just sharing my skincare journey + tips

i've been at home over the summer and i stopped using any cleanser in the morning. now all i do is wash my face with warm water and pat dry. i think my skin has been softer and smoother lately but that could just be a placebo effect.

the dry winter weather had me searching for another moisturizer, and this what i picked up! it has a consistency between lotion and gel and it absorbs completely into my skin. i like that it isn’t heavy or sticky, but it does leave my skin feeling moisturized. i use this in the morning and night after my rosehip oil and before sunscreen (in the am). sometimes at night i’ll layer my laneige sleeping mask on top for extra moisture. this doesn’t have any fragrance either. stay moisturized, lovelies! 😙

it's been a while, hello again! i recently got this in the mail and i've already used it a couple times. i apply it to my damp face, right after i've cleansed at night. it's a peeling gel so it balls up as i rub it into my skin. i use a nickel sized amount on my cheeks, nose, and chin, and a dime sized amount on my forehead. it does give me a slight tingling sensation but nothing too alarming. i find the smell to be pleasant because it is herbal and not too strong. this peeling gel leaves my skin soft and smooth after i use it. i'll continue to use this twice a week and update you guys soon!

i tried out a couple of the cosrx pimple patches over the past few weeks. one pack comes with 24 patches, i had already used 3 when i took the picture. they work well to bring the pus in acne to the surface of the skin, and even out of the skin. i never had a chance to leave it on long enough for the patch to absorb anything. in terms of color they don't stand out from my skin that much, however they are pretty thick. i think it would be possible to cover them with makeup. for the price ($5 ish) i think this is an afforable way to heal acne faster and prevent me from touching it at the same time.

moisturizing 💦💦 i got the ordinary's HA + B5 moisturizer (from asos.com for ~ $8). i've been using this every morning for about 2 weeks now and i'm pretty happy with it. i squeeze one drop out of the dropper, rub it between my palms, and pat it into my skin. it's a very thick, gel consistency and takes about 10 seconds to totally absorb into the skin. saying that, it doesn't really make my skin FEEL moisturized, although it definitely is moisturizing it. i no longer get dry, flaky skin and my skin is smoother overall. stay moisturized friends!

a new sunscreen☉☀! i’ve seen good things about this la roche-posay sunscreen, so i was excited to finally get my hands on it. it’s very liquidy and has a strong sunscreen scent but i don’t mind either of those. bring it on, sun rays!

aloe! i love her 💕 i use aloe every so often, usually when i have deep and inflamed acne because it reduces inflammation a lot. i've only ever used fresh aloe and i recommend it 110%! i know it can be difficult to find in many places, but i purchase aloe leaves (is that what they're called?) from my local mexican supermarket. i just cut slices like the picture and use my fingers to get out the gel and spread it on my face. once it dries it tends to leave white residue, so i only apply it at night. one last thing, fresh aloe does have an unpleasant scent!

this is a product i've been using for a while, actually. (i picked it up from whole foods but it's also available on amazon). i see so many rave reviews about this clay mask, but for me it doesn't really do much other than make my skin baby soft. i will continue to experiment with how long i keep it on/how much vinegar i add/etc. to see if i can get better results. i currently mix a heaping spoonful with ~2 or 3 spoons of vinegar. i also highly recommend mixing it with apple cider vinegar instead of water, because it makes the paste very smooth (it smells pretty awful so beware!). for the price (~$8) and the quantity (1 lb!) this mask is a pretty good deal and does a fine of softening my skin. it just doesn't affect my acne 😡 !! if you have tips for how to use this clay mask, please let me know!