A few months into my move back to NYC after working on the cruise ship, my skin went CRAY. I didn't struggle with acne in my teen years but it felt like I hit 24 and my face was enacting revenge for all those pimples I skipped at 14. Ugh. Sadly enough, I don't have a lot of pictures from the year and a half when I was struggling with adult acne and the ones I do have are either too far away or edited to hide it. I felt so awful about my skin and so embarrassed even though soooo many people go through this same thing. I would cake on makeup for auditions, poke and prod the pimples - I must have spent hundreds of dollars on every skin care product from Sephora, Lush and Ulta on top of trying facials, extractions and dermatologist visits. After about a year and a half of trying EVERYTHING - I found the products that helped me see improvement.
I think there were a few factors that added to my skin freakout:
1) My new environment
I went from living on a ship in the Caribbean with sunshine, salt water and a generally stress free life to the cold winter of NYC. I was doomed already.
2) My terrible job
The year my skin was the worst was also the year I was working a terrible job as a nanny that I hated. Yes I do think that products, facials, etc have a lot to do with your skin but so do genetics and STRESS/LIFESTYLE. I was so anxious and unhappy at work all the time, of course my skin would be the first thing to show that.
All that aside, I did end up being able to curb my acne with products that I LOVE from the bottom of my heart which I want to share here.
Before I share, know this, everyone's skin is different. I do believe that some products work for everyone but know that I tried so many things that worked for my friends but did nothing for me and vice versa. It's all trial and error which is why it can get so expensive, ugh. I was happy to find a routine of both drugstore products and luxury brands so I don't break the bank every time I run out. Regardless, I hope some of these products will change your life as much as they have mine!
PS. I have combo skin!
Makeup remover:
(I only use this after shows, auditions, or a day when I have heavy makeup on - my everyday makeup comes off just fine with the Cerave)
Pond's Cream Cleanser
- rub a bunch of this all over your face then wet a washcloth with warm-hot water and wipe off. I love how hydrated and smooth my skin feels after! I always follow this up with a second cleanser though since it does feel a bit heavy on the skin.
Cleansers:
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
- simple ingredients and non-drying. This is my go-to morning and night!
Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser
- I used this 2-3 days a week when I was struggling with my acne and noticed it going away within a week! It doesn't dry you out like most salicylic acne cleansers which I LOVED. Now, I only really use it at night if I notice my skin getting a bit oily or feel a pimple coming.
Acne Products:
Curology
- the super bottle they send in their free trial is what I swear got rid of my acne problem entirely. Each bottle is custom formulated based on your skin's needs and the pictures you send to them. I only used two months of this and my skin was completely healed! Highly recommended because it's so customized. Also their free trial gives you huge products!
Bi-Weekly Exfoliating toners:
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50
-Discovered this when I got a facial at Rescue Spa in NYC (so expensive but worth it). It smells terrible and stings a bit but I really did notice a difference once I started using this. It healed my acne scars and brightened my complexion. Only use a couple nights a week as your exfoliant.
Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Exfoliating Potion
-Ok so basically the same ingredients (glycolic, salicylic, lactic) as the P50 above but less expensive. I noticed the SAME results so I do think this is a good dupe if P50 isn't in your budget. I use it the same way. Only use at night.
Retinol:
Cerave Retinol Serum
- I felt like such a big girl when I added retinol to my routine. This one is a great beginner retinol serum, it's not as drying as others I've tried and you only need a little bit at once. Retinol helped calm down the wrinkles I was beginning to see form on my forehead (yikes). I only use this at night!
Face oil:
Rose facial oil
- I know it's not an exciting serum or from a trendy brand, but rose oil really did improve my texture and dryness. I found that the simpler I go with my skin care routine, the better off my skin felt. I use this at night after the retinol and sometimes in the morning if my skin is feeling a bit dry.
Eye cream:
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
- I use this in the morning and do notice a nice brightness that wasn't there before! Tbh, I have terrible dark circles. I have never found a product that helps them. It's genetic so I just try to hydrate them as much as possible. This cream is great though!
Sunscreen:
Biorè Aqua Rich SPF 50
- Sunscreen is so important! I wear it every single day even if my foundation has SPF in it. This one is great because it goes on clear and feels hydrating not sticky or greasy.
Moisturizers:
L'Occitane En Provence Shea Light Comfort Cream
- I use this at night and it is so smooth and lovely. I noticed my skin was so much softer and hydrated after using this even when I was dealing with my breakouts. L'Occitane is a great brand and they really catered the products they recommend to my skin type! I recommend going in and trying them out!
Cerave Daily Moisturizer
- This is my other go-to. I've used this for so long and it is so simple and perfect. It is a perfect moisturizer for under makeup or on its own. Such a classic and it lasts forever!
I am by no means a dermatologist but these products really did help me feel confident with my skin again! I hope they work for you too! This is my skin, makeup and filter free about a year after using this routine and all healed from the acne breakouts! I am so happy to have finally found something that works for me.
I'm also always looking for new products to try so would love any suggestions from you!
xoxo
Mags
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