My Current Skincare Routine

I have been at war with acne for more than 10 years. I wouldn't say that I've won the battle, but as long as I stick to my skincare routine, I know I can keep it under control. The process of finding products that worked for me was nothing but trial and error...some of these product might work for you, and some might not...you will just have to be patient and open minded. Eventually you will be able to find a system that will work for you.

Night Routine:

1) When I get home from work first thing I do is to take off my makeup... let me repeat THE FIRST THING I DO IS TO TAKE OFF MY MAKEUP!!! I don't care if I am dead tired, just went out and partied the whole entire night, drunk off my ass, or whatever the circumstances might be... I always take off my makeup. You must do the same!!! The worst thing for your face is to sleep with your makeup on over night.

~ Sonia Kashuk's Eye makeup remover ( Target)

~Neutrogena's face wipes (Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens...)

2) I wash my face with Proactiv's Renewing Cleanser. This cleanser contains benzoyl peroxide which keeps my acne under control.  After that I will use the Proactiv Revitalizing Toner. This toner will take off any additional oil or dirt that the cleanser left behind. Also this toner soothes my skin and tightens my pores. Following the toner I will then apply  Benefit's brightening eye cream. This eye cream is pretty heavy and this is a plus because it is loaded with minerals and vitamins that will renew your eyes as you sleep. You should ALWAYS choose  heavier products for the night time because that is when your body heals itself.  I then will apply Roc's anti wrinkle cream.... I know I know...you are probably wondering why am I using an anti wrinkle cream already. I am 28 years old, and I really don't have any visible wrinkles. However, the key to good skin is to prevent then to treat. When a person turns 25 years old, the body stops the production of collagen and it is crucial for the prevention measures to take place. I will put on my Proactiv Repairing lotion last and then  go to bed.

~ Proactiv Solutions 3 steps system

~ Benefit Brightening Eye Cream (When applying eye cream, use your ring finger because it is the weakest finger. Roll or gently tab the cream onto the bottom part of your eyes. The bottom part of your eyes will most likely to develop wrinkles first because the under parts of your eyes does not contain any oil glands. This means that the parts remain dry and dryness causes wrinkles)

~ Roc's Anti wrinkle Cream ( Apple this cream on to the parts of your face that are likely to develop wrinkles...such as your forehead, smile lines and also the neck area)

Morning Routine:
Most of the days when I wake up in the morning, I skip washing my face because there is really no reason to do so. I find that in the winter when I wash my face too much will actually irritate the skin and make me break out more. However, since we are in the summer, and I know I sweat in the middle of the night, I do have a morning routine.

1) First thing I do is to wash my face with Clarin's Cleansing Milk. This cleanser is super gentle, and will counter offset the harsh products I used at night. Following that I will then apply Bobbi Brown's Hydrating eye cream. This eye cream is lighter and absorbs very quickly. I will then use Bobbi Brown's Hydrating serum and then Bobbi Brown's Gel Cream. I love the Bobbi Brown skincare line. The products are high quality, and very light but moisturizing at the same time.

~ Clarin's Cleansing Milk

~ Bobbi Brown's Hydrating Eye Cream

~ Bobbi Brown's Hydrating Serum

~ Bobbi Brown's Gel Cream

The goal here is to keep my skin hydrated to stop the wrinkles from forming. I have combination to oily skin and I actually find that if I keep my skin hydrated, my skin will feel a lesser need to produce more oil and in return my face is less oily! so always remember to moisturize.

Exfoliation:

Once or twice a week I will use a facial scrub to exfoliate my Tzone because that's the area prone to black heads and skin build up. The trick to find the area to exfoliate on your face is by finding spots that feels rough and dry on your face.
~ Bert's Bees Deep Pore Facial Scrub

Masks:

Once a week I use a whitening mask. This mask helps to expedite the fading process of my acne scars and  hyperpigmentation.
~ Mario Badescu's Whitening Mask

One a week I also use a hydrating sheet mask to give my face that extra push. I skip this step in the summer because my skin tends to be less dry in the summer.
~ My Beloved One Hydrating Sheet Masks ( Loaded up on this when I went to china, but you can get them on ebay)

Sunblock:

This has to be the MOST IMPORTANT part of everyone's skin routine. If you don't use sunblock, you might as well just skip the other steps listed above. Everyone should use a sunblock every single day NO EXCUSES!!!! UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer, premature aging, hyper pigmentation, and the list goes on and on... Don't tell me you don't like to wear sunblock because it feels oily. There are so many products out there that doesn't make your skin feel that way....Honestly people getting sun is so last decade....put on some sunblock.

~ Cetaphil SPF 50 Facial Sunblock ( I use this everyone before I put on my makeup and 15 minutes before I step out the door. I don't care if you are just getting in your car to drive to work....WEAR SUNBLOCK!!! The mirror on your car will intensify the rays of the sun and damage your skin even more).

Acne Treatment:
I still get some breakouts here and there...when I do i use a spot treatment to dry out the pimple and speed up the healing process.

~ Mario Badescu's drying lotion. ( This lotion will dry up and treat the pimples while calming the redness at the same time)

Professional Procedures:
In addition to everything I do at home, I also go to the dermatologist office once a month. I alternate with getting facials and chemical peels. The facials are to give my face a deep cleaning...kind of like a tone up for your car. The chemical peels are for getting rid of my acne scars from before. Let me tell you...they have worked wonders.

Lifestyle:

I know it sounds like alot to do everyday, but just 20 minutes a day can help  you look 20 years younger later on in life. The key to healthy skin is consistency.... you have to develop a habit and not get lazy. Also remember to always get 8 hours of sleep, drink lots of water and DO NOT PICK YOUR FACE!!!!

One last thought...If you suffer from acne...don't give up. There are tons of resources that can help you! Go consult a dermatologist or just do research online to find the best products that will work for you! Proactiv changed my life and if that doesn't work for you I have also heard very good stuff about http://www.acne.org/. Like I've mentioned before... I have been battling with acne problems my whole life. My acne used to be so bad that I would cry every single day when I first wake up in the morning. My self-esteem was so low because people picked on me for something I had no control of. Remember to always hold your head up high and don't let anyone bring you down!!!