March & April Skin Care Empties!

I know I’m a little late, but here are my skincare empties for the month of March & April! 🌈

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser:

I finally finished the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser. I used it for a week on my face then I stopped. This facial cleanser is exactly what it is. It’s gentle. I mean, very gentle. I didn’t think it cleaned my skin well. It’s not the type of product for me. The face wash also has some speckles of glitter in it too. Just an observation. I most likely won’t purchase this product again. It’s too gentle on my skin. I love gentle skin care products, but this was just way too gentle. I need a product that removes the excessive amount of grease that I have on my face, lol.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel with Hyaluronic Acid Fragrance-Free:

I finished my first bottle of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel. This is a gentle facial cleanser that’s somewhat moisturizing. It definitely cleans my skin well. It’s a gel. It does what it’s supposed to do. It doesn’t leave any residue behind. It cleanses and doesn’t irritate my skin. I’m on my last bottle. Who knows if I’m going to stick to this face wash or move on to another face wash.

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser:

I thought this face wash was working for me in the beginning, but it started to do weird things to my skin such as skin tightness and breakouts. That’s all I remember about it after I stopped using it. My skin went back to normal, and I started using another face wash. I really don’t think my skin likes CeraVe products. None has worked for me so far. This is one of them.

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum:

I still have several bottles of the Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum left. I just finished another bottle. I’ve been using it on my body to get rid of it. I can’t use it on my facial skin because it clogs my pores and causes my skin to flare up. Something in this serum just doesn’t work well with my skin. I just wished I had known sooner.

The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA:

I finished my last bottle of The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA. I’m over this serum. I can’t use it on my facial skin, so I used the rest on my body. I haven’t noticed any changes in my skin. The texture of the serum is thick and tacky. I’m not sure how I even put up with the texture of this serum for such a long time. It’s finally done. I threw the bottle out!

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

I was able to finish one of the two Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 that I have. At first, I was hesitant on using it daily because I noticed clogged pores while using it. But, everything has been going well since I increased my use of my acne treatment. I’m using the sunscreen almost daily now. Just almost. I’m loving the soft, silky texture of this sunscreen. I hope it keeps on working and doesn’t cause any breakouts! The sunscreen is very easy to use. One of the easiest and fastest sunscreens to use in the morning before I start my day. It works great as well if I miss any spots.

Dr Jart+ Rejuvenating BB Beauty Balm Silver Label SPF 35 PA++:

I’m done with Dr Jart+ Rejuvenating BB Beauty Balm Silver Label SPF 35 PA++. I’m glad I’m done with this bb cream. It’s been a good run, but I won’t repurchase any time soon. I think it’s time to move on to something else after using it for goodness how many years. It’s not as good as it used to be anymore. Also, I wish the SPF was a little higher. I just think I’m over this product. I wasn’t satisfied with the results this time.

Melano CC Vitamin C Essence:

I still have several tubes of the Melano CC Vitamin C Essence left. I haven’t been using this product on my facial skin either. It breaks me out, and I’m not going to take another risk using it on my face. The texture of the product is oily and sits on my skin greasy. Just another product I’m also trying to finish up and throw out. I’m not sure why it’s so raved about. It hasn’t done much for my skin over the years. Too bad I still have plenty of tubes left.

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin:

One more product that I’m done with is the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin. I’m so happy to be done with this moisturizer. I stopped using it on my face also. It’s supposed to be a lightweight and moisturizing product. But, it just didn’t work out for me. It moisturized my skin, but I noticed breakouts after using it. My skin dislikes moisturizers. I stopped using moisturizers on my face, to be honest. It seems like my skin doesn’t need it. Here’s to another product that I won’t purchase again. It’s been a long run. 👋

Those are some of the products that I was able to get rid of. In the next few months…more to come! Stay tuned!

1 Month + 2 Weeks Experience!

My Experience with Taz 🙂

I’m officially back to using taz!! I started off the first week using taz twice a week. The next week (which is this week), I tried using it every single day. I skipped a day. I’ve used taz for a total of 8 times already. For the first 2 days this week using taz, I noticed more breakouts popping up in my breakout-prone areas. These pimples were not tiny. They were large deep under the skin pimples that could not be popped! I couldn’t do anything about them but leave them alone until they were ready to POP! They popped on their own too. D*mn! They were painful! And they all left an acne mark behind. Ugh! After this week, I’m left with acne marks and smoother skin. Yesssss, smoother skin. My skin actually does look clearer. I’m guessing this is the purging process I’m going through. My skin does look considerably better than before. It looks less bumpy and less textured. It sucks that I’m left with acne marks, but they’ll eventually go away as the months go by. I hope. I’m going to stick it out, hold on, and hope all gets better. And, by the way, there was a slight burning sensation to my skin after 5 days of application (for this week). I’m still going to push it through because it’s not too bad. I didn’t skip a day of taz because of this. The reason why is to incorporate benzoyl peroxide into my routine (not as a spot treatment, as an all-over acne treatment). I used benzoyl peroxide last night and a lot of my pimples decreased in size. It still seems like my skin still needs benzoyl peroxide to be clear. It helps to kill the bacteria and keeps my skin from exploding with more acne. Taz is working, I guess, but I’m getting a feeling a combination of benzoyl peroxide and taz is where it’s at for my skin.

Back to Sunscreens…

As for sunscreen, I know I did an update on sunscreens last week. I mentioned using La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Face & Body Sunscreen Lotion SPF 100 and Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++. Well, one part of that changed. I’m still using La-Roche Posay SPF 100. I stopped using Canmake. My skin just didn’t like Canmake. The texture of the sunscreen is soft, smooth, and dries on the skin nicely. But, I noticed my nose clogging up, and it made my skin feel gross by the end of the day. It just didn’t work for me. As for La Roche-Posay SPF 100, this is slowly becoming my main sunscreen. It can feel greasy on the skin sometimes, but I’m not having any breakout issues with it as of late. Hmmm! This one may work out. Honestly, I’m just looking for a sunscreen that doesn’t break me out. Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 causes breakouts (the last time I used it). Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 is OK. I noticed some pimples from it last time, but those breakouts could be from something else. I tried it again, and it was decent. Maybe I’ll use what I have left indoors. I don’t really need SPF 100 indoors. I’m trying to use up all of the sunscreens I have too before purchasing more/new ones. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Body & Face Mineral Sunscreen Gentle Lotion SPF 50 looks awful on my skin. Yuck! It’s so thick, too much of a white cast, and dries the crap out of my skin. I can go on and on about the sunscreens I have, but those are a few thoughts that popped up in my mind, lol.

That’s it for this week! My skin care routine is minimal, which makes my life so much easier. Hopefully all goes well next week! See everyone there! 🙂

Did you miss out?? 👇🏻

Restarting Tret & My First Week Experience

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

My Week 3 BP Results!

1 MONTH Results with BP!

1 Month + 1 Week Using BP & Some Changes I Made This Week!

February Skin Care Empties

Here’s my list of February empties! The list is pretty short this month. I slowed down on using my skin care products. I’ll try my best to pick it back up next month!

Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask:

I finished my last bottle of Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask. I tried using this moisturizer on my face so many times, but it never worked completely. I noticed that it would brighten my skin up at times (contains niacinamide and rice extract). The brightening effect did not last. My skin would revert back to what it was before. It never helped with acne marks either. My skin ended up breaking out due to the oils (sunflower seed oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil) in the product. It didn’t work for me in the end. I used several bottles too. I used the rest of what I have left on my body and hands. I’m glad I’m done with it.

Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer SPF 30:

I finished one of the two bottles of Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 this month. Yay! This used to be my HG sunscreen (or moisturizer with SPF). It was the only moisturizer/sunscreen product that didn’t break me out. It’s not the best. I noticed some burning and freckles while using it. Whatever. I couldn’t use anything else due to breakouts. This was my only choice. My experience with it this time was not like it used to be. It used to be decent. Now, I’m just not impressed anymore. I find it to be too moisturizing (makes my skin oily) and burns my eyes. I tried applying the product a little bit away from my eyes, but it seems to get in my eyes regardless. Since this sunscreen isn’t reliable or that effective, I don’t care much for it anymore. I experimented with it indoors (not outdoors). It is what is it. I have one bottle left and won’t repurchase again. I can’t anyways, haha. It’s been discontinued. I wonder why…lol.

RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream:

No more RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream! I’m done with it. I’m happy to be done with it. I used the rest of the product on my body, especially my feet. This eye cream was OK at first until my eyes started burning from it (new formula?). It irritated the crap out of my eyes and gave me an allergic reaction. My eyes were so swollen and puffy.

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum:

I was able to finish a bottle of Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum this month. I didn’t even realize I was running low until I finished it. So with this serum, I haven’t been using it on my face. It’s not a good facial serum for me. I remember getting blackheads and other breakouts from it, which is surprising because it absorbs quickly and feels very lightweight on the skin. I guess my skin just doesn’t like facial serums or maybe it’s just this one. I’ve been using this serum after my showers on my body. Honestly, I can’t tell if it’s making a difference, but I love how weightless and how fast it absorbs into the skin. Well, I have to use it for something. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m about to open a new bottle, haha.

For more skin care empties…

August Skin Care Empties! 

September Skin Care Empties 

November Skin Care Empties 

December Skin Care Empties 

More December Skin Care Empties!

January Skin Care Empties!

1 Month + 1 Week Using BP & Some Changes I Made This Week!

I started using taz again this week. I tried sticking to benzoyl peroxide only, but I drifted towards taz to help with oily skin and acne. Benzoyl peroxide worked, but it dried out my skin when used back-to-back. I thought I would give taz another chance before officially quitting. Here are my results this week using this combo!

Benzoyl peroxide has been helpful, but it’s not quite cutting it. It helps with oily skin and some breakouts, but my skin needed something more. And that would be taz? I guess? So I tried it out again. This week, I only used taz twice. The first two applications (not back-to-back) dried out my skin, and I noticed some purging/peeling. I hope it was just purging and not breakouts from something else! Well, my skin exploded in acne in my blemish-prone areas. They weren’t just tiny little pimples. They were hard, nodules underneath the skin. As the days went on, those pimples burst and left a mark behind. 🥺 I wish this wasn’t so, but that’s what happened. By the end of the week, my skin started to look better. A lot of the pimples that popped up decreased in size. By the looks of it, it seems like taz is helping with my acne. Maybe as much as benzoyl peroxide. We’ll have to see. It’s only been 1 week (2 applications). As for benzoyl peroxide, I’m still using it. I’m only using it as a spot treatment. If I have to use it as an all-over treatment, I will. It doesn’t seem like I need to use benzoyl peroxide as much anymore after adding taz. But, that’s the combination of acne products I’m using to treat my acne. Hopefully all goes well in the next upcoming weeks!

I also experimented with a few sunscreens this week. I didn’t purchase any new ones. I really don’t want to purchase a new sunscreen. I used whatever I had. Here’s my experience with sunscreen this week!

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

This sunscreen feels amazingly soft, silky, and smooth on the skin. It works great as a makeup primer, but it didn’t work for my skin as I wanted. 😞 It clogged my pores. I could pick out hard sebum that sat in my pores. I loved the weightless feeling of this sunscreen, but it sucks that it breaks me out.

Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30:

I tried using Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30. I loved how it moisturized my skin, but it made my skin so oily. It’s not like what it used to be. I eventually stopped using it after experiencing oily skin that led to clogged pores. I only tried using this moisturizer with SPF indoors. My experience wearing this sunscreen outdoors in the past years was not good. My skin burned and freckled. But, keep in mind that this sunscreen has been discontinued. I’ll use the rest (one last bottle) as a body lotion or something.

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

I started using this sunscreen at the end of the week. I’ll make an update next week! I hope it works!

Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++:

I started using the Canmake sunscreen too. Not outdoors. Only indoors. I still have it so why not use it? It’ll work for indoors for now.

Catch up on my experience right here!! 🙂

Restarting Tret & My First Week Experience

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

My Week 3 BP Results!

1 MONTH Results with BP!

1 MONTH Results with BP!

Last week, I didn’t use any acne treatments all-over. I paid the price for it. My skin went from dry and crusty to extremely oily. I developed breakouts from it. Once I stopped using taz or tret, my skin started to get better/heal. I’m thinking about quitting those products and just sticking to benzoyl peroxide (pm) and sunscreen (am) for now. I went back to using benzoyl peroxide all-over at the beginning of this week. I spot treated most of the week. On the last day, I started using benzoyl peroxide all-over. I thought I could spot treat most of the week only. I was wrong. I really need to apply benzoyl peroxide all-over for the full effect. When using benzoyl peroxide, I have less breakouts, skin is less oily, and my skin just looks overall better. I noticed improvements in my skin after the first all-over application! My skin didn’t dry out either. It just soaked up the excess oils and killed the bacteria. Yayyyyyyy! I’m still not using a moisturizer. My skin seems to not need it. Also, I’m not using salicylic acid anymore. It’s not working for me. It made my skin worse at the end. It could just be the product I was using too (Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant). It leaves an oily residue behind while absorbing excess sebum all at once. It’s weird. I’m going to try my best to move on from it, haha. Let’s see how this goes, lol. Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m done with it. 🤔 Pretty sure…

I stopped using CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Sheer Tint and Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 this week too. I tried using La Roche-Posay Anthelios Body & Face Mineral Sunscreen Gentle Lotion SPF 50. I thought it was breaking me out at one point or many points, lol. Go here to check out my previous thoughts on it. I tried using this sunscreen most of the week. It didn’t cause breakouts like I thought it did. It must’ve been the CeraVe sunscreen. Darn it, I’ve been using it for so long and not realizing it was clogging my pores. I’ve officially stopped using it. There goes another sunscreen that doesn’t work. As for La Roche-Posay Anthelios Body & Face Mineral Sunscreen Gentle Lotion SPF 50, it worked OK for the first few applications then my skin became extremely dry. I could see dry patches on my skin. It accentuated so much dry skin that I had to stop using it every day. It’s not going to work if it makes my skin look like shit. I need a more moisturizing sunscreen that doesn’t break me out. I tried using Altruist Sunscreen SPF 50 again, haha! I feel like I’m never going to let this sunscreen go. It worked well the first day. After using it again for the second time, my skin started to feel clogged. It made my skin look super shiny and more oily during the day. Felt sticky on the skin. Whatever, maybe this is the last time. My experience with it lasted for 2 days this time. Good to know that it doesn’t work (again, lol).

After 1 month, my skin is almost clear. I only have a few stubborn areas of my face with pimples. It’s mostly my chin and mouth area. Probably hormonal too. I ended up with at least 3 nodules right for my period. Ugh, they took forever to go away and left dark acne marks behind. I’m not using anything to treat the pigmentation. I just don’t want to use any new product right now and ruin my skin. So, it’s just sunscreen (not sure what works yet 😭😭😭), face wash, and benzoyl peroxide. Oh, and that vitamin c serum which has helped brighten my under eyes. It’s so silky smooth! By the looks of my skin condition, I’m pretty sure the less products I use, the better my skin gets. I just need to find a new sunscreen. Something that’s lightweight, non-greasy, doesn’t clog my pores, and dries quickly into the skin. Looking back at all of the sunscreens I’ve used, the only one that worked for me was Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30. It’s not even a sunscreen product. It’s a moisturizer with SPF. By the way, it’s been discontinued for some time now. I only have one bottle left that hasn’t expired yet. I better get going and use it up real soon before it does.

What’s happening? Check out the links below!

Restarting Tret & My First Week Experience

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

My Week 3 BP Results!