Experimented with different skincare for 1yr
My new year's resolution for 2024 was to care more about my skin and start a skincare routine! I grew up with a lot of skin issues - eczema, acne, rosacea, very oily skin, etc. and gave up on any skincare until recently. I'm still in the midst of fixing/finding/finalising my routine after a year of STRUGGLE. But here are some of the products I've tried and what I think of them!
1️⃣ Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum: 9/10
- Cleared up so much of my acne, is not that harsh on my skin (always moisturise of course!), and I saw the best results when using this serum. -1 only because the amount of product is quite little and I finished it pretty quickly.
2️⃣ Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0: 10/10
- Actually did what they advertised and reduced my pores by a SIGNIFICANT amount. No smell, comes with plastic tweezers too!!
3️⃣ Clinique Moisturiser: 10/10
- This is THE moisturiser for acne prone, oily skin like mine. Acts quite like a hydrator, immediately absorbs into your skin and there is 0 oily residue. Has helped me soooo much!!
4️⃣ Cosrx 6 Peptide Skin Booster: 0/10
- Every time I used this, I broke out the next day. Did not see any improvements/changes to my skin after using, aside from the breakouts. Nope.
5️⃣ Differin Gel (Adapalene): 6.5/10
- Made my skin extremely dry and irritated for several months, which I know is part of the side effects, but honestly it did not really improve my acne a lot. I'm still using it because I am holding out hope, but I have not seen the big improvements everyone claims to have so...
6️⃣ De La Cruz Sulfure Treatment: 7/10
- Helps tone down breakdowns by quite a good margin for such a cheap product too. Only downside is the smell, and you would need to wash it off after, so applying it in general is sort of an inconvenient process.
7️⃣ Melano CC (Vitamin C) Cream: 7.5/10
- I did actually see my acne scars lighten a little when I used this consistently! But there is very little in a tube, and progress is somewhat slow. Since it's an active ingredient, you need to use it sparingly especially with other active ingredients too. Had to stop this completely after starting on Differin :(
8️⃣ Mediheal Sheet Masks: 8.5/10
- I've only ever used the watermide, madecassoside and collagen ones, and I love all of them! Works great. -1.5 for the collagen one, because sometimes it gives me breakouts for some reason, and can get very sticky after removing.
If you've add very different experiences with the products I reviewed, or have recommendations for sensitive, oily and acne prone skin like mine, please share!!! 😭😭😭 might do a part 2 since I really tried everything under the sun 🥲🥲🥲
#YearEndRecap #skincarerecommendations #Lemon8SG #SkincareReview
If you’re starting your own skincare journey like I did, especially with sensitive, oily, or acne-prone skin, it can be overwhelming to choose which products to try next. One thing I’ve learned is to always patch test new products and introduce them slowly to monitor your skin’s reaction. For example, while the Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum worked wonders for clearing my acne without harsh irritation, the Cosrx 6 Peptide Skin Booster caused breakouts and didn’t suit my skin at all. I also want to highlight how important it is to maintain proper moisturizing, even when using active ingredients like retinol or adapalene, which can dry and irritate skin initially. The Clinique Moisturiser was a game changer for me, providing hydration without leaving an oily residue. This comfort helped me stick with my routine despite the harsh side effects from Differin Gel for a few months. Using sheet masks like Mediheal’s Watermide and Madecassoside variants has helped soothe my skin after treatments, but I noticed the collagen mask sometimes caused breakouts, so listen carefully to what your skin tells you. For spot treatments, affordable options like De La Cruz Sulfure Ointment were surprisingly effective in calming breakouts, though the smell and application process were drawbacks. If you’re curious about brightening acne scars, Vitamin C creams such as Melano CC can offer gradual improvement, but be cautious when layering with retinoids to avoid irritation. I stopped this product after starting Differin because combining actives requires careful timing. Overall, the key takeaway from my experience is that consistency paired with the right product choices tailored to your skin type is essential. While it can be frustrating testing so many products, reading honest user experiences and consulting a dermatologist or trusted healthcare professional for clinical advice can guide better choices. Remember, no one product fits all, so patience is vital when building an effective skincare routine.