I’ve been suffering with the worst skin I’ve ever encountered in, oh I don’t know, over ten years. Fortunately I know what triggers breakouts on my skin from blemishes to redness and uneven skin tone, and this Chinese Medicinal Acne Face Map only confirmed it. It’s so interesting to see how the location of blemishes/spots/acne on our skin can tell us what is going on inside our bodies.
I’ll start with my forehead. Now this is an area where I suffer big scary looking blemishes and it’s a result of consuming too much dairy. I know I should avoid dairy and do actually only drink soya milk but ice cream, cheese and greek yogurt get me every single time. If you too suffer spots on your forehead, it could be that you’re simply eating the wrong food. When I’m strict with my dairy intake, my forehead is clear. Complicated stuff, hey?
Another part of my face that is suffering big time is my chin and around the lip area and it’s the result of things not going to plan in my reproductive organs and hormones. I am suffering with a few fertility issues and a hormone imbalance which is coming out in hideous blemishes around my mouth that just won’t go away. Once I have this problem sorted, I have confidence that it’ll clear up, so in the meantime I am just focusing on managing it and treating this area with a little tlc.
The only other area on my face suffering with blemishes is my cheeks but I am almost certain this is from allergies and possibly linked to asthma. I don’t suffer with asthma terribly, it is mainly allergy and temperature related so I suffer with it when it’s super cold or really hot, along with bad hay fever, and it is during these periods that my cheeks also suffer!
So how am I managing this shit skin situation? Well firstly I cleanse my skin and remove my makeup every single night. I’m also wearing far less makeup because I don’t want to clog my pores and I never wear it in the gym. I wish I could look cute in the gym but I am one sweaty betty in there and I don’t want even more blemishes for the sake of looking cute. I use Bioderma for removing my makeup, have done for years, it’s kind to my skin and does the job.
I also find the botanical ingredents in Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish really calm my skin. I apply it as a face mask 3-4 times a week and it soothes the redness, reduces the size of my pores and calms my blemishes. A natural, plant-based cleanser, it contains eucalyptus, chamomile and cocoa butter which work great together for more smoother, clearer skin.
I have also been using the Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator 1-2 times a week and love it! I think it works well to buff away congested pores and leaves my skin feeling lighter and fresher. You know when you haven’t exofliated in a while and your skin kind of looks glumpy with an uneven texture? Well, this is perfect for maintaining a more even complexion. I hope this makes sense? Probably not but anway, it’s a good exfoliator for my combination skin!
Now I know I have blogged about this far too many times but the La Roche-Posay Effaclar AI – Targeted Breakout Corrector truly is my skin saver when it comes to blemishes. I mean it, I can’t live without it. With my hormone problems I can’t change my diet or anything to balance them out, medication will need to do that, so I am treating the blemish breakouts with this little beauty. I apply it at night on clean skin (literally avoid serum and night cream) and wash it off in the morning. It kind of dries out the spot which has made my oily skin a little dry in areas but it means my blemishes are managed to some degree. TMI coming your way but I have found if you don’t pick or touch the blemish, this product works amazing but if you have messed with the spot, it will burn and create a sort of scab. So what I am saying is, don’t touch your blemishes, apply this at night and let it do the work for you!
One last product I am loving is Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting Salicylic Acid with 2% BHA Liquid, which is promoted as a leave-on exfoliant. I apply directly to the areas where I suffer with blackheads and clogged pores with a cotton wool pad – mainly my nose and forehead – and leave it on over night. I also read online that it works well when a charcoal face mask is applied directly on top but I haven’t tried this yet. So what does it do? I researched salicylic acid quite a lot before purchasing this item and read promising reviews on how it smoothes the surface of the skin. Not only does it reduce the size of my pores but it also really helps to control blackheads. At first I assumed blackheads were clogged dirt, this is not the case, and once you do get rid of the pesky things, they can easily come back. The Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting Salicylic Acid with 2% BHA Liquid kind of helps maintain it and is perfect for those with oily to combination skin or those who suffer with blemishes. But just be warned, I read a few reviews online where some experienced a burning sensation on their first try, I didn’t but it could be worth doing a patch test first. Also, those allergic to aspirin (acetylsalicylate) should not use products containing salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid).
A few weeks ago a beauty therapist commented on how ‘clear’ my skin is considering it’s oily. This made me smile as considering the hormone imbalance is going against it with teenage acne-prone skin, I am managing to keep it as clear as possible with a little help from my beauty skincare friends above.
Have a wonderful day 🙂