Yesterday was a busy one! Between coaching Girls on the Run, working and a blog event, I was out and about all day and happily crashed in my bed when I arrived home a little after 9 p.m.
Dr. Kulbersh/ Katie / Jen / Kseniya / Me / Brittany / Jen
Last night I headed to Dr. Kulbersh’s office to learn more about skincare and left with a sampling of Image skincare products I’m excited to try. As a I briefly alluded to in a past blog post, I feel like my skin hasn’t been the best lately (truthfully it’s the worst it’s been in years), so when Jen organized the happy hour meet up at Dr. Kulbersh’s office, I immediately marked it on my calendar and knew I wanted to attend. Plus, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet some Charlotte-area bloggers (and see Brittany again)! When I lived in Orlando there was such a great community of bloggers and I’m thrilled to be back in a city overflowing with bloggers again. (FYI for any Orlando bloggers out there –> Definitely check out the Central Florida Lady Bloggers Facebook group. They organize tons of fun meet ups!)
If I notice any positive changes with my skin following the use of the Image products, I’ll let you know! And if you’ve had great experiences with certain skincare products, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I recently went off birth control (no, not trying to get pregnant – just didn’t like the way I felt on it and I’m not crazy about the hormones) and my skin totally freaked out. I’ve actually talked to quite a few friends who had the same thing happen with their skin, so I’m hoping some of you out there may have experienced something similar and may have some skincare recommendations for us! I’m looking to up my skincare regimen to try to get my skin back to a good place.
Workout + Breakfast
Today’s workout was another Pure Barre class. I’m determined to get my 20 classes in this month and complete my studio’s challenge! I want that discount next month!
Once I made it home, I prepared a bowl of cinnamon banana egg white oatmeal.
Served with some sparkling water on the side!
Yum!
Question of the Morning
- If you have a skincare regimen you love or use certain products that you would recommend, please let me know! I’m in the market to switch things up and get my breakouts under control.
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I kind of feel the same way about my skin right now. Hope it helps.
It’s definitely frustrating. I didn’t think that at 29 my skin would be worse than it was in high school. I’m hoping to find something that helps!
I’m the same age and never had problems with acne in high school. I guess it’s payback for having clear skin then?!
Scientist here-hormone fluctuations occur throughout our life and it’s very common to have a surge in hormone levels in the mid to late twenties for females. This could be a contributing factor to more frequent breakouts during this time. Just my 2 cents.
Hi Julie!
I have a friend who experienced the exact same problem (aka went of birth control and had her skin totally freaked out). She did some research and found some stuff about fish oil supplements to help fix her skin problems. She loves it! She says they cleared her skin right up and she’s been taking them ever since.
Hope that helps!
Interesting! Thanks so much for sharing!
I use the Rodan and Fields line and it has totally cleared up acne for me!
I’ve been having the same problem! I had great skin my whole life, and within the past 2-3 years it’s been TERRIBLE. Nothing seems to be working. I’m currently on a Retinol cream for nights, but it still isn’t doing its job in my opinion. Hope you find something that works soon! Can’t wait to hear about your new skincare routine!
My skin has never looked or felt better than when using Origins Dr. Weil’s Mega-Mushroom products. It’s a little pricy but it’s incredible! I use the face serum, cream, and cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling super soft, breakout-free, and gives me a slight glow! 🙂
Last night they recommended a four-product routine (high quality cleanser, an anti-aging AM serum, a face lotion with SPF and a repair PM cream) which was new information for me! I clearly have a lot to learn since I just wash my face with face wash and use moisturizer (the same kind I’ve been using since high school)!
I recently got off birth control and I’ve had the same problem! I used Proactiv growing up (I just turned 27), and it really worked until my skin started to become immune to it. About a year ago, I found Clinique’s Acne Solutions Clear Skin System at Sephora and have been using it ever since. It has definitely helped to improve my skin. The spot treatment/clearing gel is THE BEST; however, it’s not included in the kit.
I’m interested to find out how your new products work! 🙂
Ryan has great things to say about Proactiv, too. I’m glad you found something new that’s working for you!
My Dermalogica products mixed with quarterly facials worked wonders on my skin! Totally worth the money to me.
I’ve started using a lot of products from DoTerra and I love them!
Rodan and Fields!! Expensive but worth it!! If you ever decide to order it my sister sells it.
When my skin started freaking out last year I started using CeraVe (cleanser and moisturizer) on the advice of my dermatologist, it’s all I will use now- that and coconut oil on problem spots at night.
I had the same problem when I went off birth control. My skin really freaked out. I went to my dermatologist who put me on this really great cream Tazorac and a pill called Nicotinamide, which is vitamin B3. This made a HUGE improvement to my skin. I eventually went back on the bc (after finding the one that worked best for me), but what my derm prescribed made my life bearable again.
I’ve had terrible skin since junior high and hate that I’ve still had that teenager embarrassment over breakouts. Earlier this year my friend launched an all-natural skin care line called Hippie Skin. I tried it just to support her more than anything but I was really shocked when it cleared up my skin super quickly and wasn’t drying or irritating at all. I know skin is different for everyone but I really can’t recommend it enough. I first started using it while I was out of town and the first thing my husband said when I returned home was that my skin looked so healthy. That meant the world to me. I wrote a post about it a while back, you can find it here: http://thefamilypracticeblog.com/2014/08/hippie-skin-product-review/
A lot of those products are actually counterproductive to getting rid of acne and fixing skin problems. Look into the oil cleansing method. It replenishes the oils your skin NEEDS to stay healthy. I add a bit of mineral salt to my mixture for some exfoliation and I literally could not be happier with the results.
I love the Juice Beauty skincare line. I’m really conscious of what ingrediants are in my skincare/cosmetics and this is a brand I trust. There are no harmful ingrediants and it’s all organic. I have been using their Green Apple age defy skincare products and love them all!
After having clear skin all throughout high school and college, something flipped when I was about 23 (26 now) and I tried everything to get my skin under control.
I found that the best thing that works for me is a combination of three things, the Clarisonic Mia used with Fresh Soy Face Cleanser once a day (I’ll use the Mia at night and just the face wash in the morning), Queen Helen’s Mint Julep Mask twice a week and Cetaphil as my lotion.
My skin was never TERRIBLE, but I would get little bumps and a big pimple every now and then, especially around my period but now, clear skin for days 🙂
My skin totally freaks out around my period. I feel ya! So happy you found something to help clear everything up!
I second the mint julep mask – I use it about once a week on my t-zone and it works wonders.
First Aid which you can purchase from Sephora has been amazing for me. I used to have a lot of skin issues (breakouts, rashes) and their line is just the best! Hope you skin impoves quickly. I know how frustrating it can be.
Mario Badescu’s Buffering Lotion is an awesome product for ALL breakouts, though it says it mainly aims to treat cystic acne.. I had bad skin in high school, then grew out of it and had great skin for about 6 years… but about a year ago it came back with a vengeance. I used EVERY drugstore product imaginable, then decided to give this stuff a try after I read a review online and had used a sample face wash of theirs that I really liked.
It’s a little pricy at about $18 but it is so worth every penny, not to have to pile on concealer or be insecure when I’m makeup-less at the gym. It is seriously a game changer, give it a try before you shell out money for a dermatologist!
The same thing happened to me after birth control at 25. My doctor told me it would be considered “hormonal” acne. (I would even get terrible cystic bumps on my chin) I’ve always had pretty perfect skin so it was a a bummer. After trying what seems like everything on the planet, a girl at Ulta recommended Dermalogica’s medibac face wash. It is specifically for adult acne and has COMPLETELY changed my skin! I use it in the morning with mario badsecu toner (cucumber cleansing lotion) and philosophy’s take a deep breath moisturizer. The moisturizer is gel based so it’s better at preventing build up and clogging pores. (I use the SPF one in the squeeze tube.) And at night I just switch my cleanser to Philosophy Purity with a clarisonic. I’ve tried all sorts of combos but this has worked the best! If anything, I swear by the dermalogica!
YES to the cystic bumps on my chin!!!!!! That is my biggest complaint w/ my skin right now. So glad you found a skincare routine you love!
My skin does the same thing. I also get terrible headaches. I still use some teen products because it keeps that in check, but I know I need to switch it up.
I just use Up&UP morning cleanser and my face has been doing quite alright. I really love “Take a Deep Breath” by Philosophy. It is a wonderful moisturizer if you ever need one!
http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Breath-Oil-free-Energizing-Moisturizer/dp/B007KJ04EG/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1412773703&sr=8-31&keywords=hope+in+a+jar
Coconut oil is so great for the skin and a great make up remover!
This happened to me after I got Merena…my skin got a little oily and now I’m prone to breakouts on my chin…which sucks. I started using the Neutrogena pink grapfruit scrub in the morning then liberally applying their daily moisturizer before putting on makeup. I decided to try out their gentle daily cleanser to remove makeup at the end of the day and its AH-MAZING! It lathers JUST enough so I feel completely clean after using it then I liberally apply good ole Ponds dry skin cream at night. This daily routine has helped my face so much over the past few months, but, understandably so everyone reacts to things differently. But, that’s what worked for me 🙂
My skin went insane after I went of BC pills, too. We started the FAM route to prevent pregnancy which worked for several months. But, we weren’t careful one time and we got a surprise. He’s a happy healthy little surprise about to turn one year old soon. 🙂
Try taking L-lysine… it is an amino acid. Does wonders!!
i agree! i started taking it as a way to ward off cold sores and i think it really works! you have to take it consistently and build it up in your system, in my experience, and you can’t fall off the wagon. it’s amazing!
A few years ago when I went off the pill and was having the same problems, I read about and started using M2 High Potency Skin Refresh. It’s over $30 on Amazon, but it takes well over a year to use one bottle, so the price isn’t too bad. It did a great job of dealing with the acne (though not as great a job as going back on the pill, which I ultimately did).
Girl, my skin has been going crazy for the past year, so I feel your pain! I’ve found a couple of things that have really helped me lately. First of all, I started taking a super food supplement from Skoop called B-Lovely. For my physical skincare, I switched to Alba Botanica’s Acne-Dote line. Between the two, I feel like my face is finally starting to clear up and not break out everyday. Now, I just need to find something to help with these pesky scars…
I have to recommend the unblemish line from Rodan & fields. I am 41 and tried everything listed above and had cystic acne which takes forever to heal. So by the time your next period rolls around, a new one shows up. It’s worth every penny to me and I am impressed with the texture of my skin now. Also makes makeup a lot easier to put on in the morning. 🙂
Hi Julie!
As someone who has struggled with acne well into my 20’s, I understand how frustrating and even embarrassing acne can be! Over the past two years, I have completely changed the way I care for my skin. I try to use as many natural products a possibles and avoid harsh chemicals at all costs. My skin is clear and dewy every morning when I wake up! I used to feel like I had to use foundation every day, but now I only use a little concealer under my eyes and a light dusting of powder. I have sensitive combination skin, so this is just what works for my skin:
Face wash: I either make my own using Dr. Bronner’s castile soap in lavender (diluted with an equal part of water) or I use Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Cleanswer in Cumcumber + Watercress. This face wash is so gentle and leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean without stripping it of natural oils.
Toner: Again, I make my own using Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar (1 part ACV to 3 parts filtered water). The ratio will depend on your skin’s specific needs. Start with less ACV and work your way up, it is strong! If I’m not using ACV as a toner, I buy Everyday Coconut Water Face Toner.
Moisturizer: I am all about using natural oils to moisturize my skin! My favorites are rose hip oil and vitamin E oil. During the day, I prefer to use rose hip oil because it is less greasy, if you have oily skin, it may be too much. At night, I use a combination of the two. It is great because by morning, the oils have worked their magic and left me with fresh dewy skin. Both are good for acne scarring and vitamin E is super moisturizing.
Acne Treatment: When I do have the occasional acne spot, I prefer to use tea tree oil. It is all natural and has antiseptic qualities. It is best to do a patch test to see how your skin reacts to it, as it can be very strong. When using on your face, it is suggested to dilute with water, other oils, etc.
I know how difficult it can be to struggle with acne. When you eat clean, exercise daily, and generally take care of yourself, it can be really frustrating. Experiment with different products to find what works best for you, it’s a personal journey and decision. Hope the information I provided helps a little. Best of luck!
Seriously, coconut oil is what’s up. And for your hair too!
hahaha sorry, wrong post!
Ooooh, I want to try some of the more natural products! Love this list from Maeghan. I’ve also battled bad skin off and on, for what feels like my entire life. In my late 20s, in grad school, it went bat shit crazy. I had a lot of breakouts on my chin, which the doctor told me is hormonal. Anyway, the doctor had the most glowy beautiful skin and she used Retin-A. She started me off on that and I’ve built up over the years to using a higher percentage (1%) with no flakey skin. In the beginning, it got worse for about the first six weeks, my skin looked terrible but over time it drastically DRASTICALLY improved my skin.
I recently went off birth control (just didn’t like the way it make me felt either) and I got some breakouts on the chin, cheeks, and forehead. It seems to be calming down – maybe just takes your skin/hormones a bit to adjust? I just use Cetaphil and Neutrogena sunscreen most days, but I did start using my Clarisonic more at night. I have a friend who is a plastic surgeon though, and she swears by Murad products and NARS concealer!
Hi! I definitely recommend you take a look at Caroline Hirons’ website – she is a professional skincare specialist in the beauty industry and by following her recommendations (products, routine) my sensitive skin has really benefited.
Good luck !
I swear by tea tree oil and coconut oil! I have always had zits and started using straight tea tree oil on a cotton ball, followed by coconut oil to moisturize at night. I sometimes skip a night of tea tree oil if my face is dry, but it works for me! It did take about 2 months to really work but I’ve done it for 2 years now with great results! And I had tried LOTS of Rx and OTC things for it before!
Seriously, coconut oil is what’s up. And for your hair too!
I love using baking soda as an exfoliant!!! Once or twice a week to get rid of that dead skin seems perfect! Loving the all natural theme!
I am 46, not too bad of skin, but have started noticing that under my eyes is starting to show my age….aaaaakkkkk!!! The skin seems dry and I haven’t found an under eye cream that seems to make much difference.
So, I am on the lookout for something that will work. I did try some sort of stuff that seemed to burn my skin, so that was not a wise choice.
I am pretty dumb about skin care too, and I know I should be more concerned the closer I get to 50. I am pretty sure soap and water and a quick moisturizer aren’t the best routine.
I had the exact same experience with the pill. Worst breakouts of my life! I had to go back on Accutane, not the most pleasant treatment, but it definitely worked!
I’ve given up dairy completely in the past year, and that’s helped dramatically to tame everyday breakouts. This is coming from someone who’s seriously tried every prescription acne treatment. Best of luck to you. I know it’s frustrating, but remember that no breakout can “blemish” your inner-beauty! 🙂
This is hit or miss depending on your skin type, but I use coconut oil and take a fish oil supplement (although I’ve heard buying a bottle of it and taking a spoonful/putting it on salads is better for absorption). The coconut oil makes my skin glow and really helped with breakouts, as well as the fish oil just making my skin/hair/nails look better. Again I think this is hit or miss, but it’s an inexpensive thing to try! PS I put the coconut oil on at night since it takes a bit to be absorbed/not look shiny
I have been a long time blog reader. One of the blogs I have always followed is cleaneatingchelsey. She recommended and did a post on Simone France. I am a sucker and bit the bullet and ordered the line of products. It was expensive and a process, but for the first time in my life my skin cleared up. I highly recommend it and maybe check out her blog post on the products. She did a great post on her experience with the products.
I love her blog!! I’ll definitely go back and check out that post. Thanks for the heads up!
That place mat makes me all sorts of happy. I love holiday decor. As far as skincare–mine was awesome for the couple months i was on birth control (I didn’t like the way I felt on it either hence why it only lasted a few months). I used pro activ for about 6 months. It dried my skin out like crazy while I was using it, but I haven’t broken out since!
http://highonclearskin.com/
This is a very informative website I found. If you go to the top of the main page and click “how to get clear”, you’ll find loads of natural skincare info. I have struggled with horrible acne for most of my life and turning to natural remedies was the best thing I ever did. It really is about ‘cleaning’ your system from the inside out and regulating your hormones is a big part of that. Good luck!
Thank you for sharing, Rachel!
After college, my face went all sorts of crazy and broke out in huge cystic acne. Painful and painful to look at. I tried a bunch of different products, but the only thing that has really helped has been adding Witch Hazel to my routine. I use Biore face wash, then use the Witch Hazel as a toner, then Cetaphil lotion. My skin’s not perfect, but the cystic acne has pretty much stopped and I only get little pimples now and that’s pretty sporadic. I hope the new skin care line works for you! Not feeling like you can put your best face forward can be such a self-esteem killer. I turned into such a hermit when my acne was at it’s worst!
Hi Julie- being that your are off BC and maybe thinking about family planning in the near future (ish) starting prenatal vitamins could help. They have fish oil in them as well as a ton of other vitamins that may help clean up your skin. Worked for me! just a thought…!
Julie, I recently switched over to Annmarie Gianni Skin Care http://www.annmariegianni.com. It’s all organic and made with botanicals and oils. They have products for every type of skin. I wanted to switch to something all natural because many of the commercial products have the sulfates and other stuff that dry out the skin causing the body to produce more oil. So their philosophy (I think) is to hydrate the skin with oil so the body doesn’t feel the need to over produce it. The products are amazing! It takes a little getting used to because they aren’t all lathery but my skin has never been better. I won’t ever go back. (that just sounded like a commercial! LOL but I really can’t say enough good things) Good luck with your search!
Agreed on tea tree oil for spot treatment/scar reduction, and also apple cider vinegar for a toner.
Check out Liz Wolfe’s website, she has great natural skincare advice:
http://realfoodliz.com/
Hi Julie! I definitely feel your pain in the breakout department. I”ve had acne on and off for my whole life, but recently switched birth control pills to be on a lower dose and also found that my skin freaked out! Some things I think that have worked for me are: probiotics (support good bacteria and immune function; I definitely notice a correlation), drinking green smoothies, avoiding high glycemic index foods (aka white bread, refined sugars), limiting dairy (I still sneak it some milk in my tea + cheese from time to time), and the SkinCeuticals line of skin care products has been a life saver for me! Their products are expensive, but SO worth it! I use the Blemish + Age defense, which is awesome for tackling both issues!
LOVE the Mary Kay Time Wise 4-step system also. It has worked wonders for me!
Hi Julie! When I went off birth control I had the worst acne. Especially cystic painful acne on my chin. I was off bc for 4 years 24-28 and honestly my skin was pretty bad the entire time. I stopped eating dairy which helped a little bit. I went to the dermatologist and she told me I had hormonal acne and the only thing that would help was going back on birth control pill. Which I did, along with using differin gel at night. My skin is 1000 times better now plus I can eat dairy again without my skin flipping out.. I am so with you about not wanting to be on hormones but my skin was so bad I felt like I had no choice but to go back on it. I appreciate you being so honest on your blog 🙂
I use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and CeraVe SA Renewing Lotion. I’ve been using both for 4-5 years because they are gentle and effective on my sensitive/dry/oily skin. A little bit goes a long way of both products, too!
I’ve heard great things about ProActiv. A few people have mentioned using coconut oil on problem areas- I’m curious about this!
Hey Julie-
This isn’t necessarily skin care per se, but have you changed up your make up? I switched over to bare minerals makeup and it has seriously helped. I feel like my skin can breathe and it’s really helped the appearance of my skin. Might be worth a try!
I’ve had horrible skin all my life and tried every cream and potion there is. I finally had luck with something fairly simple: Clarisonic. It’s a little pricey so try a cheaper version like an Olay brush to see if it helps after a few weeks. I found that getting improved exfoliation with a brush helped my other products work (gentle soap like Purpose). When I was having real trouble (pre-Clarisonic), I had luck with products containing sulfur (I used one called DDF from Sephora) as opposed to benzoyl peroxide.
Good luck! I know it can be super frustrating!
Hi Julie,
I am a huge fan of The Body Shop. I have been using their skincare and makeup for years and it is the only stuff that has worked on my skin. They use natural ingredients and are against animal testing. They have different lines for what type of skincare you need. It can be a little pricy, but they always have special deals and promotions. Also, if you join their Love your Body rewards system (for free) you get an extra 10% off plus extra perks.
Hope this helps!
FUN! I definitely miss meeting up with the Central Florida Lady Bloggers. That was a great group 🙂 Also, call me crazy, but I ordered Derm off of an infomercial at 2 a.m. (I’m pathetic) a month and a half ago… and LOVE it. Hehe! http://www.beachbody.com/product/beauty/derm-exclusive/anti-aging-skin-care-at-home.do?e=269015&code=SEMB_DE_GOOGLE&LID={IFCONTENT:88456128}{IFSEARCH:88456285}
I seriously swear by the The Complexion Concierge. http://www.complexionconcierge.com/ For $150 she Skypes with you to address your skin issues and goals, goes over all the products you use, and then makes recommendations for changes and setting up a routine.
She makes no commission off of any product recommendations, and ends up recommending way more drug store skincare products than department store. She looks at all the ingredients and breaks down what works for you and what doesn’t.
I was prepared to spend a lot of money getting skincare products from Sephora and she recommended $20 serum from Target. For the first time ever I have a daily skincare routine and feel like I know what I’m doing with my skin. My husband is a client of hers too now!
I am having the same problem!!! Ever since I got off birth control, a year ago, my skin has freaked out. I used to have almost perfect skin and rarely a single blemish. Now I have been breaking out and have cystic acne on my chin/chest 🙁 I hate it!!! Please keep us posted on what you find that works – I have been needing to find a new skin care routine that will help!