December Skin Care Empties 🎄

Here are my December skin care empties! 👇🏻

Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask:

I thought I finished my last bottle of Cosrx Ultimate Rice Overnight Spa Mask, but I still have one more left. *sigh* I’ve been using this moisturizer on my body (not my face). My face can’t tolerate this product. I tried it so many times, and it failed each and every time. It’s just not compatible with my skin type no matter how much I want it to be. I love the niacinamide for the brightening effect, but it clogs my pores. This product contains sunflower seed oil, palm oil, and palm kernal oil. My skin hates oils in general. If they made an oil-free one, maybe I’ll give it a try. This moisturizer just didn’t work on my skin as I had hoped.

Coppertone Defend & Care Clear Zinc 50:

I have 2 bottles of Coppertone Defend & Care Clear Zinc 50. I finally finished my first bottle after a year. Don’t worry, it hasn’t expired. I’m using it indoors anyways on my hands (to finish it). For the face, this sunscreen is way too thick, way too white (ghost-like, leaves the skin powdery white), and it’s too heavy on the face for daily use. I tried it on my face before. It clogged my pores. It contains beeswax, which my skin doesn’t like. On the body, it works just fine. But, it does have a sunscreen smell to it that I don’t like. So, either way, I won’t purchase again after I finish my last bottle.

Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream:

I finally finished my fourth bottle (last one!!) of Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream! Andddd I won’t purchase it again. It’s a nice moisturizing eye cream, but it didn’t do much for my the skin around my eyes. I can’t tell if it helped to boost radiance, reduce under eye circles, or reduce puffy under eyes. I definitely can say that it didn’t help with fine lines and wrinkles. It just provided good moisture. From my experience and results, that’s all I’ve seen from this product after going through four bottles. It’s time to move on to something else if there is something else out there that works for under eye circles, eye puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin:

I finished a bottle of Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin this month. It’s a good moisturizer that moisturizes, hydrates, heals, protects, and soothes the skin. But, it didn’t work for me in the end (face). I was using it because I have no other moisturizer, and my skin was feeling flaky and dry. But then I realize how terrible this moisturizer is for my skin. I love that it moisturizes. It really does. I’ve never experienced moisturized skin like this before. It’s just that, this moisturizer clogs my pores. I think it’s the squalane. I can’t even use pure squalane oil without it clogging my pores. Since I have a few left, I’m currently using it as an eye cream and on my neck to use it up.

Purito Centella Green Level Eye Cream:

One tube of Purito Centella Green Level Eye Cream down! One left to go! I’ve gone through plenty of this eye cream to say that it’s a pretty below average eye cream. Even though it contains ingredients like centella asiatica extract (49%), shea butter, peptides, sodium hyaluronate, madecassic acid, panthenol, hydrolyzed collagen, cholesterol, macadamia seed oil, and so much more, it didn’t do anything for my eye area/under eyes. It wasn’t moisturizing enough either. It did absolutely nothing to improve my eyes. In my opinion, this product is overhyped. A good moisturizer does the same thing and comes in a bigger bottle than this 30 mL (1 fl. oz.) eye cream. It’s best to save your money.

Benton Fermentation Eye Cream:

Here’s another eye cream I finished this month! It’s the Benton Fermentation Eye Cream. You know, I’m starting to like this eye cream. It’s thick, creamy, and very moisturizing. Maybe it’s because it’s been colder and I’m losing a lot of moisture from the skin around my eyes. My under eyes are getting really dry, but this eye cream has helped replenish the moisture loss along with my other moisturizing skin care products. This eye cream is very rich. Since the texture and consistency of the product is rich and heavy, it’s a bit difficult to spread. I love how moisturizing it is, but I would like it if it was easier to blend into the skin. I’ll keep using it for the rest of winter and see if I’ll repurchase or not. I currently have 2 tubes left. I think that’s more than enough until next year. One tube lasts for months anyways.

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum:

Unfortunately for me, I purchased a bunch of the Purito Centella Green Level Buffer Serum, lol. I stopped using this serum months ago. I’m glad I did. I haven’t noticed a difference after dropping it from my routine since. My skin doesn’t miss it at all. It has centella asiatica extract (49%), niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, peptides, panthenol, and lots of other beneficial skin care ingredients, but it didn’t do anything for my skin. It provides temporary moisture and soothing effects, but that’s it. I didn’t notice a huge difference in my skin using it. It didn’t make my skin brighter, healthier, or even supple as it claims to do. I guess this serum could work if you’re searching for a basic serum and have sensitive skin. For me, it’s not for me. Seems like a waste of money for something that doesn’t improve my skin over time. It doesn’t really moisturize my skin either.

The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA:

One more The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA down! I did an update on this product not so long ago. I tried using it as an eye serum instead of a facial serum. It didn’t work out. The serum didn’t help with fine lines or wrinkles. It dried my under eyes out and pilled under my other skin care products. It didn’t work underneath sunscreen either. I never saw results with this serum. I just stopped using it anywhere near my face.

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane:

I haven’t been using The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane on my face. I’ve been using it on my body. This retinol serum clogs my pores (on my face). The other ingredients in this product are not compatible with my skin. It’s just way too oily. I have a few more bottles left of this serum. I’m glad I knocked one out by the end of the year. It’s a very moisturizing retinol serum. It’s gentle on the skin. I can’t tell if it’s doing anything for the skin on my body. I just can’t tell. I don’t have any skin issues on my body besides some dryness once in a blue moon (during the winter). This is another product I’m trying to finish up from The Ordinary, lol.

The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% Alpha Arbutin 2%:

One more The Ordinary serum I finished up this month! I’m officially on my last bottle of The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% Alpha Arbutin 2%. I’m ready to just be done with it. So this serum is still oily and greasy. I love the ingredients in it still. If it doesn’t work on my facial skin, I can’t do anything about it. It clogs my pores and irritates it to no end. I’ve tried it so many times with the same terrible results. It also turns my face orange. I walked around with a bright orange glow to my skin all year round because of this product. 😆

The Ordinary 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder:

It took me nearly a year to finish a jar of this vitamin c powder. It’s finally done, and I’m not purchasing another one. In my opinion, it’s not worth it. Ascorbic acid powder can be easily purchased at a much more affordable, lower price than what The Ordinary is selling it for. I love the tiny jar that it comes in, and I’m still using it for my antioxidant powders. But, I’m pretty much done with this particular product. Results were mediocre. I didn’t notice that much of a difference in my skin. I’m still trying to fade acne marks. It’s time to try another vitamin c product out!

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5%:

I finished The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5%! It’s the last bottle too! Yay! No more! The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% did nothing for my skin but left my skin feeling oily like a whole bunch of other The Ordinary products I’ve used. It’s so oily and greasy. It didn’t do anything for my skin either. It’s supposed to enhance hydration (nope!) and improve elasticity (nope!). Scavenge free radicals and recycle oxidized vitamin c (who knows if it did any of that). I just can’t tell. Is it doing anything?!! I’m over it. I’m glad I’m done with it. I won’t purchase it again. It took me soooo long to finish the last bottle.

It’s been quite a year. December seems to have the most empties. I’m just cleaning out for the new year! 🥳🎉 Merry Christmas everyone!!

August Skin Care Empties! 🧴

September Skin Care Empties 😎

November Skin Care Empties 🦃

My Acne Journey: 3 Months + 2 Weeks Results

It’s been 3 months and 2 weeks! 😲 Here are my results for this week! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Switching facial cleansers

I was using Dr. Woods Tea Tree Castile Soap for a while, but that didn’t last too long. I love how Dr. Woods Tea Tree Castile Soap is gentle on the skin, contains tea tree, has minimal ingredients, and comes in a larger bottle for a lower price, but it didn’t clean my skin as well as I thought it did. I went back to my tried and true Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Face Wash. I started to notice blackheads on my nose and more acne on my facial skin every time I use Dr. Woods. It just didn’t leave my skin feeling clean. It’s gentle, but I need my skin to feel clean. When using Trader Joe’s, the blackheads and other acne that I experienced disappeared. My skin feels fresher and just plain cleaner with Trader Joe’s. So I’m back to what I was using before. I still have Olay Regenerist Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Revitalizing Facial Cleanser too, but I don’t use it too often. Only 1-2 times a week when my skin is feeling a little more sensitive. Otherwise I’m using my regular, everyday face wash Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Face Wash. It’s been working nicely so far. I like it. 🙂

More Products I Stopped Using This Week!

I stopped using more products this week. You can check them out below.

Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream

The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum

Benton Fermentation Essence

The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA

Melano CC Vitamin C Essence

Some of these products were a staple in my routine, but I’m getting to the point that I don’t actually need them. I’ve been using them on my body instead to finish them up. Some of them feel really oily and heavier than I thought on the skin. That’s not something I want to be putting on my facial skin, so I’m glad I removed them. Let’s see what happens when at least a few weeks or a month goes by. Some may make its way back into my life.👌🏻

My Results!

This week went differently than expected. I stopped using most of my face skin care products. I started off using a facial cleanser, tret, moisturizer, and sunscreen. After following a basic skin care routine, I thought it was too basic for me. It felt like I was missing something. I didn’t like applying moisturizer directly onto my skin either. It feels a little gross. So I decided to re-add one of the products that I removed. It’s the Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum. I really missed this serum, lol. Even though it doesn’t do much but soothe my sensitive skin. I enjoy using it and love how it calms my skin down. It helps with redness too. I like using it after a nice shower. It’s an enjoyable product for me to use. It has a watery-gel texture that sinks into the skin quickly with little effort. I think I’m going to keep it in my routine. We’ll see how the others products I removed go. If I miss them, I’ll re-add them. Just not yet.

I’ve been dealing with a lot of sebaceous filaments. I started using Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid this morning. I don’t think tret alone is going to help with that type of skin condition. I’ve been trying, and it’s not working. It could be from the moisturizer I’m using (too moisturizing for my skin type) or my skin is just getting more oily. But, let’s see if BHA can do the job. So far, after using it this morning, my skin is less oily. By night, I started to notice breakouts. My skin is purging! 😲 So it looks like tret isn’t going to be the answer to clear my acne fully. I have to use other products like BHA or AHA (I might try this again) to unclog my pores. I’m really surprised that BHA is working, since it didn’t work in the past. It did, but it stopped working. I can’t wait to see what the results will be after a week!

As for vitamin c, I mentioned in this this post that I stopped using my vitamin c product and started using vitamin c powder instead. That lasted for 2 days. I didn’t like it at all after the first day. I’m not even sure if I’m going to stick with it. I really don’t care much for vitamin c serums/products, to be honest. They haven’t done much for my skin. They just end up making my face orange or irritating my skin. I’m going to stop using them for now and see if my skin is better off without them.

I’m nearing 4 months soon. Wow, such slow progress, but it’s progress after all. 🙃

Here’s my full 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

New Skin Care for Dry, Sensitive Skin :)

Hello everyone! I picked up some skin care products over the weekend. My skin is feeling extremely dry and sensitive to touch. Sometimes it would burn too. So I’ve been thinking about adding a new moisturizer to my skin care routine. I thought about it and I thought about it. I kept on thinking about it until I finally pulled the plug. My skin couldn’t take it anymore. It’s dry, red, and itchy. What to do?? I picked up a new moisturizer. Before I talk about my new moisturizer, the reason why I went out and bought a new moisturizer is because the moisturizers that I have weren’t doing much for my skin. It feels like they only moisturize my skin when they’re applied to my skin. The moisture doesn’t last long. Just for the moment and a couple hours after application. After that, my skin is back to being dry and itchy. Also, my skin still feels dry (even drier) and uncomfortable the following morning using these moisturizers. I needed a moisturizer that actually, truly moisturizes the skin but also repairs and heals the skin too. A moisturizer that keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day. I’ve been having issues with dryness and skin irritation and nothing has worked to prevent skin dryness and irritation. It feels like I’m wasting my time and money on products that just don’t work, but I continue to use them because I can’t find anything better that works.

The moisturizers I’m using are…

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

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream

GUERISSON 9 Complex Cream

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum

Benton Fermentation Essence

Some of these products are a staple in my routine like the Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum, Benton Fermentation Essence, and Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream. I like them, but they’re not as moisturizing as I want them to be or as they should be. They each have their own individual purpose in my routine. I like them for different reasons. For example, the Purito serum helps to calm redness and soothes the skin. This is the first serum I use on my face after it’s been cleaned and washed. It feels very soothing and nice on the skin. Benton is a more watery essence. It has this ultra silky texture to it that I adore so much. It contains ceramide np and ferment ingredients. Absolutely love!! Lastly, Eucerin is a heavier, richer cream that semi-moisturizes my skin. Even though it helps to moisturize my skin, it doesn’t help to prevent redness or itchy skin. That’s something I’ve been dealing with for a while. Also, it’s so weird how sometimes it makes me breakout and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m already back to using it on my face without any clogged pores, lol.

My new moisturizer!! 🙂

So I did the unthinkable. I picked up a product that I thought I would never touch again after having a terrible experience with it. I’ve been searching high and low for a moisturizer that’s at least affordable and works to moisturize my skin. I’m on a budget and can’t spend too much money right now. So I decided to try it again after researching for a moisturizer that I think could work or at least try it and see what happens. Whatever. I needed a moisturizer ASAP! My skin is in need of moisture! Since my skin has changed so much (compared to last year), I thought maybe it could work this time around. I’m giving it a second chance after that gruel, unpleasant experience with it. Guess what product it is?? Yup, it’s Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin. I developed very bad acne the last time I used it. It was one of the many products that I tried last year that destroyed my skin within a week of use. I was traumatized and didn’t take it lightly. I was p*ssed. But it’s a new year and a lot of things have changed since. My skin has been behaving much better after I started eating meat again. So long those vegan years! 👋🏻 The last time I purchased Vanicream, I purchased it off of Amazon. I don’t recall the product being sealed. The Vanicream bottle I have right now, I purchased it from my local drugstore. The product is sealed at the opening. This is why I don’t buy majority of my skin care products off of Amazon anymore. It’s difficult to know what you’re going to get. New, used, old? Who knows! Now let’s see how this moisturizer works this time! 😀

Note: I’m thinking about removing some of the moisturizers listed if my new moisturizer works. I’m crossing my fingers that it will work because that’s way too many moisturizers for me, haha. Wish me luck!

New face wash…

Another product that I picked up is a facial cleanser. It’s the Olay Regenerist Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Revitalizing Facial Cleanser. My current face wash contains tea tree oil, and it sometimes stings after my skin peels from my acne cream. It isn’t too bad, but I thought I would keep a creamy, more moisturizing face wash around just in case. This cleanser is formulated with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptides. I’ve used other facial cleansers from Olay before with positive experiences…

Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser

Olay Regenerist Vitamin C Peptide 24 Brightening Facial Cleanser

I hope this facial cleanser goes well. 👍🏻

Stay tuned for my thoughts on these products in my next acne journey update! Coming up soon!

If you missed out on my acne journey, don’t forget to catch up on it!

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!

Adding The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA Into My Routine…

Here’s another The Ordinary product I decided to reintroduce back into my skin care routine!! It’s The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA! The other one I added back into my routine is The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%. <<< My thoughts on it right here. CLICK! 🙂

So, just like The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%, I’ve been using it for nearly a week. I’ve always wanted to use The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA on my face. I thought I would try it out again after having issues with it last time. I broke out from it. Yep, once again, it’s probably that vegan diet again. Well, let’s see if it works this time around or not. So this serum feels like an actual serum. It’s not runny. It comes out in blobs. It’s not the most pleasant serum to use, but I’ll use it anyways since it’s a high strength peptide formula. It should be good for fine lines, wrinkles, and anti-aging in general. That’s why I purchased it in the first place. Hoping that it’ll help with these skin issues (now and in the long run). After a week of using this serum, I didn’t notice big changes in my skin, but I did notice that my skin looked a lot smoother than before. I think it’s working! Maybe! And this is after only a week of using the serum. The changes may be little, but I’m really excited for the results if this is how it’s going to go. After a single week??!!! Wow, I’m so amazed! Also, I didn’t get any clogged pores from this serum! WOW!! That’s just so awesome! I struggled with clogged pores (closed-comedones) with this serum before. I guess it wasn’t it. I’m glad to be able to use The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA on my skin again without breaking out or having other skin issues. I love it so far! I’m looking forward to future results!

It looks like everything is going well with this serum! Stay tuned for an update on my results soon! See you all there! 😊

Other skin care products I reintroduced into my routine recently…

I Used Benton Fermentation Essence Last Night. This Is What Happened.

My Update on Benton Fermentation Essence. Did It Clog My Pores??

Trying Skin79 Super+ Beblesh Balm Orange Again!

My Thoughts on Purito Galacto Niacin 97 Power Essence!

It looks like my routine is growing again! But all is well as long as I don’t get breakouts from them! hehe!

Moving on to Olay Regenerist Vitamin C Peptide 24 Brightening Facial Cleanser…

I finished Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser! Now I’m using a new product from Olay. It’s very similar to the Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser. This time, it’s Vitamin C Peptide 24 Brightening Facial Cleanser. This facial cleanser contains vitamin b3, vitamin c, peptides to exfoliate and brighten dull skin. Looking at the ingredients, the major differences between the two products is that the Brightening Facial Cleanser contains 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid and fragrance. Both of these products contain niacinamide and salicylic acid. It’s not advertised as an acne treatment product, but for some reason it works as one on my skin. Also, the Brightening Facial Cleanser doesn’t mention it being a cream cleanser. It’s a cream cleanser. The texture and consistency feels just the same as the Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser. The only difference is what I mentioned before. It contains ascorbic and fragrance. The fragrance in this product isn’t too bad. It’s not too overwhelming.

So, I’ve been using Olay Regenerist Vitamin C Peptide 24 Brightening Facial Cleanser for about 1-2 weeks. I only use it 2-3 times a week. I don’t think it’s necessary to use it any more than that. I don’t use it as a facial cleanser. I use it as an acne treatment. It seems to have a positive effect on my acne when I use it as an acne treatment. This facial cleanser does leave residue behind on the skin. Just like the Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser. Just knowing that, it’s not a good idea to use it as a stand alone facial cleanser. With that in mind, I always follow up with another face wash after using the Brightening Facial Cleanser to prevent breakouts from occurring.

This facial cleanser tingles a little bit. But after a while, my skin got used to it. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t use it every day. I’ve noticed some breakouts diminishing after using this product (like the Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser). It’s not something I would rely on to get rid of my acne or at least maintain clear skin. It’s just something extra I have in my skin care routine to help my acne. So far, it has helped clear up my skin along with other products that I use for my acne. I’m not sure if it has helped brighten my skin. It’s awesome that it contains vitamin c. So this facial cleanser is very similar to the Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser. I think I like it a lot more so far. I’m not having any issues with the fragrance. And the ingredients are almost, nearly identical.

After using the Brightening Facial Cleanser, even though I liked the Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser, the one with the vitamin c is so much better. I like vitamin c in my products, and this is working just like the Collagen one. I guess I’ll stick to the vitamin c one for now…

If you missed out on my posts on Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser…

Review: Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser

1 Week Using Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser. Goodbye Acne?

1 Month Using Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser & What I’m Doing Now for My Acne…