My Acne Experience
I've always been one of those people who falls behind on their skin care and it wasn't until recently that I started to ask myself why. Well here's a simple answer, I never saw any results!!!When I had Acne I would wash my face everyday and it will still be red, blotchy and full of blemishes by the next week. Eventually I stopped all together and there really wasn't much change anyway. Then I tried a dermatologist and the cost of an appointment was not worth the prescription medication. First off the medication didn't help with the redness and second it just took too long to get the results and if I missed an application I had problems the next morning.
I never discovered a product that worked or a system until it was too late. My acne was gone and I was left with a scared, red face. Here's what you need to know for treating acne without a prescription and the products that I would recommend.
What an effective acne system needs
#1 Cleanser
You first need to clean your skin. You will have no results if you have dirt and oils clogging up your pores.#2 Toner
What a toner is going to do is get deep into your pores and help prevent blackheads and acne pimples. This is a product that you can feel working because there is a light tingling feeling or sometimes a burning sensation. Don't worry if you fell the burning sensation, this is just the product working and is most likely when you first begin to use a toner.To Apply: Moisten a cotton ball with the toner and rub all over the face. You can usually see the results, depending how dirty your skin has gotten, on the cotton ball.
#3 Treatment Gel
Notice I said gel? Gels are the most effective for acne treatments because unlike creams they don't clog up your pores. Most Treatments today are gels, but if you are using a cream and wondering why it's not working, there's your answer now throw it away! What a treatment gel will do for you is eliminate blackheads and pimples and prevent new ones from forming.Wait.. isn't that what the Toner is supposed to do? Good question and yes. The toner and the treatment gel have the same job, but the toner will only be in effect for a few minutes the gel has a lasting effect, usually throughout the day and then while you sleep.
#4 Lightweight Moisturizer
Washing your face, applying toner and then a treatment gel are going to leave your skin dry and itchy, especially in the winter season. What you need now is a moisturizer and the best moisturizer for the face is a lightweight moisturizer. Using heavy cream moisturizers will just clog up your pores and undo all the work you just did.My Recommendation
After trying Proactive, Neutrogena and Clean and Clear products I found only sub par results. I don't have acne anymore, but I have cousins who do and when they hit that age they come to me and I always recommend the same products. Mary Kay's Skin Care for Blemish-Prone Skin which includes the Velocity set (the key to the system). They delivers the results without cleaning out their almost nonexistent bank accounts.The system includes:
Velocity Facial Cleanser ($10)
which not only gives a deep clean, but it also exfoliates, tones and freshens the skin.Blemish Control Toner ($13)
Acne Treatment Gel ($7)
Velocity Lightweight Moisturizer ($12)
which is specially formulated to absorb quickly and give you soft, smooth skin.Totaling at $42 dollars for a 2 month system sounds pricey, but in reality you are using this system twice a day for an estimated cost of 7 cents a day.
Application:
To use this system you first use the cleanser, then the toner and treatment gel and you finish with the moisturizer. You do this once in the morning and once at night and it will last you 2-3 months.--The Velocity products also have a light, fruity scent which is very different from the other systems I've tried which usually smell like my grandmothers makeup or alcohol. Even my male cousins love it!
Why this recommendation?
The Mary Kay company puts over 1 million dollars of research into their products quarterly, with that kind of money backing it up you just know it's gonna be good. Secondly this product is designed for the younger skin of those who struggle with acne.The facial cleanser is designed to cleanse without removing necessary oils and moisture. It contains a key ingredient called Camillia Olfera Extract that functions as an antioxidant* and a soother. It is clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy, non-comedogenic (has a tendancy not to clog pores and encourage the formation of blackheads) and hypoallergenic.
The toner contains a moisturizer/hydrator to help condition and smooth skin by adding attracting and retain moisture. It also contains conditioners to improve the look of your skin.
The lightweight moisturizer is specially formulated to work with dry and oily skin. It has oil absorbing ingredients to control oils on the face without removing the necessary oils. The key ingredients, Tocopheryl Acetate and Arginine, function as an antioxidant and amino acids and derivatives (including peptides)**.
*helps protect the skin from harmful free radicals
**maintains healthy skin and are the building blocks for proteins like collogen
Aftermath Acne Problems, Blackheads and Body Acne
Does Baby got Bacne? How about chest acne? Red marks left over from past breakouts? Subborn Blackheads? Mary Kay has a product for that too.TimeWise Microdermabrasion set ($55)
This set has two steps that together deliver an improvement in skin texture, a reduction in fine lines and redness and it makes your pores smaller in just 2 applications. This is where I wish I would have taken before and after pictures of my acne scares just to show you how well it's worked for me, but I didn't. Let's just say I started using it the week before Christmas and when I went to my family dinner my Grandmother commented on how well my acne has cleared up and how smooth and flawless my skin was beginning to look. You can probably imagine the enormous grin that put on my face.Although it is meant for use on the face when I was told to use it on my back and chest area acne I began to notice the embarrassing blemishes where disappearing in just a few applications. Not only has it worked for me, but I've suggested it to everyone with the same concerns and have received many thank yous for the recommendation.
This system is a steal compared to professional treatments that produce the same results. This product lasts 3-6 months depending on the size of area it is applied and the number of applications per week.
- 3 months is about $2.29 per application
- 4 months is about $1.72 per application
- 5 months is about $1.38 per application
- 6 months is about $1.15 per application
Application:
This system is to be used after cleansing the face first (or area of application).You first use step one is an exfoliator that immediately leaves the skin energized and reveals more radiant, healthier looking surface. It contains exfoliating crystals that feeds and nourishes the skin from below and bring oxygen to the top of he skin to stimulate circulation creating a healthy, radiant glow. These crystals also reduce the appearance of pores by removing the dead skin that form naturally around the outer edge of every pore.
Next is step two which is immediately absorbed into the skin to smooth and soften. It nourishes the skin from above using the exclusive Mary Kay triple tea complex, soothes the skin and helps restore balance.
--For normal skin, use 2-3 times per week with at least 2 days between applications.
--For sensitive skin, use 1-2 times per week with at least 3 days between applications.
--Do not use with the acne treatment medication.
Where to get these products?
Mary Kay is a company that doesn't put their products on store shelves because they want their customers to have an Independent Beauty Consultant to provide them with personal service. This personal service assures that the customer is getting skin care products that are right for their needs and that they know how to use them to their full potential.So to get these products you have to go to their website which I have linked at the bottom of the page and there will be a beauty consultant for you. If you have any questions about skin care she is the one to confide in and the best part is when you need more product she will still be there and can help with any new concerns or reorders.
Other Benefits of a beauty consultant:
- You can contact them by phone or message
- You can request reorder reminders by email or phone
- Easy access to tips and trends
- You can request samples of a product before you buy
- Depending on the consultant, they offer free shipping
Links:
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