Rochelle Stewart Testimonial

Rochelle before & afters

“I was recommended by a friend to go see Bria about my acne, I wasn’t sure at first if I wanted to but decided to try it since I have tried so many other things. I’m more than happy to say I’m so very pleased with the outcome of the products she uses along with how well she knows her stuff! My face has never felt better! EVER! There’s a major difference. These products have helped so much along with the amazing facials! I would recommend her to anyone who is having trouble with any kind of acne! I will definitely keep coming back to her!”

Alyssa Custer Testimonial

Alyssa Test

“So I’m 30 years old and I’ve never had any issue with acne. Even in high school I never really had to worry about what was going on with my face. So in my mid 20’s I realize my skin isn’t like I’m used to and start to take care of it. I wear makeup daily at this point. I felt like I woke up one day with my skin TOTALLY DIFFERENT. It was horrible. Big huge cystic acne pimples all over my cheeks. I tried everything, spending so much money on different cleansers and trying to clear it up. I wanted to wear makeup to cover the ugly things but the oil would make it disappear within an hour and make it so much worse. I was crying at this point. Helpless. I’ve NEVER had a problem like this! One of my friends told me about this really sweet esthetician named Bria that helped clear her friends face up. As a last-ditch effort, I decided to give her a try. AND IT WORKED! She told me it will take time cleaning out that gunk and it’s not an overnight miracle and I understood. She asks yo! u every question under the sun to see how to clear up YOUR type of acne. This isn’t a “one size fits all” skincare brand/line. You are getting personalized facial care. The thing is, it’s AFFORDABLE. Compared to all the other stuff I was putting on my face this blew everything out of the water. Honestly, I don’t care what the price would be even if it wasn’t affordable because IT WORKS. Now, my old self that used to HAVE to wear make up every day now has been without makeup for 6 months and I feel beautiful! If you honestly listen and change what Bria tells you to, you won’t be disappointed with your results.”Alyssa test 2

 

Kayla Shrock Testimonial

“I struggled with cystic acne for years. If you’ve had it or have it, then you know how painful it is. It also does major damage to your self-esteem. I literally tried everything from proactive to Rodan and Fields, Clinique, charcoal masks, all-natural remedies. Let’s not talk about all the money I have spent wasting my time at the dermatologist. Nothing worked and I was extremely defeated. Luckily, I met Bria. She saved my skin and my self esteem. I’m not going to lie. I thought eh this probably won’t work but I have tried everything else, so why not! Thankfully I was VERY wrong. I saw improvements within months. I know I can trust her products. I feel great about what I’m putting on my skin. She is well versed in her field. I’ve been going to her consistently for the past year and a half and I honestly don’t remember the last time I had a breakout. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my skin! I love my girl!”

Importance of Exfoliating

exfoliating

Let’s Talk Exfoliation

“This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.”

 This is one of my new favorite body scrubs!! It is made locally by Raw Garden Scrubs, this one is the Orange Clove.

Exfoliating is a very important part of our skincare routines.

When a proper exfoliation is done it removes the barrier of dead skin cells that have been clogging the skin and uncovers fresh newer skin cells. Allowing moisturizers or other nourishing serums to penetrate more deeply into the skin, which makes them more effective.

Why do we need to Exfoliate?

When you find your skin looking dull, rough, or dry. It’s probably time for exfoliation. The skin cells have started to pile up on the surface of your skin. Therefore, the more buildup of dead skin cells can result in excess oils and clogged pores leading to blemishes or acne.

What are some of the benefits?

Exfoliating improves the texture of your skin, making your skin feel silky soft to the touch. It also helps with evening skin tone.

Proper exfoliation can help counteract signs of aging, by helping our skin get rid of dead skin. As we age the ability to shed our skin cells naturally slows down. Sucks I know!

It helps with breakouts, allowing the blemishes to come to the surface faster. This helps keep your skin from future clogged pores when we are constantly cleaning them out.

Oily and Acne-Prone?

This is me all the way! When it comes to exfoliating oily and acne-prone skin stay away from rough physical scrubs because they can contribute to breakouts. I stick with getting an acne facial treatments once a month (I try really hard to stick with that). I also have these corrective rounds from Believe that are a mini peel, I use that twice a week.

Sensitive Skin?

You all have to be extra careful not to over-exfoliate, especially in the winter where most people’s skin gets dehydrated more than usual. A good antioxidant scrub twice or three times a week spreading the days out will be good. Just remember your sensitive! Acne-prone can still be sensitive!

Body Exfoliation

Now when it comes to the body you don’t have to be as gentle as you are with the face! I still like to keep it as natural as possible though! My go-to always is just a plain natural sugar right out of the cabinet. So I’m just going to share some of my favorite body scrubs!

The first one is Orange Clove made by Raw Garden Scrubs. Absolutely love is scrub makes your skin feel refreshed and exfoliated! I highly recommend checking their other products out! Also, use another one of there the Vanilla Pomegranate.

This is what I use on my face for a weekly exfoliation!

Hopefully, some of that information was helpful!:)

My Acne Story

Cystic Facial Acne

Cystic acne is an advanced and often times painful type of acne that many teenagers and adults can suffer from. I’ll be sharing with you some tips and tricks for fighting Cystic Acne.

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The LEFT June 10th 2016 and the RIGHT is December 10th 2015 exactly 7 months apart…

First off, you get a pimple when a pore in your skin gets clogged, usually with dead skin cells. Sometimes bacteria can get trapped inside the pore, too, causing the area to become red and swollen. Any type of friction on the skin can also cause acne (my glasses do that to me on my nose). Cystic acne happens when this infection goes deep into your skin, creating a red, tender bump that’s full of pus & blood. It may hurt or itch. If a cyst bursts, the infection can spread, causing more breakouts. That’s why we don’t pick and squeeze at a pimple.

Unfortunately, I was a victim of cystic acne for many many years and I had tried everything from topical creams and cleansers (benzoyl peroxide, tetracycline, salicylic acid) to over-the-counter pills. Sadly, none of them worked for me! I never tried the pills long enough for them to work due to my stomach issues. The creams and cleansers dried my skin up SO much that I started to look like a shedding snake. Aside from the fact that my face looked like a volcano about to erupt, now I had the pleasure of scaly and shedding skin. No Thank You!

I became so interested in fixing my acne problem that I went to school to become aesthetician to learn more about the skin. That’s where I met an amazing acne specialist who helped me figure out stubborn acne! Everyone’s acne journey could be different not all acne can be treated the same! I’m just going to be sharing about cystic acne today! No one should have to live with cystic acne.

Tips & tricks for fighting Cystic Acne, things I changed and now avoid!

  • Only OIL FREE products touch my face.
  • OIL FREE make up
  • OIL FREE moisturizers
  • Change your pillowcase every other night (I flip the pillow the night in between)
  • When talking on the phone don’t let it rest on your face. (Friction and bacteria will cause acne to appear)
  • Birth control…it can help your acne or make it worse so pay close attention to your body ( I use Sprintec I think its a good birth control all around)
  • You have to cut back on sugars! Even sugars in your carbs.
  • Dairy Free is great! It helps with a lot! (I do eat hard block cheeses every now and then)
  • Sulfate-Free in your shampoo and conditioner
  • Change toothpaste if you’re always breaking out around your mouth. (Sensodyne toothpaste is what I use)
  • Also, chapsticks clog a lot of pores around the mouth. (100% pure petroleum jelly I swear by it for chapstick now)
  • Don’t pick at anything on your face let everything come out naturally.
  • If you can get professional acne facials done once a month or every other anything’s better then nothing.

Morning Routine 

  • Wake up, and wash your face with a gentle, mild cleanser that is free of alcohol and parabens. I use a purifying foaming cleanser by Believe that is sulfate and paraben free, but you can use any type of gentle cleanser that is already working for you. Using harsh anti-acne cleansers that contain salicylic acid or other strong ingredients can draw more oil in also dry out your skin too much.
  • Pat your skin dry with a clean towel. I made sure to buy a big stack of face towels so I’m always using a clean one. If you have some pimples that have come to a yellow head, after a hot steamy shower you may press on the pimple and drag the towel lightly across if its ready the pimple will extract its self if don’t force it.
  • Using a cotton pad, dab a good toner all over your face and/or wherever you may have cystic acne. I like to make my own with some Georges Liquid Aloe Vera Drink and ¼ witch hazel. This stuff is SO good; I like to keep it in the fridge when I was really inflamed! (ICE really inflamed areas to bring swelling down) It helped soothe my skin. I now use a balancing toner by Believe which is an aloe based. Toner is great to rebalance the skins ph. levels also to clean up anything that was left behind but makes sure not to get anything too harsh and to striping (just plain witch hazel, way to harsh). Another good toner is Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera.
  • Once the toner has dried, I apply my 2.5% face reality acne med. which is benzoyl peroxide.
  • Last, if you need it put an oil-free moisturizer on. (I only used moisturizer once a day in the winter when I was going through this processes) I now use moisturizer every morning some nights if I feel it’s needed.

Night Routine

  • Remove any makeup! (You may use an oil free make up remover just watch for irritation if your skin is sensitive)
  • Wash your face with a gentle, mild cleanser that is free of alcohol and paraben. I use the same one I use in the morning.
  • If you’re like me and sweat a lot when you work out you need something to help draw out impurities. I use charcoal detox soap only when I need it. It can be drying but it is great!!! (Old Fort Soap Company in Fort Wayne has a good one).
  • Toner just like the morning.
  • Then put on 5% face reality acne med. which is benzoyl peroxide. (I also use Believes Acne PM-5 same thing as the face reality’s acne med.)
  • Let acne med dry for at least 10 minutes then put on an oil-free moisturizer.

June 21st, 2017 No Make Up!!!

I didn’t talk much about exfoliation because your skin is in a sensitive state right now. I highly suggest going to a professional once a month to get an acne treatment facial. Where they will give you the exfoliation you need. Once you have most of your breakouts under control then you can start doing an antioxidant scrub once or twice a week for your exfoliation.

Again this is what worked for ME, so it may not necessarily work for you. This didn’t happen overnight either! My acne got worse for a couple months before it got better. ( Also, keep in mind skin allergies; sometimes we don’t know we are allergic to something. You know your body best. Watch for rashes, red bumps that are not pimples, and too much dryness a little is okay at first.

I am not a dermatologist just a regular girl who has suffered from cystic acne, but I do hope this helps you!

If you found this post helpful please share 🙂

Xoxo

Bria