WHAT IS PHOTOSENSITIVITY? 

Heightened photosensitivity, a type of reaction the skin experiences when the treated area is exposed to sunlight 🌅

Some of your favorite serums and creams could be increasing your sun sensitivity without you even knowing. The ingredients most likely to cause a reaction are retinol, AHAs and hydroquinone. If you use these without effective sun protection at the same time, you may run the risk of developing sun damage, which can potentially lead to skin cancer 🙅🏻‍♀️

With new skin care products being introduced all the time, it’s important to arm yourself with the knowledge of these components to ensure a carefree beauty routine. And this is what the app is about 💞

In Conclusion: 

As my motto goes, if you aint including sunscreen in your daily routine, into the garbage all your products go 🤷🏻‍♀️👏🏻

🌞⛱️ To all the baddies here, stock up on your favorite sunscreen this summer and get ready for that glow 🌞⛱️ 

Follow my insta skincare page: @skinlovebyz

🛑 4 Skincare Ingredients that Causes Photosensitivity 🛑

🤍 Good Afternoon Everyone 🤍

Retinol Guide for Beginners 101

This collage of information includes brief intro to the amazing world of retinol. 

Retinol has always been something that I am scared of using because of the amount of mixed opinions I've heard from people around me. Whenever I am trying on new products, I am always scared on how my skin will react. It is something that I still need to get within my regime. However, watching few of my favorite experts @cassandrabankson , @skynfyx & @drvanitarattan , I am able to take a step out of my comfort zone and now try something that I have always been wary off. 

This collage breaks down retinol into easy words without having it to be jam-packed and full of big words. 

What has been your favorite retinol products of 2021-2022 so far? Let me know down in the comments below 🦋 

Follow my page for more ingredients info: @skinlovebyz

How to Apply Retinol 101🧐🤗

Key Information: SALICYLIC ACID CAN BE USEFUL FOR ANYONE ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH OILY OR ACNE-PRONE SKIN 

What is Saliclyic Acid? 
🤎 BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid Family) 

🤎 Acid has anti-inflammatory & antibacterial properties

🤎 Penetrates the skin at a deeper level than water-soluble AHA ingredients 

WARNING: SALICYLIC ACID IS ALSO SALICYLATE MEANING IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO ASPIRIN, AVOID IT!!! 

Benefits? 
🤎 Penetrates deep into pores 

🤎 Helps remove dead skin cells 

🤎 Clears clogged pores

🤎 Helps regulate sebum production 

🤎 Reduces inflammation & redness

🤎 Breaks down pimples & comedones 

🤎 Helps prevent whiteheads & blackheads 

Let me know if there is any other information regarding saliclyic acid you would like to share in the comments. I would love to hear from you guys and learn as well. And what are some of your favorite salicylic acid products you use in your daily skincare routine? ✨️ 

For more product reviews from me: follow me on my Instagram page @skinlovebyz . I want you all to be a part of my skincare page journey and I just hit 100 followers! 🎉😄

🤎 Beginners Guide to Salicylic Acid 🤎

Good Evening Everyone! 

It's @skinlovebyz 💙 🤍

I have put together some useful information on AHA, BHA, PHA plus what happens when you COMBINE all our super heroes together 😏 let's just say it's a quite a nuclear reaction 😂 You are going to find a lot of Korean skincare that does contain combinations of the AHA + BHA + PHA, making the product one of the most powerful ingredient than just one standing alone. 

ATTN FOR PPL WITH SENSITIVE SKIN:  another active ingredient from our hydroxy acid family would be LHA which stands for Lipo Hydroxy Acid. It is a stem family member of salicylic acid and has a similar purpose. However, compared to the BHA, they are a bit more: 
- fat soluble 
- more gentle meaning they penetrate the skin at a slower rate (without causing major irritation or redness if done correctly) 
- FOR MY SENSITIVE SKIN LADIES & GENTS, THIS ACID IS OUR BESTIE FOR LIFE. BECAUSE OF THE SLOW PENETRATION & GENTLE EXFOLIATION, IT IS PERFECT FOR PEOPLE WITH SENSITIVE SKIN WHO ARE AFRAID OF USING BHA
- useful for treating acne, has similar properties of anti-aging effects of tretinoin (form of vitamin A)
- stimulates skin cell production

I really hope this guide does help and people are more aware of what is good for their skin type before purchasing a product that could eventually lead to purging and sensitivity to the skin. Let me know some of your favorite product from either one of the active ingredients. Would personally love to try some out especially ones that might be suitable for dry/sensitive skin! For more guides, do follow my skincare insta page @skinlovebyz

Our Super Heroes: AHA vs BHA vs PHA vs LHA 🙊

Created a small user guide for beginners that are new the world of lactic acid. Hopefully, the information is able to help you out as it did with me. 

Lactic acid is known to be gentler and more hydrating compared to other AHAs. For that reason, it may be suitable even if you have sensitive skin. So for my girls and guys with sensitive skin, including myself, it's a good news. However, make sure you consult with your dermatologist or a skin expert before you start your journey with lactic acid. Also if you are pregnant, your dermatologist and OB/GYN will likely suggest skipping popular anti-aging ingredients, like retinoids, so lactic acid can be a good substitute during this time.

Hope this helps! Let me know in the comment what type of lactic acids you use, from what brand and whether you have noticed any changes 🤗❤

🤍 How to Apply Lactic Acid 101 🤍

Picky

🌾 House of Dohwa: Wash-off Rice Mask 🌾
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“Dohwagain” ( @houseofdohwa ) means a “person as beautiful as a peach flower” and this is an eco-friendly, cruelty-free skincare brand.  Their key ingredient is locally and ethically sourced South Korean wild rice,  blending nine of the best strains of rice bran extract that is grown using traditional methods.

A treatment mask infused with rice bran to hydrate, soften, brighten and nourish the skin, leaving a supple, glowing complexion.

It has 9 kinds of native rice bran extract (rice extract) are locally harvested, grown from traditional methods and nourished by Korea's wind, sunlight, and water, passing on the nutrition directly to the skin. It soothes and smoothes your skin, making it instantly more clear and bright
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🌾 My Review 🌾

🍚 Exfoliates my dead skin really well, and leaves my skin feeling smooth. It really gives the skin a boost of hydration as well

🍚 Does not damage my skin barrier and I've seen my skin more calm especially pairing it with my spot treatment

🍚 Literally smells really like rice meaning it's not overpowering at all. It's pleasant and doesn't smell like chemicals 

🍚 Though washing it off is a little harder. I do suggest taking the mask off with a paper tower first (gentle motion) and remaining can be washed off with water

🍚 I love pairing this with my pumpkin wash-off mask (half of my face with the rice mask and than other half with the pumpkin)

🍚 This has really become one of my favorite masks ever! Definitely will be repurchasing them 

🐳 | Would I recommend this? Yes but only for people with the skin types mentioned above EXCEPT for dry skin

💙 Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream 💙 

@isntree Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream Contains 5 types of Hyaluronic, this light jelly formulation spreads easily over the skin and gives a light and cooling sensation upon application and leaves a light and refreshing feeling after application.

Other active ingredients like Squalane and Allantoin help calm your skin while forming a protective layer to lock in the moisture leaving your skin looking plump and looking healthy.
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My Review

🐳 | Skin Types: Normal, Acne-Prone, Sensitive & Oily Skin ONLY. For dry skin, this will be the best to layer on before putting on sunscreen. If your sunscreen is in thicker consistency, layering this lightweight gel cream before sunscreen makes it an amazing combination! 

🐳 | Gel cream is a little tacky however, the tackiness subsidies after few minutes

🐳 | Has a really nice cooling effect. Definitely think this would be best for summer and spring seasons

🐳 | There were no reactions on the skin. Has a mild smell but it's not overpowering at all. It's quite pleasant

🐳 | It's hydrating however after 2 months of trying this product, I really didn't feel a "plumping" effect. I had to constantly reapply the gel cream after 2 hours to give my skin hydration. But that is only because I do have dry and sensitive skin. So for people with dry skin, pass on this product

🐳 | Perfect re-application cream. I LOVE putting this when I'm outside in the sunlight. Even with sunscreen, I still feel a burning sensation on my skin so this definitely helps with cooling my skin down

I wouldn't say there was anything bad about this product. Just on general, my skin does not do well with peel pads and actually make my skin red and I do tend to get a bit of bump spots.

This product worked for me only on the areas like my nose and my forehead since I do tend to get congestion, blackheads and dry patches. So, it definitely helped keeping my blackheads at bay. I only focused on my nose because I did have mild irritation occur on my cheeks.

Only downside, it's *bleep* expensive 😭

♤ My babies with dry ass skin, I've finally found a GLYCOLIC SERUM that won't break you out, cause irritation or redness, or dry out your skin 🥹 Trust me, I've tried almost every active on the market which can be helpful towards my skin & not cause a reaction. Every time, FAILED. Except this 👏🏻 Once again, I've been trying this serum for the past 4 months (2x per week, having a gap of 3 days before applying again). The serum makes my face look sooooo much brighter, healthier & bouncy. I've not had a single breakout except for one or two during the very beginning. Any scarrings I had prior to starting the serum, GOOOONE. Gone like the wind 💨 This helps to brighten up your complexion so much that I'm not joking.

There is absolutely nothing bad about this product. Ever since I had been given a sample size of this from Mikaela Beauty, I've been in love with the texture and how it made my skin feel.

This product is an intensely moisturizing cream suitable for your face. Its formula is indicated for a more mature skin that suffers from some signs of age such as wrinkles and fine lines. In this way, this cream helps not only to prevent but also to fight these already existing signs. The skin is then more hydrated, smoothed, regenerated and more plumped. Furthermore, fine lines and wrinkles are much less visible as the skin becomes firm and more elastic.

My Review:
This product was given as a sample when I had purchased few good products from Mikaela Beauty (not sponsored) last month. When I substituted this product with my normal moisturizing cream, my skin immediately felt the effect of this cream.

♥️ skin felt firm and soft even after the very next day (keep in mind that I DO NOT wash my face in the morning during winter months because of how dry my skin becomes.) 

♥️ radiant complexion just after one application

♥️ reduced the complexion of my dark spots

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Personal Recommendation: 

🍀 I would use this cream during night time to lock in moisture after your skincare routine. 

🍀 If you have dry skin, normal or sensitive skin, this product is definitely up your alley. I would not recommend this product for people with acne-prone or oily skin due to its heavy consistency

You could definitely see that in the picture so how it looked on my skin. Complete glass skin.