My Skincare: How I Healed my Acne and Scars *PIC HEAVY*

Hello there! So before I start, I just want to say that you are about to see my bare face, without ANY makeup whatsoever, so please be kind.

I am doing this blog post because I want to tell you guys how I cleared my skin after YEARS and YEARS of struggling with acne and the scars they leave behind. I really hope this helps those of you who are having issues with your skin.

There are many factors that can lead to break outs, just as there are many names used for acne. After using sooooo many different skincare brands, I've finally found what works for me. I've struggled with acne since I was a teen. It started with having them just because I was going through puberty. I use to have bangs as a teen but I grew them out because I kept breaking out. To be honest, I actually wanted to grow my hair out and style it in a way that will hide my face.

I didn't start wearing makeup until I was 20 years old. I used it as a mask to cover the scars and blemishes that would randomly sprout from nowhere. I hated the heavy, cakey feeling that the foundation, concealer, and powder gave my face. Plus, my makeup just didn't look great in general because the little acne bumps were still showing.
 
Now, I won't bore you any longer with my sappy acne story, but I will show you the pictures of my gradual skin rejuvenation and give you tips along the way.

The number one tip I can give you is to drink plenty of WATER. Water hydrates your skin and is key in overall wellness.

Try not to touch, rub or scratch your face. The more you touch your face the more likely it is that you are introducing germs and bacteria to your pores, which leads to breakouts. If you must touch your face, make sure you cut your fingernails or wash your hands before doing so.

Hygiene is such an important factor in keeping your skin healthy. If your hair is dirty from a long day out, you should take a shower. Think of all the pollutants outside that can cling to your clothes. If they can cling to your clothes, then they can cling to your hair as well.

Clean what you use. Washing your bed linen is important because sleeping on dirty pillows can also cause you to have pimples the next day. If you use makeup, it is imperative that you wash your brushes and sanitize your hands before applying makeup. Bacteria likes moisture so it is very important to particularly wash those foundation brushes and if you're feeling lazy then just use a sponge and chuck it after each use.

Try not to panic and experiment with so many skincare products. The hype is not always true. You just have to think logically when trying out a new product. Research the ingredients if you must and read all the reviews about it and pay attention to the negatives just as you would with the positives.

You should treat yourself with an at home facial once in a while. The Laneige strawberry yogurt scrub, Mint Julep Mask, and Grape Seed Mask are my favorites.

When choosing a product, I have learned to avoid the following..anything that contains harsh ingredients like alcohol, scrubs like St. Ives Apricot (the shape of the seeds in this product can cause your skin to scar and break), and SKINCARE products that have shimmer.

I wash my face DAY and NIGHT. Never sleep with makeup on your face because your pores need to breathe through the night. A clogged up pore will only lead to a breakout the next day.

Natural olive oil is also a good makeup remover, especially for your eye makeup. When picking a good makeup remover, I recommend going for one that does not have oil (unless olive oil) in it. Instead, pick out one that has a lotion type of of texture. This way, you not only remove your makeup but you are also moisturizing your delicate eye areas.

Use a makeup primer before applying your foundation. Not only does this help your foundation last and prevent it from oxidizing, but it also creates a barrier between your foundation and pores. I like using my NARS primer (without SPF) because it helps improve the skin.

I currently use the following products...

DAY: Boscia Cleanser, Boscia Vital Daily Moisture w/ SPF 15, NARS Primer

NIGHT: Boscia Cleanser and Clean&Clear SOFT Oil-free moisturizer (the one specifically for Night)
I use vaseline for my lips.

As soon as I get home and if I have no where else to go for the day, I remove my makeup with my Kracie Naive Makeup Cleansing Milk w/ Rose Hip and then I apply my Clean&Clear moisturizer.

I do not use any toners at the moment but I will soon try the Boscia toner since the brand is working so well with my skin.

Also, once in a while (due to stress or hormones) I do get a pimple or two, so what I do is apply ZAPZYT on that particular blemish at night and the next day it will either be gone or will diminish in size. This is my HG pimple healer and it has never failed me. I think it is better to concentrate only on the problem rather than applying the product all over your face. This way you can avoid drying up your entire face, especially if you have combination skin. 

I hope you all find my tips useful and if you have any questions feel free to just leave them on the comment box below or e-mail me at b3bkoolit@gmail.com.

Also just to add...I use to think that makeup is the solution and that all I have to do is put it on and voila! no more imperfections. However, this old mindset of mine changed and had to change because having a good "canvas" is essential to GREAT makeup application. It's also better in the long run because you save a lot of money. If you need less coverage, you will need less products.

So finally, I leave you all with this one tip that is a must to follow...

LOVE YOURSELF!

No matter what imperfection you may have or even if you have the softest, smoothest skin...

BEAUTY IS and WILL ALWAYS BE SKIN DEEP.