Always a contradiction, I am a huge product junkie, but I am also extremely cheap. My budget (and common sense) requires me to bargain shop, coupon, and skimp where I can in order to purchase the things I need to be beautiful. Because of that, I use exclusively “drugstore” products.
I have hereditarily bad skin. My teenage and early adult years were plagued with a horrible complexion, many dermatologist visits, medicine galore, and, finally, a round of Accutane (which is a seriously intense acne medication, requiring blood tests, birth control, etc etc). FINALLY, after hundreds of dollars and a lot of heartache, my skin was clear! Hallelujah! My complexion completely changed and was perfect. Years later, however, I found myself breaking out a little bit more. I tried Proactiv again, which was a waste of money. THEN I started using Neutrogena’s Complete Acne Therapy System about a month before my wedding.
This stuff is amazing! It is truly a complete system, which uses both Salicylic Acid AND Benzoyl Peroxide to combat both acne and blackheads. I was so pleased with this system- until they stopped selling it everywhere! I think it can still be found online, but not in any stores near me.
So I set out to find my own similar products that would work the same way as the complete system.
Some people’s skin might be too sensitive to use a scrub every day, but I have found this to be the best thing for me. I use Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub twice a day. I am very careful to wash off all make-up before bed, so that my breakout-prone-skin won’t have any extra stuff clogging it.
I use this religiously in the mornings. It hydrates my skin and keeps me from breaking out during the day (which, apparently, is a huge problem for me. I can have perfectly clear skin in the morning and three or four new zits when I go to bed.)
I use this stuff religiously at night. It is fairly strong and can have the tendency to dry out my skin. If I feel like my skin gets a little dry, I just skip it for a night and everything is back to normal.
All of these products work together to keep my skin looking fresh, smooth, and clear- thank GOD! After years and years of horrible skin, I feel like I finally have the clear, beautiful skin I always wanted.
PS Stay tuned for My Favorite Things- the Make-Up edition, in which I will reveal the LIFE-CHANGING make-up secret that has drastically changed my skin!