My Skincare Journey in 2023. The 7 Products That Made ALL the Difference on my Acne-Prone Skin

2023 was the year I finally believed that scientifically formulated skincare products work. 

I know what you must be thinking, but it is the truth. Before then, I never really believed as it always crossed my mind that there was an elaborate scheme to get us to spend more money on a bunch of products that never work (it doesn't help that there are so many people out there who say "all I rub on my skin is vaseline or shea butter") 

Anyway, that school of thought remains, but it is now greatly revised as I've discovered that these products work, BUT, there is no need to get ALL the ones that TikTok or Instagram says you should.

Well, thankfully, my aesthetician and I think alike so she recommended the first set of products for me (which I didn't really use diligently I must admit). I finally got around to being disciplined with my skincare around May/June of 2023 and within 3 months of being consistent, I didn't see results instead, people started commenting on my skin and saying how vastly improved it was. I even recall having to share products from my routine and reach out to my skincare vendor on behalf of others as well. 

While I tweaked the routine my aesthetician recommended and switched up some of the products, here are the top 7 that have made it into my Holy Grail skincare list of products I will repurchase forever and ever:

1. CorsRX Salicylic Acid Daily Cleanser: this is by far the most cost-effective face cleanser I have ever used. (if you follow me on Instagram, then you have definitely heard me talking about this product). This creamy but thorough cleanser totally washes off all dirt and impurities while still leaving the skin moisturised and not stripped at all. My face always looks 'alive' when I'm done washing it in the mornings. I've repurchased this 3 times but each time, I have to use and over-use it beforefor it to eventually finish, lol.
2. SkinScience Gly/Sal 5-2 Cleanser: maybe I didn't read enough reviews but I felt like I had been deceived the very first time I used this cleanser. Wondering why I'm sure right? I felt deceived because this Cleanser doesn't lather, at all. I had heard so much about it but this little bit of information was omitted in all the reviews I had read about the SkinScience Gly/Sal cleanser. I almost thought it was fake but there was no faking the gently squeaky clean feel of my skin when I rinsed it off. That was when I relented and I have re-purchased it 3 times after that. 
3. So me By Mi 30 Days Miracle Toner, but after using it, loving it and then not finding it again in the market, I switched to Creightons Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Tonic: and I don't regret not going back to my Tea Tree toner any single day. The Creightons Salicylic toner is honestly really nice. It can be a little stingy when you just start using it but the skin adjusts to it after a while. It delivers a bit more dose of salicylic acid to my skin (which I do believe my skin is benefitting from, so I'm not complaining at all). That is aside from the fact that it is way more affordable of course 😊
4. Paula's Choice BHA Liquid Exfoliant: this product does all it says it will do and more. Initially, I wondered what all the fuss about this product was, but now, I am a believer. Of the many benefits of this product, one thing it does that I absolutely love it how it dries out acne overnight. I only need to have one acne on my face, I apply Paula's Choice all over my face with a cotton pad and over the affected area. By morning, it is gone. This is aside from the fact that it has also helped to improve the texture of my skin. I honestly can't do without this product in my collection.
5. CosRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: I can now understand why all the hullabaloo about it. While I would gladly re-purchase, I feel that when paired with a Hyaluronic acid serum, its actual skincare benefits come through.
6. Uncover Aloe Invisible Sunscreen: I recommended this to a colleague who had been having issues with white cast and sunscreen being too oily and single time she sees me now, she mentions it and tells me what a nice thing I did for her. I also the Uncover Aloe Sunscreen too because of its somewhat matte finish and the fact that it isn't heavy on the face either. 
7. HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Cream: the chances of you never stopping this product after you've used it once is very especially if you have oily skin as it dries matte.

So these are the 7 skincare products that really made all the difference on my skin in 2023 and I'm bringing all of them with me into 2024 for sure.