Tag: dearklairs

BEST OF 2020: FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE SKINCARE

Tough year for all, and lots of us wish for 2020 to end soon. But, does the end of 2020 means the end of the pandemic? Oh well ….

You will see a new list (different from 2018 and 2019 ones). However, there are some categories being left out (like makeup remover, essence, mask and spot treatment), just because I didn’t use them this year to cut cost and skincare steps. I also include some new local favourites, to support local Indonesian brands and economy as well. 

Other cool website to check out and analyse your skincare ingredients is cosmily.com. Please note that some of the products below might still have triggers for comedones and not entirely allergen-free. So please check the ingredients that will suit your skin best.

For detailed review of some products mentioned below, please refer to my Instagram @skinetijen.

Let’s start! (Based on Alphabetical Order, * means local product from Indonesia)

FACIAL WASH

  • BIYU OIL CONTROL CLEANSER *
  • DERMA365 GENTLE CLEANSER
  • ERHA2 FACIAL WASH FOR OILY SKIN *
  • PETER THOMAS ROTH IRISH MOOR MUD PURIFYING CLEANSER
  • SEBAMED CLEAR FACE ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANSING FOAM
  • VANICREAM GENTLE FACIAL CLEANSER

TONER

  • ABILL FIRST STARTING TONER
  • DEAR KLAIRS DAILY SKIN SOFTENING WATER
  • HERBIVORE JASMINE WATER BALANCING TONER
  • MAMONDE CHAMOMILE PURE TONER
  • TRILOGY HYDRATING MIST TONER

SERUM/AMPOULE

  • ALPHA-H VITAMIN B WITH COPPER TRIPEPTIDE
  • COS DE BAHA SALICYLIC ACID 2% LIQUID
  • DUVADERM CLARIFYING SERUM *
  • ME+ NIACINAMIDE BOOSTER
  • PAPA RECIPE EGGPLANT CLEARING AMPOULE
  • ROVECTIN CLEAN LHA BLEMISH AMPOULE
  • YVES ROCHER CONCENTRATED LIFT SERUM

MOISTURIZER

  • JOYLAB SKIN’O’TIC MOISTURE GEL *
  • KRAVE BEAUTY OAT SO SIMPLE WATER CREAM
  • SEBAMED CLEAR FACE CARE GEL
  • TATCHA THE WATER CREAM 

SUNSCREEN

  • ERTO’S SUNSCREEN GEL *
  • NIVEA SUN PROTECT & WHITE INSTANT AURA SERUM SPF 50+ PA+++

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE TONER

Unlike some people who don’t think it’s important, I do enjoy using toner and will never stop using it.

Some use toner for that pH balancing purpose, but I believe my skin is clearer (free from oil plugs and such) when I use one. And I can definitely judge the effectiveness of my cleansers, just by looking at how dirty my (soaked with toner) cotton pads. I found it very satisfying.

Personally I prefer toner with no scent and water-like in texture.

Here’s some of my favorite Fungal-Acne Safe Toner, and I include the ingredients analyzed by cosmily.com (which I thought is more detail than skincarisma.com)

DEAR KLAIRS DAILY SKIN SOFTENING WATER
  • Literally like water with no viscosity, no scent too!
  • Perfect to use with cotton pads. No matter how I cleaned my face, my cotton pads will get dirty somehow when I use this toner.
  • Big size (500ml). Perfect size for toner fans like me, and it’s very affordable.
  • It is a gentle exfoliating toner, so I don’t recommend this for toner masking.
  • Great if you have whiteheads and sensitive skin. It didn’t sting at all.
  • No Butylene Glycol inside, so it won’t trigger comedo.
ABILL FIRST STARTING TONER
  • Same thing, literally like water with no viscosity and no scent.
  • Only 4 ingredients inside, which I love.
  • Can be use as first toner with cotton pads, or if you’re using exfoliating toner, use this as hydrating toner with no pads.
  • Or you can use it for toner masking, it is that gentle.
  • Affordable price but not much of my local online shops here carry this brand.
EUCERIN DERMATOCLEAN CLARIFYING TONER
  • Great daily toner, feels just like water with no scent and no viscosity.
  • To be use with cotton pads as first toner. Somehow, I always see dirt left on cotton pads when I use this.
  • Recommended for sensitive skin.
  • It’s a drugstore brand, but they don’t have this officially where I live. But some online shops do carry this from neighbors’ countries like Singapore or Malaysia.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA & SCREENSHOT FROM COSMILY.COM

DOUBLE TONING FOR FUNGAL-ACNE

As important as double cleansing, people!

My current double-toning products

After that double cleanse, using toners are critical. Why? Because they’ll help to remove any impurities left behind by cleansers. But, seriously, do we need two toners to do that? Well, if you have problematic skin like me (read: prone to fungal-acne and closed comedones), you might need both, Exfoliating Toner and Hydrating Toner.

You see, exfoliating toner is like one level up from ordinary toners. Most of them have additional acids that can help clean away those dead skin cells, improving rough skin texture and dullness. This alone can be tough for some, so need to get extra hydration from fellow toner.

Just like the name stated, hydrating toner was made to hydrate. Not just that, think of it as a booster for more steps after (essence, serum, ampoule).

And….just like double cleanse, personally I only do double toning once a day, for my PM Routine. Trust me, I’ve tried to do it twice a day, but ended up over-exfoliating and aggravate those fungal-acne.

Current HG Exfoliating Toner. Expensive like hell, but worth every drop.

So how to double tone exactly? Easy. Exfoliating toner: use with cotton pads.

I like this because it’s unscented and not sticky

Hydrating toner: use your hands and tap

Then follow by essence, serum, ampoule, eye cream, moisturizer and SPF (for AM)

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

BRUNTUSAN: WHICH PRODUCTS ARE SAFE?

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).

Screen Shot 2018-08-25 at 9.16.15 AM

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

 

MY 10-STEPS SKINCARE ROUTINE

As Soko Glam written, “The K-Beauty 10-Step is one of the most personalized and widely followed skin routines around the world.” A global phenomenon followed by many, including yours truly.

I have super sensitive skin with fungal acne on forehead, yes…I am a fungal acne warrior. So finding one product for each steps was kind of hard, but after a few trials, I’ve decided these 10 are the ones suited me best. Please remember that skincare is super personal, so what works for me might have not work for you.

DSCF6182 copy

Well, my version of 10 steps might not be all K-Beauty Brands, there are Japanese and European brand, too. Please scroll below for more.

  1. First cleanser to remove any makeup & impurities without tugging and rubbing, DHC Cleansing Oil. This is (however) my PM Skincare Routine. For AM, I jumped right to step number 2.
  2. Second cleanse with water cleanser. My current fave: Rosette Acne Cleansing Paste, a clay type of face wash with no artificial colors, oils and mineral oils (I purchased this in Tokyo, but I believe they’re now available in Singapore too).
  3. Exfoliate (I do this twice a week every Tuesday & Saturday) with Krave Beauty Kalelaluyaha. I was skeptical at first, knowing that I have super sensitive skin that might react worse after exfoliating, but seeing the final result after just one trial made me convinced. Tip: give it time to absorb (like about 30 minutes) before moving on to another step. Psssttt…I will review about this most-wanted skincare product separately.
  4. Toning with La Roche-Posay Serozinc. It contains Zinc Sulfate which specifically designed to target key signs of oily skin.
  5. Then, move on to double tone with Natural Pacific Real Floral Toner Calendula, just because it looks beautiful on my vanity. Just kidding, it seriously minimize skin irritation and left my skin felt so clean.
  6. Hydrating with Hadalabo Gokujyun Ultimate Moisturising Light Lotion. No wonder they claim this product sold every two seconds in Japan (where they came from). It is that good, seriously. Currently doing 3 out of 7 toners skin method, but will increase soon. Tip: keep on tapping to make it less tacky and easily absorb.
  7. Moving on to Ampoule. My favorite is Tosowoong Propolis Sparkle Ampoule. Knowing that my skin can tolerate propolis (some people might not be), I believe this made my skin look more radiant and glowing. Perfect for under makeup as well, I treated this like a primer (AM Skincare Routine).
  8. I took my eye care seriously, so I never skipped on eye cream. This is my current fave (found it in one of Tokyo’s drugstore). Oops the brand is in Japanese, so yeah let’s just call this Whitening Eye Cream.
  9. For red and ‘angry’ spots, Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream will work like a charm. But if I haven’t got any, I’ll skip this step.
  10. Last step of my skincare routine for AM is definitely sun protection using Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+/PA++++. It’s super waterproof, perfect for me because I sweat easily.

If you think I spent hours doing these steps everyday, you are wrong. Except when I exfoliate, I spend 10 minutes (max) only. Anyway, I believe #selflove is super important, so even though I do hold on tight to “time is money” policy, watching your skin improving every step of the way is priceless. Who’s with me?

PHOTO: SHINTA ROSVITA