Skin Care

I Spent Thousands Battling Hormonal Acne, and a $20 Regimen Cured It

Through a four-year trial-and-error method, I finally found what keeps my acne under control

by as told to Emily Woodruff | 10 COMMENTS

PHOTO 13/15

My Routine Slowly, my acne scars and marks have faded. It's amazing to look back at the pictures I have of my acne (which aren't even from when it was at its worst, since I had a tendency to go on picture-deleting sprees when I was feeling really ugly). I still break out every now and then, but I've learned that treating my skin very gently is much better than attacking it with aggressive treatments. Fish oil and a basic routine isn't a cure-all for me -- acne will always be an ongoing battle -- but it does seem to keep my skin from getting really angry and irritated. To prevent acne, here's what I do:

-A gentle cleanser (I use Aqua Glycolic Facial Cleanser, $14.39, every two days, and Albolene, $7.29, on the other days, which I also use as a makeup remover)
-A simple moisturizer (Elta MD Intense Moisturizer, $10.50, only at night)
-Gentle treatment products (a vitamin C serum I make myself)
-Makeup (I only wear Shiseido Liquid Foundation, $36, and only if I'm going out)
-Sunscreen Shiseido Anessa SPF 46+++ Mild Face Sunscreen (around $16, imported from Japan)

Those are the only things I ever put on my face.

I also changed a few habits that I think cut down on my blemishes:

-Every day: Clean glasses
-Once every two days: Change pillow case cover
-Once a week: Wipe down everything that touches my hands or my face with alcohol pads (cell phone, keyboard, mouse, steering wheel, etc.); Clean makeup brushes and other beauty tools; Clean bedroom
-Once every two weeks: Wash sheets
-Once a month: Deep clean bedroom and house

I take a cinnamon extract supplement, Omega 3 vitamin, and a multi-vitamin daily.

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