Unless you see people try everything they can to get rid of their acne, or if you have to fight it yourself, you have no idea just how much of a struggle it really is. Everyone has their stories, and today I’ll be sharing mine.
When I was 13, I still had no boobs, my pimples were sporadic, and my skin was mostly free from imperfections. On the rare occasion that I did get a pimple (heaven forbid), it ruined my entire day. Yep. One insignificant blemish.
That’s me on the right. This was taken just before I moved schools and acquired acne.
When I was 14, I moved to a new school. Just before my 15th birthday, I began getting whiteheads all over my forehead and chin. They were huge, ugly and red. At that stage in my life, the only form of makeup that I cared about was eyeliner, so I didn’t think to try and conceal the pimples in any way. Many people I knew suggested that I use Cetaphil to cleanse my skin. For over 3 years, Cetaphil was my life. Even though I used Cetaphil religiously, it never really did anything to improve my skin.
This is one of my most embarrassing photos, but this was taken at a time where my acne was at its peak. I was 14 or 15, my eyeliner fetish was extreme, and I picked at my forehead pimples a lot (which has lead to some scarring).
This was taken a few months before I turned 16. Forehead pimples had reduced a lot, and my eyebrows were overplucked.
By the time I was 16, I was sick of boys not looking at me the way I wanted them to. I was tired of being called a ‘pizza face.’ I was especially tired of everyone thinking that I was ugly. I began to wear makeup to school every day. I’d always run dangerously late for the school bus because I spent so much time in the morning putting on BB cream, mascara, and concealer. If you look at photos from that time (even with makeup) my acne is still visible. This is mostly because I had no goddamn idea of how to put makeup on properly, so all my efforts proved to be a huge waste of time and money.
Taken a few months before my high school graduation. I was 17, and my eyebrows and makeup game remained weak and feeble. Forehead acne is gone, but pimples on chin have stubbornly refused to shift.
After graduation, I realised that all the people I had tried to impress were just a bunch of assholes. The boys I’d tried (in vain) to entice didn’t care about my efforts. But the lesson took a while for me to understand. Even when I first started dating my boyfriend, I still found it hard to not put any makeup on. But after a few weeks, I stopped wearing it except on special dates. It’s very important that you let people know just how much of a hot mess you really are. When I went to university, I stopped caring about putting on makeup every day. It was not only time-consuming, but the other students in my course just didn’t really give a shit about the way I looked.
You’d think that having acne for over 5 years would have been something I’ve gotten used to. But that’s not the case. Even today, at the ripe old age of 19, I still have issues with acne and my self-esteem. I’m still going through the ups and downs of hormonal acne. While I do acknowledge that my skin hasn’t been this good for years, I sometimes can’t stop the feeling of being ugly. It’s something I can’t always control. I can’t stop feeling like the ugly friend when I’m out with my girl friends. I don’t always recoil at my reflection, but it happens more often than not. Sometimes I even struggle to feel sexy or beautiful in front of my own goddamn boyfriend.
Acne can be an experience that leaves you feeling isolated. No one ever sat me down and told me how to cleanse my skin or figure out what my skin type was (oily? dry? combination? sensitive?). I’ve had to do a lot of independent research and figure things out through trial and error. Even if you get personal advice about your acne, it’s still good to do your research. It’s also important to remember that whatever works for someone else may not necessarily work for you.
Stuff That Will Almost Certainly Work For You
Not Picking or Popping. Nope. No Touchie.
Admit it, you like watching pimples burst. It’s an oddly satisfying thing. But you need to stop squeezing your pimples. This can be a very tricky habit to give up. Even if it’s not a habit, you will feel very tempted to squeeze the bright green Mt Everest on your nose. Squeezing your pimples can lead to skin infections, larger breakouts, and scars.
I used to squeeze my pimples, and now I have large pockmarks on my forehead. So learn from my mistakes, and don’t pop your blemishes!
For more information on pimple squeezing, click here.
A Top Notch Routine
It’s a universal consensus that a simple skincare routine (cleanse, moisturise, apply sunscreen) is all you really need to maintain good skin. All you really need to do is use a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night, moisturise religiously, and always wear sunscreen when going out for the day. Stuff like toners, treatments, exfoliants, masks and serums are all optional and totally up to you. Just ensure that they will work for your skin.
TIP: When trying new skincare products, it’s best if you use them for approximately 30 days, just so that the skin can fully reflect any changes that happen. But if you get a rash or a burning sensation, stop immediately. You could seriously damage your skin if you use products that hurt it.
Keep It Clean
I don’t just mean keeping your face cleansed (although that certainly works), but also cleaning everything else in your life that goes near your face and body. This means changing your pillowcases every few days, washing your bed sheets every week, not wearing the same bra for over 3 days… The main cause of acne on your back and shoulders is dirty clothes and sheets. Keep it clean!
And under no circumstances, do not touch your face with your hands! Hands are super dirty. Even resting your head on your hands can transfer dirt and bacteria onto your skin, which can exacerbate any acne you currently have or lead to dirt and other nasty things clogging your pores.
But Not Too Clean
Products with alcohol in them can be very drying to the skin, and are best avoided. Certain cleansers marketed for people with oily/acne prone skin can be very drying to the skin. Ever used a cleanser and felt so oil free that your skin was tight? That’s a sign that your cleanser is too harsh on your skin, and that you are stripping it of oils. Stripping away every bit of oil will dehydrate your skin, and the body will produce even more oil. It’s all about trying to create a healthy balance of oil. Also, aggressively exfoliating your skin is not a good idea. You will irritate the bejesus out of it.
Drink More Water
While it won’t instantly cure you of your acne, drinking a lot of water will certainly hydrate your body. When your skin is dehydrated, the body overcompensates with oil production. The oil clogs your pores, and hey presto! Outbreak! Even if you don’t break out or turn into a sultana, not drinking enough water makes your skin look dull. Hydrated skin is happy skin.
Inhale. Exhale
Something that can really mess up your skin is stress. It’s inevitable sometimes, but taking some time to chill out and unwind can save your skin. Whether you need to meditate, turn off technology, or read a good book, do something to calm down. It can be as simple as taking a nap, playing your favourite video game, or doing some yoga. Find out what works for you.
Don’t Try The Toothpaste Trick
It doesn’t work. No matter how many times a beauty article suggests it, do not use toothpaste as a spot treatment. It won’t only dry out your pimple, but also that whole patch of skin. And that’s if you’re lucky and don’t end up getting a reaction. Use a proper spot treatment. I personally use the LUSH Greased Lightning Spot Treatment, but there are many other spot treatments on the market.
But if you’ve run out of spot treatment, and you want to reduce the size of a pimple, there’s a pretty cool technique you can try at home. Try putting the sticky end of a Band-Aid over the spot. Leave it on for 30 minutes (or longer, if needed), and remove it. The pimple will still be there, but it will have reduced in size.
But It Worked For Them!
Sometimes you might hear from a friend or a celebrity that a certain product is the Holy Grail of skincare. And you get excited, because if Random Magic Goo worked for your best friend, it will surely work for you too. Right?
We all have different skin types. We all react differently to certain products. Your friend might have normal skin and is using a product best suited to people of that skin type. You might have oily skin, and your Random Magic Serum might be too harsh for your friend. Figure out your skin type and look for products that will work for your skin type.
Less Is More
It can be tempting to buy expensive products just because they look like they work better. But it’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s the simplest homemade remedies or the drugstore/pharmacy products that work best, or are just as effective.
To Block, Or Not To Block?
Skincare products are either comedogenic or non-comedogenic. Comedogenic products block your pores and won’t help your skin drama (boo!). Non-comedogenic products, however, are far less likely to block up your pores. So if a moisturiser has ‘non-comedogenic’ on the label, you can bet your bottom dollar it could be The One For You.
TIP: A non-comedogenic product that sometimes is used as a moisturiser is coconut oil. Regardless of whether you use it as a makeup remover or as a lip treatment, you should avoid leaving it on your skin for prolonged periods of time.
Learn Your Triggers
Many studies have proven that acne is not caused because you ate a whole block of chocolate. Acne is a result of hormones and/or clogged pores, but it can be exacerbated by stress and/or certain types of food (e.g. dairy, sugar, processed food). Even certain detergents and toothpaste can irritate the skin. So it’s good to figure out if you might actually be allergic to anything.
If you can’t get a blood test for whatever reason, try avoiding certain foods for a week and see if anything changes. Once you learn what you should avoid, it then becomes a matter of limiting your exposure to that trigger.
If All Else Fails, See a Doctor
Acne is a skin condition. It is not going to be treated through any holistic bullshit. So don’t listen to Serena from Pilates when she says that your chakras aren’t balanced. Go to a qualified GP or dermatologist because they actually know how skin works. If you have cystic acne, it is strongly advised that you visit a GP/dermatologist.
Helpful Websites and Videos
Some of the videos that have helped me treat my acne are from Melanie Murphy. Melanie is an Irish YouTuber who has made heaps of informative videos about how to deal with acne. Check out her channel, it’s one of the best things on YouTube.
Another great YouTuber, who specialises in makeup tutorials for acne prone skin, is Em Ford. She’s better known as My Pale Skin, and even if you aren’t pale, her videos are still worth watching. One of her best videos is a short clip called ‘You Look Disgusting‘ and I believe that everyone should watch it.
Yet ANOTHER YouTuber who I found very informative was Lisa Eldridge. You may know her for her makeup tutorials, or her work as a professional makeup artist, but her skincare videos are also something pretty special.
Don’t know what your skin type is? You can always ask your GP, but there’s also heaps of online tests you can take. I used this one from the Nivea website, but any test will do.
Not sure how to begin a good skin care routine? Isabelle Bellis, a French skincare expert, has made two videos about how to properly cleanse your face. They can be located here and also here.
The American Academy of Dermatology has got this handy little page full of information. I only found this the other day, and I wish I had read this years ago. But if you like visuals and pictures, you might find this page from the Neutrogena website to be your cup of tea.
When I first got major breakouts on my face (forehead, cheeks, chin), I heard about face mapping. Heaps of beauty websites have their own diagram, but I found that this face map from The Beauty Gypsy was the most helpful and informative. Give it a read, and you might learn things about your body.
Stuff That Works For Me (And Stuff I Use)
Go-To Skincare Properly Clean
Zoe Foster-Blake is the best friend we all wish we had. She’s funny, gorgeous and is a skincare/makeup guru. So you can understand that her own skincare line, Go-To Skincare, would have to be pretty damn splendid. The cleanser is a foamy mousse, which usually indicates that it’ll dry out your skin. But it gently removes everything nasty and smells like magic. At $31, it’s something worth splashing out on.
Go-To Skincare Face Hero
Another one of Foster-Blake’s marvellous creations, this little guy has changed my life. It’s a facial oil that works to hydrate, brighten and rescue your face from wrinkles, fine lines, and inflammation. I use this every night, and it’s given my skin a newfound glow.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel
While I have converted to using the wonderful Properly Clean cleanser, this cleanser is a handy little backup. And like Properly Clean, this does get foamy, but won’t dry out your skin. Very few cleansers have managed to not only clean my skin but also fight current spots. If you’ve got a small budget, La Roche-Posay products are a great investment that won’t leave you penniless.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Moisturiser
I love using this moisturiser because it’s gentle on my skin, super light, and treats my pimples. You don’t have to get a moisturiser that treats acne, but it certainly helps.
Clay Based Masks
Masks that contain kaolin or bentonite clay are best suited for people with oily/acne prone skin. The clay works to suck out dirt and excess sebum from your pores, leaving you nice and clean. I usually use a mask every 2-3 days, or every day if Aunt Flo is in town. Much like cleansers, you usually need to search for a mask that works for you and will be kind to your skin. Try a LUSH mask, or make your own DIY clay mask (featuring a very young Michelle Phan). There are heaps of other mask recipes out there if you’d like to try and make your own.
The masks I’m currently using right now are the Sukin Oil Balancing Anti-Pollution Mask, and the Aēsop Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque. The Sukin mask is full of charcoal and other natural things that work to suck out your impurities, whereas the Aēsop mask is full of clay and even more natural things that also suck out crappy stuff.
Health is Wealth
Eating healthier food, taking a daily multivitamin, and (trying to) exercise have always made my skin look better. Sometimes I even try to drink my daily recommended water intake. It’s hard to stay on the bandwagon sometimes, but your consistency and dedication will be rewarded. Trust me.
Got (Soy) Milk?
My main acne trigger is dairy. If I stop eating excessive amounts of cheese, yoghurt, and chocolate, my skin noticeably becomes better. I’ve also made the switch to soy milk. I don’t put milk or sugar in my tea. I make dairy products a treat. And I have finally converted my taste buds to love dark chocolate.
Some of the Many Products That Didn’t Work For Me
Tea Tree Oil/Tea tree oil based products
Loads of people have proclaimed tea tree oil as their Skin Lord and Saviour, due to its antibacterial properties. Dabbing diluted tea tree oil on a blemish is meant to disinfect it. I used many tea tree products from The Body Shop, including the Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser. I used the tea tree products for a year and found no significant reduction in my blemishes. Tea tree oil can also burn or be quite dehydrating to the skin, so be careful if you decide to follow this path. If you’re using tea tree oil directly on the skin, be sure to dilute it.
Doxycycline
When I was about 16, my mum took me to a dermatologist. He advised me to squeeze the pimples (don’t do that) and he also gave me a prescription for doxycycline. Doxycycline is an antibiotic, and I was told to take a pill 2 or 3 times a day. I took it for over a year and saw no significant change in my skin or breakouts, so I stopped taking doxycycline when I was 17. As doxycycline is an antibiotic with certain side effects, you do need to get a prescription for doxycycline. If you are interested in medication for your acne, definitely consult your GP or a good dermatologist (not my Dr. Quack) to find out what options are suitable for you.
Cetaphil Anything
Pretty much everyone has used Cetaphil at least once in their pubescent years.
I used the Oil Free Skin Cleanser and the Moisturising Lotion consistently, right up until I started to spend a bit more on my skincare products. Although it’s a very affordable and effective cleanser, it never fully satisfied me. With acne, you will usually try a million new products and creams, in pursuit of ‘the cure.’ You won’t find a miracle cure for your acne. You can only give it time and treatment.
Rosehip oil
Rosehip oil is usually appraised for its treatment of acne scars, due to it being full of vitamins and fatty acids. When I tried using rosehip oil to treat my scars, my skin became inflamed and sore.
While rosehip oil didn’t work for me, it might work for you. Heaps of people think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Everything is worth a try at least once, but if your skin reacts negatively, stop using whatever it is that you’re trying.
I hope this post was informative. It was a tricky thing to research, it was tough looking at some old photos, and it was even harder admitting stuff I don’t usually tell anyone. Hopefully, my next post won’t be quite as depressing. If you have any acne stories/skincare product reviews/advice, do let me know. I’d love to hear from y’all.
Much love,
Pear and Ivy xx
Pear and Ivy 