Reddit mentions: The best facial serums

Aww thank you so much! It means a lot to me that my rants aren't solely in the realm of old man yells at sky (yet)!

Unfortunately I'm not in the EU and I'm pretty ignorant of what is easily accessible (without insane shipping costs), but I do believe lookfantastic carries a bunch of brands and it might have free shipping!

My price-point for everything is usually around or less than $20 - I won't spend much more than that on a product. So most of my recs do hover around that price, although it should be noted that some(most?) will last longer than TO's products either due to more product being purchased, or just the formula lends itself to easier spreadability allowing for thinner layers and less product used per application.

Advanced Retinoid 2% - I actually think this is a great product and a good introduction to retinoids. You'll find a lot of other gentle retinoids on the market - a lot of 'retinol creams' actually contain gentler retinoid derivatives similar to the ones used in TOs formula, so it's not ~groundbreaking~, but it is a good product at a good price and I believe it's kind of a dupe for Sunday Riley Luna and I support that. That being said, if you go to the store and pick up any 'anti-aging' serum or cream, it's bound to have some gentle retinoids in there, usually for ~$10

Retinol 1% - This is another product I really like. $5 for retinol is fantastic, and it dilutes easily into a moisturizer. I dilute it into a 0.2% concentration, and it has lasted a very very long time. Mixes well, great product. It's rather difficult finding a low-cost retinol product since you can charge more for the gold-standard ingredient, but they do exist. There are also some Amazon retinol products that are a very good deal price/oz, and at least from the review I linked, seem to be effective as heck. As of right now, I'm unsure of whether I'll be testing an Amazon retinol product or sticking with my retinol from TO after it runs out. Differin is also OTC here now, costs ~$10. So I'm sure it will be easier to find cheap retinol products soon.

Niacinamide - Another product I really like! That said, a lot of moisturizers contain niacinamide (like a bunch of CeraVe ones), any 'lightening' serum will have niacinamide, I swear that every AB product has niacinamide in there somewhere, Skinlex has a $10 serum, and there are good diy recipes as well

Vitamin C 23% - This product is awful. I don't mind the gritty texture, I don't mind the feeling of a thousand tiny bees stinging my face for 10 minutes after application, I don't mind having to apply it to damp skin, and I don't mind having to mist my face with water after application. I can work with a product like that. It's this thick, disgusting, lard layer that it leaves on your face. It pills under everything, and it pills aggressively. Since by it's very nature you need to apply it as a first-step in your routine (both due to the low pH required and because you have to apply it to a soaking wet face), you'd think it would be a formula that layers decently under other products. Doesn't have to be perfect, I don't mind a bit of pilling. But this layer is T H I C C, and it sloughs off from the mere sight of a hydrating serum or regular bland moisturizer. So what do you do? Well, you wipe it off, of course! BUT THIS ISH DOESN'T WIPE OFF. IT IS NOW A PART OF YOUR SKIN. Scrub all you want, you'll just be left with slimey, red, irritated skin. Your only hope is another oil cleanse, and why the heck am I going in circles in my routine when I just want to get to freakin bed???

I don't know if I can get behind anhydrous vitamin C serums - of course there's the risk of fast oxidation in water-based L-AA serums, but if you buy a well-formulated (with preservatives!) product from a well-known and well-reviewed company, and store the serum properly, it really shouldn't be that much of an issue. If they can create an anhydrous serum that doesn't feel like you're slathering your face in silicone lard, then yes I can totally get behind it. But there ain't nothing wrong with a bunch of water-based L-AA serums on the market - for ~$20, you don't have to keep your face soaking wet for application, no misting required, no little grits of L-AA that explode into a thousand hornets, no disgusting layer that melds itself to your skin like Viserys's gold crown and then sheds like a moldy snake.

Anyway, Timeless, NuFountain, and Skin Actives are all good vit c serums ~$20. Simple Skincare Science just did a good overview of some vit c serums here

Vit C derivatives (MAP, SAP, ascorbyl glucoside, etc.) - Honestly, I'm not sure of alternatives because these have never really interested me, but if you go to the store and look for a vitamin C serum, chances are it's got one of these derivatives in it. Silk Naturals also has affordable MAP serums (~$15).

Lactic Acid - Again, not an ingredient I've researched extensively, but Silk Naturals has an 8% lactic for $9, and Pond's Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream has 8% lactic for $12

Azelaic Acid - Skinoren/finacea for $12 are the ones I know of (but they may be prescription? unsure), but I think this is probably a good intro to pricier azelaic acid products!

Glycolic Acid - Nip & Fab Pads, 5% glycolic acid for $10. Alpha Skincare, huge bottles of varying concentrations for ~$15. Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic, 5% glycolic for ~$15. Avon Retexturizing Peel, 10% glycolic for ~$10.

Salicylic Acid - This is everywhere. Price/oz, TO is more expensive than gosh darn Paula's Choice (which I consider to be an expensive brand.) Silk Naturals has an affordable salicylic acid toner, but imo just pick up some Stridex or equivalent product.

AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution - This is a good price for a peel, I think - I don't know much about peels!

Hyaluronic Acid - Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion (~$12 for a lot of product), Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 (~$13), Elizavecca Hyaluronic Acid Serum (~$15 for an insane amount of product)

Various oils - these seem to be good deals, Garden of Wisdom is an alternative, NOW oils are an alternative. I used to buy my jojoba oil in bulk from H&B Oils Center on Amazon and never had an issue :)

Various primers - various drugstore primers ofc

Matrixyl - Timeless carries one for $22, I'm sure there are many others because matrixyl has been a good buzzword for a while

Alpha Arbutin & Argireline - these aren't products I've looked into tbh

Caffeine solution - I think you'd get the same effect from buying a cheap rollerball applicator, filling it with whatever serum you want, and storing it in the fridge

So there are a bunch of good products there - lactic, retinol, azelaic, probably the alpha arbutin etc. But there are definitely other brands to fill the ingredients needs out there. The brands I recommended were just the ones I have saved or found easily on the sidebar, so there's definitely way more out there!

I think there are a lot of ingredients that you can find if you go to the drugstore and look around a bit - I don't think everything needs to be vouched for by a bunch of people to make it worthwhile. Of course I love to have reviews backing my purchases, but if something is inaccessible or expensive, I can usually find something that fills that need at the drugstore. The only problem is how horribly products are named! If I'm looking for niacinamide, it helps to have niacinamide in the name, or at the very least in the product description, but you probably won't find out about it until you're knee deep in the ingredients list.

I'm seriously hoping for a stronger shift away from issue focused skincare descriptions to ingredients focused skincare descriptions, or at the very least clearer inclusion of the star ingredients (and not just like, ~organic cold pressed pea juice for lightening~ when really niacinamide is at the top of the list).

My goals have changed and I think I need to make some significant changes to my routine. I am now focused mainly on:

1. Reducing hyperpigmentation. I have freckles which I love, but I definitely don't love my melasma and sun spots.
   
   
2. Wrinkle prevention. I get Botox so I don't have many wrinkles, just some light crepiness.
   
   
3. Preventing collagen loss in my lips.
   
   Here is my current routine. There are a few products that I love, but quite a few that I feel really "meh" about and could improve. I'm looking for suggestions on how to amp up my routine. I prefer a shorter daytime routine, and more inexpensive products when I can, but I'm willing to splurge for holy grails!
   
   AM
   
   
4. Timeless Hyaluronic Acid. This feels great on my skin, but because of how cheap it is I worry that maybe it's not actually hyaluronic acid...
   
   
5. Say Yes to Grapefruit Under Eye Creme - LOVE. Instant brightness. Surprisingly effective for a drugstore brand.
   
   
6. Mason Natural Collagen Creme - LOVE
   
   
7. Sunscreen. I alternate between Biore Watery Essence and Innisfree Perfect. I feel they are both a little weak for me. I had better results (but so much white cast) from Neutrogena SPF 70+
   
   PM
   
   
8. Cleanse with Dermalogica Pepto-Glyco Cleanser. LOVE. Like a mini chemical peel every day. I sometimes use my husband's Cerave if my skin is feeling dirty or sensitive. Or I just use a Neutrogena makeup remover wipe when lazy...
   
   
9. Biologique Recherche P50. - LOVE
   
   
10. Hyaluronic Acid Serum (same as AM)
    
    
11. Naturalico Vitamin C 20% Serum
    
    
12. Instanatural Niacinamide Serum w/ Avocado Oil. I'm wondering if the avocado oil is too occlusive and messing up my later steps.
    
    
13. Innisfree White Tone Up Eye Serum - New, but loving so far.
    
    
14. Good N Natural Retinol Cream. - Really like, but again, I wonder how good it can be with how inexpensive it is.
    
    
15. Alternate between mixing Finacea into my retinol, and Retin-A into my retinol.
    
    
16. Laneige Lip Mask - LOVE.
    
    
17. Seal it all with Argan Oil. - LOVE
    
    MASKS and GIMMICKY PRODUCTS
    
    Innisfree Acai Sheet Mask (love), Donkey Milk Aqua, TonyMoly Banana Sleep Mask (love), 2 Minute Peel (love), Aztec Clay Masque, Glycolic Acid Peel (I suck at doing this and end up giving myself a small chemical burn almost every time), EPL facial (HATE!), mirconeedling
    
    Mainly I need help finding a better, super strong sunscreen, upping my serum game, and finding some additional masks and peels that can help with hyperpigmentation. Also does anyone have any strategies or products for increasing collagen production in your lips?!
    

>>I had previously been using all Lancome products before starting the SCA routine, and the difference has been astounding. I have skin that gets dry and flaky if I'm not careful or if I pick, but is mostly very oily.

I agree with weenieee - it sounds like you have dehydrated skin which means you need to create a protective, moisturizing barrier on your skin.

>>The Stridex pads work just fine for a light BHA, but they make my skin feel really dry and tight. I was thinking of switching to the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, because I like their AHA so much, but it has mixed reviews on Amazon. I would love any suggestions or advice on keeping/adding a BHA to the routine.

Personally, I love the cosrx BHA Blackhead power. I don't find it nearly as drying as other BHAs. Additionally, you can use the BHA at the same time as your AHA and give them both time to be active.

>>I just ran out of Lancome Serum and started using the Serumtologie C as a replacement. Is this correct, or was the Lancome doing more than what the Vitamin C will do?

The Vitamin C will be good for your skin, but it will not have the same impact as the Genifique. First, the Genifique has Dimethicone and Castor Oil in it. These are both occlusive moisturizers which will create a protective, moisture barrier on your skin. Second, the Genifique contains two different types of fermentated products - Bifida Ferment Lysate and Faex Extract/Yeast Extract/Extrait De Levure. You can buy fermented products from Amazon for fairly cheap. I personally like Secret Key. cosrx also has one. There are more expensive versions, but there isn't any need to pay Genifique prices.

Here is a video on fermented face products.

For the occlusive moisturizers, you can use plain squalane oil - I also buy this on Amazon. There are also squalane face masks if you don't want to use an oil everyday.

As for the vitamin C product you chose, while the version of Vitamin C is stable, it also needs time to be active on your skin to achieve its full benefits. After washing your face, apply the Vitamin C and wait 10 minutes. There are different types of Vitamin C. Some require more time than others and some are more potent than others. This particular vitamin C also has bunch of other contents, like Dandelion Root and Geranium. I find that a lot of Vitamin C products pack a bunch of ingredients that can potentially irritate your skin. If you find irritation, this might be the cause. They make Vit C serums that are way paired down on ingredients (and have more proven ingredient additions like Vit E, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, and Retinol.

>>I am nearly out of the Lancome eye cream, but have plenty of the Volition eye gel, which is supposed to have snail mucin in it. Is the helix good enough for night and day? If not, are there any you all would recommend?

The Volition seems like an alright eye treatment, but I would expect the snail secretion filtrate to be higher in the list of ingredients. Here is an eye cream where skin filtrate is the first ingredient. It also contains Niacinamide, which can be beneifical. I would say that your eye cream is fine if you like it, but there are potentially better options.


>>I was using the Volition moisturizer for daytime, and really liked it, but I ran out and had a Clinique sample so I tried it. The Clinique gel doesn't moisturize enough, so I'm thinking of buying more Volition Cream, but it is fairly expensive. Is the Volition Cream worth the money, or do you all have any other suggestions for a replacement?

I would take a look at the first ingredients of your Volition Cream. Chances are, like most of these other products, there are cheaper options that are just as effective if you don't want to pay the hefty price tag. I would search r/asianbeauty for the main ingredients.

With dehydrated skin, I would do either a face oil or a night pack on top of your moisturizer. Again, I recommend r/asianbeauty and Amazon.

P.S. If you feel like the Micellar water helps get that extra oil and dirt, maybe look into double cleansing. It can definitely help with flakiness.

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 :)

Yeah, I looked at the Kiehl Micropeel's price. $56 is expensive. There are cheaper and more proven options.

Some tips:

1. Know your skin type - oily, dry, normal, combination before you buy products. You need to buy products suitable for your skin type. Otherwise it's like an anorexic person taking diet pills because overweight people claim they are so good or overweight people drinking weight gainer shakes because skinny people claim they are effective.
   
   
2. There is no such thing as male skin type or female skin type. In general, men's skin are thicker and oilier. Still this will fall under oily, dry etc. Male skincare products are not really made for men. It's pure marketing. For example, clinique's men moisturizer is the exact same formula as their famous yellow moisturizer targeted to women. They just changed packaging and gave it a manly name. Most skincare range targeted to men smells like axe body cologne and has menthol, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus etc in order to market these products as 'cooling', even though they are bad for your skin. It's like if you splash isopropyl alcohol 70% to your face, it will feel cool too, then your face burns. LOL.
   
   My skin type is super oily specially when I was younger. The Kiehl herbal line dried my face out in a bad way. It became dehydrated (dry underneath) while becoming more oily on top. I agree with the other commenter that you should introduce new products slowly. I am still guilty of buying 5-6 items of a brand that I haven't tried (I like trying different brands, from drugstore cheap to super expensive) and then applying all of them in one go. 95% of the time my face rebels. It becomes red, irritated, big pores etc. I cannot pinpoint which product is the culprit.
   
   I'm assuming you have oily skin like me that gets dry depending on weather or how aggressive I am with my skincare regime. I also have acne scars from pimples during my teenage years and my parents not teaching me good hygiene. I think I only washed my face on weekends with water. During weekday, no shower, no face washing. > < It's a miracle I do not have more holes on my face. This is why I am so obsessed with skincare now. I'm a guy btw.
   
   My recommendations:
   
3. No fragrance. You are using skincare products to improve your complexion. Fragrance at best won't help. More often, it causes irritation that your eyes can't see. If you like fragrance, use cologne. Do not apply fragrance masquerading as skincare on your face. Even if a product says it is fragrance free, check the ingredients for fragrant oils like orange, lemon, bergamot, lavender etc. Companies know people still love nice smelling things so they add these natural oils/extracts so that they can still claim their product to be fragrance free. These fragrant oils make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Bad!
   
   
4. For face wash, the most important thing is ph. You want a liquid face wash with neutral ph. Too alkaline and it strips your face dry. You do NOT want the squeaky feeling after you washed your face. If you do, that face wash is too harsh. No bar soap for face. The chemical that makes the soap solid is going to clog your pore. I can live with acne.org face wash. It's cheap and huge and gets the work done.
   
   
5. The #1 antiaging product is sunscreen. Use it daily, rain or shine. You will not see the results now. 20 years from now you will look much younger than your friends who do not use sunscreen. Old looking skin is not just wrinkles and sagging. It includes clarity, smoothness, even skin color etc. You want at least SPF30 because most people do not apply enough so even though you applied SPF30, more likely you are getting much less protection. SPF only measures protection against UVB, B for burning. The more damaging sunray is UVA, A for aging. UVA does not cause sunburn. It is also pretty steady whole year round. In Europe they measure UVA protection with PPD. European sunscreens with tinosorb and meroyxl are best but they can be thick. These ingredients are still illegal in the US. :< Japan sunscreen also has better UVA protection than US ones and they are non-greasy at the expense of having alcohol added. You can visit /r/asianbeauty to search for japanese sunscreen.
   
   
6. Instead of using that Kiehl micropeel, you can say use 5% glycolic acid, which will increase cell turn over or use retinol, which makes your cell function better. For retinol, I recommend you begin with a low dosage, like 0.15% then gradually increase to 0.25%, 0.5% to 1%. (1% retinol is very strong!) I recommend this: https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Skin-Care-Enhanced-Wrinkle/dp/B01BW4ZB74/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1480126688&sr=8-1&keywords=retinol+alpha+hydrox (It has 0.15% retinol in a time released formula - similar microsphere technology that my prescription retin-a micro gel uses. The ingredients is also almost exactly the same as this http://www.ulta.com/help-me-retinol-night-treatment?productId=xlsImpprod1490128 which sells for $49. (I think I paid $65 when I bought it years ago. Maybe now the word has spread that there is a cheaper dupe.)
   
   
7. Paulas choice has nice BHA(salicylic acid). BHA is good for unclogging pore because it is oil soluble and thus can penetrate pores. Contrast this to AHA which is oil soluble. Paula has many choices at different strength, for e.g. liquid is strongest, gel is lighter, there is 1%, 2% etc. They increased their price by almost 100% since I started using them from more than 10 years ago. Cheaper alternative is cosrx bha: http://www.wishtrend.com/promotion/1108-bha-blackhead-power-liquid-cosrx.html. Shop around for price. They are available at amazon too. It is 2% but gentler. (Acids - glycolic, salicylic, vitamin c even though at same % can be made stronger or less strong by adjusting the ph)
   
   
8. For some people salicylic acid is good enough for controlling acne. For me it does not work. I need benzo peroxide. Years ago I used Proactiv. The treatment part stated simply is just 2.5% benzo peroxide. They forumalated the technique to apply it all over your face not just on specific pimple. The idea is to kill the acne causing bacteria before they even have the chance to cause pimples. The old school method is you wait for pimple to pop out then apply benzo peroxide on it. If applying to the whole face, only use 2.5% bp. For spot treating erupted pimples, you can go up to 5%. Never use 10%, which are commonly sold in drugstores because they know people think stronger is better. 10% bp does not offer significant advantage over 5%. It will only make your skin peel and the pimple would harden (at least that was the case with me) Cheapest price fo bp is at acne.org. They have a message board too so if you want to read people's battles with acne, you'd enjoy it. Drugstore benzo peroxide sells for like $5 for 1 ounce. Acne.org sells 8 oz at $19.29. If you have back acne, you can apply it on your back too.
   
   
9. For facial moisturizer, I like clinique dramtically different moisturing gel (gel not the lotion!) $26 for 4.2oz. http://www.clinique.com/product/1687/5047/skin-care/moisturizers/dramatically-different-moisturizing-gel
   
   
10. During winter if you feel this gel does not provide enough moisture, you can add a few drops of jojoba oil. Actually you can also add jojoba oil to your face cleanser. Oil attracts oil, so it does a good job at removing surface oil from your face. It's also the reason why a lot of women use oil cleanser to remove makeup. Then they use regular cleanser to wash off the oil cleanser just to be safe. This is called double cleanser. I do this too in order to make sure my water resistant sunscreen is removed at the end of the day.
    
    My suggested routine for you would be something like:
    Morning
    
11. Gel fash wash
    
    
12. bha
    
    
13. 2.5% bp all over face
    
    
14. gel moisturizer (add jojoba oil if your skin needs more ummmp, say during winter)
    
    
15. apply sunblock
    
    PM
    
16. gel face wash, add a few drops of jojoba oil
    
    
17. moisturizer (add few drops of jojoba oil if you need more ummmph)
    
    
18. apply retinol (apply it after moisturizer so that the moisturizer acts as a buffer and make retino less strong, when you are used to it, you can switch around and apply retinol first then moisturizer)
    
    You do not necessarily need an eye product unless you have specific issues like dark circles, puffiness.
    
    Once you are doing well in your routine, you may eventually want to add glycolic https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Skin-Care-Essential-Glycolic/dp/B01D2M4IFA/ref=lp_15766567011_1_7_a_it?srs=15766567011&ie=UTF8&qid=1480128477&sr=8-7&th=1, or http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/skin-care-categories/aha-and-bha-exfoliants/_/Resist-Daily-Smoothing-Treatment-with-Five-Percent-AHA. Another option is https://store.acne.org/treatment/8-oz-treatment-2-5-benzoyl-peroxide. Even acne.org has descent glycoli products: https://store.acne.org/aha/6-oz-aha-10-glycolic-acid-licochalcone
    
    I cannot empshaized enough to add the acids slowly (AHA, BHA, retinods). You can also so something like only apply once to twice a week only. Then slowly progress.
    
    Retinoids should always be applied at nightg. Do not apply retinoid and aha at the same time, they cancel each other out. Thus use BHA in the morning. I can't remember either BHA won't cause sun sentivity or whether it can even help with inflammation since ibufuren drugs have salicylic component.
    
    I can feel my ambien taking effect. I'm not sure whether I'm even typing sense. Going to bed now. lol.
    
    Edit: i mean do not apply retinoid and benzo peroxide at the same time. They cancel each other pit. Retinoid and aha together wont cancel but may be too harsh.
    
    

Awww, I know that feel completely.

I've never tried any Tatcha products, however... I have been in the market for an enzyme cleanser lately, and the one I'm looking at is often cited as a great dupe of the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Cleanser in the Amazon reviews- the SRB Stabilized Rice Bran Enzyme Cleanser, $25 on Amazon or Peach & Lily. I first saw this in a Liah Yoo video and I guess due to the kinda bland packaging it's not very popular, but the reviews on Amazon and Amabie are excellent. Apparently the product is extremely gentle and the ingredients list is pretty short, so it might be ideal for you. :)

https://www.amazon.com/Rice-Bran-Cleanses-Brightens-Exfoliates/dp/B01DZDIJSS

Honestly, I'm kind of an AB noob myself, because although I research many products, I don't really have that much $$ to spend on products and try them. Since you have sensitive skin, maybe try a balm cleanser? They're apparently very nourishing and the Banila Co Clean It Zero Sensitive formula has great reviews. Renee from Gothamista has also recommended the Heimish Cleansing Balm (it has donkey milk and she's butter, oh my gosh) and I believe her skin type is also dry-sensitive.

https://sokoglam.com/products/banila-co-clean-it-zero-sensitive-skin
https://www.amazon.com/Heimish-Clean-Balm-Cleansing-120ml/dp/B01CJ639SM

Looking at the ingredients in the serum and cream, they seem somewhat similar to the Nature Republic Royal Ginseng line, all the way from the rice, royal jelly, ginseng, sodium hyaluronate, and silk extracts to the 24k gold. This line is very expensive as well, but may be less problematic to you.

The top, likely active, ingredients in the Serum are Algae Extract and Rice Extract and in the cream the Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate is the number 1 ingredient, so I think you should start looking for serums and creams high in those actives, as those are the highest concentrated ingredients in the Tatcha moisturizing products.

I couldn't find much with Algae Extract that was a moisturizer, except one Nature Republic Eye Cream, the Collagen dream eye cream.

https://www.amazon.com/NATUREREPUBLIC-Collagen-Dream-Cream-Korean/dp/B00H4HD25W

The second ingredient, the Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, is very interesting because it actually used to be the active ingredient of the famous SK-II Essence, before it was replaced by the very similar Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate. This Ingredient is likely going to be much easier to find in an essence rather than a moisturizing cream. I know that the Missha First Treatment Essence has Saccharomyces but I'm also including a link/list of SK-II dupes that contain either Galactomyces or Saccharomyces as they are very similar, and because many of the other SK-II dupes are actually cheaper (the Missha is around $50), including the CosRx Galactomyces which is only $15.

http://musicalhouses.blogspot.com/2016/01/sk-ii-facial-treatment-essence-dupe.html?m=1

https://sokoglam.com/products/time-revolution-first-treatment-essence

https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Galactomyces-Whitening-Power-Essence/dp/B00OZE57XW

The last ingredient, Rice Extract, is present in an insane 65% potency in the CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Mask, which is also a cult favorite on Reddit. And, it's less than $15.

https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Ultimate-Nourishing-Rice-Overnight/dp/B01518D84U

Lastly, I saw sodium hyaluronate, or hyaluronic acid, in both the serum and cream, so if I were you, I'd invest in the cult favorite, Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion. I have the Premium version, and it really is wonderful and leaves your skin firm and hydrated, and is a great way to get in extra moisture before your cream.
Hada Labo Rohto Hadalabo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist, 5.7 fl. oz. (170ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BSNBO9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EZa8ybAC6S473

A final note: since your skin is sensitive, I would stay away from any artificial fragrance or irritants in any products. Hada Labo and Cosrx are both fragrance free companies that only use what they need to make the product effective. Again, check your ingredients at CosDna as well as reviews. Also many of these products are available cheaper on some other websites, I just chose who came up first. Generally, SokoGlam is a safer bet than Amazon because you won't get a fake product, but it's also slightly more expensive.

I know this is a long post but I also know how daunting the search for good, affordable skincare can be. Also, don't forget to wear sunscreen. There's no point in getting so many products just to negate their effects with UVA damage.

Best of Luck! <3

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

So it sounds like Melano isn't working that great for you if you're still concerned with PIH and increasing brightness? Have you ever tried a 20% Ascorbic acid serum? It really helps to decrease pigmentation issues and increases brightness for me. I used to use 15% Ascorbic acid serum but I really got effects when I switched to 20%. I would recommend a 20% Vitamin C serum especially if you can't use ferments.

Here are some 20% Vitamin C serums that seem to fit your needs with not having any aloe, carbomer, fatty alcohols, denatured alcohol, or ferments. (I don't think I missed anything if I did I apologize. The ingredients lists all look to be without the ingredients you mentioned). One of these is on Amazon and all are under $40:

-Nufountain 20% Vitamin C serum: https://www.amazon.com/NuFountain®-Ferulic-Vitamin-Ordered-Shipping/dp/B0039LZW78

-C21.5% serum but it's from Wishtrend: http://www.wishtrend.com/skin-care/1215-pure-vitamin-c215-advanced-serum-by-wishtrend.html

Then I would also recommend a 5% or higher Niacinimide product to help lighten PIH and increase brightness. Here is one of my favorites that seems to not have any of the ingredients you can't use: https://www.stratiaskin.com/products/rewind

Otherwise here is a good resource for high % niacinimide ab products:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/4gck4u/spreadsheet_of_commonly_suggested_high/

I would also recommend considering adding ginseng into your skin care regimen to increase brightness. I've found ginseng to help increase my skins brightness and glow, similar to ferments but more "lively" of an effect.

This is my new favorite ginseng product, also from Wishtrend and it's under $40 and doesn't appear to have any of the ingredients you mentioned: http://www.wishtrend.com/skin-care/1669-ginseng-serum-iam-from.html?search_query=Ginseng&results=14

They also have a ginseng mask: http://www.wishtrend.com/skin-care/1671-ginseng-mask-i-m-from.html?search_query=Ginseng&results=14

ETA: wait, can you use propylene glycol, caprylyl glycol or butylene glycol or are those also off limits? I'm not sensitive to fatty alcohols so idk if it's particular ones you're sensitive to or literally all of them. God they're in everything wtf?!

If you're sensitive to all then it looks like the C21.5 is your safest bet for high % Ascorbic acid serum? And you can also look at the ab products with Niacinimide resource link I gave as well. High % Ascorbic acid serum and high % Niacinimide should help to lighten PIH and increase brightness :)

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!

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

I have been dealing with redness for a while too. I'm pretty sure it's primarily genetic, but being dehydrated does not do me any favors.

There are a couple of things I've tried or been told to try and some have helped a bit. My mom has rosacea and I'm pretty sure I have a mild case of it as well, but I haven't really target that as much as I have tried to create a soothing routine.

Anywho things I've been told/tried (Amazon links just for info, you may consider buying some of these else where, if you decide to buy them at all):

• Cosrx Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: I personally didn't see any direct redness reducing effects, but I do really love this as a hydrating essence. I use it to mix oils into quite often.
  
  
• LRP Cicaplast Baume B5: This stuff is THICC. Very soothing for me. Immediate redness reducing with some last effects. It is not very cosmetically elegant so I don't use it during the day.
  
  
• Hada Labo Moist: This is a hydrating toner. This primarily helps with redness by plumping and hydrating my face. I find this to be an absolute workhorse in my routine, but kind of boring at the same time. I may switch to the premium version when I'm finished with my current bottle.
  
  
• Klairs Supple Preparation Toner: This is very soothing for me and I find it does help short term with redness relif. You may have some issues with the essential oils that are in this formula, but they have just a released one that is Unscented!
  
  
• Dr. Jart Color Correcting Treatment: This doesn't fix the problem for me, but it does cover the redness very nicely. I really like using this instead of foundation or a BB cream, it evens out my complexion very well. A little goes a long way!
  
  
• Niacinamide: There are several products that I have tested because they contained Niacinamide. If you'd like I would be happy to link them to you. I really like this ingredient and I find it to be very helpful in a lot of ways.
  
  
• SPF: I feel silly saying this, but honestly using SPF regularly cut my redness in half.
  
  
• Centella Asiatica: This is one of the main soothing ingredients in the LRP Baume & Dr. Jart Color Corrector I mentioned earlier. There are several products that feature it from multiple brands. I know a couple of weeks ago there was this thread about it on /r/AsianBeauty
  
  
• Rosehip Seed Oil: I only linked the Trilogy because that is the one I am testing right now. I really like this oil and may look for a different brand going forward. I'm not positive that it is helping my general redness, but it IS doing wonders for some of the PIE spots that I have on my chin.
  
  Wow, I have just realized I've written you a book. My bad! I hope this helps some. These are just my experiences and suggestions, ymmv. Let me know if you have any other questions!

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!

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:

• Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
  
• Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream
  
  I also went a little sheet mask happy at the Honolulu Duty Free Beauty Store on my way home from Hawaii (whoops):
  
  
• SNP Birds Nest Aqua Ampoule Mask
  
• Dr. Jart Dermask Water Jet Soothing Hydra Solution
  
• MediHeal Collagen Impact Essential Mask
  
  
  Skin Type: Dry, Sensitive
  
  Country/Climate I'm in: NYC [typically humid AF, cold cold winters]
  
  Top Skin Concern: Anti-Aging (Hello early 30's), Hydration
  
  Current Routine/Products I'm Using:
  
  AM:
  
  
• Splash of Water
  
• [Moroccan Rose Water](https://www.amazon.com/Elma-Sana-Moroccan-Water-- Ounce/dp/B003XKW8RM/ref=sr_1_7_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1483909400&sr=8-7&keywords=rose+water)
  
• Pixi Glow by Petra - Every 2-3 days, HG product for me
  
• Pai Organics BioRegenerate Rosehip Oil
  
• Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré (I want to replace this since the main ingredient is mineral oil.)
  
• Dr. Jart Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++
  
  PM:
  
  
• Dr. Jart Dermaclear Micro Water - This is only usually used in the summer or when I have to take off a lot of eye make up
  
• One One Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil - HG product for me, use it throughout the fall and winter
  
• Pixi Glow by Petra - Every 2-3 days, HG product for me
  
• My Own Face Oil Blend [Jojoba, Vitamin E, Seabuckthorn, Helichrysum, Frankincense, Geranium]
  
• Dr. Jart Ceremidian Cream - Fall/Winter mostly since $$$
  
  I also have a rotation of balms and masks that I use as necessary:
  
  
• One Love Organics Skin Savior
  
• Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Face Mask - Total HG product, saved my skin after a horrible sunburn from wakeboarding one day
  
• LATHER honey moisture mask
  with propolis extract - Discovered this brand during a long layover at the Atlanta airport. Really amazing products with great, natural ingredients
  
• Dr. Jart Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask
  
• Dr. Jart Premium Firming Sleeping Mask - I am just realizing this product is no longer available
  
  
  My biggest concern is anti-aging and the puffy bags under my eyes. My skin also responds beautifully to natural ingredients and has completely changed after incorporating an AHA and Ceramides. Any recommendations on what I can do to better my routine would be very helpful! Really curious what everyone here thinks about the addition of Retinol, Vitamin C or any other hydration steps. How can I best use each product? Am I going in the right order? Help! Thanks :)
  
  
  Edit: I can't figure out formatting. Sorry this may be difficult to read. NAILED IT.

Hello! I've been following this subreddit for a while and I'm so excited to ask my first question! This is going to be a long one because I have so many questions and am curious as to what I can do for my face to be its best self :)


First, a little bit about me! I’m 22F living in US - I have PCOS so I’ve struggled with hormonal acne and I have acne prone and dull skin.
I got a lot of tiny whiteheads along my chin area and forehead (pretty much both T and U zones). I also get a bunch of blackheads on my nose, and the area on my cheeks near my nose.
I used to get 2-3 cystic pimples a month but that changed once I started going to my current dermatologist. (My routine started in August, and helped a bunch! The & in my routine mean I added them last month!) Unfortunately, while my face has cleared up, I’m still experiencing occasional breakouts (which I know are normal) and haven’t been able to get rid of those stubborn whiteheads. It seems that my skin also seems dull and lacking glow and I also get a bunch of dark spots from where i get pimples.


My dermatologist’s products are also a bit on the pricey end, so i’m looking to replace 1-2 of them//add to my routine to make it more effective and also restore my face.


For reference of some of the products I mention:
My dermatologist’s brand is called DermaNissé and her products are some that finally worked for my skin!


DermaNissé Clean Care Cleanser: https://store.lasersurgery.net/dermanisse-cleancare-cleanser-sarp.html


DermaNissé Purifying Hydrating Cream: https://store.lasersurgery.net/dermanisse-purifying-hydrating-cream.html


DermaNissé Hyaluronic Acid Serum: https://store.lasersurgery.net/dermanisse-hyaluronic-acid-serum-sarp.html


Solar Protection Sunscreen:
www.skinelite.com/tota-002.html


DermaNissé Glyco-C Acne Treatment gel:
https://store.lasersurgery.net/dermanisse-glyco-c-acne-treatment-gel.html


Anthelios Sunscreen: https://www.ulta.com/anthelios-60-clear-skin-dry-touch-sunscreen-spf-60?productId=xlsImpprod13791275&sku=2301523&_requestid=4502569



Potential Vitamin C Serum: https://www.amazon.com/TruSkin-Naturals-Vitamin-Anti-Aging-Hyaluronic/dp/B01M4MCUAF/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&keywords=vitamin%2Bc%2Bserum&linkCode=sl1&linkId=bdcc9ad2cd05ddb5b67d9cbbb81f074f&qid=1515545361&s=beauty&sr=1-1-spons&tag=mangolift08-20&th=1&ref_=nav_ya_signin&_encoding=UTF8


SKINCARE ROUTINE



AM

• DN Clean Care Cleanser
  
  
  
• Rx: Clindamycin Phosphate (1%) and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel (5%) - Mylar. I leave on my clean face for 15 minutes, then clean off with warm water
  
  
  
• Pixi Glow Tonic &
  
  
  
• Thayer’s Witch Hazel Rose Water Toner &
  
  
  
• DN Hyaluronic Acid Serum
  
  
  
• DN Purifying Hydrating Cream
  
  
  
• Solar Protection Sunscreen
  
  
  
  
  
  PM
  
  
  
• Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water &
  
  
  
• DN Clean Care Cleanser
  
  
  
• I switch between these two next
  
  
  
• 5x a week Rx: Azelex azelaic acid cream 20%. I leave on clean face for 15 minutes then clean off
  
  
  
• 2x a week, i use DermaNissé Glyco-C Acne Treatment Gel
  
  
  
• Thayer’s Witch Hazel Rose Water Toner &
  
  
  
• DN Hyaluronic Acid Serum
  
  
  
• DN Purifying Hydrating Cream
  
  
  
  
  Throughout the day
  

• If i can, throughout the day I use Rx. Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Solution (1%) Pledgets. They’re little pads with the solution to clean face.
  
  
  Questions
  Any suggestions for:
  
  
  

• An eye cream to fight against fine lines, under eye bags, and dark circles that I can add?
  
  
  
• Vitamin C Serum I can add? I was thinking of getting the TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C. I see this subreddit suggests Oz Naturals vitamin C, but according to this website, it’s to be avoided? https://myawesomebeauty.com/best-vitamin-c-serum/
  
  
  
• Another face moisturizer since I feel the hydrating cream my doctor gives me is just enough but doesn’t let me feel like my skin is thriving? I’m thinking of getting Trader Joe’s Argan Oil
  
  
  
• Do you recommend Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60? I’m thinking of switching from Solar Protection to this one?
  
  
  
• I’m trying to figure out if I can replace the DermaNissé Hyaluronic Acid Serum to the Trader Joe’s Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum. The only difference in ingredients is that the TJ brand has Propanediol.
  
  
  
• Should I switch out the order? Use some things less than others? http://www.snowwhiteandtheasianpear.com/2015/01/skincare-discovery-putting-your.html
  
  
  
• Should I add more AHA/BHA products? such as the BHA Blackhead power liquid?
  
  
  
• Any other gentle anti-aging treatments I can add? I get concerned that with all the acne treatments I’m getting, I’m aging my skin more :(
  
  
  
• Any Weekly treatments/masks I could add?
  
  
  
  Thank you a million in advance!
  
  
  
  edit: formatting, location

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.

• 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! :-)

My routine is already pretty darn slim but if I could /only/ have three items I think I'd probably have the following:

• Su:m 37 Miracle Rose Cleanser Stick
  
  > I really adore this product. It leaves my face very clean and happy without that nasty "too clean" feeling. A little goes a long way for me so it's super cost effective.
  
  
• Tea Tree Oil/Product
  
  > Currently I do a tea tree oil and water combo and basically apply it like a toner and it works really well for me. I also have the option to up or lower the percentage of oil as needed which, for me, has helped a lot with acne and gives me some flexibility with a singular product. I'm considering trying a true-blue AB Tea Tree product but I'm really worried about consistency since the Tea Tree masks I have are pretty heavy on my skin and don't have the same sort of oomph to them.
  
  
• Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule
  
  > Hands down. Without a doubt. Never will be replaced in my book. Most days I just use my cleanser and TTO but on nights when my skin needs some help or has healing acne/wounds, this baby is my go to. Use it all over on shower nights or do a thicker dab on trouble spots and there's an clear and obvious improvement the following morning. Combined with my TTO, it's been one of the best products I've purchased. It's super slick so, like my other items, a little goes a long way. Since it's a product that you use in select areas, you don't use a lot in the first place. It can be used anywhere in yours face (forget those snail eye creams lol) and you can use it on parts of your body as well if they need help. It's probably the closest to a HG/Rave product for me.
  
  I've committed a sin! I didn't include a sun screen! Oops~ So hard to pick just three, right?

I would definitely recommend an aha and /or a bha. Salicylic acid goes down into pores and helps remove dead skin cells. Glycolic and lactic acid help remove dead skin cells on the surface.
I really like corsx bha because it's gentle and effective. It has a thicker texture and it is moisturizing. I just pump it into my hands and tap on. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, 100ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073P6ZQ4V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4GYoDbG9RWHQ4 Corsx has other good toners as well. I am planning on buying the aha and bha toner.

Pixie glow tonic is another good one and it has glycolic acid which is an aha. Pixi Glow Tonic ~ 3.4 Fl Oz/100 ML https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014JOB038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6LYoDbMN3399H

I just bought Bliss What a melon toner a few weeks ago and I really like it! It has willow bark which has salicylic properties, witch hazel which helps remove oil and dirt, and it has watermelon extract which is moisturizing, full of antioxidants, anti aging, and packed with vitamin C and E. It isn't full of chemicals either and is vegan. Bliss What a Melon Replenishing Watermelon Toner with Witch Hazel and Willow Bark, Replenishes, Refreshes and Energizes Tired Skin, Vegan, 7.0 ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SVH79WW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_j8YoDbR4CA30A

I really like rose hydrosol in a spray, I use this one and I use it from head to toe. I use it throughout the day when my skin needs a little pick me up. I use it on top of my hyaluronic acid serum. There are other hydrosols that are good for the skin and are gentle. Alteya Organic Rose Water Spray 240ml Glass bottle- 100% USDA Certified Organic Authentic Pure Natural Rosa Damascena Flower Water Steam-Distilled and Sold Directly by the Rose Grower Alteya Organics https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NY89K5J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_E75oDbV2375HS

Thayers witch hazel is fantastic and very affordable. I have the lavender aloe vera witch hazel and really like it. Thayers Natural Remedies Witch Hazel Lavendar - Alcohol Free 12 fl oz (355 ml) Liquid https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PP15L8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xb6oDbTCY35JN There are different varieties of this witch hazel.

For dark undereyes you need a good eye cream, but I don't have much experience with them except with using Murad and clinique pep start. But I didn't use them enough to notice a difference.

For dark spots and hyperpigmentation I would use a product with vitamin C, licorice root extract, niacinamide, lactic acid, turmeric, hydroquinone, papaya, or retinoids. Of course use spf to help prevent hyperpigmentation and use a good moisturizer and a hyaluronic acid serum or water cream. I have used this serum with good results TruSkin Vitamin C Serum for Face, Topical Facial Serum with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, 1 fl oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4MCUAF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5m6oDbPQTTY64 I love this Sunday Riley vitamin c cream, it seems to be working, it's very moisturizing without making my skin oily and causing breakouts, and a little goes a long way. https://sundayriley.com/products/ceo-antioxidant-moisturizer?variant=4173381992479

I am getting into diy skincare products so I have been reading up on a lot of actives and everything else. So if you have any questions, feel free to send me a message. Good luck!

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!

All right guys, so I'm constantly tweaking my skincare routine and would love some input. I'm currently 25 and only really started taking good care of my skin when I was about 21. For the most part I'm fairly happy with where my skin is at now. I have very fair, slightly sensitive skin (redhead) that tends to be mostly balanced, combination/oily with occasional dry patches. I rarely deal with blemishes these days other than a few blackheads and occasional cystic acne near my chin. The current issue I'm dealing with is how to properly use vitamins C and A in my routine so that I can reap the most benefits/use the best products while not overdoing it, or layering products unnecessarily. My current AM routine consists of (in order) a cleanser, typically Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash, toner, Amara Organics 20% Vitamin C Serum since the water here is very harsh, TruSkin Vitamin C Cream, and a higher SPF sunscreen, typically Elta MD SPF 45. My PM routine consists of a cleanser, normally something different than what I used in the morning as I find that overusing the same cleanser can strip my skin. I follow with toner, Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum again, Amara Organics Retinol Serum 2.5%, and [First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream] (http://www.sephora.com/ultra-repair-cream-intense-hydration-P248407?skuId=1217744&icid2=products%20grid:p248407). I occasionally use a physical exfoliator, and am not currently using any eye-specific products as I'm prone to developing milia if a product is too creamy and I don't like the tacky feeling of a lot of eye gels. I live in Florida, so with my fair complexion I'm constantly trying to be proactive about preventing sun damage, while also delaying the appearance of damage that has already been done. That's why I really want to make sure I'm using the best Vitamin C product during the day. I know that the active in both my day serum and cream is SAP, but I've read that MAP is more effective at boosting collagen production, yet I have a difficult time finding products that utilize this form of Vitamin C. Also, I've noticed recently that 2.5% retinol (the product lists retinol, not retinyl palimate) seems to be A LOT compared with other OTC products on the market, and I really don't want to be overdoing it with this one, especially since I don't have any wrinkles yet, just a few fine lines that seem to come and go. Also, the issue of increased photosensitivity makes me nervous. I recently read some literature that addressed the concern that too much topical vitamin A could lead to toxicity, and I already have a diet rich in A vitamin. It might be worth noting that I haven't changed my routine considerably in the last few years, other than switching out retinol products as they became available/unavailable. Occasionally I will change some product out for another, but normally for something very similar (i.e. one vitamin c cream for another).

So, very long story short (sorry, guys), if you could recommend a Vitamin C serum or moisturizer, and a night time retinol product appropriate for my age and skin (preferably something with a lower active concentration), I would me much appreciative. The lighter consistency the better, as I do layer several products every day and I don't like the feeling of heavy build up on my skin. If you happen to notice anything else that you think I'm doing wrong, please let me know.

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!

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.

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:

• Normal to Oily Skin
  
  
• Major concerns are PIH, CCs (usually hormonal), and texture issues.
  
  
• Semi-sensitive but mostly to strong AHAs, Benzoyl Peroxide, and Vitamin C is the WORST for my skin
  
  
  Tentative PM Products:
  
  
• Heimish All Clean Balm
  
  
• Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam
  
  
• Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
  
  
• Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
  
  
• Benton Snail Bee High content Steam Cream
  
  
  Tentative AM Products:
  
  
• Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser
  
  
• MISSHA Super Aqua Pore-Kling Toner
  
  
• Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum
  
  
• MISSHA Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream
  
  I would also like recommendations for a twice a week exfoliator (preferably Lactic Acid or Enzyme) and sheet mask recommendations to go along with my tentative routines?
  
  THANKS, GUYS. I know this is long, but I'd really appreciate the feedback.
  

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 :)

I use Cosrx BHA on my legs after shaving to reduce ingrown hairs and KP. I rotate between Philosophy Pure Grace body lotion and Illi Total Aging Care body lotion. I also love Brazilian Bum Bum Cream – it smells like coconuts and the name is fun to say! For sunscreen, I use Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50.

Then I have more hand cream than I care to admit but my two favorites are L'Occitane 20% Shea Butter hand cream and Tonymoly Panda's Dream White hand cream. I'm on the hunt for a good foot cream, but I currently use Innisfree Perfect Fresh foot cream. Lastly, I absolutely love foot masks (not the peeling kind) and my favorite are the Missha Home Aesthetic Paraffin foot masks.

To add on: I also put NuFountain vitamin C serum on my elbows whenever I use it for my face. I'm not sure if this is doing anything since I don't often look at my elbows but they're a little darker than the rest of my arm so why not?

Edit: added links!

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

• Water Cleanser | GATSBY MANDOM Bifesta Cleansing Lotion | Daily AM
  
• Oil Cleanser | Banila Co Clean It Zero Purity | Daily PM
  
• Cleanser | Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser | Daily PM
  
• Cleansing Toner | XXX | Daily AM & PM
  
• Vitamin C Serum - Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum | 3x Weekly AM
  
• BHA | Cosrx Bha Blackhead Power Liquid | Daily AM
  
• AHA | Cosrx AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid | 2x Weekly PM
  
• Essence | MISSHA Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence | Daily AM PM
  
• Hydrating Toner | CLINIQUE Even Better Essence Lotion For Combination Oily To Oily Skins | Daily AM PM
  
• Acne & Inflammation Essence | LJH TeaTree 90 Essence | Daily AM PM
  
• Serum | Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence | Daily AM PM
  
• Moisturizer | Drunk Elephant B Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Gel | Daily AM PM
  
• Eye Cream | Andalou Naturals Luminous Eye Serum Brightening | Daily AM PM
  
• Mist | Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray | Daily AM PM
  
• Sunscreen | Eltamd UV Clear SPF 46 | Daily AM
  
• Clay Mask | Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask | 1x Weekly PM
  
• Acne Treatment | Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch | As Needed PM
  
• Acne Treatment II | Mizon Acence Blemish Out Pink Spot | As Needed PM
  
  I'm not sure if the order and frequency of use is correct, so please help me! And yes, these are a lot of products for a beginner, so I think I'll start with only one toner first then work my way up to using more essences. Suggestions for cleansers and toners would also be nice, since I'm not sure if the Clinique thing is intended as a cleansing toner. I also have a question about sebaceous filaments? Is it alright to get rid of them with nose masks? Would it make my pores bigger? I feel like my nose pores are huge and my buddies are EXTREMELY visible. Recommendations on peeling masks and other masks would be great too, as I'm not really sure what kind of masks I would need?

LOOKING FOR NEW PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MY SKIN-TYPE (COMBINATION - OILY SENSITIVE).

Summer / humidity causes breakouts along U-zone.

.

.

Hi guys! This is my first post here so bare with me. I'm struggling with the seasons changing causing my skin to freak out (happens every winter to summer here in New England for me. It get's suuuuper humid.)

I think I have combination - oily sensitive skin (if that's a thing). My t-zone area holds oil in the summer, and my cheeks and jawline are prone to breakouts from my skin being so sensitive. I have hyper-pigmentation along my cheek bones and jawline due to breakouts. Honestly probably mostly hormonal... but my skin was doing really reeeeally well when it was cold + dry this winter.

​

My current routine (that worked in the winter, but isn't working in the summer) looks like this...

AM:

1. Pacifica Coconut Milk Cream Cleanser (I like this, but I feel like there's something better for me out there - super foamy)
   
2. Alcohol Free Witch Hazel (toner)
   
3. Sometimes I'll use the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer for sensitive skin, but my skin doesn't like it. I've tried this Acure Day Cream before too, but my skin also hates it. I think both of these moisturizers are too heavy for what I need? I keep reading "water-based" everywhere for similar skin types as mine.
   
   PM:
   
   
4. The same as AM - but added in this TruSkin Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E - this stuff works sooo well for clearing up hyper-pigmentation and breakouts
   
5. Tea Tree Oil as a spot treatment
   
   Sometimes I'll add in a charcoal mask or exfoliant if my skin is really angry.
   
   ​
   
   ​
   
   For a new SUMMER routine, I want to try these products and would like some feedback / reccomendations....
   
   

• Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser by Corsx (I have hard water) or maybe this Gentle Face Cleanser by La Roche-Posay???
  
• BHA (would it be beneficial for me? I have hyper-pigmentation due to acne on my cheek bones, but I don't have any blackheads... or just stick to Vitamin C with hyaluronic acid since it WORKS?)
  
• A hydrating toner (Is alcohol-free witch hazel okay to continue using?)
  
• A light/water-based moisturizer
  
• SPF
  
  What are some product recommendations for my skin type?
  
  ​
  
  I also don't wear anything on my face as far as makeup goes other than concealer to hide the dark marks... BareMinerals Tinted Moisturizer is probably a better option for my summer skin though! I remember my skin liking that even though it's super moisturizing.

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)

I agree that adding an AHA could help. I use a 14% glycolic serum from Alpha Skin mostly, but I also have a bottle of the Cosrx AHA 7.

I find the Cosrx kind of meh, but it's good for a break a couple times a week from the stronger stuff, and I honestly think my opinion of the Cosrx might be what it is because I've been using stronger acids for so long. I would definitely not recommend anyone start with a 14% or really even a 10% or 12% to be honest. Again, do not buy the serum I linked above if you're starting AHA for the first time because it will likely cause a lot of issues. So I think the Cosrx could be a good thing to try to start.

An AHA won't get deep into the pores like BHA will, though. I've had good success with Fiddy's pore-clearing method. It's actually the only time I've ever gotten "grits." I do this about once a week. It's not a permanent solution, but keeping up with it keeps my pores looking nicer than they've ever looked before.

Yes I did see noticeable improvement, however it's no miracle cure and I do still have dark circles, just not nearly as dark as they used to be. The SAP serum I'm currently using is TruSkin Vitamin C Serum which I got off Amazon, however I bought this serum before really getting into skincare and therefore bought it because it was convenient and had great reviews, not necessarily because it was the "best" as a result of extensive research :) I think next I will try the Mad Hippie vitamin C serum because that also uses SAP and has the vit C listed much higher on its ingredients.

I will say that I also bought Truskin's Eye Gel and, when used together with their SAP serum, I think gave me the strongest results (like stronger than the SAP serum alone). I'm not 100% on this because it's been awhile since I've used it and I might be mis-remembering, but I wanted to mention it just in case. I do feel like my circles have re-darkened a bit since I stopped use, but that might be due to it being winter or something. I noticed at the time I was using it that the Eye Gel alone without the SAP serum did not nearly give me the results as the Eye Gel with the SAP serum, hence why I repurchased the SAP serum and didn't bother with the Eye Gel (I thought all my results were from the serum... Which they might have been... Ah now I need to repurchase it and test again :P).

By the way, have you ever heard of laser treatments to lessen under eye circles? In my area you can get them for $400 per treatment and it takes 3ish treatments to fully treat. I haven't done it but was seriously considering for awhile. Might be worth it in the long run when you think of all the products you buy looking for the answer. I still might do them.

Also, the BEST cover up for super dark circles is Dermablend Leg and Body Cover. It is meant for covering up bruises and tattoos, so not only is it high-coverage, but is a little orange-y to counteract the bluey-purple of the dark circles. I usually apply a tiny amount just to take the dark out from under my eyes and then put another layer of a better-matching foundation on top. Since it's meant for body wear, it does not wear off throughout the day. I only use it for special events now because my dark circles have gotten better, but back in the day it was my HG for covering these suckers up. It makes it look like you don't even have dark circles.

Hopefully this helps!

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant and, though everyone's experience is different, my skin has completely changed throughout the process. I normally had regular hormonal breakouts around my chin/mouth area, especially around my period, around 3 to 4 at a time. I had the worst hormonal breakout of my life right around when our baby was conceived (looking at it in retrospect), which makes sense because there was a surge of hormones in my body.

Now, though, my skin is actually way better than ever. I still get a few breakouts, but it's much drier than normal.

I've stayed away from benzoyl peroxide because my OB recommended against it, but I've found that hydrocolloid bandages have helped when I do have a whitehead.

My pregnant skincare routine:

morning

• Splash face with water
  
  
• Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence sunscreen
  
  
• Makeup (sometimes full liquid foundation, sometimes just concealer, sometimes nothing)
  
  evening
  
  
• I normally shower in the evening; if so, I just gently rub my face in a circular motion with my fingertips under the shower head
  
  
• If I do not shower, I cleanse with Cetaphil for sensitive skin
  
  
• Makeup removal: Almay oil-free makeup remover pads (mostly for mascara, since the majority of the makeup comes off in the shower or after cleansing)
  
  
• About 2x per week, I use a Vitamin C serum like this
  
  
• About 1x per week (maybe every other week), I use this chemical exfoliator, which really helps to remove dry skin (my cheeks, especially around my nose, have become so dry that they get flaky now)
  
  
• Every night: moisturize entire face with Cetaphil in the tub; depending on dryness, I spot moisturize with coconut oil
  
  
• If I have a breakout/whitehead (and now, they usually only arrive one at a time! Thanks, baby!), I pierce it with a sterilized tweezer (very fine tip) and use these hydrocolloid patches overnight.
  
  Hope that helps! Basically, you can try to plan your skincare for pregnancy but your body may react differently than you expect. Good luck on TTC! :)

Hi! I posted last week, but have since added a couple of things and I want to make sure I'm building my routine properly.


Skin Type: Combo, some slight aging (I'm 31 and right on track)

Country/Climate I'm in: Pacific Northwest

Top Skin Concern: Large pores, under eye bags, general dullness

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:


AM

• splash of water
  
• CeraVe in a tub
  
• Biore UV Aqua Rich Smooth Watery Gel SPF 50 + / Pa ++++ Sunscreen
  
• generally skin-friendly primers/makeup (ain't nobody got time for more stuff in the morning, particularly anything with wait times...I also find that Mizon Snail Gel, for example, pills up a bit as I layer makeup over it, so I don't trust putting more than lotion on before I paint my face)
  
  
  PM
  
  
• mineral oil cleanse
  
• CeraVe foaming cleanser OR Banila Clean It Zero (just got the second one and I like how soft it leaves my skin...but not sure if I'm going to swap out my CeraVe completely)
  
• Super C serum (wait 15-20 minutes) (has Vit C and Epidermal Growth Factor, which are supposed to help with my eye bags...haven't used it long enough to say)
  
• P50 toner (I just love it)
  
• 23yearsold Badecasil Cream (wait 10 minutes) (combo AHA + BHA to help with flakies that make makeup a fucking nightmare)
  
• Hyaluronic acid serum
  
• Retinol serum (trying to turn back time)
  
• SHISEIDO AQUALABEL Whitening Jelly Essence (hoping for pore shrinkage)
  
• Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Essence (trying to get dewier skin)
  
• Mizon Snail Recovery Gel (my boo)
  
• Innisfree White Tone Up eye serum (eh...still feel like I have fine lines and bags...but maybe that's because I'm 31 and have a 2-year-old)
  
• Mizon Good Night White sleeping mask (feeling a bit meh about this...was hoping for more plumping/moisture)
  
  
  About once/week or so
  
  
• Innisfree Volcanic Clay mask OR Elizavecca Foaming mask OR Skin Food Black Sugar Strawberry mask, followed by
  
• Benton Snail Bee sheet mask OR MBD Black Pearl sheet mask
  
  
  I specifically want help with:
  
  
• Product application order. It feels weird to put some pretty thin products over the creams that contain my actives.
  
• Do I need to add wait times after any of the stuff I slap on last? I try to go quickly there - I don't even wait for the other stuff to dry.
  
• I'm totally open to adding more stuff at night, or potentially one extra step in the morning if there are no wait times associated.
  
• I know my pores are my pores, but they are just killing me lately. I've tried so many things, including products AND makeup application. I did that thing where I put on a clay mask and then did an oil massage, and it did nothing for me. My pores aren't that full of stuff, they're just...big. Orange peely. :(

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.

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! :)

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:

• To be honest, usually nothing at all. (4-5 days a week)
  
  
• I started 2 days ago using the [Petunia Skincare Vitamin C serum] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G052NFE/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) freebie that was posted here. Using AM only based on my Niacin/moisturizer/acids.. confusion from stuff I've read here.
  
  
• If I'm going out for the day, I use NARS Multi-Protect Primer Broad Spectrum with SPF 30 .
  
  
• Should I be using an additional sunscreen? (I'm thinking of adding the Shiseido Urban Environment Oil free based on reviews I've seen here. I'm also confused about how to figure out how much to really "use" sunscreen in order to make it effective (I've searched in this subreddit and seen people having to apply 2-3 times quite a lot of product to get their sunscreen to be "effective"?) or if this Nars primer product is even working for sun protection. After using this primer, I'll put on the rest of my makeup (foundation, blush, etc).
  
  PM:
  
  
• Cleanse with charcoal MyKonjac sponge using Cerave foaming facial cleanser.
  
• 
  
• Wait 15-30 minutes and then use Stridex red box
  
• 
  
• Wait 15-30 minutes and then apply [Cera Ve PM Facial Lotion] (http://www.cerave.com/our-products/moisturizers/facial-moisturizing-lotion-pm)
  
• 
  
• Wait 15-30 minutes and then apply Mario Badescu Drying Lotion to any blemishes.
  
  
  SO! For anyone who read all that, thank you! For ease of product reordering, here's the list:
  
  

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. :)

I'm receiving some new products and struggling to figure out how to fit them into my routine. I'm also wondering what's the best way to consistently continue using my retinol prescription alongside so many other things!

Skin Type: Normal/sensitive/slightly acne-prone

Country/Climate I'm in: East coast USA (we forgot how to December...but winter is around the corner)

Top Skin Concern: Preventative care and daily maintenance


Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM

• CeraVe foaming wash
  
  
• Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion (light) (in light - regular gave me some fleshy bumps a year ago... I might try to reintroduce it again though)
  
  
• CosRx snail 96 mucin power essence
  
  
• CeraVe in the tub
  
  
• Hada Labo UV Creamy Gel
  
  
  PM
  
  
• Banila Clean It Zero sherbert
  
  
• Hada Labo foaming cleanser
  
  
• CosRx AHA or BHA (depending on how things feel, not every night)
  
  
• Adapalene 0.01% (not every night)
  
  
• CosRx snail 96 mucin power essence
  
  
• CeraVe in the tub
  
  
• Too Cool For School pumpkin sleeping pack
  
  
  NEW PRODUCTS
  
  
• NuFountain C20+ Ferulic serum - I used this earlier in the year and loved it, although it turned the undersides of my nails kind of yellow... it worked really well and I'd like to reintroduce it.
  
  
• SCINIC Honey AIO - I have this coming soon, I've used raw honey with massive success and my skin seems happy with propolis products
  
  
• CosRx Rice Mask bought on a whim and on its way, I couldn't say no to the sale
  
  
• Joseon Dynasty Cream - I've been lusting after this since it first started generating buzz earlier this year, so it's my Christmas gift to myself. Not sure if I should try to replace the CeraVe with it? Will its ingredients not play nicely with my other products?
  
  
  THE QUESTIONS
  
  
• Where in my routine would these sorts of products fit best?
  
• Why does my Vitamin C serum often discolor the whites of my fingernails?
  
• Will the Scinic AOI honey ampoule make my Hada Labo lotion redundant?
  
• Should I use the Cosrx rice mask as a sleeping pack?

Oh I realize that, but still, I would never pay over $50 for any beauty product, and even $50 is way high for me. I used to buy SkinMedica, which is also super pricey, but I'm so done with throwing away my money like that now. There are a ton of reasonably priced skincare products that do just as fabulous a job in comparison to those with jacked up pricing.

"Galactomyces ferment filtrate (Pitera)" is the main ingredient in this product: (Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid), with water ("Aqua") being fourth. Butylene Glycol and Pentylene Glycol are humectants. There are many Galactomyces ferment filtrate products with similar and even better humectants that cost far less than SK-II FTE, so what makes their product worth the price of $190?

SK-II product supposedly contains 90% of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, so a far less expensive dupe to this product would be CosRX Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence (Previously known as Galactomyces 95 White Power Essence). Ingredients: Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine.
Cost $17/100 ml versus about $58/100 ml ($190/~325 ml)

And also, here's a good analysis which views "Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence" as far better than "SKII Facial Treatment Essence," based on the ingredients and price.

And here's another article from a person who tried both and also found "Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence" to be far better as well.

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.

Hello all! So excited to post here! Dehydrated/combination skin. I'm looking to add a vitamin C serum into my routine and am deciding between a few. I've been working on my routine for awhile now. Fairly minimal atm:

AM

• Simple Hydrating Micellar Water (this is the one with the blue cap; I like the green-cap regular formulation better because it has niacinamide)
  
  
• Lush's Breath of Fresh Air Toner
  
  
• Cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
  
  
• Missha All Around Safe Block Sun Essence SPF 45+++
  
  
  PM
  
  
• Lush's 9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion
  
  
• Simple Hydrating Micellar Water (for any last traces of makeup)
  
  
• Lush's Breath of Fresh Air Toner
  
  
• Stridex (the red bottle; I only do this as needed, like 1x/day every other day, if my skin has a breakout - usually hormonal)
  
  
• Cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, mixed with a drop of argan oil OR just argan oil if I'm using Stridex
  
  
  I've been using this routine for about four months now and am super pleased with it! Breakouts are reduced a ton and my skin feels generally happy. I am still noticing some excess oil production and old acne scarring/PIE on my t-zone, so I'd like to add an additional brightening and hydrating component by adding a Vitamin C serum into my routine.
  
  I'm deciding between Silk Naturals' Super Serum and Truskin Naturals' Vitamin C serum. Any thoughts from those who have used these serums? Any other recommendations?

I don't think the beginner's skincare routine really has any age bracket, so it's still worth checking out.

If she's in her 70s, I don't know that a tretinoin will do too much on the level of deep wrinkles, but she can certainly ask her dermatologist about it!

Otherwise the best addition IMO would be a vitamin C and/or ferulic acid serum, and there are plenty available on the market:

• Paula's Choice C15 Serum
  
• SkinCeuticals Vitamin C E Ferulic Serum
  
• Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Serum
  
• NuFountain's Vitamin C Serum
  
• Or you can work together to DIY a Vitamin C serum! /u/SaraSays posted an awesome guide on how to make a DIY Vitamin C serum here. Family bonding ftw!

I have a very oily t-zone and this is the routine that I’ve been developing and building on for this past year:

(I don’t really do anything in the morning, which I know I probably should but I’m not perfect)

Night:
Wash face with Clean and Clear Deep Action Oil Free Cream Cleanser

Apply either Stridex in the red tub or Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner (switch off days)

Apply TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum

I moisturize with Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin.

Finally, I’ll do some spot treatment with Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment. This is a new addition to my routing but so far I’m liking it! It seems to help with the redness left over from old acne.

If anyone has any suggestions for products to add to this routine, I’m all ears! I do still have closed comedones on my forehead that I’m not exactly sure what to do with, so any advice is appreciated.

I know my routine is pretty basic but it’s worked really well for me and I’m really happy with it! This subreddit has helped me so much with my skin, Stridex was the first suggestion I got from here that really turned my skin around.

Of course there's hope for you! Like the others have mentioned before, weight loss would be the first step. You've done it twice you can do it again and make substainable changes.

When looking at your face the first thing I'm drawn to is your eyebrows, I might be biased in this regard because I grow the thickest manly eyebrows possible thanks to my dad. Getting them professionally done is fine but can get costly so I ended up buying one of those $10 eyebrow shavers and learned how to shape my own. I found this [photo] (https://pin.it/we4kx2bbutbkae) very useful when learning.
You may want to learn how to lightly contour your forehead and invest in some hair extensions to fill in your hair more and have it colored. I also can't stress the importance of a good skin care routine. Vitamin C serum will wake your skin up and make you glow. I personally use this one and I've seen some results.
Finally I would recommend buying some more stylish clothing that accentuate your body without being slutty. The general rule is focus on one good feature at a time such as tasteful cleavage, legs, arms, ect.
Good luck!

Ole Henriksen vitamin C serum is amazing for redness! I also love using Mario Bedescu rose water spray.
I recently bought a vitamin B3 serum to test out (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5N0Y4U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ffRKBbKF17SF7) and so far I'm liking it for keeping my skin moisturized & helping with the redness.

I highly recommend any brightening serums if you want to target darkness and redness. For blackheads, I like to use Freeman brand facemasks (very affordable & not harsh on my sensitive skin) once or twice a week - something like a de-stressing clay mask or a skin-calming peel off mask, etc.

[EDIT] My skincare routine currently is:

1. SheaMoisture rosehip oil cleanser
   
2. Mario Bedescu rose water spray
   
3. Serum (right now B3 serum - usually the vitamin C serum)
   
4. IT Cosmetics confidence in a cream moisturizer

Thank you so much for correcting my formatting error! It seems adding the pound (octothorpe) sign before my numbers to answer OP's questions unintentionally bolded the text :)

However, your information seems extraordinarily basic. All vendors selling a Vitamin C variation (like SAP, MAP, Tetrahex, etc) will recommend using a "blanket" low % of the active (somewhere b/w 0-3) to achieve "added antioxidant benefits". These recommended %s then change to 10% and above in order to yield skin lightening effects (what everyone is traditionally searching for with Vit C usage). SOURCES: Vit C SAP https://www.makingcosmetics.com/Vitamin-C-sodium-ascorbyl-phosphate_p_1040.html ; Vit C MAP https://www.makingcosmetics.com/Vitamin-C-magnesium-ascorbyl-phosphate_p_323.html ; Vit C Tetrahex http://www.lotioncrafter.com/tetrahexyldecyl-ascorbate-BV-OSC.html ; L-Asc Acid http://www.lotioncrafter.com/ascorbic-acid-ultrafine.html .

Further, the recommended % for skin lightening effects of a specific Vit C are typically exceeded in commercially-made products (think 15% L-Asc. Acid in the award winning CE Ferulic). Here are some links to Vit C SAP serums that use a 20% concentration and are wildly successful: https://www.amazon.com/TruSkin-Naturals-Vitamin-Anti-Aging-Hyaluronic/dp/B01M4MCUAF/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1506303615&sr=1-4&keywords=vitamin%2Bc%2Bserum&th=1 ; https://www.amazon.com/Amara-Organics-Vitamin-Serum-Hyaluronic/dp/B00G2TQNZ4/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1506303638&sr=1-5&keywords=vitamin+c+serum I USED TO USE THIS ONE ; https://www.amazon.com/Radha-Beauty-Vitamin-Serum-Face/dp/B00VNXQE94/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1506303638&sr=1-8&keywords=vitamin+c+serum .

Plus any good formulator knows that manual pH adjusting (via Triethanomine or Citric Acid) of DIY skincare products is essential.

If you have any other credible resources that contradict my information provided, please feel free to share :) I'd be happy to take a look. But currently it seems all points of your argument have been invalidated.

Please stop your misguided fear mongering. xoxo

Rant: It took me 3 weeks to figure out that using Aquaphor instead of Vaseline as an occlusive at night was doing bad things to my skin. I saw improvement the very next day after I decided to stop using it. :/ Just because you use it on your baby's skin does not automatically mean it will work for your face. Anyone know what in the Aquaphor may be causing problems? My skin usually plays nice with everybody.

Rave: Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask. Ohmygod this is my new HG spot treatment. Hydrocolloids sadly did nothing for me, but I've been dabbing this stuff on any active breakouts or cysts I get and by the next morning inflammation and redness is drastically reduced if not gone. I may not need it as much since I've solved the Aquaphor problem, but now I know Queen Helene has got my back. And the tube cost less than $2 at my local grocery store!!!

New Purchase: I got a free sample of that Petunia Skincare Vitamin C Serum and have added it to my AM & PM regimen for the past few days in place of the Paula's Choice C15 (since that order got all FUBAR and I'm still waiting for it to arrive 2 weeks later). So far it seems great, but there is some marketing misinformation on the label so even though the ingredients seem amazing I'm not sure how much I can trust the product. Will be buying some litmus paper today so I can pH test today. Anyone else get this or have any thoughts?

Rave, Part Deux: I just love you guys and this community. Can we all be best friends?

Right now I’m on Curology’s 0.04% tret, 1% clindamycin, and 9% azelaic acid (I’ve increased the tret % over many months). First, I recommend you introduce Curology slowly - like every other (or third) day for two weeks, then every day. Also, the 2% BHA may be too harsh/drying in the beginning - I’d recommend getting used to Curology first (i’m just now introducing it every third day bc I get so flaky). I love the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser & PM lotion (the AM lotion stings my eyes but YMMV - so I use the PM in the AM if that makes sense), and I love EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 for sunscreen. I currently use NuFountain C20 + Ferulic serum bc of price and am happy with it, but if price isn’t an issue, the gold standard seems to be SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. Good luck! Be patient and consistent and you’ll see really good results!

Sure! I haven't quite tackled my acne yet, but the recent changes I've made to my routine have really seemed to help. And my skin is super soft and not as dry anymore :)

Here it is:

AM:

1. CeraVe hydrating cleanser
   
   
2. 2% PC BHA, wait a few minutes
   
   
3. Vitamin C serum (this one), wait a few minutes
   
   
4. A mixture of PC Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 and PC Hydralight Shine-Free SPF 30
   
   
5. Makeup (since my sunscreen is tinted I just use a bit of setting powder, then do my eyes)
   
   PM:
   
   
6. Mineral oil cleanse
   
   
7. CeraVe hydrating cleanser
   
   
8. PC 8% AHA gel, wait a few minutes
   
   
9. Vitamin C serum, wait a few minutes
   
   
10. CeraVe moisturizer in the tub
    
    
11. Aquaphor (if my skin is feeling a bit dry)
    
    I generally spot treat with tea tree oil, or if it's a particularly monstrous zit then I break out the Persa-Gel 10. But since I perfected the above routine, I haven't had to use either!
    
    Edited for formatting 'cus I can't reddit.

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! :)

• Skin Type: Oily & Dry | Country/Climate I'm in: Southern California Desert | Top Skin Concern: Filaments, Redness, Lightening/Whitening | Age/Sex: 28yo Male
  
• Current Routine/Products I'm Using:
  
  AM
  
  
• CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
  
• TruSkin Vitamin C Serum
  
• It's Skin Power 10 WH Effector Serum
  
• Aveeno Eczema Moisturizing Cream
  
• Neutrogena Men Eye Reviver (no longer avail..last tube)
  
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen SPF 100
  
  PM
  
  
• CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
  
• TruSkin Vitamin C Serum
  
• It's Skin Power 10 WH Effector Serum
  
• Aveeno Eczema Moisturizing Cream
  
• Shiseido Bio-Performance Eye Cream (was a gift.. too expensive for me to restock)
  
  Background: I used to have psoriasis and eczema all over my body and face, but thanks to biologics (Humira), my psoriasis patches have regressed into hyperpigmented spots. I live in a hot and dry desert, which not only dries out my skin, but I also sweat a lot. Combination of dryness + sweat causes my face to redden.
  
  Picture of Face:
  https://i.imgur.com/4rAEHSG.jpg (Ignore dry lips)
  
  I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]...
  
  
• General routine advice
  
• Reduce those small dots on my face, especially nose (pores/filaments?)
  
• Products to help control oil/sweat/redness but also won't dry my skin
  
• Products to help lighten/whiten facial skintone
  
• Can my face handle BHA/AHA products?
  
• A less heavy moisturizer for AM, perhaps with sufficient daily SPF?
  
• I am willing to replace any of my current products (Tiam C20, Benton Snail Essence...)
  
  Thank you Thank you and Thank you! Can't believe it took me this long to find this site/community!

Helloooo everyone! So I've been using the Mad Hippie vitamin C serum for a couple months and I like it but after reading more about vitamin C I think I'd like to try a different kind with L-AA to see if I get better results.

So I'm considering:

• Cosmetic Skin Solutions https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049OLZ84/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Yc9SzbSRJNZ2G
  
  
• NuFountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0039LZW78/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Sg9Szb804KPNT
  
  
• Timeless https://www.timelessha.com/products/20-vitamin-c-e-ferulic-acid-serum-1-oz
  
  I'm looking for experiences with any of these or recommendations of other vitamin c serums that you feel brought you results! I have sensitive skin that is dry/combination, and I'm mostly looking to fade one scar particularly and even out some small sun spots, as well as just reap the anti-aging benefits of a good vitamin c serum :)

• cerave facial cleanser
  Foaming Facial Cleanser - Normal To Oily Skin by CeraVe for Unisex - 12 oz Cleanser https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003YMJJSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_J0IPCb46RTP22
  
  
• thayers witch hazel toner
  Thayers Natural Remedies Witch Hazel Toner, Rose Petal, 12 fl. Oz. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B007HD570Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_g2IPCbDH2BAVP
  
  
  
  
• all natural advice 20% vitamin c serum
  20% Vitamin C Serum - 60 ml / 2 oz Made in Canada - Certified Organic + 11% Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin E Moisturizer + Collagen Boost - Reverse Skin Aging, Remove Sun Spots, Wrinkles and Dark Circles, Excellent for Sensitive Skin + Includes Pump & Dropper https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00PL3DK26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_c0IPCb5SGGMPX
  
  
• brickell eye restoring cream
  Brickell Men's Restoring Eye Cream for Men - Anti Aging Eye Balm To Reduce Puffiness, Wrinkles, Dark Circles, Under Eye Bags - .5 oz https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00QL67MY4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_m1IPCbD5SEVN4
  
  
• all natural advice daily moisturizer
  All Natural Advice Daily Moisturizer with Peptide and Hyaluronic Acid | Canadian Made | Organic | Age-Defying Skincare for Face and Neck | Anti-Aging Complex for Natural Skin Tone and Healthy Radiance | 120 ml | Double the Size https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XVZDGGR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8YIPCbGEHFHYF
  
  i also ordered elta md broad spectrum sun screen
  EltaMD UV Facial Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30+, 3 Ounces https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MTJ02SX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_42IPCbABTWHS5
  
  .
  I've read some sunscreens have a matte finish so hoping this might.
  
  I'm a guy fwiw who just recently went down the skin care rabbit hole after getting an essential oil diffuser and reading they have skin benefits as well, so this is all new to me
  
  

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

• Panda's Dream So Cool Eye Stick by TonyMoly
  $7.98 on Jolse
  $12.00 on Ulta
  Not Available on Amazon
  
• Panda's Dream Brightening Eye Base by TonyMoly
  $7.98 on Jolse
  $12.00 on Ulta
  $12.00 on Amazon
  
• Strawberry Nose Pack by TonyMoly
  $4.26 on Jolse
  $3.50 on Ulta
  $19.99 on Amazon for a 5 pack
  
• Changing U Magic Foot Peeling Shoes by TonyMoly
  $6.39 on Jolse
  $6.50 on Ulta
  Not Available
  
• Peach Hand Cream by TonyMoly
  $5.58 on Jolse
  $12.00 on Ulta
  Not Available
  
• Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub by TonyMoly
  $5.98 by Jolse
  $9.99 on Ulta
  $10.00 on Amazon
  
• Kiss Kiss Lip Essence Balm by TonyMoly
  $5.98 on Jolse
  $9.99 on Ulta
  $10.00 on Amazon
  
• Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence by CosRX
  $15.20 on Jolse
  $21.00 on Ulta
  $14.07 on Amazon
  
• BHA Blackhead Power Liquid by CosRX
  $16.80 on Jolse
  $22.00 on Ulta
  $14.82 on Amazon
  
• AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner by CosRX
  $12.80 on Jolse
  $17.00 on Ulta
  $12.22 on Amazon
  
• Honey Ceramide Full Moisture Cream by CosRX
  $20.00 on Jolse
  $26.00 on Ulta
  $17.64 on Amazon
  
• One Step Pimple Clear Pads by CosRX
  $15.20 on Jolse
  $20.00 on Ulta
  $9.00 on Amazon
  
• Propolis Light Ampoule by CosRX
  $19.20 on Jolse
  $28.00 on Ulta
  $21.70 on Amazon
  
• Online Only Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser by CosRX
  $8.80 on Jolse
  $12.00 on Ulta
  $9.57 on Amazon
  
  Shipping is free on Jolse, however it is shipping from Korea so expect longer ship times.
  Shipping is free on Amazon, if you have Prime. Amazon prices fluctuate wildly.
  Shipping is free on Ulta with orders over $35.
  Shipping is free on Sephora with Flash, or on orders over $50.
  

I found a less potent but still super effective one on amazon. It’s only 5% and 1% but it has aloe and HA added in. I really fucking love it, honestly. It helped toughen up my skin to use the TO! I think it was pretty inexpensive let me get the link.

It shouldn’t burn though. None of that shit is worth being in pain 😭

5% niacinimide hashtag not affilated

Generally blessed to have good skin, until I started breaking out like mad a few months back on my forehead and upper lip area.

Upon the advice of a friend, I tried AHA/BHA to clear myself up from Paula's Choice and Drunken Elephant's Babyfacial but it seemed to make everything much worse.

I finally went to HeyDay and my facialist berated me for following the advice that wasn't right for my skin type. Her theory was that my pores were getting clogged and irritated from being extremely dehydrated (NYC winters) and suggested that I use a gentler cleanser, an exfoliant, and an intense healing balm.

My skin is SO much better now with the extra moisture so my regimen is as follows:

Grown Alchemist Gel Cleanser - Half pump to remove make-up, half pump to cleanse. Day and nighttime.

[Naturopathica Healing Balm] (https://www.amazon.com/Naturopathica-Gotu-Kola-Healing-Balm/dp/B01H60XAH6) Mix with HA and/or MH Vitamin C serum to make it less thick. Use higher concentration at night for healing and less in day because it can be a bit shiny.

[Cosmedica Hyaluronic Acid] (https://www.amazon.com/Hyaluronic-Pure-Highest-Anti-Aging-Non-greasy-Paraben-free-Best/dp/B0090UJFYI/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1522688559&sr=1-4&keywords=hyaluronic+acid) Honestly, just the Amazon default HA and suits my purposes to mix with the Naturopathica Healing Balm.

[Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum] (https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Hippie-Vitamin-Hyaluronic-Ferulic/dp/B00DKF7XPW/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1522688609&sr=1-1&keywords=mad+hippie+vitamin+c+serum) Mix with Naturopathica Healing Balm. I bought this on a whim and my skin got worse when I ran out so I re-introduced this back into my regimen as an HA alternative.

[Grown Alchemist Exfoliant] (https://www.amazon.com/Grown-Alchemist-Polishing-Facial-Exfoliant/dp/B00G3J8J96/ref=sr_ph_1_s_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1522688670&sr=sr-1&keywords=grown+alchemist+exfoliant) Use 2-3x a week to gently exfoliate at nighttime after cleansing.

[Mad Hippie Sunscreen] (https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Hippie-Products-Facial-Broad-Spectrum/dp/B018E92YAC/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1522688706&sr=1-1&keywords=mad+hippie+sunscreen) Terrible at using this daily, but that is the goal!

I agree with everything that /u/prynceszh said! I am in my 40's and have stepped up my skin care game recently. I started using a Vitamin C serum in the morning under my moisturizer, I found this one to be much more cost effective than the Paula's Choice one. I also added a sunscreen after my moisturizer in the morning.

At night after I take my makeup off I alternate nights using an AHA and a Retinol. I tried to use them together every night but my skin did not like that at all. I don't have acne so your mom might prefer the BHA to the AHA which helps with acne more. The AHA I use is this one. Then I also use her Clinica Retinol treatment which I like a lot. It takes a bit of time for your skin to adjust to it so she needs to go slowly and follow the directions. I also use this serum around my eyes because it is gently enough to use there. I have found this routine is working well for me and I have seen some benefit to fine lines, but I don't have any deep wrinkles. Yet. :)

You got a bunch of great suggestions already, but if you really want to try a fancy serum, I'd recommend vitamin C. I use this one because vitamin C degrades as it ages, and these guys say they make it fresh when it's ordered. It's got decent scientific evidence for anti-aging, unlike most of the stuff out there that's trendy but lacking evidence and probably snake oil. It's an exfoliant, but it supposedly doesn't leave you more vulnerable to UV damage like most chemical exfoliants do. And something about free radicals, idk.

I use that after I rinse my face in the morning, just a couple of drops in your palm then spread it all over your face neck and chest. Then I top it off with CeraVe AM for a moisturizer + SPF. Exfoliate, moisturize and sunblock are the heavy hitters of skin care, as far as I can tell. Those two guys touch all three bases.

I can't even pretend to help with the other there, I suck at all those. But I think I got skincare pretty well figured out; I read a lot anyway. lol

Yes. I like their MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule, I was using it when I was actively trying to repair my moisture barrier and heal some acne dark spots. I think it helped.


The MIZON Black Snail All In One Cream is a good moisturizer, but isn’t necessarily any better or worse than the above product in this thread. Just different. I gave it to someone I know to help with their deeply set forehead wrinkles. This, a retinol product, and a sunscreen. Noticeable difference in fewer than two weeks.


I personally use and love the MIZON Collagen Power Firming Enriched Cream as a night cream and for when I’m using stronger peels. It’s very thick and luxurious. Not greasy but still far too heavy for a morning moisturizer under sunscreen or makeup because it takes forever to fully absorb. A little goes a very long way.


I haven’t tried snail products from other companies, save for the occasional sheet mask. But honestly, IMO, a sheet mask isn’t necessary if you’re using a serum or ampoule. As a mask is essentially just a serum/essence/ampoule delivery system.

Hmm. Hmmmm! So, here are a few suggestions (no affiliate/referral links):

Swanicoco Fermentation Snail Skin Toner

I've used this before and it's really nice. It's so different from a Western toner. Semi-opaque, with an oddly thick texture. It's so hydrating and soothing, and smells fantastic.

Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin

I haven't used this one, but I WANNA SO BADLY. It's been well-reviewed by a lot of trusted beauty bloggers, and sounds amazing.

cosRX Whitening Power Essence

I'm currently using this and it's fantastic. The short, but effective ingredient list means there's less chance of irritation/ingredient your skin doesn't agree with. Super popular on this sub.

Klairs Supple Preparation Toner original reformulated

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.

I would recommend less exfoliating with physical exfoliates and more chemical.

You probably have combination skin, right? Is your face wash drying? Do you feel like your skin is tight after you wash your face?
You want a more gentle face wash. Yes, I'm going to say it only because it works but CeraVe's cleanser is cheap and easy on skin. I doubt you're running around with much makeup on so this will be fine both during the day and night to wash with.

You can also use CeraVe's moisturizer both day and night to help kick start the repairing your skin needs to do.

I would suggest you start throwing in some glycolic acid to speed up the process of clearing everything up. Apply this before the cream.

With the acid though you're going to need sunscreen. They say that 5 minutes in the sun without sunscreen is just as bad as hours. Yes, CeraVe also offers a great sunscreen for a cheap price. This will be your last step. Apply it half an hour or so before you head out anywhere.

Don't do much more than this for a couple weeks. See how your skin reacts to it all. It'll need a bit of an adjustment period before you can start adding more products in. I suggest reading some of the stuff in the sidebar. The people here have great advice to give and have complied it pretty neatly.

No, vitamin C pills you take orally will not do the same thing at all. Grinding up the pills and putting on your skin will also NOT do the same things at all. :P That's like your parent asking you to go pick up some oil from the store so they can cook dinner and you go to the automotive section and pick up engine oil. They're different!! :3

Also what kind of acne scars? Vitamin C won't do anything for depressions in the skin, but if you mean dark marks, it can help those. Don't forget to wear sunscreen EVERY. DAY. sunny or cloudy or else nothing will fade even with the vitamin c helping.

You are looking for a vitamin C TOPICAL serum with L-Ascorbic Acic as the main active ingredient.

THESE are the kind of vitamin C you want. :)


CSI Youth Serum 12% L-AA, $18 for 1 fluid ounce


NuFountain Celsignal 15% MAP with hyaluronic acid, & Niacinamide, $26 for 1 fluid ounce


NuFountain C20 20% L-AA, $17 for 1 fluid ounce

Hello! I am a beginner to all this routine stuff, so I'd like some input before I buy a bunch of stuff.

Usually oily, sometimes combo | SE United States/humid | Top Skin Concern: Blackheads, brightening, evening skin tone

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM

• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
  
  
• CaraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
  
  PM
  
  
• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
  
  
• Stridex pads
  
  
  What I've come up with:
  
  Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
  
  Cosrx Galactomyces 95 White Power Essence
  
  Hada Labo Shirojyun Albutin Medicinal Whitening Lotion
  
  Biore UV Aqua Rich Smooth Watery Gel
  
  I'm not sure if I am missing any important steps, but please let me know if I should change anything.
  
  I have also seen many great things about Benton Snail Bee Essence. Would it be worth adding in?
  
  Thanks!
  
  

Concerns: https://imgur.com/a/KDf5Waw Reducing hyperpigmentation and acne scarring, getting rid of small skin colored bumps all over the sides of my face and forehead. I get pimples often but I'm certain that's because of my poor diet, I also have a problem with picking but whether I pick or not, it still leaves behind an ugly spot (I have dark skin). I've used Cosrx patches to get rid of pimples but they still leave behind a mark and I'm honestly not entirely sure how I should be caring for pimples at all.

Skin type: Oily forehead and sometimes oily cheeks and chin, though I haven't noticed it anywhere but my forehead lately. I've been noticing lately that when I don't apply anything to my face after washing it, my cheeks start getting flaky. I'm not sure if that happens to everyone or if that means I have dry/dehydrated skin.

Current Routine:

AM:

• Garnier Micellar Water
  
  
• Etude House Aloe Vera Gel (Has hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Sometimes I mix it with Rosehip oil but doing so makes it warm, I prefer the cool feeling of it when applied alone)
  
  
• LifeFlo Rosehip Oil
  
  
• Coppertone Oil Free Faces Sunscreen (I started using it 2 weeks ago for when I go out. It's greasy but leaves no white cast.)
  
  PM:
  
  
• CeraVe Foaming Face Wash
  
  
• Aloe Vera Gel
  
  
• Rosehip Oil
  
  Products I no longer use:
  
  
• CeraVe Hydrating Wash (Made my face tight)
  
  
• Clinique Cleansing Bar for Oily/Dry Skin (Both made my face tight)
  
  
• CeraVe PM (Ran out. It made my face blotchy red for a few minutes after use)
  
  
• Queen Helene Mint Julup Mask
  
  
• Thayer's Witch Hazel (I've gone through 3 bottles of this. I wanted to use it in place of CeraVe PM because I was under the impression that the CeraVe made me look greasy until I realized I had to apply it over water. I started to apply the CeraVe after Thayer's but I don't think it did much.)
  
  
• Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid (Didn't use consistently enough or with an actual routine to comment on)
  
  
• OLAY COMPLETE LOTION ALL DAY MOISTURIZER WITH SPF 15 (Expired. It left a slight white cast on my skin, felt greasy, and I don't think SPF 15 is enough anyway)
  
  Products I have but don't use/use infrequently:
  
  
• Aztec Indian Healing Clay (Last used a month ago, I like how bright it makes my face look)
  
  
• Stidex in the red box (I've used this off an on for awhile. I've applied it daily for the last 3 days)
  
  
• Alpha Skin Care 10% Glycolic AHA (I want to use this but it's been sitting around for over a year and I don't know if it's expired)
  
  
• Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum (vitamin c)
  
  
  Questions
  
  
• If I want to incorporate Vitamin C and Niacinamide in my routine, where should those products go? At what time (AM or PM) and for how long before applying anything else? How should they be used when using BHAs or AHAs? Or if I get CeraVe PM again or another moisturizer? Mock routines would be really useful!
  
  
• I read somewhere that Glycolic Acid can worsen hyperpigmentation on those with darker skin. The AHA I own has Glycolic Acid in it and I've been looking into other products that have it. I haven't use it yet but should I be worried about this?
  
  
• Should I be incorporating another moisturizing product after the Aloe/Rosehip oil? A toner/essence? Barring the days where I'm too depressed to take care of myself, I've been on this routine since last December. It seems like my skin has gotten worse (more dark spots and bumps) but as I mentioned previously the food I eat makes me break out.
  
  
• Is it necessary to use suncreen when I'm inside? I don't go out often and I can usually avoid the windows in my house.
  
  
• Can anyone give me general skin care tips? Just as an example... I thought the CeraVe PM lotion and rosehip oil were making my skin oily until I found out I should be applying those things on top of damp face, and I should be patting them on.
  
  Random products I've looked into but don't know if they would "useful" right now are The Ordinary's Alpha Arbutin, Lactic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Stratia products (Liquid Gold, Fortify, etc.), Holy Snails Shark Sauce, Curology.
  
  

I use this one:

NuFountain® C20®+Ferulic Vitamin C Serum. Made Fresh When Ordered with Free Shipping https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0039LZW78/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XnGVzbDRKCNJG

It is a dupe for skincuticles, but without vitamin E. it is also formulated with the proper pH which is very important for vitamin c serums to work. I love mine, I've been using it for about a month and I've noticed an improvement. I keep it in the fridge and it's just as clear as the day I bought it. They are also made fresh to order

Issues: PIE :( I've been getting teeny breakouts around the corners of my mouth/chin and red/pink spots that won't fade for months. I also need to work on not touching my face. Just got a job after being unemployed for 2 months so I think that will help with stress.

My shampoo could be irritating my face. Lush Jersey Bounce which has sodium laureth sulfate. I just love that it makes my hair nice and doesn't irritate my dry scalp, but definitely open to suggestions!

Skin type: I guess it's in between oily/dry. I have very sensitive skin that breaks out with many products.

Current routine:

AM
Cerave Cleanser, Hydrating, for Normal to Dry Skin
Cerave PM
Sunscreen - have been switching between Cerave AM & Biore Sarasara UV Watery Essence

PM
Cerave Cleanser, Hydrating, for Normal to Dry Skin
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant
Cerave PM

*Edit: Sorry, I've been using this routine for probably a solid 2-3 years now. I use Cerave in the tub in the winter sometimes when my skin feels drier (apply with a cotton pad I swoop through the tub...). Other relevant details: I use one washcloth each time I dry my face, lightly patting it dry. And I try to change my pillowcases at least once a week. I use a sensitive skin detergent but might need to spring for a new one.

For awhile I used Oz Naturals Vitamin C serum and I felt like it helped, but after reading more in this sub, wasn't sure it was "legit" vitamin c. Thoughts? Should I spring for Paula's Choice?

Any advice is much appreciated!

Definitely have a look at /r/SkincareAddiction in the sidebar about PIH.

In short:

Red marks can be faded over time, that is PIH. You will have to take some time to find what works best for you, but many people find daily application of an AHA (example), or retinoids (example), or niacinamide (example) expedites the fading process.

For thick scars, I believe the same treatment can help improve the appearance, but don't expect it to completely go away. A dermatologist is likely to provide more help than OTC things.

Good luck!

The deleted post on pigmentation subreddit by /u/zenona was asking about a dubious vitamin C he/she bought on Amazon

***

i had a look at the ingredients for you and uploaded it to COSDNA.
Click here to view it.

• The product uses Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP), a vitamin C that is effective and stable.
  
• MSM is added to aid penetration
  
• Based on the ingredients, it looks good. I recognise many beneficial ingredients like witch hazel, ferulic acid, good preservative (no paraben), Centella asiatica etc
  
  I am concerned about the "green washing" of this product ingredients. I do not believe the ingredient list is complete as some ingredients like emulsifier are required for a formula like this.
  Also SAP is the only vitamin C i see and they claim all natural. Rubbish. SAP is synthetic. 20%? i like to check that as the Recommended percentages for SAP is:
  
  

• Daily skin care 0.2-2%
  
• Sun care products 0.2-1%
  
• Lightening products >3%
  
• Solubility: It is possible to prepare solutions of up to 64% in water,
  
  I have seen many products sold over the internet that claims to have certain actives that are questionable. Personally i have bought a claimed "30%" vitamin C serum on eBay that was bullshit. i did Vitamin C test and found it contained very little and based on the ingredient list and understanding of Ascorbic acid, the retailer is lying. I have requested the seller to contact the manufacturer and requested they removed the misleading product description that it contained 30% vitamin C. lol i am no cosmetic cop though.
  
  hope this gives you an insight and perhaps buy from more reputatable companies in the future? I am not located in US, so i am not sure the regulations in USA. In Australia, the rules for ebay/etsy is more lax and i have seen such products on ebay/etsy. These companies may not be completely honest in their disclosure.
  
  
  i think you should email the manufacturer and clarify the % of Vitamin C. 20% SAP is seriously dubious.
  
  i came across this on beauty brains and i want to share with you regarding your Vitamin C serum.
  
  >gingerbread June 24, 2015, 11:24 am
  There is definitely something stinky about this InstaNatural company. They use Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) as a vitamin C and they claim 20% of Vit C on the label, but SAP is supposed to be used at level up to few %. And 3% water solution of SAP has pH ca. 9-10!
  
  ... check it out.
  
  fishy like your Vitamin C 20% SAP serum
  
  
  
  Reply photo
  
  >ah, forgot to tell you miss cosmetics police :P I msged them about their claim of 20% Vit C, and they say their product is an 'equivalent' to that ! Can you believe it ? Never again am I buying from unknown brand :/
  
  Source

I have done TCA peels and because I have a picking compulsion they weren't extremely effective. Although on people who can care for their skin with moisturizing and sunscreen I can see how it'd work out well. They do take a few peels to see any results though.

Instead I have been using vitamin c on my face and I have seen results within just a few days. this one is not expensive and really helps with those red marks that never fade. I also used a derma roller on my face then put that on and it looked much prettier immedietly. However, remember that derma rollers make tiny holes in your skin so it's important to sanitize and keep your skin clean for the rest of the day until it can heal (it doesn't hurt though!). Also, even though derma rolling encourages your skin to produce collegan it can be overdone and you'll end up with thick-scar skin (scars are just collegan). Done once every month until you see the results you like shouldn't be harmful though.
Can you share a picture of your skin? I'll tell you if your marks looked like mine.

I love it. I don't know if it's HG worthy though, This elf product is an HG. It's also cheaper and I'm kinda trying to find the best stuff that also happens to be cheap. Snail products, if done correctly and not stressing the animal out, will be more expensive and at this point, I want the best at college student prices. Even when I graduate I want the best and sometimes spending less you get more.

I picked up a MUCH better routine so day-to-day it’s better than when I was younger, but I have some residual sun spots that I want to zap off in the near future. My frown lines also started to settle, so hiiiii forehead Botox (zero ragrets).

Here’s my routine:

*****

AM

Moisturize:

Paula’s Choice SKIN RECOVERY Replenishing Moisturizer http://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-replenishing-moisturizer/186.html?cgid=category-moisturizers#start=5

Sunscreen:

EltaMD UV Facial Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000PHRIYE/ref=mp_s_a_1_4_a_it/130-7876967-3039938?ie=UTF8&qid=1511363261&sr=8-4&keywords=elta+md+sunscreen&dpPl=1&dpID=317QwX2tu3L&ref=plSrch

If I’m putting on makeup, I try to use a primer to protect my skin and give me a lil glow:

COVER FX Illuminating Primer https://m.sephora.com/product/illuminating-primer-P392107?icid2=skugrid

PM

Wash off makeup:

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017PCGABI/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511363325&sr=8-3&keywords=garnier+micellar+water&dpPl=1&dpID=415AdUVVeSL&ref=plSrch

Treat spots:

Paula’s Choice RESIST BHA 9 Treatment http://www.paulaschoice.com/resist-bha-9-treatment/773.html

Nightly AHA:

Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum, 14% Glycolic AHA https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Skin-Care-fragrance-free-paraben-free/dp/B01BW71W4W

If I’m breaking out:

SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant http://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-perfecting-2pct-bha-lotion-exfoliant/205.html

Otherwise:

Paula’s Choice SKIN RECOVERY Replenishing Moisturizer http://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-replenishing-moisturizer/186.html?cgid=category-moisturizers#start=5

The occasional OCM:

Johnson's Baby Oil With Shea & Cocoa Butter https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00WEBVM5U/ref=mp_s_a_1_14_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511364971&sr=8-14&keywords=Johnson%27s+Baby

I just started using this. It absorbs very fast and will last a while. Vitamin C also increases collagen production which is a plus. Most drug store vitamin C products are worthless as they either dont contain enough of the vitamin or come in a clear bottle. It comes with a dropper so dont leave it off for too long bc of the air contact.

Ulta has a Vitamin C section with Murad products. I got the sample pack; it comes with good products: vitamin C face wash, hydroquinone which is an alternative lightener, some kind of radiance serum, and vitamin c p+++ spf 30 sunscreen. However, after learning more, i didnt see the sodium ascorbyle phosphaste (vitamin c) in any of the ingredients and found it uses the hydroquinone to lighten which works a bit faster but lacks collagen benefits. The face wash and sunscreen came in clear bottles. Anyways, i would just buy actual vitamin c serum like that i previously mentioned and use a good sunscreen/lotion on it afterwards.

Throughout highschool I had a couple bad pimples, but they would go away after a couple days and there would not be any scarring from it. I asked my local clinic for some acne cream medicine and they pescribed Acne Medication 5. This worked a bit but it really caused my skin to become dry so I stoped. About 6 months ago my acne really started to get worse. I start noticing more pimples along the the chin and started developing acne scars around the jaw area and along the side my head. I tried the Clean and Clear daily essential 3 pc but it did not show much help. My parents then bought a different regime shown in the pictures and it stopped my pimples a bit, but the main concern now is getting rid of the scarring. I also tried using another product from Vietnam called Cortibion after positive reviews from my relatives who suffered from acne, but I haven't seen any results yet. My skin is often very sensitive is often reacts negatively if I eat any dairy, greasy, or chocolate contain foods. I have been trying to drink plenty of water and eating more healthy and it slighly helps but I want to find a new product or regime that will help increase the recovering process to clear acne. I think but am not 100% sure if I have hyperpigmentation so the products I was looking at reflect that. These are the two products I was considering purchasing to help with my scarring but any other recommenations is welcomed.

https://www.amazon.com/TruSkin-Naturals-Vitamin-Anti-Aging-Hyaluronic/dp/B01M4MCUAF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Hyperpigmentation-Advanced-Hyaluronic-Revitalize-Complexion/dp/B00K6NPKV0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

This is the link to the scarring on my face and the products I was using

https://imgur.com/gallery/RYK8f

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VmPjT7XZLyyt8sdyjeWBJCqFYz3sFFlhzXKq3xqaMiY/pubhtml


Six month empties check in! The link to my spreadsheet where I maintain my collection is above. The first three sections are empty/ gone from the collection, and are labeled as such. Below the "COLLECTION" banner, is my entire makeup collection, including the products that have been emptied or destashed.

Some things to note before we dive in:

I failed to keep some items, so there are a couple of gaps from the spreadsheet to the photos. Specifically, the Smashbox eye primer, I failed to keep, so for the purpose of the photos, used my full bottle.
A couple of dates might look odd-- specifically, finishing two highlighters within a day of each other. I was using them both simultaneously, topping Opal with Pearl. If any other dates look odd, this is usually the case. I’ve only recently begun trying to use a product from start to finish, compared to flitting between products as I felt like doing so.

Photos are here

2017 Makeup empties (January - June)
Row 1
J’Adore

Kat Von D, Tattoo Liner - travel size

Benefit, Gimme Brow - travel size, previous packaging

Kat Von D, Tattoo Liner

Maybelline, Lash Stiletto x3

Mayeblline, Falsies


Row 2
Maybelline, Better Skin Foundation

Giorgio Armani, Luminous Silk Foundation

Rimmel, Lasting Finish Foundation

Clinique, Superbalanced Silk Foundation

Lioele, Triple Solution BB cream

Milk makeup, Sunshine Skin tint - samples

Tarte, Amazonian Clay Foundation - samples

Tarte, Rainforest of the Sea Concealer

Maybelline, Fit Me concealer


Row 3
Make Up Forever, Primer

Lorac, Porefection Primer
Hourglass, Veil Mineral Primer

Kat Von D, Lock It Primer

Smashbox, 24 Hour Shadow Primer

Urban Decay, Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original

Becca, Shimmering Skin perfector Opal

Becca, Shimmering Skin perfector, Pearl


Row 4
L’Oreal Infallible pressed powder
Urban Decay, Naked Skin powder

Cover FX, Perfect setting powder

Laura Mercier, Translucent Loose setting powder - 100 point size, and full size

e.l.f. HD setting powder

Maybelline, Fit Me pressed powder

e.l.f. HD setting powder


Row 5
Mac Fix+

L’Oreal, Infallible setting spray

Urban Decay, All Nighter Setting spray x2

Smashbox, Primer Water

Dior, Addict Lip Glow Balm x2

Fresh, Sugar Lip Treatment - travel size



2017 Skincare Empties (January-June)
Row 1
Drunk Elephant, T.L.C. Framboos Serum

Sephora, Sleeping Mask Pomegranate

Biossance, Rose Face Oil

Mizon, Multi Function Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule

Missha, Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule

aloepure, Time Repair Serum

First Aid Beauty, Ultra Repair Sleeping Cream

Mizon, Snail Recovery Gel


Row 2
Algenist, Power Night Serum

belief, moisturizing bomb

[Mizon, Starfish cream - discontinued]

Tony Moly, Avocado Rich Cream

Tony Moly, Appletox Honey Cream


Row 3
Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence x3


Row 4
Lancome, Genifique eye cream

Lancome, VIsionnaire eye balm

Skyn Iceland, Relief eye cream

Fresh, Lotus eye cream


Row 5
Glamglow, SUPERMUD clearing treatment mask

L’Oreal Pure-Clay Mask

The Soap & Paper Factory, Hand cream

Neutrogena, hand cream

Mini Bebe, hand cream

Corsx, BHA A-Sol

The OP works for them. Here's their post from the Coupons thread:

Hi there,
We would be honored if you could take the time and review our Vitamin C Serum exclusively sold on Amazon.com.
Check out our amazon listing for more information at: http://www.amazon.com/Hyaluronic-Guaranteed-Anti-aging-Anti-wrinkle-Brightening/dp/B00G052NFE/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1395204855&sr=8-30&keywords=vitamin+c+serum[1]
Use this promo code at checkout: GCQM9JBT to receive the bottle for free.
We sincerely hope you wish to take part in reviewing or Vitamin C Serum.
Thanks, Petunia Skincare

I wouldn't write off the Accutane just because you have dry skin/wear contacts. Keep well moisturized throughout the day, and you will probably be fine. It's a miracle drug, for sure.

That being said, even if you're determined to avoid isotretinoin altogether, I would still recommend moisturizing your face more, at least once daily, though morning and night might work best. It's important not to allow the skin to become too dry/damaged, which allows for easier infection and consequent acne.

Unless you have extremely sensitive skin, I'd be doing your entire routine twice daily for optimal effect. Every other day or so, you might consider replacing one round of the salicylic acid with a higher concentration alpha hydroxy acid. I've had good results with this one.

You can also consider periodic face masks. Bentonite clay is pretty good, but you'll want to mix it with apple cider vinegar for the best results.

I use witch hazel and rosehip oil every morning and night and it helps with evening out the skin tone and with acne scars. I also recommend vitamin c serum which you can get for a good price on amazon from Tree of Life Beauty. Vitamin C serum is both anti aging and will even out your skin and will protect it from the sun. The reviews on the ToLB one are really good. vitamin c rosehip oil i use

P.s. tea tree oil didn’t really do anything for me and if you want a good face mask I recommend this one with Apple cider vinegar added in. Don’t use it daily or it will dry your skin out.

Hello-- I've never used Reddit before, but am so desperate for advice that I thought I'd dive in. I have what I consider to be "very bad" closed comedones, and hormonal/premenstrual cheek and chin acne. I believe I have combination skin...it seems like I'm very prone to be super oily, but I dry out if I look at salicylic acid.

My routine has been all over the place; I've seen a dermatologist, but she was pretty unhelpful. She had me on a long-term antibiotic that showed some results, but also caused my hair to fall out, so I went off of it. I can't afford the EpiDuo cream she wants me on (488$?!), and I refuse to use Accutane. I am not on any birth control pills to control my hormone levels.

Current routine:

Morning:
Wash with Tea Tree Therapy Vegetable Base Soap (>2 weeks)
Apply undiluted tea tree oil (~1 month)
Moisturize with CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Evening:
Wash with Tea Tree Therapy Vegetable Base Soap (>2 weeks)
Apply undiluted tea tree oil (~1 month)
Moisturize with Herbivore Moon Fruit Night Treatment

That's it. I've tried a plethora of OTC/cheap products in the past. My issue with the closed comedones is new to the last two years. I'm curious about thoughts on the following products:

Differin Acne Treatment Gel
Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum, 14% AHA
Herbivore Blue Tansy Mask
Herbivore Blue Clay Mask

Do you have any recommendations for a better morning moisturizer? Could my foundation, Tarte, be causing any issues? I live in Indiana, USA.

Thank you very much for any help!

Yes, I have tried their tret cream and their vitamin c serum and both were AMAZING and didn’t break me out at all. They’re not talked about much on this sub haha idk why. I started off very slow with the tret cream and didn’t purge either. I also like them because they use a lot of natural ingredients. They’re mainly sold on amazon. Hope you enjoy them too❤️

Ret cream: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01ES349CY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541859049&sr=8-3&keywords=lilyana+naturals&dpPl=1&dpID=61YjWV9fWhL&ref=plSrch

Vitamin C Serum: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M1HIIUT/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541859049&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=lilyana+naturals&psc=1

Here are the products pictured:

Etude House bubble tea sleeping pack

3 airless/vacuum pump bottles - going to use for travelling and decanting, I've already put the honey ampoule in one.

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence - Heard great things about this!

SCINIC Honey All in One Ampoule - Another product that I've heard great things about. It is pretty runny, so it would be better off in a pump bottle.

The Crème Shop - Clear up, Skin! Unicorn Face Mask - Haven't seen this brand mentioned much, any experiences? I just want to be a sweet-smelling unicorn apparently!

More of an r/skincareaddiction question but here I go....that all depends on your skin type. I've used the 50 step Korean beauty routine for a while and didn't notice much of anything.

I use a foaming cleanser/makeup remover, vitamin c serum, 15 minutes later I use this serum and another 15 minutes later, a night time moisturizer. I don't have any issues with my skin. I could probably do without the second serum but I got a good deal on it \^_\^

A good cleanser, vitamin c serum, and night cream are generally everyone's friends.

I realized a while ago that I have to apply my moisture in layers. So yes I do use a ton of moisture products, but my skin has proper hydration and a consistent moisture barrier that no active has ever been able to penetrate.

OP I would stop washing your face unless maybe once at night, and only oil cleansing. Oil cleanses oil. Your face doesn’t need extreme cleansing or other cleansing products.

I would spray with a moisturizing toner (there are a million, choose one that you like) then layer 1-2 layers of a hyaluronic Acid over your face when it’s wet with Toner. I like Korean brands, like this one and this one. Then layer that with a snail mucus which sounds awful but it’s crazy hydrating, like this one. Layer that with a gel, like this. Then a cream like this one and finally a sleeping mask like this one. Bonus points for applying a wet sheet mask over it for 30 minutes.

It seems absolutely extra and I personally wish I could slap on a moisturizer and call it a night but it’s the only way to truly hydrate and nourish the moisture barrier.

Morning
Simple Micellar Cleansing Water
CosRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
NuFountain C20+ Ferulic Serum
Paula's Choice Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
Paula's Choice Invisible Finish Moisture Gel
Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50

Evening
Julep Love Your Bare Face Cleansing Oil
CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Blue light therapy mask
Garden of Wisdom Mandelic Acid 10%
Paula's Choice Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner
Paula's Choice Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum
Scinic Honey AIO Ampoule
LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence
Garden of Wisdom Blemish Prone Serum
Customized mix of Prickly Pear, Marula, Passionfruit, Camelia Japonica, and Seabuckthorn Oils, all purchased from Garden of Wisdom
CeraVe Healing Ointment

I've been using this vitamin c serum for a while and now that it's almost out I need to figure out what to buy next. I would love to buy it again because it's so cheap and the amazon reviews are good, but I'm skeptical that its like a 'real' vitamin c serum??? I hear so much about vitamin c being 'unstable' so I'm worried the one I'm using is a scam...like how could it be so cheap??? Also I've had this one for like a year and it's still completely clear, I've heard vitamin c naturally oxidizes so maybe that's another sign that it isn't a true vitamin c serum....

Hi there! So excited to start a journey to a more reward SC routine and get that glow!

• The issue(s) hormonal acne and incredibly sensitive skin. Didn't start getting acne until I went off of birth control to try and have a baby—struggled with infertility but am now a momX2 (yay!)—just finished breastfeeding my second but am hoping to find a skin care solution vs. jumping right back on the pill.
  
• Skin type. Oily in the t-zone, gets oily bc it's over-dry but doesn't respond well to any moisturizers.
  
• Current routine
  
  AM: acne.org cleanser, acne.org BP, acne.org moisturizer, eye cream
  
  PM: KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil, acne.org cleanser, alternate between acne.org BP and Alpha Skin Care - Intensive Renewal Serum, 14% Glycolic AHA. Occasionally use Dr. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil and/or Blume Meltdown.
  
  
• How long — Some combination of this for the last 4 years. Sometimes my skin is blemish-free, other times there are angry, inflamed, deep blemishes. It's almost always red and irritated.
  
• Anything new — No, considering birth control again.
  
• Your location — USA, North Florida
  
  ​
  
  Thanks in advance for the help! Love the SME I've been reading.

Funny you should ask. Recently started really getting into products to take care of my tired, old, wrinkly face. This endeavor was directly related to getting into /r/wicked_edge and pampering myself with great products.

I live in Florida and need to moisturize and protect. I've added the following to my regimen:

CeraVe Cleanser - use it when I shower. This has replaced the facial scrub I would use pre-shave.

A Vitamin C serum - again...I'm an old man and trying to slow down some aging.

A hyaluronic acid lotion - hoping it does what it says and keeps my skin moisturized.

Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer - This is my final layer at the start of the day. SPF could probably stand to be higher, but I'll rock a hat and sunglasses if I think my sun exposure is going to last longer than the typical in and out of my car.

I use a different moisturizer at night that doesn't have an SPF component.

It's funny to me...the older I get the more regimens I have. Probably should have started taking better care of things a little earlier in my life, but was too busy thinking in the now.

I was suggested to add a Vitamin C serum with Rosette Ceramide Gel to help it absorb better into your face. However based on a couple articles posted, there are different types of Vitamin C Serums that have higher or lower pH content.

Is that due to a beginners' serum like https://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Serum-Technology-Antioxidant-Brightener/dp/B019D6WNJM/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1488089764&sr=1-5&keywords=Vitamin+C+serum+10%25 to a regulars' serum like https://www.amazon.com/Amara-Organics-Vitamin-Serum-Hyaluronic/dp/B00G2TQNZ4/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1488089507&sr=1-4&keywords=Vitamin+C+serum ?

Also are these two serums a holy grail? I'm trying to figure which Vitamin C Serum would be a good start for me.
Thank you!

https://www.amazon.com/Merano-Medicinal-Intensive-Measures-Essence/dp/B00ITAP8P0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524967163&sr=8-1&keywords=melano+cc

https://www.amazon.com/Missha-Time-Revolution-Treatment-Essence/dp/B00E4YYIY2/ref=sr_ph_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524967202&sr=sr-1&keywords=missha+first+treatment+essence

https://www.amazon.com/COSRX-Whitehead-Power-Liquid-100ml/dp/B00OZ9WOD8/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1524967215&sr=1-1&keywords=cosrx+aha

https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Bha-Blackhead-Power-Liquid/dp/B00OZEJ8R8/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1524967215&sr=1-6&keywords=cosrx+aha

https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Advanced-Snail-Mucin-Essence/dp/B00PBX3L7K/ref=sr_ph_1_s_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524967246&sr=sr-1&keywords=cosrx+snail+96+mucin+power+essence

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dbeauty&field-keywords=honey+scinic

https://www.amazon.com/Hada-Labo-Shirojyun-Medicinal-Whitening/dp/B00BS3Q58Y/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1524967303&sr=1-1&keywords=shirojyun

https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Hydrating-Facial-Cleanser-Washing/dp/B01MSSDEPK/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1524967355&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=cerave+cleanser&psc=1

These are some of my holy grail skincare products!

Night time:

1. Cleanse with cerave cleanser
   
2. I typically do Melano CC or BHA/AHA every few days or so. AHA/BHA are chemical exfoliators and Melano CC is vitamin C that helps renew your skin. These are both applied right after cleansing the skin, you have to wait 20-25 minutes after applying BHA/AHA (10 minutes for the vit CC) before you apply other stuff.
   ** these products dry out your skin so I put on many layers of moisture after, and also don't do them everyday. AHA (and BHA too, I believe) makes your skin more sensitive to the sun so I also wear SPF 50 everyday underneath my makeup.
   
3. then the Missha FTE mist
   
4. the snail mucin gel
   
5. scinic honey thing
   
   day time:
   
6. either missha fte or snail mucin gel
   
7. shirojyun toner
   
8. shirojyun lotion (just cuz I have it, probably wouldn't repurchase although I do really like it!)
   
9. sunscreen
   
   
   hope this helps! :)
   
   these products all contain brightening properties. If you want to learn more about other people's experiences with these products you should search r/asianbeauty. If you search top posts there as well you should see lots of hg lists/reviews!

If you have the $ for foam I’d definitely invest. They have a 3 month supply at my local Walmart for $29, but it’s taken me 2 months to finish the first bottle applying it liberally and I’ve had zero issues with flaky skin. As far as the vitamin C serum, I’ve found Amazon is the best way to go— this is the serum I’ve been using because it’s cheap and has great reviews and ingredients: Vitamin C Serum for Face - Anti Aging Facial Serum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S2G786S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sc2QDb8DCCB72

But there are plenty of different options to choose from, just do a bit of research!

I don't know if it would help you at all, but here's the moisturizer I use:

http://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Advanced-Snail-Mucin-Essence/dp/B00PBX3L7K

Afaik it's completely oil free, and my super sensitive skin loves it.

OK, you asked for it! I used to break out a lot. Not cystic, thank god, but still... zits.. zits... everywhere... Thanks to all this effort you'd never know I make all this effort ;P

Both anti-aging and anti-acne

• Retin-A - every night before bed. Can't recommend highly enough.
  
• Salicylic and/or glycolic acid peels - I used to do these once or twice a week, but with the TCA peels I've been doing more recently I've been kind of slacking. They're great, though. I might start doing these religiously again since I switched to a BCP that isn't as amazing for my skin as Yasmin/Ocella was.
  
• TCA peels - Monthly when I can, otherwise every few months. I probably wouldn't have started doing these if I hadn't gotten an Obagi peel (TCA is the active in this peel) first. The results are very noticeable (esp on freckles/photoaging), but cumulative - you have to do a series. So I decided to DIY it. Just be aware that when you're peeling it's pretty scary looking, so schedule accordingly. And if you DIY, follow the directions to the letter and START AT A LOW % (8% or 12.5%), and if then bump it up after you're confident you're not gonna melt your face off. I'm at 18% and am not going any stronger - that's PLENTY.
  
• Good diet, regular low impact workouts, plenty of water, and multivitamins and mineral supplements. This stuff wouldn't keep my skin looking good without all the other stuff, but it absolutely makes a difference.
  
  Anti-acne only
  
  
• Clindamycin foam - every morning. As with acne anything, YMMV, but this stuff is what got me out of tanning for good. Totally cleared up the chestne that nothing else had totally worked for (though the UV did tamp it down quite a bit).
  
• BCPs - Yasmin/Ocella was amazing for years but eventually the headaches were too much :( Now I'm on Yaz and it's OK... not as good as Yasmin, but better than Ortho was.
  
• Benzoyl peroxide topicals - while on the Yasmin I stopped needing this, but now I'm back to using it daily to every other day on my face.
  
  Anti-aging only
  
  
• Botox - Those inch-deep crevasses in my mom's mug that make her look like she's perma-scowling at everyone in the universe? (I mean she is, but, yeah.) Sorry genetics, you done been thwarted! :D
  
• Spot lasering on angiomas/little capillaries, etc - whenever I notice them, maybe every couple years. (NOT IPL Photofacial - did it once, crazy painful, the only noticeable result was a lighter wallet.)
  
  Honorable Mention
  
  
• Hyaluronic Acid Serum - I bought this stuff before thoroughly researching it, bc it was a main ingredient in a $$$ serum I bought in a moment of weakened mental faculties. As an anti-aging topical, it's apparently marketing bs-driven snake oil. But it's fantastic as a moisturizer! My face looks dewy and glowy when I use it. 2-3 drops cover my whole face & neck, to put $15 for the bottle in perspective.

I use this snail essence

It's excellent for hydrating your skin, and reducing inflammation. It also isn't irritating, and it makes my skin super soft and supple without clogging my pores. Not to mention, i kinda like how gooey and slimey it is hahaha it makes it more fun

CeraVe PM has Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, and Niacinamide - it's also a great light moisturizer that doesn't leave face looking greasy or shiny. That can cut a few of your extra steps out, plus it's perfect for daytime wear too, as long as you add in sunscreen. I think it might do more for dryness (and definitely for redness) than Neutrogena.

Here's a highly rated (and sidebar recommended) AHA at a good price:

https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Skin-Care-Fragrance-Free-Paraben-Free/dp/B01D2M4G0C

Good luck!

TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4MCUAF?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I started using this 2 weeks ago and I notice a huge difference in hydration. It has vitamin e and c as well as hyaluronic acid. I also use the hydrating treatment lotion from Aveda under the serum. And FAB ultra hydrating creme over top of everything once it’s all absorbed. Good luck!

Tbh, I started using a ton of AB products all at once. I can't tell which is doing what but my skin saw such a huge improvements after 2 weeks that my entire family noticed it and literally shoved money in my hand so I can get them on a similar regime. According to the reviews on Amazon, it has helped with hyperpigmentation in addition to an all around brightening effect.
https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Galactomyces-Whitening-Power-Essence/dp/B00OZE57XW

28M, scandinavia, combo skin(oily T). Over the last 6 months, I've gotten a lot of weird, vertical creases on the forehead.

Some of them seem to be naturally occurring others I have no idea where come from. I've tried taking a few pictures, but my camera's quality isn't that great: https://imgur.com/a/K9Xaifa

The things I've noticed, which you might also see in the pictures:

• All the way near my hairline, I have a number of small vertical creases. If I run my finger firmly over that area, it feels like my skin is a bit like a sinus curve. From what I can tell, I do not wrinkle this area naturally with facial expressions.
  
• I have a big vertical crease on the right side of my forehead(think it's visible in the last picture). I do not wrinkly my skin here either with facial expressions.
  
• Two vertical creases have begun around the center of my forehead. I think these can be partially attributed to facial expressions. The thing is that I rarely make facial expressions on day-to-day basis. However, I'm worried that I wrinkle my forehead while sleeping. I work at a screen all day. My doctor has recommended getting an eyesight test.
  
• I seem to be getting a horizontal furrow. Possibly as a results of my eyes being furrowed/protruding somehow.
  
  A redditor here kindly helped me out with some recommendations for products, and I read about over-exfoliating and transepidermal waterloss. I stopped using all actives for a while, because my skin on the forehead felt really, really tight. I ended up buying a CeraVe cleanser and moisturizer, which helped my skin feel more comfortable again. Afterwards I've gone back to my normal routine, although I've made a change by adding retinol in the evening:
  
  AM
  
  
• Foaming Cerave cleanser for normal to oily skin
  
• COSRX AHA BHA CLARIFYING TREATMENT TONER
  
• Benton - Snail High Content Essence
  
• C-Vitamin Serum
  
• Tatcha - The Water Cream(probably will buy something cheaper next time)
  
• COSRX Aloe Soothing Cream SPF50
  
  PM
  
  
• Foaming Cerave cleanser for normal to oily skin
  
• Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Resurface
  
• Tatcha - The Water Cream

Wow, what a crappy friend. :(

Not sure how much these products will help, but I use hyaluronic acid on my skin after I wash my face, before I put on moisturizer. I also use eye cream/gel and it seems to help.

Hyaluronic Acid

Baebody Eye Gel

Check out /r/skincareaddiction! They'll be able to help for sure. :)

My routine is still under construction. I am working to reduce redness, Melasma and PIH as well as improve my complexion overall.

AM

• Cleanse: DIY cleansing oil (3:1 sweet almond oil to castor oil) applied prior to shower. This gives the oils time to work and also protects my face from shampoo and conditioner.
  
• Cleanse: Remove oil with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and a microfiber cloth.
  
• Cleanse: Once every week or two I'll use Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque.
  
• Brighten: Hyaluronic Acid
  
• Protect: Nivea Protect Water Gel Sunscreen
  
  
  PM
  
  
• Cleanse: Wash with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, a Konjac sponge and a microfiber cloth.
  
• BHA: Stridex in the red box
  
• AHA: Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Lotion 10% Glycolic AHA
  
• Brighten: Hyaluronic Acid
  
• Moisturize: Cerave Moisturizing Lotion
  
  The next thing I want to add is a vitamin C serum in the AM. Beyond that I'm not sure.
  
  Apart from the oils and sunscreen, most of these represent the first brand I've tried for a given product. I am undecided if I'll switch brands when the ones above run out. I'm not looking forward to patch testing and starting over but how else will I know if something else works better?
  
  I soak my Konjac sponge in white vinegar weekly and use a new microfiber cloth each day.
  
  
  
  
  

Hello folks! I was hoping for some help on my routine. My skin is okay, but I struggle with hormonal acne, am 28 years old, and generally feel greasy at the end of the day. I don't wear makeup because it makes my acne worse, so I don't have to worry about that. I have combination skin (chin and jawline dry, oily everywhere else).

​

Morning:

Cleanser: Trader Joe's All-In-One

Toner: Witch Hazel

Serum: Birch Juice Hydro Essence Skin

Vitamin C Serum

Moisturizer: Trader Joe's Nourish Oil-Free

Sunscreen: Neutrogena Clear Face

​

Evening:

Cleanser: Trader Joe's All-In-One

Mask (2x per week): Aztec Secret (used with ACV)

Toner: Witch Hazel

Serum: Birch Juice Hydro Essence Skin

Retinal: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane

Sheet mask (2x week when I use a mask): Whatever is hydrating at CVS

Moisturizer: Trader Joe's Nourish Oil-Free

​

I have done my absolute best to try to figure out if this is an okay group of products, but skincare is as incomprehensible as finances to me so some help would be appreciated!

This guide can help you. Any of the products listed there can help you. I will list some of my personal recommendations below. It depends on what your budget is and whether you prefer to buy online or in stores. You don't have to go crazy and buy it all. Pick one or two products to start with. I also highly recommend a daily sunscreen to prevent the PIH from getting darker.


CeraVe PM - a moisturizer that contains niacinamide (available almost everywhere like Target, Walmart, CVS). You can print a $2 off coupon from the CeraVe website too. It's about $11-14.

Ponds dark spot treatment - moisturizer with niacinamide and Vitamin C. Available almost everywhere. I have seen tiny jars in the travel section at Target for $1.47. A big jar is something like $7-9.

Elta MD Clear - sunscreen with niacinamide. You can only buy online or from some dermatologists.

Nufountain Vitamin C serum - available online only, I think.

As for AHA products, I recommend Silk Naturals (online only), St. Ives pads (these are discontinued so you can find them at Big Lots or on Amazonly only), Paula's Choice 8% AHA (online only), or any of the products made by the brand Alpha Hydrox (available at Ulta and some pharmacies (CVS?)).

Hey all, a little overwhelmed, and if I'm missing anything that could help someone out please let me know. I have somewhat oily, sensitive, acne prone skin. Previously I was doing the following regimen:

AM: Cleanse with Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser, use Cerave Moisturizing Cream

PM: Cleanse with Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser, use Vitamin C Serum + Cerave Moisturizing Cream.

Out of nowhere I BROKE OUT LIKE crazy around my cheeks, and a little towards my mouth in my jaw and chin area. I did not have this problem before. Decided to switch around my regimen as I found the Moisturizing Cream too gloppy and made my face feel very oily and would leave small white heads or bumps.

Now I have AM Cerave (with 30 SPF protection), PM Cerave (moisturizing lotion), bought TO Niacinamide 10% + Zinc, TO Alpha Arbutin with HA, TO 2% Salicylic Acid and also TO Cold Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil. I also have this 20% Vitamin C Serum which I find works for me pretty well. https://www.amazon.ca/20-Vitamin-Serum-Hyaluronic-Moisturizer/dp/B00PL3DK26. I'm a male and I'm fairly new at this but my GF got me into all of this.

​

I'm struggling to find a way to incorporate these products effectively as I've done quite a bit of research and found out Vitamin C doesn't work well with acids, specifically the Niacinamide(?) excuse me if I'm wrong. I do know I should be using the Rosehip Seed Oil at night but could anyone recommend me a good regimen? Currently I've been doing

AM:

Cleanse with Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser

Salicylic Acid + Niacinamide + Alpha Arbutin + PM Cerave (If I'm staying home) or AM Cerave with SPF (If I'm going out)

PM:

Typically shower, cleanse again with Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser

Salicylic Acid + Niacinamide + Alpha Arbutin + Rosehip Seed Oil + PM Cerave.

​

I shave typically every 2-3 days and usually at night, or in the morning when I'm back from the gym. After, I'll do my AM or PM regimen. I've been using the same shaving soap (Proraso White for sensitive skin, and Nivea MEN Sensitive Skin Aftershave). Never had any issues with either.

​

Again, any and all advice is appreciated!

Skin type and background:

Combination towards oily side, with one or two pimple monthly around menstrual time.
Also taking Evening Primrose Oil and Cod Liver Oil supplements daily.
Early 30s Asian living in a humid tropical country.

My current routine:

AM:

• HadaLabo AHA/BHA Facewash
  
  
• Stridex Red
  
  
• Mad Hippie Vit C serum - 15min after
  
  
• Bee Natural Oil-free Moisturiser
  
  
• Shiseido Sunscreen
  
  PM:
  
  
• SkinFood Black Sugar cleansing oil
  
  
• HadaLabo AHA/BHA Facewash
  
  
• Mad Hippe Vit A serum
  
  alternate every other night with
  
  
• Alpha Hydrox 10% Glycolic AHA
  
  
• Bee Natural Oil-free Moisturiser (30min after)
  
  
  Happy with my skin so far, I’m realistic with my skin expectation - not looking for poreless porcelain Snow White.
  But less obvious pores would be nice.
  
  I’m open to suggestions and routine improvements if there’s any.
  Thanks in advance!
  
  

The glycolic acid I'm using is from Alpha Skin Care...it is 10%. I don't use it regularly but trying to use it every other day or so.


The Niacinamide is from Amazon as well. It is insta-natural. I've used another from Skinlex (10%) I believe but it honestly broke me out but this product was much gentler. I pair it with hyaluronic acid from Trader Joes and it is very gentle and moisturizing on my skin. Finish it off with some Argon or Jojoba Oil.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D2M4G0C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/InstaNatural-Niacinamide-Face-Serum-Hyperpigmentation/dp/B00J5N0Y4U/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


Thank you so much!

I have been shopping around for a new vitamin C serum (I use OST's C20. Nothing wrong with it, just curious of what else is out there) and I came across the Oz Naturals one: http://www.amazon.ca/OZ-Naturals-Hyaluronic-Neutralizing-AVAILABLE/dp/B00DPE9EQO/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1417015694&sr=1-2

It has glowing reviews (though some of them look suspicious...) but I cannot find any other information, like the pH, elsewhere, not even /r/SkincareAddiction.

I emailed them asking for the pH and a nice lady emailed back saying the pH averages 9.7 since they use Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate which converts to LAA once absorbed and it needs the high pH to do that and remain stable. Does anyone know if this is true? I am so used to vitamin C serums being below 4 so 9.7 seems high to me!

I've bought several different brands but this one is my favorite. I also put it on my face for hyperpigmentation. There's another brand that's popular in this sub that I keep forgetting to try, but I keep forgetting the name. There was a really popular post awhile back where this girl had a tattoo cut out of her finger and stitched up. She used a vitamin C serum that I'm itching to try because her scar vanished in like, 6 months.

Yeah, don't get that, that seems like it would have a high likelihood of breaking you out - it broke me out and my skin doesn't break out anywhere near as easily as yours seems to. I'd look for a serum or asian essence or toner with few ingredients to minimize the chance of it breaking you out. Most niacinamide products are targeted to lightening hyperpigmentation/melasma spots, so that is something that can tip you off that a product is likely to have it. Studies have also shown it to be around as effective as clindamycin in treating acne, and it can also help your skin produce ceramides, which aid in skin barrier function. idk it has just a lot of good benefits, these aren't even all of them. If you can, try to patch test on an area that you know breaks out when you use lotions but is out of the way - I patch test on my right temple because it reliably reacts to stuff, doesn't scar easily, and my hair swoops over that side of my face so if I do break out, it is easily covered, lol.

Some options:

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2450045 - all of the olay regenerist line have it. I have never used their serums, but they're easily available

http://www.amazon.com/INTERNATIONAL-SHIPPING-IOPE-Intensive-Conditioning/dp/B00C99NJNA - I have used this, it has basically the texture/feel of water. It does have some plant extracts in it which could be irritating but none of those fatty alcohols that often break people out.

http://www.gardenofwisdom.com/catalog/item/7463739/9867792.htm - I have used other GoW products and liked them but I've never used this. It has very few ingredients though so seems pretty unlikely to break you out. They also have a sample size: http://www.gardenofwisdom.com/catalog/item/7463739/9867788.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Galactomyces-White-Power-Essence/dp/B00OZE57XW/ - some people have said this breaks them out, this is a thicker texture and has butylene glycol. The name has actually changed to whitening power essence on account of, you know, how racist the first name sounded, which the Korean company didn't realize until it was pointed out.

http://holysnails.storenvy.com/products/15121374-shark-sauce - this is made by someone on /r/asianbeauty and a bunch of people over there love it. I've never tried it.

http://www.amazon.com/CelSignal-Hydrating-Nufountain-Youthful-Complexion/dp/B0038AA4S2/ - haven't ever used this either but apparently it has a very watery texture and absorbs quickly

Hello! At age 31 and after years of struggling with acne I think I have things more or less under control (BP cleanser, followed by stridex in the red box wipes and P50). My skin can take a lot of acid, and totally freaks out with moisturizer, so I always try to be careful and avoid any potential clogging- in the AM I use LJH Propolis Ampule before makeup and at night I have been using Renee Rouleau Skin Correcting Serum, which I like and hasn't broken me out, but its WILDLY expensive for a tiny amt. I have been looking for dupes with at least some of key ingredients (below) and would love advice on what could be a good replacement. I was thinking about getting Niacinamide from the ordinary and maaaaybe even CosRX Galayctomites Essence to mimic the Saccharomyces Lystate but change is scary! At the same time, my skin isn't actively breakout out and what I really need is moisture and brightening. Should I stick with what's working or is there a better option out there?

• Beta Glucan - strengthen skin's immune system to lessen sensitivity
  
• Superoxide Dismutase - antioxidant to ease inflammation
  
• Saccharomyces Lysate (Tissue Respiratory Factors)- cell-energizing, stimulates oxygen consumption and combats irritation
  
• Phospholipids - balances hydration within the skin
  
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) - fades discoloration from breakouts, regulates oil production, lessens blemish activity
  
• Biosaccharide Gum-2 - balances microflora to reduce blemishes

Hi All,

I have tons of products but I'm not sure if I'm using them correctly, in the right order, or using too many at one time. Also, some are not AB. Just waiting for them to run out. Also, I have the Mizon 8% AHA and Paula's Choice BHA. When should I be using these in my routine? How often? Please give me your opinions! I have dehydrated skin.

AM

• First Aid Beauty Cleaner
  
  
• Kiehls Ultra Toner
  
  
• Hada Labo Lotion Moist
  
  
• Corsx Rice Mask as Moisturizer This acts as a standard moisturizer for me.
  
  PM
  
  
• KOSE Softy Mo Facial Cleansing Oil
  
  
• First Aid Beauty Cleaner
  
  
• Kiehls Ultra Toner
  
  
• MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule
  
  
• Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence
  
  
• MIZON Collagen Power Lifting Emulsion
  
  
• Paula's Choice SKIN RECOVERY Replenishing Moisturizer Cream
  
  
  

My skin seems to love this one by Amara Organics despite the pH being too high for an effective vitamin C serum (or so I’m told). It also contains HA and vitamin E, so maybe those are what my skin loves, but for under $20, I’m still happy!

EDIT: Oh, snap. I guess since this uses Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, the serum’s pH of 5.5 to 6 is actually right where it should be. Score!

Well, I use an r/Asianbeauty moisturizing routine which usually consists of:

1. An essence: Corsx snail Mucin or sinic honey all in one or hadalabo premium hyaluronic solution which has 7 weights of hyaluronic acid!
   
   
2. Argan oil or fortify which is a perfect blend of all 3 omega fatty acids
   
   
3. Liquid gold which is a ceramide based serum
   
   
4. My night pack, which is occlusive heavy. Something like cerave in the tub or aquaphor.
   
   Essentially for optimal hydration from a moisturizer you want:
   
5. Emollient 2. Humectant 3. Occlusive
   
   And make sure your cleanser is PH balanced and gentle!

yeah, i've definitely noticed a difference in fine lines! the ones i'm using are:

• mizon original skin energy hyaluronic acid 100
  
• mizon original skin energy collagen 100
  
• mizon multi function formula snail repair intensive
  
  i'm interested in trying the mizon original sum skin energy peptide 500 (the green bottle) also.
  
  i pat the hyaluronic acid ampoule onto my forehead, my undereyes, and on the outside nooks of my nose (my driest areas). then, i repeat with the collagen and snail ampoules, but leave my nose alone.
  
  my skin is normally super dry, and i really think these have made a huge difference!
  
  i apply them at night for a few nights to a week in a row, then stop for a week or two. my skin is somewhat sensitive, so i need to apply the ampoules in smallish doses so my skin doesn't freak out.
  
  i hope this helps!
  
  
  

I am also acne prone. Every other night I am adding a drop or two of Vitamin C serum to my under eyes, jowls around the mouth, and the back of my hands. I'm currently using Belitae's and it's delivered noticeable lightening of my dark circles and slightly diminishing my wrinkles, but YMMV. Check the sidebar on Vitamin C recommendations for other suggestions. Good luck :)

Vitamin C works wonders for me. I primarily started using it for my acne scars and that lightened it up big time but the one I have has other things too like hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E + collagen boost. Here’s the serum I use I don’t use any products around my eyes to be honest so I can’t really comment on that. It’s different from person to person.

I use Paula's Choice Clear line, the "Daily 5% Benzoyl Peroxide" and the "Anti Redness 2% Salicylic Acid Toner", I have tried the Skin House pore control serum as well. The third product I use that does something for my pores is pure hyaluronic acid.

Paula's Choice Clear Pros

• Makes pores tight! like so freaking tight I can't even believe it, like do I have pores anymore tight.
  
  
• Stops most blemishes and helps them heal.
  
  Cons
  
  
• Flaky peeling peels me all over. Within an inch of application area skin gets peely for a few day so this CANNOT be an everyday product.
  
  
• Makes skin painful when using it for more than two days in a row.
  
  It's so intense I cannot use it as often as I would like so I have to go through cycles of having tight pores and then mildly clogged pores. The fight continues...
  
  
  The Skin House Pore Control Pros
  
  
• Keeps pores in what ever state you apply the serum
  
  Cons
  
  
• Keeps pores in what ever state you apply the serum
  
  This one is really just ok, I intend to buy more AB pore serums but I wouldn't recommend this one.
  
  Pure Hyaluronic Acid Pros
  
  
• Keeps things pretty clean
  
  
• Doesn't hurt or cause peeling
  
  Cons
  
  
• Not super pore tightening but that's not really what it's for...
  
  I started using this stuff for the hydration (so moist!) and noticed it working well on my pores too, it's pretty cheap too.
  

Hope people see this, I need help...

• Issue: Is my routine OK? Am I making any mistakes?
  
• Skin Type: Blemish Prone
  
• How long: 1 year
  
• Location: NY, USA
  
• Current Routine:
  
  Morning:
  
  
• Warm/Cool Water Wash
  
• Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum 20% with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E 5-6 drops. Let dry.
  
• Combined Cetaphil Face Moisturizing Lotion & Radha Rosehip Oil 3-4 Drops.
  
  
• EltaMD SPF 46
  
  Evening:
  
  
• Warm/Cool Water Wash
  
• Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum 20% with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E 5-6 drops. Let dry.
  
• Combined Cetaphil Face Moisturizing Lotion & Radha Rosehip Oil 6-10 Drops.
  
• Aquaphor Ointment (Slug style)
  
  Occasionally Used:
  
  
• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (every other evening)
  
• Cinnamon Powder (as an exfoliate, used same days as cetaphil soap).
  
• Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Toner (every other evening).
  
• Queen Helene Masque Mint Julep (once a week).
  
  I want to add the following products:
  
  
• [MIZON] Multi Function Formula Snail 80 Intensive Repairing Serum
  
• [MIZON] Good Night White Sleeping Mask
  
  Any suggestions on how/when?

I love Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Power Essence! My skin also has a tendency to be a little dry too. I want to add that this in place of moisturizer may not be enough, especially if your SPF contains any drying ingredients.

Have you tried any gel moisturizers? They are much lighter and may work better in a hot and humid climate. On days where I am not doing all my normal steps, I will layer my products like so (after cleansing): Toner > Essence > Gel Moisturizer > SPF. Hope this helps!

the coconut oil is usually in a solid state in cool temps so I mix it with the mineral oil in a small bottle to keep it dissolved. Then I just rub it all over my face to remove makeup dirt and grime. I leave it on for about 4-5 minutes while I hop in the shower and take it off with the neutrogena. Also /r/skincareaddiction has great sidebar material on it.

The essence I use is this.

Yes I rotate the aha and bha because they do different things.

Yes after all the lotions and stuff I put the oil that i used from step one as a thin coat to seal in all the lotions.

That is exactly the snail mucin I use.

I have noticed a very huge difference in my skin. It feels fuller, softer, brighter, and more youthful.

Amazon. They are a verified seller. The company (CosRx) fulfills their own orders, not a third party. I've never gotten a fake on Amazon and I get 80-90% of my skincare products there. Here's the one I bought. Plenty of real reviews (you can check on FakeSpot ).

I actually prefer the 92 snail mucin to the more popular 96 mucin. It's more soothing because of the higher percentage of panthenol. And yeah, unfortunately the Mizon Snail gel has a lot of weird potentially irritating plant extracts and I think it has added fragrance too. Probably best to set it aside until your skin calms down and adjusts to the Differin. Hope this helps!

I used to use these Glycolyx 10% Glycolic acid 2% Salcylic acid AHA/BHA pads recommended by my dermatologist. Now I use this Alpha 10% Glycolic Acid lotion AHA and Strydex Red Box BHA in the morning. So far I like the product, I wouldn't say it's my holy grail. I'm sure there are better ones out there but it was pretty cheap and I was just getting into my skin care routine ~6 months ago. Bottle is still about half full. There are also a ton of other recommendations posted around here.

Hi. Looking into getting my first Vitamin C product and Amazon led me to this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0039LZW78/ref=aw_wl_ov_dp_2_4?colid=1F6GBJALG22I7&coliid=I2YY50E1LZXXB1

It has some good reviews but isn't AB. I'm new to this sub and have been reading about Vit C but would love some advice on this particular product. Thanks!

Ingredients:
"Purified Water, 20% L-Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, DL- Panthenol, Glycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid. pH of 2.5-3."

I have been using this for about a month, if you are open to indie skin care. It is wonderful and the consistency is like a light gel. I have noticed an improvement for sure.

• Skin Type: Combination + Redness | Country/Climate I'm in: Dry Southern California | Top Skin Concern: Redness/Whitening/Filaments
  
• Current Routine/Products I'm Using:
  
  AM
  
  
• CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
  
• Klairs Supple Toner
  
• PC 2% BHA Liquid
  
• Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Essence
  
• OST C20 Serum
  
• It's Skin WH Effector w/Arbutin Serum
  
• CeraVe PM Lotion
  
• Nivea SPF50/PA++++
  
  PM
  
  
• Have yet to do, but am thinking same as AM minus sunblock, and maybe minus BHA liquid also
  
  I'm new to skincare and did a bulk buy of the above products based on what I've read in this sub. I'd appreciate advice on...
  
  
• Are the products in the correct order of usage?
  
• How much time should I wait between using each step? (cleanser --> toner --> essence --> serums --> lotion)
  
• During my first run through the above products, I experienced redness and a bit of a burning sensation. I will start the process of elimination with PC BHA liquid.
  
• Am looking to replace WH Effector serum with Benton SnailBee Essence. Yay/Nay/KeepBoth?
  
• Thanks! :)
  

So this is the [oil cleanser] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V2FBAQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), this is the [low ph cleanser] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016NRXO06/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and an essence is like a serum but less concentrated. This is the [essence] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PBX3L7K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) I use. It has snail secretion which sounds gross but is believed to stimulate collagen and elastin and to improve the skin's texture. There's a lot of debate about it's effectiveness but I personally believe it has helped my skin retain moisture greatly. Overall, I use the oil cleanser to remove any makeup and sunscreen on my face. The low ph cleanser is basically to bring acidity to my skin which the toner balances out. Always remember to patch test every product you use especially if you have dry skin because it tends to be more sensitive. Also, check out the asian beauty sub reddit. There's a lot of great information.

Yes! It's very drying, so you have to take extra care to prevent breakouts. My skincare:

Toner: Fresh rosewater toner
Serum: vitamin c & hyaluronic acid serum
Moisturizer: Fresh rose deep hydration face cream

I hope this helps!!

If you find that your face ever feels dry maybe it would be useful to add a hydrating essence or serum of some sort. I am a fan of this CosRX product for some simple hydration. I do have dry skin though.

I have also heard that Niacinamide is helpful for pore size, fine lines and skin tone. If you like the PC brand they have a Niacinamide booster or there are some other more affordable types. A lot of the time searching within this subreddit or /r/AsianBeauty can be really helpful if you are looking for something to address a particular concern or a product type.

I'm trying to get in AB - currently using an American skincare routine thanks to /r/skincareaddiction. I'm currently thinking about buying the MIZON All In One Snail Repair Cream since it's going to be about two weeks of having added AHA back into my routine.

So, based on my current routine, at which step would I add it in and should I do both AM and PM or just one?

Top Skin Concern: PIH and (minor) acne

AM

• Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser
  
• 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Gel
  
• Olay Moisturizer spf 15
  
• sunscreen spf 50
  
  PM
  
  
• Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser
  
• Alpha Skin Care Essential Renewal Lotion 10% Glycolic AHA
  
• Olay Moisturizer spf 15
  

I'm interested in this too!! The recent price update really bummed me out.

I've found a decent vitamin c serum that is comparable to C15 (and cheaper too!) It's NuFountain's C20+Ferulic. It doesn't cointain the antioxidants that Paula's does, but it does have a higher percentage of vitamin c!

I would love to find a substitute for her BHA 2% liquid too though!

It's the one that comes in that very bright orange color.

I've actually been doing Vit C after the essence, but I read something on here that told me to do the opposite. Guess I was doing it right the first time lol.

And okay, thank you, I will add my AHA after the Vit C. I'm not sure about the Belitae, but it's on Amazon. Thank you for the reply.

This isn't exactly a routine trouble shooting question, but I'm hoping someone has a suggestion:

I ordered the vitamin C freebie that was posted here a few weeks ago. I've been using twice a day instead of my homemade vitamin C serum, and out of curiosity I decided to test its pH last night to see how close I've been getting my homemade stuff. Well, unfortunately the freebie's pH is 5--a hundred times less acidic than the recommend pH of 3 for a vitC serum.

Can I add some of my powdered vitamin C to the store bought version to lower the pH? Would that have other effects that I'm not aware of?

Let me start by saying I have never used either of the products you mentioned.

I used a home made vitamin c + mango butter mix that worked quite well. I saw results after a week or so so I decided to look for something more legit cause I was hoping for similiar results. I bought this Vit c serum twice a day for about a 45 days and it did nothing. It was a decent primer cause it made my foundation stick to my face more but it did nothing for my PIH. I got pretty discouraged after that so it was the last vitamin c product I tried.

I was ride or die for Ponds B3. It didn't clear up the scaring but it made my skin tone more even but the biggest impact it had was on my acne as it really helped clear up the cc i had on my forehead and the active whiteheads on my cheeks. That being said, it didn't fix anything 100% so I decided to make my own serums.

Right now I'm trying out an serum made of aloe vera, magnesium, zinc, shea butter, niacinamide, colloidal oat, and an herb complex which has worked better than anything I've ever purchased. Bonus: it heals my skin faster after I pop a pimple and now the pimples I pop do not leave scars if I apply this right after.

A very popular drugstore go-to brand is [Alpha Skin Care](Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum with 14% glycolic AHA, 2 Fluid Ounce (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BW71W4W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oAV5ybBTMW1GV), sold at Walgreens, BBB etc. I used to use it and liked it, but then got on The Ordinary bandwagon for their 10% serum. (Got Paula's Choice AHA as a gift, liked it but ridiculously overpriced--see the other thread today about that :-)

I'm a big Target fan and while I'm unsure if they sell Alpha, I'd bet they sell many other reasonably priced AHAs.

I bought a vitamin C serum on Prime Day and I really like it! My pores are looking smaller and my skin tone more even. Previously I was using the Mario Bedascu vitamin C and Juice Beauty antioxidant serum. Both of those were nice but I saw better results with the brand I bought on Amazon.

Here is the serum:
Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Face and Eyes – Organic Skin Care with Natural Ingredients for Acne, Anti Wrinkle, Anti Aging, Fades Age Spots and Sun Damage - 1 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1HIIUT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kDcRzb0CEYSTX

I use the Alpha Skin care 14% glycolic serum. I think jumping from 8% to 14% would be too big of a leap (it's a strong serum). They do make a 10% Glycolic lotion, which I used as an intermediate step up to the stronger serum and a 12% Glycolic cream, which I haven't tried.

For other AHAs, I've used the MUAC 10% Mandelic serum which is significantly less strong than the glycolic acid due to its penetration - mandelic acid molecules are larger and thus do not penetrate the skin as readily, and are also recommended for darker skin tones. I've also used their Fade Serum as a spot treatment. I dip a clean cotton swab into the serum and dab onto the melasma-affected areas of my face.

I haven't done a chemical peel in a while, due to starting a retinol, but I had good experiences with their 55% Lactic acid peel. Chemical peels require research, patch testing, following instructions, proper timing, and neutralizing, though, so you definitely shouldn't just jump into that pool.

I have been using beauty oils a lot more. I use Boscia Tsubaki beauty oil when I mix my foundations, and it is so moisturizing. Then I use NuFountain Ferulic C20+ after I cleanse my face. My skin feels so much softer and I feel like the elasticity is a bit stronger.

Picture Album

This is the dermaroller I use

I started with the 1.00mm one and then upgraded to the 1.5mm]

Let me preface with saying: I am from the caribbean. I have abused my skin for 25 years by not wearing any sunblock and tanning CONSTANTLY. It was only the last 2 years where I became obsessed with my skin. Also, I am chain smoker. Sadly, with law school and all of life's stresses, I picked a really bad habit to have. I'm talking like a pack a day type of smoker for two years. I'm starting to quit and I started really taking care of my skin obsesively 2 years ago. I think 90% of why my skin looks the way it does (not saying it's the best thing out there, as you can see, I broke out this week because of stress and all ): ) is because of the derma roller and the hylauronic acid serum.


I tell everyone to use this. Everyone. The ONE person who followed my advice still thanks me to this day.

So I've been using a derma roller for about two years. I use it like once a month, sometimes I skip a month, sometimes I'll do it twice in a month. I'm not very good when it comes to routine sometimes, but I don't go more than 3 months without using it.

It works better than anything I have EVER used, ever, and I am a skeptic when it comes to skin care.

I am studying in the library right now, and I have makeup on, but once I go home and wash my face I can post a pic if you want.

I kid you not - my forehead wrinkles disappeared - completely. I used to have small but VERY visible ones, not very deep, but they were there, and they were visible. The only thing I changed in my skin care routine was the derma roller.

I use it all over my face, except around the eye area. The wrinkles in my crow's feet area went away (though my bigger problem was the forehead). Again, they weren't too deep or anything, but they were there.

The only thing that hasn't gone away 100% are my nasolabial fold wrinkles (smile wrinkles), but that's because I constantly smile. However, they have gotten a bunch better ever since I've been using the derma roller.

My routine with the roller:

• Oil cleanse to remove makeup or use a makeup remover
  
• Cleanse face with your cleanser
  
• use a dermaroller (instructions included with roller)
  
• this hyaluronic acid serum
  
• moisturizer
  
• vaseline over moisturizer
  
  
  I will say, you HAVE to do this at night time, so you won't expose your skin to the sun. You skin gets sensitive right after use, and it remains a bit sensitive for a day or two after. It is boosting up collagen to repair the micro punctures of the needles, and will absorb whatever you put on it moreso than usual.
  
  Also, the first time you use it, wait about 3 weeks (depending how sensitive your skin is). Like introducing new stuff to your skin, it needs to get used to it. The more I kept on using the derma roller, the more I could feel my skin getting used to it. It took a few days longer for my skin to fully heal the first time I used it (so about a week). Now it only takes about 2 days.
  
  You can use it once every two weeks, and I've read that if your wrinkles and/or scars are bad enough, you can use it once every week.
  
  
  
  Edit: a typo
  
  Edit 2: updates
  
  Edit 3: Picture updates and the micro needles I use.
  
  

I really like the NuFountain C + Ferulic serum.

I like that they date it and its always been fresh. One time I got a bottle of Timeless and it was already yellow when I got it. Plus I feel like my skin is clearer when with the NuFountain than with the Timeless because of the Vitamin E.

To keep it fresh longer I usually keep the main bottle in the fridge and fill up a .5 oz dropper bottle halfway that I keep in the bathroom and refill as needed.

I have this issue, too! I usually shave because I'm lazy. For your face, you want to use less strong products (the skin on your legs is thicker) and more or less treat it like acne and keep the dead skin off it and moisturize the shit out of the area so the hair can do its thing without being trapped.

Use an exfoliator once a week and before shaving/plucking. Right now I'm obsessed with L'Oreal Paris' Pure-Clay Cleanser.

I also use the following products but just one should work:

• Benton's Snail Bee High Content Essence
  
• Claire-ity Vitamin C Serum
  
  They deliver a ton of moisture to your skin helping sooth it and keep it pliant so hair doesn't get trapped. I also like neutrogena's pore refining toner. It has a ton of alcohol and isn't great for your skin but it's the only stripping product I use and is amazing at cleaning out and reducing the appearance of pores and the only thing I've used that's worked for that.

I've had good luck with a number of different brands, this is the one I'm currently using.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OKY87OS/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've also heard really good things about niacinamide serum for tone correction so I've got this coming in the mail to try. I can keep you updated on how it works for me if you'd like!
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0147PDMYY/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I purchased this serum and have been really loving it. I rub it in, then pat once it starts to get tacky.

Check out the recent review of the Clarisonic posted here a few days ago - it was pretty glowing! If it's out of your budget or you think the exfoliation will be too much for you though, maybe try a Konjac sponge for a gentler physical exfoliation. God luck!o

I don't know anything about the products you mentioned, but these are possibilities for you:

• NuFountain is a great product and price! You can also buy 3 bottles at a time for the price of 2.
  
  
• Timeless is also another brand I've heard good things about!

Google, my friend. I myself wash my face with a very gentle squalane gel-to-milk cleanser that is absolutely perfect for me. And I’ve researched the living shit out of the internet which products may work for my skin. Start with just three things: cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. Do that for a couple of weeks and then add in serums that contains ceramides, Hyaluronic acid, cholesterol etc that really build up your skin barrier. I’ll give you my routine as an example:

1. Squalan cleansing gel
   
2. CosRx Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner
   
3. CosRx Hyaluronic acid hydra power essense > apply to damp skin
   
4. CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin power essence
   
5. Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel > high dosage of aloe Vera which is really great for irritated skin
   
6. Eucerin Dry Skin Relief Face Cream 5% Urea > urea makes your skin hold moisture a lot better and the day cream also mildly exfoliates
   
7. CeraVe moisturizing cream - normal to dry skin > very good for barrier repair, contains ceramides, Hyaluronic acid and cholesterol. Make sure you have the normal to dry skin version. In the EU they have a different formula and is called dry to very dry.
   
8. CeraVe AM sunscreen for daytime
   
9. Squalane oil in the evening = unicorn tears <3
   
   As you see I do not have any acids in my routine because even AHA gives me veeeery painful and irritated skin.
   
   EDIT: snail mucin really helped my skin a lot, give it a try! AND do not take hot showers and keep your face damp when you come out of the shower.
   
   EDIT 2: buy a humidifier :) low humidity absolutely dries the living shit out of my face

This is what I use (the Missha First Treatment Essence). There are also non-AB options like the Estee Lauder Micro Essence. They all feel pretty similar and use ferments as their main ingredients.

Some other popular choices at different price points:

TonyMoly Intense Care Galactomyces First Essence 94.5%

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence

Very in depth and thorough, thanks!

Would you think any of these might be beneficial to me?

http://www.amazon.com/OZ-Naturals-Hyaluronic-Neutralizing-Satisfaction/dp/B00DPE9EQO/ref=sr_1_16?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1414371176&sr=1-16&keywords=scar+removal

http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Obsession-Glycolic-Scars-Spots/dp/B0018ZRTZA/ref=sr_1_19?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1414371176&sr=1-19&keywords=scar+removal

Edit: Which product that you mentioned would be best for the scarring?

Skin type: dry/dehydrated (I think), pores, redness
Country: USA
Climate: hot and humid

Current routine: I just started so bear with me! My AM and PM are basically the same except I occasionally use AHAs or BHAs.

-splash face with water OR wash with Fresh soy face cleanser if I feel gross
-*in PM, I occasionally use stridex red box or pixi glow tonic and wait 20 min before continuing.
-hada labo gokugyn moist (just got this yesterday)
-missha geum sul first essence booster
-Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Essence
-Cosrx propolis light ampule (I honestly don't know what this is for lol)
-Cerave PM or FAB ultra repair cream
-aquaphor on lips and occasionally really dry spots.


My question: my skin tends to get red (like flush, not really get irritated) really easily. I want to even out my complexion and work on PIE. What can I do to help this?

I've recently gotten some bad breakouts, and went to my GP and was given some new prescriptions. I was also warned about potentially overtreating my acne.

Now I don't really have too many pimples and what I do have benzoyl peroxide takes care. Rather, its generally red patches I have over my face, as well as a few scabs.

Here is my routine. I've just started on Retin-A, but I had been using Differn for a few years now, so I assume my face is used to it. As well as the glycolic fix pads. Am I overtreating? Are there any suggestions for improvement with this routine?

AM:

Wash Face (micellar water)

Glycolic fix night pads (salicylic acid+5% glycolic acid+lactic acid+lactic acid)

Vitamin C serum

Take antibotic

PM:

Wash face (micellar water)

Retin-A

Moisturize Nivea cream


Thanks guys!

The ones that I buy come in a little bottle with a dropper so I just drop a few drops in my hands and rub it into my face- it soaks in pretty fast. Depending on which one you use, it may just feel like rubbing water on your skin or an actual serum. Or you can just add the drops to your moisturizer and mix it in your hand before applying to your face. You can look on amazon for moisturizers that already have added hyaluronic acid too!

This is the one I used to use: http://www.amazon.com/Original-Hyaluronic-Acid-Serum-100%25/dp/B003MJ7Z0O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418061075&sr=8-2&keywords=hyralonic+acid

And this is the one I'm using now: http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Serum-Face-20%25-Hyaluronic/dp/B00G2TQNZ4/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1418061132&sr=8-11&keywords=hyralonic+acid

EDIT: My boyfriend has the same regime as you- he uses BP and Clindamycin daily every night/morning. He only uses hyaluronic acid to moisturize his face (because he has naturally oily skin- he doesn't want to put moisturizer on his face)- seems to be working just fine for him.

InstaNaturals Niacinamide lotion is really well reviewed. I just ordered some but I got a huge breakout so I'm trying to nurse that before I try using it.

Paula's Choice Skin-Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner. Another one that is well-regarded, I have a bottle that I haven't been able to use yet for the same reason as above. Can you tell I'm a bit of a skincare hoarder?? x)

Also EltaMD Clear is a great sunscreen that has niacinamide, if you're also in the market for sunscreen.

Honestly, I see skin... I'm not sure what you are trying to diminish. As far as discoloration, personally, I love niacinimide (look for in your lotion) and galactomyces- I use this one


Vitamin C is also helpful for treating pigmentation.

I get mine from Amazon it’s very reasonably priced!
20% Vitamin C Serum - 60 ml / 2 oz Made in Canada - Certified Organic + 11% Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin E Moisturizer + Collagen Boost - Reverse Skin Aging, Remove Sun Spots, Wrinkles and Dark Circles, Excellent for Sensitive Skin + Includes Pump & Dropper https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00PL3DK26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NlVWAb1QP8E6R

I really like this one from Amara Organics that someone on SCA recommended to me. I’ve been using it for a year or so now. It absorbs super quick, and doesn’t feel greasy or gritty. Pretty cheap too.

Thank you so much for this amazing list! Can anyone comment on the quality of the All Natural Advice Vitamin C serum {link}? I picked it because it is (by far) the most popular on Amazon Canada. Now I'm thinking of replacing it with the Timeless serum or one of the options from TO.

Here are the ingredients:
Aqua (Deionzed Water), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (Plan Based Hyaluronic Acid), Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Organic Aloe), Ferulic Acid, Glycerin (Kosher, Vegetable), Simondsia Chiensis Oil (Organic Jojoba), Centella Asiatica Extract (Organic Gotu Kola), Equisetum Arvense Extract (Dandelion), Geranium Maculatum Extract (Wild Geranium), Arginine,

Okay, do you think I could just stick to a foaming facial cleanser, the same alcohol-free toner I'm currently using, and then the Differin moisturizer and gel?

I tried a Vitamin C serum with Ferulic Acid and it made me breakout a ton, I was thinking of using this one but I don't know if hyaluronic acid is right for my skin. Any thoughts?

And thanks for such a helpful comment!

First off thank you for these amazing wikis, it’s been really educational to read up on how to revise my routine.

What’s the minimum SPF that should be used when using Glycolic acid? I’ve been using a 11% Hyaluronic Acid Solution for over 6 months now and have just bought my first Glycolic Acid Night peel. My Clinique foundation is SPF 15 but I’d like to confirm if/how much stronger an SPF should be used if I’m incorporating Glycolic into my routine.

My under-eye area has been bumpy, irritated, and itchy for the past few days.

Current routine:

• Non foaming cleanser
  
• BHA: The Ordinary 2% Salicylic Acid (PM, AM occasionally)
  
• AHA: The Ordinary 10% Lactic Acid + HA (PM occasionally)
  
• Vitamin C Serum: 20% SAP
  
• HA Serum
  
• Eye Serum: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG (AM only)
  
• First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Moisturizer
  
• Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Mask (PM only)
  
• Vaseline (PM only)
  
• SPF (AM only)
  
  For the past week, I've been using only cleanser, HA, and moisturizer, as I noticed this irritation flaring up. It doesn't seem to be getting any better, though. It stings when I apply any product - normally my skin isn't this sensitive. The rest of my face is fine.
  
  Newest product introduced was the eye serum in early january, used it for about 2 weeks then stopped when I noticed this irritation. Did this serum trigger eczema or something???
  
  26F, dry skin, main concerns are closed comedones, located in canada/pacific northwest
  
  Thanks!

I would say you are attractive. Obviously try getting rid of the acne, I would suggest going to a dermatologist possibly getting some Accutane if your acne is that bad or just doing your own research.
What I like to do is use a cleanser on my face before I go to sleep and after I wake up. Then I use a Vitamin-C Serum which actually helps a lot, and then finally a moisturizer. So just those three steps every morning and every night. (+Just try to keep your face clean) Once your skin isn't as bumpy you can use makeup to cover up dark spots and redness (I know you're a guy, but it helps. Just make sure it doesn't look like you have make up on)

Cleanser:
https://www.amazon.com/Face-Shop-Water-Bright-Cleansing/dp/B00FJ2LU2Q/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1523901676&sr=8-2&keywords=rice+cleanser

Vitamin-C Serum:
https://www.amazon.com/ToLB-Vitamin-Serum-Face-Hyaluronic/dp/B00S2G786S/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1523901699&sr=1-5&keywords=vitamin+c+serum

Use any moisturizer (make sure it doesn't have sulfate)

Literally just ordered the squalene oil! Good to know where to add it into my skin care routine now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003MJG19K/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1510074300&sr=8-3&keywords=squalane+oil

What form of hyaluronic acid should I use? Is a serum by Timeless good? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003MJ7Z0O/ref=pd_aw_sim_194_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=E4FV33DBH9EGPBNBKX4D&dpPl=1&dpID=41EcwCmBtwL

Hi! I found this
[5% Niacinamide serum.] (http://www.amazon.com/InstaNatural-Niacinamide-Face-Serum-Hyperpigmentation/dp/B00J5N0Y4U/ref=pd_sim_194_14?ie=UTF8&dpID=412B7gsJPDL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1W59TKJPZPDK1TZ29CQF) Has anyone tried this? I am aware that many companies provided free or discounts for reviews (which would typically be positive). I am super excited to try it since ive been searching for products with more niacinamide for my redness.

Sorry, kind of a long winded post based off of inexperience.

Skin Type: I believe I have dry skin, the only issues I have with my skin is flakey patches every once in a while, especially on my forehead and in between my eyebrows. I've also noticed under my eyebrow hairs! Ew! I've never had a problem with oil. Never MAC matched, my current foundation is Naked Skin 1.0 and it's way too dark.

Country/Climate I'm in: Illinois- weather changes all the time. Recently it has been very cool here.

Top Skin Concern: Dry skin. I consistantly have hormonal acne breakouts on my chin which are usually deep and don't have a head. I have a tendency to pick which I know is bad! :( I am currently on birthcontrol. I have redness on the sides of my nose. I also have dark circles under my eyes. The darkness may be caused my having thin skin under my eyes. I can literally see a blood vessel running under my eye!

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:
AM
Cerave knock off moisturizer in the tub

PM
yes to blueberries age refresh smoothing daily cleanser
Cerave knock off moisturizer in the tub
Yes to blueberries age refresh softening facial exfoiliator about once a week
yes to tomatoes clay mask when i remember (once very few weeks usually)

Occassionally I wear a face mask. They're usually cheapies from an asian grocery store. :)

I specifically am interested in incorporating a few more impactful products into my routine. I am almost done with my Cerave knock off moisturizer!
I lurked around and think I am going to get this sunscreen (Biore SARASARA UV Perfect Bright Milk SPF50 + pink bottle). I think I'd like to add 1 or 2 more products and see what I think.
Perhaps this eye cream for my dark under eye circles?

And perhaps this to replace my moisturizer.
I picked these out based off of HG posts, let me know what you guys think! I am interested in masks as well but the prices of the ones I've seen that are recommended kind of scare me off! :(

I have been looking at BB creams and am intersting in MISSHA #13 as was recommended from PaleMUA because I have strong pink undertones! here

My favorite for redness is my Vit C and Cosrx Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.

I also just started using LJH Tea Tree Essence and it seems to help as well :)

Edit: I found this thread with lots of other rec's for redness.

So this and this? Super interesting! I've always assumed I needed a cream of some sort because my face is so darn flaky and eats up anything with a watery feel to it. I'll have to try something like this. Do you do this for both your AM and PM routine?

I’ve done oatmeal baths when itchy. You don’t have to put the actual oatmeal in the tub just the milk of it. To make you can use 1 part oatmeal to 3 parts water, just soak it for 5-10min then wring out the solid bits with a cheese cloth or strainer. If you’re trying to stay on a budget. Otherwise you can just buy colloidal oatmeal.

I’m part of the r/AsianBeauty group and have used snail products for itch like mosquito bites and a quarter sized bite would heal within a day. I’m not sure how it would work with hives, typically Benadryl will knock out both me and the hives. If you’re interested look in the snail goo I use Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (Amazon Link)

I hope your baby feels better soon!!