How I got healthy skin. (and tips)

After a couple I have never really struggled with skin care issues such as acne. However, in the past few years I have seen a major change with my skin, and not for the better. I started experiencing discoloration, extreme dryness, and an overall dullness. T

hese issues started to make me feel very insecure about how I looked with and without makeup on. So , i decided to do something about it and make protecting and taking care of my skin a priority. I tried to follow the routines of other influencers and beauty gurus, but at the end of the day only i know what works for me and my skin. I don’t indulge much in luxury skin care, and at the moment, I am not seeing an expensive dermatologist or esthetician . After trial and error and my own personal research, I FINALLY have found what my routine is as well as some lifestyle changes I also had to make.

Step one: Lay off the toxins

I am a reformed party girl so drinking and smoking cigarettes were part of my weekly party routine. I would sometimes smoke an entire pack of cigs in one weekend, and drink all kinds of beer, liquor, and wine. We all know just how bad smoking is for us, but it’s especially bad for your skin. Also, alcohol is full of sugars and carbs which also are not good, in excess, for your skin. Because of an overall lifestyle change, I MARJORY cut back on alcohol, and completely cut out cigarettes from my daily routine. This has allowed for my skin to repair itself quicker and also has eliminated the bloat i would get after a night out drinking that would last for days!

Step two: Wash your face

This should be common knowledge but girl, was your face. I was my face twice a day: once in the morning before I get ready for the day and apply makeup, and also at night as I am doing my nighttime routine. In the morning, I like to use something that smells fresh and that helps wake me up, but is also gentle so I use Clean and Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser. At night I use REAL African Black Soap which helps me clean off my excess makeup and have clean skin to start my night skincare routine.

Step three: Never EVER EVER EVER...sleep in your makeup

If you treat your skin better by keeping it clean, you will look naturally beautiful and won’t NEED make up all the time. Sleeping in your makeup is a huge no no. I was tempted to sleep in my makeup when I first started staying the night with my boyfriend at the beginning of our relationship because I wanted to not look like an Oger when he saw me in the morning. This was a mistake because while my skin was supposed to be repairing itself at night, it was suffocating under makeup and breeding bacteria. As part of my nighttime routine, I always removed most of my make up with a moisturizing makeup remover wipe. After that I remove my eye makeup with the SEPHORA COLLECTION Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover, and then proceed to wash and moisturize my skin.

Step four: Keep your skin moisturized and protected

Moisturize your skin every night to lock in moisture, especially if you have skin that tend to be on the dry side. Right now I currently using a brand called POD, which I found at my local Dollar General store. It has worked for my in keeping my skin moisturized, and it has SPF in it to protect your skin from sun damage, which is very important. I also use an a Rose Oil to moisturize at night, or when I do not plan on using makeup.

The moral of the story is, there are a million and one products you can choose to incorporate into your skin care routine. However, you need to have a good foundation knowledge of how to take care of your skin. You can have the most expensive skin serums in the world but if you are not washing your face every night you are not going to have good skin. Also, if you are having serious skin issues, go to the dermatologist and get professional assistance (because I am not a doctor)

I hope this helps you on your new skin care journey!

XO, Patrice