My Never-Ending Skin Journey

Do you ever see those posts from bloggers with gorgeous, naturally unproblematic skin trying to give skincare advice to people with perpetually problematic skin? It’s frustrating. Like, cool moisturizer, girl, but where can I get a bottle of your genetics?

I’ve struggled with acne since the sixth grade. It showed up one day with it’s bestie Puberty and decided to get comfortable and take up permanent residence. Since then, I’ve tried pretty much everything to clear it up, but my blemishes are stubborn, okay? Up until recently, I’d been putting my skin health on the backburner–I accepted that my skin just sucked and it would never be completely clear. I got to the point where I’d let my skin throw its tantrums because I was tired of wasting money and being disappointed.

Disclaimer. I am super self-conscious about the pictures in this post. Like, y’all are about to see me at my absolute worst. A part of me wants to keep these in the vault, but because I want to be completely transparent about both my highs and my lows, I’m gonna go for it. So be nice. >.<

Then.

Cut to the end of 2015, when I visited a new dermatologist in Chicago. I was used to dermatologists taking a solid 10 seconds to “examine” my skin, then writing me a prescription for clindamycin and sending me on my way. I was shocked when this new derm took the time to analyze other factors, like my diet, the kind of makeup I use, and my skincare routine, and then wrote me a custom morning and evening routine, including specific products. I was bubbling with excitement, feeling like I might finally have a shot at clear skin.

For information’s sake, the routine included a clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide prescription ointment, and Retin-A. Six months later, I randomly saw an old picture of myself and realized that my skin had dramatically cleared up. Then, like the genius I am, I stopped refilling my prescriptions and kinda let my routine slip. In my mind, the job was done, my skin was clear… nothing more to do here, folks.

Yeah, right. My acne came back with a vengeance, and although I clearly knew what worked, I tried to clear my skin without the meds because I knew I didn’t want to have to use prescription medications to keep my skin clear long-term.

The Turning Point.

Fast forward to 2019. I read about the benefits of chemical peels and researched estheticians in my area. I foud one who offers a package that includes a series of six peels a couple weeks apart, along with an exclusive set of products to use during the treatment. To be fair, there are plenty estheticians who offer serial peel packages to jumpstart the process of clearing your skin. This one seemed knowledgable, and the results on her website spoke for themselves.

Let me be transparent here. I spent between six and seven hundred dollars for these treatments. And, at first, it was going great! I began to see results after the first peel. To be clear, chemical peels are great for problematic skin and when done properly, can yield amazing results.

About halfway through, my progress seemed to be reversing rapidly. I had no idea what was going on… was my skin still purging? Was it a hormonal breakout? Y’all, I was devastated. My face was a nightmare. I had never seen it that bad before. Maintaining moisture barrier integrity is skincare 101. As far as I’m concerned, it is literally the foundation of healthy skin. But we’ll get into the technical stuff later.

Now.

Defeated, distraught, and about $700 broker, I decided that I wasn’t playing these games with my skin anymore. I saw the transformations people made; I knew it was possible to achieve at least semi-clear skin. Over the years I had fallen victim to complacency and hopelessness, but I was over it honey, okay?

I created a little skincare journal and got to work. I did hours of research, learning how the skin works, what it needs to be healthy. I debunked the myths we grew up believing, I discovered the ingredients I needed to incorporate to target my concerns. I realized skin is way more complex than I ever thought it was; I mean, I was learning about the skin’s pH, how the order you apply your products can alter their effectiveness, how some people spend years battling bacterial acne just to find out that their acne is fungal. I built my routine from the ground up, and I was consistent. Gone were the days of just swiping my makeup off with a wipe and hopping into bed, too tired for the rest of the routine.

I’ve come a long way. My skin isn’t perfect, but it’s a work in progress. Hormonal acne is still my arch-nemesis and some days I wake up, peep a breakout, and feel like I’m taking 4 steps forward, 5 steps back. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m learning. This journey is so special to me because for as long as I could remember, I’ve been insecure about my skin–and now, I’m taking control the best way I know how. I’m constantly building my knowledge, gaining an understanding of what my skin needs, and learning to love it along the way. And I’m sharing it all because I want you to do the same!

What skin concerns do you currently have, or have you had in the past? Talk to me in the comments below!