Today, I’m sharing my 2021 skincare routine. With 2021 proving to be only slightly less hectic than 2020, you’re not alone if your skin is going through it.
All of us want to feel confident. Even makeup lovers need to be able to love the skin they’re in. Part of this is a mindset. Embracing your authentic self is a choice. The other part requires spending time and energy finding a skincare routine that helps your skin flourish.
Maskne (mask related acne) is my most recent arch nemesis. My current job is in retail sales. That means that I skin at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week – wearing a mask. I don’t say this to complain. COVID can be scary and I’m all for taking necessary precautions. The reality of situation, doesn’t mean I like my newly acquired crater face.
A few months ago, my younger sister- who struggles with cystic acne Facetimed me to show off her radiant, makeup free glow. She’s always gorgeous, but I stunned to see how clear her skin was. She told me about her recent decision to try Curology. Impressed by her results; I decided to try Curology out for myself.
It’s worth mentioning that I have no affiliation with Curology. All thoughts are my own and reflect my personal experience with the product.
I’ve been using Curology for about a month and a half. The company uses an online assessment to pair subscribers with a dermatology PA. They take the assessment and submitted photos to prescribe a custom prescription formula. My kit included a cleanser, moisturizer, body wash and prescription medicine.
My Routine
My skincare routine is pretty simple. In the morning, I wash my face with my Curology cleanser. I follow up with my moisturizer… and DONE. I add one extra step at night. I wash my face with the cleanser, apply the medicated face cream and finish with the moisturizer. Of course, I use the body wash in the shower to address any blemishes on my body.
My Prescription
Let’s take a look at my prescription. According to the website, my custom formula was designed to address acne, hyper pigmentation/ dark marks and skin texture. The cream uses ingredients like azelaic acid, clindamycin and zinc pyrithione to help me meet my skin goals.
During the past several months, my skin woes have been concentrated to my chin and cheek. That is one of the reasons I attribute my breakouts to my mask. In addition to being more intentional about my skincare, I started wearing a silk mask. I wanted to ensure that I was doing what I could to be gentle on my skin.
I definitely took several weeks for my breakouts to calm down. Curology told me to expect results from the prescribed active ingredients with 6 to 8 weeks. At week 5 or 6, I’m just starting to see results. I also notice how soft and moisturized my combination skin feels. I’m hopeful to see dark marks lighten with continued use.
I discontinued use of all other skincare products (including facial masks) to let my skin adjust to my new routine. I’m looking forward to incorporating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, rose water and aloe vera.
My Results
Take a look at my progress over the last month or so.
Challenges
Using the right ingredients to target problem areas is an important component of any skincare routine. What’s more important, in my opinion, is consistency. Your products can be perfectly curated to address your concerns, but if you don’t use them as directed, when directed you won’t see the results you’re looking for.
Using these products has actually allowed me to improve consistency. In the spirit of transparency, I’ll disclose the truth; it’s still a work in progress. I definitely have missed n occasional morning or evening during the past several weeks.
Skincare Tips
I’ve found a few things very helpful in my quest to become more diligent and consistent with my skincare routine.
Reminders
Utilizing the reminder/alarm system on my smart phone is super helpful. I set up a recurring note on my calendar with an alarm. It’s definitely helped me minimize my instances of forgetfulness.
Leave It Out
As an extra safeguard, I keep my skin care products in a prominent location. Keeping my core skincare products on the sink helps me remember. I’ve had moments where I’ve gone to the restroom during the middle of the night. As I wash my hands, I see my skincare products by the sink. I realize that I skipped doing skincare and mistakenly snoozed my alarm.
Doing your routine at 2 AM is better than not doing it all.
Don’t Get Discouraged
It’s easy to feel like giving up if your miss a day of skincare. Don’t do that. If you had a busy morning and forgot, still do your evening routine. Shoot for progress, not perfection.
It’s a journey…
That’s what I’m doing for my skin this year. Has the pandemic (stress or masking) changed your skincare needs?
I’d love to hear what you’re doing to get or maintain your glow. Have you tried Curology or any other popular skincare system? Did you see results or did you think it was overhyped?
As, I continue my skincare journey, my biggest goal is to get rid of acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Leave any hacks you think I should try in the comments.
Regardless of what your skin looks like, you’re beautiful. Enjoy the process and take care of yourself.