I found myself running trial and error sessions on my skin. Taking my ph levels through the ringer was not going to help my skin find the balance it needed to clear up. So my first tip is to be gentle on your skin. Sometimes adult acne is hormonal...pay attention to your skin...if you are breaking out with your cycle or prior to your cycle don't get crazy and buy deep acne treatments. Spot treat those blemishes without disrupting the rest of your facial skin.
Here is my regime, and how I make the best use of the product:
A unique soap formula with a rich, luxurious lathering action that lifts off makeup and dirt. A Coconut Extract derivative cleanses deeply, yet gently, while Apricot Oil hydrates and cushions skin for an incredibly clean, soft, and refreshed feeling. Lathering Tube Soap works especially well for combination skin. Dermatologist and Ophthalmologist tested.
(I am not one for reinventing the wheel :) Copied from the BB website)
CC: I am on my 3rd tube of this facial cleanser and I love it. I actually save money using this product! I no longer use a makeup remover to remove makeup before jumping in the shower. In fact, I find this to be one of the best makeup removers I have ever used. Yet at the same time it's very gentle on the skin. I use the tiniest centimeter of product and it laters up for my face and neck! It usually lasts me about 2 to 3 months.
A.M. : I usually don't wash my face with a cleanser in the morning, I just run cold water on my skin to wake up and reduce any puffiness to my skin and then on to Step 2. Sometimes if I have a blemish I spot treat it with a DDF Sulfur Mask overnight and then I will wash my face with this the next morning.
P.M. : I wear makeup practically everyday and I have to shower each and every night! I am not a two days to shampoo girl...I have to shampoo everynight...I just can not sleep unless my head feels clean...I don't think it is that good for my hair...but I have tried to go two days and I can't sleep right! If I am so exhausted that I fall asleep with makeup on...I have the worst sleep...All night I lecture myself about how much I am going to regret not washing my face...then I finally jump up and do it! So now, I don't dilly dally I just get it over with and enjoy my sleep!
Note: I give a sample of this to my clients so that they can wash away their makeup with ease at the end of their event! I don't know what they use at home but I have heard of people having to wash their faces several times after photo shoots...I know this will do the trick the first time around...it's just good stuff!
This alcohol-free hydrating formula softens, tones, and refines skin -- gently -- without tightening or irritation. Infused with Cucumber Extract and natural Lavender to instantly soothe and calm. Dermatologist-tested.
(Again copied from the BB website)
CC: Smells so great! This is the highlight of skincare...it feels great and smells great, and I am positive that this along with the Lathering Tube Soap is the key to great looking skin!
A.M.: I use this every morning. It never really picks up residue because I pretty much removed it the night before, so I my primary use for it in the a.m. is to refresh and soothe my skin. It calms the redness and helps reduce puffiness.
P.M. I pair this with the Exfoliating Cotton Discs from CVS to get the perfectly CLEAN face. I just saturate the cotton disc and run it over my face til there is no residue left on the cotton, usually by the 2nd or 3rd disc. I concentrate on my forehead (to remove any makeup spelunking in my DFW's) and around my nose.
Step 3: MAC Fast Response Eye Cream
The super-charged, caffeinated cream with instant effects. De-puffs, erases the look of dark circles, firms, soothes and softens skin around the eye. Special optics act like magic to fade away lines.
(From MAC Website)
CC: This was one of the first MAC skincare items I purchased and fell in love with. Working there I don't know how many women and introduced to this that fell in love with it as well! I use this everday...I put a small amount on my ring finger...press both of my ring fingers together and then stipple it onto my eyes. (In a dotting motion, pushing it into my skin.)
(From MAC Website)
CC: This was one of the first MAC skincare items I purchased and fell in love with. Working there I don't know how many women and introduced to this that fell in love with it as well! I use this everday...I put a small amount on my ring finger...press both of my ring fingers together and then stipple it onto my eyes. (In a dotting motion, pushing it into my skin.)
Charged water, fused with vital ions from rhodochrosite to create a powerfully protective hydrating mist to help defend the skin from environmental agents. It also has an aroma of a grapefruit/tangerine.
CC: During select promotions MAC introduces Charged Waters. This is kind of a skeptical product. Some people prefer fix+ but that is not really a fair comparison as they are both created for different reasons. Charged waters have different direct purposes. This orange on is for Hydrating. So this is an essential step in my morning routine. One bottle pretty much has lasted almost a year! I used about 3 sprays every morning.
A lustrous, lightweight daytime eye treatment fortified with essential fatty acids and humectants to moisturize and help minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Broad spectrum SPF helps protect the fragile eye area from future UV damage.
- Protects fragile eye area
- Minimizes look of fine lines
CC: It is a golden rule of skin protection to put your SPF on an hour before heading into the sun. So step 4 is protecting my eye are from the suns aging. I focus this formula around my whole eye..avoiding the area I would put eyeliner on. This helps prevent the product from melting into your eye from heat or sweating, etc. Alot of people tend to just put this on the bottom under their eye. But you do get wrinkles, aging and darker on your eyelids!
An oil-, fragrance-, and dye-free moisturizer for all skin types, including acne-prone skin. Contains aloe vera, vitamins A, E and C, and grapeseed for comfortable hydration. Will not clog pores. Lanolin-free.
- Absorbs quickly
- Fragrance-free
- Replenishes moisture
I know it seems like a lot of steps...but this literally takes me 5 minutes to do in the morning. I used to use the Bobbi Brown Lathering Cleanser, Tonic and then Dove Moisturizer with SPF 15 and that worked great! So I know that the Bobbi Brown products are my Holy Grail products for treating adult acne. I hope you give them a try and let me know what you think!