Reddit mentions: The best facial treatments & masks

I will repost what I posted in another thread not too long ago, making edits for what’s relevant to my current routine experiences:

I sheet mask most nights. I have a drawer of backups in addition to the sheet masks I have ready to go on my skincare bar cart.

These are my favourites so far:

Dr. Jart Hydration Lover Rubber Mask // product here

• The Ampoule pack that comes with it packs a ton of serum, and the jelly mask creates a great occlusive barrier to trap the serum in and prevent drying out. It says to leave it for 20-30 minutes, but no more than 40. I always go for the full 40 minutes. Your face is so hydrated and moisturized after that depending on your skin type, there is probably minimal products you need to follow up with after. Last night I used the Dr. Jart Bright Lover Rubber Mask and afterwards products sunk into my skin super quick.
  
  Update Feb 20, 2018: I tried another Dr. Jart Mask two nights ago, the V7 Toning Mask and it is another winner that I will be repurchasing. It had a creamier essence that left my face so moisturised that I considered ending my routine there. And there is so much essence. I had enough for three additional applications after sealing in a ziplock bag. I find that I generally am wowed by all Dr. Jart masks, but they are pricey.
  
  Mediheal N.M.F. Aquaring Hydro Nude Gel Mask // product here
  
• I prefer hydrogel masks, although I do not discriminate - I use all sheet masks :) The hydrogel again creates a great occlusive, trapping in the moisture.
  
  Dr. Jart Ceramidin Sheet Mask // product here
  
• This is a (cotton?) sheet mask and it has an abundance of creamy essence. I particularly like this one on days that I do an exfoliating peel, such as Drunk Elephant Babyfacial, so that I can be sure to pamper my skin barrier after a deep exfoliation. I find that with this mask I have enough essence after rubbing it on my body to still use the remaining juice again the next day, but the time I planned to do that I just ended up throwing it away out of laziness.
  
  Mediheal I.P.I Lightmax Ampoule Mask // product here
  
• This is a brightening regular sheet mask that has arbutin and sodium hyaluronate high up on the ingredient list, and some other brightening ingredients such as vitamin C and grape fruit extract further down on the list. I like this mask because it has a lot of essence and I like the fragrance (last item on the ingredient list). I can’t really describe what it smells like, but it’s really soft to me, so if you don’t like fragrance you should avoid this one. But for me, it’s a nice additive.
  
  My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Sheet Mask or My Beauty Diary Royal Pearl Sheet Mask // product here and here
  
• These two are my most recent mask pack purchases. They are regular cotton (?) masks. I noticed a very plumped visage after having used them, they have a lot of essence that can be spread over the body from the left over juice, and they have the most perfect fit of any sheet mask I have ever used. They have the most appropriate cuts(?) in them around the eye and nose areas making for a more customized fit. No joke, these fit like they were made for my face.
  
  Added Feb 20, 2018:
  SNP Bird’s Nest Aqua Ampoule Sheet Mask // Product here
  This is a favourite of this sub, and I can see why. It has so much essence, and although it is fragranced, I like the scent. It smells like a clean hand soap. This left my face plump and hydrated. I purchased it for $2.80 at a local AB store, and I think I will go back to repurchase the box.
  
  Whamisa Organic Seeds & Rice Fermented Hydrogel Facial Mask // Product Here
  First tested on Dec. 19. First impressions: very thin clear nude hydrogel mask. Very delicate. Smells very much like Chanel No. 5, with strong notes of jasmine and musk. As mask wears on the face, the scent remains and the mask starts to create a menthol-type cooling sensation on the face. The mask fits poorly in the eyes, but otherwise fits well. Will repurchase for scent and gel texture. This mask is definitely a favourite of mine for the senatorial experience versus the results, as I definitely felt bougie AF wearing it. I will monitor it closely as I Iuse it more in the future to see if it has any more benefits other than basic hydration.
  
  Regen Absolute Gold Foil Mask // Product here
  Out of all the foil masks I’ve tried and own, this one is my favourite. It fits surprisingly well for a foil mask, and is lined with a charcoal infused paper sheet mask. I got it for $12 for a box of 5 which seems to be really affordable for these foil type of masks, but it has since gone up in price on Amazon, I’m assuming due to it being a fairly nice mask. This one is great for skintertainment purposes (perfect sheet mask selfie!) but I also feel like due to the fit and lining that it is a generally good mask as well.
  
  SPECIAL MENTION
  
  My Scheming Masks
  
• All the My Scheming Masks I use have tons of essence and they are super cheap making them a win-win.
  
  SHEET MASK-ADJACENT PRODUCTS
  
  Silicone Sheet Mask Mask //. product here
  
• These are great to layer over your regular paper/cotton sheet masks as it traps the moisture in and prevents the cotton from drying out. It’s a mask for your sheet mask 😀 But if you have a Daiso near you, but it from there as it is only $1.50
  
  Sheet Mask Warmer // product here
  
• So someone shared this the other day on Reddit and I had to buy it. It is a warmer for your sheet masks. A lot of people love the chilly coolness of sheet masks, but I really don’t like the cold feeling. I like warm cups of tea and heated neck warmers and those sort of things so cold stuff on my face just kinda jolts me a bit in an unpleasant way. I notice if I take a hot shower prior to starting my routine I don’t mind the chill of a sheet mask, but on most nights when I’m just going straight into my routine without showering, I really can’t stand the chill. Especially since winter is coming. So I bought this product. If you love the chill, disregard this product suggestion.
  
  Compressed Sheet Masks // product here
  
• If you ever have a sheet mask that you really like and it comes with tons of extra essence, you could throw one of these compressed sheet masks into the package with the extra essence and ziploc it up and use it the next day as well. Just don’t keep it for more than a day or two. Alternatively, if you have any favourite essences or toners in a bottle, you could make a diy Sheet Mask with your bottled products with these compressed masks. Again, if you have a Daiso near you, purchase them from there as you get a bunch for only $1.50.
  
  Edit: typos

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

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

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

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

So! What to do!

1. The Aveeno cleanser isn't bad...I am slightly wary as it has added fragrance and sodium lauryl sulfate (and a bit of mica to make you sparkle. Just a bit! it's not glitter, but that's where the 'radiance' comes from I think), but it can definitely work for you. Alternatives: CosRx Good Morning Gel Cleanser (here), or the Innisfree Blueberry Cleanser (here). Or even just a basic CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. The CosRx has tea tree oil, so it might end up being too drying if you skin is sensitive to the tea tree.
   
   
2. For your exfoliation, I would definitely go with a leave on product (either swipe pad-style or a serum). Washes tend to not be effective as they don't spend a long time on the skin. But if you are worried about the strength of a leave on product, do short-contact therapy and just rinse your face with water after 5-10min of applying your chemical exfoliant. Using a gentle chemical exfoliant will actually provide a more even exfoliation and is more gentle than physical scrubs, which are dependent on things like how hard you push on the skin and how wet your skin is while scrubbing. One very popular product to consider is the Neogen Gauze Peeling Pads (here). It's a very gentle chemical exfoliant on a double sided pad which gives you a bit of chemical, a bit of physical. It also comes in three 'flavors'. Other options: Nip + Fab 5% glycolic pads (here). Or for serum style, the is the 5 or 10% lactic acid serums from The Ordinary. Or it you want to spend A LOT of money...Sunday Riley Good Genes is a raved about product with lactic acid. Lactic acid is larger molecule size than glycolic, so it is more gentle...I would say the 10% would be on par with a 5-8% glycolic. For a gentle physical only exfoliant, I would look at the Skinfood Rice Wash Off here. The grains of the scrub are quite large and rice is supposedly a brightening ingredient! But you can also just use a cloth in the shower to physically exfoliate (remember! No more than 1-2 times per week!). When watching over over-exfoliation keep an eye out for lingering redness, stinging when you apply products, excess dryness and a general feeling of your skin being like 'plastic wrap'. Redness and irritation start first, so if that starts to linger, just stop exfoliating for a while and focus on moisturizing!
   
   
3. The Kiehl's Vit C is a good starter Vit C. Just remember to put it on bare skin directly after cleansing and even before your chemical exfoliants if you happen to use them in the same day. Vit C. was my favorite powerhouse ingredient in terms of evening skin tone. I now use the Drunk Elephant Day-Firma, but it's a bit expensive for a first jump in.
   
   
4. A good moisturizer in general will make your skin look healthier/brighter, so I do recommend moisturizing in the PM as well as the AM. A good moisturizer will also help you handle any irritation that might arise from exfoliation, cleanser, dry weather, etc.... Also, something with niacinamide specifically might provide more benefit. Options with niacinamide: CeraVe PM (oldie, but goodie!), Beaty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, CosRx Overnight Rice Spa Mask, Mizon black snail all in one cream, Ponds Clarant B3 (2 versions here I think, one for dry, one for oily skin).
   
   
   Absolutely optional things (getting deep into skincare addiction here)
   
   Niacinamide is another great product for evening out skin tone and helps with the appearance of wrinkles! It also improves ceramide production in the skin which strengthens your moisture barrier and can make your skin look more bouncy/healthy. I would consider a niacinamide serum...Something like Stratia Rewind (only available here on their website) or the Holy Snails Shark Sauce. They both have licorice root extract which helps with skintone as well.
   
   If you want another hit of licorice brightening, you can take a look at the Acwell 5.5 Licorice toner. This would be applied after your actives (chemical exfoliants/vitamin c), before serums and moisturizers. Some people do a '7-skin' method of layering on this type of hydrating toner to really give your skin a big drink of water! Of course you don't have to do a full seven layers, but even 2-3 might give you that extra little sumthin' sumthim' of bouncy, bright skin!
   
   Also First Treatment Essences...they are essentially very watery layers applied just after your actives, before toners. They contain a yeast extract that some absolutely people swear by to get dat glow! The classic here is the SK-II FTE, but it costs like a million bucks. The Missha FTE or the Secret Key Rose Edition are dupes. The CosRx Galatomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence is also similar (in asian brands they often use the word whitening in place of brightening..don't be alarmed, it is not a skin bleach!).
   
   -------------------------------------------
   
   Anyways, I'm rambling on now. I hope you find something useful in there! Remember, you know your skin best, so please ignore advice that won't work for you. Good luck!
   
   
   Edit: fixed link formatting!
   

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).

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

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

1. If I wear makeup, I use Jeju Deep Cleansing Balm. When used, it creates a layer of moisture but this can make rags feel congested, so I recommend wiping this with toss-able towels. It smells good and is good for getting the eyes especially. Just put a little on there towel/wipe and rub face until makeup is removed, then use another wipe to remove the excess balm.
   
2. I use African Black Soap after removing heavy full face make-up. For light/no make-up/mornings I use Senka Perfect Whip Foaming Cleanser. It takes about a month to come through Amazon, but if your local Asian market has a skincare store and most do, it can usually be found there. Works best if you have some kind of Spin Brush for face or a Whip Maker. It doesn’t work as well as it does with either of these products using just hand or rag. You can also use cheesecloth (examples on YouTube).
   
3. I use either of these masks if my skin feels dry or looks dull. Just rub on face and leave for 5-7 min then rinse off. This brand also has peeling masks as well that I use every other day in place of these. The peeling masks work similar to the nose strips people use to pull out nose blackheads and can be used to substitute them but can be used on whole face as well.
   
4. With my face cleaned and moisture somewhat restored, I soft exfoliate (I use everyday. If I wear makeup I use it same night and if I plan to wear makeup the next day, skip morning and use at night again. To use - rub soft side on face first to spread, then rub gently with textured side. Otherwise I use in morning. I hard exfoliate with this. I don’t scrub harder it’s just a sugar kind of scrub so it has the potential to cause inflammation if you’re rubbing to hard. I use every other day, this also works great on body and legs when shaving.
   
5. After exfoliating, I use Thayers Witch Hazel Toner. Remove with a cotton pad. I’ve found towelettes and pepper towels don’t work nearly as well as something cotton based. Toner helps to pull excess dirt from deep skin pores. On Sundays/Wednesday’s only I use Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask. Instructions say specifically to use after Toner.
   
6. Now that face is cleaned and restored, I use a squeeze Vitamin C serum only at night. I got this from my local Asian market but if you ask they’ll know what you are talking about. I dab it ONLY onto any dark spots/acne scars on my face. Vitamin C has lightening/brightening properties and using it on your whole face may lighten it. I let it sit for 5 minutes minimum to as long as I can before I need to sleep so it absorbs into my skin. I dab off any excess after with a paper towel.
   
7. After that, I use The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid. You can look up the full benefits but it can help with skin elasticity and smoothing wrinkles/scars from pimple popping. You can get this MUCH cheaper at Sephora - they’re $7 I believe and this company has a bunch of other serums I want to try. On Sundays and Wednesday’s, I use a Mask Sheet. Asian markets sell them but they usually sell them individual and I pay for the big back of 48 here. Helps restore tons of moisture in face and provide different benefits based on the mask you choose but most are the same. They also smell nice!
   
8. One I use the mask and rub it in, I use a mixture of three oils: Kukui, Rosehip, TeaTree Oil. All of them can be found on amazon and have different benefits that tie together. I mix them into a tiny container and do very small dabs into my skin and rub it in. Kukui oil also works as a massage oil as it’s very light and great natural sunscreen (though if you plan to go to the beach wearing regular sunscreen and using the Kukui to seal it in is best).
   
9. Finally, I finish with my Elizabeth Arden Moisture Cream. $55 seems expensive but a little goes a LONG way, I use about enough to cover the whole tip of my finger, a light dip like if you want to taste something for example. You don’t need a lot because at this point your face is already moisturized enough that it should just glide on.
   
10. To finish, since I have hyperpigmentation and get dark spots at the slightest raise on my skin, I use Ambi Dark Spot Corrector. Can be found at target I think, my mom usually buys it. Put light amounts on affected areas and sleep.
    
    *Note: you may need to slowly introduce these products. Most of them are geared toward moisturizing and preventing aging as well. If you do anything, I’m at least recommend exfoliating often, changing pillow cases and properly moisturizing your skin using the sheet masks as well as possibly vitamin E serums. I plan on getting some but have no money rn, but Belei sent me free samples and I loved it. I think The Ordinary also carries some. Also, properly washing your face will probably help as well, and I’d recommend getting at least a spin brush. Over rubbing your face can be harmful to the skin and skin brushes usually clean well enough without harm.
    
    I hope this helps! This is my whole routine but if anything jumps out feel free to not look at everything! I’m of course not a dermatologist but this helped me and I now only get pimples usually if I eat excess of the previously mentioned triggers :) my skin is now brighter and dark spots clear up in about 2-3 months but are usually lighter after about two weeks.

Thx for the info. Here's my super long post but I wanted to give you useful information. I think you’re on the right track in terms of “active” ingredients (BHA, AHA, retinol, etc.) but I’d switch your routine up to ensure maximum product efficacy (the order you layer your products effects their absorption) and I'd switch your products to more tried-and-true ones like inthegloww suggested as well. Below are my suggestions with a little science behind them, courtesy of the bloggers “snow white and the Asian Pear” and “lab muffin”. As others have noted, unfortunately there’s no magic bullet formula for flawless skin, so you’ll just have to keep monitoring your skin daily and adjust your products accordingly.

Definitely ditch the following:

1. Burt’s Bee’s Brightening Face Wash: Unsure of the pH. Us acne-prone folks need to use a low pH cleanser.
   
2. the hyaluronic acid (HA): I know there’s a lot of hype around HA right now but it could be making your skin drier if there’s no moisture in the air since its humectant. You need to lock it in with an occlusive on top (sealant). I think a good moisturizer will be more than sufficient.
   
3. the moisturizer with the vitamin C:
   a.) I don’t think you need vitamin C at this stage of the game and;
   b.) It might not even be effective in the moisturizer since Vit C is a finicky active. (It comes in many forms, some are pH dependent; needs to be in a concentration of 20% to be effective; begins to oxidize if mixed w/water so stabilizers are needed [serums tend to be more stable then cream formulas for this reason]; air/photosensitive so it needs to be in dark air tight packaging like a pump. It’s a pain in the butt.)
   
   AM Routine
   1. Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser - $12
   —Acidic Cleanser: Clinical studies have shown that an alkaline cleanser, high pH (greater than 6.0 pH), contributes to the proliferation of acne bacteria on the skin. An acidic pH (less than 6.0 pH) is less bacteria-friendly. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser has a 5.5 pH, and contains ceramides which help protect the skin barrier.
   2. Active: Salicylic acid (BHA) - Humane Clarifying Toner. If you feel like switching, try [Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid] (https://smile.amazon.com/Paulas-Choice-SKIN-PERFECTING-Exfoliant-Facial-Blackheads/dp/B00949CTQQ/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1518761128&sr=1-1&keywords=paulas%2Bchoice%2Bbha&th=1) - $25 on Amazon // $30 on her site but she frequently runs 20% sales + you can use a rebate site too to save even more (Coupon Cabin is 8.5% back currently).
   —BHA: Salicylic acid is only effective at certain pHs 3-4pH and concentrations (1 – 2%). Paula’s Choice is pH range of 3.2–3.8
   3. Active: AHA - AHA Enhanced Renewal Cream. Apply AHA following BHA, but only 1-2x a week to start. If you feel like switching, try [Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum] (https://smile.amazon.com/Mizon-AHA-8-Peeling-Serum/dp/B00F35GT0W/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518760920&sr=8-4&keywords=Mizon%27s+AHA+8%25+Peeling+Serum&dpID=41diUr7YN6L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch)
   —AHAs are not oil-soluble (difficulty penetrating oily areas of your face such as the T-zone) but BHAs are. So, apply the BHA first to clear out the sebum in your pores, then apply the AHA which can then penetrate your skin more effectively. Ideally, you’d wait 15-20 min. between applications for optimal results but who has time for that?
   4. Moisturizer: [CeraVe Facial Moisturizer PM] (https://smile.amazon.com/CeraVe-Facial-Moisturizing-Lotion-Lightweight/dp/B00365DABC/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1518763286&sr=1-4&keywords=CeraVe+Facial+Moisturizer+PM) - $9
   Contains ceramides and niacinamide which has been shown to reduce pore size.
   5. Sunscreen: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+/PA++++
   —Japanese sunscreen. Non gloopy physical/chemical combo, doesn’t leave a white cast, some folks like to use it as primer pre-makeup
   
   PM Routine:
   1. Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
   2. Active: Antioxidant - [Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant] (https://smile.amazon.com/Trilogy-Rosehip-Antioxidant-1-01-Ounce/dp/B0081JE0VM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1518761377&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=Trilogy+Rosehip+Oil+Antioxidant&psc=1) - $22
   —Rosehip Oil: A linoleic-rich oil (an omega-6 fatty acid). Acne-prone skin tends to have a low % of linoleic acid and high % of oleic acid in the sebum. It’s thought that these low levels could be one of the things causing acne. Oils with a high linoliec acid content typical go rancid w/in 3-6 months but the antioxidants in this brand keep it shelf stable for three 3 yrs.
   3. Active: Retinoid - I'd try azelaic acid, Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% - $8. If you want it stronger, it comes in Rx as well.
   —Azelaic Acid: "According to Wikipedia, it can treat mild to moderate acne, both comedonal acne and inflammatory acne. It works by killing acne bacteria that infect skin pores AND it decreases the production of keratin, which is a natural substance that promotes the growth of acne bacteria. So it tackles clogged pores like a BHA preventing future acne and kills bacteria to improve current acne. It also fades hyperpigmentation, like an AHA, but without photosensitivity and unlike some forms of AHA, it can be safely used by those with deeper skin tones." quoting snow white and the Asian Pear
   4. Moisturizer**: CeraVe Facial Moisturizer PM or [CeraVe Moisturizing Cream] (https://smile.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Cream-Daily-Moisturizer/dp/B001V9SXXU/ref=sr_ph_1_s_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518769817&sr=sr-1&keywords=cerave&th=1) if you need something heavier - $12

I'd recommend starting slow. Start with a mild foaming cleanser, a basic moisturizer, and a sunscreen. If you want to add more stuff on for your acne, check out /r/SkincareAddiction and /r/AsianBeauty. Their sidebars are seriously amazing.

But for a cleanser, you can't go wrong with CeraVe foaming cleanser. It's cheap, easily available, and gentle for any kind of skin. There's a bunch of theories on which kinds are best, but I've seen all sorts recommend this cleanser.

Moisturizer is really key as well. Dry skin can cause acne just because your skin is craving moisture! CeraVe and Aquaphor as well as natural stuff like Jojoba oil or Coconut oil have been talked about a lot as good options here. I'm still in search for a really good one I gel with. I do use as a light moisturizer Mizon's Snail Recovery Gel as it also clears up small cuts and inflammation as well. Be patient with this step, as some moisturizers can break you out.

Sunscreen is honestly like 100% of skincare, I'm convinced now, after plunging head first into the two mentioned subs. I use This Japanese one cuz it's cheap on Amazon and has one of the highest pH ratings out there. This Korean one is also highly praised online.

But the fun part I really like? MASKS! OMG MASKING! I love wash offs like Origins' Charcoal Mask (great for acne!) and Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask are both awesome choices! I'm also a big fan of sheet masks (they put the good-for-you goop on a piece of fabric so it's easy to apply). These are the ones I usually buy because it's a great value and they work amazing. You usually only mask for 15-20 minutes and it's like a mini me-time spa-time for me. Doing this like twice a week has done wonders for my skin!

Have some fun with your skincare journey! I'm having fun with finding my perfect self pampering routine. It's more a form of self care for me now, so I feel a little sad if I miss any steps at this point. Hope that helps some! :)

>>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 :)

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

Ranked from most favorite to least favorite

Garnier SkinActive

Website & Ingredients

• Surprisingly my most favorite of the bunch. Never tried any Garnier skincare but heard good things so I gave it a shot.
  
• Super saturated, which felt amazing.
  
• Use for up to 20 minutes. I usually always do 15
  
• Doesn't leave any weird residues on your skin
  
• Goes on after your very last serum and before moisturizer.
  
• Skin felt amazing afterward
  
• $2.50 at Target
  
  Avatara
  
  Website & Ingredients
  
  
• Also very saturated
  
• Has an extra film that is pulled off the mask after placing it on your face. I find that it makes it more difficult to place the mask on my face.
  
• Very thin material, and it does rip if you aren't careful
  
• Also leaves skin feeling refreshed.
  
• The second time I used it my skin felt itchy and I couldn't figure out why. Skin felt better once I put moisturizer on. I personally think I might have waited too long after taking it off my face before putting on my moisturizer. I'd have to try it again to know for sure.
  
• $3.99 at Target
  
  Neutrogena Hydro Boost
  
  Website & Ingredients
  
  
• I tried the hyaluronic acid from this line after hearing really good things about this specific line and loved it.
  
• Decided to try this mask and it's awesome.
  
• Hydrogel so it's not paper.
  
• Can stay on your skin for up to 30 minutes without drying
  
• Put in on your skin after washing and before your serums.
  
• Doesn't leave a strange film which makes applying serums on your skin afterward easier
  
• I have the Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid and I put it on before the mask before realizing it should go on second, but I don't think it made a difference. Stronger serums should go on after.
  
• $2.59 at Target
  
  Masque Bar Pretty Animalz
  
  Website & Ingredients
  
  
• Another surprising favorite.
  
• The eyes aren't covered, which I personally love. I hate the extra flaps because I'm not going to sit with my eyes closed for 15 minutes with a mask on.
  
• Can be used 10-20 minutes
  
• Dogs, Cats, Sheep, Bunnies, Penguins, Reindeer. Most are holiday focused. Dogs, Tigers, Pandas and cats are always on the shelves.
  
• Also saturated and fits the face almost perfectly. I have a small round face and most are a bit too large for me.
  
• They make cute selfies if you're into that!
  
• $4.99 at Target. Would buy again.
  
  Slice Mask Sheet
  
  Website
  
  
• Not a full face mask
  
• Small circles that are supposed to be spot focused. I read online that they do it this way to better fit your face and so you can hit spots that need it more.
  
• I had no idea it wasn't a sheet mask when I bought it so I thought I ripped it at first.
  
• Smells exactly like the fruit it represents. The smell is strong if you are sensitive to that.
  
• Skin did feel amazing after.
  
• Stays on for up to 20 minutes
  
• Although this is a different mask, I would buy it again.
  
• $4.99 at Target. Price was a turn-off, would buy again, but not likely because it's a little too pricey.
  
  SpaLife
  
  Couldn't find any ingredients
  
  
• My least favorite sheet mask.
  
• Thick material which made it feel less saturated
  
• Eye shapes are small and make it almost impossible to see through. They have the small flaps and they don't like to stay down.
  
• Stays on for up to 20 minutes
  
• $2.50 at Target. Will not purchase again.
  
  Avatara Lip Mask
  
  Website & Ingredients
  
  
• Gel-like material
  
• Ripped before it even made it to my lips
  
• Doesn't feel like anything special
  
• I think it's just sold because it's trending online
  
• Stays on lips for 10 minutes
  
• $3.99 at Target. Will not purchase again.
  
  
  Shea Moisture Mud Mask
  
  Website & Ingredients
  
  
• This isn't the least favorite, I just didn't feel like it belonged in this set of reviews because it wasn't a sheet mask.
  
• Not drying at all.
  
• Says to only put on your skin for 10 minutes, so I'm not sure if it wasn't drying because it wasn't given time to dry or if it's just not drying like most mud masks.
  
• Didn't notice a huge difference. I don't use mud masks normally so it's hard to speak on this.
  
• $2.50 at Target
  
  Other Sheet masks that I've used
  
  
  Dermal Sheet Mask
  
  Amazon
  
  
• I buy these in bulk off amazon. Usually making each mask $2.00 a piece
  
• Each mask is different, but I honestly can't tell. I've been buying these masks for a year and they all seem the same. I don't mind it, others might.
  
• Pack of 16 for $8.50
  
  Yes To Sheet Masks
  
  Website & Ingredients
  
  
• We had a bunch of these for my sisters Bachelorette party. There were 8 girls and 5 of them complained of this mask burning their face. The reviews online also have a bunch of people stating the same. We had every single type at the party so I'm not sure what the deal was.
  
• I recently did the Coconut one because it was sitting in a drawer.
  
• It felt weird the whole time it was on my face and left a very strange residue afterward.
  
• Didn't burn my face, but I tend to have a bit tougher skin.
  
• $2.50 at Target. Will not purchase again.
  
  That's it. Let me know if you've got more questions.
  
  For reference, I have normal skin. Somewhere in the middle. Not extremely dry and not oily. I don't have severe acne but get occasional hormonal breakouts.
  
  I usually use a face mask every other night, sometimes every night. It mostly depends on how tired I am or how gross my face feels.
  
  

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 :)

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

My acne is not as severe as yours, so I don't know if what I do would help you but we can give it a shot, right?

• I use CeraVe Foaming Cleanser in both mornings and nights to wash my face
  
• I don't use a BHA anymore
  
• I do use AHA, Alpha Hydrox 10% Glycolic in both morning and night
  
• I use a Salicylic Acid Peel 20% once a week, so far it has helped, I've only used it for two weeks
  
• After the peel, I use a MBD Black Pearl mask, mainly because it's soothing and very moisturizing, which is perfect after a peel.
  
• I moisturize with Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. People here vastly recommend CeraVe Moisturizing Cream because it has ceramides and it's pretty good.
  
• For sunscreen, I tried Cetaphil Dermacontrol, it's too oily and I didn't like it because it stung my eyes. I tried L'Oreal Ideal Moisture with SPF, didn't like it because it was heavy. I tried both Biore Aqua Rich and Biore Perfect Face Milk I loved both thoroughly; they are light, milky, smooth, they feel great on the skin and stay matte like it's nobodies business.
  
• I use the Thayer Cucumber Witch Hazel toner. No reason in special for the cucumber aside from me loving how it smells. It has helped me some with redness and inflammation.
  
  My routine is as it follows:
  
  AM
  
  
• Cleanse with CeraVe
  
• Apply Witch Hazel toner
  
• After it dries, apply AHA, wait for it to absorb 20 min
  
• Apply Cetaphil Moisturizer
  
• Apply sunscreen
  
• Makeup if any
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  PM
  
  
• Remove makeup and sunscreen with Pond's Cold Cream cleanser
  
• Wash with CeraVe
  
• Apply witch hazel
  
• Apply AHA
  
• Moisturize
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Every Friday night each week
  
  
• Wash with CeraVe
  
• Clean face with rubbing alcohol (my face is super oily)
  
• Apply Salicylic acid peel for 2:00 min
  
• Rinse acid
  
• Apply my beauty diary sheet mask for 20 min
  
• Moisturize with Cetaphil
  
• Apply thin layer of Aquaphor
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  And that's it, my skin has gotten way better and something that has also helped millions is that I went on the pill, since my acne is hormonal.
  
  Remember to patch test and to not abuse your skin, the gentler the better!!!! There are things that might or might not work for you, it takes a while to find what's best for your skin. If nothing works, you can always try PocketDerm or a dermatologist around your area, don't be afraid to ask for professional help. Good luck!
  
  

Edit edit edit

1. out of the 2 oil cleansers, skinfood gets suuuuuch a good rap on this sub. The other one, I've never heard of. Here's another uuuuuuber omg so beloved product in this category. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0080M092E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420457157&sr=8-1
   
   
2. check out the holy grail list for each product category! https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/2k2j9z/holy_grail_and_honorable_mentions_fall_edition/. I find it super helpful.. And terribly enabling. Beware. Though, I personally use and love this particular US version of a popular Japanese (?) brand, hada labo. http://m.target.com/p/hada-labo-tokyo-hydrating-facial-cleanser-3-5-oz/-/A-16512820#prodSlot=dlp_medium_1_5&term=hada+labo+tokyo sold at target, Walgreens and Amazon. So gentle. Non stripping. Removes oil... Yay :D. Other popular foaming cleansers: http://www.amazon.com/Missha-Super-Oxygen-Visible-Cleanser/dp/B00CJI974Q & http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036MDUEM/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1420457088&sr=8-6π=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
   
   3). I've never personally tried secret key! Maybe the holy grail list. Can help? What I do know, as far as 3 in 1 products go, hada labo perfect gel http://www.amazon.com/Rohto-Hada-Labo-Koi-Goku-Jun-Whitening-Perfect/dp/B00BQV36BM I have heard only good things about. (try searching the product name in this subreddits search function and are what people say!) None of those 3 are exfoliants. Here http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F35GT0W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420455918&sr=8-1&dpPl=1&dpID=31IYRNG-byL&ref=plSrchπ=AC_SY200_QL40 is an aha exfoliant (for exfoliating dead skin), here http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_3_5?ie=UTF8&k=Ciracle+bha&sprefix=Cosrx are a few bha exfoliants (for exfoliating inside the pore). I personally have only ever used bha and aha exfoliants from paulas choice, also found on amazon, and have only good things to say about it. If you don't want to pay that much for their products, stridex pads are a good non-asian beauty alternative for a bha and st ives exfoliating pads or nip + fab glycolic fix are good non-ab options for an aha. all found on amazon. Please also note that exfoliants don't typically go on third. They go on first, and are generally allowed to sit on the skin for a half hour at least to work uninterrupted before beginning the rest of your routine.
   
   
3. I have heard only good things about both of those ampoules. I fucking love mizon products. If your skin is dull you neeeed vitamin c serum in your life. STAT
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EHAXCUY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420457337&sr=8-1. I use and love this essence http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_17?k=benton+snail+bee+high+content+essence&sprefix=Benton+snail+bee+ , very popular. The first two products on this page http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_?ie=UTF8&k=Missha+time+revolution+ aka the missha essence and ampoule... So. Many. Good. Things. Have been said about it.
   
   
   
4. I say go for the snails. Snails snails snails. Well it's the only product I've had any experience with out of those 3.
   
   
5. Emulsions are lotions yep.
   
   
6. holy grail list holy grail list. So many good creams. Too many good creams.
   
   
7. holy grail list holy grail list.
   
   
8. NICE. That's on my wish list, Hope you like it!
   
   
   
9. here http://www.skinandtonics.com/asian-skin-care-guide/ is a link that takes you step by step through each product category with reccomendations. Good luck!

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!

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

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

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM

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

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

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

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

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

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



PM

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

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

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

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

Thanks in advance for any comments!

Firstly, ditch both the Apricot scrub and the Garnier. You're better off using nothing at all rather than those. It's like saying, "I'm trying to start drinking more water, but I'm going to get through this bottle of vodka first to save money." It's counterproductive.

1. Leave your breakouts alone. Don't touch them. Consider putting hydrocolloid bandages on them.
   
   
2. Yes. After you've switched to your new cleanser, use it for two weeks and make sure you're don't have any negative reactions to it. Then add in an exfoliant. I suggest starting with Paula's Choice 1% BHA Lotion. Use it at night between cleansing and moisturizing for two weeks. Monitor your skin carefully for signs of irritation, redness, or flakiness. If all is well, up it to twice a day. Try this for two weeks. If you notice any irritation, cut back to once a day. This is the lower strength formula, so if you use it twice a day and you're seeing some improvement but not as much as you want, you can consider purchasing the 2% next time. Because of your eczema and skin sensitivities, I'd like to start you on the lower strength first though.
   
   
3. Yes, you need to wear sunscreen. It's not just being outside, it's any time you're exposed to daylight (coming in the windows, driving a car, etc.) Even if it were just 30 minutes a day of exposure, yes, you need sunscreen. Eczema can be tricky - you never know what will set it off. That said, try Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30. I would introduce this before the you start using an exfoliant because proper suncare is the number one thing you can do to protect your skin. So switch cleansers -> two week test period -> replace morning moisturizer with this SPF -> two week test period -> BHA once a day -> two week test period -> BHA twice a day. Got it? :)
   
   
4. No. Vitamin pills don't do anything and are actually contraindicated for some disorders. We're not allowed to give dietary advice on here, but the best I can say is that if you want vitamins to be effective in your body, you need to consume them in whole foods.
   
   
5. By blackheads, do you mean sebaceous filaments? The BHA I suggested will help.
   
   
6. A lot of dark circles is just genetics. Eye cream is a waste of money. There's nothing special about eye creams that you can't get from a moisturizer. The number one thing you can do is...wait for it...wear sunscreen every day. Seriously. Always wear sunscreen and sunglasses when you're outdoors. After you finish testing all your other products, consider adding the Paula's Choice Resist Skin Brightener under your eyes after your exfoliant and before your moisturizer twice a day (again, work up to it with two-week test periods). I've been using this for a while and have seen a very slight improvement. The best piece of advice for getting rid of dark circles is to invest in a good concealer to hide them! If you're willing to fork over the cash, the Q-switched ruby laser is an effective treatment.
   
   
7. "toner" has no real meaning other than a liquid you put on your face. There are a TON of awful toners, and some quite good ones as well. The best toners will help replenish ingredients stripped by cleansing as well as introduce other beneficial chemicals to your skin. For you, I might try the Paula's Choice Clinical Redness Relief. This is what I use for my toner as well. It comes after cleansing and before exfoliating. Remember that if you introduce new products, you need to do them one at a time with a two week test period in between.
   
   I hope this has helped! Let me know if you need clarification or if you have any other questions! <3

Went through the same thing recently. It was actually what brought me to this sub. At first it was just damage control but eventually I started an actual routine and saw a major improvement.

For now invest in hydrocolloid bandages they were and still are my saving grace.http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRGUNV2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I actually have these set up to auto deliver every other week. These are basically blister bandages, search this sub for them and you will see they are a little plastic miracle. Basically they suck the gunk out of zits, I use them on deep under the skin hormonally charged beasties and they REALLY make a difference, in severity, duration, and healing. I am very pale so any and every spot or bump sticks out like a spotlight. I put these zit stickers on every single spot that even looks like it may even think about being a zit someday.

I also snagged a 2.5% bp to spot treat, I have dry skin so I can't go slathering this stuff just anywhere.http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/skin-care-categories/targeted-treatments/_/Clear-Regular-Strength-Daily-Skin-Clearing-Treatment/ I got the trial size in June and I still have oodles left. I put a dab on a qtip and apply only to the zit itself.

Stay moisturized, this may seem counter intuitive but slather yourself in lotion. The better the hydration the quicker the healing. I don't have any oily skin suggestions as I am SUPER dry, but if you search this subreddit there are plenty of solid suggestions for oily skin.

Definitely check out OCM(oil cleansing method) there is a link to this in the side bar, it can feel overwhelming when you first read about it but this stuff really helped my skin. I use evening primrose oil mixed with other moisturizing oils. Evening primrose sounds like witchy hoodoo but it has made such a huge difference in my skin. I am super, super fair skinned. The girls in sephora run away when they see me coming and this has helped with redness and scarring SOOOO much. Give this a search as well.

Try adding a BHA and AHA, BHA is great for acne as it exfoliates inside the pore. AHA exfoliates closer to the surface of the skin, great for surface issues such as discoloration and scarring. My trick for remembering this in the beginning was BHA is Beneath the skin and AHA is Above. Personally I use both. Check out paulaschoice.com they have a cult following for good reason, they offer sample sizes of everything they offer so go sample crazy before investing in the big sizes. I use their 2% BHA liquid and 10%AHA liquid and love them both. I started with BHA to tackle my acne and a few weeks later I added paulas choice 8% AHA gel to help with scarring and dry skin issues. I loved it so much I eventually moved up to their 10% option.

You will want to add the oil cleansing, BHA, AHA and even your moisturizer one at a time. Make sure to test each on a small patch of skin first, nothing worse then jumping head first and having a bad reaction because then you have no idea which item caused it.

Feel free to message me with questions and what not :]

I posted this in another thread but hope it helps you:

I had my hemithyroidectomy done 2 weeks ago and had never been under general anesthesia before so was also concerned. Pre-op, they gave me a gown, robe, skid-proof socks to wear, put in my IV. I was able to put my curly hair up in a top knot with a silk scrunchie (no metal) so it didn't tangle (listen its the small stuff!). I was walked to the OR (it's not like on TV!), give a hair net to put on, greeted all the surgical staff and then laid myself down on the table (again - SO WEIRD!). The anesthesiologist gave me an IV "cocktail" which felt like I had one too many drinks and then I was out. I came to when I was wheeled into recovery and complained about being woken from a REALLY good sleep ;)

The surgery itself was not nearly as bad as I thought it to be (and you read a lot of the negative experiences here). My voice is fine, my parathyroids are fine and I feel so much better than I did before. As someone else stated, the sore throat is 100% the worst bit of all of it. I didn't have to stay overnight but I only had my right side removed but I wasn't sure if I would go home so things I recommend:

- Have some good numbing cough lozenges (I had Cepacol: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FWS60RG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) or throat spray (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L4XC3I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and keep chewing ice, it'll help.

- Do not be afraid to ask for the good drugs from the nurse - it'll help to sleep a lot of the time.

- Wear comfy clothes. I was able to dress myself and lift my arms up to put things on (but they were super easy stretchy & loose clothes) but my sister had to help tie my laces as bending down wasn't as easy.

- Get some PJs that button down: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0772S54GH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Comfy slippers/skid-proof socks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M24S9OF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Comfy pillow to prop yourself up for the first few days - its easier to sleep sitting up higher as there's less pressure on your neck. I could sleep lying flat and on my side after 4-5 days.

- An ice pack that can stay strapped around your neck. I wrapped mine in a pillowcase first then used a velcro hair band to keep it in place. I got this from Amazon (so it can be used cold or hot): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CHLS3B3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Silicone scar sheets for post-op (I can use them in about 4-5 weeks post-op): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P5G9PQD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- If you're a woman, I got these front close bras so I wouldn't have to lift my arms: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KKVLP2D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- A good thick lip balm. I like this one from Laniege but honestly anything you like will do: https://www.amazon.com/LANEIGE-Sleeping-Berry-Treatment-Qunce/dp/B00VR0Z0I4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=laneige&qid=1571934520&sr=8-1

- I took my Vicodin, Stool Softener (yeeeep it can cause constipation) with 1 Aleve (it's not acetaminophen) for the 1st 5 days at night only to ease my sleep but I didn't need pain meds after that.

Outside of sleeping a lot (recovering from surgery will do that), I was back to eating well chewed solids on the 3rd day post-surgery but that will all be on personal preference. You won't be able to shower for at least 48 hours so make sure to do that morning of if you can.

Most of all - good luck! You will be OK and the relief from having it out will be well worth it. I haven't had my bloodwork done yet to determine whether or not I will need medication (I know you will since its a TT) but that'll be the tricky part from what I've read. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions!

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!

I'm not sure if you would be up to trying all of these items, but here's my skin regimen (to heal acne and acne scars) to compare. I have been doing this for about six months and am tweaking very little. I haven't had any acne break outs in three months now and my skin is the most normal it's been in my teenage/adult life.

Morning:
Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser. I love this cleanser and am not changing.

I use two Konjac half sphere shaped sponges when cleansing. I like to use two of these at the same time, one to lather up the soap (less soap is needed with these sponges) and one to rinse it off, and then I rinse both out and run under warm water and hold the two flat halves against my eyes. The warmth feels so wonderful.

I like the red or pink clay ones, but here's a sample pack. Also they usually come with a small string looped into the sponge. If they don't, you can just get a needle and thread and put one it. This is because they need to be hung up to dry out, so they don't get any mold in them. When they dry out, make sure to run under water to re-expand them fully before use, and don't squeeze until they are fully soft and expanded again, or otherwise you will begin to degrade the sponge and it will start to fall apart.

Then I use Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner. (If you buy from there, you get a Benton Bee Snail mask try too. That mask is one of my all time favorites.)

Then I use the Benton Snail Bee Essence. (If you buy from here, you get another mask and a few samples to try too.)

New York Laboratories Dark Circle Eye Cream. Not Korean, but uses some good ingredients.

MIZON Black Snail All In One Cream

You can also add another cream over this, like one with retinol or hyalouric acid or both. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I am happy with the above and it works for me.
___

Evening:

I remove all make up with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam Facial Foaming Cleanser. I love this cleanser and am not changing.

I use the cleanser with the Konjac sponges again. I find when you use the sponges, that you don't really need to use a separate exfoliator product daily, which can be harsh on your skin. So think gentle products (See at the bottom).

Then I use the same toner as above, and the same eye cream, but sometimes I also add on Cosrx Honey Ceramide Eye Cream.

I use the same Mizon snail cream as above and then a "sleeping pack cream". I have a few I am trying at the moment and can't say which I would recommend yet, but I keep going back mostly to the SKIN CERAMIC Donkey Milk Yogurt Sleeping Pack one. It is not too greasy like some of the others and my skin feels super moist from it.

I do a sheet mask at least once a week. I subscribe to a monthly sheet mask bag at MissTutii.com, and they will send about 7-8 sheet masks each month. I love the snail masks best, the honey ones are my second favorite, and then the donkey milk ones.

I just ordered this face mask cover to get the most out of the sheet masks, but I haven't gotten it in the mail yet.

I use a mild form of exfoliation, jar pads like Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine, to help skin turn-over maybe 1-2 times a week. I keep the jar in the fridge and use after a shower in the morning, but you can also use in the evening after you cleanse and before you apply essence/cream. When I use these pads, I skip the toner part of the regimen and sometimes essence too.

I also have Seven Seconds Morning Sheet. That one has gentle dots on the pad that exfoliate and you can use this one daily. I tend to use this one when I am in a rush and can't spend the time to do a full skin regimen. This one you just cleanse and do the pad and then you are done.

I use Nooni AHA/BHA peel pad about once a week.

About two times a month I use Laura Mercier Face Polish.

Typical skin regimen is cleanser, toner (or exfoliator pad above), when you use a sheet mask, it would go here, essence and/or serum (if you use both, use serum after essence, and if you use an exfoliator pad, you could choose to skip essence/serum as well), moisturizers (including eye creams), sleeping packs (heavy moisturizers/creams for PM only). You can layer items, but should still be in the same type of order. For example, you can use two essences, but use both before moisturizers, and allow layers to dry in between. In general you want to use lighter moisturizers in the day, to not look greasy, and the heavier products while you sleep, which also work better when you are sleeping.

Also get yourself a few boxes of these KAO heated eye masks. They are freaking amazing! I just got this week and use them twice already at night. I am not sure I would use every night, but these are so nice and light and comfortable and soothing, and they do block out the light too.

Sure!

Step 1: steam your face or a hot steamy shower. Open the pores up! Refrain from any harsh cleansers or scrubbing other than gentle gentle gentle.


Step 2: swipe a stridex pad or any other salicylic acid based toner over the spot. Wait 15 min. It gently dissolves the dead skin layer that is clogging the pore, and begins to break down the layer of oil and crud that is keeping all of the fluid and pus inside.


Step 3: spot treat with Aztec clay mask, mixed with apple cider vinegar. You must mix the betonite clay mask with the Apple cider vinegar, to balance the pH and avoid burning your skin. It smells funky as hell but it is an acne killer, every single person on this thread will agree that it’s amazing for acne. It will draw it to a head quicker. This is great as a full face mask, be aware that it will pulse and tingle intensely as it dries! Your skin will be bright red for 30 min to an hour after removing it.


Step 4: wait 10 min until it dries and carefully peel it off the zit. It may even take the clogged pore top with it, opening it up for extraction — use an extractor tool or pore vacuum and do NOT just go squeeze it. If it does not come to a head repeat this again tomorrow! Do not do the full mask every day, the spot treatment is ok daily only on blemishes. As a full mask it’s best to use it once or maybe twice a week at most, or you risk compromising your lipid/moisture barrier and going through some seriously not fun times. Always follow up with a good oil free moisturizer.

This is the best way to completely drain this blemish, without forcing the pus further into your skin and creating even more breakouts down the line.


All of these products are easily obtained on Amazon, or any major grocer that has a health food section or oriented towards health. I know for a fact that Gelsons, Whole Foods, Erewhon, sprouts all carry the Aztec betonite clay mask and apple cider vinegar. Any chemist or pharmacy will have stridex wipes and benzoyl peroxide & maybe even the extractor tool as well. If they do not have the extractor, pick up some Hydrocollegial bandages as well as small diabetic lancets (Tiny needles used for blood sugar testing) if you don’t have anything you can use at home to poke it with.


Now steam your face for 5 to 10 minutes to open your pores then see if you can gently lance the pimple with a lancet or sterilized small needle. (It must be sterilized and rubbing alcohol for a few minutes first, or you will get an infection.)

Gently pierce it, then allow it to drain and very carefully apply pressure straight down to the sides of the blemish. Do not squeeze directly into it, again super bad. Once you’ve gotten as much out as you can, slap a hydro colloidal bandage on it and sleep with it on. The bandage will suck all of the fluid and pus out, leaving you with a flattened bump in the morning that you can apply a little dab of benzoyl peroxide on. Benzoyl Peroxide is an anaerobic substance, it penetrates all the way to the base of the skin through multiple layers to target acne bacteria. It’s best used as a spot treatment and will fry the crap out of your face. Always use sunscreen after using these medicines!


Products mentioned:

Stridex, Single-Step Acne Control, Maximum, Alcohol Free, 90 Soft Touch Pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074GF1PNL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uGWFDb3Z0AY3M

Aztec Secret - Indian Healing Clay - 1 lb. | Deep Pore Cleansing Facial & Body Mask | The Original 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay - New! Version 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014P8L9W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8GWFDbDHXR0ZP

Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, 16 oz (1 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E3B30WW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xHWFDbXYZFBTS

CHIMOCEE Professional Surgical Blackhead Remover Tools, Blemish and Splinter Acne Pimple Removal Kit, Come Done Extractor Tool for Whitehead, Pimples and Zit Popper Leather Case with Mirror, Pack of 6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072KK5J8K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VHWFDbRHCCA6C


Nexcare Acne Cover, Hydrocolloid Technology, Invisible, 36 count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BRGUNV2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-KWFDbZBFA91H


Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Treatment Gel with Maximum Strength Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Medicine, Pimple Cream for Acne Prone Skin with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide, 1 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NR1YVYU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xLWFDbMR0TMZ0

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

• 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! :-)

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!

Sooo the first thing that stood out to me was the Neutrogena toner and my only response to that is - stop that. I used to use it when I was younger and god it was horrible. It has a ton of alcohol, so it totally strips your face. If you have a "tight and dry" feeling, products with a lot of alcohol only make things worse and irritate your face.

If you want to use something to wipe down with after cleansing, I'd suggest a micellar water. Garnier makes a popular one (in the pink bottle) that's really reasonably priced and that I'd recommend.

If you're concerned with closed comedones, an AHA would serve you well. Paula's Choice makes a popular one, but I've also heard good things about Mizon's AHA (bonus: it's cheaper). Make sure you use a good sunscreen with AHA! It makes your skin photosensitive, so broad spectrum sunscreen is mandatory every day (otherwise it'll accelerate the aging of your skin).

To increase hydration, I'd recommend using a hydrating toner before applying moisturiser. Hydration should plump your skin a bit and reduce signs of aging. I love the Hada Labo toner and apply it after I've used my BHA/AHA (after a 20 minute wait) to a damp face (I typically spritz with plain water or aloe vera juice). I wait for it to dry a bit and then apply a moisturiser and it works super well.

Vitamin C serums are excellent for anti-aging. Unfortunately, they tend to be unstable - they're best kept in a dark area, away from heat and light and optimally, in the fridge. However, if you'd still like to give it a go, OST's vit C serum is popular. Wrap the bottle in aluminum foil and it should keep longer. Signs to tell if it's gone off is a change in colour (goes dark) and smell (sour, funky). You should use it right after cleansing and then wait about 15 - 20 minutes before continuing with the rest of your routine.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. (:

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


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


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


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


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


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


Let the hivemind know if anything works!


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

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.
  

ok here's what's worked for me and my dry/dehydrated/sensitive/acneprone skin! i broke out in closed comedones and small whiteheads mostly around my chin/mouth area mostly, had constant redness and flakiness was common. my skin isn't perfect but much more clear, moisturized, and healthy. little to no scarring and any spots that come up leave quickly.pretty normal skin after years of experimenting, 1 year of experimenting on SCA. hope this helps anyone!

cleanser: cerave foaming cleanser at night, sometimes in morning. i use cool water when using the sink. 12 oz bottle lasts forever, i use it for body in shower too.

moisturizers: alternate between Avene trixera emollient Cream & Balm. can do reviews on these if anyone would like since they are not well known. both contain several oils, but cream is more oily/dewy while the balm is thicker and seems to dry/set more. enormous ~13 oz bottles can be purchased through amazon so these will each last me a year at least.

sunscreen: hada labo uv creamy gel. contains alcohol but not as high up as other comparable sunscreens. also contains hyaluronic acid. similar alternative for those wanting to avoid alcohol is Hada labo uv whitening gel- contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin c. small bottles but relatively affordable.

exfoliants: paula's choice 2% bha liquid and 8% aha gel. i use the AHA most nights and 1-2x a week use the bha instead. i no longer use exfoliants in the morning (used to do bha in AM and aha in PM but found it was too much for my skin type, and reducing frequency helped without sacrificing results). may seem expensive upfront but i'm still using the 2 original bottles- the bha i bought around august and will still last me another couple months so between the size & referral codes it's a bargain.

makeup remover: Almay oil-free makeup remover pads. been using these for a decade. use them to remove eye makeup so that when i cleanse my face, my mascara isn't running over my skin. very gentle on eyes.

makeup- NARS radiant creamy concealer and more recently purchased the new Bare Minerals complexion rescue gel. NARS- does a great job at concealing without causing any skin issues. BM- pretty sheer coverage that does not break me out, and i do believe it helps keep skin moisturized and calm.

so essentially AM: avene trixera emollient balm/cream, hada labo sunscreen, Bare minerals complexion gel

PM: almay makeup remover pads over eyes, cerave foaming cleanser, nightly 8% AHA or 1-2x week bha liquid, avene balm/cream.

extras: nexcare acne patches to help heal any spots and try not to pick!

edit: added links

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

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

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

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

Morning

• Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Proofing Daily Wash (applied with a silicone sonic cleanser that I keep religiously clean.)
  
  
• ViolaSkin Retinol Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E
  
  
• St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer
  
  Night
  
  
• Exactly the same! Except twice a week I use Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Extreme Night Pads. I occasionally use the scrub version of the Neutrogena face wash, and try to use a dermal face mask once a week.
  
  My acne is currently coming to the end of a purge and my skin looks good, I’m happy with this routine for the current acne. I still have closed comedones but I’m giving the nip + fab more time to work.
  
  But the st ives moisturiser is way too oily for daytime use. I used body shop’s tea tree oil mattifying lotion but it left my skin dry and tight.
  
  What daytime moisturiser should I use that is sort of a middle ground between what I’m using? And what toner is best to add in to the mix soon? As said before I’m UK based so need items available here.
  
  Thank you!
  

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?

These have helped me so much!

The less you touch your face, the better! I use these at night, even on blemishes that haven't fully erupted but feel coming on. Seriously a miracle product.

It is SO SATISFYING to see the patch in the morning, it turns white with the absorbed oils, and honestly, pulling it off my skin, seeing the contained puffy white goo, and knowing I haven't destroyed a larger area of skin trying to extract a zit, feels even better than popping. (And to be gross, yeah, I'll poke the patch with my nail in awe.)

Couple other tips that are helping me stop the break-out cycle-

1. Change your pillowcase everyday. I put 3-4 pillowcases on my pillow, and when I go to bed, I take the last one off, and boom, fresh clean surface. This has made a noticeable difference in my skin! Amazon has endless options for inexpensive pillowcase sets, and is cheaper than Bed Bath & Beyond.
   
   
2. Be religious about washing your face before bedtime. I'm not always perfect at this, but I'm working at making it habit. The ritual of caring for my skin helps me stop picking. After I've washed (Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser) and used my products, it is a big motivator to not touch my face.
   
   
3. I also have a ridiculous stash of washcloths. I keep these in a basket in my bedroom, and use a fresh one each morning in the shower, and a fresh one to dry my face at night.
   
   When you have a pimple that has fully come to a head and you just have to pop it, wash your hands first, and better yet, use one of these tools, and make sure it is sanitized (I use rubbing alcohol) before you use it, and after!
   
   
   
   
   

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

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

Some amazon options are:

• Etude House I Need You Sheets
  
• Dermal
  
• Tonymoly I'm real
  
• Pinkgo Girl - some of these are lace and quite cute
  
  Some Japanese mask options:
  
  
• LuLuLun Multipack Masks, other types too
  
• PureSa Premium - quite expensive
  
• Kose Vit C masks
  
• Hada Labo Gokujyun masks - this brand is quite popular!
  
• Kracie Brightening masks - I think this is a cheaper brand
  
  And if you search "My Beauty Diary" there's a LOT of other varieties of sheet mask available on amazon that are well loved.
  
  Also, feel free to join the IRC channel. We've helped wayward SO's pick out gifts in the past.

Ooo, I'm addicted to both Amazon and skincare so this thread is my jam.

• Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream! My skin is dry and very prone to dehydration so I can't use a lot of the popular AB sunscreens that have high amounts of alcohol. But most of the alcohol-free sunscreens I've tried never seen to dry down so they're hard to wear under makeup. This one is happily in the middle ground, it does have some alcohol in it but it's halfway down the ingredient list instead of at the top so it doesn't dry me out, and it manages to actually dry down enough to wear makeup over it.
  
  
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion is another favorite of mine. The "premium" version is a major upgrade from the regular version IMO. I've used them both extensively and the thicker texture of the premium version is so much nicer. Fifty Shades of Snail's review convinced me to upgrade and I've never looked back.
  
  
• Elta MD UV Pure is a really nice physical only sunscreen - good for when your skin is overly sensitive or recovering from a peel or overzealous use of actives.
  
  
• Nexcare Acne Absorbing Covers are excellent for putting over whiteheads and/or zits you couldn't restrain yourself from popping.
  
  
• Packs of microfiber cloths are excellent if you like using a washcloth in your skincare routine but want something softer than terrycloth. I bought two 12-packs, I have a big pile of them next to my sink, I use a new one each night and then toss it right into the laundry to keep things super sanitary. Just learn from my mistakes don't put them in the wash with new terry cloth towels because the new towels will shed all the fuck over them and you will be picking fuzz off of them for weeks.
  
  
• Less skincare related than the rest but still sort of: this unscented Alaffia Shea Butter Bubble Bath is excellent if you have sensitive skin.
  

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)

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!

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

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

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

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. :(

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. :)

Hey! Great time to start anti-aging products. The fact that you use sunscreen daily is already a good start.

In regards to what product you should use, I think this all dependent on your skin type. If you want to use something mild, try a treatment essence, such as the Missha FTE or the Secret Key Treatment Essence. Essences are great for providing a skincare "boost" by adding hydration and mild anti-aging benefits. Chemical exfoliants are another good option that helps your skin renew itself. The Mizon 8% Peeling Serum is good, gentle starting exfoliant. AHA's are also sometimes contained in essences.

If you want to try stronger anti-aging products, look into retinoids or vitamin C based products. Curology can prescribe you a topical treatment that uses a combination of a retinoid and other fantastic anti-aging ingredients. C20 OST Serum is a popular Vitamin C product among ABers. As a caveat, retinoids and Vitamin C products are more potent and thus it is more likely to experience some skin irritation while use them. Hope this helps!

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?

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.

I think you'll enjoy the Elizavecca bubble mask! It's supposed to puff up and get super bubbly which makes it fun, but I think a lot of people actually like it because it works well too. They also have a gold mask that looks like it would be fun for a girls night!

I'm currently using this Freeman mask and it's not as fun and exciting as the other two lol but it works well for acne prone skin, it's cheap, and it feels nice on my skin. I would probably check out some of the other Freeman masks too, they have a lot of different types.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

I've had great luck covering blemishes with Benefit Stay Don't Stray and Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (which is my HG concealer because it doesn't oxidize on me like Dermablend does and also works well under my eyes)

Even though makeup covers blemishes well, it still makes me sad to see raised texture/bumps on my face, and I have to say that hydrocolloid bandages have really, really helped me with minimizing that, so i can just go ahead and truly cover up a flat red area with makeup vs a swollen red area that looks like a tan lump when i'm done. This is the brand I use: http://www.amazon.com/Nexcare-Absorbing-Cover-Sizes-Count/dp/B00BRGUNV2

I'd suggest more blush, like others are saying. This is my fave 3 in 1 blush, highlight, and bronzer trio that you may enjoy: http://www.urbandecay.com/naked-flushed-by-urban-decay/359.html

If budget is a concern, this set is really, really awesome for a lot less:
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/contouring_blush_and_bronzing_powder

Happy wedding!

There's nothing gross about what we refine in our appearances! But that is exactly where I started when I had my "enough is enough" moment. This blog post really helped me get a rein on it, and 6 months later my skin is virtually flawless so it works!

As for products, since there are a lot and it seems like a bit much upfront. I recommend

Cleanser 2-Step (Oil to lift makeup and debris, foam to completely clean face)

1. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam (150 mL/5.0 Oz) & Light Cleansing Oil (150 mL /5 Oz) Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SUZWGHM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RcMVBbZWGQB0R
   
   
2. Microdermabrasion Exfoliator (remove debris clogging pores)
   DRMTLGY Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub and Face Mask. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076KYPY23/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_udMVBbRKR035V
   
   If you would like, a toner can be added in place of the exfoliator on days that you do not exfoliate.
   
   
3. BHA (Reduce pore oil production)
   COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol, 100ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V4JPXO4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1eMVBb36B2C7R
   
   (Optional: if you look around, you can find products called "serums" and "essences" to Target specific problem areas. They are typically pretty expensive as they are highly concentrated)
   
   
4. Mask (lock-in moisture and allow serums/essence to penetrate)
   Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet, 16 Combo Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BAM7F8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aiMVBbV8HNZTF
   
   
   
5. Sleeping Packs! (Thick overnight mask for ultimate hydration)
   Elizavecca Milky Piggy Wrinkle care Revitalize EGF Retinol Cream for Anti Aging Pore Minimizing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTF6Y6B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SlMVBb24VC3B5
   
   
   And that's about it. You also generally want to do them in that order. It sounds like a lot, but all that will run you perhaps $50 for a 2 month or so supply, depending on your use.
   
   
   I can certainly attest to how powerful a combination they are though, I almost shudder to think of wearing makeup most days now. My skin feels so clear for the first time in my life that I realize it's unnecessary, and anyone can have that with a little effort!
   
   Good luck 😘😘

I finally have my acne under control after 20 years. Here's what worked for me:

• Wear makeup as infrequently as possible
  
  
• Use an oil based cleanser to remove makeup and don't wash with anything but warm water if I haven't worn makeup (I use the tried and true Ponds cleanser -- green top). Spend at least 30 seconds massaging the cleanser into your skin, particularly in your problem areas. Wipe off with a warm washcloth. Do not scrub.
  
  
• Moisturize religiously with a mild facial lotion twice a day (again, I use Ponds -- blue top -- but Cerave is the most popular option on the skincare subs)
  
  
• Use a water based sunscreen when not wearing makeup (I use Biore Watery Essence https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LA6QEOE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1). Note that the trick to these is to NOT RUB THEM IN. Just glide it over your skin and let it dry. No one tells you this on the skincare subs, so it took me a while to figure it out.
  
  
• Use a makeup primer when wearing makeup (I use Rimmel Fix and Perfect). Again, glide it over your skin -- do not rub it in.
  
  
• Use a good quality foundation for sensitive skin. I use Clinique.
  
  
• STRIDEX RED BOX. This is seriously my gold star product. Use one wipe across your whole face before bed. Let it dry completely then apply your moisturizer. Research if it's safe while breastfeeding because I know you're not supposed to use it while pregnant (although as a topical, it is most likely still safe -- just one of those over cautious things).
  
  
• Change your pillow case regularly
  
  
• Use a fresh washcloth every time
  
  
• Avoid touching your face as much as possible. This was a HARD habit for me to break. I'm a "lean my head on my hand" kind of girl.
  
  
• Keep your hair off your face and make sure you're using products in your hair that don't irritate your skin. It's one thing people forget to think about because it isn't a face care product, but it is so close to your face that it can cause breakouts particularly if you don't wash the product out of your hair before going to bed since it can get on your pillowcase and then on your skin.
  
  
• Get a good mask and use it 1-2 times a week when your skin breaks out or feels super oily. I use a mud mask. Cleanse with an oil based cleanser after using the mask.
  
  
• Disinfect anything that touches your face regularly (sunglasses, cell phone, hats, etc.)
  
  
• Use hydrocolloid bandages on actual breakouts overnight (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRGUNV2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1) and keep them covered as much as possible particularly at night. However, I also find that spending 10 minutes a day in the sun with my acne uncovered helps too.

I'm a software engineer! I've found gloves (like the knit cotton kind) work fine on "classic" keyboards, but they can get a bit tricky on laptop keyboards.

I also pick my shoulders and wearing long sleeves helps cut down on that a lot.

Fidget toys are great for a lot of people, but with habit replacement it's best to pick something you can perform in any situation you might pick (so, if you get a fidget toy as your habit replacement, what do you do when you don't have it with you?). Making a fist works well for me, someone else here mentioned trying snapping and said it worked really well to ahem snap him out of it.

OMG Hydrocolloid bandages. So, they're blister bandages, but somebody smart figured out you can use the same thing really effectively for pimples and started marketing them as such. The material they're made out of absorbs fluid and can pull pus out of "mature" pimples (ones with a head to them). Some people say it only works if they lance the pimples first, but other people can get them to work without lancing the pimples. And you can get generic ones from just about any grocery or drugstore for a lot cheaper and cut them to the sizes you want (they'll be near the normal band-aid type bandages and say "hydrocolloid" somewhere on the label). Search around /r/skincareaddiction some (I think there's actually a picture post about hydrocolloid bandages near the top there right now) and you'll see a bunch of people raving about them or talking about the best way to use them.

It looks like you have some acne and blackheads. BHA (salicylic acid) usually helps with that.

The SCA routine explains the steps in an effective skincare routine.

For the "exfoliate" step, I would recommend a BHA that you use once a week, and slowly up the frequency as needed. There are a variety of products you can use to help acne, but salicylic acid/BHA is usually effective.

For the "spot treatment (optional)" step, hydrocolloid bandages (pimple patches) are amazing. I use the nexcare ones and they work great. If the pimple hasn't popped yet I'll lance it carefully with a sterilized needle before putting the patch on. Always put the patch on clean skin.

Try to find a sunscreen that won't break you out that you can use every morning. Anything labeled noncomedogenic and fragrence-free is usually less likely to cause break outs, but everyone's skin is different. The sidebar has great information on everything I've mentioned.

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.
  

If you have Amazon Prime, you can get a 16 variety pack of Dermal sheet masks for ~$8.50 each here and here. I find these to be the cheapest decent quality masks I've tried so far! Cheaper ones I've tried tend to be irritating for my skin or just useless.

You can also get "free" sheet masks at Skin18, you just have to pay for shipping (by weight) so if you buy a lot of them at once it is more worth it.
(UPDATE: turns out you can only get one freebie at a time on Skin18, so maybe not so great for bulk sheet mask buys.)

If you're looking for straight up just hella bulk and inexpensive sheet masks for daily usage, KOSE sells them in a giant pack of 1/2 lb but I haven't actually used any of them myself since I have my own stash of 200+ sheet masks LOL. They have Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen.

Innisfree also really often has BOGO free deals for their sheet masks. They're more expensive than the other options I've listed but if you buy a lot at once it'll be cheaper per mask.

LASTLY, (sorry long post) there's also Korean buying services where companies will locate the items you want to buy at a lower price in Korea and ship it to you for a fee. This service is super worth it if you're planning on a HUGE haul. However it's also more complicated than just adding stuff to your cart and checking out like you would on other online stores. There's a guide on how to use the big buying services in the sidebar here if you're interested!

Honestly, there's tons of resources to buy bulk sheet masks, and if you buy a crap ton at once, they're even cheaper :P

Mice

• Logitech G500 Programmable Gaming Mouse $57.39, probably the best bet for reliability and gaming functionality. I have 2 of these on different computers.
  
  
• Logitech Corded Mouse (M500)$28.79
  
  I can't personally recommend any Razer mice though I'm using a Razer Tron mouse at the moment. Every Razer mouse I've had, has had issues with the left mouse button randomly double clicking.
  
  Keyboards, you can get away with a lot in the keyboard department as they all do pretty much the same thing. Here's a couple of options.
  
  
• Logitech Keyboard K120 $11.97 It's just a standard keyboard, no bells no whistles. Not designed for gaming but will work fine for any game.
  
• Microsoft SideWinder X4 Keyboard $47.70, Microsoft has been known to make the odd good keyboard here and there. This is so far as I know, one of them.
  
• Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105 Call of Duty: MW3 Edition $64.99, Entry level gaming keyboard with programmable keys. If you can get past the Call of Duty branding on this device it'd probably be a pretty good keyboard for you and the programmable keys would work with any game.
  
• Logitech Gaming Keyboard G110 $69.99, For $5 more you can get a game agnostic gaming keyboard with 12 programmable keys.
  
• Logitech Gaming Keyboard G510 $99.67, Now you enter the realm of on keyboard displayed, these work pretty good for a lot of games. A friend of mine has one of these and it's served him very well. I've never seen the point of an on keyboard display as I've never used the one I've got for anything.
  
  EDIT: I accidentally the whole description of a product.

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 didn't see them mentioned but definitely check out Kose, Kracie Hadabisei and MJ Care!

Kose and Kracie are the types with multiple sheets in one pack, you get 30 masks for about $15. And MJ Care has a bunch of variety bundles at a little less than a dollar each mask. But my two favorites are Vanedo and Dermal, mentioned by runlizzyrun. You can get a pack of 25 Vanedo sheet masks for $15!

My favorites:

Kose

Kracie Hadabisei

One of the MJ Care bundles

Vanedo

Dermal

And that's the story of how I bought over 300 masks in one week.

Edit: the link prices are a little higher than what I've bought them for about a month ago, but they dip sometimes.

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

Hi all.

Friend introduced me to this site and I'd love to see if the "magic" she works on her skin can work for me too. I'd love it if folk could review my shopping list below and give me feedback. My skin is oily and blemish prone and I have a number of large clogged pores - oh, and I"m in my 30s.

SKIN CARE ROUTINE:

1. MORNING (Scalp)
   
   

• PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash 10% Benzoyl Peroxide (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BD1BXJM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1)
  
  

2. MORNING (Body Wash)
   
   

• ?? Any suggestions ??
  
  

3. MORNING (Face)
   
   

• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LSA97J6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1)
  
  
• Stridex Daily Care Acne Pads Maximum Strength (BHA peel) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JF2VZG2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  
• Clinique/Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZJQH40/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  
• Blue Lizard Face Sunscreen SPF 30+ (optional) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I5KCIW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  

4. NIGHT (FACE)
   
   

• Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme (AHA peel) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010SAF0YC/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  
• Olay Age Defying Classic Night Face Cream (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LF4BEE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  

5. WEEKLY
   
   

• Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay with Apple Cider Vinegar (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N528HIC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 AND https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EW16TCK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  
  Also, any recommendations for a body wash for the shower?

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 have the Note 4 Innovator Edition too (in the USA). As said above, you only have one gear VR model that works with the Note 4. Be careful to get the correct one as there is another Innovator Edition that only works with the S6.

I hope it's easy for you to find one. I would definitely get it, especially with two years left (Are the smartphone contacts really 3 years long in Australia? I think they are in Canada too.)

Some tips:

• buy some spare batteries. Anker has worked well for me ($25 USD) but check for compatibility with your version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q4NQQA0/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_lyuCwbXM1KJAW
  
  
• if you find your phone overheats quickly or regularly, there are steps you can take to reduce the frequency and possibly eliminate it. Give the aluminum foil heatsink a try (although with more experimentation I think turning on Power Saving mode might be the biggest help along with screen display colors set to Basic.
  https://www.reddit.com/r/GearVR/comments/3wgo5m/3_min_overheat_fix_attempt/
  
  
• also keep in mind that as time goes on there will be a widening gap in the content available for our phone model vs the S6 variants and the Note 5. The new models coming out next year will only increase this gap. Bottom line - app developers will be less motivated to make their apps perform well to meet the standards of performance (frame rate @ 60 fps) required by Oculus to be included in their app store. We've already seen delay of several apps for Note 4 that took longer to optimize and cane to the store later. Let's face it, our phones are not as fast as the newer ones.
  
  
• BUT, I would not let that stop you. BUY IT! There is plenty of content in the store right now (and more to come) to enjoy. See my list of apps available for Note 4 here (at least in the USA, there is another list floating around for international)
  
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13cKxYGuTMErnIe8-t9-zsGAJSgSC0VVAXZbBjyI_bUw/edit?usp=docslist_api
  

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.

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!
  
  

Favorites are definitely the Leaders masks, particularly the AC-Dressing and the Tea Tree because I feel like they help calm my acne-prone skin. The Daiso mask is literally a silicone mask that you put over your sheet mask to prevent evaporation. It keeps in moisture so that your mask stays moist longer and it hooks behind your eye so you don't have to lie down while masking. It's great; I can watch my shows and mask without having it fall off or dry out. Look it up in the search bar--it's pretty popular :)

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

Talk to your OB about azelaic acid. I didn’t use it, but it’s the only thing I’ve seen other posts talk about using that was deemed okay for them by their OB.

My OB is super cautious and I keep getting shot down whenever i ask what I can use, so I just did a simple routine (Neutrogena foaming cleanser) and sometimes I will oil cleanse with Argan oil and a drop or two or tea tree oil. I haven’t asked her about the tea tree oil, but I haven’t seen anything related to it being a problem and I’ve probably only used it twice and I’m 20 weeks now.

Keep your sheets and pillow cases clean, make sure to wash your face morning and night, moisturize and try not to pick. You can use hydrocolloid bandages to help overnight (I like the nexcare ones you can find on amazon, also called acne patches or blister bandages). nexcare on amazon

Head over to r/skincareaddiction too for more posts about pregnancy/hormonal acne and the side bar include info on oil cleansing. There isn’t much we can do about it overall, but mine did ease up a lot throughout the 1st trimester and now I hardly get any. Hopefully you’re able to find something that works!

Salycilic is usually better for oily skin and from what I'm hearing, better tolerated than Glycolic Acid. AHA's are usually touted as better for PIH (ensure you use a good strong SPF too)

Salycilic can also be effective in wash form.

Some recommendations:

• ZapZyt Acne Wash 2% SA
  
  
• Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash 2% SA
  
  
• Paula's Choice BHA Leave on Exfoliants. There are also AHA (Glycolic) options available
  
  
• The Ordinary SA. Also has an AHA option available
  
  
• Nip + Fab Glycolic Night Pads
  
  
• MUAC has a variety of options

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

Not at all. I actually use their Hylamide line though. They suggested the NIOD line because they said the technology used to create it is far better than the other two lines, but I was just getting back into caring for my skin after years of neglect and wasn't ready to spend so much right away and I can easily find the line at many online retailers. The routine I have has made my skin very clear and even. I'm only getting hormonal breakouts once a month or if I use a makeup product that doesn't agree with me. My skin looks better than it has in a very long time.


Morning and Night Routine:


CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

Hylamide Sub Q Anti-Age Advanced Serum

Hylamide Sub Q Eyes

CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM

Clearasil Daily Clear Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream (Thin layer all over face, extra on active breakouts)


Extras:

Thayer's Alcohol Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel w/ Aloe Vera (I use this after the CeraVe Foaming Face Wash if I have it)

Hylamide Booster Low-Moleculure HA (I use this after the Sub Q Eyes if I have it)

I use various sheet masks once a week or so. I kind of hate the way they feel, so I don't do it that often. They do leave my skin looking great though. I bought these ones because they are affordable and I hadn't tried sheet masking regularly before, so I wanted a variety.

Dermal Korea Collagen Essence sheet masks from Amazon. You get 16 masks for 11 dollars and they are just lovely. Some of the masks have brightening properties as well. They are an HG item for me. I have three friends hooked on them. They smell very nice (mild fragrance), there are multiple "flavors" in the pack, and are lots of fun to use. They're also non-comedogenic and very moisturizing. I've noticed great results with them.

The past four months my acnes exploded. I'm 20.I've always had it but never this bad. In that picture those whiteheads came in during the day over the course of 8 hours. I normally have somewhat oily skin I guess? I'm not sure how to measure that other than after several hours with no product I can feel some oil after rubbing my finger across my face somewhere. Iv been using Neutrogena ultra gentle daily cleaner foaming formula twice a day with Neutrogena oil free moisturiser spf15 for almost 2 months no change. I did NOT notice a difference .i just started using Paula's choice 2% bha salicylic acid, I have had it for about four days and have been using it at night. Cleanser to bha then sometimes moisturizer. Moisturizer always after cleanser during the day.and its hasn't gotten better. Should I wait it out? Is 2℅bha the right product. what would y'all recommend? Considering going to a dermatologist because when I got put on antibiotics for something unrelated it cleared perfectly up then came back after a week of being off the antibiotics. Is that the obvious choice? I'm weary of doctors just throwing medicine at you.
Any product recommendations I don't have a price range if it's worth it.
Link to my three products if anybody needs them.

PC bha https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00949CTQQ/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1#featureBulletsAndDetailBullets_secondary_view_div_1474407713542
Gentle cleaner https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Extra-Gentle-Cleanser-Ounce/dp/B000052ZB2&ved=0ahUKEwiyzIiL_57PAhWGQyYKHfCiAvwQFgg9MAA&usg=AFQjCNHi8usPfIHMsMmVQjHtrtN7YsOiIw&sig2=YkhSwvgK-TncZFE8cfoRfA

Moisturizer https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Oil-Free-Moisture-SPF-Ounce/dp/B000052YP1&ved=0ahUKEwi1nZuy_57PAhXKKiYKHRdZDDgQFghXMAE&usg=AFQjCNHzhrwe7aWp8taViTH-doQ7VBni3Q&sig2=wTz8d2nU7110NReHXYmevg

I haven't tried their other products. I was briefly considering their AHA+ because it's very cheap, but I have heard many report on this sub that the pH is a bit on the high side, rendering it less effective. I can recommend the Alpha Hydrox 10% Oil-free treatment for use in conjunction with Benzoyl Peroxide to refine skin texture and heal pimples. Highly recommend the acne.org treatment, you won't be spending enough to get free shipping, but the price is still way better than anything else that's available, even with shipping for a solo item :)

I got this 16 multi pack (16 different types) for about $9. They feel a little sticky but I only do them at night and I def feel like they're good for moisture. I haven't tried them all, but I have different feelings about some of the ones I've tried. I'd say my favorite so far was the royal jelly. I loved how the green tea one smelled, and did not like the smell of the hyaluronate mask. I've considered ordering a pack of just the royal jelly ones, but then part of me also wants to just test every face mask out there before re-ordering anything. I have commitment issues. As far as use in a routine, I normally wash, use toner, then just go to the face mask. I'll wait like 1/2 after it's done (so it's less sticky) to apply the tretinoin, and I've found I don't need additional moisturizer when I use the mask.

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 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

Two products I can confirm significantly helped my rosacea in a short amount of time are The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum and Sunday Riley's Good Genes (literally changed my entire face in 2 weeks!) If the pricetag is too high on GG, apparently The Ordinary's 10% lactic acid serum is a dupe - which I've been using the past few days and loving!

If you're looking for more of a routine to use moving forward, I've found Clinique's redness solutions collection has been AMAZING and also great to have (I specifically use the cleanser and moisturizer and will vouch for those two - they have a number of other products but haven't used them).

Another thing someone mentioned is that winter/cold weather is always the worst for rosacea, so definitely pile on the moisturizer (unless you have very oily skin). I highly recommend these moisturizing sheet masks to everyone: https://www.amazon.com/Dermal-Korea-Collagen-Essence-Facial/dp/B00BAM7F8C?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

Cheap and moisturizing! They also smell nice. Great to use at night before putting on your moisturizer.

Hope this helps!

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

For a BHA (which is the same as the Stridex pads), I like Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA. For AHA (the same as the St. Ives), I like the Pixi Glow Tonic. Paula's Choice also makes AHAs and while I've never tried them, I'm generally happy with that line.

Here's a post on /r/SkincareAddiction that goes over the differences between AHA & BHA. The short version: AHA is better for dry skin and BHA is better for oily and acne prone skin.

If your pretty new to skincare and not sure where to start, this basic routine post and holy grail products index are both helpful!

I stumbled upon this subreddit, and am so excited to discover Asian beauty. I live outside the U.S. and had someone coming to visit, so everything I purchased was from Amazon Prime so that I could get it in time. Also, being such a newbie here, shopping on other sites is a bit intimidating for me. I thought this would be helpful to others that are just starting out with Asian beauty.

[Etude House Tint My Brows Gel #3 Gray Brown] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B732GT6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MWI2IS0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Skinfood Dark Circle Concealer Cream no.1 salmon] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KR392E0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet, 16 Combo Pack] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BAM7F8C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00STAV016/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQM3S3C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[C 20 Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WWLIN9U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF50+] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WE3XGAC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun SPF 45 PA+++] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ENTM3FY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[MIZON Snail Repair Eye Cream] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ILUH7E8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Mask 10 pcs] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WASFDOI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[INNISFREE GREEN TEA SLEEPING PACK] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JJGI0VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[KOSE Softy Mo Deep Cleansing Oil] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V2FB88/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[TONYMOLY Shiny Foot Super Peeling Liquid] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BCHME3G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Hadalabo Japan goku jyun Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Bubble Foaming Cleanser] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EWNK83U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Etude House I Need You Mask Sheet 15pcs set] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NPNUTNW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

My SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule is in plastic because the lid came loose in transit and spilled everywhere, but there is still half of it in there. So far I have tried a few face masks, and I am in love. I am so excited to try it all! :)

Since you live in the US, you can probably find the Hada Labo Tokyo line online in Walgreen's, Target, or eBay - it's just the US packaging of the Japanese brand, Hada Labo, and I see a lot of comments that recommend you getting their cleanser :) For Hada Labo Tokyo, it's called their Hydrating Facial Cleanser, and yeah, it's probably the best foaming cleanser I've tried that's also low pH and super affordable (I think it's like a little less than $7 on eBay, sold by Target). I'd also highly recommend getting a thin, hydrating layer before you seal it in with a moisturizer, a lot of people like the Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion (US equivalent appears to be the Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator) or the Kikumasamune Sake Skin Lotion High Moisture. As for sheet masks, there's this listing on Amazon!

Skin Type: Combination |
Country/Climate I'm in: Canada, winter (close to -30 celsius this week) |
Top Skin Concern: sun protection (but don't want vitamin D deficiency!)

 

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer SPF

 

PM
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
Noxzema Anti-Blemish Pads
Cerave PM Moisturizer

 

I discovered this subreddit last week and bought my first sheet masks! Tony Moly's Rice mask is amazing. I'm looking into getting AB cleansers and sunscreen, and I've compiled a list of stuff to get from amazon. I am super confused about the sunscreen though. I don't want to dry out my skin with too much alcohol. I also need proper sun protection because I'll be going outside quite a bit, and the snow reflects UV rays. Windburn is also a problem. Also is there anywhere I can buy bulk sheet masks?¸

 

How's this for my first Amazon haul (I haven't bought anything yet, any advice is welcome):

 

TONYMOLY I'm Real Mask Sheet Pack of 11
KOSE COSMEPORT softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil 230ml
Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

 

Which sunscreen should I get?? I want something that looks good and isn't too drying. Good smell would be nice as well:

 

Tonymoly Magic Food Mango Mild Sunblock 45g

OR

Biore KAO JAPAN AQUA RICH Sarasara SPF50+ PA++++ NEW 2015 50g Sunscreen

OR


Japanese Skincare Mommy UV mild Gel N 100g AF27

 

Thanks!

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!

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

It's actually not very different (in terms of consistency) than any other serum/emulsion! A lot of people like Benton's Snail Bee essence, I haven't tried it myself though. /r/asianbeauty has a very informative sidebar with product recs if you're interested in trying them out!

As far as what I use, I (sadly) am still on the hunt for an AHA and vitamin C Serum that I like. Next on my list to try are the Mizon 8% AHA and OST Vitamin C Serum. I tried sample sizes of the Paula's Choice 8% AHA gel and liked it well enough but I didn't like how sticky it made my skin feel.

A lot of folks here really like the C-15 Super Booster from Paula's Choice. I tried a sample size and didn't notice a difference but perhaps that's because I didn't use it long enough. I am trying the OST vitamin C serum next, mostly because it is much cheaper, but if it doesn't work for me I will be switching to the Paula's Choice.

Hydrocolloid bandages! They're basically blister bandages. Unless you're talking about something else, they are usually not medicated, and instead help by sucking out all of the oil/pus and preventing you from picking at them.

Nexcare bandages tend to be a popular brand since they're already circular, and are tinted. Another popular option is to buy a big box of blister bandages from any drugstore and just cut them up to size. I've heard very good things about the KMart brand, but as there's not a location near where I live, I'm perfectly happy using Target and it works just as well.

A good keyboard can help avoid key ghosting/blocking. I have a Microsoft Sidewinder x4 and I love it. It's not mechanical, which some people love, but it's also not as expensive. I got mine for around $45 a couple years ago, but it looks like supply might be dwindling as it's now up to $75.

As far as a mouse goes I haven't find a need for anything super fancy. Unless you're playing FPS's competitively most mice will do. I find having at least two thumb buttons essential, but not much other than that. I have this $10 mouse and, so far, it works as well as any mid range mouse I've tried before.

Edit: I split my time between MMOs, RTSs, FPSs, RPGs, and action games, so my hardware needs cover most gaming uses.

[This] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MWI2IS0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) one is pretty fun....it makes your face look like a cloud. I also love [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GL2IPAC/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2U8F4XRQGNQLX) one. The best of the best is the indian aztec secret healing clay.

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!

Empties:

• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser- I loooooooove this cleanser, not a HG item since it's not like it works miracles on my skin or anything, but it doesn't irritate or break me out or any of the stuff that usually happens to my skin.
  
• Josie Maran Argan Oil- I know, I know. It's overpriced. But it's so easy to pick up a little $10 (or $14? I can't remember) bottle when in line at Sephora. I don't think I'll be repurchasing because I might have found a replacement.
  
• Coconut oil- My skin (on my body) loves this shit. Baby soft err'day. And my hair drinks it up too. I haven't had a haircut in almost a year and this helps my postpone my haircut until I decide what I want to do with it.
  
• Sample of F.A.B Ultra Repair Cream- It's okay. I didn't irritate my skin or cause a breakout, and it moisturized my skin well without feeling greasy, but it feels too plain for the price.
  
  Purchases
  
  
• Nuetrogena Naturals Purifying Face Wash- I hate this shit. My face hates it. Even my sister (who isn't at all into skincare and will basically use whatever is in the bathroom) hates it. It irritated my skin and seriously dried out my sisters face.
  
  
• St Ives Exfoliating Pads- They're very gentle. Brighten my skin overall, but do almost nothing for my post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These irritated my sister's skin, which is strange because her skin hardly ever gets irritated, but maybe because it was her first time using any sort of chemical exfoliation (she's 17, I'm not forcing skincare products onto a 6 or 7 year old).
  
  
• Stridex Maximum Strength pads (red box)- I haven't worked up the courage to use these on my face, put they do a pretty good job with my bacne! At first I was like "fuck this shit" because after I used them on my back a few days, I started getting these big cystic pimples. I attributed them to the Stridex and just tossed them with the rest of the skincare rejects under my sink. But because I'm stupid and am not one to learn her lesson the first time, I tried them again. And tada, they worked and didn't cause big red angry bumps. I'm still not sure what caused them the first time.
  
  
• Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel- I wash my face with this when I feel that raw honey won't be enough. I like the way it feels and smells, and it doesn't irritate my skin.
  
  
• More Raw Honey- Probably tied with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser for my favorite cleanser. I love the way it leaves my skin moisturized and soft.
  
  
• Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask!!!- I'm excited I finally bought something that's talked about on the sub. I just got his two days ago. Spot tested it on my chin, no bad reaction, so I tried it on my forehead and nose yesterday. No big improvement, but I like the way it feels. I also think it brought some of the little bumps on my forehead to a head, so I popped those little suckers this morning. (sorry for the gross imagery, I'm a picker, I can't help it)
  
  
• Last, but not least... Hemp Oil <3 - I got it as a replacement for jojoba oil since it had a zero on the comedogenic scale (I don't know why I still really check it since something could be an absolute zero on the scale and still fuck my face up). I mixed it with some coconut oil when I got it, and oh my sweet god, it was the best body moisturizer ever. The richness of the coconut oil and the lightness of the hemp oil combined perfectly to create heavenly soft skin on my legs. I'm still not sure if I like it on my face ( I like the way it feels but I'm not sure if its clogging my pores). I decided to drink some in my smoothies at the same time I decided to try it on my face, and I broke out in a small rash/whiteheads around my mouth and chin area. This happens whenever I try to take any sort of Omega supplements, and I'm not sure why. :(
  
  TL;DR: I'm sorry this is so long. I buy and try a lot of things.

can't help you with the warranty but you could always buy some of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Anker-3220mAh-Replacement-Batteries-Samsung/dp/B00Q4NQQA0

I used them on my note 4 and GS2 and they are great. very useful to have as a backup as well. They also sell a single battery for 19.99 as well, but i like the wall charger.

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.

Hi there.
I could really use some help getting started with a routine; I've read the sidebar and been on skincare-addiction.com and read quite a lot there about my skintypes and such - but I still feel that this is quite a jungle with a lot of different pitfalls.

Some basic information about me: 21 year old, male, combination skin.

My current routine:

AM: Use a cleanser (with a cotton pad) after waking up, to cleanse my face.

PM: Same as in the morning - clean my head with a cleanser (using a cotton pad).

This is the cleanser I've been using: TEA TREE FACIAL TONER from TheBodyShop

So, obviously my current routine is not enough, as my skin is acting all crazy and has been for quite a few months now.

Can anybody help me on the right path here? Maybe tell me what products to avoid and which one that would suit me?

I've been looking at this:

Clean the skin: [Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution]
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ZGGPDU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005ZGGPDU&linkCode=as2&tag=thdewi-20&linkId=T7GNQK4BIRV3OHSQ)

Cleanser: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

Exfoliater: Alpha Hydrox Oil-Free Formula

Moisturizing: Moisturizing Cream from CeraVe

Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, SPF 30, 3 Fluid


How does that look? Any advice is greatly appreciated!


Thanks!

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

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!

The best sheet masks I've found for restoring moisture are Benton Snailbee Essence and My Beauty Diary black pearl. I apply Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion first, then put on the mask, then put on a silicon face mask to keep the mask in place and lock in moisture. The hyaluronic acid really helps draw the ingredients into the skin. (Usual caveat: only introduce one new product to your routine at once and give it time to observe any changes.)

A layer of Vaseline over your night moisturizer can also help to hydrate your skin. I also recommend a humidifier in your room if you live in a dry climate.

it's pretty easy actually! *edit: just do the first step of your routine (face wash) then throw it on as is. then after your shower, go through the rest of your routine.

you can throw on the hado labo as is, you can use a silicone mask cover, or use one of the tablet paper masks. you can even throw on hado labo under a regular sheet mask too.

i don't recommend the silicone mask if you take nuclear showers lol.

if you take super hot showers, throwing the product on as is, is fine. i just use the paper mask to prevent it from drying out too quickly. 10 min in the shower and you're good

tablet masks (you can get them on amazon if that's easier)
https://www.amazon.ca/Facial-Compressed-Masque-Beauty-Tablets/dp/B07BFWKFQN/ref=sr_1_7?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1523476491&sr=1-7&keywords=tablet+mask

silocon mask
https://www.amazon.ca/Daiso-Japan-Reusable-Silicon-Cover/dp/B00JIN8BTW

Maybe it's just because I grew up on it, but I'll always have a soft spot for Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque.

https://smile.amazon.com/QUEEN-HELENE-Masque-Mint-Julep/dp/B0014272VI?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

It's cheap, you can get it pretty much anywhere, and it genuinely makes my skin feel really nice and tight.

I also just tried one of these as a sample from Sephora and WOW my face was sooooooo soft and smooth after I took it off.

http://www.sephora.com/doyou-2-step-milk-peeling-kit-P409966?skuId=1889609&icid2=products%20grid:p409966

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

You are a really cute kid. Puberty isn't finished at 17, you still have time to grow into yourself. You do have a few pesky pimples which sucks but Nexcare pimple patches work amazing for those. Take care of yourself and you'll do great.

Actually have an aloe plant and just break pieces off and rub it on my face. It’s a great plant because it hates direct sunlight, and you only have to water it like once every 2-3 weeks. Plus it puts off a ton of oxygen so it’s a great, low maintenance indoor plant that’s also great for your skin.

And as far as hydrocolloid bandages go, I buy the nexcare dots off amazon. And the lancets

Nexcare Acne Cover, Drug-Free, Gentle, Breathable Cover, 36 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BRGUNV2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7utOBbJ279PJX

Care Touch Multi Colored Twist Top Lancets 30 Gauge, 300 Lancets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07199BSMC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bwtOBbCNMF6M1

You sound like you have sensitive skin like me honestly. Try to avoid hot water and harsh products and try focusing on healing your skin for a little bit.

These are a lifesaver if you have big spots or whiteheads. Also, blister bandages work just as well. They work on blisters by sucking the liquid out, I guess? And they do the same thing with your face. Sleep with them on, wear them as long/as often as you can. They only take like 2 days to work so it’s a great immediate fix if you can’t woek out anything with a dermatologist! Good luck, and no matter what you’ll look great. You’re more than just your skin!

ETA: these are the type of bandaids I’m talking about. And you could find these at Walgreens or target or wherever. They are a lifesaver.

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

I would really recommend getting better face wash, especially since you're buying Paula's Choice which isn't cheap. Cheap face soap options:

• CosRX low pH
  
  
• Equate or Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash
  
  
• Cetaphil
  
  
  
  

1. Super Booster would go after face wash and before toner
   
2. Yes, I would suggest using the AHA at night, but since you're using a sunscreen it's not as big of a deal. If not, it would go after the Super Booster and before the toner.
   
3. These are great for acne that has it's head (i.e. extractable). They suck out most of the goo, no extraction required, overnight (but I extract first because I'm bad too!). Otherwise, you could reapply a little of the AHA as a spot treatment, or get a salicylic acid spot treatment.
   
4. I would recommend repurchasing if it works for you until your skin is used to the new products. However, it looks like a relatively simple ingredients formula. I'm on the snail train with /r/AsianBeauty, you could look there for possible new moisturizers. I recently bought cosRX's Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap which is a light moisturizer. You may want to look towards moisturizers with more humectant ingredients (more moisturizing) if your skin feels tight or dry.
   
   AsianBeauty megathreads
   

If you plan on continuing playing fighters with a keyboard, you might as well get one that doesn't hinder or impede your play. Microsoft's Sidewinder X4 goes on sale on Newegg somewhat often at $40 w/ free shipping, and if you're serious about quality then step up to mechanical keyboards which often support NKRO. I just purchased a Ducky Zero with brown switches and it's fantastic, very glad I chose the keyboard rather than a fightstick.

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. :)

I'm looking for some cheap sheet masks that won't irritate my skin and that I can share with my younger (kid) sister. I've been using modeling masks every 2-3 weeks, but I'm trying to find something cheaper and less messy that I could use while studying.

I found some nice deals on Amazon, but I feel like they may be too good to be true and will do more dammage than not wearing a mask.

https://www.amazon.com/Dermal-Korea-Collagen-Essence-Facial/dp/B00BAM7F8C/ref=pd_lpo_194_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=25YDN8KEBSGB6CHZ9D74


https://www.amazon.com/TONYMOLY-Real-Mask-Sheet-Pack/dp/B00SAT6GVK/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_cp_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00SAT6GVK&pd_rd_r=55EJD763JMMS9B1S4K5A&pd_rd_w=Rmux2&pd_rd_wg=WGcay&refRID=55EJD763JMMS9B1S4K5A&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CYG18T4?psc=1&smid=A2XNWYQGU9VSQ8

https://www.amazon.com/SKEDERM-Sheets-secretion-filtrate-000ppm/dp/B01KLOS5KQ/ref=pd_sim_194_20?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YGHM4C4XWNZ2CQR1QEPX

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.
  
  
  
  
  

Here are a few things that work for me:

Alpha Hydroxy Oil-Free

Aloe gel, straight from the leaf

Oil-free moisturizer with spf. I find spf every morning helps immensely.

Witch Hazel toner

These are all things that help me even my skin tone, clear up blemishes/reduce blackheads, improve elasticity, smooth out my skin, reduce breakouts, etc. All this makes my makeup stay on better and look better on my skin. None of it is very expensive.

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!

It's feels pretty good on the but shiner side, for an exfoliation I have this here (not yet used in my routine):
L'Oreal Paris Go 360 Clean, Anti-Breakout Facial Cleanser for Acne Prone Skin 6 Fl. Oz

I don't know how to incorporate into my routine like do I use it before or after my toner, or at night only instead of day and night.

Someone in the Asian Beauty mentioned that it was a cleanser with exfoliating properties so I could just rinse it off and I don't have to wait 30 mins even tho it has 2% Salicylic acid. On the bottle it says I can use it two times a day.

I also have these I couuld user after my sheet mask Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet

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!

Has anybody tried the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask? Link.

I'm looking for some kind of nice moisturizing treatment for my lips & came across this product on Amazon before I even knew it was AB (thought it was French... for obvious/understandable reasons, I think, lol).

I guess my questions about it are pretty basic: has it worked for you? Does it rub off easily (is the consistency thick or thin)? Does it taste weird? Does it sit on your lips all night or does it sink in easily?

Would love to hear your thoughts - thank you!

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!

I honestly am a big believer in face masks. I was suffering from dry skin and acne after moving, and they've helped me a lot. They don't have to be expensive either. I got a pack of 16 for $11 from Amazon.

After cleansing, just put one on for 15-20 minutes before bed. The directions say to put on toner beforehand, but they're referring to Korean "toner," not cleansing toner, so you can skip that part if you don't have it. After I'm done, I like to rub the mask with the leftover liquid on my lip area, neck, and elbows. You don't gotta, but... Just a suggestion. Oh yeah, and don't wash it off. You can put on moisturizer after you're done with the mask if you want. I don't.

I saw a major difference in my skin after a week of using them every other day. If not this, I hope you find something else that works for you. Good luck.

The kind I use -

Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheet, 16 Combo Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BAM7F8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qA5gDbWCFS3FT

PS: Always do a spot test on your face first as with any new skincare product just in case <3

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.
  

All my exes live in Texas, that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee.

I wouldn't buy this! I wouldn't buy myself a blind box because I can be spending those $10 on something I can actually use. They're so cute though! I love miniatures and I would love it if someone would buy me this. Also my boyfriend got really drunk and knock over the furniture where my miniatures were and lost some of the pieces. The miniatures were all gifts.

I would buy these face masks! They're a good deal and skin care is important

Do you shave often? Maybe you get ingrown hair from shaving?

But if don't I recommend these Asian products since you mentioned you're interested in them.

http://www.wishtrend.com/skin-care/502-vitamin-c20-serum-ost.html

I don't break out anymore! My scars are significantly lighter and my face is so much brighter and glowly.

I also like using Hydrocolloid bandages on pimples that are "ripe" (can see the gross pus) I use sterile diabetic lancets to pop the white head and put the hydrocolloid bandage over it overnight. It sucks all the puss out...gross but highly satisfying.

http://www.amazon.com/Nexcare-Absorbing-Cover-Sizes-Count/dp/B00BRGUNV2


Good luck!

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!

These masks; I do one a week and they make my skin feel super nice. I'm not sure if they actually do much but they make me feel like I'm pampering myself.

I also love Cliniques take the day away cleansing balm right now, it really clears out my pores.

Ok hear me out here..my legit answer would be that you should get yourself this dope dress, but..it's summer. It's hot. Work is stressful, new job..even if you have to go off amazon to get it cheaper so that it's under thirty I so so soooooo recommend you treat yourself with a pool. You deserve it and that looks like the most satisfying thing ever! I know it doesn't fit into the under thirty thats why I suggested the dress but my most honest encouraged answer is a pool.
















For something I would like? Either this clay mask, some tooth whitener for my snaggle teeth, or some ear plugs so I can mix it up...I'm really indecisive but not picky.













Congratulations!!! <3

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.

Microsoft Sidewinder x4

They are flat keys but not as flat as lycosa/laptop keys, still very flat.

It's a quality keyboard and really comfortable from having tested a friends one :)

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!

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."

Honestly, IMO glam glow is too expensive for what you get and has too much potential for irritation.

I like the Paula's Choice masks:

http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/skin-care-categories/masks/

This mask is recommended often around here, though if you can afford them I think the PC masks are better (NOTE: it hasn't always been an add on item...so I don't know whats going on there):

http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Helene-Facial-Masque-Packaging/dp/B0014272VI

You can also go to /r/asianbeauty and ask them for some mask recommendations :). There are MANY different types of sheet masks that you could look into. I recently bought this one because it's very hydrating and is available at Ulta:

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod10711249

Also, you can use masks as many times a week as you like. Just listen to your skin and see how it is responding. Though 1-2 times a week is a good start :). Cheers!

• 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! :)
  

Try using a daiso silicone mask over top, it might help keep your glasses dry & your sheet mask in place.

I love mine! Gives me more freedom to move about and keeps the mask moist for longer

I've bought them online & in person at Target. Some people have strong feelings about which kind is best, so you might have to try a few types

Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch

Rael Acne Pimple Healing Patch

Nexcare Acne Cover

Welly Face Saver Clear Spot Bandages - 36ct

Clearasil Rapid Rescue Healing Spot Patches 18ct

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.