Let's Talk Skincare using SkinPharm Part 1

my skincare journey

I have struggled with my skin for years & have been very self-conscious about it. I'm going to take you along my very long skincare journey.

In high school my acne wasn't as bad as both of my brothers, but bad enough to me that I was so insecure & wanted to wear all the make-up. I used Neutrogena, Noxema, St. Ives, other drugstore brands, Murad, and Proactiv. I saw some improvement, but nothing that would last for more than 2 weeks. These products were also very drying & some of them even made my skin feel like it was burning.

Then stepping into college, I started getting facials, but I say this lightly because broke college students can't afford to get facials monthly. I also used "hacks" that I would read from magazines. This would include the "hair gel facial." Yes, it's exactly as it sounds. I would put LA Looks brand hair gel on my face & let it dry, wash it off, smother baby oil on my face & it would be so smooth & tight...but just for a short time. I did have some luck with Aztec Secret Healing Clay Mask, but it just super drying too! (Plus it kind of hurt, but probably because I left it on too long).

Fast forward to when I graduated & became a Naval Officer... I experimented with all the things because I thought I was making the "big bucks." Living in California, I tried IPL photofacials, Clear & Brilliant Laser treatments, extraction facials, enzyme facials, microneedling, dermaplaning, hydrafacials... you name it, I've done it. I spent an insane amount of money on all these procedures & products from Rodan & Fields, Arbonne, Sephora & Odacite (still love Odacite), which did show results, but the upkeep was expensive & time consuming (hello downtime).

When I moved to Nashville in 2018 I heard about SkinPharm & have been following them on Instagram since! I didn't bite the bullet to start purchasing their products until December 2020. I really wanted to try the products, but I took a pay cut moving to TN & was overwhelmed with all the expenses that came with buying a house. I was buying Groupons for microneedling + chemical peels & doing them almost every month (went on longer stretches during the summer), but stopped because when the pandemic happened & I was wearing masks all the time my skin broke out even more after these procedures.

My first purchase was SkinPharm's clarifying pads & I saw results so quickly. My worst breakout are in the mask area. My skin gets so irritated from wearing surgical masks for 12+ hours at work & just masks in general outside of work. I also have a bad habit of resting my chin on my hands (I know, HUGE no-no), & whenever I wear jackets, the collar areas always make me break out from rubbing against my skin. I use the pads twice daily & have seen a significant reduction in the amount of mask acne that I get. I have combination skin, but my forehead is as greasy as can be. Like you can see my forehead from a mile away...just shining, like someone smeared Vaseline across my forehead. I did a lot of research & decided to save up to get their Gold Infusion treatment. This biggest selling point for me getting this treatment is that it shrinks your pores & reduces the amount of oil when you add botox. They numb your face up & stamp in a cocktail of vitamins, hyaluronic acid, & for an added charge botox & PRP. There is no downtime with this procedure & your skin looks so hydrated & refreshed after. The benefits are immediate, but continue for a few months after the treatment too. While I was there, the Clare, one of the NPs recommended some products for me to try & since then my life has changed!

I'm slowly switching my skincare line to all SkinPharm products. Here is my current skincare regimen:

1. Double cleanse with Beauty Counter's Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing balm, followed by Eminence Organics Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser
2. Toning with SkinPharm's Clarifying Pads (AM & PM)
3. Serum time with SkinPharm's Glow Factor & Youth Serum
4. Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0 (before bed only). SkinPharm does have a retinol serum called Night Watch
5. Moisturize with SkinPharm's Brightening Lotion
6. Spot treat acne with SkinPharm's Dapsone Gel (this one is a prescription)
7. Finish up with SPF lotion (in the daytime), I currently use Rodan & Field's because I have 2 full tubes & don't want to waste it. SkinPharm does have a few different types of SPF lotions & I am hoping to switch to this one

Next on my list to purchase from SkinPharm is their EyeSculpt, Papaya Enzyme Cleanser, Mineral Tinted SPF, & Night Watch. I just want their whole entire line!

skincare before & afters

This is something I really debated on publishing on the site because I have been so insecure about my skin. But I made a promise to myself when starting this blog to push myself out of my comfort zone & always be transparent. I'm fine with going barefaced at work or around my family, boyfriend, & friends, but posting it so it is on the internet forever really makes me nervous.

I am a picker & have so much discoloration from popping pimples. But I can't talk the talk, but not walk the walk. I still have a lot of progress to go but my skin is much more hydrated, the discoloration has lightened, my skin is less oily, & the texture is a lot smoother.

Just some things to note, I have been using the Clarifying Pads since the middle of December, the other SkinPharm products since the beginning of January, did 1 Gold Infusion facial, & had 1 IPL facial (I kind of binge shopped on Groupon during the week of Christmas & an IPL facial was one of the deals-FYI I didn't get numbing cream for this & it hurt so sooo bad).

I'll be posting skin updates monthly so you all can follow along. This may not look like much progress to you, but to me & it being only 4 weeks out I see & feel a big difference. These photos are unedited and makeup-free. Also, I apologize in advance for the unflattering angles.