-------------------------------------------
I was never the kid in high school who struggled with acne. I got a zit here or there, but it certainly wasn't the biggest problem I dealt with (let's talk poor taste in clothes and mile-high hair). However, something happened in my mid-20's and for the first time in my life I could not get acne to stop erupting. It mainly hung out on my cheeks and chin and at times would be cystic-like and painful (I have the scars to prove it).
Fast forward to the past couple of years and now you add acne that remains below the surface and then persists as a bump on my skin for weeks on end... only to turn into a dark spot once the bump was gone.
I am in my MID-THIRTIES!! What the frickin' heck!?
It's been over 2 1/2 years since I took the Paleo plunge, and I'll admit, my love of cheese and dairy helped the acne problem persist. But even when I did Balanced Bites' 21-Day Sugar Detox in January of 2012, I still came out with zits, zits, zits. Nothing was working.
It wasn't until around October 2012 I realized that perhaps my INSIDES weren't the only thing sensitive to toxins, but my OUTSIDES too. I threw out all my skincare and make-up products after reading Cave Girl Eat's blog post on the oil cleanse method. I wasn't going to worry about sunscreen, anti-aging, pore cleansing, this or that... I wanted a SKIN DETOX.
My routine was as follows:
- Morning:
- Wipe off my face with a washcloth
- Apply pure jojoba oil for moisturizing (I got mine from Whole Foods)
- Evening:
- As in Cave Girl Eat's post, I made a concoction of castor oil and grapeseed oil (I only used grapeseed oil because I had bought some and then realized I shouldn't be eating it). I did 20% castor oil and 80% grapeseed for what I consider combination skin. I applied some on my DRY face and rubbed it in and worked it through my eyelashes to remove mascara. I then soaked my Norwex cloth in hot water and applied it on my face for a few seconds and then rubbed in the oil more. Last, I rinsed my Norwex cloth and wiped off the oil and make-up.
- Apply Green Pastures Beauty Balm
Right away I saw results. For anyone freaked out about applying oil to what they think is oily skin... DO NOT BE AFRAID. I was that girl who had to use those oil sheets to soak up the oil on my forehead and cheeks in the afternoon - I was an oil factory. Within a few weeks my skin normalized and I have absolutely no need for those sheets anymore!
 |
| Infiniti and Beyond Face Package |
Then Trina of Primal Life Organics offered a deal for Black Friday - at this point I was ready to add in some additional natural products to see how my skin reacted. It had been purged of all the toxins in my prior products, so I was starting with a clean slate! She suggested I start with the Infiniti and Beyond Primal Face Package and then rotate between that one and the Infiniti Primal Face Package. I bought it right away and couldn't wait for it to show up!
Once it did, I started introducing the products slowly - first just using the face serum and toner. Then occasionally adding in the cleanser and then I rotated between the Green Pastures Beauty Balm and her moisturizer in the evening.
My current face routine:
- Morning:
- Use my Clarisonic (or just a clean wash cloth) in the shower with water only
- Infiniti Face Toner
- Apply Primal Life Organics moisturizer
- Evening:
- Mainly the oil cleanse method and a clean washcloth
- Infiniti Face Toner
- Beyond Primal Face Serum
- Beyond Primal Face Moisturizer
Aaaaand.... here are my results over the past year.
My skin has lost most of its red patches, which I am guessing was irritation from harsh chemicals and it's so much smoother. But the best part is, no cystic acne since I started and the persistent patches just below the corners of my mouth are GONE! I also have suffered for many years from melasma that persists as dark patches under my eyes/on the top of the cheekbone and my upper lip. Since using Primal Life Organics - I am guessing the serum - those have faded significantly as well!
Liz from Cave Girl Eats wrote the Skintervention Guide and Trina from Primal Life Organics contributed - this guide has been invaluable in my quest to continue improving my beauty routines and also to continue to learn how to use quality food and ingredients to make my hair, skin and nails look the best that they can.
Liz from Cave Girl Eats wrote the Skintervention Guide and Trina from Primal Life Organics contributed - this guide has been invaluable in my quest to continue improving my beauty routines and also to continue to learn how to use quality food and ingredients to make my hair, skin and nails look the best that they can.
Find out more about this guide and purchase it, go here.
LAST, but not least, Trina is doing ANOTHER special to coincide with Black Friday so YOU can try it out much like I did, but it starts at 6pm EST on Thanksgiving Eve! Use the codes below to save money - this is a GREAT time to take the plunge or purchase some stocking stuffers for others.
Make sure to pin this link and jot down the coupon codes.
Wednesday, November 27 (6pm EST) and Thursday November 28: “PLO holiday” gives you 20% off your ENTIRE order. For orders OVER $75, a free Primal Herbal-Clay Face Mask will be added during packaging. (DO NOT ADD THE FACE MASK TO YOUR BASKET- IT WILL BE ADDED DURING PACKAGING AND WILL NOT SHOW UP ON YOUR INVOICE)
Friday November 29: “PLO holiday” gives you 20% off your entire order.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday (November 30- December 02): “PLO Christmas” gives you 15% off your entire order.
