for context:
my skin is combination skin (dry + oily at forehead/ t-zone/ chin)
breaks out easily (eg. wearing mask during c*vid period)
not born with clear skin (struggled with acne as a teenager)
what triggered it this time:
I swear I have the worst luck with skincare products haha - many times I tried products that worked for me, the brands change formula / out of stock
so I had no choice but to try new skincare products, and they ended up damaging my skin barrier
at the same time we bought a toothpaste on discount, my skin did not agree with it
breakouts are our body and skin’s way of telling us something is wrong or something triggered it
how I knew it wasn’t regular pimples is because my regular pimple cream didn’t have any effects on it at all.
at this point it’s good to trace back your steps on what you did, what changed so that you can address the root cause
for my case:
damaged skin barrier
ingredients in toothpaste
& to help my skin heal even faster:
worked on my gut health
added a sanitizer to prevent further triggers
changed my cleanser
when you damage your skin barirer (especially from trying out new products that may be too harsh), you really need a cleanser that is SUPER GENTLE
there were weird bumps on my face, I WISH I could use a sandpaper to scrub/ grate them all away haha!
but what actually worked was using a cleanser that is SO MILD it basically feels like nothing
weird, but my skin reacted better to a very very mild cleanser
Youth To The People Kale + Green Tea Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser
LA ROCHE-POSAY Toleriane Dermo Cleanser 200ml
used non-irritating products that help heal skin barrier
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus 200ml
KraveBeauty Oat So Simple Water Cream
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+
great at healing skin barrier but contains cica/ centella
(I learned that this ingredient can break out some people’s skin.
my skin cannot take cica/ centella)
Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream 50ml
for me this was a good alternative for healing skin barrier quickly
(not the 147ha one as that also contains centella)
simplify skincare routine
whenever your skin breaks out terribly, it’s always good to keep your routine as simple as possible so you can eliminate potential triggering products/ ingredients
what worked well for me was
very gentle cleanser (only at night, use water in the morning) - toner - moisturizer - barrier cream to heal skin barrier
prevent further external triggers
I switched my toothpaste to one without fluoride and SLS because they can sometimes cause or worsen acne
Grin Natural Freshening Toothpaste 100g
I also changed my pillow casing more often
& used hypochlorous acid spray (HOCl acid) as a sanitizer for my pillow casing / hand
some people spray HOCl acid on their face after gym to prevent the growth of acne-causing bacteria
it can also be used in place of hand sanitizer with no irritating side effects
worked on my gut health
while we work on the external of our skin, it’s important to take care of it inside out as well
while I continued with my usual skin supplement (Luna) which has always helped me with skin healing, I wanted to boost my gut health
Eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables can help clear skin
on busy days, supplements help me fill the gap
Luna - nutrients focused on skin healing
Shine Greens - tastes like matcha + made of 27 fruits and vegetable extract
Essential Rainbow - rich in phytonutrients that boost antioxidant defenses and overall wellbeing
side note I honestly love how I feel more energetic after taking the Essential Rainbow, but I really cannot accept the taste of this essential rainbow alone with water cause it tastes like beetroot?
so I’ll mix in 2 sachets of Luna (passionfruit flavour) whenever I drink it
SO MUCH BETTER
good quality sleep
I’ve always had sleep issues since I was young, especially when I’m stressed
recently I found a sleep supplement that works well for me
so whenever I can’t sleep, I’ll just take a strip at night
sleep plays a crucial role in acne management. sufficient and quality sleep can impact skin health
added bonus is that the sleep strips come with ingredients to help skin glow as well
the real beauty sleep haha!
I heard from my friend that if you’re prone to migraines, this supplement may not be suitable for you
Eimele Sleep Glow – Natural Sleep Aid & Skin Support Strips (30-Pack)
listen to your body
it’s important to note that everyone’s body and skin is different, and you should listen to your body and take note of how your skin & body reacts to different products/ ingredients
example how cica/ centella works well for so many people but breaks me out