Anyway, when I was very young my skin was always crystal clear. Roundabouts puberty that changed, mostly for my chest, shoulders, and back. My face was spared for a bit longer.
When I got facial acne I decided to start using a skincare regimen, and it cleared up all the trouble spots beautifully. My body acne still persisted, but I covered it with clothing and thought nothing much of it. When the summer months rolled around I just sucked up my pride and let my pocked skin show, even though I was very embarrassed by it.
After visits to the dermatologist coupled with a better understanding of my skin, my regimen evolved over time into something more healthy and tailored for my particular skin type. My body acne has subsided quite a bit, though not fully and I do still have some scars that I'd rather not be there. Still, I decided to take action against my body acne in a similar fashion to how I go about eradicating my facial acne.
Without further adieu, my routine:
OLD ROUTINE
AM
- If I remembered, I'd run through Dermalogica's Clean Start Kit for my face. My dermatologist recommended it to me and it worked well enough.
- I'd apply whatever makeup I wanted to my face and also stronger sunscreen if I needed to.
- Nothing for my body aside from sunscreen if I needed it.
PM
- If I was wearing makeup, coconut oil to remove it.
- In the shower I would just use whatever soap/body wash/cleanser I had on hand to clean my body skin. I applied it and exfoliated with a loofah.
- After the shower I would do the nighttime side of Dermalogica's Clean Start kit for my face.
- Sometimes I would apply lotion to my body.
Not a very complicated routine. Not very healthy, either. My face was alright except that I kept using sunscreens that had avobenzone in them, which I recently found out has a personal vendetta against me. My skin was seriously under moisturized, though, and only sometimes would I remember to wear proper sunscreen.
After doing my share of research, I settled on a new routine that now works really well for me.
NEW ROUTINE
AM
- Splash face with warm water.
- Do a facial OCM with Garden of Wisdom's Olive Oil, sometimes I'll mix in a splash of tea tree oil.
- Gently exfoliate my face and wipe off extra oil with a clean washcloth.
- Moisturize face and neck with CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (in the tub).
- EltaMD UV Physical SPF 49 on my face and neck for sun protection.
- If I feel particularly grimy or have been sweating, I'll do steps 1-4 for my body as well.
- Sunscreen on exposed areas of my body.
PM
IN THE SHOWER
- If applicable, remove makeup with Garden of Wisdom's Coconut Cream.
- Wash hair, then put it up in a bun (this is so that my shampoo won't clog the pores on my neck).
- Cleanse body with bar soap or Dr. Bronner's soap.
- Cleanse acne-prone body areas with Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash.
- Gently exfoliate body using a Salux cloth.
- Cleanse face with Dermalogica Clean Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash.
OUT OF THE SHOWER
- Swipe Stridex Maximum Strength Pads across acne-prone areas, both face and body.
- After Stridex dries, I moisturize those areas with CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (in the tub).
- A cocktail of various different lotions all over my body, mostly Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butters and St.
Ives lotion. - Once my hair has had a bit of time to dry I'll massage hair oil into it and blow-dry with cool air.
- After all my lotions have dried, I do a spot treatment.
DURING THE WEEK
I don't do these things every day, but occasionally if I feel my skin needs it I will throw in:
- French green clay facial, followed by a jojoba oil OCM.
- Cucumber peel-off facial
- Dermalogica exfoliating facial
My new routine is undoubtedly longer, but it certainly pays off. I have noticed huge differences in how soft my skin is, as well as how healthy and non-grimy I feel during the day. I still have noticeable sebaceous filaments on, under, and around my nose, as well as on my chin, but I'm trying to like them. Occasionally I'll run over the area with a comedone extractor even though I know that I probably shouldn't. My skin isn't perfect, though I'd never expect it to be, but this routine absolutely helps.
I also have been focusing on drinking more water, not wearing the same shirt twice before washing, not using the same towel twice to dry myself off after a shower, things like that.
