How I cleared up my skin // Skin Saviors

Hello everyone! yes that is me, au naturel without any makeup on (*everyone gasps). These past few months I have become more and more confident with my skin thanks to a few magic skincare products! Don't get me wrong - I love makeup, I love wearing makeup, but you know what I love the most!?  being bare faced and feeling good about it! 

My 'journey' with pimples, acne and all that good stuff has definitely been a roller coaster, from about the age of 15 I had blackheads on my nose and cheeks (that has now resulted in enlarged pores, not fun!). The problem area shifted to my chin where I had a combination of blackheads and pustules. In the past two years I had a combination of cystic acne mainly on my cheeks and little clusters of breakouts. Among all  that, my skin type would fluctuate between oily - combination to very dry....I think its safe to say I have had it all! 

Back to basics

Early last year I decluttered my skincare cupboard. I was left with only 4 things 

Coconut Oil - Used to remove my makeup (works well for waterproof mascara!)

Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser - Great everyday basic cleanser that works to get remainder of makeup off.  

Invisible zinc Cleanser- One of my holy grail products, it helped clear up annoying breakouts like no other thanks to the glycolic acid! 

Olive Oil - basically, a night time serum, this helped moisturize, brighten and even out my skin!

My skin cleared up pretty quickly when I started using this routine because it was made up of very basic and natural products. Two months into it however, I started getting little bumps and clusters of pimples around my nose and outer cheeks. 

My Current routine

 When I first started working in the cosmetic industry everyone told me to get myself a clarisonic (Mia with sensitive brush)....so like any self confessed beauty lover, I did! I went through the 'break out phase' where my face was very spotty! That's where the Glamglow (supermud clearing treatement)  came in, this amazing mask helped minimize the severity of my pimples and blackheads. That being said, I think the real game changer here was the Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Pads. After just one use my skin was less inflamed with less pimples. I now use this product every second evening (sometimes every third) and it has really helped keep my skin acne free!  For the longest time, I thought toners were just a marketing scheme and I never really believed in them...until I tried the Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion. This beautiful toner is infused with seaweed (ofcourse) Witch Hazel and aloe to help get rid of any pore clogging oils. I love using this in the morning and at night to refresh my skin. 

I am really happy with this current skincare routine and my skin seems to be loving it too! The products have helped a lot but I think its also in combination with lifestyle changes. Although these products helped me, they may not be suitable for your skin type. These days I only have the occasional hormonal pimple and a few blackheads with a combination skin type. 

My tips for clearing up problem skin

1. Healthy Diet - Start from the inside out! Your skin is greatly influenced by what you eat. I'm not saying cut things out of your diet completely, but just try to cut down on the sugar, diet coke and fast food. No doubt you have heard it before but it really is the first step to clearing up skin!
2. Drink plenty of tea and water. I must admit, I don't drink nearly enough water but I do drink a hell of a lot of green tea! it is amazing and full of antioxidants.
3. Don't wear makeup (all the time)! A few months ago I was working full time which meant I was wearing a full face of makeup everyday, my skin definitely wasn't coping! I switched to a tinted moisturizer and within a few weeks my skin was visibly better. Wearing heavy foundations can clog the pores and result in more problems so try to wear as little makeup as possible. On your day off just apply concealer and moisturizer for a no makeup-makeup look. You will see the difference
4. Stop touching your face - A lot of people I talk to, tell me they use only fingers to apply makeup. While it is a quick and easy it can also be the cause of all your troubles! We can transfer oils and bacteria onto the face from our fingertips so a brush may be a more effort but it will save you in the long run. 
5. Take the day off. I have friends who don't take off their makeup at night (especially after a night out) At night, your skin is trying to renew itself so if you leave your makeup on it will only block pores. If you are the queen of lazy when it comes to washing your face at night get some face wipes and keep them on your bedside table (very quick n easy). Another one of my favorites is the micellar water such as Bioderma or the Garnier micellar Water. 
6. Change you pillowcase. This might be a given for most of you but I know people who haven't changed theirs for at least 3 months. Our pillowcases house bacteria, sweat, oils and any left over makeup. If you sleep on that for too long, it can create more pimples! 
7. Exfoliate (but not too much) Exfoliating is great for your skin but I have had those days when I just want to scrub the acne off my face!  by exfoliating too much you are stripping too much of the skin  which creates an imbalance. Also sometimes natural scrubs can be doing you harm, the large particles such as crushed shells, nuts and seeds can sometimes cause micro tears in the skin. That's why I usually recommend gentle mechanical exfoliants. 
8. Look for natural acids in skincare. Acids such as Glycolic acid and Salicylic  acid are natural chemical exfoliants and work well to help cleanse the pores. They are gentle enough to use everyday but if you do have very sensitive skin, switch to something like witch hazel or seaweed. 
9. Clean your face in the morning too! Some people don't wash their face in the morning but the way I see it is - while you sleep all the germs and cellular waste rise to the surface of the skin so if you let it sit there for too long it can do you more damage.

Let me know if there are any other products that have helped you! 

Danica xx