I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to keeping my skin clear. It’s time to share the wealth with any of you who might be struggling with acne, occasional breakouts, or just need a good spot treatment for those one-off situations. I am constantly trying new things and I finally feel like I’m in a place where I’m happy with my skin and my regimen is working. YAY! You can skip down to the links below if you’re just here for the goods 😉
Let me start by saying that I’ve struggled with acne for YEARS. I began seeing a dermatologist for acne towards the end of high school because I was breaking out all over my chest and back with a few occasional pimples on my face as well. I was prescribed all sorts of washes and creams for years to try and combat the breakouts. Around my sophomore year of college I started getting these tiny little pimples all over my forehead that wouldn’t go away! After trying a few different topical creams that didn’t help, I was put on a low-dose antibiotic. This definitely helped the problem, but unfortunately it wasn’t safe to continue taking the medication long-term. I found this out the hard way and eventually went off the prescription and my acne issues returned. When I moved to LA and started my first job out of college with my very own health insurance, I found a new dermatologist on the west coast. She seemed super knowledgable on my options and warned me to never go back on the low-dose antibiotic again because of the side effects. She too wanted to try all sorts of prescription topical creams but found that none really helped on a consistent basis. At this point it was clear that we needed something stronger and she offered me two solutions: I could go on an oral medication indefinitely that would cure my acne so long as I was taking it every day, OR I could go on accutane for 6 months and my acne would most likely be permanently gone. After much research and consideration, I opted for accutane because despite the awful reputation and potential side effects, I would rather only have to take a prescription for 6 months than to rely on taking something every day indefinitely. So I went through one round of accutane and actually found that it wasn’t nearly as bad as people on the internet made it out to be! I was really good about keeping my skin moisturized while I was taking it and I didn’t experience any of the negative side effects that people often mention. I actually kind of enjoyed being on it, to be honest. I could go an entire week without washing my hair because my scalp never produced any oil. A lazy girls dream! Afterwards my skin was AMAZING!! It was clear and glowing and I would happily walk around without a stitch of makeup on. It was heaven. About 9 months to a year after I finished this round of accutane, my skin problems slowly began returning. I went back to the dermatologist and she told my that my acne issues were most likely hormonal and therefore accutane could not permanently get rid of my acne. She offered me more topical creams and feeling extremely discouraged, I stopped seeing my dermatologist in LA and began doing my own research. Which brings me to today….!!! Sorry for the extremely long story with lots of unnecessary details, but here are my best kept skincare secrets:
This has made the biggest difference in my skin since I began taking it every day! Tula is a daily probiotic + skin health supplement formulated by a gastroenterologist. Each pill also includes your daily dose of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant shown to help with skin tone, texture and visibly improve firmness and elasticity. It is Gluten Free, Lactose-Free, Soy-Free, 100% Vegetarian, Non-GMO & Cruelty Free.
Lysine is often given to people who suffer from cold sores, but it also has so many other amazing health benefits! It helps to clear acne. Lysine is one of the key components of collagen, along with glycine, proline, and other amino acids. These molecules combine to form proteins throughout the body. Within the skin, collagen is one of the most abundant and important proteins, as it provides the skin with its firm, healthy structure. It combats lines and wrinkles, fights hair loss and improves bone health. Are you sold yet!? I take 1-2 lysine pills per day on an empty stomach (usually morning and night).
I was given this spot treatment as a gift a few years ago and it is hands down the best spot treatment I’ve ever used. Boy am I glad that I stumbled across this hidden gem! I’ve never met anyone else who has heard of this treatment, so you’re truly getting my best kept secret right now. The best part about Clear? It’s made of a blend of powerful herbs and organic alcohol, so there are no harsh chemicals in it!!! Can you say hell yeah?! I use this treatment as instructed whenever I have a pimple or can feel one coming on and they disappear so. much. quicker. My only warning is that if you have fair skin, you will be able to see the treatment on your skin. I have a dark, olive complexion so it usually blends in well on my skin.
I discovered dream dots not too long ago, and they are the most genius invention! Basically these are small, clear sticker-like dots that you apply over your pimples. They don’t contain any medication so you don’t have to worry about having a reaction or them drying out your skin. They work their magic by creating an optimal environment for your skin to heal in. Instead of trying to zap or dry out your pimple, they simply create a clean, moist environment for your skin to heal on it’s own without any outside factors. The material is the same technology that doctors have used for years to speed up skin healing. It sounds kind of crazy, but trust me, they work. Depending on where your pimple is, they can be easy to camouflage on your face and you can even wear makeup on top of them. I’ve been known to go out in public with them on my face, but if you’re not daring enough for that then just stick one on as soon as you’re home for the night and leave it on overnight/as long as you can. It’s ready to come off when it turns white! If I have a super persistant pimple, I’ll use the clear spot treatment followed by a dream dot on top!
I can’t take the credit for this one, my best friend is actually the one who discovered it and convinced me to try it as well. Hibiclens is an antiseptic soap that kills bacteria. Bacteria is found deep inside the pores and feeds on excess sebum (oil) which creates an environment for bacteria to flourish and leads to breakouts. Hibiclens can help inhibit more growth of bacteria and treat infected areas. I use hibiclens in the shower as a face wash. This little bottle is magic, just see for yourself! One thing to know: you should only use this as necessary or 3x per week max! Read this to find out why.
That’s it, my friends!!! I hope all of these products are as helpful for you as they have been for me. Have you heard of any of them before? If you have success with them please let me know!! I linked all the products I mentioned down below.
