I’m too old for this S***!

by | Sep 22, 2014 | Throwback | 21 comments

Acne.

Like, are we for real?

I’m 28 years old.  

Beat it!

I won’t lie to you.  I had to psych myself up to write and publish this post.  I was never the girl who worried about going out makeup-less.  I did it all the time!  I ran errands.  I went to work.  I’d snag a quick dinner with the hubs.  I didn’t care!

And looking back at old pictures, I understand why I didn’t care.

Makeup-less!


When we moved and I started staying home, I made some cutbacks.  I convinced myself that I could maintain my skin with a combination of drugstore cleansers and coconut oil.  And it worked.  For a while.

But much like the issues I faced with Proactiv, it worked until it didn’t.  And when it didn’t?  Holy Bananas.

…yeah.  It’s not working anymore.  
I’ve been in this situation before.  Just after we got married.  My skin was out of control.  I’d tried what seemed like everything and dropped entirely too much money on products that just didn’t work in the long run.  That’s when a friend suggested Clinique Acne Solutions. 
I loved that stuff.  My skin had never been better and it stayed that way.  It worked for me.  I even made a whole video about it (hello, awkward youtube joey).  But yet, it made the “cut” list when I was budgeting for one income.  Why?

Sweet Kristin was nice enough to send me a bottle and a half of the Clinique cleanser she wasn’t going to use now that she’s using the Rodan + Fields Unblemish (which she loves!)  We were discussing our skin, and while I’d love to try the R+F, I know that Clinique works for me, and it’s a bit on the cheaper side.
Over the weekend, I hit a breaking point.  I was nearly in tears over the state of my skin.  Is there anything worse than just not feeling good in your own skin?  And I went back on the Clinique website and reminded myself exactly how much it costs.
I spend at least that if not more every few weeks searching for something that might work.

When I was using the system consistently, I would have to repurchase it every 5-6 months.  I could practically smack myself for ever getting off it.
So keep my before pictures in mind (I know, I’d rather forget them, too).  But I’ll check back in with you in a few weeks to show you the condition of my skin.  
Do you suffer from acne?  
Do you feel too old for this sh**?
What works for you?


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21 Comments

  1. I love that you shared this, and put yourself outside your comfort zone. My skin is always in some state of gross and I agree with the I'm too old for this assertion- I'd been using Aveeno cleansers and they were working ok, but they aren't the greatest. I had tried a different 3 part Clinique system (for oily skin I think) and it worked for a while, but then it didn't. I didn't even know they made a specific acne line, I'm going to look into it! It's time for us to outgrow this for sure!

    Reply
  2. My skin seems to be freaking out the last few days and I whole-heartedly agree that there is NOTHING worse than feeling bad about your skin. Nothing. I hate that so many people are able to take it for granted. It actually makes me angry.
    I didn't have to deal with this when I was 20. Why am I dealing with it at 28?!

    Reply
  3. I started using Proactiv when I was 26 and now I'm 33 and I want to stop using it. But everyone says that if/when you stop using it your skin goes nuts. :-/ I would love to try that Rodan and Fields stuff, and I have a friend who sells it, but I don't want to deal with another subscription. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts on the Clinque stuff though! :-)I hope that you had a nice weekend too!

    Reply
  4. My dermatologist said I don't have "acne", but my face definitely breaks out all the time!!! Ever since I was about 25, but pretty much never before that. I need a really good (probably really expensive) skin care regimen!

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  5. Girl, I've been there. I've been to the derm. and what she prescribed didn't work… I've tried everything. I think I have a routine down that really works for me now, which is great. I still have little breakouts around the same area every month, but they are less frequent. I definitely feel too old for it.
    Here's what I do:
    Remove all makeup with Neutrogena Oil free makeup remover
    Use Clarisonic every night (with sensitive brush head). I put Neutrogena acne wash on it (1 pump)
    Spot treat with On The Spot from Neutrogena (I didn't think I liked Neutrogena that much until typing this out)
    Moisturize with Oil of Olay

    Reply
  6. I feel you! My skin used to be pretty even, but all of a sudden I look like a teenage boy again with acne everywhere! I'll have to give the Clinique a try!

    Reply
  7. acne is just the pits that is for sure. when i start having flare-ups it usually means for me that my skin is extra dry and applying product upon product dries out my skin more and so then i have to moisturize, moisturize and moisturize 🙂

    Reply
  8. Oh girl I feel your pain! I have rosacea pretty bad on my chin and I have to be so super careful with what I put on my skin and use prescription creams and goats milk soap. Good luck with the Clinque!

    Reply
  9. Oh yes, you aren't alone! I've been suffering bad over the last year, mine is all in my chin/jawline area. I found out last week (confirmed what I already thought) that mine is from stress and hormone imbalance. I've added 3 natural supplements to my daily supplement/vitamin intake and it's already helping!

    Reply
  10. Oh girl, I hear you!! I have had acne for most of the last 14 years. I definitely feel like I'm too old for it!! It got really bad in the last year, and I had the same experience that you did with Proactiv; it worked for awhile, and then it was completely useless. My Mom got me this stuff called "Paula's Choice"…it's kind of the same idea as Proactiv with the three steps, but it's WAY less harsh. I've been using it for about a month, and it's worked amazingly *knocking on wood*. Hopefully your Clinique does the trick fast…not liking the way your skin looks is the worst feeling!

    Reply
  11. If something works on my skin, I pay for it – because I know I spend eleventy billion dollars trying out cheaper things that never do.

    Reply
  12. Skin problems are such a pain. I've dealt with problematic skin quite a bit (worst of all when I was studying for the bar exam and when I was pregnant). I've FINALLY gotten it under control, but it's because I started splurging for super high-quality products and a monthly facial (which seems to make all the difference in the world). I say if the Clinique works for you, stick with it. It's reasonable, and you're right… you probably spend that much trying other products anyway! 🙂

    Reply
  13. I so feel you on this!!!! I just had a mini break down this weekend. My skin was doing so well and then BOOM! It has been so oily lately, and normally I get hormonal break outs on my chin from my birth control pills and usually that is it….but the last two weeks my cheeks have been break out, under my nose and now my forehead as of last night. Like WTF?!?!?! So no ok. I returned my new face wash to Sephora yesterday and I am going to give it a week with my old Aveeno stuff to hope it calms down some…then try something new. I think I need a whole new system. I was looking at the Paula Choice stuff. I used to go to her website for reviews on other brands and bzzagent sent me some vitamin C stuff of hers to try and a booklet of skin care myths and I really liked it. It looks like she has a new line for wrinkles and acne..which is so me! I think I am going to order it this week.

    I have used that Clinique line before but my skin was too sensitive and I had an allergic reaction and ended up at the emergency clinic because of it. Sigh. Stupid skin!!!!!

    Reply
  14. Girl friend showing your bare face takes guts, seriously. I don't even show my bare face without makeup on in public let alone on my blog. I thankfully only suffer from acne when it's that time of the month and I get mountains on my face and I honestly just don't care because I already feel like s*** so who cares what I look like. So unfortunately I can't give you any tips but when I was younger I tried at home remedies, kind of like grandma's recipe type things. Try making an oatmeal mask and leave that on for a while. It feels really weird but it might help a little!

    http://www.jerseygirltexanheart.com

    Reply
  15. I'm glad that I don't have major acne problems. This is one of the things that I've loved about getting older! I do tend to get acne during that time of the month, but it's usually just one zit.

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  16. Girl, I'm 32 years old and just last year my skin did a 180 and started breaking out. I had no idea why, but then I got my Clairsonic and it has never in my life been better. I love it so much! It is a decent investment, but I would never endorse a product as much as the Clairsonic. I have maybe had 1 or 2 breakouts (mostly from stress) sense then. Love it! I don't have any advice for you when it comes to cleansers if you want to stay on a budget (I use Murad anti acne cleanser from Sephora…it's on the higher side).
    Good luck!

    Reply
  17. Ugh. I'm 31 and I swear my skin is sometimes worse now than when I was a teenager. You are not alone. Biore Charcoal products have been working well for me. I use the face wash and the masks. Masks in general are something I am trying to make a regular part of my skin care routine and they definitely seem to be helping. I invested in a Clarisonic as well and it works wonders! The older I get the more I'm learning there are certain things I'm not willing to skimp on and skincare is one of them!

    Reply
  18. I live by Clinque products! It's the only type of skincare I stood by all through high school and even up until now. Excellent choice!

    Reply
  19. Ach, I wish I had a solution for you–and me… Mine on my chin, jawline, and neck is awful and so painful because I'm just super sensitive to everything. I've seen a chart on Pinterest before that shows what each area's cause is, and when it's on your neck, it means you're fighting something–no surprise for me with an autoimmune problem. Unfortunately with all the changes I've made in diet and all, mine isn't going away. But I was wondering, did you make any changes when you got married, like a new food(s) or product you weren't using before that you've been using ever since? Or, as a couple people have mentioned, it seems that there could be hormone issues going on causing this.

    Reply
  20. You already know I struggle with the same type of skin– and I can relate so much on going out all the time without makeup and not really caring, but also getting to that point where I'm so frustrated and upset over a flareup! Skincare is one area that tends to be so expensive, but sometimes it's worth the splurge if you find something you like, because you end up spending so much money on other products that just doesn't work.

    Reply
  21. Yesssss. SO SO sick of acne. I have been using Mary Kay – did quit for a while – started again because I still have some left from when friend gave to me.
    I want something that works. That's easy to find. I think I could budget this in on a 5-6 month basis. Surely to goodness! Keep me updated. I WILL splurge as my Christmas gift to self I see it works for you. 🙂

    Reply

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