My Week 2 Results With Tret. Changes I’ve Made.

I stopped using tret, lol. After last week’s results, I wasn’t happy with any of it. Using tret directly on my skin yielded better results, but it tore my skin up. The lower strengths of tret, from my experience, don’t have any positive affects on my acne. I tried buffering to lessen the side effects, such as dryness, redness, and any other skin irritations. My results buffering was so poor. My skin ended up so clogged. But It might’ve been the Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence clogging my pores. Or, Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin?? I get mixed results with this moisturizer. So I stopped using Cosrx Snail Mucin Essence and kept using Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer. It’s the only moisturizer that I have. I still can’t find another moisturizer that works without ruining my skin. Vanicream it is for now. Just for now, haha. That’s until I find a better moisturizer for my skin type. Just using the Vanicream moisturizer and leaving out the Snail Mucin Essence, my skin looked better and less clogged. But, my skin didn’t look that good. I could tell that I still had acne issues. It could’ve been better. I can just tell if my skin is improving or not. It just seemed stagnant. Since I stopped using tret, I started using a different retinoid instead. It’s time to switch things up again for another time. This time, it’s tazorac. This retinoid isn’t anything new to me. I’ve used tazorac with amazing results before. It actually cleared my acne up once before like tret. Let’s give it another try. I also started using benzoyl peroxide more frequently than I expected this week too. Here’s my experience and results for week #2!

My Experience with Taz & Benzoyl Peroxide this week!

I used taz 3 times this week. And I used taz 3 times in a row, back-to-back. That was a bad decision. It worked to help clear up some clogged pores, but my skin started to feel dry and started to sting. After using it 3 times in a row, I took a day off. After a day of not using anything but a moisturizer (which stung my skin), I decided to increase my application of benzoyl peroxide. My skin just looked so clogged even when using taz. After 2 days of using benzoyl peroxide, I noticed a dramatic change in my complexion pretty quick. My breakouts diminished. My skin looked cleaner and less clogged. It killed active acne blemishes on the spot. It helped to decrease sebum on the surface of my skin. I also noticed some skin peeling all over my face. Wow, this thing called benzoyl peroxide is amazing. It seems like I’m stuck using it for the rest of my life. It’s the only acne treatment that makes any changes in my skin in a short period of time. Since my skin looks pretty good right now after increasing my use of benzoyl peroxide, I decided to use benzoyl peroxide more often than taz. Taz helps, but I think benzoyl peroxide is where it’s at when it comes to clearing my skin. Every time I use benzoyl peroxide, my skin gets better. I have less closed comedones, less blackheads, less chances of pimples developing. I’ll figure something out in the upcoming weeks, but my skin looks clear at the moment because of benzoyl peroxide. So, by the end of the week, I took a break from actives and just moisturized my skin. I’ll restart when my skin is ready. It’s looking very crusty and dry. It itches too from the dryness, haha. I have no new pimples though!

Update on Sunscreens! 🧴

Altruist Sunscreen SPF 50:

How much I love the high UVB and UVA in this sunscreen. I simply cannot use on my face. I noticed clogged pores and whiteheads/blackheads on my nose, forehead, and chin area. The formula of this product is just not working for my skin. I wished it did. I stopped using it after noticing an increase in clogged pores. I guess I could use the rest of what I have on my body. This sucks because I really wanted it to work.

CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Face Sheer Tint:

I’ve been using this sunscreen as my main sunscreen. I like it, but there are some things that I don’t like about it. First off, the tint of this sunscreen makes my face look super orange. Repplying the sunscreen makes my face look even more orange than before, lol. Other reasons I don’t like about this sunscreen includes it being only SPF 30, the fact that it feels a little heavy on my oily skin, and it stings my face when I’m using acne products that peel the skin. My skin literally burns with this sunscreen. But, yes, I’m still using it anyways, lmao. I’ll be on the look out for another sunscreen. That’s if I can find another one that works just as well as this one while being afforable.

Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40:

I picked up two new bottles of Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40. I missed it, so I purchased more. It’s also effective, has SPF 40, has a nice texture to it (silky, smooth, moisturizing, doesn’t burn my skin), is broad spectrum, and is very affordable. It costs less than the CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Face Sheer Tint. Trader Joe’s SPF 40 is a chemical sunscreen though. I do prefer mineral sunscreens over chemical sunscreens. But, this chemical sunscreen makes my skin feel super elegant and nice. I’m loving it using so far after using it again.

That’s my 2 week update! Stay tuned for next week!

Check out my first week experience here!

Restarting Tret & My First Week Experience

More December Skin Care Empties! 🥳

I didn’t expect to finish more skin care items after posting my December Skin Care Empties. Here’s more!

RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream:

I have 2 tubes of the RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream left. I finished one this month. I stopped using it on my eyes a while ago due to skin irritation and burning. It made my eyes look super swollen. Since I’m trying to use it up, I’ve been using it on my body. I haven’t had any issues with using it on my body. It’s such a waste using this product like this. This is supposed to be an eye cream. Who wants to use a 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) product on their body? Definitely not a product I would purchase again. Don’t waste your money.

Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40:

I really liked the texture and consistency of this sunscreen. It’s soft, soothing, and moisturizing on the skin. It’s full of silicones, lol. Yeah, the silicone texture was way too much for my skin. But, the sunscreen was super easy to apply and blend into the skin. It smooths over the skin and vanishes nicely. It’s clear and doesn’t leave any cast behind. It works great as a makeup primer too. It makes the skin appear softer and blurs a few imperfections here and there. Also, it’s broad spectrum and SPF 40. I finished my last bottle of the Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40. Will I purchase it again? With this sunscreen, sometimes it breaks me out, sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not sure if I’ll buy it again. Maybe if I’m at Trader Joe’s and shopping for groceries. It’s not a bad sunscreen product, to be honest.

Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream:

I finished a jar of Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream this month. I stopped using this face cream on my face so long ago that I don’t remember when. So this is a heavier cream made for the facial skin. I used this face cream for quite some time. I eventually stopped using it due to it clogging my pores. It’s just too heavy for my facial skin and didn’t do much for my skin. My skin never felt truly moisturized. It felt heavy and cakey on the skin. I didn’t see improvements in my skin while using it. I just stuck to it for so long because I needed a moisturizer and couldn’t find one that’ suitable for my skin type. Many times, I thought it worked on my skin. It just didn’t after plenty attempts. I have 2 jars of this face cream left and am trying to finish it up. I know for sure that I won’t repurchase again. Out it goes!

Melano CC Vitamin C Essence:

Finally, another tube of Melano CC Vitamin C Essence down! I think I have 4 more left! 😭 I’ve tried using this essence on my face so many times that I gave up. It just doesn’t work for my skin type. It doesn’t brighten my skin like I thought it did. I used it then stopped using it. There was no difference in my skin before and after. I haven’t noticed a reduction in acne marks or evening of the skin tone when using it. I never liked the oily, grimy texture that it leaves behind either. It leaves a matte finish, but there’s some odd residue texture thing going on after application. I need to find a new vitamin c product. This one isn’t working for me.

For more skin care empties…

August Skin Care Empties! 🧴

September Skin Care Empties 😎

November Skin Care Empties 🦃

December Skin Care Empties 🎄

After My Break & Trying Out Exfoliants

I stopped using tret about 2 weeks ago. My skin healed within 4 days, but I wanted to play it safe and just leave my skin alone for a bit. My skin became really oily during the break. If I didn’t have oily skin that is prone to blemishes, I would just stick to a basic skin care routine. I could only wish. Knowing my skin, it just can’t. It needs more than a basic skin care routine. So after 1 week of taking a break, I decided to add a cleanser that contains salicylic acid (CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser) into my routine. I swapped my moisturizing facial cleanser for another facial cleanser that contains salicylic acid. I’m nearing 2 weeks on this facial cleanser! 🙃 It cleanses my skin and doesn’t dry my skin out! This cleanser feels moisturizing on my skin. I didn’t expect it to be this moisturizing. Maybe it’s because I have oily skin. It seems to work to cleanse and makes my skin feel good afterwards. No dryness or any irritation. But, I’m not sure if it’s doing anything for my acne. Since I didn’t notice an improvement in my acne using the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, I started using other products to treat my acne.

Here are some products I tried out first…

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant:

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid has always been my to-go-to salicylic acid product. It contains 2% salicylic acid. I love that it’s a liquid too. It absorbs quickly into the skin, and I can use it twice a day without drying my skin out. Unfortunately, this product isn’t working like it used to. It helps to decrease some sebaceous filaments and some blackheads. I said SOME. Not most or all. My skin is still struggling with acne when using this product. I’ve been trying to get rid of closed comedones that have been lingering around for far too long. This bha product isn’t doing much. So far, I’m quite disappointed in the results. It’s been months using this bha product. I still have 2 bottles left, so I’m going to keep using it to finish it up. But, I most likely won’t purchase it again unless I notice a difference with it vs without it. I’m currently using it in the morning, 7 days a week. I know that’s a lot for some people. My skin is pretty sturdy, lol. I was using it twice a day, 7 days a week before I changed it to using it only in the morning. Not because it’s drying. It’s because I wanted to make room for other products. I didn’t see results using it twice a day either. The results were the same using it once a day.

Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum:

This is the first aha product that I decided to try again. It’s the Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum. It contains 14% glycolic acid. I haven’t used a glycolic acid product in a while. I was pretty excited about it, haha. I chose the Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum first because it’s the strongest aha product I have. And I have acne to demolish. 💥 This serum is more like a gel rather than a serum. It smooths over the skin nicely and leaves the skin feeling moisturized. Once it absorbs into the skin, it leaves the skin looking dewy, but it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on the skin. I noticed some stinging upon application. It didn’t bother me. I was thinking, hey, at least I know it’s effective, haha. My results with the Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum has been…not too bad. So, I guess it’s effective after all. I noticed some clogged pores unclogging, and my skin looking softer and smoother. I had a closed comedone on my upper lip for months. It’s finally out! This glycolic acid serum is pretty moisturizing too. This could make it back into my routine if it keeps on improving my skin!

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA:

I have a few bottles of The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA left. I decided to try it out again. This serum is more on the watery side compared to the Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum. It actually feels like a serum. It absorbs into the skin faster and more efficiently. With this serum, also, I noticed a stinging sensation upon application. That stinging sensation disappeared after a few seconds. This serum felt moisturizing on the skin. I really love the way lactic acid makes my skin feel. Why did I ever stop using it?? I noticed a brighter, smoother, and a more even complexion after using it once. Compared to the Alpha Skin Care Intensive Renewal Serum, it feels so much stronger. Between the two, I’m leaning towards glycolic acid at the moment. It was nice to try out this lactic acid serum though.

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA:

I haven’t used The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA in ages. I was searching for an exfoliant that could work better than salicylic acid. This one popped up. I wanted something that would work better for blackheads and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Mandelic acid is a popular choice. This serum felt thicker and more greasy in texture and consistency. It was oily. I didn’t enjoy using it, so I only used it once and never looked back. I didn’t notice any breakouts after the first try, but I can’t see myself using this serum on a daily basis to treat my acne. The texture of the product is just way too greasy and oily for day-to-day use. My experience with The Ordinary skin care products that have this type of texture is a no-go. It was nice to try out. It’s just not going work. My skin doesn’t like oily serums. I’m trying to eliminate my acne here, haha!

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution:

The last aha product that I tried this week was The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. You know, I’ve always loved liquid skin care products (like the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid). This one was very easy to use and apply. I dispensed the solution onto a cotton pad and swiped my face all over! Easy-peasy! There was a stinging sensation that later on disappeared. No troubles there. Once the solution absorbs and settles into the skin. Wow, my complexion looked brighter and super glowy instantly! I was so amazed. I dropped all of my other exfoliating skin care products (except for the bha liquid) and decided to stick to this one. It’s a texture thing. The product is a liquid and it just sinks into the skin easily without leaving any sticky residue behind. It doesn’t feel greasy or oily either. Here’s another product where I catch myself asking why I stopped using it, lol. I’ve only used it once, but I’ll make an update next week.

What I’m Doing Now…

After this experience, the only product I’m going to continue on with is Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid (have to use a lightweight acne-fighting product in the morning, maybe it’s doing something if I keep using it? lol.) and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (a nighttime exfoliant and also helps with acne). I really love my liquid-based skin care products. Having oily skin, they just absorb and sink into my skin better. It makes it easier to apply other skin care products afterwards too. They’re also time-savers. I find them more effective too. My skin loves them! What else this week?? I started using tret again. It’s about time I get back into it! My skin condition now is so much better this time. I wonder if it’s the aha products. My skin transformed so quick after using them in a short period of time. My skin looks cleaner, clearer, and more glowy. It helped to unclog clogged pores too. Goodbye closed comedones! My jaw literally dropped after seeing immediate results from aha products. Along with the chosen exfoliants, I’ll be using tret. I’ve already started using it, and I’m trying to use it every day. So far, it’s going pretty well. I haven’t had any issues with redness or dryness using it daily. Hopefully it works out this time. Wish me luck!

My Acne Journey: 4 Months + 3 Weeks! What I’m Doing to Maintain My Clear Skin. :)

I’m nearing 5 months on this journey soon!! My skin officially cleared up after 4 months. I’m just in maintenance mode now. All I’m doing is the basics. I’m glad I got rid of all of those excess amount of skin care products. Currently using them on my body. I have to use them up somehow. It’s still taking forever! 😭 But, lesson learned, I guess, lol. I feel like I should know this already since my skin thrives on a basic skin care routine plenty of times before. I guess it’s called a skin care addiction. 😂 Well, let’s check out what went on this week!

What’s new this week?

I stopped using a moisturizer in the morning. Yup, I don’t have a dedicated moisturizer for mornings anymore. I feel like I was using too many products even though it was just this single product. It just felt too much applying that moisturizer on my face in the morning, lol. I noticed more blackheads and sebaceous filaments when I started using a moisturizer in the morning too. It felt like a waste of product and money when I didn’t really need one for AM use. What’s the point of using a product when it’s not necessary? I have oily skin, and it just makes things worse. So I started using a more moisturizing sunscreen instead, so it’s more like a two-in-one deal. The product is La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Face & Body Sunscreen Lotion SPF 100. I was using La Roche-Posay Anthelios Body & Face Mineral Sunscreen Gentle Lotion SPF 50, but it was too drying on my skin. I got really tired of the white cast and how drying it is. It’s my favorite sunscreen (right now) for touch-ups, but I want a sunscreen that’s more moisturizing. And that is, the La Roche-Posay SPF 100 since I still have it. Here’s my experience with this sunscreen this week!

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Face & Body Sunscreen Lotion SPF 100:

I chose this sunscreen because I remember it being moisturizing. I can just skip moisturizer and go straight to using sunscreen in the morning. This helps to cut down my morning routine too. I’m only using a single product on my face. It makes things even simpler. So this sunscreen is very moisturizing on the skin. It feels lightweight without any other products underneath (serums, essences, moisturizers, creams, gels). It made my skin appear a little greasy, but that didn’t bother me too much. It sat comfortably on my skin. I liked that it didn’t dry my skin out. I needed the moisture. But, with this sunscreen, I can’t use it near my eyes. Yes, it burns like hell. It must be the smell of this sunscreen. It has a strong sunscreen/chemical smell to it. Yuck! Not a fan. But even with the negatives, I’ll still use it until I find something else that’s better. It moisturizes my skin and protects my skin. That’s what matters most to me. It hasn’t irritated my facial skin. It works for what it is.

Here’s my experience with some other sunscreens I’m trying to finish up. 👇🏻

Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30:

This sunscreen feels very soft and soothing when applied to the skin. It rubs in nicely and doesn’t leave residue behind. I didn’t notice a white cast this time either. With this sunscreen, it never sets on the skin. It sits on top of the skin. It leaves my skin shiner and greasier. Since it’s only SPF 30, I’m using it as an indoor sunscreen. I prefer to stick to SPF 50+ sunscreens for everyday/outdoors. It works very well as a moisturizer. It saved my dry skin when it was cracking and peeling. Works well on sensitive skin. It contains ceramides, and I really do love my ceramides. 🥰 Keeps my moisture barrier happy. This moisturizer with sunscreen is actually even more moisturizing compared to the Vanicream Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin, in my opinion. It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth after I rinse it off for the day. So it helps to improve the quality of the skin. I didn’t notice any breakouts after using it this time. Keep in mind that I didn’t use any other products underneath the sunscreen. I feel that this sunscreen has some good qualities, but I don’t like the way it leaves my skin looking shiny and greasy. Plus, it’s only SPF 30. I need a higher SPF for my skin type.

Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++ (Clear):

I tried this sunscreen again. I still have a few bottles of it left to finish. Applying this sunscreen to the skin was nice and soothing at first. But after it absorbs into the skin, it leaves the skin feeling dry and super tight. It felt like my skin was going crack. I couldn’t move my face. Yes, it absorbs quickly. Yes, it feels lightweight on the skin rather than thick and heavy. But, I’d much prefer a sunscreen that’s thick and heavy than a drying one. My face hurts using it. Reapplying was not fun. By the third application with this sunscreen, my eyes started to burn and the sunscreen pilled near my hairline. So the only way I’ll be able to finish this sunscreen is if I use it with another sunscreen that’s moisturizing. I’ve been using it with Vanicream Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30. Not mixed together, but I layer them. Vanicream helps to lessen the dryness. I only use Canmake when I’m indoors. It didn’t work for me at all. I tanned, burned, and freckled using it outdoors (including reapplying). This sunscreen is so overhyped. It didn’t protect my skin at all. Thinking about it pisses me off, lol.

When I can’t use a sunscreen near my eyes (La Roche-Posay SPF 100!), I use another sunscreen that I still have (trying to finish it). It’s the Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. This sunscreen doesn’t burn my eyes, so it works for the eye area. I can’t use it on my face due to it clogging my pores.

I love how my morning routine just consists of sunscreen. 🙃 It’s so simple. 👌🏻 I don’t need extra products. My skin’s good. ✅

New Products??

I thought I wasn’t going to add any skin care products, but I decided to add vitamin c powder. I know, I know, lol. I said I wasn’t going to, haha. I needed an affordable, easy-to-use antioxidant in my routine. Using vitamin c went well this week. No orange 🍊 face. I woke up to a brighter and more even-toned complexion. By the way, I only use it at night. I don’t use anything else on my skin besides sunscreen in the morning. It’s too extra for me. Also, I haven’t worn makeup for a few weeks now. I started wearing makeup then stopped. Might pick it up back up again whenever.

That’s what I did this week. I really didn’t think I would ever use vitamin c again. But, knowing me, I love trying out previous/new products out. 🤷🏻‍♀️ See everyone next week! I can’t wait!

If you missed out on my acne journey (more like maintaining clear skin journey now, haha), follow the links below!

My Acne Journey: 1 Week In…

My Acne Journey: 2 WEEKS!! 

My Acne Journey: 3 Weeks Results!

My Acne Journey: 4 Weeks Results!

My Acne Journey: 5 WEEKS IN!

My Acne Journey: 6 Weeks Results…

My Acne Journey: 7 Weeks Results

My Acne Journey: 2 MONTHS!! 

My Acne Journey: 2 Months + 1 Week Results!

My Acne Journey: 2 Months + 2 Weeks!

My Acne Journey: 2 Months + 3 Weeks Results!

My Acne Journey: 3 MONTHS!! 😃

My Acne Journey: 3 Months + 1 Week Results

My Acne Journey: 3 Months + 2 Weeks Results

My Acne Journey: 3 Months + 3 Week Results

My Acne Journey: 4 MONTHS!!

My Acne Journey: 4 Months + 1 Week Results.

My Acne Journey: 4.5 Months + Clear Skin!!

My Acne Journey: 4.5 Months + Clear Skin!!

New week, new results! Here we go! 🙌🏻

It’s been 4.5 months, and my skin is finally clear! I didn’t get any new breakouts this week. I didn’t get any last week either. Benzoyl peroxide is really knocking out my acne breakouts! I had a small initial breakout when I first started using it. Now, my skin just looks so good. It’s amazing! Soooo what now? I do have some acne marks to take care of, but I’m not going to add any new products to get rid of them. Honestly, I just don’t want to spend on brightening serums or whatever. I’ve used plenty to help with acne scars/marks, and I didn’t think they were worth it. I don’t really need them. What I’m going to do is leave my skin alone and simply follow what I’m doing — cleanse, treat, moisturize, and protect. Seems like my skin does better on a basic, plain skin care routine. Everything is going well. Blackheads are gone. Sebaceous filaments I was dealing with have decreased. No new breakouts. D*mn, this is really working, and I love it! So that’s all I’m going to do. Just leave my skin alone and stick to the basics. 👍🏻

P.S. I have so many skin care products I have to use up. I’m trying my best to decrease my consumption of skin care products too. 😩 I wonder how long it’s going to take! 😭

Photo: Mizon Peptide Ampoule Cream

You can catch up on my acne journey if you missed out!! 😊

My Acne Journey: 1 Week In…

My Acne Journey: 2 WEEKS!! 

My Acne Journey: 3 Weeks Results!

My Acne Journey: 4 Weeks Results!

My Acne Journey: 5 WEEKS IN!

My Acne Journey: 6 Weeks Results…

My Acne Journey: 7 Weeks Results

My Acne Journey: 2 MONTHS!! 

My Acne Journey: 2 Months + 1 Week Results!

My Acne Journey: 2 Months + 2 Weeks!

My Acne Journey: 2 Months + 3 Weeks Results!

My Acne Journey: 3 MONTHS!! 😃

My Acne Journey: 3 Months + 1 Week Results

My Acne Journey: 3 Months + 2 Weeks Results

My Acne Journey: 3 Months + 3 Week Results

My Acne Journey: 4 MONTHS!!

My Acne Journey: 4 Months + 1 Week Results.