hi! i came across a post on facebook that retinol isn't safe to use during pregnancy. i am currently a few months along and have just started using the ordinary retinol 0.5% more than a week ago. my skin loves it and i feel more glowy and plump in the morning so i feel a little sad if i have to stop using it until i give birth in 5 months.

does anyone know if retinol is or isn't bad for pregnant to use and if it is, why?

edit: apparently, there's a safe alternative to retinol for pregnant which matrixyl. if anyone has every used this product, i would love to hear ur thoughts!

retinol is not safe for pregnant

Me again! I'm currently using several Paula's Choice products and so far, my skin loves them. I'm sure there are fans of this brand here and some who aren't. 

For those who love Paula's Choice, just curious about what specific products you love from this brand. Can you please share what those are, how you use them, and if you think they're worth the money?

And for those who aren't big fans of Paula's Choice, would you recommend a different brand?

I'm asking because my BF saw how much each PC product in general costs, and he pointed out how they're a little too expensive (he saw me browsing online for PC products). He lets me spend on skincare as it's my money but after reflectinng on what he said, I just thought, are they really worth it or is there another brand out there that offers similar quality of products for less?

Paula's Choice | Yay or Nay?

to all pregnant mamas out there, can y'all please share with me your skincare routines?

i am currently a few months along and would love to know what products other pregnant mamas are using for their skin that are safe to use during pregnancy.

thanks everyone in advanced!

simple routine for pregnant

Hi! I was previously using CosRX SA cleanser but found it a little too drying. I understand many recommend the Nizoral antidandruff shampoo to treat/prevent pimples/fungal acne, but is it comparable or better than the Cerave SA Cleanser? Would u recommend one over the other, or both?

I'm looking for a few-times-a-week SA cleanser that can help fight off the stubborn fungal ance around my chin. They've started coming back since I stopped using CosRX SA Cleanser a few months ago but now I'm a little torn over which cleanser I should use. Thanks, everyone!

Fungal Acne | Nizoral vs Cerave SA Cleanser

That being said, while I would definitely repurchase this product, I wouldn't use this on a daily basis. ONLY because I'm on adapalene some nights and it doesn't feel like this toner is enough to fight off that dryness and flakiness in the AM after my adapalene routine. 

Combi to Oily Skin BFF!

I couldn't appreciate it at first because I was used to toners with silky texture, and this one just feels like water. It has no smell, has a brownish color which really resembles tea but surprisingly, once applied, it gives a smooth feeling to the skin and is actually hydrating. Not too much, just exactly the right amount of hydration for people with oily skin. 

I've started using this 3x a week in the AM, then I follow up with a Cerave AM moisturizer with SPF and boy, my skin glows! It's also probably thanks to the other products I'm using in my routines but I certainly appreciate how good this product is in controlling the oil on my face, and the instant soothing effect it has to my occasional breakouts. 

This is a perfect toner for the summer or if you live somewhere with high humidity. It's also a big plus that this is more on the affordable side of skincare and still lives up to its hype. 



No biggie but I do want to note these things about the product's packaging:

1. Dropper > pump. A dropper gives more control.

2. Opaque bottle. I prefer seeing the contents of my serum.


Hydration Booster Serum 💦 

A little frustrated that my picky app crashed the first time I attempted to write my review for this product so I had to start all over again. *sigh

Okay, here comes nothing.

I do not like Hyaluronic Acid serums in general. The first HA serum I tried was from The Ordinary and boy did I hate the experience. It felt super sticky and just completely uncomfortable. 

Of course, I do not blame TO at all. I didn’t know how to use HA then and how to layer it properly with other products but it did kind of give me a bad impression in general about this particular ingredient. 

Why everyone raves about HA, I couldn’t understand at all. So when I started seeing this product on Instagram getting awesome reviews, I thought, why not give it another try? So I did. 

I was extremely excited to use this serum together with the sleeping pack so when my order arrived, I opened it happily like a little kid unwrapping Santa’s gift. The packaging didn’t disappoint- it’s honestly aesthetically pleasing. However, what was even more surprising was the serum itself. 

This serum is a hydration booster. This has a gel-like consistency that melts beautifully into the skin, leaving you looking hydrated and with a healthy glow afterwards.

The best part is, there’s no sticky feeling. AT ALL.

Personally, this product is an excellent addition to my summer skincare stash. And if you live somewhere tropical too, or a big fan of HA serums without the tackiness, then this serum is your friend. 

Another thing that I love about this serum is that one of its key ingredients is Centella Asiatica, which is a powerful healing ingredient and I’m a big fan of. It helps with collagen production, and in turn, improves your skin elasticity. What does this mean? Means, this ingredient helps you keep looking young. :)

This ingredient is also one of the main reasons I started getting serious with skincare after it helped with my hyperpigmentation and years of sun damage. 

Having said all that, while I do love this product, I haven't exactly decided if this is something I'd repurchase. There are honestly a lot of other choices out there that provide similar benefits, and this has not made any significant improvements on my skin either beyond the hydration and soothing effects upon application. 

selfcarejunkie