@dollopheadedmerlin replied to your post “I’m nearly 18 and I still get pretty bad acne and I’m worried that...”
Wait, I'm not the anon but . . . could I get those PCOS skin tips? 👀
sure! this is just what works for me, but i’ll share in case it helps anyone.
1. there’s something really weird about my skin, which is that for some reason i have an absurdly high skin cell turnover rate. that means i have to scrub myself from head to toe every single shower lest i build up nasty dead skin cell gunk, and that includes my face. and i don’t mean gentle microbead exfoliation or something, i mean i put wet baking soda on a loofah circle and scrub like i’m trying to rip my face off.
experts will tell you this is exactly what you shouldn’t do. and there’s a good chance you shouldn’t, it just works for me for some reason. my rule of thumb for exfoliation is that if it feels good, keep going, but if it hurts, stop. if it feels raw or stinging, you shouldn’t be exfoliating. and don’t scrub over red acne cysts, it’ll just make them more angry.
2. the bad news is that what you put in your body matters just as much if not more as what you put on your skin. you have to drink lots of water and eat fiber, because, in my unfortunate experience, if you’re not getting toxins out of your body in good time, it’ll show up on your face. that doesn’t mean you have to eat all raw vegetables and drink gallons of water, you just have to try to get good nutrients and stay well hydrated. it doesn’t guarantee you good skin, but it definitely makes a difference.
i’ve also noticed that sweating regularly seems to make a difference. i don’t know if it, like, cleans your skin out somehow, but i’ve found myself breaking out in winter when i’m not sweating. idk.
3. i don’t know about you, but i’m greasy and sweaty as shit. change your pillowcase and washcloth frequently. sanitize your phone if you make a lot of calls.
4. okay, as for actual skincare products, i don’t believe that you have to use anything really fancy or expensive. even if you need specialized or medicated products, i don’t think they have to be top of the line. i for one am sensitive to artificial chemicals, so i try to stick to natural products. i have four basic steps: cleanser, toner, light moisturizer, occasional deep moisturizer.
-cleanser: african black soap is a really great product, and i’ve used it in its original solid form but it just gets messy. alaffia liquid black soap is a great alternative, and they’re a fair trade company so i feel good about buying it. the quart size bottle will cost around $15, and it can last me up to a year even when i wash my face several times a day. you can get it at health food stores like whole foods, amazon, wherever.
-toner: witch hazel is an astringent that reduces inflammation and can supposedly cut down on acne, wrinkles, and skin damage. i tried a generic at first, but found that thayer’s brand was a much higher quality product and worth the higher price. a bottle that costs around $12 can last me probably six months. i squirt some on a cotton pad and rub it on.
-light moisturizer: so, my problem is that oily skin actually requires moisturizing to keep it from getting more oily, but i live in a hot, humid climate and my autism makes me hate the feeling of anything greasy sitting on my skin. eventually i figured out that i could put straight aloe vera gel on and it would do some moisturizing without feeling heavy or filmy. it’s ever so slightly tacky, but goes away almost completely and feels normal. this is the one i got, which is currently unavailable, but i recommend looking for one in a pump bottle like this, because it makes applying very easy and quick. i spend around $14 more than a year ago and i still have plenty left.
-real moisturizer: i found these really neat doodads at lush called naked cleansing bars (+ naked cold cream) that are just little round bars of solid oils and butters that you rub on, and then - this is the key part - wipe off. i discovered i could tolerate the not-very-greasy feeling of the wiped off oil, and my skin definitely looked and felt nicer. they’re tiny, but only cost $6, and last a pretty long time. if you’re super greasy, there’s a more expensive one called light touch that’s made for oily skin and indeed feels very light.
-touchups: if you’re somewhere that you can’t wash your face but you’re all oily, i love these tea tree face pads (weirdly expensive there; i get them at trader joe’s for like $4) because they’re a little textured, so they scrub off the oil and sweat and make you feel nice and fresh.
-extra: if you’d like to do a clay mask, i really love this moroccan red clay. it makes my skin feel very tight and clean, and i love that it’s very thin and smooth so it goes on easily and washes off easily. i mean, it can stain and make a mess, but it’s so much easier than bentonite, which is so clumpy and thick. a little jar will last for ages.
so, altogether, i use my cleanser 3-4 times a day, i do the witch hazel + aloe once or twice a day, and do the moisturizer once or twice a week, or as needed. don’t overload and constantly fuss with your skin, just let it do its job.
okay, i think that’s all! it sounds like a lot i’m sure, but i’m extremely fatigued and actually don’t like to put much energy into my skincare, so it’s very easy in practice and it works out to being not very expensive since everything lasts a long time.
and the truth is that even at the top of my game, i still get zits! it’s normal to get zits, especially with pcos. i don’t get cystic acne anymore, but i get whiteheads regularly, which, i admit, i just pop with my fingernail and then wash. i have a special little tool for blackheads that makes removal super easy, but i don’t get them often. as long as i drink plenty of water and eat half-decently, my skin mostly lets me live these days, except for when i get a hormone surge.
ETA: i forgot a couple things!
6. i can’t prove it, but i credit my lack of acne scars to frankincense essential oil, which is a bit pricey but smells so good and is great for your skin. it’s supposed to reduce/prevent scarring, and i indeed have basically zero scarring even where i’ve had repeated blemishes. technically you should dilute it in a carrier oil, but i’ve never had any negative reaction to using it straight. you just need a drop.
7. electric face brushes are fantastic. unfortunately the two i’ve bought have both died on me, but that’s probably because i bought the cheapest ones available. however, both times my skin looked significantly nicer while i was using them, so if you can afford it, consider getting a rechargeable face brush.
