This came up in a thread about hormonal acne but I figured it’d be useful to broadcast:

👏 Having acne is not a personal failure! 👏

Society, celebrities, and skincare companies tell us that if we have acne, it’s because haven’t found the right solution. We’re not using the $120 serum. We haven’t cut out dairy from our diet. We’re not changing our pillowcases every night. We’re not drinking enough water. 

While those things may help, a HUGE part of acne is genetic. Also many of us are dealing with PCOS, thyroid conditions, or even natural hormonal imbalances — all sorts of other things that cause acne.

Also — having acne is not because we don’t care for our skin! Me and my friends who have acne probably spend more time, energy and money on skincare than our friends who are totally clear. We’ve tried everything on the market. It’s just so often out of our control. 

When I stopped thinking about acne as a personal failure, I realized that I could stop beating myself up for something that’s out of my hands.

So for all of us who are struggling with acne, know that it is not a personal failure! There are so many of us in the same boat, just taking it day by day 🌻

Acne is not a personal failing

Sometimes in the morning when I’m groggy, or at night when I’m sleepy, I forget a step in my skincare routine! 😅

Does this happen to anyone else?

For example, today I forgot my Vitamin C serum. I know it’s not a big deal but I’m wondering… when this happens, do you do the forgotten step out of order? Or skip it entirely? Or something else?

❤️

If you forget a step in your routine, do you go back or skip it?

I know we all have skincare horror stories from our past (and maybe our present 😱). 

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to your skin?

Mine was putting literal WINDEX on a zit after watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding… cringe cringe cringe.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to your skin?

I’ve seen so many people post about the COSRX Propolis Ampoule! 🍯 Got me thinking, what’s your favorite product you’ve won from Picky?

I love these Abib sheet masks so much, I think they will be a staple in my routine 💞

What’s your favorite Picky Reward that you’ve won?

I have tried several Vitamin C serums over the years, but they always seem to break me out! 😣

Does anyone have a recommendation for a Vitamin C product that is safe for sensitive / acne prone skin? Much appreciated!!

Vitamin C for Sensitive Skin?

Too harsh for my face sadly. I think if you’re not using other acne products, this might work for you. 

I wanted to incorporate a BHA on my non-retinoid nights but this just was not right for my sensitive skin.

Wasn’t right for my face so I used this for my body acne — somewhat effective, but not holy grail.

No complaints, but I wish this had a travel size!

This is a perfect, no fuss, not too expensive cleanser that doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or stripped - just clean and hydrated!

It can be expensive, but I only use a little bit 2 times a week, so it lasts a while. You can always try the travel size first! 

Also, this is a strong product, so watch for signs of over-exfoliation — stinging, redness, sensitivity, breakouts — and be sure to take a break to let your skin recover as necessary.

The holiest of holy grails for preventing acne, minimizing pores and treating sebaceous filaments! It’s strong, but doesn’t feel harsh or damaging, even on my very sensitive skin. 

🌹 How I use it: At night, after double cleansing, I take a few drops of this product in my palm and then use my clean fingers to press it into my face (skip the cotton pads). I wait a few minutes for it to soak in, then finish my routine. 

🌹 Note: Since this is a strong product, I try to make sure the rest of my routine is gentle and soothing — you don’t want to layer this with other acids. Also, as others have mentioned, using this 1-2 times a day is WAY more than you need in my opinion! Even two nights in a row can leave my face feeling irritated. I use it 2 times a week on non-consecutive nights, alternating with tretinoin and a night off.

This almost always pills on my face, and the white collects around my eyebrows. I would wear this at the beach if I didn’t care how I looked.

I like that this is oil-free. It does blend a bit to leave a minimal white cast on lighter skin tones.

I wouldn’t buy this again because of the oils in the product — they didn’t break me out but they did sit heavy on my skin. It’s also pretty expensive!

Overall this is a nice facial chemical SPF 25 with no white cast from a great brand. 
 
🌹 Texture: Lightweight cream lotion, almost in between a creme and a milk, that spreads easily. Sometimes the oil seems to seperate from the lotion but it works back in.   

🌹 Packaging: An easy to use pump with a secure cap in a dark opaque container. 

🌹 How it feels: Nourishing, but also somewhat heavy sitting on the skin, probably due to the oils in the formula. Layers easily for re-application, no pilling. 

🌹 Sensitivities: Chemical SPF (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene), essential oils (lavender, rosemary, soybean, cedarwood)

🌹 Notes: Scent is great too! No chemical smell.