Name: Jane Doe

Basic skin type: combination (seborrhoea sicca)

Main skin concerns: dryness at the end of the day, enlarged pores, acnes, postacne spots, redness, aging

Skin goals: sebum control, reducing acnes, hydration, reducing dark spots, calming, antiaging

Cleanser: BRINGGREEN Artemisia Cera Calming Moisture pH Balance Cleansing Foam 250ml (CHF 12.06)

               Main ingredients:

Artemisia Capillaris (Mugwort) Extract (10,005ppm): anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hydrating

Centella Asiatica Extract: calming, hydrating

Ceramide NP (9ppm): protecting skin barrier

First step of your morning routine. Put a proper amount onto your hand and foam up with water, then gently massage onto your face.

Toner: COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner 280ml (CHF 18.33)

               Main ingredients:

72.6% Propolis Extract: antimicrobial, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, hydrating, nourishing

10.7% Honey Extract: antimicrobial, moisturizing, wound healing

0.2% Panthenol (Vitamin B5): strengthens your skin's moisture barrier to improve its ability to hold on to moisture

               Glycerin: hydration

Put it into your palm (not to cottonpad), and gently pat the product with both hands into your skin. This toner is a little bit thicker, 2 drops are enough, very nourishing.

Essence: no need in the morning

Treatment: SOME BY MI Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum 30ml (CHF 17.43)

               Main ingredients:

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 30,000ppm: antioxidant, reduces dark spots, enhances collagen production

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate: hydrating, improving skin texture

               Niacinamide: sebum control, reduces appearance of pores, antiaging

Propolis Extract: antimicrobial, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, hydrating, nourishing

Vitamin B5 (Panthenol): strengthens your skin's moisture barrier to improve its ability to hold on to moisture

               How to use:

Use 3-4 drops, pat gently all over your face. Wait 5 minutes before applying the next product. Extra tip: Vitamin C is a real superstar ingredient. If your skin tolerates this pure Vitamin C serum well, you can apply it before the toner, to give your skin as much Vitamin C as possible.

Serum: REAL BARRIER Aqua Soothing Ampoule 50ml Special Set (+Aqua Soothing Cream 25ml) (CHF 27.72)

7 types of Hyaluronic acid: superficial and deep hydration

Niacinamide: sebum control, reduces appearance of pores, antiaging

Ceramide: protects the skin barrier, locks in moisture and boost hydration

               How to use:

Watery serum, absorbs fast. Use 4-5 drops and pat it into your skin. It will keep your skin nicely hydrated through the day.

Moisturizer: ROUND LAB Soybean Panthenol Cream 80ml (+Soybean Panthenol Cream 20ml) (CHF 36.08)

               Main ingredients:

               Glycine Max (Black Soybean) Seed Extract: moisturizing, nourishing

               Ceramide NP/ Ceramide AP: protecting skin barrier

Panthenol (Vitamin B5): strengthens your skin's moisture barrier to improve its ability to hold on to moisture

               How to use:

Use it after the serum fully absorbed (5-6min). This product is a kind of thicker, highly nourishing cream. It will protect your skin from windy autumn weather and decrease transepidermal waterloss caused by low temperature during autumn and winter. Not comedogenic!

Sunscreen: Shingmulnara White Rice Bright Tone Up Moisture Sun Cream 100ml (CHF 12.84)

               Main ingredients:

Chemical+mineral (Titanium dioxide) sunscreen SPF 50+, doesn’t leave any white cast

               Niacinamide: sebum control, pore minimizing

               Glycerin: moisturizing

               How to use:

Last step of your morning routine, recommended to be reapplied after 3-4 hours. It’s a tone up suncream, so it has a light pink colour. The texture is very light. Your moisturizer has a thicker texture, so I wanted to choose a lightweight sunscreen despite the season change. It leaves a very nice dewy finish, BB cream or foundation sits very nicely on it. (I also use this product at the moment, that’s why I can guarantee it.)

Oil cleanser: BANILA CO Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Ceramide 100ml (CHF 28.16)

               Main ingredients:

Moringa seed oil: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hydrating, antimicrobial, healing

Jojoba seed oil: anti-inflammatory and calming properties

               Ceramide NP (8ppm): protecting skin barrier

Panthenol (Vitamin B5): strengthens your skin's moisture barrier to improve its ability to hold on to moisture

               How to use:

First step of your evening routine, it removes make up and suncream remedies. Because your skin tends to dry out during the day, and winter is coming, I recommend using balm instead of oil. This product contains ceramide to protect your skin barrier and many plant extracts to soothe your skin. Apply it with slow massage movements, always from the middle to outwards, from down to upwards.

Cleanser: BRINGGREEN Artemisia Cera Calming Moisture pH Balance Cleansing Foam 250ml

Exfoliator: MEDICUBE  Zero Pore One Day Serum 30ml (CHF 42.24)

               Main ingredients:

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA): exfoliates the skin surface, antigaing, smoothing, hydrating

Beta hydroxy acid (BHA): penetrates inside and clears clogged pores, gently exfoliates the skin surface

Polyhydroxy acid (PHA): gentle exfoliation, antioxidant

Various plant extracts: hydrating, antioxidant, calming

               How to use:

Use it right after cleansing your face, on dry skin. Small amount is enough (2-3 drops). Avoid the eyes, be careful! Doesn’t need to be rinsed off. Use it only twice a week, it’s a triple combination of potent exfoliating acids. After application wait around 5-6 minutes, and then you can apply your toner. Exfoliators have an acidic pH, so toner is essential to set the skin’s pH back into it’s normal range. The COSRX Propolis toner will also soothe your skin nicely after exfoliation.

Toner: COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner 280ml

Essence: APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Mist Essence 105ml (CHF 8.63)

               Main ingredients:

20.5% Centella Asiatica Leaf Water: calming, hydration

               Niacinamide (20,000ppm): brightening, sebum control, antiaging

               Glutathion (1,000ppm): powerful antioxidant

               Allantoin: calming, wound healing

               Squalene: protecting skin barrier

               How to use:

It is a very light essence, I recommend using only 1pump, max 2 pumps. Pat it gently into your skin with your hands. It will prepare your skin before the treatment serum.

Treatment: SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum (CHF 19.72)

               Main ingredients:

Retinol and retinal: vitamin A derivates, acne control, strong antiaging effect  

               Bakuchiol: stimulates collagen production, reduces fine lines

               Glycyrrhiza Extract: soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, reduces dark spots

               How to use:

At the beginning use it only twice a week, on non-exfoliating days. When you start using vitamin A derivates, at the beginning you may experience worsening of your acnes (called purging effect and takes 2-4 weeks). After that period the skin nicely clears up. Not everybody has this purging effect. If your skin tolerates this product well, you can use it on every second days, on non-exfoliating days.

Serum: REAL BARRIER Aqua Soothing Ampoule 50ml

Moisturizer: ROUND LAB Soybean Panthenol Cream 80ml

Under-eye mask: ABIB Collagen Eye Patch Jericho Rose Jelly 60P (CHF 27.28)

               Main ingredients:

               Fermenting Yeast Collagen 10,780ppm: moisturizing, firming

               Palmitoyl tripeptide-5: boosts collagen production, reduces fine lines

               Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract: skin barrier support, strong antioxidant

               Hyaluronic acid: moisturizing

               Caffein: decrease puffiness, anti-inflammatory

               How to use:

Inside the container there is a small plastic spatule, so you can remove the patches one by one without touching the others. You can use it in the morning or before going to bed, anytime your undereye area needs an instant refreshment. Because of the big amount of serum these masks are very slippery during the first 5 minutes, and tend to move from their place if you sit or stand. I recommend to lay down and relax a bit after application. You can leave them for 15-20 minutes. 

Sheet mask:

TORRIDEN Balanceful Cica Mask Sheet 10ea (CHF 17.60)

               Main ingredients:

Sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid: hydration, moisture retention

Panthenol (Vitamin B5): soothing, moisturizing

Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract: calming, anti-inflammatory

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract: soothing,healing

Turmeric Extract: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant

Portulaca Oleracea Extract: soothing, rich in antioxidants

Apply this mask whenever you feel your skin needs extra calming. Apply it before your moisturizer, leave it on for 20-25minutes. Usually a lot of serum remains at the bottom of the package, so I recommend to buy small containers, and you can collect this remedy then use up during the next few days. If you store the mask in the fridge it will have a nice cooling effect as well.

MARY&MAY Premium Idebenone Blackberry Complex Essence Mask 20P / 250g (CHF 20.84)

               Main ingredients:

Niacinamide: brightening, sebum control, pore care

Blackberry Fruit Extract: rich in Vitamin C and E, very potent antioxidant

Centella Asiatica: calming, hydration

Ceramide 3: protecting skin barrier

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4: stimulating collagen production

Copper Tripeptide-1: wound healing, collagen and elasting production

Tripeptide-1: promoting skin repair

Hexapeptide-9: skin firming

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1: promotes collagen synthesis

Hexapeptide-11: firming

This mask is infused by a lot of active ingredients. The box contains 20 pieces of masks, it’s a kind of fast mask. They are not soaked in as much serum as the individual masks, therefore 10-15 minutes are enough, it will dry up faster on your face as regular sheet masks.

Clay mask: no need

Wash-off mask: no need

Overnight mask: no need

Pad: MEDIHEAL Retinol Collagen Lifting Pad 100P (+100P) Double Set (CHF 28.04)

               Main ingredients:

               Hydrolyzed Collagen: supports skin elasticity and hydration

Adenosine: anti-aging properties

Ceramide NP: strengthens the skin barrier and retains moisture

Beta-Glucan: soothing, moisturizing

Retinol: promotes cell turnover and improves skin texture

It is a pad type antiaging mask, you need to put it onto the problematic areas, like forehead, neck, under eye area, etc.

              

Patch: COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch (CHF 4.03)

Hydrocolloid acne patch: absorb pus and creates a protective barrier to shield wounds and inflammations from sweat, bacteria and dirt

Centella asiatica extract: calming, anti-inflammatory effect, hydration

Contains small, round shape patches in different sizes. You need to put them right onto the acnes. It protects it from dirt, dust and other environmental factors, while the Centella asiatica extract helps to soothe the inflammed skin. You can leave it on for 10-12 hours (day or night, anytime), you can even apply make up over it. You need to apply the patches after cleansing, before using any other product.

Main skin type: seborrhoea sicca (so called combination skin)

Subtype: dehydrated, acne prone skin

Your main skin type in cosmetology is called „seborrhoea sicca”. It is genetic, it’s not something you can change. But with proper products and lifestyle habits you can minimize the downsides of it’s characteristics.  Let’s see these characteristics first.    

The amount of free fatty acids in the sebum is low (this is the cause, this is what you can not really change), while the amount of cholesterol esters is high, making the sebum harder.

Sebum can not flow freely out to the surface and becomes heavily filled with dead skin cells in the hair follicles. (In long term it makes the pores become enlarged.)

This leads to the formation of comedones (sebum plugs): the opening of the hair follicle is blocked → insufficient skin surface emulsion → water escapes, leading to reduced hydration

The T-zone appears slightly shiny (oily).

The skin is pale due to a thickened stratum corneum (most superficial layer of the epidermis), which blocks skin respiration.

Prone to skin inflammation, acnes get worse in autumn and spring.

Accompanied by superficial dehydration.

The skin can flake in a dandruff-like manner, especially noticeable and palpable on the forehead and around the nose (it feels oily to the touch but is rough and coarse).

The eye area wrinkles easily.

Skin turgor decreases rapidly after age 35.

All of the products I have chosen are specifically formulated to address these concerns. They work to normalize sebaceous gland function, restore the keratinization process, and improve skin respiration while maintaining optimal hydration levels.

The cleansers, toner and moisturizer focus on calming, hydration and strenghtening the skin barrier, while the serums, treatments and masks are targeting your main skin concerns.

In addition to the carefully selected products, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to further improve your skin.

1.       As I mentioned before, in seborrhoea sicca, the composition of sebum is altered, with higher levels of cholesterol esters and lower levels of free fatty acids. Dietary changes might help in managing these imbalances.

·       Foods rich in omega-3s, like fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), flaxseeds, and chia seeds, can help reduce inflammation, potentially benefiting those with seborrheic conditions.

·       Reducing high-glycemic foods, such as refined sugars and processed foods, can help regulate sebum production.

·       Incorporating healthy fats, like those from olive oil and avocados, while reducing saturated fats, might influence the lipid composition of sebum.

2.       You need to stay hydrated. I know that cold seasons are coming and people tend to drink less water, but warm tea can also be a good source of hydration. Skin needs to be hydrated from the inside as well. Staying hydrated may assist in balancing sebum production, potentially improving the condition of your skin by making sebum less viscous and more fluid, which can help prevent blockages.

3.       Using a dedicated face towel is a simple yet effective step in improving skin health, especially when managing conditions like seborrhoea sicca. A dedicated face towel reduces the risk of transferring bacteria, oils, and other contaminants from other parts of the body or from shared towels onto your face. Never rub your face with the towel, just soak up the water gently!

4.       Pillowcases can accumulate oils, sweat, dead skin cells, and bacteria over time. Changing your pillowcase at least weekly helps minimize the transfer of these onto your skin, reducing the risk of clogged pores and irritation.

It's important to understand that no skincare products will be effective if your routine isn’t consistent. Regular and steady use is key to seeing real results and maintaining healthy skin. I would say you will see the first changes after one week.  Exfoliating and hydrating will effect very fast, you will feel your skin much smoother. Reducing blackheads and acnes will take more time, I would say around 3-4 weeks. As for hyperpigmentation and fading dark spots, that will take more than 1 month.

Before using the Vitamin C serum (SOME BY MI Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum) and the retinol serum (SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum), please conduct a patch test first. These serums contain potent ingredients that can cause irritation.

The Vitamin C serum contains pure ascorbic acid, which is pure Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is the most potent form of Vitamin C. During the first few applications, you may feel a slight stinging sensation. Pure Vitamin C serum is less stable than its derivatives, so it should be kept in the fridge.

The retinol serum is also very potent, so it's important to apply it after your essence. The essence prepares and hydrates your skin, creating a better base for the strong ingredients in the retinol serum.

Keeping serums in the fridge can offer several benefits, I also keep all of my serums in the fridge. It helps extend their shelf life by preserving their potency, particularly for ingredients sensitive to heat and light, like Vitamin C and retinol. Refrigeration maintains the product’s freshness and reduces the risk of bacterial growth. Additionally, applying a chilled serum can provide a soothing, cooling sensation that may help reduce inflammation and puffiness.