We always talk about skincare in terms of how effective it is or what it can do for our skin, but I’m wondering what are some skincare products which are pleasurable to use / you really enjoy using, even if you’re not sure it does anything for your skin. 

I love using the Avene Thermal Spring Water spray. I don’t use it all the time but sometimes spritz my face before applying moisturiser. It’s so refreshing (esp since I live in the tropics) and also feels like I’m helping to hydrate my skin more (even though when I don’t apply it my skin looks similar too 😆😆)

What products ✨sparks joy✨ for you and why?

Sparks Joy

I’ve been on differin for like 6 months and it’s really been helping. I was generally just getting very occasional pimples and usually just 1-2 at a time and they resolve very quickly. 

However, for reasons unknown to me, this past week they have been returning 😭😭😭 I have a rash of them over my cheeks (mostly red bumps / congestions, with a few whiteheads) and I just don’t understand why, given my skincare has been generally the same (nothing new introduced, the frequency I use my products have also been the same). 

It’s just so demoralizing and I hope it’s not going to get even worse 😫

Breaking out again

I just opened my bottle of Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drops from Dear Klairs. 

I thought it was supposed to be a blue colour but mine looks like this

It’s not past it’s expiry yet, I just opened it and I’ve been storing it in a cool and dark place (and it has also been in the box all this while) 

What do you guys think?

Is this colour normal or safe to use??

So I've been using the LRP Lipikar Baume for a while and I like it quite a lot. However I'm down to the last 1/5 or so and the pump is no longer pumping out product. I know there's still moisturizer inside cause I can see it, but it's just not coming out. 

I've tried shaking it, tilting it, tipping it over and at most it might work for a couple of days and then the same again.

Anyone else having this issue? 😅 What did you do which helped?

Help me get the moisturizer out

There was no significant downside for me, and I would not mind using it again. However, it doesn’t bring anything new or different to the table compared to my other korean sunscreens, and from when I last visited Korea, it didn’t seem very easy to find this brand in stores 😅

[I received this product for free from Picky @go.picky @pickyrewards and THANK YOU FARMER @thankyoufarmer_official in exchange for my honest review]

This arrived just as I was about to go on holiday so I threw it into my luggage to test it out on the road 😆 

Texture: Slightly more on the liquid-y / watery side (rather than the cream and gel texture that I’m used to). Not sticky, easily absorbed, and lightweight. 

Whitecast: None on me

Finish: Shiny when I first apply it, but it dries down quickly and leaves more of a dewy finish, great for my dry skin 

Hydration: it does provide some hydration, but not enough for me, I still had to use moisturizer underneath 

Pilling: None

Sting: None

Scent: None that I could discern 

Others: There was a slightest cooling sensation when I applied it but thankfully it didn’t irritate my sensitive skin 

Overall, it’s very similar to many of the other Korean sunscreen that I’ve tried. If you like those, you’ll like this too!

Update: previously I indicated the downside was having to use a pump because I was used to measuring with the finger length method. However, after getting used to it, i find I much prefer the pump now 😆 

So currently, nothing bad to report!!

[I received this product for free from Picky  and SKIN1004 in exchange for my honest review]

Since posting about this in September 2022, I’ve only grown to love this sunscreen more and more, and it’s become one of my must haves. While I recently won this sunscreen again from Picky, the other two bottles I have were purchased on my own. 

You can look at my previous post as for a more in depth review, but I think the reason why I love this so much is that it’s really a no-frills, easy to use sunscreen. 

A sunscreen that is not fussy and comfortable on the skin is invaluable, because it means that I’m more likely to use the appropriate amount needed AND to re-apply it throughout the day. 

(of course it doesn’t hurt that it provides my dry skin with hydration, it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin, AND it also gives a nice subtle ✨ glow ✨)


INITIAL REVIEW

It’s not too dissimilar to many of the other korean sunscreens I’ve tried. However, what makes this attractive are the key ingredients of centella asiatica extract, niacinamide, hyaluroinic acid and tranexamic acid.

Texture: Lovely, goes on like a lightweight cream. While it was slightly tacky to touch right after applying, I didn’t feel like there was something on my skin. Despite the very hot and humid weather, it was quite comfortable. 

Whitecast: None on me

Finish: Slightly dewy (not as much as some of the other korean sunscreen, but there is definitely a glow)

Hydration: My skin is flaring up at the moment, so I’m applying moisturiser underneath. However, I do think skipping moisturiser is an option for most (particularly if your skin is oilier) 

Pilling: None

Sting: None

Scent: None


The only thing I dislike was that it’s too small! 😆 I wish it was the 80ml size like the old one.

I have also heard that it’s not exactly sweatproof and reports of it melting off or becoming greasy when people sweat. I’m mostly indoors and in an air-conditioned environment so it wasn’t really an issue for me. 


[I received this product for free from @go.picky @pickyrewards and Dear, Klairs (@klairs.global) in exchange for my honest review]

I loved loved loved the old Dear, Klairs sunscreen. I had multiple bottles and recommended it to everyone. I was so upset when the news broke that their SPF wasn’t the level that they claimed.

However, it seemed like a honest mistake so I was still keen to try their future sunscreens. Finally, their long awaited reformulation arrived, and I was so excited!

Texture: sooo lightweight and just glides on 😍😍 really a dream to apply. I didn’t find it too sticky or oily, and it dried down fairly quickly.  

Whitecast: none on me (but I’m quite fair)

Shine: dewy finish

Hydration: it does provide some hydration, but I think for people with dry skin (like myself), you might still want to apply a lightweight moisturiser beforehand. However, I suspect oily skin folks can probably skip moisturising. But YMMV

Pilling: didn’t pill with my other skincare products. I don’t wear makeup so I’m not sure how it would interact with those. 

Sting: it worked for my sensitive skin, no stinging experience even around the eye areas, unless my skin was already highly sensitised that day (such that even my other products causes a slight sting)

Scent: no sunscreen smell! But it does have a slight citrus scent (which didn’t bother me)


Not baaaaad but it wasnt all that hydrating. 

I received this product for free from @go.picky @pickyrewards and @isntree in exchange for my honest review.  

Ive been wanting to try a milky toner for so long, but have been worried about how my skin would react! So far, things seem pretty promising. Its texture is quite light (though not as light as liquid ones), and easily absorbed when applied. I didnt find it very hydrating (in that I still benefited from other hydrating products in my skincare), but it was soothing and felt quite calming. It’s not a product I love yet, although I can see how it might fit into my current routine


Nothing bad about it. Just dont know if id replace my current one with it

I received this product for free from @go.picky @pickyrewards and @isntree in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. It does provide some nourishment and the cream is more on the richer / thicker side. It doesn’t bother me because I’m already quite used to LRP lipikar baume, and my skin is super thirsty and moisturising demanding. It also didnt lead to any irritation. 

So far so good right? So why the uncertainty? I guess my dilemma is that I already have a rich, occlusive moisturiser that I very much love, and I’m not sure if I would replace it with this one. But I’m happy to continue trying. It would be interesting to see if it leads to any more longer term changes in my skin.

morningisbreaking