How I Treat My Acne

A Little Backstory...

As I hit puberty, my skin went crazy. It seemed as though every time my skin would start to clear up, more acne would appear. I have always had a bad habit of squeezing and picking at it whenever I'm stressed, which turns what was just a small pimple into a permanent scar on my face. Up until about two years ago, I don't think I had ever treated my skin nicely, explaining why it wasn't nice back.

The Beginning

After years of confidence issues due to the red spots appearing on my face, I was fed up. Although I had looked up how to fix acne in the past, I never followed through because I never saw instant results. I stumbled upon the world of essential oils and finally had some hope for improvement. I did my research and began with orange and peppermint oils. Every night, I would put pure orange oil all over my face, followed by pure peppermint oil on the areas of my skin that were congested (I recommend diluting these essential oils with a soft oil such as grapeseed, as pure essential oils can be too strong for most skin). After not even a week, I saw improvement. My skin was almost completely spot-free for the first time in years. I even stopped wearing makeup on my skin. Still, I was looking for other ways to improve my routine.

The Moisturizer Dilemma

Everyone with oily skin seems to skip the moisturizing step in fear that they'll just become even shinier, when truthfully it is the complete opposite. Your skin is producing so much oil because your skin is dry and your body is trying to fix it. Once you begin moisturizing and your skin has adjusted, you'll notice the oil on your face being replaced by a healthy glow.

My Current Routine

After two years of experimenting, I have finally discovered the products that work perfectly with my skin type. That being said, they will not work for everyone! These tips are worth a shot, even if you pick and choose steps that work best for you. In the morning, if my skin looks dull or puffy, I will massage my face with an ice cube. I have noticed that it evens out my skin and calms down any issues, as well as giving me a natural glow. Every morning, I apply a drop of Sunday Riley's UFO (Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil) to each "section" of my face and rub it in. The smell is too herbaceous for some people, so I recommend smelling it before you purchase it, as it is on the pricier side. Personally, I like the smell. Then, I apply Ole Henriksen's Truth Serum. This brightens my skin with Vitamin C and has a fresh, citrusy scent. Next, I apply The Abnormal Beauty Company's Hylamide to my face and neck, although any hyaluronic acid will work to moisturize and plump your skin. If my skin is extra dry, I will apply Embryolisse's Lait-Creme Concentre, as it is a heavier moisturizer. At night time, I usually just wash my face with any gentle cleanser and apply Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel. If I have any acne, I will use Sunday Riley's Good Genes, which is a lactic acid treatment so it clarifies skin. I will then dab a small amount of tea tree oil onto the spot(s). Overall, even though skin care is a very personal thing, there are products and routines that will work for different people. Most importantly, try something for about a week so your skin can adjust. Oftentimes, your skin will break out while it is getting used to new products.