FUNGAL ACNE: MY STRUGGLE IS REAL

On & off relationship with bumps, that’s me!

I didn’t remember when was the last time I had a 100% clear skin, I guess never. I do remember when my face was full of acnes back in my teenage years, it was so bad until I didn’t want to see my face on the mirror. But that was then and now is another different game.

After many trips to dermatologists, and they were just calming down my acnes but didn’t really make them disappear for live, I decided to take things by my own. So I search here and there, why my foreheads are full with acne-like eruptions. They’re not itchy, but quite disturbing because they changed my skin texture, which can’t be covered by concealer. Then I saw Kathleen Lights’ youtube video, about her problem with Fungal Acne or scientifically called Malassezia Folliculitis. I saw her video and be like…damn…that was the same like my problem. Then.. I watched Liah Yoo’s YT about Fungal Acne and everything sort of fell into one. It’s usually due to excess yeast which tend to increase during hot, humid weather, especially when we are sweaty. Living here in Jakarta, Indonesia with its’ crazy hot and humid weather really harm my skin. That’s why whenever I travelled to colder climates country, my face started to clear up. At first, I thought maybe it’s the water, but now I know, it’s the weather mixed with our own fungus. Yikes!

Then, I began my never-ending research about Fungal Acne. This post really helps me to decide my next step to treat them. Automatically, I switched and add stuffs to my skincare routine. I added some natural stuffs in between, like Raw Honey and Moroccan Rhassoul Clay (mixed with Rose Water) for facial mask.

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After about a week, I saw better changes in my forehead.

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Here are my heroes and game-changers (from L-R):

  1. Natural Pacific Fresh Witch Hazel Pad Toner, which is formulated with hyaluronic acid and propolis (one of the powerful ingredients recommended for fungal acne). I used this as gentle exfoliator twice a week after water cleanser.
  2. La Roche-Posay Serozinc. I spray this every morning pre-makeup even before I had fungal acne, and I increase the usage to twice a day now (morning and night before toner).
  3. Natural Pacific Real Floral Toner Calendula. Beside calendula, it also contains allantoin which makes flaky & chapped skin smoother. This is my first toner after water cleanser to remove makeup residue completely and to calm and moisturize my angry bumps
  4. Hadalabo Gokujyun Ultimate Moisturising Light Lotion. Currently doing 3 out of 7 toners skin method, this is my game-changing hydrating toner.
  5. Nizoral Krem. I saw in YT, people will actually wash their face with Nizoral shampoo, but I don’t want take that route. I tried this cream which can be easily bought on my local pharmacy. Ketoconazole known to inhibit every species of Malassezia. Because I only have them on my forehead, I use cotton bud to apply Nizoral cream as the last step of my skincare routine every night.
  6. 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 have this in Singapore, too). This is my water cleanser.

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Final say: This whole Fungal Acne disease made me more aware to read intensively on ingredients before I decided to purchase any skincare products (thanks CosDNA too for breaking down each of them). I’ll update you on my journey as a fungal acne warrior and will share you my complete AM and PM routine on my next post. Till then!

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

SKIN CARE: TEAM JAPAN OR TEAM KOREA?

I know I’ve been posting a lot about makeup products review, but lately I am so into skin care.

Usually my skin care routine is just too darn simple. Morning: facial cleanser, hydrating mist (like Avene) and sunscreen (Biore). Night: micellar water (Bioderma), cleansing oil (Biore), facial cleanser, hydrating mist, acne cream and eye cream.

After my last trip to Seoul and Tokyo, I was inspired by the whole skin care products that they have there. Yes, I believe they are blessed with better water and weather, therefore they have better skin. But their skin care regimen that went viral globally, had me at hello!

So, am I a team J (Japanese) Beauty or K (Korean) Beauty?

Obviously, I’ve tried both, and mixed them in my skincare routine (day and night). What I’ve noticed about Korean brands, they put more thoughts on packaging and regime steps (hello 7 toner method and 10 steps). Not to mention, they’re also the fastest to pick up new natural ingredients. Meanwhile, Japanese brands are more straightforward in regime and packaging. Even though, sometime they will collaborate with Disney to make their packaging more princessy. I do believe in both of them, in terms of quality.

Here are my current K-skincare products I’m using.DSCF6097 copy

NATURE REPUBLIC SOOTHING & MOISTURE ALOE VERA 92% SOOTHING GEL: I purchased this online, because of their hype. I think I’m allergic to the alcohol inside the ingredient, because my forehead seems to have more whiteheads after I use this. Fortunately, this is good to tone down skin redness for my kids. So I’m using it for them now.

NEOGEN CANADIAN CLAY PORE CLEANSER: very innovative product, I purchased this when I went to Seoul. It’s actually a mask/soft scrub/cleanser. When applied, they will form foam. Massage and rinse, my face feel so clean and bright afterwards.

NATURAL PACIFIC CALENDULA TONER: Seriously looking beautiful on my vanity with fresh calendula leaves floating around inside a clear bottle. No scent, this toner is so refreshing.

WHAMISA ORGANIC FLOWERS REFRESH TONER: I heard about this brand from a friend who has skin like the Koreans. Because I have oily skin, I choose to purchase the green bottle over the famous pink ones. This is my second toner to be use for 7 steps of toner (yes, I do that!)

INNISFREE IT’S REAL SQUEEZE ALOE MASK: A sheet mask is a winner for me if it’s not dripping. I like how this mask contains serum that is light. Great to use for long haul flight to feel refresh and moisturized.

These are the J-skincare products I currently use.

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HADALABO ULTIMATEMOISTURIZING LIGHT LOTION: very cheap first toner, yet very effective. I love how the stickiness suddenly disappeared when tapped well.

ROSETTE CLEANSING PASTE: facial foam to use for double cleanse purpose. Love the soft scent and the super clean feeling after wash.

DHC DEEP CLEANSING OIL: I was super shocked when I read somewhere that ordinary micellar water couldn’t remove sunscreen from our face. After that, I quickly switched to cleansing oil to remove my makeup in the end of my day. And I am glad I made the right choice. Maybe after this, I will try cleansing balm.

KANEBO SUISAI BEAUTY CLEAR POWDER: Such a practical product for traveling. This is a cleansing powder, individually package in petite hexagon shape plastic container. One is meant for a single use, just add water. It contains no fragrance, and unlike any face wash plus exfoliator out there in the market, this has the most fine beads. Super gentle on skin.

HATOMUGI MIST THERMAL WATER: I purchased this in one of Tokyo’s drugstore. I didn’t use Hatomugi Skin Conditioner for my face because it gave me bumps, but I use it to spray my hair. So yes, I use this to spray my hair too. It brings my curls back, that out of the bed look achieved!

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

 

REVIEW: COSRX ACNE PIMPLE MASTER PATCH

Yes, this is my first COSRX. Better late than never. When I went to Seoul, almost two years ago, I didn’t shop for their skincare products like crazy. If I only I knew what I know today *sigh*.

I purchased this online for IDR45K.

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A pretty straight forward product, with (thankfully) English description on the packaging. A hydrogel acne patch, consists of 24 patches with different sizes.

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Simply follow the instruction on how to wear this patch from the back of the packaging.

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I decided to put this on over night on my whiteheads, so it was not a new pimple. Good thing about this product, it’s comfortable, even if you are sleeping with it. I didn’t feel any stretch or tingling sensation when I put this on. And when I woke up in the morning, I saw the pus had been pulled out and stuck on the patch.

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And the pus stayed there when I took the patch off my face (gave me such pleasure!).

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It really pulled off the white gunk off the pimple, but don’t expect miracles. Red spot will still be there, but at least it’ll flatten the pimple. My bad, I forgot to take a picture of my bare skin immediately after I took it off. But for you to get the idea, below is my skin condition after two days. Oooopss, got another whiteheads below to be treated soon.

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Judging from my own experience, this patch is good for whiteheads, when you can already see that your pimples are going to blow up. Save your money and don’t put it on a new forming pimples.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA