# The benefits of PHA - combining the advantages of AHA and BHA 🍋
📍 3rd generation peeling ingredient that tackles both dead skin cells and oil-based sebum
📍 Suitable for sensitive skin
# My skin type: Combination, dehydrated, sensitive, acne-prone
📍 Note: I have hard sebum that forms daily
Therefore, daily exfoliation is a must for me
● Excellent sebum clearing ability
I've tried various cleansing oils including Sidmool Apricot Seed, Yuri Pibu Grante, DHC, etc.
Among all the oil products I've used, this has the top sebum removal power.
After soaking the skin and gently massaging for 5-10 minutes,
you can feel dozens of sebum plugs between your fingers.
While I do produce a lot of sebum,
I've rarely experienced such a satisfying amount being removed.
After cleansing, you can see and feel that many whiteheads (sebum plugs)
have been removed from the nose bridge and under the chin, leaving the skin smooth.
● I like the thick, non-runny texture
: Moderate Thick Texture
Some cleansing oils are so thin they run like water,
making them difficult to pump and apply.
This product has a pleasantly heavy texture
that feels smooth when massaging on the face.
● Very strong cleansing power
It removes all traces of makeup, including my usual waterproof eye products,
without leaving anything behind.
Especially impressive is how thoroughly it removes mascara,
even between the lashes.
● Almost no residual feeling
While it varies by product, cleansing oils often leave
a sticky, slippery residue even after emulsifying and rinsing.
This product, however, leaves the skin feeling relatively clean and fresh.
Of course, a second cleanse is still necessary.
Some downsides I noticed while using this product:
● It seemed to weaken my skin barrier
Although this product is aimed at sensitive skin types,
it contains ingredients like lemon peel oil, orange oil, and two types of PEG,
which may be why daily use seemed to damage my outer skin barrier.
I could feel my skin becoming thinner, leading to redness and increased sensitivity.
It feels too harsh to invest 5-10 minutes daily in sebum management.
● Skin feels tight after cleansing
Cleansing oils usually leave the skin more moisturized than foam cleansers,
but this product left my skin feeling quite dry.
Its strong cleansing power seems to strip away both oil and moisture,
leaving the skin looking parched after washing.
● May cause blemishes
Initially, I thought its good cleansing power and lack of residue
would prevent any blemish concerns.
Surprisingly, I always woke up with one or two comedonal acne spots
after using this product.
While I can't be certain, I suspect it's due to the skin barrier becoming sensitive,
or the oil-water balance being disrupted from over-cleansing.
+ Update
I'd like to correct my statement.
The blemishes were likely due to my irregular body rhythm.
This product itself rarely causes skin troubles.
First, I don't recommend daily use of this product due to its strong cleansing power
and potentially irritating ingredients for sensitive skin, as mentioned above.
Instead, I suggest using it for heavy makeup removal or sebum management.
Here's a tip for sebum removal:
When wearing makeup, I first do a quick cleanse with the oil.
Then, for more thorough and powerful sebum removal,
I soften the skin surface with steam.
While a towel or shower works, I prefer using a steamer for about 5 minutes.
After patting dry, I start massaging with the oil for 5-10 minutes.
Make sure to massage thoroughly, focusing on problem areas.
Using a silicone brush can also be effective.
After emulsifying and following up with a low pH foam cleanser,
you'll notice about 70% of sebum has been smoothly eliminated.