Hey friends! How’s quarantine? I know for me it has given me some time to think about all the things I want to focus more time on. Part of managing anxiety is learning how to slow down and find things you enjoy to escape reality. Something that I have focused my time on for a couple months, but especially this March, is skincare.
I typically have good skin- combination, two small red spots, and it’s pretty clear. However, when I do break out, it’s generally caused by stress. I figured I’d share with you all how I cleared my skin from stress and some of the products I use. At the end of the post, I’ll have links to all the products + some extra. Happy reading.
Nighttime routine
Assuming I wore no makeup (which is normal for me), I wash my face at the end of my shower with a gentle exfoliator. I use Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub. I don’t wash my face with my fingers in the shower and out- instead, I use silicon face scrubbers I found on Amazon. They’re super gentle on the skin and even have a suction cup on the backside! I know some think it’s unhealthy to wash your face in the shower because warm/hot water opens the pores, but I rinse with cold water to avoid that problem.
Once I’m out of the shower, I have a towel specifically for my face and I lightly pat my face dry. Even if you have normal skin, your skin is still sensitive to rubbing or patting aggressively. Once the rest of my face dries, I apply a mask. I apply masks 3-4 times a week, depending on if I wore makeup or had more breakouts than usual. Before using a mask, I use Neutrogena Rapid Clear toner to make sure I have a clean base. My all-time favorite mask is by Lush: Mask of Magnaminty. The first thing you smell is peppermint when you open this mask! Peppermint helps deep-clean the pores. The mask is an exfoliator as well and has vanilla and honey in it. I let this sit on my skin for about 20 minutes and use a silicon scrubber to work it into my skin and cleanse it off.
After I take my mask off, I use Say Yes to Cotton Comforting Facial Moisturizer for sensitive skin. I let this dry on my face and then move on to using The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Borage Seed Oil. This oil is for all skin types and helps to maintain healthy skin. This product has become one of my favorite steps in my routine! A little goes a long way; I use a couple drops and work this all over my face down to my neck. If anyone wants to send some money my way to buy more of their products…only kidding. 😉
My last step is to spray on Thayers Facial Mist Witch Hazel in Rose Petal. This mist provides an extra layer of moisture, helps to cleanse whatever I missed, tones, and balances the pH level of the skin. I look a little dorky after I spray this on because I stand directly under my ceiling fan to help it dry!
Morning routine
I keep my routine very simple in the morning. I use a foaming facial cleanser in the mornings. Because I used a moisturizer + oil + mist on my face at night, I want to make sure I cleanse any excess oils off, and a foaming cleanser will do that. I use the La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Wash. This cleanser is made for normal (me) to oily (me in the morning) skin types. I then follow up by using my Say Yes to Cotton Comforting Facial Moisturizer for sensitive skin.
Some other products worth mentioning
When I had genetic testing done to find an anxiety medication that works for me, I also found out that I have a folate deficiency. With that being said, I now take a folate supplement. Other than what my body uses it for, I also have the benefit of it helping my hair + skin + nails. So, a vitamin like biotin might be worth looking into.
To clear blemishes, I use a cotton swab with some tea tree oil on it. I use only a tad bit and that helps to dry the blemish and clear it in a couple days.
Another favorite mask I have is Sephora’s Purifying Mud Mask with Zinc. This mask helps to unclog pores and brighten skin.
Lastly, I love coconut oil for my skin. I take off all of my makeup with coconut oil. If I don’t have a moisturizer, coconut oil. You get the idea.
This routine works for me and has helped make my skin HAPPY! Find what works for you and stick to it.
Silicon Scubbers https://www.neutrogena.com/skin/skin-acne/rapid-clear-2-in-1-fight-and-fade-salicylic-and-glycolic-acid-toner-for-acne-and-marks/6806068.html
Say Yes to Cotton http://yesto.com/catalog/collections/cotton/#category-face
The Ordinary Borage Seed Oil https://theordinary.deciem.com/product/rdn-100pct-organic-cold-pressed-borage-seed-oil-30ml?redir=1
Facial Mist https://www.thayers.com/shop-thayers/premium-witch-hazel/facial-mists/rose-petal-facial-mist/
Mask of Magnaminty https://www.lushusa.com/face/masks/mask-of-magnaminty/9999900411.html
Sephora Mask https://www.sephora.com/product/purifying-mud-mask-clear-mattify-P442593?icid2=products%20grid:p442593
Tea Tree Oil https://www.planttherapy.com/tea-tree-organic-essential-oil
Me + life 