Most of the time, people are surprised to find out that I have such a complicated skincare routine. Of course, they’ll still ask for the obvious “how to get clear skin, get rid of my acne, yada yada?”. The quick answer for this-clearly-a-newbie question is Double Cleansing. Then they’d be like, “OMG what’s that, do I have to wash my face twice?! I don’t have the time!”. And from there on, I’d inspect whether I should elaborate more or walk away and not wasting my time with people who refuse to listen and open up their minds.
I don’t mind sharing my knowledge, but it does get tiring at times. Especially when I feel like repeating myself over and over again with people being incredibly lazy to find out, even the most basic information. What’s the point of having a swag smartphone, a browser, and internet? *doh* I will entertain a discussion where the other person is willing to meet me halfway. So I am writing it here to vent out and hopefully reach out to some who are looking for an answer.
There are people underestimating the power of having a solid skincare routine because it’s a waste of time. Leave it to the dermatologists, they say. But once those bills started to pile up, changing to different doctors with yoyo results and they finally want a change (let go), they come straight asking for advice. A lot of them don’t even know the basic skincare routine. They just put on whatever the derms gave them without questions and expect results. If you want to start taking care of your skin on your own, you better mean it and actually be in charge. If you’re asking every minute detail to someone, what’s the best product, or even had the balls to ask the person to create a skincare routine for this/that skin, what’s the difference from going to the derms? I’m not saying that doing it yourself will be cheaper, but it feels a lot better when we’re in charge of our own skin, not on somebody else’s. The experience and knowledge, oh, worth more than what we paid for!
By any means, I’m not in the slightest discrediting dermatologists because I’m well aware there are deeper problems that require professional help and products with a higher level of potency that aren’t available OTC (over-the-counter). But if you think you can do it on your own, then why not? Give it a try.
Also, people who think their skin is good enough and don’t need any treatment. I know, some lucky ones are born with good genes. But that might not last forever, especially when you hit a certain age. Eck. The minute they encounter problems, they’ll come running and panicking. In my experience, I’ve seen this more and more often. People who used to have amazing skin, and years later after neglect, the quality of their skin started to go downhill. It’s such a shame, but better late than never. Then I’ve also seen the reason behind their good skin is because of a diligent skincare routine. So that’s the proof that I needed. We’re not immortals, you know.
If you’re just getting started, know this.
Surprise! There is NO one miracle, a do-it-all product that will cure every skin problem. There is NO one product that will cure everyone’s acne, hyperpigmentation, and others for that matter. That’s why it’s called a routine, comprised of different steps and products. It is a trial and error process and we all HAVE to go through it. After a million questions and answers, you will still have to try the product yourself to see if it works for you. Everyone’s skin is different, even if we have a similar type. With that, we all bear the same risk of having adverse effects. But we can reduce the risk by READING and RESEARCH. And after a while, we build a certain instinct that makes things easier. Still, the learning process never ends.
Taking care of the skin isn’t like a one-off thing on occasion when you have problems. It’s a long-term investment supported by a serious amount of commitment because without it, you’ll get nowhere. Sorry, can’t help you if the first thing you want is instant results. Don’t sit with me, we will not go along together. It may be a chore in the beginning, but once you get a hang of it, you’ll enjoy every minute of it. When you start seeing results, you’ll be elated. More often than not, the result is more obvious when you’re wearing makeup. You start seeing how your complexion product is sticking better and gives you a smoother finish. How you notice you don’t need as much to even out the skin. And of course, the compliments, no matter how little it is. From there on, you’ll realize that it is not impossible to achieve healthy skin (not flawless, because it’s a completely different matter). There’s that sense of pride and accomplishment and that feeling it’s multiplied because you’re doing the work yourself. You’ll cherish it even more because you know it’s hard work.
But like a wheel, everything keeps turning. There is no guarantee that taking care of the skin will free us from problems. Simply because the body is complex and we can’t control it 100%. Lifestyle, hormones, food intakes, environment play a big part in the way our skin behaves. So when that happens, don’t give up. Seriously, don’t. Heck, I suffered from breakouts from time to time, especially when I am under a lot of stress and pressure. Or when I eat too many greasy foods or being under the sun for too long. And afterward, I still have to deal with the post-acne spots that take months and years to fade. Upset? Definitely. But that never stops me from doing what I do.
This too shall pass – a good mantra. Why give up on something that you work on so hard just because you hit a bump on the road? Find a way to cross it or go around it or eliminate it. Either way, keep moving. This particular paragraph is inspired by Fika who struggled with her hormonal acne. Big hug to her and everyone else who is dealing the same.
Positivity is also a powerful element. It’s probably naive and very vague (or fake, to some), but for me, it’s the force that keeps me going. It’s better to cultivate the goodness than having negative vibes all the time, right? Having calm, supportive energy truly helps to make everything better. Radiate those thoughts through the body and you’ll see the magic. I always meditate on this every time I do my skincare routine. I’m speaking to my body and soul. Whispering to them to work together in harmony. There’s a reason why my skincare routine is my sanctuary. Doing a routine in the morning with good intentions and close the night with appreciation, gratefulness, and hopes for the better next day. It’s a beautiful cycle.
In the past 4 years I have taken proper care of my skin, being through all the high ups and crappy downs, looking at my old photos back then and the present, helping other people along the way with their skincare journey, receiving thank you notes (even from my own cousins) because their skins have gotten much better, and my beloved SO whose skin has shown soooo many improvements (especially in the past year) since the first time we get together, the answer to the title above is HECK YES.
Again and again.