REVIEW: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Photo credit: The Ordinary

~AG~

Bought The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% as an alternative acne treatment, specifically for my back acne. Most acne treatment contains Salicylic acid (BHA) and benzoyl peroxide which are not recommended for those who are planning to conceive or are pregnant . This product also has properties such as:

The Ordinary is not readily available in Singapore, so I had to buy it online. It costs S$14 for 30 ml of product, which should lasts 2-3 months. The Ordinary website retails it for USD9.93. This cream-gel brightening formula contains 10% of high-purity Azelaic Acid. Azelaic acid brightens the skin tone while improving skin texture. This product is supposed to help reduce the look of blemishes. 

Overall, this product does help to improve the appearance of blemishes. Though, the result is not immediate. Been using it on and off for over a month, and it does help to improve my back acne. You can use this product twice a day on targeted areas. The only thing I do not like about this product is the scent. It has a distinct sharp scent which becomes apparent when applied to the face, so I only use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension for my back acne. 

Overall, it is a good product and I would repurchase it. It is an affordable acne treatment, at under $20. Wish it was more readily available in Singapore. 

REVIEW: 2nd Sessiong Brightening Laser @ DRX Clinic

~AG~

It has been two weeks since my first brightening laser treatment, time to report on my second laser session which happened yesterday. I asked the nurse whether my back acne/pigmentation had improved, and she said they took a before picture so I could compare. Before the treatment, I also asked the doctor whether the pigmentation has reduced. Dr. Tsu said surprisingly my skin condition on my back improved. He remembered the pigmentation was more brown previously. Now it has been significantly lightened. I was so HAPPY to hear that! :) 

I was actually not expecting visible result from the first brightening laser session. My skin tends to take a while to recover from acne or scarring. However, I was at the point of desperation to improve my back acne/pigmentation. On top of the brightening laser treatment, I have also been diligently applying the Lightener cream twice a day on the back area. The dual effect of brightening laser treatment and topical cream has helped lightened the pigmentation on my back area. It is worth every single cent spent on the treatment.


The brightening laser treatment breaks down the dark pigmentation to make the skin appear brighter. Dr. Tsu said the effects of the brightening laser is not the same for everyone. It depends on your skin condition. I would be going in for another brightening laser treatment in two weeks. That is the last one before the big day. Hope it makes a significant difference. Wish me luck!

REVIEW: Brightening Laser @ DRX Clinic

~AG~
Doctor Tsu has been my trusted dermatologist for over two years now. I am a commitment-phobe, and usually not "loyal" to my hairstylists, dermatologists and other beauty therapist. So two years with DRX Clinic, specifically with Dr. Tsu, is a phenomenon. 

The last time I saw Dr. Tsu was in Nov 2016 for my acne breakout after my trip to Italy, as I needed immediate help before my engagement photoshoot. Ever since then, I have not followed-up with him.
This time I decided to see him because it is about a month before the my day. My back acne scars and sun spots have been an issue for me. My back is one of the body parts in which I am very self-conscious about. While trying on my cheongsam, my wedding planner commented on my back acne pigmentation. Second instance was when I was trying on my evening gown and my fiancé commented on my back acne pigmentation also. Thirdly, while trying on a dress, my mom commented about it again. I thought that the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment @ My Cozy Room has helped with the pigmentation. But apparently not :( Time for a more dramatic intervention for my back acne pigmentation.

 Ketoconazole cream to be used to cleanse the back area

The lightener cream to applied twice a day

 Acne Spot Lotion to treat existing acne

During the consultation, Dr. Tsu mentioned that my back area was not bad at all. He said there was no need for oral medication. He advised on an body shampoo (2% Ketoconazole) to be used to cleanse the back area and to be left on for 2-3 minutes. Then a lightener cream (4% hydroquinone) to target the pigmentation and the acne spot lotion to treat active acne. The lightener creams costs S$106.80 and the ketoconazole cream costs S$10.70. Though, he said I would not see that much of a difference in a month's time. I told him that I wanted more visible results. He said for the laser treatment, it takes a few sessions to notice the difference. He said for the laser treatment, I might not see drastic difference, because I would only be able to do 3 sessions before my big day. 

 My back acne scars and pigmentation are quite obvious *cries*

The whole laser treatment took about 15 minutes. There was no need for topical numbing cream. The nurse clean the back area and then Dr.Tsu started the laser treatment. Compared to IPl hair removal, the laser treatment was less painful. This is coming for a person with very low pain tolerance. The procedure itself felt like static electricity, and I find it slightly ticklish. During the laser treatment, I commented to Dr.Tsu that I smell something burning. He said that was the smell of your body hair burning. Haha! This brightening laser treatment has no downtime and is not painful at all. My ultra sensitive skin did not have much redness. Dr. Tsu advised that the skin tends to get dry after laser treatment. He recommended that I apply body lotion to the back area after I applied the lightener cream.

Slight redness fter treatment 

I will be going for my second laser treatment session in two weeks' time. Will keep you all posted. 

REVIEW: 2nd Session of Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment @ My Cozy Room

~AG~

Hello readers! If you read my blog, you know that I tried back acne facial for the first time at My Cozy Room 

I was rather satisfied with the result of the first treatment, and decided to buy three more sessions of the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment. The price for the additional sessions are S$268.20 per session. The cashier at My Cozy Room recommended that I come for a back acne treatment every three weeks or so. But with my hectic work schedule, wedding planning and on-going renovation, that is not possible. 

My second session was 2 months after my first back acne treatment. I was so tired that I fell asleep during the treatment, which is rare for me. I never fall asleep during massage or facial treatment. The treatment process was similar to my first session. Except my facial therapist, Clover, did not use the High Frequency Treatment as she said my pimples are not as big.

Some questions that you might be wondering about:

1) Did the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment prevent back acne from appearing?
I felt that the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment is helpful with the lightening of acne scars and improving the overall skin tone. It does not prevent back acne from appearing, as I still have acne popping up.

2)  What is the difference between Diamond Peel Back Acne treatment and other Back Acne Treatment?
Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment includes a step that uses a diamond tip machine to buff and polish the layer of dead skin cells. It helps make the skin appear smoother and brighter. 

3) Is the Diamond Peel painful?
The diamond peel is not painful at all. It feels like a hard scrub or scratch on your back. As someone with low pain tolerance, I can say it is painless. 

I still have two more sessions of Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment. I hope it helps improve my back acne condition. 

NEW BUY: Dear, Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Charcoal Soap

~AG~

While in South Korea recently, MG wanted to stop by ALAND stores to buy some COSRX and Klairs skincare products. We spent some time at ALAND Myeongdong store to find some current popular products in the Korean beauty world. 

Dear, Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Charcoal Soap retails for KRW 10,500 (SGD $13.50). This is a heavy price tag for a bar soap that weighs 100 grams. Klairs Charcoal Soap claims to purify pores without over-drying skin. Charcoal eliminates dead skin cells and organic Moroccan Ghassoul (mineral clay) eliminates sebum. Black sugar exfoliates to give a brighter and clearer skin. It also contains hydrating ingredients such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, cocoa seed butter and grapeseed oil. Essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus are also found in Klairs Charcoal Soap. This natural soap does not contain fragrances, preservatives, artificial foaming agents and emulsifiers. 

My plan is to use Dear, Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Charcoal Soap for my back area. Since I am constantly plagued by back acne, using a targeted cleanser for that area will be a good idea. My hope is for Klairs Charcoal Soap to help prevent back acne from appearing. *fingers crossed*

REVIEW: Oliva Forte Enchant for Skin, 4 Weeks After

~AG~

Ever since makeup artist extraordinaire, Shaun Lee, recommended this during my makeup trial. I decided to go out to buy it. He said he noticed significant difference in skin pigmentation after taking this supplement. This pricey oral supplement is targeted for skin health. It retails for S$89 for 60 capsules, and you can find it in Guardian and Watsons. Each capsule contains 200 mg of Olea europaea Extract and 50 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid. The Olea europaea (Olive juice) Extract contains hydroxytyrosol, which is a powerful antioxidant. This formulation with Alpha Lipoic Acid is known to support antioxidant activities, and aids as a barrier against the sun. It helps improve skin moisture retention and the reduce the effects of premature aging. Oliva Forte Enchant also claims to reduce damage from UVA and UVB damage. 

The most interesting study claims that Oliva Forte has 10 time the antioxidant potency of Vitamin C. How interesting! For more information, go to http://olivaforte.com/category/general

I have been using it for 4 weeks, one capsule daily. So far, I have not noticed significant improvement in my skin health, particularly to my skin pigmentations (acne scars and dark spots). I was hoping that Oliva Forte Enchant for Skin would help with the acne scars on my back. I would continue taking Oliva Forte for another 4 weeks and see whether there will be improvements then. *cross my fingers* Sometimes it takes a while for the effects of oral supplement to show up. Stay tuned for a follow-up review. 

REVIEW: Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment @ My Cozy Room

~AG~

As some of you might have known from my previous posts, I have been plagued with back acne for years. My back acne during Secondary School was so bad that my guy friends commented on it. Another instance of my back acne being a woe was when an older lady commented about it while I was wearing an evening gown. *cries* Ever since then, I have been self-conscious about showing my back. My big day is coming real soon, and as much as I do not want to show my back, my ideal wedding gown design does not allow that. So, here I am on a quest for my back acne issue. 

                                            The acne scars and pigmentation is quite obvious

 There are also some blind pimples that need some extra help 

Read several good reviews (even though they are sponsored) on Back Acne Treatment at My Cozy Room and decided to go for it. This is my first time doing back acne facial. The Diamond Peel Bacial Treatment provides a more intensive exfoliation. Since my concern is for the acne scar, I thought the Diamond Peel Treatment will be more effective in diminishing the appearance of scars. The bacial treatment lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. For first-timer, My Cozy Room is offering a promotional price of S$149 for the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment. It usually retails for S$289

 The treatment bed

Babor products for the back acne treatment

My beauty therapist was Clover. The products she used were from Babor which is a German skincare brand. These are the steps of the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment:

1) Cleansing
A cleansing of the entire back to remove grime and impurities.
2) Scrub
A gentle scrub to remove the outermost layer of the skin.
3) Diamond Peel
Next was the Diamond Peel also known as microdermabrasion. The diamond-tip tool remove dead skin cells allowing for a brighter and smoother skin. This process felt like somebody was roughly scratching my back. It was not painful.
4) Toner 
A toner was applied with a cotton pad to clean the area from the residues of the diamond peel. 

5) Steaming 
Steaming prepares the skin for extraction. It opens up the pores for an easier extraction.The steam was comfortably warm.
6) Extraction
I have low pain tolerance, and the extraction process is usually my dreaded step of a facial. This time around only two extractions were painful. These were the blind pimples that was deep into the skin. The rest of the extractions were bearable. 

After the extraction, a little red

7) High Frequency Treatment
Clover said this has antibacterial properties.  I never experience high frequency treatment before but I was startled when I heard the electricity sound. You feel a slight electric feeling - similar to a mild static electric shock. But it was not uncomfortable. 
8) Massage
Then she massage the back for 5-10 minutes. 
9) Mask
Clover first applied a cream mask that has whitening properties. Then she layered another mask that has moisturising properties. Finally, she covered the entire area with saran wrap to allow the mask to better penetrate into the skin.
10) Lotion
Finished up the treatment with another round of toner and lotion for hydration. She also spot treated the extraction areas.  

My back area was surprisingly not red after the treatment. *thumbs up* I did see an improvement on my back area even though it is not significant. I hope with subsequent treatments, my back acne and scars will improve. Clover said that I will see more results with 2-3 sessions. She did mention that some of the pigmentations were not acne scars, and rather were dark spots or sun spots. She said for those dark spots, an IPL treatment will be more effective in removing them. Overall, I am satisfied with the Back Acne Treatment at My Cozy Room. The only downside was the hard selling by the cashier to sign up for a package and buy more sessions. She said that I should get a Back Acne Facial Treatment every 3 weeks to control my back acne and reduce the scars. Other than that, I would recommend My Cozy Room for those looking for a place to treat their back acne. 

Two days after the treatment. 

You cannot really see the improvements in this picture. But there is a slight difference in tone for my back area.

REVIEW: Oxe Cure Body Acne Spray

~AG~

This acne spray has been on my bathroom shelf for a while now. I have been using this product on and off for  about six months. Click my previous post for more product information: http://beautyloverssisters.blogspot.sg/2014/12/new-buy-oxe-cure-body-acne-spray.html

50 ml of product

Handy packaging makes it convenient to travel with

 

With 1% salicylic acid with bearberry leaf extract

Recently, my back acne has decided to make an appearance again. So, I have been putting Oxe Cure Body Acne Spray to good use. Instead of simply spraying it on my back, I spray it on a cotton pad and wipe it across my back. This is a more targeted application of the acne spray. Plus, it additionally acts as a toner to remove impurities as well. This is evidence by the residues found on my cotton pad after wiping it across my back. You will be surprised by how much impurities are left on your back even after a good shower. By using Oxe Cure Body Acne Spray as a toner, it helps to prevent the pores on my back from clogging.

The spray function of this product works pretty well. I did not have any problem with the nozzle or the spray coverage. The nozzle works well to dispense the right amount of product to my cotton pad or my back. Unlike some other spray bottles, I did not have a difficult time using this product.

The formula of the acne spray is gentle on the skin, so it takes a while to see results. After using it for over a month, then I noticed a slight improvement to my back acne appearances. You have to be patient with this product.
 I will say this acne spray does work for my back acne, even though the results are not immediate. You have to use this product consistently to reduce the appearances of back acne. It is not a magic product that vanishes back acne instantly, but I find that it does help minimize it. Though, this acne spray does not help with acne scars.

NEW BUY : Oxe Cure Body Acne Spray

~AG~ 

 

One of my Thai friends recommended this acne body spray. This is in available in Thailand at Boots for 255 Baht (S$11). 

 

 

She said this acne spray works well. The result is not instanteous, but it is effective.   

The active ingredient in this spray is 1% salicylic acid. It claims to cleans acne blemishes and helps prevent new acne pimples. The spray supposedly works from any angle, and even upside down.   

 

My back acne is appearing again. I can feel bumps on my back. Since I will be wearing a strapless evening gown in two weeks time, immediate measure should be taken to treat and prevent more acne from appearing. I really hope this works. *cross my fingers*

 

REVIEW: Nature’s Cure Body Treatment Spray Acne

Nature’s Cure is an excellent body and back acne treatment for breakouts caused by external conditions, such as sweating and friction from tight-fitting athletic gear and clothing. Plugged pores allow bacteria growth under the skin’s surface, causing inflammation that results in back acne, or acne on the chest, shoulders, arms or other parts of the body. Salicylic acid prevents body acne formation, including tough back acne, by exfoliating dead skin cells and clearing pores. It claims to:

• Penetrates pores
• Sprays from any angle, even upside down
• Fights acne from sports and sweat
• Maximum strength 2% salicylic acid formulation

~AG~

I’ve been using this body acne treatment spray for over 3 months, twice a day, after shower. I can say that this product does not prevent back acne. My back acne is about the same as before I started using this product. I had high hopes for this product because it has one of the higher ratings for acne treatment spray.

The treatment spray is convenient in that it can be sprayed from any angle, so it can target hard-to-reach places. However, I find the 2% salicylic acid formulation is not strong enough for my severe back acne. I think I need to use another acne active ingredient. Salicylic acid is not cutting it for my back acne. I need something that will deeply penetrate the pores and prevent breakouts. Any suggestions readers?