u/notsogreat_gatsby

If you have oily/combination skin or you’re looking for a daily sunscreen that doesn’t make your face shiny or leave a white cast, I think this might be the best one I’ve found!

UV Protection

G&G uses 4 UV filters: Uvinul A +, Tinosorb S, Uvinul T150, and Ensulizole. All of these filters are photostable, lower risk for eye stinging, and don’t have any systemic absorption safety concerns.

It’s rated as SPF 50 with a UVA rating of 30, comfortably exceeding the >16 minimum required for maximum protection against the wavelengths most commonly linked to skin aging. The Uvinul A+ filter also blocks ultra long-wave UVA rays in the 320-400nm range, with a peak performance at 354nm.

Water Resistance

Technically this SPF isn’t marketed as water resistant, but preliminary trials done by the company have found that it reaches threshold for Europe’s requirement for a water-resistant label, with 54% of the SPF protection being retained after exposure to water.

I think this is a good sweet spot for daily wear; it has enough durability to resist daily sweating but isn’t so robust that it’s heavy and hard to remove. I still wouldn’t trust this for the beach, pool, or heavy-duty sun exposure, but it can definitely handle summer days.

Texture/Feel

The name couldn’t be more accurate, you literally can’t feel this on your skin. It goes on like a very viscous lotion, not at all like a milk or fluid. It spreads somewhat easily but dries down into an invisible layer within seconds. My favorite part is that there’s zero shine or grease even with multiple applications. For a while I would avoid reapplying sunscreen because of the shine, but it really isn’t an issue with this SPF. There’s also no white cast at all!

In terms of its moisturizing ability, I feel it’s totally neutral. While it isn’t especially drying the way Anessa sun milk or others are, it’s also not at all moisturizing, so you’ll need to layer something below it unless you have very oily skin.

It does have a slight “sunscreen” smell on application that fades quickly but is still a bit noticeable at times. It’s not pungent or bad, but it’s there.

Cost/Ease of Use

It’s only ~$14 from the G&G website for a 75mL tube. If you use the recommended 1.2mL for the face once daily, one tube will last you about 2 months. Since I usually reapply once or twice a day, I find it comfortably lasts me a month, which is still really good considering the price!

Unlike some other sunscreens, there’s no pump, so it can be difficult to gauge how much you’re using. It might be a good idea to measure out 1/4 of a teaspoon at first to calibrate the right amount!

** Note for anyone in the U.S. : Because the FDA hasn’t approved all of these UV filters, G&G isn’t allowed to market this as an SPF in America. Instead, it’s sold as a “Mattifying Day Cream” on their website. However, I’ve confirmed by email with the company that this is the exact same product that is marketed as SPF in Europe.

I currently use skin1004 centella water fit sun serum and while it isn’t too shiny at first application, when I apply it a second or third time it gets really greasy/shiny. Does anyone know of a good asian (korean/japanese, or european) sunscreen that’s matte and doesn’t get shiny even with repeated applications?

It’s not subjective by the way, I’m genuinely ugly. I’ve been called that my entire life by dozens of people who know me personally and strangers who have no reason to not be honest. I’m very short, my face is horribly disfigured, I have no physically attractive qualities at all. People look at me in public because of how bad it is.

There is also absolutely no “improving my looks” because the things that make me ugly are genetic and structural; a recessed jaw, awful asymmetry and eye placement, crooked nose, protruding ears, etc.

I’m in my early 20s right now and I’m at a weird point. On one hand, I know the rest of my life is ahead of me and I want to give myself the best shot at living a somewhat decent life, even though I know a lot is off limits to me because of my appearance. On the other hand, I feel like my looks are a death sentence, and even if I favorably exploited every lever of control over my life, I’d only be playing a losing game.

I don’t know where to start or what to do

I just started to introduce tretinoin cream (0.025%) a week ago, my first active ever. I currently have the following routine:

AM
- Wash face with cold water
- Skin 1004 Centella Water Fit Sunscreen (applied throughout the day as needed)

PM
- Wash face with Cera Ve Hydrating facial cleanser
- 3 times a week I apply tretinoin 0.025%
- Vanicream daily facial moisturizer

After my second or third week I’m going to move tretinoin up to 4x a week if I have no side effects, and in another month or so I’m going to slowly introduce 15% Azelaic acid gel

My dermatologist recently prescribed me 15% Azelaic Acid gel and 0.025% tretinoin. Of course I know that the tretinoin must be introduced gradually starting 2x a week and moving up to every day, but she said that it’s safe to start both of these at the same time.

Should I be worried about irritation? Is it best to use tretinoin for a few weeks before introducing azelaic acid?

I’ve been making lots of efforts lately to improve my health and my appearance, such as starting a weightlifting regimen, eating more nutritious foods/more calories, taking supplements, and starting a skincare routine + prescription tretinoin and such. I also have been getting 7 hours of consistent sleep.

That said, it’s so difficult to do all of these things on some days when it feels like they barely matter in the grand scheme. I’m honestly hideous, like a straight 1/10, maybe a 2 on a good day. As much as I know it’s important for my health, I just feel like my efforts are useless. Why do I even want to invest in a body that I just don’t like?

Does anyone have advice on how to remain consistent and cultivate the mental energy to push through these thoughts on the days I have them?

I’m a guy in my early 20s and I’m struggling intensely with finding an identity, a niche, and a curated personality. I’ve felt (and have been told) that I’m a very bland person who likes to play it “safe”. I dress generically, am very agreeable in conversation, and do not have many deep-seated opinions.

I want to develop my own sense of self, and the most common advice I get is to spend time finding myself. The issue is I just don’t even know where to start. I feel like I need someone to tell me what I specifically need to do, which ultimately defeats the entire purpose of being unique.

How do I break free from this habit?