I’ve been pretty candid over the last few years of my struggle with adult (am I really an adult) acne and how frustrating it’s been. Truth be told, I would never wear make up if I had clear skin. I love going fresh faced and have never been a big make up girl but over the years as my skin seemed to only get worst, I kept trying to cover it all up. It sucks feeling like you need to mask your face in order to not be stared at, I hated the feeling of relying on make up to feel beautiful, and trust me y’all, I tried EVERYTHING. From ProActiv to prescription creams, two different birth controls (at the same time), Avon, Mary Kay, Arbonne, you name it. I tried it all. Nothing seemed to work and the constant switching of products was probably the worst thing ever for my skin. Under my chin and around my neck was the worst (which was a sign my hormones were out of whack.)
Anyways, everything changed when I was at a workshop in October and my friend Shalyn told me I had to try something new: Vicks Vaporub. I thought she was crazy (she kind of is, in the best way possible) but she promised me it had cleared up her hormonal break outs and was the secret to clear skin. I told her I would give it a shot (at this point, I had nothing to lose.) Guys, it worked. As in this little five bottle jar that was sitting in my bathroom cabinet started to do some big work. It sounds crazy but it does (I am so not getting paid for this… not in the least.) I started to change my skin regime with things I already had around the house, items I had researched, and secrets people had shared and my skin has seriously transformed. I can now focus on wrinkles because my acne is pretty much gone and for the first time in years, I don’t feel crazy leaving the house without make up.
Here is my new skin care regime:
- Cleanse with Norwex wash cloth (either no soap or a mild cleanser like Cetaphil.)
- Use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar as a toner on a cotton swab.
- Put Vicks Vaporub on face as though it’s a cream.
- (Optional) Add in a night time serum and eye cream (if wanted – girlfriends gotten protect from wrinkles!)
- Put Tea Tree Oil on any impending zits or scars.
Trust me, it sounds crazy. Like I said, I am getting paid zero dollars to share this but if it could help anyone else who is struggling with their skin, then it’s worth it. I am so happy things are on the up and up for me and I finally feel like I have a good handle on my skin! Of course the occasional hormonal breakout strikes but I feel like I have a handle on it and can actually tell when it’s hormones vs. when it’s acne! I am so thankful to not be putting expensive creams and prescription ointments on my face (plus they totally bleach my towels and pillow cases, that can’t be good for skin!) After trying everything and spending hundreds of dollars on products that never delivered, my little drug store combination is serving me (and my wallet) just fine and my skin has never felt better!
Do you have any acne fighting secrets? Comment below!
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This is fabulous advice! I am thinking it may be the essential oils in VapoRub that have done the trick. I, too, struggle with adult acne in my thirties (eep!) and recently started using Frankincense, Tea Tree oil, and Lavender oil on my skin morning and night. I haven’t had a major breakout since! I also use a Norwex cloth for washing my face, and I love it.
Any lush product is amazing! I love the “angels on barre skin” face wash! I also use dessert essence essential oil spot treatment (mainly tea tree). I had terrible acne last year and I did tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar and those helped but still had to go to the dermatologist.
I use e.l.f. Cosmetics acne fighting foundation. It’s only $6 a bottle. And I love it! I was using one that cost $14 a bottle and it was breaking the budget. However, I’m bad about washing my face regularly so thanks for the tips.
Somehow at age 26, after two pregnancies, my acne is the worst it’s ever been! It leaves craters in my face, which has never happened before. I have some vicks in the cupboard and it’s going on my face tonight. Won’t the hubs be so thrilled! lol.
My grams recommended Vaseline at night on my face back when I was in high school! Seems crazy, but it works!
Norwex has saved my skin too! I just love it and I’m glad you do too! Have you used their kitchen cloths?!? SO amazing
I would also recommend looking into a food allergy. I have a sensitivity to chocolate and nuts. Any time I have them in my diet my face breaks out like crazy. If I stay away my face is clear. Glad you figured out a good routine!
Thank you for posting this. I had perfect skin in my teens and twenties. 30 hit and welcome to the world of hormonal acne. It’s been a struggle for me for the last 10 years, and I too have tried everything from high end aestheticians and products that cost $100s to those you can buy at a drug store. Nothing works. I recently tried Lush products as well, after discussing chemicals used in skin care with my hubby. (He’s a pharmacist and trained in chemistry so he knows his stuff). I then found the THINK DIRTY app. Get this! It’s free! It’s not sponsored by anyone! It shows you what chemicals are in the beauty products you are using. Sadly, Lush is not what they seem, and their products have unsafe chemicals. I personally will not use them. I have switched to Dr Thayer’s and 100% Pure and I am hoping to try Kyrpis serum. This is a great product source for anyone looking for truly good for you beauty products–http://www.citrinenaturalskin.com. And I like this blog too–organicbunny.com. Also, because it’s tough to trust what you see online these days, know I am just a woman in Esko, MN and Jenna did my daughter’s grad photos (SO AMAZING!!). THANKS JENNA FOR YOUR TIPS!!
OH MY GOSH THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS. I have been through the same thing and have been on so many medications. NOTHING has helped. It’s awful. I hate wearing makeup just to cover up. I feel like it makes it worse but I can’t stop wearing makeup because I feel so gross with acne. Haha. It’s a vicious cycle. Can’t wait to try these things!
I have not heard of Vicks, that is a great idea! I cleanse my face with coconut oil and then wipe off with a warm, damp, washcloth. It removes makeup, sweat, grime everything and there is no need for a moisturizer. It is seriously the best!
I hated that Proactiv bleached everything! I’ll have to try your tips! 27 ain’t no time for acne!
That’s awesome! What cleared my skin up was a grain free sugar free diet. When i stick to it 100% I get compliments left and right on my skin.
I tried Proactiv, Murad, birth control, organic skin care systems (neem, rose, tea tree oils), basic over the outer skin care systems, multiple diets (cutting added sugar, dairy, meat…), and multiple prescriptions including daily antibiotics. I hate to say it but, Accutane was the only thing that worked for this skin. Now I use Dermalogica for basic up keep and have tried many times to drift away to things I can find in my kitchen cabinet. Skin sure can get you down (or hidding inside from the world!). Seems like each beautiful face has a different skin care combindation. Just so tricky to find that combination!
I had a bought with acne last year, really for the first time in my life, and it was reallly hard.. I was so insecure about it and still have scars that I wish I could afford the fancy laser treatments to remove.
So, about this Vicks. Are you just keeping it on overnight?
i would have NEVER guessed the vicks vapor rub! i could totally go to bed smelling like that at night, ha ha
Purity by Philosophy changed my life! I pay about $32 for the 16oz bottle every 6-8 months! SO amazing.
Michael Todd products are also all natural and I love their blue green algae toner! Last but not lease the Cetaphil moisturizer! $11 I think and I have had the same jar for over two years and I use it 1-2 times a day! Say what?! The tiniest amount goes so far!
Get rid of dairy and sugar. I recently found a website called MUAC that sells som many great products to combat acne.
I just bought the norwex cloth and I love it!
Love Witch Hazel as a toner! Coconut oil can be used for so many things. Also, kind of pricey, but Egyptian Magic for moisturizer.
Do you just clean at night? Twice a day? Vic’s on overnight? Over or under the serum?
Yes Vicks ALL OVER THE PLACE. It has completely changed my skin and I think part of it is because it has that oily quality so I don’t get TOO DRY which is a HUGE issue for me with my greasy-dry never in the middle kind of skin!
Oh man! I am always trying to figure out how to get better skin! I may look into this method!
I love the tea tree oil and witch hazel toning pads from Trader Joe’s! I also started using cleansing oils to wash my face and it’s so much more moisterized and not all dried out afterwards! I also use Tea Tree oil for spot treatment. 🙂
Do you do this morning and night or just one?
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