Everything I Went Through On My Skincare Journey
Let me be honest and say I’ve never had great skin. There was a time when I was so unhappy with my skin that I didn’t want to leave the house, and it really impacted my self-esteem. The thing is when I was a teenager my skin was okay, but when I became an adult I started to get a lot of cystic and hormonal acne, particularly on my chin, cheeks, and forehead; they were big and painful and I could just never get rid of them.
Over the last ten years, I’ve literally dedicated my life to learning about beauty and skincare, and now I’m in such a good place with my skin. Everything I’ve learned, from interviewing some of the best skincare experts in the world to trying thousands of products and experimenting with everything, has given me a ton of knowledge, and I’ve discovered so much about how to treat skin for it to feel happy and healthy.
For the first time in my life, I actually feel proud of my skin, and that feels so empowering. That’s why we’ve been working so hard on our skincare line, WISHFUL, and I feel so confident that this is really going to change so many people’s lives – I know it will!
My Skincare Journey
When I was younger I didn’t really think too much about my skin, it was maybe just a little uneven and rough, but nothing that really bothered me. When I was 19, I switched up my skincare and I went from doing basically nothing to doing too much. I started using a 3-step drugstore skincare kit and at the time it really aggravated my skin – it was just too abrasive for me – and this is when my skin started to turn. I got cystic acne that was particularly bad when I was hormonal; and what do you do when you break out? You put loads of products on your skin to try and make it go away – but this is the biggest mistake.
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The thing is, sometimes when you try a new product, you break out, and some people say that it’s just everything coming out, but this really isn’t the case – it’s not lurking down there dormant, waiting to come out – your skin could actually be purging (although this wasn’t the case for me). What happened to me was that I was over-drying my skin, so my sebaceous glands went into overdrive producing tons of oil and making me break out in cystic acne, which was aggravated further by hormones. Testosterone levels increase during ovulation which stimulates oil glands resulting in increased oil production – just one more thing you can thank your hormones for!
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I decided I had to try something else, so I tried the Clinique 3-Step Skincare program, and that also didn’t help my skin at the time (I actually do love the Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2). Then in my late 20s, when I started my blog, I realized that skin is an organ – it might not breathe, but it’s sensitive and it needs balance and consistency, and lots of water!
After a lot of trial and error with testing products and learning more about ingredients and how they affect the skin, I finally found what worked for my skin (check out my curent skincare routine here). So now, whenever I have a breakout, I don’t pick it or load up on products, I let it work itself out and it goes away. The only thing I like to do when I have a pimple is put a hot compress on it, which softens the oil inside and helps it to ‘drain’ more quickly. Or, if I need fast results, I use an ice cube to reduce swelling and inflammation!
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I’m also big into DIYs and always have been since I was young – it’s literally my first resort! When I became a blogger, I started studying basic ingredients – turmeric, honey, oats – and it taught me so much, and the power of good ingredients! I’ve tried lots of crazy DIYs over the years, some much better than others, and the best ones are definitely those with natural ingredients that really feed, nourish, and heal your skin. Even when I get sick I go straight to herbs – herbs like oil of oregano and echinacea – or fish oil and arnica for healing.
The latest revelation I made on my blogging journey was definitely the importance of double cleansing – like many of us, I relied on makeup wipes for a long time – and this really had a huge impact on my skin. Testing out and using our new WISHFUL skin range, understanding formulas, and layering products correctly has also been a huge part of my journey, and this is where I’ve definitely seen the biggest difference in my skin. Even when I was happy with my skin, I could never have dreamed of having the skin I have now.
I am so excited to have you guys on this journey with me and help you guys on yours, so make sure you’re following @WishfulSkin on Instagram for all my tips, experiences, and more skincare education. Two of the most transformative products I’ve ever used and slot perfectly into any routine are the Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub and Get Even Rose Oil – they literally changed my skin!
My Top Tips for Happy, Healthy Skin
1. Don’t do too much: You don’t need tons of products, and being too abrasive with your skin can do more harm than good. Your skin has a delicate pH level that needs to be kept in balance and a very delicate moisture barrier; if either of those is out of whack, pimples and dryness are much more likely.
2. Double cleanse: Removing your makeup at night is essential, but makeup wipes won’t do! I really believe the process of double cleansing, where you begin with an oil-based cleanser then follow with a water-based cleanser is the most effective.
3. Layer your skincare correctly: Making sure you apply your products in the right order is essential! Ingredients will be able to penetrate better and lock in moisture more efficiently when you apply everything in the correct order.
4. Hydration is key: Drink lots of water (two liters a day minimum) and use hydrating products as much as possible. Check out why keeping your skin hydrated is so important for more tips and tricks.
5. Find what works for you: Just because your friend swears by a product doesn’t mean it will necessarily work wonders for you too. We all have different skin concerns and you need to listen to your skin to find what works for you.
I hope you guys find these tips helpful and let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.
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