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Simply Sarena

Simply Sarena

Home | Toxin Free | How To Get Clear Skin! Non-Toxic Skincare Routine for Acne Prone, Aging Skin

How To Get Clear Skin! Non-Toxic Skincare Routine for Acne Prone, Aging Skin

Beauty, Toxin Free

Back when I first started my blog in 2017, I did a post on my skincare routine. At the time, I considered my skin to be sensitive and acne prone. While I still like some of those products, I no longer use the Alba Acnedote scrub because it has phenoxyethanol (skin irritant and possible carcinogen), and cocamidopropyl betaine (skin irritant). Also, when I did that skincare routine, I was 25, only about 2 years past severe cystic acne. I still considered my skin very acne prone and I wasn’t worried about aging.

***I am a Holistic Health Coach however, this blog is for informational purposes ONLY. For more information, please see my blog disclaimer.

Now, I’m 28, haven’t had a bad breakout since going gluten free (when I was 23), and I’m definitely more concerned with aging and want to prevent it as best I can! I’ve also learned even more about ingredients in skincare products and I’ve noticed there’s quite a few products that claim to be for acne prone skin, or for sensitive skin, however they have ingredients that clog pores and irritate the skin! (You can’t trust marketing labels…you MUST check the ingredient label to really find out what a product will do to your skin!)

Also, I know this day in age, due to our poor quality of diet and overuse of prescription drugs, our bodies are so out of whack. More adults are suffering from bad acne than ever before! (If you want to heal your skin from the inside out, here’s a great place to start.) No skincare products will work to clear your skin, they may just temporarily mask the symptoms of a larger problem. But you also don’t want your skincare products specifically marketed to clear your acne, make your skin worse either.

An easy way to figure out if your acne is caused my something external (bacteria, clogged pores, products), or internal (food sensitivity, poor gut health, hormonal imbalance), is ask yourself, what kind of acne do I have?

If your acne is Cystic Acne, it’s caused by something INTERNAL. I don’t care what the dermatologist says, Cystic Acne is not caused by something on the outer layer of your skin. Cystic Acne starts at the deepest layer of your skin. You feel them deep under your skin, sometimes even before you see them on the surface. Cystic Acne looks like large red bumps that don’t come to a head. They’re often painful and they take a while to go away too. Most people that have cystic acne don’t only have acne on their face, but they can have it down their neck, on their back, arms, upper thighs, stomach, pretty much all over their body.

If you have the little zits that come to a head, blackheads, or little colorless bumps mostly on your face, but can also be on your upper body too, your acne is probably caused by something EXTERNAL or if you’re a teenager, fluctuating hormones which you should grow out of. This is the kind of acne people think of when they hear “teenage acne.” It usually goes away before you’re 20 or so. In my opinion, the best way to get rid of this kind of acne, is to pay attention to the ingredients in your products and use gentle cleansers and moisturizers that won’t clog your pores or screw up your skins PH balance, which will make your problems worse.

My acne was an internal problem caused by a gluten sensitivity, but I also think a slight hormone imbalance and poor gut health also were factors in my awful cystic acne. The best way to figure out if you have a food sensitivity is to try an elimination diet. The 5 most common food sensitivities are Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Soy, and Corn. Eliminate them all for a couple weeks, then slowly add them back in and see if you react. It could also be too much sugar, in your diet too (click here for tips to cut back on sugar,) or just a sensitivity to a common ingredient like Vanilla. Just experiment with food and see what works for you. If you think it’s a hormonal imbalance, I highly recommend THIS BOOK (even if you’ve never taken Birth Control. It has loads of information on hormones and balancing your hormones naturally.)

***We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please see this blog’s Disclosure for more information.

So not only am I going to let you know what I’m using on my skin currently, but I also want to share some ingredients you should ALWAYS avoid in skincare products as they can make your skin problems worse.

Let’s start with ingredients I think you should ALWAYS AVOID in skincare products…

  1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: SLS is EXTREMELY clogging and drying! If you have acne prone skin, definitely stay away! Unfortunately, this one can be difficult to avoid unless you’re an avid ingredient label reader, as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the scientific term for SOAP. It makes facewashes have a nice lather however, it’s really bad for your skin.
  2. Propylene Glycol: You’ll find Propylene Glycol in face wash and moisturizers because it makes the product thicker. Unfortunately, Propylene Glycol is a skin irritant. Also, from my personal experience, propylene glycol makes me very red, itchy, and it feels like my skin is burning. Definitely avoid!
  3. Fragrance: Since the ingredient “Fragrance” can hide up to 3,000 undisclosed ingredients, it’s best to avoid since you don’t know what you’re actually putting on your face. The chemicals that make up “Fragrance” can cause skin irritation at best, cancer at worst.
  4. Mineral Oil: While mineral oil itself doesn’t seem to be clogging, it can cause other clogging ingredients to get trapped in pores. Also, even more concerning, unrefined, or mildly refined mineral oil can cause SKIN CANCER! Do not put this junk on your skin please. (I legit found mineral oil in a prescription acne cream I had from the dermatologist…)
  5. Retinyl Palmitate/Retinol: While creams and moisturizers with Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, or any form of Vitamin A may be good for combating fine lines and wrinkles, it’s best to avoid, especially if you spend any time in the sun. The sun causes this ingredient to mutate and actually cause skin cancer! (What’s even crazier is you can find this ingredient in sunscreen too.  It’s so important to read ingredient labels and really understand what you’re actually putting on your skin!)

I also found this great list with a lot more ingredients that can be clogging as well.

Here’s a few other ingredients I personally think you should avoid if you want nice skin. As always, do what you want with this information…

  1. Salicylic Acid: Salicylic Acid is in a lot of skincare products for acne because it helps dissolve oil and dead skin trapped in pores. I personally do not like it because it’s also irritating! It dries out your skin and causes irritation which can make acne problems worse and the dryness can also make wrinkles more noticeable.
  2. Benzoyl Peroxide: Benzoyl Peroxide is used in skincare for acne because it supposedly kills the acne causing bacteria. It causes the skin to get dry and peel which helps dead skin not get trapped in pores. Benzoyl Peroxide literally works by IRRITATING YOUR SKIN! So yeah, you might not get as many breakouts, but you’ll end up with red, itchy, dry, cracked skin…it’s basically the lesser of 2 evils here.

Recently, I’ve been getting into products that help with antiaging and keep my skin looking smooth and glowing. The products I’m currently using are also very gentle, and they’re completely TOXIN FREE which means they can help with acne prone skin too!

Here’s my current skincare routine and the products I’m currently using.

***We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please see this blog’s Disclosure for more information.

Morning:

Step 1:

Crunchi Charcoal Facial Bar: I start by washing my face with this. The Charcoal and Kaolin Clay in it help cleanse your pores without harsh, irritating ingredients. The Charcoal Facial Bar’s ingredients also help balance your skin to prevent it from getting too oily or too dry. It’s completely TOXIN FREE!

Step 2:

Crunchi Clarilight Facial Essence: After washing my face with the Charocal Facial Bar, I apply Crunchi’s Clarilight. Clarilight is a toner without harsh ingredients. It’s completely TOXIN FREE and it’s loaded with Antioxidants, AHA, and Hyaluronic Acid which help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It also has Aloe which is great for sensitive skin, and it’s got Willow and Birch which make your skin glow!

I didn’t think I’d be in love with this product when I first ordered it, but the appearance of my skin has improved more than I thought! It’s definitely a new staple in my skincare routine! The instructions on the bottle say to apply it with a cotton round however, it has the texture of a serum, so I actually like to apply it with my fingers!

Step 3:

Crunchi Daylight Moisturizer: Again, this moisturizer is completely TOXIN FREE. It’s made with Sea Kelp Extract which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles as it plumps the skin. It’s also loaded with Antioxidants as well as Jojoba Oil and Avocado Oil to moisturize the skin without feeling heavy.

Evening:

Step 1:

I start by removing my face makeup with a microfiber cloth and water. I remove my eye makeup with coconut oil. These work way better than toxic Neutrogena makeup remover wipes (or any other makeup remover I’ve tried for that matter!)

Step 2:

ACURE Brightening Facial Scrub/Crunchi Charcoal Facial Bar: Every other night, I use the ACURE Brightening Facial Scrub and every other night I use the Charcoal Facial Bar. Again, the Acure Brightening Scrub is free of toxic chemicals! The scrub has Sea Kelp and French Green Clay which softens and cleanses the skin. It also has Madonna Lily to brighten the skin! My skin always feels so soft after using this scrub, and it doesn’t irritate my skin at all.

Step 3:

Crunchi Clarilight

Step 4:

Crunchi Nightlight Facial Cream: Crunchi’s Nightlight is also loaded with Antioxidants as well as Hibiscus Flower Acid which helps rejuvenate the skin. Ever since starting to use Nightlight, I’ve noticed a huge difference in the prominence of my forehead wrinkles. I also started putting this on my eczema patches and it works way better than any eczema cream I’ve tried!

Optional Step:

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask: About once a week, after I wash my face, before I apply Clarilight, I like to do a mask! This one is my absolute favorite. The Bentonite Clay helps draw out impurities and toxins in the skin. When this mask starts to dry, you can feel your face pulsate which is bringing more blood flow to your face. This is a great detoxification mask!

Keep in mind that not every product works for everyone.

While these products may be some of my favorites, other products may work better for you! I do believe though that these products are great for many different skin types and can help improve many skin issues.

The most important thing I hope you take away from this is ALWAYS READ INGREDIENT LABELS! I can’t stress that enough! Companies can claim anything on the front of a product. The claim “non-comedogenic” literally means nothing. It’s supposed to mean a product won’t clog pores, but when you look at the ingredient label, you’ll find pore clogging ingredients a lot of times. The claim “for sensitive skin” or “dermatologist recommended” also means nothing.

For example, Cetaphil claims to be non-comedogenic, dermatologist recommended, and their label even says it’s a “soap free cleanser”. Those are total lies! Cetaphil has Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (soap) in it, as well as Propylene Glycol (skin irritant), and a bunch of Parabens (hormone disruptors…can make hormonal acne worse!) This is the epitome of why you can’t trust marketing labels. You MUST read ingredient labels to really know what you’re putting on your skin!

This is how my skin looks, no makeup, no editing, no filter!

If you have any questions about any of the products mentioned, leave me a comment! Also, if you need any help navigating the ingredient label on any products you’re currently using, leave a comment or send me a message on Instagram! I’d love to help!

August 13, 2020 · Leave a Comment

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Hey! It is nice to meet you!

I’m a Northern Virginia based Integrative Nutrition Coach, a Toxin Free Lifestyle enthusiast, and a dog mom to my sweet girl, Miss Cammie. I’m also a dancer who’s obsessed with Lilly Pulitzer, and I’m a dark chocolate lover!

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This holiday season flew by! I hope everyone had a This holiday season flew by! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and have a Happy New Year! 🎊 ♥️🥂

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#merrychristmas2021 #happynewyear2021 #christmasphotoshoot #dogchristmasphotos #christmascardphoto #toxinfreeblogger #bloggerlifesyle
Nothing like cozying up by the fire and cheesin re Nothing like cozying up by the fire and cheesin real hard while your best friend takes your picture 😂🔥 

Check out that toxin free highlight on my cheeks though! 🤩 

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#toxinfreebeauty #toxinfreemakeup #crunchi #crunchicollection #toxinfreelifestyle
When you think of a snack, what kind of food do yo When you think of a snack, what kind of food do you think of? One of my girlfriends asked me this morning what some healthy snack options are besides protein bars and I realized, so many people associate snacks with packaged food...quick grab and go things like a bag of potato chips, granola bars (loaded with sugar), snack cakes, fruit snacks, popcorn, etc. 

Snacks don’t have to be junk and snacks can be quick, easy, and made with REAL FOOD! 

Swipe through for some of my favorite snacks!

🥑 Avocado Toast: I use @foodforlifebaking sprouted grains gluten free bread, spread a ripe avocado on it, and top it with some everything bagel seasoning. To pack for work, I pack the avocado separately then spread it over the toast when I’m ready to eat it.

🥜 Rice Cake & Nut Butter: I use @lundbergfarms rice cakes and top it with some peanut butter or almond butter. Sometimes, I even add cacao nibs on top. 

🍇 Yogurt & Fruit: I like the @foragerproject plain cashew yogurt and I add blueberries to it! 

🍌 Banana (or other fruit) & Nut Butter: One of the quickest, go-to snacks for me is peanut butter and banana. It’s sweet, salty, and filling! I use organic, natural peanut butter (the only ingredient should be peanuts). 

🥕 Hummus and Veggies or Crackers (or both): I love the Wegmans red pepper hummus (check the ingredients...the one I like is made with olive oil, the others are made with canola oil 🤢) paired with @marysgonecrackers or organic veggies! 

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#healthysnacks #healthysnackideas #healthysnacking #quicksnacks #quickandhealthy #eatrealfood #eatrealfoods #healthyoptions #healthyfood #realfood #realfoodsnacks #nutritioncoach #nutritioncoaches #integrativenutrition #integrativenutritionhealthcoach #iinhealthcoach #healthcoach #fruitsandveggies
Regenerative Agriculture can pretty much save the Regenerative Agriculture can pretty much save the planet 🌎 

Me and a few of my girlfriends went to a pumpkin patch with a corn maze and the clues through the corn maze were all about regenerative agriculture! 

Regenerative agriculture doesn’t use pesticides or herbicides like roundup which add loads of toxic chemicals into the environment and our food. They don’t till the land which depletes the soil. The soil then turns to dirt which you can’t grow anything in. Dirt also doesn’t absorb water the way soil does which can lead to natural disasters like floods and fires. No monocropping...diversifying your crops produces more food and if you plan accordingly, crops can help other crops grow by protecting them from pests or even too much sunlight! 

Random post for a Sunday night, but visiting a farm that uses regenerative agriculture was inspiring and reminded me why it’s so important and how much work we need to do to fix our food system! 🌾🌽🥦🍅🥕

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🌱Having a good skincare routine as well as diet 🌱Having a good skincare routine as well as diet and lifestyle play a big part in the condition of your skin! My latest blog post goes into detail on my skincare routine and the ingredients in the products I use, as well as diet and lifestyle tips to get nice skin! 

✨Click the link in my bio for this blog post! ✨

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🌱Today is Health Coach Day!!!🌱 My journey s 🌱Today is Health Coach Day!!!🌱

My journey started about 10 years ago with my skin issues, which turned out to be gut issues manifesting in my skin. 

The gut issues I was having was due to a poor, gluten heavy diet. My body was struggling to properly digest gluten which was causing me sinus issues and headaches on top of my skin problems. 

I cut out gluten, healed my gut, and cured my acne, headaches, sinus problems, and allergies! These problems are all caused by inflammation! Most chronic illnesses are caused my inflammation and if you don’t address the source and just take a pill to mask the symptoms, you will never be cured. 

I’m so thankful for my journey, because it led me to @nutritionschool where I learned how to help others heal themselves and reach their health and wellness goals! 

If you want help reaching your goals, click the link in my bio! 

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#testimonialtuesday Thank you so much for the sw #testimonialtuesday 

Thank you so much for the sweet words @oceanbrrreeze 🌱💕

If you want help reaching your health and wellness goals, click the link in my bio for a free consultation! 

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