Skincare Saturday: Ac-no

You've watched my video and you've heard numerous times that I don't have flawless skin. Yes, my skin now behaves much better than it used to, but that took a lot of time, effort, and patience. For some, acne is seen as something you just "grow out of", but it didn't seem that way for me - and I'm sure it doesn't seem that way for some of you.

Below are the products I used and the exact routine that got my skin to where it is now - relatively clear with the occasional breakout, for which I use one of the cheap methods I told you about yesterday.

The Products

Cetaphil - I could rave about this forever and I will never use another cleanser. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (not the one for oily skin) is soap free, fragrance free, PH balanced and extremely gentle for even the very sensitive skins. It doesn't strip your face leaving it dry, nor does it leave any greasy residue. Love.

Pond's Cold Cream - I learned about cold cream through research and used it only at night, before washing my face with Cetaphil. I was amazed at how much softer and cleaner my skin was when I was using this - and rightly so. Even with a cleanser and toner, there can still be trace makeup deep in your pores, especially if you have acne prone skin where your pores are large.

Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner - toner is a step that a lot of people tend to skip, and I'm not really 100% sure if it's necessary or not. For me, it was. There are a lot of toners out there, a lot with fancy labels and false promises - but the one I still use and will continue to use is Dickinson's Witch Hazel. You can get it at CVS or Meijer's, and if you are a Canadian gal, any health food store will have a version of witch hazel. This toner really cleans out your pores, removing any leftover traces of makeup and prepping your skin for moisturizer. It never left me dry [which in any situation, is a good thing] and it helped with oil production a ton.

Philosophy Turbo C Booster Power - Vitamin C is amazing for the skin - it's one of the most effective agents to even skin tone and brighten the complexion. Since I was really picky with my skin, it was hard to find a Vitamin C moisturizer that wasn't too heavy and wouldn't irritate my skin. Solution? This Vitamin C is in powder form, and you mix it with your serum or moisturizer. Using this really helped with old scars, oil production, evening my skin tone, and it drastically brightened my skin.

Vichy Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care - this.saved.my.life. I've gone through at least four of these over the past three years and will always have it on hand. Unlike your generic, dry-your-skin-out moisturizers designed for acne, this Vichy product is designed for reoccurring blemishes due to hormones, stress, or the environment. It's very light and is the perfect balance of moisture and oil control, all the while cleaning my pores and treating my acne. WIN.

Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash - is simply amazing. My mom and I both use it and really like it. After my Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is gone [amazing also], I'm going to repurchase this. The exfoliating beads in this are gentle enough for sensitive skin and it left me with a more even skin tone and a definite glow-y effect.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask - I don't think I can say more about this mask since I've probably raved about it in every SS. Super cheap, super refreshing, and effective. WIN.

So those are the products I used religiously for a good two years, and after a couple months my skin drastically changed, along with my confidence.

Here is the routine I followed:

Morning - Cetaphil + Witch Hazel Toner + Turbo C Powder mixed with Vichy moisturizer

Night - Cold cream + Cetaphil + Witch Hazel Toner + Vichy Moisturizer

Every other night I would substitute the Microdelivery Wash for the Cetaphil. On the nights I exfoliated I used the Mint Julep mask right after, followed by toner and moisturizer. Along with a consistent routine, I started drinking more water and making a concentrated effort to stop touching my face, and I do believe that this also helped a lot.

I'm not saying that these products will definitely work for you, but a consistent routine is critical. If you find products you love, stick with them. Changing products every couple weeks is harsh on your skin, especially because it takes a couple weeks for your skin to adjust to your current products. Don't expect to see results from your new skincare in a couple days, it will take at least three weeks to start seeing minor improvements.

I feel that this post has been somewhat of a downer with no quirky comments or sexual references, but for me, acne was a serious cloud in my life for a long time and I am so, so, so glad I forced my skin to "grow out of it"

I hope this helps some of you gals who feel the same as I felt. :)

xxLM