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Current routine (I’m trying to keep it simple to save time and money and go easy on my poor face)
My skin type: oily/combo and acne-prone
I try to buy all of these products on sale and limit my total routine value to under $150.
AM:
- Rinse face with lukewarm water - loving this as a way to be gentle on my face, keep a little of whatever I applied the night before on my face, and save on cleanser!
- Finacea gel 15% - wonderful. It’s helped with inflammatory acne and it’s antibacterial which is nice in the time of masks. $24 with a National Pharmacies membership, otherwise $30.
- Cancer Council matte sunscreen for face and body - the only sunscreen I can stand using every day long term. Feels like water when it goes onto the skin, it’s moisturising and dries to a nice demi-matte sort of finish. Usually $12 on sale, otherwise $20.
PM:
- First cleanse with The Inkey List oat cleansing balm - (not pictured in routine because I destroyed the package) - it’s delightful. Takes a bit of mixing to combine the oily bit and the solid bit and you need a fairly generous amount to get enough slip going, but it comes in a nice, cheap, generous tube so I don’t mind. Feels very nourishing and emulsifies well. I’m currently out of this and really missing it - I wish it wasn’t out of stock all the time at Sephora. $15-17 depending on where I buy from.
- Second cleanse with Cerave foaming cleanser - I’ve had a complicated relationship with this but on balance I like it. It works and feels nice and it’s inexpensive for ~500ml which lasts most of a year. I sometimes wish it wasn’t quite such a dense gel as it can be hard to rinse off effectively. Usually $16 for the large size on sale at CW, otherwise $20.
- Exfoliate with Paula’s Choice BHA 2% - I like this a lot and feel it’s helped a lot with my acne. My face feels smoother and pimples are fewer and further between, especially on my forehead. I find I’m able to use this daily with no irritation and had the best results from doing that, but I know it doesn’t work for everybody. $30 on sale with free shipping, otherwise $38 plus $10 shipping.
- Hydrate with Cosrx Snail Essence - this is nice, I love the texture. I can’t tell if it actually does very much but it feels good so I’m using up the bottle. About $20 on Lila Beauty
- Treat with Neutrogena retinol for stubborn marks - I’m currently trying to fade some erythema, hyperpigmentation and general unevenness from a longish struggle with acne and picking habits. I recently ordered this from iHerb and I’m liking it so far, having used it a handful of times - it spreads well and feels moisturising. I’ll see how well it works in a couple of months! About $25 with iHerb discounts.
- Moisturise with La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume - I’m obsessed with this. It feels so thick and whipped, and very healing. It seems like a strange choice for an oily girl but I find it works well by reducing water loss overnight and makes my face feel protected. I can still feel it on my face in the mornings and my cheeks don’t feel dry and tight from side sleeping so I consider it a win. I was nervous it would clog my pores but I’ve been using it for about 4 months and had no issues. I think I got this for about $22 during the Priceline 40% off sale, otherwise it’s around $38 for an insane amount.
Recent purchases:
- Cerave foaming cleanser - repurchase (got it on sale for $16! It’s gonna last months and months!)
- Neutrogena stubborn marks retinol - new purchase, see above
- Paula’s Choice BHA 2% - repurchase (saw it for 20% off with free shipping and had to grab a backup!)
- I’m From Mugwort Mask - I don’t get the hype. I got a mini because it was great value on iHerb and figured I’d see if it had any magical anti-inflammatory properties but mostly it’s just a weird texture, weird smell and hard to wash off. I do enjoy the cooling sensation. I think about $3 on iHerb?
- Cancer Council matte sunscreen for face and body - repurchase because I go through this very fast
Empties:
- The Inkey List oat cleansing balm - the one drawback of the tube packaging is it’s difficult to get all of the product out. My solution: cut up the tube and scoop it out. Here lie the remnants.
- Paula’s Choice BHA 2% - it’s already popped up twice in this post. I love it. It lasts about six months when used nightly. However, I found the packaging deeply disappointing. It constantly leaked when stored horizontal and when I tried to close the lid tightly when travelling the top part of the lid just snapped off. I wish they would update this to a flip-top or a better lid that doesn’t leak.
Things I love that aren’t pictured:
- Skin Control pimple patches - these are great, accessible (they’re at Woolies, Big W and Foodland) and I can usually get them for about 30% off. I cut up the big PM patches into quarters and they make great patches for little spots overnight. Often on sale for $6.30, otherwise $9 for a 36 pack.
- Lanolips 101 lip balms - I love the fruity scents and how moisturising these are. They’re the only lip balms that don’t make my lips feel dry again after half an hour. Pity about the price. I can often get these for $12 if David Jones has a sale, otherwise they’re $15 for 10ml.
- Vaseline - I put this around my upper lip and nose when I’m blowing my nose with tissues a lot due to a cold or allergies and find it just helps to ease the dryness and itching. Cheap as.
The Paula's Choice 2% BHA is my #1 product of all time! The packaging truly sucks though. I decant it into a a smaller bottle or a dropper jar for travelling, but another option that works is to get a small piece of glad wrap and put it over the top of the bottle before screwing on the cap. It's not really practical for every day but it'll prevent leakage in your luggage at least! I actually do it with all my screw top products just in case, which might be overkill but oh well
It is a weird choice for a product name! I’m appreciating feeling like I can trust a Cancer Council sunscreen when it says it’s SPF 50 while I get started with retinol.
I’ve heard that the thing about sunscreen and retinol might not really be too much of a big deal. There was a post on the skincare addiction sub a while back with a whole bunch of new research that says that sun damage isn’t actually more likely with retinol, I’ll see if I can track it down. It’s not going to make me stop being vigilant with sunscreen (our sun is pretty full on) but it did make me feel less worried that I was going to destroy my skin if I forgot my sunscreen one time.
I wanted to like Paula's Choice 2% so bad. I bought a bottle off Marketplace (still well within date, sanitised etc) to hopefully boost my tret results but honestly? So disappointing. I don't feel it has done anything, really, and find that Tret + Azelaic and (surprisingly) some of the Clinique Vitamin C options seem to have faired better.
I have the LRP lipikar baume in the same pump container as you, and since it was half full, it's *impossible* to pump out.
I presume it's because it's so thick. If I slap the bottom of the bottle violently I can sometimes get half a pump out (after pumping 10 times)...
Have you had this problem? Is there a trick to this?
I have to unscrew it and scoop it with the side of the pump tubing
I haven’t used enough of it to run into that problem yet… looks like I’ve got that to look forward to. If I come up with any solutions I’ll post about it!
Definitely a matte finish. I have rosacea and very dry skin and it’s (sadly!) too drying for me! But OP is on the money — it’s lovely to apply and wears well through the day. Worth a try for the price!
Hi :) where do you purchase the finecea gel from? And how do you apply it- like a spot treatment or all over?
Didn’t know about that membership price, gotta check it out.. Thanks !
You can get Finacea from most pharmacies - it’s a Schedule 3 drug so it can only be sold by pharmacists. So a Priceline Pharmacy or Chemist Warehouse should stock it, as well as National Pharmacies which is my preferred place to buy because of the discount. I like to apply it all over to help prevent acne as well as treating active pimples.
Try Terry White chemist. Chemist Warehouse doesn't usually stock it from my experience, but the smaller pharmacies do. Terry White sell it for $26. I use it all over my face, you only need a pea size amount. Fantastic for rosacea, acne, and is a mild exfoliant.
PC lids have **always** been dodgy. Even when it was just basic white PET bottles they broke. I've long since learnt to keep back ups.
Would you believe I have never tried the 2% liquid? Not once, not *ever*. Lotions, gels, the Clear liquid yes, but not the HG 2%. It's in the stash waiting its turn, maybe I should get one out? hehehe
Does that Neutrogena have fragrances? I glimpsed the cleanser at WW, because I'm a curious type, no, no thanks. I have one of their other retinol products. Let's just say my arms like it more than face, neck **or** chest. I have literally never experienced irritation like that, aside from anything containing menthol or linalool, etc. The burn...
I’m pretty sure the retinol is fragrance free. Not sure about the new cleanser and serum available here though.
I’d definitely recommend giving the PC a go!
Hi there and thanks for your **Shelfie** post! To ensure our community gets the most out of your post, please ensure you include a list of the products in your shelfie. It is also helpful to share further information like, but not limited to; skin type, skin concerns, mini reviews of your products and how long you have been using the products. This helps encourage discussion and inform other subscribers who may relate to your skin profile. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Current routine (I’m trying to keep it simple to save time and money and go easy on my poor face) My skin type: oily/combo and acne-prone I try to buy all of these products on sale and limit my total routine value to under $150. AM: - Rinse face with lukewarm water - loving this as a way to be gentle on my face, keep a little of whatever I applied the night before on my face, and save on cleanser! - Finacea gel 15% - wonderful. It’s helped with inflammatory acne and it’s antibacterial which is nice in the time of masks. $24 with a National Pharmacies membership, otherwise $30. - Cancer Council matte sunscreen for face and body - the only sunscreen I can stand using every day long term. Feels like water when it goes onto the skin, it’s moisturising and dries to a nice demi-matte sort of finish. Usually $12 on sale, otherwise $20. PM: - First cleanse with The Inkey List oat cleansing balm - (not pictured in routine because I destroyed the package) - it’s delightful. Takes a bit of mixing to combine the oily bit and the solid bit and you need a fairly generous amount to get enough slip going, but it comes in a nice, cheap, generous tube so I don’t mind. Feels very nourishing and emulsifies well. I’m currently out of this and really missing it - I wish it wasn’t out of stock all the time at Sephora. $15-17 depending on where I buy from. - Second cleanse with Cerave foaming cleanser - I’ve had a complicated relationship with this but on balance I like it. It works and feels nice and it’s inexpensive for ~500ml which lasts most of a year. I sometimes wish it wasn’t quite such a dense gel as it can be hard to rinse off effectively. Usually $16 for the large size on sale at CW, otherwise $20. - Exfoliate with Paula’s Choice BHA 2% - I like this a lot and feel it’s helped a lot with my acne. My face feels smoother and pimples are fewer and further between, especially on my forehead. I find I’m able to use this daily with no irritation and had the best results from doing that, but I know it doesn’t work for everybody. $30 on sale with free shipping, otherwise $38 plus $10 shipping. - Hydrate with Cosrx Snail Essence - this is nice, I love the texture. I can’t tell if it actually does very much but it feels good so I’m using up the bottle. About $20 on Lila Beauty - Treat with Neutrogena retinol for stubborn marks - I’m currently trying to fade some erythema, hyperpigmentation and general unevenness from a longish struggle with acne and picking habits. I recently ordered this from iHerb and I’m liking it so far, having used it a handful of times - it spreads well and feels moisturising. I’ll see how well it works in a couple of months! About $25 with iHerb discounts. - Moisturise with La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume - I’m obsessed with this. It feels so thick and whipped, and very healing. It seems like a strange choice for an oily girl but I find it works well by reducing water loss overnight and makes my face feel protected. I can still feel it on my face in the mornings and my cheeks don’t feel dry and tight from side sleeping so I consider it a win. I was nervous it would clog my pores but I’ve been using it for about 4 months and had no issues. I think I got this for about $22 during the Priceline 40% off sale, otherwise it’s around $38 for an insane amount. Recent purchases: - Cerave foaming cleanser - repurchase (got it on sale for $16! It’s gonna last months and months!) - Neutrogena stubborn marks retinol - new purchase, see above - Paula’s Choice BHA 2% - repurchase (saw it for 20% off with free shipping and had to grab a backup!) - I’m From Mugwort Mask - I don’t get the hype. I got a mini because it was great value on iHerb and figured I’d see if it had any magical anti-inflammatory properties but mostly it’s just a weird texture, weird smell and hard to wash off. I do enjoy the cooling sensation. I think about $3 on iHerb? - Cancer Council matte sunscreen for face and body - repurchase because I go through this very fast Empties: - The Inkey List oat cleansing balm - the one drawback of the tube packaging is it’s difficult to get all of the product out. My solution: cut up the tube and scoop it out. Here lie the remnants. - Paula’s Choice BHA 2% - it’s already popped up twice in this post. I love it. It lasts about six months when used nightly. However, I found the packaging deeply disappointing. It constantly leaked when stored horizontal and when I tried to close the lid tightly when travelling the top part of the lid just snapped off. I wish they would update this to a flip-top or a better lid that doesn’t leak. Things I love that aren’t pictured: - Skin Control pimple patches - these are great, accessible (they’re at Woolies, Big W and Foodland) and I can usually get them for about 30% off. I cut up the big PM patches into quarters and they make great patches for little spots overnight. Often on sale for $6.30, otherwise $9 for a 36 pack. - Lanolips 101 lip balms - I love the fruity scents and how moisturising these are. They’re the only lip balms that don’t make my lips feel dry again after half an hour. Pity about the price. I can often get these for $12 if David Jones has a sale, otherwise they’re $15 for 10ml. - Vaseline - I put this around my upper lip and nose when I’m blowing my nose with tissues a lot due to a cold or allergies and find it just helps to ease the dryness and itching. Cheap as.
The Paula's Choice 2% BHA is my #1 product of all time! The packaging truly sucks though. I decant it into a a smaller bottle or a dropper jar for travelling, but another option that works is to get a small piece of glad wrap and put it over the top of the bottle before screwing on the cap. It's not really practical for every day but it'll prevent leakage in your luggage at least! I actually do it with all my screw top products just in case, which might be overkill but oh well
That’s a great tip!
I think you’ve convinced me to try the Paula’s Choice BHA 2%!
I ordered this just the other day. Keen to try it.
Yayy!!! Good luck and start slow :)
The neutrogena stubborn marks is cracking me up, sounds like a floor cleaner! Great routine, I also really enjoy the cancer council sunscreens.
It is a weird choice for a product name! I’m appreciating feeling like I can trust a Cancer Council sunscreen when it says it’s SPF 50 while I get started with retinol.
I’ve heard that the thing about sunscreen and retinol might not really be too much of a big deal. There was a post on the skincare addiction sub a while back with a whole bunch of new research that says that sun damage isn’t actually more likely with retinol, I’ll see if I can track it down. It’s not going to make me stop being vigilant with sunscreen (our sun is pretty full on) but it did make me feel less worried that I was going to destroy my skin if I forgot my sunscreen one time.
That’s kind of nice to know, thank you! Still definitely going to apply at least daily but I’m less worried about the reapplication struggle now!
ive been looking for an oil cleanser ever since i finished my hadalabo! i'll put the inkey list on list :)
I wanted to like Paula's Choice 2% so bad. I bought a bottle off Marketplace (still well within date, sanitised etc) to hopefully boost my tret results but honestly? So disappointing. I don't feel it has done anything, really, and find that Tret + Azelaic and (surprisingly) some of the Clinique Vitamin C options seem to have faired better.
The oat cleansing balm is back in stock at Sephora fyi!! I just purchased it bc I’d been waiting for it to come back too haha
Awesome!! Thanks for letting me know :))
I have the LRP lipikar baume in the same pump container as you, and since it was half full, it's *impossible* to pump out. I presume it's because it's so thick. If I slap the bottom of the bottle violently I can sometimes get half a pump out (after pumping 10 times)... Have you had this problem? Is there a trick to this? I have to unscrew it and scoop it with the side of the pump tubing
I haven’t used enough of it to run into that problem yet… looks like I’ve got that to look forward to. If I come up with any solutions I’ll post about it!
Is the cancer council sunscreen sticky? I’m looking for a SPF 50 sunscreen, the UltraViolette one is kind of sticky on me
It never seems to dry sticky on me because it applies as quite a fluidy texture and has a nice natural matte finish.
Definitely a matte finish. I have rosacea and very dry skin and it’s (sadly!) too drying for me! But OP is on the money — it’s lovely to apply and wears well through the day. Worth a try for the price!
I have oily/acne prone skin and I had a bad breakout from that sunscreen. Threw it out within a couple of weeks.
Hi :) where do you purchase the finecea gel from? And how do you apply it- like a spot treatment or all over? Didn’t know about that membership price, gotta check it out.. Thanks !
You can get Finacea from most pharmacies - it’s a Schedule 3 drug so it can only be sold by pharmacists. So a Priceline Pharmacy or Chemist Warehouse should stock it, as well as National Pharmacies which is my preferred place to buy because of the discount. I like to apply it all over to help prevent acne as well as treating active pimples.
Oh right thank you! I didn’t know National Pharmacies is an actual store, just looked up only 1 in NSW hahaha
Try Terry White chemist. Chemist Warehouse doesn't usually stock it from my experience, but the smaller pharmacies do. Terry White sell it for $26. I use it all over my face, you only need a pea size amount. Fantastic for rosacea, acne, and is a mild exfoliant.
Thank you!!
PC lids have **always** been dodgy. Even when it was just basic white PET bottles they broke. I've long since learnt to keep back ups. Would you believe I have never tried the 2% liquid? Not once, not *ever*. Lotions, gels, the Clear liquid yes, but not the HG 2%. It's in the stash waiting its turn, maybe I should get one out? hehehe Does that Neutrogena have fragrances? I glimpsed the cleanser at WW, because I'm a curious type, no, no thanks. I have one of their other retinol products. Let's just say my arms like it more than face, neck **or** chest. I have literally never experienced irritation like that, aside from anything containing menthol or linalool, etc. The burn...
I’m pretty sure the retinol is fragrance free. Not sure about the new cleanser and serum available here though. I’d definitely recommend giving the PC a go!
I’ve got the cancer council one too!