My Story - Why Natural Skincare Works Better for Me

by Gabby
(Canada)

A couple of weeks ago

I had been using proactive for years. When I went to get a a facial last april the esthetician told me my skin was not acneic and I should not be using it. She also, let me know it had caused all kinds of premature aging. I stopped using proactiv and there was little reaction. My skin looked and felt way better. I was using a very expensive cream, that the esthetician recommended. When I ran out, I didn't plan on getting more of it because of the price tag so I let it run out with the plan of getting a new inexpensive cream to replace it, simultaneously I went on birth control. With the influx of hormones and the new cream my skin exploded. I panicked, reacted by picking and self medicating with very kind of chemical cleanser I could put on it - exfoliators, home micro dermabrassions, creams, cleansers, toners, anti-aging stuff with retinol. Needless to say my skin became inflamed, irritated and infected. My pores were crammed and clogged to the max. I had all kinds of small tiny white bumps on my face. I spent a small fortune on skin care trying to fix the problem. Nothing has worked. Nothing. I even went back on proactiv again. I started doing some research, though I might have roascea as no acne treatment seemed to work. I finally went to my GP and he gave me some anitbiotics which cleared up the inflammation and infection. When the white bumps persisted I went back and he prescribed benzoyl peroxide topically. I did some research and panicked. The chemical I had been putting on my face for four years has some serious side effects. Of which I was not willing to under go. So I stopped everything and started washing my face with water twice a day. My skin looks and feels way better. I do a mild exfoliation with yogurt or oatmeal and water every once in a while and have started doing facial exercise which seemed to help. But, I did visit a dermatologist two weeks into this regime that I had previously made through my GP and he prescribed -- Benzoly peroxide. The whole benzoyl peroxide thing gives me a lot anxiety. The prescriptions and cream he recommended were expensive and I bought them and tried them but now I am regretting that decision and the only decision that doesn't cause me to have a panic attack at night is treating my skin naturally. All these harsh chemicals and parabens, alcohols, acids, peroxides, they freak me out quite frankly. I want nice skin but I don't want to look like I'm 40 at 31 because I don't want acne. I also don't want to get cancer from chemicals I'm putting on my face to cure a skin issue. I'm going the natural way and I breath easier just thinking and typing it. I will be nice to my skin. I'm going to keep washing with water and slowly start integrating some natural cleansers and moisturizers back into my regime.