I honestly do not have a bad word to say, sorry.

STORY TIME: Double cleansing is a process I bungled in such an epic way! I first opted for a long-cleanse (15 mins) with grapeseed oil which I would follow up with a 60-sec cleanse with the TO Squalene Cleanser and wash off. The MANY problems with this?

- The point of oil cleansing first is to break down the day’s gunk (make up, SPF, excess dirt). A foaming cleanser afterwards helps with a deeper pore cleanse. The TO squalene cleanser is an oil cleanser, so I was basically skipping over the deeper pore cleanse altogether 🙄
- I was doing the 15-min cleanse thrice, sometimes four times a week, because I have congested skin and the sight of loosened blackhead caps made me think that I was doing something right. I was obviously stupid wrong. A 15-min grapeseed oil cleanse is EXFOLIATION. Exfoliating 3-4 times a week is too much by any standard. Don’t fool yourself into thinking otherwise!
- On top of this, my routine included (gentle) retinoids! I was also doing the TO AHA+BHA peel once a week 🥵

This happened over a period of three weeks. As a result of my own over-enthusiasm, I damaged my skin’s barrier. It is a miracle I didn’t melt my skin right off.

However, my skin is tenacious AF so it is recovering quite well now. Once I realised my mistake, I immediately cut my routine down to the basics: cleanse, hydrate, protect (SPF).

After much trial and error, I think I have finally landed on a winning double-cleanse combo: The @deciem TO squalene cleanser, followed up with @cerave SA Smoothing cleanser.

The Cerave cleanser is so gentle but so effective. After switching to a basic routine, my skin was still bumpy and rough, and within a week of using it I can already feel the difference in the texture of my skin. Currently, I am using it as my first cleaner in the AM and second cleanser in the PM, and let me tell you it’s gonna take a LOT for me to switch.

This is an HG sunscreen for me and that’s that!

Of the several suncreens I have used recently, this is definitely my favourite. It is a daily full-spectrum chemical sunscreen that is water and sweat-resistant.

It is marketed as an &#39;essence&#39; sunscreen, meaning that it has soothing and hydrating ingredients such as aloe, cucumber, and liquorice and it lives up to its promise in this aspect.

It is supposed to be geared towards dry and normal skin types, but I love its dewy finish and the mild cooling effect on my oily skin. I have experienced no pore-clogging or pilling either so safe to say this goes in my permanent rotation.

None really, this is a repurchase for me.

I had been on the lookout for a non-tinted sunscreen that wouldn’t break me out and would show some respect for my melanin and after much deliberation landed on the @larocheposay Anthelios XL SPF50. Now, there are several iterations available of this specific sunscreen. The one I chose is:

- non-perfumed
- dry touch
- anti-shine

I have oily skin that breaks out at the mere suggestion of grease so this has served me quite well. I have used it consistently for two weeks with no significant breaking out whatsoever. It leaves zero white cast, absorbing well into my melanated skin. There is definitely some shine after use still, but it’s more a healthy glow than the bottom of a used skillet.

Although the texture is described as gel-cream, I would definitely say cream more than gel. As far as sunscreens go, La Roche Posay is generally a safe bet.

It brightens instantly but I cannot overstate how strong the formulation is, and why therefore you must always err on the side of caution.

I am reintroducing chemical exfoliation into my routine after mildly damaging my skin barrier using too many actives. First one back in rotation is this modern classic, although once bitten, twice shy, I am only using it once monthly lol.

The frequency of my hormonal breakouts has increased recently and this lil guy always helps banish them quicker. I am not a big fan of the itchy sensation it gives me in spots, which is in addition to the usual tingly feeling AHA+BHA peels are known for.

I never leave it on for a full ten minutes, and always follow up with extra hydration and liberal SPF application.

The consistency is very watery but it is not a bad thing at all, just means you gotta work quickly at spreading it over your face.

I got this serum as a giveaway prize (my first ever) and this was my first Facetheory product. I am blown away! I have been using this for three weeks, having replaced the TO Niacinamide and Buffet serums with only these, and a) I DONT miss them and b) I feel this to be working better overall in terms of hydration for me. A definite buy, and I will be trying other Facetheory products on the basis of this.

skintensely