Tag: fungalacnesafe

DRY CLEANSING FOR CLOGGED PORES

What is it? 
It’s nothing new, actually. I mean, it’s not an innovative method. But I found it joyful to do daily and gets me excited to wash my face. Anything that will gets me excited during this pandemic are very much welcome, thank you.
Just like the name said, it is supposedly to be done when our skin is dry. Basically, it’s cleansing with face wash while our skin is completely dry. Meaning, you don’t need to wet your face with water before applying, but still need to rinse afterwards. 

Why dry cleansing?
It supposedly is the best way to deep cleanse our skin. Imagine all the good ingredients in the face wash are able to work straight on skin. I believe this method is great for pores (so if you have clogged pores problem, read on). 

What products do I use? 
From my own experiences, not every face wash can do this dry cleansing. IMHO, the best face wash that’s perfect for dry cleansing is a cleansing foam. Well, it’s already foamed, so just apply and massage them directly onto your skin. Also, I do recommend a great pH balanced foaming cleanser. Usually what won’t work for dry cleansing is a cleanser with a gel format. Liquid face wash can still do it, but I personally recommend cleansing foam to make our life easier. 

PATYKA DETOX CLEANSING FOAM 
It’s sulfate-free and soap-free. This glides so luxuriously, no kidding!

SEBAMED CLEAR FACE ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANSING FOAM
After dry cleansing, I usually leave this on like a mask for 5 minutes. 

Does it work? 
If it doesn’t work, I wouldn’t bother to write this post. Since I’ve started doing this method, I rarely got tiny bumps aka clogged pores. And I notice less dirt and impurities while using toner afterward. 


Tips:

  • Please consult with your dermatologist first before doing this dry cleansing, especially if you have reactive acnes or any skin problems like eczema and such. 
  • For more deep cleansing, try dry cleansing with face cleansing brush (either manual or machine like Foreo or Clarisonic). But don’t do it every day as it may aggravate your skin. 
  • Do dry cleansing for at least one minute, to properly clean the whole face. 
  • Please continue with the next step of skincare routine such as toner and moisturiser. Don’t just wash and go. 
  • Listen to your own skin. Do you need to dry cleanse twice a day, or just once. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE FACE & BODY CARE

Unlike 2in1 products that I don’t trust (like shampoo and conditioner in one), I do believe in double-function face and body care. Especially when they’re fungal acne safe. 

Here are some of them that I’ve tried:

VELY VELY PINK CALMING GEL
It’s perfect to use after our skin are heated by UV for its’ soothing and cooling purposes. It also contains pink colored microbeads from Calamine powder, that soothes tired & damaged skin. So, the microbeads are mixed with clear gel and will burst once applied onto skin. Not only great for cooling, soothing and moisturizing, this is also good for strengthening skin barrier (thanks to allantoin as one of their ingredients too). 

DERMA 365 GENTLE CLEANSER
I’m happy that this brand from Australia is now available in my local drugstore. As it is a gentle cleanser for all skin types, it’s mildly soothing and helps to prevent dehydration. For those who are prone to clogged pores like me, no fret, this is non-comedogenic and free from stuffs like soap, colourant, fragrance, paraben, lanolin, mineral oil, SLS and SLES. If you’re having maskne problem, I recommend this gentle cleanser to avoid any irritation on skin. Good luck of finding this on your local Indonesian drugstores, kind of hard to get here. 

CETAPHIL MOISTURIZING LOTION
Another non-comedogenic moisturizer, lightweight and easy to absorb. It contains six moisturizers, plus vitamin E and B5, for long lasting hydration. Because it comes in a lotion texture, of course it’s heavier than Vely Vely ones. Dryer skin will enjoy this more, and I’m enjoying this as my daily body lotion as I hate fragranced body lotion (especially the ones that smells like fruits) and it contains Macadamia Nut Oil which might not be that great for acne. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

REVIEW: LINDSAY MODELING MASK CUP PACK COOL TEA TREE

I know lots of people love sheet mask, but personally I’m not sure if I like any mask. But, I’m curious about this so-called best selling Modeling Mask, so I decided to give it a go.

Modeling Mask (or Rubber Mask to some) is one of the peel-off mask type that we need to mix ourselves. Sort of like a DIY mask, start out in powder form, mixed with water and the texture is thicker and more gooey like rubber.  Usually it was done professionally at beauty clinics, but with this brand, LINDSAY from South Korea, now we can do this conveniently and safely at home. They have many varieties for different skin types, but this time I chose the COOL ones, which is recommended for oily skin type. And yes, this is safe for Fungal Acne.

Why use Modeling Mask? Well, it supposedly help our skin to absorb other products better without stripping them from our own natural moisture. Yes, this type of mask will create a tight layer on our skin and allow deeper penetration of active ingredients (that’s why it’s recommended to use after serum). 

PRICE: IDR 15K (I bought it on 50% off!)

WHERE TO BUY: I purchased it online from one of the market place. 

PACKAGING: It reminds me of ice cream cup, honestly. It was filled halfway and came with a petite spatula to mix and apply. One cup is more than enough for one usage, so don’t be stingy with yourself. 

WHAT’S IN IT: Tea Tree Leaf to hydrate and nourish skin while providing protection and prevention from roughness & dryness. It contains real leaves, so you might find shreds of leaves inside. 

INGREDIENTS LIST: Diatomaceous Earth, Glucose, Algin, Calcium Sulfate, Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate, Magnesium Carbonate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Powder(1,500ppm), Allantoin, Potassium Alginate, Adenosine, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ultramarines, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil

CLAIM: Restores softness & elasticity while cooling & hydrating to relieve stress and maintain healthy & refreshed skin. 

HOW DOES IT FIT INTO ONE’S SKINCARE ROUTINE: 
Double Cleanse (Oil Cleanse & Foam Cleanse)
Toner (Exfoliating with cotton pad)
Serum
Hydrating Toner (pat/spray)
MODELING MASK
Hydrating Toner
Moisturizer

MY THOUGHTS:
– I guess I failed on mixing the right amount of water, so it was kind of liquidy rather than rubbery
– Waiting time to dry is 20 minutes more, and I’m not the type to sit and wait for mask to dry, so this is not for me
– Seriously, just leave it for the professional to apply this type of mask
– On me, it was dripping heavily and the peeling part was not a walk in the park
– Don’t get it near hairline, or else it’s going to get messier and hard to clean

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

COMPARISON REVIEW: GLOSSIER SUPER PURE SERUM & ABSOLUTE NIACINAMIDE

BOTH ARE FUNGAL ACNE SAFE
BOTH CONTAIN SIMILAR TOP 5 INGREDIENTS (FROM INCIDECODER.COM)
FROM INCIDECODER.COM

GLOSSIER SUPER PURE SERUM

Made in Canada

Claim: Nourishes skin, visibly smoother texture & improved clarity

Plus Points:

  • Lightweight
  • Vegan & Cruelty Free

Price: IDR 475K for 30ml

My thoughts: 

  • Great if you just started on Niacinamide, it contains only 5% Niacinamide. 
  • Won’t pile up, easy to layer with almost anything (skincare & makeup).
  • Expensive, hard to find in Jakarta, Indonesia where I live.

ABSOLUTE NIACINAMIDE

Made in Malaysia

Claim: Visibly improve skin tone, complexion and reduce acne.

Plus Points: 

  • Affordable Price
  • Vegan & Cruelty Free
  • Ecocertified Natural Ingredients
  • Fungal Acne Safe

Price: IDR 159K for 30ml

My thoughts:

  • Recommended for those whose skin are familiar with Niacinamide already, as it contains 12% Niacinamide.
  • It doesn’t file up, but it gets a bit foamy on the first glide. 
  • Same after-feel with Glossier Super Pure serum, you can feel it’s there but not tacky/sticky.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA & SCREENSHOTS FROM INCIDECODER.COM

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 GENTLE CLEANSER

Since using Adapalene & Retinoic Acid as a daily nighttime routine, I have been using gentle cleanser as my second cleanser for my PM routine.

Why gentle cleanser? I just don’t want to over-do my skin. I want to balance between the prescription-strength treatment and the actual skincare. Cleansers that are too harsh, might disrupt the skin’s barrier function. And I personally believe there’s no need to use second cleanser with actives, especially if we’re going to use actives in steps after cleansing, like toner and serum.

Scroll down for my favorites with each of its’ pros and cons ingredients.

DERMA365 GENTLE CLEANSER

PROS: Panthenol, Glycerin & Oat Kernel Flour
CONS: Triethanolamine (comedogenic)

VANICREAM GENTLE FACIAL CLEANSER

PROS: Water & Glycerin
CONS: None, seriously!

SIMPLE REFRESHING FACIAL WASH

PROS: Triple Purified Water & Panthenol
CONS: Tocopheryl Acetate (poorly absorbed by skin)

ST IVES SOOTHING DAILY FACIAL CLEANSER

PROS: Panthenol & Chamomile Flower Extract
CONS: Tocopheryl Acetate (poorly absorbed by skin)

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

VITAMIN C: LOVE OR LOATHE?

If you’ve been reading my blog posts and follow me on IG, you’ll notice one thing missing from my skincare regime. It’s Vitamin C.

First, I don’t enjoy Vitamin C serums turn brown due to oxidation. To think about my hard-earned money, and it turned bad easily, I don’t think so. And that oxidation process is obviously a destructive process, so if you put that on your skin, it will cause further skin damage. Ouch!

Second, Vitamin C is a great anti-oxidant, but it’s possible to become a pro-oxidant when in contact with metal/iron. Unfortunately nowadays, iron is a significant pollutant in the air and water (according to the FDA), and that means our skin comes in contact with iron every day. So, if we apply Vitamin C and our skin comes in contact with the air, it was like inviting problems to occur.

Last but not least, Vitamin C is one tough cookie to be mixed with others in the skincare ingredients list. It should never mix with AHA, BHA, Retinol, and Benzoyl Peroxide. If you’re a fan of layering skincare like me, better watch out and read ingredients list very carefully.

Moral of this post, my skin can’t take a topical Vitamin C, especially in concentrated serum format. It broke me out, caused redness and it tingled badly. So I did some research online, and I did find some interesting facts. Apparently, antioxidants in skincare are BAD when they are in concentrated form and disrupt the body’s natural ability to fight off bacteria.

TIPS & TRICKS:

  • Use Vitamin C in other format than serum for lighter percentage. Personally I use GOOD MOLECULES NIACINAMIDE BRIGHTENING TONER. It contains 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (number 6 on the ingredients’ list), a quite stable form of Vitamin C
  • Try the serum as a dark spot treatment only. Resist the temptation to apply it all over the face. I had great success with GOODAL GREEN TANGERINE VITA C DARK SPOT SERUM, that helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE DRUGSTORE PRODUCTS

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).

BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O
DERMA 365 GENTLE CLEANSER
NAMEERA HYDRATING GLOW ESSENCE WATER
SEBAMED CLEAR FACE ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANSING FOAM
SIMPLE KIND TO SKIN MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER
SKIN AQUA UV MOISTURE MILK SPF50+ PA+++
URIAGE CLEANSING CREAM
VIVA ASTRINGENT CUCUMBER

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

REVIEW: KRAVE BEAUTY OAT SO SIMPLE WATER CREAM

This is going to be a simple review, just because this moisturizer is that simple.

Simple ingredients’ list, simple packaging, and simple intended customers. Basically, those who want to simply moisturize without worrying that it’ll break you out or irritate you further. And the best part, it is safe for Fungal Acne! (Finally, a Krave Beauty product that’s safe for FA).

It fits right in to my current 3 Steps Moisture Method craze (thanks to Olena Beley who commented to my IG video earlier this month). Read here if you missed my post about Olena’s tips.

I use this as the final step of my hydrating steps, because it does contain Capric Triglyceride and Squalane, the perfect emollients to seal all in. And being on Adapalene journey, my skin also needs soothing moisturizer, so this just completes me, by having Oatmeal Extract as one of the ingredient. Yes, I also mix this with EVALEN Adapalene Krim 0.1% to reduce the concentration and lessen the risk of Adapalene’s side effects. And this moisturizer helped me a lot during my Adapalene’s nights (so far I’m only at week 1, but I’ll write about the journey soon).

Look at its’ luscious white and milky texture. It has no scent, and it just glides softly when applied. It also mix wonderfully with almost everything that I applied before it (actives, hydrating toner, humectant). It melts right away in contact with the skin, and absorb really well without leaving any film or dewy look.

It’s silicone free, gluten free, fragrance free and essentials oil free. For me personally, there are only two misses for this moisturizer, it still contains Butylene Glycol which has comedogenic rating (luckily it didn’t trigger mine). And the jar packaging. Being a practical girl, I don’t really dig plastic jar. It took a while for me to finally close the lid properly. I wish it comes in pump packaging instead.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

HOW TO KEEP MY FUNGAL-ACNE PRONE SKIN WELL HYDRATED

This post was inspired by Olena Beley’s 3-step moisture method.

Let me explain my current #stayathome battle: clogged pores especially on chin and left cheek, less hormonal acne, and no fungal-acne attack.

For your information, I still try my best to stay away from non-safe for fungal acne skincare products, just because I know that yeast are still inside our lovely skin, waiting for the right time to strike again. So do acne bacteria. But the one that constantly evaporating from our skin is water. They call it TEWL, Transepidermal Water Loss. Just drinking water might not help for this situation. We all need moisturizer for our skin, not to put moisture into them, but to prevent them from evaporating moisture quickly. And Olena said, “Hydrated Skin is less prone to clogging”.

While I still do my other skincare routine, I inserted her 3-step moisture method. It is Water, Humectant, and Emollient. I really hope that if my skin is hydrated enough, maybe my clogged pores problem would be solved for good. Let see, while I will update you guys in a month time.

Here’s how I do it twice daily now (I literally just started, so mind me):

  • Start with water, because we shall never use moisturizer on a clean, dry skin. Instead of plain tap water (which I’m afraid our local water contains lots of unwanted chemicals), I prefer to wet my face after cleansing with Hydrating Toner. I use Abill First Starting Toner (which contains just 4 ingredients and totally feels like good water) that I pour inside a mist bottle, to make it spread nicely rather than just splashing. Making sure skin is only damp not dripping wet.
  • While still damp, apply humectant. Olena recommended Hyaluronic Acid or Sodium Hyaluronate (its’ salt). I use two pumps of Vichy Mineral 89, which contains Sodium Hyaluronate instead of plain HA (later on this matter, as I just found out that some people are reactive to HA).
  • Then quickly apply a pea sized only of emollients to seal the deal. Olena recommended ingredients like Capric Triglycerides or Squalane. Mine is Eau Thermale Avène Tolérance Extreme Emulsion, which contains those two (Capric and Squalane, how convenient).

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA