I’m finally sharing an updated skin care routine because I feel like I’ve hit a sweet spot in terms of skin health. As a result my makeup looks even better! Here are the full details on the major changes I’ve made lately. For ease, I’ve broken up the article into two categories: products prescribed through a dermatologist, and products I received through HelloAva Beauty:

Dermatologist Prescribed Products

In early November, my skin had reached a breaking point and I had enough of the breakouts and scarring. Part of it was due to some poor eating habits and I’m sure stress played a role as well. Either way, I decided to finally see a professional for some of my skin concerns. Based on a recommendation from a friend, I booked a last minute appointment with Dr. Angela Lamb in New York. Keep in mind this doctor is booked months in advance. I got very lucky when a slot opened up the same day. Although hyper-pigmentation had been my primary concern, Dr. Lamb informed me that I was dealing with acne. For some reason, I never thought to label my occasional breakouts as acne. I figured acne was only as serious as hormonal, cystic pimples under the surface, but I was wrong. To address the acne, which would then in turn would address hyper-pigmentation, Dr. Lamb prescribed the following two products:

Retin-A

Also known as tretinoin cream. I received a dosage of 0.025%. I had heard about the cream prior to receiving the prescription and how it worked wonders for both pimples and fading scars. Of course, I had also heard about the notable side effects of extremely dry, sensitive, and peeling skin. After using the cream as prescribed, rubbing only a pea sized amount on the face every night, after about 2 weeks, I definitely noticed some changes…for the worse. Dr. Lamb warned me that the skin would get worse before it got better and she was right. Because the cream forces a speedy renewal of skin cells, I was peeling a lot and the skin that was revealed showed more obvious signs of scarring that were probably hidden deep in the layers of my skin before.

Pimples were essentially ALL gone… and although I could still see some scarring, my deepest ones had visibly faded.

Once I made it through about 2 more weeks, my skin looked significantly better. Pimples were essentially ALL gone… and although I could still see some scarring, my deepest ones had visibly faded. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be using this prescription, and I definitely have to give my skin breaks from the Retin-A every now and then, but this has been the biggest game changer for getting my skin back on track. If your dermatologist prescribes some Retina-A, be sure to use SPF religiously. You should already be using it regardless but it’s absolutely crucial while you’re on Retin-A.

Onexton

Unlike the Retin-A, I wasn’t too familiar with this acne treatment . My dermatologist informed me that it was an antibiotic that would work to keep the skin clean and free of bacteria. I followed the instructions and made sure to use it in the morning after I cleansed and before I applied moisturizer. While I can’t really speak to any specific differences this product caused, I’m sure it contributed to the effectiveness of the Retin-A by keeping my skin clean of dirt and bacteria.

HelloAva Beauty Regimen

Slightly before I had decided to see a dermatologist, I received a revamped skin care routine through a company called Hello Ava Beauty. If you don’t already know, HelloAva allows you to discover a new regimen of products after completing a survey and consulting a skin care expert. The regimen is tailored to your skin care concerns and budget. After going through the process myself, I received a package with the following products meant to deal with my skin concerns of hyper-pigmentation (no surprise there). Here are my thoughts and experiences:

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser

This cleanser not only left my skin feeling great after I used it, but I genuinely felt it brightened my face. Keep in mind that there is difference between brightening and fading dark spots. While my prescriptions worked to fade scarring, the cleanser helped keep my face clean and worked well in conjunction with other products.

Moral of the story is to make sure that the ingredients of the products you are using don’t work against each other. Do your research!

Ren Steady AHA Tonic (Toner)

This toner was a great alternative to a $65 toner from Rescue Spa that I was using. (I knew I wouldn’t be able to sustain a 65 dollar toner habit.) Anyways, the toner leaves my skin feeling tight–in a good way! I am obsessed with the texture and look of my skin right after I use the toner. Please keep in mind that I do not use this toner at night because the ingredients, primarily AHA, don’t go well with Retin-A. The moral of the story is make sure that the ingredients of the products you are using don’t work against each other. Do your research!

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream

I’m no stranger to Sunday Riley so I was actually excited to start using this product because it was one of the few products from this brand that I had not tried yet. This is HANDS DOWN my favorite product in my entire routine. My skin is so soft and luscious and bright after I use this. It totally combats the dry skin caused by the Retin-A. I do experience some tingling at times when I initially apply, most likely due to the hyaluronic acid, so I am mindful of that.

Supergoop Setting Spray (SPF 50)

This product is pretty straightforward because it’s the SPF in my routine. SPF is a must! Although it technically can serve as a makeup setting spray, I use it mostly when I’m not wearing makeup as the final step of my skin care routine. I think it’s pretty cool that the brand is considering unique ways to integrate SPF into beauty products.

Final Thoughts

I tried to breeze through my routine because I do realize that is A LOT of information. Overall, I feel like I’ve hit a pretty good place in my regimen and I don’t think I will be changing out or trying new products any time soon. Of course, I use masks every now and then, but I’ve found that they are no longer daily necessities in my routine. I also MUST exfoliate to deal with the peeling caused by Retin-A, but I am not too particular about the exfoliant that I use. I may start introducing facials here and there to take my skin to the next level, and give it a little extra love when it comes to moisturizing, but otherwise, I’m actually happy the results of my routine. The bottom line, as always, is that consistency is key. You won’t see change in a matter of days but after several weeks you’ll start to see some growth! Shoutout to my dermatologist and Hello Ava Beauty for having me feeling confident in my skin again!

#EniGivenSunday