Ok so I've tried almost everything.... Literally. I have spent hundereds of dollars on trying different over-the-counter gels, cleanseres, moisturizers, creams, lotions, toners, spot treatments, exfoliators, etc. After I caved in to the possibility that none of these products would actually help me rid myself of this curse, I resorted to my local Dermatologist. So I spents yet a couple more hundred with him, he prescribed doxycycline (oral antibiotic). That actually helped... for a while, then it started to backfire. I was so desperate, I was on the verge of trying Accutane!... Until I happened to stumble upon a little tube we had lying around the house, it was 1% clindamycin phosphate gel. I did some research on it, and to my surprise it was an alternative acne medication. I thought "what the heck!", at this point I would have rubbed cat pee on my face (not really). It literally saved my face in one month! It was a miracle, after so many years of going through the embarassment of having to deal with acne one simple gel fixed that in one month! Of course I still get maybe one or two pimples every now and then, but this gel helps that go away FAST! Currently im just working on getting rid of acne scars/marks.
Another thing I use ONLY as a spot treatment for a pimple, is aspirin. Yup thats right! I heard of this before and its salicylic acid components (acne med.) but I was very skeptical about it becuase I thought, "how in the world could this work if so many things before it havn't?!" Well the very first time I tried it, I had tiny little bumps on my nose and cheeks that I needed to take care of quick. So I crushed the tablet and mixed it with a crushed Vitamin C tablet, mixed the two powders with very little water and created a paste with a thick consistencey, applied it to my face and went to sleep. When I woke up, it was gone! The paste had worked that fast! The redness, the swelling, the bump... it had disappeared overnight, this was all too good to be true. Which it was, I later found out through personal experience that this was only meant to be put on the face one or twice a week, only as a spot treatment. I had gone overboard with excitement, that soon my face began to dry out and flake. Well you live and you learn right?
Ok so even though I've stumbled upon these awsome "acne-get-rids", I still have a daily routine of sort, that I follow. I've found great cleansers, exfoliators, and moisturizers that I hope you love just as much as I do!
Ok so the first thing I do as 2x a day (morning and night) is a gentle cleanser. I use Olay Total Effects, Cream Cleanser plus Blemish control. It's supposed to contain seven antiaging ingredients and 2% salicylic acid, but I don't see how this could benifit someone if its only going to be rinsed off... Anyway, I chose this cleanser because I've read Rave reviews about it, and to be totally honest, this thing is awsome! The texture is so gentle yet it has enough lather, the smell is great, and it has little beads (hardly enough to exfoliate though). It leaves my face feeling very clean but not tight and dry.
The Second thing I use as a 1x in the morning is an exfoliator. I use St. Ives, Timeless Skin. I've tried the other St. Ives' exfoliators, but I find this one to have the best texture and consistencey. Normally your supposed to use an exfoliator once to twice a week but this is so gentle I can use it every day on my sensitive skin! Immediately after using an exfoliator on your skin, it will glow and feel smooth and soft. It helps buff away the thin layer of dead skin cells that accumulates throughout the day. Buffing this dead skin away will keep it from clogging pores which can lead to blackheads, whiteheads and acne. Buffing away the dead skin cells (along with excess dirt and oil) can also help reduce or prevent the appearance of fine lines by gently removing that first layer of skin.
Third I use a moisturizer 2x a day. I use Pond's, Dry Skin Cream. Again this is a product that recieves Rave reviews, because it works! This cream keeps my face moisturized all-Day, it smells good, and it's cheap! However, the only complaint I have is that I must be very specific with how I apply this. After I've rinsed my face I pat dry it but leave it slightly damp, immediatley I apply a thin layer of the moisturizer. The reason being is that it can become greasy if I apply too much, so its best to apply it on a damp face so that it just locks in moisture so that extra application isn't nessessary, but this is only minor.
Lastly I use my acne treatment 2x a day. And I've already toldy you about my best-friend, Clindamycin Phosphate! :]Well this is my Regime, I hope it helped... Give me your Feedback!
