5 AFFORDABLE products to heal acne scarring

“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!
YouTube: youtube.com/katrinasm
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I Emptied *another* Six Skincare Products…

“What am I doing with my life besides
working and buying skincare products?”

LOOK WHO’S BACK with another empties post. Ya girl right here. Idk about y’all but I love when someone posts an empties blog post – I am all about the reviews and finding out if people want to repurchase something. It feeds some kind of drug to my mind like, “Oooo wonder if that face mask made a difference” or “That toner put in WURK but is it worth the price tag?” Lemme click and find out.

So I hope that’s what you came here for! Cause I’m about to give it to ya.

First up, the Pixi Glow Tonic – can be found at Target for $15.00 (tho you can get a better value for the 250 ML for $29.00 just FYI).
I love this stuff – it’s a solid product. Might not be life-changing, but for some reason I can’t get my hands off it. I began using this product and kept a four-week diary on how it changed my skin. If you’re interested in those results, I’d suggest reading that!
Would I repurchase? Already have!

Next I had a sample of the Mint Pear C Your Youth Vitamin C serum – $39.00
This product was good, but I’m currently loving another serum that I’m preparing to write about
My thoughts on this are that it’s not bad, and the price is relatively decent for other competitive face serums on the market. I do love the feeling of applying this to my face as it sinks into my skin and traps in the hydration. I wake up in the morning and still feel the product.

Would I repurchase? Actually, maybe (had I not found this other serum).

First Aid Beauty Deep Cleanser with red clay – $24.00
I looooooooved this cleanser while I had it. It’s rather luxurious and created a thick lather on the face, which I loved. My skin was left feeling refreshed, clean, and smooth. It was a great feeling. I’d use this about 2-3 times a week (as I didn’t want to overdo it). If you’re still interested, I’d recommend checking out the full review so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth it!

Would I repurchase? Yeah! For sure.

Tarte Maracuja Oil – travel size is $16 and large size is $48
I have raved about this godsend before and I’ll rave again. It’s amazing. Hydrating without being sticky/greasy, sinks right into the skin, provides a deep hydration that lasts through the night and into the next day. I rave even more in my full review for those wanting additional benefits. And then again in “The Best of Ipsy.”

Would I repurchase? Already have like 3 times!

South Mane Under Eye Gels – pack of 3 for $9.00
I think this product could be easily looked past and fall into the “underrated” category. These were a good, solid set of eye masks. They were hydrating, stuck fairly well to the skin (tho they will slide around if you’re walking all over or dancing to Drake), and you’re left with a smooth and moisturized under eye area. You are supposed to keep them on for 30 mins, which is a bit much. But honey make yourself a cup of tea, turn on Friends for the 1,000,000th time and relax!
Now that I go investigate the price of these online, I think I’ll buy a pack or two. Well worth the price and I enjoy the process as well as the outcome.

Would I repurchase? About to.

Lastly are my trusty ol’ Kirkland brand Daily Facial Wipes (makeup remover) – they’re selling 150 on Amazon for $24.99
These are a solid choice and won’t steer you wrong. However… however – if you have sensitive skin you might not like how “rough” these are. I find they kind of tug at the skin but they do cleanse away your makeup. I go in with a face wash after using this anyways, but they do a good job removing the first layer. Are there better ones out there? Sure. Will these get the job done? Yes.

Would I repurchase? Already have – thank you, Costco.

So those are my skincare empties! Anyone else have the same ones? What are your thoughts? Are you intrigued? Have you tried any? Let me know below so we can chat!

Xoxo,
KS Loves

I love to meet new people!
Instagram: ksloves
Twitter: ksloves_
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Pixi Glow Tonic: 4 Week Diary

“Follow me throughout four weeks of testing out this drugstore cult-favorite.”

I decided to keep a sort of diary detailing my experience with the Pixi Glow Tonic. I wanted to see what all the hype was about – and I am also looking for a miracle with my skin. A miracle that doesn’t cost hundreds of dollars.

Pixi Glow Tonic does contain AHAs, which are known for speeding up the rate at which your skin cells turnover to reveal new skin underneath. This might sound harsh, but the glow tonic is gentle enough for every-day use and works to bring hydration back into your skin, while balancing your skin to reveal a brighter complexion.

Here is a summary of my skin issues:

• combination/oily skin- I get a very shiny t-zone after 4-5 hours of wearing makeup
• currently I am suffering with persistent chin breakouts (which leads to acne scarring)
• otherwise, the rest of my face is pretty clear

AFTER ONE WEEK OF DAILY NIGHTTIME USE:

I’m not noticing a any difference. In fact, my skin might be “purging,”** as I am noticing an increase of breakouts along my jawline and under my chin. Mainly the deep-rooted, hormonal type of breakout. I am also noticing a few outlying blemishes (outside my chin zone), but nothing too unreasonable that I can’t cover up with foundation/concealer.

As of week one, I definitely don’t see an improvement. My t-zone is still oily by mid-afternoon, and my blemishes are still present + a few new visitors. I’m hoping that I’m purging, but I won’t know for another few weeks.

**I’ve read that purging may occur when using a product that has AHAs in it, if you’ve never used one that contained AHAs previously. I have not. Purging is the surfacing of breakouts that were already there, but now speeding up the turnover process, therefore bringing them to the skin level. This is not to be confused with a reaction to the product, which can also cause breakouts (though more severly to my understanding), and if you do not notice an improvement in skin within 4-6 weeks, you are supposed to discontinue use of that product – bc girl, it’s not helping.

AFTER TWO WEEKS OF DAILY NIGHTTIME USE:

At the end of week two, I’m still feeling hopeful of this product. I’m standing on the sidelines as a cheerleader for my skincare routine.

I don’t really see an improvement, but my skin is not getting worse. To me, this is a good thing. I can’t expect results overnight, and since I’m not noticing an increase of breakouts, that tells me I’m not experiencing a reaction to this product. I do notice a redness to my face after completing my skincare routine, but nothing itchy or painful. Just kind of pink.

My nose is still shiny mid-day, so it hasn’t done anything for balancing my skin (nothing noticeable, at least).

AFTER THREE WEEKS OF DAILY NIGHTTIME USE:

End of three weeks. Here’s the one improvement I’ve seen:

• a decrease in the size of my blemishes

If I do get a pimple, it’s much smaller and more manageable. I am not getting the large, cystic-like acne that I typically deal with in my problem area. Therefore, my blemishes are less painful/prominent.

I still have a lot of scarring, but those seem to be lessening as well – as in getting smaller. Not fading in pigment, tho. If that makes sense. No improvements on my oil production, that’s still strong and heavy per usual. Lucky me.

AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF DAILY NIGHTTIME USE:

Okay I think I’ve formed an opinion on this product, and I am deciding to keep it around. Here are the main take-a-ways I’d like to give you:

• it’s not an absolute miracle worker (at least not for me), but it does drastically improve the texture and brightness of my skin
• I notice a smoothness in my skin I’ve never felt before, and it’s refreshing to apply my nighttime skincare products (serum, moisturizer) on after this
• while it didn’t help drastically with my chin breakouts, it certainly aids in keeping the rest of my face clear and bright

During the four weeks, I did not notice an improvement in oil-production in my t-zone, so that’s at least worth noting.

So that’s my month-long review of this product! I’m happy with the purchase, and would also consider this worth its price of $15.00. Ten fold. In fact, I think I’ll spend the $30 on the larger size. I can’t see myself not incorporating a toner into my skincare regimen now that I’ve noticed an improvement in my skin.

I hope this review may help someone looking into trying this product! I’d love to chat in the comments below if anyone is interested or has questions on how this product performs.

 

Xoxo,
KS Loves

I love to meet new people!
YouTube: youtube.com/katrinasm
Instagram: ksloves
Twitter: ksloves_
Pinterest: ksloves_