My Journey: Before & After
- milehighmolly
- Jul 11, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 27, 2020
An introduction to my skincare approach
My skincare journey started in 2019, when I was struggling with breakouts and so lost on what products to use. I always loved skincare and had so much fun (a little too much fun) trying out new routines and products advertised to me, but these products were slowly becoming my enemy- the more I used, the worse my skin got. I thought by layering on more masks, serums, and expensive face washes that my skin should look better, but it was constantly irritated and breaking out. I was very much a victim of trendy skincare adverts. I turned to YouTube and started watching skincare videos from dermatologists, estheticians, and other professionals and that’s when I really went down the rabbit hole with the science behind skincare ingredients. I was hooked & hungry for more information.
Skincare is a lifestyle, not a novelty.
After months of consuming YouTube videos, skincare articles and research, and after much back-and-forth with myself as to how to apply this information, I decided to start using Differin gel as my acne treatment. It was the best possible thing I could have done for my skin, although the first few months were challenging. Differin was a strong enough medication that I needed to strip my skincare to the bare bones to manage the irritating side effects. I pretty much only cleansed and moisturized my skin for about three months until I adjusted to the medication and could tolerate using it every day. After that adjustment period, I noticed I wasn't having as many breakouts and they didn't last as long. My skin was glowing! I realized I didn’t need to use all kinds of stuff on my face to have a good routine- skincare professionals on YouTube taught me that the best routines are only 3-5 steps, and the products don’t have to be fancy for them to work well. They just have to be effective.
The key with my new routine was that I needed to keep things simple- both with the number of products I used, and with the simplicity of the products. I stuck to products that had one main active ingredient to target my concerns. It isn't extravagant, but it WORKS! After about three months of using my new routine, I had a solid foundation to try new products, and really saw the benefits of different active ingredients, which was so exciting after months of nothing but breakouts.
Unfortunately, for people who are really excited to try new products like I am, skin care is one of those things that you don’t want to get too trigger-happy with. It can really set you back and cause a lot of problems. It’s important to remember that your skincare (though it can and should be pleasant) is a lifestyle, not a novelty.
Before & After
On the left is my skin back in November 2019. It’s not horrible, but you can definitely see that I’ve got some irritation, splotchy areas and breakouts happening. This was just a normal skin day for me. I wore full coverage foundation and concealer everyday and was using skincare products with fragrance, harsh ingredients, and generally just doing overkill on everything in my routine. There really wasn’t consistency, just blind hope that the next product I put on my face would work.
On the right is my skin now, after about 8 months incorporating a simple, targeted routine. You can see that I am not breaking out anymore, my skin tone is even and smooth, and is noticeably more luminous. I don’t wear foundation or concealer anymore. This is a result of a simple routine with active ingredients that work.
I am so excited to share what I’ve learned with you! I hope that it will show you to appreciate the science behind how your skincare works and help you to fall in love with your skin again, wherever you are in your journey!
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