All of Her Things

November is here, which means my 30^th birthday is right around the corner. Reaching this new decade has had me thinking about how much my self care has changed over the last 10 years. It’s truly been a journey and I know I’m starting my new decade much more knowledgeable about what my skin and my body need. I keep thinking about the fact that I’m more active now than I have ever been since I work as a kickboxing instructor and I lift on my own time at least 4 times a week. I’ve also been taking walks more and enjoying the occasional barre class. I’ve always hated running, but my first step into fitness was 30 minute jogs when I was in college (I refuse to jog now), then I was introduced to weight training, and now I feel so wrong if I don’t workout almost everyday.

So what’s the story of my skin? Let me start at my teenage years. I remember having oily, dehydrated skin and a few pimples, nothing crazy. I did go to the dermatologist and I don’t think I was given too many prescriptions, but I’m pretty sure I cleansed and moisturized with Cetaphil and that was it. I entered my 20s pretty much the same way. Around this time, I discovered Sephora and I started using more makeup and tried different cleansers, one being Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple Cleanser. This was something I constantly repurchased, even though I think there was a point where this cleanser dried my skin out. As I look through reviews on the Sephora website, this cleanser has pretty good reviews overall, with a few old comments stating how it was a bit drying. I’m wondering if this has different ingredients now, maybe I overused it, or maybe it just wasn’t right for skin.

My early to mid 20s were hard, I had so many changes within a few years. The summer after I graduated college, I decided to do a big chop. I didn’t regret cutting my hair, but I didn’t like the way I looked. Around that same time, I gained an unusual amount of weight. Growing up, I was tiny, less than a size 0, didn’t reach 100lbs until college. I think I gained like 30-40lbs by the time school ended. I hadn’t been weight training yet, but I’m sure I wasn’t eating well. I don’t think that was all that happened and I can’t explain what it could have been because in such a short amount of time I went from a 0 to a 4. I was introduced to the gym and I managed to get it under control probably by the time I was 24. I had a pretty dramatic body change (for me) and during this time, I was not comfortable with the way I looked. It also forced me to change some of my unhealthy eating habits.

It’s funny because once I started getting comfortable with my body and my hair, I started breaking out terribly. It was all over my face. I’d never had this issue before. I feel like there might have been a number of factors for this:

1. Around this time, I changed my birth control
2. I don’t think I changed my face towels, pillowcases, or cleaned my phone enough
3. Dairy.

The birth control, I didn’t really have much control over, but I started changing my pillowcase (switching to silk pillowcases), towels, and cleaning my phone more often. I pretty much cut out dairy… for the most part. I mean, if my aunt makes her amazing mac and cheese for Thanksgiving, I’m not going to turn it down, but when I go out I’m really good at avoiding cheese, and obviously, I control what I cook at home. I don’t think my family understands how I can avoid it, but once you cut it, cheese really isn’t that appetizing, especially goopy cheese. I couldn’t cut chocolate, but vegan dark chocolate is just as good.

I changed these few things and found a face wash that might help fight the acne topically. I fell in love with this cleanser from Kiehl’s that had salicylic acid in it. I think this particular cleanser has been discontinued, but I believe Kiehl’s has a blue line that’s similar. I used this all over my face for a bit, and once things started clearing up, I noticed how DRYING this was, so I started to spot cleanse with it. Also, I was under the impression that my skin was still considered oily. I’m not sure when this change occurred, but my skin probably leaned dry/combo and once my acne started clearing up, I realized I needed more than just Cetaphil. In fact, I found Cetaphil a bit drying as well.

Within a year or so, my acne was pretty much gone, but it has left me with so many acne marks. I came across blogs and videos that held interviews with Charlotte Cho of Soko Glam and was introduced to K-beauty and the 10 step skincare routine. I started to introduce essences, serums, and oils to my skincare routine. I started to fall in love with taking care of my skin, and I just loved trying new things. I think my first essence was Missha First Treatment Essence and my first serum was COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid. Both of these products helped so much in clearing up my acne scars.

From then on, my skin care routine has been packed with different serums, oils, masks, and exfoliators. Then one random day I noticed a giant patch of scaly skin on my forehead and cheeks. I developed eczema. I never had this problem before. I came across this facial mask in CVS while looking for something to help clear the spots, the Shea Moisture Hydrating Mud Mask. I put the mud mask on and let it sit and although it didn’t clear the spot, it definitely calmed the skin, and it was not itchy that whole evening. I then went to a dermatologist who gave me something for the spot and suggested I take allergy meds. Every few months, I’ll stop taking allergy pills just to see what happens, and my scalp will get dry, then I feel it on my face. I’m currently trying to ween off of these allergy pills and don’t worry, I’m going to go back to the doctor. They also recommended using the CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Bar. I love this bar soap because it’s simple and with all the different things I try on my face, I like that there are no crazy claims, no bells and whistles to this. It just cleanses the skin without disrupting the natural skin barrier. It’s great for dry, normal, and sensitive skin, and it will always be my go to.

The most important thing you can do with eczema is moisturize with the right creams. I’ve always moisturized, but I don’t think I cared too much about what I was using. These last couple of years in my 20s have been all about moisturizing and sun protection. I tend to get one HUGE pimple during my period and noticed that the acne scars have been healing so much better. I think this has to do with my moisturizing and SPF! I don’t really have a FAVORITE sunblock, but I recently finished Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen Lotion and this one is pretty light. I’m currently using the Aveeno Protect and Hydrate Sunscreen which gives me a pretty nice glow. I’m always up for sunscreen suggestions, but my favorite moisturizers that I keep going back to are:

1. Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid Replenishing Cream (6.76 fl oz $34): This cream helps to reduce dryness and inflammation, while nourishing and strengthening the skin on my really bad eczema days. It’s pretty heavy so I use this as a night cream in the winter too.
2. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (16 oz. $14)/ Daily Moisturizing Lotion (12 fl oz $11): Both moisturizers are great for every day. I tend to throw these on chill days, which I have a lot of. I use the cream in the chilly months and the lotion during the warmer months. They have no fragrance and have the hyaluronic acid and ceramides that are helpful for relieving very dry skin.
3. Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre (2.54 fl $28): I look forward to putting this one on. With key ingredients like Aloe Vera and Shea Butter, it’s light but perfect for every day during the colder months.

I’ve also found myself exfoliating a little less and masking a little more. One of my favorite masks is the Hydrating Cream Mask from Embryolisse. I usually reach for this after I wash my hair since my skin loses all of its moisture every time I do. It helps to restore radiance to dull and dehydrated skin. Then I have two more Shea Moisture masks that I’ve enjoyed:

1. African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask: I think this is targeted more toward oily skin, but it’s good for blemish prone skin. I like to use this when my skin is freaking out.
2. Manuka Honey & Yogurt Glow Getter Honey Mask: Which does what it says. The Vitamin C in this does a nice job adding some radiance to the skin.

That isn’t to say I’ve stopped exfoliating. I have two favorites there as well. In fact, I’ve written about them in the past:

1. Neogen Dermmalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Lemon: A chemical and manual exfoliator that helps with uneven skin and dullness
2. Volition Beauty Turmeric Brightening Polish: This one has similar results but it’s a scrub that’s a bit more intense. I really only use this when I haven’t exfoliated in awhile

I’ve tried quite a few trendy products since starting the 10 step routine, some expensive, some not. I’ve targeted so many different concerns, it’s funny to think about how much my skin has changed. The products listed above were the few things that got me through my 20s, but I’m always trying new things, for example, I’m working with some AHAs like glycolic acid for chemical exfoliation and have introduced hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture. I’m still figuring out the best ways to use these which is why they weren’t mentioned in this post. At 29, I’m thinking more about what my skin needs rather than what’s popular. I listen to it when it tells me it needs more hydration, or when it’s dull, or when I have one HUGE pimple that needs a little love. I think that’s the biggest change from my early 20s to now. I still have a lot of learning, but I do think I’m walking into my 30s more knowledgeable about what’s good for me.