The Regimen Update #2

Here’s a bit of an overdue, albeit important update on The Regimen: I’ve stopped the routine.

In the last update, I was talking about stopping for a while to let my skin recover from the benzoyl peroxide and then building up again slowly by applying it only to the affected areas first. I did just that, and it was fine when it was just the affected areas I was applying BP to, but when I started to build up the application in area and amount, the same thing happened the first time — it became too itchy and painful to continue.

And so I stopped. I had my reservations about slapping something so explicitly chemical so liberally onto my skin, actually. My organic-obsessed uncle would die if he knew this was exactly what I did. But when you’re in dire need of a solution, you’ll see light at the end of any tunnel….or what seems like light, anyway. Besides, netizens sing praises about the routine, so I didn’t see why I shouldn’t try it.

For the record, I’m not denouncing The Regimen. There may have been several factors as to why it didn’t work for me. Note that I didn’t purchase acne.org’s products. The website says it’s fine to use other products, so that’s what I did. I tried to follow as close as possible which ingredients to avoid, and which to look out for.

Yet, my skin didn’t seem to accustom itself to the effects of the BP. Maybe it would be a different story if I’d used acne.org products — afterall, they were formulated with the application of BP in mind.

And, of course that everyone’s skin is different. One man’s meat is another’s poison. What may work for you may not work for me.

I didn’t get nothing out of the whole process, though. I learnt the proper way to cleanse my face: the lesser friction the better, and no longer than 10 seconds (although I still tend to go on a bit longer, but considerably shorter compared to what I was previously used to). Also, to never pick on your face. Everyone knows this, obviously, but how many of us can proudly proclaim we don’t? Hence, the importance can never be stressed enough.

Pure jojoba oil is probably the best thing I got out of The Regimen. This has since replaced my MAC Cleanse Off Oil as makeup remover, and I’m totally loving it. Not that the MAC Cleanse Off Oil didn’t do a good job in removing makeup, but it does contain chemicals, so the natural contender jojoba oil gets my vote. Plus, it’s highly moisturising. Seriously, I love it. You can use it on chapped lips and dry scalp too.

I don’t want to jinx it, but my skin’s improved a lot since my pre-Regimen days. It’s not flawless like it was when I was on Roaccutane, obviously, because that perfection wasn’t natural — it was chemically-induced.

My improved skin can be attributed, quite possibly, to the use of jojoba oil and Living Nature, a brand of 100% natural skincare, which I started using during The Regimen. I’ve been using their products for about 3 months plus now, but it was only shortly after I stopped with the BP (I was on The Regimen for about a month) that I realised this Living Nature stuff actually works! Normally the positive effects of facial products I’ve tried so far don’t last. They seem to work at first, but later on my skin goes back to the way it was.

I’m a fan of Living Nature’s Purifying Cleanser and Balancing Day Lotion. I really like the feel of my skin after usage of these two products. I have some of their other products, namely their exfoliant, toner, rescue gel and night cream — all of which I’m supposed to be sharing with my mom, but can’t be arsed to put on…except for the exfoliant once in a while, which is good too. The rescue gel doesn’t work for me, though. I don’t like putting on so many products because it’s suffocating. Speaking from experience, so many products will only result in oiliness and breakouts. And besides, I don’t believe in toners. Nobody can give me a concrete or even remotely convincing answer on what toners really do or if they’re really necessary, so I’ll just leave it out of the equation.

With the Purifying Cleanser, it’s so lightweight you’ll doubt if  it’s actually doing anything for your skin if you’re used to those foam-type facial cleansers. But it’ll still feel thoroughly cleansed and supple afterward, without feeling taut and aggravated, especially if your skin is already irritated. It doesn’t sting.

The Balancing Day Lotion went on a bit weird at first, like it was too thick or rich or something. But after a while, it sort of dissolves into your skin, without leaving a layer of shine like some moisturisers do.

I’ve not banished the BP completely, though. I still use it topically as and when the situation calls for it (which isn’t very often or horrible now) and more importantly, in very small amounts.

Drinking lots of water helps too. My new office can practically double up as a freezer, so I’m constantly refilling my mug with hot water every half hour or so…which means I’ll be skipping to the lou loo every two hours to flush out toxins which may be causing those breakouts.

Anyway Living Nature in Singapore has a facebook page which you can check out if you’re interested. Quite often they have promotions which they announce on their FB page too.