REVIEW: PATYKA PARIS

Thanks to Patyka Indonesia for having me last week at the launch of their new range: CLEAN, HYDRA & PURE.

PATYKA PARIS PURE RANGE
PATYKA PARIS HYDRA RANGE

At the launch, I surely learned a lot about this skincare certified organic brand from Paris.

  • The first product from this brand is HUILE ABSOLUE, which created way back in 1922. The formulas haven’t changed since.
  • Currently, it took them 3 to 5 years to develop one product.
  • All of their products have ECOCERT Certification since 2002, and became the first cosmetics brand in the world to be awarded Ecocert organic certification.
  • Most of their products are vegan (because some of them still use bees wax) and they do not test on animals.
  • Only botanical actives not grown in France are sought somewhere in the world, but all of their products are fully manufactured in France, including their unique box packaging.
  • Last but not least, these new range will be more affordable and dedicated for more wider age group from 20 years up.

And of course, we came home with their PR Kit. Mostly contains PURE range, which I chose because of my oily skin problem. So, let’s begin the review, shall we?

PATYKA PARIS DETOX CLEANSING FOAM

It’s one of their CLEAN range, which actually consists of 3 items: cleansing oil, cleansing foam, and toner. Basically, it’s a basic cleansing routine range.

CLAIM: eliminate impurities and particles of pollution accumulated during the day. Deeply cleanses for a radiant and smooth skin.

THE ‘WOW’ INGREDIENTS: Aloe Vera (for its’ moisturizing purpose) and Moringa (highly detoxifying).

PROS: Yesssss!!!! It’s safe for Fungal Acne and it’s soap-free.

CONS: Still contains fragrance

THOUGHTS: I love this, seriously. It caught my attention at the launch event, because unlike any other facial foam that I’ve tried, this glides so luxurious and beautifully on skin. It’s still foamy even though it’s soap free, but the cloudy foam didn’t pull on that disappearing act on your skin (if you know what I mean). Yes that cloud of foam feels so wonderful on my skin. Highly recommended, guys!

PATYKA PARIS ANTI-BLEMISH TONER

One of their PURE range, dedicated for combination to oily skin.

CLAIM: Remove all impurities and excess sebum. Rebalance and smooth the skin. Imperfections are reduced and pores are tightened.

THE ‘WOW’ INGREDIENTS: Organic Mint Floral Water (it’s a natural astringent), Prebiotics from natural sugar, and (they had me at this) Botanical Salicylic Acid. So, they use vegetable salicylic acid, extracted from Wintergreen.

PROS: Another Fungal Acne safe product (yeay!)

CONS: Alcohol and Fragrance

THOUGHTS: Even though it’s fragranced, I found the scent really pleasing. It does smell like mint water, very refreshing to sort of waking up my skin in the morning.

PATYKA PARIS MATTE PERFECTING FLUID

Also from their PURE range. It is a moisturizer, by the way.

CLAIM: Regulates the production of sebum throughout the day and mattifies the skin without drying it.

THE ‘WOW’ INGREDIENTS: Burdock Root Organic (sebum regulating), Prebiotics from natural sugars (promote the growth of the microbial flora which protects the skin) & Natural Silica Powder (absorbs excess sebum)

PROS: Well, it is a mattifying moisturizer. What’s not to love?

CONS: Not safe for Fungal Acne because it contains Jojoba Seed Oil and Sunflower Seed Oil. And it has alcohol and fragrance.

THOUGHTS: Textured like light gel and smells wonderful. And unlike most mattifying moisturizer which contain silicone, this one does not have any. They use natural silica powder to absorb excess sebum and shine, and to create that soft but not overpower matte.

PATYKA PARIS DETOX CHARCOAL MASK

Last but not least from the PURE range.

CLAIM: Absorbs excess sebum and cleanses the pores. Unclogs pores without drying the skin.

THE ‘WOW’ INGREDIENTS: Plant-derived Charcoal (sanitize skin and regulates the sebum production), Green Clay (as decongestant), and Zinc (cleanses and purifies).  

PROS: It is a wash-off mask (leave it for 10 minutes) or use it for spot treatment (for night time use only).  

CONS: Not safe for Fungal Acne and has fragrance.

THOUGHTS: First, I use this as spot treatment. It didn’t budge throughout my sleep, until I took them off in the morning. Of course, it didn’t heal acne overnight. But, I found this work well on almost there pimples. So when you found that spots, put this overnight and they wouldn’t be aggravated acnes.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

MY TOP 3 PRODUCTS FROM DRUNK ELEPHANT

It has been a while since I did the top 3 post, just because I rarely use more than one product from the same brand. But surprise, surprise….

Here’s my top 3 products from the brand recently bought by Shiseido’s group: DRUNK ELEPHANT. Please note that I don’t use it together at once.

PEKEE BAR
Frankly speaking, I don’t mind using bar format on my face. Yes, it’s quite a hassle and you have to be careful not to drop it on your bathroom floor or it might catch germs. But, try this and you’ll know why I love it that much. I love the luxurious foam it created, the light honey scent and the clean after-feel. So far I haven’t met anything even close to it, so I already keep on repurchasing and restocking.

BESTE NO 9 JELLY CLEANSER
Unfortunately, it will be hard to bring bar format on the go. So this is my go-to when I travel. It ‘s 100% free of essential oils, silicones and fragrance. People use this to clean makeup, but since I prefer double cleansing to do so, I use this as my second cleanser. I love lathering it up, it is such a great cleanser.

T.L.C FRAMBOOS GLYCOLIC NIGHT SERUM
Since it’s not safe for fungal acne, I only apply this for spot treatment. But if you don’t have any trouble with fungal acne, go ahead and slather it all over your face daily. Yes, daily, even though it contains AHA and BHA from different types, it delivered a mild and effective level of chemical exfoliation. No dryness, no harsh peeling.

PHOTO: SHINTA ROSVITA

WTH IS INFLAMMAGING AND HOW TO PREVENT IT?

Well…if you said it’s inflammation and aging combined to one word…you are kind of correct!

I heard about this word when I attended the relaunch of Yves Rocher Anti-Age Global last week on a staycation trip (thanks Yves Rocher Indonesia that accommodated me and 4 others beauty enthusiasts).

Unfortunately our skin is not like a fine wine. It doesn’t get better with age. If you search the word “Inflammaging” online, you’ll find out that this is actually a medical term which acknowledges the role chronic inflammation plays in the aging process, and not just for skin, but for the whole body. But on skin, it describes the foremost cause of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. Basically, it’s like your skin cells self-healing functions are slowing down as we age.

So, what caused inflammaging? The sun, polluted environment, and certain foods that we ate (read: sugar, red meat and no vegetables). For me, this “Inflammaging” thing screams like aging 2.0 version.

Good news is we can prevent this, before it’s too late with the renew Anti-Age Global Range from Yves Rocher. It was relaunch because there used to be this Anti-Age Global range a few years back, but it was dedicated to more mature skin (read: 50+ years old). This year, Yves Rocher relaunched this range for 25+ years old, with better ingredients and faster result (they claimed you can see the result within 72 hours). And this line is inspired by Gemmotherapy, the science of buds, known to have more superior properties compared to ‘adult’ plants. Using lilac flower’s buds, known as Syringa Extract, there are 7 products in this range. You can purchase them here.

This line fits perfectly to my current skincare routine, as I’m doing my skipcare. Yes, I skip those 10 steps, just because I didn’t see any improvement on my skin, anyway.


So, these are the steps using Anti-Age Global from Yves Rocher.

After your usual toner, apply The Anti-Aging Activating Lotion. With its’ clear and watery texture, it’s very refreshing and can be use as mist, too. Consider this as a preparation before essence.
Then, use The Anti-Aging Correcting Supra Essence. It’s formulated with Liquorice for that illuminating properties. Love the white matte dropper packaging.
For day, continue with The Anti-Aging Beautifying Cream (they offer two types, one for dry skin and one for all skin types, so choose accordingly). For the all skincare types, it has moisturizing properties with powdery finish.
Day cream for dry skin is more thick in texture compared to the ones for all skin types. Recommended for dry skin type as it really moisturized well.
For night, moisturize with The Anti-Aging Comfort Cream. Unlike any other night cream that I’ve tried, this has unique melting texture which is comfortable to be slept on.
Don’t skip your eyecare. Use The Anti-Aging Illuminating Care with it’s refreshing gel texture, to reduce wrinkles around the eyes area. This comes with a roller ball tip, put in a fridge for extra coolness.
Additional treatment, if you have dark spots problem, treat with The Ant-Aging Dark Spot Concentrate. This is a targeted care product, with a gel texture and a precise applicator tip. You can use this at day and night only on spots as a final skincare routine.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

NIACINAMIDES FOR FUNGAL ACNE

If you’ve been reading my posts and follow my IG, you’ll know how much I appreciate Niacinamide. Even back in the days when my fungal acne were still around…until today.

You can read somewhere else about WTH is Niacinamide and what would it do to your skin, but here I’m going to share you my favorites and my not so much. But for sure, all of the stuffs I mentioned are fungal acne safe. Tried & Tested by yours truly. Your welcome.

GLOSSIER SUPER PURE

Unlike most people who purchased Glossier’s makeup products as their first encounter to this loveable brand, I bought this. I remember I was so disappointed of The Ordinary Niacinamide because it clumps, then I decided to buy the more expensive Niacinamide serum out there. And this didn’t disappoint me from the first hello.

They used to sell the 15ml version, but now the latest version is 30ml, bigger bottle. With 5% Niacinamide and Zinc PCA, it’s also paraben free, fragrance free and vegan.

Why I love this? It contains no Butylene Glycol which I personally believe can be comedogenic. And I love the feel when it glides smoothly without clumps. Totally a winner, considering the hefty price tag. I believe this is my fifth bottle already.  

PAULA’S CHOICE 10% NIACINAMIDE BOOSTER

I heard so much good things about this. So, even though it’s more expensive than Glossier, I decided to splurge.

It contains more percentage of Niacinamide, mind you. This contains 10% of Niacinamide with additional Sodium Hyaluronate for hydration and Allantoin for skin-soothing.

Usually I will mix this with essence, because unlike Glossier, this is a bit sticky when used alone.

Unfortunately this contains Butylene Glycol which I try to avoid lately, but since I like to restock, and already purchased this second bottle, WTH. I will try to finish this serum booster, anyway.

COS DE BAHA NIACINAMIDE 10 SERUM

Like seriously guys, I am so glad I stumbled upon this serum while browsing religiously online. This is like the cheapest serum I’ve ever bought in my life and it’s not even a local brand. It costs under IDR100K, for a 30ml bottle.

Yes, all the good stuffs are in there. 10% Niacinamide, Pure Hyaluronic Acid, 1% Zinc PCA and Licorice. It’s a South Korean brand, and they claim to use 78% organic ingredients. Free of sulfates, paraben, colorant, alcohol and fragrance, too.

I love this, it is that good. Similar feel like Glossier, without the price. For sure I’m going to repurchase this (currently checking what to buy next from this underrated brand).

2 SOL FACIAL RECOVERY BOOSTER

Unlike those three mentioned above (which have clear transparent texture), this has yellowish liquid shade. I believe it’s because of Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, aka Vitamin C, one of the main ingredients here. Yes, this one mix 10% Niacinamide and Vitamin C, people. But no worries, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is a very stable Vitamin C and soluble in water and oil. I didn’t find mine getting oxidized after awhile (just make sure to close it tightly after usage), so there you have it.

Unfortunately, this also has Butylene Glycol in it (like Paula’s Choice one). And I don’t like the packaging, it has no stopper. So, I’m also trying to finish this first (and last) bottle.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

GROWN-UP SOLUTION FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN

Since I’m not a teenager anymore (obviously!), I’m not treating my skin like one especially when dealing with acne.

From my own personal trial & error, ingredients that are comedogenic, like Butylene Glycol, Cetyl & Cetearyl Alcohol and Tocopherol (Vitamin E), are a big no no. And thanks to Dr Liv Kraemer (I’ve been enjoying watching her YT Channel), since I stopped using facial oil (even though they claim it’s ok for acne-prone skin, like rosehip and marula), I saw improvement on my skin’s texture. She said in one of her videos, if you have acne-prone skin, the bacteria on top would be trapped by facial oil, which actually formed more pimples.

Another surprising fact that I’ve found recently, Centella Asiatica will not help if you have acne-prone skin (thanks for this information, Dr Eche Idrus SpKK). Yes, Centella is effective in treatment of wounds and even for cellulites. But not for acne-prone skin, especially if they’re still raging like a bull.

So, with new information that I’ve got, I’ve sort of revamped my skincare regime, by selectively cutting out the above ingredients. Here are some new ones that have been taking over my vanity.

Thayers Toner for daily toner, Aqulabo Vinyasa for post exfo-toner, Sioris for mild exfo toner and Mediheal Peelosoft for disposable cleansing

And last but not least, taking vitamins. Trust me, I drank lots of Roaccutane before, but it felt wrong having so much chemical inside, so I decided to stop and switched to vitamins instead. Anyway, they’re vitamins. But, mind me, these vitamins didn’t fix my acne problem instantly, but I believe they’ll help from the inside since I rarely eat healthy foods. Disclaimer: I’m not coming from a medical background, I just wrote based on personal experience and what I’ve found all around the net.

Daily, I took two different vitamins. Two of vitamin B2 B6, and one vitamin D. Vitamin B2B6 is very popular skin vitamin when they came from, Japan. They claim that these vitamins combination will improve skin problems like skin irritation and acne. If vitamins are not your thing, you can also get this vitamin B intake from grains, soybeans, bananas and watermelon (which are known to have vitamin B6).

Now, for vitamin D. Also known as “the sunshine vitamin”, because you can actually get vitamin D while being exposed to the sun. But, since I rarely out in the sun (I am horrified of the heat and the after-smell), I supposed my body is lacking of vitamin D. Imagine to my surprise, when one day, I read that vitamin D deficiency maybe a part of what’s causing acne or making acne worse. When I asked Dr Eche Idrus SpKK about this, she said that vitamin D does have an anti-inflammatory property and in some cases can reduce acne. As we all know, milk and cheese are a great source of vitamin D (not too much or they’ll make acne worse). Unfortunately for me whose sensitive to lactose, I can’t choose to have dairy products as a replacement for vitamin D’s intake. And I believe my fungal-acne won’t agree with me if I’m sitting under the sun to keep acne at bay. So the only choice for me, is this Vitamin D.

Summary:

  • Know what ingredients work well on your skin
  • Stay away from facial oil
  • Take the right vitamin(s) for your skin
  • Drink lots of water, infused ones if you are not a heavy fruits and vegetable eaters.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH VITAMIN A

Took a very long time for me to jump into this Vitamin A aka Retinoid, Retinol stuffs. I was super afraid that it’ll react badly, as some people with sensitive skin like me will purge (even though I don’t believe in purging, but having massive acne attack will not be a walk in the park).

Really, what can vitamin A do?
It’s like a mediator to our skin cells, because it attaches to them and sort of like telling them to behave, by speeding up the turnover. So usually, if our skin regenerates in 28 days, vitamin A will speed them up and cut the days in half. Not just that, it supposedly thicken the dermis for younger and glowing looking skin and improves hyper-pigmentation, acne, large pores and wrinkles. Sounds like a true champ, yes?

WHAT TO CHOOSE? RETINOL OR RETINOID?
Well, both are actually vitamin A derivatives. But, retinoid is essentially a basic term for over-the counter retinol and prescription retinoid. Usually, retinol contains a lower concentration, while retinoid have much higher ones. So, you might see slower result when using retinol compared to retinoid.

So, after a long thought and online research, I decided to purchase retinoid over retinol.

THE ORDINARY GRANACTIVE 2% RETINOID EMULSION

Yes, the good ol’ The Ordinary. This is a water-based serum with a high concentration of two next-generation of retinoids (claimed to be more effective than the standard ones). I purchased this for its’ claim to be a non-irritating retinoid serum.

I didn’t see significant and instant improvement the morning after, but anyway, I don’t believe that one product can do such. And because I do have acne-prone skin (they already put a caution in their website), I experienced a temporary increase in acne during the first two usage. Since I don’t believe in purging, it might be just forcing gunk to the skin’s surface. At least my skin didn’t get red, irritated or dry. I’ll update about my skin condition on my IG stories, so stay tune!

HOW I INCORPORATE THEM IN MY SKINCARE ROUTINE
Because I’m new to retinoid, I started by applying The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion once a week at night time to avoid irritation. After my triple cleanse (micellar water, cleansing balm, and facial cleanser), I use soothing toner, then I prepared my skin with ISNTREE Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence. I waited until they’re completely absorbed and dry, then I use about three drops of Retinoid for the whole face. I’ll wait about 5 minutes then finish with ILLIYOON Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel.

TIPS FOR RETINOL & RETINOID NEWBIES

  • Start slowly. Apply once a week first, then if your skin can tolerate (nothing bad happened), move on to every third night. And if your skin is totally fine with it, go for every night.
  • Always apply on completely dry (not damp) skin. Make sure your toner and essence already absorbed well.
  • Tone down with moisturizer (probably ones with Hyaluronic Acid) to minimize any irritation.
  • Don’t use them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Never mix with Benzoyl Peroxide, AHA and BHA. This stuff is already potent by itself.
  • If you have sensitive skin that’s prone to irritation, start with retinol first because it’s less potent than retinoid.
  • Don’t forget to slather yourself with SPF the next morning after Retinol or Retinoid. These two are known to make skin more sensitive to sun. And don’t forget to do SPF touch up (every 4 hours if you use SPF 50 like me).
  • If you have raging fungal acne, don’t try this. Wait until your fungal acne is fixed, then you might want to use retinol or retinoid.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

STRESS ACNE: WTH?

Been in a very tough situation lately, I have to admit this is not a very good year for me. And I’m sure you’ve heard it everywhere, when you are stressed, so does your skin. Just look at my stress acnes!

I’ve been fighting them for about two weeks now, but I know I’m not alone. So I decided to do some research online and write down this post.

WHAT CAUSED STRESS ACNE?
Obviously, STRESS. And if your skin is already acne-prone, stress can make acne worse. You see, hormones released and produced during stress will increase further skin inflammation. And for some people, stress will vigorously make them pick at their acnes which can cause bigger problem like scars and such.

WHAT DIFFERS NORMAL ACNE & STRESS ACNE?
I personally believe stress acne is redder than ordinary ones, and doesn’t necessarily have pus in it. Sometime, it formed a painful cyst too. And also what I personally experienced, stress acne will show up on areas you’ve never had acnes before. I also experienced more blackheads and whiteheads.

HOW TO MANAGE STRESS ACNE?
Seriously guys, if I told you not to stress over it and stay calm, you’ll kill me, right? I tried to manage my stress first, by hanging out with friends and trying not to bring work problems home. So, find your chill first, then try to handle the stress acne. First, drink more water, less caffeinated & dairy drinks and alcohol. Then, do basics skincare like cleanse, tone and moisturize. Don’t overdo things like adding more unnecessary steps to your skincare routine. Or worse, do cleansing more than twice a day. Remember to stick to your basic routine and products.

MY BASIC SKINCARE ROUTINE DURING STRESS ACNE

FACE CLEANSER: DRUNK ELEPHANT PEKEE BAR

This stuff is MAGIC in a bar form. It’s fragrance and soap-free, doesn’t contain any essential oil and have honey in it (you know how I love honey).

TONER: SIMPLE KIND TO SKIN SOOTHING FACIAL TONER

The name said it all. It is a soothing toner, feels and looks like water. I’d recommend to stay away from exfoliating toner when your skin is stress. Choose a hydrating toner that’s light and alcohol free.

SERUM: VICHY MINERAL 89

Why 89? Because it does contain up to 89% of natural origin Hyaluronic Acid. This will protect skin from pollution, stress and fatigue. And I chose hydration serum during my stress acne period, rather than my regular Niacinamide or vitamin C serum (it’s like taking a break from the hard stuffs). I also skip moisturizer after this, just because I feel this already helped with the hydration.

SPF (AM ROUTINE): SKIN AQUA UV SUPER MOISTURE GEL SPF50+ PA++++

Long time favorite of mine. SPF in a gel form, easy to absorb, doesn’t leave any white cast and never broke me out. It’s super light in texture and good for makeup base too.

MORE TIPS:

  • Don’t overkill your stress acne with spot treatments, especially those with tough ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid. Trust me, they will look worse (looks more red & irritated).
  • Instead, try to hydrate your skin as much as you can. Personally, I love to spray my face with Avene Thermal Spring Water during the day.
  • And also, try to touch up your SPF during the day. Usually, I reapply every four hours even though I stayed indoor most of the time. Because I wear makeup, I like to use Kose Suncut Protect UV Spray SPF50+ PA++++.
  • Double cleanse if you have makeup on. My all time favorite is Banila Co Clean It Zero
  • Stay clear from anything acid and retinol while stress acne attacked. Treat them first with tender, love and care.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

REVIEW & SWATCHES: ROLLOVER REACTION DI KALA SENJA

This month, during Java island’s electricity black out, I attended the launch event of Rollover Reaction’s latest collaboration with Putri Marino, famous Indonesia’s actress who also wrote a killer poem on her IG. And the illustrator behind it is Rachel Ajeng, famous illustrator-painter.

So, what’s in the collection? Well, Di Kala Senja actually embodies sunset, just like Putri’s personalities: bright, warm and genuine. That’s why this collection features two new shades to add to Rollover Reaction’s Chunky! Lip Crayon (read my previous review here). Only the outer packagings are different from the previous Chunky! But the lip crayon inside is the same black matte pencil. And mind you, these are limited edition collection, so better get them before they ran out.

Since I’ve talked about the texture and finish about Chunky! Already, let’s just jump right in to the shades and swatches.

KALA: This is my favorite shade, it’s a nude brown with a hint of orange.
SENJA: It’s a deep terracotta red shade.

Somehow, these both lip shades look darker in real life. By the way, you can use these as cheek tint, too if you’re a master of doing it. I have to admit I am suck at doing other blush format than powder. So, I am using these strictly as my lip color only.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

REVIEW: BLITHE INBETWEEN

Thanks C&F store for sending me these PR kit to try.

I rarely use primer for my makeup preparation, just because most primers contain silicone. And I dislike silicone for its’ texture & feel, and how it can trap dirt, sweat, bacteria, sebum, dead skin cells and other debris. Read: pore clogging ingredient. Yikes!

So how did I prep my makeup? I count on my skincare steps, obviously. Until I tried these two from Blithe InBetween series. This series from Blithe (a Korean brand) feature multitasking products, which not only nourish and hydrate, but also prep for a makeup-ready skin. They are fall into the hybrid category that combines skincare and makeup. They’re not tested on animals, and smells like lavender. Respectively priced between IDR 520K and 620K, they’re not cheap (I know), but let’s decide are they good enough to try.  

BLITHE INBETWEEN MAKEUP PREP ESSENCE

As the name stated, this is a prep essence. Yes, a lightweight serum that creates a protective layer on skin surface to lock in moisture and prevent makeup from clogging pores. It made with fermented soybean, rice and tomato leaf extract that fortifies skin’s natural barrier. Plus squalane and ceramide to nourish and hydrate for a makeup-ready complexion.

BLITHE INBETWEEN INSTANT GLOWING CREAM

This is a hybrid moisturizer-primer. Made with squalane and tomato leaf extract (rich in antioxidant), this will help to nourish and fortify skin’s natural moisture barrier. This is also vegan, organic and cruelty-free.

Don’t be fooled by the white cream texture, once applied on skin, it’ll create that ‘skin prism’ effect. It’ll give extra glow with natural pearlescence effect.

BLITHE IN BETWEEN HYDRO PRIMING CREAM

BLITHE INBETWEEN HYDRO PRIMING CREAM

As the name stated, this provides hydration and priming at the same time. Its’ texture is more elastic than their Instant Glowing Cream. Yes dearest, if our skin is well-hydrated, makeup will look fresh all day with the help of this. Number one ingredient is Bifida Ferment Filtrate which well known for its’ antioxidant purpose.

HOW I WEAR THEM IN MY INBETWEEN SKIN CARE & MAKEUP ROUTINE?

I use one product depend on my skin’s need that day. For daily use, I prefer the Essence. Glowing cream is best for party look, while Hydro ones will save my day when my skin is drier for some reasons and need some lifting action. Though there are no instructions whatsoever on the packaging, I applied it after my SPF in my AM Routine. Wait a while until it’s absorbed, then apply liquid foundation and the rest of makeup.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARE THEY SAFE FOR FUNGAL ACNE?

They won’t clog pores because they don’t use silicones. Unfortunately they’re not safe for Fungal Acne (for their Saccharomyces, Polysorbate and Peg ingredients). But, as these applied on top of sunscreen, at the very last step before makeup, they didn’t trigger mine. Anyway, better be cautious for those who still suffer from ones. They also claim that these will help your makeup cleansing process easier at night. But anyway, if you double cleanse with balm or oil, any makeup will slides off easily.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE SKINCARE LAYERING

Some of you might asked, “Do I need 10 steps?” Girl, it’s so 2017!

Please do not be intimidated by contents out there with so many layering steps, if you do not have the time nor the budget to do so. Knowing your skin is the first best thing, then you can accommodate based on that.

My routine might not be the same as others and I don’t expect it to be. And I totally not recommend anyone to follow mine exactly. Frankly speaking, there are no such things as ideal steps. Remember, you know you best.

So, these are my steps of skincare routine:

ONE: CLEANSE

First, wipe off with Micellar Water for base makeup. Then Lip & Eye Make Up Remover. Wait till dry then move on to Cleansing Balm. Quickly emulsified the balm, rinse and wash it all away with Face Soap. At the end of the day, I felt extra clean after all of these.

TWO: HYDRATE

Never thought that I’d even consider this as the most important step in my routine. But it is, now. Hydrating Toner and Essence are my skin’s BFF.

THREE: TREAT

My skin is far from perfect, therefore exfoliating toner, serum and ampoule are still needed in my repertoire.

FOUR: MOISTURIZE

Never underestimate the power of moisturizing to seal the previous steps in. I try to stay away from cream and lotion for moisturizer, instead I opt for gel ones.

FIVE: PROTECT

Living in a city when the sun is blasting all year round, it’s impossible and sort of forbidden to skip this step in the morning.

For sure, morning and night time routine are different. Morning routine is simpler because all the cleansing hard stuffs will be happening at night to remove makeup. And night routine might require more steps, just because there’s more time to do so.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA