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!

Update on Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum & The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% Ferulic Acid 3%!!

It’s decided. I stopped using Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum and The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% Ferulic Acid 3%. I’m really trying to eliminate skin care products that don’t provide my skin with many benefits and are oily. The two products in my routine — Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum and The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% Ferulic Acid fell into those categories. Here’s why.

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum:

I’ve gone through several bottles of Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum. I still have a few more of the serum, lol. This serum is a lightweight watery gel that absorbs into the skin well. It doesn’t leave the skin feeling sticky or heavy. It just sinks into the skin wonderfully. I never had any issues with the serum. That’s why I’ve used it for so long. This serum contains 49% Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Arginine, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Green Tea Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid. At the end of the ingredient list, some peptides. The ingredients look amazing. Also, it didn’t clog my pores either. It worked very well on my acne-prone skin. Not a single zit in sight. I was able to use it twice a day without any issues. It helped to calm redness and irritated skin while providing lightweight hydration. Unfortunately, the hydration doesn’t last long so don’t expect a surge of moisture from this serum. It’s a great serum for sensitive skin! BUT, even if the serum has really nice ingredients, I didn’t see much of a change or a huge difference in my skin. It didn’t help to improve skin texture and blemishes like it claims. It’s a pretty basic product that I don’t need, since I have a better moisturizer already. I was using the Purito Buffet Serum because it at least hydrates the skin just a little bit. Maybe I’ll use it again in the near future, but for now, I’m going to stop using it and see what happens.

The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% Ferulic Acid 3%:

I’ve been eliminating The Ordinary products one by one. The last two were The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% and The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% Alpha Arbutin 2%. The next one is going to be The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% Ferulic Acid 3%. I really wanted this serum to work. It’s supposed to help with signs of aging and skin texture. It contains antioxidants. But I’ve been trying to make this serum work for months to no avail. The serum feels very oily and greasy on the skin. The texture of this serum is very similar to the Ascorbic Acid 8% Alpha Arbutin 2%. One of the reasons why I stopped using the Ascorbic Acid serum. After I stopped using both Ascorbic Acid 8% Alpha Arbutin 2% and Resveratrol 3% Ferulic Acid 3%, my skin stopped looking oily and greasy. These serums could’ve been breaking me out too. It just makes my skin appear more shiny and feels heavy on the skin. For me, the overall formulation of the serum is poor. It sits on top of the skin and doesn’t really absorb into the skin. As for the results when using this serum, since the texture of the serum is oily, it moisturizes the skin and makes the skin look kind of glowy. That’s most likely due to the oiliness of the serum and not that it contains antioxidants. The Ascorbic Acid serums has the same effect on the skin too due to the oiliness. Once I wash my face at the end of the day, I could see very little changes in my skin. I find it only moisturizing. I’ve been using this serum for months. I think it’s been nearly a year, and I don’t think it’s working for me. I was expecting more from this product.

Another product I stopped using: Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream & Breakouts

For my acne journey…

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

Another Update on My Moisturizers. What I’m Using Now.

Here’s an update on what moisturizing skin care products I use on my face. I think the list has gotten longer!! But, oh well. I like my moisturizers. They keep my skin soft, supple, and hydrated. Gets rid of the flakes or at least help them come off easier when I need to exfoliate my skin. Here’s my list of moisturizers that I use, which includes serums and essences too. I hope this is helpful. Enjoy!

⭐ Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence

Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence is a staple in my routine by now. It doesn’t leave my skin super hydrated, but it’s good at prepping my skin before layering on other skin care products. When my skin is feeling more irritated than usual, I apply this essence first to calm my skin down. I use the Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence along with… *read about the next product on the list*

⭐ Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Yep! The Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. The Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is more moisturizing than the Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence. The last time I talked about this essence, I said that I’m not able to use it every day. That has changed since. I can use the Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence every day now. I’ve been using it every day to add a little bit more moisture to my skin. I actually prefer the Snail over the Hyaluronic Acid. It’s more moisturizing on the skin and helps with skin texture. It’s the perfect moisturizing essence. It leaves the skin feeling hydrated but feels lightweight on the skin at the same time. Funny how things changed so sudden. 😊

⭐ Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

I’ve been using Benton Aloe Propolis Gel for a while now. From my experience, it’s a lightweight moisturizer that sinks into the skin really quick. Great for oily skin and skin that’s prone to breakouts. It hasn’t clogged my pores. It’s not the most moisturizing moisturizer out there. I don’t rely on it to keep my skin moisturized. That’s why I have other moisturizers in my routine. The only downside to this product (besides it not moisturizing the skin enough) is that it stings the skin sometimes, especially when the moisture barrier is damaged. It’s called a soothing gel, but I don’t recommend using it to soothe the skin when it’s irritated.

⭐ Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum

I remember when I started using Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum, my moisture barrier was damaged. This serum contains centella asiatica extract and ceramide to reduce irritation in the skin and to keep the skin moisturized. It helps to protect the skin’s natural barrier. My face was so red and irritated that I needed something to calm my skin down. This serum did what it’s supposed to do. It worked to heal my skin. It’s one of my favorite serums that’s lightweight and provides other beneficial skin care ingredients (in addition to what I mentioned earlier) for the skin, such as niacinamide, panthenol, and sodium hyaluronate. It’s not the most moisturizing serum, but it worked very well on my oily skin. I didn’t get any breakouts from it.

⭐ Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)

Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap) is one of my favorite moisturizers. It’s lightweight, moisturizing, and hasn’t clogged my pores. Yup, no breakouts from it! My skin just loves this lotion! The lotion is easy to apply to the skin and sinks into the skin quick. It doesn’t leave any sticky residue behind. This lotion worked very well on my oily, acne-prone skin! Love the smell of the product too! It smells like candy and it has tea tree oil in it. It’s been amazing so far!

⭐ iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum

I didn’t think I would have iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum in my routine again, but I’m falling in love with it all over again. It hasn’t brighten my skin, but it leaves my skin feeling hydrated. I just love the way it feels on my skin. I only need one single drop of the product to get that moisturizing effect on my skin! Also… *read about the next product on the list*

⭐ iUNIK Black Snail Restore Serum

I’m using iUNIK Black Snail Restore Serum. I didn’t know I had a new bottle of this serum sitting around. I was going to discontinue using it, but I guess I’ll keep using it since I have it. As I keep using it, I’m falling in love with it too. So I use a mixture of the Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum and Black Snail Restore Serum to create a super duper moisturizing serum. I know, cheesy, but it works like charm for extra hydration! I love it!

⭐ Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion

Here’s another moisturizing product that I REALLY LOVE! It’s Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion. I’m glad I brought this product back! The difference it has made in my skin under less than a week has been astonishing! The lotion feels sticky when dispensed from the bottle, but it goes on the skin so nicely. It feels lightweight on the skin, leaves my skin feeling really moisturized (love using it!), and I haven’t noticed any breakouts from it. That’s just awesome! This lotion is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I think it’s more moisturizing than Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)!

⭐ Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream

Here’s a new moisturizer that’s in my skin care routine. It’s Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream. Alright, it’s the most moisturizing moisturizer/face cream in my routine. It’s rich, creamy, and buttery. It’s very different compared to what I’m used to using — lightweight, gel, something that’s better for oily skin, a moisturizer that absorbs quickly into the skin. This moisturizer or face cream did feel a bit heavy on my face when I first used it. That worried me because I was afraid of breaking out from it. It’s just so creamy and super moisturizing. My skin hasn’t experienced this type of moisture in so long. But, fortunately, it’s been good. I can’t say great because I’m still testing it out. So far, I haven’t experienced breakouts and it has helped alleviate dry patches on my face and made my skin look soooo good! I really hope it works out in the end. A new update coming up soon!

That’s all for now, haha. I’ll be sure to update my list of favorite moisturizers! ✨

What’s your favorite moisturizer or moisturizers? Be sure to leave a comment and share! 😊

A Break from Tret & What I’m Doing Now

I just finished a month of tret. I thought I would be able to continue on with treatment. But that’s not the case. My skin is feeling worn out. It feels thinner. There’s a lot of dead skin stuck on my face. My skin is itchy even though I use moisturizers. Yes, more than one moisturizer! These are the best moisturizers I can get without causing breakouts. So, I think it’s time to take a break once again. I’m not sure when I’m going to use tret again. Maybe by the end of the week or next week. Or, I might even use it only 2-3 times a week. I don’t know yet. I’ll have to see how my skin is doing and if it’ll be able to tolerate tret. Right now, my overall skin condition looks pretty good. I have only a few pimples. They wouldn’t budge until I stopped using tret. Perhaps my skin was just over-exfoliated. That’s what it seems like.

This is what I’m doing right now while on my mini break. I’ve eliminated acids. This includes any ahas, bhas, and vitamin c. And you know what’s weird? My blackheads disappeared when I stopped using these products. I wonder if one of these products are causing the blackheads too (along with Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask, which I stopped using regularly). I love the Cosrx Rice Mask. It’s still in my skin care routine. I only use it when my skin is really dry or when I wear makeup. It helps to minimize flaky skin due to its awesome moisturizing properties. It’s the closest thing I can get to moisturized skin without breaking out in cystic acne. Using it once in a while doesn’t do any harm. So, back to the blackheads, I don’t have any anymore. Hmmmm!

Here are the products I’m using during this break. It’s mainly moisturizing skin care products to heal and hydrate my skin…

Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence:

It’s still a staple in my routine! This essence is such a life saver! Still, not the most moisturizing, but it hasn’t broken my out. Yay! I’m just very happy that I found it. With this essence, I don’t use it on damp skin. I tried it and had issues with it being too hydrating. I ended up with blackheads. Yeah, my skin doesn’t like too much moisture. It makes my skin worse even though I do enjoy the feeling of moisturized skin.

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence:

Next up, Cosrx Snail Essence has been working for me. Shockingly! I started using it twice a day, and it has improved the quality of my skin. It’s much more moisturizing compared to the Cosex Hydra Power Essence. But since I mix the two essences, it does wonders for my skin. I love them both! But the snail essence is really amazing stuff. I highly recommend it!

iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum:

I didn’t think I was going to use the iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum twice a day, but I had to. My skin was calling out for moisture, so I tried it. WOW, it worked! It left my skin even more moisturizing compared to the Cosrx Hydra Powder Essence and Cosrx Snail Essence. My skin feels so soft and looks brighter! And it hasn’t caused breakouts (yet). I hope it stays this way because this has been a game changer in my routine. I’m seeing results in terms of moisture.

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum:

This is one of my favorite serums so far. It’s not that moisturizing (can feel drying on the skin), but it helps with skin texture and skin smoothness. My skin feels and looks softer when using it. It sinks into the skin nicely. There’s a lot of skin goodies in this product, which I love! Calms my skin when it’s red and hasn’t caused any breakouts. It’s been a little over a month now…

Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel:

I’m not sure how I feel about Benton Aloe Gel. It’s not that moisturizing, can sting if skin is over-exfoliated, and doesn’t do much for the skin. It’s OK, since it doesn’t break me out. I guess I can just continue to use it. See how it goes. Who knows. I might see some changes in the future, lol.

Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap):

I’ve fallen in love with Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap). Once I stopped using the Cosrx Rice Mask, the breakouts diminished. So, it looks like Cosrx Birch Sap is working for me. It moisturizes (as much as it can, much better than my other hydrating/moisturizing products), leaves my skin looking smooth, and doesn’t clog my pores. I’m crossing my fingers that it doesn’t break me out because I would be devastated. It’s the only moisturizer that has worked, and I’ve tried a lot of skin care products. I really don’t feel like searching for a new moisturizer, haha!

Hopefully I can get back on tret soon. My acne has improved so much after so many years of trying to clear up my skin. That’s something I’m very happy about. Finally! 🙂 But it hasn’t been a smooth journey. I’m just really happy and excited to see results. And hopefully continue to see results! 😊

⭐ If you missed out on my posts on moisturizers…

Finding the Perfect Moisturizer & What I Use!

Update on My Moisturizers 🙂

⭐ If you missed out on my previous experience with tret…

My experience with tret the first week…

After 1 Month on Tret + Skin Care Routine. Here are My Results.

2 Months on Tret. My results. 🙂

Taking a break from tret…

Back to tret! 1 Week Results & My Skin Care Routine. Did it work? 🤔

1 Month on Tret. My Results!

After Using Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum for 1 Week…

I stopped using Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum a while ago. But my face has been getting really red from dryness. I’m still trying to find a moisturizer that works on my skin. Vanicream wrecked my skin. Since this isn’t a heavy moisturizer, I thought I would give it a chance again. My face was feeling itchy and taut. Ugh! I couldn’t put up with it anymore. I was looking through my skin care products and noticed I still have Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum…so why not. So this serum is supposed to enhance skin barrier repair and reduce inflammation. It contains Centella Asiatica Extract (49%) and Panthenol to soothe irritated skin caused by external environmental stressors and prevent skin inflammation. I’ve been using it for a week. Yes, I lasted a week on it. haha. I guess that’s a good sign. Here’s my experience with Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum!

My experience

This serum is a gel. It feels hydrating when applied to the skin. Leaves the skin feeling like it’s doing something good for the skin. Skin feels soft and supple afterwards. Sinks into the skin well too. Even though it leaves a slight film behind, after it absorbs into the skin fully, feels like there’s nothing on the skin. This serum does feel hydrating on the skin when first applied, but it’s not a good hydrating serum. It feels drying at times. At the same time, it leaves my skin looking really healthy. I started using Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum because my skin was feeling really dry and itchy. I needed something to keep my skin moisturized. I didn’t want to risk using a heavier moisturizer again and breaking out. This seemed to be it.

Does it help with dryness? Kinda. Does it help with redness? Yes! I love the fact that I noticed a reduction in redness in my skin after a day of use. This serum has a calming effect on the skin. I needed something that was able to heal my broken barrier too. This worked! So it helped soothe and strengthen the skin barrier as it claims to do. Awesome! Because not all serums and moisturizers do (just because it’s moisturizing). This serum contains Ceramide NP to help with that. And I’ve used ceramide-based creams that only left my skin congested and irritated. This serum just soaks into my skin and improves it!

This serum also contains centella asiatica extract (49%), niacinamide, panthenol, hydrolyzed collagen, green tea extract, sodium hyaluronate, pepetides, adenosine, and so much more! The ingredients look pretty good! The serum does have a lavender oil smell to it (contains lavender oil), so if you’re sensitive to essential oils, they do have a unscented version of this seurm. I didn’t have a problem with the scented version, so I kept on using it. It hasn’t irritated my skin at all. Also, this product also contains Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate and Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate. If you have fungal acne, this is not for you.

Breakouts??

Not yet so far. At one point I thought I had issues with this serum, but it might’ve been caused by another product or products in my routine. I’m looking at you The Ordinary. But yeah, no clogged pores from this serum yet. I hope it stays that way because I’m hoping to officially add this serum into my routine. I needed a nice serum with a bunch of skin care goodies like this one. I really like how it calms my skin and heals my moisture barrier.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

• Lightweight
• Feels hydrating on the skin at first
• Doesn’t feel heavy
• Soothes the skin
• Absorbs into the skin well
• Reduces redness, inflamed skin
• Keeps the moisture barrier healthy

❌ Cons

• Smells like lavender oil (may be irritating for some)
• Leaves a slight film behind. Just a little bit.
• Not enough moisture

Conclusion

After a week of using this serum, everything seems to be going well. I haven’t noticed clogged pores from this serum. Thankfully! It’s not the most hydrating serum, but my skin seems to benefit from it. It reduces redness in my skin. Makes my skin look more soft and smooth. Keeps my moisture barrier healthy and happy without feeling heavy on the skin. I know brands like Vanicream and CeraVe have ceramides in their products, but they’re not acne-friendly as people make it out to be. None of their face products work on my acne-prone skin. SO! I like this serum. The ingredients are pretty amazing. For the price and what you get, it’s a good deal! Especially when compared to high end skincare products that costs hundreds of dollars. This 60 mL bottle of serum delivers. Now just as long as it doesn’t break me out! I’m hoping for another good week on this serum! Look out for my new update soon to find out!

For more reviews on Purito skin care products go here