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!

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!

My Experience After 1 Week Using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution + Other Skin Care Updates

My Experience Using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution:

I’m mainly going to talk about my experience with The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. I used tret a few times this week. I’m debating if I should keep using it or just move on to this glycolic acid product. My results with the glycolic acid toner has been pretty good. I used it every day at night. The instructions of this product says ~ Use ideally in the PM, no more frequently than once per day. After cleaning, saturate a cotton pad with the formula and sweep across face and neck. That’s what I did. I prefer using a cotton pad too. It helps to remove whatever is left on my skin. Sometimes I can see stuff on the cotton pad. It’s another nice treatment + cleansing step (even if it’s not a cleansing product).

When using this product, there’s a stinging sensation that fades away. I didn’t experience any other irritation other than that. It’s pretty normal for a glycolic acid product to sting upon application unless it persists. After applying the toner, I move on to my other skin care products, and I always end my routine with my moisturizers. I’m currently using La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer for Oily Skin and Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. Both are lightweight moisturizers. One being a hydrating product and the other moisturizing. I apply the Cosrx Snail Mucin Essence first then follow up with La Roche Posay Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer. This combination has worked for me so far. I wake up the next morning with no redness, itchy skin, or any other signs of irritation. I tried other moisturizing products this week too. Read more about them here.

After 1 week of using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, my skin improved. It’s working. Something is finally working to unclog those closed comedones that I’ve been suffering with for so long! I had closed comedones on my forehead, upper lip area (ouch!), chin, and jawline area. I noticed these closed comedones unclogging within the first few days. It was my forehead and chin area where I noticed improvements first. Now it’s the rest of my face by the end of this week. It’s only been 1 week, and I’ve already seen tons of improvements in my skin. It’s freaking amazing. I haven’t experienced any major irritation either. No dryness, itchy skin, redness, or burning. Just soft, smooth, clearer skin. And this was done all by glycolic acid. It made me question if I should keep using tret. 🤔 I’m loving the results with this glycolic acid toner!

Products I Stopped Using:

I stopped using Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid again. From months to years of using this product, it’s not working on my skin anymore. It helps a little bit with sebaceous filaments and blackheads, but it hasn’t done anything for my closed comedones. I’ve been using it to unclog my pores to no avail. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution has done a better job at unclogging closed comedones and getting rid of whiteheads and blackheads. Along with all of that acne, it has also decreased sebaceous filaments, especially on my nose. I’ve been having issues with that for a long time. Finally, something that works! I guess if a product just doesn’t work, it just doesn’t work. So what to do with it now? I have a few bottles left. 😭 I couldn’t even finish what I was using, lol. Salicylic acid doesn’t seem to work on my skin as I thought. But I kept on trying, haha.

Moisturizers I Tried This Week:

I tried hydrating/moisturizing skin care products this week. I needed to add at least a hydrating serum or essence. I ended up picking Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. It’s the only one that didn’t break me out. Well, I hope it doesn’t. Let’s get into the other products I tried. I honestly can’t believe I gave them a try again. First up! Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum…

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum:

This serum contains 49% centella asiatica extract, niacinamide, arginine, panthenol, green tea leaf extract, adenosine, ceramide np, asiatic acid, peptides, and so much more! I thought I would give it a try again. After 2 days of using it, I noticed blackheads and more breakouts. My pores were clogged once in again. Once I eliminated this product, the breakouts diminished. Now, it makes me wonder if this serum has been clogging my skin the WHOLE TIME! Wow! I’ve been using it for so long and have gone through bottles of it!

Vanicream Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin:

I tried the Vanicream Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin for a few days but ended up weaning off of it. It felt moisturizing and helps to protect my skin, but I couldn’t continue to use it due to my past experience with it. It seals in too much moisture. I know I will end up with a clogged up nose if I keep using it. If my skin barrier ever gets impaired, this is a good moisturizer to go to even though it burns upon application, lol! I wish they would make it without squalane. My skin doesn’t like squalane.

Check out my thoughts on CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser:

I Finally Tried CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser! Here’s My 1 Week Experience!

2 Weeks Experience with CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser!

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!