoughts on that set and any inputs on brushes would be appreciated.

I don't think that recommendation had many upvotes. The brush is a pure badger brush and it's also prone to excessive shedding. The soap is nothing special. A brush stand isn't necessary. After you are done shaving thoroughly rinse the brush with running water from the tap, shake out the excess water, and use a towel to dry the tips of the brush, leave the brush standing on its base in a open space to air dry. The apothecary mug is not necessary either. It's mainly intended to hold the soap puck. However most shaving soaps will come in their own containers. The mug can also be quite small so when you are loading your brush you end up banging your fingers against the sides. I wouldn't recommend this set.

> And then lastly, how important are aftershaves? Are they just to smell nice or does it help you skin take a breather after threateningly rubbing sharp stuff all over it? My main mental picture of aftershave never having used it before is the scene from Home Alone, so feel free to educate me.

There are many different kinds of aftershave products; alum block, afershave splash, aftershave balm, moisturizing cream, moisturizing oil like jojoba oil, unrefined shea butter, and witch hazel. You pretty much have to try which works for you, but I'd start with a cheap aftershave balm like the Nivea sensitive aftershave balm (if you get satisfactory results with it you don't have to explore the other options unless you want to).

In the Home Alone he used aftershave splash. I'm not really a fan of these, the alcohol can be too drying for your skin and they are often more heavily scented which can irritate your skin. Some users do love them though, but I'd say they are for normal to oily skin. I like to use the other type of products, such as the aftershave balm, it soothes/heals and moisturizes your skin.

u/bee_antlers · 2 pointsr/CompulsiveSkinPicking

My recommendation for soothing, moisturizing face masks are these Dermal Collagen Essence Sheet Masks. They can’t be worn all night but are super soothing for freshly picked skin, and have great ingredients. Plus, it’s 16 sheet masks for 10 bucks! Can’t go wrong there. I have dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin, and I absolutely love these.

Alternatively, for overnight and long term masks I would recommend Vaseline. It makes your face slippery so you can’t pick, and also keeps your skin moist and creates the perfect environment for healing. On r/skincareaddiction they call this the “slug life” or “slugging it.”

Both of these options are non-comedogenic and inexpensive! Best of luck.

u/Yarcofin · 4 pointsr/wicked_edge

Taylor of Old Bond Street and Geo F Trumper are both London-based companies with a very good reputation here. Both companies offer a sandalwood variety of shave soap. For around £10 you should be able to get a 6 oz soap of either in a plastic tub, or you can upgrade to Geo F Trumper in a wooden bowl for about £20.

Edwin Jagger is a company based out of Sheffield that offers very nice razors for around £20. Any that start with DE8_ are good, they all have the same head... it just comes down to the handle for example DE86 has a faux-ebony handle but DE89 is all chrome... the cutting head is the same on both.

A silvertip (highest quality) badger brush will run you at least £20, so as you can probably start to see, getting a soap, brush, and razor all for £30-40 will be tricky. If you downgrade to a boar brush you can get one for about £10 which will bring all 3 products to about £40. A boar brush isn't "worse", it's just different -- many people prefer it over badger. It's also more humane as the badgers need to be killed to harvest their hair. Otherwise you will need to start getting into lower-quality soaps and razors to offset the cost of the badger brush, or spend at least an extra tenner.

For example here are some amazon.co.uk links for you, there are probably other UK-based shaving websites that carry all these as well, or if you live in a major city you might even have a physical shave shop:

Razor

Shaving soap

Boar brush (personally I would look for one with a wooden handle though, I think it's classier than the plastic. If you want to stick with plastic, they come in a variety of colours)

I intentionally picked British-made products for you since you want to incorporate strong traditional and classic themes, but other companies like Merkur (German), Gillette (American), Parker (Indian) also make good razors that you might want to take a look at. I'm also assuming you want a brand new razor and not something vintage. Proraso is a nice Italian soap I use myself that will probably cost you £5 if the others are a bit too expensive.


You can add in an aftershave but that will again be another £10 or so, same with a bowl. If you want something classic and like an aftershave, I'd pick up an alum block instead. It's a naturally-occuring mineral that acts as an astringent and antiseptic -- you run it over your face after shaving to close your pores and prevent razor bumps, etc. Brand generally doesn't matter, it's all the same chunk of rock. I think a bowl is an unnecessary extra cost, any cereal bowl or latte mug can be used. If anything, just go to a charity shop and pick out the nicest mug you can get for £1-2. The bowl is used to produce your lather... you swirl the brush on the soap for 30-60 seconds to load it, and then transfer to the bowl and the lather will grow into something like a normal shaving cream when you stir it for a couple minutes. You can also lather directly onto your face or in the palm of your hand if preferred too.

If he has any questions on how to use the stuff, just direct him our way :)

u/thatchickenisspicy · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddicts

Hi! I suffered from oily sensitive skin problems too before! Here's the routine I followed and I noticed a big difference:

Face Wash (2 times a day): I used simple korean face washes and these worked wonders for me! You can find really cheap face washes at Marshalls/TJ Maxx or at Amazon. Here's a good brand: https://www.amazon.com/Etude-House-Baking-Powder-Cleansing/dp/B00819F4OO/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520014584&sr=8-1&keywords=korean+baking+soda+face+wash

Toner (2 times a day): SUPER IMPORTANT! I used alcohol free which is super important if you have sensitive skin. I highly recommend this toner I still use it to this day and my skin has calmed a lot and become so soft. You can get this on amazon or any local stores really like Sprouts or even Marshalls TJ Maxx. Link: https://www.amazon.com/Thayers-Alcohol-Free-Petal-Witch-Hazel/dp/B007HD570Q/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1520014674&sr=1-3&keywords=thayers

Moisturize (2 times a day): I know it seems weird to moisturize an oily face but trust me its needed. Sometimes your skin might be super oily since its not receiving enough moisture and thus overcompensates by producing a bunch of oil (I've heard this before I'm not a doctor though). You just can't use super creamy moisturizers. This is my go to really light moisturizer. I prefer gel moisturizers since they don't feel as heavy on my face and provide a good balance to my skin. Link: https://www.amazon.com/MIZON-Snail-Recovery-Cream-Count/dp/B00NTR9B6A/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1520014798&sr=1-6&keywords=mizon+snail

Face Mask (once or twice a week): Since you have sensitive skin I don't recommend using Charcoal as it might be too harsh. I instead use any exfoilating (or non exfoliating) masks with tumeric. It's a great anti inflammatory perfect for sensitive skin. I use this one personally: https://www.amazon.com/YLLO-Turmeric-Scrub-Chickpea-Exfoliant/dp/B0764M4MWT/ref=sr_1_13_sspa?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1520014932&sr=1-13-spons&keywords=tumeric+mask&psc=1

Again you just have to experiment with what works best for your skin. It's a difficult process but I'm sure you'll find a way. Sorry for the really long post but I hope this helps! :)

u/SylphsAndSnowflakes · 7 pointsr/AsianBeauty

It largely depends on where you live and how quickly you need the items. As a general rule, if you're willing to wait a bit, you can find items much cheaper from non-Prime sellers on Amazon and overseas sellers on eBay. Also, if you're just purchasing a few things and they are heavy items, I find it's usually cheaper to stay away from sites with high shipping charges by weight, like Testerkorea and RoseRoseShop.

I usually do a lot of research when I make a new product purchase to find the lowest price from a reputable seller that I can. Partly because I just like shopping online for AB stuff and partly because I make it into a sort of game to see how cheap I can find something. It's like a hobby for me.

I recommend the Honey browser extension for Amazon. If you're looking for something it will tell you if there's a cheaper price available from another seller. It also goes through available coupon codes on many other online sites to see if there's one in the database that works for your order.

Anyway, I'm not sure where you live, but I did a bit of looking (I'm in the U.S.), and this is what I came up with. I can't guarantee these are the best prices out there -- just what I found from a bit of quick looking at a few different places.

Hado Labo foam for $9.40 with free shipping on Amazon (not Prime) here

The Face Shop Cleansing Oil - $9.58 with free shipping from Jolse here or $10.20 on Amazon Prime here.

Shiseido Aging Care Sunscreen on Amazon for $8.20 with free shipping (non-Prime) here.

Rosette Aqua Ceramide Gel - $12.45 with free shipping (non-Prime) on Amazon here.

u/OzzyAmir · 30 pointsr/AsianBeauty

So I've been a long time lurker and reader and thought I'd introduce myself and my new routine to the community. Special thanks to /u/mynomdeplumeisplume for the amazing guide that finally got me to pull the trigger!

 

A quick breakdown with links (all from Amazon):


Type | Product
---|---
Oil Cleanser | Banila Co. Clean It Zero Purity
Water Cleanser | Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam
Moisturizer | Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream
Sunscreen | Biore Aqua Rich UV Watery Essence

 

(Sk)intro and review

I'm a 24 year old male in the UK with light olive/brown skin that is pretty resilient but can be prone to spots. I have some PIH on my upper cheeks and forehead and dark circles under my eyes. Generally speaking I've gone for products that are formulated for sensitive skin and pretty "mainstream" from what I've seen in AB circles so far. They've been working great and my skin has never looked so good.

 
Special shout out to the Biore UV for being the first sunscreen that I actually don't dread using. I've not used sun protection much in the past because of how greasy it feels but this has been a dream. I'm going to stick to it for another week before adding a toner and my first essence - any suggestions for brightening/hydrating/PIH tackling would be great and also where to buy the Biore that isn't amazon. That's all for me, thanks for reading any questions and critiques would be welcome.

u/peony_chalk · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction
  1. Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF50+
  2. A vitamin C serum. I just got this sort of generic one off Amazon and have been liking it so far, and I've previously liked another sort of generic one off of Amazon (OzNaturals). I've tried other vitamin C's (including ones recommended and highly recommended here), and despite the weaker form of Vitamin C used in my generic Amazon products, I genuinely like using them more and think they do more for my skin.
  3. A moisturizer. I've been using Cerave PM and I like it, but I want to try something different when I run out, because new things are fun!

    I also have a benzoyl peroxide/antibiotic prescription that helped clear up my skin a lot, but I'm trying to wean myself off of it/go back to straight BP if my skin will let me. If prescriptions count against my three, I'd kill off the face-specific moisturizer and just use whatever other bottle of lotion I use on my body.

     

    If I could add two products to the list, the other ones I reach for every day are:

     

  • Desert Essence Oil Blend. It has a few different oils that people here recommend by themselves, so I saw this and got it on a whim. If one is good, ALL OF THEM MUST BE GREAT, RIGHT? (Poking fun at myself here. But my bad logic worked out this time.) It does have orange peel oil in it, which might be irritating for people with sensitive skin, but I like it because it smells nice.

  • A facial cleanser. My current favorite is probably Acure Radically Rejuvenating Cleansing Cream, but I also kind of love/hate the St. Ives Apricot & Manuka Honey Cleansing Stick (it's very trendy/buzzwordy -- Manuka honey! Cactus water! On a stick! -- it has some questionable ingredients like coconut oil, I'm not convinced that it wouldn't melt in a bag left in a hot car when travelling, and it seems unsanitary to rub the same piece of soap on my face every day [says the girl who uses bar soap], BUT I do actually think it cleanses well/leaves my skin soft/smells nice). I have Vanicream cleanser too, and it does a good job but is kind of a snoozefest.
u/Akatchuk · 7 pointsr/AsianBeauty

For a few months I've been functioning on a lean routine:

Skin Type: sensitive | Country/Climate I'm in: UK | Top Skin Concern: dehydration

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM

  • Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick
  • Kohaku Hada Lotion Extra Moisturising
  • Goodal's Mild Protect Natural Filter Sun Cream

    PM

  • Kose Cosmeport Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil
  • Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick
  • Kohaku Hada Lotion Extra Moisturising

    I decided it was time to flesh it up in preparation for getting started on actives in the near future, so I decided to keep focusing on hydration. I have never tried any snail-based products, so I picked Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence as an essence/serum to incorporate after my Kohaku Hada lotion. This is the first product I will be trialling.

    In about a month, I'm hoping to integrate the Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream which has had mixed reviews, but that I really wanted to try and that I hope will suit my needs and my skin.

    After that, the second-to-last step will be to add the Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack which also has mixed reviews, but I've read a couple of glowing ones by people with similar skin types, so I'm hoping it'll work for me!

    The last step, which isn't pictured here, will be to incorporate sheet masks. I'm waiting for a batch of My Beauty Diary Black Pearl sheet masks, and will be trying those out as soon as I'm happy (or unhappy!) with the Cosrx essence.

    This a UK haul, and I've managed to find all three items on Amazon Prime (links included). Thanks for reading! :)
u/unconscionable · 2 pointsr/wicked_edge

I'd like to suggest an alternative list. I don't have a lot of experience with a ton of different safety razors, but I did have a cheapo safety razor I inherited from my grandpa (RIP), and after 3yrs I spent under $40 on an Edwin Jagger and the difference was staggering. I'm not one to suggest unloading a ton of money on anything, but I'd suggest your priorities are a bit skewed when you're spending less on your safety razor than you are on your alum block (which is hardly a necessity, comparatively. Some people don't even like them, although I do)...

Here's my alternative suggestion that adds up to roughly the same amount of upfront $$ (~$50 - 60), but sets your priorities toward getting a fantastic, albeit affordable safety razor that will last you your whole life:

Edwin Jagger ($40)
http://www.amazon.com/Edwin-Jagger-De89bl-Double-Safety/dp/B003LW4L2W/

There are others in this price range that are good as well. I can't speak to those, but I doubt anyone here will argue that the Edwin Jagger is not a top contender for its price point. It's very popular.

I'd hold off on buying blades today (unless you really want to) since the above safety razor comes with 5 which should get you buy for your first 20 shaves or so if you want them to.. but when you do, buying them 100x at a time for ~$10 seems to be the right price point (and it'll last you 5yrs if you're like me), unless you like fancy feather blades or something. I've never noticed a difference between vendors, but others have. YMMV. Here's what I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Derby-Extra-Double-Razor-Blades/dp/B004SGKMA0/

That brush seems like a good price point. over $10 but under $20 seems to be a good price point for a decent quality brush unless you know what you're looking for. Mine has lasted me 3yrs so far and has no visible signs of wear or hairs falling out. I'd expect it to last another 3 at the very least, but probably many more.

Alum block? Skip it if you want for the time being, but I'd get it if I were you since it's just $6. It's the same one I have and it does its job of closing up nicks very well.

Styptic pencil is like $1 (maybe $2) at CVS / Walgreens, IIRC, no need to get on amazon if you don't want. Definitely get one of these, just don't lose the damn thing. Sure beats little bits of toilet paper on your face for hours and hours.

You can also get a puck of William's shave soap at CVS for $2 link which will last you a long time. If you want to spend a few bucks extra on that Palmolive stuff because you know it'll be better for your individual skin, then go for it.

In short: Spend the money on the safety razor, which should last forever. Skimp on everything else, which will not last forever. That's my advice. I spent 3yrs shaving with a razor that I had no idea was as comparatively awful as a good one. I wish I had known better at the time, but unfortunately I did not, and had pretty shitty shaves and got lots of nasty cuts for 3yrs that could have been avoided.

u/telepathetic_monkey · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

1. Something grey

2. Thunderstorm MP3

3. Take your pick just scroll down

4. For my baby because I want a cool ass baby haha! Also, daddy will like it!

5. The Hater trilogy, linked is the first of the 3. This book keeps you on your toes. It's an amazing apocalyptic book that has immense imagery. All I can say is read it.

6. Nail tape, it's not nail polish, just decoration.

7. Cats! There is a cat in the design.

8. So pretty!!

9. Because it'll always put a smile on your face!

10. Survival Backpack Has enough items to help a group of 4 survive for 72 hours. This will give the people with the pack a 72 hour head start from everyone else to establish a safe spot. Everyone else is trying to find essentials now getting stuck and eventually taken over by a hoard, whereas the person with the pack doesn't need to waste time getting food, water, and some medical kit.

11. Cookware My boyfriend and I have been living with his parents for a while now and we are getting our own apartment soon (all utilities included, yay!!). His parents decided not to pay the gas company the $500 deposit to have it turned on because we live in the south and don't need to heat our apartment, we would only use gas for cooking. Because of that I haven't had a meal cooked on/in a stove in about a year. We either eat things fresh, microwaved, in a crock pot, or fried. I am sick and fucking tired of it. With the cookware I'll be able to change my eating habits because I won't be limited to what things I can cook with. Also, when I was a little girl, I never ate at a kitchen table because we didn't have one. We would eat meals separately, and I always longed for the family dinner atmosphere. My goal is to have a family dinner at least 3 times a week. I know the cookware won't help me achieve that goal, but it puts me one step closer.

12. Baby mittens

13. Soda Stream It's the 2nd most expensive item, the survival pack above is, but the Soda Stream is my dream item. My ex roommate had one and it's amazing! Also, I'm pregnant and can't have caffeine, but I love the bubbles so much!!! With the Soda Stream, I'll be able to make anything carbonated!!! I LOVE mixing in the Crystal Light powered packets, yummy!!

14. Cute storage cube

15. Owl Necklace

16. Chocolate

17. Beautiful Katmari

18. Pens

19. I'm obsessed with my unborn baby. But then again, aren't most expecting mothers??

20. Instant smoke ring machine! Does the awesomeness of instant smoke rings need to be described!?!

Made in Oregon

Thanks for the contest, this was fun!!

fear cuts deeper than swords

u/unlodgical · 3 pointsr/RandomActsOfPolish

Oh! I've been drooling over that color forever. Good choice! ;) Are you a big red fan?

If you have patience, Amazon is seriously a steal for building an arsenal! And if the answer to the patience question is yes... may I suggest...


u/Spootpants · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Hi ladies and gents! So sorry in advance, this is going to be long!

I've just recently started having success with the products I'm using and I'm thinking it's a matter of proper combination/layering (I've been reading a lot about the Vitamin C/BHA/AHA/Niacin situations). I feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what works with what or counter-acts, etc, so I'd love some input from more knowledgeable folks. I don't have a set routine and I'd like to change that. I'd say I have combination skin, very acne prone although it's pretty mild at the moment due to the recent success of something?! Lots of PIH. No birth control or prescriptions currently.


AM:

  1. Petunia - Vitamin C serum

  2. Shiseido Urban Environment Oil Free Sunscreen

  3. Nars Multi-Protect Primer with SPF 30 (is this enough sun protection or should I buy the Shiseido?)

  4. MyKonjac Charcoal sponge with Cera Ve foaming

  5. Stridex red box

  6. Cera Ve PM Facial Lotion

  7. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion for spot treatment

    I also occasionally do [Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay] (http://www.amazon.com/Aztec-Secret-Indian-Healing-Cleansing/dp/B0014P8L9W) or Glamglow Super Tingling masks but I'm not consistent with it.

    I have used all products with the exception of the Vitamin C Serum for at least 4 months. Nothing has seemed to make anything worse but I'd like to improve. Open to any and all suggestions for routine or products. Primary concerns: acne, anti-aging, hyper-pigmentation.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH to any and all help or input. I really appreciate it and I apologize if I'm asking something that should be apparent by what I'm reading here in the sub. I'm just a bit confused. :)
u/allonsyyy · 3 pointsr/femalefashionadvice

You've already gotten better fashion advice than I can give, so I'll stick with skin care. My skin is also very dry and sensitive, so I've given this a lot of thought and research.

Number 1 is SUNSCREEN. I just got this Biore KAO JAPAN AQUA RICH Sarasara SPF50+/PA++++ 50g Sunscreen on the advice of /r/AsianBeauty and I'm in love with it. It's light and watery, not greasy like Western sunscreen tends to be! I'm happy to wear it every day. Pleasant light citrus scent, not copper tone coconut butt. It's awesome.

You need sunscreen because you should start exfoliating. Try a chemical exfoliant, they're more gentle. St. Ives makes wipes with AHA, they're pretty effective for me. Got those because of the more widely known skincareaddiction sub. Don't exfoliate until you've got a sunscreen in your routine, it leaves your skin vulnerable to sun damage.

Remove that sunscreen at night with a good cleanser before you exfoliate, I use this KOSE Softy Mo Facial Cleansing Oil Speedy, 0.5 Pound to remove makeup and sunscreen then this
Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser 150ml to remove the first cleanser and correct the pH of my skin so the exfoliant will work. Again from Asian beauty, my new favorite place. They're both very gentle, so it's okay to use two. It's called "double cleansing". Oil cleansing will maybe be a bit weird to you, as it's just smearing grease on your face! But it dissolves makeup perfectly. That oil will emulsify when it hits water. It turns milky white. It's weird, but it works.

Then I use CeraVe in the tub for moisture and healing ceramides at night.

That's my routine, it's pretty cheap as far as these things go and I'm super happy with it. I wasn't seeing any results from exfoliating until I got that low pH cleanser, now I can really feel it working and see the difference it's making. It does sting a bit, I've got a touch of solar keratosis on my chest from not wearing sunblock when I was young and dumb. Wear sunblock! Every day!

I'm not much of a makeup person, but I do use this sometimes SKIN79 Snail Nutrition BB Cream (SPF45/PA+++) 40g. It's very moisturizing and evens out my splotchy skin. It has snail goo in it. Supposedly a good thing, idk. But that and some eye shadow or liner and mascara is how I fancy up.

u/Kc1319310 · 3 pointsr/Accutane

What do you mean by "steam pretty often"? Just want to make sure that isn't an auto correct typo, but if it isn't, you really shouldn't be steaming your face. Hot water exacerbates redness in the face because it dilates blood vessels underneath the skin.

While you are on Accutane, you will want to stick with gentle but effective whitening ingredients such as niacinamide and licorice root, and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as snail mucin and green tea.

Here are a few products that I am currently using that contain these ingredients and work well:

Cerave PM - contains a high percentage of niacinamide and is relatively inexpensive. Also contains a variety of ceramides which help maintain a healthy lipid barrier, which often becomes compromised when using topical and oral retinoids.
CosRX Snail 96 Mucin Power EssenceContains 96% snail mucin. This is incredibly calming and adds a bonus layer of moisture, something we definitely all need on Accutane.
Holy Snails Snowbang Essence This stuff is expensive, but worth every penny in my opinion. Of everything I use, this definitely has the most dramatic effect on my redness and irritation. It has niacinamide, green tea extract, ceramides, licorice root, and hydrolyzed oat extract.

Once you are have been finished with Accutane for a few months (you will want to get confirmation from your derm as to how long they recommend) you can start incorporating products like Vitamin C and topical retinoids which are highly effective, but far too irritating to use in conjunction with Accutane.

u/treelets · 5 pointsr/AsianBeauty

I'm actually thinking of narrowing down the number of products I use, though this list doesn't seem to indicate that. I love my Benton + MISSHA lineup but I'm getting older and thinking I need a little more oomph. In any case, things I'm looking at that I will probably not buy for a long time:

>Daytime Serums

u/TILSwampCoolers · 10 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you have so much to learn! That's a really good thing, because it means there are probably easy benefits available to you! And it can be overwhelming, but it's sooo worth it to learn this stuff. =)

For example, that cleanser contains glycolic acid (exfoliant) and tea tree/rosehip oil (potential irritants). These ingredients are fine for lots of people, maybe you're one of them.

But best practice, especially while "learning your skin", is to use a cleanser to just cleanse, then use other stuff for treatments. This is so you can learn what the different ingredients do to your skin.

A cleanser with an exfoliant like glycolic acid makes it a little riskier to use other acne treatments, because most of them ALSO contain acid and you really run a risk of "over-exfoliation" (google it, worth knowing about). "Over-exfoliation" and "regular" breakouts are hard to tell apart, so this creates a real problem for a lot of people! Not to mention, what if you're sensitive to those oils?

Also, you need to stop the new breakouts before worrying about texture and discoloration. Your skin looks REALLY dehydrated to me. That will CAUSE breakouts.

Read up on dehydration and the skin's "moisture barrier." Just getting that in order MIGHT help a lot.

If you were my IRL friend, my goal would be to get to hydrating your skin using Asian-style "watery" moisturizers - check out /r/asianbeauty!

These sheet masks are a cheap, great way to start. I'd use one a few times a week. I'd also consider getting some watery toner or essences.

Switching to an non-stripping, oil-based cleanser saved my life. Stripping your skin also damages that moisture barrier.

The DIY oil cleansers broke me out. Go to a Sephora and get a sample of the Shiseido Perfect Oil.

Accutane is generally considered a last resort, it has really serious, potentially life-long side effects, including crohn's disease. Just search this sub for accutane and you'll see people sharing. Your acne doesn't even look that bad to be - widespread, but shallow, not the deep, cystic stuff I normally think of for accutane.

Anyway, this turned into a bit of a novel, but Accutane is really heavy stuff, and you just seemed a little overwhelmed!

I promise you can make a lot of progress just learning more about products and skin - but you do have to learn!

Can't just try stuff randomly and expect it to work! =)

u/quimby15 · 3 pointsr/malegrooming

I am a bit amatur as well but got some good advice from others. I have had a rough time getting some of my beard curls on one side of my face to stay down. I have had the best luck using beard oil and combing it a couple to 3 times a day real quick to tame it.
I know your pain on a good barber close by. I had to drive an hour to get mine trimmed. Not a big deal I just make an afternoon out of it. Just make sure you go somewhere they know what they are doing and they can help you out quite a bit since they will actually see you in person and hopefully suggest things specifically for you.

Here is my bit of advice and what I use.

First get a couple good combs, some beard oil and possibly some wax for your moustache.

This is what I have:

I use Kent Combs:
http://www.amazon.com/Kent-Hand-Made-General-Grooming/dp/B000YB5NRA/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1421265415&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Kent+Hand+Made+General+Grooming+Comb+4T

http://www.amazon.com/Kent-Hand-Beard-Moustache-81T/dp/B004K3J6H6/ref=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1421265374&sr=1-6&keywords=kent+comb

Honest Amish beard oil:
http://www.amazon.com/Honest-Amish-Beard-Balm-Conditioner/dp/B009NNFB0O/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1421265484&sr=1-1&keywords=honest+amish

Firehouse Moustache Wax Dark. I have a dark beard so I use the dark wax. Its really tacky, and when I make my curls they stay well, but if you dont plan on handlebars then I might use something else that isnt so tacky:
http://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Moustache-Wax-Dark/dp/B004W4PRAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1421265579&sr=1-1&keywords=firehouse+mustache+wax

u/KindaShyChick · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

It's ok. We all make mistakes! We are here to help. I recomment you use an AHA or BHA for your spots. A lot of people recommend this BHA and this AHA.


Stridex can be found at most drug stores like CVS and Rite Aid. St. Ives pads are trickier to find but Target has them online and they have free shipping for the holidays.


Also your oily skin can be caused by dehydration. Drink a lot of water and moisturize! This moisturizer is the most recommended and super easy to find. Any drug store or store like Target will have it. If you want a moisturizer that might help your spots try this one. It has niacinamide (i think that's how you spell it) which helps lighten spots left behind from acne.

u/bookishboy · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

With regards to shaving: You can get a fantastic shave without relying on the overpriced multi-blade cartridge razors so popular these days. I'd recommend the following as you can acquire them:

  1. A reasonably priced stainless steel old fashioned double-edged razor handle. Here is one example on Amazon that is cheap with good reviews

  2. A brush for lather, especially badger hair. I use this one by Tweezerman, also on Amazon

  3. A decent shaving soap/cream. I use the Bigelowe brand from Bath and Body works, which is often on a Buy 2, Get 1 sale and a $10 tube of this stuff will last you a LONG time. As a matter of fact, I have an extra tube of the stuff at the moment. If you think you're going to spring for the razor and brush, PM me with your address and if you're in the US I'll send it to you. You only need a toothpaste-sided dab of this stuff to work into a lather, and it had an excellent minty feeling against your face.

  4. Double-edged razor-blades, and you can get sampler packs in order to try different ones and see what you like best. Check in at /r/wicked_edge for opinions of different brands. Most are very economical on a per-blade basis compared to the multi-blade cartridges so many people use these days.


    A few additional helpful hints:

  • Shave right after a hot shower, it wets the hair, opens up the hair follicles and removes dirt and debris from your face that otherwise might detract from your shave.

  • The red "bumps" on your face may well be shaving bumps. Quick question: do you have curly, kinky or "nappy" hair? Many seem to be of the opinion that double(or more)-bladed razors exacerbate this, because when you pull the cartridge across your face, the first blade snags many hairs, pulling them out slightly from the follicle, and the next blade cuts the hair, which then drops below the surface of the skin. This results in a seemingly very clean smooth shave.... for the first day. If your hair is tightly curled as it grows out though, some of the hairs will grow into the skin instead of smoothly out the follicle, resulting in shaving bumps during the days after your shave. Using razors with single blades, and shaving right after a hot shower should reduce this.

  • If you're using an old-fashioned shave with lather that you work up with a brush instead of from a can, you don't need a shaving bowl. If you're right handed, use your left hand as a paddle surface to work up a lather on, kind of like Bob Ross and his paint palette.

    Best of luck!
u/winderer · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

I'd suggest getting a sunscreen, a cleanser, and a moisturizer. In the mornings, splash your face with some water and use moisturizer and sunscreen. At night, cleanse and use moisturizer. A spot treatment would probably be good as well (neutrogena on the spot has always worked beautifully for me, it's a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream), just for use when you have a spot. The location of your spots is kind of indicative of hormonal acne, which can't always be stopped, but can be tamed by a good routine and perhaps help from a doctor that can give you effective prescriptions. If you can order things online, I recommend this cleanser! If not, I recommend the boots expert sensitive gentle cleanser which is at target.

Sunscreen is pretty important! It'll protect your skin damage caused by the sun's UV rays. UVB rays cause sunburns and both UVB and UVA rays damage DNA (which causes aging). Both contribute to cancer as well. After using sunscreen for a while, personally, my skin is way healthier. Spots clear up much faster and the residual pigmentation is gone in little time. For a cheaper sunscreen, I would recommend alba botanica very emollient (can be found at target); for a higher end sunscreen, I would say shiseido urban environment (sephora, online). Sunscreen seems to be pretty personal as far as individual skin compatibility goes, though, so you might have to try a few.

That foundation should work well for you, and after you have an established routine, you can build it up if interested!

u/throwaplay · 32 pointsr/malefashionadvice

Ditch the plastic razor and generic shaving cream. You can get an amazing, stubble free, longer lasting shave for way (WAY) cheaper by switching to a double edge razor.

Here is what I recommend:

DE razor: Merkur 37C Slant HD Safety Razor $40

Razor blades: Persona Israeli, Derby, Kai, Shark (100 Pk. $18) or Feathers. $20-$50 100 Pk.

Brush: Any brush from a local pharmacy. $5-$15

Soap: Wilkinson Sword, Proraso, or Williams. $3-$10

Mug: Any coffee mug is fine.

The razor will last you at least two life times, a 100 pack of razor blades should last you a couple of years, ditto for the brush, and the shaving soap will probably last a couple of months. The shave will be godly once you get the hang of it. Make sure to get a good lather and to shave at a slow pace.

I recommend lurking the Badger & Blade forum and watching the videos by mantic59. B&B is the best shaving resource in the Internet and mantic is a shaving god (and also a redditor!)

Once you are more experienced, I recommend getting a good badger shaving brushing and stepping up to the Feather razor blades. These blades can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Treat it with respect.

Watch this video to get started

u/arbarnes · 3 pointsr/wicked_edge

There's some good kit info on the sidebar. As far as the brush goes, here are a few of my favorites, in ascending price order:

$10-15: Omega boar brushes. The 10065 and 10066 are generally well regarded, but I prefer the larger Professional Series brushes such as the 10048, 10049, and my favorite, the 20102. Be aware that a boar brush does require some patience; fresh out of the box the best are mediocre and some are downright terrible. But after a dozen or so lathers the tips of the hairs start splitting and the brush begins to get softer and more effective at building and holding lather. And as the brush continues to break in it just keeps getting better.

$15-30: Vie-Long horse hair brushes. The 50/50 mane/tail blend has plenty of backbone and is less scritchy than the 35/65. I like the "blanco" brushes, which are undyed. The 12705b and the 12750b use the same knot, but the 12750 has a much nicer handle if that matters to you.

$20-50+: Muhle synthetic brushes. (Note: I haven't actually tried these [yet], so this is all second-hand info.) For some reason (I suspect US distributor markup) it's much less expensive to have them shipped from the EU. The "Black Fibre" is incredibly soft, while the "Silvertip Fibre" has more backbone and outperforms most natural-fiber brushes.

$30-150+: Badger brushes. Yes, you can get a badger brush for less than $30. Don't. They're terrible. Matter of fact, avoid anything labeled as "pure badger" - it's the coarsest, lowest-grade hair, and worse is often clipped into shape. This results in a very prickly feel on your skin. Whipped Dog silvertip brushes are a fantastic bargain at $30, but are out of stock at the moment. Wet Shaving Products offers good value in the $45-75 range. Savile Row silvertips start around $85 and go up to $200. And top-of-the-line brushes from the big-name manufacturers (Shavemac, Simpsons, Rooney, Plisson, etc.) can go even higher.

u/lord_of_vader · 5 pointsr/wicked_edge

Let me start off by saying welcome, and that you're damn lucky there is such a thing as Wicked_Edge for you to rely on at 17 in your formative years of shaving. It sounds like a stupid hobby, but it's for something you're going to have to do nearly every single day if you don't want to look like some indie hipster, so you might as well enjoy it.

I would suggest starting with proper soap and brush first to get the hang of a good prep for your face. This is one of my favorite "starter" packs because you'll be able to get it all in one swing for actually a very good price. Give your electric razor to a homeless shelter or something. Put it in the closet. You can start with the cartridge razors for now; beard prep and technique is far more important than expensive equipment at this point.

After a few days of getting you're routine down with the shower, hot towel, lathering etc. then come see us about a double edge razor and blades, and I'm positive after reading through the comments you'll be ordering an Edwin Jagger DE89. Let us know if you need anything else friend.

u/wambrita · 2 pointsr/ABraThatFits

Seriously, /r/AsianBeauty saved my skin.

I wash my face with Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Foam Cleanser in conjuction with something called a Konjac sponge and then I follow up with the Cosrx AHA after. Then as a moisturizer -particularly under makeup- I use their Snail Mucen product. Also, sunscreen is super critical, it helps prevent your hyperpigmentation spots from getting darker. I'm not a fan of the western sunscreens, so I use Shiseido brand. The smell is different than the regular stuff we're used to but it's not unpleasant. And there's no need to buy the more expensive stuff, this works out really well.

The facewash I use has a slightly high pH level, and it's okay for me because I immediately put on the AHA after because it somehow cuts down the pH level. This lower pH face wash is what my daughter uses, and it does a good job, she started using it and the breakouts pretty much stopped, although she's apparently prone to blackheads on her nose so I got some BHA product for her, and I also got her a konjac sponge as well, so hopefully it provides her with some results. The sponge is super soft, but it does a surprisingly good job of exfoliating; without that feeling of scrubbing your skin with sandpaper. Heads up, with the konjac sponge there's lots of different ones out there and they pretty much work all the same; even the cheaper ones.

If you're gonna try exploring and experimenting with other products, be sure to try one product at a time, to make sure you don't have a reaction to it! Of course you probably already knew that, but I figured I'd throw that out there in case you didn't.

u/bluejayguy26 · 3 pointsr/wicked_edge

I wouldn't buy a ready-to-go kit, especially from a supermarket-type store like Target. However, you can find countless combinations of razors, brushes and soaps all over the internet. My preferred razor is the Edwin Jagger DE89lbl. It is a fantastic razor with great weight distribution, blade expoture and it looks great too. I'm not sure how much you've looked into the different types of brushes but a few good brands that I like are Simpson (pretty pricy), Omega (better price for starters), and Edwin Jagger (in-between the two). For soaps I'd recommend TOBS Sandalwood. You can't go wrong with the scent of sandalwood IMO. If you want to spend less for soap than go with Arko. It's very cheap and will last quite a while because it is hard. Speaking of which, if you have hard water than don't go with the Arko and go with a softer soap/cream that comes in a tub like TOBS. You'll have a tough time trying to create a lather with a hard soap if you have hard water. That's all I've got for you, I don't use any pre-shave oils. One last thing, some antiseptic wouldn't be a bad idea. I hope this was helpful for you and good luck!

u/rbusiness · 2 pointsr/FierceFlow

I had the same issue last winter. I tried coconut oil and showering with cold water and showering less often, but nothing seemed to help much. Then I just started using head and shoulders and it helped a lot. I was still having some issues so I got this shampoo that has a different active ingredient than head and shoulders:

http://www.amazon.com/Nizoral-AntiDandruff-Shampoo-7-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B00AINMFAC/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1451443490&sr=1-1&keywords=nizoral

I use it maybe three times a week and don't have itchy scalp anymore. While going for an all natural solution is nice, I found this to be way easier and more effective. Good luck hope this helped.

u/pigpill · 2 pointsr/wicked_edge

To be honest I have had a hard time getting good quality stuff from Amazon. I prefer them, but the smaller shops just don't have their products there. Scent is almost as important to me as the lather and the feel, so you may not enjoy what I do in that aspect.


I prefer soaps over creams I think. With a soap I can lather right from the tub rather than having to put it into a separate bowl.

My suggestions:

  • Proraso Sandalwood - Not the best quality but a cheap good starter soap. Lathers in a bowl very easily.


  • TOBS Sandalwood - Some people dont like this cream, but I feel like it had a good scent and a decent lather.


  • Tabac - Probably more spendy here than you can get elsewhere. I really enjoy this soap. Good lather and will last forever. Has a clean powdery smell.

  • Through the fire soaps - I absolutely love the soap I have from them. My favorite on all fronts. I have the Forged scent.

  • Chiseled Face Sherlock - My second favorite. Very solid soap.




    I would suggest avoiding Col. Conk. I did not like any of their soaps.

u/Goyu · 4 pointsr/wicked_edge

I think that you would be better off with a double edge. It's less technically demanding to learn, you don't have to maintain the blade (you'll have to sharpen a straight edge from time to time and strop it daily) because it's disposable.

My philosophy is that shaving is less about the hair and more about the skin, caring for it and leaving it comfortable/not irritated. Even with a light beard, it's worth learning how to shave well because it's good for the skin and it's a pleasant and meditative ritual. The whole process of carefully prepping the skin, applying the soap/cream and doing a multiple pass shave is satisfying. Like a very masculine manicure, manly pampering. Mampering? No...

Anyway, if you click around this sub a bit, you'll notice that it's easy to go overboard and get too into it, and shave gear isn't cheap. But that's as much a blessing as a curse. I have three straight razors and a double edge, and I fully expect them to last me decades.

If I were you, I wouldn't jump in the pool quite that deep though. Here are the suggestions I make to most shave newbies interested in checking out the wetshaving gig:

Edwin Jagger DE 89:https://www.amazon.com/Edwin-Jagger-Kelvin-Double-Safety/dp/B00K6Z24SK/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469558129&sr=8-4&keywords=edwin+jagger+de

This is a simple, entry level razor. It comes with a few blades, but I'd recommend buying a sampler pack (and yes, I picked this pack because it has Feather blades, they are exceptional, if slightly too sharp for me. I use Sharks.):

https://www.amazon.com/FEATHER-Oclock-SILVER-Blade-Sampler/dp/B004UIZFQW/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469558238&sr=8-4&keywords=double+edge+sampler+pack

After that you'll need a brush. I'd just check the sidebar there, I use a wee scot and I suspect that not many would push you in that direction.

Then you'll want a nick stick, because dude... you'll cut yourself. It happens. Again, sidebar. But here's the cheap one that I use (don't cut myself much anymore so I don't invest in the good stuff these days):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013H6AVM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And beyond that is the decision between soaps and cream and an aftershave. That one is up to personal preference in terms of scents and consistency.

I use this cream and like it fine: https://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Old-Bond-Street-Sandalwood/dp/B0007MW2ZW/ref=pd_cart_rp_1_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=519dkWyoBqL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_SL500_SR100%2C99_&psc=1&refRID=FTVMYYYARCCYAX4AK72N

I use this aftershave and love it to pieces, enough to spend 50 fucking dollars on it a few times a year: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007XMDQO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This isn't a super cheap set up (about $200) but you could get a cheaper aftershave and brush and be all set for under $100 and make improvements down the line if you decide you want to keep doing this.

u/popepeterjames · 1 pointr/reddit.com

Agreed! But I'm partial to BlueBird blades... a little sharper and last a little longer than Shark (which are also good) but they won't shave your face off like you can with Feather blades... and a little cheaper too!

My razor is a Parker 91R Super Heavyweight (I like it)... and it's inexpensive.

And then for my shave cream I use Taylor of Old Bond Street... a little goes a very long way. The stuff is great.

A good badger shave brush and a shave mug.... maybe some pre-shave oil if you really want to take your time. And you got yourself a shave that is far closer and more comfortable than an expensive as hell cheaply-made multi-bladed razor...

Sure upfront costs are slightly higher, but in the long run you save tons of money... plus you get a better shave. What's not to love?

u/ilovefatgirls · 3 pointsr/beards

From top to bottom:


Beardology Beard Balm


Swissco Mustache Comb


Beardology Beard oil. (same link as above)


Honest Amish Beard Balm/leave in conditioner Also available on Amazon and eligible for Prime(save on shipping)


Bass Boars Hair Brush


Accessories:


Coasters hand made by a friend out of reclaimed woods.


Fox Pelt Which it looks like they are out of at the moment.


I like the Honest Amish Beard balm much more than the Beardology. Its softer and easier to work with. I got the Beardology balm as part of a package thing with the oil. Beardology is closed until after the holidays. In my search for "the perfect beard oil" I found that you can't really go wrong with whatever you pick. There are so many companies, small and large, that make the stuff. You can make it yourself if you're so inclined. Most have jojoba or argan oil as the main oil and then other oils to add scent so it's preference really.


All I can say is read up on what you like or what you think your brothers will like and go from there. You really can't go wrong with most of these beard products.

u/Cowboy_moto · 1 pointr/TheVeneration

For my beard I have been using this great beard conditioner. Smells a little like black licorice, with a woodsy undertone maybe a hint of leather. I love it my wife loves it my beard loves it. Win win win.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NNFB0O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


For shaping my stache I use this mustache wax. Works Geary has a little sweeter smile like coconut. Great for the rakish look with your mustache twirled at the end.

http://www.amazon.com/Fisticuffs-Mustache-Wax-15g-Tin/dp/B00DCI7V0O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410450905&sr=8-1&keywords=Mustache+wax

u/hellokitaminx · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

Yaaaaaas. This, so much! Oil cleansing + hydrating foaming/cream second cleanser have totally changed the game for me with my super dry skin. I personally love Kose Softymo. I use the Speedy version right now, but the Deep Cleansing version has my eye!

I'm also washing with Hada Labo Tokyo Hydrating Cleanser, which I like a lot! Super mild.

Lastly, as a facial oil, Goodal Wateriest Water Oil has been particularly popular lately, and for good reason! I have a different version from the same line and, while I just only tried it out yesterday, it has immediately left my skin feeling leagues better.

I hope this helps!

u/bwinter999 · 1 pointr/BuyItForLife

This is doable for much less than $600. When I started shaving w a SR I figured it would take about 2 years of shaving to pay off the initial cost. Although if I am being honest I probably spend more now on razors than I did before.

For the most basic of kits you will need a:

  • Razor Not really shave ready (used $40 or new $150-200)

  • Sharpening stones $100 (I use DMT, but you can also use japanese water stones. I like dmt because they are always flat and in my experience last longer. You probably need a fine/extra fine (600/1200 grit) and an extra extra fine (8000 grit))

  • Strop ($20 -amazon)

  • Strop compound ( a $5 bar of cromium oxide goes a long way)

  • Brush ($12-35 amazon)

  • Soap ($2-10 depending on what you want)

    That's the basics really. You can spend more on aftershave, preshave, synthetic brushes, creams whatever. If you know how to sharpen/strop I would definitely recommend a used razor off ebay ( a nice one you don't have to restore). If you don't know how to sharpen I recommend you get some stones and learn anyway it isn't very hard. Though you may want a cheap $10 razor to practice on just in case. The hardest part is choosing a brand (or buying just one razor). For used razors you have some things to consider:

  • Handle/scales - not broken, pins are ok

  • Blade- no rust, no chips, no excessive spine wear, no weird angles from sharpening, you can polish some imperfections out but not too many and you probably don't want to restore a razor before you learn to use one.

  • Brand- Wade/butcher are good. Dubl duck are good (but probably overpriced/hyped), E A Berg are good, Boker is good, CV Heljestrand- good those are all I have presently but basically anything made in sheffield, solingen, or eskilstuna should be ok to shave with after they are sharpened.

    You may also want to try a double edge (DE) razor but then you still need blades (although they are very very cheap) I am not sure if that is a requirement here or not.
u/tacoboutluv · 2 pointsr/AsianBeauty

I'm looking for a sunscreen that doesn't contribute to my oily skin but also doesn't dry me out (do sunscreens that meet both criteria exist??) I have narrowed it down to two options after reading through a lot of reviews/threads on this. Has anyone tried either or both and can help me make a decision? I am debating between:

Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Milk SPF50

and

Nivea Perfect Water Gel SPF 35 P+++ (I wanted to find the Sun Super Water Gel SPF 50 but this is the only one available)

Skin type: quite oily and dehydrated (sometimes flaky around the eyes)

Country: Canada - currently cold harsh winters

Top skin concern: finding sunscreen that is not greasy but also not drying

Current routine: Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel Cream as day moisturizer; great for oil control but not moisturizing enough. I don't wear foundation/face makeup either so no whitecast would be ideal.

Thank you!

u/Kavex · 2 pointsr/MtF

Buy a DE Razor! I wouldn't do anything less until you get permanent hair removal. Wax is a pain (really it hurts), Don't want to use chemical removal down there (ouch!) and besides permanent hair removal, I think you are stuck with shaving.

I can tell you the shaving cream and razors make a big big difference.

  • Get off the dead skin off your body (take a shower and wash up)
  • Use a shaving soap with a brush instead of the Spray Can c**p (I don't know why people use that stuff?)
  • Use a Double Edge Safety Razor (Once you use this then you won't go back to the store brand stuff, Only thing that beats it would be a straight edge razor but DE razor is good enough)
  • Then use antibacterial cream in sensitive places so you don't get any bumps but you shouldn't too much with a clean razor

    The shaving soap last for ages and DE razors are like 10-20 cent each which is a major shavings. (pun)


    I use Van Der Hagen Scented Luxury Shave Soap with a horse hair brush. I own two brushes ... one for the face and another for the body.

    Soap Kit: http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Mens-Luxury-Shave/dp/B004L4EING/

    An ok starting Safety Razor: http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Factory-Double-Safety-Silver/dp/B003A722RE/

    If you have the money then buy a better Safety Razor like Merkur

    You can go as far and buy two Safety Razors, one for the face and one for body but I find cleaning and replacing the blade is easy enough.

u/Pasteque · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

You might consider a vitamin C serum or a niacinamide lotion/cream. While they won't affect your pore size or your skin texture, both ingredients are helpful for evening skin color. Most of the time you hear about people using them for freckles or dark marks, but they help redness too. I see you like PC products, so you might want to consider these: Resist C15 Super Booster and Resist Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment. I love them both, but they are a bit too pricey for me to use all the time. For more affordable products, you could consider the Timeless Vitamin C serum (I haven't tried it yet, but I am looking forward to it) and Pond's Clarant B3 (love this).

u/cactuspups · 1 pointr/AsianBeauty

Help! Did I buy a knockoff/discontinued Hado Labo product on Amazon?

Combo skin, only break out when stressed or wrong product, living in a temperate moist "forest" biome (I live in a city, but that's what the surrounding region is like)

Routine:

AM

Water rinse or Hado Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hylauronic Acid Cleansing Foam, one pump
Mizon all-in-one moisturizer

PM
Hado Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hylauronic Acid Cleansing Foam, one pump
Mizon all-in-one moisturizer

*Currently patch testing the Biore Sarasara Rich Watery Essence SPF50, Heimish All Clean due to be patch tested in a week. Other things that have been on my face in the a last two weeks due to shower accidents and the Zit That Just Won't Quit on my chin: Cosrx pimple patches (three straight days, that was a mistake), LUSH Let the Good Times Roll Face& Body Cleanser, Nature Republic Aqua sleeping pack

SO

I ordered the Hado Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam (160ml) on Amazon from seller Samurai Japan (massive space in between is what's on Amazon) in September 2017. I used this link and the packaging does look like this.

In the last two months of use my combo skin has started feeling tight, dry, and kinda like it stings. I went on Hado Labo's website to check ingredients and I noticed that the packaging & product name were different. The ingredients and product use instructions were the same as the ones that Amazon page, but idk if that's because they are in fact the same or if somebody just copy-pasted it off Hado Labo's site.

Does anybody know if they redesigned the packaging, reformulated the cleanser, or if this is a knockoff? Thanks!

(EDIT: just realized that when I bought the cleanser I was still using CeraVe's PM moisturizer with no problems. Winter where I live was pretty off the wall this year and has gone back and forth between cold-dry and cold-damp, so I thought it was that. Switched to the Mizon in January and like the texture of my skin much more, but yeah, still dry/tight/burning and it feels like it's getting increasingly worse.)

u/suzypepper · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Hello and welcome! I just want to tell you that I'm pretty sure every single person in this sub is freaking adorable so I'm sure you will meet all sorts of entertaining and awesome people here. :) I'm so psyched for you!

In terms of exfoliation, speaking very broadly (i.e. there are always exceptions to what I'm about to say), AHAs are generally recommended for dry skin, while BHA is recommended for oilier skin types. I think things will work better for you if you attempt to tackle one problem at a time. For instance, for pimples, Paula's Choice BHA 2% liquid is my absolute holy grail product, but a drugstore BHA such as Stridex may work equally as well, and perhaps would be something to try first since it's more easily accessible. Speaking of Stridex, try to make everything you use as gentle (checkmark on the Cetaphil) and as alcohol-free as possible - your skin is dry and we don't want it to get even more dry. :( My skin gets dry in the winter and the itchiness can just drive me up the wall.

And yes, start moisturizing every day, morning and night - just a pea-sized amount, I promise it won't be greasy. And if it is, we'll figure something out. If you're still feeling dry after that, we can think about changing or supplementing your moisturizer. :)

Welcome again!

Edit: I just saw a pattern in your description of pimples! Scalp, forehead, shoulders and upper back? Check your shampoo/conditioner/other hair products for clogging ingredients!

u/alittlekink · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

I'm no pro, but I believe I've seen people mention that Salicylic Acid in face wash is useless, as it has to be left on the skin to be effective. I would recommend getting Stridex pads in the red box, or Clean & Clear's Advantage Oil Absorbing Treatment. I use the Clean & Clear one, personally, since it's more easily accessible in Canada.


As far as a good AHA goes, I've had great success with St Ive's Exfoliating Pads.

u/TheVeggieLife · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

ROHTO Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk SPF50 PA ++++ but I gave up on it because it's not cruelty free. I bought it while in Japan based on a recommendation I saw on this subreddit and it's incredible. Absorbs so quickly and certainly makes a small difference in my dry skin. It's not oily at all, and it just feels great to apply evenly, nothing difficult about it.

I've switched to PC Hydralight Shine-Free daily mineral complex. It's working out great. It's not a chemical sunscreen as you can tell based on the name (I'm not sure what the difference is or why it matters) but it certainly doesn't leave a white cast on my face. It's only 30SPF though so maybe I'll be trying another one of theirs next time I order. It's also very moisturizing so I'm really enjoying it. I watched a youtube review of all the suncreens and this one just sounded like it would mesh the most with my skin type.

u/bahamalove · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Hi! I'm looking for routine suggestions and possibly product recs.

Skin type: combination but sensitive with seb derm around my nose and chin. I live in really humid and hot weather so I although I need moisturizing, I can't do anything greasy because I sweat. I also hardly have acne breakouts so although sebderm is considered fungal acne, I don't have typical acne so that's not a concern of mine.

Current Products: I cleanse with KOSE Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil. I use The Ordinary Squalane Oil along with Cerave (in the tub) moisturizer in the AM, and Cerave Night Cream at PM. I use extra squalane if I see flakes around my sebderm. I have Cosrx Bha Blackhead Power Liquid but I hardly use it and also don't know when or if I should (I get blackheads on my chin)

If I go to the beach, I use ROHTO Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk (SPF50 PA ++++) and I love it because it's the only sunscreen I have ever used that hasn't made my skin horrible. (I know I should be wearing sunscreen all the time but I don't and it's my bad habit). If I decide to wear makeup, I use the IT Cosmetics CC Cream.

I just recently purchased (but haven't used yet) Vanicream Gentle Skin Cleanser and Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (have no idea how to use this, but I'm hoping it helps with my cheek redness?)

All of the products I use have been recommended somewhere (either this sub or r/sebderm) by someone with similar skin.

Skin Concerns: Redness on my cheeks & getting the sebderm spots to "lighten" so it's not as noticeable. I also have a handful of acne scars I would love to lighten/get rid of.

Help me! :)

u/karleenamarx · 7 pointsr/tretinoin

Ok, so firstly, do better than I have and remind yourself not to do this again! It's always worth just waiting for pimples to heal on their own, and if you absolutely cannot (like me), lance them with a sterile needle (insulin needles are cheap and sterile), and put a hydrocolloid bandage over until it gets everything out.

Ok, so with prevention out of the way, my #1 product in this situation is snail based products. Snail mucin is one of the few ingredients that's been clinically shown to help repair skin (admittedly not extensively, but in my personal experience, it does help). This is the one I get. In lieu of that, keep them clean, but not overdried. Moisture can help prevent and reduce scarring. I recommend a lotion with HA since it has the potential to help PIE clear up more quickly. I like CeraVe's HA+ceramides lotion.

Hang in there, we've all been there.

u/alchademy · 4 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

All the steps you're taking are in the right direction, but let's talk about product recommendations. You should start off with a basic skincare routine.

Cleanser: Cosrx Low Ph Morning Gel Cleanser - A good cult favorite, gentle cleanser.

Toner- Stri-dex Pads Maximum Strength - I have yet to find anything else that keeps my acne at bay as well as these do, holy grail status.

Moisturizer- [Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream] (https://www.amazon.com/MIZON-Snail-Recovery-Cream-fl-oz/dp/B00NTR9B6A/ref=pd_sbs_194_49?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00NTR9B6A&pd_rd_r=GQARJSYA37GYHK6DDA84&pd_rd_w=xTj7a&pd_rd_wg=Anz1Z&psc=1&refRID=GQARJSYA37GYHK6DDA84) - This will moisturize and take care of acne scars.

Additionally, what helps me is to exfoliate twice a week, and I use Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off Exfoliator.

I would suggest wearing sunscreen, though this step isn't specifically to help your acne, it's just good to protect the skin from premature aging and hyperpigmentation. Assuming you have combo to oily skin I would recommend Etude House Airy Finish Sun Milk.

u/hplssrmantcxox · 3 pointsr/AskDocs

Try CeraVe products - they have a Salicylic Acid (SA) line (Cleanser & Lotion) that would help with your acne, and they also have a Hydrating cleanser + amazing Moisturizer creme and moisturizing lotion too.

http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Renewing-SA-Cleanser-Ounce/dp/B00U1YCRD8

http://www.amazon.com/Cerave-Sa-Renewing-Lotion-Pack/dp/B009TWF80M/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

CeraVe's moisturizing products are amazing if you have solely dry skin + no acne, but I've heard reviews about it helping clear acne too even without the Salicylic Acid. CeraVe has some sort of patent in their products that help encourage your skin to renew its cells and encourage natural facial oils to emerge and help moisturize your skin without causing pimples.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/
^ You can read more reviews about CeraVe and see if it works; it worked really well for my horrible dry face rash that I got as a result of radiation + my bone marrow transplant. (Face was basically peeling and couldn't breathe/felt "stuck" because I stripped all the oil away from my face using too many harsh cleansers to get rid of the dead skin and rash. I used the hydrating cleanser and noticed a difference in 3 days with the moisturizing creme + lotion - creme for the really extra dry/flakey skin and lotion for my hands/other dry skin.

I used these products:
http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizers-Moisturizing-Cream-Ounce/dp/B001V9SXXU/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1453793769&sr=1-2&keywords=cerave

http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Hydrating-Cleanser-12-Ounce/dp/B000YJ2SKM/ref=dp_ccx_cts_image_beauty_1

http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-12-oz/dp/B000YJ2SLG/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1453793769&sr=1-1&keywords=cerave)

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/a/CeraVe/Skin-Cleansers/_/N-1z13ozbZ2794?categoryId=cat80170&ciSelector=leaf <--Read up the reviews here too for the different cleansers and see which ones would be best for your skin. You might be able to get a sample of these too if you went to a local Ulta store or contact CeraVe.

It's hypoallergenic and Dermatologist recommended for Eczema too.

CeraVe also has a $2 coupon on their website too :) I bought mine at a local CVS when they were having a great sale on it.

u/digoxinprincess · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

You sound a lot like me, I had perfect skin before I turned 20, now a few years later I too am taking spironolactone 100 mg. I also look pale and tired haha. I see you're using phloretin CF, that has a lot of alcohol in it. Have you considered CE Ferulic? Similar price point I believe. I hate cerave/cetaphil, I use Elta foaming facial cleanser once a day (in the AM I use bioderma sensibio micellar h2o). For looking "poreless" not really but something that has helped a lot is biologique recherche p50 lotion. It is an active so you can't go too hard, but I love it. I also use prescription tazorac, a retinoid. What helps my skin stay hydrated is using many layers of mostly Asian Beauty products, ones that contain aloe, propolis, hyaluronic acid, snail mucin, etc. and spraying rose water in between. If you're interested in specifics let me know! I will say my favorites are the vita propolis ampoule, this aloe gel, this sake toner, and this snail essence

u/soccerperson · 2 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Let me preface this by saying that I'm a guy, so I'm really in unfamiliar territory here. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I started using minoxidil to stimulate facial hair growth, so I've wanted to start dermarolling as well to help with collagen production.

I've purchased a dermaroller and 70% alcohol, but I'm a bit lost on what moisturizing products I should use immediately after dermarolling.

My daily lotion right now is Lubriderm 3 in 1 but I imagine that's not something I want to use after dermarolling.

I've sort of browsed around on here and there's a lot of products and abbreviations that are lost on me, but it seems like vitamin C is a good option to use after dermarolling?

Something like CeraVe vitamin C Serum is something I've seen suggested. I've also seen others suggest Timeless vitamin C serum but I'm not quite sure what the differences are.

Do these seem like good options, or is there something better you'd suggest? I'll take any opinions/suggestions

u/phnxashes · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Late to the party but I wanted to chime in cause I'm on the second month of my second round of Accutane, currently at 60mg.

Basically your skin profile will change to sensitive, dry and dehydrated and you have to treat it as such, which means a lot of pampering for the next couple of months. I took the general advice of nothing but CeraVe and Aquaphor for my first course and I think I did more damage that way. I switched over to r/AsianBeauty afterwards trying to fix the leftover scars and because of all I've learned over there, my second round is going quite smoothly.

Here's what I do:

  • Rub a 1:4 mix of castor oil & mineral oil all over my face to dislodge all sunscreen and dirt. Mineral oil is just baby oil with no fragrance, which can be irritating (thought you might want to consider baby oil for the rest of your body cause it'll dry out too).

  • Wash off all oil with a low-pH foaming cleanser

  • Apply a hydrating toner. This one has hyaluronic acid in it which attracts moisture to your skin and helps other lotions/creams sink in.

  • Apply Shark Sauce. It has 5% niacinamide which helps fade dark spots and even out your skin tone. It's made by a redditor from the Asian Beauty sub and it works so well and was so popular she ended up quitting her job to make it full time. I can honestly say that it's a godsend when you have the initial breakout because any remaining scars will fade very quickly. It was agonizing to deal with those the first time around.

  • Apply Rosette Aqua Ceramide Gel to heal and protect your skin barrier.

  • Apply Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream

  • Apply sunscreen. This one has a little alcohol in it which dries your skin out but my other products work so well, I don't feel a difference.

    I only do the oil & foam cleanse at night, usually just water in the morning. With this routine I've actually been able to use a couple actives with no problems, mainly Stridex in the red box every other day at the beginning to calm my initial breakout.Another trick I use is I apply a thin layer of Prosacea to affected areas. You can get these two at a CVS or Walgreens. Also, I'm a picker and I found that if I pick and pop something, this routine plus a hydrocolloid bandage on top works miracles: the zit heals faster than it should on Accutane and the mark it leaves behind is gone/significantly faded within two weeks.

    Results: Two months into accutane and my skin shows no signs of dryness. It stays hydrated all day so all I have to worry about is my chapped lips. My scars are fading at a phenomenal rate and I even glow a little from all the moisture. You may find it daunting at first, so maybe start out with the foam cleanser, the toner, the ceramide gel and the sunscreen. I'd also suggest going over to r/AsianBeauty and doing a search for dry, sensitive skin if you want more options.

    I hope this helps and good luck! You'll look and feel amazing afterwards.

    Edit: Supplements! I take fish oil, evening primrose oil and vitamin D.
u/vagabonne · 3 pointsr/AsianBeauty

In terms of cleansers, Hada Labo certainly has some good ones. This one has been a hit with my sister, who deals with both acne and sensitivity. I love the toner that /r/sca recommended, but you may want to try it in person. Hada Labo offers different kinds of hyaluronic acid toners, with this "Moist" one being the heaviest/thickest one. They also have a lighter version that you may prefer (I know my sister thinks the Moist version is too heavy).

I hope you enjoy Taiwan! Taipei is a wonderful city, lots of good food and fun.

u/siassias · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Have you tried the hydrating cleanser? How did you get on with it? I haven't used the foaming one, but I love how gentle yet good at cleaning the hydrating cleanser is. My skin isn't especially oily though.

Other foaming options that are worth looking into are the one Simple make, the Sebamed one, and this Japanese one that seems really popular with people who like gentle foam cleansers:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0036MDUEM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468319460&sr=8-2&keywords=hada+labo&pi=SY200_QL40

I haven't tried any of these yet myself but they're all ones I've reached when I've thought about adding a foaming cleanser.

u/RaggedClaws · 2 pointsr/shaving

I'll include links but by all means shop around...


  • Edwin Jagger DE89 - popular three piece starter razor

  • One of the many creams by Taylor of Old Bond St. - inexpensive and quality

  • An alum block like RazoRock - you can also find some of their artisan soaps

  • A synthetic shaving brush - this one looks to have the same fibres (Plisson clone) as some other very good ones. You could also get a boar brush by Omega or Semogue for eg but these will have a break-in period. Do NOT get a badger brush on your budget; it will be shite. The exception might be this mixed loft Omega 11047 "mixed midget" which is a fantastic little brush; works out of the box like a badger but gets better over time like a boar.

  • Go to your local drug store for Nivea Men Sensitive after shave balm - inexpensive, effective, and widely available.

    This is a more than decent starter kit and affordable but you'll also need skills. Check out this poster from /u/mmosh and search for tutorial vids on Youtube by Mantic59 and/or "Nick Shaves".

    EDIT: Completely left out blades. You want to sample many kinds to find what is right for you. Something like this.



u/Khalano · 8 pointsr/MUAontheCheap
u/messenia · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Simple and cheap:

AM

  • CeraVe cleanser from Target. Choose whichever you think is appropriate and use a $2.00 coupon.

  • Vitamin C serum -- this probably won't do much to fade your marks. It wlll help protect your already blemished skin from further sun damage. Timeless is a safe, inexpensive choice. The Ordinary has some choices but some find the formulas too irritating.
  • Sunscreen everyday, not just when you think you're going out. You might want to try something like CeraVe AM Moisturizing Lotion that that includes sun protection (print 2 coupons). Use it every morning then add an extra sunscreen after 2 hours of sun exposure.

    PM

  • Same cleanser
  • Olay Luminous Tone Perfecting Moisturizer. This moisturizer contains a fading combination (niacinamide + n-acetyl glucosamine) that has been proven to be highly effective.

    You can get everything but the Vitamin C serum from Target. The easiest thing to do is to write down the prices at Target.com and Amazon then ask for a price match to either one when you check out at the store. You can do that in the regular checkout line or at guest services desk. You can still use manufacturer's coupons when you price match.

    Extras you can think about:

    If you think you need a exfoliant, try Paula's Choice standard 2% BHA. You can get the trial (aka travel size) for less than $10 (no shipping this week). That should last for at least three weeks and you can get samples of other versions for little or nothing to see what suits you. There's a travel size of the AHA available too. You may end up using an exfoliant from somewhere else but the trial and sample sizes give you an inexpensive starting point.

    Serums: There are some other fading products you can experiment with such a Azeliac Acid or Alpha Arbutin from The Ordinary but quite frankly, if you're dealing with old acne marks, I'd recommend you go straight to niacinamide with glucosamine. If you want to supplement the Olay moisturizer, there are serums like Paula's Choice Niacinamide Booster (pricey) or Skinlex (inexpensve with not much of a track record) that you could use in the morning.
u/BONG_OF_JUSTICE · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

For my body, I like using pre-soaked exfoliant pads, 'cause I'm lazy and cheap. Right now I'm using these Nip+Fab ones and they're pretty decent, but I'm planning on picking up these lactic acid ones next. If you're looking to dip your toes into the waters of AHA for facial use that you can also use on your body, then I'd recommend the CosRx AHA, which is great, but much gentler. (obligatory mention that if you begin using an AHA on your face, then daily sunscreen use becomes mandatory)

Undereye circles are genetic, so there's not much you can do topically to get rid of them. I know there's some people who anecdotally believe that products with caffeine in them can help with their appearance, but I've never tried any, so I can't really offer any specific advice there.

And yep! I alternate between the CeraVe foaming and the CosRx Good Morning cleanser, both of which are great low pH options.

u/xkangni · 21 pointsr/AsianBeauty

If you have Amazon Prime, you can get a 16 variety pack of Dermal sheet masks for ~$8.50 each here and here. I find these to be the cheapest decent quality masks I've tried so far! Cheaper ones I've tried tend to be irritating for my skin or just useless.

You can also get "free" sheet masks at Skin18, you just have to pay for shipping (by weight) so if you buy a lot of them at once it is more worth it.
(UPDATE: turns out you can only get one freebie at a time on Skin18, so maybe not so great for bulk sheet mask buys.)

If you're looking for straight up just hella bulk and inexpensive sheet masks for daily usage, KOSE sells them in a giant pack of 1/2 lb but I haven't actually used any of them myself since I have my own stash of 200+ sheet masks LOL. They have Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen.

Innisfree also really often has BOGO free deals for their sheet masks. They're more expensive than the other options I've listed but if you buy a lot at once it'll be cheaper per mask.

LASTLY, (sorry long post) there's also Korean buying services where companies will locate the items you want to buy at a lower price in Korea and ship it to you for a fee. This service is super worth it if you're planning on a HUGE haul. However it's also more complicated than just adding stuff to your cart and checking out like you would on other online stores. There's a guide on how to use the big buying services in the sidebar here if you're interested!

Honestly, there's tons of resources to buy bulk sheet masks, and if you buy a crap ton at once, they're even cheaper :P

u/BadassUdotNET · 4 pointsr/NoFap

It also seems to slow down or stop hair loss. Some guys even claim regrowth.

---

Here is some more information for those curious.

The ones that experience regrowth are usually doing at least one thing to treat their hair loss (besides NoFap).

You really have just three options: Rogaine, Propecia, and ketoconazole (usually in a shampoo).

Rogaine works by speeding up the growth cycle, but it also adds more DHT receptors to the hair follicles (that is why you lose a lot of hair once you stop). It is also a heart medication, so it might mess with your blood pressure.

Propecia works, but it can mess with your hormones. The first day my friend took it, he got like instant man boobs (they got all swollen). He stopped immediately and, thankfully, they went back to normal. I read it can become permanent if you keep using it.

Ketoconazole works and doesn't have many, if any, drawbacks. It does the opposite of Rogaine and reduces the number of DHT receptors on the hair follicles over time. And since it is applied topically, it won't mess with your hormones like Propecia.

(Please don't waste your time reading more random articles on the internet for the balding cure. Trust me, this is everything you need to know.)

Some people advocate doing all three at once, but I think that is messing with your body chemistry too much. And I think you're being a little too vain / anxious about it if you do all three.

Personally, I would just buzz it short (think Jason Statham). If it looks good, you have nothing else to worry about.

(I really like this quote by him about working out.)

Plus, girls don't seem to care as long as you aren't trying to hide your balding.

But if you want to try it, here are the more popular brands when it comes to ketoconazole shampoos: Regenepure, Lipogaine, and Nizoral.

Besides all that, make sure you lower your stress, get plenty of sleep, and, of course, NoFap!

u/crbowen44 · 3 pointsr/shaving

I went on amazon bought a brush for 10.00, a relatively cheap DE razor for about 27.00 a stand for 10 and a soap for 10.00, I would recommend trying a soap sampler to find one you like. You can find starter packs as well, and I would do that. I was trying to be somewhat frugal but ended up needing more than I thought. Most razors come with a free pack of blades, usually at least 5, and that should last you approximately 15 shaves, so at least two weeks. After that I recommend going with some kind of blade sampler since a lot of packs come with a hundred blades and if you buy the wrong blade you might be out the 10 or 15 that it cost.

It takes longer than a cartridge razor to shave, and requires more skill and attention, but the whole process is much more enjoyable with better results.
I recommend going the cheap route until you're sure you like it, and as you wear out the items you buy (bristles comes out of my brush almost every shave, a couple at a time) then buy the next level up. It can be extremely expensive, but like anything there's also regular people versions of all the expensive stuff too.

For your reference:
Razor
Soap
Brush
Stand
Blades

u/charlottehaze · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Just started Accutane (Claravis), 60mg/day yesterday, and have changed up my routine recently based on lurking around this sub and r/Accutane. Any general comments/feedback would be much appreciated!

Skin type: Oily for sure, but I am positive it's about to become dry with the Accutane. In changing up my routine a few weeks ago, I tried to pick products that seemed to work for people with both skin types generally (maybe just with different frequencies of use) so I could use them before and after I finish the course.

Current routine:

AM

Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser to cleanse

Klaris Supple Preparation Facial Toner for toner

Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Multi-Purpose Balm Cream for moisturizer

Sun Bum SPF 30 fPVNM Sunscreen, Original Face Stick -- I know it's not the best, but I live in Portland/Seattle so the need is not as dire as in other places

PM

Lush Ultrabland to remove makeup
Remove makeup

Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser to cleanse

Usually after cleansing I use a mask -- I had been using more acne-targeting masks, but since I am switching to sheet masks, which I used to only use occasionally. Right now, I have Benton Snail Bee High content Sheet Mask Pack and Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet, but I also really like Origins Drink Up-Intensive and Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Mask. When I need spot treatment, I am obsessed with Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch

Then I go back and do -- Klaris Supple Preparation Facial Toner for toner

Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Multi-Purpose Balm Cream for moisturizer

Edit: I used to use (and still have left some) of Lush's Herbalism. I am not sure I should keep using it on Accutane, since it exfoliates, but any commentary on that would be appreciated!

u/Sakatsu · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

Nail Tape, 1.39, free shipping!

Other thing, your choice for spending money I've been saving to get a phone so I can get on an affordable plan.

If I'm picked, split the cost down to half (30 bucks) and pick another winner. I'd rather the love spread around a little more, ya know?

Thank you for the opportunity and take care! Happy First Contest! :)

u/lifeismusic434 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I made the switch about 2 months ago to a safety razor, brush, and nice shaving cream. I love it. It takes a while to get used to, but I watched mantic59's videos before starting and they helped a lot. I used to use those crappy multibladed razors, then tried an electric razor, but safety razor is by far the best.

I use Taylor of Old Bond and it's great. If you do go this route, make sure you also grab a nice alcohol free aftershave, I use some Proraso aftershave.

u/ThatFishyTaste · 1 pointr/askgaybros

If you have acne (or don't) the best cleanser I can personally recommend is the low ph good morning cleanser by Cosrx (Link to product I highly reccommend buying the product from Jolse because they are the one company that i for sure without a doubt have the real product and not a fake on amazon)

Moisturize nightly and daily and use sunscreen daily. Nuetrogena Water Gel is a great moisturizer and doesn't break me out and the Biore water essence is a great sunscreen.

As for everything else I highly reccommend going to r/skincareaddicition and r/asianbeauty (asian skin care has extremely improved my skin, Cosrx is an amazing korean skin care brand)

u/gothichippie190 · 2 pointsr/RedditLaqueristas

someone (who I've already forgotten, sorry!!!) JUST posted this which I imagine would get her off to a good start, if she doesn't already have a zillion randoms around. Sephora by OPI might also still be on sale and super cheap. They have colors/strips/and remover I think? Otherwise just amazon around, you can get striping tape for practically nothing, and rhinestones and fimo canes, oh my! That sound get her started.

I buy cheap polish for like accent colors, because I will probably almost never paint all my nails...yellow for instance. Otherwise I like Essie and OPI the best. You also may want to look into some of those clear plastic drawers for storage as well. Hope it helps!

u/sheetmasker · 3 pointsr/AsianBeauty

I didn't see them mentioned but definitely check out Kose, Kracie Hadabisei and MJ Care!

Kose and Kracie are the types with multiple sheets in one pack, you get 30 masks for about $15. And MJ Care has a bunch of variety bundles at a little less than a dollar each mask. But my two favorites are Vanedo and Dermal, mentioned by runlizzyrun. You can get a pack of 25 Vanedo sheet masks for $15!

My favorites:

Kose

Kracie Hadabisei

One of the MJ Care bundles

Vanedo

Dermal

And that's the story of how I bought over 300 masks in one week.

Edit: the link prices are a little higher than what I've bought them for about a month ago, but they dip sometimes.

u/AlaskanFeesh · 3 pointsr/SkincareAddicts

Some things that might help:

Anything that goes near your chin (hands, chinstraps, jacket collars, pillows, etc) needs to be washed regularly and thoroughly. Try to touch your face as little as possible!

A good cleanser and chemical exfoliant can help you out. Some commonly recommended products here on SCA are CeraVe's foaming cleanser and Stridex pads (the red box, not green box). Both will help keep your skin clean and remove any bacteria that are causing you problems. It is important when using an exfoliant that you use a lotion afterwards so your skin doesn't get too dry, moisturized skin feels and looks better! Another common product here is CeraVe's lotion (there's a pump kind that's thinner, and a jar kind that's thicker and creamier).

Hydrocolloid bandages are a godsend if you have any active acne! If the blemish is 'open', cut off a small portion of the bandage and put that on the offending zit after you wash and moisturize your face for the night. By the time you wake up, most (if not all) of the fluid from the acne will be absorbed into the bandage, leaving the blemish flat and less red.

I hope this information is helpful to you! Acne can be so painful and embarrassing, but it can be managed and fixed. Best of luck! :)

u/RockyMtnAristocrat · 5 pointsr/wicked_edge

How about trying a soap and brush first with your Gilette?

Mitchells Wool Fat
- Contains some ingredients that may irritate skin, but many senstitive skin shavers love it.

Mama Bear Soap - Unscented, and a revered sensitive skin soap.

Tweezerman Brush - Cheap, and worth seeing if old-style shave soaps are for you.

If either of these soaps agree with you, pick up a DE or straight, but be warned, some folks have had a rough shave or two when getting started - it gets better, and then, the best shaves you'll have.

u/wineheart · 1 pointr/nursing

This is absolutely the best stuff. It's really saved me. We have VERY dry winters here and the hospital air filter just dries out the air even more.

It comes in a small tub that you scoop with your fingers or in a squeeze tube. The tube stuff is newer so I haven't seen it in the stores like you will with the tub (at CVS) but Amazon has it. The tub is not great for at work since scooping it is a great way to contaminate it. I prefer the tub because it is perfect. But the squeeze tube is great too, just a little more lotiony in feel.

Both have no smell and no feeling. It's the best.

I have turned everyone into converts at work. All that nauseating flowery junk is practically gone now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00121UVU0?keywords=working%20hands&qid=1453183671&ref_=sr_1_1&s=beauty&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011KMZ2WW?keywords=working%20hands&qid=1453183667&ref_=sr_ph&sr=1

u/wicked_VD · 3 pointsr/wicked_edge

I use the same soap for lather and I ran into the same problem initially. Try the following: Make sure your face is damp, not dripping, but wet, before bringing your lathered brush to your face. Next, spend a good minute or so (like Mantic suggests 100x) swirling the brush, making sure the brush bristles expand on your face. Continue this process and dip the tip of the brush in warm water every now and then.

It may also have something to do with the brush you're using. I find my cheap Tweezerman brush builds up a nice lather on my face with the Proraso ONLY if I make sure the bristles expand on my face while swirling. If you're using a softer brush, like a silvertip, you may not be able to apply this particular soap the way you like.

u/behraro · 1 pointr/SkincareAddiction

Hi /r/SkincareAddiction! I've been reading through everything available and trying to craft a skincare routine for myself. I always thought I had oily or combination skin, but after reading through http://www.skincare-addiction.com/ I think I have normal skin, but it is currently being over dried and as a result producing excess oil.

Although I normally have pretty clear skin, I have had a chin-acne breakout for the past weeks. Usually my breakouts clear up within a week, so the fact that these zits are staying around longer than normal is driving me mad. In addition, I've noticed lots of open comedones on my nose and chin. I have some photos of my skin here: http://m.imgur.com/a/rpkB5

Before exploring this subreddit, my routine consisted of:
Wash face when taking a shower alternating between the St. Ives Scrub and Clean and Clear's Essentials foaming facial cleansear. Afterwards I would mousterize with Neutrogena's Oil-Free Moisture - Combination Skin. In the evenings I would use Kirkland Signuatre Daily Facial Wipes Towelettes and/or Clean and Clear's Deep Cleaning Astringent.

Based on reading the sidebar and searching past threads, my old routine has quite a lot wrong with it. So I've started on making a better routine. After reading everything this seems to be a good starting routine for me and the products I plan to use. Rest-assured, I know to patch test and start applying 1 product at a time!

AM: Rinse face with water, pat dry, apply sunscreen, occasionally (5-7 times a month) apply make up.

PM: Remove Sunscreen / Makeup, Cleanse (Cetaphil or OCM), Apply BHA / AHA exfoliant, Moisturize.

Now for my questions:

  1. please let me know if there is any feedback you may have regarding my routine. Am I missing any steps or have anything out of order?

  2. For cleanser I am torn between using a pH balance cleanser like Cetaphil or starting OCM. Also would using OCM vs Cetaphil require altering my routine, such as excluding the sunscreen removing step before cleansing? Any suggestions or recommendations on which I should chose would be greatly appreciated.

  3. For BHA / AHA treatment I planned to alternate using BHA or AHA every other night. Will this application be too much or too little?

    Thanks in advance for any feedback you can give. I really am excited about changing my ways and treating my skin right. I really want to make sure I don't overlook anything and end up causing more harm than good.
u/AutomaticRegret · 6 pointsr/UIUC

Get this product called Nizoral shampoo (linked below), it has ketoconazole in it (you can read up on it) which doctors prescribe similar stronger ketoconazole products to people with excess dandruff that cannot be controlled. Use it like every two or three days for about 6-8 weeks, you can use conditioner every day though. After that, I would recommend a natural shampoo and conditioner that contains a lot different oils such as argan oil.

 

Also really important, people who shampoo their hair everyday especially with products such as Head & Shoulders which contain ingredients such as sulfate (which is terrible for your scalp, companies just use these ingredients because they are cheap. They couldn't give a sht about what happens to your scalp.) are stripping all the natural oils which your hair/scalp needs at least a little bit of, drying your scalp excessively which also causes dandruff, and also making yourself more prone to baldness. Read up on the no shampoo method which is basically you use shampoo ever two or three days, but you can still use conditioner every day. I've linked a page below if you're interested.

 

Oh one more thing....
For the love of god, please stop using two in one shampoo and conditioners because it doesn't work! Think about it, shampoo is supposed to strip stuff out while conditioner is supposed to put nutrients back in. How the f
ck can one product do these two things at once. It's obviously just a way for the company to scam you into buying that product because you think you are getting the better deal. Just buy separate shampoos and conditioners, I've linked below the products that I'm currently using if you want some reference. You could buy that or other products that have similar ingredients.

 

You can ask me any questions if you have some.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Nizoral-D-Anti-Dandruff-Shampoo-Fl/dp/B00AINMFAC/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1540274200&sr=8-1&keywords=nizoral

 

https://www.nopoomethod.com/

 

https://www.amazon.com/ArtNaturals-Organic-Moroccan-Shampoo-Conditioner/dp/B01BFKIJ06/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1540274589&sr=1-8&keywords=shampoo

 

If you follow what I've written here, I expect you to come back in a few weeks in order to thank me for giving away all my secrets and for changing your life for the better.

u/LolaBleu · 4 pointsr/tretinoin

You can order AA off Amazon. Melazepam Cream and here's a really informational blog post about it. I have been doing 2 nights tret alternated with 1 night AA for a few years and now and have great results, but my skin is on the sensitive side so you might be able to do it more frequently. Just remember you're using a strong active and go slowly.

I've also found that using a gentle BHA like theCosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid really helps. It's like the tret brings everything to the surface and then the BHA clears it out.

u/Taellion · 27 pointsr/singapore

Unfortunately, for most people who have sensitive skins, there is rarely a single product that solves all. Here are several habits I develop to cope with my troubled skin.

​

In Camp care

  1. Applying sunscreen - Yes, at first some of your friends/bunkmates will be laughing at you, but after awhile they will not care about it. I recommending purchasing matt/ non-shine sunscreen, as is the least obvious in appearance. Avoid applying too close to your eye area, it hurts like hell when it mix with your sweat and get into your eyes.
  2. Put a clean towel on your pillow before you sleep. Try to change/wash that towel as often as possible. This will protect your face from built-up skin cells, oil, dirt and bacteria on your pillowcases.
  3. Eat more fruits and limit your intake of sweet drinks/oily/fried food. (Some skin types are more sensitive to dietary changes.)
  4. Always practise good hygiene and wash your face twice a day. (Morning & before you sleep)
  5. Sleep early if possible...
  6. Avoid touching your face. If you want to touch, wash your hands first.
  7. Vitamins and supplement - My friends recommend purchasing grape seed extract, zinc & vitamin c supplements, it said help them manage their acne problem. (Case by case basis)
  8. Wash your helmet after use, especially the chin strap and forehead area.
  9. Build your skincare routine, like others have mention you can look in the following subreddits (skincareaddicts/ Asianbeauty/Skincareaddiction) for tips on how to take care of your skin.
  10. Shower properly, most people just rub soap on their body, don't be afraid to bring a shower sponge to scrub your body.
  11. Avoid laying in your bed if you have not showered or feeling sweaty.
  12. Moisturiser might help if you have eczema.
  13. Use a separate towel when for dying of face.
  14. Wash your jockey cup too.
  15. This product might help with your back and chest acne, can be applied on the face too. Do not apply too often, it can cause skin dryness.
  16. Sleeping on your sides might reduce chest and back acne.
  17. Clean your phone screen every now and then. Because throughout the day, your phone is gonna collect a lot of nasty and the last thing you want to do is to transfer it to your face when you call your loved ones.

    ​

    Outfield care

  18. Clean your face with Aloe Vera/baby wet wipes before you sleep. Avoid sleeping with camo if possible.
  19. Spam camo cream... Camo cream can act as an effective sunscreen. (Do note some skin types might have a reaction to camo cream, if you have such a condition, try to get a letter from the MO.)
  20. You can use wet wipes to clean camo off your helmet.
  21. Bring an antiseptic cream, sometimes even exhaust all your means and your skin continue to rebel, is better to prevent it from getting worst. I use this for my eczema and groin rash, it will help to control the inflammation for awhile.

    ​

    Route March Care

    Friction rash

  22. I recommend wearing tights or swimming trunks and if your commanders forbid it, just apply a layer of Vaseline on areas that are prone to friction rash. (Thighs, groin, nipples, underarms etc)
  23. Wear double layer socks and pour a gentle amount of SAF powder in them. The socks have to be brand new, in the event, your commander prohibits you to wear double layer socks, I suggest purchase professional hiking socks beforehand. I brought mine here. They used to carry in green.
  24. If your field-pack/ILBVs is also giving you issues, I suggest purchasing cushion/padding for them or just place 2 layers of socks underneath them. Furthermore, make sure the weight is evenly distributed on both sides of your shoulder.
  25. For extended marches, you can consider changing your walking style similar to a cow-boy to avoid your thighs from touching.

    Source: History of oily skin, cystic acne & eczema.
u/bbynug · 6 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

Just checked out the ingredients list. I don't see any high powered anti-aging ingredients in it and fragrance is listed really high up. And it's $50. I'd quit wasting your money and invest in a Vitamin c serum or a product with retinol. There are great products out there with both of these ingredients that are cheaper and more effective than the Kiehls serum.

An SCA favorite is Timeless Vitamin C. It's an inexpensive dupe for a much more expensive product. I can personally vouch for its effectiveness.

One of my personal faves is Alpha Skincare 12% Glycolic Cream. It's a fabulous glycolic acid product that makes my skin soooo smooth. Any little CCs or pimples I get are annihilated by this cream. I find it pretty gentle as well. The ingredients list is very short. As with all acids, start at a lower percentage and work your way up. 12% is too strong if you're new to acids.

There's tons of products to choose from when it comes to retinol. It's hard to give a recommendation without knowing exactly what you're looking for. Try thinking about what kind of formulation you want (serum, cream) and go from there. And if you start using retinol, be sure to use a sunscreen. Hope this helps.

u/briannac25 · 3 pointsr/RedditLaqueristas

A pretty decent brush kit is definitely necessary to do a lot of art. I have this one and I really like it. You will also need some dotting tools that will help you create perfect dots. Some striping tape is really handy too. You might also want a stamping kit. Konad has a great one and you can buy it on Amazon.

Have fun!

u/alanayvonne · 1 pointr/AsianBeauty

Hada Labo Rohto Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist I have found that layering a lot of thin layers has been the most helpful for my routine. This is my favorite toner by far. There isn’t really any fragrance and it doesn’t dry sticky for me.

I don’t have specific products to recommend, but I can list my routine for you and you can see if you can get some ideas.

AM

  • wash with water
  • Holy Snails Shark Sauce
  • Hada Labo toner
  • CosRx 96 Snail Mucin
  • Hada Labo Milky Lotion
  • CeraVe in the tub
  • Innisfree Orcid eye cream
  • Can Make Mermaid UV gel sunscreen

    PM

  • wash with Cosrx Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser which I put in a foaming pump. I like it a lot better foamy
  • active: either 2nd Shark Sauce, CosRX AHA, CosRX BHA, or tretinoin I have acne so I gotta keep that under control
  • Hada Labo Moist
  • Hada Labo Milky Lotion
  • Benton Snail Bee Steam Cream
  • Innisfree Orchid eye cream
  • CeraVe in the tub

    I’ve tried a few of the Mizon Snail essences/gels but I’ve had better luck with CosRX and Hada Labo. I also love tried stuff off r/asianbeautyexchange i hate buying stuff that doesn’t work out.
u/SpiritSnake · 9 pointsr/SkincareAddiction

I found three things really helped with my body acne, which I had on my chest and back. It was never terrible, I only had mild - moderate acne on my body, but it was definitely annoying.

  1. Using a good face wash on my chest, back and shoulders really helped. I use Cerave foaming face wash on my upper body when I shower.

  2. Showering more frequently helps. I used to shower every third or fourth day (dry shampoo and deodorant go a long way), but now I shower every second day.

  3. Using a BHA on the more stubborn areas. I still occasionally get minor breakouts on my chest, but applying a BHA keeps my skin super clear. I use either the Paula's Choice Clear Body Spray or Cosrx BHA Liquid.

    Hope that helps!
u/xXBootyQuakeXx · 1 pointr/AsianBeauty

Hello! I just got all my products in the mail but I want to be clear about the order I will use them in at night. Any suggestions are welcome.

u/Daheep · 4 pointsr/AsianBeauty

I would be very careful with using Vaseline as an occlusive. Definitely patch test it for a prolong period (like 2 weeks) before going all out. Better to have a small patch of blemishes than a face full of it. It does sound like your skin might benefit from something exfoliating like the C20 to help with dullness, but without some good hydrating & occlusive products, that will just land you in trouble.


My HG hydrating & moisturizing 'products':


DYI Witch Hazel, HA, & Glycerin toner (sometimes I add a few drops of high linoleic facial oil or tea tree oil to the mixture). This is my, 'I screwed up my face using too much acne medication/trying a new product that it hates' savior. I know for a fact my skin response very well to these 3 items mixed together & I can always turn to this DYI toner without risk of a reaction. It isn't hydrating enough for me just to use it without a cream of some sort, but it is the figurative lifejacket of skincare routine.



Carezone Doctor's Solution Dematology Hydra Toner, this the most hydrating toner I've ever come across that doesn't break me out.


Carezone Doctor's Solution Dematology H.A. Cream, this cream is on the heavier side, but damn if it doesn't hydrate & moisturize my skin without causing a bad reaction.


Mediheal Mediental Balhyo-Jinjeong Healing Mask is the best damned face mask I've ever used (thank you, Snow White & Asian Pear!) Comfortable to use, crazy moisturizing, & soothing as all get out. The blue, yellow, & purple versions are extremely nice, but the green one has my heart!

I tried to go with cheaper, more accessible Asian & Western products, & soooooo much regret, especially in regards to the toner & cream. As long as they make that those 2 Carezone products & that Mediheal mask, I will be a loyal customer! My only regret is they aren't the easiest to buy. I usually get all 3 off Koreadepart but I may try another vendor the next time I need to order them.


If you're not sensitive to snail, the COSRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence might be the way to go. It's got a pretty limited ingredient list & it's easy to get a hold of without breaking the bank.