My Worst Years (I failed a lot!)

Believe me when I say I don't have the perfect skin

My face has been troubling me since 2013 (wow, been trying to keep it alive for five years now!) I've tried lots and lots of products and even medication!!!! to save my skin, or at least try to.

My journey—

I do regret not taking photos when I had a really serious breakout, I really mean it was serious. It came to a point that it was so red, and discoloured!! My face doesn't even match my skin colour anymore. Guess, having breakouts really discourages you from even taking selfies (or photos with anyone else!)

First off, I tried Proactiv 3-Step System (totally not sponsored by the company, my MOM paid for its hefty price of $91.90!) I don't know if I'm using it wrongly but it just didn't work for me. It actually made my skin even more irritated and sensitive. So, that's basically $100 off to the trash.

Yup these three. I don't really know man.. Maybe I used it wrongly or what... sigh

Next, ok because I'm really desperate, I went to see a doctor..... but my huge mistake was, I went to a general practitioner, and not a dermatologist, so that's another $150 thrown away, am I right? He gave me medications... antibiotics, blah blah blah.. I'm not really a fan of routine, which means, there are times where I forget to take my medicines because of school stuff. End of story, I'm still having breakouts.

Moving on, facial washes. I don't even know what kind of face washes I used back then! But lots of aunties (you know when you go to guardian or watsons, there will be those aunties selling things from a brand and they will talk you through their products and bait you into buying them? yes, those aunties) advised me to change my face wash. Out of all, this was my favourite— Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, this changed my life (for a while)!!! It dried up my acne, and it was really cheap (around $10-12 for 175ml bottle, not bad). But after a while, it started to make my skin really dry and irritated. It made me so uncomfortable that I knew I had to change to a new facial wash. I changed to Himalaya Facial Scrub and St. Ives Face Scrub lol ok now that I've mentioned this, I was so stupid back then. I used a facial scrub EVERY DAY. EVERY SINGLE DAY. plus that's TWICE daily! I didn't know that exfoliating your skin that often is bad (pls forgive me facial gods!!) and kids, that's how life taught me. I had a really bad breakout again, my skin is really dry. I'm from a hero to zero, literally.

The culprits. They're not that bad, just know when and how to use them. Probably not as often as I used them.

Lastly, pimple ointments/cream/gels. These are like the cherry on top when you're trying to treat your acne. I've tried a lot too! Some I can't even remember anymore.

• Acne Clear Pimple Treatment Cream

• Oxy 10 Cover Lotion

• Oxy 10 Lotion

• Ac Gel 10%

• The Face Shop Tea Tree Oil

What a list right? Some worked, some didn't. I even resulted to putting toothpaste on stubborn acne!! I read it online, goes to show I follow whatever I read online hahaha!

Notice how I don't have any moisturiser? Another H U G E mistake. Despite having the driest skin of my life, I refuse to use a moisturiser. Why? I felt that it made my skin irritable and oilier. I tried to use Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser SPF 15/PA++ but it didn't work on me. Every time I use it, my face stings a bit. And, I just didn't feel it. AT ALL. I tried Nivea Moisturising Creme as well, but I still got the same results. Hence, I stopped trying to use facial moisturisers.

After all those, I still didn't get the spot-free face I've always wanted (and dreamt of!) but it's much much much better now. Of course, I still get those rough days, when my face would just act up, but I've learnt my lesson, and now know what to do. I also now follow a skincare routine, which I feel really suits my skin (I'll do a post about it as well!!.. soon!!)

N.