Yes, I heard you. For my IG followers who asked me a lot about this matter, this one’s for all of you. These are mostly available at Indonesia’s drugstores (based on alphabetical list).
PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA
FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE DRUGSTORE PRODUCTS
Tag: Bioderma
EASY TO FIND FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE SKINCARE FOR ROOKIES
Disclaimer: I live in Jakarta, Indonesia with (you can say) a limited skincare products legally available in our retails.
Luckily, we do have market places choices with online stores that carry imported skincare brands. We just have to make sure they are legit and not fake. I do have some recommendations for online stores in market place that I usually purchased from, please feel free to DM me on my IG @shintarosvita.
Back to the topic, for those who asked me on products that they can easily get (especially for Fungal-Acne rookies out there) this one’s for you. Basically all you need is a good cleanse (first and second ones), toner, treatment and sunscreen.
If your Fungal-Acne is relatively new, I do recommend you to stay out of makeup until they heal. But if you have to put on makeup anyway, look for non-waterproof makeup and sunscreen, so you don’t have to use cleansing balm or oil as a first cleanser. Opt for cleansing water instead to remove your makeup (except for eyes, you might need a specific eye makeup remover).
Being a number one choice for me for such a long time, before they are legally available in Indonesia. Removes makeup like a charm and it feels like swiping your makeup away with water without leaving any oily residue. But still needs to wash with second cleanser and water, okay.
Where to buy: Drugstores
It didn’t foam up much, but I love how it cleans comfortably. Comes in a milky-gel texture and without fragrance, this is a great second cleanser for Fungal-Acne prone skin.
Where to buy: Style Korean Indonesia
No fuzz daily toner. Feels like water without tackiness and will lift any leftover from your first and second cleanser.
Where to buy: I believe they sold this exclusively at Guardian Indonesia.
Combat fungal acne like a champ with sulfur. And this lotion contains 6.6% of Precipitated Sulphur.
Where to buy: Pharmacies
You know how hard it is to find sunscreen that are safe for Fungal Acne, right? No worries, this sunscreen is safe, super affordable and doesn’t leave white cast.
Where to buy: Drugstores
PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA
POST FUNGAL-ACNE: THE MINIMAL SKINCARE ROUTINE
Obviously, before my first fungal-acne attacked in 2018, I didn’t even know which ingredients triggered them. But after the healing process, my whole skincare regimen has changed a lot. To give you a clearer idea, here’s my minimal skincare routine back in 2018.
Here’s my updated minimal skincare routine now, please note that these are during #stayathome periods (you’d be surprised, the more time I have the simpler the routine becomes).
MORNING:
CLEANSE: First thing that I apply in the morning, cotton pads soaked with warm water to wipe away oil residue and nighttime products. Then I cleanse with TATCHA THE DEEP CLEANSE, which I intend to finish before it expired. Luckily mine is a travel size ones.
TONE: I never skip toner, because I believe if I did, my pores will clog more. My current fave is EUCERIN DERMATOCLEAN CLARIFYING TONER, it’s not an exfo toner or hydrating ones, it’s a perfect daily toner that won’t irritate sensitive skin.
TREAT: I skip moisturizer in the morning, just because this #stayathome period. Instead, I do something that I rarely did back in the old days. AM Treatment! I dab on acne treatment and dark spot treatment on specific spots. My current faves: DERMA E VERY CLEAR SPOT TREATMENT (for pimples) and GOODAL GREEN TANGERINE VITA C DARK SPOT SERUM (for post acne marks). Both can be use on daytime, so I maximize this period to make sure pimples and dark spots are treated during daytime, too.
If I have to catch some sun in the morning (which I do lately every morning), this is my HG sunscreen: SKIN AQUA UV SUPER MOISTURE GEL SPF50+ PA++++. I admit it’s hard to find a new replacement for this. It’s not waterproof, so easy to clean with just micellar water (no need for balm or oil).
NIGHT:
CLEANSE: I will use BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O to cleanse my leftover sunscreen and continue with PETER THOMAS ROTH IRISH MOOR MUD PURIFYING CLEANSING GEL. I use the cleansing gel with my FOREO LUNA3.
TONE: As lazy as I can be these days, I only use ALPHA H LIQUID GOLD, alternating with EUCERIN DERMATOCLEAN CLARIFYING TONER.
SERUM: On my non-exfo days, I apply GLOSSIER SUPER PURE SERUM.
TREATMENT: I apply DRUNK ELEPHANT A PASSIONI RETINOL CREAM twice a week, topped with DRUNK ELEPHANT T.L.C FRAMBOOS GLYCOLIC NIGHT SERUM. I love this combination for my never ending clogged pores problem.
HYDRATE: Last step for PM routine is to hydrate, with my old time favorite, VICHY MINERAL 89 – SKIN FORTIFYING DAILY BOOSTER. I love this because it’s gel, absorbs easily and feels so light on skin.
PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA
BAD FACIAL: WHAT TO DO?
There’s nothing worse than painful comedo extraction that left my face like tons of open wound.
Thanks to my super-sensitive skin, my skin will become red and looked worse painful comedo extraction. And yes, I do hate those traditional method when the therapist did cleansing, then straight to steaming only for a few minutes and start pricking, pressing and popping. I’m sure until today there’s still debate on “should you really pop up everything in facial treatment room?”
I am an anti-extraction. I don’t like the pain (it hurts like hell) and the after-math. But, things are done, and all I can do is to let my skin to calm down, soothe and heal them after all the aggressive treatment.
- Let them be for at least 6 hours after. Don’t touch, don’t pick, and avoid using makeup at all costs. Just go home straight after the treatment and sulk (LOL). Feel burned? Spray VICHY Mineralizing Thermal Water in between, and let it dry by itself.
- After 6 hours passed, do double cleanse. I use Bioderma Sensibio H2O first (with cotton pads), then Drunk Elephant Beste No 9 Jelly Cleanser after. Gently pat dry with soft, dry and clean towel.
- Skip toner. Instead, I use this DIY Oatmeal solution (chill them inside the fridge, because cold temperature might help to reduce redness, irritation and puffiness). Dampened the compressed sheet-mask inside the icy cold solution, put it on for about 20 minutes.
- Or if you don’t have time to make your own sheet mask, I do recommend BE PLAIN Bamboo Healing Mask. Infused in bamboo water, this will help to soothe and refresh. Keep it in the fridge, as cold stuff will help lessen the inflammation.
- While my skin is still damp, I apply APIEU Madecassoside Ampoule. You see Madecassoside is known as best solution for damaged skin from dryness. Pat gently to absorb then move on to next step.
- Serum. I use this AQULABO Vinyasa Calming Serum. As the name stated, it’s a calming serum to reduce stress on the skin after a horrible extraction.
- Don’t forget to (still) hydrate your skin. I personally love ISNTREE Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence, because it has been tested as a low irritation skin care product.
- Avene Tolerance Extreme Emulsion is the final step, just to make sure that on your skin’s most sensitive state, it will stay hydrated, soft and supple. Oh did I mention, this calm the redness too?
Extra tips:
- When your skin feels inflamed with burning sensation after facial, you might want to consider drinking an Ibuprofen pill to ease any pain.
- Stay out of the sun, and keep cool (literally). Warm weather will worsen the burn sensation, so it’s best to stay indoor while healing and turn on that AC.
Remember that each of us human beings have different pain tolerance and healing level. While my skin took longer to heal all those scabs and back to their original state, yours might not. So again, I do recommend (again and again) to listen to your skins’ needs before you do any facial treatments.
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
EUROPEAN DRUG-STORE SKINCARE PRODUCTS FOR FUNGAL-ACNE PRONE SKIN
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.
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)
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
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
- 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
[UPDATE] For Best of 2019, you can check the products here.
[UPDATE] For Best of 2020, you can check the products here.
PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA
STICK TO WHAT WORKS
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.
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
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
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
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
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%
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
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?
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
