Author: Skinbeautywithtea

My name is Teadra and I am a product junkie. I love everything beauty including makeup and skincare. #fungalacnesafe

Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Serums

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these support Teadra and costs of the blog such as buying products to review and keeping the blog running.

It’s been a while, but I am back with another top 10, and I’m talking about serums this time. Serums are other skin care products in the treatment stage of your skincare routine. Serums are applied after the essence and are more of a thicker consistency. Here we are with the serum list of my top picks, including honorable mentions. I hope this list will help anyone with fungal acne looking for a serum that won’t trigger it.

Serums

The Inkey List – Alpha Hydroxy Acid Serum 

The Inkey List AHA serum is a fantastic addition to any skincare routine. I have used this serum and other aha serums throughout my skincare journey. I have always loved The Ordinary and The Inkey List because of their affordable price. I have used this serum and the past and have recently tried it out for several weeks now and have already noticed a significant improvement in the texture and brightness of my skin.

What I love about this product is how lightweight and fast-absorbing it is. It goes on smoothly and leaves no sticky or greasy residue behind. One thing I hate about serums or any skincare product is when it leaves the skin sticky or greasy. I usually apply it in the evening after cleansing and toning, and it sinks in quickly, allowing me to follow up with my moisturizer without any wait time.

I have dry, sensitive skin and have been nervous about using any AHAs, but I am glad I included this ingredient in my skincare routine. I had no issues with irritation, sensitivity, or dry patches. Instead, I have noticed a gradual improvement in the texture of my skin. It feels smoother and more refined, with less texture and rough patches.

The Inkey List AHA serum contains glycolic acid, one of the most effective AHAs for skin exfoliating. It also contains aloe vera and ginseng, which help to soothe and hydrate the skin. Overall, this serum is a great value for the price. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an effective and affordable AHA serum that is fungal acne safe.

COS DE BAHA – Arbutin 5% + Niacinamide 5% A.N. Serum

The COS DE BAHA Arbutin 5% + Niacinamide 5% A.N. Serum is a game-changer for anyone looking to brighten their skin tone. I have used this serum for several weeks and used it in the past during the beginning of my fungal acne journey. I  am already seeing a noticeable difference in the brightness and clarity of my skin. Continue reading Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Serums

It Cosmetics Nude Glow CC+ Cream Foundation Review

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these suport Teadra and costs of the blog such as buying products to review and keeping the blog running.

Back with another foundation review for my readers! This one is 100% fungal acne safe. I use skinsort, sezia and folliculitisscout, to check the ingredients on all the products I buy or use for reviews.  I brought this during a foundation haul for my birthday last year at Sephora, in the shade Neutral Deep. This CC+ Cream is fungal acne safe! It works best for dry, combo, and normal skin types. It provides medium coverage and has SPF 40. It is supposed to color correct and give your skin a glowy tint that brightens up the complexion giving you a healthy glow. It has niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract. Let’s dive deep into this CC+ Cream Nude Glow from It Cosmetics.

Coverage:

When I was using the CC+ Cream in a grwm that I posted on my Instagram, you could tell it blended into the skin like butter. I liked the finish because it gave me a glowy, bright skin complexion. It gives you a good amount of coverage, and it is med-coverage. You can build it up, but CC Creams aren’t meant to be full coverage due to their lightweight texture. I say one pump was enough coverage to even out my skin tone. I have redness, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation, and it did a good job even it out. 

Shade Range:

This CC+ cream has 22 shades which is not surprising for CC Creams. CC creams are cosmetic products with a creamy formulation, great for dry skin and lightweight in texture than foundation. It is used to even out skin tones. 

Packaging:

It comes in the standard It Cosmetics packaging in a tube bottle with a pump. This is the type of packaging that I prefer, and it is also similar to Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation. 

Application:

When I apply it, the formula is thin, not too thick; it is in between. It doesn’t dry too quickly, so you have more time to work it in than the Nars’ Soft Matte Complete Foundation. It blends into the skin and melts like butter. It is a beautiful formulation. Now the con is that it smells like a lot of SPF, and sometimes I experience eye stinging when I put this on and wear it throughout the day. However, there is no white case, and I don’t experience it oxidizing. 

Shelf Life:

It has a 12 Month shelf life.

Wear Time:

It holds up pretty well, but I did have to powder my nose to touch up my makeup because I wear glasses.  

Ingredients:

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Nude Glow is claimed to be the first 90% skincare CC+ for an instant healthy glow and brighter skin in 4 weeks. I am unsure about this claim because I believe using my skincare routine to help with these concerns and not a CC Cream or foundation. After all, it is makeup. Skincare ingredients will be more beneficial during your skincare routine because it is the first thing you will put on: Toner, serum, essence, ampoule, emulsion, moisturizer, facial oil, etc. These products will have a greater amount of skincare ingredients than makeup. 

Niacinamide:  This super ingredient helps to boost collagen production to improve texture, uneven skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles, and fade hyperpigmentation. 

Hyaluronic Acid: Helps skin hold on to water, keeping it hydrated. Reduces transepidermal water loss by retaining water, making it more supple and flexible. It reduces fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and blemishes and brightens the skin when paired with Vitamin C. It becomes more effective in your skincare routine. 

Hyaluronic acid also works great with Niacinamide as both are humectants, meaning they can hold onto water. Both protect the skin barrier and help with improving skin complexion, and have well-aging benefits. 

Green Tea Extract: A wonderful antioxidant that is anti-inflammatory, soothing, and protects the skin. It is great for oily and combo skin types as this helps reduce sebum. It minimizes signs of aging and can be paired with any ingredient. You don’t need to avoid actives or other skincare ingredients when using green tea. Green tea comes from the leaves and buds of a tea plant called Camellia Sinensis, another name for green tea. This has polyphenols that are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory.  Green tea also contains caffeine like most teas, like black tea,  oolong tea, and earl grey.

I can say that if you like your makeup containing skincare, then these are the best ingredients to include in makeup. Skincare-infused makeup is the trend now, and I don’t hate it or love it and understand there are some benefits. We see brands using skincare in their makeup not just in complexion products but in lip and cheek products from Kosas, Tarte Cosmetics, Juice Beauty, Bobbi Brown,  Clinique, Rose Inc, etc. 

It is safe to say that this trend of skincare-infused makeup or hybrid makeup isn’t going anywhere. Just don’t depend on these products alone to improve your skin. You should have a skincare routine to get more benefits. 

SPF: 

You know it has SPF when you put it on. It smells like SPF, and sometimes I feel that the SPF is most of the time burning my eyes. It is bearable, but I wanted to point this out. If you have sensitive eyes or hate when SPF burns your eyes, then I suggest staying away. 

Conclusion: 

Does it cover pigmentation?

This is a CC cream, so it is more of a medium coverage. I will say that it evens out the skin tone. If you are into full coverage, then this is not for you. It gives a more natural look while at the same time hiding hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Does it cover up texture and pores?

While this CC cream is very lightweight and applies like butter, it is also easy to apply, blend and matches my skin tone. I prefer neutral foundations because I am between yellow, olive, and a little pink. I say that this is a great color range for a CC cream. It is also great for texture because it blends into the skin so well it doesn’t emphasize texture or dry patches.

Is it suited for dry skin?

This is great to use in winter and summer because even though it is lightweight, it is also moisturizing. 

Is it suited for oily skin?

It has ingredients that can help with sebum throughout the day, but it is not budge-proof. This means that touching up during the day might be needed.

Is it transfer-proof? 

No, unfortunately, it is not transfer-proof. Maybe using a setting spray or powder will help.

Do I recommend it? 

I recommend it because this review is just my experience with this product. If you want to try it or are unsure, then you will not know if it works or not if you don’t try it. Let me know in the comments if you have tried this CC Cream and if it was a win or fail. And be sure to check out my other foundation reviews.

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation

Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation

Huda Beauty’s Glowish Luminous Tint Foundation

Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation

Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation Review

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these suport Teadra and costs of the blog such as buying products to review and keeping the blog running.

Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation is a full-coverage liquid foundation that is long-wearing with a natural-looking matte finish. It is best for oily, combo, and normal skin.  This foundation is supposed to be oxidation resistant and lasts up to 16 hrs, similar to the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation wear time. This foundation is fungal acne safe, unlike her counterparts, Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation has three triggers (Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate and Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Palmitate)); *Nars Radiant Longwear Foundation also has three triggers (Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Behenic Acid, and Stearic Acid) – so its best to do a patch test if you have fungal acne to see if it is safe to use. Fungal acne has different sensitivity levels regarding ingredients; therefore, these might be safe to use based on this.

Coverage: 

The foundation shades are pretty much the same, and their foundations are usually medium-full coverage.  This foundation is medium-full coverage which means it is buildable. I agree that this foundation is buildable, covers up my hyperpigmentation, and evens my skin tone.

Shade Range:

Soft Matte Foundation has 34 shades, similar to the shade ranges of Nars foundations between 34-40 shades. I had difficulty finding my shade in this foundation. I usually wear the shade Marquises-MD5 (Medium-deep to deep with warm undertones) or Macao-MD4 (Medium-deep to deep with warm undertones and olive tones).  Their shade matches for undertones are pretty tricky, so I just went a shade up.  I first tried it in the shade Marquises, which was too red for my skin tone. Then, I tried it in Macao, which is lighter than my skin shade. I am between a yellow, olive-undertone. So I usually try to stick to neutral shades just because it is either too warm or too light if I use yellow or warm foundation undertones. Undertones can be tricky to look for in Nars. I feel that yellow tones are either too dark or too warm, Neutral tones are too light, and olive tones are too dark or too warm. So, regarding shade match with undertones, Nars still has improvements, especially with yellow undertones. The shades Macao is too red and also too light, and Marquises is too red and too dark. As a shade reference, I wear the shade 14 Neutral in Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation, Neutral Rich in It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Foundation, and 21 in Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Skin Tint. 

Packaging:

The packaging is very nice, and I love that it is in a squeeze-frosted plastic bottle with a silicone bottom. This beauty brand usually packages its foundation in a glass bottle. If you are heavy-handed, please try not to squeeze too much product out because you can’t put it back due to the packaging, similar to Dior’s Backstage Face and Body Foundation packaging. 

Application: 

Soft matte is thicker, dries quickly, and will get stuck in place if you don’t blend thoroughly. I tend to use my setting spray when that happens to loosen the formulation. The formula claims to be transfer resistant, shine-resistant, and doesn’t oxidize. I apply it from the back of my hand to warm up the formulation and to make sure I get an even blend using a brush. I am a brush girl with this formulation because it gives me more coverage and glow to the skin. This foundation does set pretty quickly, and there’s no need to set it with a powder. It feels like a second skin but is resistant while wearing a mask throughout the day. I have a dry skin type, and because of that, I take my time prepping my skin so that it doesn’t feel dry during the day. You can also add your moisturizer to the foundation to give that extra boost of moisture. Luminous primer or Auric Glow Lust works well with this formulation as well. I prefer more of a glow-from-within foundation look. But the formulation is versatile because you can add stuff with it, even a facial oil, and it works just fine.  

Shelf Life:

It is a standard of their foundations to last up to 24 months in shelf life. If you found my blog because you have fungal acne, I recommend adding the expiration date when you open it. So, if you open it on 2/24/23, it will expire on 2/24/25 (2 years).

Wear Time:

The powders in this formulation are supposed to absorb excess oil, so for all my oily skin types, this foundation is for you. If you wear masks often, look no further; this foundation will not budge. If you have dry patches or texture, use a primer or prep your skin, as this formulation can peel. The foundation blurs throughout the day and does hide texture if you prep your skin. I have texture around my chin, smile lines, and nose. This is my go-to foundation for the spring and summer because it is sweat-resistant. 

Conclusion:

Does it cover pigmentation?

100% yes, this does cover pigmentation and evens the skin tone.

Does it cover up texture and pores?

Yes, it leaves the skin with a blurred finish. I would suggest that if you have dry skin or dry patches, prep the skin.

Is it suited for dry skin?

Yes, and No, it depends on skin prep, but I love that the formula is versatile and easier to add a moisturizer, primer, or facial oil without it peeling or affecting the formula.

Is it suited for oily skin?

Yes, this is more suited for oily and combo skin.

Is it transfer-proof? 

Yes, it wears well with a mask throughout the day and sets itself, so there’s no need to add powder on top. 

Does it last 16 hrs?

I have worn it for over 12 hrs, and it still looked good. I would say it looks better throughout the day. It looked dewier and natural throughout the day. Not much touching up with this formulation besides maybe the T-zone.

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, it is 10/10 because it is 100% fungal acne safe and a fantastic formula. Even though it is for oily and combo skin types, you can still add something to make the formula more suited for your skin type. 

This foundation retails for $42, the normal price range of Nars Foundations ($42-$50).

Let me know what you think about this foundation in the comments. And be sure to check out my other foundation reviews.

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation

Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation

Huda Beauty’s Glowish Luminous Tint Foundation

 

 

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation Review

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these suport Teadra and costs of the blog such as buying products to review and keeping the blog running.
 

Many makeup products excite me when I find out its fungal acne safe. Cream products and foundation are the main ones. I am finding out that the newest foundation from Charlotte Tilbury is fungal acne safe with only three triggers in here that are minor – Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, and Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate. I would still recommend patch testing because fungal acne is tricky. Please look at my What is Fungal Acne post here and Ingredients That Cause Fungal Acne post here. I brought Charlotte Tilbury’s new Beautiful Skin Foundation when it was available on Space NK. I’ve been testing this for a while now with and without primers and testing how it does well with other products on top of it, like powders and creams. I also tried it without setting it with powder, setting spray, or finishing spray. I have to say that this is a favorite. I am finally here to share my review after a while, so here are my thoughts.

The formulation of Beautiful Skin Foundation is a newer product in Charlotte Tilbury’s catalog. The claims are that it is a medium-coverage foundation that contains skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid. It is long-wearing – up to 16 hours, has a natural finish, and is best for dry, combo, and normal skin types. I wear the shade 14 Neutral (deep with neutral undertones). The range differs from her previous foundations; for instance, this foundation has 30 shades, while the *Airbrush Flawless Foundation has 43. I am unsure if she will ever upgrade her shade range, but I’ve noticed that not everyone can find their airbrush shade twin in this foundation.

It is a thicker formula, and a little goes a long way. It has a dewy natural finish on the skin, and I notice that it works better with a brush which is my preference. It reminds me of the It Cosmetics CC Cream without the SPF. Yes, this foundation doesn’t have SPF, which is not a deal breaker for me. A foundation with SPF brings no benefits because we should be applying the regular amount of SPF, which is two fingers from the index to the middle finger to cover the face and neck. That would be too cakey if we did that with our foundations. 

My skin type is dry and sensitive; I don’t have to worry too much about powder with this foundation. My trouble area would be around my nose because I wear prescription glasses. The ingredients here are more suitable for dry skin than oily skin because the t-zone areas might need powdering throughout the day. This foundation is full of skincare ingredients below:

Hyaluronic Acid: A fantastic ingredient for those with dry, dehydrated skin or who want to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It is also wound healing and reduces scarring.

I will say that I am happy it has this ingredient, but if this is the only product with HA that you are using, I’m afraid you will not see the same results of a HA skin care product like a toner or serum. 

Rose Complex: Targets signs of stress in the skin, such as dryness, pigmentation, dullness, and dark circles. It claims on Charlotte Tilbury’s website that it reduces the signs of fatigue, resulting in skin that looks brighter, smoother, hydrated, and more “youthful. 

I can say that I have hyperpigmentation around my chin area, with texture as any normal person, and my skin does get dry or has dry patches sometimes. I believe that this foundation is my skin but better. It is also a buildable foundation, but full coverage isn’t my favorite foundation look. I usually spot conceal with my concealer and then go over it with a foundation, or I go in with a skin tone setting powder or powder foundation. 

Hyalurosmooth:  This evens out your skin tone and texture, which I agree does even out my skin pigmentation and leaves my skin looking smooth. It does this by targeting the effects on the skin by targeting uneven texture. It also locks in moisture by providing hydration, making your skin look plumper and smoother. 

Bix’Activ™: This helps reduce the appearance of oiliness and the sign of pores and shine. I can agree with this, but again I have dry skin, but my problem area is my nose. I barely see any rubbing or any need to powder my nose. It is more surprising without powdering. I wore it recently without powder, which still amazes me every time.

Coconut Extract: This plumps up the skin by providing the skin with the ability to hold water by strengthening the skin barrier over time. It reduces water loss or Transepidermal water loss. 

C.T Defence: Prevents pollutant particles from penetrating the skin and strengthens the skin barrier. This is good to know, but again this is a foundation, not a skincare product. It is cool but not something I can’t live without in a foundation.

I wear the shade 14 Netural, perfect for my skin tone. To conclude this review: 

Does it cover pigmentation?

Yes, it is also buildable, and I could cover my hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Does it cover up texture and pores?

Yes, the foundation is very flattering, giving my skin a better and smooth look.

Is it suited for dry skin?

Yes, it is all about skin prep. I try to have a simple skincare routine when putting on makeup; it lasts all day without my skin feeling dry. I am also not a primer user because I feel that my skincare is enough for makeup to last on my skin with this foundation. 

Is it suited for oily skin?

Yes, if you prefer a satin, glowy foundation, then I recommend it. 

Is it suited for mature skin? 

Yes, this foundation works great with texture and dry skin, giving my skin a smooth and blurred look. This also has some skincare benefits, allowing the makeup and skin to feel less dry or oily. 

Is it transfer-proof?

I don’t notice any transfer. It sets well without setting powder or setting spray for me. I say it holds up pretty well for me.

Does it last 16 hrs?

I haven’t worn it for that long. I don’t think any regular consumer would be wearing this that long. But it lasts throughout the day without fixing it with powder because it doesn’t get patchy for me.  I wear it from 9 am – 6 pm, a normal work day. 

Do I recommend this?

I say yes because it is makeup, what may work for me might not work for you, and that’s fine. I’m not too fond of skin types because I can say yes, it works great for dry or texture skin or oily skin, which might not be the case for others. This is just based on preferences at the end of the day. I encourage you to try it out and see if this might be a foundation you love or think is okay. It is makeup, and you can always take it off. 

This foundation retails for $49 the same as Airbrush Flawless Foundation.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation: 9/10

Check out my other foundation reviews:

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation

Huda Beauty’s Glowish Luminous Tint Foundation

What ingredients causes fungal acne?

Before we get into the ingredients that cause fungal acne or Pityrosporum Folliculitis, aka Malassezia Folliculitis, what is it? Find out here.

Here is a list of common ingredients that have been known to cause fungal acne in skincare products:

  1. Fatty acids, such as caprylic acid and capric acid.
  2. Silicones, such as dimethicone, cyclomethicone, and methicone.
  3. Oils, such as coconut oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil.
  4. Waxes, such as beeswax, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax.
  5. Hydrogenated vegetable oils.
  6. Glyceryl stearate.
  7. Butylene glycol.
  8. Isopropyl palmitate.
  9. Isocetyl stearate.
  10. Isostearyl isostearate.

Fatty Acids that may cause fungal acne

Fatty acids, such as caprylic acid and capric acid, are commonly used as ingredients in skincare products due to their moisturizing and nourishing properties. Here are some common skincare products that contain these fatty acids:

  1. Moisturizers: Many moisturizers contain caprylic acid and capric acid as active ingredients to help hydrate and soothe dry or irritated skin.
  2. Cleansers: Some cleansing products contain fatty acids to help dissolve and remove excess oil and impurities from the skin.
  3. Oils: Many facial and body oils contain caprylic acid and capric acid to help moisturize and nourish the skin.
  4. Serums: Some serums and facial treatments contain fatty acids to help hydrate and rejuvenate the skin.
  5. Lip balms: Lip balms and lip treatments often contain fatty acids to help moisturize and protect the delicate skin on the lips.

These fatty acids can also be found in other skincare products, such as exfoliants, masks, and toners. It’s important to note that while these ingredients can provide benefits for some people, they may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with sensitive skin. Continue reading What ingredients causes fungal acne?

How to treat fungal acne?

Fungal acne is a condition that can cause a lot of discomfort and frustration. I remember when I first got fungal acne and felt insecure about my skin condition. I was confused and used the wrong products for my condition to treat it or just products in my skincare and makeup routine that wasn’t safe. Additionally, the condition can prove difficult to treat, and some treatments may not be effective for everyone. However, several treatments can help to reduce and possibly eliminate symptoms of fungal acne.

Anti-fungal creams or lotions are the first methods for treating fungal acne. These products contain active ingredients such as Econazole, Ketoconazole, and Selenium sulfide shampoo, which are effective against fungal acne. These products should be applied twice daily directly to the affected skin. Anti-fungal products can help reduce the symptoms of fungal acne, but it may take a couple of weeks to see full results. There is also skincare that treats fungal acne that I’ve reviewed, like Dermazen.

Continue reading How to treat fungal acne?

What is Fungal Acne?

Before we dive into my blog, do you know what is Fungal Acne or Pityrosporum Folliculitis?

Fungal acne, also known as Pityrosporum Folliculitis, is a skin condition characterized by pimple-like bumps, typically on the face, chest, and back. They appear to be small pimples grouped together and are often the same size as hair follicles. This happens when hair follicles have an overgrowth of yeast, aka a yeast called Malassezia. Our skin/body already has a certain amount of yeast which is generally found in our digestive system. Fungal acne can be the cause of consuming too much yeast in our diet, skincare especially expired products, and lifestyle, such as being athletic.  

It can look similar to traditional acne but is treated differently. Unlike acne, fungal acne is not caused by bacteria; you will need to use salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and pair it with antifungal medications and products used to clear the yeast overgrowth and manage the symptoms. There is also a list of ingredients to avoid because Malassezia can feed off of these and worsen. Check out the deep dive into ingredients here. 

Fungal acne is new in the skincare world, and there is no way to get rid of it but to change your lifestyle and habits. This is the only way; I have been fungal acne-free for two years. The most important thing is to turn and read your skincare labels and take note of the ingredients of products that have caused a flare-up. Keep track of your skincare and makeup expiration dates and create a routine to finish up products before you open new ones. I always label my skincare with the expiration date based on its shelf life. A label maker and a skincare fridge were game changers for me. Let’s not forget these fabulous ingredient analysis websites, skinsort, sezia, folliculitisscout and skincarisma. These will be useful on your fungal acne journey.  Please take a look at some of my top 10 fungal-safe products to start with. Your skin will thank you!

Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Moisturizers

Hey, there! It’s been a while. But I had to return after testing out and searching for fungal acne-safe moisturizers for my readers. I think, as a consumer, it is a struggle to find safe products for our “skin condition.” Moisturizers and makeup removers are vain of my existence because I struggle with these a lot. Now, I can say that fungal acne is like a surprise trip. You never genuinely know what triggers YOUR fungal acne. And that depends on your fungal acne’s sensitivity to certain ingredients. All we can do is do our best to keep at least track of certain ingredients that are a BIG NO: esters, lipids, fatty acids, oils (not all), and polysorbates. How can I identify the ingredients that may trigger a fungal acne flare-up? Well, ingredient analyzers are your friend; Sezia, Skinsort, folliculitisscout, and Skincarisma are my favorite ones and are great for educating us on ingredients and the benefits based on skin types. Remember to patch test, track your progress, and enjoy your skin journey and struggles. Now here are my top 10 fungal acne-safe moisturizers and some honorable mentions.

 

Curel Intensive Moisture Facial Cream

I have repurchased this moisturizer three times. I am about to go to Amazon and repurchase it because I ran out while writing this post. This is my favorite moisturizer because of the formulation of this silky airy nourishing magic cream. This is a moisturizer with vitamin e that is specifically for dry and sensitive skin types. You can wear this during the daytime with SPF or at nighttime. I don’t believe in a day or nighttime moisturizers when facial oils like Happy Honey Oil by Sjoskin or 100% Squalane Oil by The Ordinary (any 100% squalane oil will do from any brand) can be added to a moisturizer to bump up the moisturizer to fit your needs for a more nourishing moisturizer. This doesn’t peel underneath makeup or SPF. It supports the skin barrier with ceramides, squalane, and glycerin and is pH-balanced, fragrance-free, and alcohol-free. Your skin will thank you and will be healthy and glowy.

 

Malezia 5% Urea Moisturizer*

Malezia is a small skincare brand focused on formulations for individuals with fungal acne (Malessezia Folliculitis). This gel cream has key ingredients to support the skin barrier, especially during a fungal acne breakout. We all know that getting a flare-up can be rough on the skin barrier because of the treatment process and recovery. The star ingredient is urea which is also found in our natural skin as a molecule that is part of our skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF). It is an important ingredient for skin hydration and the integrity to treat dry & rough skin conditions. Urea can also help with wound healing by removing dead tissue in certain wounds to speed up the process. I discovered this moisturizer while looking for a fungal acne-safe brand, which means that the whole theme or purpose of the brand was to cater to individuals with fungal acne conditions.

This moisturizer is hydrating and emollient because of the skin-loving ingredients in the formulation. We talked about urea, but did you know that not only does it provide hydrating benefits, but it also locks moisture into the skin? It is a fantastic well-aging (anti-aging) ingredient. Paired with hyaluronic acid and allantoin makes the skin more hydrated and moisturized. Urea locks in moisture, and allantoin soothes the skin. This moisturizer is great for dry, sensitive, and dehydrated skin and also a great moisturizer when your skin barrier is compromised. This moisturizer will change your skincare journey in unique ways. Continue reading Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Moisturizers

Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Essences

Essences are one of my favorite skincare products to use for fungal acne. The reason is that brands formulate most essences with 1 or 2 ingredients. Essences focus more on hydration or skin concerns, with one major component that makes up most of the formulation. Still, serums target various skin concerns and have a thicker consistency. We can primarily describe an essence as a “Toner-Serum Hybrid” because of its dense texture. Let’s get right into my recommendations!

Mugwort Essence by I’m From

I used this essence before I ended up with fungal acne. It amazed me it is not only fungal acne-safe but also contains 100% artemisia vulgaris extract, aka mugwort! It is vegan and cruelty-free, free of alcohol, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones, or sulfates. This watery essence is excellent for fungal acne-safe routines because it contains one ingredient. I use this product in the morning and night after cleansing my face or applying toner. Mugwort has become a trendy ingredient in Korean skincare over the last couple of years. But for a good reason, it helps soothe and treat sensitive and acne-prone skin. Mugwort contains vitamins A, B, C, E, and other antioxidants and antimicrobial properties that nourish and protect the skin barrier. Other antioxidants and antimicrobials like polyphenols. There have been studies that show mugwort’s abilities to fight bacteria and fungi. I’m From is cruelty-free but not 100% vegan, meaning some products contain animal-derived ingredients.

Continue reading Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Essences

Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Toners

I figured I should do a list now for all the top 10 fungal acne-safe products and why not start with toners? Toners and essences are the easiest to find for me. I feel as if I struggle with finding serums and moisturizers that are fungal acne safe. By the way, has anyone heard of Kbeauty? It is one of the best discoveries and improved my skincare routine. Don’t be surprised if there are a lot of Kbeauty toners on this list! But, here is my list of the top 10 fungal acne safe toners. 

1025 Dokdo Toner by Round Lab

Round Lab’s Dokdo Toner is one of my favorite toners to use. I recently finished another bottle of this watery toner. This is a hydrating toner and exfoliates the skin gently. They infused it with seawater from South Korea, Ulleungo Island. This toner can be used daily with a cotton pad or applied with your hands. If your skin gets irritated easily, this toner will help soothe the irritation with panthenol, allantoin, and betaine. This toner is moisturizing, softening, kills bacteria, and treats wounds. It doesn’t contain any alcohols, fragrances, oils, silicones, or sulfates. It’s a very simple toner and safe to use for sensitive, dry or dehydrated skin. This is reef safe but not cruelty-free or vegan.

 Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus by Isntree 

Isntree came out with two types of hyaluronic acid toners: Hyaluronic Acid Toner and Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus. Both are fungal acne-safe, but I will review the plus one since I haven’t used the other one. I just wanted my readers to know that we can use both. 

The Plus Toner is thicker than the regular toner, hence the plus in the title. It is free of alcohols, oils, parabens, silicones, and sulfates. It contains hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica extract, panthenol, and chamomilla recutita flower extract. This is great for sensitive and irritated skin types. I remember using this one around fall, which is the perfect weather to be using it, especially if you have dry skin. I tried it again in the summer and it was just too thick for me to use as a toner because the weather was hotter. During seasons, our skin types may change based on if the weather is cold or hot. My skin gets more combination skin types during the summer with some slight dehydration because I have dehydrated skin. I liked this toner more when I used it in the fall/winter because it sinks into my skin quicker. I felt like I was patting it into my skin more during the summer and I didn’t like how it dried onto my skin because it felt like a sticky film was on it. Again, this is just how it was on my skin so it can vary based on a person’s skin type or when/how you are using it. I did like it better with a cotton pad than just applying it onto the skin with my hands. This is reef safe but not cruelty-free or vegan. Continue reading Top 10 Fungal Acne Safe Toners