Let me preface this entry by saying that as wonderful as the skincare products I’ve found are and how helpful they have been in clearing up my skin, I doubt that they would have been as highly effective from the very beginning had it not been for several trips to an aesthetician for an acne-clearing facial that involved a lot of deep cleansing and extractions. Also, I am not a dermatologist nor do I know anything that you can’t research on the Internet about acne or skincare. These products, in combination with the aforementioned facials, are what worked to clear up my skin. (And no, I am not paid or compensated for writing about any this.) Plus, the power that fruits and veggies (particularly dark, leafy green veggies) have on clearing up problematic skin is not to be underestimated.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business.
For the better half of the last year, I have struggled with acne-prone skin. A combination of a lot of factors, both internal and external, triggered a lot of hormonal and stress-related acne. That, combined with either ineffective products or ones that made my skin react poorly, meant that I was constantly battling breakouts in some form or another. After a certain point, I resigned myself to the fact that breakouts would most likely always be a part of my life. I might not be able to eliminate them completely, but at the very least I wanted to find a skincare routine that would reduce my acne.
I tried a lot of things, some of which worked better than others, and some which didn’t work for me at all. I saw an aesthetician when I was in Hong Kong last December and she advised me to switch whatever products I used for my “base” when putting on makeup, as it was clogging my pores. That helped immensely. I used Clinique 3-Step for a while but came to the conclusion that while it might not have been harming my skin, it wasn’t helping. The aesthetician I saw in DC confirmed that, so after my first trip to see her I headed to Sephora to seek out the assistance of a sales associate.
That Sephora salesgirl knew her stuff, let me tell you. After asking me about my skin and my skincare habits, she pointed me in the direction of the products that, with regular use and the remaining acne-clearing facials I received, have done wonders in clearing up my skin and eliminating my acne altogether.
Morning
In the morning, I cleanse my face with Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser. I follow up with Boscia Clear Complexion Treatment and Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. For my eyes, I swipe some of Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On and dab some of Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen in SPF 30 all over.
Night
I use LUSH Ultrabland cleanser to break down both face and eye makeup. With my Clarisonic and the acne brush head, I use Murad Clarifying Cleanser to wash my face. I follow up with Murad Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel. I moisturize with Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. My night eye cream is Shiseido White Lucent Anti-Dark Circles Eye Cream. For spot treatment, I either use Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment, The Body Shop tea tree blemish gel, or Murad acne spot treatment.
I also like to rotate through face masks and use them once or twice a week depending on my mood and what my skin is like on a particular given day. However, that’s for a whole other post!
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