Skincare Update - It's been almost a year!

Hello! I know it's been forever and just like clockwork, I'm back to blog in the summertime. There was a certain desire that overcame me to get back into blogging once more and although I have no idea how long it'll last, I want to make the best of it. For my first return post after almost a year, I wanted to give an update on my skin and the products that have impacted me so much! I think it's fitting since my last post was about skincare and I'd like to give an update since some stuff has changed.

Updated Skincare Routine

Cleanser: My cleanser has changed and so has the number of times I wash face every week. For starters, this cleanser from First Aid Beauty is scent free and really gentle. It's a wonderful cream formula that doesn't dry my skin out at all. My Paula's Choice cleanser started to dry me out quite a bit so I made the switch to this and my skin feels great. I usually buy the small 2oz size from Sephora because I have started washing my face once or twice a week and that's it so it lasts me quite a while. Some people don't believe me when I tell them that but it's true! I have started to let my natural oils work their magic and my skin feels and looks the best it has in a long time. 

Exfoliator: This has stayed the same - my tried and true Pixi Glow Tonic.  This is my usual AHA exfoliator but I have cut down the use because I was prescribed a Tretinoin cream from my doctor that I used a lot more instead of this. More about the cream can be found here. This medication absolutely changed my skin - it stopped my pimples and really sped up the exfoliating speed of my skin. In three months, my marks faded an incredible amount. I will say that getting to the point of my skin being as clear as it is now took a lot of work. My skin flaked SO much and went through some really rough patches while using the cream. I used it every night and stuck through the rough patches. It was so worth it and if you have the opportunity, I would highly suggest talking to your dermatologist about what it best for your skin because they really do know what is best. 

Moisturizer: This has also stayed the same - During the day, I like to use a moisturizer with at least SPF 30. I've been using the Olay Moisturizer with SPF 30 and I absolutely love it. It doesn't break me out and it absorbs pretty quickly. At night, I've been staying faithful to my Josie Maran Light Argan Oil. This is my go to moisturizer for when my skin really needs some lovin and it makes my skin so soft and supple. I highly recommend it!

        

As always, I will add to not only wear SPF every single day but also to love yourself and your skin no matter what shape it is in. You can have the clearest skin in the world and still not be happy if you don't love yourself. Going through this process of battling the pigmentation and acne, in general, has really taught me to just care for myself and love myself so SO SO much. Yes, my skin is doing great and it's almost as clear as it was before I hit puberty but above that, I'm happy. I'm happy with myself and that's something that has been a long time coming.

xx

The Battle With Hyperpigmentation

Hi, guys! I took a much-needed break from blogging over the course of the past couple weeks but I'm back and better hopefully haha.

Recently, I've been battling something I've never had a problem with before - hyperpigmentation (ugh). For the most part, I've had pretty clear skin for the majority of my life but this summer, I got some serious acne on my cheeks and while that is completely gone, I am left behind with a bunch of hyperpigmentation. Yikes. I started looking for solutions and I recently found a routine that has been working for me! My hyperpigmentation is fading :) I also recently booked a dermatologist appointment to see what else I can do but I wanted to share some products and tips that have been working for me. I also want to make a note to say that despite me having hyperpigmentation, I am still so beyond blessed because not only do I love myself despite having the hyperpigmentation but also because my struggles with my skin are nothing compared to so many. I am so lucky and I am so aware and grateful for that. That point aside, ya girl is just trying to get her best skin! So now that I've gone on for a bit, on to the post. For reference, I have oily skin.

For starters, what I have is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). I do not have acne scarring nor do I have sun spots. What I have is not severe by any means but it's still noticeable. For this, I have established a skincare routine that has been making a difference. That along with some additional tips is making me love my skin even more. Let's start with the skin care routine:

Skincare Routine

Cleanser --- Exfoliator --- Serum --- Moisturizer

Cleanser: I have been using the Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser from Paula's Choice. Guys, I love it. For the longest time, I was using a salicylic acid cleanser to control the oil on my skin but I realize now that it was stripping my skin of important oils that help prevent breakouts. This cleanser has been great for me - unscented, makes my skin feel clean and not greasy, and it's not expensive ($12 for 6 oz). Score!

Exfoliator: This was a one of my two absolutely game changing products. I have never been one to exfoliate. I just didn't see it as an important part of my daily skincare routine but I was so wrong. When I started reading up and learning more about skincare, I realized that exfoliation is so necessary for healthy skin!!! I originally went and bought a physical exfoliator (which I still love because it's gentle and wonderful) but it was doing nothing for my hyperpigmentation. That's when I turned to chemical exfoliation and the world of AHAs and BHAs.  Basically, AHAs are for people who's main concern is sun damage, and excess pigmentation while BHAs are more for people with active acne, enlarged pores, blackheads, and in some cases rosacea (consult your derm to be safe!). You guys, I was so nervous and I was not looking forward to skin that would become slightly more sensitive to the skin but I decided it was something I needed to do. I choose the Pixi Glow Tonic as my AHA exfoliator - it has 5% Glycolic Acid which is a safe amount and this exfoliator does not dry out the skin. I slowly started applying this both day and night and the chemical exfoliation from the glycolic acid started to fade my marks. It's still doing its job but it's working. Very important to remember that you NEED to put on SPF while using this (you should anyway on a regular basis) but especially while you are using any type of acid on your skin, even salicylic. Now this is something that is a little on the pricier end but totally worth it ($15 for 3.4 oz and $30 for 8.4 oz). This goes very fast but as I said, it's worth it.

Serum: Oh boy, this is where the big money comes in. This is my second absolutely game changing product. Serums contain concentrated ingredients and help speed up the process in treating the problems you might have. I decided to splurge on the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum ($80). Yes, this is expensive but do not fret because let me tell you about Bath and Unwind ;) I knew that I wanted to get this serum to help fade my pigmentation and I heard nothing but amazing things about Caudalie. I found this serum on Bath and Unwind (A British company) for $50. I jumped for joy because not only was this a savings of $30 but also because they offer free international shipping. Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first but after doing some research, I found out that because Caudalie is a Paris-based company, their products are cheaper in Europe hence the price difference. I placed the order and the serum arrived in perfect condition on the expected arrival date. Keep in mind, it took two weeks because it was shipped from the U.K and had to go through customs but it got here and I couldn't be happier. While their response time on emails is awful, Bath and Unwind is reliable and my product got here and exceeds my expectations. It has helped my spots lighten up and has given my whole face a wonderful glow. Love love love - a bonus is that it smells divine (also it's very light, works for all skin types, a little goes a long way and it's all natural so no photosensitivity). Can you tell I love it? 

Moisturizer: You guys already know my two picks for this. During the day, I like to use a moisturizer with at least SPF 30. Recently, I've been loving the Olay Moisturizer with SPF 30 and I alternate this with my Neutrogena Moisturizer with SPF 35 but I've been trying to avoid oxybenzone (that is a post for another day) so I've been using my Olay one a bit more. Both get the job done. At night, I've been staying faithful to my Josie Maran Light Argan Oil but since the serum feels a little bit hydrating on my skin and my skin is already oily, I have been skipping out on it some nights and my skin has been doing great and is not dry one bit. It's important to make sure your skin is feeling hydrated always, despite your skin type. 

        

Tips

Going to try and keep this short and sweet since this post is already SO long haha. 

1) Be consistent with sun protection - if you are using products and not using SPF, pigmentation will not get better.

2) Give it time - the best thing you can do is be patient. If you get nothing out of this post but one thing, the one thing should be that time will be the best healer. You need to give everything time to work and you need to let your skin do its thing. 

3) Love yourself despite whatever you might be facing - You are beautiful! Your inner beauty is always the most important aspect of you as a person and try to remember the surface things mean nothing at the end of the day. What means the most is what type of person you are - if you are kind, loving, open-minded, and accepting, I can promise you that nothing else with matter. 

Yes, work towards being the best version of you but be the best version of you both on the outside and inside. 

xx

My Favorite Products for Oily/Acne Prone Skin

I'm past my teen years but I still struggle with Acne. For a while I was so discouraged because no matter what I would do, acne would still pop up on my face. It wasn't until I started using the following products that I really began to see a difference. My acne has slowed down and I've started to notice my skin clearing up quite a bit. The product are as follows:

1. Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Face Wash: This face wash is perfect for removing oil and gunk from your face and it's on the more gentle end of Salicylic Acid washes with 0.5% of the wash containing the medication. This wash doesn't dry my skin out and really controls my skin. I highly recommend!

2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 35: Sun Protection!!!! This moisturizer is so great because it provides protection from the sun which is incredibly important for healthy and youthful skin. What I love most about this is that in addition to being non-comedogenic (doesn't clog pores), the moisturizer has a very faint SPF smell despite having a great amount of SPF. Another perk is the lack of perfume and lack of oil. Even my oily skin has no problem with this moisturizer.

3. Josie Maran Light Argan Oil: Honestly, this oil has been amazing for me. I was always one of those people who was afraid to put oil on my skin simply because my skin was already so oily. After doing a lot of extensive research, I found out that oil is needed by your skin and oil in fact stops your skin from producing the extra oil that clogs pores and causes acne. When I finally decided to purchase an oil for my skin, I was on the hunt for the best one. Do I get jojoba? Coconut? Pumpkin Seed?! I eventually ended up choosing a light argan oil from Josie Maran because it has a comedogenic rating of 0 and so many incredible reviews. I was not disappointed! After using it, my skin has started to feel so much softer and I've stopped producing extra oil in my T-Zone. This is an investment that is totally worth it.

4. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask: I love Origins - their products just make my skin feel so good. After doing research( I have to learn the ins and outs of the product before I buy it...every single time), I decided to get this charcoal mask to use once/twice a week depending on my skin. Charcoal is a natural ingredient that is able to dig down and clean pores which makes it a great thing to use to really get a clean feel. I really love the way my skin feels after putting the mask on and it's a mask I plan on purchasing again.

5. Clean & Clear Dual Action Skin Moisturizer: This is another moisturizer that I really like. It's non-comedogenic, oil free, and leaves a nice cool feel to my skin. The only difference is that it contains salicylic acid which helps calm down any bumps that pop up on my skin. I reach for this as my night moisturizer so that the salicylic acid can fight through the night to keep my skin as clear as possible.

6. Biore Complexion Clearing Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: Now this is a cleanser that I've been using for about two years and I love it. It's much stronger than the Aveeno Cleanser that I use in the morning. It contains about 2.5% salicylic acid and really does take all oil and dirt off your skin. It's important to use this with a great moisturizer because it does have the potential to dry out your skin even though it hasn't personally dried out my skin. It's gives a really cool and refreshing finish which I really enjoy.

In addition to the products above, I'd like to give a shoutout to Clean and Clear's Persa Gel 10 which is a Benzoyl Peroxide spot treatment that has helped me tremendously. I attack any skin issues with a combination of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid and it has worked perfectly for me!

Do you have any favorite skin products? I'd love to know in the comments below.

xx