Tag: pejuangjerawat

THE JOURNEY OF ‘TRETINOIN NEWBIE’

Disclaimer: I’m not a dermatologist. I’m just happy to share my experiences and if I can help others achieving clearer and healthier skin, I might get a good skin karma in return.

In this post I’ll share the progress pics and the concoction of my so called ‘first client’. Just a glimpse of the client’s data: early 20’s, oily skin, cystic acne and blackheads (mostly on forehead and cheeks), definitely a Tretinoin Newbie. 

WARNING: disturbing skin pictures ahead.

  • WEEK 1
  • WEEK 2
  • WEEK 1
  • WEEK 2

It was not easy to assure the client to use Retinol, because of the ‘Retinol Uglies’ that might happened in the first 4-8 weeks. Mine took 8 weeks to fully recovered, while my client already showed improvements (no more cystic acne) on 4 weeks time. Yes, it might vary to each person.

FYI, as an amateur skin coach, I worked on the my first clients’ skincare routine, and adding new products to be used based on my experiences with my own acne’s issues.

The Retinol Myth is true: YOUR SKIN WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

  • WEEK 3
  • WEEK 4
  • WEEK 3
  • WEEK 4

Some important notes:

  • You need to be more patient and understanding when it comes to using Retinol (Tretinoin or Adapalene) for the first time. 
  • Start with the smallest concentration of Retinol in cream form to reduce irritation and minimize ‘Retinol Uglies’. Using a pea-sized amount, any other day at night time.
  • Progress won’t happen overnight, but trust me, you will feel incredible when you see and feel the results.
  • Stick to the same routine and products for the ‘Retinol Uglies’ period. 
  • Whenever the skin feel sore and uncomfortable, I recommend to use Thermal Water Spray generously and wait to dry by itself (do not pat).

I was thinking to do this skin coach thing professionally, if I succeeded with my ‘first client’. I’ll update you next month when my first client hits 8 weeks.

  • BEFORE (4 WEEKS AGO)
  • AFTER

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

MARCH 2021 SKINCARE HAUL

All drugstore’s!

SIMPLE KIND TO SKIN SOOTHING FACIAL TONER
It went MIA for awhile in our local drugstores, but it’s back. Turned out, they changed the old packaging with a new one. An affordable, no-fuss daily toner, with good ingredients like Allantoin, Panthenol, Niacinamide and Chamomile extract. Priced at IDR 99K for a 200ml (and they’re on promos most of the time), it is safe for Fungal Acne and 100% alcohol free. 

HIMALAYA HERBALS PURIFYING NEEM FACE WASH
Combination of Neem and Turmeric in this affordable face wash are really interesting. Neem to combat acne and turmeric (which is bright orange in real) helps to soothe skin. Even though it’s fungal-acne safe, it does contain sulfate, some allergens and fragrance. Priced at IDR 40K for 100ml.

HIMALAYA HERBALS PURIFYING NEEM MASK
It has been a while for me not to use wash-off mask in my skincare routine. However, this fungal-acne safe mask is equally affordable, so I can’t resist to try it. Anyway, it still contains sulfate, fragrance and paraben. Priced at IDR 40K for 100ml. I’ve posted a detailed review about this already, please click here to read.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

REVIEW: HIMALAYA PURIFYING NEEM MASK

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

REVIEW: GOODAL APPLE AHA CLEARING AMPOULE

Ah, a good old AHA. If you’re just starting on AHA, you might want to try this first. 

There are different types of AHA, but this one contains Malic Acid (because it derived from apples). For those who have tried different and stronger types of AHA like Glycolic Acid or Lactic Acid, this one by itself might be not enough. 

Personally I use this in between my Retinol night, because Retinol alone might not help at removing dead skin cell build-up, especially on the surface. Yes, AHA works on the top layers of skin and it does increase our skin’s sensitivity to the sun (it also might trigger PIH-Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation), so it’s recommended for night time use. 

Although it’s categorised as ampoule, the texture is very liquid. And it slightly smells like apple (well, it does contain 79% of apple extract). Good thing about this ampoule, it’s very light, you won’t feel any tingling or burning sensation (it only contains a low dose of AHA-1%).

Treat this as a serum, to be use after toning at night. If you are new to this AHA thing, start using 3 times a week then gradually increase the usage. It’s safe to use daily, if your skin can handle it. And yes, this is safe for Fungal Acne.

BEFORE – AFTER (TWO WEEKS USAGE)

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FEBRUARY 2021 SKINCARE HAUL

Since I lost my permanent job and do freelance gigs from last year, I admit that I downgraded on my skincare purchases. I’m only picky on pricing, though, not quality!

Sharing you my skincare purchase this month. 

GOODAL APPLE AHA CLEARING AMPOULE
It’s hard to find skincare products without Butylene Glycol (I believe this trigger my comedones), let alone an ampoule or serum. So when I found one, I decided to purchase it even though this one contains fragrance at the very last ingredients’ list. I bought this fungal acne safe ampoule on a market place, from a South Korea’s seller for IDR 225K for 30ml. 

MENTHOLATUM ACNES DERMA CARE ANTI-BLEMISH ESSENCE
Stumbled upon this while doing my quick grocery shopping at local mall near my house. Priced at IDR 72K for a 20ml, I believe we shouldn’t apply as its’ name. I wonder why they named it ‘Essence’ while they also recommend to apply this as spot treatment. It contains vitamin C for brightening purpose but it was made for sensitive and acne prone skin. Interesting, right?

MENTHOLATUM ACNES DERMA CARE GENTLE CLEANSER
Currently they only have two products on this Derma Care line, so I decided why not. Priced at IDR 62K for a 120gr, it’s a pH balanced cleanser with two kinds of alcohol in the ingredients’ list (Cetyl and Cetearyl Alcohol). But, they also include the right stuffs, like Aloe and Salicylic Acid, alongside their hero ingredient, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). Unfortunately, this cleanser still contains one ingredient that might trigger Fungal Acne, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

5 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RETINOL

Got a few DM on my Instagram about Retinol, so I guess I’ll answer them here while also giving you update on my skin condition.

Disclaimer: I’m not a dermatologist, so these are totally based on my own personal experience. 

WHEN I STARTED IN AUGUST 2020, AND CLEARED UP IN OCTOBER 2020

Q: If I successfully cleared up acne after using Retinol, shall I continue using it or stop?
A: Based on my own experience, I tried to reduce the usage to once every night. So on non-Retinol night, I’ll use other actives serums like AHA or BHA (depends on my skin’s condition).

MY SKIN CONDITION (FEBRUARY 2021)

Q: Will the acne be back even after you manage to clear them out using Retinol?
A: As long as I’m alive, I guess I’d still have acne hanging around. My mom used to tell me that after I passed my teenage years, my acne would clear up by themselves. Well, they didn’t. Hormonal acne on chin area are the worst for me, so they’d pop out uninvited, no matter how clean I cleansed or how diligent I am with my routine.

Q: What’s the correct order to apply Retinol on one’s skincare routine?
A: First thing first, use it at your night time skincare routine. Mine would be: double cleanse, hydrating toner, Niacinamide serum (just because it works well with Retinol), moisturiser then Retinol. If you’ve been following me, you’d probably know that I use two types of Retinol, Adapalene as base and Retinoic Acid as spot treatment. Please don’t apply them on their own, at least you can do is to mix with your moisturiser after cleansing. 

Q: How about the skincare routine for morning, after using Retinol?
A: Best that you can do is to treat your skin gently in the morning. Cleanse with gentle cleanser, use hydrating toner, moisturiser and never forget your sunscreen (even if you are not out and about like me). 

Q: What type of Retinol are you using now?
A: Evalen Adapalene Cream 0.1% and Vitacid 0.05% Retinoic Acid Cream. Adapalene went first for the whole face, then Retinoic Acid as spot treatment (on acne and acne marks). Both are local products, so they’re affordable. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FINALLY GETTING RID OF MY OIL BUMPS

Yeay, it has been 12 weeks since my Adapalene journey. And I guess pictures will speak a thousand words, so here’s my before-after pics.

BYE BYE OIL BUMPS


Please note that I do use Retinoic Acid on top of Adapalene for 12 weeks.

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THESE

I just want to say that I’m glad that these prescription strength creams really worked on my hormonal acnes and closed comedones. Yes, the first 5 weeks was a nightmare and I almost gave up. But this pandemic really helped me, because all of the bad purging were hidden underneath mask. And FYI, based on everything that I read or watch in YT, Adapalene needs max 12 weeks to show its’ result.
Mine already got better on week 8, fortunately. No more bumps and no more big zits. Big improvement shows on the chin area, while these creams won’t work on milia and sebaceous filaments that I have on my left cheek (might need another Cauter session after the pandemic is over-God knows when). 

DESPERATELY NEED CAUTER


Am I still going to use both creams? Yes, to maintain my skin condition, but I’ll make sure I minimized their doses or use both every other day. 
Should you try it? Please check to your dermatologist first, because both are prescription-strength products and not everybody will have the same reactions and results. GOOD LUCK!

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

MY ADAPALENE JOURNEY (MONTH 2 OUT OF 3)

Great, it’s October. It has been two months since I was on adapalene & retinoic acid treatment. Scroll down for the updates. 

I almost gave up on week 5. But somehow I kept going (just like my life during this darn pandemic). 

Well, week 8 was great.

No more big angry red zits, no more pustules. My skin texture are way better, no more small bumps. Another homework for me is to get rid of all the leftover red scars. Wish me luck, folks. 

One more month to go. I’m more than halfway to go, so I can do this! Will surely update on the final month of my Adapalene journey. Meanwhile you can check my IG stories highlight for weekly updates.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA