I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome a little over three years ago. Along with a lot of reproductive issues, my skin was suddenly breaking out for the first time in my life. I have tried EVERYTHING I could possibly think of to fight my acne and I’ve reviewed most of those things here. In December of 2018 I finally decided to go see a dermatologist. She confirmed what I already knew, my acne is caused by hormones and there’s really not much I can do internally to fight it as long as I’m actively trying to get pregnant. Acne medications are STRONG and you typically have to be on birth control to use them. However, she was able to prescribe me two topical treatments that have helped me so much. I thought that since I’ve now seen a dermatologist, totally reworked my skincare routine and I’m actually seeing results that I would do an updated skincare routine. This is only my morning routine. I will be posting my evening routine on Monday.

Some of these products I have reviewed before but I’m going to just review them again here and link to where you can purchase them. I’ve used all of these products for at least a month and some much longer than that. If I mention it here that means I do recommend it but I might swap it out in a few months if I find something more affordable or that will work better.

*My skin type and concerns are: combination that tends to be more dry, acne with scarring, blackheads and whiteheads.

The first column on the left was taken the day I went to the dermatologist on 12/12. The middle column was taken on 12/21 and was when I first noticed a significant difference. The last column was taken on 01/10 and I’m actually more broken out there because of PMS but it’s still an improvement.

• I start my morning routine by washing my face with the Belli Beauty Anti-Blemish Facial Wash. It’s $22.00 at Ulta for a huge 6.5 ounce bottle. It is an AHA which helps to remove the top layer of dead skin. This cleanser contains lactic acid, green tea and cucumber. It is very gentle and safe for pregnant women.
• Next I wipe over my face with the Skinfood Daily Brightening Cleansing Tissues. A pack of 80 sheets is $12.00. I don’t typically use these to remove my makeup but they work well for that. Two sheets removed my basic makeup and three removed some intense, colorful makeup. These wipes do have a fragrance but I love it, it smells very clean. They’re moist enough to remove makeup without being soaking wet. They’re also very durable and a perfect size. The main reason I chose to buy these, however, is because they contain rice bran which is packed with Vitamin E and Linoleic Acids; known acne fighters and overall good for your skin.

• Next I cleanse my face with Witch Hazel. My favorite type is Thayer’s Witch Hazel with Rose Petal. This is an alcohol free formula and also contains aloe vera. You can purchase this in a few different stores but I buy mine from Amazon. It’s between $6-7.00 for a 12 ounce bottle. Witch Hazel helps inflammation and skin irritation. Some people claim that it harms their skin but I’ve seen nothing but positive results on mine.
• After the Witch Hazel I use one of the medications prescribed for me by the dermatologist, Clindamycin Phosphate. This is an antibiotic used to treat inflammatory acne. It works by killing off acne causing bacteria and reducing redness and swelling. This has been a true miracle worker for me. Where as my pimples used to linger for one to two weeks this dries them up within a few days. It’s also very gentle on my skin and doesn’t burn or cause any irritation.

• For an under eye cream I’ve been using the Lano All Over Multi Cream. This can be used anywhere on the body but I’ve just been using it on my under eyes. It’s $16.95 for 2.87 ounces. This isn’t expensive for an eye cream but it would be if you were using it all over your body on a regular basis. I like this cream but I’m not sure I’ll repurchase it because I think I can get the same results just using a regular facial moisturizer on my under eyes.
• The next two products I’m going to mention I’ve been using interchangeably. The first is the e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Natural Glow Lotion in Rose. This lotion is $8.00 for 0.85 ounces, which in my opinion is stupid expensive for what this is. I purchased this on sale and I do like it. It’s very gentle on the skin and is a beautiful, brightening pink shade but this doesn’t do anything special. It’s a fine moisturizer but not deeply hydrating. I do not recommend this at full price. The second product is the e.l.f. Hello Hydration! Face Cream. This was sent to me for free to review but it’s $12.00 for 1.8 ounces. I don’t think this is a terrible price because a little product goes a long way. This cream contains: Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to help brighten and even skin tone, Squalane which is a lightweight oil that easily absorbs and helps moisturize the skin, Hyaluronic Acid which helps provide hydration, Peptides to help promote collagen and Vitamin B5 to help soothe and hydrate the skin. This cream has a very light, clean scent. It’s not the most moisturizing so it might not be a great night cream but I do like it as a day cream. I do see myself purchasing this in the future.
• I wanted to include my lip care in my morning routine. I’ve been using the e.l.f. Lip Scrub for years. It’s only $3.00 and works perfectly. I follow this up with a lip balm, typically Carmex.
• Last but not least is the Mario Badescu Facial Spray. I’ve tried almost all of their sprays but my favorite is the Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater. It’s $12.00 for 8 ounces. I use this spray when I finish my skincare and again when I finish my makeup.

That’s everything for my morning routine. It might be more lengthy than an average routine but my skin requires a lot of care. I hope if you have hormonal acne, or acne in general, that this helped you. I’d love to know what your skincare must haves are! Thanks for reading and have a great day!