Cherie’s Skin Journey Scan Helped Me Figure Out What My Skin Has Been Missing

WHAT IS IT? Benzoyl peroxide (sometimes abbreviated BPO) is an organic peroxide compound known in skincare for it's acne fighting ability. It's mechanism of action is through it's sebostatic, comedolytic, and antibacterial properties, aided by it's lipophilic nature. it's also an anti-inflammatory. Sebostatic- reducing sebum Comedolytic- inhibits formation of comedones Antibacterial- destroys bacteria and/or suppresses it's growth Lipophilic- lipid soluble HOW DOES IT WORK? Buckle up kids, this is a little complicated. Because it's lipid soluble, BPO is able to deeply penetrate lipid layers between skin cells. It's metabolized mostly in the top layers of skin into benzoic acid and oxygen. Benzoic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (a type of chemical exfoliant) that as a result of reducing dead skin cells and sebum on the skin, lowers the skin's pH which inhibits fungal growth. The free oxygen radicals oxidize acne causing bacteria by disrupting their anaerobic (requiring the absence of oxygen) microbial cell membranes deep in pores where they live and multiply, thus killing them. This broad spectrum antimicrobial activity can continue for up to 48 hours, even when conditions for bacterial growth are optimal. In English, Please? Basically, your skin breaks BPO down into benzoic acid and oxygen. The benzoic acid exfoliates skin reducing sebum and creates an uninhabitable environment for fungi. Meanwhile, the oxygen is effective in killing bacteria and temporarily keeping it from growing back. This action reduces the population of bacteria on the skin resulting in a significantly reduced likelihood of the formation of more pimples. HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE Benzoyl peroxide is most effective in treating inflammatory acne (pustules) as opposed to comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads). But, as always, you must use BPO containing products properly, patiently, and persistently. Typically it's recommended to use BPO washes or topicals twice a day, but starting with less frequent use may save your skin from excess irritation. BPO can take 4-6 weeks of consistent use to take effect, but once acne is controlled you can reduce frequency of use in order to maintain your clear skin. LOOK OUT FOR: -allergic reaction -itching -peeling -reddened skin * Benzoyl peroxide will bleach hair and fabric like towels, pillow cases, and clothing. Pictured are my favorite BPO containing products, PanOxyl - Acne Foaming Wash Benzoyl Peroxide 10% Maximum Strength and ZAPZYT - Acne Treatment Gel Though they have a high concentration of BPO (10%), I find that they are gentle enough for my skin (just not at the same time!). The amount of time BPO washes are allowed to remain on the skin before rinsing can increase efficacy, but also irritation. It's important to note that washes containing lower persentages of BPO can work just as well for many people while causing less irritation. Thanks for reading! 😘 And happy skincare hunting!

Above I have depicted my cheapest silicone based primer The Ordinary - High-Adherence Silicone Primer ($4.90) And my most expensive primer TATCHA - The Liquid Silk Canvas: Featherweight Protective Primer ($52) What are silicones? Silicone is derived from silica (silicon dioxide Si02). It’s most naturally found in quartz crystal, living organism, and even earth’s crust. Their are various types of silicones that do various jobs. Some have smoothing effects, softening effects, and even water resistant effects. How to tell what your primer is: When checking your primer (or foundation), to find if your product is silicone based there will be a ingredient ending in -cone or -silicate, -methicone, -silicone, or -siloxane towards the beginning of the label. Most primers will begin with water, do not base your ingredients on this. Silicone primers are ideal for oily & combo skin! So why do silicone get a bad rap? There’s a nasty rumor going around that silicone can cause acne. I’m here to tell you there is no substantiated research to prove that. The deal with silicones is they act as “skin like” barrier on the skin that are permeable (science term for letting things pass though back and forth). Think of it this way, if it was pore clogging, you wouldn’t be able to sweat while wearing primer. “I broke out from wearing silicone primer” I’m 90% sure it was not that ! Silicone molecules are too big to be absorbed into the skin. When taking off silicone from your face the proper way is to either A. Double Cleanse or B. Use micellar water. (I do both!) I also follow with a great toner because even then you never know what can be left behind. Improper cleansing will leave you with acne! Also if you have acne prone or sensitive skin chances are you were going to break out anyways. Do I need a primer? If you want all day wear YES! Primers act like a second skin that make it easier for makeup to adhere to. Also if you have texture issues, silicone primers will smooth lines, bumps, pores, and help your makeup to apply more easily! If you don’t want to use primers, hey that’s you choice (this is a judge free zone), you can opt for adding these to your daily skin care routine (to improve your skin): hyaluronic acid to moisturizer skin caffeine to increase elasticity retinoids to boost collagen But your makeup won’t survive a night out! Also opt for water based primer, which is also more ideal for dry or eczema type skin. They will leave you with a dewy finish though. ******JUST BE SURE TO USE A WATER BASED PRIMER WITH WATER BASED FOUNDATION & SILICONE BASED PRIMER WITH SILICONE BASED FOUNDATION!****

YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream with Ashwagandha + Reishi A hydrating moisturizer with squalane, ashwagandha, and fermented reishi mushrooms. Squalane helps boost hydration because it mimics the squalene in your skin already, and aids in minimizing clogged pores. Ashwagandha reduces visible signs of fatigue. And reishi mushrooms hydrate and detoxify! This moisturizer is intensely hydrating - it’s so rich and hydrates deep. I use it at night in my pm routines after serums and before my oil. It’s great for fall/winter, and might be to much for some people in summer. I have normal to combo skin, sensitive acne prone, and also rosacea. It’s soothing and calms my skin from allergic reactions, acne redness, and maskne. A little goes a long way and despite its richness, it sinks in almost immediately and doesn’t take much rubbing in to get it to melt in. Full size is $58 YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist with Reishi + Ashwagandha This mist was very overhyped on Instagram, and I was hesitant to try it. I lucked out and found it in this mini set, at $24 for both of these. It’s unfortunately, very worth the money! The mist is super fine, sprays evenly and so gently, and feels amazing on. Sometimes I leave it in the fridge for added cooling! This can be used as a toner, between any steps of your routine, or as a refresher throughout the day! My favorite way to use it is when I get home from work and I feel icky and tired and my face is sore from the mask. This also contains ashwagandha, which is an adaptogen that contains a bunch of antioxidants, iron and amino acids, and reishi, which is a mushroom that combats prematurely aging skin. It also contains peptides, which calm skin and aid in soothing sensitive skin. This comforts my irritated skin, from either acne/maskne, or just from wearing a mask all day. $42 for full size I suggest picking up minis of this duo because a lot of people are allergic to the mushrooms in it! Some people can eat mushrooms and be fine, but topically their skins says ✖️ no ✖️ Something else I want to mention is that YTTP’s little slogan is “skincare for all,” which I’ve always been a fan of - until recently. I realized that because of the high prices of their products, it’s not really skincare for “all,” but instead for people who can afford it. Purchasing full sizes of YTTP is definitely a splurge for me - I freelance full time and am partially unemployed because of COVID - and I know a lot of people are probably in the same boat.

Okay all you PYTs, this one's for you. You're young, you're beautiful, and you haven't thought much about taking care of your skin in the long run. That's okay, but it's time to adult now. I'm about to drop some knowledge on you. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (the AAD) here's how you can start your skin care journey: 1) Pay attention to your skin type and give your skin what it needs. If you have sensitive skin, use products formulated for sensitive skin, if you have dry skin use moisturizing products, and if you have oils skin use oil free or noncomedogenic products. 2) PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION. This is the most important part so Imma say it again 💁🏼‍♀️ PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION. Ultra violet radiation from the sun (or God forbid, a tanning bed) can lead to early skin aging and CANCER. To protect yourself, seek shade whenever possible, wear protective clothing, and use a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen of an SPF of 30 or higher. THAT MEANS NO MORE TANNING ❌ That awesome tan you got from laying out all summer? Yeah, that's damaged skin. Without sun protection, UVA rays are able to penetrate the middle layer of skin (the dermis) and damage collagen fibers resulting in a build up of elastin which then contributes to wrinkles and leathery skin. But more on sun damage in a later post. Sun damage is not a joke 📢 take it from a redhead‼️ 3) Use a retinoid if possible. Retinoids have been dubbed "the gold standard of anti-aging" for a reason, y'all! Retinoids increase the rate of cellular turnover to exfoliate clogged pores and reduce the appearance of fine lines, essentially treating acne and wrinkles simultaneously 👏👏👏 It's recommended to start simple, meaning wash your face with a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night, use a moisturizer with SPF during the day (don't forget to reapply) and a retinoid at night. If you don't experience irritation with the retinoid, don't deviate from this routine for at least 2 months. That's a ball park of how long you will need to get comfortable with the retinoid. This routine is a great starting (or starting over) point because it allows you to get to know your skin and see what you'd like to address after the retinoid has taken effect. My personal advice is to find a retinoid that you love and build the rest of your skin care routine around it. Pictured is my favorite retinol cream Neutrogena - Rapid Wrinkle Regenerating Face Cream The brand Neutrogena is owned by Johnson&Johnson, which has over 20 years of research and development of retinol and over 20 retinol patents. This particular product was the subject of a clinical trial which resulted in ongoing improvement of wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation in patients throughout 1 year of nightly use. Unfortunately, I will have to revisit this AMAZING product in another post because of Cherie's character limit 😢 Stay tuned! And happy skincare hunting! ❤️

I love the look of a blowout but I do not have the right technique to create one. The brush always ends up tangled in my hair and I get so frustrated. I created this look to fake a voluminous blowout (and it doesn’t involve the brush getting caught in your hair). This look was inspired by the 90’s supermodel era. It is part of a 2-post video and I will post the makeup look tomorrow. Products used - drybar - High Tops Self-Grip Rollers $10these rollers I originally bought to enhance an at home blowout but have been using them to create extra volume while curling my hair they come 5 in a pack with 3 large rollers and 3 smaller rollers. - $16 drybar - Hold Me Hair Clips These are optional to use to secure the rollers in place. The rollers on their own can hold there place but I haven’t fished out how to do that yet. These come in a 4 pack. - #Revlon - Curling wand 2 inch[products]#[ThreeStars] I love this curling iron because the large barrel creates big curls. The only thing is this curling wand tends to not hold a curl for long. - amika: - Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray This spray is similar to a hairspray but it it’s volumizing. A lot really goes a long way with this product. If you use too much, the hair can become crunchy. It can be used on wet or dry hair. - drybar - Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray Lush Scent Living proof. - Full Dry Volume Blast These two products work very similar to each other. They both create noticeable difference in volume when applied correctly. (The drybar product makes your hair smell so good!) To do: - Sperate the top layer of the hair and section off the back. - Take a layer of the top section and spritz the section with amika: - Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray . Use the curling wand to heat up the hair to hold a curl better. With a large roller, roll up the section and secure with drybar - Hold Me Hair Clips . Using a clip to secure is optional as the rollers can stay in place on their own. - Put as many rollers as you feel necessary to create the added volume. I like to keep these rollers at the top sections of my hair. - With the back section of hair, Spritz each section with amika: - Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray . Use the curling iron to create large curls. When releasing the curl, hold it in place for a bit then release. - Let the rollers sit for about 1+ hours. Take out the rollers. Lift up the hair and spray with drybar - Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray Lush Scent and Living proof. - Full Dry Volume Blast to add lots of volume. Until I learn how to do a blowout on my hair I will be sticking to this method. #CherieCreator