Updated Skin Care Routine! Only 4 Products!!

My new routine…

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

I’ve thought about switching face washes since forever. But I’m still using the same face wash. I haven’t had any issues with it yet. I guess I’m going to stick with it. It’s a gel-type, foamy, non-drying face wash that gently removes excess sebum from my skin. It doesn’t strip my skin. It’s also affordable. I love that it has a fragrance-free version.

Skin Treatments: Neutrogena Stubborn Acne AM Treatment & Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid

Benzoyl peroxide is still a part of my skin care routine. It’s an awesome acne treatment. If it weren’t for benzoyl peroxide, my skin would be a mess right now. I think it’s a huge part of my skin care routine. Helped tremendously with my acnegenic skin. I use it as much as I need to, especially to keep my oily skin at bay to prevent new breakouts or diminishing existing breakouts at a faster pace. The best over the counter benzoyl peroxide I have used so far! It absorbs into the skin quick for mornings!

Another acne product I started using is Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid. When I started using this product again, my skin broke out a bit in my blemish-prone areas. After breaking out, my skin cleared up. It didn’t take too long for my skin to adjust since my acne issues were very few. I like using this salicylic acid product to decrease sebum and clear up difficult to treat areas of my skin. Just like benzoyl peroxide, I use it as often as I need it. Sometimes, I even use it at the same time as benzoyl peroxide. I haven’t had any issues with dry skin. My skin is tolerating both pretty well.

Sunscreen: Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

I have purged chemical-based sunscreens from my routine. I stopped using Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for a while. I started using it again and actually finished a bottle of this stuff recently. It seems to work when I use benzoyl peroxide underneath it. I haven’t experienced major breakouts compared to my experience before. Maybe it might work. I know it’s only SPF 30, but I’m using whatever SPF that works on my skin for the time being. With this sunscreen, I also noticed that it feels moisturizing on the skin, but it doesn’t truly moisturize the skin compared to what I was using before (La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Face & Body Sunscreen Lotion SPF 100). La Roche Posay SPF 100 moisturized my skin upon application and afterwards. My skin was left feeling soft. With Vanicream Mineral SPF 30, my skin doesn’t feel moisturized whatsoever. The product is shiny on my skin, but it’s terrible at keeping my skin feeling nice, soft, and moisturized. But I’ll keep using it since I can’t find another mineral sunscreen that is suitable for my skin at the moment. This is it for now, haha. We’ll see how it goes.

That’s all I’m using to maintain healthy acne-free skin. 🙂 I’m keeping my skin care routine to a minimum. My skin prefers a minimalistic approach.

Review: Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

I’m still searching for a mineral sunscreen. Here’s another one I’m going to review today. It’s the Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50. I’m pushing for a mineral-based sunscreen. Ever since I stopped using chemical-based sunscreens, my headaches disappeared. I noticed some acne moving up to the surface when I stopped using the chemical-based sunscreen I was using too. I was using La Roche Posay SPF 100. I loved the protection it gave my skin. I also loved how it moisturized my skin. But I had to stop using it. I couldn’t use it as my daily sunscreen any longer. I haven’t been using it lately either. It’s pretty much out of sight right now.

Here’s more on Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50…

• Broad spectrum SPF 50
• Protects against UVA and UVB rays
• Water resistance (80 minutes)
• Organic
• BPA free
• Non-Aerosol & Biodegradable
• Reef Safe
• Non-Toxic
• PABA-free
• Paraben-free
• Phthalates-free
• Oxybenzone-free
• Avobenzone-free
• Petroleum-free
• No animal by-products
• No animal testing
• Dermatologist tested

The ingredients in Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 caught my eye. They are…

Purifed Water, Caprylic /capric Triglyceride, Polyglycery-4, Isosterate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Methyl, Abietate (Pine Wood Resin), Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt), Caprylhdroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ribes Rubrum (Currant) Fruit, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Hyalurounic Acid (Plant Based), Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit)

The ingredients look pretty natural, but I had some doubts about the oils that it contain. Still, I tried out the sunscreen anyway. The texture of the sunscreen was very nice at first. It’s soft, smooth, and glides over the skin easily. The sunscreen absorbs softly and gently without tugging the delicate skin. There is a white cast, but on my skin, it vanished decently. It’s probably the least white-casted zinc oxide sunscreen I’ve used so far. I didn’t have problems with it. I thought this sunscreen was more moisturizing than drying, even though it contains 23.4% zinc oxide. That’s what it says on the bottle. On their website, it says 20% zinc oxide. Hmmm! The amount of zinc oxide is high, which is a good thing.

I noticed that my skin texture improved after using it a few times. I was very ecstatic about the results. Unfortunately, I can’t use this sunscreen often. I have noticed that it irritated my skin a little bit. I noticed some clogged pores when used too often. I didn’t even bother re-applying because it felt like it just sat on top of my skin. It felt like it left a film on my skin. The sunscreen does contain oils in it. I suspect that may be the issue. My skin dislike oils. The type of acne I developed from this sunscreen were closed comedones and hard sebum within the pores. It’s another type of acne that is annoying and difficult to get rid of. I’m glad I stopped using it on time. I’m glad I didn’t re-apply the sunscreen throughout the day, lol. That would’ve trapped more sebum and cause more acne issues.

I’m not using Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 on my facial skin anymore. I love that it contains at least 20% zinc oxide. It also says the zinc oxide is non-nano on their website. Since it clogs my pores, I can’t use it on my face. I find it a bit irritating using it on the skin around my eyes as well. It has a citrus scent that is pretty irritating. I’m just over this sunscreen. I’ll use the rest on my body. Just not my face. Well! I hope this review was helpful!

Update: Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

It hasn’t been too long since I reviewed Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30. But I’m ready to do another update on this product. 

I was hoping that Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 would be my main moisturizer and sunscreen for mornings, but it didn’t work out like I thought it would. It’s moisturizing and provides SPF 30 with 19.5% zinc oxide. I love that it’s a true mineral sunscreen. That’s exactly what I was looking for! When applied to the skin, the sunscreen feels sticky and heavy. It’s moisturizing, but it left my skin looking very shiny. The more product I applied, my skin looked even more shiny. It wasn’t a pleasant look. I don’t want to walk around with an extremely shiny face.

That’s not the reason why I stopped using it. I would’ve kept using it even though it was shiny on my skin. The reason why I stopped using it was because it irritated my skin and caused breakouts. The sunscreen clogged my pores. It’s labeled as non-comedogenic, but it wasn’t on my skin. It’s way too thick on the skin and messed up my skin. I ended up with some breakouts and redness out of the blue. I didn’t think it was the sunscreen because I wanted it to work. I kept using it until I finally convinced myself that the new breakouts, redness, and skin irritation was from the sunscreen. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.

Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 didn’t work on my skin. I have a ton of product left that I can use…I guess…in my dry areas such as my eye area and neck. But I’m never using it on my facial skin ever again. The ingredients are nice in this product. Check out the ingredients right here:

purified water, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, isopentyldiol, squalane, glycerin, coco-caprylate/caprate, bis-octyldodecyl dimer dilinoleate/propanediol copolymer, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, polyhydroxystearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, sucrose stearate, ceramide EOP, ceramide NG, ceramide NP, ceramide AS, ceramide AP, carnosine, phytosterols, hydrogenated lecithin, dimethicone, triethoxycaprylylsilane, polyacrylate crosspolymer-11, caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol

The formulation wasn’t compatible with my skin type. I love the moisture that it provided my skin. With my skin type (oily skin that’s acne-prone), it wasn’t happening. This sunscreen would probably work better on someone that doesn’t experience breakouts and have dry skin. I won’t purchase this sunscreen again. Very disappointed this time around. 

Trying Out Mineral Sunscreens…

I’m trying out mineral sunscreens again! I picked up some mineral sunscreens I used in the past to test once again. They are Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30. I’ve been using chemical-based sunscreens for some time now consistently. I’ve been getting really bad migraines from them. My eyes would burn constantly even though I’d only applied the sunscreen to my face. It would seep into my eyes somehow. I even wash my hands before applying mineral sunscreen on the skin around the eyes. Still, my eyes would end up burning no matter what. Reapplying chemical-based sunscreens was terrible. It’s just so irritating. I’d have teary eyes all day. I’m over chemical-based sunscreens. I have a few more bottles of chemical-based sunscreens left. I will use them up eventually. I’m just not interested in using them right now. I think it’s time to switch back to using mineral sunscreens. So let’s begin with Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50…

I picked Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 because it’s a thin liquid. I wanted a sunscreen that’s lightweight. I’m getting tired of thick sunscreens. I’ve used it before, but I wanted to see if it’s going to be different this time. My skin is pretty good right now, and it’s easy to detect if a product is working or not fast.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains 12% zinc oxide. It has a SPF of 50. How? This sunscreen isn’t a true mineral sunscreen. On the ingredient list, it lists Butyloctyl Salicylate as the third ingredient. I’ve noticed that mineral sunscreens with high SPF that doesn’t feel heavy or doesn’t give off too much of a white cast contain this ingredient to boost the SPF.

This sunscreen is truly lightweight on the skin. That’s one of the main reasons why I chose it. When dispensed from the bottle, the sunscreen is a liquid. It’s white. It smooths over the skin nicely. It smells like plastic though. I hated the smell of it. Once applied to the skin, the white cast somewhat fades away, lol. It’s not too bad. It’s pretty easy to blend into the skin. The sunscreen is silky and smooth. As I said before, it’s truly lightweight.

As for irritation and breakouts, I noticed both. The sunscreen feels like silicones. It ended up irritating my skin. It made my skin extremely itchy, especially the neck area. I can’t recall this sunscreen giving me a rash in the past. I also noticed some clogged pores. Even though it feels lightweight on the skin, it does feel like plastic wrap on the face. I stopped using this sunscreen on my face immediately after noticing irritation and breakouts. I’m quite disappointed in the outcome when used as a face sunscreen. But, as a body sunscreen (on my arms), it works pretty well. It’s lightweight, doesn’t have a white cast, and absorbs quickly. It doesn’t stain my clothes either. Unfortunately, I’m not going to purchase it again for these reasons. It’s not a true mineral sunscreen. It irritated my skin and caused breakouts. The size of the sunscreen is too small for a body sunscreen. I know it’s not a body sunscreen. I’m currently using it as a body sunscreen but will not repurchase to use as a body sunscreen. I would rather go for a larger sized sunscreen bottle for the bottle to save money.

Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 was another mineral sunscreen I chose. I picked it for its moisturizing properties. This sunscreen is a true mineral sunscreen with 19.5% zinc oxide! I remember this sunscreen being thick and heavy. It’s thick but absorbs into the skin very nicely this time. I actually like it. It feels very gentle on the skin. I didn’t experience skin burning, eyes burning, itchy skin. It’s soothing. It has a white cast that fades into the skin. My experience with the Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 has been good. I haven’t noticed any breakouts. Just moisturized skin. This sunscreen is definitely for sensitive skin. We’ll see how it goes in the next week or so. Hopefully no new breakouts from this sunscreen! I think this might be my to-go-to sunscreen if it works out!

Those are my thoughts on Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30! I’ll make an update soon. 🙂

Review: Neutrogena Mineral Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Face & Body Stick SPF 50

Another sunscreen I purchased to try this summer is Neutrogena Mineral Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Face & Body Stick SPF 50. I’m still searching for that perfect mineral sunscreen and thought I would give this one a try.

• Protects skin with broad spectrum SPF 50
• Portable, swipeable sunscreen stick
• No white cast
• Contains 21.6% zinc oxide from natural sources and vitamin e
• Gentle for sensitive skin
• Dermatologist recommended formula
• Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
• Non-greasy
• Non-comedogenic
• Dry touch technology
• Goes on clear
• Water resistant (80 minutes)
• Vegan
• Not tested on animals
• Fragrance-free
• Paraben-free
• Sulfate-free
• Phthalates-free
• Mineral oil-free

Here are my thoughts on Neutrogena Mineral Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Face & Body Stick SPF 50!

I didn’t use this sunscreen on my face. I used it on my body. I noticed that the sunscreen felt too thick and greasy on the skin. I don’t want to use sunscreen that feels thick and greasy on my face. It’s advertised as being non-greasy, dry-touch, and non-comedogenic. It’s truly not non-greasy. It’s also not dry-touch. Non-comedogenic? It feels waxy. That won’t go well on my skin. It didn’t give me breakouts on my body, but the skin on my body is very much different than the skin on my face.

It’s broad spectrum SPF 50 with 21.6% zinc oxide. That’s awesome. That’s exactly what I’m searching for. It leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth yet sticky and greasy. I just wish it wasn’t sticky and greasy. It really ruins the entire experience. As for leaving a white cast, it does leave a white cast. The sunscreen doesn’t go on clear (as advertised). The white cast isn’t as bad compared to other zinc-based sunscreens I’ve used, but I can still see a slight white cast on my skin. I didn’t like that at all. I love how it’s gentle on my skin. But I’m not a big fan of it. The sunscreen became messy (as shown in the photo). It actually cracked after a few days of use. I had to put it back together.

I love that it’s a mineral sunscreen and gentle on the skin. It didn’t make my skin itchy. I just disliked how it felt like I had sunscreen on. It’s not lightweight or easy to use. I mean, my sunscreen fell apart after a few days. I’m currently just using the rest of it. I won’t purchase again after finishing it.