*Note: This article is NOT sponsored. All opinions are completely the author’s*
Acne. We’ve all had it at some point in our lives. It sucks and it can ruin your day and even your self-confidence. I have struggled with it for years. I tried so many different options to get rid of it such as facemasks, scrubs, ProActive, dermatologist-prescribed medication and even Accutane. I still couldn’t get clear skin until I found a skincare brand that changed my life forever. With that being said, I am here to tell you my story and how it can also help you get rid of your problem skin. So put down that glittery facemask you bought from CVS, yes I know, it’s so cute though, but it’s not going to work. Drunk Elephant, the amazing brand I love, will. Let’s get started!
*Warning* Below are some pretty icky before photos!
This picture of me with a lei around my neck was taken in my sophomore year of high school. Even with lots of foundation all of my annoying acne bumps are still very noticeable. I took Accutane around this time and it eventually did a great job at clearing up my skin! But my smooth and acne-free skin didn’t last long… Flash forward to my freshman year of college.
Yikes. I hate sharing this photo but it’s so necessary in order to show my eventual skin transformation. This picture is post-Accutane so you can imagine my frustration when my acne came back! I prefer to not wear coverup or foundation every single day so if you’re like me, having to hide your imperfections from the world every day is exhausting and mentally draining. At this point, I decided to dedicate myself to a skincare regimen. Drunk Elephant was introduced to me by my sister-in-law and my mother and over time it’s changed my skin for the better.
These are my favorite Drunk Elephant products that I own! On the far left is the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration serum. This product is perfect to use with your moisturizer or simply as your moisturizer to hydrate your skin and help other products absorb deeper through the layers of your skin. However, when you really need a deeper moisture infusion that also won’t make your skin greasy, I definitely recommend using the Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil. Because I use products that help exfoliate and regenerate my skin every day which can cause dryness, I use Marula Oil every night after I apply either the T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Night Serum or the T.L.C Sukari Babyfacial.
These two products, with the bright pink and light pink top respectively are the major game-changers in getting rid of my acne. The Framboos Night Serum is a daily serum that contains a “high-tech AHA/BHA gel that resurfaces dull, congested skin by gently lifting away dead skin cells, dramatically improving the appearance of skin tone, texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. The result is the look of greater clarity and luminosity, practically overnight,” according to the website. I use this serum every night after washing and exfoliating my face with my favorite DE cleanser/exfoliator. The Babyfacial, with the light pink top, is used weekly. I put it on every Sunday while I relax and recharge for the week! According to the website, this facial in a bottle “effectively yet gently exfoliates the pore lining. With a whopping 25% AHA / 2% BHA blend of our dream glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric and salicylic acids, this pro-quality formula dramatically
smooths texture and reveals a radiant, baby-soft complexion.” Let me just say, they are telling you the truth! Using both of these products weekly got rid of the stubborn little bumps on my forehead, helped even out my skin tone, unclogged my pores and made my skin feel new again, literally like a baby. It’s amazing!
Last but not least I have to mention the C-Firma Day Serum. This stuff gives me a healthy dose of vitamins and really makes my skin glow. The website calls this a“revolutionary vitamin C serum packed with a powerful antioxidant complex of L-ascorbic and ferulic acids to reveal a brighter, firmer and more even-looking complexion…and noticeably diminished UV photodamage.” As someone who is very forgetful about putting on sunscreen this stuff is saving my skin! Scroll to see my skin after a few months of using Drunk Elephant every day. Although you can still see scarring and some acne, the complexion and texture of my skin are awesome.
My routine:
Morning
– Wash face with water, pat dry
– Apply C-Firma and B-Hydra
– Finish off with a touch of Marula Oil
Night
– Cleanse using Beste No.9 Cleanser then Slaai Butter Cleanser with exfoliant beads
– Pat dry
– Apply T.L.C Framboos (Substitute Framboos for Babyfacial on Sunday!)
– Apply a few drops of Marula Oil
It is important to me that you know this: This is not a quick fix. You will see results soon but a complete overhaul of your skin will take time. My acne actually seemed to get worse before it got better and this is known as purging. However, I stuck with it and the results came.
I also want to point out that these products are expensive but I cannot stress enough how much it was worth it. All of these photos are me, free of makeup besides one with mascara and a little eyebrow penciling, and that is something I never thought I would be sharing in public let alone on the internet.
Drunk Elephant is a brand that I will always rave about, free of charge. Founded by a woman (yay!), it is unique, scientifically driven, responsibly sourced and extremely customer friendly and transparent. If you want to try their products I recommend emailing them. They have the nicest customer service and are super passionate about their products and helping you! If you’re just interested, follow them on Instagram or give their website a visit. I’m so happy to share my story with you and I hope Drunk Elephant changes your lives like it did mine!
All photos courtesy of Ingrid Marinak.
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