Coming Clean + My 5 Skin Tips
For years, I suffered from an insecurity that I felt took over my life + for the longest time, I chose not to talk about it. That insecurity was my skin. To be more specific, I had acne.
It started in high school with a couple zits here + there which is normal for any hormonal teenager, right? However, my skin + my insecurity worsened once I got into college. I had graduated from high school + hormonal breakouts, then started college + cystic acne took its place. Cystic acne are basically big zits that are deeply rooted in the skin. They’re painful + a b**** to get rid of. I wanted so badly to peel my face off + start over. When you suffer the way I was, you avoid looking into mirrors, you avoid making eye contact with others, + you avoid being makeup-free. Which was hard, because I knew putting on makeup was only clogging my pores + making me breakout more. I know I may sound dramatic, but I wanted to hide away from the world.
I went down several paths to find a solution to my acne. It felt like I had read every article, watched every Youtube tutorial, + tried every product but it only made me broke + more confused. So I went to my doctor + was told that I should get on a specific birth control that helps improve acne + he prescribed me some topical lotion on top of that. Well, I got on the birth control + applied the lotion every damn day but there was only little improvement. I also decided to cut sugar + dairy out of my diet, but that was short-lived because I can’t give up beer + cheese. I had easily spent over $1,000 on skincare products that never made a huge impact on my acne. I constantly felt insecure + would even spend days locked up in my room so no one would see me. I was envious of my friends who had flawless skin + I often felt discouraged because I didn't know why I wasn't blessed with the same skin gene. As you can imagine, my hope was starting to dwindle when nothing seemed to help.
So I decided to give myself a fresh start + get back to the basics. I had been mistreating my skin for years out of desperation. So I cleared my cabinets of everything I had + was committed to feeling happy + confident in my skin again. Now, after years of breakouts, tears + more breakouts, I feel like I have discovered a simple routine that works for me + my skin is now about 90% clear. It’s still not perfect by any means but I’ve grown to accept + love the imperfections because I’ll let you in on a secret that took me a while to realize… nobody is perfect!
It wasn't until late last year when I truly started over. I noticed I wasn’t breaking out as often, my dark spots were fading + my complexion, glowing. However, you should keep in mind that these tips are all external. What I mean by that is, I’m referring to tangible products that have helped my skin on the outside. Diet + exercise, which are internal, also play a crucial role in the health of your skin + are even more important but more on that later. Of course, I’m not a skin expert or esthetician. These tips are just what I found works for me + my lifestyle, so let’s get into it, shall we?
Less is more! As I stated earlier, I used to be one of those people that thought you had to buy a whole range of products to have clear skin. You had to have the cleanser, the exfoliator, the toner, the serum, the oil, the eye cream, + the moisturizer. This wasn’t practical for me. First, good skincare is not cheap on a 20-something year old's budget + second, I don’t want to spend 20 minutes in the bathroom just washing my face. So now, I only use 3 key products daily + it takes me less than a minute to get through my night time routine. That’s a win for me! First, I begin with a makeup remover wipe. I like using Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelette’s but any makeup wipe will do. I prefer Ponds because they do a great job of taking off your makeup + have a super cooling effect on the skin. Then I take a cotton pad + use my Gariner Micellar Cleansing Water + do another wipe through on my face + neck to get any leftover makeup - which there always is. Double cleansing is a must for me. If you don't already do this, you should definitely start! Lastly, I’ll go in with my moisturizer. I switch from using one with vitamin E which helps against aging, inflammation + sun damage or a vitamin C moisturizer. Vitamin C has similar benefits as vitamin E but it also aids with collagen production + brightening. I’m currently using Malin + Goetz vitamin E face moisturizer + I love it! I gently apply under my eyes + down my neck as well. Some nights I’ll follow up with a serum or an oil but that's only if I feel my skin needs it + voila, that’s all, folks!
Invest in a facial brush. It is worth buying one. I love using mine in the shower because the hot water opens up my pores + gives my skin a deep clean. I don't use it every single day because over exfoliating can be hard on sensitive skin so I only use it when I feel a zit coming in. What I’ll do is take a strong acne-fighting cleanser like PanOxyl’s Acne Foaming Wash with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide + massage that onto my face using my spin brush for about a minute + then wash + moisturize after. Usually any breakouts I have will be gone the next day. There’s so many kinds of facial brushes out there + it doesn’t have to be expensive in order for it to be effective. I got mine from Vanity Planet + it was less than $30.
Give your face some love every single night. That means, wash your face every night. This is one we all know but simply don’t feel like doing sometimes. I know I’m guilty of it but there’s really no excuse. If I’m coming home from a night out, I will grab a pack of makeup wipes, lay on my bed, wipe my face clean + pass the f*** out. I don’t bother with the rest of my routine. Just as long as I remove my makeup + let my skin breathe, it thanks me for it the next day!
SPF, SPF, SPF! I used to be so bad at this. I thought that because I’m Mexican, I didn't need SPF because I don’t burn + if it’s cloudy out, then who cares? Good logic, huh? Well, I learned those things don’t matter. Not only does SPF help prevent from the obvious skin cancer but it also prevents dark spots, uneven skin tone + wrinkles from forming. Someone once told me that having acne + wearing sunscreen can make you more oily + clog your pores. Well especially if you have acne, you need to be wearing sunscreen because when you expose your troubled skin to the sun, the infrared heat can flare + irritate your acne, making it worse. There are plenty of SPF’s out there that won’t break you out + can also give you some bonus coverage as well. I use La Mer's Reparative Skintint with SPF 30 which is more on the pricier side but another great + affordable alternative is IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50.
Rose all day! No I’m not talking about the wine (although that sounds good). I’m talking about rosewater. I love it because of it's versatility. You can use it to prime or set your makeup, add an extra boost of moisture to your skin, or to calm any irritation you’re having. It’s crazy how many benefits this simple, floral concoction has! I love spraying it on my face before bed. Its cool on the skin + settles any redness. Currently, I'm using Mario Badescu's Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater.
I know that was a lot to share with you all. I hope you take a couple of these tips back with you + they help you too! Let me know what you guys do to feel more skin confident + what tips you have, I’d love to hear!
Sending you love + light,
Cris