To Whom It May Concern:
My love for skincare started when I was 10 years old. My mom created my very first Korean skincare routine when I was in the fifth grade, and I’ve been hooked since. I am by no means a skincare expert, but I can say it’s been one of my favorite hobbies ever since I was a little girl.
While I was undergoing chemotherapy during the winter in NYC, I experienced really dry skin and lips. I made a conscious effort to take care of the largest organ of my body and use products that were fragrance-free, gentle, and hydrating.
I’d like to stress that it’s key to purchase fragrance-free products due to chemo-induced nausea. I was really sensitive to smells the day of and the day after chemotherapy. Strong scents – good and bad – would make me want to vomit.
Below is a list of my favorite fragrance-free #cleanskincare products to use during chemotherapy:
Cleansers
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser
- Size: 2oz
- Price: $12
- Where to buy: Sephora, Ulta, First Aid Beauty Website
- Pros: This will always be my go-to cleanser because it’s mild but mighty. I love the price point, texture, effectiveness, different size options, and hydrating ingredients.
- Cons: There are none in my books.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
- Size: 6.7oz
- Price: $13.99
- Where to buy: Ulta, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, La Roche Posay Website
- Pros: It is an extremely mild and gentle product that gets the job done. It’s perfect for morning skincare routines and reinforces the skin barrier!
- Cons: If you care about texture, this one is milky rather than bubbly. It only bubbles if you lather it many, many times in a circular motion.
Serum
Rovectin Activating Treatment Lotion
- Size: 3.4 oz
- Price: $19
- Where to buy: Rovectin Website
- Pros: If there is one product you are considering after reading this blog post, I highly recommend this one. This is my HOLY GRAIL Korean skincare product that kept my skin hydrated since day 1. I introduced this to all my friends and family, and every single person fell in love with it. It’s EWG-verified, packed with hyaluronic acid, and super mild. This is my secret weapon, and I use it every day without fail.
- Cons: This is not easily accessible in stores. You have to buy it directly from the Rovectin website.
- Fun Fact: The founder established Rovectin and created clean skincare products after his sister was diagnosed with cancer.
Creams and Moisturizers
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
- Size: 1.69oz
- Price: $68
- Where to buy: Sephora, Drunk Elephant Website
- Pros: My skin reacts the best to this product. I love it so much because it delivers what it guarantees – hydration and anti-aging. It’s a high-quality, straight-forward cream that I always end up going back to!
- Cons: The price is expensive, and you can never tell how much you have left due to the packaging.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
- Size: 2oz
- Price: $18
- Where to buy: Sephora, Ulta, First Aid Beauty Website
- Pros: It has a lot of hydrating ingredients, and it’s formulated with colloidal oatmeal to relieve really dry skin.
- Cons: I can’t think of any!
The INKEY List Peptide Moisturizer
- Size: 1.7oz
- Price: $15.99
- Where to buy: Sephora, The INKEY List Website
- Pros: This is an affordable dupe for the above mentioned Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream.
- Cons: When I use this product on its own, my skin doesn’t feel as hydrated. It’s most effective if I use a serum before and oil after.
Oils
Naturium Virgin Marula Face Oil
- Size: 1.0oz
- Price: $16
- Where to buy: Target, Naturium Website
- Pros: I love using this oil during spring and summer months because the consistency is not too thick. You get a bang for your buck with this product and your skin is left feeling nourished.
- Cons: If you like thick facial oils, this one is less viscous.
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
- Size: 1.0oz
- Price: $68
- Where to buy: Sephora, Drunk Elephant Website
- Pros: My skin reacts the best and fastest to this facial oil. I wake up the next morning with such hydrated skin.
- Cons: The price is expensive, but a little goes a long way! They also sell a 0.5 oz size for $38 if you want to test it out first.
Lip Balms
Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm
- Size: 0.13oz
- Price: $18
- Where to buy: Sephora, Drunk Elephant Website
- Pros: Cue “Best I Ever Had — Drake!” This is the best lip balm I ever used PERIOD. The texture, the hydration, and the consistency after it is applied is chef’s kiss. A little goes a long way — you do not need to frequently reapply throughout the day and one tube lasts for months! This is also my go-to gift for my breasties 🙂
- Cons: Paying $18 for a lip balm is totally extra, and it’s kinda sad when you misplace it #chemobrain.
Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick
- Size: 0.17oz
- Price: $5.49
- Where to buy: CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Target
- Pros: It’s a no-frills, straight-forward lip repair stick, and you don’t feel sad when you misplace it haha.
- Cons: The consistency is not as hydrating as the Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm, so I have to reapply much more frequently throughout the day.
I hope you found this blog post helpful. Please do not hesitate to DM me if you have any questions or want to start a discussion around #cleanskincare. Wishing you hydrated and healthy skin wherever you may be in your journey!
Breast regards,
Michelle
P.S. The products listed in this post are not sponsored. I truly love and stand by these products!
