SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE SKINCARE LAYERING

July 20, 2019

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

EUROPEAN DRUG-STORE SKINCARE PRODUCTS FOR FUNGAL-ACNE PRONE SKIN

May 18, 2019

Do I have other products than K-Beauty skincare? Of course, dearest. I do have a few of European drugstore brands in my collection. Disclaimer: unfortunately, most of them were purchased when I travelled abroad, because they don’t carry them where I live (Jakarta, Indonesia). Boohoo!!

EAU THERMALE AVÈNE or simply called Avène.

I guess every girl in this world must have this in their vanity. I use this before first toner, right after cleansing. Why? Because I have hard water in my home, so I need to neutralize my skin before everything else. It has ideal calcium/magnesium ratio to help improve skin texture. And I love the cooling & calming sensation on every spray it made. Super love!

This is like a cleansing milk, non-rinse ones. Its’ milky texture will turn into fluid when rubbed. Please note that this has fragrance (but claimed to be tolerated by sensitive skin). It removed base makeup well, but not recommended to use to remove eye makeup.

I am sold by one of their claim that it acts as a protective shield against pollution. And after more research, I found out that this only has 11 ingredients (which is great for sensitive skin), with the highest concentration of their Thermal Mineralizing Water plus Hyaluronic Acid. Currently, I use this as daily moisturizer, by the way.

URIAGE EAU THERMALE or simply called Uriage

Another Thermal Water based product in my collection, this is a fragranced cleansing cream. Even though it’s fragranced, it’s safe for sensitive skin (proven by yours truly). Usually I use this in the morning after my acid night (which is only twice a week now). Mind you, this is soap-free and contains 1/3 nourishing milk. It won’t dry out skin but in the same time it didn’t leave any filmy residue after cleansing.

It’s specifically tailored for combination to oily skin, so yes on this point. It contains licorice extract which known for its’ ability to reduce excess sebum and prevent new blemishes. Another yes. It didn’t leave my skin look shiny or white or greyish or patchy.

**Eucerin Ultra Sensitive Soothing Care**

This is actually a day and night moisturizer, but I use this as a daily moisturizer for AM only. It’s preservative-free, paraben-free, paraffin-free, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, colorant-free and emulsifier-free. Since I’ve experienced redness here and there, especially after that over-exfoliating period, this really help to calm them down. It’s very light and contains SymSitive, their patented ingredient specially developed for hypersensitive skin. I do recommend this to strengthen skin barrier.

This specific type (they do have lots of type) of acid toner has been developed to suit all skin types from sensitive to dehydrated skin. I was too excited to try this hype acid toner, I applied this every night. Yes, I ended up having over-exfoliated skin. So, I do recommend to use this only once or twice a week (diluted on a cotton pad moistened with water). I don’t mind the vinegar-like smell, it reminds me of Apple Cider Vinegar.

LA ROCHE-POSAY

What is it with me and Thermal Water? Well, this is another favorite Thermal Water of mine. Naturally rich in selenium, well known as a powerful antioxidant, this face mist not only refreshes but also tones and rebalance skin. That’s why on my bad skin days, I will use this as a face toner to replace my regular toner.

To beat the shine with only mist? Yup, this will do. This is actually a mattifying face mist, specially made for oily skin people. As the name applied, it does contain zinc sulfate to target signs of oily skin. No worries, it’s also clear like ordinary water mist, and I believe this is also a great toner if you’re sensitive to anything.

Need I say more? Tried many of cleansing water for makeup, from another brands, another countries, but keep on coming back to this. Even though this doesn’t dissolve eye makeup, but a great base makeup remover.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

SKIN CARE PRODUCTS I LOVE IN 2018 (AND WILL REPURCHASE IN 2019)

December 30, 2018

Next year, which will happen soon, is going to be another exciting year for skincare enthusiast like me. Visited Cosmoprof 2018 in Hong Kong on November this year with my boss and colleague, we saw a lot of new and interesting innovation, coming from lots of skincare brand.

But, being me, a person with sensitive and fungal-acne prone skin type, I’d rather be careful and pick’n choose carefully. That’s why sticking to what I believe worked on my skin, is key. Well, I won’t be a hypocrite, I might try new stuffs, but I’ll make sure it’s safe.

In this post, I will share about skincare products that I love (and some are newly discovered) along this year. And yeah, most probably I will repurchase by next year (if I don’t find something new & safe for my skin).

PURITO DEFENCE BARRIER PH CLEANSER: new discovery this year and I love it. Lightly scented, cleanse perfectly and does not leave that gooey sensation after cleansing.

BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O: been using this since forever, I guess. Cleanse makeup without any stinging sensation.

HADA LABO TAMAGOHADA MILD PEELING LOTION: new discovery this year, and have been in love with this exfoliating toner ever since. Unscented and does not sting.

SKIN AQUA UV MOISTURE MILK SPF50+ PA+++: it’s hard to find sunscreen which is safe for fungal-acne prone skin, so when I found this, it’s a winner. Super affordable, easy to get and does not leave white cast.

KLAIRS SUPPLE PREPARATION UNSCENTED TONER: yes, it might be a bit hard to absorb if apply with patting technique. But I believe this hydrating toner really hydrates, even though I just apply one layer.

DRUNK ELEPHANT T.L.C FRAMBOOS GLYCOLIC NIGHT SERUM: expensive AF, but that’s why it works like a charm. I apply this as a spot treatment when needed.

GOODAL GREEN TANGERINE VITA C DARK SPOT SERUM: totally a game changer for me this year. After cauterization, I believe this spot serum helped me to diminish the spots quickly.

SKIN1004 MADAGASCAR CENTELLA ASIATICA 100 AMPOULE: super affordable and it lasts like forever (thanks to the big bottle).

IUNIK CENTELLA CALMING GEL CREAM: favorite day moisturizer, because it contains silicone which might not be good if apply at night (you don’t need that blurring effect at night right?)

KLAIRS MIDNIGHT BLUE YOUTH ACTIVATING DROP: my after treatment HG serum. After microneedling or after laser therapy, this is my go to serum. Usually I apply this by its’ own at night time.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

BEST OF 2018 : FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE SKINCARE

December 17, 2018January 14, 2019

I guess this is the most awaited post. Well, I hope this list (checked on skincarisma.com) will help you to find the perfect skincare for your fungal-acne prone skin. Feel free to message me on my instagram if you have any questions. And I’ll be more than happy if you can share your favorite fungal-acne safe products, too (just in case I missed any in this list-I bet I did). Cheers!

FIRST CLEANSER

BIORE PERFECT CLEANSING WATER
BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O
BIFESTA CLEANSING LOTION MOIST

FACIAL WASH

PURITO DEFENCE BARRIER PH CLEANSER
SIMPLE KIND TO SKIN REFRESHING FACIAL WASH
LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR FOAMING PURIFYING GEL
SEBAMED CLEAR FACE FOAMING CLEANSER
DHC MORNING FACE WASH
EUCERIN DERMOPURE CLEANSING GEL
DR WU HYDRATING GEL CLEANSER WITH HYALURONIC ACID
FARMACY CLEAN BEE ULTRA GENTLE FACIAL CLEANSER
NEUTROGENA OIL-FREE ACNE WASH REDNESS SOOTHING FACIAL CLEANSER

TONER

SKIN1004 MADAGASCAR CENTELLA ASIATICA TONING TONER
KLAIRS SUPPLE PREPARATION UNSCENTED TONER
LEEGEEHAAM(LJH) TEA TREE 70 MIST TONER
COSRX AHA/BHA CLARIFYING TREATMENT TONER
HADA LABO TAMAGOHADA MILD PEELING LOTION
COSRX CENTELLA WATER ALCOHOL-FREE TONER
ISNTREE GREEN TEA FRESH TONER
KIEHL’S CALENDULA HERBAL EXTRACT ALCOHOL FREE TONER

ESSENCE

LEEGEEHAAM(LJH) TEA TREE 90 ESSENCE
I’M FROM MUGWORT ESSENCE
COSRX ADVANCED SNAIL 96 MUCIN POWER ESSENCE

SERUM

PEACH &LILY GLASS SKIN REFINING SERUM
GLOSSIER SUPER PURE SERUM
THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC 1%
PURITO PURE VITAMIN C SERUM
GOODAL GREEN TANGERINE VITA C DARK SPOT SERUM
DR WU RENEWAL SYSTEM DAILY RENEWAL SERUM WITH MANDELIC ACID 18%

AMPOULE

SKIN1004 MADAGASCAR CENTELLA ASIATICA 100 AMPOULE
CNP LABORATORY MUGENER AMPULE
LEEGEEHAAM VITA PROPOLIS AMPOULE

MOISTURIZER

IUNIK CENTELLA CALMING GEL CREAM
EUCERIN ULTRASENSITIVE SOOTHING CARE NORMAL TO COMBINATION SKIN
SOME BY MI H7 HYDRO MAX CREAM
KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL OIL-FREE GEL CREAM

SPF

SKIN AQUA UV MOISTURE MILK SPF50+ PA+++
SKIN AQUA UV MILD GEL SPF30 PA+++
SKIN AQUA UV SUPER MOISTURE GEL SPF50+ PA++++
BIORE UV PERFECT MILK SPF50+ PA++++
HADA LABO PERFECT UV GEL SPF50+ PA++++

FOUNDATION

BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX SERUM GEL FOUNDATION
L’OREAL PARIS INFALLIBLE PRO MATTE FOUNDATION

WASH-OFF MASK

NATURE REPUBLIC BAMBOO CHARCOAL MUD PACK
LEEGEEHAAM GROW MATCHA CLAY MASK
LA ROCHE POSAY EFFACLAR SEBO-CONTROLLING MASK
FREEMAN DEEP CLEARING MANUKA HONEY + TEA TREE OIL CLAY MASK + CLEANSER

FACIAL OIL

DRUNK ELEPHANT VIRGIN MARULA LUXURY OIL
BIOSSANCE SQUALANE + VITAMIN C ROSE OIL
TRILOGY CERTIFIED ORGANIC ROSEHIP OIL
THE ORDINARY 100% PLANT-DERIVED SQUALANE

Fret not all, I’ll update this post if I stumbled upon new fungal-acne safe products. Make sure you visit this post regularly, yes?

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

STICK TO WHAT WORKS

November 25, 2018

Being bombarded by so many skincare products and new launches, might get one excited. Including yours truly. But, knowing that I have super sensitive skin that can show immediate reaction (I don’t believe in purging, by the way), I know I have my own set of limitation.

Especially, if you’ve been following my blog or my IG (@shintarosvita), you’d probably know that I have fungal-acne prone skin. That’s why even though I got excited of so many new skincare products on the market, most of the time I stick to what works on my skin.

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Here, I will share you my repeatedly purchased skincare products (on alphabetical order), just because they did good on my skin (read: they didn’t trigger my fungal-acne and didn’t break me out).

BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O

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I tried Micellar Water from other brands, but keep on coming back to this. I lost count on how many bottles I’ve used already, since I’m very particular of first cleansing. I have to admit I used a lot of micellar water for the first step of double cleanse.

DRUNK ELEPHANT T.L.C FRAMBOOS GLYCOLIC NIGHT SERUM

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After I received the mini size from a dear friend, and found out that this worked like a charm, I immediately bought the full size. Yes, it is expensive. However, I only use one pump every other night only to treat closed comedones. I never apply it all over my face, because it’s not safe for fungal acne (it contains Glycerine and Saccharomyces). This is more like a closed comedones treatment for me.

NACIFIC FRESH HERB ORIGIN TONER

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Again, this is my third bottle. Contains calendula flower water and active antioxidants, I feel this toner is really soothing and hydrating. So pure and refreshing, this multi-purpose toner did feel just like water when applied.

SKIN1004 MADAGASCAR CENTELLA ASIATICA TONING TONER

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I believe this is my third bottle so far. After trying a few of daily exfoliating toner from Korean brands, I believe this is the most gentle one, as it contains PHA (low-stimulant exfoliating ingredient). I use this as a part of my PM routine, with cotton pad).

WIDA NS SODIUM CHLORIDE 0,9%

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Well, this is my third bottle. After cauter treatment, the doctor recommended to use this as facial compress to speed up the wound’s drying process. It’s really cooling on skin and since it contains electrolyte which mimic our body’s fluid, I found it very hydrating on skin. So, I keep on using this with compressed sheet mask from Miniso, once a day (usually in the morning to freshen up).

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

UPDATE: CAUTER WOUNDS

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018

After my Cauter Procedure on September 28, 2018 (read the post HERE), I thought I’d update you all about my skin condition.

Well, as you can see from the pics above, some of the bigger spots on the upper-cheek area are getting lighter (some are gone, YEAY!). Those were the areas that used to be the home of Sebaceous Hyperplasia, so no wonder the wounds were bigger than just Milia’s wounds. I was using Dermatix Ultra, recommended by the clinic’s doctor, but after a few uses (maybe because it contains silicone and vitamin C ester?) big zits were showing up on areas near the dark spots. You see, I only use Dermatix Ultra as dark spot treatment, but if I went overboard with it, it’d break me out. So I stopped using it gradually, and went for vitamin C serum and Rosehip Oil instead.

So, what did I do to treat my Cauter’s wounds?

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At Home Treatment:

Double Cleansing: using Micellar Water & Facial Wash (gel texture is preferred)
Toning: using Exfoliating Toner & Hydrating Toner
Mask: using compressed sheet mask with NaCl solution (great for wounds)
Serum: using vitamin C on dark spots.
Facial Oil: using Rosehip Oil on dark spots
Moisturizer: another gel texture on my beauty repertoire.

Clinic Treatment (I did these at Beauty By Appointment):

Nd-YAG laser for skin rejuvenation and to treat dark spots.
BBA Glow (not to be mistaken with BB Glow). This is a treatment to penetrate the serum under the skin to make the skin looks glowing.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FIRST CLEANSER FOR FUNGAL ACNE

October 6, 2018October 6, 2018

Lately I’ve been asked about this matter, as a lot of you suffered worsen fungal acne after cleansing with oils.

Been there, done that, folks! Apparently, my fungal acne prone skin hates olive oil, pronto! So, if I use cleansing oil as the first cleanser with olive oil as one of their main 5 ingredients, that will do bad things. Unfortunately my dear, lots of cleansing oil used olive oil as their main ingredients. And not only most oil is bad news for fungal acne, some ingredients mainly found in cleansing oil like Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate are also a big no no for fungal acne dearest.

How about cleansing balm, some of you asked me. Same thing, lots of cleansing balms, whatever they named them, also contain ingredients that are not safe for fungal acne prone skin.

So, obviously I tried to stay clear of oils and balms, but lots of people still got confused of this first cleanser dilemma. I used to think that nothing could dissolve my oily based makeup and sunscreen except oil-based cleanser. Until I read labmuffinscience post. Yes darlings, we don’t need oil to dissolve oil, but look for surfactant in your cleanser.

Unfortunately, after some trial & error, there are not much first cleanser products that worked best on my fungal acne (in the meaning of they didn’t trigger them to be worse). But, I recommend you to check skincarisma.com if you want to know does your first cleanser safe for your fungal acne.

Personally, I’ve been using these two religiously, as they didn’t trigger my fungal acne.

BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O: Trust me, I’ve tried many brands but always going back to this. It’s not cheap, yes. But, every single time I bought expensive skincare products, I will keep on telling myself “this Is an investment, I only have one face and I will take care of it the best way I can”. Believe it or not, I’d rather spent my money on expensive skincare products that really worked, rather than buying designer shoes nowadays.

LANEIGE LIP & EYE REMOVER WATERPROOF_EX: No wonder this costs a lot for a bottle of lip and eye makeup remover. It didn’t blur and sting my eyes. It removed matte lip color, waterproof mascara and eyeliner well. And tada!!! It’s safe for fungal acne according to skincarisma.com. If you’re also prone to milia under the eyes, don’t worry, this won’t make them bigger.

TIPS: immediately wash with second cleanser aka your facial wash after using first cleanser. Personally, I love using round cotton pads, so I can detect how clean I cleansed.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

BRUNTUSAN: WHICH PRODUCTS ARE SAFE?

September 2, 2018September 2, 2018

Uneven skin texture. Maybe that’s the right English words for ‘bruntusan’, which I believe still happen even if you passed that teenager’s years already.

If you’ve been having a constant bruntusan and nothing help, it could be Pityrosporum Folliculitis, aka Malassezia, aka fungal acne in more popular term. I’ve been intensively blogging about this, because I am one of the sufferers.

It’s almost a year now, and obviously I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride to find the right products. I am my own guinea-pig. Cosdna and skincarisma have been my go-to website to check out on the ingredients of each product which I wanted to purchase. I will stay clear for anything that stated bad for fungal acne, such as: Galactomyces, Sorbitan Olivate (Olive Oil), Sorbitan Palmitate (Palm Oil), Glyceryl Stearate (derived from palm kernel, vegetable or soy oil), Castor Oil and lots more. Basically I will stay clear from mineral oils and anything fermented (because it will feed the yeast).

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I recommend you to check on skincarisma.com to know which ingredient is bad for fungal acne before you purchase anything. These are some of the products that I purchase after I’m totally sure that they’re fungal acne safe (according to skincarisma.com).

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FIRST CLEANSER: BIODERMA Sensibio H2O.
No matter how much I’d love to try balm or oil remover, most of them usually contain PEG, Olive Oil, or Ethylhexyl Palmitate (palm oil), which is not safe for fungal acne. So yeah, I’ve been using this religiously to remove my base makeup (I use eye makeup remover separately).

SECOND CLEANSER: SIMPLE Kind to Skin Refreshing Facial Wash Gel.
As the name stated, this has very simple ingredients list which include panthenol that promotes wound healing. Don’t expect miracle, it won’t make your acne dries. But, this is a very gentle cleanser and super awesome for sensitive skin (it won’t aggravate skin because it is fragrance free).

TONER: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica Toner.
Centella Asiatica aka Tiger Grass aka Daun Pegagan (in Bahasa), has been my favorite ingredient lately. This is a clear, watery everyday toner, perfect to wipe away any excess dirt and oil after second cleanser.

EXFOLIATING TONER: COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Toner.
I only use this twice a week, just because I need to exfoliate. Even though I am not a big fan of AHA, this is the only exfoliating toner which is safe for fungal acne (according to skincarisma.com).

HYDRATING TONER: KLAIRS Supple Preparation Unscented Toner.
I use this after exfoliating toner. This toner is free from scents and (best of all) essential oils. It’s cooling and calming when applied.

ESSENCE: LEEGEEHAAM Tea Tree90 Essence.
Mine is the old version, I believe they launched the latest version with new packaging (not sure of the formula). Tea tree is another one of my favorite ingredients, and this also contains Centella Asiatica extract.

SERUM: GLOSSIER Super Pure.
This is my second bottle, by the way. I’ve tried The Ordinary Niacinamide, but I love this one more. It has no weird scent like The Ordinary ones, and glides evenly because it’s more watery than The Ordinary. Yes, it is expensive though.

AMPOULE: (Again from the brand SKIN1004), Madagascar Centella Asiatica 100 Ampoule.
It only contains Centella Asiatica Extract, so this is very potent for skin healing. Unlike any ampoules that I’ve tried, this is more watery. Nonetheless, it absorb really well and I believe it calms down angry skin.

MOISTURIZER: MAKE P:REM Safe Me Relief Cream.
I believe this is the first ever moisturizer that I enjoy using. I love the light texture, the super light scent and it only contains 12 ingredients (which include Squalane, another champion ingredient). Less ingredients is definitely more!

OIL: BIOSSANCE Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil.
This oil is bloody expensive, but worth it. Actually, using oil as the last step of any skincare routine is just a supplement. If you don’t feel like it, you can skip this step. But I love how this adds softness, especially under makeup.

WASH OFF MASK: LEEGEEHAAM Grow Matcha Clay Pack.
I am not a sheet mask fan, as I read in Reddit that the wet environment of the sheet mask made an even better breeding ground for fungal acne. So yeah, I stick to my wash off mask, thank you. This mask has great ingredients such as green tea, kaolin and bentonite clay. Texture is thick but creamy and easy to apply.

I hope this post will help you to choose the right products for your bruntusan or fungal acne problem. Till then!

PHOTOS; SHINTA ROSVITA

‘ANGRY SKIN’ AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018

Just when I thought my fungal acne is getting better (sigh).

Actually they are quite calm now, but suddenly bigger acnes popped out of nowhere, on my temples only! Stressed? Check! Lack of sleep? Check! Too much dairy and sugar? Definitely! Oh man, like seriously nothing helped at this point of my skincare journey.

I can’t believe I posted this before-after picture, when the after picture looked worse than the before (I so hate my life right now).

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On those horrible days, I’ve tried almost everything from Benzoyl Peroxide, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, BHA, AHA, Lactic Acid, Centella Asiatica to heal those two spots. Unfortunately, none worked! I assumed, I might have been over-exfoliating and my skin became confused by too many active ingredients. So, I decided to completely cut down my skincare regime, morning and night. I also limit my chemical exfoliation to once a month, rather than twice a week like I used to do. And I tried sulfur as spot treatment, using a local brand product. Why? Because according to simpleskincarescience.com, sulfur can treat fungal acne because it produces penthationic acid which is toxic to fungi, and it may also directly inhibit malassezia (read: my nightmare).

Without further adieu, here are my (much) shorten skincare routine.

AM ROUTINE
Cleanser: COSRX LOW PH GOOD MORNING GEL CLEANSER. Not very foamy with quite heavy tea tree scent. I was worried that it’s going to cause purging, but it’s not. Pheeww!!!

Toner: SOMEBYMI AHA-BHA-PHA 30 DAYS MIRACLE TONER. I (sort of) ditched my regular toner (Nacific Calendula) for this. Thanks to their super heavy rotation ad on instagram, I am sold. So far so good, no purging. I will keep you updated, because they claimed this toner will bring miracle if used continuously for 30 days. Fingers crossed!

Serum: DR JART+ CICAPAIR SERUM. This is quite an expensive serum (must be the packaging price). I just tried to empty this bottle, even though I believe it didn’t show any magic result on my skin. But at least, it didn’t cause me any break out. I wouldn’t repurchase this, will try other serum (I am thinking Lee Gee Haam).

Moisturizer: SEBAMED CLEAR FACE CARE GEL mixed with THE ORDINARY 100% PLANT-DERIVED SQUALANE. To reduce the tackiness of the gel, I always mixed it with squalane oil. Squalane also add glow to the skin and not worsen my fungal acnes.

Sunscreen: SKIN AQUA UV MOISTURE GEL SPF 30 PA++. It’s not a clear gel, for sure. Milky white when poured, but luckily no white cast when applied. Easy to absorb and feels very light on skin. Best of all, did not cause any break out.

PM ROUTINE
First Cleanser: BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O. Long time favorite of mine, long before they legally sold in my local drugstores. Been trying this and that, but always go back to this (it’s da best, what can I say)

Second Cleanser: KRAVE BEAUTY MATCHA HEMP HYDRATING CLEANSER. Don’t expect too much foam if you use this, but trust me, my skin never felt cleaner and healthier.

In the shower mask: BLITHE PATTING WATER PACK SOOTHING & HEALING GREEN TEA. It’s a genius product, I might say. Who has time for facial mask to dry these days?

Toner: SOMEBYMI AHA-BHA-PHA 30 DAYS MIRACLE TONER. Yes, again in the evening. After swiping on face, I apply this on my neck too. Never neglect neck!

Spot Treatment: ACNE FELDIN LOTION. Local skincare product with 1% camphor and 6.6% sulfur as main ingredients. It smells weird at first and the super watery texture is a pain the ass to apply directly with finger on spots, but I got the hang of it. I also applied this on my temple where the fungal acnes are. Make sure to tap until they dried down.

And after 8 days of cutting down my skincare regime to the above routines, this is how my skin looks.

Those two humongous zits are flatten (but still left red marks), some black heads are still there (one popped out in the shower accidentally-causing an open red wound), but I know it’s getting better. But it’s still day 8, so I will check back in 22 more days, just to see the efficacy of my skincare routine and the products I am currently using.

CONCLUSIONS:

Never ever over exfoliate. Just pick one acid that suits your skin.
Find one active ingredient that suits your skin the most and stick with it (trying periods are the worst, it’s like finding your skin soul-mate).
Avoid skincare overload. Less is definitely more, do not let your skin get confused (too many products = too many ingredients).
Being bombarded by so many new skincare products is hard (I know right). Search well about the ingredients and reviews before any purchases.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA