Clay Masques and Why You Must Use Them

I have been using the Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque for about 3 years now. I started using it upon the recommendation of a Sales Assistant at Ken's Apothecary in Empire Shopping Gallery in Malaysia. I had actually been gifted the mini tube version of the masque when I was an undergrad in Canada. This was during the heyday of my most severe acne breakouts and it did NOT work. I was told to put it on my blemishes, leave it overnight and it would help? It didn't.

Fast forward to 2 years later and my early twenties acne having self was ready to give it another go.

How I use it now is a little differently than before in the following 2 ways:

1) I actually use it as a masque - twice a week for about 30 minutes or so. The instructions say 10-15 minutes but WHATEVER. I wash my face with cleanser and then I use put a thin layer of the masque on. I wash it off with water and generally if I'm going to sleep I'll just apply moisturizer or if I'm going out I'll use my toner, moisturizer followed by the rest of the products I usually use on my face. I do this as a deep cleaning routine for my pores.

2) Then I also use it as spot treatment when I get those especially stubborn ball type acne - you know the - I don't know what the hell is going to happen to you acne. I just cover them with a big goop of the masque - I try and form a little mountain of clay and leave it there the whole night. My reasoning behind doing this is that the clay just cools it down.

In number 2) I just described a process similar to what didn't work during my undergrad and the thing is if you're expecting a quick fix this is not it - fosho. BUT if you're willing to just let your face calm down and use the masque I find that it really does. It's what I call an LTC (Long-Term Cure)

The bi-weekly masque flushes out the impurities and the spot treatment just calms the spot down. Takes a few days for the spot to really go but it does work.

So try it! Alternative masques that are less expensive could be Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque.

Acne Causes: Overheating

Right now - my skin for the most part has really settled. AND THEN. After a weekend of me moving house, having a friend from out of town visit, little sleep, fairly hard partying and just unhealthy food has led to some fairly unattractive acne on my jaw line. 3 of them! All at once! AH! Now when this happens, I might be irritated but I'm never surprised. Clearly not the most scientific of reasons for acne, basically my body has overheated and now I have acne! I also usually get eczema on my lips at the same time. I do a couple of different things when this happens to make my body calm down and of course for the acne to go away.

Oral medication: Currently I'm only taking Diane-35 which was recently banned in France (so I might stop - but I'll discuss that in another post) and will continue to take it to the end of this cycle.

Topical medication: I'm continuing with my nightly Dalacin-T and I'm making sure to use the Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Mask. I use this as a nightly mask - like a big dollop covering whatever issues I'm having at the moment. Sometimes it can really do the trick but for the most part I think it just calms down the acne.

Food: See list below:-

Coconut Water: People swear by coconut water - so I try and drink some when my skin has issues. I can get fresh coconut at my workplace so its fairly easy for me. I think this can also be bought in the supermarket.

Water: Just drink a lot of this.

Berries: Antioxidant rich - this is basically supposed to be good for your skin. I sometimes just get strawberry juice at work and its so yums!

Coffee/Tea: Stay away. Overheats you even more!

Alcohol: Def stay away! I had wine yesterday and my face is TOTES regretting it.

Yogurt: Another food believed to cool down your body. Definitely have some.

Behaviors: See list below:-

Exercise: Ok it seems weird, but I believe that sweating out your heatiness makes you less heaty? You may or may not agree with me but I think it totally works!

Sleep: The only thing that will really heal your body and acne is sleep. I know. I hate it when people tell me obvious things too especially when you're like - but that's why I'm coming here -for alternative acne therapy. Yep I got that covered, above. But YOU know and I know that the only way to get rid of it is to sleep and...

Stress: Stop stressing out. About whatever. Your job. Love life. Lack thereof. Family. Try and stop. Read a book. Go for a run. Watch a movie. Do more work. Be productive. Stop procrastinating. Hang out with your friends. But try to, as much as you can to relax!

And maybe do some breathing. Gluck!