I don’t always take everything in life so seriously. But when it comes to skincare, I don’t mess around. My skincare routine has literally changed so many times over the past few years. I have tried endless products from ones that break my wallet, to products that you can find right at the drugstore. I have curated this routine and these tips and stuck with them because they truly work for me. They have truly changed my skin! Click on each picture for a link on where to purchase these products!
When I was a teenager, I never really suffered from acne. Just the occasional breakout here and there, mostly from not washing my face properly. I figured since I didn’t then, I got lucky and never would. Uhm, WRONG. Ugh, since being in my 20’s my skin has been worse than ever. I take care of it more now than ever, so what is going on? As much as looks are just looks, and it may not seem like a huge deal to some people, the acne is something that really started to lower my self esteem. Now don’t get me wrong, my skin still isn’t perfect.
I sat down and did tons of research. Do your research people. Your skin is such a sensitive organ and will definitely tell your age over time. It is so important to take good care of it! That being said, you need to start with the inside out. In doing research, I realized I am suffering from hormonal acne. Unlike what I thought before, this doesn’t just mean breaking out around the time of your period ladies. Annoying- right? As if periods, anxiety and mood swings weren’t enough in being a woman. I’m not saying everyone suffers from this. But read ahead and you may find this is what’s happening for you as well.
Starting from the inside out… treat your body like the temple that it is. Just because you’re putting a good face cream on doesn’t mean that’s gonna cure all of your skins issues. There are certain foods that trigger hormonal acne. One being sugar. SUGAR. IS. THE. DEVIL. Not saying you should never eat it again, but definitely in moderation, or using alternatives for it. More on that another time. Oreos are one of my all time favorite guilty pleasures and I kid you not if I eat literally 2 oreos the next day I will be broken out. There is sadly something in them that doesn’t agree with my skin. Same goes for dairy. I would gladly eat a block of cheese or cover a salad in goat cheese. Cheese is my soulmate. But it seriously breaks me out.
Here is why: Sugar and processed sugars (fake sugars), cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to spike, causing inflammation. With time and excess sugar intake, chronic inflammation can break down elastin and collagen of the skin. Collagen is what keeps your skin plump and younger looking. Dairy products (primarily milk and cheese), already have high levels of hormones in them and often times contain processed sugars. This increases the risks of inflammation and disrupts your insulin levels, thus causing breakouts.
I do still indulge, but with the 80/20 rule. I’m not going to give up things I love completely for the sake of a pimple. I have just tried to limit myself and have it when I really want it. You’d also be amazed how much better you feel physically and how your energy levels feel with less sugar in your life. Another diet tip I have is to drink tons of water! It will keep you and your skin hydrated from within and give your skin the plump healthy look it deserves.
Now to the fun part, skincare! My acne has really calmed down since beginning this routine. And it’s honestly become my favorite way to start/end my day!
Makeup Removal:
Skip this step if you aren’t wearing makeup! Don’t skip this step if you are. Cleansing your face with just wash while still wearing makeup just won’t do it. It may take off makeup but won’t actually cleanse your skin. Always remove makeup before going in with your cleanser, it will ensure that your skin gets squeaky clean with our next step. I’ve tried cleansing oils, micellar water, cleansing balms, you name it. However, I have used Neutrogena .makeup wipes on and off for years. I have decided I just can’t live without them. First of all, they are SUPER inexpensive. They are super gentle on my skin, and they remove my makeup really well.
Cleanser:
For years and years I used Philosophy Purity made simple face wash. While it was a great face wash, it contained a lot of ingredients that didn’t sit right with me and also dried my skin out a bit. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser is SO gentle, and my face feels so so so clean afterward, wihout that drying feeling. It also takes off any excess mascara on my eyes without burning them. It is rich in amino acids and smells like cucumbers (I’m sold). I really think it has helped calm down inflammation in my skin.
Exfoliator: Ok really though who hasn’t used the St. Ives fresh skin scrub before? I have tried so many different exfoliators and this one still gets the job done just right for me! And its literally like $5.00 for a massive tube. I know for some people it can be a little abrasive but I seriously love how well it cleans out my pores. I only use this about three times a week to give my skin a deeper clean.
Toner: Ole Henriksen has some bomb ass toners. The dark spot toner has almost completely gotten rid of any scars or spots on my skin. It is insanely good. Love that it gives me a little bit of a cooling sensation when I first put it on at well. I just use my hands and pat it on, let it air dry. You could also use a cotton pad. I use this every single morning and night. Thank you Ole!
Moisturizer: Derma-E is my favorite, all-natural skincare line. It is affordable, clean, vegan and all around amazing. I feel like alot of their products are good dupes for Ole Henriksen. The vitamin c intense night cream is super thick and hydrating and although it says night cream, I use it in the morning as well. The vitamin C really helps brighten your skin an even out the overall tone. I’m on my third or fourth jar of this and can’t get enough.
Eye Cream: While I am only in my early twenties, I still feel it’s never too early to start the anti-aging process. That being said, I love me some eye cream. It’s sooo important to take care of the skin under your eyes because it is so thin and prone to wrinkles. Derma-E has an awesome dmae firming and lifting eye cream that is super hydrating but, the banana bright eye cream by Ole is amazing for brightening. It is super hydrating as well!
Oils: Hydration is my favorite thing, ever. If you have oily skin to begin with, you may want to skip this step. Oils are seriously my best friend. I definitely have some others that I love as well but for years I have come back to Tarte Maracuja Oil. It is super hydrating, lightweight and have helped with the overall texture of my skin. I used to get these little white bumps under my jawline (can’t really see but you can feel them) and this I feel has gotten rid of them. Whenever I use this at night, my skin feels so soft the next day. And hello…the packaging is so cute.
That’s it! I also mask a lot. More on that in a post to follow.
Thoughts or tips of your own?
