BEST OF 2022: FUNGAL-ACNE FRIENDLY SKINCARE

It’s that time of the year again. I’ve been sharing this annual list for a couple of years now, and I’m proud to say that I’ve been free from Fungal Acne ever since I incorporated most of FA safe and friendly skincare products.

So what made the list this year? For sure I only listed down those which I’ve tried and tested personally. Their prices range from IDR 60K drugstore’s sunscreen up to IDR 1,9mio high-end moisturizer. 

CLEANSER: L’OREAL PARIS REVITALIFT CRYSTAL DEEP PURIFYING CLEANSING GEL

This is my new-found favorite this year: effective and affordable active face wash from drugstore

The other FA-friendly cleansers are:
-KIEHL’S CALENDULA DEEP CLEANSING FOAMING FACE WASH
-KEANA BAKING SODA SCRUB WASH
-PEACH SLICES ACNE CLARIFYING CLEANSER
-SAFI HYDRATING WATER CLEANSER

TONER: LA ROCHE-POSAY SEROZINC

I love it because it’s practical as a toner mist, and super effective for irritated skin

The other FA-friendly toners are:
-MUJI LIGHT TONING WATER-HIGH MOISTURE
-HATOMUGI SKIN CONDITIONER
-ERHA TRUWHITE TXA & ZINC GLUCONATE BRIGHTENING PORE TONER

SERUM: KIEHL’S CLEARLY CORRECTIVE DARK SPOT SOLUTION

Live up to its’ claim, great for correcting dark spots

The other FA-friendly serums are:
-LA ROCHE-POSAY CICAPLAST B5 ULTRA REPAIR SERUM
-COS DE BAHA ARBUTIN NIACINAMIDE SERUM

MOISTURIZER: CERAVE MOISTURIZING CREAM

Ceramide is key to protect our skin barrier, this is one of my HG moisturizer this year

The other FA-friendly moisturizers are:
-KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL OIL-FREE GEL CREAM 
-CHANEL LA SOLUTION 10

SUNSCREEN: AZARINE HYDRASOOTHE SUNSCREEN GEL SPF45+++

I’m also surprised when I found this local brand at the drugstore. It’s super affordable with a nice gel texture.

The other FA-friendly sunscreens are:
– L’Oreal Paris Miracle Blur SPF 30
– EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46
– Supergoop CC Cream Daily Correct Broad Spectrum SPF 35

ETC: L’ORÉAL PARIS INFALLIBLE 24H FRESH WEAR FOUNDATION IN A POWDER & YSL TOUCHE ECLAT

My simple base makeup routine these days

Which one is your favorite out of my Fungal-Acne Safe/Friendly list this year?

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

REVIEW: CERAVE MOISTURIZING CREAM

If I could simplify this review: this is a simple and basic moisturizer with all the ingredients that your skin need to restore natural barrier, lock in moisture and protect. 

If you do have oily skin like me though, don’t freak out because it comes in a cream texture. It doesn’t feel heavy at all, comfortable on skin and (unlike some reviews out there) I didn’t feel any burning sensation. Remember, skincare products is totally personal. So what worked for me, might not so for you and vice versa.

However, if you are still hesitant to wear cream in the morning, try to apply it only at your night time routine like me. Personally, I use lighter moisturizer at morning time routine. And this is Fungal Acne safe! Check out all the ingredients from incidecoder and the original packagings below.

It does contain dimethicone, but no worries folks, it didn’t clogged my pores. I believe it is used to give the soft texture to the cream, which I do enjoy. For those of you who use retinol, this will be a great companion to protect your skin from dryness and irritation. 

Initially, I bought the small size first, then I decided to purchase the jar with pump version. I love it and my son also believe that this moisturizer didn’t cause him breakouts. Unfortunately, the brand is not officially available yet in Indonesia, so I purchased this online at market place. Hopefully they will be available soon in our local drugstores. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FUNGAL ACNE SAFE ANTI AGING PRODUCTS

Even though I do not recommend using any actives while suffering from Fungal Acne, but I know that our biological clock is still ticking and aging is unstoppable. So if you still want to use anti aging skincare products while you’re still dealing with fungal acne, here’s some of my recommendation (tried and tested by yours truly).

ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR SYNCHRONIZED MULTI-RECOVERY COMPLEX

Yes, they renew their formulas last year, so this is a newer version of one of the most loved serums in the world. And I’m not surprised why. Bifida Ferment Lysate is number two on the ingredients list, which is one form of probiotics, known to help prevent skin damage. It also contains Tripeptide-32, which might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin elasticity and firmness, by supporting our skin’s collagen production. 

Personally I love the texture (you’d know the product is worth the price when it glides luxuriously on skin-you can’t cheat this). It has a slightly orange color, with a slight yeast scent (but disappear within seconds). As it is an anti-aging and hydrating serum, it gives that healthy looking skin once applied. You can see it’s there, you can feel it’s there, but it’s not sticky or uncomfortable. 
Sometimes, if I feel too lazy to layer on additional moisturizer on top, I just apply two layers of this serum at night time. I can see and feel the result in the morning if I layer them on top of each other. Actually, even though the name said Night, this serum can be used in the morning as well. 
Yes, it is pricey, but trust me, pricey stuffs come for many reasons. It costs IDR 1.750K for 50ml. 

S.NATURE AQUA SQUALANE MOISTURIZING CREAM

I guess this is a new K-beauty brand, not very commercial, but Director PI recommended it in one of her YT videos. It’s a very simple packaging, too simple in my opinion, they should’ve given us the flip-top cap instead the classic cap. Ingredients wise, full of goodies: 15% Squalane (which is an emollient) is number two on the list, followed by Glycerin which is a humectant. So yes, if you’ve been following my blog, you’d probably know that I have to layer humectant and emollient for a moisturizer, to make sure that my skin is moisturized and hydrated enough. 

Check out this list from incidecoder.com and you’ll see all the goodies inside. 

Texture-wise, it is a light cream/thick lotion. Unlike moisturizer in a gel form that ‘disappear’ when we apply it, this cream glides like satin on skin and gives that healthy glow look without the sticky feel. You can feel and see it’s there, but in a comfortable sense. And I prefer a thick lotion for my current skin condition (dry and sensitive), IMHO it sits better under makeup instead of gel or water cream moisturizer. 
Unfortunately, this brand is not officially available in Indonesia, but I bought it online from my regular trusted seller. It’s not cheap for a 80ml tube, it costs IDR350K. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA & SCREENSHOTS FROM INCIDECODER.COM

FUNGAL-ACNE SAFE MOISTURIZER

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!

Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract

BOOTS GLOW PINEAPPLE GEL MOISTURISER

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. 

Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium acrylates crosspolymer-2, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylamide, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene glycol, Sodium hydroxide, C13-14 isoparaffin, Benzophenone-4, Sodium hyaluronate, Parfum (Fragrance), Laureth-7, Ananas sativus (Pineapple) fruit extract, Silica, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Maltodextrin, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Denatonium benzoate, CI 14700 (Red 4), CI 19140 (Yellow 5).

SEBAMED CLEAR FACE CARE GEL

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. 

Ingredients
Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Glycine, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Sodium Carbomer, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol

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