My Skin Story

When I was 15 I suffered terribly from severe cystic acne and I dealt with a lot of self-image issues as well as depression. On a good day, I was able to slap on some makeup from the drugstore and try and get on through the day until I could get home. On a bad day, I would call in sick to work and refuse to leave my bedroom. My skin back then was very oily and I tried to control it by over-washing it. I used lots of different over the counter products like Clean and Clear, Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Biore, Clearasil, Proactiv...you name it! I was on birth control to help with my overactive hormones and it didn't seem to have any effect on the amount of pimples that continued to pop up on my face. I finally couldn't deal with it anymore and hauled ass to my family doctor for a referral to a dermatologist.

My dermatologist prescribed Accutane, which is a very potent drug used to treat severe acne. The side effects of this drug was pretty intense and they included head aches, mood swings, sensitivity to the sun, and overdrying of the skin. I had to go to the lab on a monthly basis to get my blood drawn because the drug elevates the cholesterol level and I had to monitor it constantly - which meant I had to go on a diet to maintain a normal cholesterol level. I powered through the process because I was desperate. After a year and a half of taking the drug, my skin was finally clear. At this time, I was 17 and my skin was able to regenerate quickly and more smoothly and I saw minimal acne scarring, maybe just a few spots of dark marks that could be chalked up to freckles.

Three years later, when I was 20, just shy of my 21st birthday, my skin relapsed and I catapulted back into my nightmare of painful and disgusting acne. It happened literally overnight and started around my chin. This bout of pimples was worse that what I experienced as a teenager and the doctor didn't hesitate for one second to prescribe me Accutane again. I went through another year of Accutane and self-loathing and blood work and finally, at 22, I came out clear but my skin looked a little rougher than the first time. I noticed more discolouration and dark marks, especially around my chin where it started, and some acne scarring in the form of pockmarks around my cheeks.

I'm just about to hit my 30s soon and skin care has never been more important to me than now. My end goal in taking care of my skin is to be able to walk out of the house with as little to no foundation as possible and to be comfortable showing my natural skin to the world. I'm on the hunt now for the best products for my textures and discolourations on my face, namely around my chin, forehead, and cheeks. I'd love to hear what products you love that have worked for you!

XOXO Cassandra