PrettyYouNaturallyy !

My current skincare routine (Acne Prone)

2021-10-14T05:51:00.002-07:00

Its been a long time since I last posted. But this post is something that I have been using for over a year now, and has tamed my stubborn acne prone skin.

So If you are not here the first time, you might know my skin history. If you are new to my blog, here is a glimpse of my skin looked like and what I was dealing with. In short, combination skin with some times too oily, sometimes too dry, filled with acne, redness, pustules, cystic acne and what not. And If you are interested in knowing what all things I tried to get rid of my acne, what worked and what didn’t, you can find it here and here.

Okay, So last year I was introduced to this face wash by my dermatologist and it worked charms on my skin. If you have a skin similar to mine, I would highly recommend this. This not only reduced my acne but also helped me achieve perfect clear skin over time. After this face wash I used this moisturizer, again which was prescribed to me by my dermatologist. And again, it was amazing. But as you must be knowing that I’m more bent towards natural and organic products, so I was searching for a skincare routine that works for me and also is organic and natural with minimal chemicals and minimal products.

After I emptied my moisturizer, I didn’t buy new one. Just to motivate me and give me a push to try something else, more natural. As during that time, it was summers here, and I didn’t really need something like a heavy moisturizer. So I thought of giving Aloe Vera gel one more try as a natural moisturizer.

Until now I had tried different home made remedies of Aloe Vera for moisturizers, and those were all good. One of those worked amazing for me. Here is it if you wanna give it a try.

But to be honest, I thought of trying store bought Aloe Vera gel this time. Something that I had never tried before. BUT…One thing that I very particular about is ingredients. And it wasn’t easy to pick an Aloe Vera gel. I checked around 10 Aloe Vera gels from different brands, good and average, but all of them had some chemicals mixed in. I wanted 100% Aloe Vera gel. So Finally I got one from a good brand here, which had no chemicals at all…It has few other ingredients but all natural and with healing properties. It is Boroplus Aloe Vera gel.

I have been using it for over a year now and I’m super-happy with it. I will continue to use this as my moisturizer. It is nourishing, and soothes my skin. The best part is that it does not make my skin look oily at all….

So my current skincare skin care routine is washing my face with my dermatologist recommended face wash, followed by a toner that is my home-made rose water, and finally followed by my Aloe Vera gel moisturizer. That’s it. Super simple routine but helped clear up my skin wonders.

I have realized that more simple you keep your skin care routine, the more clearer and healthier it will get.

Tiny bumps on forehead

2021-07-31T16:09:00.003-07:00

I assume that if you are here, you are either struggling with tiny bumps on forehead or acne in general.

So you are right on track. I had the worst bumps on my forehead, which look like the textured skin, like sandpaper. You cannot hide them with even layers of makeup. So when I was struggling with these bumps, here is what I did to make them go away permanently.

1. Try to figure out the cause.

The bumps on forehead are majorly due to the following factors:

Dandruff : If you have hair issues, mostly dandruff or itchy scalp, this is why you have forehead bumps. And BELIEVE me when I tell you, "You should not ignore this". Treat your dandruff, and see if the forehead clears up. For me this was one of the cause. I'll tell you all the causes I had, in a short while.
Drinking less water : When I researched about skincare, I found the face map and it said that to improve my forehead acne I need to drink more water.

To be honest, to me it sounded fairly possible because I don't know why that was, but I didn't like drinking water. I used to drink less than a litre of water every day. So I thought water can definitely be the cause in my case. Moreover, Every YouTube video I watched, every article I read, every person I met advised drinking water for good skin. And like all you guys I too thought it to be just cliché. But when I was going through "clearing up my skin" journey, I just thought of giving it a shot. I thought what's there to lose...It's just water, right ! I started increasing my water intake gradually, coz seriously I did not like drinking water at all. And believe you me when I say this, Drinking litres of water had an impact of my skin that nothing else did. All other tips that helped me (that if you are interested in, you can find here), surely did wonders, but what water did id just something else. I think since water is necessary for our life, it is indeed necessary for our skin as well. My skin started getting even toned, pores started minimizing and overall the health of my skin improved. And yes, forehead sand got washed off.
Hairstyle or accessories : This one is fairly logical. If you have front bangs or you wear caps or hair accessories that cover your forehead fully or partially, then this might be the cause for you. Bangs and caps cause the forehead to sweat a lot (if you don't notice it). And the sweat causes buildup, which in turn causes acne. So, if at all, you do need to wear caps, or bangs, try to wash the cap everyday and your forehead every few hours with water. Yes, with water only.

2. Once you have figured out the cause, try treating it. How ?

Drink more water. I now drink atleast 3 litres of water every day.
Unless you tame your pimples, try not wearing any makeup for a while. Makeup just makes things worse.
Try to wear your hair back in a pony tail for a while and notice if it has any impact on your acne. Remember, you are the best judge of yourself.
Needless to say, Eat healthy and wholesome foods. If you are dealing with any kind of acne, Cut back on processed foods, like chips, sodas, bakery foods etc. This not just helps clearing your acne but is a good practice for overall health of your body.
DO NOT SCRUB. Scrubbing or exfoliating your forehead acne will just make things worse. If you want to know why, I've explained it here. For forehead acne to clear up, you need gentle chemical exfoliation, just to get rid of the buildup from sweat and oil. And for that I use my facewash which already has mild exfoliating ingredients. This facewash has helped me clear not just the forehead acne but all of my acne.

I'm certain these tips will work for you, as they have worked for me. These are some really generic tips that work for all skin types. Let me know how these worked for you, in the comment section below, and feel free to ask any questions you have. I hope you find luck in your skincare journey soon :)

How I lightened my acne scars ?

2020-01-15T03:49:00.000-08:00

Writing after so long, but this post demanded patience. Because it is how I cleared my acne scars.

Okay, so as I had mentioned earlier in my previous post that I had changed my skincare routine as suggested by my dermatologist, so fortunately I am done with my acne, and acne is done with me I guess. Because now I have no more acne. Until last month only the scars were left, which have lightened considerably now. There are definitely a few left, but a huge difference .

So here I am, highlighting what all worked for me to fade my acne scars in around a month's time. Let's get started.

So the first and topmost thing that made the huge difference is a product called Revize Micro 0.025% Gel . It is basically a retinoid, which is a form of Vitamin A. It works by peeling off dead skin cells from your face quickly and stimulating cell turnover. Quicker cell turnover opens your pores, releasing the trapped bacteria that is causing your acne.

This gel also helped my skin to regulate its natural oil (sebum) production, and hence prevented future breakouts. It smoothed out my rough and textured facial skin.

How to apply :

Ideally, it should be applied at nighttime, since it shouldn't be applied in sunlight. After washing my face with the face wash that helped me clear my acne , I gently pat dry my face and apply a little amount of gel o the affected area, where I have scars.

You would not see results overnight, but definitely within a week, your scars will start to fade away.

Once your skin adjusts to this application, you may increase the concentration to 0.05%. I switched to 0.05% after 2 months of daily application. The more cells you'll shed, the more quicker scars would fade.

Now, coming back to the other things that helped me fade scars. Washing my face regularly with Glogeous Face wash, since it has mild exfoliation effect helped me getting clearer skin. It has AHA's which help to remove dead skin cells and help make acne scars appear less noticeable. I followed it up with Sebamed Moisturizer Gel to hydrate my skin properly.

Apart from this, never forget to leave home without a sunscreen. It’s very important to wear sunscreen every day especially when you are fighting to fade away scars. Sun exposure can darken scars or make them more noticeable and inflamed. Hence, Sunscreen !!

Let me know in the comments section down below if you have any queries on this routine, any tips that have helped you clear your acne scars. Let's help each other in our acne battles !!! :)

Dermatologist recommended Moisturizer for Acne!

2019-11-19T01:57:00.003-08:00

So, I mentioned in my previous post about my visit to dermatologist and the face wash she recommended for severe acne. The skincare routine that she recommended me also consisted of a moisturizer. A very mild drugstore moisturizer, Sebamed Clear Face Care Gel. I have using it for a month now, and here is my review of the same.

Sebamed Clear Face Care Gel :

Claims :

Panthenol supports the healing of acne lesions.
Hyaluronic acid increases the moisturizing binding capacity of the skin.
Aloe barbadensis soothes irritated skin.
The pH value of 5.5 biologically inhibits the growth of acne bacteria.
Allantoin smoothes rough scaly skin.
No oils and emulsifiers.
No perfume.
No colorants.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Propylene Glycol, Glycine, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Sodium Carbomer, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol

My experience :

As per its claim, It is truly Oil Free, since it is a gel. Its not like a cream or lotion, It is pure gel consistency. When I first started using it, I felt that is not moisturizing enough since it wasn't giving that shiny effect. But then gradually I realized that it works by hydrating the skin, perfect for oily skin. My skin absorbs it immediately and it gives a hydrating smooth and matte effect. I have used other oil free moisturizers, but nothing compares to this one. Though this is on the expensive side, its worth it. You just need a little amount of the product as it spreads very easily. I apply it on my slightly damp skin.

Since I am always concerned about the pH of skincare products, this gel moisturizer wins as it has a pH of 5.5, which is perfect for skin. If you want to make your own DIY toner that balances skin pH, check this out.

Since I am on the acne clearing regime, which dries out my skin a lot, this gel balances out the dryness and keeps my skin hydrated all the time. Moreover, this product did not react badly to my skin or break me out, instead even toned my skin to an extent.

Verdict:

The gel is perfect for everyday use, mainly for oily skin beauties like me. Dry skin people might not want to opt for this as it is a mild moisturizer specially for acne prone, oily and irritated skin.

If you're suffering with acne from a long time, and are not able to get rid of it, Check my best 5 acne clearing tips, that has helped me transform my skin magically...!

Dermatologist recommended this face wash for severe chin acne !!!

2019-11-02T11:24:00.002-07:00

So recently I started breaking out badly on my lower face, mainly around chin and jawline. I contemplated it as hormonal acne, and tried my remedies and treatments. But nothing worked. I got my hormonal tests done, and they came out to be normal. This gave me one new lesson- every chin and jawline acne is not Hormonal !!!

So, I went to a dermatologist and after analyzing my skin condition closely, she prescribed me a new skin care routine, which meant a new face wash. So if you guys have read my other posts, I am not a fan of face washes and store bought cleansers. But I had no other option than to follow the routine.

The face wash that she prescribed me was Glogeous Face wash. So here's my experience and review of the same.

Glogeous advanced face wash gel is from the company Torrent Pharma, yes the same company that manufactured Ahaglow. I have used Ahaglow earlier, and that was okayish. It dried out my skin, so I did not like it.

Starting with the ingredients in Glogeous. On the packaging its main ingredients are mentioned as :

Aloe Vera – 5% w/w, Fresh Cell (Pumpkin) – 2% w/w, Glycolic Acid – 1% w/w, Propanediol (and) Evodia Rutaecarpa fruit extract – 1% w/w, Vitamin E Acetate – 0.1% w/w.

But it has a number of other ingredients as well.

Coming to the texture of the face wash. It is neither too runny, nor too dense, just the perfect amount of consistency. It is not a foaming face wash, but lathers well enough to give you a clean face feel.

I have been using the face wash for about 2 weeks now, and I have not experienced any breakouts or rashes. I was very skeptical of using the face wash considering my overly sensitive skin. But it did not disappoint me. After washing, the face was clean. It did not dry out my face but nor did it leave my face moisturized. It did what a face wash does ---- clean the face. My face was glowing and fresh after the wash. It also has glycolic acid which exfoliates the skin mildly, perfect for everyday use. Overall it's a mild face wash suitable for oily, normal and acne prone skin.

The only drawback I realized is it lead to a not of blackheads on my T-zone. Usually I don't get any blackheads, but this face wash caused a few.

Final Word : If you have overly oily skin with acne and breakouts, this product is perfect for you. But if you have dry skin, you might need to think before trying this, because this will definitely not provide the moisture that dry skin needs.

Should you exfoliate Acne Prone Skin ?

2019-09-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

Often people ask me how I keep my skin looking dewy and blackhead-free. I'll let you in on my one of my little secrets. No, its not exfoliation. But it is "PROPER EXFOLIATION". Since i have acne prone and extremely sensitive skin, I cannot exfoliate my skin like others do. I exfoliate on a weekly basis to keep my pores clear. Because clogged pores will ultimately lead to acne.

While dealing with acne, you cannot rub your skin against harsh and rough scrubs. Hence people tend to believe that people with acne can’t and should not exfoliate. But thats not true.

Now, before you run off and grab your SCRUB, you need to know how and with what to exfoliate sensitive, acne and breakout prone skin.

Exfoliation is extremely important in the treatment of acne. Don't ever think that acne prone skin can't be exfoliated. If you have exfoliated earlier and that has increased your breakouts, YOU MIGHT BE USING WRONG PRODUCTS FOR EXFOLIATION. Acne-causing bacteria dwells on dead skin cells. Hence you always need to get rid of dead skin cells in order to treat acne.

Don’t exfoliate on active pimples. Rubbing on active pimples and pustules will just spread the bacteria leading to more pimples and irritate your skin. You might feel that after using the physical exfoliants, your skin is soft and smooth, but they often aren't the best choice for acne-prone skin. The friction involved in using a physical exfoliant can irritate acne inflamed skin. This rubbng against your inflamed skin can make your skin red. In my case, exfoliants made my existing breakouts worse by irritating them. Hence I used the natural chemical exfoliant which is mild and helps clear up acne really fast !!!

If you’re concern is scars only, exfoliation is your best friend: Fading acne scars is a challenge but you can lighten them by regularly exfoliating. Exfoliation works wonders by removing dead skin cells from the skin and letting your skin to regenerate itself.

Use only soft and mild exfoliators, preferably natural alternatives like oatmeal and coffee. I would not suggest sugar scrubs because they are a little rough and rub against the skin. Traditional store bought apricot scrubs didn't work for me at all. Whenever i used that my skin broke out like hell, And when i stopped using them, my skin cleared up. Probably my sensitive skin could not bear the harsh exfoliating beads. And i realised that i am using wrong products.

Look for exfoliating ingredients: Use moisturizers and cleansers with chemical exfoliating ingredients like Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) , Beta hydroxy acids (BHA) like salicylic acid. These ingredients can reach deeply into the pores of your skin and work wonders to remove dead skin, blackheads and whiteheads.
Especially salicylic acid is a miraculous ingredient for exfoliating acne prone skin. I use salicylic acid containing moisturizers and it helps my skin to remain clear. I suffered from clogged pores, but salicylic acid helped me to reduce oil and sebum on my skin, gradually reducing clogged pores.

" DO NOT EVER FORGET TO MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN AFTER EXFOLIATING !!! "

How to Clear Acne Overnight ? My 5 Favourite Hacks !!!

2019-09-21T07:59:00.002-07:00

The bad thing about pimples is that there’s no scheduled time to get a pimple. It can appear suddenly on a morning when you wake up. But what's even worse is that they pop up always on special occasions, like a party or a birthday , the night before a first date, a big interview, etc probably you all would agree with me. Breakout always seem to hit at the worst time possible. We’ve ALL been there.

While dealing with acne, especially cystic acne, I found myself many a times sifting through the web searching for quick overnight remedies to reduce that bump. I tried a number of remedies, from antibiotics to over the counter medicines. Nothing worked. My face was no stranger to experimentation. Because when it comes to pimples, we’ve tried it all; the ointments, the expensive spot treatment products, the DIYs, the home remedies...EVERYTHING !

But, in these 4-5 years of me searching the internet for overnight acne remedies, and experimenting on my face, Here are few spot treatments that worked miraculously for me.

So, If you woke up today with a really angry spot on your face, and are searching the internet to get rid of your pimples and acne overnight, then these 5 spot treatments aka acne remedies will surely help calm your skin.

Lavender Oil: I cannot stop thanking the day when I stumbled upon this holy grail product. I read about this during my continuous research about clearing acne spots quickly. I gave it a shot. And was amazed by using it just for 1 night. I had put undiluted lavender oil on my cystic pimple, and next morning it was just a dot that was left. And the scent of lavender gives the most sound sleep ever….
Going by the fact, Lavender essential oil is an age old trusted remedy known for its calming effects. It works wonders for popped cysts and pimples. But speaking of my personal experience, it worked miraculously on unpopped cysts as well.

Lavender oil is soothing, its calming, it’s a relief.

I suggest, when starting with lavender oil, don’t use it undiluted. Everyone’s skin is different. Suited mine, doesn’t mean it will everybody. Though my skin is extremely sensitive. But still. Prevention is better than cure. So start by blending few drops of the oil with your moisturizer or some other facial oil before applying topically. But trust me do give a try. This oil is a game changer

Vicks Vaporub : Yes, you heard me right. The cold and chest congestion remedy, Vicks Vaporub. If you are a fan, you would definitely be knowing the strong fragrance of eucalyptus in it. That’s the ingredient that reduces the swelling of the cyst drastically. And, in just 1 night .

I stumbled on this hack when one day, i came across a post stating that one of the “miracle treatments” for cystic acne is dabbing Vicks VapoRub on pimples to reduce them. I tried and was amazed at the results. Next morning the huge painful cyst I had reduced to more than half. And the pain was completely gone. Seems unbelievable, right?

Vick’s VapoRub is a common medicinal product when it comes to treating cough. The essential oils in VapoRub make for an incredibly effective remedy. Few ingredients that make it extremely effective for acne as well are :

Menthol: Menthol is an anti-inflammatory and cooling ingredient.

Camphor: The camphor in Vaporub is a painkiller. So the pain in the cyst would go down significantly.

Cedar Leaf Oil: Helps to regulate skin’s sebum production. Less sebum means less clogging of pores and ultimately less breakouts.

Eucalyptus Oil: This is one of the most active ingredients found in VapoRub and is antibacterial in nature. Hence, helps to fight the bacteria causing acne breakouts.

All you need to do is take a very little amount of the VapoRub, (you can use a cotton bud ) and apply to the cystic pimple. Watch it disappear next day. 😄😄

A word of caution: dont apply on broken or picked spot. It might irritate and burn. ✖️

Even today if I ever get a big pimple, I always turn to it! ✨

Check out 5 best ACNE tips that you MUST KNOW if you're dealing with acne.....!

3. Ice it : Those cystic bumps, that you cant even hide with makeup are the worst. Like the one on SHINCHAN's head. I usually apply ice over it multiple times a day. And the swelling subsides drastically.
Ice also decreases redness, thereby making your pimple less noticeable. It will also reduce the pain that comes in abundance with cystic acne.
ICING majorly works on inflamed pimples, cysts, painful bumps and pustules.

Do not directly apply ice on your face. Always wrap it a napkin or a cotton cloth before applying on your spots.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar : This is not only for cystic pimples, but also to get rid of acne in general. Apple cider vinegar is a miracle to get rid of pimples quickly. It not only balances the pH of the skin but also helps reduce your breakouts.

If you have oily skin, Apple cider vinegar is a boon for you, it absorbs excess oil, and doesn't let your skin get oily after few hours of washing.

To spot treat your pimple, just dab a few drops of diluted ACV ( 1 part water: 1 part ACV ) on your pimples overnight and you’ll be able to see a huge difference the morning after. Also use this apple cider vinegar toner to get flawless and clear skin in very less time.

5. Drying Lotions: This is also an overnight acne remedy that works well. Drying lotions like calamine, tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide can be used to spot treat the inflamed pimple.
Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and dries up oil in the pimple prone area. Using these products can make the pimple look smaller in just 1 night.

Tea tree oil is antibacterial, since it contains terpinen-4-ol. It protects your skin from harmful bacteria and therefore helps with a lot of skin issues, not only acne but also insect bites, rashes etc. It also reduces redness and swelling and dries out pimples quickly.

Note :A mild stinging sensation is fine, but if it stings really bad, do not apply pure tea tree oil on your breakouts. Dilute it in a moisturizer or some other oil that suits your skin well.

Just keep in mind that this spot treatment is not meant to be used on your whole face, just the pimple itself. Apply with a Q-Tip if necessary.

Which Spot treatment worked the best for you? Do share your experience in the comments section below!

Read on to know why does your acne keep coming back again....

Also follow clear.acne.for.good on Instagram for some really cool tips to clear acne. Its a page helping out all acne sufferers to understand the root cause of acne and clear their skin in no time....

5-minute DIY Lip Balm

2019-09-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Make your own lip balm in just 2 minutes!

Homemade lip balm is all natural, organic. You can customize it according to you own liking. This DIY lip balm is SO EASY to make. Seriously – you can make it in just 2 minutes ! You can customize your own ingredients, as much as you like, as many as you like. I will give you the options and alternatives, if you don't like a particular ingredient. Why I like to make my own lip balm is that I am not a fan of chemicals, and there are very few lip balms that hydrate my chappy lips. But this DIY lip balm is just so awesome, hydrating and nourishing. So let's begin...

Ingedients:

Base Ingredients : Vaseline Petroleum Jelly / Shea butter
Other Ingredients:

2-3 drops Vitamin C Serum ( If you dont have it, you can use Crushed Vitamin C Tablets )
2-3 drops Hyaluronic Acid
5-6 drops Coconut oil
3-4 drops Honey
3-4 drops Lemon juice
1-2 drops Essential Oils (Orange essential oil, Lavender Oil )

Method :

In a microwave-safe container melt the vaseline or shea butter (whichever you are using), along with coconut oil for 30-seconds
Stir in the hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C Serum, honey and lemon drops. Honey is an excellent moisturizer and Vitamin C Serum and lemon are used to lighten the dark color of the lips. Hyaluronic acid binds the moisture and keeps your lips hydrated for long.
Add 1-2 drops of essential oil or flavor oil, according to your preference of fragrance and sensitivity.
Mix everything up with a stick.
Carefully pour into a small container and freeze it before using.

Voila ! your DIY Lip Balm is ready !

If you want a bit of a color, you can add a lil bit of pink/red food color.

Amidst the skincare routine that we follow, it's really important not to forget our lips. To keep your lips hydrated, thsi Lip Balm is perfect. I have seen a huge difference after using this, now they don’t get chapped and cracked.
Also, this lip balm is a quick and easy DIY gift idea, and trust me, once you start making your own DIY , you’re going to want to make about a million different customized versions !

Comment down below, which customized versions you created, which ingredients you liked and what else can be added to make this even more nourishing...
Check out my DIY moisturizer for acne prone and sensitive skin !

This is how I keep myself happy during stressful and difficult days...

2019-08-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

I think we all want to be happy, that's our basic goal. However, how do we achieve that ?

Okay, Ever wondered why we called our maths questions, 'Problems' ? I'll come back to that...

So like everybody else, I too have a normal life, which comprises of stressful days sometimes. An over demanding corporate job, struggle to keep my skin in control, the basic difficulties of life and heartbreaks. It is very easy to stress out on these things, sit back and cry. I too used to do that around 6-7 years back. However, today, that cry baby is not me. I tend to not stress on things and just keep myself happy and calm, even in the worst situations. This might sound a little hard to believe but when you will read this whole thing, it will all make sense to you.

Therefore, here are few things I do to keep myself happy and going when things seems to be tough:

Own an optimistic mind-set: Whenever there's a problem in life, we tend to dwell over it and ask "Why me God?" But when I see others with much bigger problems than mine, I realize how blessed I am. When something good happens we never question why me, then why should we in the difficult times. The good days along with some bad days, that is life, right? Instead of ASKING why me, I TELL myself, this too shall pass.
Learn from the problems: If there is a problem, I know there’s something to learn from it. Ever wondered why we called our maths questions 'Problems' ? Because we learn how to solve them. Okay... Lets give us ourselves 1 minute and recall a problem that came into our life recently or an encounter with a difficult person. What was our take away from it ? HUGE, right ? Now you know how to deal with it.
Practice Gratitude: Instead of thinking what I do not have in life right now, I thank my life for what all I have. Because there are people who don’t even have the privilege of basic necessities. I have accepted the fact that we will never be satisfied. That's human nature. Today I want something, tomorrow when I achieve that I would want something bigger. That's normal. However, I never forget my grounds and how I have come a long way. Looking back years from now, what I wanted, I have all that today. And, I am grateful for that.
Live in the present and let go the past : See, it’s very stressful if you keep yourself attached to your past. When I decided to let go of my burdens from the past, I became so much calm from within. Like literal PEACE. We all need to admit that we cannot be happy if we dwell on things and let them shackle us. We tend to overthink on all the things and indirectly ask our brains to torture us. But believe me you, it’s all our choice. To let go or not. I decided to and I’m happy. More than that I am at peace.
Not worrying about what going to happen: Okay. This one’s is serious. I have a question for you all. Do we know what is in future for us ? Can we control it by over thinking ? Then why overthink...! Why think about something when we can actually see it happen? I do not let my mind think about what will happen now. Whether I will be selected or not? Whether I will be able to make it or not. Trust your instincts, trust your efforts, sit back, and watch. What has to happen will happen? Just go with flow. All will be well. Worrying will take you nowhere.
So, All in all, its all about the choices we make. Its our choice to stress over things or let it be and be happy. Just train your brain to be happy and positive and the world will seem a better and happy place.

I hope you take away something from this and incorporate atleast few of these things in your life.

I am confident that these tips will surely help you to be happier than you are today. Let me know in the comments section below, few tips and tricks how you keep yourself happy and going...
"When life gives you lemons, squeeeeze them and put them on your acne scars. 😁"

5 Effective Acne Clearing Tips That No One Told You !

2019-06-30T00:47:00.002-07:00

Here are my top 5 tips to clear acne and get healthy and clear skin fast.

These tips I have learnt over the past few years that have helped me transform my skin from this to this :

So let's begin !

Skip washing with cleansers in the morning.
Ever realized the glow on your face in the morning, when you wake up ? Doesn’t that feel pretty ? Then why wash it off with harsh cleansers…the thought of not washing your face in the morning when you have to get READY and leave for work or college or hangout etc, seems quite weird. I know. I too thought that how the heck, without washing my face would I feel fresh to leave ? So, let me break it down for you. I am not asking you to not wash your face. I am saying, just not to wash it with a cleanser. Washing with plain water works charms. It neither strips the natural oils of your face, that are necessary to protect you from bad bacteria. And a few splashes of cold water lift up your face by lessening the puffiness.
Never skip moisturizer.In all of my posts, you’ll find me emphasizing on the need to moisturize. Because peeps, MOISTURE is the key to life. Don’t believe in myths that moisturizers lead to more acne and make your skin more oily . Please. Get over these myths. It’s high time now. Always moisturize your face twice a day, after washing. But with the right moisturizer. I have explained the whole logic of why and how to moisturize to clear acne super quickly, here .
Use products suitable for your skin type.Often I have seen people reaching out to me, saying they have acne with oily skin, but actually they have dry skin. And they didn’t realize this, before I explained them how to know their skin type. If you want to confirm which is your skin-type, you can check it here. So as I was saying, it is very important to draft your skincare routine according to your skin-type. If you have dehydrated and dry skin, you shall follow this skincare routine, with sheer moisturization. If you have oily skin, you DARE NOT use drying facewashes and drying masks. NO. You still need a moisturizing skin-care routine but with different products. Check it out here.

Always follow a healthy diet.This is not a tip just for acne, but holistic health also.
A big note: Eating healthy does not mean cutting out dairy or wheat or chocolates etc. Eating healthy means natural and unprocessed foods. Have more of fruits and salads, with some Omega loaded flax seeds. Cut out on junk food and sodas and sugar loaded useless beverages.
Be patient and consistent.
This is something I have learnt from my experience and I strongly recommend. Trying a product or a remedy for 3-4 days, expecting miracles and then getting disappointed is something we all do. See, a pimple takes 3-4 days to form and pop up. And for a product dry it up take 3-4 days too. But to cure the problem of acne as a whole definitely takes, on an average 3-4 weeks. Without being consistent and patient on a skincare routine for about a month, you can’t judge and blame it for being useless and doing no good.

Still fighting acne ? Here's why you are not winning ...

2019-04-04T08:01:00.002-07:00

Here are 5 things you need to keep in mind to win over acne :-

You wash your face twice a day : Washing your face more than once wipes away the natural oils of the skin, that protects the skin from bad bacteria. You should always limit washing your face to maximum ONCE a day. Yes, right. MAX once a day. Yes, Yes. ONCE. And not with a face wash, i mean not with a chemical face wash. Wash your face with BEST FACEWASH for acne.
You are using fancy anti-acne face wash : Do you feel that, fancy anti-acne face wash specially designed for treating acne are always drying ? Yes ? Then why do you still use them ? Are they doing any good ? No. Always use mild cleansers which are nourishing and hydrating instead of the drying ones. The concept of anti-acne facewash is simple. Dry out the pimples. But you don’t apply facewash only on pimples. You apply on your whole face. And that dries out the face. Now dry skin on our face produces more oil in order to balance the skin moisture. That's why you should never use drying face washes.
You are exfoliating too much : Do you abide by exfoliating twice a week ? Because you think that that will remove dead skin. Or simply because you have heard or read it somewhere. Always think by the logic. On a face with acne, should you ever be rubbing with granules ? When you have a cut or a bruise, do you rub that with scrubbers ? OUCH ! Right ? Then why scrub on acne ? It will make it worse, and doing it twice a week will double the damage. Instead, you can use mild chemical exfoliator like Apple Cider Vinegar Toner.

You are not moisturizing enough : I can't stop emphasizing enough on the importance of moisturizer in a skincare routine for acne. When I speak about face wash drying out your skin, your skin becoming oily, leading to blackheads and acne, by all this I mean, you need to MOISTURIZE. Moisture is the key to life. Just slather yourself in moisturizer. Try DIY Rosewater Moisturizer.

You are stressing to much on what to eat and what not to eat : I know there are tonnes of articles mentioning 'Cut out dairy to clear your acne'. There are numerous people telling you to 'cut out sugar to get a clear skin', and there are illogical notions of 'keto diet', 'paleo diet', cutting chocolates, coffee, wheat, gluten, meat, eggs, basically cut everything and starve. But the truth is you don't need to cut anything out to clear your acne until and unless you are allergic to something. Don't believe me ? Okay. Does your grandmother have clear skin ? Does she follow any particular diet ? Do you have friends who literally binge on anything and everything that cunts as junk food and still have flawless skin ? Have you tried cutting out things from your diet and still have acne ? Probably yes, that's why you are here, reading this. Then why and how can cutting dairy or chocolates or wheat and blah, cure your acne ? Just eat healthy and don't stress on anything else.

Should you use moisturizer on acne ?

2018-08-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt the need of a moisturizer but are scared to use because of acne prone skin ? Do you find it difficult to find the best moisturizer for acne prone skin ? Does your skin feel dry after washing your face and you end up skipping the moisturizer ?

But you don’t realize that this leads to even more acne. Are you wondering how ? When you are struggling to control your acne prone skin, you tend to believe that cleansing and washing your face with harsh chemical products aka FACE WASHES will solve all your problems, but just think does changing face washes help your skin ? NO, because you are “stripping off” the moisture from your skin which in turn will produce more oil in order to balance itself. When I was struggling with acne, I too used to believe the myth "Curing acne required 'drying up' the skin." But after 4 long years I learnt the importance and technique of moisturizing and this cleared up my acne so quickly. So here are some points that I had learnt from my mistakes about moisturizing. These might help you in controlling your acne prone skin as well :-

WHY MOISTURIZE : If you don't moisturize, even oily skin can feel dried out or flaky, especially if you're using topical acne medications like benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin and retinols. If more oil is produced, then more pores are clogged which means more blackheads and more pimples. So, Remember "Oily Skin too needs moisturizer but with the right technique."
WITH WHAT TO MOISTURIZE : Always use Oil-Free Moisturizers if you have oily skin. Look for the terms non-comedogenic. These products won't cause blackheads, whiteheads or acne. Moisturizers with salicylic acid will benefit immensely. Salicylic acid doesn't let blackheads surface your skin, which in turn prevents breakouts. Do not use body lotions or cold creams as a leave-in moisturizer . It will break you out. ( I made this mistake 😞)

HOW TO MOISTURIZE : It is best to apply moisturizer just after you have cleansed your skin. You need to pat your face lightly to avoid dripping water, but always apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.This seals in the moisture completely.
WHEN TO USE MOISTURIZER : Use moisturizer before applying makeup, after washing face in the morning. And do not forget to moisturize at night before sleeping.
NATURAL MOISTURIZERS : If you want to go all-natural, use rose water combined with few drops of honey to moisturize your face. Also, apply raw honey all over your face once a week, to provide deep hydration. You can also play around with essential oils if you have dry skin. The aim is clear and healthy skin, not dried out and unhealthy skin. And for a healthy skin, you need to moisturize daily and give your skin the nourishment it needs. Just imagine how do dry lips feel...Why do you apply a lip balm when your lips feel dry ? Why do you drink water when your throat is completely dry ? Because the key to life is water aka "hydration" ! Keep your skin hydrated and see the difference it makes to your skin.

DIY Moisturiser | Acne prone skin

2018-07-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

Rosewater on acne and acne scars works as a wonderful toner. Also you can make two in one acne plus moisturizer with rosewater to apply on acne.

To make Rosewater moisturizer for acne, you will require two main ingredients :

Rose water
Honey

In this we won’t be using store bought rose water. We will make Rosewater at home. If you have bought rosewater of any brand, you would have certainly known the colour of rosewater to be light pink to transparent. But original, completely preservative free and natural rosewater is deep pink to reddish in colour. I was not aware of this until I made my own rosewater at home. So to make Rosewater you will need one cup of rose petals and half litre of purified water.

METHOD :

Just boil the water in a pan and when it boils completely, turn off the gas.

Wash the rose petals to get rid of any dust.

Now put them into the boiled water.

Cover the container with a lid and let it cool.

After half an hour or so you will see that the rose petals have been discoloured to white and the water is all red.

At this point strain the water.

When it cools down put some of it into a small spray bottle and put the rest in another bottle and dump it in the freezer. We are storing rest of the rose water in the freezer because this is completely natural and preservative free , so it will spoil after few days if you don’t freeze it.

Now to make the moisturizer put 5 to 6 drops of honey in the spray bottle of rose water and shake well. For better results, store this also into freezer and defrost it whenever you want to use it.

When you apply Rosewater on acne, it helps maintain the skin's pH balance, and controls excess oil production, thereby preventing acne. And Cleopatra’s beauty secret , Honey is an excellent moisturizer packed with antioxidants and anti bacterial properties. It purifies skin by unclogging pores while moisturizing it at the same time. Both rosewater and honey soothes irritated skin and leaves a lovely afterglow.

Which Cold Cream to use for acne ?

2018-07-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever come across Ponds Cold Cream for acne ? If not, then let me tell you that when you are following the new face wash/no chemicals method, your new face wash is "Cold cream". Yes you heard it right. COLD CREAM for acne. Which is definitely not OIL FREE. And if you have acne, then how can you put something that is not oil free on your skin . You obviously won't. Yeah. These were exactly my thoughts when i first came across the idea of using cold cream to wash my face. I was literally in refutation. But when I did my research, then it all made sense to me. So I thought of giving it a shot thinking my skin couldn't get possibly any worse, right? What if this actually works...

So now the question arises which cold cream to use?

And will it cleanse your skin like a face wash ? No, it won't. Rather, It will cleanse even better ! Let me tell you how.

So when I first started using this routine, I used Nivea cold cream because it was the only cold cream available at my home at that time. And it worked pretty well. Basically the purpose of cold cream is to penetrate deep under your skin and clean those pores thoroughly without drying your skin. Don't worry , It will not make your skin greasy because you are wiping it off with a warm/hot wash cloth. It will just cleanse and nourish your skin.

So, When I was using Nivea cold cream, I did not feel any allergic reaction to my skin and I was very much satisfied with the results because it was simply working. But after a month and a half, when I ran out of Nivea, I thought of using chemical free cold cream. I thought instead of purchasing it, why not go completely organic . And I did my research. So there are quite a few ways in which you can make cold cream at home pretty much easily. But I hop in for the easiest of them all. I found my own natural cold cream : MALAI / MILK CREAM !
I realised that it also works the same way. Same oil and fat soluble mechanism, but even better results with acne.

In India, Milk cream is used to keep baby‘s skin soft and nourished. My mom also used to wash my face with milk cream when I was a kid. And my skin was actually the best at that time. Now you would be wondering that how can milk cream cleanse your skin as an alternative to a typical face wash? So, here's your answer ....

Milk Cream penetrates deep inside the pores and removes the oil-soluble impurities with the help of fat-soluble enzyme lipase, protein-based impurities with the help of protease and dead skin cells with lactic acid.
It is hypoallergenic. So no worries for all of you with sensitive skin out there. (like me😁)
It takes off all of your makeup completely and gently. No need to rub your eyes to tears anymore for taking off that mascara.
It provides deep moisture that can give life to lifeless, dry and dehydrated skin types.
It lightens your skin tone by shedding pigmented and dead skin cells.
It does wonders for sensitive skin as it calms the red, irritated skin.

I want you to break the myth that cleansers are always foaming and forms bubbles. Cleansers can be creamy and non foaming, and they work the best for problematic skin.

So, basically Milk Cream has proved to be the best cleanser ever to my skin. I just started using milk cream as a substitute of nivea cold cream. But it worked much better. And I'm never looking back to any other face wash. I follow the same procedure. Just instead of nivea , I use milk cream to wash my face. So, it’s up to you...to use any store bought cold cream that suits you or simply milk cream. For example, If you have been using ponds cold cream in the winters and you know that it suits well to your skin, then you may use ponds cold cream for acne to wash your face. Otherwise if you do not wish to use store bought cold cream and you wish to go completely chemical free like me, then you may use milk cream or any organic home-made cold cream.

Cold cream as a facial cleanser will not only cleanse your skin but also moisturise and hydrate your skin. It will make your skin smoother, softer, glowing and blemish free naturally. Just give it a try !

The Magical Potion : APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FOR CYSTIC ACNE

2018-07-18T02:15:00.000-07:00

If you have landed on this blog, I assume you are looking for something to benefit your skin in a quick and effective way. If your search has come a long way, you probably have heard about Apple Cider Vinegar for cystic acne some day or the other. Be it in a youtube video or a blog post. When I first heard about ACV, I didn't buy it because the silly me was trying every kind of face wash at that time. So after a long time when I actually gave ACV a shot, it proved to be a magical potion for my skin.
Lets know how ?

Firstly what is Apple Cider Vinegar ? ACV is nothing but fermented apple juice and fermented foods are great for your health. And a healthy you means healthy skin.

ACV has malic acid that helps in defending against virus, bacteria and fungus.
It has Ash that balances pH.
It has Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that removes dead skin cells.
It also helps in preventing wrinkles and lines.

BASICALLY IT BALANCES OUR SKIN !

So in my case when I stumbled upon this holy grail product, I was having really bad breakouts. And by that I mean cystic acne all over my face. So I started using undiluted ACV all over my face with a cotton ball. Though it’s not recommended to use it undiluted but I thought diluted Apple cider vinegar wouldn’t work on my stubborn skin. So, I gave undiluted ACV a try.
Within a week of using this I found my skin to be even tone but my breakouts increased a litte bit because all the clogged pores surfaced up. But I kept using this for another week and the breakouts subsided pretty fast. I guess that was purging phase because apple cider vinegar acts as a chemical exfoliator. Since then my skin has been becoming better and better. It’s been five months of using it and my face is even toned , less red, scars are fading and breakouts are almost gone. Just one here and there in 2 to 3 months.
Now when my skin has calmed down , I dilute the vinegar before using it.

The important point here that we tend to ignore is that your skin is actually acidic and by using harsh cleansers and soaps , our skin becomes alkaline. This destroys natural pH of our skin. The acidic pH is needed to protect our skin from bacteria and germs. But cleansers strip off acidic pH leaving it vulnerable to acne.

All I can say is that if you are done with your acne struggle, do not give up ! Apple cider vinegar is worth it. If it HAS worked on my stubborn, super sensitive skin, then it just might work for you as well. Give it a try, you won't regret it...

Skincare routine for Acne Prone Skin

2018-07-18T02:14:00.001-07:00

My skincare routine for acne is universal. Every skin type and skin tone will benefit from this. But the ones who will benefit the most are the dehydrated acne prone skin types. And by dehydrated skin I mean the following :
- Dull - Stretchy
- Dry after washing - Oily T-zone
- Flaky - Lifeless
- Acne - Pigmentation

So lets get started with our Night Skincare Routine for Acne, first:

I wet my face a bit. And then dab some cold cream on my face and massage it well into the skin removing all my make up. Small circular motions are perfect. Check out Which cold cream to use to know more about cleansing with cold cream. If you don't want to use cold cream, you may use milk cream as well.

Then I wipe it off with a warm washcloth. Then I take a cotton swab and put some apple cider vinegar mixed with equal parts water. And I tone my face with this. Check out my post The Magical Potion ACV to know why I use apple cider vinegar.
Finally I moisturize with rose water and honey mixture. Check out DIY Rosewater Moisturizer to make it yourself at home.

Morning Skincare Routine for Acne :

I wash my face with normal tap water . The water should not be too hot or too cold.
Then I tone with diluted apple cider vinegar.
Finally I moisturize with rose water and honey mixture and I'm good to go !

This skincare routine is chemical free and completely suitable for sensitive skin like mine.

DISCLAIMER: Your breakouts may increase in the initial first week of this routine depending upon the severity of your acne. This is because your skin purges out the impurities. The gunk under your skin surfaces up. Don't give up on this routine fearing the purging phase. Stick to this routine for at least 1 month. You'll surely see the difference in your skin's appearance, feel, softness and nourishment.

So it's time to get away with expensive and toxic store bought products. Heal your skin with the care it needs, not with the toxins in the name of skincare products. Let your skin breathe... Love your skin, your skin will love you. And it will show with a glow ! Give yourself a month or two and see your skin healing with this simple yet most effective routine . I guarantee you no more dull and dry skin : )

Best face wash for sensitive acne prone skin | No face wash method

2018-07-08T10:53:00.004-07:00

Do you have trouble finding the best face wash for sensitive acne prone skin ? Have you ever noticed that face wash specially made for acne never seem to work ? Does your skin feel dry and stretchy after washing your face ? Do you feel the need to apply a moisturizer but you are scared to break out even more ? Is your skin becoming dull day by day ? Does your skin lack nourishment ? If yes, then stop putting chemicals on your face. I have transformed my skin from dry and dull to healthy and nourished. How ? Let’s see...

No face wash method aka best face wash for acne:

Okay ! So don’t be disgusted, I am not telling you to not wash your face at all. I am just telling you to not wash your face with face wash. But then what will you wash your face with ? Not long back when I was struggling with acne, my mom advised me to get away with all the face washes (Because I had LITERALLY tried all face washes to combat acne but my skin denied to improve.) But I didn’t follow her advice as I didn’t know what to wash my face with. I knew what not to use but I didn’t know what to use. So after my research, deep research, I came up with a solution that actually works. So let’s make some valid points here :-

You wash your face with chemicals ; chemicals in turn dry out your skin. Your skin produces more sebum to compensate for that dryness. Hence your skin becomes oily within hours of washing your face and oily skin means breakouts !

If you use moisturizer i.e again chemicals, then they will clog your pores and again lead to acne.

If you use toners, again you are further drying out your skin by alcohol. Leading your skin to produce more oil and more break outs.

So now the solution :-

We need to wash our face with something that cleans our face without drying out the skin. Cold cream does the job. YES, home-made cold cream will very smoothly remove every bit of your make up, dissolve dirt and moisturize your skin. In short a perfect cleanser. Which cold cream to use for acne ?

Instead of using alcoholic toners, use natural toner and healer " THE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR". It balances the pH of our skin, balancing out oil production. How apple cider vinegar help you clear your acne ?

Instead of using pore clogging moisturizers and lotions , use natural moisturizer like honey and rose water. They will penetrate deep and hydrate your skin making it very healthy.

Check out My Skincare Routine that helped me get away with acne completely and for ever...

Remember :- Your skin absorbs whatever you put on it.

My Acne Story ! How I Cleared My Acne.... An excerpt to my journey !

2018-06-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Years of struggle ? Frustrated with persistent acne ? Tried every product on the drugstore ? Tried all face washes ? If the answer is yes, your acne story is similar to my acne story.

Before commencing with my first post and my acne story aka struggle, let me give you a brief description about my skin tone and skin type. Fair, sensitive, extremely acne prone, sometimes dry, sometimes oily. Basically a mess ! But finally I have succeeded to tame that mess into clear and healthy skin. So I had clear skin until high school. Never really gave a thought towards skincare. I simply used to wash my face with dove soap. My skin was unadulterated to chemicals. Then I turned 17 and fascinated by the fancy ads and claims of various face washes, switched to one of the most popular neem face wash.

And out of the blue , a pimple popped up. After a few months, my face started to break out. But after an year, my face was a mess. In order to cure it, I tried all face washes. You name it, I tried it. Tried all face-masks, creams, lotions. But in vain. Appointments with dermatologists. Tried all medications : antibiotics, retinols, anti-fungal creams, clindamycin, soframycin, blah-blah-mycins.
I TRIED EVERYTHING ! Nothing seemed to work. And my face got even worse. Then came the worst nightmare of all : "CYSTIC ACNE " . PAINFUL CYSTS ALL OVER MY FACE ! So long story cut short, I have struggled with acne for almost 5 years and now i have finally succeeded in overpowering THE ACNE .

Before and After

But HOW ? So, once I came across a video of a youtuber named Brianne. Watch her explain here https://www.youtube.com/user/kalibrimotion/featured . She explained the method of not washing her face with face wash. I with my last hope, followed the " NO FACE WASH " method religiously for a month. And Guess What ? My skin improved. My stubborn skin that was unaffected with every remedy, "improved". 3 months of chemical free products and my skin is healing.
The moral of the story is " STAY AWAY FROM CHEMICALS ". Use natural ways to wash your face. Find your own natural face wash in the kitchen that suits your skin type and give way to healthy and supple skin. I guess that's the secret why our grandmothers have clear skin, because they never used chemically loaded face wash ! Think and give it a try. What have you got to lose ? RIGHT ? To know about "NO FACE WASH METHOD " check out my post The No Facewash Method .

To know more about skincare without using any chemicals, subscribe to my blog. The coming posts would focus on how to wash your face without any chemicals and the do's and dont's to banish acne forever !