heres a post totally unrelated to yugioh for once

ggghghghhgh i dont know why my skin has been SO BAD since i came back from gc not even breaking out yet just sooo dry and tight and bumpy which is so weird since usually i have the opposite problem, oily/combination/sensitive skin type ~__~ also ongoing problem with my lips that i still haven't figured out how to fix. basically my entire face stings and im sooo miserable

 

anyway the point of this post was to record my skincare routine + thoughts on products so i can track progress...

 

AM:

• FOAM CLEANSER: the face shop chia seed cleanser - im trying to phase this out of my routine, it doesnt actively break me out but i think its way too harsh on my skin and i really dont like it T_T i only got it bc i couldnt afford/source better cleansers at the time. i dont trust products that foam too easily and in general i think tfs skincare is not great
• VITAMIN C: melano cc anti-spot essence - just started using this, its a very popular serum according to my research so i hope its not breaking me out lmfaoo i havent noticed any change in my skin yet but its early days yet. i really like the applicator, its so easy to control how much im squeezing out and it protects the product from exposure to air
• MOISTURISER: cosrx advanced snail all in one cream - pretty decent moisturiser, usually hydrating enough just not lately T__T im almost done with this tub so im not sure whether to get a refill or try a new moisturiser but at least i know this one definitely doesnt break me out 
• SUNSCREEN: biore uv aqua rich watery essence - really like this, its not greasy or oily at all but every time i buy a new tube biores revamped the formulation so idk... i think my skin agrees the most with the 2019 formula which is lucky, plus it doesnt have the weird smell the 2017 formula did

PM:

• OIL CLEANSER: banila clean it zero cleansing balm - LOVE this, i love that its solid so it transports easily and only melts into an oil once you apply it to your face... gentle but thorough. i do wonder if this is the product thats drying me out tho? im often too lazy to double cleanse but ive been going ham on the oil cleanser for the past month so maybe its a delayed reaction... x__x i would be so sad i rly love this product
• FOAM CLEANSER: the face shop chia seed cleanser
• TONER: the face shop rice ceramide toner - its ok i guess... again i dont think tfs skincare products are very good, i dont really think this is doing anything for my skin but i dont want to put acids directly onto double cleansed skin. im looking for a new hydrating toner (when will heartdrops restock son & park beauty water in the 50ml size so i can test it!!) but i might just end up dropping this step from my routine
• ACTIVES: i use bha on weekdays + aha on weekends. i know thats quite often but my skin has been fine with it until this past week... tbh i dont know if theyre doing a lot for my skin, i do notice my skin gets worse when im on holidays and dont bother packing actives but theres a lot of other variables there to consider
  • cosrx bha blackhead power liquid - no real thoughts but i feel like this is more effective at combating breakouts than the aha
  • cosrx aha 7 whitehead power liquid - no real thoughts either im just trying to use up the bottles and im too scared to drop them from my routine in case my skin dramatically worsens
• MASK: various the face shop masks - once every week or so. i bought a bunch of these bc the sales assistant was pretty and talked me into it lmao the avocado one is pretty hydrating. i think the tea tree one doesnt agree with my skin... when im done with these ill probably just go back to lush face masks, i think theyre much better for my skin
• MOISTURISER: cosrx advanced snail all in one cream
• SPOT TREATMENT: for breakouts
  • cosrx acne pimple master patch - LOVE THIS love hydrocolloid bandages... apply over open pimple and it basically excavates it... leaves a little bit of a red mark (scar?) behind but it fades over time + with application of aha lol
  • lush grease lightning - for pimples that havent come to a head yet... really nice soothing cooling effect

CURRENTLY PATCH TESTING:

• FOAM CLEANSER: hada labo gokujyun super hyaluronic acid foaming wash - patch testing this on my forehead and so far im not actively breaking out which is a good sign i guess, its just that my entire face has such bad skin quality rn i cant really tell but this is apparently one of the safest most gentle cleansers on the market. tbh my concern is that it doesnt give me that 'clean' feeling, it might be TOO gentle and not cleansing enough for me x__x

TESTING SOON:

• SERUM: cosrx advanced snail 96 mucin power essence - really hopeful about this one, flare said it dramatically improved the texture of her skin and the cream works on me so fingers crossed this will hydrate my skin nicely
• MOISTURISER: cosrx honey ceramide full moisture cream - heard this is thicker + more occlusive and hydrating than the snail cream im using rn so hopefully it will give my skin the hydration it needs rn
• TONER/SERUM/MOISTURISER: laneige cream skin refiner - got this on a whim for when my skin is too oily for a heavy cream/gel moisturiser or maybe for morning routine. alternatively i might replace my tfs toner with this. ofc dependent on whether it breaks me out
• LIP MASK: laneige lip sleeping mask - kind of extra but like four people have said this is good so im going to get it next time im at sephora or beautyworks cosmetica or something
• ACTIVE: krave beauty kale lalu yAHA - god this was $$$... got suckered in by the hype even tho i still have ~30% of my cosrx aha left but im really excited about this, apparently its gentle and helps clear breakouts and is really good for sensitive skin so im hopeful it works on me!!

THINKING ABOUT:

• OIL CLEANSER: innisfree green tea cleansing water - im curious about micellar water and id like to try but my current oil cleanser works so well i dont really have any justification to do so
• FOAM CLEANSER: cosrx low ph good morning cleanser - i generally trust cosrxs products but their salycic acid cleanser broke me out (it was SOOO drying) so im a little bit scared to try
• FOAM CLEANSER: krave beauty matcha hemp hydrating cleanser - i am not immune to hype!!! 
• SERUM: krave beauty great barrier relief - i am not immune to hype x2!!!!
• TONER: son & park beauty water - recced by an irl who has amazing skin
• ACTIVE: the ordinary - i dont even know where to start since to has so many products id have to do more research but im kind of eye emoji...