Auditing your skin health

Trying to track down why you are breaking out can be incredibly stressful. If you are like me you might panic and start overdoing the pimple creams and actives and make the issue worse. 

I finally took a step back and really looked at all the other culprits causing break outs and once I really started looking I noticed what the problems were. 

Here's what I found....

 Put them all on a table and take a good look. Have any of them expired? Are some looking suspiciously different than when you first bought them? If something smells funky or has changed color, it’s time to say goodbye. 

Questions to Ask:

- Is my skin type still the same(remember our skin changes throughout the month ladies)

- Is the weather the same? 

- Are there products I've ghosted for months?

- Am I facing any new skin drama?

• Are you washing your face without adding oil or moisturiser after leaving your skin to overcompensate and produce too much oil?
• Are you gymming and then not washing your face immediately after?
• Are you napping in makeup or sunscreen?
• Are you sleeping on dirty pillow cases?
• Are you using pore clogging shampoos and not washing your face after your shower?

if the answers are yes then cut that out (jk) but in all seriousness a misstep can lead to a break out and if you're like me you might take some time to heal. For example, I recently did a gym session and then went straight out after and lo and behold ended up with spots on my chin, the science behind this is that sweat cools goes solid and traps dirt and bacteria in your pores)?

Time to dig into your makeup bag like a beauty detective. Makeup can be sneaky, hiding ingredients that clog pores and lead to breakouts.

Here’s a list of usual suspects you should watch out for:

- Lanolin: Sounds fancy, but it’s sheep sweat. Found in moisturizers and foundations, it can clog pores.

- Mineral Oil:  Often in makeup, it creates a barrier that traps dirt and oil.

1. Paraffinum Liquidum

2. Liquid Paraffin

3. White Mineral Oil

4. Petrolatum

5. Petroleum Jelly

6. Vaseline

7. Baby Oil

8. Paraffin Oil

9. Nujo

10. Albolene

- Petrolatum:Aka petroleum jelly, can be suffocating for your skin.

- Isopropyl Myristate: Found in many creams, it’s a major pore-clogger- this one is in SO many makeup products and I've found it always breaks me out. 

- Cocoa Butter and Shea butter: Great for hydration, bad for pores.

sodium laurel sulphate (SLS): A harsh cleanser that can irritate, overdry skin and clog pores.

- Coconut Oil: Hydrating but heavy, it can block pores.

- D & C Red Dyes: Common in blushes and lipsticks, they can be breakout culprits

Ethehexyl palmitate: In foundations and powders, it’s highly comedogenic. I dislike this ingredient a lot. It's a top ingredient in many makeup items that have gone viral lately. Kmart makeup: I'm looking at you!

- Octyl Stearate: Often in makeup and sunscreen, it can clog pores.

If you are wondering why so many brands use these ingredients? Often they are good for mature dry skin types and not for our acne prone skin. Also, some of the above ingredients are incredibly cheap for manufacturers to use so it improves their profit margins. 

Now, let’s Marie Kondo that makeup bag. If it doesn’t spark joy and clear skin, it’s out. Compare the ingredients of your products with the list above. If something has multiple pore-clogging ingredients, it’s time to bid it farewell. I know it's hard. I did it recently and a lot my favourites had to go. The result: way less breakouts. Now I only get the occasional chin one at that time of the month. 

Tips for a Cleaner Makeup Routine:

- Non-Comedogenic Products: These are your new best friends.

I'm not being biased when I say the Anybody mineral foundation is the best foundation I've ever used. I can use this makeup day and night and I never break out from it. I can add my oils to it and make a skin like glowy base or use it on it's own and look velvety and flawless. You can build it up or have the sheerest amount for a longwearing foundation. Buy it here. 

Mineral Makeup Lighter and generally less likely to cause breakouts. But they are not all the same. You need to consider the ingredients and the order they fall in. Mica is fine in small amounts so it shouldn't be the top ingredient. Watch out for silicones too. 

Sunscreen is a total pore clogger in many cases so I avoid foundation with homosolate, oxybenzone and polyglycerols. 

Wash those brushes and sponges regularly. Your skin will thank you.

When I'm breaking out I use paper towel and isosocol and clean my brushes before each use. 

Makeup brushes and sponges often have more germs on them than a toilet seat which transfers to your face and increases the bacteria which turns into a breakout. 

Auditing your skincare routine doesn’t have to be a chore. With a little detective work and some honest evaluation, you can ensure your products are doing the best for your skin.

Keep an eye out for those sneaky pore-cloggers in your makeup, and adjust your routine as needed.

Your skin will thank you, and you’ll be one step closer to that radiant glow. Remember, skincare is a journey—enjoy the ride and keep having fun with it!