This post will be a round-up of all my skin care realizations that are coming to me after 23 years. I wish I had done my own research years ago and not listened to people's non-sense. My mom always told me not to use anything on my face, ever. No cleansers, no toners, no exfoliators. The only thing she did insist upon was moisturizing. But how can you just suffice with water and then moisturize? What about all the dirt and bacteria that builds up on your skin?
It wasn't until first year university when I got my first cleanser. Up until grade 12, I wasn't doing anything for my skin. Not even moisturizing it. I had never used a lotion on my face ever. I mean, what the hell was I thinking? But SURPRISINGLY enough, I went through my teenage years just fine. My skin was good for the most part. And I never wore sunscreen either! I know there's a plethora of hoo-haa about getting wrinkles and sun damage if you don't wear SPF, but I was getting by just fine. We all need a bit of sunshine, man. However, the worst thing was - I never moisturized my face until I was 17 years old. That is not skin care. That is skin ignorance. Moisturization is essential.
As I write this blog today 6 years later, I've realized a couple of things. No matter how much all these ladies at Sephora and MAC tell you that you need a skin care kit, don't listen to them. No, you absolutely do not need to have a cleanser, exfoliator, toner and blah blah. Ever since I had a keen interest in makeup, I started collecting skin care products. I am talking a billion types of face masks (mint julep, honey-lemon, oatmeal, apricot etc.) Then, I went onto collecting exfoliators such as the Apricot scrub, Neutrogena Acne Clearing, Soap & Glory the Greatest Scrub of all Exfoliator and many others. I also got a toner from Biotherm but barely ever used it. I got daily cleansers such as Burt Bee's and Biotherm Purefect Skin.
What did the most damage to my eyes and skin? Makeup removers! With alcohol properties. I should have realized a long time ago that my skin does not react well to alcohol, large quanitites of salycylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Even talc irritates my skin in terms of powders, so I used them sparingly. I did a lot of pulling, rubbing and scrubbing around my eyes causing redness and fine lines with these CHEAP makeup removers. It wasn't until 2 years ago when I started switching from drug store to high end skin care and makeup. Trust me, if you can spend on a Michael Kors bag, you can definitely spend $150 on good skin care products.
So, the following are some of the things I learned that I wanna share with you all:-
1. No aggressive scrubbing!
Any cleanser or exfoliator that has natural names such as Honey & Oatmeal, Avocado & Jojoba Oil are not the 100% ingredient in the product. Read the ingredients list! It's the companies' gimmicks to get their products selling fast. Now, there seems to be a wave of turning towards the old ways such as body and face oils. They might be selling you a $75 bottle which is 30 ml oil but really, check the amount of actual oil used in the bottle. In these cleansers, there are so many harsh ingredients besides the 1 they use for marketing such as Oatmeal. These cleansers with chemicals strip everything off your skin - your natural oils. That's why your skin looks great for some time and then breaks out later (well, at least mine did!) Those blessed with great skin... keep on doing what you're doing. Because I struggle with acne prone skin and dryness, this means a lot to me. No one has the money to buy a $70 organic cleanser. The most gentle cleanser I've found that works great on my skin is Biotherm. No, they are not organic or natural ingredients, they have chemicals too but probably not as harsh as other companies.
2. Be consistent.
Do not be an idiot like me and experiment with a billion face products, unless your skin allows you to. Mine doesn't. Stick to one skin care routine. I used to switch between a gazillion of my products without understanding how harsh it might be for my skin. From the past 3 weeks, I've only been using ONE cleanser. That is my Biotherm one. Yes, their skin care line is expensive but it is worth it. I only use it at night and a little bit in the morning if needed. My nightly skin care routine:-
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In the picture: My left and right cheek. My forehead acne is almost gone. So, I thought I would show you the areas that need the most improvement. These pictures are in day light, with no editing. What seems to appear as a highlighter or the shiny area is oil, or I guess the glow from it. The acne medication I was using gave me some pretty intense burns last week. It also caused hyper-pigmentation on my skin which isn't entirely visible in these pictures. My right cheek has a brown area because of the burns that looks like it's naturally contoured. It's the goddamn burns from that poisonous medication I was using. Thank god I decided to give that up. I am not denying that it works. It definitely works and treats cystic acne very well. My acne was huge round pimples with puss (I know! Gross!) but now they've reduced to this size and look like little grains. I know it may not seem like a big deal to those who have never experienced acne. You might think, 'Oh, she's making a big deal. They're just spots.' NO. You don't know the experience of acne if you've never been through it. Only the ones who have will know what I am talking about. I am gonna continue on this path of boycotting skin care products and use oils to heal the rest of my acne. I gave up my acne treatment mid-way and I don't care what the doctor says.
It wasn't until first year university when I got my first cleanser. Up until grade 12, I wasn't doing anything for my skin. Not even moisturizing it. I had never used a lotion on my face ever. I mean, what the hell was I thinking? But SURPRISINGLY enough, I went through my teenage years just fine. My skin was good for the most part. And I never wore sunscreen either! I know there's a plethora of hoo-haa about getting wrinkles and sun damage if you don't wear SPF, but I was getting by just fine. We all need a bit of sunshine, man. However, the worst thing was - I never moisturized my face until I was 17 years old. That is not skin care. That is skin ignorance. Moisturization is essential.
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| Skin from yesterday: No foundation. Using blush & highlighter. (Sorry about the filter) |
What did the most damage to my eyes and skin? Makeup removers! With alcohol properties. I should have realized a long time ago that my skin does not react well to alcohol, large quanitites of salycylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Even talc irritates my skin in terms of powders, so I used them sparingly. I did a lot of pulling, rubbing and scrubbing around my eyes causing redness and fine lines with these CHEAP makeup removers. It wasn't until 2 years ago when I started switching from drug store to high end skin care and makeup. Trust me, if you can spend on a Michael Kors bag, you can definitely spend $150 on good skin care products.
So, the following are some of the things I learned that I wanna share with you all:-
1. No aggressive scrubbing!
Any cleanser or exfoliator that has natural names such as Honey & Oatmeal, Avocado & Jojoba Oil are not the 100% ingredient in the product. Read the ingredients list! It's the companies' gimmicks to get their products selling fast. Now, there seems to be a wave of turning towards the old ways such as body and face oils. They might be selling you a $75 bottle which is 30 ml oil but really, check the amount of actual oil used in the bottle. In these cleansers, there are so many harsh ingredients besides the 1 they use for marketing such as Oatmeal. These cleansers with chemicals strip everything off your skin - your natural oils. That's why your skin looks great for some time and then breaks out later (well, at least mine did!) Those blessed with great skin... keep on doing what you're doing. Because I struggle with acne prone skin and dryness, this means a lot to me. No one has the money to buy a $70 organic cleanser. The most gentle cleanser I've found that works great on my skin is Biotherm. No, they are not organic or natural ingredients, they have chemicals too but probably not as harsh as other companies.
2. Be consistent.
Do not be an idiot like me and experiment with a billion face products, unless your skin allows you to. Mine doesn't. Stick to one skin care routine. I used to switch between a gazillion of my products without understanding how harsh it might be for my skin. From the past 3 weeks, I've only been using ONE cleanser. That is my Biotherm one. Yes, their skin care line is expensive but it is worth it. I only use it at night and a little bit in the morning if needed. My nightly skin care routine:-
- Makeup Remover: Johnson's Baby Oil OR Extra Virgin Olive Oil (no more harsh chemicals!)
- Cleanser: Biotherm
- No toner needed.
- Wash face with lukewarm water
- Apply Avocado oil (cold pressed and organic)
3. Wal-Mart trip!
If you're lazy like me, this is for you. Change your pillow-covers often. Change your bed sheets often. Wash your comforters once in a while. When I go to sleep with oil on my face, even though it's not greasy or anything... it will leave something on the pillow covers. Also, your dead skin sheds and that is sitting on your pillow cases. So, when you cleanse your face 3 nights in a row and keep on sleeping on your dead skin and oil residue, your skin starts building up those oils. It may cause break-outs. This is for those with acne-prone skin! So, I've decided to sleep on one side of the pillow for 2 days, and then switch it over on the other side for 2 days. That lasts you 4 days. I have 2 pillows in my room, so I can do 4 days with the other one as well while the previous one is in the wash. We all do laundry at least once a week, so why not change the pillow-cases every 4 days? The same goes for towels. Do not use each other's towels. I told you guys I am anal about the towel policy at home. I have my separate towels on the railing (hand & face towel, bathing towel etc.) Wash them very often and have spares. They are cheap!
4. iPhone Freaks.
For all the iPhone freaks, it is crazy how many hours we can spend on the phone and not bother to clean it. Sometimes, my skin oil or bronzer gets on the phone, and I just quickly wipe it on something. I've never taken a disinfectant and cleaned my phone in like a year! From now on, it is a chore to clean my iPhone as often as possible. You can take a hand-sanitizer and scrub it clean with a microfiber cloth or tissues. PS: This is not only for Apple users, lol. It goes for all phones. Writing iPhone just makes it sound cooler =P
5. Party in the washroom.
Guilty forever. I spent all 4 years of my university almost always going to bed being too lazy to wash off my fully done face. If not face, then mostly eyes. We've all been there. You get home late and the last thing you wanna do is clean your makeup, cleanse your face, moisturize and the works. But NO. We have to do this every single time we party - for the sake of beautiful skin! Sleeping in your makeup results in fine lines. It can clog the pores while you sleep and cause acne. When you are sleeping with foundation, primers and blush, you are not giving your skin a chance to breathe! To avoid prematurely aged skin, I have decided NEVER to go to bed with makeup on. It doesn't matter how tired I am. Last night, I went to bed at 4:00 am trying to make a video collage for dad's birthday. It took me 3 and a half hours to make! I was so dead by 4 in the morning but I still removed my makeup, cleansed my face with Biotherm, and moisturized my skin with oil. So, I pledge to always do this because it is super important.
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| 1 minute makeup! No foundation. Blush, lipstick & liner. Note: I haven't felt comfortable without foundation ever since my acne but the oils are helping my embrace my skin, even with the imperfections. This is because the oils are bringing a glow and taking the dryness & flakiness away. I am loving it. NO FILTER. NO EDITING. |
6. Eat clean.
It is no secret revelation that what you eat will reflect in how you look. Try eating chocolates and fried food for 2 weeks straight and see what becomes of your skin. I was just thinking about this last night... most of us are concerned about our health and what we put into our bodies. There is this commotion about being utterly careful about what you're feeding your body for nourishment. We need proteins, we need iron, we need vitamins and blah blah. Shouldn't we treat our skin the same way? It is on the outside but it also needs nourishment like our inner body does. I never thought about it this way before and I have been abusing my skin forever! And to be honest, using makeup at a very early age isn't the greatest thing either. Your skin will definitely glow if you eat clean. If you eat lots of vegetables and drink a ton of water - you are serving yourself right. There are fruits that are known for enhancing your natural skin. They have something called 'antioxidants.' You should read up on it. We run for wiping products off the shelves that have good natural properties. Why don't we run after the source where those properties come from? Fruits & veggies!
Blueberries are known for their antioxidants and they make great face masks as well as breakfast. Kale & Spinach along with Beets, Broccoli & Brussel Sprouts are high in antioxidants. No wonder I am eating Spinach these days =) As a matter of fact, all berries are good for your skin and for breakfast. I've had enough Blackberries, Cranberries, Blueberries & Stawberries. I've heard great things about Goji Berries and I just ordered them last night - can't wait to try them!
7. Wash your face 3 times a day! (At least)
Cleanse your face at night and do your entire routine if you've had a lot of makeup on. Even if you don't have any makeup on, clean your face. Without fail. It is non-negotiable. Cleanse your face every morning. You have enough time to get 2 washes in for your face - there is no excuse.. And a splash of water is not gonna cut it. Use a gentle facial cleanser at least once a day (either in the morning or night) every single day! Other than a daily cleanser & a good moisturizer/oil, you don't need anything else in your skincare. I won't say throw out your toners, masks or exfoliators - but use them as luxury when your skin really needs it. Don't strip everything off your skin on a daily basis.
8. Do not pick at your pimples.
One thing I just cannot stop doing. To make my acne worse, I play with the big and painful pimples to get them off as soon as possible. Unfortunately, they will go away on their on timetable. Poking a hole in our skin is not gonna make them go away. I once experimented with a tweezer! Bad, bad bad decision. Steer clear of needles and tweezers. Just leave the poor guys alone. I know they look hideous and ugly, especially when we have just one big pimple sitting out on our foreheads or cheeks - but trust me, leaving them alone is the best solution. Just cleanse and moisturize your skin like you would daily. And let them go away on their own!
8. Vitamins & Supplements.
This is for people with acne. My physician prescribed oral anti-biotics for acne and I broke into hives! I suggest not taking them. Using topical treatments is the best way to go. Fish oil & omega-3 oils are beneficial for those with acne. They have anti-inflammatory properties which help regulate hormones and reduce the redness and inflammation we get from acne. Again, this is something that just assists our skin care routine. But we need to take care of all the important steps for it to work. Just like our diets, our skin also needs a plan and good care. It's a shame that I am understanding all this when I am 23, but better late then never.
9. Avoid Comedogenic ingredients.
I won't get too much into it because this post is long enough. But if you have acne prone skin and want to wear a full face of makeup without irritation, buy powders that are talc-free and have non-comedogenic ingredients. Vaseline and other lotions are labelled hypoallergenic which is along the same lines. Physicians Formula in Canada/US makes powders and other products that are hypoallergenic. I have their face powder & I really like it. I only use my MAC Studio Fix for parties.
10. Don't stress, beautiful.
This is an understated advice but uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts. Have a healthy state of mind and manage your stress. In fact, I read a post on Facebook, "Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low-self esteem, make sure you're not surrounded by assholes." Amen to that! Make time for yourself. Be happy. The results will surprise you.
My Current Acne Condition
In the picture: My left and right cheek. My forehead acne is almost gone. So, I thought I would show you the areas that need the most improvement. These pictures are in day light, with no editing. What seems to appear as a highlighter or the shiny area is oil, or I guess the glow from it. The acne medication I was using gave me some pretty intense burns last week. It also caused hyper-pigmentation on my skin which isn't entirely visible in these pictures. My right cheek has a brown area because of the burns that looks like it's naturally contoured. It's the goddamn burns from that poisonous medication I was using. Thank god I decided to give that up. I am not denying that it works. It definitely works and treats cystic acne very well. My acne was huge round pimples with puss (I know! Gross!) but now they've reduced to this size and look like little grains. I know it may not seem like a big deal to those who have never experienced acne. You might think, 'Oh, she's making a big deal. They're just spots.' NO. You don't know the experience of acne if you've never been through it. Only the ones who have will know what I am talking about. I am gonna continue on this path of boycotting skin care products and use oils to heal the rest of my acne. I gave up my acne treatment mid-way and I don't care what the doctor says.
My acne was much worse before. Unfortunately, I never took pictures of my acne when it was at it's worst- when I had cystic acne. But I will be posting monthly pictures to show progress with the oil cleansing method.
Note:- If you're reprogramming your skincare routine, keep in mind that all treatments do not produce fast action. You will need to follow the routine for at least a month of 2 to notice difference. You will get results though. I can already see the difference in 3 weeks. Last night, I moisturized my lips with almond oil because the winter is making them really dry. These girly looking fancy chap-sticks don't do anything. In one night, my lips are nice and moisturized. I am definitely embracing the oils. I hope I helped some of you.
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