Retinoids are widely considered the ✨ 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅✨ in skincare due to their ability to improve the appearance of skin. 
The progression of retinoids within the skin is a fascinating journey, starting with retinol esters, then transforming into retinol, followed by retinaldehyde, and finally reaching the most potent form of retinoic acid. Throughout this journey, retinoids boost collagen production, enhance skin texture and complexion, and erase fine lines. The transformation from the weakest form to the active form can be divided into four stages.

1. Retinol Esters - The initial form of Vitamin A found in many cosmetic and skincare products, retinol esters are the weakest form of retinoids and typically well-tolerated by all skin types.

2. Retinol - Retinol is a more powerful form of Vitamin A that acts as an intermediate step in the conversion to retinoic acid. It can improve skin texture, tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines. However, retinol can be irritating to some skin types.

3. Retinaldehyde - Retinaldehyde is considered the most potent over-the-counter retinoid that can be purchased without a prescription. It is a stage between retinol and retinoic acid and provides some of the benefits of retinoic acid without extreme skin irritation. 

4. Retinoic Acid - The active form of Vitamin A, retinoic acid is the most potent form of retinoids and provides the most significant benefits to the skin. However, it is only available with a prescription from a practitioner and can be irritating to some skin types.

• ☝️ALWAYS Start with a low-strength retinoid, using a pea-sized amount 2-3 times a week, and gradually increasing as tolerated. Even if you use a low or high strength retinoid you will see benefits in the skin. 

•🧴REMEMBER to always wear a good quality sunscreen during the day, as retinoids can increase skin sensitivity to the sun.

🔑PATIENCE is key with retinoids, as it can take several weeks to see results, but the end result is worth the wait! 

It is also important to note that alternative ingredients, such as bakuchiol, may provide similar benefits to retinoids without the potential for skin irritation. However these have not been widely studied to complete determine a new ingredient that is as effective as a retinoid. 

Not all skins can tolerate a retinoid and that’s okay. The conversions from retinol esters to retinoic acid isn’t always 100% efficient. As such some user may experience redness, irritation or dryness when using that may never cease.

Retinoid Conversions

✨Vitamins A, B, and C are essential skincare ingredients in any routine for achieving healthy, radiant skin. Have you tried these before?

🍎Vitamin A (PM) - Essential for Anti-Ageing & Acne Reduction

🍎Vitamin A (or Retinoid) is a crucial ingredient in any skincare routine as it stimulates collagen production to fight the signs or premature aging by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and decreases oil production. Vitamin A is the gold standard when it comes to diminishing Acne. It also stimulates collagen production and increases the cell turnover. With its powerful abilities, it helps to keep your skin looking youthful and acne-free.

🍌Vitamin B (AM/PM) - Vital for Skin Balancing & Brightening

🍌Vitamin B ( or Niacinamide/B3) is essential for maintaining a balanced and bright complexion. It has a brightening effect, helps prevent signs of ageing, repairs damaged skin barriers, and is suitable for sensitive skin types . It is anti inflammatory and helps the minimise the appearance of pores by balancing sebum production and boosting moisture levels in the skin. By incorporating Vitamin B into your skincare routine, you can ensure your skin stays radiant and healthy.

🥕Vitamin C (AM) - Key for Collagen Boost & Correction

🥕Vitamin C (or Asorbic Acid) is a key ingredient for promoting collagen production, reducing scarring, providing antioxidant protection, clarifying the skin, and helping fight to pigmentation. It is essential for maintaining healthy, radiant skin, and protecting it against the harmful effects of free radicals. With its powerful benefits, it is a must-have ingredient for any skincare routine.

Keep in mind that these might not work for your and your skin and that’s okay. What works for some doesn’t always work for others. Skincare should be fun and finding what your skin loves is the most important!
I know for me, Vitamin C just doesn’t agree with my skin and I often break out from it. So I prefer to use a vitamin B and I notice way more benefits in my skin with it!

Skincare A|B|C’s

When you're feeling overwhelmed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that can cause inflammation and break down collagen. 

Stress can manifest in the skin in many ways:

🫨Increasing production of oil in the skin, leading to acne breakouts

😥Triggering or worsening of existing skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis

😩Accelerating the aging process by breaking down collagen, leading to fine lines and wrinkles

😴Causing Dull and tired-looking skin due to factors like poor sleep quality and decreased blood flow

To keep your skin looking its best, make sure to prioritize self-care and stress-relief management techniques like exercise, meditation, and getting enough restful sleep. Take that time for yourself to manage your overall health. Happy inside Happy outside x

Stress = Stressed Skin 🫠😥😩

Fungal acne is caused by an overgrowth of yeast on the skin, specifically Malassezia. This leads to inflammation and small, itchy bumps that look similar to regular acne vulgaris
However, unlike traditional acne, fungal acne doesn't respond well to treatments like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

🔍 Caused by an overgrowth of yeast on the skin, usually defined by uniform pus filled clusters on the skin. Can be itchy and at times sting but generally not painful like acne vulgaris. Can appear anywhere on the body. 

📍 Triggers include humidity, sweating, excess sebum, tight clothing, oily skincare products, lack of hygiene and some medications. 

🧴 Treatments include: focus on restoring the balance of yeast and bacteria on the skin. This means using antifungal skincare products (ketoconazole, sulfur, tea tree oil), changes to skincare routine, lifestyle changes and sometimes oral antifungal medications. 
Consult a dermatologist or your GP for personalized treatment. 

Pro tip: try using Picky or Skincarisma ingredients analyzer tools to better understand ingredients and whether they are fungal acne safe!

Fungal Acne! Have you experienced it before?

I’m trying to move away from chemical exfoliants and want to trial a new enzyme exfoliant treatment for my skin. 

I would appreciate it not have CELLULOSE in it as I think it’s a waste of time


Thanks for the help everyone ☺️

Looking for an A beauty Enzyme exfoliant!

Nothing bad, but I wouldn’t say they’re a must have for my acne prone skin. 

Doesn’t include tweezers 

keep calm and carrot on 🥕🐰I can see why these are so highly rated!!

seriously why would you eat carrots when you can just put them on your face? these are packed full of antioxidants to protect and nourish the skin. these pads are actually so thick and can be split into two pieces to get more out of it and cover more areas. they’re affordable, highly rated and soaked full of carrot goodness what more could you want?

i’ve missed using toner pads in my routine, i find them especially handy of a morning when i can’t be bothered doing a full cleanse to replace it with these to make my skin feel refreshed. i love that these aren’t active as i have a lot of active toners i’m using at the moment so these are easy to incorporate into my routine without feeling like i’m overdoing it. of course, they’re also great as a mini mask to soothe and cool the skin. when you have an extra 5 mins to spare to your routine, it’s nice to take a minute to pause and let your skincare work its magic on your skin ✨

They also have a minimal scent which is a plus 

✨pr/gifted from @stylekorean_global @skinfood_global for review purposes only✨

Only thing is I wish they scent lasted longer on my because it’s so nice but it wouldn’t stop me from buying it again 

Okay this product definitely lives up to the reviews outside of picky.. not sure why it’s so low here. 

It’s affordable, smells good and actually works. 

For reference I have chemically treated hair that of course is damaged from bleaching. I’ve used both high end and low end products. I also really favour clean hair feel and I cannot go too long between washes as I can’t stand dirty feeling hair. This also doesn’t affect my scalp or oil production it’s just personal preference. this hair mask really does live up to the hype y’all 🤤🤤

Japan knew what they were doing when they add sugar. spice. and everything nice in this tub 🪄

okay first of all it smells sooo good. the scent is like a boujee salon without the price tag. It’s super affordable for how much you get and in my opinion it’s super concentrated so you actually don’t even need to use a whole lot but it’s so hard not too. It makes your hair soooo soft and smooth without weighing it down whatsoever. 

The trick is to really emulsify it in your hands first before you apply it to the hair. I mean realllllllyyy emulsify it. I focus it on my ends and then the remnants are worked on the crown of my head

I try to leave it in for around 5-10 minutes but I’ve seen some users leave it in for 20mins+. It’s actually recently gone viral on chinas’s xiaohongshu which is their popular social media site. they’ve been mixing it with Johnson’s baby oil and smothering it on to dry hair and wrapping their hair up in plastic to let it marinade and they achieve the most beautiful glossy hair I’ve seen. 

personally on my hair I haven’t experienced that as I have chemically treated locks but damn it has made such a difference in my hair already that I don’t doubt I can get to that stage with some more effort. it actually works so well to detangle my hair especially when wet which makes it so easy to comb through the hair and post wash out for when I blow dry is also such a easy process for me now. 

If you haven’t given this a try yet you absolutely need to drop everything and get it now. 

✨not pr, own purchase.

I really can’t think of one thing I don’t enjoy about this product. It effectively cleanses, is affordable and does the job. What more could you want??


the packaging could be more sturdy, I find it wrinkles super easy so it’s not as aesthetically pleasing in my eyes but it’s what’s inside that counts hahah 

have you tried this creamy foam Korean cleanser?💦

🌊 the @roundlab.global 1025 dokdo cleanser is low ph gentle cleanser which is infused with 74 deep sea minerals to softly remove any impurities from the skin. It works to hydrate the skin by forming a moisturising barrier to prevent water loss making it the perfect option for a double cleanse. 

☁️ as you can see from the clip, the cleanse foams to a rich soft lather that is easy to work into the skin. it has a very minimal scent and doesnt sting the eyes whatsoever. 

🫧 this cleanser is thickums.. I find if it’s in a cooler area then it can be harder to squeeze from the tube but as the weather seems to be warming up here it has been easier to remove from the tube so keep that in mind if you live in a cooler climate. 

I really can’t think of one thing I don’t enjoy about this product. It effectively cleanses, is affordable and does the job. What more could you want??

✨pr/gifted from @stylekorean_global for review purposes only✨

Needs to be used in conjunction with other sun protection measures as it takes approximately 34 layers of a sun stick to get labeled protection. Best to keep it for reapplication

based on recent testing by dr. michelle wong, it is advisable to use sun sticks as a supplementary
option for sun protection rather than relying solely on them for initial coverage. the findings suggest that approximately 34 layers may be needed to achieve the labeled level of protection, which can be impractical and time-consuming for everyday
use.
therefore, using sun sticks primarily for quick touch-ups throughout the day is a more convenient approach to ensure consistent and effective sun protection. all sunsticks need to be rubbed in after applying too for best protection
Application around sensitive areas like the eyes, nose, and crevices can be a bit challenging due to the stick format.

 ☺️

@skin1004official new hyalu-cica silky-fit sun stick 🩵💙

i received this sun-stick for free from @go.picky and skin1004 in exchange for my honest review. the hyalu-cica water-fit sun serum 15ml & 50ml size tubes are a personal purchase. 

perfect to reapply on the go, when you need to top up on your sun protection. Pretty blue shade that sinks in once you rub into the skin. I would say this is very hydrating and dewy so keep that in mind. 

certain areas such as the hands, lips, ears, neck, chest, legs, and arms, are often overlooked during sunscreen application. to ensure effective skin defence, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high spf, and combine it with other sun protection measures. regular reapplication is essential, especially after activities like swimming, running, saunas, or drying off with a towel, to maintain continuous protection without compromising your skin. approximately (35ml) 7 full teaspoons of sunscreen are recommended to cover the entire body. finding a sunscreen you’re comfortable with and are willing to reapply consistently is key to safeguarding your skin from the australian sun. 

always read the label and follow directions for use. sunscreen is only one form of sun protection. it is important to also wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. seek shade where possible. prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. re-apply often, especially after sweating, swimming, or towelling off. avoid contact with eyes. do not use on damaged or broken skin. store below 30°c.

Limited shade range

Not full coverage but still a nice finish but very natural. 

Could be too dewy for those who only like a matte finish. 

have you tried a foundation cushion?

this is my first time trying a foundation cushion! i’m not much of a makeup girlie these days as i’m confident enough to go out most days without anything on the skin besides my spf however there are those moments when you feel like you need a little extra or you have an event where something like this would be perfect!

now my skin is actually a bit cooked at the moment. i have had a skin needling treatment done a few days ago which i have reacted well to. however i have residual erythema and oedema (redness and swelling for you girlies) which is a typical side effect especially for my skin. (i can talk more in-depth about the trt if you guys want) however because of this as i said my skin is not the best (but it will be 😈) 

because i have not tried a cushion foundation before, just traditional formulas, i have nothing to compare it to but i will give my best thoughts. the colour is good, but it could be great. i think the shade up, honey i believe, would be a perfect match however this shade “1.5 clear” it’s pretty damn good. i wasn’t expecting much as i have seen mixed reviews but just basing it off my experience with my skins current state it is phenomenal. it’s a bright colour on me not a “white” which can sometimes happen with lighter shades. i’m about a 3/4 on the fitzpatrick scale.  once i have blush and whatever else on my skin you really can’t tell. a little also goes a long way. it blends in seamlessly even though my skin is more textured than usual at the moment. 

With my current skins state I wasn’t expecting much from this product as from what I saw online it’s very sheer but I actually felt it had such a great affect on my skin, it did a great job of evening out my skin tone and being radiance and clarity 

another thing i really love about this is how weightless it feels. i live in the one of the hottest states in aus and i’m used to the humidity which i dislike as i hate feeling things on my skin and sweating through it. so far i haven’t experienced that sensation with this product. plus it has added spf which gives me piece of mind that i’m not ruining my sunscreen layer when applying this. i wouldn’t use this as a standalone sunscreen and would only ever use this as a makeup product. you should too. 

The scent is fresh without being overwhelming. It disappears after it settles on the skin. The texture is so hard to describe it looks like a standard liquid foundation but is like but is almost like a serum and cream mixed together that instantly melts into the skin. The finish is like a satin natural look but if you're oily you'd need to set with a powder if that would bother you. It wears well and is easy to touch up with the mirror which is actually a decent size compared to a lot of compacts.
I've also seen some users refill with another foundation after they've finished this up in the compact so it's a great way to reuse and travel with a more solid compact plus the packaging is so sleek so you'd want to keep it!

✨pr/gifted from @stylekorean_global for review purposes only✨

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