Exfoliating gives you a natural glow by scrubbing away dead skin cells and clogged pores.

HOW OFTEN?
If you have sensitive skin like mine, only once a week. If not, you may do it 1 to 2 times a week.

DON’T OVER-EXFOLIATE!
Over exfoliation can cause more damage. Learn from my mistake! My skin doesn’t like too much acids and it result into allergic reaction.

WHAT DO YOU USE TO EXFOLIATE?

WHY EXFOLIATE?

Most skincare ingredients have many purposes- here are my “top choices” for each skin goal!
Always wear sunscreen, but be extra careful about sun exposure when incorporating exfoliants and/or retinoids, as they increase photosensitivity.
Don’t exfoliate more than 1-3 times per week, y’all.

+ 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁/𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹:
• 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴: Retinoids > Ascorbic Acid > CoQ10, Niacinamide, Resveratrol, Tocopherol.
• 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀/𝗪𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘀: “Anti-Aging”, AHAs, PHAs.
• 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Azelaic Acid, Kojic Acid, Hydroquinone, Retinoids > Ascorbic Acid, Alpha Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide. (Many people have great results with glycolic acid, but I personally didn’t have any noticeable PIH improvement with AHA use.)
• 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗲: “Hyperpigmentation”, AHAs, PHAs, Salicylic Acid, Resveratrol.
• 𝗘𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀/𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀: Salicylic Acid > Retinoids, AHAs, PHAs, Niacinamide. (I personally had minimal pore improvement with retinoids, but many folks get good results.)
• *𝗔𝗰𝗻𝗲: Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Retinoids, Azelaic Acid, AHAs, Azelaic Acid, Sulfur > PHAs, Niacinamide.

+ 𝗘𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲:
• 𝗢𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻: Salicylic acid (BHA), glycolic acid (AHA).
• 𝗗𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻: Lactic acid (AHA), mandelic acid (AHA), lactobionic acid and gluconolactone (PHAs).
• 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻: Mandelic Acid (AHA), lactobionic acid and gluconolactone (PHAs).
- All skin types can try any ingredients, especially BHA and PHAs, but glycolic acid is very potent so be careful.

* Acne is very personal and probably the most finicky of all skin goals. It’s affected by stress, hormones, genetics, and so many other things. It is well-worth the money to see a dermatologist if you have persistent and/or moderate to severe acne. My acne wasn’t “controlled” until I started using tretinoin, a prescription retinoid, but I had good results in the past by using salicylic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid.

> Is this guide helpful?
> I’d love any feedback on what ingredients did or didn’t help your skin goal/type!

Choosing An Active

Unsure which lotion to try? Here’s what I look for:

• Basics: Humectants, emollients, and occlusive ingredients are what I look for on a moisturizer INCI list. From bouncy gel-creams to lotions, I try to tick off the three boxes- balms too! CeraVe Healing Ointment ticks these three categories, my dry skin hero.

• Diversity: “Peptides are great, and ceramides, antioxidants, fatty acids, colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, bisabolol, anddd…” I avoid exfoliants or retinol in my daily creams, but I love when a lotion goes beyond the basics to incorporate antioxidants and/or soothing ingredients! Opt for “active” creams if you like a short routine.

• Texture: If you have oily skin or layer many products, you may prefer a silky lotion or bouncy gel-cream, which soak in a bit quicker. If you have drier skin or want a rich night moisturizer, opt for thick creams and/or creamy balms. Regardless of skin type: Experiment! Some lotions may have a thin texture but pack a hydrating punch and some creams soak in so much lighter than you’d expect.

• Packaging: I prefer pump jars/tubes for their hygienic value and protecting included antioxidants from air. I’m not a huge fan of tubes with bottom pumps, as gravity can hinder the mechanism if I leave it upside down. Squeeze-tubes are reliable and enjoyable- you can cut them open to get the last bit of product out! I don’t like sticking my fingers into products, or leaving them open to the air if they contain antioxidants, but a lot of budget moisturizers are in plain jars so they can be more economical.

• Price: You’re probably gonna be using the lotion 1-2x per day, so make sure the price to value ratio fits your budget! I don’t mind splurging on rich creams like Lala Retro and RegimenLab CREAM, as my skin loves the formulas, but The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer is a great pick and Naturium’s Niacinamide Gel-Cream is amazingly lightweight. Larger sizes may present a better value, like the Ordinary 100mL NMF + HA moisturizer. Look at where you’re willing to pay more: actives, packaging, dispenser type, texture, cruelty-free, small business, brand ethos, etc.

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟭: 𝗠𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿𝘀

If you deal with acne-prone skin, blackheads, or enlarged pores, salicylic acid (BHA) is probably gonna be your bestfriend! An oil-soluble exfoliant, it penetrates more deeply into the pore than water-soluble AHAs, plus it has hydrating, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: A cult classic, an international bestseller, a bottle of liquid gold. Water-thin, it contains a couple of humectants, an antioxidant, and 3 preservative/stabilizing ingredients. A super simple INCI list! This makes it an esp good try for sensitive-skinned folks, as the list of possible skin triggers is small. Some people say the finish feels oily, but I find it hydrating and it soaks in quickly.

• PSA Skin*Liquid Clarity: A creamy, silky serum that is perfect for any skin type, esp dry and/or sensitive skin. It has a lengthier INCI list, loaded with soothing and nourishing ingredients, with emphasis on pore-clearing BHA, skin-restoring bakuchiol, and acne-fighting zinc pca. Zinc PCA normally makes my skin bumpy, but I’ve had no issue with this serum, making it one of my favourites. This is the gentlest and most calming of all the products in this post, so if you haven’t tried SA before, this is a solid try!

• Nutrium Skin BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%: Encapsulated salicylic acid and a variety of humectants make this a hydrating exfoliant “toner”, great for those with any skin type, with one exception- those with sensitive skin may have issue with the citrus extracts contained. I’d recommend this to anyone looking to stay on a budget without compromising on cosmetic elegance.

• The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid: This is the most acne-focused serum of the bunch, featuring a super simple INCI list made up of humectants, stabilizers, salicylic acid, and zinc PCA. Salicylic acid helps to keep pores clear while zinc pca helps to reduce sebum production. This product is one I recommend to friends, as it’s affordable and has huge potential for those that struggle with acne and oily skin.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟰 𝗕𝗛𝗔 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀

As someone with medium-olive tone skin, I get PIH super easily, most blemishes leaving a purpley dark spot that typically takes a couple months to fade.

I'm impressed with  the Complexion Clarifying Accelerator by the immediate softening and smoothing of my skin together with  their Triphala Pigmentation Corrector.

𝗧𝗣𝗖 is a lightweight lotion-serum that sinks in quickly and touts a variety of goodies, two of note being diglucosyl gallic acid and acetyl glycyl beta alanine, plus a slew of antioxidant-rich plant extracts. It's gentle enough to use 2x daily (I do!), alongside retinols, exfoliants, even tret.

𝗖𝗖𝗔 utilizes a variety of acids and enzymes to smooth textured skin and correct the complexion, the latter being primarily thanks to the hyperpigmentation-hero exfoliant, dioic acid. It also contains glycolic, salicylic, and mandelic acid to boost its acne-fighting capability, which I've enjoyed thoroughly. It's amazing for a variety of skin types, but especially for folks that struggle with texture, dark spots, and/or acne. I only use it 2x per week due to my skin's sensitivity to exfoliants, but I appreciate the included honey and panthenol for added sensitivity prevention.
Using them together, I've seen fantastic results in reducing the look of my dark spots, but more than that I've noticed that my blemishes don't make such noticable PIH marks. They're less vibrant and small ones fade within days to my usual skin tone, which is more even overall. A combo that fades old dark spots and prevents new ones? I'll be repurchasing for the foreseeable future, esp TPC 🙌

𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻: 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼

It doesn’t really get rid of makeup, so you will need to double cleanse.

Great cleanser with nothing much to complain about. This would be a great choice for any routine to maintain a healthy, happy, and clean skin barrier. It doesn’t get a full score because I despise double-cleansing with a burning passion.

This is one of the best cleansers I’ve tried by far. It feels super luxurious on the skin. The most important thing about this cleanser is that it didn’t dry out my skin at all, it was hydrating as well. The price is in the middle range I would say. RM90 is quite pricey for something that you would just wash down the sink. But remember that this is formulated with amazing ingredients which is the reason behind the price. I love it but I wouldn’t be repurchasing anytime soon due to the price. I’ll start hunting for a more affordable cleanser while enjoying the matcha hemp cleanser while it lasts😂

Color: brown with green hues (like green tea color)

Texture: gel to jelly consistency with teeeeny tiiiiny hemp seeds

Scent: Matcha

Product category: water-base cleanser

Packaging: Krave’s signature white base with a little color indicating the color of the main ingredient used (green) 120ml

There's nothing bad about the product☺️

𝐃𝐫.𝐂𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐧 𝟓𝟎𝐦𝐥 𝐒𝐏𝐅 𝟓𝟎+ 𝐏𝐀++++
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 (𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘥 / 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘥 / 𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦), 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘷 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘮𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪-𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴.

Key Ingredients
☘️Actinidia argute (Kiwi) Extract-Protects skin from the external factors, such as fine dust and provides antioxidants for skin radiance.
☘️Centella Complex-Immediately soothes and repairs damaged and sensitive skin, leaving it comfortable and healthy

Benefits:
☘️This all-in-one mild vegan sunscreen offers SPF50+, PA++++ strong UV protection with nourishing, hydrating effects.
☘️Offers skin relief and soothing effect with Cica Barrier Complex.
☘️Strengthens skin barrier with Polyquaternium-51.
☘️Contains Centella Asiatica Extract for intensive soothing care.
☘️The lightweight formula that leaves a non-sticky finish.
☘️Completed the dermatological test for gentleness and safety.
☘️Approved for vegan certification.

Thoughts
It is lightweight, hydrating and has zero white cast. It also didn't make my skin itchy, which some sunscreen does for some odd reason. I'm very pleased to add this sunscreen into my collection and will definitely be using it on a daily basis. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a soothing, moisturizing and lightweight sunscreen.

Application
After your usual skincare routine, apply a generous amount of sunscreen to dry skin. Spread evenly and wait until completely absorbed. I recommend using everyday 20-30 minutes before going outside, and reapply protection every 2-3 hours. Perfectly suitable as a base for makeup.

There's nothing bad about the product ☺️

Real Barrier Cream Cleansing Foam

💧Claims:
✨Highly-enriched cream cleanser realized by bubble cream technology.
✨Free of sulfate-based elements! Low-irritating and slight acid cleanser.
✨Purifying weary skin that has been irritated by external environments that are aggressive to the skin.
✨Soothing and Protection by 3-Calming Complex. Complex compound that soothes the skin.
✨Proven 72-hour moisturizing and skin barrier improvement.

💧Notable Ingredients
✨Ceramide NP
✨Allantoin
✨Broccoli Extract
✨Panthenol
✨Madecassoside
✨Centella Asiatica
✨Sunflower Oil
✨Ascorbic Acid

✨Mild pH
✨Contains eucalyptus, moronga, triticum vulgare extract: remove impurities, soothe
✨Ceramide: keep skin barrier strong
✨93.5% effective in cleansing ultrafine dust

💧Thoughts:
This cleanser claimed to be friendly for dry and sensitive skin. Specifically formulated for dry and sensitive skin. I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't think it would be appropriate for oily skin, but the cleanser is light and made my skin feel clean. As long as I use it with a light moisturizer, I have no problems with excess oil so I think it's appropriate for all skin types. I really like the texture, it’s interesting! When water is added the cream cleanser becomes like gel. It didn’t really create any foam though. This cleanser is gentle yet effective and easy to rinse off. It could repair your skin barrier with of the ingredients that wound healing and calming. New favorite cleanser alert!🥰
I would recommend this to people with dry, sensitive and acne prone skin.

Nothing bad with the product. I’m so impressed. It’s okay for me so far.

What I love about this product is that it immediately changed my skin. Just when I thought my skin couldn’t get anymore smoother, Kale-lalu-yAHA made me say AMEN! I don’t know but to me Krave Beauty is the Korean version of Glossier; which is a great thing! I’m in-love and obsessed with Glossier. This product minimized my pores and overall improved my skin. I used for about 2-3 weeks and no complains here!

I love the packaging of this product! It has a very sturdy bottle made out of plastic and has an screw cap. The front label is minimalistic but still eye catching at the same time! It has all the basic information you need to know: the name, what it is and the key ingredients.

The side label has the an little story which explains when and why you would use this. The back label is very fun and different than the usual straightforward labels! As you can see they have really personalized the label as if yourself wrote on it. I think this a really nice touch which makes it feel special.

I love, love the box it came in! It’s made out of very sturdy cardboard and has all the information you need to know both in English and Korean.

Overall, this product works wonder for me and I’m excited to see more results after a month or two.

There's nothing bad about the product. I love how it refreshed, moisturized and exfoliates my skin gently.

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀
This snail essence offers gentle exfoliation, improves skin elasticity and keeps the skin hydrated.Contains 95% of snail secretion filtrate to nourish the skin for a firming finish and refreshes and smoothes skin, effectively prepares the next skincare routines.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Collagen
Adenosine
Hyaluronic Acid

𝗧𝗲𝘅𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 & 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴
It has a watery and runny texture. It doesn’t feel sticky when applied and feels smooth on the skin. I love the packaging. It has a stopper inside so the essence won't spill. I personally prefer to have a stopper like this, especially for essences and toners.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
It contains 95% of snail secretion but doesn't feel heavy at all on skin! Along with Niacinamide and Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, I love the cooling effect and my skin feel soft and moist afterward. Need 3-4 layers for maximum hydration, love that it is not sticky, fast to absorb as it is watery-based.I applied this after the cleanser dabbing it all over my face which left my face feeling supple and rejuvenated.

I think we all need a light and less heavy skincare product like this in our routine, somehow. It may be light, but it contains all these great ingredients for the skin which you'll surely love! All in all, I must say that this is a really must try one if you're looking for light, simple, easy to use skincare product like essence to add in your routine.🥰💯

MaicaMae