Hello skincare friends! It’s been a hot minute, but I wanted to show you all my Olive Young haul that just arrived today. I’ve never ordered on OY before, but the benefit it that you can find products that are hard to impossible to find outside of Korea (like my favorite sunstick by Shingmulnara), and they always have deals, value packs, and cute limited edition versions (especially with makeup). The body wash I bought on a whim because it was on sale smells divine — I’m taking a shower immediately.
Hello hello! Happy March! 🌸 Just quickly sharing some skincare products that are actually making a difference while my skin has been freaking out the past couple of months. Highly recommend all of these, and they’re all fairly affordable, save for maybe the Mario Badescu spot treatment (the cheaper target one is better, IMO).
If you're at this moment hearing or humming Mariah Carey's iconic Christmas bop, you know it's that time of the year again. And God bless, because I needed something happy, comforting, and familiar in my life right now!
Though I told myself I wouldn't buy any more skincare because my money is tight this holiday, I've done it anyway. Shocking.
Soooo, I’ve decided to post my wish list for skincare this Black Friday and Christmas to maybe help you create your own wish list or get ideas for gifts!
Hopefully, my unhealthy spending habits will make you feel better about any skincare (or other gifts) you are buying this season. I've got three shelves of skincare that prove it can be worse than whatever you're doing, lmao.
*The number of stars is how badly I want it out of 5, because I am extra like that.~
Things I've Already Bought
VT Cosmetics PDRN 100 Essence (repurchase)
Cell Fusion C (CICA) Calming Down Cream (repurchase; upgraded version of the original but works just as well)
Purito Post-Acne Moisturizer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Told my sister I will cry if this is not under the tree, and I'm fully serious)
Needly Daily Toner Pad ⭐⭐⭐⭐
AMPLE:N Blemi Shot Cream Moisturizer ⭐⭐
Etude Moistfull Collagen Deep Cream ⭐⭐⭐
VT Cosmetics PDRN Cream 100 ⭐⭐⭐
Okay, that's all! For now...
What skincare is everyone buying this Black Friday or holiday season for themselves? Or what is on your Christmas wish list? Even if you know it's out of budget, I'm curious!
Happy holidays, everyone, and I hope you all have a wonderful week. If you celebrate Thanksgiving, please take the day to treat yourself well, whatever that looks like!
My favorite “makeup” products as someone who only does skincare and has no idea about makeup. Send me asks if you have questions as I probably won’t do a full review. 🩷
The -ber months are upon us, and I’m so happy! 🍁I feel like autumn has come late this year, but the rain, wind, and cold have finally arrived in Washington State, so I wanted to share my current favorite skincare products for the weather right now (though I really use these basically year-round). Send me an ask or leave a comment if you want any reviews or recommendations! Happy fall & Halloween everyone 🎃
5 Bad Skincare Habits That Are Just My Personality Now, lol
Why this post has been sitting in my drafts since 2023 is beyond me. Some of this might be old me (say, 2.5 years ago), but nonetheless, I'll take this opportunity to call myself out, again.
Here are some non-ideal habits I've developed as a skincare veteran who is simultaneously deluded into always buying new products while in a constant state of lost hope.
1. Not appreciating the skincare ritual
Long gone are the days I sit down at my vanity, turn on music or a podcast, take a good 30 minutes to an hour to do my skincare routine, and just bask in the peace and happiness of my favorite form of self-care.
There's two ways I apply skincare now. In the mornings, when I have to rush to work or some other non-escapable reality, I'll stand up at my desk, and apply skincare products right then and there, in maybe 5 minutes or less.
At night? I'll usually put the container with all my daily skincare beside me in bed and apply my nighttime routine while I lie down and watch a show. These are literally the 2-3 hours a day I have to myself to do what I want, so I have to multitask, lol.
2. Being inconsistent with using products
I used to follow the rules outlined in the holy skincare bible, but I've gone rogue. I tend to mostly use the same things every day/night, but I just don't care about consistency anymore. I just grab whatever I feel like grabbing, most of the time randomly, and slap her on. I've got too many toners and serums open that I don't even know how I'd follow a set routine. I'm even worse with treatment products like masks and tools. I've got unused microneedles and an abandoned Dr. Dennis Gross LED mask somewhere in my room. I quite literally spent $500 on that, and it is collecting dust.
3. Hoarding skincare (and forgetting what I have)
It's gotten so bad, guys. I have a drawer AND a half of new, unopened products that I bought because, in that moment, something must have convinced me that I needed it or that it would be the answer to my current skincare problem. I've reached the point where I've forgotten half the things I have or I don't know how I will use all of them before they expire.
People shop online or in store for skincare. I literally go to shop in my own closet.
4. Using too much product or tossing things before they are empty
God, I've gotten so wasteful.
If you think about it, the area space of your face is like, really small. You only really need a tiny amount of whatever you are using, be it face wash or cream, but I've gotten into the habit of applying way too much all the time. Like, a quarter-size of cream is pushing it.
When I use too much product, I usually realize it and wipe it on a tissue or my hands. My hands definitely deserve care, too, but wasting a $45 cream on my hands is not it.
I'm especially bad with this when it comes to face masks. I usually mix my own clay masks or modeling packs, and I always have enough left over for a whole other face (or two). I could just take the time to measure it out right, but I never do. What has become of me? Shame!
5. Letting out-of-stock anxiety rule my wallet
This is certainly related to my hoarding problem, but I have out-of-stock anxiety. Let me explain.
For my favorite products that I just can't imagine not having on-call, I will continue to repurchase refills every time I order from a place that has that product. At this point, I have at least 3 spares of my favorite toner, 5 Abib sun sticks, 3 jars of my favorite clay mask. Yes, it has reached a ridiculous level.
I do not need this many backups at one time, but I just have this raging fear that my favorite products will become out of stock or no longer made, and it'll be the end of the world and I'll have to take another 3 years to find a holy grail replacement.
I need to take a breath and calm down. It isn't that serious. When I need more, I can buy more right then and there.
Someone, virtually slap some sense into me, please.
Have you developed any ~bad~ skincare habits? Finding joy in popping your pimples? Buy products just because they are luxury? Don't leave me hanging.
All The Skincare I Bought In Korea With Ratings~ ✈️
Somehow, I found myself in Korea (Seoul, mostly) for all of July, and of course, I bought some skincare while I was there, though I vowed prior to going to be frugal and not get anything I didn't need.
I'm not sure if the skincare side of Tumblr is even active or a thing anymore, but either way, I wanted to share what I bought and any (un)necessary backstory I feel the need to give.
Well then, let's begin. Muhahahaha...
1. 식물나라 제주알로에 쿨링 선 스틱 (Shingmulnara Jeju Aloe Cooling Sun Stick) 10/10
⭐Quick review: The best stick sunscreen out there IMO, but you probably can't get it unless you're in Korea.
I actually had this on my list before going to Korea, because I am pretty sure it is only available in Olive Young in Korea or on their Korean website. Not entirely sure at this point. Nonetheless.
I LOVED this and it quickly became my most used sunscreen while battling the Seoul summer heat and sun (it's brutalllll, I tell you).
It is easily the best sun stick I have ever used. No irritation, no stinging, no overly sticky residue, nothing. Plus, it actually cools your skin immediately upon application. AND it was only like $12 USD for a double pack? I honestly should have gotten more.
2. Cell Fusion C Aquatica Cooing Sunscreen 6/10
⭐Quick review: Lightweight but not cooling; overall low-range mid for me.
A sunscreen I had high hopes for but did not like was the Cell Fusion Cooling Sunscreen. I love basically their entire cooling line (more on this later) and many other products by this brand, but the sunscreen was kind of a letdown, mostly for being so dang boring.
It applies fine and is lightweight, but that is no longer hard to find anymore with all the amazing chemical SPFs by Korean and Japanese brands. It was also, in fact, not cooling at all, which is what I was most excited about.
Actually, I originally wanted to try Cell Fusion's famed Laser Sunscreen, because everyone seems to love it in Korea, especially as a post-skincare-treatment product (hint the name).
But I took my eyes off the prize for one second and ended up getting this one instead. I already have a ride-or-die liquid SPF (Etude House's Soon Jung Directors Moisture Sun Cream), so I'll probably use the rest of this on my hands or neck, then erase it from my memory (I got limited space in there!).
3. Cell Fusion Cooling Pad 10/10
⭐Quick review: Cooling toner pad that can double as a quick 5- to 10-minute mask. Perfect for hot, red, irritated skin in hot weather.
These toner pads actually cool the skin immediately upon use, and it really blew my mind that a product could do this and not just be a gimmick. It feels like ice on your skin in the best way.
These have been a savior during hot days, but my skin is red and irritated nearly year-round (yippee), so these will always come in handy. No irritation or burning with my sensitive, acne skin, and easily available on Korean skincare websites and Amazon (the packaging may be different, as this is a limited-edition collaboration with, what is it called, My Melody, or something?). It is usually quite affordable too, for toner pads.
4. Haracell Daily Care Lay Cell Cream 10/10
⭐Quick review: This moisturizer proves professional clinic skincare is the next level.
Long story short, my skin was going off the rails during my Seoul trip, and I ended up visiting a dermatology clinic in Hongdae with some friends. It is called Forena Clinic. I highly, highly recommend this place. They're friendly to foreign visitors, have a beautiful facility, and offer everything from low to mid- and high-range price options. I know intermediate Korean, but they did have English- and Chinese-speaking staff if we needed it (my skincare buddy that joined me is Chinese).
So I ended up getting a couple of laser treatments, a cooling facial, and a modeling mask. I spent quite a penny, but I was in a state of skincare bliss. My friends and I were facial newbies, so we went in totally unaware of what the process would be like.
Before our facials, we were led into an area where we could set down our things in lockers, put on slippers, and wash our faces. They had all the products you would need there: cleanser, toner, moisturizer, etc. I washed my face and bam, I was shocked at how bright and comfortable my skin was simply after washing my face. The facial didn't even happen yet, lol.
All the products they had were by a brand called Haracell. Of course, after my treatment I asked the staff if the items were for sale, and low and behold a lady showed me a small cabinet with a bunch of products. It seemed like maybe this question was not often asked, as the cabinet rather looked like it was for restocking only the clinic itself, and when I tried purchasing, the staff had to take a moment to figure out the price of them all, lol. Unfortunately, these products are only used in select clinics in Seoul, and some places may not sell them to customers.
Some of the things I wanted, namely the face wash, were too large to take back with me, but I snagged a few items, one of which was this amazing cream.
You just need a tiny bit and your skin somehow stays moisturized throughout the day or overnight while maintaining a healthy glow. It is truly unlike anything I have used before, and I cry a little every time I use it because when it is gone, it's gone. Sigh.
6. Haracell Aqua Blue Milky Wear Sun Cream 9/10
⭐Quick review: Gentle, moisturizing, medium-weight SPF that is more like a nourishing cream.
I believe Aqua Blue is only one of the several lines by this skincare brand, focused on moisturization and gentle skincare. After my skincare treatment in Seoul, they applied this and I was once again shocked I had no irritation. I looked in the mirror after my lasers (yes, plural) and everything else I had done and my skin was glowy and not red at all. Very confused but delighted, I knew I had to buy this too.
It was maybe the most expensive SPF I have ever bought (I believe something around $40 USD), but I love how moisturizing this is while still being gentle. I generally associate SPF with annoyance and irritation lol, so this was a pleasant surprise.
5. Haracell Tea Trea Trouble Care Toner 8.5/10
The last of my Haracell purchases is this toner, for which I cannot remember the exact name. It was the only one they had but was not the same line as what they had in the washroom, so I bought it on a whim (again, I was on a skincare high and forgot about my bank account).
Thankfully, I enjoy it a lot. It is maybe not particularly special to warrant the price, but I will happily use it up. The only letdown was that the bottle it came in started leaking from the cap, so I had to buy a container from Daiso for my flight back.
For a cheaper alternative that is widely available, try the Ma:nyo Bifida Biome Ampoule Toner. It has been my daily toner of choice for years and years now.
*shamelessly gives up*
Okay, this is taking too long to write, and I've had it sitting in my drafts since August because I am too busy to finish it, lol, so I will end it here and only include photos of the rest.
If you're curious about any of these products, just send me a direct message or preferably an Ask, so I can answer for everyone to see.
Hello everyone! Have you been well? It’s been awhile, but I am in Seoul for the month, and wanted to show you today’s skincare haul. I brought nearly all my skincare with me, so I am trying not to buy too much, but I must buy a few things at Olive Young while I am here. ^^
This is just some of skincare I’ve been using recently… I’ve dropped the idea of a single routine and use what I think my skin needs that day. What is everyone using or planning to try these days? The fact summer and hot weather is coming is making me real nervous for my skin. 🥹
Alright, take a seat, ladies. The keynote speaker is here.
This is a quick overview of the skincare I used and loved this year, as well as things that were letdowns and products I'll be trying this new year. I live on here, so you can always send me an ask if you want more details. Okay, here goes.
THE BEST OF 2024 (IMO)
⭐AMPLE:N Ceramide Shot Ampoule
Everyday soothing, moisturizing serum that won’t irritate even the most sensitive skin
Essence/serum/ample in one
⭐Ottie Vita Glutathione 100 Sheet Mask
Almost gatekept this
The only sheet mask I hoard
Instantly brightens and gives you that fresh I just got a facial look (moisturization is mid)
All other sheet masks I’ve tried irritate my skin and don’t do anything special
⭐Ottie Blemish Clean Gel Cream
Affordable, medium-light moisturizer for all seasons (prob not enough for dry skin)
Never breaks me out
Maybe not for super sensitive skin; check ingredients beforehand
⭐NOW Foods Tea Tree Essential Oils, Roller Ball
Non-drying spot treatment alternative if you like tea tree
⭐Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Non-irritating alternative to vitamin C serums
Slower results but the same brightening concept
Use the brand’s Gentle Vitamin C Serum if you want something stronger but still geared toward being more gentle than typical vc serums
⭐Bye Bye Blemish Acne Drying Lotion
Great overnight option, especially for on-the-surface blemishes
Cheaper but does the same thing as the Mario Badescu one
Can sting sometimes, but only momentarily
⭐Rosen Break-Out Spot Treatment for Large Bumps and Breakouts
Another amazing drying-type spot treatment
Gentler than the Bye Bye one but works just as well
This one doesn’t sting like other drying lotions when applied
⭐SKINFOOD Pantothenic Water Parsley Smashing Powder
Just another drying lotion option, but it really helps with blemishes too
This one also doesn’t sting when applied
⭐ TKTK Acne Pimple Patches
⭐LitBear Large Pimple Patches
⭐Ma:nyo Bifida Biome Ampoule Toner
A toner I will always repurchase and use
Gentle everyday toner for cotton pads
Never once irritated my skin or broken me out in 3+ years
No sticky residue and can potentially help with surface texture over time
Great topper to seal everything in; I’d compare it to the B5 Balm, but this is easier to blend out, more oily than cream, and has a nicer finish, in my opinion
⭐Globe Zinc Oxidize Ointment 20%
As a healing/protecting spot treatment for popped pimples, open skin, etc.
Basic, cheap, safe for sensitive skin
⭐Cerave Healing Ointment
As a topper or for super dry/irritated patches
Good for lips too
⭐MEDIPEEL+ Red Lacto Collagen Wrapping Mask
Amazing peel-off mask that doesn’t rip off your baby hair lol
Skin is bright and pores appear smaller after use
Tip: wear overnight on large pores, like where you’d put a nose strip
⭐Diaso’s cotton pads
The superior choice, no cap
⭐ETUDE Sung Jung x Director’s Moisture Sun Cream
I’ve mostly given up on trying others, and this is my failproof go-to
No irritation, no leftover residue, can wear all day and not start to break out or feel stuffy (two layers might do that to you, so you can use a cotton toner in between or use an SPF stick for reapplication)
⭐Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar
I prefer the black one ovver the beige smoothing one
Black one has an oily feel, but it works for my dry skin and doesn’t make me flake up
⭐Rainbow Research French Green Clay
The only clay I repurchase
Perfect base for adding in other things, or use alone for routine pore/acne care
I always mix this with a tiny smidge of Burt’s Bees Detoxifying Clay Mask; it’s seriously the perfect combo for a clear, bright complex immediately after use
⭐ Klair’s Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream
I don’t do makeup or anything, but I’ve come to love this for covering obvious spots when I go out
Doesn’t make me break out and works with dry skin
LET DOWNS OF 2024
❌Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream
Just boring, really
❌Burt’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick
Too irritating and strong for me
❌Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask
The secret is that this is a basic clay mask that isn’t really healing
❌CNP Laboratory Propolis Lipcerin
This is quite annoying to use, construction-wise
❌Spa Sciences Blemish Potion
This is so hard to wash off in the morning, and I have better drying lotions
❌Proactive Sulfur Skin Purifying Mask
I tried so hard to figure out what this did for my skin, and I think nothing is truly the answer
❌APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Facial Toner
I struggled to finish this; there just wasn’t anything revolutionary
It also had a semi-sticky finish
❌Mary&May CICA Soothing Sun Cream
Everyone raves about this; it just didn't apply well for me
❌eSpoir Water Splash Sun Cream
I have yet to find a tone-up/color-correcting SPF that blends out well on my skin
THINGS I’LL BE TRYING 2025
🧡MEDI-PEEL Meso Collagen Toner (first impressions: I like using it as a sheet mask; wanted to use it as a daily toner, but it's thicker than I thought)
🧡Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Cream
🧡Missha Time Revolution The First Essence Enriched
🧡MEDIPEEL+ Red Lacto Collagen Clear 2.0 Cleanser
🧡MEDIPEEL+ Red Lacto Collagen Cleansing Balm
🧡MEDI-PEEL Peptide 9 Volume Bio Tox Glow Wrapping Mask
🧡Ma:nyo Galac Whitening Vita Serum
🧡Shiseido ELIXIR Skin Care by Age Luminous Glow Mist
🧡Cosrx Blackhead Power Liquid
🧡VT Reedle Shot 100 (First impressions - not painful at all; it felt tingly on my hand but like nothing on my face)
🧡Mario Badescu Whitening Mask (First impressions - I love it as a spot treatment, but it's too fragrant)
*If you consider how much I spent on skincare last year and have already this year... ha ha ha.
Hello skincare friends. Just wanted to show you this cute mirror I recently bought. It has 3 lighting options and you can dim it. 🥹👏🏻 I really want to go back to enjoying my skincare routine each night, so this is my motivation for that! Anyways, that’s all for now. Bye~
I’m sorry ya’ll, what in the hell is this, actually? What is this shenanigans? This tomfoolery? I actually let out the ugliest cackle when I saw this.
How are they going to use an edited after photo where you can’t even see the before’s side of her face, and she’s no doubt wearing makeup in the after. I just can’t understand why brands to do this, like do they think we’re blind?
Now take down these notes for the quiz, ladies: Having her hair all nice and a cute outfit and the big smile are all ploys to make you think this product will make you beautiful and solve all your problems. It could very well be a stock photo because it sure looks like one.
Before and after images like this, and girl I’ve seen them often, make the brand/product almost an immediate no for me. Please tell me if you've seen some crap like this before. We need to band together and stop this nonsense for real.
15 Skincare Things I Don’t Give AF About Anymore (skincare level: ~enlightened~)
Well, well, after another whatever months of radio silence, as usual, the poster child of Tumblr skincare blogs returns (just kidding... or am I??).
If you're new here, welcome to what I'd call one of the UNESCO OG skincare blogs on Tumblr. Okay, maybe that is a bit of a stretch. If you've been here since SUNDAYSKIN's origins, like I'm talking back in 2017, I really, really love you. Like, really. You're awesome.
The lowdown is that I've been knee-deep in skincare since I discovered it in my teens. Fast forward almost a decade (damn I'm old wtf), and I think I've reached the point where it's not something I have to stress about or try to figure out anymore.
I know what works for me, what doesn't, the finish and feel I like, the ingredients I want to use, etc. Of course, I'm still learning and trying new things, but I've got a pretty good understanding of my skin or skin in general.
Maybe you are new to skincare (welcome to the rabbit hole, enjoy the fall) or maybe you've been figuring it out for just as long as I have. Whatever the case, here are 15 skincare things I used to do or care about, but now I couldn't care less. 😎
Have I become lazy lazier, or did I just reach an enlightened level of skincare? You can decide.
1. Using the same routine every day/night
Though I ~typically~ use the same products daily or on a rough routine (back and forth, once a week, etc.), I don’t force myself to follow the same 1-2-3-step routine every day nor do I use the same products every day, save for my prescribed acne medications (sigh). I used to obsess over consistency, as in applying the same things in the same order every single day/night, but I think you should instead just consistently take care of your skin, in whatever way works for you.
My verdict? Tweak your routine based on your skin condition at the moment. Eventually, you’ll instinctively grab whatever you need from your skincare vault. You’ll get there, babe. Trust the process.
2. Drying my face completely
A recent(?) trend in skincare, at least in the US, seems to be about how a towel can harbor a lot of bad bacteria and therefore you should wash your towel often and/or have a designated face towel.
Whether or not your towel has been causing your acne or other skincare woes is debatable; I know good and well many people around the world have the clearest skin but don't give a toot about the towel they use to dry their face. I'm sure it can matter, but I don't think it's going to be a deal-breaker.
My mindset here is why not be "better safe than sorry." I think it wouldn't hurt to try more gentle or hygienic ways to dry your face. My favorite face towel is by INNELLISilk. It's cheap, it's soft, it's apparently made of things that are more antibacterial than your typical towel, it's got one of those tiny hole thingies that lets you hang it places — it checks all my boxes. Though I like to have this towel on hand, I typically use facial tissue to dry my face once a night. A (large) cotton pad would also work.
The whole 1-use tissue for your face is another trend these days, but if it sounds wasteful to you, opt for the designated face towel (preferably a material that won't completely dry the water on your face). A soft facial sponge works too (wet it first, please). You could even go rogue and use no towel at all (wipe as much of the moisture off with your hands as you can).
Bonus tip: whatever you use, it's best to have some leftover water on your face. Apparently, if you let your skin get completely dry in between cleansing and treatment products, your skin will actually start the process of producing more oils. It's also just pretty uncomfortable to have your face dry up. A moisturized, hydrated face is something we all need, regardless of "skin type."
3. Having a routine that's "quick & easy"
My "ultimate skincare goal" used to be that [x]-step, 15-minute skincare routine that I imagined was what the perfect, put-together skincare routine looked like. All the popular products, quick, easy, effective. Girl, stop that nonsense! Everyone is different, so the perfect routine is one that is beneficial, comfortable, and doable for you.
These days, I put on a YouTube video, watch a show, or have Kpop MVs playing while taking my time to go through my routine (E'Last, Just B, Cravity, Enhyphen, and P1Harmony are my fav groups atm, FYI). Sometimes that's 20 minutes, sometimes it's an hour. Take your time, learn about your own skin, and do what works best for your life and schedule.
ps. if you're in need of someone/something to watch/listen to, I've got to give a shoutout to Ulrike Scherer. She's got a YouTube, podcast, and blog. If you really love skincare, and miss the long-form, slowed-down content of the bygone days, namely on YouTube, this is someone you must check out. She's so transparent and passionate about skincare, and she's really helped remind me why I love skincare. It's become my new favorite thing to have her videos or podcast playing in the background when I do my skincare or when I'm just trying to relax. It's seriously like casually chatting with a friend about skincare, and I NEED that comfort in my life rn.
Subscribing on Youtube or liking some of her videos takes seconds and is FREE, so please, please, do it if you can. I'd love to see her hit 1,000 subscribers soon. She really deserves the recondition. Thanks in advance if you check out her content.
4. Using only “safe” green-level ingredients
I used to check all products on an ingredient-checking website like Cosdna, and if there was any ingredient listed as being "unsafe" or comedogenic, I'd almost immediately decide not to further research the product, let alone purchase it.
Unless it has an acne-causing or irritating ingredient that is almost universally shunned — which is unicorn-level rare when it comes to the products I consider buying — I don't worry about what Cosdna says about the product's ingredients being potentially comedogenic. Granted, whether an ingredient is prone to being comedogenic is a real thing, but I think how your skin actually reacts might be different. I'm not a chemist. You (probably) aren't either. The people who formulate products usually know what they're doing. They don't see a negative ingredient and say, "hey, we should add this to the formulation for no reason."
Usually, you just need to try a product to see if it works for you. Others might hate it; others might call it a holy grail. It's you that really matters. This is your world, babe, and don't let them tell you otherwise.
The jury votes that the "safe level" of ingredients should always be considered with a grain of salt.
5. Doing my routine at the same time every day/night
This just isn't practical for me, but I used to think it was another "must" for clear, healthy skin when I was still a skincare baby. I think the premise of recommending this is so that people who may have a hard time doing their skincare every day (busy, forgetful, etc.) will sort of be forced to remember to do it morning and night. If this is you, go ahead, set a morning and night alarm, and see if that helps you stay on track. For me, it's good enough that I do my routine once when it is light out and once when it is dark, lol.
6. Trying new products ~just~ because they are trending or popular
When I was newer to skincare (see a pattern here?), my approach became buying products that were trending or super popular rather than buying products that I needed or that may have addressed the specific issues I was having.
Now, I almost purposefully don't purchase the most popular, trending skincare products (you know, the ones them Tiktokers Tiktok about). Not to say the popular, trending products aren't worth considering. They are ~usually~ popular for a valid reason, but just don't take the popularity as equal to the product being effective for you. There's often a lot of behind-the-scenes marketing and sponsorships etc. etc. also taking place, so it can be hard to see if a product is popular for a good reason or if it is being made popular.
It's my new thrill to find products that are lesser-known hidden gems, like products that are actually holy grails in Korea/Japan/etc. rather than being primarily popular in the US (the products we say we "discovered" but are old news or not actually popular in the place they come from, lol). I never just buy trending skincare because it's the hot thing of the time anymore. The old me is dead and gone.
7. Using products as they are meant to be used
Let me start this with a precursor that some products certainly need to be used as instructed (like acne prescriptions) or some can't be flexible in how they are used (you shouldn't use cleansers as a serum, for instance, though I'm sure by mid 2025 there will certainly be a product like this, lol).
Besides that, back in the ancient times, if a toner was labeled as a "toner" or a serum as a "serum," that's exactly how I'd use them in my routine. The reality is that you can use most products, whether it is a toner, ampoule, essence, sleeping mask, etc., in any way that works for you. I told you: this is your world. Now believe it!
8. Following the standard Korean skincare routine
I think I often bought products in the past just for the sake of filling in the spots of a typical Korean skincare routine, a routine we in fact declared as the universal Korean standard, i.e., oil cleaner, foam cleanser, toner, essence, serum, etc. I actually used to be a huge believer in essences, thought they were one of the most important products to include, but I haven't used an essence in so long! These days I just use serums as my after-toner-before-cream step. Simplify your routine only a couple of steps or make it super complex and detailed — it's always been up to you.
9. Finishing products *because* I spent money on them
If I'm only 1/10th of the way through a serum or spot treatment and I don't like it for whatever reason, I don't shun myself for moving on to a new product or purchasing something else.
Can it be wasteful sometimes? Yes. Do I sometimes waste money on an (expensive) product that actually doesn't work for me? Yes. It happens! Skincare is a journey and there will be hiccups. Unless, well, you're perfect. Then, congrats!
If something is not working for you, or worse, having negative effects, stop using her and try to instead find someone in your life that might enjoy the product. Last resort? The trash (recycle if possible!).
Tip: some of the best ways to avoid tossing full-sized products and wasting your money is to really do your research before purchasing a product and by trying sample sizes before committing to the full.
10. Using extraction tools
...because it's better than using your hands, right? Nah, listen.
I've bought extraction tools maybe 2 or 3 times in my life, and every time, after a couple uses, I throw them out like I'm throwing out the cake I bought despite being on a diet, lol.
I don't think using a tool to take out blackheads to pop pimples is better than doing it with your hands. I think the best route to clear, healthy skin is to not pick or pop at all.
Better alternatives are exfoliating products, clay masks, pimple patches, and gentle cleansing tools like facial sponges. Let's keep the extraction tools in the hands of skincare professionals, okay?
11. Refrigerating products
Girl, let me tell you.
I used to be almost obsessed with making sure my serums and creams and whatnot were kept refrigerated. I think I've been through at least 3 or 4 mini fridges over the course of a couple of years. When they didn't work as well in the hotter months or when the power went out, I'd literally move all my skincare to another fridge in the house like I was transporting a donor's organs to a hospital. I sprinted, y'all. S p r i n t e d.
Then, I had an epiphany. When I tried a refrigerated SPF, didn't like how it applied, then coincidently tried it again when I had removed it from the fridge at room temp, wala: it has now become one of my top-3, ride-or-die SPFs of all time. We love a good skincare plot twist.
I found out that I actually like my skincare applied at room temp more because they're truer to their texture and soak in better. Of course, this is case-by-case and has a lot to do with preference, but if you are on the fence about it, I'd say a beauty fridge is a luxury that isn't really necessary.
I thought it was necessary because I was under the impression that products needed to be colder than room temp to last longer, stay "stronger" longer, etc. This isn't really the case. Unless specified by the product description, products, SPFs included, are made to survive just fine in typical, real-life temperatures. If you're room is extremely hot, in direct sunlight, or the temp fluctuates greatly throughout the day, a mini fridge might be a solution. Heck, a mini fridge that is off might be a solution. To me, a dark, cool place like a drawer or somewhere in your closet is just as good, if not better (cause the whole texture, application stuff mentioned before).
Mostly consistent, out of direct sunlight, and not-too-hot conditions are what you want. Odds are, you can get that without a designated beauty fridge.
12. Making diy masks and skincare with kitchen ingredients
Back in the day, I used to make homemade masks with things like lemon (report me!), oatmeal, banana, egg whites, turmeric, you get it. I probably haven't done anything "homemade" or "natural" since my teens. Mostly because I have the finances to buy plenty of real, packaged skincare and masks to use made by people who know what they're doing, lol. There's no point for me anymore to try and make something that might be good or safe for the skin.
I think making DIY skincare masks was my old thing because it was a way for me to try new things and take care of my skin when I didn't have the money or means to buy the variety of skincare easily available to me today.
Homemade things aren't inherently bad or not worth it. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Or maybe you just like experimenting and trying more natural, handmade things. That's cool too. Just make sure to research what ingredients to avoid using, like, you know, straight up lemon juice from the fridge. Oopski!
13. Judging a skincare product by price
Expensive products must be better or more potent than cheaper ones, right? I probably don't need to explain this to you, but the price does not always relate to how good or effective a product will be for you. There is actually probably more popular and effective affordable skincare than there is luxury, triple-digit products. There's so much affordable, amazing skincare these days that luxury to me is anything over $40, lol.
If you want to invest some money on your skin, see a dermatologist or get a professional facial treatment. The next best thing is an at-home skincare tool, but those require careful, experienced hands and a boat load of research. Careful now, these are dangerous waters.
14. Buying products that are *only* for my “skin type”
I've recently been thinking "skin types" aren't really a thing. Hear me out.
I think of "skin types" now more as "skin conditions" or just the current state your skin's health is in, not as something universally true to you or something you were "born with" like the color of your eyes or hair (even those things can change overtime too!).
Of course, I'm not trying to say that perfect skin health equals "normal" skin that isn't oily, dry, or combo. What I'm trying to get at is that you shouldn't feel the need to put yourself in a box and only buy products marketed toward your "skin type." Just because something is said to be oil-free or for oily skin doesn't mean dry-skinned ladies/guys won't like it. It also doesn't mean that it will automatically be what my oily skin peeps need.
Real-world application-wise, I'm not sure how helpful this insight is, lol, because buying products that were created for your "skin type" isn't technically wrong/bad. Maybe just venture out a bit, remove that "for oily skin" or "for normal skin" filter when shopping for skincare online, try something you might not immediately think is for you. You might find a holy-grail product that's marketed toward a totally different skin type/condition. Always look at a product holistically.
15. Patting versus rubbing in
To be or not to be. But like, who cares? Do what works for you, in skincare and in life, bud. Just be gentle and give your stuff time to absorb. Maybe you didn't even know about the pat vs. rub debate. It's that old.
If you want an extension to this, check out 10 Things I Used to Believe About Skincare but Now I Know Aren’t True *tea spilt on myself*. Yes, if you notice, there are a few similar ideas on there. We recycle and reuse here, as we should.
FYI, SUNDAYSKIN also has an IG, @hellosundayskin. There's no real useful content on there, but sometimes I'll upload what I've bought recently. It's usually just cute photos. Visit at your own discretion.
Anyhow, I'm actually, quite literally, going through a life crisis rn. Still, I was able to somehow write this long a** post. I've actually come back to it on and off for a couple weeks now, or has it been over a month?
I'll be back once my life isn't in shambles... it might be a while. See you then.
I have normal skin, but it gets dry sometimes. I also have a lot of acne. Would this help with acne, because I think it would help with hydration since it’s literally called, “Rose Deep Hydration..”. Thanks.
hi there @scarlettrose0, thank you so much for the ask and I’m sorry if you waited long!
So, the link you've added here is showing me a bunch of different sets by fresh, a brand I've actually never tried myself, so I'm not sure what product you are talking about specifically. Even if I did know, I wouldn't be able to tell you "yes this will work!" or not (I wish I could make it that easy!).
For acne, ingredients like tea tree and salicylic acid have always been my go-tos... but we're all different. Check that the ingredients are suited for your skin concerns and read a lot of reviews. If the product looks like it'll be a good fit, give it a try. Trying it is really the only way you'll know if it’s right for you or not. Not really nice for our wallets... but that’s how it is!
Thanks to your ask, I decided to update my Current Favorites page, so give that a look if you want to see some of my holy grail products. If you have follow-up questions, send me another ask! 💗
ps. If anyone has tried the fresh rose deep hydration line, please leave a comment about how it worked out for you or if you have any suggestions for @scarlettrose0!
