How To Take Better Care of Your Skin
Simone Sydel
The last thing you want to see when you look into the mirror are enlarged pores staring back at you. Enlarged pores are something that we notice, and we instantly think everyone around us can also notice them too. However, this isn’t the case because people don’t usually notice these things. When was the last … Read more
It’s only natural that we prioritize taking care of our face more than our body because our face is constantly seen in the mirror. This enables us to spot any dullness, sagginess, discoloration, or a freshly grown pimple, which are all things that we want to get rid of ASAP. Admittedly, I am also guilty … Read more
Tea tree oil is often used in complementary and alternative medicine to treat conditions such as athlete’s foot, lice, nail fungus, cuts, mite infection, insect bites, and acne. However, while you can use tea tree oil for mild to moderate acne, this doesn’t come without its own risks, much like any other ingredient in a … Read more
Acne scars are the aftermath that remains once the inflammation ceases. Depending on the length and severity of the inflammation as well as your skin’s resilience, type, and color – acne scarring can appear as dark brown spots, red spots, purplish spots, or atrophic scarring that sits lower than the surface of the surrounding skin. … Read more
The relationship between spicy food and acne is a controversial one, to say the least as people have long been arguing whether certain hot foods can exacerbate the inflammatory condition or even cause it in the first place. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but for some people, spicy food can cause acne flare-ups. This may … Read more
If you have facial acne, chances are that other areas of your skin are also prone to this inflammatory condition. To get rid of chest acne, much like regular facial acne, you need to keep the area clean as much as possible and apply topical treatments such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids. But … Read more
Witch hazel is a botanical ingredient used in holistic medicine to help treat acne, oily skin, inflammation, open wounds, puffy eyes, sunburn, insect bites, and even varicose veins and hemorrhoids, too. In this article, I will explain a few things you need to know about witch hazel and why this ingredient is bad for the … Read more
To get rid of butt acne, you need to avoid wearing tight clothing that induces friction, apply warm compresses to soften the bumpy skin, keep the area clean as much as possible, and apply topical treatments such as exfoliating acids. Butt acne is a mild skin condition medically known as folliculitis. The name folliculitis is … Read more
In this article, I am going to let you in on the 10 things that completely changed my skin. I always like to say that taking good care of your skin is not difficult nor complicated. In many cases, it’s us and our beliefs of what we should do that’s causing us all sorts of … Read more
As someone with oily and acne-prone skin, the first thing I do when checking out a new skincare brand is head over to their “oily skin” section. However, upon checking out the range, I always start to wonder why do cleansers have to be specifically intended for oily skin when this is a product that’s … Read more
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from your face and body and the key to smooth, glowy, and healthy-looking skin. In this article, I will give you a few easy tips on how to exfoliate your legs as well as share my favorite body exfoliating products. Physical/Manual Exfoliation Physical exfoliation involves buffing … Read more
Your skin can become dry even though you moisturize regularly for a number of reasons including dry and cold climate, using the wrong skincare products for your skin’s needs, not moisturizing adequately, relying on a low-nutritious diet, hormonal changes, certain medication, etc. So, why is this an issue? Dry skin can become a problem because … Read more
I admit I haven’t always been diligent with my sunscreen application, however, during my short time of practice and learning how to recognize and deal with sun damage; I’ve discovered the importance of this step. But finding a good sunscreen for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin is a mission impossible, so I am not at … Read more
You may already know that discoloration and scarring left from acne are much more difficult to heal than the condition itself. I still have some red spots from past acne on my cheeks even though I haven’t had a severe breakout in more than six months. Most often than not acne goes away in a … Read more
Are you looking for a cleanser for oily skin that’s also sensitive due to using harsh products or drying acne treatments such as tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide? I think I might’ve found the one for you. This cleanser saved my oily/acne-prone skin when it was inflamed and peeling due to an awful purging period after … Read more
Unlike other products by The Ordinary, their Argireline 10% Solution isn’t one that’s discussed all too often. Compared to how popular their hyaluronic acid and niacinamide serum are, the Argireline solution is a product I’ve never heard about before until few months ago. Apparently they’ve been selling it for years but I’ve been completely oblivious … Read more
It’s been a while since I’ve compared Paula’s Choice to a more budget-friendly option that does the same thing. Now, we all know that Paula is the queen of going the extra mile and adding more than one beneficial ingredient in her products, which is why her products are leaning on the pricier side. But we … Read more
Working from home has its own perks, but unfortunately, it comes with a few minor side effects. The increased use of digital devices and screen time for work and recreation has also lead to an increase in eye strain, fatigue, headaches, and even mood swings. I often catch myself straining to read something and letters … Read more
I’ve previously talked about ultrasonic spatulas on my blog so you may already know that I find these devices particularly useful for extracting stubborn sebum that’s hardened inside the pore. This time around, I was contacted by ANLAN to do a review on their bestseller – an Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber. I happily accepted their offer … Read more
CeraVe is an affordable, drugstore brand that has products for every skin type and skin concern, including a good range for acne. What I personally like about the brand is that they take a minimal approach with their formulations and their products often have a short but straightforward ingredient list. A few of the most … Read more
Direct high frequency is a facial treatment that’s available at any esthetician’s office and is considered a timeless rejuvenating treatment for the skin. A high-frequency machine can be used daily as it is a very safe and non-invasive procedure with no side effects if responsible precautions are being exercised. It is a beneficial treatment that … Read more
The difference between pimples and acne is that acne vulgaris is a skin condition and pimples are one of its symptoms. This condition is incredibly common and it affects the skin’s hair follicles (pores) and oil-producing glands. What Causes Acne? The only thing that causes acne is clogged pore. Under your skin, your pores are … Read more
Preventing instead of treating is a rule estheticians are well familiar with. It is very easy to prevent any skin disorder than letting it advance to the point where it needs to be treated. This is because your skin is a very resilient organ that takes time (sometimes years) to show any real damage from … Read more
Strapping a piece of cloth to our faces isn’t exactly ideal for our skin and the problem is only made worse by scorching summer heat and excessive sweating. It’s so bad, in fact, it lead to a whole new issue many of us were unfamiliar with before – maskne. Yes, face masks cause acne, but … Read more
The lack of hydration is one of the main reasons your skin gets sallow, saggy, and dull-looking as you age. But how do you rehydrate aging skin once it starts to sag and look dull? Drinking a good amount of water (although beneficial) isn’t the only answer and it is unlikely that it will make … Read more
Tretinoin is one of the most researched anti-aging and anti-acne treatments available in today’s market. It’s incredibly effective, however, its known side-effect is irritation which can leave you with red, sensitive, inflamed, and peeling skin. Given that tretinoin is a powerful ingredient on its own, you need to make sure you are not adding fuel … Read more
Did you know that it is possible to reduce cystic acne in as little as five days? This is manageable through a simple and effective skincare routine, minimizing the ingestion of inflammatory foods, taking a few beneficial supplements, and introducing a few healthy habits. I talk to many people that are doing isotretinoin courses boosted … Read more
FOREO, the Swedish tech and beauty brand famous for their smart cleansing brushes came out with two newest additions to their tech and beauty family. This time around, they pleasantly surprised the biggest tech and beauty enthusiasts (myself included) with two smart microcurrent devices – BEAR and BEAR Mini. I previously did a review on … Read more
Applying sunscreen can protect your skin from premature aging and protect your acne from turning into pigmented little spots that can be difficult to get rid of. However, acne-prone skin is most often oily skin, and sunscreens are notorious for creating that thick, greasy, and occlusive layer which makes many people avoid them at all … Read more
Every reputable esthetician would never recommend their clients to attempt extractions at home. I mean, sure, if you want to royally mess up your face knock yourself out, but as an esthetician, I strongly advise against that. A few things that are very likely to go wrong if you attempt extractions at home can be … Read more
Salicylic acid is my favorite ingredient in skincare products. And while I tend to experiment with many salicylic acid products, I always go back to the ones I like most: Paula’s Choice BHAs. I swear by these two and, so far, they are the best salicylic acid products I’ve found. However, they are a little … Read more
Regardless of how much available information there is on the internet for free, people still seem to be making horrific mistakes that damage the skin. Taking care of your skin isn’t difficult and it shouldn’t be confusing or frustrating. If this is how you feel about it, it probably means that you are either doing … Read more
Do you need help with choosing niacinamide serum? Here are 10 best niacinamide serums under $30 to get you started. If you’ve been on this website before, chances are that you’ve might have read some of my articles where I rave about niacinamide and how much I love this ingredient. I don’t keep it a … Read more
After my horrible experience with the Lala Retro Whipped Cream that left me broken out with painful cystic acne, I had to resort to using a potent combination of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide treatment. This is an excellent combo to effectively tackle acne but it has a downside of leaving the skin dry and … Read more
Cleansing your skin is the first and most important step in your routine as this helps you remove bacteria, pollution, dust, makeup, and grime, instead of leaving them on your face. However, as we age, we should be aware that tweaking our skincare routines according to our skin’s needs is also a very important thing … Read more
Ever since I purchased my first product by Drunk Elephant, their F-Balm, I can admit that I got hooked on buying their products. Their packagings look fun and creative, they use clean ingredients to formulate their products, they are cruelty-free, and they are expensive. Wait, what? Yeah, we are all guilty of having that irresistible … Read more
After seeing my review on the F-Balm by Drunk Elephant, a fellow skincare lover recommended me to try the Lala Retro Whipped cream and give my thoughts on it. As someone with oily/acne-prone skin, I was a little hesitant due to the several problematic ingredients it contains, however, I figured it would be a perfect … Read more
An aesthetician without her beauty tools is like a pot without a lid. While I have tried many beauty devices throughout the years of being an aesthetician, I am always excited about trying something new and different. Therefore, I was ecstatic when a FOREO representative contacted me and asked me to review one of their … Read more
As someone with excessively oily, acne-prone skin, I practically grew up thinking, “the heck do I need a moisturizer for?”. This thinking continued until I started studying to become a skin specialist and I was astonished to find out how much a moisturizer can actually help my oily, acne-prone skin. Therefore, I became something of … Read more
I always like to point out how important sunscreen is for our skin. Besides preventing a whole lot of skin concerns such as pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, red marks, uneven skin patches, and all sorts of discoloration, sunscreen is also what protects your skin from cancer. Therefore, it is important to make it a habit … Read more
Ever heard of polyglutamic acid? Yeah, me neither. But that was only up until The Inkey List (which is becoming one of my routine staples) came up with their serum/treatment and I thought what the heck, let’s try it out. First things first, I have to say that I am not usually as reckless when it … Read more
Closed comedones are those white or skin-colored bumps that don’t have a collection of pus on top and they are seemingly headless and can’t be popped. Getting rid of closed comedones is easy and all you need is to pay extra attention to your skincare routine, especially your exfoliating habits. Therefore, in this article, I … Read more
Having acne on the cheeks is most common right after acne on the forehead, however, it is no different than acne on any other part of the face, neck, chest, back, and even bum. Acne is a common occurrence that can manifest itself on any area of the body and it usually appears in the … Read more
COSRX is a Korean skincare brand that acquired a cult following from all over the world thanks to YouTubers like James Welsh and Hyram that constantly rave about K-beauty on their channels. I’ve already mentioned COSRX here on my website and it is one brand that I genuinely like and trust because they are famous … Read more
One of the most enjoyable and fulfilling reasons for owning a skincare blog is the fact that I get to help people from all around the world by sharing what I know about skincare and how to take great care of the skin. Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated and the truth is that most … Read more
Drunk Elephant is a brand that has been around the corner for a while, however, truth be told, I’ve never thought of trying their products. Not because there was something I didn’t like about them particularly, but because my face was covered in severe cysts until about two years ago so I was being extra … Read more
Acne on the chin is no different than acne on other parts of the face, neck, chest, back, and even bum. This is a common occurrence that typically manifests itself in the form of solid red or purple bumps that often (but not necessarily) have a collection of pus at the top. To get rid … Read more
Besides the recent public controversies, The Ordinary is a brand you don’t really hear a bad word about, at least when it comes to their products. And it’s really not difficult to see why everyone loves it. The products are ridiculously cheap, they are formulated with simple and clean ingredients, are excellent for all skin … Read more
There was a time when toners were considered a necessity in a skincare regimen. Especially if you have oily and acne-prone skin, you’ve probably been told to use these astringent and smelly solutions that often burned your skin but you kept convincing yourself that “if it burns it has to be working, right?”. Well, no. … Read more
Having a good skincare routine is the foundation of having good and healthy skin. However, with so many available options on the market, how do you even know what to choose and what will work for you? Figuring out your skin type and your main skin concerns is a good place to start in order … Read more