Throughout my teenage years I had no issues with hormonal acne. I considered myself lucky because a lot of my friends were dealing with regular breakouts and I was only dealing with a pimple here or there.
Fast forward to 2016, the year of my 30th birthday. Hello hormonal acne. For the first year and a half I was sure it was the products I was using so I started eliminating everything and using only natural products.
No significant improvement.
Then I turned to my diet.
I had myself convinced that I was eating all the wrong foods, not enough water, and I thought I needed a bunch of different supplements to help combat the acne. I went without dairy, sugar, red meat, processed foods with no real change in the deep and painful cystic acne I was experiencing.
I then started questioning my oral hygiene methods.
Was my toothpaste giving me acne? It was mostly occurring around my mouth so I switched to natural toothpaste. Was I washing my face too often? I changed my routine completely – still no luck. I turned to my family doctor for some topical creams.
No such luck.
I got on the birth control pill for a little bit (I was on it through my teens and maybe that’s why I didn’t have acne issues back then!) but it didn’t feel good for me so I stopped taking it.
Then I turned to my stress levels.
Was stress causing me to break out in this a swelling inflamed skin around my mouth?
I decided to be more mindful and started practicing meditation more often. I did see some major improvements in my life but not necessarily my acne.
About 10 months ago, I decided to get an IUD.
I had resisted getting one for years but decided that it was worth it to help with the painful periods I was also experiencing. I thought for a few months that having the IUD was helping clear up my acne because, by the end of this summer, my skin was fantastic but then a few weeks ago (about 5 months later) everything went to shit.
What was I doing wrong? What had I introduced that didn’t exist before? Was I stressed out?
It was then that I came to terms with my hormonal acne. I was always looking to blame something for my breakouts.
When I think back to my first dermatologist appointment, I remember the doctor telling me that sometimes my skin would be perfectly clear and then I could end up with a major breakout. The worst part about these breakouts is that they seem to last forever.
For now, my plan is to continue to take care of my skin by using high-quality skin care products and non-comedogenic makeup. I plan on cleansing regularly, going makeup free often, drinking lots of water, avoiding foods that cause inflammation, continuing to take my multivitamins (Omegas, B12, vitamin C, vitamin D)
EDITTED TO ADD (because I wrote this long before I published it):
I visited my doctor yesterday and made the decision to go on Acutane (which are a form of Isotretinoin Capsules. The brand I was prescribed is called Epuris) I know this is a big deal, well it is for me at least. I plan on incorporating a strict skin care routine during this 6-month process and I will be blogging about some of my journey to try to keep my spirits up during the process.
Some of my favorite products for my skin:
(please note that while I love some of these products, they won’t be suitable for my skin while I’m on this medication. I will do an updated skincare routine as I explore what works for my skin during this change!)
Garnier Micellar All-in-1 Cleansing Water for All Skin Types
This is the first time I have purchased Garnier’s Micellar water – before this bottle (I grabbed it for about $11 at Costco) I was using the generic brand from Shoppers Drug Mart and I found it just fine. My routine includes using coconut oil to remove my eye makeup so I then soak 2 cosmetic pads in Micellar water to remove the coconut oil and the eye makeup and as well to wipe the initial layer of makeup off my face so that my cleanser can really get in there.
Image Skincare Ormedic Facial Cleanser
Love this stuff. I find that cleansers can be super drying – I can’t stand that tight gross feeling after cleansing – this doesn’t happen with this!! My skin feels super clean and it’s not irritating for my eyes
Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque
Every other night I will use this masque. GAME CHANGER! OMG this mask COMPLETELY changes the look of my skin after I use it. You can leave it on for 5 to 30 minutes but sometimes I leave it on overnight. It helps the healing process of my breakouts and just helps the overall appearance of my skin even when I’m totally broke out. I’m not sure how I would have made it through the past few weeks without this product.
Additional product not shown: Since I have been breaking out – I’ve been adding an extra step to my routine – it’s an Adaplene and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical Gel (TactuPump) prescribed by my dermatologist that I use in my T-Zone and all around the broken out area around my mouth and chin. I’m not sure how I feel about this product – I know it must be speeding up the process because my skin peels in the areas I use it but I don’t think it’s the solution to my acne, unfortunately. I use this as a spot treatment in the evening and then I use my serum and moisturizer as usual on top.
I like to rinse my face with water when I wake up. If I’m going to the gym that morning – I don’t want to apply my serum and moisturizer because – it seems wasteful because I will wash it off after the gym. What I have been doing lately, because I do need the moisture before I head to the gym– is I grab a few drops of Herbaflor Certified Organic Rosehip Oil with a dab of
Young Living Tea Tree Essential Oil. OMG I love this feeling – it’s so refreshing and calming for my skin – especially since I’ve likely used the prescription cream the night before.
Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Anti-Oxidant Serum
Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Bio-Peptide Crème
This is just your basic serum and moisturizer for sensitive, ageing skin- I love it because it’s not sticky and the moisturizer is just lovely for night and day! Smells like orange creamsicles – the hubby loves it!
This post contains affiliate links all opinions are my own.
