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

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).

HAIR:

• Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo. I get this at Target, where they have the jumbo bottle for $10. I really like that it's super gentle and doesn't have sulfates in it (I have a fairly dry, curly hair type). It also smells soft, almost like play dough, and I love that. I also use the matching conditioner.
  
  TEETH:
  
  
• Earth Paste Toothpaste. I get this at my local health food store and I have seen it at Whole Foods and New Seasons. This toothpaste makes my teeth feel the cleanest they've ever been, but you should know that the mouth feel is a little different from a traditional foaming toothpaste. Before this I used Tom's Of Maine.
  
  
• Modest Planet Natural Bamboo Toothbrush. Just got this recently but so far I like it just fine.
  
  BODY:
  
  
• I don't shave, so I don't have any current recommendations for this. HOWEVER I know that safety razors are a great option as far as finding cruelty free (plus they're more eco conscious) and I used to like using coconut oil to shave my legs.
  
  
• Wild Carrots Vanilla Bean Skin Cream. I just checked their website and this appears to have been discontinued. :(
  
  
• Tom's Of Maine Deodorant. I like the Wild Lavender and Maine Woodspice scents. I don't sweat much, so these do fine for me, but might not be great for someone who sweats a lot.
  
  SKINCARE:
  
  
• I just found out my cleanser isnt vegan, I need recs for this again.
  
  
• Thayer's Alcohol Free Rose Witch Hazel. It's gentle and calming. I used to wipe it on with a cotton round but I've discovered I actually like spritzing my toner on better.
  
  
• Derma E Hydrating Day Cream. This is very moisturizing but still light. It sinks in really well, which I love because I like to layer skin creams. It also smells delicious and light.
  
  
• Derma E Hydrating Night Cream. This is thick. This is rich. I want to marry it. I have pretty dry skin so I actually layer a dab of this over my day cream as well.
  
  
• Pure Maracuja Oil.This is the one I use right now, and before this I used the Tarte one. It's softening and helps my breakouts a little bit.
  
  
• Pure Neem Oil. I'm allergic to Tea Tree and my skin doesn't like Salicylic Acid very much so I use this instead. Sometimes I apply like a spot treatment, sometimes all over. I love what it does for me but it smells like burning peanuts so I only use it at night.
  
  
• Shea Moisture African Water Mint Lip Balm. This is really thick so I like it for lip prep before lipstick. My only complaint is the packaging. It's so hard to open.
  
  MAKEUP:
  
  
• Hard Candy Color Correcting Primer in Green. I just learned that this is LE. WHY the FUCK..... Before this I was using elf Hydrating Mineral Primer.
  
  
• I don't use foundation much anymore, but when I do I rotate between Wet N Wild Photofocus, Sonia Kashuk Perfecting Luminous Foundation and Urban Decay Naked Skin. All three are lightweight, thin formulas, and medium coverage.
  
  
• Kat Von D Lock It Concealer Creme. This is beautiful. And let me tell you, my skin is AWFUL but I can just use this instead of foundation and it looks awesome. Best makeup purchase of my life.
  
  
• Essence Stay Matt Powder. I use this to "bake" and set my face all over. It's very effective and has a great blurring effect. Sometimes if I have a bad foundation day, this actually fixes it.
  
  
• Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Moonstone. I like to put this on top of my base but under powder. It gives a nice subtle glow.
  
  
• Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. This is beautiful and it smells delicious, and it's very easy to blend.
  
  
• Urban Decay Blush in Fetish. The formula on these is just so soft and beautiful, without being powdery at all. This is also a pretty similar color to Tarte's Exposed (not vegan) though slightly pinker.
  
  
• Still need an eye primer replacement and am working on the eye shadows.
  
  
• elf Mineral Infused Mascara. This makes my lashes so fluttery and curly. Perfect for everyday. For more dramatic lashes, I really like the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.
  
  
• My favorite lipsticks are the Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks and the Milani Matte Lipsticks.
  
  NOW AFTER ALL OF THAT. Please make sure you check the HG Masterlist in the sidebar. I made it just for these situations! There's tons more products listed there!

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.

Hi, u/mihaelalala7! :)

I would suggest replacing the micellar water with a cleansing oil or a cleansing balm (even though your dermatologist suggested it), as it would do, in my opinion, a much better job at breaking down the gunk that's on your face that your regular water-based cleanser won't be able to dissolve. Even though it might seem strange to put oil on your already oily skin, the excess sebum that builds up on the skin and in our pores cannot dissolve in a water-based formula, and maybe even certain ingredients from your SPF and such. Micellar water does a similar job, but I don't find it as effective. Then I Met You has a nice, fragrance-free cleansing balm.

When building up a skin care routine, the most important things to look for are skin barrier support and sun protection. For your skin to be happy, you have to provide a good SPF, gentle cleansing and proper hydration through a good moisturizer. By looking at the ingredient list of your Isis Pharma moisturizer, I came to the conclusion that you should definitely replace it. It contains a lot of fragrance, which should definitely be avoided in skin care, and it also contains a really harsh surfactant, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, that is just terrible for the face. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is basically the stuff that makes up regular soap, which we all know we should not put on our faces. It really strips the skin, and can definitely lead to skin barrier damage that will worsen your skin concerns (breakouts, comedones, dullness etc.). A much, much better option would be the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, that is fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, MUCH gentler and hydrating. It contains ceramides, compounds that are present in our skin's own moisturizing system. Your cleanser is by far the worst product in your routine and you should replace it in my opinion.

When it comes to the exfoliating acids, I think you'll do a much better job preventing breakouts and smoothing your skin texture by using your Salicylic Acid as a primary exfoliant, since it does basically the same job as the Lactic Acid, but it also has the property of being soluble in oil, thus unclogging your pores while also providing a gentle exfoliation. Salicylic Acid also can help with controlling excess sebum production and it also has antibacterial properties. Be aware that the overuse of chemical exfoliants can lead to irritation, dryness, redness and peeling, so maybe use them a few times a week, and don't apply them on areas where you don't experience congestion. You can switch to using the Salicylic Acid on your breakout-prone, textured areas, 2-3 days a week, and see if your skin tolerates it well. If not, you can go back to the Lactic Acid. Do not use your chemical exfoliants on the sensitive parts of the face, such as the under-eye area, as it's simply unnecessary, and the risk of getting irritated is much higher on the extremely thin skin under our eyes.

I'll have to mention fragrance again when talking about your moisturizer. It's definitely not as bad as your cleanser, but I'd look into other options that are fragrance-free, such as CeraVe's Moisturizing Cream, that is also non-comedogenic and contains ceramides.

The SPF you're using is most likely fine, and you should continue using it if you like the product. La Roche Posay, Eucerin, Cetaphil and CeraVe also provide good sunscreens that you can explore in the future.

The witch hazel may or may not help, you can keep using it if you like it. For sebum production control and anti-inflammatory properties you can also try incorporating Niacinamide into your routine, as it's a proven ingredient that can definitely help with the appearence of breakouts and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots) from acne scarring. The Ordinary has a great Niacinamide 10% + Zinc serum.

Also, the order in which you apply your products is of utmost importance. There are a lot of sources online where you can find more about this, but generally you should look to apply your products from the thinnest to thickest, starting with your cleansing oil and water-based cleanser, and ending with your sunscreen/moisturizer at PM.

So, to summarize: definitely look to replace your cleanser, you can improve your PM double-cleanse by replacing your micellar water with a cleansing oil/balm, be careful with your exfoliating acids, look to get rid of fragrance and harsh ingredients in your products by paying close attention to the ingredient list of the products that you're buying and doing research on that (Dr. Dray is board-certified dermatologist that has a YouTube channel, her advice is just pure gold, you can learn a lot from her). Our skin is a living, breathing organ, that is perfectly capable of self-sustaining and protecting itself. Our job is to enhance its mechanisms, and not overwhelm it by using too many products, harsh ingredients and fragrance.

Since you're not dealing with really bad skin concerns, having a really good, gentle double-cleanse, potent moisturizer, SPF 30+ sunscreen, using frangrance-free, non-comedogenic products and mildy exfoliating your skin with a gentle BHA (Salicylic Acid product) should really be all you need to get your skin to a good state. I'm glad you asked for advice, I'm extremely happy that you specificed the products you use, because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to identify some of the mistakes in your skin care (and potentially the biggest), and I hope you'll find my advice helpful.

All the best!

(PART 1) I couldn’t fix my painful dehydrated skin until i incorporated urea and lanolin, and regular use of petrolatum into my skin care. But idk how you feel about those... It took me a good year or year and a half to fix my dehydrated skin from overexfoliation.

Also, putting on occlusives right away after you wash and put on humectants is super important. Otherwise it can dry you out more.

So what I do is use a very gentle, non-foaming cleanser (I use LRP Gentle Hydrating) and while my face is still wet, put on all my hydrating toners and serums. Then go into lotions and creams RIGHT AWAY. You can watch Dr. Dray on YouTube who describes why this works.

When my skin was SO full of pain, from extremely dry, tight skin and irritated acne-like cysts everywhere, the only thing that didn’t hurt like a mf was Vanicream. It took me hundreds of dollars and tons of trial and error and babying my skin to get it back to normal. Now I can use AHA, azelaic acid, vitamin c, and even tretinoin and hydroquinone without a problem!!!

It took me hundreds of dollars and tons of trial and error and babying my skin to get it back to normal. Now I can use AHA, vitamin c, and even tretinoin and hydroquinone without a problem!!! 

No one or two products fixed my dehydrated skin. It took a TON of research over the years learning which ingredients were the most healing, moisturizing, how they work, etc.. And an entire routine around hydrating and moisturizing as much as possible. 

And i know everyone raves about the cosrx snail essence, but it didn’t do shit when my skin was that dehydrated. But there IS some evidence of snail healing damaged skin. The point is to put in as much healing and soothing ingredients into your routine as much as possible. 

I always make sure to include ingredients like: panthenol (derivative of vitamin b5), allantoin, urea, hualuronic acid, glycerin, aloe, colloidal oatmeal, ceramides (huge!!!), niacinamide (especially useful for brightening and healing your skin), petroleum (there is NOTHING out there that reduces transepidermal water loss like petroleum can. I tried to be all ~natural is better~ for a while, but realized it wasn't doing anything to help fix my skin), etc.

And not just adding these helped fix my skin, but leaving things out was a HUGE step in finally letting my skin heal. I avoid these like the plague: fragrance, natural (essential oils) or synthetic, alcohol anywhere other than sunscreen, sodium lauryl sulfate (sodium LAURETH sulfate is the gentler one, but I avoid that for my face too anyways. Any surfectants can be aided to be milder by adding cocamidopropyl betaine), all acids until my skin could handle them (interestingly enough, vitamin c serum actually helped my skin hold more water instead of hurting me), and things that I know irritate my skin.

Things that were/are biggest contributors of keeping my skin moist and hydrated, in no particular order:

Thayers Unscented Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel - the first thing that goes on my skin after washing. It's just water, aloe, glycerin and witch hazel. It's so simple but idk why my skin likes it so much, lol. It's HG for me.

Hadalabo Premium Lotion - HG, must have. ALWAYS put occlusives on top, do not wait for it to dry. Hyaluronic acids, urea, algae. This is my one non-negotiable skin care item.

Aveeno Eczema Therapy Cream - Super moisturizing. Colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, panthenol, petrolatum, a ceramide, dimethicone. (Also, people demonize silicones, but they are not bad ingredients. They are actually really helpful in keeping in moisture, providing slip, and smooth feel for skin and hair. And no, they don't prevent other things from reaching the skin.) And Aveeno Eczema Therapy Night Time Balm for something heavier but has same ingredients. You can use both.

And of course, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream - ceramides, cholesterol, must have skin-identical lipids that dehydrated skin lacks, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum, dimethicone. This by itself didn't help a whole lot, but with an army of all the different gentle, soothing things, it helped tremendously.

CeraVe PM- same as the cream, but much lighter and has 4% niacinamide I believe. Niacinamide has been key to helping my dry-ass skin. It does SO many things. I DIY 6% niacinamide and 5% n-acetyl glucosamine to boost the niacinamide even further. But you can find this ingredient in loads of AB things and Olay products. Make sure the Olay stuff is fragrance-free if you get them. I like the Olay Anti-Aging Face Cream a lot. You can use the CeraVe lotion if you for some reason can't tolerate niacinamide, but want something lighter than the cream.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment - SLUG LIFE is a MUST if you have dehydrated skin. You can use Cerave healing ointment too, but it's redundant if you use the cream or lotion. It's not as occlusive as aquaphor. Aquaphor isn't just a more pricier Vaseline as people suggest. It does have white petrolatum that is oh-so helpful, it also has healing ingredients like panthenol and bisobolol, and also lanolin alcohol and glycerin for humectants. I put on a THICK layer of this when I go to bed.

If you wanna go a step further and go super saiyan, and you aren't sensitive to lanolin, you can use Lasinoh Lanolin before or after Aquaphor. I can't stand the smell of lanolin, but this one is medical-grade and doesn't have a smell. Lanolin is SUPER helpful because of it's crazy humectant properties but it also acts as an occlusive.

For just uber Panthenol healing, you can get something that stars Panthenol as the main star ingredient, like DML Forte Cream or Timeless Skin Care Vitamin B5 Serum. I don't use the cream anymore, but I do still use the serum. It looks expensive, but if you get the refill sale, it's about $7/oz (idk what country you live in, but this is the price for me in the U.S.). I HIGHLY recommend their vitamin c, e, ferulic acid serum as well when your skin can handle it. It works out to about $8 an ounce if you get it during refill sale. It stays good for a while in the fridge. I wrap it in foil and transfer it to a 1 oz dropper bottle for using it in my bathroom. It gives glow to your skin like NOTHING ELSE, and boosts your sunscreen (the antioxidants slow the degradation of sunscreen ingredients, giving a huge boost to your sunscreen) and has helped me with water retention. If you can't get it on refill sale, use the HotandFlashy (I also recommend her Youtube channel) code hf5off to get $5 off. It's a forever coupon code.

Hello again, SCA. About a month ago I posted my first B&A which showed the progress my skin made due to my routine.

Today I present you with an update on my routine and my skin's progress.

Routine

AM:

Simple Miceller Water

Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% (replaced TruSkin Vitamin C Serum)

Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15

Blue Lizard Australian SPF 30+ Face Sunscreen

PM 1:

Simple Miceller Water

Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer

Jack Black Lip Balm with Shae Butter & Vitamin E (on my lips, not my face)

PM 2:

Simple Miceller Water

Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer

Jack Black Lip Balm with Shae Butter & Vitamin E (on my lips, not my face)

Things I've Tried

In my previous post I was using CereVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. To be completely honest with you I am way too lazy to use it. I feel that the Miceller Water + Witch Hazel Toner are sufficient. I also was using the Simple Skin Quench Sleeping Cream but now that spring/summer is here I do not feel the need to use such a heavy moisturizer.

Vitamins & Hydration

I really do feel that taking vitamins and making sure I get enough water helps my skin. I am currently taking Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails, NatureWise D3 5k IU, Nature Made Fish Oil and Nature Made Iron. I also use the Plant Nanny app on iOS to encourage me to drink more water.

Product Notes

In my previous post I said that I believed the TO Azelaic Acid was what made the biggest difference in my skin. While I still believe it is an important step in my skin care routine I now believe that Vitamin C has had the biggest impact. For a little bit I had run out of a Vit C serum and just went without. I noticed that my skin started getting red again and the texture was not improving anymore. So far I am liking the retinol and have noticed a difference in my hormonal acne since I started using it (a few weeks). I will probably discontinue the use of the TO Niacinamide because I believe the impact on my skin as a result of using this product is negligable. I like to keep my skincare routine as short as possible. Also I will mention that I don't think the Jack Black Lip Balm is worth it. I bought the product as a recommendation from this sub and I don't feel that it does any better of a job than Burt's Bee's lip balm.

Product Cost & How Long it Lasts

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water: $22.99 - Lasts me ~3 months

Thayer's Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Toner: $6.99 - Lasts me ~6 months

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%: $12.90 - Lasts me ~4 months

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane: $6.70 - Lasts me ~4 months

Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15: $8.76 - Lasts me ~5 months

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%: $7.90

Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen 30+ SPF Face: $16.87 - Lasts me ~6 months

You're looking at a total of about $110 for these 7 products which will last approx. 4-6 months. That boils down to less than $20 a month for 6 months.

Other Notes

I am still struggling with large pores on my forehead, nose and inner cheeks. If you have any recommendations to target pore size I'd love to hear it! My acne scars are doing great. Right after my first post I had a huge break out and then I ran out of my Vit C so my skin struggled a little bit. Now I'm starting to feel a little better about my skin again and I just have a few acne spots that are healing.

I do want to apologize for the photo quality of my last post. It was not my intention to fool anybody into thinking that my skin had become perfect. Looking at the photos on mobile seemed to show the imperfections better than viewing it on a computer. I hope that these photos are a better representation of my skin's status now. As you can see I definitely have had real success with my acne scars. I look forward to continuing to hone down my routine in order to have my dream skin. Until then I will continue to enjoy my skin's current state as it's the best it has been in years! Thanks again, SCA.

Always recommend the cera ve SA renewal cleanser. It’s amazing and events your skin and brightens it. I actually use the SA renewal body wash, you get a lot and I can use it on my face as well. The Cera Ve SA body lotion is also love, sometimes I use it on my face. Makes body super smooth, these two are dream team.

I think the dream routine:

Am:

• cera ve SA acid cleanser
  
• Son&Parks Beauty Water Toner
  
• niod multi-molecular HA serum 15 types of HA.
  
• stratias liquid gold
  
• shishoedo mineral uv gel SPF50++++
  
  Pm:
  
• Sunday Riley Blue moon cleansing balm Blue Tansy for redness OR if you like oils, KOSE softymo SPEEDY cleansing oil
  
• cera ve SA cleanser with Clarisonic
  
• biologique Recherche pm400 or regular p50 toner or cheaper alternative tarte knockout tingle treatment
  
• niode HA serum
  -melazepam 20% important and alternate between this and Retin a, but not everyone can handle either of these. But it goes to say these are anti-aging power horses
  
• Holy Snails Sauce Di Mois in Hangbang/spooky shark or whatever works for you.
  
• an oil, Squalene, seabuckthorn, rosehip, jojoba, rotate what works.
  
• an occlusive, like embroliysse concentrated lait creme , cera ve healing ointment , skinfix 12 hour miracle ointment All of these are better than basic Vaseline or squalor.
  
  Great products:
  
  
• to 10% lactic acid in spheres
  
• skinceutics vitamin c in feurlic acid (super $, results worthy).
  
• timeless vit c serum (affordable)
  
• to 30% bha peel
  
• avene Blue Tansy Oil (knockoff of lapis Blue Tansy Oil for $12 vs $72) helps redness/moisturizes
  
• dr. Jart cicapair serum for redness
  
• Dr. Jart ceramidin serum plus the cream (use together for best results on rebuilding skin barrier if using actives).
  
• hada labo HA lotion/milky lotion or Hada Labo premium HA lotion (more moisture, not great for warmer months).
  Benton snail bee essence (the masks, steam pacts, everything..)
  
• peter Thomas Roth pumpkin enzyme mask (great chemical exfoliating and physical exfoliate mask that works)
  
• niod flavonne mud mask (super detoxing good for congested skin)
  
• kanebo soap powder (good ph, enzyme powered soap powder)
  
• aquaring ampoule mask (good ab face mask)
  
• Paula’s choice bha liquid
  
• cosrx bha blackhead liquid
  
• cosrx aha whitehead liquid
  
  Just a few products to think about. I am by no way saying jump and add any of these to your routine instantly. I’ve looked around and found a lot of, what I’d consider to be talked about products and decided to make it easier and list them for you.
  
  
  I think a basic SA cleanser like cera ve would be a good place to start, a good spf that is non-irritating. Find a moisturizing Oil thst your skin likes and then maybe start trying actives. Don’t go jumping in until you find a routine that calms your skin and that your skin really likes. Then start testing the waters with maybe azelic acid like melazepem (strongest you can get in us is on amazon) or vitamin c. Possible acid peel pads. We kind of have to know your skin type and current routine. Things that have worked and have not, and what you want out of a new skin routine— in order to give you better direction.

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 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!
  
  

When I first heard of how well AB products work, I went on a binge and tried out so many, and while all are really great, I keep reaching for the Mizon Black Snail AIO the most. I don't like any perfume smelling lotions, no matter how great they are. The Mizon black snail has no smell to it, so perfect for me. I also felt it healed my acne, acne scabs, and dry patches, and just left me with healthier, softer skin.

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 scabs/scars, dry patches, and aging skin and wrinkles) 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 the last three months now (well maybe one minor pimple that heals within a day or two) 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:
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 (more if I can - lately I have been doing about 3-4 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. My Miss Tutii is ending next month, and I am thinking of switching over to Mask Maven subscription, which sends nine masks each month.

I use only mild forms of exfoliation (I am so, so, so done with the rough kinds!!!), 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. 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.

And speaking of healthy skin regimen, don't forget about getting good, quality sleep. Get yourself a few boxes of these KAO heated eye masks. They are freaking amazing! They are so nice and light and comfortable and soothing, and they do block out the light too. I love the rose smelling ones.

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!

Well, there's a few ways of telling. Easiest way (for me) is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist/forearm. If they are generally brown or green, you probably have golden undertones but you could have olive undertones (olive skin tends to be darker, though.) If they are generally blue or violet, you probably have pink undertones. If you honestly can't tell, you're probably neutral.

I am pretty pale with really strong golden undertones. The veins on the inside of my wrist are bluish green, but the veins going down the inside of my forearm are green. That same kind of green you see sometimes in healing bruises. The veins on the backs of my hands are also straight-up green.

You can also make a best guess by what kind of metal jewelry you think you look better with - folks with pink undertones tend to look better in silver, and folks with golden undertones tend to look better in gold. Neutral can wear both equally well. I never wear silver - gold always looks better on me.

The reason why this is important to figure out is because most BBs only come in a few colors, and they are usually all the same undertone. So for instance, while the Missha M perfect in shade 13 is the perfect paleness for me, it has pretty strong pink undertones...which looks awful on me. It's a total mismatch.

The best way to swatch colors is apply and blend a small amount to the side of your neck. I guess you can do this with the inside of your forearm also, but your neck is going to be closes to the tone your face should be. You should also give BBs about 10 minutes after you apply them before you gauge how well they match. Most BBs oxidize and turn a little darker as they set. The one that matches is the one that you really can't see (and look in natural light if you can!)

Skin79 also has a nice sample pack you can get here. It doesn't have all their lines (most notably missing are the Oriental Gold and Orange), but it's a good place to start. You can also easily get small 1-2 mL packet samples for brands like Holika Holika and Lioele on ebay.

There are a variety of ingredients, methods, and products that could potentially help you. The problem is everyone is different, so it will have to be a careful trial and error (and patience over a period of time) before you can pinpoint the right solution for you and what the original cause was.

If you're going to try products, I highly recommend you buy small sample sizes if possible and try them out one or two at a time. Be careful and start small, especially with active ingredients. They're quite potent, which means they give powerful positive results, but you can also risk overusing them or using them in a dangerous combination. So do your research about correct application and be careful.

• BHA (salicylic acid), such as Paula's Choice or Stridex. A very popular ingredient with a great track record in preventing/clearing acne, clearing acne scars, and generally improving texture, tone, and color. I would recommend getting sample sizes of these to start.
  
• Azelaic acid is another great way to tackle both acne and scars. Paula's Choice has a great azelaic acid + salicylic acid combo that I highly recommend.
  
• Vitamin C. Can help greatly with acne scars. Paula's Choice, The Ordinary.
  
• Sulphur is known to be antibacterial and a mask containing sulphur can help suppress breakouts. But most likely will not help with scarring. Sunday Riley Saturn mask helped a few people I know with cystic breakouts.
  
• Differin. Contains adapalene which is known to clear and prevent acne. Be really careful and don't use with exfoliants.
  
• Benzoyl peroxide. Pretty commonly used to clear and prevent acne, but it has the unfortunate affect of bleaching clothes/pillows/etc and can be pretty strong. Paula's Choice.
  
• Aquaphor/vaseline/hyaluronic acid. It's possible your moisture barrier is not doing so well right now. Counterintuitively, being too dry can exacerbate acne. Also, if you're using exfoliants or other active ingredients, you'll want to make sure to stay hydrated and moisturized. Aquaphor, HA. Also recommend this Hado Labo HA cleanser and oil cleanser for a very hydrating double cleanse.
  
• Sunscreen. You don't mention it but you should be wearing a daily sunscreen that's non-comedogenic, especially if you are trying any of the products above. La-Roche Posay, Elta MD, Neutrogena.
  
  The list goes on and on but you can start your research here.
  
  To eliminate causes, pay attention to when you have breakouts. Make sure the products you're currently using are a good pH and aren't breaking you out to begin with. Don't eat dairy for a long while until you know it doesn't cause the breakouts.
  
  Hormonal acne is most often clustered on chin and jawline, is often cystic, and often flares up once a month (aka period). If that describes you, you might want to talk to a doctor or dermatologist about whether it's hormonal or not, because there are treatments for that, such as birth control or spearmint tea.

It sounds like your moisturizer is not sinking into your skin because the whole point of a moisturizer is to lock in moisture.

When you told me your skin feels tight after a shower i automatically think dehydrated skin. SkincareAddiction has a good post on dehydration

What moisturizer do you use?

If I were you id use products with hyaluronic acid, like a serum or toner and then a gel based moisturizer and then at night a layer of moisturizer over that.

I also would take a break from harsh scrubs, cleansers and masks and only use the gentlest products.


Here is what I would recommend (Asian Beauty Skincare Exchange often has decants (aka small samples of products) so you can see and test out what works for you.

To get your skin back and hydrated :

AM:
Rinse skin with water -I don't know your skin type so if you're oily, use a very gentle cleanser (which i can recommend to you if needed)

Toner/Serum Hada Labo Hyaluronic Lotion Moist - many people on the skincare reddits I am active in rave about this product, because its super cheap for the amount you get and its soooo moisturizing. I personally think it is too light for me (I am veryyy dry and dehydrated, stupid midwestern weather lol) and I use the premium version of it. Some people complain about it breaking them out, but everyone's skin is so different. But I think doing a layer of this morning and night will really help.

Moisturizing Gel - this will add moisture and hydration to your skin. My favorites are Hada Labo Plumping Gel Cream and Mizon Snail Cream
You only need a little of these, but I find they are super hydrating and comforting. The Mizon Snail is an all in one miracle.

Sunscreen- pretty important step (in my opinion), some sunscreens have occlusives in it. Occlusives mean it is holding all the moisture in. Sunscreen choice really depends on your skin type (which I am happy to recommend you as well)

PM:

Double Cleanse but gently. First an oil cleanser (to remove makeup) and then a gentle water based one.

Same as morning

Then seal it all in with your moisturizer. I am so dry that I even put vaseline on my face at night and I wake up comfortable and hydrated.

As far as trying out products, if you're in the US, /u/Gothickornchic sells decants on Asian Skincare Exchange. She ships super fast and is so nice, and helpful. you can find her post here

If you don't want to do that, Amazon and most places have great exchange and return policies. Skin is very weird and its all trial and error :[ but i hope my recs help and if you need more recs let me know!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*EDIT!

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

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

AM:

• Rinse face with water
  
  
• Apply Thayer's Witch Hazel Lavendar Toner on cotton ball and wipe face
  
  
• Apply Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum, pat dry
  
  
• Apply Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream, pat dry
  
  
• Apply Paula's Choice SKIN RECOVERY Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
  
  
  PM:
  
  
• Wash face with Paula's Choice Perfectly Balanced Cleanser - extremely moisturizing cleanser
  
  
• Apply Thayer's Witch Hazel Lavendar Toner on cotton ball and wipe face
  
  
• Apply Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum, pat dry
  
  
• Apply Curology, let dry for ~10 Min
  
  
• Apply Mizon Black Snail All In One Cream, pat dry
  
  
• Apply Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask, keep on overnight
  
  ONCE/TWICE WEEKLY:
  
  I loooove sheet masks. Especially the Benton Snail Bee Essence one. Head over to r/AsianBeauty for more recs on these and SO MANY MORE THINGS. warning: it's addicting.
  
  
  

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

New Purchases:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Repurchase:

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

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

So I'll give some general skincare advice and some acne specific advice since many of the posters here are dealing with that. If the acne part isn't relevant, you can skip ahead.

Acne

Acne is caused by sebum (skin oil), the oil clogs pores and attracts bacteria, leading to inflammation, which causes pus formation and pimples. Tendency to develop acne is sometimes genetic, but you can still kill it.

Get the sebum under control first. Make sure you're washing your bedsheets and pillow cases regularly (at least once per week).

Wash you face twice daily with a gentle, non pope-clogging cleaner. You don't want to use harsh cleaner with fragrances because it makes inflammation worse. I used Cetaphil Daily when I had acne, it works great. Wash your face morning and night with the cleaner using your hands. Every few days or so, lightly use a washcloth to aid in using the cleaner. You want to exfoliate dead skin and gunk, but not inflame your skin. Do not use astringent products, EVER.

After washing your face, use Persa-Gel on your pimples. The stuff is no joke and it's been proven for decades.

General Skincare

For people that don't have acne or have it under control, you want exfoliating cleaner and moisturizer. I only use two products.

Body Merry Glycolic Acid Cleaner for the face and neck. I use it once per day about 4 times a week, but you might want to start out twice a week at first to build tolerance, it's a gentle acid. You want to scrub the product on gently with your hands. This shit will change your game, trust me.

For moisturizer, I use CeraVe Lotion. Rub a small amount onto your face and neck once per day morning or night after your face wash. If you'd rather use it at night or you don't need the sunscreen, I'd recommend getting the PM formulation at a drug store because it's super expensive on Amazon.

Nutrition

Not only are fruit and vegetables good for you and alleviate depressive feelings, but people that eat more fruits and veggies are objectively more attractive. The pigments from the veggies/fruits deposit in your skin and give you a glow that's similar, but more attractive than tanning. You don't have to go crazy, but try and implement sweet potatoes, berries, green leafy veggies and other produce into your diet. Ditch the soda period. Stay hydrated. Pick up a nice water bottle and use it like there's no tomorrow. Stay away from refined sugar and white bread as well, these things cause inflammation. Whole grain bread is your friend (and will also help you lose weight if needed).

Also you gotta control the heavy drinking. And if you smoke cigs, quit ASAP.

Hopefully this helps. I'm not a doctor but I have a science background and a degree in biological science from a well regarded school. Also I have a lot of Asian friends and a family who care about skincare. Good luck to you guys and keep me posted with any progress :)

Tenia Versicolor. My bf and I have it too. Very common, almost symptomless skin disease. It's simply an imbalance of yeast on your skin and afaik it is not contagious. I had it all over my back, some spots on my chest, and also in my private areas. It frightened me but it is nothing to be worried about although it is unsightly.

We have had luck with selsun blue. Put it on full strength (use a tiny bit of water to lather if you need to) and leave it for 30 min to an hour - go shirtless in the sun with it on your skin for bonus effectiveness points. If you don't live with someone who can get it onto your back for you, invest in a bath brush! Super helpful. Also using those exfoliating gloves to rub the soap in seems to help, it also feels really good.

We have also been using bars of zinc soap which has seemed to help clear it up and keep breakouts away.

Finally, when I was first taking action against tenia, I used a few drops of tea tree oil in coconut oil and used it as a lotion on my spots.

I listed all the methods I used to help rid myself of it, they may work for you or they may not. Mine cleared up rather quickly (within 2 weeks) and my boyfriends is on the way to clearing up. He has had it for years (just assumed that was the way his skin was) so his rash is more "compounded" and thick. Yours looks more like mine and it should clear up quickly.

Some doctors will prescribe an anti fungal but tbh I don't think those will be super effective as I have taken those for unrelated infections and though I'm not a doctor I think the yeast can develop a resistance quickly. Plus these medications have other side effects. My completely unprofessional opinion is to try a medication as a last resort.

From what I've read, if you have this condition it is likely you will have flare ups from time to time. I now wash with the zinc soap every day and selsun blue once a week which I hope will keep the condition at bay. Some articles I've read say to sleep in clean sheets every night or to wear clean clothes every day but this didn't seem to reinfect me. I generally change my sheets every week and wear the same pajamas for 3 nights in a row.


Good luck and I hope you are able to get rid of it quickly!

Not a problem! I'm happy to help. :)


Warning: lots of info ahead


I'm into /r/asianbeauty and really like the Kikumasamune Moist Lotion (in Japan they refer to hydrating toners as lotions). I apply it right after washing my face with CeraVe foaming. It adds a light layer of moisture without making my skin greasy, and absorbs quickly. The smell is odd but it fades quickly. Then I will follow up with either Benton's Snail Bee Essence or Scinic Aqua all-in-one... I wait a good 5 minutes in between each step to make sure it all soaks in nicely and doesn't get sticky. But the Benton does tend to stay sticky unless I wait like twenty minutes haha. But it goes away if I put stuff on top anyways. Then very last is CeraVe PM at night or Cosrx 92 Snail cream in the AM. :) I find the CeraVe PM causes my skin to flush a bit due to the niacinamide so I only use it at night. and I've recently started using jojoba oil as my oil cleanser (some people mix it into their moisturizer or even put oil in their foundation) and it's really nice! Feels very luxurious 😍 I usually do it at night because that's when I remove all my makeup. It's much more moisturizing than mineral oil, in my opinion. And you can use it on your hair too!

I really like the NARS pressed powder because it has a velvety finish on my skin, so it feels nice to me. Some people might not enjoy it as much as I do 😂 but it seems to last all day on me. Occasionally I'll have to reapply to my chin if I ate some crazy greasy food, but it's very portable so I carry it in my purse anyways. And I haven't noticed any flashback at all either. Can't remember if I already said that haha.

AND FINALLY I will definitely PM you when I use the smashbox color corrector! Probably Tuesday since that's when I work. :)

Edit to add that I'm also testing out the Shara Shara berry bomb, which is another Asian beauty product. It's nice so far. And a lot of people really like the Cosrx 96 Snail essence (different than the cream) which I've heard is great for adding a layer of soothing moisture.

Reading your comment about using powder foundation could be a contributor too! During the day when you wear makeup you skin essentially eats whatever is on it, so if you're completely matte in other areas (where it appears flaky) it could absorb more quickly in others (the shiny nose/forehead T-Zone.) I would recommend using Lush's Ocean Salt exfoliant twice a week- about $20 for product that will last you months- to remove dead skin cells and give your skin a very fresh feeling! Also a toner can work wonders and implementing a really simple moisturizer with SPF in it at night and in the morning. Then swapping to a hydrating foundation and setting it with a powder in ONLY the areas that get oily throughout the day will help immensely with the dry and cakey/flaky feeling. Below I'll list some products I suggest trying:

Toner:
Thayer's Witch Hazel
-The most important thing about toners is that they CANT have alcohol in them, it will dry out your skin even more! I like the rose one the best just because it smells nice, but the lemon grass one is great as well

Foundation:
Loreal Pro Glow
-This is a really great dewy foundation that isn't going to be drying or super matte and cling to your skin. It has a good shade range and great reviews! Also pretty affordable as far as quality foundations go.

Moisturizer:
Simple Skincare
-This is such a GREAT brand for amazing products and really inexpensive to try and see what your skin needs, this is a good general low-maintenance piece I recommend a lot, I've used it for quite a while and it makes my very dry skin happy when I don't have time for anything else

I hope this helps!!

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

I've had KP since I was a kid and am finally getting handle on it in my 30s. My current routine is glycolic lotion twice a day, creams on the affected areas 3-4 times a day, and then physical exfoliation and using zinc or sulfur soap a couple times a week to keep the bumps at bay. But since skincare is YMMV, here's the exhaustive list of almost two decades of treatment, in case some of these other things will work for you!

100% of the items can be purchased via Amazon in the US - it's pretty much the only way I shop.

Beginner Level

If your KP has just appeared, focus on physical+chemical exfoliation and moisturizing. Look for lotions with the following ingredients:

• Glycolic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/GLYTONE-Exfoliating-Body-Lotion-8-4/dp/B002D48QRK/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069563&sr=1-7&keywords=glycolic+acid+lotion)
  
• Lactic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/AmLactin-12-Moisturizing-Lotion/dp/B000TTPZQ6/ref=pd_sim_194_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000TTPZQ6&pd_rd_r=VMNB4G7XKMTDC8FCCPPW&pd_rd_w=3Hg0d&pd_rd_wg=6JKTf&psc=1&refRID=VMNB4G7XKMTDC8FCCPPW)
  
• Mandelic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Wu-4712052501942-Intensive-Renewal/dp/B00KQYJ9TI/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069480&sr=1-4&keywords=mandelic+acid+serum)
  
• Azelaic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MSSJP9Y/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Salicylic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Paulas-Choice-Weightless-Treatment-Antioxidants/dp/B00CS5U172/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069348&sr=1-7&keywords=paulas+choice+bha) (Or just use [Stridex Pads] (https://www.amazon.com/Stri-dex-Pads-Maximum-Strength-Pack/dp/B004WP0S74/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069393&sr=1-1&keywords=stridex&th=1))
  
• Retinol [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Retinol-Surge-Moisturizer-Cream-2-5/dp/B00OQQLNG4/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1493070177&sr=8-1&keywords=body+merry+retinol)
  
• Urea [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Eucerin-Skin-Intensive-Treatment-Lotion/dp/B0098YQH2O/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069275&sr=1-1&keywords=eucerin+urea)
  
  Paula's Choice and Derma Doctor's KP duty both work well because they combine a few of these, but you can also get Amlactin, Eucerin and Glytone which are more focused on a single ingredient. Nearly all of the Eucering, Gold Bond, Cetaphil, etc. creams that work have one of the above ingredients, so take a look at the back of the bottle or on CosDna to figure out what works best for you. Prescription creams include Carmol 40 and Ammonium Lactate in higher concentrations.
  
  Physical exfoliation includes:
  
  
• Salux cloths [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Salux-Nylon-Japanese-Beauty-Yellow/dp/B007IAE5WY/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493068965&sr=1-2&keywords=italy+towels)
  
• Italy towels [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C8DR1U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Hammam or Kessa mitts [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Zakias-Morocco-Kessa-Hammam-Exfoliating/dp/B0076YIPZU/ref=pd_sim_194_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0076YIPZU&pd_rd_r=XC3PKNKFAM2Z88K10WDT&pd_rd_w=M6c0H&pd_rd_wg=fsKqw&psc=1&refRID=XC3PKNKFAM2Z88K10WDT)
  
• Dry brushing [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DHHJ9S6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Sugar scrubs [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Hut-Sugar-Scrub-Moroccan/dp/B01EXDOQZY/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069250&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=sugar+scrub&psc=1)
  
• Salt scrubs [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F7WA2X0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• St. Ives wash [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J4YY4DM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Lush Buffy Scrub [[Link]] (http://www.lushusa.com/body/body-butters/buffy/02127.html)
  
  My dermatologist also recommended moisturizing CONSTANTLY, which really helped smoothe my arms. According to his instructions, "constantly" meant that I needed to be able to feel the lotion on my skin 24/7 for at least 3 weeks, which for me meant a new layer of cream every hour or two. Pretty much any moisturizing lotion or cream will do. I'm partial to [CeraVe Moisturizing Cream] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013GDK3SQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) (creams are less watered down than lotions, and this one drys down wonderfully, leaveing my skin feeling buttery but not sticky). Lush dream cream and Aveeno are also faves.
  
  Intermediate Level
  
  If a bit of exfoliation and moisture aren't working, you might want to consider if there are other skin conditions making your KP worse. For example, it turned out for me I had some fungal skin issues that made my KP bumps more inflamed. Topical steroids can help, but use with care as they can cause skin thinning. Try adding something with the following ingredients in to see if any of the following work. Also talk with your derm about getting a mild prescription treatment that might include an antibacterial or steroid component.
  
  
• Sulfur (typically sulfur soap, although you can also buy some creams) [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00685KUGA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• 2% Pyrithione Zinc (ZnP) (In [soap] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MWB0ZGE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1) or [cream] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N434AWO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) form)
  
• Tea tree oil [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017L8ZUJE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Clotrimazole [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Family-Care-Clotrimazole-Anti-Fungal-Cream/dp/B01K51YPCC/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069707&sr=1-1&keywords=clotrimazole)
  
• Hydrocortisone [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Cortizone-Cream-Maximum-Strength-Anti-Itch/dp/B001AZTD52/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069776&sr=1-1&keywords=hydrocortisone)
  
  As others have mentioned, sunlight also helps. Either give yourself 15 minutes of sun a day or look into UV treatments.
  
  Finally, consider dietary factors – for me cutting out dairy, sugar, and gluten when I really want crystal clear skin makes a big difference. Adding healthy oils and fats to your diet can also improve skin quality.
  
  Advanced Level
  
  I not only have KP, but years of scarring and redness (Post Inflammatory Erythema, or PIE) from picking at the bumps when I was younger. Laser treatments have almost 100% gotten rid of this and made my arms the smoothest and clearest they've been in almost two decades. However, these are pricey (for me, ~$200 a treatment and it took 4) and a serious time commitment. But if nothing else works, consider it.
  
  Other Tips
  
  
• If you pick, use a hydrocolloid bandage right away to make things heal faster.
  
• Vitamin C, niacinamide, honey/propolis, rosehip oil/rosewater, and all those other things this sub and /r/AsianBeauty love can really help reduce redness.
  
• Avoid overly hot showers, as this can be dehydrating. On the other hand, drink lots of water to hydrate internally.
  
• There are a ton of home/natural remedies out there, including using apple cider vinegar and coconut oil, none of which worked for me. These are seriously YMMV. Apple cider vinegar is low Ph, so if that helps, try using a [low Ph cleanser] (https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Foaming-Facial-Cleanser-Ounce/dp/B01N1LL62W/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493070492&sr=1-2&keywords=cerave+foaming+facial+cleanser) or [Ph adjusting toner] (https://www.amazon.com/MIZON-Daily-Clean-Toner-Fluid/dp/B00LUU42NU/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493070538&sr=1-1&keywords=ph+adjusting+toner), which might be less harsh. Similarly, coconut oil is antimicrobial and moisturizing, so give it a try and if it works, investigate whether you need more moisture or antibacterial/antifungal ingredients in your other products.
  
• Last but not least, don't sweat it! KP is incredibly common and nothing to worry about. I spent years being super paranoid about my arms and keeping them covered up, only to discover none of my friends even noticed my skin or cared at all.
  

• 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!

i have pores so large theyre visible from a decent distance away. Is there a way to decrease their size? I currently use Cetaphil Daily Cleanser twice a day. Once in the morning, once at night before bed. Both in the shower. I periodically wash my face throughout the day but if i miss once chance to get rid of grease i immediately break out within 12 hours. I've tried Proactiv a long time ago, I've tried Clean and Clear spot treatment, Clean and Clear oil absorbing sheets, which works pretty well, i just ran out. Sebamed clear face gel, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-touch Sunscreen, SPF 30, and even Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, For all skin types and theyve ALL made me breakout except the Cetaphil daily cleanser Normal to Oily skin...

Now i've used all these products at random times... not all on the same. I've really been actively trying to get this under control since late 2014. So each time something makes me breakout, i'll try a new product.. At one time I was using (per the suggestion of a beauty stylist) to use cetaphil daily cleanser, Sebamed face gel, and then Neutrogena Ultra sheer Sunscreen in the morning to get me ready for the day. Then use the absorbing sheets throughout the day to maintain a clean face. Not get any dirt in my pores.

So thats the story... if someone, ANYONE can help me, I would appreciate it so much. If i really need to see a dermatologist, i guess thats my last resort. I really like to try all options before seeing a doc. Please let me know if you can help out. It's greatly appreciated!!!

As someone explained, ingrown hairs happen when the hair doesn't actually break the surface of the skin, the most common cause for them is shaving with poor gear or incorrectly. Basically you shave and instead of cutting the hair, the razor pulls it slightly out from the hair follicle before actually cutting it. So when the hair grows back, if it's even slightly off from it's previous position, there's a good chance it won't break through the skin and end up as an ingrown hair.

Some people also have naturally very curly hair which then ends up causing much more ingrown hairs than most others. If they just happen even without shaving then the issue is a bit more difficult to manage and there's actually very little you can do about it. However if they happen after shaving, then solution do exist.

I'm going to detail some things you can do about your shaving routine that should help with ingrown hairs.

First of all, get yourself a double edge razor. If you want something cheap you can get one for about 3$ from Amazon, for something a bit better and more expensive the Edwin jagger DE89 is an excellent razor. There are literally hundreds of other options out there, you can often find DE razors from antique shops, flea markets or just your parents/grandparents place. And vintage razors are often extremely good if they are in decent shape.

Next you'll need some blades, I recommend buying a sampler pack again this one is about 11$. The reason you want a sample pack is because certain blades work better for certain people, so you can try them out and find the blade that fits you.

Now why on earth would you spend the whopping 15$ on technology from 70's when you have the new gilette 20 blade razor that is supersharp technology masterpiece? Mostly because it's not supersharp, well..It kinda is but it won't stay that way. The problem is that blades go dull, and when blades go dull they don't cut well, when they don't cut well they tug the hair and you end up with ingrown hairs. The easy solution is to change the cartridge often, but the cartridges are really goddamn expensive so you don't want to do that. DE blades? You can get a years supply for 20-30$, change it every 1-3 shaves and you can ensure the blade stays sharp and cuts well.

Someone also suggested exfoliating the skin, but you can kill two birds with one stone. You can get yourself a shaving brussh, something simple like the Omega 10077 it's a good, cheap starter brush it's a bit on the harder side so you can easily use it to exfoliate your skin prior to shaving. With that you can get a tube of Proraso shaving cream which is leaps and bounds better than the stuff you get from a supermarket in a can. Then to top it off get yourself some nice aftershave to calm your skin after shaving.

Now you'll also need to change your entire routine a bit. Slap a blade on your new razor, fill your sink up with some hot water and let your brush soak in the water. While your brush soaks rinse the areas you want to shave with plenty of hot water, this helps to open up the pores and soften your hair prior to shaving. If you want you can use some pre-shave to try and keep the irritation to your skin to minimum. Now you'll need to prep some lather, you can use a bowl, your hand or just do it right where you want to shave Here's a good guide on what you can do. The basic idea is to make sure your brush isn't exactly dripping wet but still wet, get about an almond size drop of the shave cream, then just mix up the cream like you'd be mixing eggs, add drops of water if needed. Once you have some lather, apply it in the places you want. You should use rather brisk circular motions, these help to prop your hair up and makes them easier to shave. Applying cream with hands usually has the bad effect of pushing your hair flat on your skin which makes shaving harder.

Now you have some lather so you'll need to shave. There are two main things to keep in mind with a DE: Blade angle and pressure.

Basically there is an ideal blade angle and finding one will take some time. However there is an entire wiki page dedicated to this. The second one is pressure, with a cartridge razor you ten dto press it against your skin, because the blades are dull and you try to shave as well as possible. With a DE, you should not put any pressure on your skin. The blade is sharp enough to cleanly cut the hair with zero pressure. Getting a hang of it is gonna take a week or so, but once you do you will consistently get better shaves. And be sure to rinse your blade often with the water you have in your sink, you don't want too much cream clogging the blade up.

The basic three pass DE shave includes one pass with the grain of the hair, another across the grain and the final pass is done very carefully against the grain and only if needed or you absolutely want to do it. Shaving against the grain gives you the best shave, but also irritates your skin more and is much more likely to end up with reddish skin or small cuts. So you fist shave everything with the grain, then rinse, apply lather, shave across the grain, rinse, and shave against the grain if needed.

Finally rinse with cool water, dry yourself up and apply aftershave. For other post-shave products you can get yourself an Alum bloc. It's a natural astringent that closes up most small razor nicks. After your final pass and after rinsing your face, grab the block and just massage it on the areas where you shaved, then rinse your face again. Another excellent product is witch hazel. It's again an all natural skin care product, it helps to cool, refresh and revitalize your skin. You can also use it daily even if you don't shave. Personally I apply witch hazel after I rinse off the alum. Then wait a few minutes and apply after shave.

Doing all that should help to decrease skin irritation and reduce ingrown hairs. And those products are just a dip in he ocean, there are hundreds of soaps, aftershaves, creams and all manner of other things you can get cheap and easy. Check out /r/wicked_edge for more.

The Azzaro Chrome aftershave you're using is alcohol-based, and will likely dry your skin. Feel that burn? Yeah, it's nice, but I prefer the soothing and less-astringent Witch Hazel alternative.

Listed in order of recommended products:

• Nivea for Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm, Active Comfort System, 3.3-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 4) note: witch-hazel based, so good for your face
  
  
• Yes To Carrots Fragrance-Free Intense Hydration Night Cream, 1.7 Fluid Ounce
  
  
• Yes To Carrots Nourishing Exfoliating Cleanser, 3.38-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 2)
  
  
• Musgo Real Lime Glyce Oil (MR GLO) Soap (use for pre-shave beard and face conditioning)
  
  I have not personally used MR GLO but the glycerin in it is great for skin hydration, and I plan on picking some up to add to my pre-shave routine.
  
  Looks like a lot of money, I know that, but I'm just tossing you some options here. I would highly recommend the night cream if you can at all afford it, since my face in particular dries out overnight if I don't apply this stuff. YMMV, but I can definitely vouch for the night cream, which is also available at Target.
  
  My local Target has discontinued the exfoliator, but I get mine on Amazon now. Feels fantastic on dry skin, just massage in with fingers until your skin feels buffed out. Not necessary, since your razor will exfoliate you plenty (and all you really care about are your shaved areas), but I use it on my whole face.
  
  And of course, Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm works amazingly well for an off-the-shelf solution, also found at Target.
  
  PS: A cheap easy way to really clean up before you apply your aftershave balm is to apply straight-up Witch Hazel to your face using Cotton Rounds. Wipe it on generously, fan it to feel a cooling sensation if you want, let it sit for about a minute, then rub in what hasn't dried off. Apply aftershave balm, and enjoy your well-maintained face. Witch hazel and rounds are easily available at your local Target/Wally World/Walgreens.

I've used oil cleansing with both Paula's Choice BHA and AHA with no adverse effects. Because the oil wipes your face clean, and then you use the acids afterwards on fresh skin.

Here's another great resource for more information on OCM, and it's what convinced me to jump in. She outlines the basic reason behind why OCM is so popular and gives some great recommendations on how to start. It's worth noting that many cultures around the world have used oils on their faces for centuries if not longer. It's really only within the last 100 years that we started formulating all these different types of products which are vastly different from what humans have used for hygiene purposes before the rise of modern industrialization.

I've become a huge proponent of OCM, and at first I did mess around with a bunch of different blends but I've realized that I can just slather on olive oil or whatever I happen to have around the house without any sensitivities or pore blockages (with the exception of coconut oil, which can be highly comodogenic for some people, and I just don't want to risk it). Basically you have tons of choices with lots of room for customization to your skin type and skin concerns! You could also buy an oil blend like this one by Hada Labo, which is what I'm currently using and I've almost emptied it. I really like this formulation because the oil emulsifies very easily, so I can just rinse it off with water and not have to bother with a wash cloth. I use it everyday, and almost nothing else has been so effective for removing my sunscreen and makeup, even waterproof mascara.

Here's my PM step-by-step routine if you're curious:

• Without splashing water on my face, use one pump of the Hada Labo cleansing oil to gently massage all over my skin, loosening sunscreen and makeup. I like to do this for at least one full minute. I used to do the oil massage and then place a warm wet wash cloth over my face, which gives a nice spa treatment effect by softening the makeup even more and allowing the oil to penetrate more deeply. Now, I find that's not really necessary. I rinse off with water, and sometimes repeat with another pump of oil just to be safe. I don't use a toner or anything because the oil just gets every speck off.
  
  
• If I have any active breakouts, I'll spot treat with diluted tea tree oil.
  
  
• Then, I spread one pump of Paula's choice 8% AHA over my face but avoid the areas where I just dabbed tea tree oil, because that's too harsh all at once. I use the AHA at night because it increases sun sensitivity, and I use the BHA in the mornings.
  
  
• Wait 15-20 minutes for product to sink in. While I'm waiting I usually pat on some eye cream and moisturize the rest of my body.
  
  
• Use a nice moisturizer. Even for oily-skinned people, I cannot stress the importance of moisturizer. Despite being oily skinned at the beginning of my skin journey, I can use OCM and then use a rich cream as moisturizer or another kind of oil as a moisturizer without feeling overly greasy. My skin has never been more balanced, I haven't had to use anything to blot in ages. I don't powder either, and I don't use any kind of oil controlling product.
  
  Feel free to PM me for more info, anecdotes, or recommendations if you like! It seems that we started at a similar place, and I did TONS of research to get where I am now, so I love passing on that knowledge to others. Hopefully you find it helpful.

I NEVER would have guessed your age - so never fear, you look much more mature than you think! :)

Pale girls of the world, unite! As far as foundation goes, I'm a huge fan of Skin79 Hot Pink BB cream; it goes on super easily and never looks cakey or foundationey (yes I made up that word). Since you have fairly clear skin, a BB cream could be a good thing to try. Skin79 also has a sampler pack available to find the one you like best. If you buy through Amazon, be careful to check seller reviews for someone near 100% - you don't want a fake.

For my undereye circles, I use the Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser in the Brightening shade (all the others are too orange for me, but this one is perfect).

I would also recommend getting a translucent powder to help control shine; I use Rimmel Stay Matte, but feel free to play around with this.

For bronzer, try NYX Taupe blush, it does a great job of contouring for pale folks. Others really like NYC Sunny bronzer, but I find it's a little too orange for me.

And my all-time favorite blushes are Milani's baked blushes - Luminoso is fab. NYX also makes great blushes, and ELF's are decent too.

Hey friends! I'm pretty much a sunscreen virgin and I could use some help.

I've read through the sidebar, done a ton of searching through old posts, and have opened probably 100 amazon tabs today, but I still feel lost. Here's some relevant information, if it helps:

• 26 years old female, living in Oregon.
  
• Don't go outdoors much.
  
• Not really concerned with anti-aging stuff, much more concerned with preventing skin damage/cancer and whatnot.
  
• Pretty normal skin, dry/flaky forehead and back/boob acne-prone
  
• I don't THINK alcohol in products is a huge problem for me? The skin around my eyes gets fairly pissy fairly quickly, haha, but it seems unrelated from any skincare products I use.
  
• Rarely wear makeup, not hugely concerned about whitecast but am nervous about looking greasy
  
• Lastly and most pertinent to my current situation, I'd really like to find as big a bottle as I can for a reasonable price (10-15 USD if possible); I really like the idea of the popular Asian products but the bottles are sooo tiny, I can't afford to buy them every month. If I can get a bigass bottle of sunscreen, I have my own little travel bottle that I can put some in for commuting around town.
  
  With all that in mind... is there something I can find? I've heard US sunscreens aren't great, and though it'd be fantastic if I could just go to a local grocery store and grab a bottle, I'm willing to order online if there just aren't any suitable US brands.
  
  Please help? :(
  
  ETA these are the two most promising ones I've found so far:
  Nivea Perfect Water Gel and Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel
  
  Still a little small (around 4 oz, I'd really like to find something AMERICAN-SIZED lol, like 10/12 oz or larger if possible) but better. Would one of these be okay? Are there better options?
  
  (edited to fix formatting)

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

Morning

• Wash with Clean and Clear Relaxing facewash. If my skin feels clean I skip this step.
  
  
• Spray Thayer's Rose Petal alcohol free toner. I love this toner, it minimizes the craters I have for pores a good bit.
  
  
• Cerave moisturizing lotion I also like Clinique Dramatically different moisturizing lotion but the Cerave works just as well and I get soooo much more for my money.
  
  
• Apply SolScents Clear Face sunscreen I can't find this one in stores and it's pricey so I've ordered a [biore] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SM99KY8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) one from amazon to try out instead, a lot more affordable too.
  
  
  Evening
  
  
• Wash with Clean and Clear Relaxing facewash. It works just as well as the Clinique one for me.
  
  
• Spray the witch hazel toner again.
  
  
• Apply Vitamin C Serum.
  
  
• Followed by the Cerave moisturizing lotion again.
  
  Whenever my skin still gets dehydrated for whatever reason I apply Rosehip oil. Sometimes I do a chick pea flour + Turmeric mask which works great but is a bit drying so the oil helps a lot.

This is my first post, so I hope everything's right.

• The issue(s) - bought a bunch of products and not sure if I'm using them right. Would love feedback on what I'm doing wrong and if I'm missing anything.
  
• Skin type. Mostly normal, prone to hormonal cystic acne (controlled by meds from my derm) and slightly dry skin, some sun spots and starting to get some crows feet, some hyperpigmentation due to acne, 37 years old
  
• Current routine (I got sucked in at the Trish McEvoy counter at Nordstrom about 2 years ago)
  
  • Face Wash
    
    • Normally use Cetaphil with a Clarisonic Radiance brush head, but currently using Trish McEvoy Gentle Cleansing wash because it was a GWP and I didn't want to throw it out
      
  • Serums
    
    • Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum
      
    • Trish McEvoy Eye Serum
      
    • Boots No7 Lash Impact Serum
      
  • Moisturizers
    
    • CeraVe moisturizing cream
      
    • Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Anti-Fatigue Cream SPF 30
      
    • Trish McEvoy Even Skin Vitamin C Cream
      
    • Arcona Eye Dew Plus
      
  • Acids
    
    • The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
      
    • TATCHA Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA
      
  • Oils
    
    • Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Oil
      
  • Masks
    
    • Glamglow Super Mud (once a week)
      
    • Mario Badescu Super Collagen mask (every few days)
      
      How I'm currently using things:
      
      AM Face wash, Tatcha serum, Trish McEvoy Serums, Arcona Eye Dew Plus, (if my skin is feeling really dry) Cerave + Trish McEvoy BB cream, if feeling normal than just the Trish McEvoy BB cream, Beauty Booster Oil, Boots lash serum
      
      PM Remove make up and stuff with a MAC face wipe, same as morning, but then replace Tacha with The Ordinary Retinoid, no Trish McEvoy BB cream and only Trish McEvoy Vitamin C cream
      
      
• How long About a month
  
• Anything new all products above in bold have been added in the last month
  
• Your location American living in Europe, so it's easy for me to get products from both continents
  
  Thanks so much!

There's a bunch of stuff going on here. I think that your problems mainly stem from misunderstanding and a need to improve technique. I do not believe you need to buy a new razor at this time.

There's a few things going on here, and I'm going to make some assumptions which you can correct me if I'm wrong. First of all, it doesn't matter how much hair you have, you need to use soap. Soap is the protective layer between your skin and a razor sharp piece of metal that you are dragging across it. Without it you will get a bad shave. It is a necessity.

So, why are you getting irritation with the soap? One possibility is that you are allergic to the soap you have. This is very rare, and it would not be my first choice in troubleshooting your problems, but I wanted to get it out there. What's most likely is that you are not building your lather correctly. Watch this video by /u/Cadinsor and make sure you are following his advice.

If you are building your lather properly, the next possibility is that your technique needs improvement. DE shaving is a skill. You should watch the complete wetshaving tutorial from /u/Cadinsor. This will help you a lot.

A few things that you need to be sure you're doing right is that you need to be grain mapping (making sure that you are shaving with the grain, then across the grain, then across the grain again, and only when you get good at it should you be going against the grain). This does not mean just down, across, up--in parts of your face you may find that your grain goes one way and in another part of your face the grain goes another way. The best way to figure this out is to let your hair grow for a few days and then feel your face, making notes about what way the hair goes in different parts of your face.

Additionally, you need to try out a bunch of different blades. For reasons we don't understand, some blades work better than others for some people in different razors. The best blade for me may be the worst blade for you. You've only been using Astras, and that may be the worst blade in the world for you. You should buy three Top Ten Samplers from TryABlade.com. You should try them each in turn. Ask yourself, is this blade better or worse than the one I used before? Then decide on one and buy in bulk.

I also think that, in point 3, when you say "razor" you really mean blade. I base this on the fact that you call them "Astra razors" in point 2. I would say most people get around 5 shaves out of their blades. Assuming you are shaving every day or every other day, they should not be rusting. Just make sure that everything is dry when you're done, no need to use alcohol. And by dry I don't mean that you have to dry everything off with a towel, just shake it all out and you'll be fine. There is literally no need for a stand for your brush or razor (in fact, some experimentation has shown that brushes dry faster not on a stand), but, hey, if you want one get one.

Finally you need to be doing post-shave care. The quickest and easiest is to use Thayer's Alcohol Free Witch Hazel. It's cheap and effective. I personally follow up my Thayer's splash with a splash of an aftershave. The best aftershave on the market right now in my opinion is Barrister's Reserve. It's amazing. While you're at the site, you may want to consider picking up some of Barrister & Mann's soap, it is considered to be one of the best in the business. The Latha line is a great choice for someone starting out.

I hope this helps!

Hm, I don't know if I am the best person to answer this since I'm not nearly as experienced as some of the ladies here, but maybe that will give you a better "beginner's" perspective...

• Skin : I find starting with a prime canvas to be best! This means look at your skincare routine first before checking out makeup. I'd rather combat blemishes and other issues naturally instead of covering them up. Getting that under control is a big help!
  
  I've seen BB Cream described here as like a "gateway drug" to the world of makeup. Seriously, it's so easy to use. I'd suggest starting with some kind of sample set to test out what you like, but before that I suggest What the Heck is BB Cream, and Why Should I Care? as recommended reading.
  
  
• Lips If color is scary and you just want something to make your lips look shiny, I personally feel there's nothing better than good old vaseline; you can get a tube in Target for like a buck, and it's easy as pie.
  
  
• Eyes If "popping" eyes are something you're interested in, I personally would suggest (keep in mind I'm not some seasoned pro) learning to curl your eyelashes and apply mascara first. I think these two little things can make a world of difference. Eyeliner is great and all, but I personally feel it doesn't quite have the same impact!
  
  If you feel like you want to move on and check out eyeshadow and just want to start experimenting, I think Wet N' Wild's Walking on Eggshells is a great starter neutral palette. It's cheap, they're one of the more pigmented drugstore lines, and having a basic lid/crease/corner color to start is a fantastic way to learn what looks good and how to apply it.
  
  Since you're just getting started, I'd focus on the "how" rather than the "what"--makeup can get expensive, and I started out with really basic drugstore items first and worked my way up as I grew more comfortable.

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!

So speaking as a woman, my skincare routine is, on average, going to be more involved than what guys usually do. But I do like all these products a lot and you should feel free to look into them individually. Also, many of them are going to be Korean skincare brands because Koreans really know their skincare shit. And since I have sensitive combination skin, the products I use are gentle enough for most skin types.

Step 1: Oil cleanser - I use Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil. There's also another version of it that's the "Speedy Cleansing oil" that's similarly priced and just as effective. I put the oil on my dry face, rub in circles to encourage some exfoliation, then use a little water to sort of create a foam, and then rinse it off. There's also Cetaphil, which is of course a tried-and-true facial cleanser that's compatible with all skin types.

Step 2: Toner - I use Kikumasamune High Moisturizing toner, which is a Japanese toner that you use after cleansing/drying off your face. It smells like sake because that's one of the ingredients -- could cause breakouts, but I haven't had any problems with that. It's also a HUGE ASS bottle for a great price. Another option I've used is Aromatica Sea Daffodil toner. Also, when drying off your face, I recommend using Kleenex instead of a towel, because your towel can harbor all sorts of gross stuff and you wiping your newly-cleansed face on one can transfer said gross stuff onto your skin.

Step 3: Essence. I use a serum type thing but I'm going to skip over this because it's really not a super necessary step, basically like a thin pre-moisturizer to make my skin super hydrated.

Step 4 - Moisturizer. I've been using Mizon Black Snail All-In-One cream and it works great. It's also priced pretty well. Another option I've heard absolute raves about from /r/AsianBeauty is Stratia Liquid Gold which has worked phenomenally for many people. I'm definitely planning on purchasing this moisturizer soon. And also, using jojoba oil has also worked really well for my mom, so you could look into that.

Finally, sunscreen is a crucial addition to your skincare regimen that should never be treated as optional. I use Innisfree Eco Safety Daily Sunblock but here is also another helpful thread that gives feedback on sunscreen that has worked well for other people.

For spot treatments (like an occasional lone whitehead), I've been using Clean & Clear advantage acne spot treatment for like 10 years and it has not let me down.

Again, this regimen is much more involved than what most guys do (and if that's what works for them, great!), but there's also nothing wrong in investing in good skincare products!

Copying from my previous comment from earlier in the thread:

Face lotion alone is NOT providing nearly enough SPF coverage. Come over to r/skincareaddiction! :) There are many sunscreens out there that feel like lotion but are highly protective. I personally use an Asian brand that is SPF 50 and protects against both UVA and UVB rays, something most standard sunscreens don't do. It's only $12 on Amazon and lasts me a couple months. After it dries, I can't even tell I'm wearing sunscreen.

My typical morning routine for my face is:

1. Cleanser (then wash it off)
   
   
2. Toner
   
   
3. Moisturizer
   
   
4. Sunscreen
   
   I also add sunscreen to any exposed skin on the rest of my body. This sunscreen is cheap enough that I feel fine using it for my full body.
   
   I repeat this whole process at night (excluding the sunscreen). I also add Vitamin C serum after the toner, which also helps with anti-aging (promotes collagen growth).
   
   The whole thing takes less than 5 minutes, plus a couple minutes between each stage to let it dry. Wrinkles are SO hard to reverse... the best solution is prevention while you're still young! Plus, as someone whose parents have both gone through cancer, skin cancer is not something I take lightly.
   
   EDIT: I've had many requests for my exact products so I'm adding them here. Everyone's skin is a little different, so I would definitely advise doing your own research to find what works best for you. For reference, I have clear (little-to-no acne) skin, not too dry or oily.
   
   For each product, make sure you do a patch test to ensure you don't have a bad reaction. They're all pretty gentle so you should be okay, but always good to be safe.
   
   Cleanser: Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
   
   Toner: KLAIRS Supple Preparation Facial Toner
   
   Moisturizer: Trader Joe's Nourish Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer (this is cheaper in store)
   
   Sunscreen: Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel pump (SPF50 + PA ++++) (takes like a month to deliver so I usually buy multiple at a time)
   
   Vitamin C serum: Dr. Brenner Vit C parent (small bottle but a little goes a long way)

Hey, I’m a guy with “good skin”. What honestly surprised me was the quality of my skin after using sunscreen regularly — I didn’t realize how much sun affected things. I know you say you have normal skin, but some of the below should hopefully help getting started on a basic routine that’ll become evident in the quality of your complexion.

Pick up a gently cleanser like Cerave Hydrating cleanser or Vanicreams cleanser.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSSDEPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_164sDbD3WQJP7

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QY1XZ4W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_U74sDbF98WZ87


Wash the face morning and night. It’s helpful to use a little bit of moisturizer since sunscreens are kind of hit and miss in this regard, so I’d suggest Cerave cream in the white tub to apply to your damp face as needed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TTD9BRC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_P84sDb7M4J10J


Afterwards, ideally, slather on a bit of sunscreen on your face, neck, ears, and other sun exposed places. My personal favorite currently is the Jack Black sun guard since it’s not greasy and I use it on my arms and hands too, Otherwise, pick up Cerave’s AM moisturizer. It’s my favorite drug store type sunscreen. A nicer one too are the EltaMD sunscreens.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CR4KRM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_V94sDbQXPSZ8R

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F97FHAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_b.4sDbR7T9R88


If your face is shiny after some of thing I’d suggest picking up something like Magical Moringa from Lush that’s mattefying. A shine control powder to dab lightly on can work good too — doesn’t look like you have anything on while still taking care of your skin.

https://www.lushusa.com/face/moisturizers/magical-moringa/07218.html

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Neutrogena-Shine-Control-Powder-Invisible-10-37-Oz/21009034?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1150&adid=22222222228015245274&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40843087352&wl4=pla-78656555792&wl5=9014228&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112549851&wl11=online&wl12=21009034&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzIWmraTy4wIVhZ-fCh0RsQczEAUYASABEgJquPD_BwE


At night I really see a difference in the brightness and luminosity with my skin with this “overnight mask”.

COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask, 60ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N13W31F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Qf5sDbYFN01FC

That’s basically my suggestions at least. At night just use moisturizer and the mask after washing.


As far as the back acne, in the shower let some salicylic acid sit on the area for a minute or two and rinse it off. I use Zapzyt. The other thing I would recommend after the shower is to apply some Differin to the affected area — Differin used to be what a dermatologist prescribed me years ago and it now available over the counter fortunately. Should be cleared up in no time.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BG92E26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dn5sDbJDAXBTV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L1PHSY9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ip5sDbBCQ71AW

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.
  

Sure! A moisturizer that I use to use A LOT was

https://www.cleanandclear.com/moisturizers/morning-burst-hydrating-gel-moisturizer

It's a gel moisturizer so it means there's less residue left behind. It helped my skin with the oil. It's not perfect don't get me wrong, but it did help. It does have fragrance so I'm not sure it will bother you. This is more budget friendly.

Another one I use a lot right now is

https://www.amazon.com/Andalou-Naturals-Roses-Beautiful-Cream/dp/B00JEMRDQY

I like this one SO much more. It's lightweight but makes my skin feel great! It's helps repair my skin it has good ingredients. It's vegan and cruelty free. It's a little pricey it's $18 on Amazon in the store it's $25. You don't need much which is good. It's definitely something I recommend you try.

https://www.amazon.com/Thayers-Alcohol-Free-Witch-Formula-Unscented/dp/B001DJDP7C

The witch hazel that use. You can also buy the other brands too like Dickinson's they do have alcohol free ones too.

https://www.amazon.com/Dickinsons-Enhanced-Witch-Alcohol-Hydrating/dp/B00KX32J26

Maybe getting a sunscreen would be a good idea too. Or finding a makeup primer with spf or foundation.


These may or may not work for you. Everyone's skin is different. Good luck!

Usually with BB creams, they tend to oxidize after a couple of minutes after you put it on your skin, so that being said, I'd still say to swatch the colors to see which would match your skin tone. Sephora/Ulta carry a few BB creams, so you can always go in one day to swatch the different colors.

As for Asian BB creams, they tend to have more coverage and are higher in SPF (thus a bit more ~beneficial~). I personally own 2 Asian BB creams (the Skin 79 Hot Pink BB and thefaceshop BB emulsion (oil cut dual... i can't find a link for this) as well as "American/Western" BB creams like the L'oreal Youth Code and the Garnier.

From my personal experience, I've found the Asian BB creams to have too much of a grey-cast (despite being of asian skin tone myself) and sometimes, quite thick (especially the Skin79 one) while the American/Western BB creams to be too light. My current personal favorites are the Dr. Jart Water Fuse BB cream and the Mixa Expert Peau Sensible BB Crème Unifiante (which I bought in France). Both are not too dry on my face and give a good medium-ish coverage that doesn't feel too heavy. Additionally, both of them match my skin tone better as well.

Now, if you're looking for something light, I'd say definitely swatch/test out the Western brands one because most of them definitely have a lighter coverage in my opinions, but if you're looking for BB creams that have more "benefits," I've heard good things about the Etude House, and I personally know a lot of my friends like Missha (although imo it still gives too much of a grey cast...). You can also always order samples of diff Asian BB creams before making any purchase, and if you don't have any Asian cosmetics/beauty stores around your area too like these or these. I'm sure there are more selections online as well! Good luck finding your perfect BB cream!

**PS: these might help you out, asian bb creams vs americans also there are a lot of youtubers who do comparisons, so check those out as well!

Here's what I would suggest:

Razor: either this one if you want to stay frugal or this one if you want to splurge a bit. I'd stay away from the QShave. It's a clone of a razor with a lot of design issues. One being that the head is so large it's hard to get under the nose, etc.; another issue is that it is extremely aggressive even at its lowest setting.

Brush: This synthetic brush. I think it's much better to start with a synthetic than a boar brush. Boar brushes are less comfortable on your face and actually make it more difficult to make lather until they break in. No reason to mess with those variables when you're just trying to get the hang of it. As for this specific synthetic brush, I have one and it is an amazing value for the money. It is one of about a dozen brushes I own, some of which were $200+, and this $12 brush holds its own with them.

Shaving soap: Lots of options here. Barrister & Mann's Latha line performs extremely well and is a great value. Several scents to choose from. Barrister &
Mann's Glissant line is a bit more expensive but has even better performance and more complex scents. Seville is a particularly good starting point with B&M, just an extremely clean, classic, masculine scent. Pre de Provence and Pre de Provence No. 63 are classic french soaps that smell great and perform very well.

Aftershave: Even more options here. You could go with Thayer's witch hazel with aloe, or if you want a traditional high alcohol aftershave, Fine Accoutrements is excellent. There are several scents, all based on popular and/or classic colognes. Or you could splurge and get the world's greatest aftershave product, L'Occitane Cade After Shave Balm.

Blades: Amazon has some good deals on blades in bulk but just sucks for sampler packs, and you want to start with a sampler pack because reasons. So head on over to TryABlade and order two of the "Top 10 Sampler." You can't use your Amazon credit there, but it's going to come to less than $10 including shipping.

So, if you go with the cheapest option in each category, you come out to fifty dollars or so if I'm adding right, which leaves you room to pick out one or more of those splurge options I mentioned.

Skin Type: Dry/Dehydrated | Country/Climate: Midwestern US (cold, dry, windy) | Top Skin Concerns: Anti-aging. I’m particularly concerned about wrinkles.

Misc Factors:
I don’t know if any of this is relevant, but just in case: I’ll turn 26 next month, AFAB. I’m on a low budget. I’m an omnivore (minimal dairy, minimal meat). My skintone is KGD 213 (biracial, American Indian and white). Two weeks ago I began taking a Daily Multi-Vitamin, Omega 3-6-9, and Vitamin C + Rosehip. I just started using skincare products of any kind 13 months ago, and I spent many years unprotected in the sun, so I likely have a great deal of sun damage (I’m guessing that’s where the static lines in my forehead came from, as well as the freckles that haven't faded after a year of no unprotected sun exposure). I’m unsure of my Fitzpatrick skin type - I’m light-skinned, very rarely burn, tan easily. Years ago, with moderate sun-exposure and no sun protection, I used to go from roughly NC15 to NC45.
I should mention that I don’t have a sunscreen in my daily routine because I only have sun exposure for approximately 30 minutes weekly, max. (I have a medical condition that is triggered/worsened by sun exposure). On days with any sun-exposure, I use CeraVe SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Lotion.

Current Routine/Products I’m Using:

AM:

• Water to cleanse
• Kiku-Masamune - Sake Skin Lotion High Moisture
• Dr. Jart+ - Ceramidin Liquid
• CosRx - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
• Scinic - Honey All In One Ampoule
• Hada Labo (Tokyo) - Replenishing Hydrator
• Belif - Creamy Deep Moist Moisturizer
• CeraVe - Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM

PM:

• Water to cleanse
• Kiku-Masamune - Sake Skin Lotion High Moisture
• Dr. Jart+ - Ceramidin Liquid
• CosRx - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
• Scinic - Honey All In One Ampoule
• Hada Labo (Tokyo) - Replenishing Hydrator
• Belif - Creamy Deep Moist Moisturizer
• CeraVe - Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM
• Belif - the True Cream Moisturizing Bomb
• Vaseline Jelly Cocoa Butter to seal it all in.

I specifically want help with routine order. I want to make sure my ^current routine is in order, and I’d also like help with the order I should introduce some new products (after patch testing each one separately). I’ve never used actives before - everything I’ve read has stressed the importance of patience, caution, and babying/nourishing and most importantly, listening to your skin when introducing and using actives to a skincare regimen.

I recently purchased [Deciem the Ordinary - Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5] (http://ordinaries.com/product/rdn-hyaluronic-acid-2pct-b5-30ml) to add to my list of essences/serums/ampoules, and [Nature Republic - Super Aqua Max Moisture Watery Cream] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HP1D1G6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1) to hopefully replace the Belif - True Cream Moisturizing Bomb.
I purchased [CosRx - AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner] (https://www.amazon.com/ask/questions/asin/B00OZ63ODA/2/ref=ask_dp_iaw_ql_hza?isAnswered=true#question-Tx2CHHURICEV24D) to use as a prep-toner for actives.
I also acquired [Deciem the Ordinary - Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%] (http://ordinaries.com/product/rdn-vitamin-c-suspension-23pct-ha-spheres-2pct-30ml), [Deciem the Ordinary - Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%] (http://ordinaries.com/product/rdn-lactic-acid-10pct-ha-2pct-30ml), and [Deciem the Ordinary - Advanced Retinoid 2%] (http://ordinaries.com/product/rdn-advanced-retinoid-2pct-30ml), and [Deciem the Ordinary - Matrixyl 10% + HA] (http://ordinaries.com/product/rdn-matrixyl-10pct-ha-30ml).

Do y’all have any recommendations for which skincare products I should introduce first? What should my routine order look like?

Thanks so much.

Raves:

[Rohto SKIN AQUA SARAFIT Essence UV (SPF50+ PA++++)]
(https://www.amazon.com/Rohto-SARAFIT-Essence-SPF50-JAPAN/dp/B01BM1UQS6)
This was a random purchase from Amazon, and I’m pleasantly surprised that it has worked out so well for my skin.
This sunscreen is inexpensive, $6.50 for 80 ml, works out to be only $2.40 per oz. Sunscreen filters include octinoxate, uvinul A plus, and tinosorb S. This doesn’t break me out! It contains no fatty alcohols, no irritating plant extracts, and my skin feels slightly moisturized after using this. It does contain alcohol, but it doesn’t feel drying. Makeup applies like a dream over this, and there’s no white cast. This dries down slightly dewy, really somewhere between matte and dewy. It’s not as matte as Biore UV Perfect Milk. At first it looks shiny, but after 3-5 minutes it dries down. I could see this working for both oily and dry skin types. Honestly though, dry skin types would probably like the Skin Aqua Moisture Gel more. I have that one, I’ve been using it on my neck, chest, and hands. It’s much more moisturizing. I'm seriously thrilled with my Skin Aqua discovery. If I was deserted on a desert island and could only pick one sunscreen to have for the rest of my life, I would pick this one.

Smith’s Strawberry Lip Balm
I reviewed the ingredient lists of all the different Smith’s lip balms, and the strawberry stuck out to me because it consists of petrolatum, lanolin, and beeswax. No plant extracts. The other formulas are just petrolatum, maybe an oil, and plant extracts. This is moisturizing and lasts for several hours on my lips. It’s not to waxy, not to sticky, just lovely. When you open the tin there is a strawberry fragrance, but this doesn’t linger on my lips at all. The scent reminds me of strawberry cake. It isn’t my favorite but isn’t terrible. I’ve been using this on my cuticles too. It works well, but I do find Bag Balm is a more moisturizing and effective petrolatum/lanolin product.

Jack Black Lip Balm spf 25
The hype is real. This is one of the most moisturizing lip balms I’ve ever tried in my life. It just melts into my lips and isn’t waxy or greasy at all. It does seem to wear off after 2-3 hours, but it leaves my lips softer. The packaging is amazing, this is one of the best squeeze tubs I’ve ever used. It’s hard to explain it. It’s very easy to squeeze a small amount out, it’s very easy to control. Everything about this balm comes across as high quality, and I’m surprised it’s selling for only $7.50. I accidently ordered the mint & shea butter, when I really wanted the blackberry version. The mint and shea butter does tingle for a few seconds, and this freaks me out. There isn’t menthol or mint in the ingredient list, and this doesn’t irritate my lips…but I’m not a huge fan of the tingling sensation.

Rants:

Smith’s Rosebud Salve

This is very different than the Strawberry balm. The Rosebud Salve is overrated and not worth the hype imo. The ingredient list includes petrolatum and cottonseed oil, and I wondered if the cottonseed oil would make it more moisturizing then regular Vaseline. Nope, it’s not more moisturizing than plain Vaseline. It’s essentially pink petrolatum with rose fragrance. I’m disappointed in myself for purchasing this despite my gut feeling that I wouldn’t be happy with it because of the ingredient list.


New Purchases:

Skinlex’s 20% LAA Serum

This meets all the requirements I want out of a vitamin C serum.

1. It uses an airtight pump, not a dropper
   
   
2. The pH isn’t too low (3-3.3). The Timeless vitamin C serum gave me a lot of trouble, I think it’s very low pH (2.4) contributed to the irritation I experienced
   
   
3. Contains ferulic acid but no vit E. It's been hard to find an LAA serum with just ferulic acid, not vit E
   
   
4. No oils or ingredients that would break me out
   
   Skinlex’s Alpha Arbutin Serum
   
   I’ve just about finished up my bottle of The Ordinary’s Alpha Arbutin, and Skinlex’s product seems a lot better. It’s cheaper per oz at $6.80 (bottle includes 2 oz) vs TO’s Arbutin at $8.90. It also includes so many great ingredients…niacinamide, MAP, tranexamic acid, panthenol, licorice root extract, hyaluronic acid, allantoin….I’m crossing my fingers this doesn’t break me out.
   
   edit: lol I didn't realize I wrote a book long post until I hit submit
   
   

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.

Jealous you got to go to Japan! Tokyo is a travel goal.

Neogen's Bio-peel exfoliating pads are incredible, and I use them once to twice a week. I just finished my pack of the wine exfoliants, and purchased the green tea one as a replacement. The wine one contains antioxidants and seemed to be more of an anti-aging product, whereas the green tea one appears to be more of a cleanse and tone and neutralize type of effect. Both are great, although I've only used the green tea one twice thus far. The wine one really helped mitigate some acne scars I had on my cheek, and has the highest ratings on Amazon.

I follow the exfoliant with a quick wash (just normal Neutrogena face wash) and tone with Thayer's Rose Water Witch Hazel. It's a non-alcoholic toner that moisturizes while tightening up the pores and cleansing a little extra. Most drugstore toners contain alcohol, which serves the opposite purpose of drying your skin out, and accelerating oil production, thereby creating more acne. You can purchase Thayer's at CVS or most drugstores; there's several other witch hazel alternatives that seem to work fine as well. This one just smells extra nice.

After toning, I slather on some aloe vera gel. The one by Nature Republic is dirt cheap, gets the job done, and the tub lasted me like six months. Aloe Vera is a great moisturizer because it's all natural, contains little to no additives, and isn't oily so it won't clog up your pores. It also feels great on the skin, kind of a cool jelly feeling.

Once that's done, I put a small dab of Skinfood's Royal Honey Propolis Serum. This shit is pricey, but it's magic. This, paired with the Neogen exfoliator, really wiped out the acne scars. It doesn't have a smell, and the consistency is thick and syrupy, so just use a small drop and it goes a long way. Your skin will feel super glowy afterwards.

A few times a week, before bed I'll wrap up the above skincare routine with Etude House's Moistfull Collagen Sleeping Pack. Legit, the morning after wearing this, I won't put on makeup because my skin's so on healthy. If you exfoliate, do the whole aforementioned skincare shebang, and then sleep with this baby on your face, you will be RADIANT. The sleeping pack is a jelly-like cream that you slather over your face in a thin layer. I've had my pack of it for like two months and it's still more than half full. It dries up within about five minutes, and is barely visible. It rinses off easily the next morning, with a little soap and warm water.

​

Hope this helps!!! I freaking love skincare lmao, if you couldn't tell.

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

For PP care (uncomplicated vaginal birth, 1st degree tear) I used Depends Adult Diapers (maybe 20? Had a few left over), Dermoplast (the blue can!!!), Tucks Pads, and made padsicles (20ish) before hand (extra large maxi pads, alo vera gel, alcohol free witch hazel, a spattering of tea tree oil, pop in freezer). Hands down would recommend. My hospital didn't send me home with any supplies so I'm glad I went ahead and got some "just in case" items before hand. The adult diapers were pretty much like wearing comfy granny panties, not at all "diaper feeling" like I thought they'd be, and I could pop a padsicle in every few hours easy peasy without worrying about ruining underpants or leaking everywhere. Once the Depends needed to be changed out I'd just trash the whole thing and start fresh. No clean up - 10/10.

Pricing everything out I've listed (lazily) on Amazon my "kit" would be around $80, but you can find these things for much cheaper in CVS or your local drug store. Looking at the quantities included in your kit I'm thinking you'd have to buy additional products anyway (more pads for sure, more briefs most likely, and I'm not sure how easy it is to clean the compresses but the padsicles are awesome and disposable, major plus in my book). I'm not sure it's as great a kit as it looks at first glance.

ETA - I didn't need these for PP care but I do love having chux for the kiddo. I have a few in the diaper bag and lay them on nasty public changing tables before I lay down his changing pad for an extra layer of protection (and so I don't drag a dirty pad back into the diaper bag).

Hello, three months ago I asked here for help and recieved some really good advice, so thanks for that.

The issue: Closed comedones, whiteheads (according to Google images), redness (on the temple) that stays for up to 2 weeks.

Skin type: I would say oily, however the products I've been using balanced my face quite a lot.

Current routine:

AM:
Cleanser: Cosrx Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser

For the moisturizer and SPF I use: Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream.

PM:
Cleanser: Cosrx Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser

Moisturizer: Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream but recently I swaped it for Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel.

I also use 5% Benzoyl Perioxide for spot treatment.

How long: 3 months

Anything new: -

Your location: EU, Poland. I don't mind ordering from other countries.

I'm satisfied with the cleanser and moisturizer/spf that you have recomended me. Now I think that I should buy something specific for closed comedones and whiteheads. It was the issue 3 months ago and it is now, but I wasn't expecting that the cleanser to help with that. I've looked up the web for some Cosrx Toners and I think I should get one to cleanse my face even more and this one should help according to the producer's info. I would like to deal with the cc/whiteheads first then with the hyperpigmentation (mine moisturizer/spf helps with that but still that lasts for like a week)

Thanks in advance for the help :)

Hello AB! I'm super new to this sub, but I've been trying to learn.

Skin Type: Dry/dehydrated (?) with hella oily t-zone

Country/Climate I'm in: Southeast U.S.

Top Skin Concern: controlling oil and PIE

Current Routine/Products I'm Using:

AM

1. Splash face with water
   
2. Stridex in the red box
   
3. Ponds Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream
   
4. Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream (this might be out of order but my foundation looks amaze when I use this last)
   
5. I know I'm missing a sunscreen and currently patch testing Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
   
   PM
   
   
6. Remove make up with Simple Micellar Water & cotton round
   
7. Cleanse with jojoba oil, remove gently with tissue
   
8. Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream
   
9. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Ant-Aging Moisturizer
   
10. Prescription adapalene 0.1%
    
11. Aquaphor
    
    I'm specifically looking for help with my oily t-zone. I swear, it's like that one episode of The Office where they use grease to get the boxes of paper into the truck. Using Innisfree No Sebum powder helps, and I use a lot of blotting sheets, but I'm worried this much oil production means my skin isn't retaining any moisture?
    
    Every cleanser I've tried makes me feel dry, even micellar water or splashing with regular water. I'm still very new to learning about AB, so I haven't tried any AB cleansing products.
    
    Any advice, or suggestions to improve my routine, is very much welcome! Like I said, I'm very new to this so if anything outside of my main concern is a red flag, please feel free to let me know!

What I actually use regularly:

• CeraVe Hydrating facial Cleanser
  
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (in the tub)
  
• CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream Serum
  
  • Only on my eyes at night, it has retinol which isn't good in the sun
    
• CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil
  
  • At night as a sort of night mask
    
• Clean & Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent Toner
  
  • as a spot treatment for pimples
    
• Heritage Rose Water and Gylcerin Spray
  
• Cure Natural Aqua Gel
  
  • This is the best product I own. I use it once or twice a week, all those "grey snakes" just roll right off your face.
    
• CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
  
  • I use this as body lotion
    
    Remaining items on bottom shelf: picture
    
    
• CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
  
  • Not a fan of this for my face so now I use it to clean my Make up brushes
    
• CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
  
• Bite Agave Lip Mask
  
• Ancient Healing Clay
  
  • Just bought this after reading good things about Benonite Clay but it dried out my skin so I'm not sure how I like it
    
• Peter Thomas Roth Poten-C Power Serum sample Packets
  
• Jade Facial Roller
  
  • I got this as a gift at work, not sure if it actually does anything
    
    Remaining Middle Shelf: Picture
    
    
• Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser
  
• Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask
  
  • So I don't use this and I just remembered that it's because the last time I did my sensitive skin was not happy with it at all, my whole face turned red and puffy. I will be throwing this away.
    
• Peter Thomas Roth 6 Piece Mask Kit
  
• Clearasil Rapid Action Vanishing Acne Treatment
  
  • My Clean & Clear Toner seems to work a lot better than this stuff
    
• Prescriptives All You Need Moisturizer Sample
  
  Top Shelf: Picture
  
  
• La Mer Samples: My mom got me these for Christmas and I do like it all but I've been trying to save them for a special occasion where I can feel like I'm glowing because I have hundreds of dollars of skin care slabbed onto my face. Not exactly sure if the results live up to the reputation.
  
  • Replenishing Oil Exfoliator
    
  • Cleansing Oil
    
  • The Eye Concentrate
    
  • The Cleansing Micellar Water
    
  • The Regenerating Serum x2

No promises that these are THE cheapest, but these are the cheapest ones I know of. No guarantees about finish, skinfeel, staying power, etc, as I haven't used most of them.

Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel Pump, 140g - $10.22

Rohto Skin Aqua Sarafit Essence UV, 80g - $7.14

Shiseido Senka Aging Care UV Sunscreen, 50g - $7.75. I actually have used this one, and on me it's good for dry skin days but has an EXTREMELY shiny finish.

Shiseido Senka Mineral Water UV Gel, 40 mL - $7.58. Subject of this extraordinarily scathing review, but also has a bunch of positive reviews on Amazon, so... YMMV?

Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Milk - $14.49 on Amazon or $10.50 on Beautytap, where I purchased it. Unsure of the size on this one but it appears to be quite generous compared to, say, Biore Perfect Face Milk. I've heard great things about this one and my bottle is en route to me now, though I'm not a fan of the ~45% markup on Amazon.

I'm a bit older than your average SCA subscriber, so I'll chime in a bit. I have dryer, more mature skin and this is the basics of what I do and what has really improved my skin.

IF I were to start from scratch with the things I now know, I'd probably start with these things, in order of use.

An oil cleanser, like Hado Labo I've used straight oil and multiple oil cleanser. The ones that emulsify are a bit easier to use, and I prefer them, but I think most well regarded ones are pretty similar.

Second cleanser maybe, a ph balanced foam cleanser. I usually just oil cleanse, but use the foaming cleanser in addition every few days. This one is well regarded.

A toner. This isn't so much of a cleansing step as a first step of moisturization. Klairs supple prep tone

Holy grail product for me, Snail Creme. I love the Mizon one. It goes on before serums.

A Hyaluronic Acid serum, such as Paula's Choice

A night cream. I'd maybe use the Cerave here or another layer of the Mizon AIO. The Mizon is super light, sinks in and never greasy. It's not really a "moisturizer", so cream is a bit of a misnomer, but with everything else, it may be enough.

If you got her nothing else, I'd get her the Mizon snail creme. Seriously miracle product, IMO. I'd start with stuff like this and then maybe consider a retinol or other acid, if needed. Maybe some others can chime in with a retinol recommendation.

I wholly empathize with you. I had severe cystic acne for 12 years, and no one understood what it was like. It was a living hell, and no matter what I did, there never seemed to be an end in sight. It was overwhelming to say the least.

The first thing that stuck out to me was that you avoid moisturizers. Your routine should include a light moisturizer so that you don't dry out your skin. You want gentle but effective treatment, not collateral damage. I have oily skin, and someone gave me this moisturizer as a gift. It seems to work well, and I'm guessing it's water-based.

I completely understand your frustrating lack of funds. I have almost no income and have no health insurance at all, so I know first0hand how hard that is. Maybe you can save up for certain products or research cheaper options. Try researching moisturizers for oily skin and see what you can find. Just don't give up!

You do need to see a very knowledgeable dermatologist. If you look into it now, it may be worth the wait. I emphasize "knowledgeable," because the dermatologist you choose must know how to treat your acne as well as identify the underlying cause.

In your case, your cystic acne could be hormonal. If you have excess/unwanted hair growth, thinning scalp hair, irregular periods, weight gain, and the acne, you could have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and treatment includes a medication called Spironolactone. But, if I'm not mistaken, even if you don't have PCOS, your acne can still be hormonal.

There are other causes, too, of course, and a good dermatologist will know to dig deep and really search for good answers. Research the dermatologists in your area and look for ratings and reviews online.

Push forward. Keep going with this. And be nice to your skin! No baking soda cleansing (as this throws off the pH balance of your skin), no overly-gritty exfoliants (looking at you, St. Ives apricot scrub!), and try not to pick. Oil cleansing and micellar water cleansing can be good methods for removing every speck of makeup at bedtime.

You are in the UK, so I'm not sure what products you have available. But research, research, research! Another tip: With Google shopping, you can sort your search results from lowest to highest price.

Good luck!!

There are a lot of good suggestions here already. As someone mentioned, Lush products can be really harsh. They tend to include a lot of oils that can actually be quite irritating, worse if your skin barrier is damaged from dryness, so it's probably best to stay away from that brand while your skin is healing. Cerave is the best, since the ceramides it contains will help repair the skin barrier and help your skin retain moisture better. The cream is great, but you probably need even more moisture than it can provide, so you may want to layer under something like Vanicream, which is ultra moisturizing and hypoallergenic and contains some mineral oil to seal everything in (but isn't sticky at all). In my experience, used in moderate amounts, Vanicream also works really nicely as a moisturizing makeup primer for dry skin. I also recommend & Other Stories Plush Balm as an occasional salve. It's made with cocoa butter, shea butter, and other great healing ingredients, but can be comedogenic if you're acne-prone, so for me personally I can't use it more than a couple days per week.
Removing makeup with something like a cleansing oil (Neutrogena makes a good affordable one) followed by Cerave hydrating cleanser is also good to prevent your skin from drying out. Try to avoid the urge to exfoliate too often while your skin is healing, as it can damage the new skin that's forming! In my experience chemical exfoliators like Cure Aqua Gel are less harsh when my skin is going through a particularly dry, sensitive skin spell. Good luck!

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.

Many brands have come out with a men's version, but I think the main difference is the scent & the price, but I don't know if the formulation is any different.

My boyfriend loves my skin79 BB cream in hot pink but it doesn't have much coverage though it is great at evening out skintone, hiding redness, and making skin soft. My boyfriend also has pitted scars from acne that seem to be neutralized with the BB cream; it doesn't hide it, but it definitely brings less attention to it. The scent isn't strong so it doesn't bother him. I should also note that it is amazing at adjusting to your skin tone! I'm southeast asian tan (~NC30) and he's caucasian and pale (~NW15) and it somehow magically works for both of us, but it does take longer to adjust to my skin than his.

You should also take into consideration what kind of skin your brother has (oily/dry/combination) and what kind of benefits he wants to gain. BB cream isn't really a miracle cream but I have noticed an improvement using certain brands. If all else fails, you can get him various samples from different brand or a sample pack like this. Also, make sure to read reviews from whichever seller or website you're buying it off to ensure that it's genuine.

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

Skin79 is a cheap and easy order on amazon, this kit samples their popular BBs and allows you try which one is best, for only $5! . I ordered it several months ago, and still have some leftover, even in the ones I have used a lot!

I recommend if you want to try US drugstore BB cream, go for Revlon Photoready. I've tried almost all of the ones on the market--L'Oreal was literally useless, and Garnier is on the same level. Maybelline Dream BB worked pretty well too. But honestly, the Skin79 is extremely reasonably priced and head and shoulders above the rest in both coverage and staying power!


Good luck trying them out! BB cream forever altered my beauty routine for the better!

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!

stock up HEAVILY on cotton gauze, paper tape, aquaphor, and steri strips. steri strips are amazing. my surgeon placed inch long pieces all along my incisions, and told me to keep them on until they fell off. as they fell off i replaced them with longer pieces because the swelling made me feel like i was going to pop open. i pulled them off in the shower every few days to replace with clean pieces and i wore them for a few weeks after i had my stitches taken out, really until i felt like my skin had come back together. i liked to put bandaid brand gauze pads over my regular thin gauze for cushioning under clothing and to keep aquaphor on the skin. aquaphor will be really helpful in keeping incisions moist so they don't scab but also will help the gauze not stick to any pus or blood within the incisions.
also a nice fan will help keep you comfy and is great for air drying your skin after showers before reapplying tape and gauze (:

i found this bra to be the absolute comfiest. the fabric is thick and soft and the back is mesh for ventilation.

Howdy, skin twin! This is what my skin looked like before I started taking care of it, and if I fall off the skincare wagon, that's what it goes back to.

The main issues here are that your skin needs some exfoliation, and you need both a source of moisture, and a way to keep it in.

With exfoliation, you have two options: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation is stuff like facial scrubs, pore brushes, etc. It's a popular method, but it can be harsh to your skin. I like chemical exfoliation - specifically, and Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), which works by breaking down the bonds between dead skin and living skin, so the dead crusty bits can be gently washed off.

After that, you need to tackle the dehydration. Dehydrated skin gets that rough, uneven orange-peel appearance, and makes large pores more obvious. This is true even if your skin is oily - you can be oily and dehydrated at the same time, and dehydrated skin can actual trigger more oil production.

In addition to a moisturizer, you'd benefit from an occlusive to keep the moisture from evaporating, especially if you live in a dry climate or are exposed to air conditioning all day.

So here's a really basic routine you could try out. I use a lot of Asian products because they're cheap and work well, but you can find similar products local to you.

1. Oil cleanse

"Normal" face washes can be really drying, especially the ones marketed towards men, for some reason. If your face feels tight and plasticky after you wash it, your cleanser is to blame. I use an emulsifying oil cleanser.

You put it on your dry face, rub it around to get it to stick to the gunk in your pores, and then rinse with water, which makes it emulsify and become un-oily. Cool!

It doesn't actually have to be an oil cleanser - any hydrating, non-drying cleanser will work fine.

Some folks use a secondary cleanser after this, but unless you wear makeup, you probably don't need it, and it risks drying you out more.

2. Acid exfoliation

Now that you have a clean face, it's time to get rid of the dead stuff that makes your skin lumpy. For this, we'll use an AHA - I like this one from CosRX, even though it smells like dog piss on a mushroom.

This is a step you'll only do every other day, maximum. Start with every 2-3 days and go from there. Do this step at night, as AHA will make your skin less resistant to UV (more on that later).

Put a couple drops in your hands, massage it into your face, and then wait. It takes at least 15 minutes for the acid to fully break down that "glue" holding dead skin onto your face.

Rinse it off with water, dry, and move on to the next step.


3. Hydrating toner

The next thing you need is a thin moisturizer, something that can sink right into your skin to plump and de-leatherify it. These are typically going to based on hyaluronic acid, a "goo molecule" that your body uses in every squishy part of your body, from skin to eyeballs to bones. I like this one by Hada Labo, but there are good options from Klairs, Paula's Choice, etc.

Put a few drops on your hands and pat/squish into your face. Give it a minute to dry. If your face feels tight, you can repeat this step a couple times.

4. Ceramide lotion

Ceramides help to "waterproof" your skin from the inside, to prevent loss of all that moisture you just added. Cerave PM is pretty much the best bang for your buck - despite the "PM" in the label, you can use it day and night.

5 (Daytime). Sunblock

Before you go out for the day, you need sunblock. Damage from the sun is a huge contributor to crappy dehydrated skin, and now that you're exposing fresh new skin with the AHA, you're going to be even more sensitive to it.

Due to some weird laws surrounding what we can use in sunblock in the US and some other Western countries, it's likely that the only sunblock you can get in stores is that thick, oily, gross, white stuff.

The Japanese have the rest of the world pretty much beat when it comes to sunblock - Biore Aqua Rich is a solid choice, although you'll need something heavier for days when you're going to be sweating or swimming.

5 (Night). Occlusive

Now that you've done all this work to moisturizer your skin, you don't want it to just evaporate overnight. That's where an occlusive comes in - a thick outer layer that protects your skin and all the stuff you just put on it. Aquaphor is great for this.

So there you go - a solid starting routine! Try that out for a week and see if your skin doesn't start to look better - if you're not doing anything to your skin right now, you're bound to see some improvement with this.

Note that there is some risk of bad reactions whenever you're using new face stuff. The oil cleanser and lotion might give you a breakout of small white bumps, the AHA might feel to harsh and make your face red, you might be allergic to an ingredient in the toner, etc. If that happens, stop using everything, and start adding each item back into your routine slowly until you identify the culprit.

Good luck, and happy moisturizing!

Asian sunscreens! My bf is the same way and i bought a bunch of stuff for him but I finally got him by letting him use my $17 from amazon sunscreen! Figured he wouldn’t like it because it’s what I use and is spf 50++++, but the UV skin aqua moisture gel sunscreen works for both of us now :) he says “wow it’s really like water!” All the time lol. Linked on amazon below- takes 1-2 weeks to get but comes with cool Japanese postage stamps :)

Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel pump (SPF50 + PA ++++) 140g https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BM1USNO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_erA6Cb7H5RX3Z

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to give a detailed response. It's sort of sad knowing that people here care more and will give details about things more than PAYING a dermatologist who just wants to give you harsh products and send you on your way.

I will definitely be taking a peak at r/AsianBeauty as I think you're very on track with how my skin is and acts. Heck, I'm with most Asians as well when it comes to alcohol, my face will become even more flushed instantly!

I'm really liking the routine you have suggested and well try this as I look around on the other sub. I think an issue I have to curb is my lack of motivation after so many years to do something. I try things, they fail, I get depressed and give up and just moisturize/clean once a day and that's it with products probably not helping me or even possibly causing issues with my skin (no doubt my cleanser as non-harsh as it is, still causes my skin to inflame and get little patches of red irritation).

May I ask if:

https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Facial-Lotion-Ounce/dp/B00365DABC/ref=sr_1_1_s_f_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493512665&sr=1-1&ppw=fresh&keywords=Cerave%2BFacial%2BMoisturizing%2BLotion%2BPM&th=1

was the lotion you were talking about? I only could find this one with all 3 important compounds you mentioned and this one which as SPF with zinc (good for red skin I hear?)

https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizers-Moisturizing-Facial-Lotion/dp/B00F97FHAW/ref=sr_1_10_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493514062&sr=1-10&keywords=Cerave+Facial+Moisturizing+Lotion+PM

Lastly, if you don't mind answering:

1. Are you familiar with stuff like evening primrose oil, hemp seed oil ect.? High omega 6 fatty acid stuff, supposedly anti-inflammatory? I used primrose oil to no avail besides getting some moisturizing effects from it, and I think my heavy use of it over two months led to some blowback with more redness and odd patchy dry scaling occurring that lasted a few days, but I'm not sure that was the cause. If primrose didn't work, could hemp work, or most of those types of oils doing basically the same thing and isn't worth looking at any further if I already used one?
   
   
2. In addition to the routine, are you familiar with products like:
   
   http://www.ulta.com/travel-size-your-skin-but-better-cc-cream-with-spf-50?productId=xlsImpprod11001537
   
   It's categorized as a female product, but it seems like something that can perhaps help mask/tone down the redness a bit while providing some SPF. Seems to have things such as peptides, niacin, vitamins A, C, B, E, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolyzed collagen along with anti-oxidants and exotic natural botanicals. I've never worn this type of stuff before, and although it seems to be for girls maybe just a light bit that matches my skin tone and remove a few shades, while not being harsh on skin and giving SPF would be beneficial while helping me not feel so bad when my face flushes when I'm out and about from spicy foods, or heat ect.
   
   Anyways, thank you again, your help means a lot.
   

Hi everyone! I'm very new to AB and after reading through many guides and articles, I created my first routine, and it's made up of the basics (since you guys said to limit your haul to 4-5 items), I have these items in my amazon cart ready to go, but I wanted to get a second opinion!

Skin Type: Dry/Acne-Prone | Country/Climate I'm in: Seattle - Rainy and Cold | Top Skin Concern: PIH/Acne


AM

• [Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam]
  (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CE5P580/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ALWX5VVJPZEDR&psc=1)
  
  
  
• Rohto Hadalabo Shirojyun Albutin Milk
  
  
  
• Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+/PA++++
  
  
  
  PM
  
  
  
• Etude House Real Art Cleansing Oil Moisture Advanced
  
  
  
• Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam
  
  
  
• BENTON Snail Bee High Content Essence
  
  
  
• Rohto Hadalabo Shirojyun Albutin Milk
  
  
  I'm mostly curious about the BENTON serum. I've heard that it's best to only use it once (at night), but some blogs have you using them in the morning as well. Also, with the BENTON serum would I have to wait 20 minutes before moving on to emulsion? Any other comments/criticisms would be appreciated! Thank you AB!
  
  

Sooo these are just suggestions 😁 you could pick one from each category...or just do it however you'd like lol

_


Cleanser:

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 16 oz for Daily Face Washing, Dry to Normal Skin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSSDEPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TVQdBb4ADMMB7

__

"after shave":

this shit is AMAZZZZZING
seriously if you get NOTHING else, I'd say get this Paula's Choice toner. It feels like you're extinguishing a fire when you put it on (pour it into your palms and lightly pat on your face...then do it again).

Paula's Choice-SKIN RECOVERY Calming Toner-for Sensitive Facial Skin and Dry, Rosacea Prone Skin-Reduces Redness and Fine Lines-1-6.4 oz Bottle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00949CII0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SCQdBbJEW9ERM

HADALABO Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074GX619Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZGQdBb8FG4AHW

Bioderma Sensibio Moisturizing Toner for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I4OSYIS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yyQdBbMFZD2P2

_____

Moisturizer/hydration:

Hada Labo Rohto Goku-jun Hyaluronic Milky Lotion, 140ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BS3Q0XE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AKQdBbA8G3KB4

Skinfix Gentle Lotion - Fragrance Free - 12 oz
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RZN22ZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yAQdBb1CNHZ6T

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM 3 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F97FHAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TTQdBbQZ6KK4S

Squalane Oil is terrific. Yes, it's oil, so you may be apprehensive, but it's an oil that your body produces naturally and it absorbs extremely well and quickly. Next to the PC toner above, this is probably my most useful product. (It's way cheaper on their website directly btw.)
Always apply any oil after everything else (except sunscreen, which must always go last).

The Ordinary 100% Plant-derived Squalane 30ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071HWGWST/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2LQdBb8XVFN70

__

POSSIBLE treatment:

I don't use any topical treatments for acne per se, but here is one you could certainly try (sparingly):

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution (30ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FJBVZP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FQQdBbT93GWQ8

___

Sunscreen (mandatory! 😁):

Cotz Spf 40 UVB/UVA Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, 3.5 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008U2Y5ME/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6SQdBbWB9V26G

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM 3 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F97FHAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TTQdBbQZ6KK4S

__

Hope this helps!! :)

• 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!

**Skin type and skin concerns:**

Main concerns: Dryness, acne (cystic and general acne all over chin and cheeks), and splotchy discoloration all over my face (my dermatologist said it was melasma). My skin is consistently congested and breaking out, yet my entire face is sensitive, dull, itchy and flakey. After years of reading tips here, I've finally gotten to the point where redness and the majority of flaking is gone and products don't burn when they touch me, but my skin remains dull and feels tight.

​

While the products I've selected are relatively affordable, they add up. Plus I'm worried I'm doing more damage than good by overwhelming my skin with all these product. Mostly though, I'm so jealous of all your minimalist routines I see on here, and I want to create one that would work for me. I don't know where to start. What are your thoughts?

​

**Skincare routine with full product names**

AM

1. Wipe face gently with Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes
   
2. Spritz face with rose water to re-moisten (currently using Leven Rose Rose Water)
   
3. Eva Naturals Vitamin B3 5% Niacinamide Serum(daily)
   
4. Spritz face with Kikumasamune Sake High Moisture Skin Lotion Tonerbefore skin dries completely
   
5. Moisturize with Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream
   
6. Spritz face again with Kiku to keep moist
   
7. Warm two drops of The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Hemi-Squalanein hands and pat all over face (I just added this to my routine and I have high hopes)
   
8. Australian Gold Botanical Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50
   
9. Coola Liplux Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 30
   
10. 1-2 times per week, exfoliate face with Baiden Mitten Exfoliator Glove
    
11. 1-2 times per week exfoliate lips with Hanalei Sugar Lip Scrub
    
    PM
    
    
12. First cleanse with Illiyoon Total Aging Care Cleansing Oil (I'm finishing up this bottle and then I'm going back to using Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil).
    
13. Second cleanse with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
    
14. Saturate cotton pad (White Rabbit organic cotton) with Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner and gently wipe face and neck
    
15. Spritz face with rose water to re-moisten
    
16. Elizavecca Hell Pore Control Hyaluronic acid Serum(nightly)
    
17. Spritz face with Kiku before skin dries completely
    
18. Moisturize with Elizavecca Milky Piggy Retinol Cream
    
19. Spritz face again with Kiku to keep moist
    
20. Additional moisturizer layer with Mizon Black Snail All in One Cream (I'm sure this is unnecessary, but I feel like the snail cream has done more for me than any other product and I'm emotionally attached to it now lol)
    
21. Warm two drops of TO squalane oil in hands and pat all over face (NEW)
    
22. Hanalei Lip Treatment
    
23. Cover any cystic acne with spot treatment patches
    
24. Once a week, spot treat dry problem areas with Origins drink up intensive overnight mask(it looks like they recently changed the formula for this, so I'm going to have to find something new when this runs out)
    
25. Once a week, spot treat acne problem areas with Proactiv Skin Purifying Mask
    
    ​
    
    **Daily behaviors possibly impacting skin:**
    
    My diet is crap. While I don't eat a lot of processed food, I eat too much sugar, too much oily and fatty foods, too much red meat and not enough vegetables. Because of my family, it's going to be difficult to make adjustments, and honestly I'm not sure where to start. Caffeine consumption is pretty high, while I only have the occasional coffee, I drink a TON of green tea and oolong tea. Water intake is fair, and I usually refill my 32oz water bottle 2 times a day (yes, I have to run to the bathroom at least every 30 minutes). I pretty much stopped wearing makeup a little over a year ago, now I only wear for special occasions and the occasional eye liner.

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
  
  

For sure. A lot of people have luck with the CeraVe moisturizing cream, this product works for me and I have dry sensitive skin. A lot of people also recommend Vanicream moisturizer (I personally have not used, but I see a lot of people on here recommending it). These are both supposedly basic and calming products to repair the moisture barrier. They are also not super expensive which is nice.

Right now I am using the Purito centella unscented sunscreen as my daily moisturizer. It is very very moisturizing and my sensitive skin likes it. During night I am using the Purito green cream. Both these products contain centella asiatica which is supposed to decrease redness.

EDIT: Another gentle moisturizer I've read that people recommend on here and r/SkincareAddiction is Cosx ceramide comfort cream.

EDIT2: If you are just starting out with a skincare routine, you should really go check out the bountiful resources at r/SkincareAddiction. For example go on the right hand panel and they have a lot of stuff. Check out the HG (holy grail) threads for moisturizers, etc. They have a whole wiki devoted to

• Rosacea too.
  
• Info on moisturizers
  
• Routine steps

• 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.
  

For moisturizers and the like, I definitely recommend going to /r/SkincareAddiction, they're very nice, lots of information and everyone is very helpful. They can help you find some good moisturizers to try.

As for other more makeup related things, I've had my eye on this eyeliner set for a while now, and I might get it from a different seller when I have the disposable income (I'm currently a mostly broke college student).

I live in a really humid place, so I've got my eye on this setting powder

I'm also a sucker for cute things, so this is on my wishlist too.

If you do want to try out some BB creams, this set isn't too expensive.

I really like the Maybelline color tattoo eyeshadows. I have two, one in Pomegranate punk, and another in electric blue. They're waterproof, so I use sweet almond oil to take it off.

My Amazon wishlist is about half skincare stuff, because I think the two go hand in hand. Also I wear makeup now that I feel more confident about my face and skin.

I use this one which I guess is the gel:

Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel pump (SPF50 + PA ++++) 140g https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BM1USNO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_n73IBbTGJWNX2

It really doesn't feel like a gel to me, but it does sink in great. I layer it over Hada Labo gyokijyun hydrating toner and a single pump of stratia liquid gold so I'm not sure how it would do on its own in terms of feeling stiff or drying, but over that it's fantastic. I will say it smells strongly of...alcohol i think? at first, but it evaporates quickly. You need 2.5 pumps to get the full 1/4 teaspoon you need for full sun protection but the bottle is a nice size. I love Asian sunscreens!!!!

Haha yeah, it doesn't have a lot of slip, so it's hard to spread it out.

What moisturizer do you use? Try to find Vanicream. It comes in a large, inexpensive pump bottle and they sell it at most drug stores. That's what I use most of the time.

I wouldn't apply the oil yet, but that would be the first thing I would add on to your routine when it's time. The fewer things you apply at first the better.

You should always wear sunscreen. The sun damages and ages everyone's skin. The most effective thing you can do to improve your skin as you age is to wear sunscreen regularly.

Sunscreens in the USA are pretty terrible due to a classification issue that makes it difficult for new sunscreen ingredients to be approved by the FDA. I use Japanese sunscreens. They sell them on Amazon, but they ship from Japan. They are non-greasy and better at protecting skin from the sun. Many of them, even the inexpensive ones, include things like hyaluronic acid. They're awesome. Some examples: here, here, here.

With physical sunblock containing zinc, it's gonna happen. With the US-approved reactive sunscreens, they also react with many soaps and turn red instead of white. I second the suggestion for Biore sunscreens from Japan. I used the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence for my face and their slightly cheaper Watery Gel for my tattoos. No zinc to white cast and none of the reef-killing reactives to ruin my clothes in the wash. They can be found on Amazon or eBay, sometimes with two day shipping and sometimes with month-long shopping.

[Biore UV AQUA Rich Watery Essence on Amazon](http://www.Biore.com/ UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence 50g, Sunscreen, SPF50+ PA++++, Latest Package, Set of 2 with YUMERIA Original Sakura Compressed Hand Towel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D8QMBPS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3tWqDb6QA94TK)

[Biore UV AQUA Rich Watery Gel on Amazon](http://www.Biore.com/ UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel 90ml, 2019 Renewed Sunscreen, SPF50+ PA++++, Set of 2 with YUMERIA Original Sakura Compressed Hand Towel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P94RZQD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cvWqDbYJTJ3KV)[Shiseido Japan sunscreen which dries faster than the Watery Gel]

(Senka Aging Care UV Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ (Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O6DXICO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8vWqDbCHVQ3K8)

[Cosrx Sunscreen with aloe, it's t h i cc ](http://www.COSRX.com/ Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++, 50ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PBX3FLW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SwWqDb3RPY48S)

Hi there! I also struggle with sensitive skin, and as a result I have problems with dandruff, oily skin (especially on the face), acne, acne scars, and eczema. Sensitive skin runs in my family (I'm Irish). So, I will give you a personal remedy that I developed over the last year that significantly reduced these problems.

I got some good initial information from this thread in /r/malefashionadvice. I use most of the products that he mentions there, my personal favorites being the cetaphil dermacontrol foam wash and the cetaphil dermacontrol moisturizer SPF 30.

For starters, it is important to get in a good skincare routine. I was always busy in high school and told myself that I didn't have time to waste taking care of my face. It wasn't until college that I realized my lack of skincare was really inhibiting my ability to feel confident, so that's when I decided I needed to get into a good routine. I started out by washing my face three times a day, and making sure I drink at least half a gallon of water throughout the day. Skin becomes oily when it is dehydrated, and drinking water is a good initial step to keeping it from being dehydrated.

I didn't really solidify my routine until I stumbled upon the /r/malefashionadvice skincare thread. It all depends on what works for your skin type, but for my oily sensitive skin, this is what I found works best:

• I wash my face three times a day, once in the morning and afternoon each with cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, and before bed with the cetaphil dermacontrol foam wash.
  
  
• Each time after washing my face, I also apply the Dickinson's witch hazel pore perfecting toner. It's a lot harder to find than the cetaphil products (I just picked those up from walgreens), but it is definitely worth it. I've tried two or three other toners and all of them left my skin very oily and irritated. It smells a little off, but it's not really a lingering smell
  
  
• After the toner has set in, I apply cetaphil dermacontrol moisturizer SPF 30. I'll also apply this throughout the day if I'm outside a lot. It helps control the sheen of my skin by keeping it moisturized. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water before putting this on because you do not want dirt getting into your pores!
  
  
• To get rid of the stubborn blackheads that won't go away, I use pore strips about once a week.
  
  
• I wash my pillowcase once a week and my bedsheets every two weeks. Every night sweat and dirt and dead skin comes off of your face and hair and goes into your pillowcase and bedsheets. Keep them clean so your face has a nice sanitary place to rest for 8 hours every night.
  
  
• I also wash my towels once a week. I have four that I cycle throughout the week (one every two days). Washing your towels is just as important as washing your pillowcase/bedsheets because they are supposed to wipe away the dirt in your face, so if you don't wash them regularly, that dirt just accumulates and goes back into your pores.
  
  After finally getting into a good facial skincare routine, I started having problems with excema and dandruff. I fortunately had a routine physical with my doctor where I asked him what I could do about these problems. This is where you may disagree with me, but he told me that I should not shower more than once a week. As I mentioned earlier, skin becomes oily/irritated when it is dehydrated, and one of the easiest ways to dehydrate your skin is excessive bathing. The doctor told me to shower once a week and more importantly to not use soap on areas besides the face, armpits, and genitals.
  
  I told my doctor that I shower everyday because I go to the gym and sweat furiously. He told me to just take a quick rinse after the gym to wipe the sweat off, and to apply lotion daily. I apply Jergen's Ultra Healing lotion once every night before bed.
  
  As for dandruff, this is where you may need to look elsewhere. While I do have dandruff, it's not much of a problem for me simply because it isn't very severe. I wash my hair three or four times a week with Dove Men + Care Sensitive Scalp. Since I don't shower, I usually just do this before bed by getting my hair wet in the shower, scrubbing the shampoo in vigorously with my fingers, then washing it out while also massaging my scalp. If that product doesn't work for you, you can't go wrong with some Head & Shoulders.
  
  I hope this helps you, let me know if you think there's anything I left out!
  
  EDIT: added towel-washing regimen

My all-time favorite cleanser is this one if you're interested. Don't order it right now though, it's usually $10 and the price will go back down

That Avene sunscreen is good on sun protection but has two major cons - it's expensive and it's gonna leave a white caste. If you have even a bit of melanin in you, trust me it's gonna leave a caste. Btw don't wear multiple sunscreens at once, there are some ingredients that don't work well together and can degrade each other. Pick one and apply liberally. A really great Japanese sunscreen that I recommend like this one is cheaper and will look much better on your skin. I also thought I couldn't access Japanese sunscreen because I didn't know I could order it on Amazon. I seriously couldn't recommend them enough. They're affordable, look better on the skin, and have FAR better sun protection.

I ordered a bottle of Cure Natural Aqua Gel exfoliator stuff out of pure curiousity. While I was researching it I found loads of rave reviews along with skeptical assessments that because of its ingredients it shouldn't work. I have to find out for myself.


I also ordered another bottle of Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence, making this my third repurchase. My skin really loves this stuff and it seems to miss it when I run out.


I'm trying to decide which facial sunscreen to try next and would appreciate recommendations, particularly AB! I'm currently finishing a tube of Missha All Around Safe Block and like it a lot but fancy trying something different. I've also used and enjoyed Shiseido Hada Senka Mineral UV Gel, Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essences, Supergoop Everyday, Supergoop Soothing, and both of the ones from Elta MD. Ones I didn't like so much were Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch, Benefit Dream Screen, or any of the ones from La Roche Posay. I have dry skin and my budget is pretty open, and I don't have a preference between physical and chemical sunscreens.

Honestly keep your skincare minimal with the holy trinity: gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

• Aquaphor is a definite yes!!
  
• love the Cerave Moisturizing Cream too
  
• A gentle cleanser (I use Cetaphil)
  
• SUNSCREEN! Honestly don't even think you can get away from not wearing sunscreen, especially on Accutane. You're going to be super sensitive to the sun and sun exposure may lead to sun burns or worse: permanent sun damage
  
  Freebies:
  
• If your scalp starts getting itchy, I recommend picking up dandruff shampoo
  
• If you start experiencing joint pains, fish oil supplements help
  
• Your eyes might dry out too (happening to me) so you might want to get eye drops
  
• Some people have reported getting nosebleeds and dry nostrils (me for the dry nostrils) so nasal spray and moisturizing the inside (Ik gross) may help by using a Q tip and Vaseline
  
  Hope this helps xx

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

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

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

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


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


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


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

When I was exfoliating too much, my skin broke out in tiny, itchy red dots. It was irritated, red, and flaky, but still oily as hell. So I backed off from the scrubbing and let my skin heal. Now I use cosrx blackhead power liquid, which contains betaine salicylate, a more gentle form of salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid). I don't really have problems with salicylic acid, but this stuff does seem to be less drying. I also use MUAC Mandelic Acid Toner a few times a week. It contains mandelic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid with a large molecular size. Their mandelic acid serum is also really good. I only use it a couple times a week.

Every couple weeks I'll use Skin79 Crystal Peeling Gel. It's a gel with cellulose, which sticks to oil and dead skin. As you rub it off, it takes the oil and dead skin with it, leaving behind smooth skin. I really like it because it's very gentle but effective. Korean and Japanese brands have lots of peeling gels. All of them have worked pretty much the same, so I haven't bothered with the expensive ones like Cure Aqual Gel, which is very popular.

I used to use abrasive scrubs and at-home microdermabrasion kits like the one from Olay. It worked really well until my face decided it had had enough.

This is just my exfoliation routine. There are other products I use that I can tell you about if you're interested. :)

The playa poses a few challenges to taking care of your skin:

1 - Maintaining the pH balance of your acid mantle

Believe it or not, the skin on your face is slightly acidic (pH of about 5.5). This helps protect your skin from acne-causing bacteria. However, playa dust is alkali and can throw your pH off kilter. You know that "squeaky clean" feeling you get after washing with some soaps? Unfortunately that's your acid mantle being washed away by alkali detergents which leaves your skin more sensitive to all sorts of nasty stuff (bacteria, fungus, pollutants, etc). Thus all the stuff you hear about using a "gentle cleanser" for washing your face. This actually means a pH neutral cleanser.

2 - Keeping your skin from getting too dry

Another aspect of protecting your acid mantle is to make sure it isn't too dry (meaning too little oil or water). The structure of your skin's acid mantle contains fatty lipids which help form this protective barrier. Dry it out and your skin is again vulnerable. For those who say their skin clears up on the playa, I'm guessing these folks may have oily skin so the dry atmosphere may help them balance shit out. Since you are already on a topical solution, I think you'd be especially sensitive to dry skin issues.

3 - Protecting your skin from the sun

Sun damage is real, m'kay? The sun's rays slow down the production of new skins cells. Age also slows down this process. You know how little kids rarely get scars? That's because their skin "heals faster" vs. adults, meaning their skin cells regenerate faster. If you are trying to heal acne or some sort of scratch, use sunscreen! You'll be amazed how much faster your skin starts to look better.



So, what should you do on the playa? I recommend cleaning your face using a cotton pad and a mild organic toner twice a day. The toner removes the playa dust, adds some skin-loving vitamins, and helps the skin from getting dried out. You also need to use sunscreen (ideally a physical formula) so it stays on a good chunk of the day.


TL:DR -- clean your face with a cotton pad and a mild toner 2X a day and use sunscreen.

Hello all! First off, I am so glad I found this sub. I am a 27 year old male, and I am a noob. All I used to do was just put on Neutrogena facial moisturizer, and wash my face in the shower with body scrub. Then I found this sub because I really realized that I need to take better care of my skin. I read the WIKI and FAQ and got my current routine from the helpful info on this sub.

The issue: Ever since I started this routine, I am breaking out in both my lower cheeks. I have maybe...9-10 pimples on my face. This is not normal as I usually only have 1-2 at most when breaking out, but normally I have none.

Skin type OILY!

Current routine:So I got all but 1 these product recommendations from this sub. Soo my routine is:

MORNING:
Wash face with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, for normal to oily skin

Afterwards apply CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion, and do this every 2-3 hours during the day

NIGHT:
Wash face with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, for normal to oily skin

Right before going to sleep, I put on Neutrogena® Men Age Fighter Face Moisturizer with Retinol. This is the only product that I did not get from this site. I used this product for months, and my skin never reacted bad to it. Here is a link in case you guys want to see what ingredients are in it:
>Ensulizole (1%), Octinoxate (6%). Inactive Ingredients: Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, BHT, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Silica, Alumina, Methylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben.

How long:The age fighter with retinol I have used for almost a year. The rest of the products that I got from this subs HG thread, I have been using for about 9 days now

Anything new:Everything except the age fighter

Your location: Los Angeles

Other notes:I got this stuff from Amazon. The facial cleanser is supposed to be unscented.......however it defiantly has a sent. I got all my stuff from Amazon.com...is it possible I got fake/knock offs? I am looking at my Amazon history, here is the link to the one I got:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ET79H8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I just also noticed that the latest reviews are horrible..

Also:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F97FHAW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. I kind of don't know what to do right now since both my cheeks are breaking out pretty bad. My face actually was a lot more clear prior to this routine. However because I never washed my face this much, IDK if this is "normal" or not.

I started getting similar breakouts near my chin after getting on birth control. After trying a lot of different things, I tried adding an evening primrose oil supplement to my vitamin regimen due to my research on this sub and elsewhere. It's only been 2 months (I know that's not a long time in skin-care land), but I have already seen a big difference in my skin, especially around my period. Though I do still get some breakouts, they are MUCH smaller and clear up almost immediately.

My regimen:

Morning: rinse face with water, moisturize with Cetaphil (in the tub), take vitamins/supplements after breakfast (one 1000 mg pill of evening primrose oil, one multivitamin, one 400 IU pill of vitamin E)

Evening: wash with Cetaphil gentle cleanser & pink Sephora manual face cleansing brush, apply coconut oil(I literally just dip my fingers in the jar and apply to my face).

I may up my intake of the evening primrose oil (the bottle recommends taking 3 pills per day), but I wanted to test it out first. I've also heard good things about spearmint tea helping with hormonal breakouts, but no personal experience. Good luck to you!

I would be very careful with using Vaseline as an occlusive. Definitely patch test it for a prolong period (like 2 weeks) before going all out. Better to have a small patch of blemishes than a face full of it. It does sound like your skin might benefit from something exfoliating like the C20 to help with dullness, but without some good hydrating & occlusive products, that will just land you in trouble.


My HG hydrating & moisturizing 'products':


DYI Witch Hazel, HA, & Glycerin toner (sometimes I add a few drops of high linoleic facial oil or tea tree oil to the mixture). This is my, 'I screwed up my face using too much acne medication/trying a new product that it hates' savior. I know for a fact my skin response very well to these 3 items mixed together & I can always turn to this DYI toner without risk of a reaction. It isn't hydrating enough for me just to use it without a cream of some sort, but it is the figurative lifejacket of skincare routine.



Carezone Doctor's Solution Dematology Hydra Toner, this the most hydrating toner I've ever come across that doesn't break me out.


Carezone Doctor's Solution Dematology H.A. Cream, this cream is on the heavier side, but damn if it doesn't hydrate & moisturize my skin without causing a bad reaction.


Mediheal Mediental Balhyo-Jinjeong Healing Mask is the best damned face mask I've ever used (thank you, Snow White & Asian Pear!) Comfortable to use, crazy moisturizing, & soothing as all get out. The blue, yellow, & purple versions are extremely nice, but the green one has my heart!

I tried to go with cheaper, more accessible Asian & Western products, & soooooo much regret, especially in regards to the toner & cream. As long as they make that those 2 Carezone products & that Mediheal mask, I will be a loyal customer! My only regret is they aren't the easiest to buy. I usually get all 3 off Koreadepart but I may try another vendor the next time I need to order them.


If you're not sensitive to snail, the COSRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence might be the way to go. It's got a pretty limited ingredient list & it's easy to get a hold of without breaking the bank.

I've tried benozyl peroxide, salicylic acid, oral medication, etc. but what worked for me was a gentle face cleanser like Cetaphil and a toner like Thayers. Also make sure to wash your pillow cover often.

If your acne is genetically related like mine then exercising and diet won't really make your acne any better (but still have a healthy lifestyle).
Over-washing your face will make your acne even worse because it dries out your skin which makes your body create more oil leading to more acne.
I would only recommend Accutane as a last resort because of it's many side effects.

Location: California, USA

Skin Type: Normal

Skin Concerns and goals Moisturize, glow, anti-aging

Allergies/irritants to avoid: High fragrance

Morning:

• Cleanse: Amore Pacific Illi cleansing oil and Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
  
  
• Treat:
  
  • If I have pimples: Shiseido Anti-Shine Refreshing Lotion
    
  • Normal day: Hadalabo Shirojyun Arbutin Lotion
    
  • If I'm going to use BHA: Cosrx ABA/BHA Clarifying Treatment toner
    
    
• Moisturise:
  
  • Mizon Snail Recovery Gel or Nutrogena Hydra Boost Water Gel or Shiseido Pureness moisturizing gel-cream
    
    
• SPF:
  
  • Kao Biore UV PERFECT Milk SPF50+ PA++++
    
  • Skin79 Super+ Beblesh Balm Bb Cream VIP Gold
    
    Evening:
    
    
• First Cleanse: Amore Pacific Illi cleansing oil
  
  
• Second Cleanse: Shiseido Fitit Perfect Whip Cleansing Foam
  
  
• Moisturise: Mizon Snail Recovery Gel or Nutrogena Hydra Boost Water Gel or Shiseido Pureness moisturizing gel-cream
  
  
• Treat:
  
  • If I have pimples: Shiseido Anti-Shine Refreshing Lotion
    
  • Normal day: Hadalabo Shirojyun Arbutin Lotion
    
  • If I'm going to use BHA: Cosrx ABA/BHA Clarifying Treatment toner
    
    Comments:
    This isn't really my core 4, it's just what I'm using right now... I have a backlog of products that I need to use. This also doesn't include my serums, sheet masks, exfoliants, etc either. I don't think I'm following the core 4 at all... LOL
    
    

I'm currently working with my dermatologist to treat my seborrheic dermatitis. As such, my routine is VERY minimal and I'm trying to build it up to strengthen my skin while not exacerbating my problems.

I am currently not using anything but a small amount of Elidel (a non-steroid prescription) twice a day on my face after "washing" with water. I have some MCT oil and am in the process of ordering an emulsifier so I can start oil cleansing. I finally sucked it up and bought myself some fungal safe sunscreen today (UltaMD UV Clear SPF 46) and will begin patch testing tomorrow. I'm facing two problems at present: 1) I really need a moisturizer (my skin is easily dry, dehydrated, flakey, even without the seb derm) and 2) I am completely unclear as to how I should be ordering my products.

I've been eyeing Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream as it's fungal safe and appears to be very moisturizing/get good reviews. My only concerns are (again) how to order things and the fact that I know hyaluronic acid works best on wet skin, which mine wouldn't be if I have to apply other products before it.

Any advice in terms of product recs and ordering my routine with the Elidel is GREATLY appreciated! Only other thing to note is that I do have a fatty alcohol sensitivity (breaks me out reallly badly).

I'm looking into the Hadalabo cleansing oil and have found 2 on Amazon, so I'm wondering if they're the same with different packaging or if one is a different formula or..?? This one is the original link that I followed off 50 Shades of Snail's blog and it links to this, which it says is a newer version of the item. I would just go ahead and buy the first linked item, as it seems reputable with many many reviews, but it's gone up in price to $25 and the second one is $16. Really hoping someone can help bc Google wasn't very helpful when I searched for things like "hadalabo cleansing oil new packaging" "new formula" etc lol.. Thanks in advance for any help! :)

I have both aging concerns (I'm 39) and breakout prone skin and early this year I started implementing a skincare routine with mostly Korean products and it has helped tremendously (thanks r/asianbeauty!) Prior to this the ONLY moisturizer I'd ever found that did not break me out in cystic spots was the Clinique DDM gel moisturizer which isn't really very moisturizing.

With the k-beauty stuff I added BHA and AHA which helps with both acne and aging.

Another important thing to consider is PH. High PH cleansers like your Neutrogena scrub or Cetaphil are really not good for your skin. Some great low PH cleansers are Cerave foaming cleanser (not Korean/Asian), Su:m 37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EIMU3NU/ref=sxts2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482935590&sr=2 ) and Hado Labo Gokujyn Cleansing Foam ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036MDUEM/ref=sxts1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482935590&sr=1 )


My current routine is:

AM:

• Su:m 37 stick
  
• Alcohol-free rosewater toner (Thayer's or Secret Key)
  
• Clinique DDM gel or Mizon Snail Recovery Gel (a great light moisturizer and CHEAP!) https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NTR9B6A/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482935871&sr=8-3&keywords=mizon+snail
  
  PM:
  
  
• Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000V2FBAQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482935963&sr=8-1&keywords=kose+softymo
  
• Su:m 37 stick or Cerave cleanser
  
• rosewater toner
  
• CosRX BHA in t-zone and CosRX AHA on cheeks chin and forehead
  
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OZEJ8R8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482936697&sr=8-1&keywords=cosrx+bha+blackhead+power+liquid
  
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OZ9WOD8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482936735&sr=8-1&keywords=cosrx+aha
  
  (Then wait 20 minutes)
  
  
• Hado Labo Gokujyn "lotion" (really more like a toner) https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FQUGXA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482936200&sr=8-1&keywords=hada+labo+gokujyn
  
  
• Benton Snail Bee essence https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EC60MYW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482936253&sr=8-1&keywords=benton+snail+bee+high+content+essence
  
  
• Missha Time Revolution serum
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ATLVNIS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482936487&sr=8-2&keywords=missha+time+revolution
  
  
• Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M4GQO8W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482936552&sr=8-1&keywords=beauty+of+joseon+dynasty+cream
  
  
• Rosette Ceramide Gel https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FQNIX0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482936634&sr=8-1&keywords=rosette+ceramide
  
  None of these products has broken me out. Since you are younger you might not feel the need for the anti-aging products I use (but it's never too early to start!)
  
  As far as makeup: day-to-day I use powder foundation (Dermablend Intense Powder Camo) but for special occasions I use Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, it's the only full coverage liquid foundation that I have found that doesn't give me cystic spots OR totally break up on my nose from oil. It's pricey but a little goes a long way.
  
  HTH! Good luck!

Ouch - that does look painful.
Sorry to hear you're suffering.

Sometimes we really do just need to whine and complain a bit. No worries. I think we've all been there.

I'm sure you've probably tried all different kinds of things but have you gone for some oily options? Something like coconut oil, aquaphor or something similar?

I've been very pleased recently with the Eucerin Daily Hydration lotion. It goes on easily, isn't greasy, really has no smell (not like many others that have a faint scent, this has NO smell) and it has a very light weight feel on my skin....which I LOVE. I use it often and it's really helping.

Anyways, just some ideas for ya. Hope you feel better soon.

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 :)

wow your skin is so glowy!! i'm jelly! A starter kit I would recommend:

-oil cleanser: Kose Speedy Oil Cleanser (washes away clean, non-stripping, takes errrthang off)

-regular cleanser: Cerave Hydrating Cleanser (non-stripping, no frills)

-exfoliating toner: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid toner (can help with your issues described, sounds like closed comedones)

-essence: Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence Rose Edition (plumping, even skin tone over time)

-anti-aging specific: The Ordinary Buffet (or buffet+peptides wow good stuff!)

-moisturizer: Peach Slices Honey Aqua Glow (lightweight gel moisturizer that packs a punch!) or The Ordinary NMF (no frills, does the job)

-SPF: CosRX Aloe Soothing Sunscreen(no white caste, dries to a natural finish, non-drying)

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

A lot of people swear by the Rohto gel sunscreen, which supposedly has no white cast (I've never used so I can't comment): https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Aqua-Super-Moisture-SPF50/dp/B01BM1USNO

Personally I use the Rohto Moisture Milk sunscreen (also on Amazon) because I have drier skin and I love it. It blends in easily and I don't notice a white cast, but then again I'm very fair. But I'd definitely recommend checking both out because they're pretty cheap and have great protection!

Thanks so much for the write up.

>Dupes are Clinique moisturizing gel and Nuetrogena oil-free lotion sensitive skin. Apply a little and rub in circular motions to damp skin so cells can soften and desquamate/shed.

I moisturize first thing after washing my face and I do wash my face in the shower quite often. Thanks for the recommendations/tips.

>If you have oily skin, other options are Cerave in a huge lotion bottle, NOT the pm one.

Do you know what the difference is between Cerave and Cetaphil? I'm having a hard time finding cerave AM without spf. Can I use a cream or face and body lotion without it feeling too heavy?

I don't think I'm stripping my skin, I don't use much on my face in regards to toners or exfoliating. I don't wear make up, only eye shadow primer and gel liner. The eye primer is so important bc without it, my eyeliner starts to smudge from oiliness (it is also from having monolids). I've been planning on getting back into make up this year but that's another thing I'm a noob at right now.

I go back and forth between 2 face cleansers, [Neutrogena Neutrogena Oil-Free] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ECVMWM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wtoRDbEQVGMPT) and garnier Mercier water Foaming Face Wash - it says foaming on the bottle but it does not foam at all. I wash my face with either of these in morning and before bed. I even bought a silk pillowcase last year to protect my hair and skin bc cotton was drying my face out and messing with my baby hairs.

My main moisturizer is the Neutrogena hydro boost. Before this I used the plain oil free Neutrogena. I stopped using moisturizer with spf (Aveeno) bc it felt too heavy for me and made me oiler. My boyfriend uses aveeno with spf 15 and he's never oily. once in awhile I'll use Derma E Tea Tree and Vitamin E Relief Cream.


I've started using a small amount of Paula's Choice bha for blackheads on my nose, in between my brows, and inner cheek area (next to my nose) once or twice a week for blackheads.

I get a few sporadic pimples here and there. I get small bumps on my jawline that get really itchy but it never gets red. It happens so often I think it might be hormonal.

The main problem that I need help with is how oily my nose is. Like an hour after I wash my face, my nose will have small bumps of oil. I feel like it's never clean. By night time if I don't touch my face, you can see oil on my forehead, nose, and in between my brows. My forehead somehow looks dry and oily though.

I've been using CeraVe PM lotion, and that works well for me. It's not like, OMG AMAZING, but it keeps me moisturized without being greasy/oily, and it doesn't break me out. (PSA: this stuff is apparently like 80% off the normal price right now on Amazon if you get it in a Prime Pantry box.)

I tried the Hada Labo gel cream before the CeraVe. I liked it too, but it left me feeling a little bit ... stickier? So now I've just been using it for my hands and neck.

Also, if you haven't already, you should definitely check out r/skincareaddiction. There's tons of great product recommendations and helpful people over there!

Thank you for this. Funny thing is I bought some things already from amazon (I bought differin) so I’m gonna save up some money before getting other things.

Funny you said to ditch the hyaluronic acid because i just ordered this :/ it got good reviews and I wanted to try https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XTM1HMB/ref=mp_s_a_1_sc_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518771665&sr=8-5-spell&keywords=hyaluronic+acid+moisturizer+collaen

I will soon buy whah you recommend me and tell you how it goes since it seems you know what you are talking about

I really fucked up my face using too much exfoliants and then ended it with a Kojic acid soap. My face got darker (which I don’t want, I just want to have my natural skin tone which I’m trying to accomplish, made some progress...I feel my actual skin tone without the influence of the sun looms the best) and super irritated and dry so I’m trying to heal it

Someone also recommended me this and it looks pretty good when it comes to soothing the skin

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007HD570Q

1. Cleanser -link - Remove dirt, really powerful. It has gotten rid of my blackheads, and I had a lot.

2. Exfoliator -link - Only whenever my skin can handle it. Will get rid of all of that flakey skin you have for a smooth finish. It'll make your skin 100% smooth without flakes after 1 use.

3. Essence -link - Skin treatment after exfoliator, replacement for toner. Repairs damaged skin as well and is good protection.

Finally, any Korean BB Cream that goes well with your skin tone. A good BB cream is protective tinted moisturizer to hide your imperfections. Asian BB Cream products are way superior than the American versions.

I would recommend this for you as good BB Creams if you're ever interested:

Choice One - Link - Whitening, Wrinkle Repair, Moisturizer, Tinted, Sunblock. This one is a bit stronger.

Choice Two - Link - Whitening, Wrinkle Repair, Moisturizer, Tinted, Sunblock. This one is more popular.

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

I use the L'oreal BB cream. It has less coverage than some, but I use other foundations and powders, so it works for what I need. It's only around $10 and has lasted me three months so far.

I've heard that Skin79 is by far the best brand. You can buy the sampler pack on Amazon for around $10 and find which kind works best for you. It's expensive for the big containers, but people say it's totally worth it.

If you're looking for everyday makeup advice, /r/MakeupAddiction is a great place to go. Just do a search for BB cream and you'll find tons of threads with advice.

The medication isn't formulated for body acne but if you send them your photos of the body areas they'll give you advice! Generally they recommend zinc soap, like a previous user linked.

I have had great success using a cheaper brand instead that's on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Pyrithione-Zinc-Therapy-Soap-Oz/dp/B00MWB0ZGE

If you want to get an alternate brand, you're going to want at least 2% zinc.

::Deep breath::

AM & PM:

• Slap some o' this stuff all over my face: Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid. This shit is the shit. It makes everything else absorb better. Less slug life, more actual benefits.
  
  
• Snail Goo! Bee Goo! This is very calming, and helps with redness and itchiness from the tret irritation.
  
• Sometimes an ampoule but I haven't found an exceptional one yet.
  
• More magic: This Donkey-flavored cream. Sometimes, my face is so unhappy that even Cerave stings. This always helps. Plus, the name makes me giggle every time I open it. Don't buy it at this price, though. Memebox runs lots of sales, and I can stock up for more like $25. I'd like to find a cheaper dupe.
  
• Draw a goatee on myself with a thick cream (where my peeling and redness are worst). I don't think this is particularly special, any heavy cream does the same thing. I carry it around all day, though, and reapply said goatee. Makes my skin feel less tight, helps with the red some more, and hides the edges of the peeling for a while.
  

So many Japanese creams are like this!!

Hado lado has one on Amazon for $14 Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream 1.76 FL OZ - with Super Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen - 24 Hour Moisture & Visible Line Plumping fragrance and paraben free non-comedogenic (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4BUBN8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JRhwCbT088CAF


I like the laneiege one too but it's about $40.


MANY Japanese and Korean skin care lines carry a water cream, water gel. Most of them are affordable and amazing for oily skin. I also prefer them since they are less scented :)

Recently brought a bunch of new products and wasn't sure if I'm using them in the right order. So I appreciate it if anyone can chime in on if I'm doing it correctly or if I should add anything else to my lineup. My daily routine goes as follow:

AM:

• Etude House Acne Foam Cleaner/Konjac Sponge
  
• Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner
  
• Etude House Wonder Pore Tightening Essence
  
• MISSHA Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence
  
• Paula's Choice Clear Acne Treatment 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
  
• MIZON Black Snail All In One Cream
  
• MIZON Snail Recovery Gel Cream
  
• Shiseido SENKA Sunscreen SPF50/Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF50
  
  PM:
  
  
• Etude House Acne Foam Cleaner/Konjac Sponge
  
• Stridex Daily Care Acne Pads (BHA)
  
• Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exofoliant
  
• Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner
  
• Etude House Wonder Pore Tightening Essence
  
• MISSHA Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence
  
• Paula's Choice Clear Acne Treatment 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
  
• MIZON Black Snail All In One Cream
  
• MIZON Snail Recovery Gel Cream
  
  Thanks for reading!

I pick/chew/lick my lips a lot. Here's what has helped me (and maybe it'll help you?):

• Stopped using lip products with camphor or menthol (no more Burt's Bee's!)
  
  
• Stopped using lip products with flavors OR heavily scented (bye bye Lipsmackers and Eos). Even if the lip balm wasn't sweet tasting, if it smelled sweet I would subconsciously chew on my bottom lip.
  
  
• Started slathering on Aquaphor before bed, after brushing my teeth, at school, in the car, on a train, in a plane--you get the idea! I keep a big tub on my bedside table, a tube in my backpack, and there's always at least one small tube in each purse.
  
  
• Started ocassionally (maybe once a week?) exfoliating my lips. I don't want to over do it. I usually do this while I'm doing OCM--just put some of the oil on your lips and use a soft bristle tooth brush to gently buff your lips. It takes 10 seconds.
  
  
• Started being more conscious of my water intake and carrying a water bottle with my everywhere. I don't really think to myself, "Ok I need to drink at least 2 of these before lunch today" or keep track of how many oz I'm drinking. I just always keep my bottle handy and find I drink a lot more without thinking about it. The benefit is more than just less chapped lips, of course. EDIT: If you use one of those products but want to make the finish matte, just lightly pat on a little bit of transluscent powder with your finger.
  
  
• Ignore if you don't wear makeup: I try to avoid overly drying lip products, such as matte lipsticks (MAC Russian Red you are the love of my life but you're KILLING my lips!) and overly slippery products like lip glosses (I tend to rub my lips together constantly when I'm wearing one). I like lip products that kinda melt into your lips, like NYX butter lipsticks, MAC lustre finish lipsticks, and those Revlon lip crayons. They're moisturizing but not overly so like a gloss, so I tend to forget that there's anything even on my lips.
  
  
• Alternate strategy if you wear makeup: Wear a really bold lip color in a long lasting formula (I'm thinking something like the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks or the cheaper Sephora brand version). Whenever you're tempted to start picking or chewing your lips, just remember that you're rocking that awesome purple/coral/vampy red lip color today and you absolutely do not want to mess it up.

From what I see (and from CosDNA), your LRP does contain some acne triggers and irritants. Maybe your skin is not so happy with that and that's why it doesn't stop breaking out.

Your LRP already has salicylic acid, which is a chemical exfoliant and it should help with your acne. However, using salicylic acid as a spot treatment might be not enough. You would want to use salicylic acid all your face to also prevent further inflammations.

A couple products with BHA you might want to look at are:

• Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid: Relatively simple and fine ingredients. It has worked wonderfully for lots of people here on SCA including me. It's a bit pricey but you can get a trial or mini-size and see how it works out for you.
  
• Cosrx AHA/BHA treatment - Great ingredients and a lot gentler than the Paula's Choice one. This one also contains glycolic acid so that's gonna help with pigmentations.
  
• Cosrx Blackhead BHA - Decent and gentle ingredients
  
  

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

What kind of skin type do you have in general? I for sure got little bumps over time when I wore some generic Neutrogena sunblock I got from the drugstore* (but it was 100 SPF and that's what makes it more effective right, the higher numbers?? oh foolish, sweet summer child, pre- r/asianbeauty me) but I also tried this LRP and my face didn't really take to it kindly at the start.

If you have very sensitive skin, Elta MD is the way to go. It definitely sinks in lightly and just doesn't feel like anything on your skin after maybe 2-4 minutes.

I really liked my Biore UV Aqua when I had it but I just went through it way too fast. It's the HG for a lot of people in terms of face sunscreen, but I personally can't justify the price, and don't require something with ~superb texture necessarily, since I don't wear makeup often and never wear foundation.

If your skin isn't too too sensitive I would just try different stuff Asian brands out! I've been wanting to try out this COSRX one next.

​

* Also, make sure to wash it off every night! Doesn't matter if you wore makeup or not, sunscreen you had on all day and got covered in dust/grime = no-no for sleeping with overnight. That's the reason I got little bumps, anyway!

​

I haven't been to Japan, but from what I understand, it is a great place for amazing and inexpensive skincare. There's a whole sub dedicated to Asian products here: /r/AsianBeauty

I'll also link you the SCA routine page. The /r/asianbeauty subreddit also has tons and tons of info in the sidebar. Start with the basics in the SCA routine if you feel overwhelmed.

Here's some of my thoughts of the products you're using:

• Nivea Soft: contains denatured alcohol, which can be drying, irritating and cause that burning sensation. The may not be the reason for your issue, but do keep it in mind
  
• Clinique toner: I don't think this is intended to be a makeup remover. Also, does this one contain a lot of denatured alcohol too? If so, that will contribute to your issues. Instead, try using an oil cleanser to remover your makeup. This one for example should be in drugstores in Japan.
  
• Jason Apricot Scrubbie exfoliator: this is going to be very rough and irritate your skin. Chemical exfoliants are considered better than physical ones. There is a section about chemical exfoliants in the SCA routine link I provided.
  
• Acure Organics Seriously Glowing Facial Serum: this is an oil blend, which is fine, but I find that oils don't moisturize my skin very well. I need a mix of other emollient and humectant ingredients. This serum is also not going to do much for acne.
  
  You didn't mention how you wash your face; do you currently use some kind of cleanser or soap?
  
  So to redo your routine, I would add in an oil cleanser and/or foaming cleanser, a chemical exfoliant like this if you can find it, a new moisturizer (I'm really only familiar with Hada Labo, so maybe this, and preferably a sunscreen (Biore, Hada Labo and Nivea should sell cheap drugstore ones). The Hada Labo ingredient lists can be found here.

Sure thing! I'll start from the top and then left to right. Gosh you're right, that picture is pretty dark. I can take another one when I get home, as well.




Skincare, top row:


Sephora Reward size of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Complex

Clear/ off white jar is Tony Moly I'm Real Avocado Rich Cream

Large black jar is, Mizon Black Snail All in One Cream

Smaller black jar is, Mizon Snail Repair eye cream

Purple tube is, Mizon Collagen Power Firming Eye Cream

Then Pure Body naturals Vitamin C Serum

Corsx AHA Whitehead Power Liquid

I love... raspberry & blackberry hand cream
Which came from my GlossyBox

Biore Sunscreen, Aqua Rich
I just killed another bottle this morning! If you hate the feeling of oily, sticky sunscreen, you'll like this product.

Thayers Rose Petal Witch hazel Toner





Second Row:


Loreal Infallible Makeup Setting Spray

Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight primer

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Primer in Apricot

Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer

Sephora rewards size of Benefit POREfessional Face primer

Too Faced Shadow Insurance, travel size

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

Essie nail polish in Tea & Crumpets

Loreal Paris Colour Riche Lip Balm in Nourishing Nude

Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Mudslide

Maybelline Studio Master Hi-Light Blush in Nude

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone





Bottom Row:

Skinfood Peach Sake Silky Finish Powder

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

4 Loreal Infallible Powders in 101

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder in Fair Neutral

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.

I started seeing a dermatologist about a year and a half ago. Since then, I have done very little experimenting.

I follow the same routine day and night.

• Clearasil daily facial cleanser. (over the counter) I find that it helps my skin heal and grow back very fast around the areas that I have been...abusing. I used to have a bad picking problem. I've used it for years and it has always helped my skin, though, it did dry it out a bit.
  
• (Derm Prescribed) Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash. (over the counter) Really great for acne prone skin.
  
• (Derm Prescribed) 1% Clyndamyacin wipes.(Pharmacy) Helps heal broken or inflamed pores.
  
• (Derm Prescribed) Benzoyl Peroxide. (Pharmacy) NIGHT TIME ONLY. I get a specific generic brand, as others have dried my skin out immensely or are very sticky. I only wear it to bed and only if I feel a break out coming or after I have already broke out. It helps even my skin tone as well.
  
  Aside from that, the only things I have added to my routine are: moisturizer, sunscreen, and face masks. The moisturizer I use, I started wearing in the winter, since I just moved way up north from a super tropical climate. It's a great formula, not greasy, and I use on my face, as well as the rest of my body. I may have to change it once the spring rolls around, though. I bought this suncreen because of the recommendations, and bc it's Japanese. It's really light, not greasy, milky, thin, and dries fast. Moisturizes too. Truly s lovely as everyone says it is.
  
  My face masks are kinda just a fun thing I do. They are not on my priority list and I use them sparingly. And I do a different sheet mask every time. I only use Korean masks because they know what they are doing. Never had a problem with K masks.

Ok buckle up cuz it's kind of intense haha! At night, I wash my face with Vanicream Gentle Cleanser and use a French Clay Konjac sponge to exfoliate. Sometimes after that I tone with Sensibio Micellar water (this is also a great makeup remover). While my face is still wet, I apply Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel. Then after that I apply Cerave PM as a moisturizer.

If I've just gotten out of the shower (I'm a morning shower-er) I apply Hada Labo Skin plumping Gel while my face is still wet, then moisturize with Avene Cicalfate Cream with a few drops of Timeless Squalane oil. I'm also working from home right now, so I'm able to do the 3 hour Manuka Honey face masks that everyone on here talks about. I think they work really well. I do that like every 3 days but you're only supposed to do it that frequently for 3 weeks. I get that this is not super convenient for everyone, so I think even if you can do it for an hour that's probably fine. I use this Manuka honey https://www.pharmaca.com/wedderspoon-raw-manuka-honey-kfactor-16-250g?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-8_v9qa93QIVzWV-Ch1wHwlrEAkYCCABEgIZNvD_BwE Kinda pricey but works!

Also, when my seb derm was real bad, I would use this soap on my face in the shower https://www.amazon.com/DermaHarmony-Pyrithione-Zinc-ZnP-Soap/dp/B00MWB0ZGE/ref=pd_sim_194_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00MWB0ZGE&pd_rd_r=bb9e0452-b8fa-11e8-940e-2fb2dccbe537&pd_rd_w=k2ums&pd_rd_wg=u331n&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=18bb0b78-4200-49b9-ac91-f141d61a1780&pf_rd_r=B1P2CXX7AVQRMAG5Q3D9&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&refRID=B1P2CXX7AVQRMAG5Q3D9&th=1 For me, zinc was really helping in getting rid of the flakes! I would leave it on for like maybe 20 seconds then wash it off. I don't really have to do this anymore now that it's toned down.

Its really important to look at the products you're using and make sure they have nothing in them that aggravate seb derm! Oils (except for a choice few) are not your friend. https://simpleskincarescience.com/fungal-acne-malassezia-pityrosporum-routines/ If you scroll to the bottom of this article, there is a list of products that don't mess with your skin. this helped me a lot!

Also y'know drink water get sleep etc etc

Best of luck!

​

It looks like a mix of folliculitis caused by malassezia (fungal acne) and bacterial acne. I'm not sure but all products below are safe for skin with fungal / bacterial acne.

• Cleanser: Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QY1XZ4W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_F4ORDbN34AQZ3
  
• Moisturizer: Sebamed Clear Face Care Gel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003NTJJR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_VaPRDbV6B26M7
  
• Bacterial Acne Treatment: Acne.org Treatment (2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00164FKWW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_C5ORDbPX8TS6X
  
• Sunscreen: Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF30 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F97FHAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_j6ORDbKK7ZG7W
  
  ------
  
• Fungal Acne Treatment: Selsun Blue Selenium Sulfide Shampoo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UGL84U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_qlPRDbJMXEP5N - once a week only, use like a facial wash, leave on the face for 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly

Ok! (I have melasma too. Grrrr, I hate it!)

Have you always been on the 0.05%? Did you start at a lower dose and work up? I use tret too, and it is ferocious when you first start using it, it has kind of a long acclimation period. How long have you been using it?

For your routine, I have a few thoughts. You've got some potent products going on, which is ok.

Right off the bat, I'd suggest switching to a non-foaming cleanser. Foaming cleansers generally have an ingredient in them to produce a lather (it's normally an SLS) and they can dry your skin out extra. Look for a gentle hydrating facial cleanser. Since you are using a CeraVe now, you can try the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. I would recommend this one from Cetaphil though. It's super gentle, AND! You can get a travel-sized bottle from the mini's section at Target for under $2 to try it out.

I like the silicone scrubbies! It's nice for tret users because of the peelies. Just be gentle with it, and maybe even switch to every other day use.

Are you using the oil control moisturizer because you're oily? You definitely want a moisturizer in the AM. You may want to find something with ceramides and/or niacinamide and/or hylauronic acid to really help your moisture barrier during the day. This would go under your sunscreen and after your hydroquinone.

Ok, then the next big thing I think will really help, is adding a good moisturizer at night. You don't even have to use a fancy one. Both CeraVe PM or CeraVe moisturizing cream are good options. The former has some extra goodies in it (niacinamide), but the later is really creamy and rich (you can also but it all over your body. It also comes in a smaller "travel size" tube for less $$$ if you just want to try it out).

Since you are on a kinda beefy dose of Retnin-A I would recommend mixing a pea-sized amount for your entire face into a dollop of the moisturizer you chose and apply it that way. This won't change the potency of the retnin-A at all, it just provides a bit of a buffer for your moisture barrier.

Personally, I take this a step further and wait 15 minutes for everything to sink in, apply a little more moisturizer, then apply vaseline ALL OVER my face before I go to sleep. This may or may not help you out-- I don't know how your face and your acne responds to occlusives. But, the vaseline step is what was crucial for my skin to stop being so red and peely on retnin-A, because it locks the moisturizer in while you sleep.

Edit: Sorry, this post was getting long so I figured I'd send it. I know we haven't even talked sunscreen yet! But, I strongly suspect the sunscreen isn't the root of the problem, so I wanted to talk about your routine first.

AM - Use any gentle face wash, however I recommend this Neutrogena one, works like a charm. Then I use my AM CeraVe Moisturizer and that’s it.

And in the PM - Use any gentle face wash, however I recommend this Neutrogena one, then I use my PM Moisturizer and a layer of Vaseline as an occlusive on top of that. I don’t recommend using Vaseline during your am routine unless you wanna be shiny all day.

My skin stays moist and never peels during the day, I recommend this routine.

Just realized this wasn’t a product recommendation thread..

Yeah, so skincare is, much like shaving, a YMMV situation. I'll share what I use, but it really is essential to determine your skin type and then choose products that work well for that skin type. I strongly recommend reading the r/skincareaddiction wiki for all their standard recommendations and getting a better sense of what might work for you and how much of their routine you want to incorporate.

For exfoliation, I use Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads.

For moisturizing, I use CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM with SPF 30.

I think my skin looks pretty good without bragging. I still deal with Sebaceous Filaments and some Closed Comedones that will show up from time to time. But I think wearing sunscreen religiously for this long contributed to fading some sun spots that resulted from my childhood. Growing up in the 70s-80s, Sunscreen was a luxury for us and the highest SPF I remember seeing was 8! So you can imagine the damage that was done.

Friends and even people I meet always tell me I look in my 30s instead of 46. But to be honest, I wear sunscreen mainly for skin Cancer prevention not for vanity but I still want to look good while wearing it :).

My favorite sunscreens for now are:

For hot and humid days

• MAKEP:REM UV Defense Me Blue Ray Sun Fluid SPF 50
  
  
• EltaMd UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50
  
  For everyday light activity use
  
  
• EltaMd UV Lotion Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 Plus
  
  
• Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel pump (SPF50 + PA ++++)
  
  For winter
  
  
• EltaMd UV Lotion Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 Plus
  
  
• HYDRALIGHT Shine-Free Mineral Complex SPF 30.

I buy everything I can off amazon, but I think you can also get them off of yesstyle and a few other places.

Premium: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013HHJV0C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Plumping Gel: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4BUBN8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been using Differin for years! I love it. I've only been thinking of asking my derm about switching to tret because I'm starting to get up there in age (early 30's). There was definitely a purge phase, but it was worth it. However, I still had acne. It wasn't until I was on the sulfur wash and Aczone that my acne went away. Switching to Azelaic acid was seamless breakout wise, though.

tldr: talk to your doctor about it. You might need a combination of things to make your acne go away.

Not AB sunscreen, but I'm currently trying Sunsense Ultra SPF50+ as a body sunscreen. My nose doesn't detect any typical sunscreen smell, though it does have a very slight chemical smell, but none too distracting. It comes in 50ml, 125ml, 200g and 500ml bottles. It has a light consistency (compared to most non AB sunscreen I've tried) and is not too greasy once applied. I took a leap of faith and purchased the 500ml bottle haha. So far so good. The pump bottle is handy.

P.S. My current face sunscreen is Kose SUNCUT UV Protect Gel SPF50+ PA++++. This is my second AB sunscreen, which I like more than my first, Etude House Sunprise Mild Watery Light (SPF50+/PA+++). The EH Sunprise has a rather distracting smell for me. Will try Skin Aqua Sarafit Essence UV (SPF50+ PA++++) and Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel (SPF50 + PA ++++) next.

I need trouble shooting help with my new benton products.

I got samples of both the Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence and Benton Snail Bee High Content Toner and found that they both worked great on my skin. So after about two weeks of good results, I purchase full size bottle.

Another week in I start breaking out like crazy! My skin is pretty clear as long as I keep it moisturized, so when I got three giant white heads I freaked!

So now I am just using The Face Shop Arsainte Eco-Therapy Moisturizer only on my face and have seen a great improvement. No more pimples, the new ones emerging have done down. Even the discoloration is going away.

Now I have really dry skin, so was it a fluke that the samples worked well but the full bottle didn't? How do I go about figuring out which product might be bad? Should I get the Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Lotion to go with the rest of the set to make it work out well?

Please help r/asianbeauty! You're my only hope!!

My "progress" pics

I moved to Germany in August, in September I starting breaking out like I did at 14 years old, and in October I got serious about clearing up.

Morning:

Wash with Cetaphil

Moisturize with Mary Kay formula 2

Night:

Wipe with B. Pure Micellar Water

Wash with Cetaphil

Use Pocketderm

Moisturize with Markay

Take Yasmin BC

My mother is an angel and is sending some of my products from the USA. My Pocketderm is 4% Niacinamide, 1% Clindamycin, 4% Azeliac Acid, but my new prescription will be .018% Tretinoin, 1% Clindamycin, 4% Azeliac Acid.

Also, I think I start PC 2% lotion and switch to Cetaphil Dermacontrol Moisturizer SPF 30. The Mary Kay was just the first face lotion that I didn't hate, and I just got stuck on it.

I switched to Yasmin about a month ago from a BC that uses Nogestrel (ugh, how could I have been so wrong with that for so long), and started uses the micellar water about a week ago. I'm suspicious that Yasmin gives me the large cyst-like acne on my jaw and neck since it started about the same time as I began the perscription. I've always had pretty moderate to severe acne since I'm been a teen, but even this is unusual for me. I'm touching my face less, washing my bedding often with a kind of free and clear soap, picking less* (guilty), and cutting out dairy.

I'm definitely going to stick it out and try to improve my routine, but I just feel like everything I knew about acne care was soooo wrong. I welcome all ideas, and even wild speculations, about what is happening to my face.

It looks like it's a good recipe overall, although I'm not crazy about adding alcohol, perfume or colorants to shaved skin. I still recommend pure aloe gel or witch hazel over this, but if it doesn't cause any irritation (using it vs using nothing), then it's probably fine.

I found this on Amazon, which looks like it would be awesome for any kind of irritated skin. No fillers, alcohol free, and each of those ingredients is known to be either an astringent, anti-inflammatory, or have moisturizing properties. This would be great as a female "aftershave".

I think you have possibly identified the culprit! There's definitely a chance your dandruff is yeast-related - one of the two species focused on in the linked article is the one that is known to create dandruff issues for people.(.pdf download).

Try zinc It's the active ingredient in Head & Shoulders shampoo, but in bar form. I have found that it's far more versatile than rubbing shampoo all over your bod and there aren't any fragrances that may exacerbate eczema'd skin and it's very easy to lather and use on scalp. (You can also find it in trial/travel sized if you just want to test.)

I would expect almost immediate results if the two of you are amenable to using the zinc both before and after being together. Good luck!

Sad but true: Cerave isn't for everyone.

I'd start with the Dehydrated Skin Guide (humectants) and add one of the Acne Guide actives after ~2 weeks (SAP is the gentlest, whereas BP and SA may irritate sensitive skin). Continue for ~1 month, and see where your skin is at. Also, sunscreen is a must for rosacea - sun exposure is a common trigger for flare ups - and mineral/physical sunscreens are reccomended.


Personally, I don't have rosacea but I do have delicate, incredibly reactive skin. My best advice is to patch test everything and keep ingredients as simple as possible to make it easy to identify irritants. Some products that have worked for me are:

Cleanser - Bioderma Sebium H2O Micellar Water + microfiber cloth

SAP - Derma-e Vitamin C Serum

Humectants - Timeless Squalane, Rose Water + Glycerin (DIY, 10% Glycerin in a Target spray bottle),

Occlusives - Good Ol' Aquaphor

Mineral/Physical Sunscreen - Neutrogena Sheer Zinc SPF 50

YYMV!

You will have to find out what products are best for you! Cetaphil (very drying) broke me out horribly, but I recently found Cerave Foaming Face Wash and it is amazing! Moisturizer is also very important. I use Nivea Creme but a lot of people like Cerave in the tub. It breaks some people out (me) but a lot of people love it.

I put together a mini version of my daily skin routine because I am in my early twenties and spend a lot of nights not at home.

Left to Right

1st: [Hada Labo Gokujun Cleansing Oil](r/https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OQHZ2M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1): a few pumps of my favorite oil cleanser in this [miniature airless pump](https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C5ZN2WY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Works to get off my night makeup and pull the gunk out of my easily clogged pores.

2nd: [Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser]( r/https://smile.amazon.com/Cetaphil-Gentle-Skin-Cleanser-Ounce/dp/B00OK1NEX0/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1535926471&sr=1-1&keywords=cetaphil+face+wash+travel+size) in a travel size container. My preferred second cleanser that doesn’t get me as dried out as a Cetaphil Foaming cleanser does.

3rd:[Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen]( https://smile.amazon.com/Sarasara-Essence-Sunscreen-Package-Cosmetic/dp/B071X4W74G/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1535926564&sr=1-1&keywords=biore%2Bsunscreen&th=1) The biggest item in my travel case, but half used up so it’s easily folded in half. For application the morning after.

4th: [Pixi Glow Tonic](https://smile.amazon.com/Tonic-Ginseng-100ml-Travel-Toner/dp/B0199EBC0Y/ref=sr_1_cc_1_a_it?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1535926715&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=pixi+glow+tonic+travel). I use this as a substitute for my preferred nip and fab glycolic fix extreme- works just as well in a pinch but doesn’t have the added salicylic acid/isn’t a convenient pad.

5th: Curology in another airless container. I only wanted to spare a few pumps of product for travel as it’s the most expensive item in my routine.

6th: [Bliss Drench n Quench]( https://smile.amazon.com/Moisture-Hydrator-Hypoallergenic-Dermatologist-Non-Comedogenic/dp/B016IXPWO6/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1535927003&sr=1-1&keywords=bliss+cream+to+water) sample size. A sub in for my Neutrogena hydro boost gel- works well enough, but not enough to persuade me to switch.

I don't think that you should stop taking the meds during your vacation since you're really close to being done with it. Call you dermo and ask them.

As for sunscreen, I like the Cetaphil Dermacontrol Moisturizer SPF 30. I've been using it for 3 months now and I love it. You might want to go with higher SPF though if you're gonna be spending most of your day on the beach. I haven't tried [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Cetaphil-Daily-Facial-Moisturizer-Sunscreen/dp/B00E4MRLI4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427730970&sr=8-1&keywords=cetaphil+spf+50) but I've heard good things about it. I can't really recommend body spf as I don't really use them. I'm covered completely by clothes everyday so... yeah. But the minimum SPF you should be wearing on your body is 50.

My last piece of advice would be for you to stay hydrated and try to stay under shade most of the time. Even when you're on the beach, try to be under those big umbrellas. Don't even THINK about tanning! Good luck and have fun :D I'm jealous -.-

Hi! It sounds like your boyfriend could use an AHA for both the dark spots and the KP. The AHA will likely help the acne as well but you can also try a BHA formula for breakout-prone areas. He'll probably want to cleanse his back if he doesn't do that already (a back brush with a gentle head will help to reach); I used Cetaphil's cleanser on my shoulders years ago when they used to break out. The exfoliation is liable to help with the ingrown hairs but be careful not to overdo it so his skin doesn't dry out (I imagine it's hard to moisturize the back without help). I used to have dark spots from acne scars and KP on the back of my arms but using the AHA and BHA I linked on my face and this on my arms mostly cleared them all up. You can find information on all of these issues in the wiki.

Might I also recommend this?

Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel pump (SPF50 + PA ++++) 140g https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BM1USNO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kAcXBbD73VN3T

It's so light I honestly can't even remember if I've applied it sometimes. Spreads with no effort, absorbs INSTANTLY and there's none of that typical sunscreen smell. No greasy residue at all. It's also graded SPF 50 for added bonus.

I can guarantee it works. I have a sun sensitivity and have never gotten hives while using this. It's also cheap enough to use on your body if you only want to bring one item while traveling. Super super highly recommended.

I personally use Nivea Double action Q10 Balm after shaving and haven't had an issue with dry skin afterward.

On days I don't shave, I use Cerave Moisturizing lotion. It has ceramides and hyaluronic acid, super lightweight, absorbs fast, and won't leave you feeling greasy at all. PH balanced and non-comedogenic (so it won't break you out).

Before I apply my balm/lotion, I apply some Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel as it'll help your skin better absorb the lotion/balm.

If neither of those looks like good options, I'd suggest heading over to /r/SkincareAddiction and hopefully they can help you out!

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!

You should definitely look at /r/SkincareAddiction. That said, I also have oily, breakout-prone, very sensitive skin, and these products keep me clear 99% of the time. It's not the cheapest routine though, so be warned.

For cleansing, I only use water to wash my face. I have never been able to find a cleanser that doesn't dry me out and cause breakouts. Not even non-foaming cream cleansers work on me. In the past I've used the oil cleansing method, which didn't cause problems, but also didn't provide much benefit. Plus it was kind of messy, so I stopped.

At night before bed I rinse my face with water, and then apply Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Pore-Refining Treatment With 2% BHA. Once a week, instead of that product, I mix together RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA and RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment With 10% AHA and apply that before bed.

In the morning I rinse with water. Then I mix together 15% azelaic acid (I use Finacea) and Eucerin Replenishing Skin Relief Face Cream (with 5% Urea) and apply. These two products make a ton of difference for me. Azelaic acid is OTC in many countries, but if you're in the US it's prescription only, which makes it more expensive. Also the Eucerin lotion with urea is great but not available in the US which is why I order it from overseas via Amazon. My skin is very oily, but also dehydrated. The Eucerin stuff is very moisturizing, not pore-clogging, and even though it's pricey, a little goes a long way, so the small bottle lasts a surprisingly long time.

In the morning, after the Finacea and Eucerin, I put on Paula's Choice Shine Stopper. Honestly, this might be my favorite product. Before I started using it, my skin would get shiny and wet looking within an hour or two of taking a shower. This stuff makes me look normal all day. It can't take care of all the oil, but at the end of the day I'll look "dewy" rather than looking like I just went to the gym. I don't know what I'll do if they ever stop making it.

Anyway, you said you were looking for low-cost, and my skin is particularly finicky and sensitive in addition to being oily, so everything I just suggested is probably overkill for you. If I were you, I would start with either no cleanser, or CeraVe Foaming Cleanser (Amazon link, but you can find that stuff at most drug/grocery stores in the US), a 2% BHA from Paula's Choice, and a non-pore-clogging moisturizer (CeraVe also makes good moisturizers that you can find in stores). And if you want to control the look of oily skin, I really can't recommend the PC Shine Stopper highly enough. I know it's a more expensive item, but in my opinion it's worth it.

Check out r/skincareaddiction if you're looking for a moisturizer that works for you! It saved my skin. Everyone reacts to skincare differently and a nice expensive brand that is great for one person might cause someone else to break out. I was buying so many expensive brands thinking they would work and finally settled on a cheap drugstore brand that I love.

(In case it's helpful, I have sensitive/acne prone skin, and the moisturizer I use now is CeraVe. If you want to try it out most Walgreens have smaller sizes in their travel section.)

I had this issue! It's so frustrating. I too have combination skin, for reference. The things I've found that have helped me are the Cure Natural Aqua Gel (this made the biggest difference I think) and religiously using Paula's Choice 2% BHA gel. I've also been moisturizing a ton and have found that using the Hada Labo Gokujun Lotion helps my skin absorb moisture better, and/or helps combat some of the dehydration that I think causes flakiness for me.

Some other things I have tried and found helpful: using a sheet mask at least once a week, and gentle exfoliation using something like a konjac sponge once a day. Make sure none of the cleansers you're using are too harsh/drying for you skin too!

I would add for the Natural Moisturizing Factors some products that have the hygroscopic ingredients (specifically urea for ones I've listed), because for me a dupe of the Natural Moisturizing Factor would be products that contain actual NMF:

• Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream: price varies, I bought it a few weeks ago for $12. Has 5% urea
  
• Hada Labo Premium Lotion: 3% urea
  
• Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Cream with 5% Urea
  
• Sebamed Extreme Dry Skin Relief Face Creme: 5% urea
  
  I mention this because the only reason NMF performed well for me was because of those ingredients, and my body lotion that works best for me has similar ingredients (hygroscopic ingredients like urea, lactic acid, sodium pca, and amino acids like arginine, alanine, threonine, histidine, serine...). The CeraVe products do not function the same because they don't have any significant NMF (hyaluronic acid and glycerin are the significant ones), and the star ingredients are ceramides, which are important emollients and serve a different function.

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

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 recommended this already in this thread, but Cetaphil SPF 30 is the best. I have combination skin and it keeps the dry areas of my skin from flaking all day (and it's super gentle).

Additionally, I recommend getting a humidifier. That way, you're taking in a decent amount of moisture into your skin during the day/night even though all of the moisture in the winter air has been sapped by the cold.

Not sure of your skin type but given the tret, assuming you have some dryness. If that's the case, I would suggest [Cosrx] Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++ 50ml . It's very moisturizing and soothing, but light enough for daily wear. CosRx is a popular brand with some solid products.

You can also check the sidebar for HG sunscreens, a lot of people like the La Roche Posay or Biore Watery Essence as well.

My go-to post-shave routine is this:

OSMA Alum - rub on wet face, leave it on while cleaning up (brush/bowl/razor/etc), then splash with cool water.

Thayer's Witch Hazel - splash on after the Alum, let it dry.

CeraVe in the tub - The folks at /r/SkinCareAddiction turned me onto this stuff. It's like a balm, but unscented and way thicker. Super good for your skin.

I'll occasionally use an aftershave splash like Clubman, in place of the Alum and Witch Hazel, but not very often due to the fragrances. If I want to smell pretty, I'll just wear cologne, ya know?