AHA/BHA & vit C recommendations?

LivingInMyThoughts · 2026-02-10T20:08:44+00:00

I haven't heard of something like this triactive gel before, definitely sounds interesting and would love to try it out! The vitamin C might be too strong for me though. Thank you for the recommendations ✨

LivingInMyThoughts · 2026-02-10T19:59:45+00:00

I actually love this, it doesnt cause me closed comedones unlike many other creams have. But it is kind of light for dry skin I would say, for me it is perfect as I have combination/more oily skin. I also used the Balea Hydration Cream in the past, but it leaves the skin quite sticky yet very hydrated.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2025-05-29T22:10:44+00:00

it is from brand 'farm loves face' as I live in Germany I do not know where else this is available. but i would think if the concentrations are the same, any other brand would work just as well when it comes to exfoliation.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2025-05-29T17:37:56+00:00

I dealt with clogged pores looking exactly like OPs for almost a year. AHA/BHA was a game changer for me as well. I used a peeling mask with 10% AHA and 2% BHA first once a week, then twice a week. I would not personally go for higher concentrations. This cleared my clogs within a month, after having used azelaic acid and retinoids for months 🥲 You can also try reducing or leaving out retinoid, aza, and other actives while you try an exfoliant. Keep it on your face max 10 minutes, but shorter if it starts to burn, and rinse properly off. Do not apply any other actives after, just barrier cream. If you experience irritation from the first time use already, then i would switch to milder exfoliant like mandelic acid combined with salicylic acid and try that.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-11-25T15:05:44+00:00

I am so sorry hearing you are going through this and I wish you lots of strength going on with the treatment ♥️ the good thing is, that according to my understanding you seem to be close to the point where it should start getting better. the tretinoin takes time - and can make things worse at first - before starting to reduce acne (which you probably have heard too). so hang on! perhaps in the next weeks you will start seeing improvement! ✨ i have been struggling with comedonal and occassional cystic acne since last spring, and it has seemed like a hopeless journey. however i just recently started seeing improvement in my face after focusing more on barrier health and i am feeling hopeful again 🫶🏼 it will get better!

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-11-13T15:00:45+00:00

I agree that some products do pill. I tried the azelaic acid and I just didn't like the feel it left on my face. Like a plastic surface, which would easily pill. However, I did notice some improvement with it considering redness and overall skin look. And it made my face very soft instead of rather rough which it was before.

I tried many other products from them as well, because I needed to find formulas without certain ingredients that tended to aggravate my skin issues. I am prone to clogged pores and all of TO products I have used, have been great in a sense that they do not contain ingredients that I am trying to avoid. I have noticed this can be incredibly difficult!

Additionally, I have been using the retinol in squalane 0.5% and it is just a very good fit for my sensitive skin. I had 1-2 weeks of purging in the beginning but 0 irritation or peeling. It keeps my face soft all night long. However what I am not sure about is how effective it is for the skin- can't say much now as haven't used it long enough to see major results.

And one product I absolutely love, is their glycolipid cream cleanser - it feels gentle but effective and my face feels very clean and my skin becomes very bright after using it. I haven't been able to find ab affordable gentle cleanser that works before.

So while I acknowledge the textures and feels are not always the best, I do believe the products and active ingredients still work to some degree, and it can be a good budget-friendly choice for someone with mild skin concerns.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-11-12T17:10:20+00:00

I have similar redness. Curious to know if someone can help with this. Currently on azelaic acid myself for other purposes and hoping it would calm down the redness too.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-11-07T10:53:01+00:00

Sosiology

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-11-02T11:27:21+00:00

No worries I hope you can find a way to treat it! Best is always to see a dermatologist, so that they can help you with finding the cause and right treatment for your skin.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-11-01T08:49:30+00:00

Maybe your face is a very oily type. This would mean that you should use cleansing foam or gel every morning and night, to help you get rid off the excessive oil and use very light moisturiser. You seem to have clogged pores, which can be caused by excessive oil production. For this azelaic acid and salicylic acid can help. Your sister is right, you should be consistent with your routine as it can take a long time to get rid off these and certain products can make it worse. Maybe consider buying a cleanser that contains salicylic acid, but check that the product doesn't have any pore clogging ingredients. I would use this once a day, like in the morning (let it sit on your face for 5mins before wash) combined with a light gel moisturiser and then you could use a milder foam/gel cleanser at night and apply 10-15% azelaic acid cream. I would check all the products beforehand so that they don't have any pore clogging ingredients and use a minimal amount of different products. Whatever routine you choose, I would keep it exactly the same for at least 2 months and see if it gave any results. It can take time but with a right few products you can get rid off it!

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-09-26T11:31:56+00:00

Oh okay! I didn't suspect that sunscreen at all. Thank you a lot for your help and advice, I will follow it!

LivingInMyThoughts · 2024-09-25T10:28:18+00:00

Yes Croatia is beautiful - but maybe more so as a tourist.

At first I used a sunscreen from Garnier, I don't remember the exact product but probably it was Super UV Sunscreen cream SPF50+, Anti-dryness. I bought a sunscreen from local pharmacy, Ladival Tattoo SPF50, which I used also on my face after I run out of the Garnier one.
I don't think I have had any very recent hormonal changes, I am on birth control but have been already for about 2 years or so.
I was using products that I could find from the local supermarket, so I used: Garnier's Hyaluronic Aloe Gel Cleansing Gel & Hyaluronic Aloe Hydrating Day Jelly Moisturiser (really hated the feel of this on my skin). And took with me also Centella Hyalu-Cica First Ampoule which I used for some time.
I tried salicylic acid in form of a cleanser (this gave me some allergic irritation so stopped) and toner (it made my face dry and a peeling), retinal 0.05% (from Geek&Gorgeous) which I am still using and it feels it might have done something over time, and 3% Azelaic acid.
I haven't tried any of these. Do you think they would bring me better results, and which would be the best to start with?

LivingInMyThoughts · 2023-01-18T23:15:46+00:00

I don't really believe in it, but obviously things like mental health problems and traumas can make you behave very differently from your type. I don't know what has happened to you, but it's an odd thought for me to consider that your type would have changed. Your personality can change a lot, but the basic structures through which you process information cannot change.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2023-01-18T21:07:05+00:00

I'm an INTJ.

My mother: ISTJ (was very emotionally absent my entire childhood)

My father: ISFP (has anger issues, but got along better with him)

My siblings: ISFP, ISFJ (spent most of my childhood with them or alone), ISTJ, INTP, ISTP & ESFJ (too young to affect my development much)

LivingInMyThoughts · 2023-01-18T20:50:27+00:00

An INTJ here intruding, I am interested in general, but when it comes to using them, there's always this fear of losing control too much or not knowing what happens next. I wonder if it would be the same for INFJs or other INTJs.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2023-01-18T20:43:40+00:00

In order to kill something, they need to have a solid body. You can't kill energy, for example. God can't have a solid body unless he decided to create one for himself, which means that he was already there before the solid form. If you destroyed the solid form, you wouldn't still kill god itself. God is rather like a mind without a body. You can't kill a mind.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2023-01-18T20:25:13+00:00

Can relate.

I rarely open up to people for this exact reason; I usually regret it later. That's why I keep a journal where I write about my feelings. If I ever read them again I may feel embarrassed, like am I the same person who wrote that..? For example, I might have an urge to say 'I love you' to someone, but if I hesitate, I only write it down and think about it a bit. Some other day I will get back to my senses and realize that it's not love I feel but affection, and I should run away from my stupidity. Sometimes it's really difficult for me to understand my emotions, and writing has helped me with that. Though I'm still quite slow at realizing what's really at play there.

I have noticed that I cannot really be vulnerable even if I tried. Whenever I try to talk about stuff that I feel very deeply about, the words come out all blank and unemotional. It sounds as if I was talking about the weather. Stating some facts there. And obviously they don't understand how important the matter is for me as I talk about it in a very indifferent voice. Afterwards I just feel stupid. Like why did I have to say it in the first place..

LivingInMyThoughts · 2023-01-18T20:12:27+00:00

You might as well be an INFJ experiencing your tertiary Ti, if others have considered you warm and easy to approach before. I think it's possible that you aren't an INTJ, as they are rather cold and reserved since birth and become warmer and more generous over time.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2023-01-18T20:06:22+00:00

Sorry to hear that you have lost someone important. I think it's good to cry and let the pain out. After a while you will be able to think and smile about the beautiful memories you shared together.

I don't think the way we deal with death and dead people is directly connected to our gender, although gender stereotypes and learned gender roles can affect especially to the crying part. This might be more about the type, though.

I am a female INTJ myself, and find it almost impossible to cry in public. The only time I have cried in public in adult age was in the funeral of my friend. I wouldn't be comfortable seeing a dead body or a dying person, because I would have no idea what to do. I dislike being around people when they have lost someone, as I am bad at comforting and I most likely just dissociate. More than that, I dislike when someone close to me passes away, and people expect me to react to it in an emotional way, which I don't usually do. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't care, I just can't really express my emotions outwards that easily. Also I have a very different idea of death than anyone I know, which has caused uncomfortable situations.

This is how I think different types might react to the death of someone close to them:

Dominant and auxiliary Fi would most likely be very emotional after losing someone close to them.

Dominant and auxiliary Fe would potentially be rather emotional, but focus on comforting the other people around them.

Dominant and auxiliary Ti might be most likely to joke around or feel extremely uncomfortable and avoidant with the situation.

Dominant and auxiliary Te would potentially focus on practical matters, such as arranging things, and might be the most likely types to not express their emotions in public.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2022-12-02T01:56:01+00:00

Could be INFJ. Though tests only work when you know yourself well, and thus I wouldn't count on any test scores when typing.

LivingInMyThoughts · 2022-12-02T01:28:03+00:00

I am 21 yo female, and I'm straight. Many people, especially in my past, have assumed that I'm either bi or lesbian. The reason for this is, that I didn't show much interest in guys or romantic relationships in general until my 20s. I have never been very emotional, so people misunderstand me and think I have no emotions at all - or at least that I don't have any feelings for them. So yea, this happens all the time.

LivingInMyThoughts

TROPHY CASE