K-beauty made my skin clear and acne-free, healthy and radiant than ever before. It made me confident and unafraid in trying out new skincare. KOREAN SKINCARE is now a part of my lifestyle and it will always be! ❤️
My skin type: Oily/combination-oily, acne-prone, mature skin
Current skin concerns: Enlarged pores, dehydrated skin, spot-prone skin (I currently do not have acne now, and I want to keep it that way!)
Goal: Keep acne away, firmer skin, and keep that dewy, radiant, glowy skin!✨
While most have summer as their favorite season, where the sun is out and everyone is enjoying their vacation, this is probably the most challenging season for my skin. Being an oily /combo-oily, acne-prone skin type, heat and humidity are not my skin's best friends.
When the weather is hot and humid, here's a few tips I want to share to those who share the skin type and skin concern like me:
- Always double cleanse at night. Do not skip it.
- Don't skip using sunscreen during the day. Believe me, you don't want to experience sun damage.
- Use hydrating, calming, watery & lightweight toners during the day.
- If you find an antioxidant that your skin loves, use it with your sunscreen during the day.
- Use skincare focused on repairing and calming your skin during your evening routine.
I switched to a minimal, calming skincare for the summer. Here's what I do:
For my daytime routine, I wash my face using ROUND LAB Pine Calming Cica Cleanser. Being oily/combo-oily skin and acne prone, I thought it is time to add a gentle cleanser with LHA in my morning routine to help my skin control its oiliness during the day. Surprisingly, this is good cleanser - it is creamy, rinses very well without drying my face too. Perfect to start the day! I use this cleanser in the evening too!
For my hydration step, I stick to my usual OG toner, Klairs Supple Preparation Toner to give my skin extra nourishment and hydration. This toner does not leave a sticky feeling. I use ROUND LAB Pine Calming Cica Ampoule to help control the oiliness in my t-zone and help to improve skin texture and pores at the same time (surprisingly good too - and it works!). I also have a new discovery for a vitamin C serum during the day that is not oily, absorbs really well like water without stickiness, and does not irritate my skin: KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Charging Serum. This does not have an oily finish, absorbs quickly and does not make my skin greasy during the day. I don't forget to use Jumiso Snail Mucin 95% + Peptide Essence as last hydration step and most importantly, as preventative measure to avoid any breakouts! 😉
I seal all that hydration using ROUND LAB Pine Calming Cica Cream, also a new discovery (Yes - I know I used the entire new pine cica line - but they are really great!). It is a very light, watery moisturiser perfect during the day because it is hydrating and lightweight, hydrating and does not leave my face tight. Of course, I don't skip sun protection (this is non-negotaible.) Because it is hot during the day, I went back to my first love sunscreen HOUSE OF HUR Weightless Sun Fluid. I tried switching to a chemical sunscreen. I have brown skin and oily skin type, and this sunscreen is perfect for me: it has a powdery finish, very (very) lightweight almost like water and feels like you don't have sunscren at all. Having used now a chemical sunscreen, I finally get to try the TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion - wow - it is viral for a reason! I use a very very little amount on my t-zone and cheeks to just even out my skin tone and blur the pores, very little goes a long way! I was blown away by this, and it didn't clog my skin! This and my new found sunscreen are the perfect duo.
For night time, I don't skip my double cleansing routine being acne-prone and oily skin type. These are still my current faves: The Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil (I don't know how many bottles I've emptied as of today - hands down - my all-time favorite!!), and now the newly launched Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil - Deep Clean, which I believe even topped the already favorite Pure Cleansing Oil! (Good job Ma:nyo!). This cleansing oil has a lightweighter texture than the Pure Cleansing Oil. I follow with a water cleanser from Round Lab.
At night, it is all about repairing my skin and retinol nights. I find myself focusing on hydrating toners and layering them, and using By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash for exfoliation rather than an exfoliating toner. For hydration, I use Klairs Supple Preparation Toner, or the newly launched BENTON Guava 70 Skin Toner Mask Pack Pad (I use this as a DIY sheet mask/toner pack to hydrate my skin. This is a very good find! Perfect when using the VT Reedle Shot).
I indulge (yes, I do!) in treatment skincare in the evening to help even out my skin tone, repair my skin and manage my acne-prone skin. I use HARUHARU Wonder Centella 4% TXA Dark Spot Go Away Serum and JUMISO Snail Mucin 95% + Peptide Essence (which is by the way a very, very, good and effective snail essence, I can't believe I have not tried this before!) to deal with dullness, repair my skin, fade unwanted spots and keep them at bay. During retinol nights, I tried this viral and cult-favorite retinol eye serum and use it on my face (yes on my face) BEAUTY OF JOSEON Revive Eye Serum. I used this serum before but I think my skin was a bit sensitive back then, so I did not have a good experience with this. But I decided to give this product another chance, and was amazed by the results so far! Probably one of the best retinol skincare I've used.
💡TIPS when you have breakouts! After toner, I start off with this new-found favorite from SKIN1004 which was recommended by a friend: SKIN1004 Tea-trica Relief Ampoule . Eventhough I have acne-prone, oily skin, I was hesitant to try tea tree products since they dry my skin. I'm glad I tried this and this was a game-changer when I have occasional breakouts! It. Does. Work! (believe me!) Dries out those unwanted pimples without drying your skin. I use this together with AXIS-Y Spot the Difference Blemish Treatment. This duo works. Really works.
To finish off my skincare in the evening, especially when I have breakouts, when my skin needs repair and/or during retinol nights, I use the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream right after my serums and retinol, before moisturiser, to maximise its calming effect, and apply my moisturiser RoundLab Mugwort Cream as my last step (very hydrating. I apply a thick layer like as sleeping mask and feels perfect. I wake up to a very plump, smooth skin!).
I don't forget my lips at night to ensure I wake up with plump lips in the morning for smooth lipstick or lip tint application. My current favorite? It's the NEEDLY Lip Sleeping Mask. My lips are plumped in the morning, no more flaky lips, so I don't need to lip scrub to exfoliate anymore!💋
P.S. Oily skin types are prone to occasional breakouts 😣 When you have an unwanted pimple or two, my advice: 1) Don't pop and touch your zit. Use a pimple patch.
See what's in my current skin and hair care routines in this collection, and my skin & hair are loving them!
Always remember: listen to your skin - it is telling you what it needs! I hope this helps! Have fun and enjoy your #MeTime!! ❤️
Wishing you good skin health always, Peaches! 🍑
P.S. No breakouts to date! Woohoo! 🥳👌
XOXO
~ Crème