SKIN DIARY 1 - the products

The core products that have transformed my skin

credit - Pinterest

In “Skin Diary”, I’ll be breaking down everything related to my personal skin journey. Initially, I considered writing one big post, but I realized I wanted to be as detailed as possible in each category. For the first post, I decided to share a simple skincare routine—a breakdown of the core products I’ve been using for almost a month. While I do use some additional products occasionally, the ones I’ll mention here are the staples I’d recommend if someone asked what has made the biggest difference to my skin.

cleanser

I use two types of cleansers: micellar water and a gel cleanser. Over time, I’ve tried several micellar waters, but I always find myself returning to Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water. While micellar waters don’t tend to vary drastically, Bioderma’s formula stands out because it doesn’t irritate my skin while effectively removing makeup—especially mascara and eye makeup. I only use micellar water at night to remove makeup.

My main cleanser is the Dr. Sam Flawless Cleanser. As someone with acne-prone, combination, and sensitive skin, I used to believe that foaming cleansers were the best option—it seemed logical that stripping away excess oil would help. But I was wrong. I now realise that my acne worsened because harsh ingredients were destroying my skin barrier.

It took me a while to adjust to the lack of foam in Dr. Sam’s cleanser. At first, it feels basic—unscented and non-foaming—but its ingredients, like aloe vera and allantoin, help calm and soothe sensitized skin. My skin feels thoroughly cleansed without the tight, dry sensation I used to experience. I use this cleanser every night and some mornings when my skin needs it. It has been a consistent part of my routine since May 2024.

serums