PCOS girl’s guide to clear skin: fragrance free
I have tried EVERYTHING to clear up my acne since my pre-teen years. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 21 years old in the midst of trying to get rid of my acne. I tried Accutane, birth control, spironolactone, differin, and every acne fighting topical I could get my hands on. I didn’t start seeing true and lasting results until I stopped chasing quick fixes and started thinking about the actual causes of the acne. A bandaid approach wasn’t working at getting to the root of the issue.
I mean all of them! I found out I was sensitive to artificial fragrances so it was very imperative I removed it from my entire skincare routine and home. I have fragrance free hand soap, conditioner, lotions, laundry detergent, and skincare. Even if you aren’t sensitive to it, studies have shown these artificial fragrances can be hormone disruptors, so I still recommend removing as much fragrance from your life as possible.
change your laundry detergent
Your clothes, sheets, towels, and what you wash them in could be affecting your skin. I recommend a fragrance free one (of course), but just making sure you are using a good quality laundry detergent will help your skin so much! Especially with how many hours we spend sleeping on those pillow cases!
wash your pillow cases
Which takes me to my next recommendation: wash your pillow cases regularly. Even if you don’t wash your sheets every week, at least rotate through your pillow cases at least once a week. This will help your skin immensely!
drink water
Being properly hydrated makes a huge difference with the health of your skin. There is a lot of conflicting information about how much you should drink. But I say just aim for more than what you would typically to get yourself started.
reduce processed foods and sugars
diet does play a role in our acne issues (especially those of us with PCOS or hormone issues). I noticed a big difference in my acne when I did things like Whole30 or removed processed sugar from my diet.
figure out your hormones
This one can be a bit tricky because it’s so much more than just “balancing your hormones”. I recommend working with a medical professional and getting labs done if you find yourself dealing with any hormone related symptoms, including acne. Having a plan to fix the internal issues can be a great assistance in not only clearing up your acne by dealing with the root cause, but also assist with any other symptoms you may be experiencing.
environmental factors
The environments we expose our skin to can be helpful to be aware of. If you live in a big city, it can be hard sometimes to get good quality air exposure. But nature is a great healer! Vitamin D from natural sunlight, clean air, and just time in nature is not only good for the skin to breathe, but also just good for your body and mind overall. To get optimal skin benefits outside, going makeup free is essential!
a manageable skincare routine
I have a fairly simple, budget friendly skincare routine that has been a game changer for my skin! It’s all about consistency and being kind to your skin. We don’t want harsh oil strippers or drying products. Most products marketed as acne fighting are very drying for the skin because they consider oily skin “acne prone”. I’m going to tell you that once I stopped trying to get rid of my oily skin, the better my skin got. I did however have to go through a phase of feeling more oily than usual as I transitioned into this routine, so keep that in mind if you choose to try what I’m about to line out for you.
Morning routine: I only wash my skin after a morning workout. If I don’t workout, I don’t wash my face in the morning. Shocking, I know! But, I have learned that less washing can give your skin time to breathe and heal its natural oil production.
That’s my very simple morning skincare. No harsh scrubbing, acne products, just products that my skin loves.
Night time routine: I shower before bed, so I wash my face there before completing the rest of my routine. I ALWAYS wash my makeup off before working out if I do so after work or later in the day.
wash off makeup before working out
serums: Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide
“eye cream” (i use a cream you can use all over your face, but usually mostly apply it around the eyes)
caster oil: I put a tiny bit in my palm and RUB vigorously until I feel heat in my hands. We want it to be warm when putting it on your skin. I pat the castle oil on my face as the final step of my evening routine. I learned this trick from a friend and it makes my skin feel AMAZING when I wake up!
Now, I also keep differin on hand now so that I can get it without a prescription for those pesky pimples and use it after toner when needed. Also, I use 2 masks and 1 peel per week that have helped maintain my skin health.
This has been YEARS in the making to get to this point. If you are wanting to work on clearing up your acne, take your time and start with small simple steps like drinking more water or washing your pillow cases more. I recommend not doing everything at once because then you won’t know what is truly helping your skin. Everyone is different, so just know what has worked for me might not be what your skin needs.
