Skincare Saves For My Acne-Prone 30-Something Skin

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Here I am, 33 years young, staring in the mirror at my freshly washed face, winking with one eye to check the status of my laugh lines, while simultaneously jutting out my chin to get a better look at a fresh zit coming in.

I don't think it's fair that I am currently combatting zits, and wrinkles. Like, can't we just trade one for the other?!?! 

Ok, let's back up. I struggled with cystic acne as a teen, and used every topical treatment and pill my dermatologist prescribed. What I learned later in life was that my acne was caused 100% by my diet and products that were too drying for my skin. A diet lacking in alkaline foods wreaked havoc on my skin. I would then used drying astringents to combat the acne. My inflamed skin was painful to the touch, and my cheeks were either completely void of blemishes, or fully covered. There was no in-between.

Once my diet cleaned up (thank you, Tone It Up) my skin immediately followed suit. About that same time, I found a skincare routine that helped me not only heal my old scars but also helped to soften my skin and prevent new damage. 

my mom always said 'wash your face'

My mom has the skin of an angel. It's always perfectly dewy, and in her 50's, she barely has a trace of a wrinkle. She's also had a religious skin routine including sunscreen, for my entire life. I do know that some of this is genetic. My Grammy also had beautiful, soft skin. My mom has always nagged (with love) 3 things at my sisters and me: 

  1. Wear sunscreen
  2. Wear sunglasses
  3. Wash your face

What I now realize is that face washing doesn't mean stripping your face of all oils. I just need to gently remove the day. I've found that my skin reacts extremely well to French skincare. The EU has much stricter rules than the US about what can and cannot go into their products, and I feel good about using products that cost a little more if they are cleaner. Think of it as 'you are what you eat-skin edition.'

I only use Micellar water to remove my makeup. I don't wear a ton of makeup, and my mascara comes off with just warm water, so this is an easy, effective, and inexpensive first step in my routine. I use cotton balls and Micellar water at home, and take the Micellar wipes with me when I travel.

**as a note, I've tried a few other brands of micellar water (now that it's 'a thing') but I come back to Bioderma every time. 

 

 

up next, the difference makers

These next products are the ones that stay on my face, and therefore I take very seriously. These are the products that have diminished fine lines, faded my acne scars, and (knock on wood) have kept new breakouts to a minimum.

  1. Clarins Toning Lotion- this is actually just a toner, but it also softens your skin, and balances the pH. It's a great way to remove any missed traces of makeup, and it's all I use in the morning to clean my face after a workout.

Daytime Products

  1. Clarins Double Serum- this is my daytime serum. It quickly soaks into my skin and gives me an instant glow. It also helps fight any new little blemishes that I see creeping in, and completely erased lines I had coming in around my mouth. I've used this serum religiously for 2 years, and I don't know how I'd survive without it! I swapped serums about 6 months ago, and after a week, I realized that my skin was not it's normal happy self. So, I switched back, and all was back to normal. #keeper
  2. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm- I don't use this every day. I either wear it alone on makeup-free days, or use it under my makeup before events. It gives you that perfect 'lit from within' glow, and makes your makeup last all day!
  3. Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream- this cream is made for 30-somethings. It's preventing aging, sagging, lines, while being light enough not to upset those hormonal shifts throughout the month.

Nighttime Products

  1. Shiseido Spot Corrector- this is my nighttime serum. I have a few newer hyper pigmentation spots only face (chin specifically) and this product was recommended by multiple people to me. I knew I had to try it when I found out that the active ingredient was derived from Japanese Cherry Blossoms. I've been using it for just over a month, and I'll report back after 3 months with photo comparisons.
  2. Clarins Multi-Active Night Cream- I love how soft my skin feels in the morning with this cream. It's so luxurious and even saves me from winter dryness.

what to do when you actually do get a zit

First and foremost, if you feel like your skin is on the brink of a breakout, audit your diet. Are you eating foods that make your skin feel good? Random fact, gummy bears make me break out. So does an excessive amount of bread. This is obviously not true for everyone, but my point is to know your triggers. When you can't avoid a blemish, my go-to remedy is light therapy. 

In the Pacific Northwest, we commonly use light therapy for the 'Winter Blues' but I've used blue light therapy for my acne for almost 8 years now. I have a handheld device but am also fortunate to have light therapy built into my sauna. Blue light has been proven to penetrate the skin, and kill acne bacteria, while red light therapy boosts collagen production, and promotes cell renewal (hello faded scarring). I use both for a 1-2 punch on zits! I love that there is nothing drying about light therapy the way there is with topical creams or even some antibiotics. A natural remedy is always better for me!

Here are my thoughts on investing in your skincare. OK actually, here are my thoughts in investing in you. You are worth it. You only get one body, so fuel it with the best food, and put things on your skin that aren't full of weird ingredients. What you put on your skin makes it's way into your body, so be mindful!! 

Tell me, what are your skincare go-to's?! I hope you get some ideas (and great results) from these products! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

 

xo, Terra