Hi ladies!
I just wanted to share my latest beauty tip, but please let me begin with my usual advice disclaimer, which is that EVERYONE IS UNIQUE, and what works on me may not work for everyone (or anyone else, or that matter)! Okay so here goes:
Up until recently, I struggled with oily/combination skin that was prone to monthly breakouts, mostly along my jawline but sometimes on my forehead as well. I would get everything from clogged pores to whiteheads to painful cystic bumps, although my overall skin tone was good. It was very frustrating, as pimples always are, especially when you are already in your late 20s!
I tried many acne products, being careful not to use too many at once due to excessive drying, and over time I noticed that although my zits kept coming, my skin was definitely suffering from dryness. So then I tried a combination of salicylic acid cleanser with an hydrating serum and oil-free moisturizer...then hydrating masks...then figuring out if drinking more water would help. Nothing did, not even changing my pillow case every night, disinfecting my cell phone regularly, etc.
Today I am happy to report that my skin is no longer excessively dry nor does it suffer from breakouts like it did before, and it has been so for about two months now! In fact, the other day I noticed a zit on my chin, which I promptly popped (I know, its such a terrible habit), but instead of turning inflamed and angrier like they often do, it disappeared by the next morning! And the little red mark has already subsided!
What changed in my skincare routine was that I finally got rid of all of the acne products I used to use, including the salicylic acid cleanser, the sulfur lotion, and the benzoyl peroxide cream. Instead, I have been removing my makeup with Shu Uemura fresh cleansing oil, cleansing with a gentle face wash, exfoliating with Clinique's toner #2, and then massaging 4-5 drops of Stella McCartney CARE Nourishing Elixir all over my face and following with a small amount of Creme de la Mer.
In short, I really feel like I am now NOURISHING my skin instead of FIGHTING it, and it is now really thanking me for it. I used to be so afraid of putting more oil on my face and clogging my pores, but neither Shu nor Stella McCartney's elixir (also an oil) have done that. I make very careful to remove all traces of the cleansing oil and the elixir's oil molecules are definitely fine enough to really sink into the skin. I don't even use an oil-free SPF anymore, and my skin is FINE!
Anyway, I am not specifically endorsing the products I use (okay, maybe a little since they have done so well for me ) - I just wanted to share with you all my revelation that sometimes, maybe all your skin is crying out for is a little TLC. Maybe once you stop abusing it with harsh treatments, it will respond in kind. Mine sure did!
Okay, thats all. Thanks for letting me share!
(And please, share with me your tips for keeping your skin breakout and wrinkle free. Lines are my next battle. )
I just wanted to share my latest beauty tip, but please let me begin with my usual advice disclaimer, which is that EVERYONE IS UNIQUE, and what works on me may not work for everyone (or anyone else, or that matter)! Okay so here goes:
Up until recently, I struggled with oily/combination skin that was prone to monthly breakouts, mostly along my jawline but sometimes on my forehead as well. I would get everything from clogged pores to whiteheads to painful cystic bumps, although my overall skin tone was good. It was very frustrating, as pimples always are, especially when you are already in your late 20s!
I tried many acne products, being careful not to use too many at once due to excessive drying, and over time I noticed that although my zits kept coming, my skin was definitely suffering from dryness. So then I tried a combination of salicylic acid cleanser with an hydrating serum and oil-free moisturizer...then hydrating masks...then figuring out if drinking more water would help. Nothing did, not even changing my pillow case every night, disinfecting my cell phone regularly, etc.
Today I am happy to report that my skin is no longer excessively dry nor does it suffer from breakouts like it did before, and it has been so for about two months now! In fact, the other day I noticed a zit on my chin, which I promptly popped (I know, its such a terrible habit), but instead of turning inflamed and angrier like they often do, it disappeared by the next morning! And the little red mark has already subsided!
What changed in my skincare routine was that I finally got rid of all of the acne products I used to use, including the salicylic acid cleanser, the sulfur lotion, and the benzoyl peroxide cream. Instead, I have been removing my makeup with Shu Uemura fresh cleansing oil, cleansing with a gentle face wash, exfoliating with Clinique's toner #2, and then massaging 4-5 drops of Stella McCartney CARE Nourishing Elixir all over my face and following with a small amount of Creme de la Mer.
In short, I really feel like I am now NOURISHING my skin instead of FIGHTING it, and it is now really thanking me for it. I used to be so afraid of putting more oil on my face and clogging my pores, but neither Shu nor Stella McCartney's elixir (also an oil) have done that. I make very careful to remove all traces of the cleansing oil and the elixir's oil molecules are definitely fine enough to really sink into the skin. I don't even use an oil-free SPF anymore, and my skin is FINE!
Anyway, I am not specifically endorsing the products I use (okay, maybe a little since they have done so well for me ) - I just wanted to share with you all my revelation that sometimes, maybe all your skin is crying out for is a little TLC. Maybe once you stop abusing it with harsh treatments, it will respond in kind. Mine sure did!
Okay, thats all. Thanks for letting me share!
(And please, share with me your tips for keeping your skin breakout and wrinkle free. Lines are my next battle. )