Picture this: cystic acne, hyperpigmentation, and a desperate attempt to find that magic potion in a sea of skincare products. I’ve been there, spending insane amounts of money on mystery concoctions that sometimes resulted in allergic reactions. That was a little a glimpse into my own story.The struggle was not just physical but emotional, with people openly questioning my appearance. Jump to Steps
‘What happened to your face?’
‘What happened to your skin? your family doesn’t have that bumpy skin.’
‘Omg, where’s your makeup!?’
‘Do you always look so bad without makeup?’
‘Why are you wearing so much makeup?’ 🙄
The barrage of comments made me extremely self-conscious. I felt alone and frustrated. Everyone seemed to have it so easy, eating junk, smoking and drinking and still having perfect skin.
Today, my insecurities linger, but not nearly as bad as back then. It took a journey of self-love and acceptance to reach this point, where I can believe someone when they say I have nice skin, without feeling the need to explain how much makeup played a role in it.
8 Things I Did To Calm My Acne, Reduce Hyperpigmentation And Feel Confident
1. High Impact Workouts
After spending money month after month on products that did not work, I finally went to my doctor as a last resort. I fully expected him to prescribe me a harsh topical treatment, but to my surprise he told me to workout more. I was always quite active, so I was happy for his holistic approach. Getting into some intense workouts really made me break a sweat, and I noticed it did wonders for my skin, giving it a healthier glow in just a few months.
2. Minimal Products
I embraced a skin fasting approach, using the absolute minimal of products to let my skin breathe and heal. The idea behind skin fasting is to allow the skin to reset and regulate itself without the influence of various products.
Products I Used:
- Aqueous Cream to Cleanse: A gentle cleanse with aqueous cream, perfect for those with soap allergies, it is very mild and non drying.
- Vitamin E Oil: For nourishment and hydration to my skin. After 3 months, I noticed my scars looked softer.
- SPF: Sun protection to prevent further damage and reduce hyperpigmentation.
- Regular Exfoliation: I exfoliated about three times a week using a physical scrub, promoting skin renewal. I used a non perfume drugstore one, or sometimes oatmeal (a little messy).
- Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is naturally antibacterial and really helped calm my flare ups and dried them out faster. It’s quite strong but with the vitamin e oil underneath it was okay.
3. Drinking Plenty of Water
I drank more water, specifically bottled water. There was no strategy in this choice, other than I wasn’t keen on the taste of my local tap water. I tried to have a minimum of 1 bottle per day (1.5litre). I would drink a lot in the morning, so I didn’t feel like it was such a struggle, and I nearly always ended up drinking more!
5. Well-Groomed Eyebrows and Curled Lashes
Maintaining groomed eyebrows and curled lashes framed my face and boosted my confidence. I went all in and got my eyebrows done professionally every month.
6. Spot Concealing
I didn’t want to wear a whole face of foundation, especially in summer, so concealer became my go-to for spot concealing. I liked thick creamy concealers because they often had a skin like finish and would be really pigmented. They were also super convenient to carry around and easy to apply with fingers. I didn’t even really feel like it needed setting powder tbh, but that was just me. The goal was not to mask it all, but to ‘soften’, so my scars looked blurred.
7. Hair Away From Face
Keeping my hair away from my face minimized contact with oils, products and potential irritants.
8. Becoming Mindful Of My Feelings
I took note about how I felt around certain people and places. It allowed me to reduce stress, positively impacting my skin’s health.
Your skin journey is uniquely yours, and it’s okay if it doesn’t look like anyone else’s. While these steps helped me regain confidence and calm my skin, it’s all about finding what works for you. Let’s embrace a holistic approach to beauty—one that celebrates progress, not perfection. Whether you’re rocking no makeup, light concealer, or a full face, remember: your skin is yours to love. 💛
Feeling inspired? Share your skincare journey in the comments below or let me know what steps have worked for you. Don’t forget to subscribe for more beauty tips and personal insights, straight from my story to yours. Let’s navigate this world of beauty together!
