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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.

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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. (“Should” being the key term there…way more women than every before have hormonal acne into adulthood.) This is the kind of acne people think of when they hear “teenage acne.” 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.)

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.

If you want to give any of these products a try, CLICK HERE for $10 off your first Crunchi purchase! Discount automatically applied at checkout.

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 · 2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jen says

    July 11, 2022 at 5:32 pm

    If you are already acne prone does Crunchi make you purge?:)

    Reply
    • SimplySarena53 says

      July 16, 2022 at 3:45 am

      I personally did not have that experience and I haven’t seen anyone who has. Crunchi is super gentle and non-irritating and it doesn’t have any ingredients such as retinol that would cause you to purge.

      Reply

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HI EVERYONE!

I’m Sarena


I’m a Northern Virginia based Integrative Nutrition Coach, a Toxin Free Lifestyle enthusiast, a dancer, and a dog mom to my sweet girl, Miss Cammie.

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simply.sarena

So many women suffer every month from debilitating So many women suffer every month from debilitating period cramps. The conventional way of treating them actually makes the problem worse!

❌Birth Control covers up the symptoms because you don’t get a real period. Meanwhile, whatever is causing the cramps in the first place is still going on in the body and probably getting worse! Birth Control does not treat cramps…it only hides the problem!

❌Ibuprofen may help in a pinch but it doesn’t treat what is actually causing the cramps in the first place. Also, ibuprofen is really bad for gut health (and poor gut health could also be a cause of cramps) so you could be making the problem worse!

❌A lot of women turn to junk food on their period however, junk food is inflammatory so if your cramps are caused by inflammation, you could be making the problem worse! If you’re craving chocolate, you probably need magnesium, so if you’re going to eat it, eat good quality DARK chocolate! 

The biggest favor you can do yourself is listen to your body and figure out what is causing the issues in the first place! The answer is different for everyone and there is no one size fits all solution!

Feel free to DM me if you need any support! 

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#womenshealth #periodcramps #periodcrampsrelief #nontoxicliving #lowtoxlife #lowtoxliving #hormonehealth #hormonehealthcoach #womenshormones #hormonal #hormonalimbalance #hormonalimbalances #nutritionforhormones #nutritioncoach #healthandnutrition #holistichealth #holistichealthtips #periodtips #periodproblems #periodpositive #periodpain
Sugar gets such a bad reputation, but not all suga Sugar gets such a bad reputation, but not all sugar is bad!!!

Natural sugar is necessary because it gives us energy! You can find natural sugar in fruits, vegetables, and sweeteners like raw honey, pure maple syrup, dates, coconut sugar, and more.

Watch out for sneaky sugars in processed food as they cause blood sugar spikes which gives us that instant energy but we crash. It also causes type 2 diabetes and insulin issues. 

When you’re reading the ingredient label on food, watch out for different (not so obvious) names for sugar. 

Just because something says 12g of sugar doesn’t mean that 12g is bad sugar…which is why you always need to check the ingredient label for the source of the sugar!

Also, people think Stevia is healthier which isn’t necessarily the case. Stevia is highly processed and should only be consumed occasionally unless you’re consuming stevia in its purest form! 

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#addedsugar #naturalsugar #stevia #holistichealth #holisticnutrition #sneakysugar #ingredientlabels #ingredientsmatter #lowtoxlifestyle #lowtoxdiet #sugarfree #sugarfreediet #sugarfreelifestyle #nontoxicliving #healthyeatinghabits #healthyeatingtips #sugartips #nutritioncoaching #nutritionfacts #nutritiontip
Birth Control does NOT cure a hormone imbalance!!! Birth Control does NOT cure a hormone imbalance!!! Birth Control hides the symptoms of a hormone imbalance, meanwhile the problem is getting worse.

A lot of women struggle with severe symptoms when they come off birth control because they never addressed the underlying cause of their hormone imbalance.

If you are struggling with hormonal acne, period cramps, severe PMS, mood swings, etc. and you think birth control is going to fix the problem, it will not!

There are a lot of factors that can cause a hormone imbalance from our diet, to hormone disrupting chemicals in our daily products, to external factors like stress, lack of sleep, etc. that can throw our hormones out of whack!

If you need support with your hormones, feel free to DM me!

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#hormonehealth #hormonehealthcoach #lowtoxlife #lowtoxlifestyle #crunchyblogger #holistichealthcoach #holistichealthandwellness #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #womenshealthtips #womenshormonehealth #birthcontrolproblems #birthcontrolpills #birthcontrol #holistichealthcoaching #naturallivingideas #naturallifestyle #naturallivingtips #healthtipsforwomen #pcoslifestyle #hormoneimbalance #hormoneimbalances
Our bodies and hormones are so complex! If you’r Our bodies and hormones are so complex! If you’re eating right, limiting toxin exposure, and still can’t seem to get your hormones under control, it could be a different lifestyle factor coming into play!

We are not men, we do not have the same 24 hour hormone cycle that men have.

We have different needs for different times during the month! Being in tune with your body and doing what it needs at that time is so important!

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#hormonehealth #womenshealth #womenshormones #holistichealthandwellness #lowtoxlifestyle #toxinfreeliving #healthandwellnesscoach #healthandwellnesstips #birthcontrolproblems #birthcontrol #regulatehormonesnaturally #hormoneimbalance #womenslifestyle
These are foods that have been marketed to be heal These are foods that have been marketed to be healthy, but they’re not. There’s so many other actually healthy foods you could eat that are much more satisfying than these. Keep reading for why these aren’t the best options!

❌Whole Wheat Bread: This one comes down to the ingredients. One popular whole wheat bread contains Soybean Oil, Soy Lecithin, and Natural Flavors. Also because I have a gluten sensitivity, eating slices of any bread is a no for me!

❌Cereal: So many cereal’s are full of sugar and synthetic vitamins which are not properly absorbed by our bodies, not to mention artificial colors and flavors. Also, a lot of cereal has extremely high levels of glyphosate! Not a great way to start your day.

❌Flavored Yogurt: Any yogurt except plain yogurt has a lot of sugar. You’ll also find natural flavors and gums in some popular brands. Natural flavors is an easy way for companies to not disclose all ingredients and gums can cause digestive issues. In my opinion, you may as well have a bowl of ice cream and enjoy it than try to be “healthy” with flavored yogurt.

❌Farmed Salmon: You may think you’re making a healthy choice by choosing salmon however, farmed salmon should be avoided as it is basically big agricultures version of salmon. It is bred in crammed cages, fed an unnatural diet of fish meal & animal by products, and they are full of pesticides and antibiotics 🤢

❌Granola Bars: Granola bars are full of a lot of sugar including corn syrup. You may also find soybean oil or canola oil which are inflammatory, and natural flavors. You’re better off baking some cookies and knowing exactly what you’re putting in the cookies. 

Did any of these surprise you?? Let me know in the comments! 

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#healthyeatinghabits #unhealthyfood #lowtox #lowtoxlife #crunchygirl #holisticnutritioncoach #iinhealthcoach #iinalumni #iingrad #toxinfreeliving #nutritiontips #nutritionfacts #eathealthybehealthy #healthychoices #foodismedicine #dontbefooled #biggovsucks #biggovermentsucks #healyourselfnaturally #healyourselfwithfood
I’ve had so many women reach out to me lately ab I’ve had so many women reach out to me lately about wanting to get off birth control, but they’re scared how it will effect their body.

The truth is, if you got on birth control for bad period cramps, hormonal acne, irregular periods, etc., birth control was covering up the problem…not fixing it!

When you go off birth control, you’ll probably find you’ll have the same problems of not worse.

That’s why balancing your hormones is so important when coming off birth control!

These 3 tips are a great place to start! There are so many different things you can do to get your hormones in check. 

Follow for more holistic health & nutrition tips!

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#postbirthcontrolsyndrome #getoffbirthcontrol #hormonehealth #hormonehealthcoach #saynotobirthcontrol #womenshealthcoach #womenshealthmatters #womenshealthtips #womenshealthandwellness #womenshealthadvocate
✨Make sure you save this recipe for later!✨ T ✨Make sure you save this recipe for later!✨

These are the BEST healthy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies 🍪 

Recipe: 

1 egg
1 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 tsp aluminum free baking powder
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (make sure you check the ingredient label and only use clean chocolate chips!)

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes!

Let me know if you give these a try! 

#healthydessertrecipes #glutenfreecookies #refinedsugarfree #bakingreel #holisticnutrition #hormonefriendly #womenshealth #womenshormones
It’s still January for a few more days! Last y It’s still January for a few more days! 

Last year, I did a lot that wasn’t working for me. I got so stuck in my routines, I was saying “yes” to everything, even if I didn’t want to, because I didn’t want to offend anyone.

This year, I’m only doing things that light me up and that are in alignment with my goals 💕✨

Health isn’t just about what we eat and the products we use, it’s also about how everything else in our life makes us feel and effects our physical health.

At the end of 2022, I realized I needed to make a change when I was starting to get headaches almost daily again. I had also spent soooo much money it makes me sick thinking about it.

No more! I’m putting myself and my goals first this year! 

#newyearnewme #2023goals #freshstart #holistichealth #holisticwellnesscoach
I ALWAYS have these 5 tea’s on hand 🍵 Green I ALWAYS have these 5 tea’s on hand 🍵

Green Tea: Contains caffeine so it gives me energy. Green Tea is also high in antioxidants!

Echinacea Tea: Has immune supporting properties. It’s even known to shorten symptoms of colds and the flu!

Dandelion Tea: This tea is a powerful liver detox! It also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Raspberry Leaf Tea: This tea is great for a woman’s cycle. It’s high in magnesium and vitamin B6 so it helps relieve PMS symptoms and helps regulate hormones.

Chaga Tea: Chaga is the king of medicinal mushrooms. It’s full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, it boosts the immune system, and it may even slow the growth of c**cer cells. Literally the KING! 

My favorite brands of tea are @yogitea, @tradmedicinals, and @numiorganictea. These brands have organic teas and their tea bags are plastic free!
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