Dark Side of the Moon to Glowy Skin: Take Aways from my Intensive Skincare Journey

If you've been following beauty trends you'll know that #glowyskin is in. However, for those of us who have relied on heavy makeup to hide past acne scars and new blemishes, this trend seemed nearly impossible to master. As part of my mantra, Living Balanced, I decided to give proper skincare a good effort before letting this trend get away untouched.

Bad skin hits when you least expect it

My journey began about 8 months ago. As a full grown 25-year-old woman in a healthy and stable long-term relationship I waltzed my responsible self right into an OB/GYN office to get my hands on my own Long-Acting Contraceptive (before any government action took away funding for reproductive health). HOLD-UP, what does this have to do with skincare? Well, a few period and fetus-free months later my body started going through some radical changes. Deep, painful cystic acne began to pop-up along my cheeks, jaw-line, shoulders, chest, and yes even my back. For the first time since my hormonal teen years your girl was the proud owner of #bacne. No fear, having survived an acne ridden youth, I knew the drill.

Skin is the window to the body’s troubles

I tried everything in my arsenal to kick this bought of bad skin. Antibacterial washes, oral antibiotics, and even lifestyle changes (cue my water drinking obsession and vitamin purge). Nothing worked, if anything it got worse as new pimples surfaced, old ones left a parting gift with hyperpigmented scars. After three months of the lowest self-esteem I can remember (shout out to bae for lying to me and saying I was pretty anyway), I went to a dermatologist. A few tests later she started me on a medication to balance out my hormones leading to increased sebum production along with personalized recommendations on what to avoid (any foods with potential hormones like chicken or unregulated dairy products).

Making the outside match the inside

HOORAY! Sadly, I wish that was the end of it. With my inflammation decreasing I now had leftover pockets of congestions paired with highly pigmented scars from the erupted comodomes. Here is where the external work came in. During this journey I did CIA level research on skincare and found that a truly knowledgeable esthetician may be my saving grace. Luckily a Chicago transplant popped up in my hood just about the time I needed her most. Together with my medical knowledge, Holly Butters was able to create a customized skin care plan for me. A few anti-inflammatory facials,  TCA peels, and a simple yet effective at home routine (holla at my saving grace Skin Script RX ) ; I not only feel I can go without makeup again, but I feel MORE GORGEOUS without it.

My Takeaways

If I could go back in time and tell myself anything it would be, give it time, you are beautiful. I would still have changed my birth control as it gave me both peace of mind and simplicity. I would have gone to the dermatologist off the bat (they do spend roughly 10 years studying YOUR SKIN, facepalm*). I would have told my sixteen-year-old self to get a skincare routine and find an esthetician tat knows her shiz. Overall, I found internal love, external beauty, and a few new friends along the way. Whatever your struggling with, there is help. You just must be patient

Namaste

#skin #skincare