I have been skincare *obsessed* for the better part of 20 years due to chronic, never ending skin issues. I’d make two steps forward (discovering K-beauty’s oil/water balance) and one and a half steps back (using products with ingredients that helped one issue but caused another… 😖). Throughout that process—even while seriously considering becoming an aesthetician—I somehow never discovered Malassezia folliculitis/pityrosporum folliculitis until I read f.c.’s blog on simpleskincarescience.com
Once I cleared my products of malassezia-feeding ingredients (with the help of f.c. seriously helpful list of 1500+ products and the https://folliculitisscout.com/ ingredients checker), my skin made a monumental leap forward. At 36, I can finally go makeup free in front of my partner (unheard of in previous relationships—the embarrassment was crippling for me).
I now use Almond Clear’s cleanser and level one serum (usually 2x week because my skin is super sensitive) alongside Malezia’s urea moisturizer and the bp cream. I also use a niacinamide + zinc & HA serum from Cos de BAHA which is excellent AND dirt cheap.
I figured I’ve spent upwards of $15,000-20,000 on skincare to try to solve my skin woes, so to say this stuff is heaven sent is an understatement. So happy to have found a cleanser that is effective and makes my skin happy!