Throughout my teenage years and the first couple years of my twenties, I struggled a lot with my skin. I was always getting breakouts and though they only lasted a few days, the scars they left behind always lasted weeks and sometimes even months.
When I was 19, I began wearing foundation to try and conceal my scars because I couldn’t find any real solution. At 21, I began experimenting with all natural acne treatments and at 22 I finally implemented a skin care routine. It was when I finally stuck to this routine (and increased my water intake) that I discovered what the root of my acne problem was… DRY SKIN.
I had been under the impression that since I had acne my skin was oily and over produced natural oils. I tried to treat it by using Astringents and other products that are specially designed to “dry out” acne, but I never really focused on moisturizing my skin. Not providing my skin the moisture it needed, was contributing to the over production of natural oils that I tried so hard to reduce. It has been a year since I began to focus on moisturizing my skin and my skin has made a dramatic improvement. I no longer suffer from frequent breakouts, and when I happen to get a pimple, it’s only one and gone in a few days.
I have also noticed that sticking to a routine guarantees consistently clear skin. Many times over the past year, I had reached points where I felt that my skin was “cured” and could afford a few days without the routine. It never took more than a few days of abandoning the routine before my skin began showing signs of regression, and slight breakouts began to appear. Consistency is the key to ensuring healthy, beautiful skin.
Below, is a detailed explanation of each step in my routine. This is not a how-to, or an exact recipe for clear skin, these are simply steps that have worked for me and my specific skin care needs. Feel free to draw inspiration from these steps and incorporate them into your own routines! (The products featured are ones that work for me, and it is important to note that these products may not work for you. The key is to find similar products that fit your needs and come up with a routine that fits your lifestyle.)
1. Cleansing
I did not include a picture of the facial cleanser I use because this is a part of my routine I’m constantly changing. Typically I will choose a product designed to clear acne. Sometimes I buy a facial cleanser with exfoliating beads, sometimes I won’t. I have found that either works just fine for me. I do, however, stay away from cream cleansers. For one odd reason or another, those have never done me any justice.
Personally, I wash my face 2x a day. Once in the morning, and once before bed.
Leaving the dirt and oils that can accumulate on your skin (especially if you live in a big city with lots of pollution) over night will cause them to clog up your pores and having clogged pores is what leads to black heads and pimples. Not washing the oils and dirt you may have soaked up from your pillow while sleeping, can also lead to clogged pores. So, make sure your face is being cleaned regularly.
2. Toning
I have used a few different skin toners/astringents and I can’t say that I prefer any specific one over all the others, but this is the one I’m currently using. Currently, I use this 2-3x a week after cleansing but if I have been wearing make up a little more than usual, I make sure to use it more often.
Toning your skin is what gives you a nice even texture (I’m not sure that’s even the right word) and an airbrushed look and feel to your natural skin. It dramatically reduces the size and visibility of your pores, and picks up any impurities that may be left behind after cleansing.
Toning my skin regularly has made a huge difference for me personally and I definitely recommend including a toner in your regimen.
3. Hydration Mist
This is not a staple in my routine but I use this when my face feels a little dryer than usual or I spent too much time between cleansing my skin and applying my moisturizer. When my skin is too dry, my moisturizer doesn’t apply the same way so this definitely helps fix that issue.
4. Spot Correcting
As I mentioned before, scarring is a huge problem for me. A pimple may only last a few days but the scar lingers for quite some time on my skin. I’ve been using this product for about 6 months now I definitely notice how much this speeds up the scar fading process. I use 1-2 pumps of this 2x per day (after every time I cleanse my skin) and it works wonders.
This product is becoming one of my holy grails and I definitely recommend using this for people who suffer from scarring like I do. It is not a magic eraser and works best at preventing new scars from lingering while providing an overall evenness to your skin tone.
4. Eye Cream
This is a step that most women my age tend to skip but as someone who tends to have dark circles under their eyes, this is a must. Also, in my opinion the best way to avoid signs of aging is to be proactive and take steps to prevent them. This eye cream is not a drugstore product but is worth every penny.
I use this 2x a day and I apply it only around my eye area. After 2-3 days of using this you definitely start to see the improvement to the discoloration that can be caused by lack of sleep, and an overall rejuvenation of the eye area. This is without a doubt one of my favorite products and I recommend this to anyone looking to improve the appearance of their under-eye bags or lines.
5. Moisturizing
The final step in my skin care routine is one of the most important ones… MOISTURIZING. As I mentioned before, this has been the key to avoiding breakouts and keeping a healthy looking glow.
My personal preference when it comes to moisturizers is cocoa butter or raw shea butter. These products are both very moisturizing and considered to be a little “heavy” on the skin but I love knowing that the moisture will last me all day. Lighter products don’t provide my skin with hydration that lasts well into the evening, which is something I personally need (especially during the colder months). They also leave my skin with a dewy finish that leaves me with the natural glow I love.
Again, the products you use in your regimen can be unique to fit your personal skin care needs but implementing a routine and sticking to it (and drinking more water) will definitely help you achieve the healthy glowing skin you’re looking for. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, please be sure to check back for other posts like this one.
Forever Thugnacious 