Tried & Tested: Etude House AC Clean Up Liquid Patch

I'm a huge Fan of Etude House AC clinic Pink Powder Spot. Last year Etude House change the line to AC Clean Up, and there is one product that catch my attention.  'Liquid Patch' As I open the page, as usual I will look through the picture demonstrate how to use this product. I was instantly amazed! It creates a thin film layer to protect you acne scar, then you could put on your makeup like nothing happen underneath. Sound impressive right? This product is too good to be true. So does it work?

The product has a mild smell of tea tree. It has rubbery flat tip applicator. I follow the instruction in the back of packaging. First I make sure my skin is clean, then I applied the product on my pimple and let it dry. It is recommended that you used three layer of product. When it dries it still have shiny finish. And, I don't need to add concealer/foundation because it has peeled as soon as it dries. It lack of adhesivity to help the product stay still on your skin.

This product has an innovative idea, sadly it was not properly developed. Hopefully the would improve the adhesivity so it would be perfect.

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Mini Review & Comparasion : Spot Treatment

 
From lesft to right: Erymed, Kiehl's Acne Blemish Control, Etude House AC clinic Intense Pink Powder, Sebamed Clear Face Anti Pimple Gel, Benzolac, Aesop Control.
 

When you have a breakout or one tiny pimple you want to make it go away immediately. So here is list of topical acne treatment I've been try so far..

How to Properly Use The Acne Patch/ Acne Sticker

I couldn't survive any breakout without acne patch. First it stop me from picking my pimple, second not just protecting it from my finger but also from dust. And lastly it's quite satisfying looking the patch turn white sucking all the liquid from your pimple. Yes it's gross, but still.

February Favorites

 

I would say that February is a month of rediscovery, all the product here has been around in my collection for a while.

  1. Ahava Time to Treat Comforting Cream For Sensitive Skin ($45/ 50ml)

This cream is seriously magical, it give intense hydration absorb really well and not sticky, the only problem it smell like mud. but fade away after a while. ahavaus.com

2. Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifiying Treatment Toner ( 12 600 KRW , $16/ 150ml)

I'm super picky when it comes to toner, so far I use this toner to help combat the white head. Although I did not see any visible improvement, but this toner good enough to be a switch from my Holy Grail Aesop Toner. (cosrx.co.kr / us.memebox.com)

3. The Face Shop Lovely Me:Ex Auto Lip Liner (discontinued)

It has a nice nude peach color that really match and compliment my complexion. Sadly it no longer available.

4. Sleek i-Divine Au Naturel ($11.99/12X1.1g)

Since I have to many palette, this is my go to palette this month. I've had them since forever. Cheap yet good quality.
(sleekmakeup.com)

5. Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade (medium brown) ($18/ 4g)

take me a while to figure out how to use it to make a natural looking eyebrow. I applied it lightly filling the spares eyebrow. I used to hate it, because it hard to blend and look patchy after a while.
(sephora.com)

live in indonesia? here some suggestion where to get them.

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My Acne Story

So where do I start...

Maybe some intro. Hi guys sorry for disapearing for quite some time.. I've been busy with school this past 4 months so I hardly ever write about anything. As you can see I posted some pictures of my works in Instagram. So today I'll share some skincare/complexion related post. I've been wanted to shared this my Acne Story.

I don't have the clearest skin like I used to have. But It much better from what my skin been before.

I first started breakout 3 years ago. I guess because the changes makes my skin angry. At that time I was far-far away from home, the weather is different, the environment is different, and my diet changes drastically. I couldn't do anything much since it was the first time ever I have pimple all over my face. I was so desperate. I wanted to take a lot of picture while I was on trip but I just hate to be reminded how bad is my skin condition.

So once I went back home, I directly go to my regular beauty clinic to visit my doctor. She prescribe me a different skin care. I've continue to visit the same doctor for 6 months and I don't see any changes. So I changes to other doctor (still in the same beauty clinic). She prescribe me a totally different skin care regime. But there were barely any changes. I'm still breakout all over everywhere. My faced all covered with pimple. I've told my doctor again that I don't see any changes and sometimes I feel my face is burning and itchy. My doctor just told me "it's okay it just how the cream work". But I don't see any changes for another 6 months. plus my skin occasionally itchy and burning to the point it made me feels uncomfortable. At first I thought that it's a normal thing I've always had it since forever. But I've just realize that I only had it ever since I use the cream in high school. And it happen quite frequently at that moment. 

I remember one time the beauty clinic was closed, it was the last 2 day before I had to leave home for community service and trip to doctor might be impossible. I was crying desperately because my face  and my neck is sore, itchy, dry . So I decided to got to another doctor (this time not coming to the beauty clinic ever again). The Doctor told me that I've been prescribe with a strong cream, and my skin just couldn't take it any more. So she prescribe me with some cream to relief the sore, itchy, and dryness, plus she prescribe me with gentle cleanser (phisiogel). 

I never go back to doctor ever again. all the time I wasted waiting for the call, all the money that I spend on cream that doesn't work. So based on the experience, I learn that this beauty clinic, is only focus in selling their product. The doctor never really hear about how my skin feels. They only focus on selling cream and facial treatment without carefully listen and observed my skin condition. 

Since I'm no longer use what doctor prescribe me I've tried my over the counter product to treat my acne. I've tried, ROC, Sebamed, Physiogel, Clearasil etc. It takes quite sometime to find a product that actually works and help to clear my skin. It takes a lot of patience and browsing lol. Ever since I stopped the doctor's cream my skin never ever been sore and itchy. 

Lesson to learn

•  Choose a doctor that would listened to all your problem and trying to make your skin pretty Not the one who focusing in selling product.

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Finish Cream a.k.a. Pore Armor

 

Last year I watch Get it Beauty special episode Jung Saem Moll. She share her beauty secret. As for skin care, she finish the routine by applying Finish Cream. Finish Cream act as a barrier that protect your skin care layer beneath. So your skin care could work better without being contaminated with harmful particle. Not long after this episode. Etude House launch Dust Cut Line. This line is specially dedicated for protecting your skin from small particle that could sit on your skin and made your skin look dull and congested. 

Acne Patches Review

This isn't a new trend in Asia, we use some kind of transparent sticker to cover pimple. I also love to use this method to help to make the pimple disappear. The idea is, it would cover the pimples and limited the contact with the harmful environment (dust, bacteria etc. all those things that would make the pimple worse). By cutting all those contact the pimple could heal faster. You could easily found one in mini market (Indomaret) or drug stores (Nexcare). I found many korean brand (Etude House, Missha, Innisfree, Skin food etc.) also have this kind of product. I've try 4 different brand, and I'd like to share my thought about this product with you.

 

Why I love this sticker?

This sticker isn't just some ordinary sticker/ transparent tape. It's also has all those ingredient to help the acne heals faster. like the one from etude house the use many natural ingredient like tea tree, garlic, papaya and many more. it also help the benzoyl peroxide contact with hair and cloth (since benzoyl peroxide would bleach them). Plus this sticker protect the pimple from my hand (which is probably full of bacteria, dust and oil).

How I use it:

1. I wash my face until it squeaky clean.

2. Then I'll continue moisturize my face.

3. After the moisturizer, sometimes I'll use some topical acne cream like benzoyl peroxide 5% or erytromycin 2%

4. Then I'll blot some excess oil with film paper.

5. Start to stick it, covering the pimple.

6. let it sit for at least 6 hours before remove.

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So here some patches that I've been trying:

1. Nexcare Acne Cover (28 000 IDR)

This one could easily found in mini market (contain less patches and cheaper than price listed above) and drug store in Indonesia. Unlike the other brand it just a plain hydro colloid dressing. It contain 12 8mm patches and 6 12 mm patches.

I like it because....

it's easy to find and works quite well in  absorb the oil. there's some kind of  statisfaction looking at the clear patches turn white after absorb the oil.

I don't like it because....

the dimension, it thick and doesn't stick very well. If I wear it during the day, it's super noticeable since it's thick. But when I wear it during the sleep (night time), it will dislocated and fall every where since it doesn't stick well.

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2. Etude House AC Clinic Intense Pink powder Spot Patch (48 000 IDR)

It came from The AC Clinic line. I read many good reviews on this line and last time my sister mention how this one help her popped pimple scar heals faster. It has many natural ingredient like winter green berry, Japanese cypress, tea tree, papaya, garlic, thyme, rosemary, eucalyptus, perilla seed and many more. It contain 3 size, 6 6mm patches, 8 10 mm patches and 2 12 mm patches.

I like it because....

it's stick really well and thin. I wasn't really noticeable. More over those natural ingredient does help the pimple heals faster.

I don't like it because....

it stick a little too well, when I removed I could see some hair pulled together. Which is actually bad since it might pull your skin layer and make it more irritate. Plus after a while the patch kind of melt and the edge curled.

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3. The Face Shop Spot Clear Intensive Patch (36 000 IDR)

Unlike the one from etude house it has less ingredient. But it has key ingredient to fight bacteria like salicylic acid and tea tree oil. It contain 12 patches 6 10 mm and 6 12 mm.

I like it because....

It stick okay and after hours it' doesn't change much physically. All the size just fit my pimple fine, the bigger one I'll cut the in two. And the most important it works effectively heal the pimple.

I don't like it because....

sometimes the bigger size just to big.

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 4. Missha Blemish Clear patch Somaderm Spot S

It has 24 patches, 9 12 mm, 5 10 mm, and 10 7mm. It much more thicker than Etude House and The Face shop, but more thinner than nexcare. I couldn't find info about the ingredient and I couldn't read Hangul. They are pretty much like the one from nexcare, only thinner and stay in place better.

I like it because....

It not too thick like Nexcare, it stay well on targeted area and works really well absorb the liquid from popped pimple.

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Tips:

• If the patch are too sticky, and you force to remove it, you'll end up irritate your skin. You could wet the patch until it gets less sticky, then removed it.
• Sometimes the patch size is ridiculously big, just take a clean scissor and cut the into small pieces.
• I would use thicker patch (Missha and Nexcare) which are less sticky on a popped pimple. It would help to absorb the liquid and protect the area from bacteria, dust ect.

How to REMOVE Make up

This is "A Guide to Remove the Make Up Completely"

I like to wear make up a lot, but if you couldn't take off the make up properly, it would cause the pore blocked and few days latter...... the breakouts.

(Picture updated SOON)

Tools:

1. Q-tips

Medium size q-tip, firm and won't easily fall off. Just don't buy fancy q-tip with big head, it would absorb a lot of product, but not enough surface too clean up.Q-tip would be perfect to help you clean up the eye area, ex. between your eyelashes where all the stubborn eye liner stuck.

2. Cotton Pad

Pick the one with thin layer and firm surface. You'll need to pick the one with thin layer because it won't eat up all your product. Trust me I already use the thick layer, it still have much product in it but no more surface to take off the make up. And firm surface, so when you wipe it on your face you won't find the trail of cotton pad and you could take of the make up properly.

3. Clean Hand and Finger

Just sanitize your hand with the soap. I like to do it since I don't like seeing all the dirt in my hand stuck in the cotton pads and then goes to my face.

How to take off your make up:

 

1. Eye and lips Make up

 

Splash you cotton pad with the water-oil solution (the one that consist of watery solution on the bottom, and oil on the top, to use you'll need to shake until well combine), just don't soak you'll end up waste a lot of product. 

Then place the cotton pad on your eyes for 1 minute. Then slowly wipes the cotton downward. at this point the eyelash glue must be soften and could be removed without irritate your skin (well if you have super expensive (reusable) eyelash you'll need to remove it first). To remove the false lashes, press the lid and slowly pull the lashes from the root.

And then flip the cotton on the clean surface, place on your eyes repeat the previous process to take off any left over eye make up.

The last pick your q-tip (splash) with cleansing water and start to clean the area around

If you fill the eyebrow don't forget to clean up. 

For take off any make up on my lips I also use the same  method.

Why I still use the watery-oil solution?

It's just easily to remove the waterproof make up. Plus From all kind of cleanser I've tried, oil based one is the only one that could take off the color make up perfectly.

 2. Face

 

To clean of any face make up, I'll always use cleansing water first. Just soak your cotton pad and gently wipes the face. 

Next to make sure everything been take off, I'll wash my face with cleansing oil. I'll pump enough to clean my face and neck area (basically all area covered with the make-up). You need to make sure that your hand and face are dry. Massage on the area, then rinse off with water.

well I don't really like the oily feeling on my skin, so the next step I would you my favorite cleanser to take off the left over oil.

well all those step would be great if you're a 'clean-addict-freak afraid of future break out that would be cause by make up' like me.

You could simply take off the foundation and any face make up with cleansing oil then continue to your favorite cleanser.

After the make up off

just continue to your prefer skin care routine.

A little tip if you're getting your make up done by unhygienic make up artist,

to prevent break out in the future I'll use some drugstore product that contain Salicylic acid or Benzoyl peroxide. Those two ingredient could help you to fight the bacteria that might be transfer on to your skin from the dirty tools.