My Skin Story Part 1 : Acne

Skin woes are part of everyone's life but I think it's an important topic to discuss. I've had to resort to pretty extreme measures to sort out my skin problems and I thought my journey may be of help to someone somewhere!

I sailed through adolescence , blissfully ignorant of the normal spots and acne that plague teenagers. 

However, from the ages of 21-23 my skin went absolutely MENTAL.

Yes, capital,underlined and bold type of mental. 

 I tried a variety of cleansers, moisturisers and other treatments but nothing worked.

I cut sugar and milk out of my diet for a number of months but this made no difference to my skin.

I decided enough was enough and visited my local G.P. (General Practitioner) . I tried a variety of topical creams including Duac,Skinoren and Differin  over the course of a year. These creams made a tiny dent in the spots beginning to cover my face. 

After these creams had tried and failed, I was prescribed Minocin (an antibiotic). I have to say this was very effective and my skin instantly started to improve. I was absolutely delighted and thought I'd found the answer to my prayers. However, as Minocin is an antibiotic you can't keep taking it forever! I stopped taking Minocin and for a month my skin was fine.

But then.... it relapsed again.

The strangest thing about my acne at this stage was where it was on my face. Usually, the t-zone is the worst affected area. However, for me it was the sides of my face and my cheeks. It was very deep, hormonal acne. 

The problem was really getting me down at this stage and I felt I was at my wits end. My G.P. suggested that I visit a dermatologist to see if I would be suitable to take Roaccutane. I was initially very nervous as Roaccutane (or simply Accutane in America) is known for it's sometimes severe side effects.

I'm just starting my 5th month on Roaccutane now and as for the results... I'll let the picture speak for themselves in the upcoming post!

Saving Face

Recently, my skin went through a really bad patch. The power of bad skin is unbelievable, some days I just didn't want to leave the house. You may think that's shallow but its the sad truth! I have combination skin, which is so pale it is prone to blotchiness. This also means that a mark often remains on my skin even after spots have been and gone.

I always thought of skincare as the boring, dull side of make up but it's hard to paint a canvas that is spotty, blotchy and just downright miserable! Cue new skincare routine.

• I have heard many good things about the Eliabeth Arden Visible Difference range and I have to agree. This cleanser (for combination skin) is brilliant. It contains little scrubby bits (technical, I know) which gently exfoliate the skin. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the packaging as I had to put it into another container. It originally came in a handy squeezy tube. A definite holy grail product which I will repurchase.
• The moisturiser in this range is nice and hydrating. However, I find it can sometimes leave me shiny. I like it but I probably wouldn't buy it again as I'm on the quest for the perfect moisturiser!
• La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo  is also a major skin saver. I've posted about it here, you need this in your life!
• I recieved a sample of Clinique All About Eyes from the beauty hoarder that is my grandmother. At 22 I probably don't need this per se, but I enjoy using it and I think it reduces the dark circles caused by the occasional late night!

• A mask I really love is Soap and Glory's the Fab Pore mask. It really does what it says on the tin. My pores are less noticeable and my skin looks clearer and brighter. I use it about once a week for 15 minutes.

• I use  The Body Shop Seaweed Toner  in varying amounts. It isn't a HG product really but it's useful to have around. I use it to refresh my skin on no make up days. It's a nice toner not drying and clarifying. 

This really isn't anything new but water is vital. Yes, it's boring and yes, I'd much rather drink something else ( like a cocktail)  but it's so good for the skin! I'm drinking at least a pint a day now and it really does help.

I hope this was interesting , I know I'm always nosy about other people's skin care routines! What are your favourite skincare products? 

Monday Must Have: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

During my teenage years I was lucky enough to be blessed with good skin. However, this meant that acne as an adult was even more traumatic!

I have combination skin, which is pale and prone to redness. This also means that a mark often remains on my skin, even after spots have been and gone.

Luckily, I discovered La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo and it's a lifesaver! This really unblocks pores on my nose and chin in a way that nothing I've ever tried has been able to do. It also reduces the appearance of marks from old healed blemishes, particularly ones that I have been struggling with for months (MONTHS, I kid you not!).

I apply a thin layer of this, once a day, to problem areas after cleansing, leave for 30 mins and then apply moisturiser over it. I do think you need to apply a good moisturiser after as it can be drying.

However, a word of caution. I used this once in winter when my skin was dehydrated and I won't lie, it burned the face off me! One of my friends raved about it and I decided it was worth another shot and I am honestly so glad I tried it again. I'll never be without it!