Hey guys!
This post is going to be the second part of my little skincare journey post. If you haven’t already, go check out my first post where I talk all about my struggle with acne. I really open up about how much it affected my daily life. That might sound dramatic, but skin is such a huge part of our lives, & when it doesn’t look good, it can make you not feel good.
This post is going to be the fun post where I share the products that work for me! They are truly dermatologist recommended & have definitely helped my skin clear up. I have to be honest that I also take medication to help my skin, so it’s not all topical. But I played around with a lot of different creams & washes & this is what works for me so I’m sticking to it!
First, I have to say, nail down a skincare routine & don’t skip a day! This is especially important when you’re first trying to heal up your skin. It’s going to take a long time & be a process. Unfortunately, there’s no overnight cure for acne which SUCKS. But nailing down a routine filled with products that are just right for your skin type & issues is so important & the first step to really feeling confident with your skin. I am a firm believer in a skincare routine & have successfully gotten a few people to actually adopt one! I am that friend that will yell at you if you fall asleep with makeup on hahah
Night
Step 1: Cleanse skin, Panoxyl
This stuff is amazing! I have tried a ton of face washes along this journey & so far this one has delivered the best results! It comes in maximum strength & daily control, & I usually just use the daily control, which has 4% benzoyl peroxide because it really dries out my skin.
Step 2: Toner, Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
Okay, so this step isn’t necessary, but I feel like it takes off a lot of extra makeup & just smooths my skin overall. Kinda like a double cleanse. I am always SHOCKED at how much makeup hasn’t been removed after using a makeup wipe & cleansing.
Step 3: Double cleanse, Garnier SKINACTIVE Micellar Cleansing Water
So you’ve probably heard about this stuff & how amazing it is so I won’t get into it! But I wasn’t so sure when I first heard about it, but it helps take off any remaining makeup & refresh my skin. I usually use this around my eyes because my mascara always takes forever to come off (yay for waterproof mascara).
Step 4: Moisturize, Differen Adapalene Gel
This is another product I swear by! I don’t really like heavy face creams so this one is perfect because it’s a gel! This also comes in other strengths & I usually just get what I can find at the store hahah
Step 5: Spot treat, Clean & Clear Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser
I use this product once a week for its actual purpose because it’s very drying for my skin! But because of that, it’s great for spot treatment because it dries up pimples overnight!
Morning
Step 1: Cleanse, Garnier SKINACTIVE Micellar Cleansing Water
I use this again in the AM to just refresh & cleanse my skin.
Step 2: Double cleanse, Panoxyl
I use this stuff twice a day!
Step 3: Hydrate + SPF, AMBI
This stuff is dermatologist recommended to help get rid of acne scars & dark spots, of which I used to have a lot! This has an SPF built into it, which I love as well because I’m always protected! It goes without saying, but a good face sunscreen is a must to any skincare routine!! This product has a special formula for oily skin, so I usually opt for that one cuz ya’ girl has a shiny face.
Those are the products that are tried & true by me! I have been using most of them for a couple of years now, so I’m sure they work & I like the results! Just a reminder that healing your skin is a long process & even now I obviously still break out & am working to be comfortable in my skin no matter what. But a skincare routine with products you love is a great place to start 🙂