Skin Care for Troubled Skin

For as long as I can remember I have had terrible skin. From the time my hormones kicked in, I suffered from acne, and felt that I had to cover it all up with pounds of makeup. It was quite hard growing up with two younger siblings who didn’t have the same issues, and with other kids my age who didn’t understand it either. I went to dermatologist after dermatologist until finally I met one who was able to get my skin under control. It took about 5 different prescription medications, countless over-the-counter medications, and 4 years, but I am incredibly grateful to that dermatologist for showing me the light at the end of the tunnel. Therefore, in my hopes to show someone the same happy end result, I am going to share with you my skincare routine.

It’s hard to say what kind of skin I have. It all really depends on the time of the year, if I am dehydrated, if I have been eating terribly, and of course what my hormone levels are based on the time of the month. I would say I have combination skin. My skin can go from being terribly oily to paper dry. That goes to say, I am not confusing oiliness with over drying my skin. Some may know that when your skin has been overly stripped of its natural oils it tends to over compensate and produce more oil, which can cause overly oily skin, and therefore breakouts. This has happened to me, however that is not what I am referring to.

Let’s begin with my routine, shall we, and let’s start in the morning:

I begin with washing my face. I’ve used soooooo… many face washes, it’s insane! I have had ones that work and ones that do not. The ones that I have literally loved for months and am currently using are from LUSH Cosmetics. A lot of people love LUSH because it’s all natural. The negative about all-natural is that it does expire. So, you have to use it up before it perishes. I absolutely adore the “Aqua Marina” for my morning routine. This is a “calming calamine wash… using the soothing pink extract to calm irritated, sensitive skin. This creamy, gentle cleanser is rolled up with mineral-rich nori seaweed to nourish the skin, cooling aloe vera gel and a sprinkling of sea salt for a super gentle exfoliation.” It is made with 3 different types of seaweed to soften and nourish the skin. This stuff is amazing. I find it gets rid of any redness and leaves your skin feeling super clean, which is always a spectacular feeling.

Next I use a toner. I was never one for toners… I didn’t see a point. Then a friend of mine with porcelain skin introduced me to “Witch Hazel”. This stuff is a-maz-ing. It literally extracts anything left behind. I use a round cotton pad and rub my whole face down with it. Make sure to get that T-Zone area. That is very important.

Once the toner has dried a bit I am ready for my lotions and creams. First I apply my medication. For me I find that the best medications are those with Benzoyl Peroxide. Many people who suffer from acne like Salicylic acid, which hey, if it works, it works. For me Salicylic Acid does nothing. If anything, I’d argue it makes my acne worse. I’ve been using Acanya Gel. This stuff is A-MAZ-ING!!!!! It dries out any unwanted guests, without over drying my skin. I’ve used Benzaclyn which is also really good, however Acanya Gel is covered by my health insurance, so I prompted to use that instead. Both I think are equal in comparison. I have tried other medications, like Retin-A-Micro and other similar ones which tend to irritate and over dry. Then my face is red like a tomato, and I’m still breaking out. I don’t think so!

Finally, on my morning routine, before applying any makeup, I moisturize. I cannot emphasize the importance of this enough. It’s so important to assure that your skin is hydrated, regardless of if you have oily, dry, or combination skin. I have been obsessing over LUSH Cosmetics “Vanishing Cream”. This little jar of wonderfulness is a bit pricey, but I tell you, it’s worth it. A small amount goes a LONG WAY. I usually take a small dab in-between my fingers rub them together and then rub my face with the cream. It really does vanish, and leaves your skin feeling wonderful. This cream has Witch Hazel which “Banishes Blemishes”. Direct from the LUSH site: “Our lightest blend, Vanishing Cream contains balancing lavender absolute, pore-tightening witch hazel (which helps brilliantly with eliminating blemishes) and grape seed oil to soften. Use daily to balance oil production for even, clear skin.”

Now, onto my evening routine. Much like my morning routine, my evening routine consists of a lot of the same steps with some additional ones…

I start off by taking my makeup off. This usually includes makeup wipes and eye makeup remover. I found these “Boots” sensitive skin towelettes while I was in London for my honeymoon. I loved them so much I brought back 8 packs… a bit obsessive you think??... They’re great, and so cheap. I bought them on sale, so I HAD to stock up! For eye makeup removers, I really like the Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water. This stuff is great, and works without having to rub your eyes too much. I greatly dislike eye makeup removers that you have to rub-rub-rub until your eyelashes literally come off. NO THANK YOU!

For my evening routine, I use a different LUSH Cosmetics face wash. I like “Angels On Bare Skin”. This cleanser has lavender, which is great for relaxation right before bedtime. From the LUSH site: “The kaolin clay base deep-cleanses while finely ground almonds and lavender flowers gently exfoliate away dry skin. We add lavender oil to soothe and balance, and rose absolute to calm redness.” I like this because I feel that the ground almonds serve as an exfoliating agent, which takes the day off more effectively than the “Aqua Marina” I use in the morning.

If I really need a good exfoliation, I opt for items like my Clarisonic Pro, which works wonderfully to exfoliate and get rid of those dead cells which clog pores. Or I also love LUSH Cosmetics “Ocean Salt” scrub. I use either of these one to two times a week. No more than that because then my skin over dries, which is not a good thing.

After cleansing and patting dry my face, I follow with the Witch Hazel and the Acanya Gel, just as in my morning routine. I do not apply moisturizer at night which some may disagree with, but I don’t like to, so I don’t. Then I am off to bed…

I also highly recommend seeing your dermatologist and having an allergy test done. This can show you if you are allergic to any products you may be using which cause you to breakout. For example, when I had my allergy test done, I showed to be allergic to “Thiomersal” which is a preservative used in makeup as well as vaccines. There are many types of makeup both drug store and high-end that use it, and had I not gotten tested, and known about my allergy, I may have had to learn about it the hard way, by swelling up like a balloon. Also, WATER! Drink lots of it. The body is made up of nearly 90% water. You have to drink plenty of it to keep that percentage where it should be, if not you’ll de-hydrate like a raisin! No one wants to look like a raisin!

Well this opted to be a much longer post than I anticipated. Sorry about the length, but I do hope this helps anyone dealing with the same if not similar issues I had to deal with.

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