Feedback on Your Formulations

Thank you for providing your formulations and details about your skin concerns. Based on your skin condition (oily, dehydrated, rough, wrinkles, large pores, redness, dark spots) and your goal to focus on skin recovery before acne treatment, here is the feedback on your proposed formulas and questions:

Skin Condition and Current Routine

The staff noted that using Retinoic Acid (like Retin-A) and BHA together might be too harsh for your skin, potentially causing imbalance (oily but dehydrated) and peeling in the long term. They recommend focusing on hydration with water-soluble moisturizers and ingredients that help balance oil production.

Ectoine vs. Repair Activator for Skin Recovery

For your specific skin concerns, Ectoine is recommended over Repair Activator for skin recovery. Ectoine will help strengthen your skin barrier, which is crucial for improving overall skin health and preparing your skin for future acne treatments.

Formulation 1 (Face Serum with Ectoine)

This formula is a good base for skin recovery. The staff recommends the following adjustments:

• Change the preservative from NaturePreserve (ID 520/536) to Mild Preserved Eco (ID 1001) at 1%.
• Reduce Tara Gel (ID 2232) to 1.5% as it should be sufficient for gelling.
• Add the following ingredients to help balance oil and soothe skin:
  • Licorice Extract (Licochalcone A 1%) (ID 69) at 1-2%
  • Zinc PCA (ID 252) at 1%
  • L-Carnitine (ID 157) at 3%

The adjusted formula would focus on strengthening the skin barrier, providing hydration, and balancing oil, which aligns with your goal of skin recovery.

Formulation 3 (Body Gel for Dry Skin)

While you prefer a gel texture, the staff mentioned that a gel might not be sufficient for very dry body skin, and a cream would likely provide more adequate moisturization. However, your formula can be mixed. Please note that the amount of moisturizer might still be insufficient for very dry skin.

• Change the preservative from NaturePreserve (ID 520/536) to Mild Preserved Eco (ID 1001) at 1%.

Formulation 4 (Cleansing)

The staff clarified that removing makeup (sunscreen and powder) is different from cleansing the skin. They suggest using a dedicated makeup remover first, such as a Cleansing Water (using MakeUp-Wash™ - ID 373) or Cleansing Oil (using Oilsify 15 - ID 971).

For the cleansing step, your proposed formula using Sulfate Free No-Tear Shampoo Base (ID 1107) is suitable. The staff recommends changing the preservative:

• Change the preservative from NaturePreserve (ID 520/536) to Mild Preserved Eco (ID 1001) at 1%.

I hope this feedback helps you refine your formulations!