Jennica Rae

I, Jennica Rae Robison, am 24 years old and still struggle with acne. Recently my face was preeeettty bad. If you've ever struggled just a little bit with acne you know how NOT fun it is. Well multiply that by a large number of your choice and you've got me. I've been on a handful of different antibiotics and prescription lotions and creams for maybe 6 years now. It's definitely kept it tame but even those aren't enough to keep my face clear *sad face*. I'm at the end of the line when it comes to options, if I want to make any other changes, my only choice is Accutane which I'm really not ready for yet considering the incredible amount of risks that come along with the process. During my not so fun outbreak a few weeks ago I was looking online for tips or tricks. I wasn't searching for crazy ideas, or weird home remedies, just simple things you may not think about that actually WORK for real people like you or me. I've discovered a few ways to help keep my face clear and my skin looking pretty(er), so I'm sharing this treasured info.

These are a lifesaver. My dermatologist at the University of Utah told me about these gems when I asked what I should be using to get my makeup off and wash my face with at the end of the day. CeraVe. There's a cleanser (the one with the pump) and a lotion. Downside...these babies cost 12 bucks a bottle. BUT they last forever and you can easily find them at Wal-Mart, Smith's or Walgreens. I've had mine for 6 months so far and I use them everyday. These are super gentle on your skin, they have no fragrance, no fillers, nothing but the good stuff. They don't lather up, which may throw you off a little at first but I've come to love them. I'll never switch.

Okay.

Now that I've plugged the product I'll give you my tips, do's and don'ts on making your face better :)

- Sponges.

Don't use them. I've been using them for years until recently when I was talking to my sister about how bad my face had been. She asked if I used a spongy makeup pad/wedge to apply my foundation. I said yes and she said NO. Cassie is doing an apprenticship at Landis salon and she's lucky enough to get to sit in on classes and learn lots of fun girly hair and makeup tips. Those sponges contain so much bacteria that it's actually better to use your fingers. After using a sponge all that time it takes some getting used to but I actually like it better. It's easier to apply foundation in a thin and even coat so it doesn't look caked on. Just make sure you WASH your hands first :)

-Wash your face morning AND night. I never used to wash my face in the morning because I figured I had just washed it the night before, plus I'm just getting in the shower anyways, so it'll clean itself right? Wrong. My face is definitely looking better after getting in the habit of washing my face in the morning as well as at night (I was my face BEFORE I shower).

-Hot towel. At night after I wash my face and get all the makeup and grime from the day off, I run a washcloth or towel under hot water, just about as hot as I can stand it. Wring it out and just lay it on your face and pat it all around. It feels heavenly, but the purpose is to open up your pores. The hot water causes your pores to open up (which is why you want to do this AFTER you've gotten all the yuckies off of your face). Once I've done that I apply my creams/prescriptions which may or may not apply to you, and my moisturizer. So to recap....wash, open pores, lock in the good stuff.

-Moisturizer first! Put your facial moisturizer on very first, underneath your foundation. It keeps your skin happy and creates a barrier between your face and the bad stuff we just love to put on it. (Another fun tip from Cassie and Landis Aveda).

During my online searches I came across this honey/aspirin mask. This mask isn't meant for clearing up acne, so don't get yourself confused there. It's just good for your skin. Leaves it looking healthy with a glowing shine. I only do it every now and then but I would say definitely not to do it more than once a week. The aspirin is meant to be an exfoliating factor. It's gritty, and exfoliates when you rub it on. Here's the steps.

You'll need:

Honey.....just any kind, mine was from family dollar.

Aspirin....I use 4, there's really no specific recipe. Also family dollar.

Little cup or bowl :)

Put the aspirin your little cup and add a teeeeeensy bit of water. Literally like 3 drops. It needs to be just enough to start dissolving the aspirin. Use a spoon to tap it, chop it, speed the dissolving along until you've got a paste like substance.

Then add your honey. I would say somewhere between 1 and 2 teaspoons, just use your judgement.

Mix them together like this....and BAM! Face mask. Just use your fingers to put it all over your face. It feels funny, and smells kinda weird, I think it's the aspirin. Leave it on for as long as you'd like. I've done 15 minutes before. Another time I left it on for an hour while I cleaned the bathroom. Then just rinse. It comes off super easy with water. Then wash your face with your usual facial cleanser. Hopefully you notice how nice and fresh your skin feels :)

Okay enough with the tips. Hopefully that was more helpful and entertaining than it was boring!