My Skincare Story

My Acne Story

A little over a year ago I had reached the end of my rope and couldn't hold on much longer. My confidence had dwindled to an all time low and I knew something had to change. I felt as if I couldn't be myself because I didn't feel like people saw the real me, I felt like I was wearing a mask of red bumps. I was contemplating the potentially dangerous prescription, Accutane, and decided to do just a little more research. I quickly discovered websites like my own, with success stories swearing by natural remedies. I discovered what is really  in those expensive cleansers and read about ancient medicinal recipes and modern day oils. Pretty soon I was in my kitchen whipping up DIY cleansers and testing countless all-natural masks. I began to feel connected to the environment and liberated from the firm clutch of the cosmetic industry.

Visit my natural skincare website, diyacnecures.com to learn my secrets!

Excersize Your Way to Clear Skin!

Physical activity is crucial to human health. Working out can not only impact your metabolism, weight and mood; but can actually clear your blemishes and prevent new ones from forming! Doing cardio and building muscle will improve circulation and bloodflow to heal the skin, and sweating is a great release of toxins. Always remember to drink plenty of water to rehydrate yourself. The mopre water you drink, the better you will look and feel. Drinking more water will cause your body to let go of excess fluid retention and water weight and replenish your cells.

Working out can be a hassle, but once you find the right activity for you it can become a passion! Here's How:

• Try Youtube! There are countless fitness gurus who post great workout videos that are short and you can do anywhere! http://www.blogilates.com/workout-video-index/ is one of the most incredible sources for quick workouts that you don't even realize you are doing!

• Turn on your favorite up-beat music and dance like a maniac!

• Check out your local parks or trails and go for a hike!

• Shovel some snow, rake your lawn, swim, canoe, get outside and enjoy some fresh air and fun!

Why you have to STOP POPPING PIMPLES!

Please everyone, STOP POPPING YOUR PIMPLES!

Picking at your face will cause scars, redness, broken vessels and more acne. trust me, It might be tempting to scoot up to the mirror and mess with your blemishes, but your face will be so much more prone to breakout and it can be very damaging to the skin. Most acne scars are from picking gone awry. Yes, sometimes it is just impossible to walk around with a big whitehead and your only option is to pop. There is a right way and a wrong way to pop a pimple if you must.


Dermatologists will tell you the following:

Clean your hands and the area. Don't use dirty hands, don't pop a pimple covered in makeup or oil.

Use hot water on a warm cloth to help open the pore.

Be gentle, and careful.

Pop only once. This is the most important rule. each time you go back and pick at the same sore you are increasing the risk of scarring and making the healing time much longer.

Apply a topical medicine or acne cream to the pimple.

Then leave it alone! Let your skin heal itself, and try not to touch your face. Keep it clean and drink plenty of water.

Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy- Does this stuff really work?

 

I'm always curious about makeup that claims to conceal AND heal, generally I don't believe the hype. This product wound up in my hands after a makeup trade with my little sister. it claims to heal; your acne with salycilic acid, while concealing the blemish. I love Bare Minerals and truely think they have the best mineral products on the market !I always get compliments on my skin when I wear the Original Bare Minerals Foundation. It gives your skin a super soft- focus look that is almost airbrushed.

 

However...

This product might help a little with the healing process, it doesn't do a great job of covering or feel very smooth on the skin. I never reach for the Blemish Therapy and find it drying. It made my skin flaky around the blemish as the day progressed and I would't repurchase. I'd stick with the original Bare Minerals because the formulas are more hydrating- I would go with the original concealer instead of this, or just let your skin breathe!

 

 

 

 

How To Wash Your Face The RIGHT Way

Is your skin raw, irritated, imbalanced and dull?
Do you wash your face religiously and still break out?

Here are some tips I've gathered from dermatologists and experience!

1. Choose a gentle cleanser that removes dirt and makeup. The key here is finding a gentle cleanser that does not further irritate the skin further! The skin our face is so sensitive- treat it like a baby's butt. I find that using  Gentle, natural cleanser or or one with no sulfates or parabens meaning it will not foam makes my skin balanced and naturally beautiful. Also using only my fingertips helps me to be gentle.

2. Gently exfoliate 3 times a week. Exfoliation is the process of removing dull, and flaky skin from the surface to reveal fresh smooth skin beneath! Try to find a gentle exfoliant or make one at home using baking soda and water. I reccomend staying away from washcloths to scrub the skin because these can harbor bacteria and be too rough. (If you are set on a cloth, try the Norwex Antibac Cloths.) Always follow up exfoliation with drinking a tall glass of water and applying an oil free face moisturizer.

3. Begin with warm water, rinse with cold water. It's as simple as this; warm water opens your pores to get bacteria out, cold water will constrict them and make them tighter to keep bacteria out.

4. Pat the skin dry with a clean towel. Again, be gentle when absorbing excess water and make sure your towel is clean and not contributing to acne. If your clean towels are still irritating, try a laundry detergent for sensitive skin or switch to paper towels.

 

The most important tip... Don't forget to SMILE!

Evening Primrose Oil- Hormonal Acne Remedy

Evening primrose Oil is the supplement every woman should be taking!

This supplement is made from the seed of the Evening Primrose plant and can be found in most drugstores. It provides essential and healthy fatty acids, and is a known treatment for acne, excema, dry skin, PMS and psoriasis. The benefits of this oil seem to be endless, alledgedly treating a host of other issues like bone deterioration and even schizophrenia.

I have noticed slight decrease in hormonal acne since taking Evening Primrose Oil, but I have only taken it internally. Some people find that breaking the gel capsule with a needle and using it as a topical treatment is beneficial. If you are someone who could benefit from essential fatty acids and think it could help your skin, give it a go!

UPDATE: A few weeks ago I began breaking open the capsules and rubbing the oil on my clean face at night. The results are pretty amazing, It really does work as a topical treatment. I did not have any irritation and any blemishes healed faster and stayed moisturized.

I came across a great blog with before and after pictures of acne clearing results from Evening Primrose Oil.



The blog is called Almost Exactly and has amazing natural skincare tips that I totally agree with. Check it out!

Be Gentle!

 

 

The truth is, being gentle is a major key to clear skin. The goal is to balance the skin to produce just enough oil, and keep bacteria off of your face.

Most times when people struggle with acne they are too harsh with their skin. So many times we are taught to think more equals better, and naturally it is easy to think that more scrubbing, more topical treatments and more washing will make the acne go away faster.

Clearing away bacteria gently from pores is the first step, the second is to find ways to balance the skin from the inside and out. Try to treat your skin like you did before you had acne, but remember to keep it clean.