Glam Skin Review

Vitamins In Skin Care That Is Beneficial To Your Skin

To face the mornings of this unique WFH setup, I prioritized improving my skin. But I’ve realized that it’s also time to focus on your inner glow, your health, rather than just your skin. Taking care of your skin should be a priority in your daily routine. After all, it is the largest organ in your body. 

Taking vitamins and immunity boosters on a daily basis is an excellent first step in this direction. The good news is that a vitamin-based skin care brand can assist you in achieving your healthy, glowing skin. When it comes to what goes into their products, the most popular Korean brands are those that strive for innovation. 

I’ve prepared a guide for you to understand the vitamins that Korean products contain as well as the most commonly used Korean skin care ingredients.

Types of Vitamins In Skin Care And Their Benefits

There are typically 6 types of vitamins in skin care that you could explore. Mainly, Vitamin C, A, K, E, B5, B3.

• Vitamin C 

The epidermis, or outer layer of skin, and the dermis, or inner layer of skin, contain high levels of vitamin C. Its cancer-fighting antioxidant properties and its role in collagen production contribute to the health of your skin. It’s a potent antioxidant that protects skin cells from free radical damage caused by UV rays or pollution. 

Vitamin C, in particular, is frequently used in skin care to combat the signs of aging because it promotes collagen production, which keeps skin plump and firm and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

A famous Korean serum that I would recommend that is rich in Vitamin C is Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop. This serum also contains Centella Asiatica, which is an ingredient that helps you if you have acne-prone skin. Another serum that most beauty fans love is the Purito Vitamin C serum. This serum brightens and evens skin tone while refining skin textures, thanks to a blend of 10% Vitamin C solution and 84 percent Hyaluronic Acid.

A word of caution though, Vitamin C tends to have the tendency to irritate or peel sensitive skin. Thus, understanding your skin would likely avoid the downside of this nutrient.

• Vitamin A 

Vitamin A is required in both the upper and lower layers of the skin. Vitamin A has a famous derivation called retinol. It appears to protect against sun damage by interfering with the breakdown of collagen.

Because it’s an antioxidant, it may help protect your skin from sunburn. Its benefits include minimizing effect and helps to prevent wrinkles while also smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin A is rich in anti-inflammatory properties, which explains why it could help in treating acne, acne scars, and clogged pores. Since it can also regulate cell function, it can normalize oil production and maintain its firmness.

However, Vitamin A has its own side effects as well. It can cause redness of the skin, skin peeling, and irritation. This nutrient also has to be used with much understanding of your skin type.

• Vitamin K 

Vitamin K is necessary for the body’s blood clotting process, which aids in healing wounds, bruises, and surgical scars. In addition, vitamin K is found in various topical skin creams and can assist in treating a variety of skin conditions. Vitamin K also helps you fix skin conditions such as scars, stretch marks, dark spots, and dark under eyes. 

Also, Vitamin K is primarily used in eye creams since it is composed of properties that could improve blood clotting processes that would result in brighter under-eye areas. This ability also smoothens out signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines. It enhances the blood vessel’s elasticity that would result in firmer and plumper skin.

• Vitamin E 

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, just like vitamin C. When applied to the skin, vitamin E absorbs the sun’s harmful UV rays. Its primary role in skin care is to protect the skin from sun damage. The ability of the body to minimize the damage caused by UV rays is referred to as photoprotection. 

With Vitamin E igniting photoprotection, you can avoid dark spots and wrinkles as well. It also supports the immune system by effectively fighting against free radicals that could cause skin damage. It can also regulate blood circulation that helps in enhancing skin texture and elasticity.

The Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask is one of the people’s favorites. Vitamin E is found in various skin care products, and any benefits may be diminished when overexposed to the sun. Vitamin E is also beneficial to hair. This aids in the early prevention of hair-splitting and breakage as it grows out.

• Vitamin B5 

One of the eight B vitamins is Vitamin B5, which we also like to call pantothenic acid. Pro-Vitamin B5 aids in the softening, smoothing and nourishing of the skin. Small amounts of Vitamin B5 can be found in most foods, but you’d have to consume many of them to notice any benefits. 

Its major function is to oxidize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy. That process is called oxidation. Vitamin B5 is rich in Panthenol, a substance that effectively binds water to the skin to keep it hydrated. 

Vitamin B5, like the other complex B vitamins, is essential for maintaining good health in the human body, but it also helps you keep healthy eyes, hair, and skin. Vitamin B5 can also be found in your skin care products, especially in moisturizers. 

• Vitamin B3 

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a type of vitamin B-3 necessary for good health. Anyone can avoid B-3 deficiency by taking Niacinamide. Skin, kidney, and brain disorders can all be caused by a lack of B-3 in their body’s system.

Niacinamide also helps to treat your skin from certain skin conditions like acne and eczema. Vitamin B3 includes benefits such as helping your skin’s immunity. In addition, Niacinamide can assist in forming a ceramide (lipid) barrier on your skin, which can help with moisture retention. 

Niacinamide also helps control oil production. Moisture retention is beneficial to people with all skin types, not just those with dry skin. It has been widely used to lighten uneven skin tone, smoothen out signs of aging, and increase keratin production to achieve plumper skin.

Vitamin B3 is famous when it comes to skin products. 

What Happens If You Use Too Many Specific Vitamins in Skin Care? 

Although many people safely take vitamin supplements daily, it is possible to take too much of a dose, which can cause harmful side effects. For example, when a large number of vitamins are consumed in a short period of time, nausea and vomiting can occur. In addition, for your skin, too many applied skin products may cause adverse effects such as dry skin or redness. So you need to know the amount of product you can use on your skin. 

Below is a list of dos and don’ts that is important for you to remember to avoid any skin problems. 

The Do’s: 

• Make informed decisions

Always double-check that you’re getting the most out of your vitamins. It’s important to know the benefits of the vitamins you are taking and the need of your skin for a specific nutrient. This will prevent you from risking your skin against possible irritations from purchasing the wrong products. 

• If you smell something sour, throw it away

Your products should be fresh because who would want to use expired ones? It will only damage your skin. It’s time to say goodbye if your product smells funny, has changed color or texture, or has started to separate.

The Don’ts:

•  Don’t apply too much of everything

Know the concentrations of the ingredients especially those with sensitive skin to avoid its negative effects such as skin irritation and skin allergy. For example, while Vitamin C tends to be beneficial to the skin, there is a certain amount that you should let your skin absorb. Try to use once daily before adding much frequency to the usage.

Try using products with 5% concentration before moving to higher concentration products. This is because if you use your vitamin C too much, it can cause skin irritation and breakouts.

Also, it is best to avoid layering Vitamin C products with Vitamin A in the same routine, as both have the tendency to cause skin irritation.

•  Don’t make the mistake of assuming that all vitamins are created equal

 Not all are created equal, and some vitamins are unquestionably better for your skin health than others. Apply in moderation if you are trying out a new product that contains specific vitamin in order to observe the reaction of your skin towards that nutrients, especially Vitamin A & C.

 And that’s about it! Vitamins C, A, K, E, B3, and B5 bring wonders to your skin. If you want to be meticulous in choosing skin care products, just remember the term C-A-K-E-B-B, so it would be easier to guide you on which vitamins to find. Of course, stay hydrated!

Uneven Skin Tone

You will never know how fortunate you are to have clear and even complexion until it’s gone. Once you start to see those little dark spots on your skin, don’t panic. First, you have to know what caused your uneven skin tone, and from there, you can identify how to even out uneven skin tone with treatments or products.

What is Uneven Skin Tone

When the production of melanin in your body is normal, the melanin would be enough to darken your hair, eyes, and some parts of your skin. There would also be an even color throughout your skin. But when there is an overproduction of melanin, the tone of your skin would become uneven in certain affected areas. Excess production of melanin is also one of the reasons why your skin will experience hyperpigmentation. On the same note, uneven skin tone is essentially hyperpigmentation itself.

Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition where dark spots or patches appear due to excess melanin, and uneven skin texture, dryness in the skin. Basically, melanin is responsible for the dark pigment you have in your hair, eyes, and other parts of the skin. If you notice dark spots on an area of your skin, it just means that your skin is overproducing melanin in that area.

As a result, our skin would have darker spots in some parts and lighter in others, which will then look like an uneven skin tone. Sometimes, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin complexion are symptoms of other illnesses, including underlying congenital diseases.

Most of the people who suffer from hyperpigmentation or uneven skin complexion don’t feel any physical pain. However, it can harm them mentally by dramatically affecting the appearance and self-esteem of the patient. The most common probable cause of why your body is forced to increase the production of melanin is due to its response to solar damage or UV rays that are caused by the sun.

Hormonal changes in the body are also one of the reasons why we experience an uneven skin tone. Don’t get me wrong I mean the intention of melanin is pure, which is to give protection and aid, but sadly the negative side can cause an uneven skin tone. Most cases of an uneven skin tone are usually curable whatever the cause of it: hyperpigmentation, exposure to the sun, unhealthy diet, acne scarring, or congenital disease or condition.

So as you can see, uneven skin tone isn’t only due to hyperpigmentation. Rather there are also other causes of it such as exposure to the sun, unhealthy diet, acne scarring, congenital disease, or conditions, hereditary skin conditions, dark spots, and lifestyle choices.

What Causes Uneven Skin Tone?

•  Sun exposure

This is the most common cause of having an uneven skin tone which makes everybody disappointed since we love to go out on a sunny day. When our skin gets in contact with the sun, the UV rays will immediately harm your skin. In order to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, your body will produce melanin to protect our skin from it. Aside from having an uneven skin tone, sun damage can present itself in a variety of harmful ways, including sunburn and peeling, skin dryness, and the darkening of freckles.

• Free Radicals

Though you cannot see them, free radicals also can be a cause of having an uneven skin tone. These free radicals such as smoke, dust, pollution, chemicals, and any other will seep into our skin’s pores. Once they are inside, your body will automatically react and will go on defensive mode against them. When this happens, your body will produce excess melanin in order to protect your body against free radicals.

• Skin inflammation

Skin inflammation is caused by acne or any other forms of injuries to the skin such as cuts, flare-ups, burn, eczema, and many different reasons. When the skin goes through a healing process, the body will produce excess melanin which then will help cure the damaged skin. When the skin heals from the inflammation, extra melanin is created to aid the body in its recovery. As a result, the affected area is discolored, which is usually permanent, though skin discolorations can fade over time. Excess production of melanin will suddenly cause an uneven skin tone.

• Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes can cause uneven skin tone as well, especially those who are pregnant or on some form of contraceptive. When there is a major change in hormones, the production of melanin would be triggered. Another word for all of this is melasma. Unlike the usual sighting for uneven skin tones like the legs and arms, melasma, or chloasma, is a dark patch of skin that appears over the cheeks, nose, upper lip, and the chin. It is less commonly found in other areas of the body like the legs and the arms that are frequently exposed to the sun. 1 out of ten, those that are affected by melasma are men, as women are much more likely to cultivate this condition, often during pregnancy. Others might even call it the mask of pregnancy for it is caused by a change in hormones together with other factors.

• Age Spots

Age spots or also known as liver spots, dark spots, and sunspots are dark patches caused by the sun together with aging. The combination of harmful UV rays and aging makes age spots a formidable foe. This will tend to darken over time and are most evident when we are older. Usually, you can notice and find age spots in areas that have been most exposed to the sun over many years, on the face, shoulders, hands, arms, and chest.

• Vitiligo

This reason is in contrast to hyperpigmentation. Vitiligo is a skin condition that results in the loss of pigmentation of the skin. When the cells that are in charge of producing melanin suddenly stop making it, the effect would be having a lighter skin that appears in spots anywhere in our body, causing uneven skin tone.

• Fungal or Bacterial Infections

Uneven skin tone can also be caused by a fungal or bacterial infection such as ringworms, tinea versicolor, or candida infections. Fungal or bacterial infections can give discoloration to wherever it affects the skin because it goes inside and infects your skin’s scrapes, cuts, and other openings on the skin. The infected area would give a change of color and texture to your skin which causes uneven skin tone.

Is There A Difference Between Hyperpigmentation And Uneven Skin Tone?

Uneven skin tone is those blotchy, spotted, or inconsistent colored areas on your skin while hyperpigmentation is one of the causes that lead to uneven skin tone.

How To Get An Even Skin Tone?

• Always apply sunscreen SPF PA +++

Unprotected sun exposure is the number one culprit behind hyperpigmentation. Applying sunscreen or moisturizer with a Broad Spectrum SPF is the easiest way to help prevent new spots.

• Drink lots of water

Drinking water for at least 8 – 10 glasses a day will help our body get rid of skin toxins. Although some people don’t take it seriously or they disagree with this, drinking water is a must to our body. Reports show that by increasing their water intake, their skin now has a more radiant glow.

• Consult a dermatologist

Consulting a dermatologist is the most practical way to solve severe uneven skin tone. The experts will help you with your skin problem, and they will know which treatment procedure is to be used for your skin.

Treatments for Uneven Skin Tone

There are a lot of ways to treat uneven skin tone. There are ingredients you can use and treatment procedures that you can undergo to get your skin problem fixed.

• Treatment Procedures

Before doing any treatment procedures, you have to make sure that a dermatologist or a licensed aesthetician is going to handle you. Double-check if the clinic is legit. You want everything to be secured and avoid any further problems ahead, for your skin and for your safety too.

• Laser skin resurfacing

This process is done by having an intense beam of light energy pointed directly at the uneven skin. The beam of light will destroy the epidermis, which is the outer layer of your skin, but at the same time, it will also heat the underlying skin which we call the dermis. When the dermis is heated at an exact temperature, our body will stimulate collagen production over time which will result in a better skin tone and texture.

• Dermabrasion

This treatment requires a shed technique and a rotating instrument that will be in charge of removing the epidermis. Dermabrasion is usually done on the face and is a very popular treatment method for people who wish to have an improved appearance for their skin. It does not only heal uneven skin tone, but rather it also treats fine lines, acne scars, and uneven textures.

• Chemical Peels

The method of this cosmetic treatment is the same as Dermabrasion where it also exfoliates the skin. The difference between the two is that chemical peels use an acid which can remove a uniform amount of damaged skin cell within the focused area.

• Facials

This is basically the most well-known method and the best way of treating our skin. A facial does it all, it cleanses, exfoliates, and nourishes the skin, which will result in a well-hydrated complexion and can moisturize our skin which makes it look and feel young.

• Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion uses minute diamond tips or fine crystals to rub the skin and vacuums suction which in return will remove dead skin cells. The difference between microdermabrasion and dermabrasion is that microdermabrasion only makes subtle changes and doesn’t cause skin color changes or scarring. It also doesn’t work on deeper problems such as scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, or deep acne scars.

• Microneedling

The method of micro-needling is slightly painful. This kind of treatment works by forcing our skin to make more collagen by causing slight injury to the skin through pinpricks. When the slight injury is done, the skin will respond by producing new collagen-rich tissue which can even skin tone and texture.

Is There Any Ingredients That Can Help Even Out Uneven Skin Tone?

Honestly, treatment procedures cost a heck ton of money and need high maintenance. If treatments is not your cup of tea, you can opt to use products with ingredients that help in treating uneven skin tone.

Here is a quick list of ingredients to consider:

• Hydroquinone
• Tretinoin
• hyaluronic acid
• cortisone
• Vitamin C

Of all the above ingredients, I personally would advise going for gentler ingredients such as hyaluronic acid product and vitamin C when it comes to applying products on the face. As a Korean skin care lover, I personally prefer to keep the skin hydrated, use of sunscreen and skin-friendly products to even out less severe uneven skin tone.

If you have severe uneven skin tone issue, I would advise seeking dermatologist advice before using stronger ingredients for the cure.

If you have less severe skin tone issue, you may try on Korean skin care and test whether it is suitable for you.

Korean Products To Treat Uneven Skin Tone

This high concentration vitamin ampoule is made with 70% Vitamin Tree Water and 21.5% Pure Vitamin C to deliver the concentrated effects of vitamin C to the skin. Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C 21.5 serum removes dead skin cells to even out the skin tone and brightens the complexion.

A hypoallergenic serum packed with 70% of Vitamin C from green tangerine rids improves the appearance of blemishes, freckles and other dark spots. Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Spot Facial Serum is dewy and gel-like texture is non-sticky and leaves a refreshing feeling. Use after cleansing.

Enriched with 22% of sodium ascorbyl phosphate and niacinamide, Neogen Dermalogy Real Vitamin C Serum removes blemishes, brightens dull skin tone, and nourishes tired skin to reveal a healthy-looking complexion. Also contains collagen and hyaluronic acid for moisturizing and smoothing effects, as well as citrus fruit extracts to revitalize skin. After cleansing, apply the product onto the face and neck area and spread gently for better absorption, making sure to re-apply a thin layer on areas with more blemishes.

What Is Licorice Root?

Today, we will again uncover a gem in natural plants in our quest for glassy skin. And that is the use of licorice root for skin.

The word licorice came from the Greek word “glykkorizha,” which is divided into 2 words. “Glukus” which means sweet, and “rhiza” which means root (in reference to an article in Britannica on Licorice). It originated in Southern Asia, and from there, it spread from the middle east to Southern Europe until such time where it spread throughout the whole continent. The first cultivation of licorice was at a monastery in the early 17th century. The monastery was also the first place that licorice was used as a sweet by combining it with other spices such as sugar and cocoa.

According to an article in Wikipedia, Licorice, or also known as Glycyrrhiza Glabra, is a flowering plant that is part of the bean family Fabaceae. This plant’s roots have a sweet and aromatic flavoring, so they extract the roots from it. The root or the extract is used as a source of licorice flavor.

The extracted form of this liquor is often processed into a powder or a concentrated solid block. The licorice root is used in different food industries. Its versatility is why it is widely used as a sweetening agent or flavoring ingredient in drinks and candies.

Licorice isn’t only known for its sweetness but also for its medicinal benefits. It helps in cleansing the colon, promotes adrenal gland function, and supports the lungs. It can also help in sore throats that is why licorice is a common ingredient in throat-soothing herbal supplements. The root’s sweetness is still useful even if it is made for medicines, especially herbal teas and syrups for children.

Traditional medicines that have Licorice Root are also used to treat intestinal and stomach ulcers, coat the stomach wall with a protective gel and lower the stomach’s acidity level. It can also relieve bone problems such as rheumatism and arthritis while regulating the blood sugar levels of the body.

Licorice is rich in anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in your oral care preventing cough and similar ailments. It also stimulates the production of chemicals that can treat ulcers.

Can You Use Licorice Root On Your Face?

Yes, you can use licorice root extract on your face. Due to its amazing benefits, the Korean skin care industry has incorporated licorice into its ingredients.

Licorice root will help your skin look more radiant and vibrant than before. Licorice root is highly effective as a skin brightening ingredient. If you’re someone who has a lot of acne scars and is always exposed to the sun, incorporating a licorice root in your skincare regimen is your way to go! Its active ingredients give promising benefits to the skin, so don’t be afraid to try it out!

More even skin tone and a supple look on your skin. Licorice root is a great alternative if you want to go for natural ingredients. It has proven medical claims, even centuries ago, so you know that it is effective and true to its claims. We shall uncover the various benefits of licorice root for skin below in detail.

Active Ingredients Found In Licorice Root

• Licochalcone

Licochalcone A is a chalconoid which is a type of natural phenol. This chalaconoid is present and can be isolated from the roots of a Glycyrrhiza plant. Defending the skin from free radicals is one of the licochalcone’s primary purposes. It has anti-inflammatory properties that effectively treat eczema, atopic dermatitis, rosacea, and any other skin disorders. This key ingredient also regulates the skin’s oil production.

• Glycyrrhizin

Glycyrrhizin is one of the active constituents of licorice roots. It can enhance any food flavors and can negate bitter flavors. Glycyrrhizin also has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing redness and irritation for sensitive, inflamed, and irritated skin. It acts as an antioxidant that serves as a protection of our skin against free radicals such as sun damage and epidermal damages.

• Glabridin

Glabridin is also a major component of licorice. Glabridin can diminish any dark spots on your face. The substance lessens any remnants you have from scarring or sun damage. Glabridin can also prevent pigmentation that is caused by harmful UV rays. It prevents them from deterring an enzyme, an enzyme responsible for the dark pigments that you gain after exposing yourself to the sun.

• Liquiritin

Liquiritin is one of the compounds derived from licorice and is also one of the components of licorice. It can also yield a reduction in pigmentation. Liquiritin acts as a melanin remover or a compound that helps in removing epidermal melanin. Liquiritin also contributes to the lightening capabilities of the face and your skin in general. It can help balance the overall skin tone and clarity before or during the process of breaking the melanin up.

Benefits Of Licorice Root For Skin

With centuries of proven record for health benefits, we’ll get to know and uncover the various benefits of licorice root on skin.

• Helps with hyperpigmentation

Licorice helps the skin by stopping hyperpigmentation and discoloration. When we are exposed to the sun, our body releases an enzyme called Tyrosinase, which causes hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation causes dark patches or spots on your face. It occurs when the skin produces more melanin in certain areas. Exposure to free radicals can also enable melanin skin cells and prompt them to create excess pigments.

• Soothes sensitive and irritated skin

The licorice root’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce skin conditions that cause puffiness, rashes, redness, swelling, itching, redness, and irritation for sensitive, inflamed, and irritated skin. It acts as an antioxidant that serves as skin’s protection from epidermal damage and sun damage.

It can soothe sensitive skin by producing a saponin called triterpenoid. When these saponins come into contact with our skin, the receptors will be triggered naturally, which will cause steroid growth in our skin. The growth of steroids will help the skin by speeding up the healing time of skin conditions. This is effective especially in conditions that increase skin sensitivity such as eczema and rosacea.

Unlike most anti hyperpigmentation ingredients, licorice is the gentlest, and it is also the most effective. Perfect for sensitive skin types, it does fade away dark spots and discoloration without irritating your skin.

• Brightens the skin

Licorice is a great ingredient for brightening the skin, thanks to Liquiritin, it can be made possible. Liquiritin hinders the production of melanin, which helps in removing new dark spots and also the existing ones. It also contributes to the lightning capabilities of the face. Helping in clearing out and balancing your skin tone. Avoiding the excess production of melanin can hinder the presence of dark spots in our faces, resulting in an even brighter complexion.

• Heals skin damage

There are many ways to damage our skin. In fact, it is caused by many factors. Besides our usual diet and lifestyle choices, other outlying factors are the reasons for having free radicals in our system. And every day, our body is continuously fighting off free radicals because we are usually exposed to pollutants in the air and the sun’s UV rays. These radicals raid our body and feed on healthy cells, which is one of the leading causes of acne and wrinkles.

Licorice root might prevent these from happening since licorice has polyphenols and flavonoids, which is an antioxidative property. Licorice root also has other antioxidants such as glabridin, isoliquiritigenin, formononetin, hispaglabridin A, and hispaglabridin B which reduce and counteract free radicals.

• Anti-aging benefits

It is also said that licorice root has anti-aging benefits. Since it contains properties that fight off oxidative stress and free radicals, it will help your skin decrease any signs of aging, like wrinkles and fine lines.

Harmful UV rays can also cause the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Licorice root is a natural protectant against sun damage. Not only does it protect, but it also makes the skin look plumper and younger.

Here are some Korean skin care products with licorice root as one of their ingredients:

The Klairs Supple Preparation Toner is great as a moisturizer toner. It is suitable on sensitive skin, easy to layer and is able to maintaining pH balance.

It’s Skin Power Series LI Effector is a serum with a brightening effect.  It is also effective to be applied on skin spots, freckles, and sun-burnt.

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum provides deep hydration, keeps skin moisturized, smooth and radiant. Calming and cooling the skin all day long.

When Tea Tree Oil Comes Into Action

Along with the famous acne warriors such as AHA, BHA and Retinol (although less used in Korean skin care), a considerable acne warrior named as Tea Tree Oil comes to play. In this article, we shall be going through the common question of ‘Can tea tree oil help with acne?’, as some of us may love this therapeutic oil very much!

Tea Tree Oil is commonly mixed with other components that effectively treats acne. Tea Tree Oil has been outshined by other warriors so let’s take a moment to really know what this essential oil can do for our skin.

 What Is Tea Tree Oil

 

Melaleuca oil also fondly known as tea tree oil is an essential oil that is produced when you steam the leaves of the Australian tea tree. The plant (tea tree) naturally grows in Australia. Since Melaleuca Alternifolia is a member of the myrtle family, which encompasses over 300 species of shrubs and trees, most of which are endemic to Australia.

It is often found in low-lying swampy areas. It has papery bark and white, bottlebrush-like flowers up to 5cm long. The tea tree oil contains antiseptic and antifungal abilities, which is why it is commonly used to treat acne, lice, nail fungus, athlete’s foot, insect bites, and dandruff. The presence of bactericide and fungicide in tea tree oil allows it to be used in a range of products like cosmetics, personal health care, and animal care products. Tea-tree oil can penetrate deeply into tissues, dissolve pus and clean wounds, and have a mild analgesic effect. Tea tree oil is also antibacterial when you use it topically.

It is also commonly used as a steam inhalant to ease the congestion of coughs and colds. It is also present in different products that aim to eliminate bacteria and other pests such as dog shampoo, horse products, antiseptic creams, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, sunscreen, and a range of soap products.

The product is handpicked and manually cut and often distilled, wood-fired bush stills, and it must be harvested from 1-3 years. It is also harvested in the coppicing process where the whole plant is cut off close to the ground then cut into smaller fractions. To extract the tea tree oil from the Melaleuca genus, the leaves and branches must undergo steam distillation. It produces a clear to yellowish oil, which is then separated from its water distillate.

Pure Tea Tree Oil vs. Diluted Tea Tree Oil

Pure tea tree oil is an aggressive oil that must be taken with full caution. Frances Fewell, the director of the Institute for Complementary Medicine, stated that we should never apply any sort of essential oil directly to the skin without diluting it first in a suitable carrier oil.

Ever since tea tree oil became very popular, many people have started applying it directly to the skin to deal with acne and skin infections. In fact, this is a very aggressive oil. The skin can dry out, blister, or form a rash. If the tea tree oil is undiluted, the toxic and risky chemicals might become even more potent, reaching up to three times as strong and aggressive if it is stored at room temperature and exposed to light and air.

On the other hand, diluted tea tree oil can be used on the skin without serious problems. You can dilute the tea tree oil with a carrier oil like primrose, hemp, or rosehip oil. You can also try diluting it with vegetable oil or almond oil to reduce the aggressiveness of the tea tree oil. Take a teaspoon of carrier oil and mix 5 drops of 100% pure tea tree oil = 5% concentration of diluted tea tree oil.

However, some people may develop an allergic skin reaction or skin irritation in the area where the oil was used. It is important to know the proper way to dilute tea tree oil, so you can safely reap the many rewards this versatile oil provides.

Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

• Treats Acne

Tea Tree Oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties that eliminate acne-causing bacteria on your skin and down to your pores. It also has the tendency to eliminates tiny bumps in your forehead. These small bumps may be fungal acne, and tea tree oil can help lessen their appearance, knowing that antifungal properties are present.

Products with tea tree oil are highly useful for spot treatment. Even a tea tree oil alone will also work as a spot treatment. To be safe, it is better to use a diluted tea tree oil as an acne spot treatment rather than a pure one.

• Balances Oil Production

No excess sebum = less acne! For people with oily skin, tea tree oil will help in controlling your sebum production. It will eradicate all excess sebum on your face, but at the same time, it will leave enough moisturization for your skin.

• Cleanse Pores

Products with tea tree oil will help in deep cleaning your pores. Since it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it will eliminate all bacteria and dirt from your pores. Leaving you a clean slate and fewer chances of having inflamed pimples.

• Treats Irritated Skin

Some product combined with tea tree oil has calming features which are effective for irritated skin. A diluted tea tree oil will be more suitable for sensitivities, but it still varies on how your skin would react. Some people have found tea tree oil effective in calming their irritated skin. It might not work for you, so always patch test first.

Precautions Of Using Tea Tree Oil

• Always, always, always, patch test first!

Tea tree oil is an essential oil, which means it is powerful that might cause allergic reactions on your skin. A patch test is very important when you want to use tea tree oil. This will help you know if your skin is compatible with it or not. In this way, you can prevent worsening your problems.

• Fully concentrated tea tree oil may be harmful to use. Try a diluted one or mix it with other ingredients.

For people with sensitive skin, you might find tea tree oil very irritating. Try diluting the tea tree oil first before applying it to your skin.

For oily skin and acne-prone skin, tea tree oil might cause dryness to your skin. You will notice that if you use tea tree oil as a spot treatment, that area tends to flake and dry.

• Choose the right concentration is important. Usually, at least 5% of tea tree oil is enough.

If the tea tree oil is not listed in the top 5 ingredients list, it means that te tree oil present in the product is not high enough for it to be effective.

Tea tree oil is harmful to oral use! There have been studies that tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed. It will cause serious health effects like unsteadiness, rash, and coma.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne/Acne Scars

• Apply Topically As Cream or Gel

If the concentration is high enough, you can use it as a spot treatment. A 5% concentration will be enough.

Stronger gels can also be used to prevent acne appearance on areas like mouth, nose, jawline, and forehead. If you feel like there’s a pimple that’s about to grow in a certain area, you can apply a small amount in that area.

Use a cotton bud or q-tip, apply a small amount on active or soon-to-be pimples.

• Combine Tea Tree Oil With Active Ingredients

Mixing with products that also help control sebum production and fading acne scars such as salicylic acid and green tea will be more effective in treating acne. Tea tree alone might not work as effective treatment as compared when it is combined with other properties that also fight acne.

You can also dilute it using oils such as olive oil, primrose oil, and hemp oil.

If you have a patch test and your skin is fine with tea tree oil, this is one way to apply it. Put a few drops into your palms, rub it to warm it up, and then gently pat and press onto your face.

• Mask Or Face Wash

This method will be perfect for oily and acne-prone skin. Get raw honey, add 1 drop of tea tree oil, mix it, and massage all over your face. You can apply this, whether on dry skin or wet skin. You can leave it on for about 15-20 minutes as a mask. If you’re in a rush, you can massage the mixture unto your face for 1-2 minutes and then rinse off with water.

Other mixtures you can incorporate with Tea Tree Oil:

• lemon juice + honey + tea tree oil

This mixture is perfect for acne-prone skin. The presence of lemon juice will act as a highly anti-inflammatory property effective for preventing acne inflammation. Honey will also work as a repair for your acne scars and dark spots. Tea tree oil will be responsible for cleaning your pores and the surface of your skin.

• coconut oil + almond oil + few drops of tea tree oil

If you have an irritated area on your skin, you can apply a small amount of this mixture and spread it evenly.

• steam water + few drops of tea tree oil

Add a few drops of tea tree oil into your steam water, and it will effectively cleanse your pores. The steam vapor will open the pores, and the tea tree oil will be responsible for removing bacterial accumulation.

• Makeup Remover

Since tea tree oil contains antibacterial properties, it is very efficient when used in removing makeup. Making sure that your makeup will be thoroughly removed, and no residue is left behind.

Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular makeup remover. Mix two together then store in a bottle.

Put some on a cotton pad and remove your wakeup in an outward direction. Starting from the center of your face swiping away, going to the temples. This way, you will not be too harsh on your skin when you remove makeup, and you will not quickly get fine lines.

So, can tea tree oil help with acne? In my opinion, it is effective in fighting acne in general. However, not everyone can handle tea tree oil. Always remember that our skin reacts in a different way for different products. Others might see improvements in their acne, acne scars, and irritations, but it might not work the same for you.

If you’ve noticed that tea tree oil might have cause you redness, burning, swelling, and any other allergic reactions, immediately stop using tea tree oil. You might want to have your dermatologist check your skin if you’ve encountered sensitivities. Always be careful in using tea tree oil.

On another note, some of the skin care products that contain tea tree oil to treat bacterial acne, may also contain other ingredients that may not suit your skin. For example, products that have a mixture of tea tree oil and shea butter may be effective to fight bacterial acne but is not fungal acne safe. Shea butter in this case may aggravate the production of fungal acne. If you are suffering from both bacterial acne and fungal acne, it is best to avoid these products until your fungal acne is cured.

Do take some time to read the ingredient lists of products thoroughly and check its suitability to your skin conditions before purchase. Be really really in the know of what you are applying on your skin, okay?

Korean Products That Contain Tea Tree Oil:

In each product, I have also included indicating the rank of Tea Tree in the ingredients list.Dr Jart Teatreement Moisturizer contains 81.5% tea tree leaf extract that conditions acne-prone skin moisturizer for pH balance. (1st in the ingredients list)

Formulated with botanical skin purifying ingredients, the Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is a mild acidic cleanser that works softly to make skin supple and clear. (13th in the ingredients list)

Formulated with 70.8% birch sap, the Cosrx Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion helps keep skin hydrated and calmed. (last in the ingredients list)

Cheeks and Jawline Acne, Sounds Familiar?

Previously, I tackled forehead acne, what they mean and what causes them. If you haven’t read that article, you can check it out here. In this article, we are going to talk about why we have breakouts in the cheeks and jawline. A very common area for acne breakouts and now, we will get to understand the whys and hows for preventing breaking out in our cheek and jawline area.

I’ve mentioned face mapping on the previous article and, we will still include it here. Face mapping is a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice believing that our internal organs have something to do with the breakouts in our faces.

What Causes Breakout On Cheeks And Jawline?

Breakouts On Cheeks

Our cheeks are commonly the home of acne breakouts. Having breakouts in the cheeks is normal, everybody has experienced acne on their cheeks. Cheeks cover a wider coverage, and sebaceous glands are more prominent in this area, resulting in higher production of sebum or oil.

It is said that our cheeks are linked to our respiratory health and your sugar intake. So, you need to reflect if your respiratory system is healthy. Do you smoke? Or are you always near to someone who smokes? Are you always exposed to dust and air pollution? All of which might contribute to the breakouts on your cheeks. Another would be, do you eat sweets most often than usual? Do you drink soft drinks, caffeinated or sugared drinks daily? That might be a cause too.

•  Pollution

When you go to work or to school, you are most likely at a high risk of exposing yourself to air pollution, especially when you take a bus or a train. You can’t really prevent air pollution but what you can do is to bring blotting papers with you and wash your face when you go home.

• Bad Respiratory Habits

If you smoke, breakouts would be pretty reasonable to you. For non-smokers, try to avoid smoking areas or get too close to smokers. Smoking is terrible for your lungs, and for sure, it will also affect your skin and your overall health.

• Allergies

The cheeks tend to get easily irritated, especially if you are prone to allergies like dust allergies, pet allergies, pollen allergies, food allergies and etc. Always double-check the ingredients of what you eat, drink or put on your face if your skin is prone to allergic reactions.

• Rise of temperature

Our cheek area tends to get easily reddish when overexposed to the sun, eating spicy foods and drinking alcohol. The increase in temperature in this area will stimulate more production of oil. So, when too much oil build-up occurs inside your pores, you will likely have acne.

• Too much sugar intake

Sugar is one of the triggering foods you need to avoid or at least minimize intake. Moderate your consumption of sweets, dairy, soft drinks and other foods that are likely to trigger acne breakouts.

• Skincare and Makeup

Check on your skincare and makeup ingredients list, there might be an ingredient that triggered your acne. Always go for non – comedogenic products, especially if you have acne-prone skin.

• Hair

Usually, our hair is parted on one side and in most cases, you will notice that there’s more acne or texture on one side than the other. Your hair also produces oil, and if your hair always touches your cheek area, it will most likely cause a breakout. Another could be the shampoo or hair products that you use that could trigger acne.

• Hormones

If you’re going to puberty, you will most likely have acne due to hormonal imbalance. Puberty and acne go hand in hand. But if you’re an adult and you still have acne, you really need to consult a dermatologist to have your skin checked.

Preventive Measures To Avoid Breakouts On Cheeks

• Change your pillowcases

Change your pillowcases at least 2x a week. When you sleep, also try to rotate your pillow every night. You can even turn your pillowcases inside out if you want to go a little extra. In my case, after 2-3 nights, I changed my pillowcase and then place my pillows outside and let them dry out in the sun. You can also check your washing detergent and fabric conditioner, maybe it contains ingredients like fragrance, that might contribute to your breakouts.

• Keep your hands off your face

Your hands are prone to bacteria and dirt so always keep them away from your face, as much as possible. If you need to touch your face, wash your hands or clean them with wipes or rubbing alcohol.

• As often as possible, clean your phone screen

When you answer a phone call, your phone touches your cheeks, and if your phone is dirty, it will get into your cheeks which will, later on, contribute to breakouts. Let’s be hygienic at all times, okay?

Treatments of Breakout On Cheeks

• Take care of your respiratory health

Steam Inhalation is an excellent home remedy that you can do on your own. Steam inhalation is also known as steam therapy. By inhaling the water vapour, it will open your nasal passages which will help in relieving and soothing sinus and blood vessels. However, it does not cure any sickness, but it will help you feel better.

Meditation or breathing exercises can also help your respiratory health. This allows your body to feel calm and relaxed. You are actually hitting two birds with one stone which are distressing and maintaining your respiratory health. If meditation is not your style, you can do cardio exercises or workouts. Even taking a 20-minute walk or jog would be enough to keep your lungs healthy.

• Lower sugar consumption

Sugar is actually good for the body but too much would bring bad effects not only to your skin but to your overall health too. I know, I know it’s tough to turn your back on those sweets, but you need to hold back okay? You can start by slowly eating only at a maximum twice per week. Some examples of foods that contain processed sugar are soft drinks, sweets, ready-made meals, and canned goods.

• Gentle skin care

Our cheeks are sensitive that is why gentle exfoliating would be best to incorporate in your skincare routine. You can opt to use skincare products that contain natural ingredient perfect for gently exfoliating the skin such as oats. It’s fine to go for acid exfoliants but it will be best to start first to lower doses like 1% AHA or BHA.

 

Breakouts On Jawline

It is said the breakouts in your jawline are mainly because of your hormones. In the jawline area, most of our lymph nodes are located here. Your lymph nodes are an essential part of your immune system, it will engage on whether you have an infection or your body is fighting something. Also, lymph nodes are actually very sensitive to hormonal imbalance and detoxifying, so it makes sense that when your body’s hormones change, you will likely get breakouts in this area.

Common Causes Of Acne On Jawline

• Skincare & Makeup Products

Using comedogenic cosmetic and skincare products such as lotions, makeup, and moisturizers. These products contain heavy oils that can clog pores and causes breakout all over your face.

• Any object or surface that can stay on your jaw for quite some time

Musical instruments like the violin can cause jawline acne especially when the person using it is not hygienic. Helmets with in-strap can also be a cause of jawline acne because the trap that is on standby in your jaw could trap the heat and sweat that your body is producing. It can also trap dust which causes acne breakouts.

For men, shaving can also be a cause of jawline acne because doing such activity can irritate the skin. Using old razor blades can also lead to infection and aggravate breakouts.

• Menstrual Period and PCOS 

1 or 2 weeks before your menstruation cycle, you will notice that you will get acne in your chin or jawline. This is commonly an indication that your period is right around the corner. More like a warning or a signal for you to know that your visitor is coming on its way.

Commonly in women, the hormonal levels of PCOS patients are very imbalanced. A distinguishing symptom of PCOS is acne, particularly in the jawline area. Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone go up and down, and this situation, you will likely have a high risk of having breakouts in your jawline.

Another is the side effect of medicine or pills that you take for your PCOS. It could trigger the appearance of acne in this area.

• Steroids

I think I don’t need to elaborate more on this one since it’s very obvious. Drugs have side effects, and one of which is acne. Drugs, in general, will take a toll on your health, so you need to cut it out of your system.

Preventive Measures of Breakouts on Jawline

•  Wash every corner of your face

 Oftentimes, we focus more on cleansing the centre of our faces, and we forget the outer perimeters on the face, especially that area near your ears. Make sure to cleanse and exfoliate that area as well. Wash it like how you wash the centre of your face, especially if your acne typically grows in that area.

Treatments of Breakouts On Jawline

• Detoxify

By detoxifying, it also means taking care of your liver. The liver is the body’s detoxifier, so it is important to pay close attention to it. Minimize your alcohol intake, oily, greasy and salty foods. Go for foods with high in fibre which is resistant starch such as beans, green bananas and whole grains.

• Proper Hygiene

Keep your hands away from your face. Wipe or disinfect objects such as your violin before putting them near your face. Anything that involves touching your face, you have to make sure that everything is clean to prevent breakouts.

• Hormonal Acne

Hormonal acne usually occurs in a noticeably u-shape, basically, in your jawline and in your cheeks. This type of acne appears due to the hormonal imbalance going around in your body. Usually occurs when you go through certain life phases or have underlying conditions that contribute to your body’s hormonal imbalance.

Life Periods that causes Hormonal Acne

• Puberty

A lot of bodily changes is going on your body during your puberty. Your sex hormones are your primary triggers for having acne breakouts. Androgen, present in both sex, is primarily active in our sebaceous glands leading to more productions of oil or sebum. This sebum is removed from the pores, but some stay and accumulate on your pores, resulting in acne.

• Menstrual Period

For women, before and during their menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone are prominent during this period. Estrogen is a hormone responsible for stimulating the production of collagen on our skin, and it also controls oil production. Progesterone is mainly once of the causes of excessive sebum secretion. Progesterone is active on ovulation days and estrogen is more active on period days, causing hormonal imbalance. Having this hormonal imbalance on your period, breakouts will be more likely to occur.

For pregnant women, progesterone acts as a hormone to maintain the pregnancy period. It is production continuously increases, which causes acne.

• Stress

 When you are stressed out, you are naturally secreting a hormone called cortisol. This hormone is secreted from the adrenal gland, which also where androgen comes from. So, basically when they are present when you are stressed, causing you acne and hair loss.

Underlying Conditions That Contribute To Hormonal Acne

•  PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a reproductive condition among women where their ovaries are enlarged that may form cysts. Hormonal levels with women who have PCOS are imbalanced since estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels fluctuate and drop inconsistently. This hormonal imbalance will lead to slow ovulation, irregular periods, hirsutism, weight gain or loss and of course acne.

Treatment of PCOS is actually a very complex topic but to give you a general idea of how the treatment works, you can change your diet, exercise regularly, stay hydrated and take birth control pills. Those are a few ways you to fight against PCOS. However, everybody is different, so it is important to know what works best for you.

Treatment for Breakouts On Jawline

• Relax!

Distress your mind and do something that calms your nerves. Go on a spa day or binge-watch your favourite Netflix TV Show. Take your worries away for the day, have a break first. Your skin is already telling you to chill for a bit. So, you better listen to your body, okay? You don’t want it to get any worse.

• Cleanse and exfoliate regularly

To all ladies out there, a week before your period, you have to cleanse your face using a cleanser that suits your skin. Make sure to deep cleanse since your oil production during this period is going nuts. Always be gentle on your skin when you wash and exfoliate to avoid aggravating and irritating your skin.

Keep track of your food intake.

Especially for women with PCOS, it is crucial to always take note of your diet. PCOS could cause weight gain or weight loss, so it is important to eat the right kinds of food to help balance out your hormone levels. Avoid too much sugar intake and processed food. Go for more foods rich in fibre and anti-oxidants.

In conclusion, acne on your cheeks and jawline mainly reflects on your sugar intake, hygiene and your hormonal imbalance. Acne can be treated but it tends to reoccur which means you have to maintain a consistent skincare routine, hygienic practices and your diet at all times. Superficial treatments can work but if you really want to treat your acne from its roots, you have to take care of your body holistically. Your body responds in a different way than others so you have to be really patient.

You’ll get that clear skin, okay? You’re doing fantastic! Also, you’re already stunning anyway. So take your own steps, everything will come into place later on.

A list of Korean Skin Care Products That May Help Your Breakout:

Made from natural oils extracted from Black Bean, the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil has the ability to control oil and soothe the skin. Black Sesame has the antioxidant ingredients and Black Currant Seed are full of vitamins and minerals. This product provides gentle deep cleansing without irritating the skin.

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask 2x claims to be one of the top clay masks in Korea. It has AHA ingredient that helps in exfoliating dead skin cells.

Containing the star ingredient of Guaiazulene that gives the pastel blue color of the cream, Guaiazulene is a natural component of Chamomile Oil, able to have calming effects. Centella Asiatica is another notable ingredient that helps hydrate the skin and relieve skin redness. You can also read my review on Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream here.

Laneige is a brand that needs no introduction. It’s Water Sleeping Mask has an intensive moisturizing effect that makes skin clear, glowing, and revitalized in the morning.  It uses the Moisture-Wrap technology that increases skin’s own absorption and sustaining capabilities using its hydro-ion mineral water ingredients contained in the mineral network, evening primrose extract, and apricot extract.

Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch is a hydrocolloid spot patch that provides concentrated spot care. It comes in three sizes to suit the shape and size of the acne.

I Tend To Ask The Meaning Of These Pimples

In the teenage years, it’s pretty normal to have pimples and tiny bumps on your forehead. Often times, we would be like a cry baby and asking “What Did I Do Wrong?”, “Did I Eaten Something Wrong?”, “What Do Pimples on the Forehead Mean?” and a whole lot of other questions pop up in our minds.

Those pimples appear because of the increase of hormonal growth that your body is going through during puberty. So, don’t freak out, okay? Leave it be and let them come out, and it will clear up soon.

There’s also this method called “Face Mapping.” It’s been well known in Traditional Chinese medicine, wherein they believe that your skin condition is a reflection of your internal health. This somewhat makes sense. A prime example is when women are going to have their periods. There’s a change in their hormonal balance, since menstruation is right on the corner, causing pimples’ appearances.

What Causes Pimple and Meaning Of Pimple Location (Meaning On The Forehead)

Pimples on your forehead are mainly about digestions, constipation, and overall gut health. It is highly recommended to take care of your gut health first. You have to clean up your diet so that you will maintain balance in your food intake. Also, it would be best if you reminded yourself of the word “moderation.” Once you take care of your digestive health, you might start to see your skin clearing up.

• Upper Forehead

It is said to be linked with the digestive system, particularly the large intestine and bladder. Having poor digestion will lead to a large build-up of toxins. Our body will need to detoxify, and one of its ways is the appearance of pimples. You might need to eat more foods and drinks rich in antioxidants such as green tea, lemon water, and berries.

• Lower Forehead

It is said to be associated with a person’s mind and spirit. It may be due to irregular sleep patterns, stress, depression, bad blood circulation. Try to sleep early at least before 11 pm. Find ways to distress your mind. Relax, pamper yourself, keep your mind off of work or school for a moment. Go to a stress-free environment like a quick ride going to the hills or the beach, or just take a long bath in your bathroom that would definitely do the trick.

 Overall, here are the main reasons why you have pimples on your forehead:

• Stress

Of course, your skin will also react to stress. There is this thing called “Emotional Acne”. It is caused by emotions and primarily stressing yourself out. If you tend to talk bad to yourself, putting yourself down and belittling yourself, please stop. It affects not only your physical health but also your mental health, your overall health actually. Try to chill a bit and remind yourself that you’re doing great, okay?

• Dehydration

Always, always, always drink water at least 1.5 liters for 2 hours. It may be a hassle since you often need to go to the bathroom, but your body will definitely reward you. Water is simply beneficial for our holistic health, so keep a water bottle with you at all times.

• Digestion

Drinking warm water with lemon eliminates congestion in the digestive system, and then your forehead follows, clearing up pimples on your forehead. You need to eat foods that are high in fiber and avoid eating triggering foods such as processed foods, dairy, and oily foods. Not that I’m telling you to completely ban yourself from eating them, but what I mean is to moderate your intake on triggering foods.

Take care of your liver since it is our body’s detoxifier, we want it to detoxify our body and then, later on, would show up on our skin too. Incorporate foods with probiotics like lactobacillus commonly found in yogurts and some probiotic drinks too.

• Skin care

Heavy, thick, and greasy skincare products might cause clogging on your pores. You will need to double cleanse and exfoliate using masks. There might also be ingredients found in your skincare regimens that are triggering those bumps, we’ll discuss them down below.

•  Bangs or Fringe

If you have bangs or fringe, you will most likely build up pimples on your forehead. Your hair always touches your forehead, and your hair produces natural oils too, which will really be a contributing factor. Also, when you sweat, your bangs tend to stick unto your face. You might want to clip them away when your sweaty and oily.

Another is hair products, and you might be using hair serums or oils that would be triggering your skin, especially in the hairline area. Try to avoid putting serums near your forehead or hairline area.

• Genetics

Hereditary factors will never be out of the picture. In these cases, it is best to consult your dermatologist and have your skin checked.

Fungal Acne (This Acne Also Tend to Develop On The Forehead)

Are you seeing tiny bumps on your forehead that appear like acne but they are not? It may be because of Fungal acne.

 Fungal acne is neither acne nor a fungus. The technical term is Pityrosporum Folliculitis or Malassezia Folliculitis. It is mainly caused by yeast buildup that occurs on the skin. Commonly, mistaken as acne and people try to treat it like acne, which is not effective, better to go see a dermatologist. Oftentimes, these bumps are itchy, and they usually appear on areas that get oily like t-zone, back or chest, and shoulders.

Malassezia grows on our skin naturally, it’s overproduction causes fungal acne. They cause trouble when they feed on too much sebum. They grow bigger and appear in clogged in yellowish-whitish bumps. They feed on sebum, sweat, and products. Also, their growth is typical in hot and humid weather.

Antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide are not treatments, but they can minimize their appearance. When you try to squeeze them, they don’t come out since they sunk deeper down to the hair follicle. It can also be treated using an athlete’s foot spray but only works on milder cases. Some people can develop both fungal acne and bacterial acne (regular acne). It may look different on different skin, and treatment can be different.

Ingredients to watch out

Fatty acids and oils such as:

• Lauric acid
• Myristic acid
• Stearic acid
• Linoleic acid
• a-Linolenic acid
• Oleic acid
• Palmitic acid

Safe oils

• MCT oil (caprylic/capric triglycerides)
• Squalane oil
• Mineral oil

You might want to avoid Esters

Ester is a hybrid of alcohol and fatty acids. Anything that ends with ‘-ate’ is esters. Although it is an effective emollient, giving the product a lightweight texture might cause Fungal Acne.

• Polysorbate

It is an effective emulsifier that helps in combining oil and water ingredients but will most likely be food for Malassezia.

• Galactomyces

This is commonly found in many fermented skin care products.

Ingredients that may or may not affect the growth of fungal acne (for safety purpose, it is better to stay away):

• Cholesterol
• Ceramides
• Phospholipids
• Squalene

Difference Between Pimple And Acne

Did you know that pimple and acne are two different things? Acne is actually a form of a disease, and like any other disease, symptoms often occur to know if we have that disease or not. In this case, the pimples are the symptoms. Acne is a condition affecting the skin’s hair follicles and oil glands.

Sebum is an oily substance that is created by a gland on your pores under the skin. The glands and pores are connected by a canal known as a follicle with thin hair that grows out to the skin’s surface.

When sebum and dead skin cells clump together, they form a plug in the follicle, which causes inflammation, leading to red pimples shown in acne. There are many symptoms when you have acne, and these are having whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.

Difference Between Pimple Acne And Fungal Acne

Pimple acne and fungal acne often are misunderstood to be precisely the same, but when you study about it, you will come to the conclusion that both of them are two different things.

Pimple acne or whiteheads are closed pores that have sebum trapped under a thin layer of skin. A small white bump on your skin will appear when the oil mingles with dead skin, and the pore is not open. You can identify whiteheads through looking at all the small white bumps on your face. If the little white bumps are “poppable”, it means that it can be extracted out and can be cured.

Fungal acne, on the other hand, is basically a yeast overgrowth or infection. Fungal acne is hard to cure on your own or if you do self diagnose. If those tiny bumps on your skin are associated with itchiness, then it is certain that the bumps are fungal acne. These bumps are often seen in a cluster and are typically uniform in size. The difference between the two is that fungal acne is uniform in size, usually is itchy.

Another difference between the two of them is the way on how to eliminate them. There are different ways on how to reduce pimple acne, and it might be through using different skincare, facial washes, or ointments. When you treat fungal acne you must be really cautious about what to apply on your skin, or the best way to do is to ask a dermatologist, we all have different skin which means that if that ointment cured his/her fungal acne, that doesn’t mean that it can heal yours.

Ingredients That Can Be Used As Fungal Acne Treatment:

• Ketoconazole

Very effective in eliminating fungal acne. Mostly present in most anti-dandruff shampoos such as Nizoral shampoo.

• Honey

You can apply honey as a spot treatment.

• Salicylic acid

Commonly found in BHA products. Every product specifically for oily and acne-prone skin contains this ingredient.

• Sulfur

It effectively sheds the fungal on your skin.

• Urea

Very moisturizing and also treats atopic dermatitis and eczema.

How To Use An Anti-dandruff Shampoo To Your Face?

Use it as a wash. Lather it on the affected area and leave it for a minimum of 5 minutes.  It is recommended to wash 2-3x a week. After you clear out fungal acne, you need to do maintenance since Fungal acne can be treated, but it is prone to recurring. After applying the Nizoral shampoo, you can continue your regular skincare routine. You would need to hydrate your skin since Nizoral is drying.

To conclude, what you really need here in battling acne is a lot of patience. Pimples on your forehead are said to be an indication that you have bad digestion. You might want to take good care of your gut health first. Treating your acne down to its roots will be more effective than just superficial treatments like lathering cleansers and spot creams.

If you’re trying out products, always remember to patch test and use them for at least a month. If it causes irritations and sensitivity to your skin, cut it off. Of course, it is always very efficient to consult a dermatologist for treatment.

To know more about fungal acne and suitable products to be used, you can read my previous article here.

Products That Can Be Used To Reduce Pimples Breakout:

The Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel contains no harmful ingredients. It uses natural extracts and preservatives instead. With less chemical ingredient, it reduces the chance of skin breaking out.

Containing 83.25% (and that is a lot) black propolis, this ingredient is antibacterial and anti-inflammation. Cosrx Propolis Light Ampoule helps reduce redness and provide healing to stressed skin.

Sulfur 3% Clean Gel By Wishtrend is a cleansing gel that helps unclogg pores and prevent acne. The Collodial Sulfur goes into the pores to dry out the skin surface and absorb oil. It also dries out dead skin cells so that the pores remain unclogged. Though it sounds like it’ll suck out all of the moisture from the skin, this is not really the case. It has two hydrating ingredients Sodium Hyaluronate and Tocopherol to prevent the skin from completely dried out.

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask 2x claims to be one of the top clay masks in Korea. It has AHA ingredient that helps in exfoliating dead skin cells.

Cosrx Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser can be used by all skin types including sensitive. This cleanser is gentle and it removes impurities and excess sebum and prevents pimples and blemishes from breaking out.

Seriously, What Is Emulsion Skin Care?

An emulsion is a combination, better yet, a hybrid of a serum and a moisturizing cream. It is thicker than a serum and lighter than a moisturizer. It gives the same level of hydration your skin needs but in a more absorbable formula. It is a water-based formula that allows it to quickly absorbed by the skin. It also gives the benefit of less greasy feeling but at the same time leaves your skin hydrated. Because of its water-based formula, emulsion skin care product will not clog your pores, instead, it will help cleanse your pores deep down to your skin especially if it contains Salicylic acid.

Emulsions are very sheer and thin that’s why you will be more comfortable adding layers of skincare products to your skin. It will not budge instead it will help your skin absorb the additional layers that you will apply.

They come in different forms such as gel-forms and milky-almost-liquid forms. They specifically targeted specific skin problems. They address the needs of your skin may it be aging skin, acne-prone skin, or dry-sensitive skin. Picking the right emulsion for your skin is very important so that you will get the best results. Carefully examine the ingredients list first before purchasing one. There might be ingredients that your skin might be allergic to or not compatible with.

Whenever the weather gets hot and humid, emulsions can provide a cooling effect to your skin despite the heat, still maintaining moisture to your skin. Some emulsions provide you with this feature however if you’re skin type has a bad history with this kind of feature, it is best to choose other options.

Always patch test before you put the product to your whole face. You don’t want any allergic reactions or irritations to your skin. It will be troublesome to have reddish and itchy skin which would ultimately cause you such a hassle. It would probably cost you a lot of money if you end up resorting to seeking a dermatologist.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Emulsion?

• Lightweight

Emulsions as mentioned above feels lighter than moisturizing creams. If you are one of the people that doesn’t want that heavy, greasy feeling given by moisturizing creams, an emulsion can be a great product for you.

• Hydrating

They are practically made to maintain hydration to your skin. It may feel lightweight but emulsions are packed with hydrating properties to keep your skin healthy and moisturized deep into your skin.

• Non-comedogenic

Given its lightweight formulation, it also safe to say that it is thinner than creams. With that said, it will allow your skin to breathe, maintaining unclogged pores. It will not add up to your skin’s production of excess sebum since it will be completely absorbed by your skin. Leaving less room the appearance of acne, pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads to your face.

• Reinforce your skin’s barrier

Emulsions have properties that lock in everything that you’ve put before applying it. This way it will help in maintaining moisture to your skin, keeping your skin healthy and glowing without clogging your pores.

What Skin Type/Condition Is Best To Use Emulsion? Is It Suitable For All Skin Types?

All skin types are suitable to use emulsions. However, some emulsions target specific problems in specific skin conditions to better help in improving and providing a solution for it.

• For oily skin types

Emulsions are perfect for oily skin because they are very lightweight and don’t feel greasy or sticky at all. Moisturizers can be a bit sticky and heavy for oily skin types. That’s where emulsions come in and provide you hydration maintaining the non-greasy feel unto your skin.

• For acne-prone skin

Emulsions that are packed with Salicylic acid are perfect for your skin type. The Salicylic Acid will surely help your skin remove excess sebum, dead skin cells, and dirt while keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized.

• For dry skin

Choose emulsions that have hydrating ingredients on it such as Hyaluronic Acid. It enables you to lock in moisture to your skin keeping it hydrated despite its lightweight formulation. You wouldn’t need to pack layers of heavy moisturizers just to keep your skin hydrated. Emulsions are lightweight so you can apply another layer of moisturizer if you prefer it that way.

• For sensitive skin

People with sensitive skin are the pickiest ones, in my opinion. Choose emulsions that have to promote healthy and hydrated skin without causing your irritation, redness, and inflammation. Avoid emulsions that have fragrance and alcohol on it, these ingredients might trigger your skin.

• For mature/ aging skin

Some emulsions have anti-aging benefits perfect to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. You want to choose emulsions that contain collagen to provide elasticity to your skin getting that youthful, firmer skin. Most of the emulsions that come with anti-aging benefits also give you a plumper and radiant effect to your skin.

How To Incorporate Emulsion Skin Care To Your Routine

The emulsion should be applied in between serums/ essence and moisturizer. Serums and essences are more concentrated while moisturizers are more on the heavier and thicker side. With the emulsion applied in between, it will create a balance for both of the products to fully seep into the skin. Providing you with hydrated, moisturized, healthy, and glowing skin you desire.

Apply your emulsion on the final step of your skincare routine. Noting that its primary duty is to lock and seal all everything that you previously applied, it is recommended to apply this right before you moisturize and apply sunscreen.

Some brands have specific instructions as to when it would be best to apply their emulsion. There are a few that specifies that their emulsion should be used before applying serums and essences. Take time to read and research about the product on their website and other people’s reviews. You will get an idea of how the product works on their skin and it might work the same on yours too.

Popular Korean Brands’ Emulsion:

The Etude Moistfull Collagen Emulsion boasts of its 14% super collagen water and 6% moistful Baobab water contents, providing elasticity and hydration at the same time. Comes in a jelly-like formula for easy absorption by the skin.

NATURE REPUBLIC Snail Solution Skin Care Line contains the secretion filtrate of snails gathered from pristine areas for effective results. It makes skin healthy and luminous and replaces stressed-out skin. The Snail Solution Emulsion contains super amazing regenerative snail mucus and takes care of skin with various problems such as blemishes, acne scars, red blotches, a dull skin tone, and sagging. This is an emulsion for moisture-oil balance with hyaluronic acid complex.

Missha Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Emulsion contains 10 types of low, medium and high molecular weight hyaluronic acids that are effective for oily skin. It provides the skin with super moisture thoroughly. The light texture is quickly absorbed and brings out the skin glowy finish!

With red ginseng extract, purity of 99%, silky amino acid The Nature Republic Ginseng Royal Silk Emulsion aims to give vitality to the skin. A power pack emulsion with luxurious ingredients for moisture, brighten skin complexion, to firm and even skin tone.

Bottom line:

Some prefer not to include emulsions on to their skincare routines but it is totally up to you. If you prefer adding a layer of hydration unto your skin then emulsions will become one of your staples. This can be a great alternative for heavy moisturizers or day cream. Just make sure that you apply a good amount of sunscreen at least SPF 30 broad spectrum. It features lightweight yet hydrating formula perfect for people on the go and doesn’t want that heavy feeling on their skin.

Again, all skin conditions need a different level of skincare so it’s all up to you to test and try out different products. Always remember to be careful and be patient, that glass skin you’re aiming for takes time so don’t stress out too much.

Lines On Face (Wrinkles)

Have you ever looked at the mirror and frown upon the sight of the appearing lines on face? These facial lines, better known as Wrinkles, has pretty much stressed us out more than once. You may have heard from TV commercials or saw it from a billboard ad how these annoying marks are identified as “signs of aging”; while this may be frustrating to hear, it is somehow true.

In a day where looking young and fresh is “what’s in”, wrinkles are of no doubt, “out of style”; making everyone want to eagerly avoid or get rid of them. Despite being one of the most common beauty problems, there is still a lot to learn about these facial lines most people don’t know about.

Facial lines, laugh lines, or what we normally call “Wrinkles” are prominent folds or creases of skin that remind us how we aren’t getting any younger anymore. That’s the sad reality, we can’t avoid but we all need to accept it.

Causes of Lines on Face (Wrinkles)

I’ll be more scientific here so bear with me (haha). The development of facial wrinkles is a fibrosis of the skin. This is a result of incorrect repairing of collagen and elastic fibers along the derma. Wrinkles are products of collagen and elastic fibers that failed to regenerate and are only replaced by altered fibers.

They commonly appear on smooth surfaces of the face and areas that are too sensitive to sun damage. The wrinkles on your face might be a result of excessive exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is more harmful than it seems, thus extreme openness can result to premature aging of the skin. It can be prevented to some degree, however, by keeping away from too much sun exposure, and proper use of the right products that would help protect your skin from harmful sunrays.

While this might be the primary cause of facial lines, we should also take into consideration other factors that contribute to the formation of these marks (e.g. smoking, dehydration, old age, habitual facial expression, etc.).

What Are The Different Types Of Lines On Face 

Most people might not be aware of it, but the lines on our face differ from one another. Each distinct type comes from different causes as well. Knowing well the type of wrinkle you have and identifying the cause of it will help you find the perfect remedy. These are some of the type of wrinkles and the factors that contribute to their appearance:

1. Elastic Creases

Elastic creases are the lines that often takes place along the cheeks and the upper lip, most evident when you smile. This crease includes the Marionette lines that take form when the jaw drops back to its resting phase and the lip lines that form the vertical marks around the mouth.

This type of facial lines primarily is caused by:

• overexposure to harmful rays of the sun
• Other factors including smokes from a cigarette, polluted air, and other environmental agents that affect the repairing and regenerating of skin.

It is almost impossible to avoid exposing ourselves in the sun while keeping up with our daily lives. So, in order to avoid the fast formation of these lines, it is essential that we must use good quality sunscreens perfect for our skin type and avoid exposure to cigarette smoke and as much as possible, stay away from polluted areas.

2. Dynamic Expression Lines

These are facial lines that temporarily appear when you do facial expressions, thus the name “Expression lines”. Though it is something temporary, these lines can become permanent when the skin is constantly exposed to certain factors. Just like elastic creases, dynamic expression lines caused by:

• too much sun exposure
• poor habits.
• vices, such as smoking can accelerate the appearance of these lines.

Example of these lines are worry lines; the “eleven” marks that appear every time you furrow your brows, and the worried lines that run horizontally above the T-zone; appears every time you raise your brows because of (in the name itself) “worry” and/or confusion.

To avoid these lines, skin experts suggest the use of products that are rather soft and hydrating to the skin. A lot of beauty bloggers and experts to apply skincare products that contain what is identified as “neuro-calming” peptides. This ingredient is said to have an immediate effect on making the lines disappear.

3. Static Wrinkles

Unlike dynamic lines, static wrinkles are facial lines that are always visible, regardless of the action our face is doing. They are always present, even if our face is at rest, thus came the name “static”. Static wrinkles are caused by the skin’s sudden loss of elasticity and collagen. This inelastic skin then becomes saggy and loose, due to gravitational forces.

Static wrinkles become more apparent as we get older. These visible lines are caused mainly by:

• overexposure to the sun
• your genes may also apply a certain role regarding your sensitivity to these lines
• smoking
• poor nutrition

Since static wrinkles are permanent lines on our face, one can only reduce the visibility of it, not completely erase it. Using the right anti-aging products with ingredients that would suit your skin is important. But, we should also observe a healthy lifestyle, such as reducing our sugar intake, lowering alcohol consumptions, exercising, and the most important of it all, staying hydrated. Water helps a lot in keeping our bodies healthy and is proven to have a high contribution in keeping our face fresh and young-looking.

Korean Beauty Products Perfect For Reducing Lines On Face 

When it comes to looking young and fresh all day, Korean people are, without a doubt, at the top of the game. They are best known for their milky white “glass skin” and baby looking faces. Their fascinating glow stirred the public and caused the “Hallyu Wave” for Korean beauty products. People have been so determined in achieving this seemingly timeless radiance, making way for different beauty techniques and routines.

Unlike western beauty products that are mostly oil-free and matte types, Korean skincare mostly focuses on hydrating the skin and producing that healthy-looking shiny face. They are famous for their sunscreens with great amounts of SPF for anti-aging. Below are the most famous K-beauty skincare products proven effective for fresh looking baby face skin:

D’Alba White Truffle Anti-Wrinkle Cream is a pretty advanced wrinkle-care product to brighten, nourish and plump skin and tighten sagging areas. It is famous for its ingredients such as White Truffle extract, Avocado, and Grape Seed oils, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Ceramides, and Peptides.

These ingredients form a very effective solution that stimulates collagen production, energizes, and whitens skin to improve visible signs of aging.

It’s Skin Power 10 Synake Effector is based on a snake’s ability to regenerate its skin and stop the appearance of wrinkles, thus the name “sy-nake” (snake). It is known to make people look like they had just done “botox” by using it. This firm and fresh effects are made possible by the product’s anti-aging properties.

Just like a snake’s plump and shiny skin, Power 10 Synake Effector can also give every person the comfortable skin they always wished for. This interesting product based on what is considered one of the fiercest animals out there gives them a lot of confidence all while looking young and healthy.

Ginseng, the primary ingredient of this serum, is one of the best known herbal medicine among Asian countries. This serum is made of approximately 8% of red ginseng extract which is carefully picked among the best, with green tea extracts known for soothing the skin.

Researches have proven that ginseng gives of substances that help in reducing wrinkles and preventing skin damage due to overexposure to the sun. This product might be best used when you’re more of the outdoor type of gal. Overpowering most of our expectations, this serum has also mixtures of different extracts that are great for anti-aging and skin hydration. I’m From Ginseng Serum, is without a doubt, a golden lining in the beauty industry.

Bottom line is:

We may frown upon, but we don’t need to hate ourselves when we fail to eliminate these lines, as they are a natural process everyone goes through at some point in their life. Using skin care products is not something one should feel ashamed of either.

There are still a lot of gems yet to be discovered in addressing different beauty problems, but when it comes to achieving the flawless healthy-looking face, Korean serums are indeed a treasure for the industry. While these products are proven effective, we should never forget that the best way to avoid the annoying lines drawing your face like a sketchbook, is to have a healthy lifestyle, a happy disposition, and a life away from stress.

Whiteheads Vs Blackheads : What Are They?

Everyone has gone through a phase of breakouts and acne problems. During puberty, our hormones trigger our body to produce more oil than necessary, leading to acne. On a positive note, acne can be treated, but the level of care is different depending on your skin type and skin condition.

There are quite a few types of acne; two of those are Whiteheads and Blackheads. They are the most common type of acne. Very frustrating and would show up at the most inconvenient time. They randomly pop up on your skin; usually, they appear in your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back.

Whiteheads and blackheads are non-inflammatory acne. They have clogged pores caused by excess sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells. They are non-inflammatory, but if you will irritate them, they will become inflamed and would cause more damage to your skin. They are different in form but have similar treatment.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads are also known as closed comedones. Your pore is filled with bacteria and has a micro-opening. Since the opening is small, air cannot come in. Inside, it will undergo a chemical reaction that keeps its color white. The pore is sealed with your skin, which forms a lump onto your skin.

Blackheads

Blackheads are also known as open comedones. It originates from a whitehead. A whitehead will slowly tear off the skin sealing it, but if it remains clogged, it will result in blackhead formation. Since the air can come in, it will undergo oxidation that causes the substance inside to turn black.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whiteheads Vs Blackheads, How Do They Appear?

Blackheads and Whiteheads are from clogged pores containing bacteria, excess oils, and dead skin cells. They appear mostly on the face, neck, shoulders, and back, areas that are exposed to the external environment. Some factors and situations trigger their appearances, such as:

1. Not removing makeup properly

When putting on makeup, make sure that you are using non-comedogenic products. Avoid oil-based products. Always remove your makeup thoroughly. Please, please, please, do not sleep if you still have makeup on! You will surely have bad skin when you wake up the next morning.

2. Touching your face too often

If you always touch your face with your hands, you will surely get blackheads and whiteheads. Your hands have a lot of bacteria, especially on your fingertips and fingernails. As much as possible, never touch your face, especially with dirty hands.

3. Using certain hair products

Another factor might be the hair products that you are using. Our hair is the closest to our face, shoulders, chest, and back. Your hair product might contain an ingredient that irritates your skin. Try keeping your hair away from your face if you are using heavy oils for your hair.

4. Dehydration

Dehydration will cause your body to produce more oil to compensate for water. This results in the overproduction of sebum then could potentially lead to forming whiteheads and blackheads. Always stay hydrated. It is not only good for your skin but for your overall health too.

You might need to sweat a bit because your body will release sweat and oil when you work out. A good thing if you want to remove excess sebum from your skin, at the same time, you get to improve your fitness. I would also recommend that you go to a sauna. The warm steam will give lots of benefits to your body. It will help in releasing sweat and oils from your skin. Not only that, but it also calms and pampers your whole body.

5. Inconsistent skin care routine

Having a skin care routine is essential. To minimize blackheads and whiteheads from appearing, you should always maintain a consistent skin care routine that includes cleansing and exfoliating. The purpose of cleansing and exfoliating is to keep your pores clean and remove dead skin cells, two of the many steps to ensure clear, healthy, and glowing skin.

6. Using unsuitable skin care products

Talking about skincare routines, if you are trying a new product, always patch test first. Some products are not compatible with your skin. If your skin is getting worse, seek professional help. Dermatologists will advise you on what type of your skin is, what ingredients are suitable for your skin, and what steps you should take to maintain healthy skin.

7. Genetically inherited

Despite all the skin care routines and hygienic practices, you still have acne? Maybe it’s because of genetics. You might have a hereditary tendency to overproduce sebum, causing your skin to become oily and acne-prone. Research has it that if both of your parents have experienced severe acne during adulthood, you have a high risk of having it.

Should You Pop Blackheads And Whiteheads Yourself?

Never pop those zits! Improper extraction of whiteheads and blackheads will lead to inflammation. They will surely create acne scars, which are very difficult to get rid of. Squeezing them will only let the bacteria enter deep into your pores. It will potentially become troublesome acne, very irritating, and painful at the same time.

Let the extraction be handled by professionals. They have the proper tools and are trained to do the appropriate method of extracting blackheads and whiteheads. You can choose to go to a dermatology clinic, a beauty salon and a spa/sauna. Just make sure that legit professionals will perform the extraction. You don’t want to end up breaking out even worse than before.

Better yet, leave them alone! Since they contain bacteria, your body will naturally fight and eliminate the bacteria out from your skin. They will usually come off in a few days. As long as you consistently, exfoliate and cleanse your skin, you’re good to go! If your zits decide to come off, clean them properly after. They will naturally heal on its own.

Are Blackheads and Whiteheads Treated Differently?

Blackheads and Whiteheads have similar treatment. Both are caused by the accumulation of bacteria from excess sebum, dirt, and dead skin cell. You will need to cleanse and exfoliate your face using products that have ingredients or properties that suits to your skin condition.

What Korean Skincare Ingredients/Products Can Help Pop Them Out?

There are tons of Korean skin care products out in the market, and it will get confusing about which product you should purchase.

Let’s start first with the ingredients:

• Salicylic Acid

Salicylic Acid is widely used for treating acne and helping in minimizing the appearance of acne. It is present in almost all skin care products out there. However, some people will take it very irritating to the skin, especially with sensitive skin types. It dries out and removes excess oil from your pores.

• Benzol Peroxide

Benzol Peroxide is a usual ingredient for reducing inflammation and treating acne. It is very much used in skin care products. The downside is, it causes peeling to some people. Similar to Salicylic Acid, it is quite irritating and is not friendly to sensitive skin. It also works the same with salicylic acid that dries out and removes excess sebum that causes acne.

• Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is organic and natural. Although some skin types are not compatible with organic products, it still minimizes inflammation on your skin. Once consistently used, it will take a few days for it to effect.

• Activated charcoal

It has been a bit popular these days because of the great results it gives. Activate charcoal acts like a magnet that attracts impurities keeping it away from your skin. It is preferred in clay form for oily skin and dry skin, pairing it with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil.

• BHA

BHA is usually oil-based, great for deep cleansing your pores. It has proven to be effective in calming inflammation and acne.

Korean skin care products that can be used on blackheads and whiteheads:

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask 2x

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask 2x claims to be one of the top clay masks in Korea. It has AHA ingredient that helps in exfoliating dead skin cells.

Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains betaine salicylate that softens blackheads and exfoliates dead skin.

A great gentle cleanser infused with tea tree oil. Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser’s formula won’t strip off your natural oils but remove dead skin cells and penetrate the pores to remove bacteria.

Cosrx Two In One Poreless Power Liquid is an alcohol-free product, very friendly for sensitive skin. Minimizes pores without irritation, thanks to its combination of BHA and Tannin.

Whatever skin type and skin condition you might have, always wash and exfoliate your face. Take note, over washing and over-exfoliating, will bring harm to your skin. Always be consistent in doing your skincare routine. Maintain proper hygiene at all times. Never discriminate yourself because of your acne. Treating acne is a long process, so be patient, you will get there.

Discover The Benefits of Green Tea For Skin

There are tons of benefits of green tea for skin that we will discover today. Green tea could be even as good for your outsides as your insides. The same health benefits that make the drink better for your health also mean there are benefits of green tea for skin.

It contains a strong antioxidant called EGCG that fights DNA damage from UV rays to stop carcinoma. It is a powerful antibacterial agent for treating acne and unclogging pores.

Polyphenols in tea damage bacterial membranes and fight against infection, meaning that it’s useful for treating bacterial growth that causes acne. It helps kill systemic bacterial inflammation for smoother, toned skin.

From flavonoids to catechins, from amino acids to vitamins, there’s a lot that you can do with green tea for your skin’s needs. Green tea, aside from being rich in antioxidants, also contains tannin and caffeine.

When applied topically to the eye area, they can remedy this problem of dark circles and puffiness. This is primarily because they shrink the fine blood vessels around the eyes, making for a great under-eye fix.

What is Green Tea?

Green tea, made from the same plant as black tea, is more potent than its counterpart simply because it is processed differently. Black tea is fermented, while green tea is just dried and steamed.

It can be used to treat acne and other skin problems caused by bacteria that get lodged in the skin. The polyphenols work as an intensive cleanser and fight against all kinds of skin infections.

It has some varieties, depending on the harvest, growing conditions, processing levels, etc. Green tea is said to be healthy for the skin in numerous ways, and we’re detailing how it may help you maintain healthy and glowing skin.

Whether or not this is the case with other teas, green teas definitely give us hope for the skin.

Green tea also contains flavonoids, which supply benefits to reducing the looks of fine lines below the eyes, and ensuring the under-eye area stays youthful and firm for as long as possible.

Usage Of Green Tea In Ancient Days

The history of green tea originated in China in 2737 B.C. Emperor Shennong had drunk water with dead tea in it by accident. He found the drink very refreshing and the drink was birth. Green tea had become a luxurious drink for higher society.

During 800 A.D, a man named Lu Yu who was considered the sage of green tea spent a decade researching the tea. After a deep research, he wrote a monograph on the benefits of tea in 760. He mentioned that green tea is the best remedy for flu, fever, headache, and body pain. He concluded that four to five drinks of the green tea make a man healthy and fresh. Both in modern and olden days green tea is used for the following purposes:

• Grease Cleaner

Tea water is very powerful at cleansing grease. It is common in Chinese families to apply leftover tea water to smooth the dinner desk or dishes. There is no want for soap.

• Digestive and Internal Cleanser

Like bathing is necessary for the external body. Consuming tea is like a bathe for your inner body. It cleans your frame internally. If you apprehend how tea water can smooth dishware, you’ll understand how tea cleans your system. Chinese drink tea after every meal, mainly after meat and oily food. Tea also has a medicinal impact in supporting digestion.

• Tea Pillow

Used tea leaves may be beneficial too. Collect used, dried tea leaves, make them right into a pillow. It will cure excessive blood pressure and hold your eyes clear.

Compounds Found In Green Tea

The quality of green tea that is credited with multiple health benefits is the presence of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Most of the polyphenols in tea are catechins. Catechins which are anti-oxidants naturally have also been shown to function as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. One among the main catechins in tea is the foremost effective agent against skin inflammation and cancerous changes within the skin. It also has the anti-bacterial ability in destroying bacterias on the skin.

Benefits of Green Tea for Skin

The benefits of green tea for the skin have long discovered by beauticians, with ample Korean skin care products that use green tea as one of the main ingredients. These benefits include :

• Fights against Acne

Green tea has been found to possess the polyphenol compound EGCG, which is anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. It is considered one of the best components to prevent acne and other skin infections.

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial present in green tea can also make it an effective remedy for zits. The polyphenols in green tea fight against infection by damaging bacterial membranes. In this way that the tea may be a useful device for controlling bacterial increase that can cause acne.

• Protects from Melanoma

Green tea might be used as a pharmacological agent for preventing disorders of the skin caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

• Good for Oily Skin

The EGCG present in this tea is known to be anti-androgenic. This effectively means that it regulates the production of androgens in the human body and reduces sebum production on the skin. Which in turn, reduces the oiliness on the skin.

• Slows Down Skin Aging

Study shows that the antioxidant EGCG abundant in green tea could rejuvenate dying skin cells. By protecting and repairing your cells, this antioxidant can combat signs of aging and make dull skin look healthier. The vitamins in green tea, especially vitamin B-2, can also keep your skin looking more youthful. Vitamin B-2 can maintain collagen levels, which can improve the firmness of your skin.

• Reduces Inflammation

With its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea helps to reduce irritation and swelling on the skin. Applying it to your skin can soothe minor cuts and sunburn, too. It can also soothe irritation and itching caused by psoriasis, dermatitis, and rosacea.

• Moisturizes skin

Green tea contains several vitamins, including vitamin E, known for its ability to nourish and hydrate the skin. In another test, participants applied an experimental formulation of green tea extract to their forearms for 15 and 30 days. At the end of the study, the researchers found that the participants had increased skin moisture and a reduction in skin roughness.

Korean Products That Contain Green Tea:

Many research studies have shown the benefits of green tea for skin. It gives a glow to your face. Green tea not only protects you from acne but also clears your pores and gives a younger appearance to your skin. Additionally, it has the potential to save you from various skin cancers. So, make green tea a part of your Korean skin care routine for glowing and healthier skin.

Made from the Jeju Green Tea and Green Tea Seed, Innisfree Green Tea Serum is formulated to hydrate skin from within. Rich in acid amino and mineral, it creates a strong moisture barrier to keep skin hydrated longer. I have also written on this serum on the review section. You can read it here.

Blithe Patting Splash Mask Soothing & Healing Green Tea is a liquid mask with moisturizing effect. Enriched with botanical extracts and lactic acid, it leaves skin smoother, refreshed, and glowing.

Suitable for oily, combination and acne-prone skin, this unique foam cleanser is formulated with fermented green tea that brightens, calms, and hydrates the skin. The Neogen Real Fresh Foam Green Tea removes impurities such as sweat, dirt without stripping the natural oil of the skin.