A lot of women I know dislike their skin. I'm right there with you.
But I've recently started a new beauty journey, and I want to take you with me!
Those close to me know that I have struggled
with problematic skin for over a decade. Since the age of 13, I've
battled oiliness, dryness (yes, both), redness, and seemingly endless
breakouts. So much skin sadness!
There's one refrain heard from anyone who
struggles with similar skin issues - "I've tried everything."
When a person says this, I believe her, because I know that she really
has tried everything. Because I really really
really have tried everything.
Over the counter products, like Neutrogena, Cetaphil, CeraVe...
Mid-range products, like Clinique, Murad, Philosophy...
TV infomercial products, like Proactiv, Exposed...
"Natural" products, like Burt's Bees, Say Yes, Alba...
Prestige products, like Somme, Dr. Hauschka, Clarisonic...
I have visited the naturopath and tried
elimination diets, "liver-cleansing" supplements, herbs and tonics.
I have visited the dermatologist and taken
antibiotics, hormone-altering medications, prescription topicals
I have tried benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid,
sea buckthorn, witch hazel, facials, steaming, retinols. Endless
cleansers, toners, moisturizers, masks, tonics, soaks, scrubs, exfoliators,
bars, creams, and compresses.
I eat a healthy, balanced diet. I exercise
regularly, and cleanse after. I drink 8 glasses of water. I change
my towels and pillow cases every other day. I leave offerings for skin
gods.
I have even tried total Acceptance. Doing
nothing - no cleansing, moisturizing, touching, or even thinking too hard about
my skin.
Nothing works.
I was still oily or dry, still had excessive
redness. And years of using harsh
products made me feel like I was torturing my face. I knew I just hadn’t found The Key yet –
my skin wanted to be healthy, I just didn’t know how to take care of it.
I think about this as a “dark side” to my
otherwise very positive feelings about beauty and make up. And because I love to apply, and read about,
and research, and think about make up and beauty products, I’m frequently
talking with friends (and strangers) about their beauty routines. If I see a woman who has beautiful skin, or
who has clearly put energy into doing lovely or artistic make up, I want to
compliment her and find out her secrets.
Sometimes a woman with beautiful skin will say
something super annoying like, “I eat a lot of blueberries,” or “Ponds cold cream.” And we both know that most of us average
Janes could eat a flat of blueberries and bathe in Ponds and still not have the
same genetically-blessed flawless finish.
And then sometimes you talk to someone who has
battled all the same issues as you, who has also tried everything, and then found The Key, and come out on the other
side with lovely, healthy, glowing skin.
And she wants to share all of her secrets! And she starts a blog to tell other women
about all the toxins in their beauty products, and how they can transform their
skin, and help the environment, just by doing what’s natural. And she’s so effing gorgeous you will do
whatever she says. That’s my friend,
Lauren Evashenk, and her awesome blog Naked Truth Beauty.
Lauren’s Key, and my Skin Revelation, is the
magic of oil. In particular, for me, pure jojoba oil. Get the full story in her post. As she explains, oil is the most perfect skin
nourishment. Jojoba in particular is chemically identical to the oil our skin naturally produces
(sebum). Thus when we use it, our skin
recognizes it as its own moisture – a friendly beast that need not be battled
with inflammation. Not only that, but
oil can be used as a cleanser as well.
Jojoba oil removes excess oil from your skin (it makes sense, oil removes
oil), and draws impurities out of your pores, without disrupting the chemical
balance of your face.
I’ve learned that using common beauty products
starts a vicious cycle. Cleansers and
toners remove our skin’s natural oils.
We moisturize with water-based, oil-free creams and lotions to
counteract the dryness from the cleanser.
However, our skin still senses its been stripped of its own moisture,
and starts to produce more sebum. The
excess sebum causes our pores to enlarge, and often become infected with
acne. We’ve cleansed and moisturized,
but our skin is either dry or oily (or both).
Then we use more products to try to kill the acne bacteria. We exfoliate to slough off the layers of dead
skin that accumulate from all these harsh treatments. It seems like no matter what we do, our skin
is shiny, dull, lifeless, patchy, and broken out.
Lauren points out how this cycle produces a
reliance on commercial beauty products.
Those with “problem skin” need to use “oil free” products because, we’re
told, oil is the enemy and will make you break out. While its true that not all oils are appropriate
for your face (read about that here), it can actually be the solution to many
of the problems it purportedly causes.
And the best part? A 4oz bottle of pure jojoba oil from Trader
Joe’s is $8. I’ve paid more money just
to talk about skin care.
So let’s get real, does this work?
It may not be the solution to every single problem your skin presents. I don’t (yet) believe that oil alone will
alleviate the worst breakouts. I
recognize that acne is, at its core, a bacterial infection that may have to be
treated medically. I’m not saying fire
your dermatologist.
But I am saying that, given the best treatment, skin wants to be healthy, and healthy is beautiful. When I use oil, my pores diminish, my skin is
plump, and I’m neither shiny nor dry. I
don’t know if anyone is stopping me on the street yet to say, “Hey gorgeous,
what’s your routine?” But for the first
time in about 15 years, I like my
skin. My new routine is using oil,
accepting flaws, celebrating health, and taking care of myself. Oh and mascara. I really like mascara.
More to come on make up and beauty in my next
post!
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XOXO
