Skin Care

Because of acne I’ve…

• Invested a small fortune in the magic that is Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion (I will certifiably lose my sh*t if this is ever discontinued).
• Gotten a cortisone shot in a massive pimple on my chin 24 hours before leaving for Toronto for the MAC Bloggers’ Obsession Collection collaboration.
• Gone to bed with thick dots of stinky white benzoyl peroxide cream on my face.
• Forgotten about said benzoyl peroxide dots and answered the front door, half asleep in all my dried white goo glory.
• Changed the part in my hair in an attempt to strategically hide behind it like a curtain (although, let’s get real, I wasn’t fooling anybody).
• Woke up in the middle of the night to go look in the mirror and contemplate whether to pop THOSE PIMPLES.
• Popped a zit (or two or three) during the witching hour.
• Interviewed every Sephora associate in the skin care section to find out the things that people with acne buy often (this is how I found AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder, which worked great for me when my chin acne was at its worst).
• Felt like cattle in a dermatologist’s office. I can’t tell you how many times I felt like my concerns were dismissed by doctors.
• Bought things I didn’t need because my pimples made me feel bad about myself. 😢
• Had such an intense allergic reaction to prescription acne medication that my eyes became swollen shut.
• Cancelled a date.
• Endured emotional anguish caused by hurtful comments — but the worst ones weren’t from strangers; the worst ones were always from friends and family.
• Bought ProActiv from a kiosk in the middle of the mall (I was a fan of the cream and toner for a while). The kiosk had a picture of Adam Levine on the side, and I came *this close* to taking out a pen and drawing a mustache on him a few times, ha ha!
• Filled up an entire drawer with concealers and setting powders in order to find the holy grail combo of cover-up.
• Experienced my self-esteem lowering.
• Learned how to be more patient with myself.
• Figured out creative workarounds to relieve the temptation to pop pimples (side note: bribing yourself totally works).
• Never gone to sleep without taking off my makeup and washing my face.
• Defaced bathroom stall walls with notes for other women, including the following: “You are so much more than what you see in the mirror.”
• Become cautious about putting new skin care products all over my face… Patch tests all the way.
• Learned to cherish the days/periods of life when my skin is clear.
• Learned to have more empathy for myself and for others.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen