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Most of these suggestions come from dermatologists themselves who share their clinical knowledge on the platform.
My sister and I recently tested some of these highly recommended products for ourselves to see what really works. Do note though that everyone’s skin is different so the results will vary for each person.
COSRX is a popular South Korean brand known for its affordable skincare range. Many of the brand’s items have great reviews, including the AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid, Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser, and this Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.
This essence seems to work well on most skin types to keep it hydrated or even before applying makeup. The best parts is that it doesn’t have any fragrance, clog pores, or leave behind a sticky residue. It feels slimy and tacky when you first pump it but if used correctly, that disappears after awhile.
We applied this on our dry and combination skin, as well as several friends who have oily skin, and it worked surprisingly well for all of us. It’s an especially great moisturiser to start with if you’re new to skincare. When applied, it immediately absorbs in and leaves the skin feeling hydrated – without any annoying thick feeling.
Get this if you:- Want a fragrance-free, water-based moisturiser that won’t clog pores
– Have dry patches/dry skin (it seems to work on most skin types so far)
– Have sensitive skin and want to keep it hydrated daily
You can buy it online here.
The Ordinary has been gaining popularity for its science-based approach to the skincare world. It’s known for focusing its products on basic skincare ingredients.
To be honest, the names of the products can feel slightly intimidating because they reference ingredients instead of what they can achieve. Although the brand is trending, it’s still best to research what each product is good for to see if you need them in your routine and how to use the products.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is meant to support the skin barrier, improve texture by making pores look smaller, balance oil production, reduce the appearance of skin blemishes, and brighten the skin overall (even underarms).
We used this sparingly because we were using many other ‘big’ ingredients and didn’t want to skin purge. We’ll probably take a few more months to see if it’s doing anything for our medium-dark skin tones.
Our colleague, who used to have acne-prone skin, shares that this product has reduced the appearance of his pores and redness that comes from inflammation. As it’s a humectant, it also helps with the absorption of his other skincare items.
Just take note that you should never mix high concentration niacinamide with high concentration vitamin C.
Get it if you:- Have severe acne or acne scars (use sparingly)
– Want to balance oil production
– Want to see if it helps with hyperpigmentation
– Want to see if it reduces skin dullness
You can buy it online here.
CeraVe’s moisturising cream is another highly recommended skincare item by many dermatologists. After testing it for awhile, it’s understandable why it’s so popular for a variety of reasons.
Other than Rosken, I find that there aren’t many affordable drugstore fragrance-free lotions in Malaysia. CeraVe’s prices are considered mid-range as imports (hopefully prices will reduce with more demand over time).
We tested this on our extremely dry, flaky skin, and it immediately absorbed without clogging our pores. One sign of a good lotion for me is that there is little to no pilling and this moisturiser didn’t have any of that at all, probably due to the fact that it contains hyaluronic acid. It also didn’t leave any sticky residue, unlike other fragrance-free lotions we’ve used. Plus, all CeraVe products contain ceramides, which are good for locking in moisture and for the skin in general.
Considering Malaysia’s humidity, I kind of expected it to wear off halfway through the day, instead, it kept my skin feeling moisturised the whole day until my next shower.
Get it if you:
– Have dry skin or tattoos
– Have sensitive skin (it’s fragrance-free)
– Want to keep your body moisturised for long periods of time
– Are looking for a body moisturiser that doesn’t leave your skin feeling icky
You can buy it online here.
Some By Mi is another popular South Korean brand that offers a variety of skincare and beauty products. One of its most highly rated items is the AHA.BHA.PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner.
Our first impression of this toner is that it smells great – like peppermint – and it leaves your skin feeling slightly cool and minty. Other than that, we love that it has AHA, BHA, PHA, and niacinamide all in one, so it can cover multiple issues in one go.
However, it does contain tea tree extract, which may not be suitable for everyone. It was able to clean out our skin really well and was a good prep before applying moisturisers at night.
Get it if you:- Want something that can cover multiple functions (it acts as a gentle exfoliant and treats skin at the same time)- Have redness and want to tone your skin
– Want to remove any additional dirt and grime after cleansing your face
– Have acne breakouts
– Want a toner that isn’t drying, as this has moisturising ingredients
You can buy it online here.
One of DHC’s most raved products is this deep cleansing oil that works to remove makeup and other impurities from the day. Of course, I had to try it out and I must say, it lives up to its hype.
Having large pores, it’s hard to find a cleansing oil or makeup remover that doesn’t make my skin immediately breakout right after. Surprisingly, after many uses, this cleansing oil has not caused any breakouts for me.
It works amazingly to break down waterproof makeup by instantly melting into the skin. Sidenote: I’ve used both and the results of using cleansing oils/balms are completely different from baby oil or coconut oil.
Priced at roughly RM79, it doesn’t sound that affordable compared to some other drugstore options, but I find that one small pump is more than enough to remove a full face of makeup. Because of how little you need, it probably ends up costing around the same price as cheaper options at pharmacies that require more product for each wash.
Get it if you:- Wear makeup often (especially heavy or waterproof makeup)
– Wear sunscreen often and want to remove the grime from the day before cleansing
You can buy it online here.
The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 aims to smoothen, plump, and moisturise the skin. It acts as a humectant prior to applying heavier creams or moisturisers.
We have yet to see if there are any big results from adding this to our routine but so far there have been no breakouts or issues from it. Both niacinamide and hyaluronic acid will probably only produce results once we’ve used them over a long period of time.
Take note that hyaluronic acid may not work on all skin types and if used wrongly, it may end up drying out your skin instead of keeping it hydrated, so do research before buying it.
Get it if you:
– Have dry skin
– Want a fragrance-free humectant that can retain moisture from your other skincare products
You can buy it online here.
La Roche-Posay is a brand from France that has been recognised for a number of its skincare products. It’s known for being particularly good for those with sensitive skin or issues like eczema and other flare-ups.
This particular moisturiser especially aims to help those with extremely dry skin, patches, or have eczema-prone skin. When applied, it’s supposed to immediately soothe itchiness and severely dry areas.
A little goes a longgg way with this thick moisturiser. I only needed to use a tiny dot each time on any dry skin patches and it immediately absorbed into the skin. It’s also safe enough to be used on babies and children.
Get it if:
– You have severe dryness or itchiness
– Other lotions are not moisturising enough for your skin
– You have sensitive skin
– You have frequent flare-ups or allergy-prone skin
– You have extremely rough or cracked skin (e.g. elbows and heels)
You can buy it online here.
Retinol (or Vitamin A) is known to provide anti-aging benefits like reduce wrinkles and fine lines over time and just overall, skin ageing. Its aim is to boost collagen production and increase cell turnover rate. Generally, retinol takes a bit of time to work, so we’re looking forward to seeing how this one goes over the next few months.
If you plan to add retinol to your skincare routine, take note that you should only use it at night, and add moisturiser and sunscreen to your regime during the day, as it tends to make the skin dry and sensitive to the sun. In general, retinol products are quite strong so it’s best to know what you’re doing before starting. Avoid using if you have eczema or rosacea.
Get it if you:
– Want to take preventive measures against fine lines and hyperpigmentation
– Want to reduce sun damage (but do not use it during the day)
You can buy it online here.
CeraVe’s Facial Moisturizing Lotion contains SPF 30 and it’s meant to be used during the day. The cream is fragrance-free and contains ceramides, along with hyaluronic acid to retain skin moisture and niacinamide to help calm skin.
We found that it left a slight white cast that needed to be rubbed in quite a bit and pilled more when mixed with other products.
Get it if you:
– Want to see if one product with all the properties is good at protecting your skin daily
– Want a sunscreen for your face that you don’t mind reapplying every two hours
You can buy it online here.
This soothing repairing balm is a great basic moisturiser that works well with both makeup and no makeup. The La Roche brand generally works well for sensitive and dry skin so if you have any of those, this might be a good option for you. The Cicaplast balm is especially meant to hydrate and soothe chafed or rough skin and dry skin irritations.
It’s somewhere between a moisturiser and an ointment, but it doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin. It’s also gentle enough for babies and children. When first applied, it has a slightly greasy texture but it does clear up as you continue to gently rub it into the skin.
Get it if you want:
– A basic moisturiser that’s fragrance-free
– A balm that’s gentle enough for babies or kids with skin irritations
– To soothe skin redness
– A balm that is safe enough to be applied on the body, face, and lips
You can buy it online here.
CeraVe’s Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen has SPF 50, which is good especially if you’re heading outdoors or doing sports activities.
But like many mineral sunscreens, this made our skin look patchy and left a white cast which was quite difficult to blend. Although it says it’s lightweight and non-greasy, we found that it was actually quite thick and stickier than expected. For its price, there are definitely more options out there.
Get it if you:
– Don’t mind having a white cast (unless covered up with makeup) and need something for sporty activities or to be just worn around the house
– Want sunscreen on drier days
You can buy it online here.
The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ aims to help with acne problems and comes in multiple sizes, so you can test out a small tube before fully committing. It also helps to heal any pimple-prone areas or cystic acne (including those hormonal pimples IYKWIM). We found that it definitely reduced inflamed pimples and shrunk them faster than expected.
Quite a few reviews also say that they swapped it with their 10% benzoyl peroxide acne spot treatments and they prefer using this.
Get it if you:
– Have acne-prone skin
– Want to get rid of pimples fast
You can buy it online here.
Dr. Jart+ is a South Korean skincare brand with a good reputation for offering everything from exfoliating AHA/BHA to skin-building ceramides.
This Ceramidin cream works wonders as a moisturiser, especially if you have dry skin or work in air-conditioning often. It is on the pricier side but a little goes a long way, so you might find that one tube will last you quite awhile.
We love that you can use it at any time of day and it works with makeup as well.
Get it if you:- Want a foolproof moisturiser that will leave your skin hydrated
– Have really dry or sensitive skin
– Work in air-conditioning often
You can buy it online here.
Out of all the sunscreens I’ve used, this one definitely takes the cake at feeling the best on the face. It has a gel texture, making it feel really lightweight on the skin yet it still has SPF 50+ in it. We love that it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing sunscreen throughout the day and works well with makeup too.
Get it if you:
– Want a sunscreen for your face with SPF 50
– Don’t like sticky residue or a thickly layered feeling on your face