Some people tend to think that the ingredients in your cleansers and moisturizers don't matter. But it's the contrary. Ingredients such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate can really affect your skin. That's why its important to find products that don't include sulfates. I made that mistake one too many times and that's how my skin got worse through the years. Products from Shea Moisture are really good for your skin because they cut out a lot of the ingredients that tend to cause acne instead of help it.
My skin care routine changed throughout the years. I went from one product to another hoping for some cure. I tried proactive and other brands that were said to clear acne, but to no avail. When I was about 14, I really started to understand more about products and their ingredients. I started to buy African Black Soap and I use Vitamin E Oil as a moisturizer. I found that this helped to get rid of breakouts but my scars were still there. I got so stressed over my skin and that made it even worse. Before I get into my actual cleanser routine I want to start off by giving some tips that can really help you as you go through this journey.
1. Do not pick your acne.
This will really help you in the long run, especially if you are just starting to break out. If you leave it alone it will not only go away faster but it won't leave a scar.
2. Drink 12 cups of water a day with a cup of green tea.
People always say that water doesn't help with acne but it played a big part in clearing my acne. After a week my skin was glowing and I was feeling much more confident without having to deal with my beet red face.
3. Eat fruits and vegetables.
I'm not really a salad person or a vegetable person in general but when I added stuff to go along with it like chicken, fish, and other ingredients it really helped with the dull flavor of salad. Be creative with your meal plans and try to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your dish.
4. Cut out sugar, wheat, and dairy.
The reason you should cut these out is because they are very bad for your skin health. Dairy causes pimples on your forehead and chin area. I'd switch it out with almond or soy milk. Wheat and sugar cause pimples on your cheek area.
5. Don't stress over it.
This was something I always did and it just made everything worse. I learned to just chill and focus on other things. After I learned to minimize my stress , the pimples on my forehead and chin went away faster than before.
Now I'll tell you about my routine. I got my skincare routine idea from a girl on Instagram. I use Neutrogena Oil Free Cleanser and every other day I use Queen Helene Mint Julep Scrub. This really helps to get all the dead skin cells off of my face.
I got both of these cleansers from Walmart.These products aren't extremely expensive but its gonna cost you about $13 for both of them. I'm pretty sure if you added up all the wasted money you're going to spend on products that won't help, this will be cheaper.
For my toner I use Thayers Witch Hazel with the Rose water and Aloe. This helps to get all the excess dirt off of my face that my cleanser was unable to get. It also helps to smooth my scars out and soften my face. I always wake up with a glow when I put it on.
For my moisturizer I use Neutrogena Combination Skin Moisturizer. This helps to not make my skin too dry but just right. If I do feel my skin getting tight or drying I like to stick some Vitamin E Oil on it or Burt's Bee's Body Oil.
If you are keen on getting glowy skin you can do the Lemon Water Challenge. So what you do is either squeeze half a lemon or you can add 1 tbsp. of liquid lemon to a bottle or cup of your choice. I honestly don't think it matters how much water there is because the lemon is the subject of the experiment here.
I recommend using face masks 2x a week. I use BAS Face Mask (Black African Soap). This helps to calm my face and get rid of my redness. I usually take a warm bath and put a mask on there. This steams my face and helps to get rid of excess oils in my face.
Below are some masks that can really improve your skin based on your skin type.
☆Hydrating Avocado Mask☆
• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 1 teaspoon plain organic yogurt
• 1 teaspoon of honey
☆The Pore-Obliterating Egg White Mask☆
• 1 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon of orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
☆A Calming Honey Mask☆
• 2 tablespoons of pure honey
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 wedge of fresh lemon
☆Exfoliating Brown Sugar Scrub Mask☆
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil
☆Redness-Reducing Oatmeal Mask☆
• 2 tablespoons of raw oats
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1/2 of a banana
☆Blemish-Fighting Milk Mask☆
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 2 tablespoons of nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of milk
☆Anti-Aging Chocolate Mask☆
• 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons of oats
• 4 tablespoons of cream
•1/4 cup of honey
Don't get bored of taking care of your skin. Keep it clean girl ☆
