Skin Care Journey

As you guys know (or even if you don't), this started off, first and foremost, as a natural skin care blog. I was using the OCM method for about 5 weeks, and it did help my skin. It helped make my skin more even and stopped the development of huge white head pimples that I was getting all too often. However, I reached a point where my skin was no longer getting better. I wouldn't say it was getting worse, but it just had reached a plateau. No matter how diligent I was with the OCM, my skin was not reacting. So that is when I decided to switch up my skin care. This post is a bit of a progress diary and I will be updating it until my skin is completely clear.

Starting from the beginning.

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This is the pictures from when I started my natural skin care routine (when I got off the OCM). My skin is not bad...in fact it is faaar better than it was. However, I have many cystic acne spots under my skin that are painful and a new one seems to be popping up each day. I am getting them around my jaw and hairline, and on my neck...places I have never had acne before! Also, my skin just looks dull and sad.

And the dreaded purging begins. I knew because I had so much cystic acne that it would have to come to a head eventually...so this week is bittersweet for me. I am glad that my skin care if working enough to actually purge my pores of the acne, but also hating my skin because it looks worse. But at least I'm getting somewhere. My skin is a bit irritated, but also looking more alive.

 Heeeey, I'm getting some results here. As you can see the heads of the pimples are pretty much gone, or atleast on their way out. My skin is looking much more radiant and even, and the redness and size of the pimples has gone down. My forehead and chin are going to be the toughest to clear I reckon.

 I am starting to love my skin again. It's even and toned, and the pimples that I do have are smooth and not red at all. I still have three pretty large ones on my forehead but they seem to be going down. One side of my face is completely clear, and the other cheek is 80% there. My chin is also clear except for a small blemish, but I'm not too worried about that one.

I don't know what happened here. I think I got lazy with my skin-care, or maybe slept with my makeup on or SOMETHING, because my forehead is going crazy again. Atleast 3 very large cystic acne bumps on my forehead. Ugh. Maybe my skin is not done purging? Side of my face is still clear, and the side shown is now clear except for one small blemish. My chin is completely clear now. My skin seems a bit irritated/red around my eyebrows and forehead, which I guess it to be expected because it's going through a rough time at the moment.

Skin is slowly getting better from my last breakout. Forehead went a little crazy, but the big cystic pimples are gone (except for one, but it doesn't really hurt so it's on it's way out)...now I'm just left with pesky little blemish-bumps. Chin also broke out pretty heavily, but is now almost clear again. Have a rather large pimple by the side of my mouth and a small one right in the middle but they are going down. Right side of my face broke out, only a little bit, but still broke out. Left side of my face is okay other than some teensy blemishes and some scars.

I don't know what is going on. I am so frustrated and kind of sad too. My face isn't "breaking out" per say, but I cannot for the life of me clear it up. I thought it was going so well and I just have no idea what happened. Part of me wants to cry looking at my skin. It just doesn't make sense. I have little bumps every where and some hard, red, pimples on the sides of my face. My forehead is what is especially upsetting me, because it is relentless. I am going to keep going with my normal routine because it WAS working, but I am going to go back to mint julep mask for spot treatment. Also, I think I need to dissect my diet and my emotions to figure out what kind of imbalance could be causing this...

Ugggggggghhhhhhh.
My forhead is still broke out like mad. And the sides of my face are too. And my chin. And also beside my nose which was NEVER happened before. I have been using Burt's Bees spot treatment and it is not an overnight miracle product but I have noticed a gradual difference, specifically in my nose pimples..because they used to be huge whiteheads.
I really need to work on my internal issues now though because that is clearly what is the issue. I have had perfect skin for most of my life and then this year (a year that has easily been the most stressed I've ever been in my whole life) it just broke out like crazy. I need an emotional overhaul. I've done some research and what seems pretty consistant with me is stress, too much carbs/sugar, and build-up of toxins specifically in my liver. SO my plan right now is to start getting my eating and excersining back on track, and I'm going to be doing a liver cleanse for about a month, starting pretty soon.