Compiling for the basic skincare routine, easy to find online or offline here in Jakarta, Indonesia. Prices are correct by the time I post this.
FIRST CLEANSER
GARNIER MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER (IDR 29K for 125ml)
EMINA MICELLAR WATER DROP CLEANSER (IDR 37K for 100ml) AZARINE CLEANSING MOIST MICELLAR WATER (IDR 39K for 100ml) JOYLAB CLEANSING WATER (IDR 80K for 100ml)
SECOND CLEANSER
DERMA365 GENTLE CLEANSER (IDR 74K for 100ml)
BIYU PURE GENTLE CLEANSER (IDR 99K for 80ml) PIXY WHITE AQUA PORE CLEANSE MICELLAR FOAM (IDR 48K for 110ml) ERHA 2 FACIAL WASH (IDR 81K for 60ml)
TONER
SOLELUNA HYDRATING FACE TONER (IDR 72K for 100ml)
HADA LABO MILD PEELING LOTION (IDR 79K for 100ml) SIMPLE KIND TO SKIN SOOTHING FACIAL TONER (IDR 92K for 200ml)
MOISTURIZER
GLOWINC POTION FOREVER+ PRO YOUTH EVERYDAY MOISTURIZER (IDR 99K for 25gr)
BLESS FACIAL MOISTURIZER FOR SENSITIVE SKIN (IDR 83K for 40gr).
SUNSCREEN
BIORE SKIN AQUA UV MOISTURE MILK SPF 50+ PA+++ (IDR 60K for 40ml)
First thing first, why vinegar? If you’re a BTS army, you’d probably knew that one of their member, Jungkook apparently cleared his acne by using ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar). Yes, ACV is good for acne, because it helps to get rid of bad bacterias and lower the skin’s pH (FYI, acne sufferers tend to have a higher pH). I used to drink them on daily basis, but couldn’t bear the scent. So, when ACV finally made it as skincare ingredients, I can’t help but to try them.
Let’s dig deeper to each of these two ACV based toner, shall we?
Both are fungal acne safe, by the way.
Made in USA Claim: Oil-absorbing toner, leaves skin clearer and smoother Plus Points:
Affordable
Only contains three ingredients.
Can be use as clarifying hair product
It comes in a spray bottle
Price: IDR 200K for 237ml My thoughts:
It still contains Damask Rose Oil, so if your skin is sensitive to oil, I do not recommend this.
The scent is more vinegary than rosy if you know what I mean. This smells stronger and linger longer than Gallinée ones.
Made in France Claim: Soothe & reduce redness in sensitive skins, purify & exfoliate oily skin. Plus Points:
Contains prebiotics to support the skin microbiome
Oil-Free
Using ACV infused with Hibiscus (I guess this also help to reduce the smell).
Price: IDR 451K for 200ml My thoughts:
Yes, it smells like vinegar, but not as strong and lingering as Heritage Store.
I dislike the flip-top cap, though, it might get messy and sticky on the top with longer uses.
PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA SCREENSHOTS FROM INCIDECODER
ROUND LAB 1025 DOKDO TONER Instead of using the real sea water to treat acne, like people on TikTok (seriously??!!), this toner contains sea water that has been processed specifically for skin. It also contains panthenol to reduce irritation and allantoin (which I personally prefer than Centella Asiatica) to soothe the skin, especially acne prone skin. Price IDR 155K for 200ml
S NATURE AQUA SQUALANE WRINKLE MOISTURIZING CREAM Impressive ingredients list for a complete skin barrier moisturizer. Two of the top fives are squalane which acts as emollient, and glycerin as humectant. Because I try to save lately, I opt for a moisturizer which have both humectant and emollient in it, so I don’t have to purchase two separate moisturizers for my night time routine (FYI, I skip moisturizer step in the morning to prevent maskne). Price IDR 350K for 80ml
MISSHA AQUA SUN GEL SPF50+ PA++++ If you’ve been following me long enough, you’d know that I love my SkinAqua sunscreen. Time to try something new, which relatively easier to find locally. It is categorized as chemical sunscreen, with glacial water as one of the hero ingredient. Yes, it still contains Alcohol Denat and Silica (which can be drying for some), but I do like the matte effect on my oily skin. Price IDR 139K for 50ml (bought it on sale)
This exfoliating toner had me at their Prebiotics & Probiotics claims, to support the skin microbiome. And my first ever purchase from this French made brand.
Price IDR 451K for 200ml (at Sephora Indonesia)
Just a glimpse of this microbiome thing, our skin is home to millions of bacteria, fungi and viruses, invisible life-forms known as the skin microbiome. In order to make our skin healthy, a balanced microbiome is crucial. We need to keep those good bacterias, and banish the unhealthy ones.
Enter Gallinée Face Vinegar. Acts like a toner, it claims to cleansed away those unhealthy bacterias and eliminates dead skin cells, allowing better absorption of good bacteria and other ingredients in the rest of our skincare routine.
Yes it is safe for Fungal-Acne
Their first active ingredient is called Actibiome, a novel prebiotic that works to calm stressed skin and prevent it from further irritations alongside gentle postbiotic acids that allow the skin’s beneficial bacteria to flourish. The second actives is hibiscus-infused Apple Cider Vinegar, but no worries, it didn’t smell as sour as the real ACV.
Some said, this is a dupe for Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion. I’ve tried it before and I found Gallinée ones is more light (in terms of the formula and scent). I remember I have to dilute P50 with water so it won’t sting my skin, but I apply this face vinegar directly without no stinging at all. I do recommend this if you have sensitive skin like me.
So how do incorporate this exfo toner in my skincare routine? You’d probably know that I don’t use toner everyday since my #skinimalism journey. But I do use Adapalene on daily basis, and it doesn’t exfoliate. A lot of misconception that retinol exfoliates your skin, well….it does not. I apply this exfo toner with cotton pad twice a week (Monday and Thursday), at night time when I don’t use Adapalene. If you are using Retinol like me, I suggest you skip your retinol while using this, because Apple Cider Vinegar is actually a gentle form of AHA. Avoid applying Retinol and AHA together at the same time as it can cause serious irritation. Instead, if you are using this toner, apply hydrating serum afterwards.
Check out that gunk
Unlike some of the exfo toners that I’ve tried before, this is the only one that didn’t make my skin looks red afterwards. However, don’t expect this toner to act as water (even with the watery texture), it didn’t absorb as fast and it did left a bit tackiness on skin. But, still on comfortable level, and I found that my hydrating serum and moisturizer sit very well after using this toner.
Due to my skinimalism routine, I do skip toner step these days. So I go straight to actives after face cleanser. But, I do love to mist my face (especially during hot and sweaty days) and if my skin got very irritated due to sunburn or retinoid’s usage, I do CSM with hydrating toner.
This is one of those hydrating toner for such purposes, as I don’t apply toner with cotton pads anymore. The texture looks like water but doesn’t feel like one, once applied. It’s slightly thicker (not viscous though), there’s a slippery feel and it gives a slightly dewy look on skin. As I do have sensitive and easily irritated skin, I do find this toner comfortable and cooling, just like the name stated.
It has 85% bamboo water which is known for skin calming purpose, Low & High Molecular Hyaluronic Acid for hydrating effect and Polyglutamic Acid for absorption and moisture. It’s a slightly acidic toner of pH 5,5 which calms, hydrates and moisturizes at the same time.
If you are experiencing heatwave weather, or all year round summer (like me here in Indonesia), put this inside a spritz bottle, let it cool down inside the fridge (not freezer) and spray it on your face. You can definitely get extra freshness and hydration boost easily, anytime of the day.
Since I already bought this on sale, IDR 112K for 160ml (it’s already available officially in Indonesia), I will finish this one bottle, but I don’t think I’ll repurchase. I don’t enjoy its’ after feel, as I prefer hydrating toner with thin like water consistency. I prefer water mist like Avène, a very straightforward soothing mist with no after feel.
If you’ve been following my hauls recently, you’d notice that I purchased more cleansing products than treatment. That’s because I finished them quite fast, since I washed my face three times a day.
Yes, you heard me right. Three times:
in the morning straight after waking up (because I apply retinol at night and it made my skin feel burned somehow after I turned off my Air Conditioner).
later after I exercise under the sun (sweats mixed with bacterias, so better wash off).
and in the evening before sleeping time.
So, it is obvious that I aim for gentler face cleanser. I love my Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser, but I do like to try others. And I stumbled upon this.
This specific SKU is not available yet in Indonesia’s drugstores, therefore I purchased it on marketplace (IDR290K for 150ml). When I searched for information for this in their UK and US website, they don’t seem to carry this product. They only have CLEANSING FOAM sans the GENTLE. So I guess Avène only marketed this Gentle Cleansing Foam in Asia, but still it was made in France.
Disclaimer: on daily basis, I rarely wear makeup anymore since pandemic strikes, so I don’t use this as makeup remover, even though they claim it can also remove makeup. I do appreciate that they formulated this for Asian sensitive skin with only 10 ingredients on the list.
TWO PUMPS ARE SUFFICIENT FOR THE WHOLE FACE, BTW
It is foamy, but it’s soap free, colorant free and fragrance free as well. And of course, it is rich in Avène Thermal Spring Water which clinically proven to be soothing and anti-irritating. I do recommend this if you have sensitive skin that’s easily irritated. It is really that good and gentle.
YES, IT IS FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE
I love the soft cloud-like texture, it feels so luxurious when it glides evenly on skin. It’s also great if you like to dry cleanse: apply on dry skin and massage for about 30 seconds, then add a bit water for another 30 seconds, then rinse them off. Anyway, that’s how I cleanse my face with this wonderful cleansing foam.
It cleanse my non-makeup face really well and it didn’t leave any slippery feel. Don’t worry of this cleansing foam is going to make your skin tight and dry. It won’t. And as it was developed for sensitive and irritated skin in mine, my skin is loving it so far without any bad reactions. I’d totally purchase it again.
Ingredients (copied from Avene’s Singapore website): AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER (AVENE AQUA), WATER (AQUA), SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, SODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE, CITRIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, LACTIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE
I realized that I haven’t done this category, oops!
Personally, getting the right moisturizer is rather tricky, since I’m also very prone to clogged pores and breakouts. Therefore, I do pick my moisturizers wisely, to make sure they’re not just safe for Fungal Acne, but also for my clogged pores prone skin. And, it’s a bonus if they don’t leave any greasy or sticky residue.
Ingredients that I tried to avoid while looking for moisturizer, as they might be comedogenic:
Silicones (dimethicone)
Oils (avocado, coconut, the list is long)
Bad Alcohol (like Hexadecyl Alcohol)
Lanolin
Butters (Shea, cocoa)
Fatty Acids (Lauric & Stearic specifically)
KRAVE BEAUTY OAT SO SIMPLE WATER CREAM
This is my second jar by the way, I love it because of its’ minimal ingredients list. If you want a basic and lightweight moisturizer, this one’s for you!
If you check out the ingredients list below, nothing really icky there except fragrance and coloring. IMHO, it works for oily skin better due to its’ gel texture. For drier skin type, you might need another moisturizer on top to seal in the moisture.
Now, this is my go-to everyday moisturizer. Easy to find at local drugstores and affordable. It’s great that it has Panthenol inside, because it supports the healing of acne. It’s also a water based gel, therefore it supposedly prevents clogged pores.
Do you know that for oily skin people like myself, it’s actually harder for the skin to retain moisture? And yet some people still think only dry skin people need hydration.
Dehydrated skin might worsen oil issues, because they will naturally produce more oil to compensate the dehydration. Therefore, caused more blemishes and breakouts.
IMHO, it’s best to keep our skin hydrated all the time, not to just treat them while dehydration happened. And one of the best way to maintain skin hydration is to use skincare products with Hyaluronic Acid (HA). HA will help to replenish and hold cell moisture, keeping our skin well-hydrated and as a bonus, plumper!
Enter PETER THOMAS ROTH WATER DRENCH. They’re powered by Hyaluronic Acid to help lock in hydration for up to 72 hours. As I always said in my blog and instagram, never ever count on only one skincare product to fix your skin problem(s), I will also say it again for this range. I believe they are in sync, so I really recommend to try them according to proper skincare steps, to achieve maximal hydration result (especially if you have dehydrated and dry skin altogether).
Here’s what I thought for each product.
WATER DRENCH HYALURONIC CLOUD HYDRATING TONER MIST If you asked me which one is my favorite from this hydrating line, this mist won my heart at first spritz. If you’ve been following me quite sometime, you’d know that I’d never apply moisturizer on dry skin. I’d always make sure that my skin is damp before applying moisturizer. Why? Because damp skin is more receptive to active ingredients. This Toner Mist also filled with Witch Hazel to help clarify the skin, though some might reacted to it but fortunately my skin can take it. It’s so enjoyable to spritz, it feels just like pure water on the skin. No after-feel, no stickiness, no fragrance, leaving skin feels refreshed and cool. Price IDR450K for 150ml.
WATER DRENCH HYALURONIC CLOUD SERUM It’s the priciest of them all, but it is a serum with intense 75% Hyaluronic Acid Complex, and you only need one pump for the whole face. I love the clear liquid gel texture, and the fact that it’s oil free and fragrance free. It’s safe for Fungal Acne, too! However, it still contains parabens on the last of their ingredients’ list. Price IDR 1.050K for 30ml
WATER DRENCH HYALURONIC CLOUD CREAM HYDRATING MOISTURIZER Concentrated 30% Hyaluronic Acid Complex cream with three molecular sizes of HA. It also contains Pentavitin® which help to provide up to 72 hours of hydration, even after cleansing. I love how the texture is so light and fluffy, and the fact that it is fragrance free. And I do believe that there’s a reason why some skincare products are darn pricey, because they’re so darn delightful when applied. You can feel it glides luxuriously, yet easily absorbed without any effort. However, it still contains Dimethicone, PEG and not safe for Fungal Acne (but luckily didn’t trigger mine) Price IDR 850K for 50ml
Thanks to maskne, wash-off mask is making its’ way back to my regime.
All those heat trapped inside a mask for hours, with all that bacteria, carbon dioxide, sweat and oil. Our skin need all the help, and there’s no better way to tackle this maskne problem than with a clay mask. Clay mask is great to purify and draw out impurities that clogged the pores while help to soothe skin inflammation.
Fortunately, I found this affordable (priced at IDR 40K for 100ml) wash off mask. It’s also easily found at local drugstores where I live.
It comes in a plastic flip-top tube, and since the texture is not that thick, it’s very practical, hygienic and mess-free. And talking about the texture, it contains sort of micro beads (you can feel it more when rinsing). But no worries, it surprisingly easy to rinse off.
Key ingredients are neem and turmeric (and I thought it was colored yellow, but it’s apparently dark green). Originally from India, neem has anti-bacterial and astringent properties to help with acne bacterias. Meanwhile, turmeric (in Indonesia we use this to cook yellow rice) will help to reduce acne due to its’ anti-inflammatory quality.
It’s fungal-acne safe, but it still contains paraben, sulfate and quite a strong fragrance. Personally, I don’t really mind the herbal woody scent that lingered around even after rinsing off. But for those who are sensitive to fragrances, you might not like it.
Because of the clay ingredient, obviously our skin would feel a bit tight while waiting for them to completely dry. It’s also a bit tingling for the first five minutes, but when I rinse it off my skin is not red at all. Like any other wash-off masks, I suggest to leave them on to dry (about 15 minutes), then rinse off with warm water.
I use this twice a week, especially after wearing mask for a long time. I found it (somehow) cooling, refreshing and my skin felt really clean afterward. It didn’t aggravate my existing maskne, or triggered my fungal acne prone skin. I do recommend this if you’re still doing your active lifestyle during this global pandemic, because maskne is seriously no joke, especially for those who are already have acne-prone skin like myself.
Tips: just apply on problematic area (pores and acne), then rinse with warm water. Don’t forget to hydrate your skin after.
PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA & SCREENSHOTS FROM INCIDECODER.COM & COSMILY.COM
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