So here’s the deal. Over the years I’ve tried a gazillion face care products. Haven’t we all? I had really bad acne as a teenager, but that’s stale & crusty news since I’m an old bitty now. What was going on in the past few months was my face getting all oily like an oil slick. And also these really huge painful pimples. Not this bad, but pretty close.
It’s all been very confusing, because I do eat healthy and hydrate properly. I suspect it’s hormonal due to my age. But to make matters worse, I’d pick and claw at my pimples, causing scabs and really bad scarring. Gack!
But I’m not the kind of bitty to just sit back and take it on the chin. Hormonal or not, I found a way to fight back to keep my skin healthy and feeling all fantastic ‘n stuff. And guess what ya’ll… IT’S REALLY WORKING!!
**A shout to Yum Yucky reader-pal, Melinda, who asked about my skincare routine. I’m gonna break it down for you guys right now…
CLEANSING ROUTINE
1. Dove Soap: I cleanse my face twice per day with Dove. This helps to remove the main layer of grime and makes for a cleaner face when I use my 2nd face cleansing product. Dove doesn’t bother my face. I still have to do a thorough study of the ingredients, but for now, it’s what I’m using.
2. doTERRA ClearSkin Foaming Face Wash: OMG! It’s a miracle worker. This face wash is kinda pricey and the bottle is small, but there’s no going back once you’ve tried it. doTERRA Face Wash contains the essential oils of black cumin seed, rosewood, eucalyptus globulus, geramium, lemongrass and melaleuca. Try finding that powerhouse combo in a face product at your local drugstore. NOPE! This cleanser has a pleasing natural smell and is gentle on the skin. The bottle is small, but you only need two pumps of the foam. The bottle will last much longer than you might think.
- doTERRA Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash product
- doTERRA Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash Product Information Page
- introduction to essential oils
3. doTERRA Pore Reducing Toner: You might think all toners are the same, or it’s not a big deal and it’s okay to put any toner/astringent on your pretty little face, but doTERRA’s Pore Reducing Toner is da bomb! This toner contains the essential oils of lavender, ylang ylang, and german chamomile. The doTERRA people say their toner “works with cutting edge ingredients to calm sensitive skin, inhibit skin irritation, and reduce oxidative stress to skin cells”. And ya, I gotta tell ya it’s true. I can attest to their claims. My skin is feeling might-tee fine and looking good.
MOISTURIZING AND RENEWAL
1. Shea Butter: My information on African Shea Butter explains the benefits in full detail, so right here I’ll just tell you that in addition to using it on my (sexy?) body, as well as having the rest of the family use it (we threw out all other lotions), I also use the Shea Butter under my eyes. It alleviates that dried up, tired look while delivering vitamins A & E to my skin, naturally reducing inflammation, and serves as a natural sunscreen. I introduced my mother to Shea butter several months ago and it’s now the ONLY thing she will use to moisturize her face. She also uses it as an under eye cream. Do NOT use raw Shea if you have nut allergies since this stuff comes straight from the nut of the tree.
2. Fractionated Coconut Oil: Ahhh. This stuff is so nice and light. It won’t clog your pores or leave your skin greasy. This oil is many times used as a carrier oil to be mixed with other ingredients, but I use it alone to serve as my primary face moisturizer. Fractionated Coconut Oil also has both antiseptic and disinfectant properties, which obviously helps to keep the face clean and fresh. You only need 2-3 drops on the face to moisturize daily.
3. Colloidal Silver First Aid Gel: If you haven’t yet read my post on the facts and benefits of colloidal silver liquid, please read it now. Silver gel offers the same exact benefits, but it’s more useful as external remedy for it’s gel-like property, which helps it cling to the skin better than the liquid will. I used silver gel daily when I was picking at my face pimples. That picking caused my skin to be broken and sometimes bleed at the pimple site, which then led to scarring. GACK! Using the gel expedited the healing of my skin. The scarring marks are fading nicely, which I believe is due to both the silver gel and the doTERRA products.
- Sovereign Colloidal Silver First Aid Gel product (top of the line brand!)
4. Boots Total Renewal Microdermabrasion: I’ve really loved this stuff, but in the process of writing this blog post, I learned that the product contains “Paraffinum Liquidum” (mineral oil). BUMMER! I won’t be continuing to use it any longer. It’s going in the trash. I’ll find a better alternative for at-home microdermabrasion that does NOT contain toxic mineral oil, and will report back to you with what I’m using. And so the anti-mineral oil saga continues…
So there ya have it! These are the products I use and I’m thoroughly pleased. Not all of these products are cheap, but it’s worth the investment. My face is happy now. The prior inflammation was put under control, the breakouts have ceased, there’s no more oil slicks, and my face is clearing of scarring and marks very nicely.
Whether you choose to explore these products or something else, just make sure it’s a quality product that’s as close to natural as possible, and will promote the health of your skin. Happy facial-ing everybody! XO
I rely on those facial cleaning cloths too much. I should look at what’s in them. :/ I need to get some of that shea.
Barbara recently posted..Smile! Eat Your Veggies!
After acne I could NOT get rid of, I finally tried proactiv and honestly, it’s the only thing that has worked for my skin. Now I just get the occasional pimple, where as my before, my whole face was a mess! I really want to switch to a natural product soon, but I have to say, Proactiv is getting the job done!
Oh. Em. Gee. When I clicked the link and saw that pimple I almost fainted!
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Twitter: YumYucky
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LOL! well you know me. That’s the reaction I was hoping you’d have. ha! #sinister
Yum Yucky recently posted..More Bullshit From Artificial Sweeteners Like Sucralose (aka, Splenda)
My skin is pretty good and if I leave it mostly alone, generally it doesn’t bother me either. I just wash my with organic goats milk soap and put a good face lotion with spf 15 on morning and night. I have found a lotion to help my dry cracked hands from being washed so much (between working in a lab and having a sick husband I’m washing my hands a lot these days). If you’re looking for a natural based amazing hand/body cream I would recommend Aroma Crystal Therapy Gardener’s Dream Cream. Sounds all hippy dippy, but it’s all natural ingredients and I’ve never found a better working hand cream for dry, cracked or chapped hands…
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I’ve tried using the pure organic unrefined Shea butter. I was making whips for my skin with coconut, grape seed and sweet almond oils. At first it was great! But then I noticed that I was getting really dry spots on my upper arms and my shins. Plus I was beginning to ruin my black clothes. They started to form a white film and re washing was not making it better. I had to throw them out.
Maybe I had an allergy to it?
I am now using the burts bees Cocoa & Cupuaçu Butters Body Lotion. That seems to be doing the trick.
So much with making my own lotions!!!
Twitter: YumYucky
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Did you test the shea, coconut and other oils separately on your skin over a period of time too see if you had a reaction to any? I’m glad you mentioned this, though, because I soon plan to whip up my own lotion combos as well. We’ll see how it goes! (nice to see you here, BTW) #smiles
Yum Yucky recently posted..More Bullshit From Artificial Sweeteners Like Sucralose (aka, Splenda)
Well I had used the coconut oil and the other oils in just my hair and it was fine. I never tried independently on my skin. I can still use the shea on my lips and face though, purely. Hmmmm
I’m scared to ruin any more black clothes! And I have lots. I am like the Puerto Rican Johnny Cash! So be careful with your black clothes. Maybe it needs to be diluted down more? That shea definitely is non saponifiable!! Tried to wash that sucka out with hot water and tide and clothes still came out with that white film.
Thanks for having me on here! I decided to sneak attack ya!!!!
Twitter: YumYucky
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You are “sneak attack” approved, my friend! I wear a lot of dark colors myself. Never had an issue. Are you maybe using too much? (just troubleshooting). I smather the shea on my legs, back, booty, arms, feet, hands… I tried grapeseed on my bod, but it was too oily by itself and didn’t hydrate the way I needed it to. Coconut oil, I do put a small tad on my neck, like under the chin and collarbone area.
Yum Yucky recently posted..More Bullshit From Artificial Sweeteners Like Sucralose (aka, Splenda)
Thanks for the update
I had acne when I was a kid then it cleared up mostly (except a little once a month), for YEARS, since college til about a yr ago and now my face is pretty bad. I guess it’s from stopping eating meat every day like I used to, since that’s what’s changed around that time. I will def look into this company you’re using. Thanks for the nut allergy warning on the shea butter. I do have them so I’ll skip that. I’ve been taking apple cider vinegar and probiotics pills to try and get the acne out from the inside, since different brands of acne cleaners haven’t worked. I don’t know that they’re doing anything at all.
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Twitter: truth2beingfit
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Thx Josie!!! I was curious about your routine so bookmarking this & reading more carefully & also to see how it all will work with this 55 year old age ravaged skin!
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I had horrible skin issues on my face for years. You know what solved them? Just rinsing my face with… WATER. The only time I use a cleanser or soap of any kind on my face is when I’ve worn make-up (which is super rare- like maybe 5 times a year) and then I use Mary Kay’s Timewise facial cleanser. I almost never have any issues with my skin since I’ve switched to doing that. Same goes with their make-up- thier foundation is the only one I have ever found that doesn’t make me break out horribly within an hour of putting it on.
Dove and Ivory both make me break out horribly anywhere on my body I might use them as do pretty much any moisturizers I’ve ever tried.
My skin can get a little dry in winter, but its not bad enough to bother me.
Definitely glad to see you’ve got a routine that works for you though! It can be hard finding just the right way to care for your face!
Deb recently posted..Thursday Day 447 to Saturday Day 449 Food Diary
So Im a fairly regular lurker… but I’m 30 with 2 baby girls and I’ve always had super bad acne…everywhere face neck back ewww I know but about a couple of years ago I went natural and discovered African Balck Soap and have Fallen in LOVE.. I spent hundreds of dollars trying acne products clean and clear nutregena noxema ect ect and I was always consistent.. It wasnt until I got to high school when I fond that clinique worked the best but I couldnt really afford it especially once i Got to college… I tried proactive made things worse.. after having my duaghters i started getting more hormonal an cystic acne even tried expensive dermatolgist prescribed stuff didnt work
Now my regime consists of washing my face morning and night with african black soap (3.00) and toning with witch hazel and moisturizing with vit e and jojoba oil.. this has been my life saver and ifs CHEAP
Shut it! You use doTerra! I love their oils. Pretty sure my kitchen looks like a witches…People always ask me why I have oils….Potions are the best!
Jennifer recently posted..It Has Only Just Begun
I know it’s been around a while but I am digging Shea Butter…I have very fair skin and it makes it feel soooooo good… Love your blog YY (Love the sucrolose expose’)
Thanks!
Sue recently posted..Home Remedies for Growing Long Eyelashes
Twitter: YumYucky
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Hi Sue! Isn’t She Butter the best? I can’t imagine going back to regular lotions now. No way! Thanks SO MUCH for breezing by the blog today. I really appreciate it!