i’ve had crazy hormonal pcos chin and hyperpigmentation stuff going on for like 10 years and i scar from acne really easily, so this was my life’s mission to figure out.
everything that @MARXINISTA said! i don’t have rx retinol but i use the ordinary’s .2% retinol w/ squalene at night (wont break the bank) followed by (blasphemy to some bc it’s not face lotion) palmers cocoa butter lotion. i break out over everything but this lotion does not exacerbate that, i promise!
in the mornings, i use axis-y dark spot correcting glow serum w/ niacinamide followed by whatever moisturizer suits your fancy (pyungkang yul has some good, gentle dark spot stuff if you’re interested) and then an spf (crucial). i saw results super fast using both the axis-y and the ordinary products!
if you can double cleanse that also helps. i use palmers cocoa butter oil cleanser followed by a traditional facial wash with tea tree oil. good luck :)
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Oooh okay thank you, that’s super helpful. I need to invest in a good cleanser too then, only stopped using my last one because it was making me break you like crazy
1d ago
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Taking care of my skin has boosted my confidence more than anything ever has. Right now my nighttime routine is wash my face with Bobbi Brown soothing cleansing oil, curolgy, retinal, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, the ole henrikson undereye cream, and triple antibiotic ointment. My morning routine is washing my face with Sonya Dakar gentle facial milk cleanser, spray my face with Osea sea mineral mist, Osea hyaluronic sea serum, Sonya Dakar nano hydrator moisturizer and Sonya Dakar SPF 30. If I go outside a lot I use 50 spf. I had cystic acne when I was younger and Curology really changed my skin. It completely cleared it up. I’m so grateful for it. When I was younger I tried absolutely everything. Salt water, mouth wash, that nuetrogena face wash with the micro plastics in it. Nothing really worked until Curology. I also take Tri-Sprintec birth control because it is the most effective at clearing your skin. If I have a break out I take Doxycycline which is an antibiotic that stops acne from forming. It’s been a lot of work and not easy but I’m so happy I did it. I love face masks too. My favorite is Blue Tansy from Herbivore. It’s a nice exfoliator that really changes your skin. I notice a big difference with it. I also love sheet masks. Innis Free has my favorites. They just feel so effective to me. A nice evening to me is staying in and taking care of my skin. I love to steam my face, do an exfoliating face mask, then a pore cleaning one and then a moisturizing one. Then I do an eye mask and all of my skincare steps. It feels so good and I look amazing when I wake up.
May 26, 2022
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AM: no face wash, just a water cleanse, Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream, Beauty of Joseon Rice + Probiotic SPF 50
PM: safflower cleansing oil (i decant some in a bottle and add a few drops of spearmint oil which is great if you have PCOS), Pyunkang Yul Acne Gel Cleanser, Cetaphil Moisturising Cream. Maybe I’ll throw in a toner if im feeling crazy. I like Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Toner.
i also use the Cerave Retinol Resurfacing Serum and COSRX’s BHA Blackhead Power Liquid twice a week at night (never both products on the same day) and the I’m From Mugwort Mask once a week.
Jan 12, 2025
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i think you had your question about a simple routine answered already, and i highlighted the most essential products to have with an asterisk too, so i just wanted to write out the (generally accepted) order to put your products on:
1/ oil cleanser (or balm, wipes etc) to remove makeup if you use that.
*2/ gel/liquid cleanser, or if you use cleansing bars
3/ then if you’re using toners/serums, put them on in order of consistency - thinnest to most viscous. if you’re using something like the laneige cream skin, i’d put that at the end, even though it is thin, bc it’s cream based, most serums are transparent or cloudy so they’ll go before that.
*4/ moisturiser.
4.5/ you could sandwich in retinol cream here ONLY AT NIGHT (either
1: a thin layer of moisturiser, wait however long it says on the retinol you’re using to apply after skin care - has to be a fully dry face, then moisturise again after 20-30 mins,
2: same as before, without a last layer of moisturiser on top,
or 3: same as 2, but switch the order - retinol first on dry skin, moisturise after).
^the above is just about what works for your skin while on retinol. it doesn’t increase or decrease the actual efficacy of the retinol. for eg, i use the first method bc retinol makes my face too dry.
*5/ sunscreen. (or at night time a face oil if you’re using that. oil is always the last step, except if you’re sunscreen in the same routine, where sunscreen goes last).
for products:
oil cleanser: the face shop rice water bright
gel cleanser: bioderma sensibio
moisturiser: kiehl’s ultra facial cream, or pyunkang yul moisture cream (though tbh, i still haven’t found a perfect moisturiser)
sunscreen: krave beauty beet the sun (fav), or beauty of joseon
May 9, 2024
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liking ur rec = saying hi when we go to get our morning papers from the end of our driveways (picture me doing so tony soprano style)
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actually it’s a me song because i like it. be quiet and listen to this “show me how” by men i trust.
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she can’t see my bank account so it’s ok.
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