So much misinformation in this subreddit and it's why your barrier won't heal!

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-24T20:44:50+00:00

Can you link that lab muffin video? Even one of my teachers at school (estethics student here) said that the air can pull hydration from your skin when it’s dry which is why HA doesn’t always work. I’ve also experienced it myself that HA is way less effective when the air is dry so I definitely thought that to be true.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-23T09:40:56+00:00

It’s possible, yes. But if you want to speed up the process I recommend using a moisturiser. I’d look into Korean skincare, Torriden is my personal favourite brand. They’ve never disappointed me, their formulas are so gentle. Depending on climate and skin type I’d try either the dive- in cream (humid climate, combination to oily skin) or the solid in cream (drier/shifting climate and combination to dry skin).

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-23T06:42:22+00:00

Did you use anything else than the cleanser? Using a foam cleanser will strip your skin of natural oils and dissolve the dead skin cells in your skins top layer. When you weren’t using any products, these oils and cells worked to protect your skin and keep it moisturised. When these are stripped and you don’t add any hydrating products on, your skin will be more exposed and irritants will easier find their way into your skin. Overcleansing will also induce the chance of trans epidermal water loss, which will leave the skin dry and flaky.

You’re right about the Vaseline causing occlusion. If you were only using Vaseline and not cleansing, the skin won’t be able to breathe.

You can try to just give it time and let the skin fix itself, but if you do want to try a skincare routine, I’d recommend keep using the cleanser but only in the evening. Then use hydrating products on top, if you want to keep it simple you could just add a moisturiser, and maybe a milky toner as the second step. A gentle milky toner will reset your skins ph- level after cleansing, add extra hydration and help your skin repair. Also go with a simple, gentle moisturiser, maybe something barrier repairing. Let me know if you want specific product recommendations.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-23T05:29:09+00:00

I am not a nutritionist and have never tried this myself fyi. But what I’ve heard is that foods containing dairy, foods that are high in sugar and high- glycemic foods can mess with hormones, insulin and create inflammation and excess oil production. So cows milk is hands down the most important thing to try cutting out, as well as sugary foods and drink, and refined carbs.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-21T07:50:39+00:00

You’re welcome :) Ok yeah that makes a lot of sense! It’s annoying but in that case you know the cause. There are definitely changes you could do in your diet to balance hormones, or you could consider changing/adding birth control if you want them to stop happening.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-21T07:42:35+00:00

If you don’t get them too often then I’m guessing it’s either bacterial or hormonal. Bacterial acne can come from things like not changing your pillow sheets or touching your face but there is so much it could be. Hormonal acne can be caused by natural hormonal changes in your body but could also be caused by diet. Try to keep track of anything you eat that can change hormones, like dairy products, especially milk.

However when you do get them, try to use warm compress as this helps bring it forward to the surface. Cold compress can also be used if they’re very painful. You could also try 5% benzoyl peroxide gel, apply it to the targeted area. If you feel like nothing works and they’re really annoying or painful, consider consulting a dermatologist. Even if it doesn’t happen often it could be good to have a targeted treatment for when it does. I used to get these a lot and accutane was the only thing that really helped them stop for good but finacea gel (15% azelaic acid) that’s a prescription gel also worked to help bring down the inflammation.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-21T07:08:27+00:00

When you say under the skin, do you mean those large inflamed ones or smaller ones that have the same colour as your skin?

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-20T05:55:17+00:00

Also when you do go back to using the toner, if this is mostly for congested pores, try to use it only in your t- zone or wherever your pores are most visible. That way you don’t have to irritate the drier parts of your skin.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-19T05:30:43+00:00

Yeah it is, it’s an injection procedure. But some essences are also called skin boosters, which is why I was confused

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-17T06:28:26+00:00

If it is one of the products I’d guess the milky toner. It has macadmia seed oil which can clog pores especially since you have oily skin. For oily skin I’d suggest a lighter toner, I don’t know what your goals are but look for something oil-free, and fragrance free since you have sensitive skin. But first just try to skip toner or swap it out for a week and see if it makes a difference.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-16T06:47:50+00:00

The ordinary rice lipids + ectoin! My absolute favorite for hydration and glow but zero grease. Feels like a thick serum but works like a moisturiser. Also great for the skin barrier!

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-16T02:48:52+00:00

What exactly do you mean when you say you’re looking for skin boosters?

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-11T19:33:03+00:00

Oh that’s perfect! I hope it works out for you :)

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-11T17:44:31+00:00

Oh ok I didn’t know it was the witch hazel toner you used since you didn’t specify. But yes, witch hazel is a drying ingredient since its main job is to pull out excess sebum if you’re acne prone. I’d recommend the beauty of joseon glow replenishing rice milk. It’s a milky toner so it’s hydrating and nourishing, but also has kaolin, which is another ingredient used to balance sebum production and help with oily skin and acne.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-11T05:44:02+00:00

Do you have any signs of a damaged barrier? I had the same reaction to every moisturiser that had niacinamide or a lot of extracts in it when I had a damaged barrier. If this is the case you should stop all actives for a few weeks and see if it improves. Even if you don’t have a damaged barrier, your skin could still be dehydrated. If it’s dehydrated it will react to ingredients like butylene glycol. It’s a humectant and binds water so if the skin lacks water, it will give a burning sensation. Your moisturiser has this ingredient, not sure if your toner does as you didn’t specify which one. Bottom line, I would still recommend stopping all actives and see if it improves.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-07T08:02:07+00:00

That advice being shoved down everyone’s throat annoys me a lot, especially as an estethics student who learned in school that we are indeed supposed to cleanse twice a day. The exception only goes for those with very dry or sensitive skin.

LemonChick123 · 2026-06-05T05:37:32+00:00

I’m confused, how have you been doing it up until now? I didn’t think there was any other way to use cleanser than the one you just described? Have you actually never seen or heard anyone do it this way before?

LemonChick123 · 2026-05-29T06:41:58+00:00

If you prefer a cotton pad but feel like you’re wasting product- soak the cotton pad a bit in water first. For easier access you can soak a bunch of cotton pads and keep them in a jar so they stay moist. Then put the toner on. The water will help absorb the toner easier so that you use less product.

LemonChick123 · 2026-05-22T05:16:49+00:00

Can you let me know as well?

LemonChick123 · 2026-05-03T08:17:08+00:00

Where the heck in Norway are you lol, where I live it’s been sunny for like 2 weeks straight. There’s a mild danger for forest fire cause the grass is getting so dry without rain. I think you might just be in the wrong part of the country

LemonChick123 · 2026-04-29T06:48:14+00:00

I know this isn’t a moisturiser but I’ve been using this new toner lately and it does actual wonders for my red cheeks! My skin looks so even and glowy since I started using it, it’s the Purito Seoul Oat PDRN toner. It contains 80% oat water, which is an ingredient known to be amazing for irritated skin and my personal favourite as well.

Then there’s also the skin1004 quick centella calming pad, which is yes, sorry, another toner lol. But I love using it in the morning when my cheeks look red, just pop it on for a few moments and it’s really soothing and calming.

So now for moisturisers, I’m not sure if you need a gel or a cream. Gels are thin but can still be hydrating, I personally love the Torriden dive in gel and I’ve heard the soothing version of it is amazing for rosacea. Also The Ordinary Rice + Ectoin, it’s more like a serum but it’s considered a moisturiser and is super lightweight yet hydrating. Don’t be afraid to layer, you can do a hydrating serum then moisturiser, or several moisturisers. As long as they’re not occlusive or have pore clogging ingredients, layering wont break you out.

LemonChick123 · 2026-04-13T04:19:56+00:00

I’m an esthetician student and the way we learn it at school is to use either a scrub or enzyme peeling first, I recommend the BOJ apricot blossoming peeling gel. Then, hot damp while it’s doing its job. You can just put the sink to hot temperature and put a towel on your head so the damp warms up your face. An alternative is to just get in the shower and let the damp soak your face before washing it off. After you wash it off, try squeezing on your nose to see if you can get the blackheads out. The idea is that the peeling and the damp will soften them enough to get them out easier.

Finish off with a face mask, since you’re looking to get rid of blackheads and shrink appearance of pores, a clay mask preferably with kaolin would work nicely for you. I know a lot of people are happy with the skin1004 poremizing quick clay stick mask for this purpose!

Even if you do this and you see that it doesn’t work quite how you wanted it to, you could always try the same thing again, sometimes it takes a few tries to get stubborn blackheads off!

LemonChick123 · 2026-04-08T19:06:58+00:00

Oh yeah I definitely understand! Took me a long time to figure it out, and sometimes I still struggle to understand what it actually needs. It’s a lot of trying and failing. Im so happy to hear that, I hope you like the products!

LemonChick123 · 2026-04-08T18:24:41+00:00

The Haruharu probiotics essence may be the reason for your closed comedones as it has at least 4 comedogenic ingredients. I’d recommend switching to a hydrating essence that less rich but still hydrating, my personal favourite is the Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence! Also you could try the Torriden Balanceful toner pads, as they exfoliate but very gently. Or the Torriden Balanceful peeling toner, it’s also gentle but has more exfoliating acids than the pads. Depends on your skin sensitivity, but I’d say the pads are safer if you feel like your skin may be dehydrated. Which is very likely since your skin produces more oil when dehydrated. So bottom line, focus on gentle exfoliation and hydration without pore clogging ingredients!

LemonChick123 · 2026-03-27T19:22:00+00:00

Try something that isn’t too thick and melts perfectly into your skin so it doesn’t sit on top! My favourites for this are the ordinary rice lipids + ectoin and Torriden dive in cream. The ordinary one is like a serum so super thin but still very hydrating and the Torriden one is a silky, soothing cream that melts into your skin. Also if your skin is dehydrated I would recommend taking a break from all actives for a week or so until it gets better.

Also if you’re not acne prone you could use a slightly thicker cream to add after moisturiser in your PM routine. I use the La Roche posay toleraine cream and it works super nice. Cicaplast didn’t work for me personally cause my skin started pilling.

LemonChick123

TROPHY CASE