Skincare Archives - My Inner Shakti

The State of My Skin + Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

It’s been a little over two months since I’ve shared a skin update. I’ve been a little silent about the whole situation because I wanted to see how things panned out with my ‘less sugar + dairy’ experiment. Also, I wanted to wait at least a few weeks before sharing my thoughts on Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream.

So here we are…

State of my skin

In terms of an overall skin update, I’m happier with the state of my face (ha!) than I’ve been in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I still have lots of scarring that’s probably going to take a long time to fade. But from a skin condition point of view, it’s a lot smoother and even in terms of tone. I can always tell how my skin’s doing based on how my makeup goes on, and so far we’re doing ok! The dry and crazy Chicago weather is something else, but that’s out of my control!

The less dairy + sugar experiment is still going, but I did hop off the train a few times in the last couple of months. Most recently being Italy! I mean, I can’t go all the way there without eating all the delicious things, right?!

I’m not sure what’s going on, but despite eating a bit more dairy and sugar recently, my skin is generally behaving. I’m going to take us on a tangent for a second and share that I think it’s because food in Europe is so different than the food in the US. There’s less chemicals and processed stuff in Europe. Even the veggies in Italy tasted fresher.

Ok, back to skincare. Other than the above, I should mention that I have had a small breakout here and there, but nothing as extreme as last year. No puss and pain. Just a bump or two that disappear more quickly than ever.

Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Ok, so here’s my honest review. I’m so glad I added to this my skincare lineup, and I do believe that in the long term I will see amazing benefits from doing so. However, I don’t really notice much of a difference yet, and it’s been three months since I started using it. Maybe this is what’s keeping my skin calm and smooth, but I can’t say with 100% certainty.

Here’s what I do know. If you plan to use this product, GO SLOW! I started using it every other night from the get go and experienced quite a bit of peeling and pain. This is strong stuff, people! I learned that the hard way. After researching a bit more, I turned the dial waaay down, and only used A-Passioni once a week for about a month. Then I slowly transitioned to twice a week and now I’m about three times a week. My goal is to use this every other night, but now I understand that my skin needs to build tolerance for it first.

How do I use this exactly? Well, you guys know, I switched to a 100% Drunk Elephant skincare routine. So I apply a pea size amount of A-Passioni + a pump of B-Hydra (hydrating serum)+ a pump of Lala Retro (moisturizer) all over my face. On the other nights, I apply a pump of TLC Framboos (a glycolic night serum) + a pump of B-Hydra + 3-4 drops of Marula Oil (facial oil). So far so good!

Also, I should probably share a little bit about what retinol does. I’m no expert on the science, but from what I’ve read, it helps even skin tone and texture from within the deep layers of the skin (re: lots of cell turnover). It’s also great for anti-aging stuff. Drunk Elephant’s retinol is vegan and is made without the suspicious six ingredients. It also contains nourishing oils to help decrease irritation.

You guys, I can’t tell you how much Drunk Elephant has changed the skincare game for me. From what I’ve read about other people’s experiences, my results have been slower to come, and that’s probably because I had/have a long way to go, but the amount of patience I’ve had to show has been worth it. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to wash my face and not feel any bumps. As someone who’s dealt with acne most of her life, I highly recommend trying Drunk Elephant to see if it works for you. Like I always say, it’s expensive but 110% worth it.

Adult acne is the worst! If you feel alone or stuck, feel free to send me an email. More than happy to share more of my experience(s).

Month 1 – Less Sugar + Dairy

written by Parita Leave a Comment

If you follow me regularly (ish), you’ve heard me talk about 1. my skin woes and 2. how I’m working to improve the condition of my skin both from the inside out and the outside in.

After my work trip to Vancouver in early December, I came home and told my husband that something needed to change, because aside from it being a vanity thing, my face hurt. My blemishes were deep and painful, and honestly, I was just so sick of feeling helpless about it. Something needed to change!

I share a bit more about the what and the why in this post. The abbreviated version of it all is that over the course of a few months I started noticing a trend after indulgent weekends where I consumed a lot of sugar and dairy (more so than usual). My skin would errupt with new (and painful) breakouts every single time.

I thought I would be fine because I’m on birth control and have a pretty solid skincare routine. But no such luck. So immediately upon returning from Vancouver, I decided to cut way back on my sugar and dairy consumption.

Before I share my one month ‘results,’ let me define ‘cut way back.’ I didn’t eliminate the two completely, but rather looked at the opportunity to eat them as “worth it” moments. In the case of dairy (specifically cow’s milk cheese), I purposely only used 75-80% of what I normally would’ve ate. I have yet to eat a meal out that includes dairy. In terms of sugar, I’ve only really had processed sugar foods 2-3 times in the past month. And again, when I did consume them, I ate 75% of what I would have in the past. For example, earlier this week, Vishnu was having a bowl of a new-to-me ice cream I’ve been wanting to try. Instead of eating half the pint, I served myself 3 small spoonfuls. A worth it moment that didn’t go wrong!

Ok so the results…

My skin looks the better than it has in a very very long time (knocking on all the wood!). I do have a couple of blemishes that are making their way out but have not had any new ones since the holidays. My skin is also less red, irritated, and textured overall. I feel like I finally have a glow of some sort. I do, however, still have acne scars that will obviously take time to heal (if ever).

And just to show how this compares to my skin a few months ago or as recently as Thanksgiving, here are a few close-up pics. Note that I am wearing makeup in most of these, so my skin may not look that bad, but trust me…it was!

Speaking of healing scars, I should also mention that I’m using the new Drunk Elephant retinol (started on December 28th). I want to give it some time before sharing my views, but I will say that this stuff is very potent. I started using it every other day, but upon noticing how dry and flaky my skin looked/felt, I went to every three days. That was still too much, so now I use it twice a week (at night). I have high hopes that this stuff will help fade my scars but will give it some time before shouting my excitement from the rooftop! More to come!

I’m going to keep this way of eating up and will report back on the condition of my skin in a couple of months. Wish me luck!

Three Changes I’m Making for (Hopefully) Clearer Skin

written by Parita 1 Comment

If you look back at my blog archives over the past eight years,you’ll find a countless number of posts about my experiences with acne. Everything from what I’ve tried to combat it to the lifestyle changes I’ve implemented.

In the last year alone, I went to a dermatologist (who wanted to start me on a $500/month prescription), started birth control, and switched my entire skincare routine over to Drunk Elephant. And while the condition of my skin has improved dramatically and the number of breakouts I get has decreased quite a bit, I still feel like there’s more I can do. I say this because I still break out every now and then, and it’s painful, and as vain as it sounds, it’s not pretty.

Before I go into the exact changes, let me address what I’ve noticed in the last 6 months or so. Every time I indulge a little (or a lot!), specifically with cheesy and sugary foods, my skin responds very negatively. For example, after our weekend in Traverse City where I drank lots of wine, ate lots of cheese, and had two desserts in one day, my skin went nuts. The same thing happened after Thanksgiving weekend because I ate mac n’ cheese for 4 days straight. And again after Vancouver (re: four nights straight of wine and dessert).

I’m thinking you know what two of my changes are! If you guessed significantly reducing the amount of cheese (I don’t really consume other forms of dairy) and sugar I eat,you’re right. Looking back, I think if I moved the needle even 80%, I’d see a huge improvement.

My third change is implementing a sleep routine. Of course, Mr. Kaiden may throw this off a little, but I know I can do better. For example, instead of falling asleep on the couch, I should just go to bed. I’m also hoping that by creating a bedtime routine, I’ll be able to fall asleep and stay asleep for most of the night. I’ve read a lot about how sleep impacts skin health (along with everything else), so I’m putting it and myself to the test!

Those who know me well may be thinking, “But Par, you LOVE cheese and sweet stuff. Are you really just giving it up cold turkey?” Trust me, I’ve been toying with this exact thought for a while now. My answer is this…for the next month, I’m giving up cow’s milk cheese and refined sugar. After that, I’m going to reevaluate how my skin looks and feels and take it from there. To be honest, I think my days of eating multiple slices of pizza are gone, but that’s what it’s comedown to. I can’t deal with my skin looking like it did when I was 15.

With that being said, after this one month period, if there’s something I want to try, I will allow myself a bite or two of the good stuff. I mean, life’s too short to totally give up the stuff you love!

So here’s the plan for the next month at least…

No cow’s milk dairy
No added/refined sugar (super dark chocolate a-ok!)
Operation ‘get better sleep’ – put a routine in place and no handheld devices for the hour leading up to bedtime

I know lots of you are interested in these kinds of experiments because many of us struggle with adult acne. I’ll revisit this here on the blog in a month to share my progress. Hopefully I learn some good stuff!

WISH ME LUCK!

Drunk Elephant Daytime and Nighttime Skincare Routines

written by Parita 3 Comments

I’ve been raving about Drunk Elephant (DE) for a while now and finally managed to get a post together with my thoughts on the products I own. Yahoo!

Ok, first things first. DE products are expensive. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. However, as someone who’s never invested in a real skincare routine, I can say it’s 100% worth it to do so.

My overall take on the DE skincare line is that it’s one that could work for everyone. I love the founder’s perspective about there being no skin types and how we create issues by using products with harsh ingredients (and obviously diet plays a huge role as well) or the suspicious six as DE calls them. I’ll share more on this philosophy in a minute.

With that being said, let me share how and why I got hooked on DE.

I believe it was August of last year when I bought the DE C-Firma day serum and TLC Framboos (nighttime) serum. After talking to my friend Thea (also my beauty/skincare guru) about how they work and what they’re good for, I decided to give them a shot. Then, when I started using Differin, I had to give up the nighttime serum. Fast forward to April when I decided to take a huge leap of faith and transition over to all DE products, giving up the Differin.

It was a good choice!

Like I shared in my postpartum acne journey post, I’m obsessed with DE. While my skin still has a ways to go, these products have definitely helped in several ways – tone, texture, appearance of acne, appearance of dark spots, etc. I can’t wait to see where continued use will get me!

Ok, enough blabbering. Here are my favorite DE products grouped according to my daytime and nighttime skincare routines…

DAYTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE

Thea told me about how you’re not really supposed to wash your face in the morning (something to do with your skin’s acid mantel). Well, after reading more about this concept, I now solely rinse my face with cold water in the morning.

The first products I use are a pump of the C-Firma Vitamin C serum and a pump of the Protini Polypeptide Cream. I mix the two together in the palm of my hand (all of the products can be mixed together before application) and apply to my face and neck.

Before applying my makeup, I take a small amount of the Umbra Tinte Physical Defense SPF and apply to my face and neck. On weekends, when I don’t want to wear a ton of makeup but have places to go and people to see (haha), I’m starting to use the D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum for that extra sun kissed glow. I mix it with the Umbra tint SPF along with a couple of drops of the Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil before carefully applying it to my face and neck. Seriously you guys, these products work so well together and give my [acne] scarred face an even look and feel.

NIGHTTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE

I start my nighttime routine by washing my face. I still use the Dessert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash because it does a great job of removing my makeup and creating a clean base for the other products.

I then apply one pump of the TLC Framboos serum and one pump of the LaLa Retro Whipped Cream (mixed together of course!) to my face. If I feel like my skin could use a little extra love, I add a drop or two of the Marula Oil to the mix as well.

I haven’t tried DE’s under eye creams yet but plan to in the future. I’m still finishing up the belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb sample I got a while back (a little goes a long way).

I also apply some Aquaphor to my lips and some castor oil to my eyebrows.

That’s it!

WHY I LOVE EACH OF THESE PRODUCTS

Now that I’ve shared what I use, how I use it, and when I use it, let me tell you more about why I love this brand and these particular products.

First and foremost, everything is made without using the suspicious six ingredients – 1. silicones, 2. chemical screens, 3. sensitizing colorants/perfumes, 4. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) 5. essential oils, 6. drying alcohols. This alone makes DE a great line for most everyone.

Secondly, the packaging is not only beautiful and sleek, but it serves a purpose. For example, a lot of brands package their Vitamin C serum in clear bottles, whereas DE packages their serum in a non-opaque white bottle with a pump (not a dropper). Additionally, their moisturizers also come in containers with airless pumps to ensure you’re not ‘double dipping’ so to speak. It keeps everything super clean.

Ok, on to the products themselves. You can read about the ‘technical’ details by clicking on the product links, but I’m going to share more of my personal take.

C-Firma Vitamin C serum – I really feel that by using this serum on an almost daily my skin is brighter and more glowy. This is also the product I attribute to my more even skin tone. Again, I still have a ways to go, but C-Firma is definitely giving my skin life!

TLC Framboos serum – This exfoliating serum is what I like to call my ‘keep breakouts away’ serum. Even though it’s not technically marketed for that. I love how I wake up to smoother skin when applying this the night before.

Protini Polypeptide Cream – This moisturizer is marketed as a shot of protein for your skin. Personally, I love using this during the day because it’s so light and does a great job of prepping my skin for SPF and makeup. It’s also not greasy at all.

LaLa Retro Whipped Cream – This is probably one of my DE favorites! I love love love this moisturizer. It’s thicker than Protini but still super airy. It’s made with 6 African oils and is honestly a dream! My skin has never been smoother and so hydrated. LOVE!

Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil – This is another favorite of mine! I love adding this to any of my mixes for that extra glow, moisture and softness. It’s also great on the lips and under the eyes. There’s nothing this Marula Oil can’t do!

Umbra Tinte Physical Defense SPF– Ah! Another favorite. This SPF is so perfect under makeup or on it’s own. It doesn’t leave any white residue on your skin. The formula is super light and creamy, and the tint aspect is awesome. I’ve heard many different skin tones can use this and it works well on everyone. Truly universal!

D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum– This is DE’s newest product, and what I personally love is that when mixed (2 pumps for me!) with the SPF and Marula Oil, it truly gives my skin an even finish and a sun kissed glow. No joke! I used this as my ‘base’ when we got our professional pictures taken and loved how my skin looked ALL DAY! Not to mention all the other benefits.

PRODUCTS I’VE TRIED BUT DON’T USE OFTEN

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel – So this hydration gel can be used with any of the other products to give your skin more intense/long lasting hydration. Given the price point of everything else, I find this one unnecessary in my routine right now. I find the other moisturizer do an amazing job of keep my skin smooth and balanced.

TLC Sukari Babyfacial – This bad boy is an award winning resurfacing facial ‘treatment.’ People RAVE about this product. I want to love it so bad, but I find that after I use this my skin goes haywire. It looks more irritated and bumpy. Thea mentioned that this may be too strong for me, so I even tried mixing it with a pump of Lala before applying. No go! I may reduce my use of this to once a month (I was using it once a week before) and see if that helps.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW/CONSIDER

If you’re a cheapo (like me initially), there is a way for you to try all of these products before committing to full size versions. DE sells a kit called “The Littles” to give people a chance to try a lot of their line at a $90 price point. And from everything I’ve read, the set should last you 4-5 weeks if not longer.

While you should always consult with your doctor before starting something new, all of DE’s products are safe to use during pregnancy with the exception of the Babyfacial.

If you have ‘damaged’ skin like me, real results will take time. I’ve been using DE products consistently for over 2 months, and while my skin has improved for sure, it still has a ways to go. It’ll happen…be patient (says the least patient person in the world!).

If you’re really serious about cleaning up your routines, be sure to research and look into the ingredient lists of everything else you put on your face, including other creams, cleansers, make up products, etc. Personally, I still use a few ‘suspicious’ products like blush, powder, and bronzer, but I plan to do more research and try safer brands.

I think that about covers it! If you have any questions, shoot me and email or leave a comment below.

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included (minus the DE links – those all directly link back to the DE website). There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

My Postpartum Acne Journey – the Not So Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

written by Parita 1 Comment

The postpartum period is hard. Mentally, physically, emotionally. Along with trying to figure out how to keep your little human alive, you’re faced with so many changes in such a short period of time. Looking back, it all goes by so quickly, but don’t get me wrong, when you’re in the thick of it, the days feel like years. Ha!

One of the things I dealt with almost immediately was postpartum acne. While my skin remained fairly clear during pregnancy, specifically during my second and third trimesters, as soon as Kaiden was born, things went haywire. Because of how everything went down, I wasn’t immediately able to give my skin the attention it deserved. Or at least the wash it deserved, so maybe I have a part to play in the initial flareups, but what came days and months later definitely felt more hormonal.

In the days that followed, my stress levels ebbed and flowed, my emotions were a bit all over the place, etc. Combine that with my newfound pumping hobby, and you have a hormonal hot mess new mom who’s face looked like it did about 20 years prior.

I won’t go into every detail, but trust me when I say, my skin went from not so good, to bad, to ugly. So much so that I refused to be in pictures with Kaiden. I’d always want to stay behind the camera.

I tried lots of different things to control my breakouts – topical medicines/creams, dietary changes, LOTS and LOTS of water, etc. Nothing seemed to work. In fact, it just kept getting worse.

Me. Everyday for about seven months.

Fast forward to the end of this past January. Vishnu sat me down (probably after I cried to him about how ugly I felt) and made me see the light – I needed to see a dermatologist. I was so resistant to this idea because I didn’t want to be on the ‘typical’ acne drugs again. And given that I had a horrible experience with a dermatologist in Miami, I was scared a visit (and the subsequent ‘treatment plan’) would end up making things worse.

I somewhat hesitantly made the appointment. I wish I could say that the doctor I saw solved all my problems. She didn’t. She wanted me to use a cream that would cost us $500 a month along with an oral medication. Although, she did confirm that my acne was hormonal.

I then decided to make an appointment with a NP I absolutely love at my gynecologist’s office. We talked about my options, and after lots of discussion (with her, Vishnu, my sister, my mom, friends, etc.), I decided to go back on birth control and use OTC Differin as well.

This was not an easy decision for me by any means. In fact, the last thing I wanted to do was go back on birth control. What I wanted was to be able to control my hormonal acne in a more natural way.

With all of that being said, I will say that the birth control has helped immensely. My skin, while not perfect by any means, looks 110% better. The painful flareups are no longer present, and the overall condition of my skin is also slowly improving. I used the Differin for about three weeks and am now only using Drunk Elephant (DE) products as my topical agents if you will.

You guys, I LOVE DE. I’m hoping one day I can transition off of birth control and continue just with DE and have clear skin for life (a girl can dream, right!?). But honestly, it’s a brand I’m 100% behind and can’t wait to share more in my next post.

Stay tuned…

Pregnancy Acne + Herbivore’s Blue Tansy Face Mask

written by Parita 10 Comments

After the initial excitement of finding out we were pregnant settled in, one of my very first thoughts was, “Oh man, how is pregnancy going to affect my skin? Will pregnancy acne take over my life?!” I’m not even going to lie…the thought freaked me out! As someone who’s dealt with varying degrees of acne, from mild to painfully extreme, I expected the worst.

Dun…dun…dun…

…during the majority of my first trimester, my skin remained clear. To the point where I thought something was wrong. Ha!

Then when I started travelling a bit more in December, I realized that clear skin for the duration of my pregnancy was not going to be a thing. Unfortunately, my acne issues reappeared at the onset of my second trimester. I remember thinking, “Here we go. My skin is going to erupt, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.” Luckily, it didn’t “erupt!” Sure, I had a few bumps here and there, but it was nothing compared to what I’ve experienced in the past.

I kept up with my pre-pregnancy skincare routine (minus the Instanatural Skin Clearing Serum, as it contains retinol) because it really does help to keep flare ups to a minimum, while also drinking as much water as possible. I was honestly nervous to change up my routine while pregnant. I didn’t know if a new product would throw everything off and make it worse…

…but then I threw caution to the wind after talking to my friend Thea about my skincare woes and bought a new face mask, the Herbivore Blue Tansy mask to be precise.

I asked for Thea’s expert advice on what skincare brands would be good/well suited for my pregnant skin. I wanted to try something that was natural and free of all the yucky stuff. Thea is full of knowledge when it comes to the best brands for different skin types, so when she recommended Herbivore and the Blue Tansy mask, I read more about the brand and the mask itself and decided to go for it.

You can read all about the ingredients and what the mask is supposed to do here. I want to share how the mask has impacted my skin.

First of all, when you read the reviews (on pretty much any site), you’ll see phrases like “holy grail” and “best product ever.” If you’re anything like me, this will take your already skeptical opinion to another level. But they’ll draw you in at the same time!

I want to preface my opinion of this mask by saying that I’ve tried A LOT of skincare products targeted towards acne prone skin.. And I feel like I have a good handle on what works and what doesn’t. With that being said, this stuff definitely works!

Here’s what I particularly love about this mask:

It helps calm and balance my skin – bumps, redness, all of it.
While it doesn’t actively prevent breakouts (at least for me), any existing bumps definitely disappear more quickly than usual after using this mask.
My dark spots are getting lighter with every use. I’m not totally in the clear, but it’s helping in a big way.
By looking at my skin, you wouldn’t know we’re in the middle of a chilly winter. With the regular use of this mask, my skin is smoother…no flakiness.
I feel like my moisturizer works 10x better than it used to. It’s like my skin is a brand new sponge that can’t get enough!
BONUS – This product smells so good! It has an herby scent, which lets me know that my skin is in for a natural treat.

The final point I want to make is that the price tag for this product may seem a bit steep at first. BUT as Thea would say, think of price per use. I’ve been using this mask for close to two months now, and I’m not even half way through. When you do the math, it’s not bad at all!

The bottom line comes down to the fact that my pregnancy acne isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. And investing in good, clean products is always a good idea…pregnant or not.

Your turn – do you use masks regularly? What’s your favorite brand?

New Skincare Products – Grape Seed Oil + Instanatural Skin Clearing Serum + Dove Bar Soap

written by Parita 14 Comments

My last skincare post was about the new-to-me Instanatural Scar Gel and how it basically saved my face. My acne went from plentiful and painful to occasional and short-lived.

While a few things have changed since that post, my love for the scar gel and Instanatural in general has not. In fact, I now have another favorite product. But before I talk more about that, let me share the backstory.

Between early-January and mid-February, my skin started breaking out again. Not the way it did in February 2014, but more than it had in a while. No bueno! My diet + stress levels + general environment hadn’t changed much, so I was a little confused. Why was my skin doing this to me out of the blue?!

That’s when I decided that a change of some sort was in order. So the experimenter in me did a bit of research and decided to change things up a little and try a few new products.

New product #1 – Dove Bar Soap for Sensitive Skin

A while back, my mom/dad’s dermatologist mentioned how he recommends Dove Bar Soap for Sensitive Skin to all of his patients and especially to those who experience acne. When my mom told me this, I shook my head in disbelief. I mean, how could Dove Bar Soap help with my horrendous acne?!

A year or so later, a good friend of mine mentioned Dove again and said that it really helped clear up her skin. That’s just not for me, I thought!

Not sure what changed in February, but after doing some Googling, I decided to give it a try. So I now I only use a bar soap to wash my face. Who would’ve thought?!

Note – I still love the Desert Essence face wash I used for years.

New product #2 – Grape Seed Oil (I use a different oil right now but will be getting this one next time.)

When I decided to switch to Dove Bar Soap as my face wash, I realized that while its gentle on the skin and all that, it wouldn’t be able to remove all of my makeup. So back to Google I went, and that’s when I came across grape seed oil and how it can be used as a makeup remover. As I read more, I came to learn that due to its non-comedogenic properties grape seed oil is great for acne prone skin. And that got me thinking about using it as my go to moisturizer.

Anyway, I ordered a bottle, and when it came in, I got to work. First of all, I needed to see if it worked as a makeup remover. All I did was pour a nickle sized amount into one palm, rubbed the oil between my hands, and then massaged my face for a good minute or so. I then took a wet washcloth and gently used that to remove the oil. You guys! It worked. My washcloth was a hot mess, but my makeup came off! I finished the routine with a little Dove Bar Soap action and was good to go!

Then I had to decide exactly how to use the oil as a moisturizer. I decided that in the PM I would apply 2-3 drops along with a small amount of my Cerave moisturizing cream to my face. And in the AM, I would only use one drop along with a small amount of Cerave.

New product #3 – Instanatural Skin Clearing Serum

I originally ordered this not for it’s skin clearing properties but because it claims to help with anti-aging as well. I figured it was about time I started using something to help with that!

How does this play into your routine, Parita? How many products do you even use?

Fair enough! This is the first product I apply after washing my face. Then comes the scar gel (only on my scars). Then comes the tea tree oil (only on existing acne). And then comes the grape seed oil + moisturizer. See, not that complicated at all! 🙂

RESULTS!

I purposely didn’t talk about how these products are working for me individually because I made all three of these changes around the same time, so it’s impossible to tell how one thing is working in isolation.

Overall, I LOVE each of these products, and the changes are in fact working (fingers crossed!). Not only is my skin clearer but my dark spots are also fading. I read somewhere that grape seed oil can help with this issue but who knows. And any new acne that I do get goes away within a day or two as long as I stay consistent with the routine.

An additional benefit is that my skin is a lot smoother than it has been in the past. I know this because my makeup just glides on now…no more rough, dry patches! My skin looks/feels consistently moisturized and “glowy” (small amounts of grape seed oil will not cause your skin to look greasy!!).

Over the years, I’ve blogged A LOT about my acne prone skin and the different products I’ve tried. All I can say is that (for now) these products are reallyreallyreally working for me.

Tell me about any new products you’ve tried and loved recently!

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, there are a few Amazon affiliate links included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!