My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

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

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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…

  1. No cow’s milk dairy
  2. No added/refined sugar (super dark chocolate a-ok!)
  3. 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

Drunk Elephant Daytime and Nighttime Skincare Routines

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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.

Drunk Elephant

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!

Drunk Elephant

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!

Drunk Elephant

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.

Drunk Elephant

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.

Drunk Elephant

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.

Drunk Elephant

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!

New Skincare Products

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

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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 Skincare 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!

Instanatural scar gel is my clear skin secret

InstaNatural Scar Gel + My New Skincare Routine

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It’s been a while since I’ve blogged about my acne dilemmas.  And there’s a very good reason for that.  Over the past 3ish months, my acne has gone from prominent and painful to nearly nonexistent.

Yes, that’s correct!  I have (for the time being at least) cured my face of constant breakouts.  Of course, I’m still prone to the occasional pimple here and there, but it’s not a regular thing anymore!  And the pimples I do get disappear in days versus weeks.

I honestly don’t know what to attribute this wonderful and exciting development to.  My mom and Vishnu think it’s because I’ve been working on reducing my stress levels.  Personally, I think it’s due in part to that and in part to my new skincare routine. And in particular, a new product I added to my regimen – the InstaNatural Scar Gel.

Insta Natural Scar Gel

Before I tell you all about this magical potion, I have to share how I came across it.

At the end of May, Vishnu suggested I use Mederma (a scar lightener) on the scars I have on my legs from the Tough Mudder race I ran last year.   I said I would look into it but never did (oops!).  When he realized this, he took matters into his own hands and did a little research on scar gels/creams.  That’s how he came across InstaNatural.  And without telling me, he bought a bottle.

When it finally arrived in early June, I asked Vishnu if he thought I could use it on my face too.  Ultimately, I decided to give it a try (because why not?!) and started with a couple of the more prominent scars on my face.  Over time, I started applying a thin layer to my entire face.  And I kid you not when I say that it has made all the difference in the world.  Not only are my scars (both new and old) fading, but my skin is smoother and brighter than ever before.

You guys know I’ve tried everything under the sun to address my acne – I took antibiotics and used a prescription grade cream, I tried going dairy-free, I used Proactiv, and we can’t forget about my ACV fiasco.  And this is just scratching the surface.  I’ve been experimenting for YEARS!  And now, I have finally found something that is the real deal (for me)!

InstaNatural Scar Gel is made with Epidermal Growth Factor which helps speed the healing process.  It also includes green tea, moisturizers, etc.  Whatever it is, it’s truly magical!  And while the price point compared to the size of the bottle is on the higher end of the spectrum, I can vouch for the fact that the product goes a LONG way.  I’ve had the same bottle for almost four months.

The gel itself is light brown in color and has a runny but spreadable consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin. I use one full pump for my entire face.  Some reviewers say the smell is off putting, but I honestly don’t smell anything at all.

Here’s exactly how I incorporate it into my skincare routine

My New AM Skincare Routine

My New PM Skincare Routine

My PM skincare routine mirrors the above with one small change.  Instead of using the Trader Joe’s Moisturizer, I apply a nickel sized amount of the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry/Sensitive Skin to my entire face before bed.

Clarification – I also use coconut oil every PM around my eyes, on my eyebrows, and on my lips.  

I’ve been taking pictures of my face to monitor the progress, and if I wasn’t such a wuss, I’d share them with you guys!  But trust me when I say that my skin on June 12 looks completely different than it does now.  In fact, when I went home this past weekend, my sister thought I was wearing makeup when I wasn’t!  If that’s not something, then I don’t know what is!

I’ll post an update in a few months to share how this new product and routine are going.  Fingers crossed that I don’t have to add this to my long list of acne experiment failures!

Let me know if you decide to try this scar gel.  While I can’t guarantee that it’ll be just as life changing for everyone, I do think it’s worth a try!

No portion of this post is sponsored!  However, there are a few affiliate links sprinkled throughout. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Written on Related:Skincare

Acne Update: Jojoba Oil + Tea Tree Oil

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One of the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is look in the mirror and evaluate my skin.  I’m mostly looking for one thing – new acne.

Recently, I’ve been pretty happy with what I see.  For the first time in a long time, my skin is doing ok.  And it kind of freaks me out.  I’m so happy my skin is finally calming down, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.  That’s what almost 20 years of dealing with acne will do to you!

Anyways, I want to share more about what I’m attributing to this recent positive phenomenon.

The first thing is undoubtedly my dairy-free experiment.  I can’t wait to share more about how it’s going (coming soon!).  While travelling a few weeks from the end of November through the beginning of December, I didn’t stick to my goal of staying away from dairy.  It was partly circumstance and mostly my own doing!  But I’m back to it…with lots of lessons learned.

I believe the second factor that’s helping my skin is a new simplified moisturizing routine.

Before I share more, here are a few things to know:

That’s when my experiment loving self started doing some research.  Both my cousin and countless articles on the internet suggested jojoba oil as a great option for people with acne-prone skin because it’s the closest to human sebum (it tricks our skin into thinking it’s producing enough oil, balancing oil-production), it’s non-comedogenic, it’s loaded with vitamin E and other useful things, etc.

And so I thought – let me try this!

My nighttime routine consisted of 4-5 drops of jojoba oil applied to my entire face and a pea-sized amount of Tazorac applied on the affected area.  During the day, I used Trader Joe’s Nourish moisturizer and a very small amount of the Tazorac.

As the weather started to change (yes, even down here in Miami), I started getting dry patches on my skin.  This led to severe peeling, aggravated skin, and more acne.

After my trip to DC, when my skin was at it’s worst, I made the decision to stop using Tazorac cold turkey.  In it’s place, I decided to give tea tree oil another chance.  However, instead of applying it directly to my skin, which I think caused more harm than good, I now mix it in with the Jojoba oil and my daytime moisturizer.

Facial oils

So this is what my new routine looks like…

  • Daytime: one pump of Trader Joe’s Nourish moisturizer + two drops of tea tree oil mixed together and applied to the entire face (being extra careful around the eyes)
  • Nighttime: five drops of jojoba oil + three to four drops of tea tree oil mixed together and applied to the entire face (again, being extra careful around the eyes)

It’s hard to explain in words what a difference this change has made.  In a nutshell, my skin is less oily during the day, breakouts are at a minimum (and the ones that pop up every now and then go way more quickly than they ever have before), and during a time of month when things are usually super bad, my skin is calmer than ever.

Like I said, I’m kind of freaking out!

I honestly can’t say if this tweak would’ve made a huge difference had I not given up dairy, but I’m happy to report that together these changes are making a huge difference.

The one thing I’ve learned on my journey is that everyone is different.  What works for me may not work for the next person (as evident by my ACV disaster).  With that being said, I’ll share my progress over the next few months with the hope that my story may help someone else!  If anyone knows how painful (in so many ways) acne is, it’s me!

Here’s to clearer skin (fingers crossed)!

Do you suffer from acne?  What does your skincare routine look like?

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