I didn't realize it had been months since I have posted one of these until I looked back. I am definitely due! If you have never seen one of my Empties posts before, it is where I share products that I have used up and give you the verdict on whether or not I would purchase them again. So let's get started!

I decided to split up the products into two categories to make it easier. First I'll talk about skincare and then makeup products.

Ulta Pumpkin Latte Body Scrub: I aboslutely love Ulta's body scrubs. This one was a special edition holiday scent they came out with. It was my favorite of the collection so I bought 3 of them I think which is why I'm still using them up in June. Let's just say I'm dying to get into some other scents I have but I'm trying to be good and use these up. If you need a good gritty exfoliating scrub, you need to try these! I use them to exfoliate before shaving since I can't use shaving cream and they work great! Definitely check them out the next time Ulta has one of their frequent Buy # get # free sales!

Verdict: I will purchase the body scrubs again, just not in this scent because I'm pretty sure I've almost OD'ed on it...

Urban Decay Setting Sprays in All Nighter and De-Slick: De-slick was the first setting spray I ever fell in love with and to this day it is my favorite that I have tried. I love how well it controls my shine and makes everything stay put. I use it on every bridal client, especially in the summer so no makeup melts off the face. A few months ago there was an All Nighter two-pack for a ridiculously good deal at Ulta, so I decided to pick that up instead of De-Slick and while I still like it, it's not my favorite. It does help my makeup last, but for oily skin and the summer heat, I still prefer De-Slick.

Verdict: I am still finishing up the other half of my two-pack of All Nighter, but I am going to try the Makeup Forever Mist & Fix next. Updates to follow.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil: Do I really need to talk anymore about this on here? Haha if you have been following me for a while you know that this is my holy grail moisurizer. If not, I can't say enough great things about it! I use it morning and night instead of a moisturizer (or after a moisturizer in the off chance that I am dry) and it helps my skin tremendously. I wake up every morning with soft and supple skin and the vitamin C really helps even out my skin tone and fade old scars. I feel like it has also brought a radiance back to my skin that I love.

Verdict: I will repurchase it until they stop making it. And then I will hide in my room and cry until Tarte decides to bring it back into production. So yeah... You should try it...

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Facial Moisturizer: I really love Ole Henriksen's products and this is no exception. If you're looking for a light moisturizer that will exfoliate and help fade hyperpigmentation and acne scars, try this one. A little goes a long way, it absorbs quickly and feels so nice and light on the skin.

Verdict: Definitely worth trying if you like light, exfoliating moisturizers. I will probablly purchase a full size for the summer for days that I need extra moisture to pair with my Maracuja Oil.

Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion: I was recommended this product when I was suffering from cystic acne on my chin because it is designed to target deep cystic blemishes and this is already my second bottle to go through. I really noticed a difference and hardly ever the deep cystic blemishes anymore! I highly recommend it if you get them!

Verdict: Already have purchased and am using my third bottle!

Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment: This is the sample size that I got free with purchase from Ulta, but I currently am using the full size and I love it. I use it as my eye cream morning and night and feel like it is really helping diminish the darkness around my eyes. I mentioned it in my May Favorites if you want to know more!

Verdict: Unless I discover a new eye treatment that I want to try, I will probably repurchase this one when I am out.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant: This is the deluxe sample size that I got from an Ipsy Glambag probably over a year ago, but I made that thing last as long as I possibly could until I got the full size. I love the scent because it smells like lemons. It does a wonderful job of exfoliating the skin but I would be careful if you have super sensitive skin, because sometimes it can hurt slightly. I also like that you don't need a lot of product for one use because it is an expensive one.

Verdict: I probably won't repurchase the large size because it is so expensive and I don't mechanically exfoliate my face as much as I do chemically.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC30: I absolutely love this concealer and it is my favorite full coverage undereye concealer. It literally does not budge until you use a makeup remover or cleanser to get it off. It's no stranger to my Freelance Kit and something I always go back to.

Verdict: I already have a few backups because I can't go without it. It will always be something I repurchase.

Benefit's They're Real Mascara: I feel like I should be embarrassed that I have 4 in my empties but it's seriously the only mascara I wear because nothing compares to it. I makes my lashes longer while still making them look thick and voluminous. The brush is so easy to use to comb through your lashes so you have no clumps. The part that makes my favorite mascara though is the wear. I have crazy long bottom lashes and 99% of mascaras leave dots on my undereye area because they just can't stay put. Not with They're Real though. I don't have to worry about smudging or dots! It is so worth the $23 price tag.

Verdict: I have obviously repurchased this many, many times and don't plan on stopping!

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment: I talked about my love for these Lip Treatments in a recent post (click here to see it) and I used up one of the original Rose Treatments. This one is great if you don't want a lot of pigment. I love that these have SPF so I use them a lot in the summer.

Verdict: While I love the rose color, I like to try a new shade every time I purchase them!

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark: This product is another holy grail for me. I love how easy it is to use. If you are scared to fill in your brows or need a gel that will hold them in place, do yourself a favor and head to a Benefit counter to at least try it. I have gotten so many people addicted to it, due to it's ease of application and natural look! It only comes in two shades (I wear the darker of the two). It has little microfibers in the tinted gel that cling to your brow hairs, giving a fuller but still natural, appearance.

Verdict: This is another product I will always have on hand because I never leave the house without at least this and mascara!

Well those are my empties for now! I feel like this post turned into an accidental favorites post because I really love so many of these products, but I think it's still helpful to see the products I love. I hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful week!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Here we are at the second part of My Acne Story and probably the one you are looking forward to most! If you missed the introduction to my acne that I shared yesterday, click here to read that first to find out a little bit more about my acne.

If you're looking for me to tell you about a quick fix cream that will cure everything I sadly am here to tell you I don't have that. What I can share with you though are some of the lifestyle changes I made that I think dramatically helped my skin and also some products that I've changed in my skin care routine that have led to my clearer and much more radiant skin. Nothing was a quick overnight change and I'm not saying all of these will work the same for you, but I believe they are worth trying if you're struggling with some similar acne issues. We are all unique and this means we will have to sometimes try a lot of different things to find what works for us individually. Patience is key though and so is the ability to form good habits.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

I noticed that my acne was always occurring in my chin and jawline area which is a sign of digestive issues or hormonal acne so I knew I needed to not only try new products but make some changes in my lifestyle too to help my skin. In regards to the hormonal acne, there isn't much you can change. Women in their 20's and 30's undergo many hormone fluctuations due to the fact that it's the time in our lives when we have children. This can cause breakouts which much like those lovely ones we get during our periods, we can't do much about except keep our skin happy and clean. I lost a significant amount of weight during this time period which I think is what set off my initial acne because significant weight change can cause your hormone levels to fluctuate. But let's get back to the things I did change that helped!

1. The first thing I started doing more of was drinking more water. I've always been good at drinking water but I knew I wanted to make a conscience effort to drink even more (to compensate for all those cups of coffee I consume...) because I know it's good for the skin. This may seem silly for some of you but as a competitive person, downloading an app that kept track of my water consumption everyday made it a game which reminded me to do it. I like the app 'iDrated' but there's many that work well in the App Store.

2. I have been a milk addict since I was a baby so this next change was really hard but I'm proud to say that I switched from cow's milk to almond milk. While its tough to say that acne is caused by certain foods, we can say that eating foods that are less inflammatory (i.e. Dairy, spicy foods, sugar) can help our skin from freaking out. I still eat some dairy here and there but my main consumption was definitely through milk so I'm glad I was able to give it up. I really enjoy the almond milk fortified with fiber and protein as a replacement!

3. Stress management was huge. If you've ever experienced breakouts due to an increase in stress you'll understand this one. When we're stressed our skin has no problem showing us, so managing it is huge when it comes to healing acne. Whether it's doing more yoga and meditation or cutting out toxic relationships in our lives, it's important to evaluate your life and figure out a way to cut down on stress levels. Not only will your skin improve but your sanity will thank you haha. I was extremely stressed during my period of terrible breakouts and while I am just as busy now as I was then, I've found ways to let go of things that don't matter and decrease my stress levels. If you need more suggestions or ideas for this leave a comment below and I would be happy to share with you what I've done.

SKIN CARE ROUTINE CHANGES

Now for the fun part. Products! Before I can share what I've been loving I need to slap a big ole warning label on this section. No matter what you try you absolutely must get in the habit of a good skin care routine. I have not gone to bed without taking my makeup off in a very very long time and even if I don't wear any makeup that day, I STILL use my same routine at night. Going to bed without cleansing your skin is like writing a personal invitation to acne to show up ASAP wherever it would like. No thank you. So you must become consistent with a routine if you want to clear up your skin. Let's not forget about the morning either! I have a simplified routine for the morning that's not quite as in depth, but still deep cleanses my skin and preps it for the day!

Another huge part of this is to give products a fair shot. It takes the average person's skin 4 to 6 weeks to turnover so we can't expect miracles overnight. Give products a few weeks to see if they are helping. If you notice sensitivities of course discontinue using them right away, but don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away. Like I mentioned before, patience and forming good habits are key! (Think of this as a skin diet)

So above we have six products that are holy grail for me that I have continued using even after my skin is healed for the majority. Starting on the very left and going clockwise we have the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion, Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser, Ecotools Pure Complexion Deep Cleansing Charcoal Facial Sponge, Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant, Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil, and lastly the Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask. Now let's go over them one by one.

I start with the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion because I believe it is the item that has done the most for me. I had heard rave reviews about this product for cystic acne so I jumped at the chance to try it. It's rare to see skincare targeted for cystic acne because I was always told there's nothing you can do for it since it is deep in the dermis. The deep penetrating and fast absorbing formula is full of B vitamins and amino acids which target the deep cystic acne, but there are also many anti-inflammatory herbal extracts that help soothe the irritated areas. It's a really thin liquid which is pretty strange to get used to but I simply apply this product to my whole chin and jaw area where I either have acne or am likely to get it and it keeps breakouts at a minimum. I wouldn't go a night without this product and could not recommend it more. The only thing I would be careful of is applying it to any open blemishes becaue it can sting a little. If there's anything you try from this post for hormonal cystic acne near your chin or jaw, make it this one!

The next two products I use together to cleanse my skin after I've already removed my makeup. The ECOTOOLS PURE COMPLEXION DEEP CLEANSING CHARCOAL FACIAL SPONGE is a miracle worker when combined with the OLE HENRIKSEN ALOE VERA DEEP CLEANSER. Both products give me a good deep clean feeling and get rid of any excess oil buildup in my skin. The cleanser has soothing aloe vera, chamomile, and vitamins to sooth my skin yet effectively treat and help restore balance. Both combination and oily acne prone skin types can use this. The facial sponge is a good way to gently exfoliate my skin a little while pulling impurities with the added charcoal to give me a very deep and soothing cleanse. If you've read previous posts of mine, you would know that I'm not big on mechanical exfoliation for my skin because it's sensitive and I have a lot of hyperpigmentation, but I find that this is a gentle way to get some of the benefits without causing more harm.

The AVEDA BOTANICAL KINETICS EXFOLIANT is another holy grail for me because there aren't a lot of products like it on the market. It's a simple and gentle chemical exfoliant that you apply in the evening instead of a toner with a cotton pad to your face. The exfoliant breaks down dead skin cells overnight to reveal smoother skin. For me, this is huge because I prefer chemical exfoliating. I like that this is something I can apply gently every night and it's boosting my cell turnover and keeping my pores free of dead skin cells that can trap debris and bacteria in my pores to contribute to more blemishes. I think this is another huge factor in what has helped clear up my skin. Consistently getting rid of the dead skin cells is keeping my pores clean and reducing the likelihood that oil and impurities will get trapped and create that perfect environment for the acne bacteria to want to live. I use this exfoliant only at night.

Next up is my favorite moisturizer. I joke at work that I would shower in this stuff if it wasn't so expensive and that would be none other than my best friend PURE MARACUJA OIL FROM TARTE COSMETICS. If you've never heard me mention this then you must have been accidentally reading someone else's blog haha. I use this both day and night as a moisturizer for my face. Now I know what you're thinking. ADD OIL TO OILY SKIN?! You must be crazy! But in order for our skin to function properly we need some oil. If we strip our skin of too much, we will end up doing the opposite of what we want and forcing our skin to produce even more oil because it will freak out that there's nothing there. We need some oil to protect our skin. I find that using this oil as a moisturizer gives me enough moisture without being greasy that my skin doesn't produce extra oil. Plus I haven't even mentioned the amazing benefits it has because it is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants because guess what...Maracuja oil is pure passion fruit oil so this lovely friend is Brazilian like myself (As if I needed more reasons to love it haha). Vitamin C is amazing for evening out your skin tone and fading hyperpigmentation so I love the effect it is having on my acne scars! They are slowly going away! My skin is also becoming more radiant overall. It also helps with fine lines and wrinkles, so this is an amazing product for women who are starting to think about anti-aging products but still dealing with adult acne! I know the price can be scary at $46 but the bottle is huge and if you use only a few drops a day I promise it will last you at least a year which is pretty cheap overall.

Lastly, we have my favorite charcoal clearing mask, the ORIGINS CLEAR IMPROVEMENTS ACTIVE CHARCOAL MASK. I love this stuff. I use it once a week for a few reasons. The active charcoal works like a magnet drawing deep impurities out of your pores. The white clay absorbs environmental toxins in your skin, and the lecithin dissolves the impurities. Overall you get an extremely deep clean and refreshed happy skin. Plus it's always fun to put a mask on that's a crazy color like gray.

So there we have it. The changes I made in both my lifestyle and my skin routine that have brought me clearer and happier skin. If you have tips that have helped please be sure to share! Just remember to have patience and I promise you can get rid of your acne too!

Come back tomorrow for my post on what I used to camouflage my acne while it was still there!

Acne or no acne, have a beautiful day!

Dre