SKIN CARE ROUTINE

Hello everyone! Today I will be going into my skin care routine- my holiest of holy grails. Just like with everything I mention in this blog, it took me years to perfect my skin care. From the time I hit puberty I've dealt with breakouts. I went on birth control to help heal my hormonal acne (amongst some other reasons) and started seeing estheticians around middle school. I have tried facials and blue light treatments since then and those only seemed to make my face worse. I dabbled in completely organic products, like tea tree oil and coconut oil, with only disastrous repercussions. I've even burned off my skin with homeopathic remedies that include recipes involving toothpaste or crushed up aspirin. When I tell you all that I have been through it with my skin, please believe me. And please stop using Mario Badescu.

Throughout these quite stupid escapades I was able to pick up useful medical knowledge about skin in the long run. One of the main things I found out was that coconut oil is one of the most pore-clogging substances on the market and that sebaceous filament and blackheads are two completely different things. After a consultation with a dermatologist, I was given some products to use daily for my skin- nothing topical, just a brand that changed my life. During a tumultuous period of my life where my skin was an outlet for my body's stress, my breakouts flared up again and I was almost prescribed Accutane. However, my dermatologist was able to find a solution that didn't involve that scary drug. Since then, I've added some products to my routine that promise dewy and pimple-free skin. Obviously, I will breakout now and then- it's inevitable. But, it's become much easier to kill these zits and my skin care has helped me regain some confidence in my life.

Me ft. my cat Muffin

The first thing I do when I begin to wash my face is cleanse my skin. If I have makeup on, I will always remove it with a makeup wipe. I use either Neutrogena or Simple makeup wipes in gentle motions making sure I go over my entire face. It's important to always take off your makeup before going in with a cleanser to ensure that you start your skincare with a clean face so as to not clog or irritate pores even more. Then, with warm water and a soft sponge, I wet my face and use Cera Ve hydrating cleanser. This cleanser contains no dyes, fragrances or harsh chemicals. It's dermatologist recommended and leaves my skin feeling super clean with just one pump. After gently massaging the cleanser on my skin for around 30 seconds, including a quick rub down my neck, I rinse it off with cold water to help close my pores. Once the cleanser is washed off, I pat my face dry with a tissue. This may sound silly but it is so much more hygienic and gentle on my face than using the same dirty hand towel that can add bacteria and irritation after use. 

Cleanser (left)- $15.99// Moisturizer (right)- $15.49

After washing my face, let's move on to toner, serum and moisturizer. I used to use toner, specifically witch hazel and diluted apple cider vinegar. For me, they didn't do jack. But, I know some people swear by toner in their skin care routine and I know it is considered a necessary step, just like the addition of oils and serums is as well. I have a serum I use time-to-time, but only if I feel my skin needs a little extra glow. I use Derma-E hyaluronic acid serum for this instance, but I haven't used it in a while since I want to keep my routine as simple as I can for my sensitive skin. However, I have used the Cera Ve moisturizer without fail every night. This moisturizer is also free from unnecessary ingredients like dyes and fragrances and contains the same hyaluronic acid to keep my skin plump. Many people think that moisturizer isn't a required step in skin care for one reason or another- but it is just as important as face wash. It helps your skin heal and protect itself from the stress, sweat and pollution it endures every day... so I'm forcing you to use it. I add in Aquaphor into this moisturizer at night to give my skin more moisture since it gets drier from a topical treatment I will talk about below. This combination has left my skin with way fewer dry patches, red marks and irritation and has overall made my face super glowy.

Aquaphor- $4.49

So, as mentioned before, my skin hit a breaking point after a period of being predominantly good. Over this summer due to stress and toxicity within my life, my skin took a turn for the worst. My dermatologist caught a glimpse during a healing period of my acne but upon seeing pictures of it in its normal stage she said Accutane would be something she would recommend. After declining that option QUICKLY, she said I should try Differin gel- a topical retinoid that would help my pimples and even my blackheads. She gave a warning though- that it would take at least three months to start taking effect, and that it would get worse before it would get better. But I had had enough of dealing with skin that made me self-conscious on top of everything else I was dealing with, so I buckled down for this ride. I read up about retinoids- something everyone should do if they are trying out a new product. I learned that retinoids should be introduced to the face in stages and not used every single night. I used a 1,2,3 method of application: once a week for one week, twice a week for two weeks and lastly three times a week for three weeks until you begin to apply it every day. This method totally worked for me and my sensitive skin. I barely had any of the side effects that retinoids usually promise and was able to become well-adjusted to the gel. Always apply your retinoid before your moisturizer and avoid the eye area unless you want flakey eyelids the next morning. Remember to wash your hands after application to avoid spreading it to delicate areas when moisturizing after! Of course, it did take the whole three months to see progress but now that I have been using it for close to six, I can really see how it benefits my face. My breakouts are mainly caused by my hormones when I'm on my period and when I have lots of stress. My hormonal zits appear on my chin while my stress zits appear on my forehead. I found this information out through the use of an acne face chart and will link it here so you guys can see what causes your breakouts in specific areas of your face. 

If I have a stubborn breakout I have found my perfect solution. I use Starface Hydrostars. These are super cute star-shaped pimple patches that contain hydrocolloid to suck up the gunk in your zits. I leave them on overnight and when I peel them off in the morning I can literally see all the oil that it pulled out of my pore. The star shape is unique but effective when placing the patch on a pimple in a hard to reach area like the crease of your nose. It visibly reduces the size and irritation of the zit without creating redness or scarring.

Hydrostars (top)- $22// Differin gel (bottom)- $13.99

I love this simple skin care routine with all my heart and it remains one of the constants in my life. Beside the Hydrostars, all of these products can be found at any local drugstore, making it super affordable as well. This works great for my skin, but it won't work for everybody since everyone is different. If you do follow these steps please reach out and let me know if they worked for you!- Char