My Skincare Journey

Long story short I used to bleached my hair all the time and my scalp was suffering. It got so bad to the point where my scalp was bleeding because it was dry and begin to notice that my dandruff got worse overtime. My head was like the North Pole, dry skin was literally falling off my head and it was so embarrassing and at times I had no motivation becuase I was irritated. I try so many methods to cure my dry scalp and it would work for a short while and it would come back. I came across this product on TikTok, many people gave it a great review. I had to get my hands on it. The first couple of uses the shampoo effectively did the job and now I my hair in the most healthiest condition ever. If you suffer severe dry scalp and dandruff like I did you should definitely check this out. Additionally you don’t have to worry about your hair falling out. I use this 2-3 times a week. Nizoral - Anti Dandruff Shampoo

As many of us, I started struggling with an acne I've never had before. After a couple weeks of struggling, I figured out what was causing my acne (if you are interested on that, I made a post on that... It's about B12 vitamin). With that being said, I had now to look for options as to how to fix my face.  I am a rather logical person. Who usually questions everything, specially now after a terrible experience (again, that story is on my B12 post). By that I mean, if I do something I have to know why I do it, what are the pros, what are the cons, and everything in between. So here is what I did: I full on investigated the different causes on acne, what their triggers were, what the cures, what made them worst. Everything. I was well aware htat my acne was triggered by an overproduction of sebum on my face, which was triggered by a higher than normal level of B12 on my body. So what description did my acne fall in exactly? I was suffering from mild acne, which consists of a combination of white heads and some pimples here and there in my face area, maybe neck and chest. I knew it wasn't the normal typical, hormonal acne or anything of that nature. It was mainly triggered by an overproduction of sebum. So then I started looking there, with sebum and what triggers its overproduction. Upon many google searches, I came across with the following: "Hormonal medications often increase sebum production." Which to me was still not it, I was not having the breakouts related to my menstrual cycles so it could not be that. Then, I read the following: "In many cases, pituitary, adrenal, ovarian, and testicular conditions can cause either an increase or decrease in production." I knew from previous tests that I had an inflammation of my pituitary gland. In other words, I found myself in a loophole, which I did not seem to be able to get out of. What did I do next? I decided to continue researching about sebum, given that obviously I was not going anywhere with the causes of my acne. Somehow, while researching I came across the following search: "is sebum the same as dandruff?"  That is the statement which changed my life. Literally. Turns out, overproduction of sebum causes dandruff. Not going to lie, it is quite obvious and I felt rather dumb for not even considering it. So what next? Well it was a simple cause and effect: excess sebum causes dandruff, what do you do when you have dandruff? You use dandruff shampoo. I was going to wash my face with dandruff shampoo.  I have super delicate skin, and to be honest I was sort of skeptical at first. However, I was also desperate to get rid of my acne so I figured that it was worth the shot. I ordered the shampoo.  The one I got is a little bit on the pricier side, not going to lie. BUT hear me out, it actually worked! Was it the only thing that I used? no, BUT it definitely contributed.  I think it is important to note, that I barely wear any makeup, literally just mascara and eyebrow powder. Maybe a little bit of concealer if my under eye bags are showing and translucent powder if I want to be fancy -yeah, I know, scandalous LOL. As per how I washed my face (which was in the morning by the way); I have always washed my face with glycerine soap, so I did that first. Then I took a tiny portion of the shampoo and washed my face with it afterwards. Then I proceeded to dry and moisturize my face. I kid you know my face was no longer irritated. It definitely did not make my pimples go away, however, I did notice that the redness had gone down and that during that day, my face did not get as oily as it had been the past couple days. The shampoo did not make my face itch, or have any real issues really, it felt like any other face wash. It did not smell like roses or anything in particular, but it did the job and for the first time in days I did not hate the state of my face! Conclusion: regardless of what your acne might be, I honestly think you should give it a try, if your acne trigger seems to be coming from an overproduction of sebum. This will most certainly help you regulate the sebum production on your skin, which honestly can be a life saving tool!!! In case you are wondering about my skin type, I have super light skin, freckly and actually suffer from atopic dermatitis (eczema). So yes, you could say it was quite risky to do this in a way. However, I would like to add that I had used Nizoral in the past on my scalp, and it showed great results so I was not too worried about having a reaction.

When I tell you I never repurchase a cleanser, I mean it, but this cleanser has me HOOKED!! I bought the dermalogica - Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator as recommended by my esthetician and, boy, did it help! I dealt with acne for years and this cleanser was the first step in the clearing process (it wasn’t the only thing that helped clear it, but it made a difference) I love the way it foams and is so soft on the skin TIP: if it feels gritty on the skin, you’re doing it wrong. Add more water. It should feel like a gentle cloud, not an exfoliant. Definitely a 10/10, maybe even 11🤔

Why exfoliate? The dead skin cells on your face dull your complexion, clog your pores, and cause breakouts—and sloughing them away is the first step to brighter and smoother skin. Exfoliating is basically a part of the basic skincare regimen. The most common exfoliating products are topical scrubs—physical exfoliants. But if you are feeling more serious than ever about your skincare regimen, then consider switching over to a chemical exfoliant. These work much deeper and far more effectively than a superficial scrub. Some of my favorite physical and chemical Exfoliants are: PAULA'S CHOICE - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliator The Ordinary - Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution PETER THOMAS ROTH - Peptide 21 Amino Acid Exfoliating Peel Pads GOOD MOLECULES - Pineapple Exfoliating Powder TATCHA - The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder pixi - Peel & Polish Let me know your fav exfoliant in the comments. Would love to know!

Kiehl's - Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream This cream has a strong fragrance but I do like the smell!! It has no fungal acne triggers 💕 I was wearing this cream in the AM and PM but it’s kinda thick compared to the cream I usually wear which is innisfree - Jeju Cherry Blossom Dewy Glow Jelly Cream So I’m going to use it as a night face cream! It makes my skin feel silky smooth and hasn’t caused any breakouts 🥳 Has the ingredient - Propylene Glycol - which helps fight fungal acne breakouts + Panthenol which helps heal and is anti-inflammatory 🙌🏼 ^ I get my ingredient info from www.folliculitisscout.com

So I know my skin still isn’t perfect (is anyone’s skin perfect tho??) but it looks a lot better!!!! I went to many dermatologists who never told me I had fungal acne 😒 they always recommended creams and stuff that just dried out my skin more but didn’t help! So one day I googled “it feels like there are rocks in my skin” and I figured out that i had fungal acne 😝 I didn’t even know there were different types of acne!! Right away I started using Nizoral - Anti Dandruff Shampoo which helped a lot but didn’t solve the problem Then recently I learnt about a website you can use to test ingredients to see if they are fungal acne safe! Website: folliculitisscout.com I tested all my skin care and gave my mom any products that had triggers! I SWITCHED UP MY ENTIRE SKIN CARE ROUTINE and it was worth it 🙌🏼 I used that website ^ to help me find the right products for my skin which I posted in the photos! I’ve also reviewed them all in individual posts! 🥳 I hope this helps somebody 🥰 I’ve had bad skin since I was like 12 years old and now I’m 22 and just learnt how to fix it! Also my last post was about a homemade mask I made with just honey and oat flour and my skin has been feeling amazing because of it so I also recommend trying that 💖

YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser This stuff is so great! I’ve been breaking out lately and my regular oil cleansers just didn’t cut it. I think my skin might just be purging because it wasn’t used to so much oil but who knows. But this definitely helped get rid of a lot of those breakouts. This is also so gentle it didn’t strip my skin which honestly shocked me because a lot of “gentle” cleansers absolutely kill my skin. But this is super! I read from someone’s review on here that this is an oil based cleanser according to the YTTP website but I couldn’t find out if that was true or not 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hey beauties! I wanted to share my current skin routine for morning & night, since I've updated it with some new products that I'm enjoying and it's been working for me. Hope it works for you too! :) ☀️Morning: 1. I typically don't wash my face since all I did was sleep and I do this routine pretty soon after I wake up. So the first step is really to use almost a whole pump of OLE HENRIKSEN - Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum on my whole face 2. Then I use about a dime sized amount of myKiehl's - Ultra Facial Cream 3. Glossier. - Balm Dotcom goes on my lips - I prefer either fig, birthday, berry or coconut 4. Volia! That's easy :) 🌙Evening: 1. Cleanse my face in the shower using a half pump of YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser 2. After my shower, I sometimes use my facial roller (it's SEPHORA COLLECTION - Rose Quartz Facial Rollerand Idk what to rate it as since it's the only one I have) 3. Next is the serum - depending on what's the issue; if it's acne:Glossier. - Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector, redness and/or irritation: Glossier. - Super Pure Niacinamide + Zinc Serum, or just feels ok / needs a little something to smooth out or be more hydrated: TATCHA - The Dewy Serum Resurfacing and Plumping Treatment 4. If I want to use an eye cream, I go with the Ole Henriksen banana bright eye creme from this set: OLE HENRIKSEN - Let's Get Luminous Brightening Essentials Set it's a half size one and the set is only $40 5. Glossier. - Balm Dotcom again because it's hydrating enough for me (yes my lips do get dry since they're a little chapped when I wake up, but I don't think I necessarily need a lip mask) 6. Of course, the last step is a facial spray, and it's always my Avène - Thermal Spring Water Spraybc I can't live without it. In case you're curious, the total price for my routine is $363!! (that includes all the products I mentioned) 🤯

Klairs toner is a very moisturizing product. Once it touches your face it will automatically make it dewy and hydrated!!! This can also be used for all skin types.

I’m back! And wow what a difference! I’ve since switched upped my dosage to Apostrophe 0.05% tret with 4% Niacinimide cream forumula beginning in November. I’m also taking 50 mg of Spirinolactone now. My face has definitively gotten a lot drier, with some mild peeling throughout the day (any tips are welcome!) I’m going to see how waiting 15 mins before apply tret after moisturizer and 15 minutes after tret will work Overall, I feel like my forehead has a smoother texture, and I’m seeing less breakouts. I now definitely want to start working on reducing the appearance of my acne scars, but with my face so dry right now, I’m not sure if that’s an option. I’m going to wait a while and talk to my derm about adding in any actives. Also very sad about the Purito sunscreen scandal :-( Here’s my routine below: Morning (focus on hydration and barrier) CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser dear, klairs - Supple Preparation Unscented Facial Toner COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence PEACH & LILY - Glass Skin Refining Serum HONEST - Hydrogel Cream BRUJITA - Hechizo Facial Serum BRUJITA - Vegan Crema Supergoop! - Glow Stick SPF 50 Night (applying tret nightly-wondering whether to reduce to every other day ) DHC - Deep Cleansing Oil HONEST - Gentle Gel Cleanser (or COSRX - Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser ) dear, klairs - Supple Preparation Unscented Facial Toner COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence HONEST - Hydrogel Cream Then putting BRUJITA - Vegan Crema on my driest areas Apostrophe Cream BRUJITA - Hechizo Facial Serum BRUJITA - Vegan Crema

I am an avid skincare lover and I love trying out new products. I have dry and acne prone skin which means it has been lots of trial and error to find what works for my seemingly contradictory skin. This trial has led to my interest in skincare so I have developed several routines that work for me depending on the season, how my skin feels and my mood. This is one of my morning routines with products I have used extensively. I call this my hydrating and antioxidant routine and i use this routine year round. Glossier. - Milky Jelly Cleanser This is my favourite morning cleanser as it doesn’t strip my skin. FRUDIA - Pomegranate Nutri-Moisturizing Toner this is a great toner/essence hybrid that is deeply moisturizing and it preps my skin for my next steps. The Ordinary - Argireline Solution 10% i have used several bottles and it is a light serum that helps reduce dynamic lines. THE inkey LIST - Q10 Antioxidant Serum this is a light cream antioxidant that makes my face feel so soft. VERSED - ZERO-G Smoothing Eye Cream I enjoy this light cream as it hydrated my eye area it has a tint and shimmer to lighten the appearance of the area. Aveeno - Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 this has been my go to moisturizer/spf for days I am staying inside. Or On days that I do go out I wear a separate moisturizer and spf such as THE inkey LIST - Turmeric Brightening Moisturizer this is an antioxidant, brightening moisture though it can be thick PAULA'S CHOICE - Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid I love this sun screen as it is super light and spreadable

NOTE 1: this does not include every single SPF from Paula’s Choice. This is simply the SPFs that I own from them. NOTE 2: By posting this, I do not condone the past racist actions by Paula’s Choice and their lack of shades for medium and dark skin tones. My skin type is sensitive combination dry and acne prone. Review: Hello!! I thought today I would take you through the different textures and my thoughts on these Paula’s Choice Sunscreens. I own 3 different formulas at the moment, and I like them all but for different reasons. 1. Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 (mineral formula): PAULA'S CHOICE - Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 Target: combination, normal/oily skin. Purpose: Sun Protection & anti-aging. Texture: thick, somewhat mattifies the skin, leaves a light tint to the skin (not for medium or dark skin tones). Reapplies very nicely. No sunscreen scent. Includes the antioxidant resveratrol (anti aging and skin healing). I have dry skin, but I combat this formula’s matte effect by applying this after I apply a facial oil in my AM routine. It’s $33 for 2oz. I’d recommend this if you have oily skin for daily use. My rating is 4/5 because I wish they offered this for medium and dark skin tones. 2. Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 (chemical formula)PAULA'S CHOICE - Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid Target: normal, combination skin. Purpose: sun protection + anti-aging. Texture: incredibly lightweight/watery formula, no tint or white cast. Dewier finish. Reapplies without any issues. Light sunscreen scent. Includes “soothing plant extracts.” I have to use this after a pretty basic routine—chemical sunscreens often irritate my skin so that means no other actives are allowed in my AM routine. It’s $33 for 2oz. I’d recommend this for all skin types, except super sensitive. My rating is 4/5 because the chemical formula forces me to have a basic AM routine. 3. Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ (chemical formula): PAULA'S CHOICE - Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ Target: blemish-prone skin. Purpose: sun protection + minimize pores. Texture: super lightweight (similar to the youth-extending), no tint or white cast left behind. Dewier finish. Reapplies magically! More heavy sunscreen scent. It’s a basic formula so it doesn’t irritate or cause breakouts for sensitive skin. This allows me to use my usual AM routine, no burning even though it’s a chemical formula. It’s $33 for 2oz. I’d recommend this for all skin types, but especially acne-prone and/or sensitive! My rating is 4/5 because of the heavy sunscreen scent! Long story short: I really like these formulas but all for different reasons. Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts? #CheriePartner