Fungal Acne Safe Skincare: Exfoliants / AHAs

This post has been long overdue ><  but my fungal acne has pretty much subsided. It took a while but all thanks to a fungal acne safe routine, my skin is now clear! {Check out my post for fungal acne-safe products under $20} It does occasionally come back but I would just zap it with some Nizoral that I always keep on hand.

But having fungal acne sucks. Like really sucks. It took me a long time to get rid of fungal acne. It’s mindblowing how many products trigger fungal acne. Needless to say, I had to abandon countless HG products.

Which includes exfoliants.

To me, an exfoliant is essential to any skincare routine. Especially since I am super prone to hyperpigmentation.

Sadly, fungal acne safe exfoliants are hard quite hard to find. That’s why I decided to find 3 fungal acne safe exfoliants that are easily accessible and compare which exfoliant is the best.

THE EXFOLIATORS

tarte Knockout tingle treatment toner $51 CAD

First up is the Tarte Knockout Tingle Treatment Toner. It is one of the pricer options. The only reason I justified the purchase was because it was highly raved AND the only exfoliant that I could immediately get my hands on. However, that being said, it is not for first-time exfoliant users. Sometimes when they say 10% it doesn’t sting, but this exfoliant isn’t joking around. It is super strong. Definitely not for sensitive skin.

Even with my semi-tough skin, my skin stung quite a bit when I first used it. Apparently it was designed so that it would sting for 10-15 seconds. I noticed that when I stopped using this exfoliant for a bit, my skin would sting a lot more but if I used it often, I wouldn’t feel the sting as much.

So do I love it? Kinda… but not really. The thing is it works, BUT anything that irritates your skin, (like stinging, cooling or anything of that sort) it really isn’t good for your skin. Even if you don’t notice the irritation it might harm your skin in the long run. Plus, it has a very pungent vinegar smell, not the most pleasant smell. I probably wouldn’t repurchase, but I will use it up. I would probably only use this once a week when my skin is feeling super congested. Probably not for everyday use.

some by mi AHA, BHA, PHA 30 days miracle toner ~ $20 CAD

I heard a lot about this brand and I was always skeptical. I mean a 30-day miracle….? To me, it just seems like a marketing scheme. I was quite reluctant to buy this product but after trying the Tarte Knockout Tingle Toner, I knew I needed a gentler option for everyday use. I thought that the Some By Mi Miracle Toner would be a good option for everyday use, while the Tarte exfoliator was a weekly thing.

Did I see a miracle? Not really, but it is a gentle product. If you have sensitive skin have lots of active acne breakouts and just need a gentle exfoliator, this is a good option. However, for me, I didn’t notice anything mind-blowing. Just a gentle exfoliator. Its okay product, but I wouldn’t be running to buy it anytime soon.

stridex dupe  aka life brands cleansing pad $6

Another fungal acne safe exfoliator option is the Life cleansing pad or Stridex. Sadly, Canada doesn’t carry Stridex pads, but I heard people saying that the life brand’s cleansing pad was a dupe. And since they were fungal acne-safe, I decided to try them out.

Do I like it? Not really. Why? Because the face pads can be really rough on the skin. The texture on the pads is quite rough and it can be a lot of physical exfoliation if you rub too hard. I would recommend that you swipe across your face as gently as possible. Without applying any force. That way it isn’t so irritating. It does its job, but you just have to be mindful and gentle when you use it.

P.S. I recently got my hands on the real deal, Stridex AND they are quite different. In short, the pads are way softer but they are irritating another way. Instead of physical exfoliating, it has this cooling effect. I personally don’t like any cooling effect, because that “cool feeling”, just means your skin is irritated.

You check out my full in-depth comparison between the two exfoliation pads here. 

CONCLUSION: WHICH ONE DO I RECOMMEND?

It depends. The thing is, these 3 exfoliants were just okay. Each exfoliant has their own pro and con. It really depends on what you need or want.

The Tarte Knockout Tingle Exfoliator is expensive, strong and highly irritating. This might be a good option if you have super congested skin, don’t mind the stinging or the big price tag. I personally wouldn’t recommend it, because it is highly irritating. Probably not good for your skin in the long run.

The Some by Mi Miracle Toner is priced mid-range and is a gentler option for your skin. Since it is quite gentle I think it would a good option if you have compromised or sensitive skin. However, it might be slower, to see results.

Stridex/Dupe is an affordable option. No bells or whistles. It does its job but it could be a little irritating. You have to be careful and not apply too much pressure.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored but it may contain affiliate links where I make a small commission. This means that when you make a purchase using my links I earn a small percentage. All opinions are my own regardless of affiliate links or not. You don’t have to use my links but it would really help me keep on posting the things I love  🙂 <3 

Michelle

A beauty lover that loves everything about beauty and skincare. She is always on the lookout to find the new “it” product. Whether it is budget friendly or high end, she plans to share with others her beauty adventures and beauty experiences on this blog.