Best, New & The Not so Great of 2019 & 2020
Skincare is so essential to overall wellness and health. Skin is our largest organ and it is a complex tissue which contains sweat glands and nerve endings; it’s a highway for blood vessels and keeps us protected from harmful substances in the environment. Yet nowadays, with our constant busy city lives, it’s a bit harder for our skin to do its job properly. Constant external stressors from our daily lives such as pollutants, unhealthy diets, stress, and weather can all have an impact on our skin. For as long as I can remember, I have had oily acne prone skin and also relatively reactive to products. Growing up I didn’t know much about skin care until in my later years when I realized how important it was to keep it healthy and supple to give the skin its best chance at being happy and protecting me.
my new 2020 faves
Garnier: Micellar Cleansing Water - This is such a great make up remover at night or when I go on trips; this travel size micellar water works wonders. I use this as part of my two part cleansing system at night or as cleansing water in the mornings before my workout. After the gym, it works great too to clean off the grime buildup after a session, so this is my to go to cleansing water .
Paula’s Choice: 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant - I absolutely love this toner, it makes my skin glow! I remember the first time I used it and I was like “WOW what is this!” This exfoliant is so gentle on the skin and does not burn. I use this twice a day and I have seen a change in my skin to a smoother look and feel. Leaves my skin with a silky feeling as well as ready for my next products to be absorbed. Over time it has visibly made my pores smaller and helped my flare-ups reduce.
The Ordinary: Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - This is a great way to exfoliate chemically as is with Paula’s choice. However; this glycolic toner is strong and takes some getting used to. I love how it helps control my skins PH levels and gets it ready for the next steps. I do not recommend using this everyday at the beginning - every other day would be best or until tolerance is reached. This is a wonderful AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) and it’s great for getting rid of off dead skin cells which may cause breakouts, clogged pores and dull skin. PS you must wear SPF with any exfoliator as it may increase skin sensitivity and sun damage without proper after-care.
Cosrx: Centella Blemish Cream - This is my new calming cream and if ever there was a way to shut a pimple up, then here it is Centella Blemish. Smells like mint and tiger balm had a baby and it’s so soothing for the skin when it’s not happy or when it’s congested. I really liked using this at night over winter when my skin is parched in the desert dry cold.
my 2019 likes
La Roche-Posay: Anthelios 50 anti-aging primer w/ sunscreen - So here it is, the problem with this guy, (even though I still like it on top of the right moisturizer) IT’S SO THICK. I honestly love this brand as it works well on my skin but this product is on the pricier side and doesn’t spread easily. You have to work it into the skin for a bit and the squeezing isn’t the best either, it’s tough. Once on the skin it does its job and the primer is decent and anything else goes on smooth. This primer is matte finish and dries fast to the touch which is convenient but not the best for dry climates.
Vichy: Normaderm Lotion - This lotion is very nice and smells great. I felt it wasn’t as hydrating as it claims to be for winter use, but it’s really good if you have sensitive or skin acne prone skin. Contains 1.5% salicylic acid and I would recommend wearing another moisturizer on top to lock in moisture throughout the day. This lotion is lightweight and is great for the summer months when lighter products are best.
Etude House: Sunprise sunblock spf 50 pa++++ - This is a light weight moisturizing light lotion with a milky texture. This sunscreen is extremely light and smells like summer lemons. It dries fast and is great for sensitive skin and acne prone skin as it’s oil-free. Over the summer I really enjoyed using this as it dries fast outdoors and the protection is high.
my 2019 not so great
La Roche-Posay: pigmentclar serum - I really had high hopes for this guy but…. nope. I used it for about 3-5 months and I really didn’t feel my skin changed at all to the point I eventually stopped using it. I wanted to like it but it didn't do what I hoped it would. The texture after using this on my face was nice and smoothing. This serum sinks quickly and is a bit light in color. I find it to be expensive and not much product. All in all I wouldn’t buy this again as I didn’t see any results after using it for 5 months. Sad, sorry LRP.
Etude House: Face Blur spf 33 PA++ - This is another product I wanted to love but I just can’t love it. I find it to be so streaky on my skin no mater how I work it in on my moisturizer, it just hates me. I was so excited about it and I’ve tried so many ways to make it work and I still can’t, and I think it makes me breakout. It just leaves my make up looking like … Yikees ! Sorry Etude House, this primer is a no go for me, it doesn’t prime a thing on me.
Maybelline : BB Cream Pure - Lil fail, I wanted to love this as it contains salicylic acid and a beau price point of around 8 dollars but this is streaky. If you have any dry spots … it will magnify the area as it wont flatten out, it will just create a build up. There aren’t many colors so mixing the light and medium and dark can be an option, but by that point just buy another brand. For winter this formula is not the best as it’s oil free and not very moisturizing. The coverage is minimal and dries a bit matte and dry to the touch. I think this would be a better formulation for summer as we change to lighter formulations and need a bit less moisturization and hydration.