Week 8
Wow! It’s been a while since my last update and I have made a LOT of changes and I’ve seen some progress. Let’s start with my current routine. I will then mention some things that worked, some things that didn’t, and some things that have yet to be determined. I will show some new favorite products, and mention some internal changes I have made as well in an attempt to control my hormone balance.
My goal was to introduce a new product every two weeks as recommended in the skin care addicts subreddit. Unfortunately, I was a bit too impatient for that, but I did wait at least a week between introducing each new product.
AM
- splash with water
- tarte tingle treatment
- secret key starting treatment
- hado labo goku jun (moist), as many skins as I need. Usually 3-5
- DE vit C serum
- a'pieu madecassoside cream
- tarte sea berry oil
- Clinique prep start SPF 50
PM
*every 3 days I use a tretonin/glycolic treatment after cleansing, and about once a week a so TO AHA/BHA peel. I wait 20 min for my face to fully dry, apply the treatment and wait another 20 min for the product to work. Obviously I rinse the peel off and continue my routine from there.
* if I’m feeling dry I will skip the acid toner and the secret key
- hado labo oil cleanser (or Clinique take the day off oil cleanser)
- Jordan Samuel plié cleanser
- tarte tingle
- secret key
- hado labo goku jun hyaluronic acid (moist) 3-7 skins
- a'pieu madecassoside cream
- TO Argan oil
- ceraVe healing ointment in super dry or acne prone areas. (Sometimes I use the cosrx honey mask or glow watermelon mask instead all over)
(AB haul. From left to right, secret key starting treatment, hado labo goku jun in moist, hado labo oil cleanser, a'pieu madecassoside cream, cosRx overnight honey mask)
Whats working:
- properly moisturizing my face. The HL hyaluronic acid has been amazing. I’ve almost finished the bottle and reordered two more as well as the premium which I’ve read is thicker. Can’t wait to try it. The a'pieu madecassoside cream has been really nice too. The DE protini wasn’t quite enough for me. I have two bottles of it now which blows because it was expensive. I got excited because it was so much better than my khiels, but it still stings. It has some alcohol in it which I’m not fond of. Oils over my treatments and a mask has also been super helpful in retaining moisture. I have also started keeping track of my water intake. I drink a min of 2 liters a day, up to a gallon. Being properly hydrated has allowed me to use my tretonin more often! Meaning less acne!
-vit c. Continuing to see a decrease in PIH (post inflammatory erythema) overtime.
- acids. I think the tarte tingle treatment is my favorite. Doesn’t dry me out as much as the pixi so I can use it more often. There’s also glycolic in my tret so why do I need that much glycolic silly girl!
- hydrocolloid bandages!! Keeps me from picking. Oh my gosh so helpful. Heals my acne in DAYS instead of WEEKS.
Prodcuts ive tried that didn’t make the cut:
- DE protini. Not moisturizing enough, stings.
- DE SPF 30. White cast. Greasy. Only 30?? Boo.
- pyunkang yul toner mist. I will eventually try this one again, but I think I had an allergic reaction. My face was very itchy after using. However, I was traveling and a lot of things were different, so I may give it another go.
Pictured: me with TO AHA/BHA peel and a matcha soy latte which is a good segway into my next topic. Internal changes.
I have done a number of things to my diet in an attempt to fix my hormonal balance which is ultimately the cause of my acne. I can treat the symptoms all day, but if I don’t get to the bottom of the real issue, things won’t really change.
I mentioned tracking my water intake. In addition to that I have also cut dairy, started drinking spearmint tea, matcha, and taking vitamin D and evening primrose.
Now I understand some of these things have more scientific backing than others. I also understand I started a lot of these at the same time so if I do see a difference (and I feel I have), I won’t really know what’s helping. However, I can always cut one and if I see regression that will also indicate cause. I feel confident about the vitamin D. I have been shown to have low levels of D and there is a scientific link between that and acne. I also feel good about the spearmint and the matcha. I feel less confident about the dairy and the evening primrose. I see SO many people swear by cutting dairy for their acne I just gotta try it. What’s the worst that can happen? Clear skin? Eating way less sugar because no Ben and Jerry’s which ALSO will probably help? If you have any studies one way or another on any of these topics I would love to read more.
Pictured: spearmint tea, D3 supplements, evening primrose supplements, cute cat mug
Pictured: matcha latte I had in Amsterdam
Pictured: best friend
And finally, an honest picture of where my skin is at. I do see a lot of progress but I don’t think it photographs particularly well. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Wish me luck on the continuation of this journey!💕🌈