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2018 was a ROUGH year, to say the least. Life was stressful, my skin was constantly breaking out, and my weight kept going up and up (that’s a story for another day). When it came to my skin, I tried everything you could imagine – different cleansers, at-home remedies, serums, facial masks, everything. Nothing worked for me. They offered me only temporary relief and I was running out of options.
By February of 2019, I was fed up. My life had found its rhythm, I was finally losing weight, but my skin was still breaking out. I decided to seek professional help and made an appointment with a dermatologist. I was very intentional with my search for a dermatologist. I wanted a black woman who would understand my skin and my issues with hyperpigmentation (not to say non-black dermatologists don’t).
During my visit, my dermatologist prescribed me two creams: one for the day and one for the evening. She also created a regimen for me to follow. Before that appointment, I wasn’t aware of the importance of black women wearing sunscreen. She explained that clearing up hyperpigmentation without using sunscreen is unproductive. Although our melanin protects us from the sun, we can still suffer from UV damage.
Dr. Deirdre Hooper (Read full article here)
“Sunscreen is hugely important in preventing hyperpigmentation. It prevents the accumulation of photodamage that leads to brown spots and PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), which is the hyperpigmentation that develops after acne.”
One month after religiously following my doctor’s regimen, my skin started cleaning up, and now, one year later, I can show off my bare face with confidence. The prescribed products played a significant role in clearing up my skin, but these drugstore products helped as well.
Products
1. Cetaphil face wash – This wash is very gentle and free of perfumes. I use this wash and the #60secondrule day and night. If you’re not familiar with the 60-second rule, it’s a method created by the @labeautiologist, who is an esthetician in LA. The rule is basically washing your face for 60 seconds. Learn more about the 60-second rule here.
2. Neutrogena Sunscreen – I apply my sunscreen under my moisturizer in the morning only. This is the best drugstore sunscreen I’ve found so far. It’s lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin.
3. CeraVe Moisturizer – This moisturizer is super thick, so I use a dot size. One 16 oz container lasted me a year. It’s on the pricier end of the drugstore products, but it’s incredible.
After a year of following this regimen, I’ve decided to change my regimen a little bit and stop using the prescribed products. I plan on continuing with the products mentioned in this post, but I don’t want my skin to depend on the prescribed drugs, especially because both creams are about $180. As soon as I settle with a new routine that works, I’ll an updated skincare routine.
Thanks for reading, please let me know if this post was helpful in any way. I appreciate your feedback.
