Your alarm doesn’t go off, and you only have 5 minutes for a routine! You get to choose ONLY ONE of each:

Cleanser
Toner OR Essence 
Moisturizer 
Sunscreen 

What do you grab from your current stash?

I’d have to go with these:

Just for fun - your most basic routine…

I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for an SPF that works on dark skin. I haven’t found one that doesn’t leave it a white cast. Have any of my melanated beauties found one they like? Points, too, if it isn’t greasy.

Dark skin-friendly SPF?

Like anything with glycolic acid, it can be drying. Though the nourishing ingredients mitigate it some, I still recommend some additional moisture in conjunction with this peel. 

I was gifted the Bliss Incredipeel 10% Glycolic Acid Spa Strength Resurfacing Peel to try in exchange for my honest evaluation. 

Of course, glycolic acid is the star of this show, with the other key ingredients geared toward soothing and moisturizing. These foil-wrapped single-use pads are folded in half and larger than I expected. They’re fragrance-free, and there’s a good amount of liquid - easily enough product to cover your face. They’re rectangle-shaped and a similar material to the typical acne pad, but feel thicker and a little more more plasticky. They are a bit stiff and a little too textured for me because I tend to overexfoliate…and you can go ham with the slightly scrubby texture, but I resisted at thought of going through weeks of barrier repair. 

I used it twice a week and found it gentle enough that I was tempted to add a third night. No burning or irritation whatsoever. Each time I used one, I woke up with softer skin. I was certain my stressed skin would need a lot more treatments to see any difference, but I was impressed. My skin looks and feels smoother, with the look of my huge pores diminished and my tone more even. This is a great formulation that my skin really likes. It does cause some dryness despite the skin-loving ingredients, because that’s what acids do, so I take care to add moisture, but overall, this peel is the gentlest, most effective glycolic acid product in my stash. 

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I haven’t experienced any negative or unpleasant effects and plan to try a couple other products in this line once I use up some things.

This is my favorite snail essence and the only one I’ll repurchase when it runs out. I love it because not only does it make my skin feel amazing, but it doesn’t have the sticky texture that takes forever to dry down. It keeps my skin feeling plump, moisturized, and bouncy.

I can’t think of anything I didn’t like.

This cleanser is so gentle. I don’t feel stripped of moisture after using it, and it doesn’t take much product to feel clean. It’s a nice first cleanse, and one I might use as a single cleanser during winter.

I can’t think of any negatives other than sometimes wishing I didn’t have to worry about breaking the glass. However, the heavy glass bottle only adds to the luxurious feel I get when putting it on, so even that is perfection, in my opinion. 

I received a sample of this product free as part of the Skincare Trial Kit courtesy of Neogen and Picky. 

The Real Ferment Micro Essence was in my rotation before receiving this kit, and I purchase it regularly. I find it moisturizes very well and makes my skin noticeably softer. It’s always a great addition to my routine, and on the rare occasions I overdo it cleansing and feel a little stripped, this essence takes care of any tightness. It makes my skin feel moist and plump, and on cold days when I have to go out, I enjoy an extra layer or two. 

It took several weeks for me to note a change in hyperpigmentation. The improvement in texture, for me, was worth the wait, and the brightening just feels like a bonus. 

The Forever Young Biome Ampoule was gifted to me by Stylekorean. It’s part of their Clean Line. 

⛲️ This ampoule is geared toward barrier repair and hydration. Key ingredients include several ferments (probiotics), saccharides (prebiotics), niacinamide to even skin tone, and Rose of Jericho for moisture. 

⛲️ It’s a cloudy, whiteish serum, slightly thick in consistency. 

⛲️ This serum has no fragrance to speak of. 

⛲️ It goes on effortlessly and dries down quickly. There is no sticky or greasy feel. 

⛲️ I wasn’t expecting much from this serum beyond maybe a little glow or added plumpness. I’m all about barrier repair, but usually only after I’ve jacked mine up. I haven’t dermaplaned or used any harsh exfoliants, so I didn’t think there was anything to fix. 

⛲️ On the contrary, my dry areas are feeling softer. My jawline, where I suffer dryness the most, has always been rougher than my oily and more balanced parts. Not from acne or scarring, just never as smooth or soft as my oily bits. A few times, I’ve been washing my face and rubbing like mad because I feel like there’s cleanser left on my skin, but it’s just my skin. 

⛲️ I am seeing added plumpness, and I feel my cheeks look a bit less droopy and “jowly”. I have to stop myself from touching my face during the day, because my skin feels like…skin. I’m now getting some lightening of hyperpigmentation. This isn’t an exfoliation miracle cure, but it’s now my favorite for nourishment and barrier strengthening. 

koolklawz