My last skincare update was in January so this post is WAY overdue. However, I’ve had time to really try out some amazing products and my skin is doing better than it has in years. Here’s a summary of my skin issues, I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and one of the main symptoms of PCOs is hormonal acne. Of course, you can have hormonal acne and not have PCOs and vice versa. I am trying to get pregnant so I can’t take any oral acne medication because all of them can harm a pregnancy. I went to see a dermatologist for the first time in December of 2018 and she gave me two different topical medications that I will talk about below. My skin type right now is combination that tends to be more oily with occasional acne, scarring and large pores. Today is just going to be my morning routine but my nighttime routine will be up on Monday!

*I will link to my previous reviews for all of these products. If I haven’t reviewed them, I’ll link to where you can purchase them.

The top two pictures were taken the day of my dermatologist appointment in December 2018 and the bottom two pictures were taken in June 2019. I honestly didn’t realize how much my skin had improved until I compared these pictures. Now for my routine!

• 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.
•  I then wash my face again with the Skinfood Egg White Perfect Pore Cleansing Foam. This is $13.00 for a little over 5 ounces. I like this face wash but I don’t think it really does anything for my pores, like it claims, but it does make my skin feel very soft and clean. It takes a very small amount of product to cover my entire face so this bottle will last me forever. I doubt I’ll repurchase it, however, because it doesn’t do anything that my Belli face wash doesn’t already do.
• Next I use the Derma E Radiance Toner with Glycolic Acid and Rooibos. This is $15.00 for 6 ounces. It’s a bit more pricey than the Thayers Witch Hazel Toner I was using but the difference in how it makes my skin feel is so worth it. This toner makes my skin feel clean but not dry like the Thayers Toner did. The glycolic acid in this helps to exfoliate dead skin cells while the rooibos is soothing for sensitive skin and full of antioxidants. This toner truly lives up to its’ name and makes my skin feel radiant.
• After my toner, 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.
• Next I use the second medication prescribed by my dermatologist, Azelaic Acid. Azelaic Acid helps clear pores, exfoliate the skin, reduce acne causing bacteria and helps to even skin tone. My Azelaic Acid is a 15% concentration and can only be gotten through prescription. However, you can purchase a 10% concentration from the website Paula’s Choice  or from the brand The Ordinary, available in Sephora or on their website. Azelaic Acid has worked very well on my skin BUT my neck is sensitive to it. The irritation does go away within a few hours but I wanted to mention it. The skin on my face does not react negatively to it.
• A pretty new addition to my routine is the Derma E Scar Gel. I tried this scar gel maybe two years ago and it did nothing for me but I was having constant breakouts at that time. I wanted to try it again now that my skin is clear. This gel is $20.00 for 2 ounces but you only need to use a VERY small amount. This jar will last me around 3 months. I will say, before when I tried this it was unscented and now it smells like lavender essential oil. I’m fine with that because lavender can help skin irritation but I just wanted to make a note of it.

• To start off my moisturizers, I use the Skinfood Peach Jelly Soothing Gel. It’s $8.00 for 10.14 ounces. I love this gel so much. It smells delicious and like actual peaches, not artificial ones. It’s made with 90% peach fruit extract. Peach extract is full of antioxidants that can help skin irritation and protect from UV rays. This does leave a slightly tacky finish on the skin but I always apply another moisturizer on top of it so that doesn’t bother me.
• 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.
• My moisturizer depends on what I’m doing that day. If I’m not wearing makeup or really going outside, I use the Milani Soft Focus Glow Complexion Enhancer in Nude Glow. This is $10.00 for 1.59 ounces of product. It’s a light moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, rose water and cucumber. It also helps blur pores and fine lines while leaving a beautiful glow on the skin. This works perfectly under makeup but I don’t typically use it under makeup because the glow isn’t noticeable. This isn’t an intense moisturizer and I definitely have to pair it with the Peach Jelly or my skin feels dry.
• If I’m wearing makeup or going to be outside, I use the Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer with SPF30. Before I get into the info about it, Cetaphil is one of those gray area brands when it comes to their cruelty free status. They do claim to be cruelty free but they’re not Leaping Bunny approved. Once I use this bottle up I probably will not repurchase it. It is $18.99 for 4 ounces at Ulta but I would not pay that because WalMart sells this for around $15.00. This is made for acne prone skin and is non-comedogenic. I really like this moisturizer. It’s not too thick but not too thin and it works fine under makeup. It does smell like sunscreen and will burn the eyes. A little bit of this goes a very long way so it’s well worth the money but it’s up to you whether you want to trust their cruelty free status.
• 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. I’m not sure if it provides any skincare benefits but I like the way it feels.

That is my full morning routine! I know it’s lengthy but my skin is very troubled and what I’m doing is actually working for it. I hope this helped you out because skincare can be very confusing and overwhelming. Be sure to keep an eye out for my nighttime routine coming next Monday. Do we use any of the same products? Let me know! Thanks for reading and have a great day!