#think dirty

helloooo i am here and i have skincare recommendations galore for all my acne suffering followers bc we’re in this together:

MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Activator Ampoule - This is the only K-beauty product I’ve ever bought, but now it’s a must have. It’s a really great knock off of Estee Lauder Night Repair serum, which I recently rediscovered when my skin all of a sudden got suuuuper dry and has been a miracle product for me. The great thing about this product is that it’s a quarter of the price of the original product but is actually even better than the original because it contains way more antioxidants and hydrating ingredients! I use this right before my moisturizer.

Garnier Mattifying Micellar Water - I know everyone has gotten on the micellar water bandwagon already, but I just have to sing its praises a little more because this stuff is super cheap for the size and it’s the best thing for getting off my makeup. It’s also super gentle on my skin and I love how soft my skin feels after it soaks in. One thing I will say is that I haven’t noticed any mattifying effect but I have particularly oily skin so it may work for others.

NYX Honey Dew Me Up - I just got this product a few days ago but already I’m noticing that my acne scars are starting to fade and my skin is glowing. I use this as a serum before my moisturizer instead of a primer and it does wonders for my skin. This is probably the most luxurious product I’ve ever gotten at Target for under $20!

Plant Re: Fresh Organic Toning Face Mist - Again, another great find from Target and less than $10! This product caught my eye because it’s so cute and I was looking for a face mist to use throughout the day but I was sold when I saw that the company employs adults with disabilities. This is a nice, gentle product and I love the refreshing scent!

Thayer’s Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Formula in Lavender - Another cult favorite but I actually had never heard of it when I picked it up in Target. A quick google search showed that it’s adored by the skincare community for being gentle for sensitive skin. It replaced my harsh astringent and is now my everyday go-to. (Side note: I know a lot of people recommend the Rose Petal scent, which I haven’t tried because this bottle is lasting me foooorever but I really like the calming lavender scent!)

Okay that’s it for skincare product recommendations for now! For anyone who has persistent acne or skincare product allergies (like me), I highly recommend going to see a dermatologist. I’ve been going for the past 3 months and my skincare routine has completely changed; I’m really learning how to take care of my skin properly. I’m currently on three prescription medications (and will be going on isotretinoin in a month - more on that later!) but those can be super expensive so a great alternative is Curology. I found out about it from an ad on Snapchat but I got the first month for $4.95 and every month after is just $20. The great thing about this service is that it’s so personalized - you submit pictures of your problem areas, what medications you are on, and any allergies, and a real dermatologist reviews your case and prescribes actual prescription-strength products that are shipped right to your door. My first shipment is on the way but my Curology dermatologist has been so helpful and I can’t wait to try it!

My next recommendation is for everyone, not just acne sufferers or skincare gurus. This website CosDNA will tell you the ingredients in your skincare products, and rate them on how safe, acne-causing, and irritating each ingredient is. My Curology derm recommended this site to me and said not to use anything with an acne or irritant score over a 3. (That being said, take what they say with a grain of salt - MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Activator Ampoule contains Retinol, which was rated as a 9 for safety, but if you read the description, it’s because a high enough concentration can cause birth defects. However, it’s darn near impossible to get a high enough concentration when absorbed through the skin so this product is still safe. 

There’s also an app that does a similar thing as CosDNA called Think Dirty. It doesn’t have as many products in its catalog but is more convenient because you can just scan the barcode and go!

take a break. come back later...

One thing I’m committing to is finding out exactly what’s in the products I’m using, especially when it comes to my skin! Your wear your skin ever second of the day for all your life and it is so important to tend to its needs! I’ve recently downloaded the “Think Dirty” app to spot out any harmful ingredients in the products I’m currently using, and boy, do I need to rethink what I’m buying and start from scratch!

I will be posting reviews of each one of the product I’m using using “Think Dirty” and share possible, more clean alternatives. My goal is to buy more clean products and document how my skin has or hasn’t changed!

ooo I am the queen of SPF, but those can be challenging ingredients to avoid. I don’t have any ingredients I personally have to avoid so I tried checking, but be sure to double check in case I missed something that’s a derivative or something. But out of my personal recs it seems the one that fits your needs is the BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer by Tarte--I love this stuff, it’s awesome. I’d also try the BareMinerals Complexion Rescuse Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream. 

I love the Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer but I think it might have too many silicones for you--but check, many not!