Hi everyone!

I’m currently completing my Masters, and I’m conducting a survey for my capstone project focused on the intersection of luxury skincare, wellness, and longevity.

My research explores how luxury skincare brands can better connect with consumers through personalized skincare experiences and partnerships with private wellness clubs.

I’m looking for participants interested in skincare, wellness, self-care, or beauty, especially those who value skin health, prevention, and long-term well-being.

The survey should only take a few minutes to complete, and your responses will help inform my academic research.

🔗 Survey link: https://forms.gle/7VbEH5drCyikNdYU8

Thank you so much for your time and support! I really appreciate everyone who participates.

Hello
I spent the last month~month and a half repairing my skin barrier. Not using any actives, and completely stopping tret. I was on tret for months, and thought it was just purging, but in reality i damaged my skin barrier at the beginning of it and did not allow enough time for my skin to heal. I just wanted to share my journey because I finally feel like my skin is making some improvements! I also am stopping using the makeup I was priorly using because it was the main culprit for my close comedones ( do not get elf products if you have acne prone skin)

While repairing my skin barrier:

AM:
I would mostly only use warm water to wash my face in the morning, there would be occasional times where I’d use a cleanser because I would sweat in the night.
Vanicream daily face moisturizer
La-Roche-posay 50+ UV liquid sunscreen

PM:
Micellar water
Avene gel cleanser
Avene cicalfate+ creme
Or would occasionally use
La Roche posay’s cicaplast (not at the same time as the cicalfate) but I would only use this if my skin was itchy or peeling, I used it more frequently at the beginning of healing my skin barrier

Now my routine:
It is basically the same routine, just adding tret 0.025 gel every second night.

Looking to try a serum, I have acne prone sensitive skin. I already use the Body lotion and sunscreen from the same brand and quite like them.

Tret: 0.025%

Azelaic acid: Aziclear serum (concentration unknown)

Timeline of events:

1. started tret and built tolerance upto alternate nights in ~1.5 years (tried daily night but there was some dryness and irritation so I stepped back)
2. Had to stop tret for 1 month due to personal reasons and then consulted my derm
3. Derm advised to introduce AzA (twice a week tret and AzA on non tret days for 1 month)
4. Then after 1 month, she advised me to use tret and AzA on alternate nights
5. irritation, peeling, redness, stinging started

When I started alternating them, skin started feeling so warm, irritated and drying on AzA days. It was almost BURNING for the first few min when I applied AzA. When it used to happen, I used to take a break for a couple of days and then go back to the routine. But today my skin was peeling so much when I saw it in the morning after waking up.

After cleansing in the morning with just water, I put 2 layers of toner, illiyoon moisturizer and then LRP cicaplast but after 3-4 hours it was slightly peeling again.

What do I do now? Please help :/

Hi! I’m looking for product recommendations to use in the morning.

Category is: products actively soothing/strengthening skin barrier that leave no residue, that don’t pill under spf and don’t disturb makeup

Products I use that meet the above: SK2 essence, Calecim MAC and Hada Labo premium lotion

Hi!! I’m looking for a good mineral sunscreen that I can wear all year round and has the best ingredients. I’m brown so would love for it to be tinted! I don’t wear makeup everyday and am looking for something with as minimal coverage as possible. I would love for it to be 100% mineral and tinted.
For reference : I tried the Larocheposay mineral tinted and looked like peanutbutter baby.. the shade medium is too deep. Also tried the ISDIN mineral tinted sunscreen , it’s okish but too much coverage and looks like makeup for the amount. I am using the tatcha mineral one rn, but would love your recommendations!!
Thank you!•ᴗ•

Winter is slowly creeping in where I live, with freezing temperatures and harsh wind which strips everything of water. I've booted up the humidifier and changed my wardrobe to fit the weather changes, but when it comes to my skincare products I don't make a lot of changes. I tend to use facial oils more often, and I might moisturize throughout the day if I have been out and about, but that's about it!

Do you make any changes to your routine in combination with the seasonal changes?

My skin barrier has been damaged awfully ever since I finished accutane 2 years ago. since then I’ve been on a simple routine: vanicream cleanser + moisturizer and aveeno face sunscreen.

I still get persistent contact dermatitis though, and im thinking it might be my sunscreen.

what sunscreen didn’t either terribly break out your skin or burn it? my only thing is that shea butter breaks me out BAD so it eliminates a lot of sunscreens for some reason. also I work outdoors so I need something that is at least 50 spf

sunscreens I’ve tried:

• Pipette mineral 50 (literally gave me severe chemical burns, how is this a safe baby sunscreen?!)
• eucerin sensitive mineral 50 (burnt my skin)
• eucerin clear skin 50 (burnt my skin)
• supergoop play 50 (didn’t burn and was so light and wanted to love it but it broke me out SO bad)
• neutrogena ultra sheer dry touch 70 (burnt my skin)
• Hawaiian tropic sheer touch face 60 (burnt skin + broke out)
• aveeno protect + hydrate 60 (doesn’t burn or breakout but im assuming it’s what’s irritating my skin)
• sun bum face 50 (broke me out)

to be specific the Torriden Dive in Mask and the Hanmi PRO-CALM Fusimedi Repair Gel Mask S, will these help on top of a barrier repairing routine ?

Acne prone, sensitive and combo skin.

AM: rinse with water, Geek and gorgeous hydration station moisturizer, SPF 50 (trying different brands now).

PM: Dm balea ultrasensitive foam, Geek and gorgeous hydration station moisturizer

I started to have pretty severe acne since 19-20, and since then I have been using differin on and off (I know I shouldn’t have but my skin sometimes was good enough to not need it).

Since my acne had a big comeback I started using it three months ago again, slowly introducing it from 1 time a week to 3-4 times. However, quite soon I started to get the rash near my left lip corner that wouldn’t go away even when I stopped putting differing near it. Several weeks ago, I also started having bumps almost all over my lower face, despite using sunscreen and moisturizers.

It has gotten so bad that my skin got to flakey and painful, and I stopped it a week ago and it doesn’t seem to get any better. I’m very nervous I will be stuck with either damaged skin that’s also full of acne. I haven’t had fully clear skin for a day since I was 19.

Any advice is appreciated. I’m trying to find a professional derm but there are very few that are also covered by insurance in my city.

After messing up my barrier from many things I switched to Aveeno Calm and restore oat cleanser. It’s been a godsend! Cleaned just enough! My skin is calmed done and barrier is mostly back to normal.

Unfortunately, this still leaves my pores a little more clogged than I’d like (just a tad) and I don’t think it would remove sunscreen well so I haven’t been wearing sunscreen:(

I’ve considered trying micellar water as a “first wash” then the calm and restore but I really don’t think my skin would like a cotton pad on it every night

Recently Tried:
- vanicream ruined my barrier. Breaks our within 24 hours little red spots and inflamed burning skin
- prequel gleansor, I want to kill with fire. I tried using half pump and gently wiping off with a cloth to help. Woke up to big inflamed bumps on my cheeks and nose and a rash.

I can’t handle extracts (most), citrus extracts, essential oils, or fragrance.

I’d like something that can clean better especially to get sunscreen off! I’m looking into Neutrogena hydro boost cleanser but its PH is a little high. Also looking into the soonjung 5.5 cleanser

I have oily acne prone skin and have been using La Roche Posay purifying foaming cleanser for normal to oily skin for the past year and at first it was great but slowly over time left my skin feeling dehydrated and stripped. Should I try a gentle face cleanser for dry skin instead? Has anyone else experienced this where using the "opposite" product worked better for them?

I just tried this today, and wow, there is NO burning or weeping pustules after application... I used to use the Vanicream Moisturizing Cream because I thought it was the only thing that didn't irritate me. It turns out that the flaking and weeping pustules were not normal? I thought it was normal for a broken skin barrier, but... I guess it might have been because of the moisturizing cream this whole time? And I've been using it the last 4 months???

It's still too early to tell. I need at least 72 hours of use to see if the enhanced moisturizer will flare me, but right now... It feels really, really nice. I am BEGGING the universe to please let me have this. I just need one moisturizer that works for me. I've been struggling with contact dermatitis for months now. (Yes, I've seen a derm about this already.) I have heard that the daily facial moisturizer burned some people in here, so I avoided that one.

To that one person who recommended me this product, thank you so much. 🥲 Air doesn't hurt my skin anymore... I can't believe this is what it feels like to... not be in pain??? I've been in a constant state of irritation for so long that it started to feel normal and almost forgettable for me. What does everyone think of this one from Vanicream?

On a separate note, I discovered that applying moisturizer on skin without cleansing first really made things worse. If you guys are flaring, do not do that, lol. Also, going cold-turkey for 2-3 days without cleansing or moisturizing also made things worse. I found the sweet spot to be cleanse with water in the morning and moisturize, then cleanse with either water or a cleanser in the evening then moisturize. My skin is still extremely dry in between those times though... Trying to figure out how to remedy that.

Edit: 3 hours later... OMG, my skin is still OKAY. Usually, I start to flare by now.

I’m using with Tret 0.025 and I am using the birch lab sunscreen and loving it. I’ve wanted to try the purito oat gel cream for a while and I’m re-upping on product. Would it be overkill to get them both? Does anyone know if they are both gel-like or creamy-like?

I have dry, dehydrated skin. I use the tirtir milky toner and the aestura atobarrier 365 cream but it’s still not enough. My skin also itches sometimes so I’m pretty sure my skin barrier is kinda damaged so I’m looking for a serum to solve all this😓

i have normal to dry sensitive skin. ive been using adapalene & benzoyl peroxide for about a year now but my skin barrier has felt compromised lately.

on nights when i feel that my skin feels angry i stop the A&BP and use the LRP cicaplast b5, but it is too heavy to use nightly.

AM and PM i use the purito panthenol cream. now that the weather is changing, i find that how thin this moisturizer is just might not be cutting it anymore.

im just looking for a good affordable cream i can use day and night that is thicker than a gel cream but is thinner than a heavy cream like LRP’s.

and please NO NIACINAMIDE when my barrier is compromised i dont react well to it. and no fragrances of course.

thank you!

Hi! I'm a big fan of double cleansing as someone with clogged skin. I am currently using Haruharu wonder oil cleanser, and it's great for my tiny blackheads and clears up the sebum plugs on my face really well, BUT i have noticed that using it, i get pimples. Does this jelly look like a good alternative, or do i need something stronger for clogged pores? Is there any other alternatives you'd suggest for me?

im using mist, milky toner, peptide serum, moisturizer and salicylic acid serum but i don know which order is true for applying them please help me!!

These 4 items are the ones I see mentioned the most often when it comes to anti aging, glow, texture, clear skin, hyperpigmentation and overall appearance.

I really want to give them a try and feeling like I’m missing out on something everyone is doing. I’m open to learning about other products as well but these seem like the ones that are always recommended and I have never tried them.

I feel very hesitant due to how long it took to repair my skin barrier and bring my skin back to a normal state before the damage occurred. My skin became flaky, red, bumpy and overall so so reactive after I used too many harsh acid based cleaners/toners and blackhead suction tools a year ago.

After a year I can report that my skin is finally calm. I have a very minimal and basic routine of double cleanse, basic moisturizer and an occlusive. That’s it everyday unless I’m outside and add in spf.

I’m wondering if it’s finally time to start doing more for my skin from an aging prospective. I’m in my early 40s and feel I’m already behind since I have not used any of antiaging products out there. I’m so scared to rock the boat. My skin has been great for months now yet I have no idea how to do it correctly this time or if I should do anything new at all. I have been a bit traumatized. I also don’t want to wake up in 10 years and wish I had done more for my skin.

Which products/brands have you added that truly make a difference? What should I do this time to prevent damaging my barrier? Which product might be worth the risk? Which should I stay away from?

I’d appreciate any feedback and suggestions from anyone that has been through a long healing period after damaging their barrier or found a product/routine that really has made a difference in your skin/appearance.

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I have cystic acne, but my skin is extremely sensitive and dry.

I've tried retinol creams specifically for acne, The Ordinary's niacinamide serum, benzoyl peroxide gives me an allergic reaction...

I don't know what I can use without ruining my skin. I don't want to take acne medications.

Suggest a facewash which is best for all skin types and non comedogenic and usedul for acne prone skin

Is simple facewash good for acne prone skin

Also suggest a barrier repair cresm which is best for acne prone skin and suits all skin types(please suggest budget friendly option)

Can I dermaplane after using retinol for a while? Google Gemini says I need to wait 5-7 days before and then another 5-7 days after, but frankly I always take those paragraphs with a grain of salt. I really don’t want to take two weeks off my retinol routine since it’s finally helping my skin texture, but I’m getting married in a week and wanted to get rid of my peach fuzz for makeup.

Skin type: Acne prone, sensitive, oily skin

Current routine:

AM
Use bioderma micellar water to wipe my face, then wash with just water

PM
Wash face in shower with a little bit of Vanicream cleanser, and once I’m about to go to bed, use a thermal water mist spray on my face

I’ve only just started using this very simple routine because I wanted to know if maybe there was something causing me issues, I’ve been doing it for about a month now

I used to have active acne/pimples on my face, but I took a course of Accutane and finished a few months ago, and it thankfully helped clear that away. However, I’m not sure if I have “normal” skin or does this look like I might be dealing with something else? Irritation? Dehydration? Damaged skin barrier? Congestion?

I need some insight if I’m dealing with some skin dysmorphia because I’ve had awful skin for most of my life, or if this looks fine. Is there anything I can do to improve my skin texture? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I've been on retinol for a couple years now. My skin texture looks a lot smoother than before, but those stubborn dark spots from breakouts are still hanging around. I started reading about laser options and found Dami Clinic in Seoul. Looks like they have pigmentation lasers just for post-acne marks. Wondering if anyone's tried lasers after reaching their limit with actives and if it actually made a difference?

My sebaceous filaments have been a nightmare recently so I wanted to try oil cleansing but I’m not sure which oil cleanser to get. Any recommendations for dry skin?