Accutane/Roaccutane Update: One-Month Mark!

It has been one month! Time really flies and I can't wait to finish the entire course. I'm slowly awaiting the arrival of smooth, pimple-less skin!

I'm going to be systematic about this, so that you guys have an easier time reading and finding material that you want to know about straight away. Much better than my usual ride-off-in-all-directions writing manner.

Scroll all the way down if you want to skip the chunks of text and just see the current skin condition progress.

Dermatologist information

A/Prof Cheong Paek Yean

Cheong Medical Clinic Specialist Medical & Skin Clinic

76 Jln Jurong Kechil, Singapore 598589

Consultation hours: Mon to Thurs 9am to 1pm, 7pm to 9pm. Fri to Sun 9am to 1pm. Closed on public holidays. 

My mom also has problems with her skin and she has many clinic recommendations. She highly recommended the above clinic. My siblings also have been to the clinic multiple times when they were ill (not skin-related). 

Dr Cheong was incredibly knowledgeable and he was also very assuring. Before making my diagnosis, he went through the causes and types of pimples with me, and the many forms of medication that can help fix the problem. I told him that I took antibiotics before (doxycycline) and it only worked a while. It was then that he explained to me about isotretinoin (or accutane/roaccutane) and how it's usually a last resort, but would almost always work. 

Side effects were also explained - dry lips, dry eyes, muscle aches, nose bleeds and birth defects. There was a long list of side effects, but he only focused on those with higher percentages of occurrence and the most serious side effect - birth defects. I signed a consent form to declare that I understood that I must not become pregnant while on this medication and for one month after the end of the treatment.  Then he prescribed one month's worth of medication for me (first 15 days on 20mg and next 15 days on 30mg), his own brand facial cleanser and moisturiser, and a lip balm. 

When I was about to leave his room, he patted me on my shoulder and said it was a great decision for me to find him and that soon my skin would be clear, He told me again and again to not worry because the pimples would go away soon. Very encouraging lor. :') 

Total cost for first visit

S$304 (consultation fee + 1 month's worth of medication + facial cleanser + moisturiser + lip balm)

Getting accutane/roaccutane in Singapore

I guess it varies clinic to clinic, but it's definitely easier to be on accutane/roaccutane course in Singapore than in the US. I read that female users in the US have to go through a long list of tests and also be put on the iPledge programme. For me, I was prescribed the medication like any other illnesses after signing the consent form. The entire visit was done in 1.5 hours. 

Skin condition prior to being on accutane/roaccutane

• Hormonal acne mostly on the jawline and both cheeks. 
• Painful cystic acne before menstruation which would take ages to go away. 
• Forehead and nose were almost always clear of pimples. 
• Blackheads on nose, but nothing too serious. 
• Very oily skin, especially on the nose, both cheeks and chin. 

Weekly updates

Week One (1-7 January 2016)

• I experienced the initial breakout very quickly. By day 2, I had 6 new pimples, but I wasn't too bothered because I had suffered worse in the past. My eyes were so dry on day 2 and 3, like as if there were sand particles in my eyes. The eye drops helped only momentarily, and I slept most of the 2 days away. Luckily, they were weekend days. On the third day, I had a slight fever and I had soreness all over my body. Also, I had diarrhoea till day 5. The initial breakouts continued and I couldn't resist popping some of them. One major difference - popped pimples heal much faster. Towards the end of the week, my diarrhoea turned into constipation (very frustrating haha) and my chin was clear, but my forehead was infested with pimples. 

Week Two (8-14 January 2016)

• Muscle aches stopped and my body felt normal. Lips and eyes were still dry. Initial breakouts still going strong. I was incredibly self-conscious this week because no amount of makeup could cover the many bumps on my face. My face felt itchy and prickly and I felt ugly. But gotta press on man. 
• This was also the week I was in Bangkok with Kengyang. I had my first anxiety attack and I totally believe it was caused by the medicine. What happened was while walking back to the hotel after a full day of shopping, I saw a stall vendor empty her trash by the roadside, and this eeky, liquid trash almost splashed on me. Something in me snapped, and I started breathing heavily. I tried to contain it, but once I was in the hotel room, I saw how messy Kengyang's side of the table was and I burst out crying. Oh my gosh, I really cried like a baby and obviously I scared the hell out of Kengyang. 
• By the end of the week, I had so many painful pimples (definitely more than 10) and they were sooooooo itchy. Lips and eyes were no longer dry because I drank a lot of water (like more than 2 litres daily). 
• Positive: Skin is no longer oily. Makeup stays intact for a full 12 hours, and sometimes more, with no touching up needed and no shine detected. Great!

Week 3 (15-21 January 2016)

• I found out that my roaccutane medication is in the "List of Controlled Drugs" in Dubai. My company is heading there at the beginning of March for a gathering, so that means either I get permission from their Ministry of Health to bring 4 pills into the country, or I just stop taking the meds for those 4 days. I wonder what will happen if I stop? I will ask my Dr Cheong on my next appointment. 
• Finally upped dosage on the 16th day (20mg to 30mg) and the initial breakouts have slowed down. The pimples were not popping up fast and furious like the last week. Skin's starting to get flaky so I introduced Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum into my routine. 
• This was also the week that I realised how dry my scalp was. My hair looked fabulous and voluminous ever after 1.5 days of not washing! Yay!
• Day 18 was the day I started having bone aches, especially my tail bone. Getting out of bed was so difficult. I stocked up on Omega 3 pills and those has helped tremendously. 
• Towards the end of the week, my pimples stopped coming out in groups and the bumps were gradually flatted. Makeup applied much better. 

Week 4 (22-30 January 2016) - Technically more than a week, but yay it has been a month!

• I had a dry-lip disaster at the beginning of the week. My lips were so swollen and red and painful :( No matter how much water I drank, my lips were still peeling. Lip balm didn't really help that much. 
• I also started to have dry patches on my upper arms. My huge, previously unused stash of body moisturisers is finally out of the dungeon!
• This was the week I experienced the horrors of over-exfoliating. While on this medicine, it's best to stay away from exfoliants, be it a physical or chemical one. But of course, silly me wanted to get rid of the dry patches on my skin, so I used a physical exfoliant (face scrub) AND a chemical exfoliant (Natural BHA) and BAM the next day I had red bumps all over my face. I knew those bumps were not acne because I had so many of them around my eyes as well. No pus, no pain. Just FREAKING ITCHY and very ugly under makeup :( Time to stop exfoliating for good man. Why am I always doing stupid things??
• Tail bone aching still there. It's especially worse the morning after a workout session.
• I also had my usual premenstrual syndrome and I don't think any amount of roaccutane can defeat the powers of period acne. So yes, I have a few here and there. Nothing worrisome though. 

Tests done on second doctor visit
It was a really quick blood test; maybe less than 15 seconds. My test results came out 3 days later and I was all good to continue with the medication. I had quite a scare because my period came one week late this month, and usually my period comes on the dot, every 28 days.  So when the nurse called me and said I was "all clear", I was super relieved because that meant I wasn't pregnant.

Dr Cheong also helped get rid of a couple of active pimples. The way he did it was so different from the anyhow-pop method from facial salons. His was fast and accurate. No skin-dragging at all. It was painful, but only for those couple of seconds.

I was then given 2 more months worth of medicine. I'll be back for my third consultation in 60 days' time!

Total cost for second visit
$478 (consultation fee + 2 months worth of medication)

Skin condition progress

Now that I'm looking at these photos, my skin condition really did improve in 30 days! Sorry to scare you with my terrible skin, but hey visual proof more impactful than mere words!

Also, please pardon the different lighting conditions in both occasions.

List of improvements in 30 days:

• Skin is not oily anymore. 
• Large pimple on upper right lip area is completely gone. 
• Amount of tiny raised bumps have decreased significantly. I'm most happy about this because makeup application is so much easier and smoother now.

Skin concerns in 30 days:

• Pores are more obvious, and blackheads are VERY obvious. But Dr Cheong said that it's expected since all the blackheads are in the process of being "pushed out". 
• Skin is very much redder. Not a major concern though because I use foundation daily anyway.
• Fresh new pimples on both cheeks, but I noticed that pimples heal much faster. 

Centre

Left cheek

Right cheek

So far so good~ I'm looking forward to the day when I can step out of the house with no makeup on. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

For those of you who are also on the accutane/roaccutane journey, or are planning to start one, press on!! The first couple of weeks will be a nightmare because of the "purging" process, but after that, your skin will gradually look better and better. Acne, be gone forever please!! 

RoseRoseShop Haul (COSRX and Ciracle Products)

My second RoseRoseShop order just arrived last week and this time it took me almost 2 months. The package was first sent back to the sender because I didn't state my address clearly (the floor and unit numbers were excluded), so that's my bad. Then, it was stuck at the warehouse for 9 days, so that's their bad. Fortunately, the RoseRoseShop crew was a nice bunch. They included SO MANY free samples, so yay! :) 

I got some backups of my favourite COSRX products and also some new COSRX and Ciracle products to try out. 

(Left to Right)
COSRX Centella Water Alcohol Free Toner
COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol
COSRX Centella Blemish Ampoule
COSRX Centella Blemish Cream
Ciracle Anti-Blemish Aqua Cream

I'm in this use-only-alcohol-free-toner phase, so I immediately put this in my shopping cart. It really makes a whole lot of difference to use alcohol free toner especially when you're on accutane. My skin feels thoroughly nourished and hydrated every time I spritz some on my face. Toners with alcohol stings my currently sensitive skin.

And then we have the COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol.... I'm quite sad about this. I can't use this anymore! :'( No matter how much I love this product (I think this was the main reason my acne stayed at a moderate level and not the severe stage), my skin now is way too dry and sensitive for a chemical exfoliant. After 2 weeks of not applying this, I went back to it and immediately the next morning, I had rashes around my eyes and my forehead. I guess I have to sell it away then since I won't be able to use it for the entire year.

The COSRX Centella Blemish Ampoule is a stellar product for those with severe redness on the skin. I mix this with my moisturiser every night and my skin feels soothed and less irritated. Long-term usage definitely helps with hyper-pigmentation left by acne. It also adds more moisture to my skin - very needed right now!

I took a gamble and bought COSRX Centella Blemish Cream. It's highly recommended on reddit for smoothing acne scars and also healing active blemishes. I have used it every night for 5 nights and I still don't know if it's working or not. Yes, I have a significant reduction in the appearance of acne scars, but accutane is supposed to do that to. Hmm, maybe trying out new anti-inflammatory, blemish-targeted product while on accutane is not a good idea haha. The additional hydration is very much welcome though. The texture is very strange - like whipped cream-mousse texture that turns into lotion when applied on the skin. So initially, it feels like a heavy cream, but it blends into nothingness. Very interesting.

The best find is the Ciracle Anti-Blemish Aqua Cream. I love this SO SO MUCH. Before this arrived, I was using the moisturiser that my dermatologist recommended and nope nope nope, that thing stung my skin and the fume (??) stung my eyes on every single application. This, on the other hand, was a dream to apply. I love everything about it, the gel-texture, the fast absorption, the ample hydration, ah I'm so glad I found a legit moisturiser! :')

Etude House AC Clinic Daily Aqua Cream is something similar. Maybe I should try that too!

The free samples included. Doesn't look like much, but the last time I ordered on RoseRoseShop, the parcel only came with 3 free samples, so this, in comparison, is extremely generous.

The two small bottles are samples of the ZYMOGEN Houttuynia Cordata Ferment Lotion and Houttuynia Cordata Ferment Serum. Quite excited to try those out because I've read magical things about them online, especially for acne-prone skin!!

Accutane 1-month update post coming soon! :)

New skincare regimen: COSRX products!

I think I have finally found holy grail skincare products for my nasty excessively oily and acne-prone skin type. It was a gamble to purchase so many products from one brand in one go, but it's a gamble worth taking. 

COSRX is a brand that is rarely mentioned in the Singapore beauty blogosphere. I follow quite a number of Korean beauty youtubers and bloggers and many of them who used to suffer from hormonal acne trouble highly recommended COSRX products. I was thoroughly intrigued and after many months of contemplating, I took the plunge and bought these four products via RoseRoseShop. These four products are not pricey at all. I was really shocked when I saw the prices online because I was expecting a much higher price point. What a pleasant surprise! 

Also, I think it's worth mentioning that I have tried a sample of the COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning Emulsion before making my purchase. I was able to get around 6 applications out of that tiny sachet and I really could feel my skin getting a little bit more manageable after the 6 applications, hence I made the decision to get the full sized product and more products from the same line. Therefore, please get a sample first before buying the products below because they contain natural chemical exfoliants (BHA: beta-hydroxy acids) and some people may have allergic reactions. 

Here are the products that I bought:

• Natural BHA Skin Returning Emulsion (100ml for USD11.09)
• Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol (100ml for USD10.39)
• One Step Pimple Clear Pad (70 pieces for USD12.28)
• Centella Blemish Ampule (20ml for USD16.47)

Very reasonable prices right? Especially reasonable for Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol. It's my favourite product out of the lot and it's the cheapest! 

Starting with the product that has shown the least effectiveness out of the four - the One Step Pimple Clear Pad.

Let me explain myself - by saying that it's least effective does not mean that it's a rubbish product. I like it! But it just didn't provide as much improvement as the other 3 products in the same period of time.

The One Step Pimple Clear Pad is a product that I use after toning at night. It's recommended to use one to three times daily, but I think once a day is good enough if you have less severe acne problems. This can dry your skin if used too long or too frequent.

The product scent may be a little off-putting for some people, but you will get used to it. All the COSRX products that I bought have the similar herbal, briny smell. I actually much prefer this scent than artificially scented skincare products. Those products are really bad for acne-prone skin so please stay away! Especially heavy floral scented skincare products - NO! 안돼 ANDWAE!

Such humorous packaging lol. I really laughed out when I saw the cover design.

The One Step Pimple Clear Pad has two sides with different textures. One side with coarser texture for better exfoliation, and one side with smoother texture if you just want to wipe the product on your skin with minimal exfoliation.

Getting the pad out can be a problem though since they are pre-moistened and all stacked together. Perhaps an addition of a tiny plastic tong will be better? More hygienic too!

After almost a month of using this, I find that it works best when I have really painful pimples on my face. Wiping this somehow calmed down the throbbing part and after a while those pimples didn't hurt anymore. The pimples will still ripen, but with much less pain - I prefer this than an excruciatingly painful ripening. In the past, the pain was so bad that even smiling aggravated the pain (since smiling = skin stretched). So now, I still get the occasional pimples, but with less pain, so it is much better. Aiyoh, write until want to cry already. Reminded me of those dark times.

The Centella Blemish Ampule is a product that I will definitely recommend to those of you who always get acne before your periods.

I really hesitated getting this product because I was afraid of ampules. In my mind, I equated ampules with oils, and hence I thought ampules were super oily and would cause breakouts. Fortunately I got the Centella Blemish Ampule and now I learn that some ampules have mattifying and oil-controlling effects.

Before I start raving about this product, can I please bring your attention to the short ingredients list? 13 components leh. Even some The Body Shop products have double the components for a supposedly natural product.

I use this every morning after toning and before my moisturiser.

A tiny amount goes a long long way. I thought 20ml was too stingy of an amount, but I have been using this for a month and I still have a significant amount of product left.

A dabbing motion works the best for the application of this ampule Don't just wipe the product on your skin and continue with other priducts - slowly dab your skin with your palms to quicken the absorption of product. It doesn't take very long - one to two minutes later, the product is absorped completely and you don't feel any uncomfortable, sticky residue on your skin.

As abovementioned, the Centella Blemish Ampule works very well for those who suffer from PMS acne. This really works well in controlling sebum production. Those few days before your period starts, your hormones go out of whack and the increased sebum production causes more pimples. With this consistently applied every morning, I saw a huge difference in the number of PMS acne that I get. Usually, I have A LOT on my jaw and chin area, but this month I counted maybe ... three? And they were pop-able by the second day!

Yes, I pop my pimples, but using the correct method okay. Not anyhow use fingers and squeeze squeeze one. But yes, that's a story for another day.

This is definitely a product that I will continue and repurchase!

Ah, my favourite product - the Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol.

It's a very confusing product at first because I was accustomed to the cleanse-tone-moisturise regimen. I didn't know where to fit this in! It's not a toner, it's not a moisturiser and it's not a serum, so I was very intimidated. Too scared that it will break me out haha.

But it turned out to be the best performing product! Oh I love this so much, I will keep repurchasing until my skin decides to stop loving it!

This was truly the product that made the most difference to my skin. I think this and the Alpha-H Liquid Gold really prove to me that my skin loves chemical exfoliants. If you are someone who gets a lot of tiny bumps on your cheek and jawline area, THIS IS THE PRODUCT FOR YOU (of course please try a sample first ah before committing to a full-size product). The difference is night and day. My pores get clogged really easily - even from the slightest application of BB Cream or powder foundation. Clogged pores will give you those disgusting tiny bumps that really make your skin look rough and dirty. They are not even painful and they are not going to be pop-able pimples, they are just...THERE.... hanging out.

After a month of the Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol and Emulsion, the number of tiny bumps on my skin was greatly reduced. I still have them but not as uncontrollable as before. It's like magic! I think my skin really loves natural BHA and also natural propolis extract.

I use this every night before the Natural BHA Skin Returning Emulsion.

The Natural BHA Skin Returning Emulsion is now my go-to moisturiser. I use it in the morning before makeup and also at night as the last step of my skincare routine. It works very well with the A-Sol, hence I strongly recommend purchasing both products at once. This also contains centella extract hence it's fantastic for keeping oil production at bay.

It is incredibly moisturising. One pump is enough for the entire face. I love applying this in the mornings before makeup because it really makes the skin supple and smooth - perfect canvas for face makeup.

I have completely stopped using The Body Shop Tea Tree moisturisers and converted to this. My skin loves it! But I still prefer the tea tree scent from TBS Tea Tree products.

These 4 COSRX products really worked for me and I'm very thankful that they worked this well. I always am scared of changing my skincare products because my skin is a whiny brat who throws tantrum at any form of imbalance.

I didn't start using all 4 products at one go. I started using the pimple pads first, then the blemish ampule and after 2 weeks on those products, I incorporated the natural BHA products into my routine. I did not have any allergic reactions to the 4 products and I also did not encounter any extreme dryness issue. Therefore, I'm a firm believer of COSRX products now! I have plans in getting the Whitehead Power Liquid and the Blackhead Power Liquid.

Any of you used any of the COSRX products too? I would like to hear mini product reviews from you too! :)  Hopefully experiences as positive as mine!

COSRX global website

COSRX instagram

Note: I bought these products with my own money. No sponsorships involved. I truly love these products and all opinions are genuine. But of course, if COSRX reads this post and decides to sponsor me, I'm more than willing to accept. HEHEHE. #auntiemaximum #buaypaiseh #skinthickuntillikebrick

Korean Skincare Haul (cosrx, mamonde, apieu)

A couple of weeks ago, I realised that my skin wasn't reacting well to The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blemish Fade Night Lotion anymore. I am currently still unsure why my skin reacted that way so suddenly. It's all very shocking because I have been using that product for almost 2 years and I had no problems. And then overnight, my skin started getting really clogged up, and once I stopped using that, my skin was less irritated. Why so funny one? 

But whatever, that means I get to find new products for my skin! 

When I was in Copenhagen, I decided to give a COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning Emulsion sample a go. It was a tiny sachet so it wasn't included in my travel skincare post. 

My skin LOVED it. It was absorbed into my skin so quickly and my skin felt smooth and plump. 3 days in and my large family of tiny bumps finally started to slowly disappear. My skin was not clear, but it definitely was not as clogged as it used to be. 

Immediately off to Googleland to look up this fascinating new brand and wow there are many Korean beauty bloggers who raved about COSRX products! So yes, I succumbed to blogger/Youtuber pressure and bought 4 new COSRX products via RoseRoseShop. Of course must buy masks also right? So yes, got myself a couple of A'PIEU masks and two packs of Mamonde masks. 

I have used the COSRX products for a full week now and I'm very happy to report that I have NO breakouts. YAY YAY! 

Shall give them more time to work their magic and I'll check back in a couple of months' time with in-depth reviews! 

Quick Review: Caudelie Instant Detox Mask

Photo from Caudelie's website

Caudelie recently launched 4 new facial masks and I was truly intrigued. The 4 variations are:

• Glycolic Peel Mask (an exfoliant for cellular renewal - for radiant and bright skin)
• Instant Detox Mask (eliminate impurities and toxins - for that "poreless" skin)
• Purifying Mask (eliminate impurites and excessive sebum - for clear and even skin)
• Moisturizing Mask (provide intense moisture and relief - for hydrated, supple skin)

These 4 facial masks are formulated to address different skin concerns and it's quite clever how Caudelie has included a facial chart on their website on how you can mix and match different masks on your face in one application to address the multiple skin concerns that you may have. 

For example, if you want to have skin balance, you can apply the Purifiying Mask on the oily areas and then the Moisturizing Mask on your cheeks. Here's the facial chart!

I was interested in both the Instant Detox Mask and Purifying Mask, but I didn't want to pay the money for the full-sized product without trying them out, so I browsed Carousell for some samples. 

I only tried the Instant Detox Mask once and I now know why there were so many glowing reviews for this mask. I actually am tempted to get the full-sized one now because it worked wonders on my skin. Just a single application and I'm already sold!

Okay, details...

The Caudelie Instant Detox Mask has green-coloured packaging, but the product itself is in a pinkish-red hue. It's just like any other clay mask that will harden after 5-10 minutes of application. But the major difference between this clay mask and the others that I have tried is that there's no tingling involved. I only felt a cooling sensation and that's about it. I was so worried that the mask wasn't working at all! After 10 minutes, I rinsed off the mask and scrutinised my skin. Nothing much leh, so I was relieved that I only paid for a sample. 

The magic happened the next morning. I was really very shocked. 

I had two pimples before application - one on my upper cheek and one on the upper lip area. The morning after using the Caudelie Instant Detox Mask, the size of the two pimples reduced significantly. I still could see the redness, but they didn't hurt anymore. WOW?! 

And then, I applied my foundation routine as per normal and left for work. After lunch, I finally had the chance to go to the toilet (yay mirror!) and I noticed that my face wasn't as oily as it normally was and the two areas next to my nose were not as "holey" anymore. I was, to be honest, quite speechless. How come one application can so powerful one?! 

I also read online that some users experience a "purging" effect where the mask pulled out impurities to the skin surface, causing you to have bumps/breakouts. It has been 2 days and I have zero pimples, so no "purging" effect for me! Hooray! 

Seriously man, I'm very willing to spend the S$53 on the full-size 75ml product now! 

Current Foundation Routine (Nivea, The Body Shop and klairs)

Having a camera with wifi function is amazing! I took these photos this morning before going to work and I was able to transfer the photos to my phone for quick editing on the MRT. Very efficient use of my commute time leh!

Here's an update to my foundation routine. I no longer apply liquid foundation on a daily basis because I think it's too much for my acne-prone skin.

Step 1: Apply Nivea Sun Whitening Light Texture Serum Make-up Base 

Step 2: Apply a mixture of The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream and klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream

Step 3: Finish off with an application of  ZA Perfect Fit 2-Way Foundation with a powder brush (not in photo, but I have been using this ZA powder for more than 10 years already)

I bough the klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream on Qoo10 for really cheap! It was on sale for S$10.80 with free normal shipping. 

I first read about it on this random blog that was raving about how light it was and how it didn't break her out despite her having acne-prone and sensitive skin. I was very intrigued because I had the same skin type as this blogger and I also faced the same problem of breaking out from using new BB creams. So after researching abit more, I decided to check out. 

I especially love the klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream because it does not have a greyish undertone and because it applies like a moisturizer. No cakey feeling at all. The only problem was it was too fair for my skin. 

This problem was instantly fixed because when I noticed that it was too fair, I remembered that I had The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream in 02, which was too dark for my skin. YAY! Mixing these two together resulted in the perfect shade for my skin! 

The combination applies beautifully - almost like my daily moisturizer. I normally apply one layer like as if I'm applying moisturizer. Then I add a second layer on areas that needed a little bit more coverage (like under-eye area, blemishes, etc). I don't use any concealers after the second layer. I'll give it around 5 minutes to set then I top it off with a little of powder. 

Here's a before-and-after comparison:

First photo: No makeup at all. 

Second photo: Sunscreen and a mixture of the two BB creams applied. 

Third photo: Finished with the ZA powder 5 minutes later. 

Looks great right?! No concealer at all!! Very excellent lah these two products (and of course my forever holy grail powder foundation - ZA Perfect Fit 2-Way Foundation).

This way I can avoid wearing thick liquid foundations and cream concealers. Most of the item, a combination of these two products will clog my pores and then my good pimply friends will appear again zzzzz.

Have a great day guys! :) I'm loving this routine so much now!!

Quick review: Anti-spot & Sebum Control 3-Step Facial Treatment by Watsons

I'm back with another quick review and this time it's for Anti-spot & Sebum Control 3-Step Facial Treatment by Watsons. 

Before I proceed with my quick review, I would like to thank my regular readers. This space hasn't been updated as frequently as I would like it to be and that's because my iPhone 6 doesn't take high-quality photos for review posts. I have A LOT of new products but my trusted camera gave up on me (stuck lens or something like that) and so I only have my iPhone with me for photo-taking. The usual food and daily photos using iPhone are fantastic, but for review posts, the iPhone is still not as stellar as the normal camera. So yes, I have slacking a lot because of that. But fret not, I'm going to buy a new camera this week!! I'm getting a Canon G7X and I'm very excited to get back on track with my blogging after my Japan trip :D 

Ok lai, review time. 

I bought the Anti-spot & Sebum Control 3-Step Facial Treatment by Watsons in Bangkok and it was definitely less than 25 baht. I think there was a sale going on hence I picked it up. It's very intriguing to me - 3 steps?! Overkill or genius? 

This is available in Singapore as well, but it's definitely much more expensive here. A quick Google search reveals that a pack of 5 will cost around S$17.50. 

I gave it a try last night and to be frank, I was more excited about the application than the results. 

Step 1: Gently apply serum over cleansed face. 

• I didn't know 3ml of product will be SO MUCH. I applied all 3ml on my face and it took me almost 10 minutes to massage the product into my skin. Super thick consistency that was initially very sticky. After close to 10 minutes, the serum wasn't so sticky and thick anymore and it gradually felt very light and refreshing on the skin. This serum is used to prepare for the melting films in step 2. 

Step 2: Gently stick melting films to the specific areas requiring treatment. 

• This can be quite tricky to apply. The melting films are really thin and if you have short nails, you may not be able to remove the melting films from the plastic base properly. My tip is that you should wash your hands after massaging the serum. Your hands would still be sticky from the serum and any attempt to remove the melting films with sticky fingers will only make it much more challenging. Start with dry fingers and the melting films should be easier to remove. This was very strange to me because I had to apply a thin layer of plastic-looking film on needed areas. But it's supposed to "melt" (hence the name) into my skin so okay lah. 

Step 3: Apply mask onto the face (over the melting films). Leave for 15-20 minutes and then remove. Gently massage face until the remaining essence is fully absorbed. No need to rinse. Discard mask after use.

• Yes, you need to apply the mask right after applying the melting films. This is the type of mask that has a denser and thicker essence. No problems with essence-dripping with this mask. Mask application was as per normal, and of course I left it on for more than 20 minutes because I always forget LOL. After mask removal, I was so surprised to find that the melting films had "melted" into my skin! I couldn't see the plasticky films anymore! Very interesting indeed. 

And this morning, I woke up with less oily face. It was quite obvious actually, and I'm very pleasantly surprised. Very solid mask from Watsons! I'm still thinking about whether I should get the 5-pack from local Singapore Watsons but a bit expensive for 5 masks hmmm. Well, definitely a great mask in all and if I do buy the 5-pack, the masks will be reserved for special pampering occasions. 

Have a great week ahead guys! :D 

New year, new skincare products

It's a very scary decision to switch skincare products when your skin is sensitive to new products. I can get a breakout just ONE DAY after applying a product that's not suitable for my skin. It's exasperating how my skin has evolved from a normal type in my teenage years to a oily sensitive acne-prone type in my mid-twenties.

I have used mostly the same products for the past year or so and I have noticed that they are no longer doing much to my skin. I still get occasional pimples and the areas with acne scars are not improved. My skin has probably gotten use to The Body Shop Tea Tree products and I was quite eager to try out new products.

However, it wasn't easy deciding which products to use next. My skin is incredibly sensitive to heavily moisturising/whitening/brightening/anti-ageing products. During this year's Chinese New Year, I purchased a Lunamer AC trial kit (specially for troubled skin) and they included 2 sachets of lotion. Since I had 2 sachets of lotion and one 30ml bottle of lotion, I decided to use up the sachets first. Stupid me. I didn't read the product names correctly. The 2 sachets contained lotion that was "Moist Type", and the bottle contained lotion that was "Normal Type". The lotion that I used was incredibly moisturising and my skin couldn't take it. I had so many pimples and congestion going on along my jaw line and upper lip area after that and my Chinese New Year was just very depressing. I only noticed I was using the wrong product like 4-5 days after, and so the situation worsened and only a facial extraction session could fix it quickly.

I did a gargantuan amount of research and I finally decided on the above products:

• Etude House AC Clinic Toner
• Etude House AC Clinic Gel Lotion (for morning use)
• Laneige Trouble Relief Cream (for night use)
• Naruko Tea Tree Shine Control & Blemish Clear Night Gelly (to use before sleep)

I have used Etude House AC products before and I loved most of the products (the cleanser's too drying so I'm not a fan of that), so I decided to give these 2 products a try! Hopefully the toner can replace my Michael Todd organic toner. The Laneige cream was highly recommended for those suffering from adult hormonal acne, so I'm intrigued to see how it will help me improve (hopefully!) my skin condition. I also have used Naruko Tea Tree Mask before and I loved the cooling sensation, hence I'm hoping the night gelly will have the same effect. 

I'm highly excited, and equally anxious. 

I want to incorporate new products, but I really don't know how my skin will take them. 

*fingers crossed*

If all goes well, I'll update this platform with a revised skincare routine. 

Wish me all the best!! *fingers crossed again!*

BLOGMAS Day 10 Luxola Haul - Great products for oily, troubled skin!

Mario Badescu Special Mask for Oily Skin
Rachel K Cosmetics Midnight Miracle

Three weeks ago, I bought two skincare products from Luxola because they had a mega sale. After using them for three weeks, I think they work effectively on my oily and acne-prone skin.

I'm most amazed by how well the Rachel K Cosmetics Midnight Miracle performed. This product is specially formulated for oily and irritated skin, and it promises to detoxify and soothe the skin to even out the skin tone and regenerate the skin cells. Daily use will help to decrease shine and the redness in your skin. For me, I use this once every two days. The formulation is too rich to be used daily. Initially when I used it daily the first three days, all was good, but after that small spots started appearing around my nose and upper lip area. I quickly switched to a once-every-two-days routine, and the small spots slowly disappeared. The best part about this product is that the term "Midnight Miracle" in the product name is not loosely used - it really is a midnight miracle! I have a lot of redness around my nose and jawline (because of all my acne scars and all that fun stuff), but just after ONE NIGHT, the redness was visibly reduced in the morning. I was definitely not expecting this, so that was a great pleasant surprise! Moreover, this product is only S$29! I love this and it's now a staple in my skincare routine.

The Mario Badescu Special Mask for Oily Skin is not as amazing though. It definitely does what it claims to do, but it's quite harsh on the skin. This product is most ideal for excessively oily and congested skin. It claims to control surface oil and in the long run, prevents pimples and blackheads. I use this twice a week and only my super oily T-Zone areas. For those with dry to combination skin, I suggest you stay away from this product because it is extremely drying. It's okay for me though because I definitely skin that's way too oily. The only discomfort that I felt during every session was that whenever the mask had dried up and I accidentally smiled/laughed, the mask would crack and I would start to feel tingly, pierce-y (is that even a word??) sensations. It's like telling me - hey, I have completely dried up, so RINSE ME AWAY!!

Overall, I do think that there was an improvement in the oiliness state of my skin, however there's still a huge room for more improvement. Skincare products cannot fully eliminate the crazy oiliness on my skin - I'm quite sure what I consume and my hormones contribute to this too. Can't wait for the day when I don't need to blot my skin 3-4 hours from the last cleansing.

BLOGMAS Day 6: Review - Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R and Spot Essence W

For new readers, a quick background of my skin type and condition - I have oily, acne-prone skin and it gets worse when I'm under stress. My acne usually sprouts (lol) at the jawline and upper-lip areas - a condition diagnosed as Google doctor as "hormonal acne". I also believe I'm in that awkward hormones-bo-balance stage (or in proper English, hormonal imbalance) so my body is rebelling and as a result my skin is not cooperating as well. Before I hit my 20s, I barely had pimples. :( I miss those days so much. 

This is why I'm always on the search for anti-acne skin products, and recently I trust South Korean brands more because they are less harsh and works as effectively as the usual spot treatment creams with benzoyl peroxide/salicylic acid. I loved the Etude House AC Clinic line and I was eager to try out other popular South Korean brands that offer an anti-acne skincare line. 

I was on Qoo10 one day (like which day am I not on Qoo10 right? HAHA) and a store selling Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble products had a time sale so I jumped at the chance! I bought both the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R and Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W for less than S$30 - a steal considering how each can go up to S$30+ in the local brick and mortar stores. 

Packaging: I really love the choice of colour for the outer packaging. This minty green colour is the perfect colour for an anti-trouble line! Words are in white instead of black, which gives it a more soothing and professional. I know, I'm looking way too much into their packaging, but this is how customers like me are intrigued to try anti-trouble products. The cleaner, less busy, more soothing and more professional the outer packaging, the more I feel like I can trust this product.

A full-sized Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R has 15ml of product, while a full-sized Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W has 30ml of product. This makes a lot of sense since both products are supposed to be used differently -

• The Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R is for more serious breakouts - especially those that are extremely irritated or painful. 
• The Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W is to soothe and treat bumpy skin (i.e. minor spots that don't hurt). 

A little bit of the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R is good enough for a really enraged pimple, hence the 15ml of product is more than sufficient. On the other hand, the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W can be applied on more areas, hence you will use this up faster than the R product - 30ml is reasonable. 

Starting with the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R:

For this product, you are instructed to use a cotton swab to apply the product on desired areas - you definitely don't want to transfer more bacteria onto your erupting painful mess by using your fingers!

On the other hand, the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W can be applied as per normal - after cleansing, toning and moisturising.

Product texture/consistency:

• the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R has a thick green consistency that dries off into powder after blending. The green colour also helps to hide the redness around the acne. 
• the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W feels more like a lightweight moisturiser that applies very well under makeup. 

Therefore, I will suggest that you use Spot Essence R at night before bed since it will leave a greenish tinge on your skin, and you can use Spot Essence W in the mornings before makeup. 

Top: Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R
Bottom: Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W

Do these work as claimed?

• the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R is marvellous. It dries up the pimple within a day and after 3 days, you have your flat surface again. The best thing is once you apply this on an incredibly painful area, the pain gradually goes away and you don't feel the pain after half a day. I really hate it when pimples are painful - most of my pimples are around my mouth area, and it affects how I smile. Like smile already, then damn pain, so sad right?? 
• the Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence W, on the other hand, is just an average product. It's targeted towards minor spots that don't hurt and so it's not as obvious whether it is effective or not. I have used this for a more than 2 months on such areas, and I don't really see a difference in my skin condition. The good thing is those areas remained as they are in the 2 months, no new spots, and none of the spots evolved to face demons. 

Will I buy these again? I'll definitely purchase Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R again, but not the Spot Essence W. 

Any of my readers have more South Korean anti-acne/anti-trouble products to recommend? Do let me know if you have any good ones that you want me to try! 

Have a good weekend! :) 

Review: Dr. Wu Acnecur Mattify Blemish Balm Cream

In my honest opinion, the current BB cream scene is lacking, especially in the acne-prone skin department. We have countless BB creams for brightening, for hydrating, for anti-ageing, but very few for those with acne problems. It doesn't really make sense because there are a lot of potential users who have acne-prone skin and are looking for a suitable BB cream because they are looking for something less potent than a liquid foundation. It's a huge market!

I was, of course, extremely excited when I found out about the Dr. Wu Acnecur Mattify Blemish Balm Cream. It's available on luxola and also on sale in certain Watsons stores. It's not affordable though. The Dr. Wu Acnecur Mattify BB Cream retails for S$46 on Luxola and that's certainly not cheap for a BB cream. I bought mine when Luxola had their pop-up 30%-off promotion. 

Ingredients list

The Dr. Wu Acnecur Mattify BB Cream is marketed to be:

• light and feather-weight
• useful for anti-acne, oil-control, soothing, hydrating, whitening and UV protection
• able to conceal imperfections without pore inflammation
• able to reduce redness
• able to provide a matte, yet hydrated finish

So, am I a satisfied user of this BB Cream? 

To be frank, I used to hate it, but now I don't hate it so much. The main reason being I used this BB Cream when I had my crazy breakouts and also after I went for anti-acne facials. The BB Cream worked differently for the two periods and hence I'll be reviewing this BB Cream using these two periods. 

Packaging: The pale green packaging looks clinical and I think a clinical outlook is good for a product that aims to tackle acne problem. The dispenser was also sealed so that's excellent on the hygiene front.

Consistency: I don't understand why this was marketed as a light and feather-weight BB Cream because when I used it, I had difficulty blending it out because it was so thick. Maybe the company was describing the light-weight feeling after the BB Cream has been blended out? When I used this BB Cream, I couldn't dot the product all around my face and then blend it out because once the right side was blended, the left side and forehead would be really thick and it took extra effort to blend out the other areas. Dried way too fast! I had to dot the product on one area first, then blend, then dot another area, then blend.

Coverage and pigmentation:
During breakout - I will not suggest those with a lot of acne to use this BB Cream because it will accentuate the problematic areas. I had many ripened pimples the first few times I used it and the pimples looked way more obvious even after I applied my trusted loose powder. It will definitely cover areas with slight redness, but the coverage will not be enough for painful, pus-filled pimples. I didn't like the consistency and how it made my pimples look more pronounced so I stopped using it.

After facials - After 3 sessions of facials, I was left with acne scarring and so I decided to give the Dr. Wu Acnecur Mattify BB Cream another try. The consistency is not something that will change because I went for facials so I have no change in opinion for that part. However, the application process became more pleasant. My acne scars were adequately concealed and sometimes a concealer was not needed anymore. Just a quick touch of loose powder and my face makeup was done. Hence, I have come to a conclusion that this BB Cream will be a better fit for users who have oily-skin and acne scars, and want to prevent future acne breakouts, and have no painful ripened pimples on the skin.

One more thing regarding the pigmentation, the Dr. Wu Acnecur Mattify BB Cream has quite a greyish tinge when blended out. It's quite strange. My skin has warm undertones and whenever I use this BB Cream, my skintone will alter to one that has way too much cool undertones. This is the reason why I cannot just go out with this BB Cream on my face; I must top it off with my powder/loose powder that will bring back some warmth to my face. Those with cool undertones, you will face no such problems.

Longevity: The longevity of the Dr. Wu Acnecur Mattify BB Cream is the same for me no matter what my skin condition is. Initially, it will produce a nice matte effect. But then, it gets oily after 4-5 hours, which is quite disappointing for a mattifying BB cream. But of course, please take into consideration my extremely oily skin.

The great thing about this product is it did not cause a bad reaction to my skin. I always try new face cosmetics with great caution because of how acne-prone my face is. So, the fact that this didn't cause breakouts already made me a happy camper.

Will I buy it again? I don't think so. It is a decent product if you want to conceal acne scars. But, the consistency puts me off the product. I'm sure the BB Cream industry will expand soon to include more acne-prone-skin-friendly products.

Hope this has been useful! Have a great day ahead guys! :)