My new "Organic", "All Natural" skincare routine!

As someone who has struggled with acne for years, I have tried every products in the book yet always gained the same results. Every time I tried a new treatment my skin would clear up for a month and then go back to the way it was before, except usually much worse. I've tried almost every well known acne product on the market (Clean and Clear, Proactive,Clear Pore, Neutrogena, Panoxyl... the list goes on) After running in too many failed attempts at clearing my skin I decided to do some research as find the true problem with my skin.

Note: I have combination skin (Dry flaky patches and oily t-zone)

I learned over time that their are 3 main causes of acne. Nutrition, Cleanliness (of face towels, hands, pillow cases---anything that touches your face on a daily basis) and harsh chemicals that you find in many common cleansers on the market. These chemicals strip oils from your skin that help it stay moisturized and balanced. By using cleansers and creams with harsh chemicals I was just causing my skin to produce more oil to overcompensate for my dry skin. By cutting out acne products from daily routine I was able to not only keep my complexion clear, but also restore its moisture.

One of the things that I found most interesting while researching my face product ingredients was that the Proactive brand contains parabens which came as a surprise since most companies are marketing towards paraben and sulfate free products. The parabens in proactive can have an effect on your hormones, thus making the skin produce more oil. So I decided I would only buy skin care products that contained mostly natural ingredients.

Now while I am using mostly organic skincare now I still occasionally use my nitrogen face lotion and proactive toner just because they aren't as harsh on my skin. I also pair the cleanser up with my DDF face brush which helps exfoliate and deep clean my pores.

Some affordable organic products that I came upon were Yes To and Avalon Organics which are available in most grocery stores. I purchased a moisturizer, night cream, cleanser, and serum fromYes To and a Vitamin C Toner from Avalon Organics.  After several weeks of using them, I have noticed a difference in my skin.I don't get cystic acne as much as I used to. The only thing I have a problem with currently is the scars.

Both Say Yes and Avalon Organics are cruelty free as well!

REVIEWS :

What: Yes To Cucumbers Makeup Removing Wipes

• Great for those with sensitive skin! These wipes are very soothing and cooling on the skin.
• They smell amazing.
• Removes makeup easily, including mascara.(no need to scrub)
• Packaging is very convenient (it has a hard plastic lid so they don't dry out)
• $5.99
• 98% natural

What: Yes To Cucumbers Gel Cleanser

• Gentle formula, yet effectively removes makeup
• doesn't really lather up though
• keeps skin from drying out
• smells a little weird, but its not unbearable.
• $9.99
• 96% natural

What: Say Yes To Cucumbers Daily Moisturizer (Non-SPF)

• Pleasant cucumber scent, but very light
• Very soothing/moisturizing
• Thicker consistency
• A little goes a long way.
• Has a pump!
• $14.99
• 99% natural

What: Yes To Carrots Night Cream

• This product is fragrance free.
• Intensely hydrating!
• Very thick consistency
• Gentle enough to use under the eyes
• Only complaint is that it comes in a jar/can be contaminated by fingers.
• $12.99
• 96% natural

What: Yes To Blueberries Intensive Repair Serum

• doesn't smell like blueberries, yet still present
• little goes a long way
• Has a pump!
• has a slightly tacky consistency when dry but nothing to worry about
• layers nicely under moisturizer
• firms the skin 
• $19.99
• 99% natural

What: Avalon Organics Vitamin C Toner

• Smells like oranges!
• Has a lot of natural extracts that are good for the skin
• balances skin
• $8.67

Note: Say Yes has different products for different skin types 

• Cucumbers= sensitive
• Carrots= dry skin
• Blueberries= fine lines and wrinkles.
• Tomatoes= acne prone
• Grapefruit= uneven skin tone

Review:Mario Bedescu Whitening Mask

I decided to purchase this mask after reading an add in Ulta's monthly catalog. It claimed that this it was good for fading acne scaring. I looked up several reviews in order to make sure that it would actually work. Most of the reviews on the Ulta website claimed that it would reduce the appearance of scars. Unfortunately, most of these reviews were written before the Mario Bedescu brand changed the formulation of this product. The new formulation contains mineral oil and beeswax which are known to clog pores and create acne. With sensitive skin, mineral oil is a no no for m! I realized this subtle change after I had already made my purchase, but I decided to try it out anyway. The first couple of days I only used it in small patches to spot treat on the areas around my chin and mouth (where I have the most acne scars). After the first application, I could't really tell whether it faded them or not. I didn't have any issue with skin irritation until I applied it to my entire face. My skin started to break out and stayed splotchy and red for several days. The beeswax left a residue which didn't wash off with my normal cleansing routine, which I believe caused the irritation. I also did not find the scent to be pleasant. Kinda smelled chemically to me. After that incident I went back to only applying it to the scarred areas, but it still caused some acne bumps to appear. This product may lighten scars over time, but I don't find it to be worth the risk of breaking out your face. If you have sensitive or acne prone skin I would not recommend this product to you.

What are your opinions on the Mario Bedescu brand? Leave a comment below. :)