HOW I CURED MY POST NURSING CYSTIC ACNE

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Man, I’ve never experienced cystic acne this bad in my entire life.  Once I stopped nursing, it started to flare up so fast.  All over my forehead, then my chin then in my nose, on my cheeks.  This led me to being so self conscious that I caked on the make up (which I hate doing)

I’m extremely grateful for Renee whose a medical esthetician for Dr Dennis Gross who helped me with this and put me on a regimen that I’ve been following faithfully since August.  Remember the IG LIVE I did with her back in July?  Yeah she’s amazing!

Now, there are a lot of steps, and I’m super aware of that, but I wanted to give you in detail what I’ve been doing!  Then share some takeaways, like what products to really invest in and what are an added bonus.  When I talked to Renee she said that you have to do what works for you.  If your skin is reacting to something and it’s supposed to do wonders, stop using it.  If someone tells you a product is bad, but your skin is doing awesome with it, keep using it.  

A huge takeaway from my IG LIVE I did with Renee was she said when you start using a new product, make sure to take a before photo, and then 30 days later take and after photo and see if you see any slight changes.  You don’t want to be using an expensive product that isn’t doing it for you.  And it’s hard for us to see results when we look at our skin every single day. 

Below are my before and afters.  The first was taken at the highest point of a flare up!  Which was back in May/June.  I then got my regimen in in July, and faithfully started using it in August.  I drinks tons of water, no dairy, meditate everyday, feel pretty well adjusted.  So I made sure that al those things were aligned and that just wasn’t helping in any way.   I still would love to go get my hormones checked because I feel like everyone should after they have a baby, just to see where you’re at.  

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NO FILTERS.  I still have flare ups here and there, but they’re very mild and usually only one at a time, but my skin looks so much more alive, brighter, plumper and happier.  

With that said, I go in every 4-6 weeks to Spa Trouve and get Hydrafacials and dermaplaning done on top of that, that I believe helps a lot as well, just to shed off all the unwanted skin.

For the acne scarring, I’m going to go in for microneedling that usually nips it in the butt right away! Read more on my post on the 3 Spa Treatments I highly recommend!

Again, this regimen I’m about to share isn’t designed for everyone, just wanted to share what worked with me and you can take from this what you want!  Hoping to help anyone going through something like this.  Because it’s narley and not fun to go through.  So here we go, starting with the morning routine.  I’m not perfect everyday, but I really try and do all of the things 95% of the time.

MORNING ROUTINE

  1. Wash: Dr Dennis Gross Gentle Cleanser: for someone acne prone this is a good one.

2. Dr Dennis Gross Spectra facepro light for 3 minutes: It’s a FDA approved facial light. A combination of 100 LED red lights and 62 LED blue lights work together to smooth the look of wrinkles, give skin a firmer appearance, diminish discoloration, and diminish the look of blemishes for a flawless, youthful complexion. Choose from three treatment options: red light therapy, blue light therapy, and red and blue light therapy. LED red lights support the natural production of collagen and elastin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, sun spots, sun damage, and redness while LED blue lights target bacteria and prevent future breakouts. Together, dual LED red and blue lights target the look of wrinkles and blemishes at the same time.  I do both red and blue at the same time.   

3. Peel: Dr Dennis Gross Peel Pads:  I use step 1 first and wipe all over face and neck, then wipe two minutes and apply the second layer.  I’ve raved about these before and they’re life changing! I alternate between extra strength and the gentle peels everyday. The gentle peels are safe to use nursing or pregnant.

4. Hyaluronic Hydration Booster Serum: 1/2 a syringe all over, SO hydrating. This is the best serum to use under make up.  There is nothing worse than applying serum and then when you go to apply your make up it crumbles underneath because the product was too thick.  This is just super light and more watery than anything.  Apply on face!  Put syringe on your forehead and catch with your hand so it doesn’t drip down, verses putting it in your hand first.  This will help you not waist any product.

5. Hyaluronic Oil Free Moisturizer: If you’re acne prone, you need this moisturizer!  If not, use an oil free moisturizer.  Renee explained to me the importance of that.  Because if you’re using an oil base one everyday, it could be clogging your pores even more to those who are sensitive to breakouts, I know I am.

6. Dr Dennis Gross Sun Spot Defense Sunscreen: SO good. I apply this on my face, even eye lids, and neck. Please use sunscreen! Especially when using the peel pads.  Using a daily sunscreen is so important!!

 

NIGHTLY ROUTINE

  1. Wash: same wash as morning Dr Dennis Gross Gentle Cleanser

 

2.  Dr Dennis Gross Pro Facial Steamer: This one is super indulgent and its truly heaven. Especially when you can do it while the kids bathe right now to you.  It feels so good and really helps open up your pores, so once you go to apply your nightly products, they will actually absorb into your skin better, giving you the full benefits of them.  No waisted product!

3. Feurlic + Retinol Eye Serum: Holy mother. This is a must must have eye serum. I’ve never actually usd an eye serum and loved it… my thoughts every time I use an eye serum is… is this even workings… BUT THIS.  It’s crazy the results it gives you.  I don’t have crazy crows feet to begin with but its helped me look more awake and brightened up the eye area.   You dap it under your eye and then ON your eye lids.  This is the only one you can put on your eye lids!  If you have major crows feet, get this guy.  Also, dark circles… TRY IT!  Worth the splurge.

4. Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic Retinol Wrinkle Overnight Serum:  This stuff is magic and I LOVE it.  I do 1 full pump all over my face.  

5.  Ferulic + Retinol Overnight Moisturizer:  again, this line is crazy good.  It has Retinol in it which is like the best ingredient for a youthful anti aging glow!

 

HOT TIPS: pump the product into hand and dap all areas of your face and try not to rub so much, gently tap your face almost as if you’re pressing it into your skin, verses rubbing it all over.  That way it fully gets on your face and all areas, no waisted product!

Okay, I know this is SUPER excessive and indulgent, and an investment, but I’m an extra type girl when it comes to my skin. You wear it ALL OF THE TIME.  Yeah, shoes are great, couches are cool, BUT skincare.  You wear your skin with you at all times.  Thats the one thing I will always splurge on.  I want to be able to wake up feeling good and not feeling like I have to cake on the make up.  When you have great skin, you don’t need to buy a bunch of make up to cover it up.  It really starts with great skin.  Everything else is a bonus!

If you’re the girl on a budget, try starting with one product!  If I were you, I would put the Spectra face mask on your list for Christmas or birthday.  That will last forever!   You won’t have to buy again.  Next product I’d recommend is the peel pads.  Those are the two I would for sure splurge on.  

Bottom line, do what works for you!  Make sure to take before pictures, before applying new product!  Then 30 days later, take another photo and see if you can see any difference.  If you don’t see any difference, don’t use it!  I gave myself about 2 months with all of these products and they’ve transformed my skin, as you can see above. 

Let me know if you have any questions at all!  

 

MY RIDE OR DIE SKINCARE

Gift Guides (MY RIDE OR DIES SKINCARE)

Gift Guides (MY RIDE OR DIES SKINCARE)

If there were ever any products you buy because of a post, these should be it!  They’re my ride or die.  I can’t live without them … although I am living without the peel pads and retinol right now due to nursing, but I’ll get right back on that train once I’m done.  Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to some great skin this year.  You deserve it!

If you had to splurge on 1-2 of these products I would tell you peel pads and retinol.  If it were only one, peel pads.  If you’re nursing Vitamin c serum.  Get all if can afford it because they’re life changing.  

ROSE HIP OIL: I put this on every night as a last step to my skincare routine.  Just to give my skin some more moisture, especially in these dry months.  I love the oils and I love the hydration it gives.  I also use this before I use the gua sha tool if I’m wanting to give myself a little facial massage. It has vitamin A in it so I swear has made my skin brighter.  I talk more about it Rose Hip Oil Benefits in that post. 

LANIEGE SLEEPING LIP MASK:  I’m sure you’ve heard about this.  I had to see what the rage was, and it definitely lived up to its hype for me.  I don’t just use it on night, I use it as a lip gloss too. I’m telling you, its bomb.

DR DENNIS GROSS EXFOLIATING MOISTURIZER: Holy crap, this stuff is where its at.  Every time I use it I do a little dance because it just gets it.  It’s so hydrating and feels so good as you apply it.  I love how it makes my skin look after applying.  I’ve used SO many moisturizers, and this moisturizer is something I ALWAYS go back to.  It’s my ride or die.

ELTA MD FOAMING CLEANSER:  I love a cleanser that feels like your skin is clean ,but not too much.  I don’t want to be stripped dry.  This does just that.  It foams up as you cleanse and it’s a little slice of heaven.  I only cleanse my face every night.  I just rinse with water in the mornings.  I don’t want to clean off the products from the night before.  The only time you can find me cleansing in the morning is if I worked out beforehand.

ELTA MD TINTED SUNSCREEN:  This is a gem.  Again, I’ve tried so many sunscreens and this one is my top.  Just hydrating enough, but not too much that you feel oily.  It actually is great for acne prone skin, it’ll clear you up!  

DR DENNIS GROSS RETINOL:  when I’m using this product I can see a difference within just a week.  My skin is brighter and clear, diminished wrinkles too.  This is something I don’t use while I’m pregnant or nursing though.  So if you’re nursing like me, its recommended to wait until you’re done nursing!

DR DENNIS GROSS VITAMIN C SERUM:  If you can’t tell by now, Dr Dennis Gross is my top favorite skincare brand.  This stuff is a gem.  You can use it while nursing and pregnant too because it’s vitamin c.  This will give your skin life!  I use it in the mornings after I rinse with water.

DR DENNIS GROSS PEEL PADS: last but not least, peel pads!  Oh, I swear by these.  I know a lot of you use these too, I tell everyone with skin issues about them, literally everyone.  When I was using this with the retinol combo, my skin was on point!  Pores shrunk, diminished wrinkles, skin clear and bright.  I looked like I drank so much water and slept a lot haha.  I got a lot of compliments when I was using those.  I would tell everyone about that.  These are something I don’t use right now either because of nursing.