“I just want to go to work without a face of foundation.”
Same, sis.
At some point or another we’ve all been there. Acne scarring. The spawn of Satan.
Whether you’re cursed with hormonal cystic acne under your jaw, or pesky pimples you just can’t help but squeeze, your skin can get damaged.
They always said, “Don’t pop it! It will be way worse for you in the long run,” but who listens? We’ve all picked at our skin at least once. Some of us more than others (lol) and that’s why I’m coming to the rescue with FIVE relatively affordable products that penetrate deep to renew the surface of your skin and bring forward a fresh face.
Admit it, we all want to go to work/school without foundation – that’s the end goal. At least for me, it is a 2019 resolution LMAO
It pains me to even include a ‘before’ photo when my acne was active, red, and inflamed, but would this blog post hit home if I didn’t also show you my ‘after’ (which is really just my current skin status)? Probably not
Alas, here are the comparisons over the past 8 months.
August 2018
October 2018
March 2019
Okay, great, now that we’re past that. HERE is how I’ve healed my acne scarring.
Pssst – if you want to know how I cleared my acne, that full story-time is here on the blog, and also in this video.
The Ordinary rosehip seed oil – priced at $9.80
– my absolute FAVORITE drugstore-priced hyper-pigmentation cure-all
This shit is magic. It has helped lighten my dark spots tremendously. I first heard about this product from Thataylaa, as she used it on her post-accutane journey to heal her scarring. When I heard it was under $10 – SOLD!
PROS
– nourishes the skin and is intensely hydrating
– relatively scentless (what little scent is has is not irritating)
– lightens dark pigmentation (leftover from acne scarring)
– organic and natural
– extremely affordable HEYOOOO
CONS
– I would recommend applying at least 30 mins before laying down for bed, as it doesn’t sink into the skin immediately (don’t want you to ruin your pillowcase)
Mario Badescu whitening mask – priced at $24.00
Contains kojic acid and extracts of licorice root, mulberry, and grapeseed to help maximize its brightening potential on your skin.
Farmacy bright-on vitamin c face mask – priced at $38.00 – the most expen$ive, I know (but the mask above can be used instead)
Contains vitamin c and fruit-derived AHAs to target brightening in your skincare.
I love BOTH of these face masks. They are my ride-or-die’s and I have repurchased each of them. I discovered the Mario Badescu mask in a trio kit for Christmas a couple years back. Similarly, I discovered the Farmacy mask in a Boxycharm. You never know what you’re going to fall in love with.I use both of these masks on my scarring interchangeably. I do not favor one over the other, but will say that at 2 oz of product (vs. 1.7 oz) and less $$, the Mario Badescu mask is more bang for your buck.
Pixi glow tonic toner – priced at $15.00
This toner is a godsend. I noticed immediate results within a week of using. It smoothed the texture of my skin, and has noticeably calmed my redness + brightened my complexion.Unfortunately, when it comes to clearing cystic acne, this did not do the trick for me. HOWEVER – it’s worked miracles for evening my discoloration to get me back to that flawless base I was striving for ;)I kept a sort of “skin diary” when I first started using this and recorded my observations after 4 weeks use.
Tretinoin (topical Accutane)
*prescription from my primary care doctor – price can range based on your insurance (pro tip: ask your doc if you can get a generic version, this is what I did to cut the cost into 1/3)
This is going to be my holy grail. I know that’s annoying, considering it’s a prescription. But hear me out.This is the main rock star when it came to clearing my cystic acne. Completely rid me of those pesky under-the-skin blemishes that just wouldn’t quit at closing time. lol. Furthermore, once my acne was cleared, I continued to use Tretinoin (still do).
Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative that can be applied topically to treat acne. This shit will fucking BLAST the blemishes off your face. It’ll take awhile for the purging to settle down, but once it does, you’ll have brand new skin.
PS – My doc told me it’s one of the hottest items on the market for anti-aging.
I kept a “skin diary” when I first started this as well if you’re interested in the side effects.
Keep in mind: you must first consult your doctor about your skin concerns to see if Tretinoin is a good fit for you. You are also not supposed to use this if you are pregnant or trying to bake a baby in your oven (I didn’t want to forget to caution you!)
SO THAT’S EVERYTHING. What are your thoughts? Do you use some of the same products? Are you thinking of testing out any of these? This has been my ritual routine for 8+ months now and I have seen tremendous results. Thank you for reading along!
Xoxo,
KS Loves 
I love to meet new people!
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KATRINA || KS LOVES 