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.

3 Months & 1 Week Results! Clear Skin. 🥰

I haven’t been able to make any updates lately. There’s too much going on. But, this is what’s going on so far…

I’m on a short break. 😮‍💨

It’s been 3 months and 1 week, but who’s counting anymore, lol. I’m still on a basic skincare routine that consists of a face wash, acne treatment, and sunscreen.

What I’m using…

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel with Hyaluronic Acid Fragrance-Free, benzoyl peroxide, and whatever sunscreen I choose for the day. I use whatever I have. I haven’t found my HG sunscreen yet. I haven’t spent on any new sunscreen lately. I have a bunch that I need to get rid of first. So, the face wash is OK. I’m on my second bottle. I’m thinking about using something that has benzoyl peroxide in it once I’m done with my current face wash. As for benzoyl peroxide, it seems like my skin loves benzoyl peroxide, haha. It’s been helping a ton. My skin is basically clear as long as I keep using it. Right now, my skin is freaking clear. Maybe with 1-2 unnoticeable pimples that will eventually disappear soon. I stopped using everything else on my face and just stuck to benzoyl peroxide. Voila! Clear skin. I’m very happy with my skin results so far. Goal achieved. Hopefully, it stays this way.

Remember CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Face Sheer Tint? I was suffering from breakouts on my forehead, mouth area, and chin when I was using it. My skin was oily and just gross looking. I stopped using it a while ago, and my acne lessened throughout that time. Who knew that this sunscreen product was destroying my skin? My skin looked so bad while using it, but I thought it was doing my skin good. I’m glad I removed it. I’m trying to use it up on my body. I won’t purchase it ever again.

Here are the sunscreens I’ve been experimenting with. Because that’s the only product I’ve been swapping weekly and just testing what my skin likes.

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

I still do really love the texture of this sunscreen. But, this sunscreen is a no-go for me. I just finished one bottle and opened another (the last one). It’s silky, smooth, and works well as a makeup primer. It smooths out my skin and makes it appear so soft. It fills in any lines. Too bad that I can’t use it often. I thought I could make this sunscreen my official everyday sunscreen, but I noticed clogged pores due to my skin being extremely oily. The sunscreen makes me break out by trapping oil and causing breakouts. Ugh! I think this is a good sunscreen if you don’t have acne. I can use it once in a while, but I can’t make it into a daily thing.

Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer SPF 30:

I’m almost done with this sunscreen. Just a few applications left then I can toss it out. It’s a discontinued product. I’ve been using it for so many years, and it never caused breakouts (from what I remember). I feel that it’s too moisturizing on my skin, so I’ve been using other sunscreens. Still need to finish it before it expires.

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

I started using Canmake again once my skin started to get oily. I was having issues with some sunscreens making my face look like an oily mess. Any sunscreen will do. I remember Canmake helping with some skin oiliness and drying out my skin. I tried it again and no issues as of yet. I’ve only used it today, so I’ll make another update on it, haha. Hopefully, it works because I want a sunscreen that’s lightweight, non-greasy, and contains over SPF 50. Gotta use what I have left, which is several bottles, LOL.

I’ve been off of LRP for some time now. I still have their mineral sunscreen (SPF 50) and SPF 100. The mineral sunscreen makes my face white and dries it out too much. I can’t believe I went through bottles of this crap. I’m going to finish my last one and throw it out. As for the SPF 100, it’s not too bad. I’ve been leaning towards lightweight sunscreens due to oily skin. Also, I’m rarely outdoors, so I don’t need anything heavy-duty. Maybe when summer hits. ☀️

That’s my update since last time. hehe. Have a nice day everyone! 👌

Catch up on my experience!

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!

1 Month + 2 Weeks Experience!

1 Month + 3 Weeks Experience!

2 Months Experience!

2 Months & 1 Week Results!

1 Month + 3 Weeks Experience!

It’s been 1 month and 3 weeks! Honestly, I’m not even counting anymore, lol. I haven’t been using much on my face besides benzoyl peroxide, taz, and sunscreen. Now it’s just benzoyl peroxide and sunscreen. I stopped using taz for most of this week. It made my skin very dry. And I don’t think it was the cause of my breakouts. I started using benzoyl peroxide heavily during the week, and my breakouts subsided pretty quickly. It was like magic. I’m probably going to have to stick to benzoyl peroxide for some time. It seems to be the only acne product that works on my skin. Once I stop using it, my skin starts breaking out again. It sucks but that’s reality. My routine is mainly benzoyl peroxide.

So, this week, not much happened. I’ve been very busy lately and just can’t update as often anymore. 😢 I’m trying to, but there’s just so much to do. So what did I do differently this week??

I started using Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 more consistently this week. I’m slowly running low on the product, but I’ve been using it indoors as my sunscreen. I love how it has somewhat brightened my skin, but it feels way too moisturizing for the day. I honestly don’t know how I was able to put up with this sunscreen in the past. I used it every single day of my life! Keep in mind that Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 is discontinued. I’m just trying to use it up, so I won’t waste money. I have a lot of products to use up. I haven’t been able to get to them either being so busy lately.

I think that’s all for this week. My skin looks OK. Benzoyl peroxide has been a lifesaver when it comes to zits. My skin looks better too using fewer products. Just an observation. I’ve been without an extensive skin care routine for months now, I believe. haha.

That’s my update for the week. If you missed out on my previous posts, check them out 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 + 1 Week Using BP & Some Changes I Made This Week!

1 Month + 2 Weeks Experience!

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!

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!