SKIN CARE:
This has been a long over due discussion considering how many compliments I receive on my skin now. I want to say since the age of 18 I suffered severely from acne. Cystic, Hormonal and often allergic reactions. A few years back so many hate accounts popped up on Instagram because of the high profile super dramatic relationship I was in ***Side Note: That blog entry is coming soon.*** These accounts were relentless but I never paid attention because I don't know these people and me myself would never take the time to do such a thing. But people sent me things from time to time. Below is a photo that I sent my business partner at the time telling her I wouldn't be coming to work that day because my skin was so insane. I don't know 100%, but I believe it was an allergic reaction of some sort. I repeat, I sent it to her AND ONLY HER - hmmmm wonder who ran the fake account lol it was pretty obvious.
This Is What Was Posted:
These Are The Originals:
Obviously no one wants to show their skin like this. It's sad, frustrating and leaves you feeling defeated. I couldn't bring myself to put makeup on, I just wanted it to go away. I became very stressed and didn't leave my house much. The more I fixated on it the longer it stayed. The photos above are not always how bad it was/is but it has been a constant struggle. The picture represents one of the most depressing, lowest and difficult points in my life. I had so much money saved, I had an Autobiography Range Rover, G65 V12 G Wagon, Rolls Royce Wraith and a Maserati Quattroporte gts. I was living in 4 million dollar house yet I was extremely depressed. It didn’t make sense, I know. I was so stuck and confused and my brain was really messing with me. I was crying all the time. I would isolate myself for days, even weeks. (Not as many weeks as we've been isolated now but it felt like forever back then.) It was right in the middle of me attempting to start an online fashion boutique and I was just so low I couldn’t seem to get anything done. I was constantly obsessing and that made it worse.
So back at that time I was panicking so hard I went to the number one Dermatologist here in Beverly Hills, Dr. Zein Obagi. I highly recommend him and his products that I will list below. I remember he looked at me and said “This poor girl, how can she leave the house like this. Get her on a regimen NOW!” I got on a really intense eight product program and hid in the house for I want to say 2 to 3 months. My skin cleared up, but after I stopped it started coming back. They suggested Acutane but I wanted to get pregnant and was too afraid. I’ve heard really mixed reviews about Accutane. I know two male friends who said it worked wonders and I’ve seen a few Instagram girls say that it’s helped them but if you suffer from depression it can make it a lot worse and I’ve always battled some form of depression. That will be another post.....Anyway, my acne still popped up from time to time and still does
Like Recently In London While Healing From Surgery:
I would get very frustrated. Like many people, I started trying any and everything that a reputable esthetician would tell me. I got constant facials, lasers, peels, micro dermabrasion, micro needling, vampire facials and although some helped from time to time, nothing really put an end to my battle. I still get a Hydrafacial once a month [ For those unfamiliar, the HydraFacial is a medical-grade resurfacing treatment that clears out your pores, plus it hydrates your skin. ... The four-step treatment includes cleansing, exfoliating, extracting, and hydrating the skin with serums that are infused into pores with the HydraPeel Tip, a pen-like device] which is my version of a deep cleaning. I’ve stopped using masks as often and scrubbing less/more gently. I’ve switched from so many luxury brands for a more natural approach. I still use some of my medical grade products but only the ones that I’ve seen significant difference from and have tried to avoid trying any new “hardcore” medical ones. My skin is thin and easily irritated. Instead, I decided to do what I thought was best for my skin. I started researching like crazy and stopped using so many products. My skin is SO sensitive I decided to just let it breathe. I ONLY use an eye serum at night, no eye creams. I was told by a specialist from Biologique Recherche [I have almost their entire line which is not cheap and later found out it is too strong for me] that eye creams at night are not necessary and of course, with my ADD, I didn’t listen as to why but I just went with it. Sometimes I'll add an eye cream over the serum but not often. I don’t use a toner, lotion or anything at all now 5 out of 6 nights a week. Three times a week I use Tretinoin Retinol .025 and once a week I'll moisturize at night, that's it for me. Your face produces natural oils while you sleep and there’s no need to block those. During the day with or without makeup I use an eye serum, eye cream, face cream and sometimes tinted Moisturizer with an SPF. Also listed below. To add to it I have a pretty shitty diet, or shall I say lack there of. Most people aren’t having McDonalds for breakfast and Taco Bell for lunch. I’m very aware that it’s disgusting and definitely not good for me internally or externally but it’s my weakness. Not sure if I’ll ever give it up, I'm trying. I go through phases where I'll obsessively cook clean and eat really healthy and other times I'm obsessively eating the nastiest food.
I’ve recently started eating a lot cleaner because I do know that sugar causes the skin to become inflamed causing acne and so does dairy (which is pretty fucking obvious it doesn’t take a genius to know that). Since I am abnormally skinny, I am 5‘9“ and currently weigh 117 pounds, I’ve always just consumed any and everything that was fattening to attempt to maintain a decent weight. Let alone gaining weight, that's pretty much impossible for me. I have to eat at least 8 times day, lift really heavy weights and consume 3 high in protein shakes if I want to see results. That’s why I've allowed myself to eat whatever whenever but of course, that’s wrong too. BUT! I take my vitamins, I drink A LOT of water and even when I’m feeling stressed I make sure that I keep my mood positive because I swear it has an affect on my skin. At least personally that’s how I feel.
To sum it up my skin is very sensitive and problematic. Im happy that its under control at the moment but I don't know that it will ever be "perfect" and I'm okay with that. We all have our flaws and I hope by sharing mine with you it helps you to accept any you see in yourself. Don't get hung up on the imperfections you may see, usually others don't even notice them. Stay positive and lots of self love baby! Live it everyday!
Better Skin Days:
As far as anti aging goes, some of you may have read in my pervious post, I have a lot of surgery. I'm not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you some cream or treatment is going to rid you of fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots. They can definitely help but they won't permanently get rid of those things. I don’t really have dark circles under my eyes, but I do have very thin skin there and I’ve wanted badly for creams and fillers to fix those too. But again, they don’t permanently, just temporarily and require a lottttt of up keep.
With that being said, technology is very advanced. There are many lasers and procedures, medical grade ones, that do work. They are pricey and not everyone can afford to have this type of luxury. And they are never a one and done. It takes multiple sessions and never really ends. You can find yourself there anywhere from four times a year to once every five years but again it all adds up and at the end of the day we have to remember - we are human. Aging is okay. Aging never really scared me. Once I turned 30 I did notice a huge change in my skin and body in general but I didn’t feel less beautiful because I got older.
I’ve gotten asked so many times what my regimen is so below are some of my current products I'm usuing, mostly ones for acne. This post is just one of many skin care posts to come. I wanted to focus it on acne specifically because it's my reality. I think important to show we are human and I'm sure there are many more women than we know that battle it too, we just hide it. I'ts not fun, trust me! As the "Stay at home order" lifts and I'm able to get my facials, lasers, and other treatments done again I'll post that stuff as well. I've recently even thought about starting my own skin care line. Simple natural products for glowing healthy skin. I've done a lot of research on this and at 25 I started cosmetology school but unfortunately didn't finish.
Here are some basic facts about acne/skin care and what you can do to prevent breakouts:
--- Stress causes pimples. It really does! When our body produces the stress hormone, it leads to causing pimples in two ways. 1: The hair follicle lining thickens due to the hormone causing whiteheads and blackheads and if bacteria gets trapped inside of it, a pimple is formed. 2: Our body directs blood and oxygen to more vital areas leaving skin dehydrated and prone to clogged pores and breakouts. Hence in order to avoid pimples one also needs to reduce their stress levels. Try yoga or meditation to stay stress-free and pimple-free.
--- No amount of cosmetic products can benefit our skin as much as eating a healthy diet comprising of fresh fruits and vegetables can. Eating oily and greasy food like chocolates or junk food doesn’t do much good to our skin while eating grains, fruits and vegetables helps us in keeping it healthy and pimple free.
--- Your skin regenerates itself. Skin sheds it's dead skin cells on a daily basis, creating a new layer of skin every 28 days. Even while you sleep, Mother Nature is doing her job by making sure your skin exfoliates itself, without your help. Even so, dead skin cells can remain on the skin, so it is important to remove them with an additional exfoliator.
--- People with sensitive skin should exfoliate once a week, while people with acne or combination or oily skin exfoliate twice a week. You can exfoliate with things such as oatmeal, which has a soothing property to it; and be cautious when using exfoliators with sharp or hard particles, such as apricot seeds or walnut shells, which can cause microscopic tears in the skin. It’s best to gently massage the exfoliant into wet skin for three minutes, then rinse with tepid water for the best results.
--- Changes to the skin can be a sign that something is wrong. rashes, hives, and itching may signal an allergic reaction, a bacterial skin infection, a viral infection, or an autoimmune disease.
--- Contrary to popular belief, sunbathing makes zits worse, not better. The initial, temporary drying effect and the blemish-concealing tan may fool you, but UV rays actually stimulate oil production. What’s more, the sun’s rays also thicken the outer layer of your skin, which blocks your pores and leads to breakouts.
--- Pollution, smoke, stress… All these have harmful effects on the skin. Use skincare products to protect your skin against these daily stresses before leaving the house and always cleanse your skin thoroughly when you come home in the evening. Sometimes even 2 to 3 times depending if you've worn makeup that day.
My Go To Medical Grade Products:
Zo Skin Health Daily Power Defense
Powerful antioxidant serum designed to improve the appearance of lines + wrinkles and promote overall skin health.
Zo Skin Health Melamix Skin Lightener
Formulated specifically to be used with tretinoin. Contains 4% hydroquinone, which is used for the treatment of pigmentation.
Zo Skin Health Oil Control Pads
An invigorating acne treatment prevention solution designed to be used with a complementary acne treatment program. The oil control pads remove oil, normalize pore size, help smooth skin’s surface and reduce irritation.
Zo Skin Health Brightalive Skin Brightener
Non-retinol skin brightener formulated to even skin tone, reduce dark spots and restore hydration, while calming and soothing irritated skin.
From my Dermatologist Dr. Khadavi - Rejuve MD
An anti-aging face serum that uses growth factors to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Like I stated above, this is one of many skin care posts. I will be talking about much more but felt like this is a good start. The products above I have used for years! No one has paid me to post these, they really work! I hope you enjoyed this post and I would love your feedback and your favorite products/treatments for sensetive/problematic skin.
Yours Truly,
That Bitch!
So glad I made a membership. First post I read and already loving it!! Thanks for sharing <3
Acne pro skin
35% glycolic peel every 14 days with
Qswitch laser to heal skin deeply and also helps with aging and pigment , hydra qunone cream from derotologist or compounding chemist! Helps fade marks on skin etc.
Obago foaming cleanser
Obagii vit c serum
La Roche possay efficlar duo plus(moisturiser that drys out and stops oil while moisturising )
La Roche Poway shine free facial sunscreen if living in a sunny country !
My skin is same as yours and if I do this religiously it stays clear .
No sugar in diet helps too!
So… just to clarify did she/you go with the Accutane or not, or was it just the products and facials pretty much. I’ve suffered acne all my life and I’m 32, doctor said my skin isn’t bad enough and I also didn’t want to take it. My main problem now is scarring and pigmentation, I don’t even really get spots now but still look like I have bad skin without any spots.
You look amazing, I would have never imagined you had acne problems, very nice of you sharing this with us. I struggle with acne for many years, I tried everything possible and few methods worked is true ( spots were dissapearing) but then new spots showed up again and again….
I am month 4 on accutane and I see huge difference
Had to give up to luxury cosmetics like you 😫
It’s true accutane gives small depression, makes your lips dry and joint pain but in my opinion is worth it.
This is a good time to make the treatment too ( not much going on this year ) and you can get pregnant after a while, its not forever this restriction
I miss drinking though 🙈
Loving this beauty post, so honest & real 🤍
I don’t know if anyone suffers from Butt acne but i suffered for 8 years trying all types of washes and extreme exfoliating.
Almond Clear Body Clearing Serum level 2 has changed my life. I even take half the bottle out and mix it with water, a cheaper glycolic acid serum to help make it last
Love this post! Can’t wait to hear more about the skincare! I also have VERY sensitive skin and have had issues with breakouts since I had the contraceptive implant like 9 years ago. Looking forward to the next post!
I was fighting acne since i was a teenager, had it not only on my face b ut neck as well. I think it was hormonal, i had a baby 2 years ago and after it it was just gone , still clear till now:)
Microneedling with radio frequency was about the only thing that helped me. I also highly recommend Alastin skincare products.
Hey Morgan! Do you use any neck creams or specific brand you like? Also do you still have all your cars ? Love the blog! Xo
Olivia
I tried Accutane yea it worked but my acne came back 2 years later and was back to square one to the point where I thought of doing it again but it made me SO FUCKIN DEPRESSED!!!! That I decided not to take it again. But u can ask your doc to give your a MUCH lower dose, like not more than 30mg. Anything more than that is suicide. It can fuck up your liver!! Personally for me the risk of depression isnt worth it.
HERE’S WHAT WORKED FOR MY ACNE LIKE MAGIC!!!
apple vinegar – u gotta drink it 2 tablespoons 30 min before a meal. Acne is just a giant indigestion problem. This shit right here will fix your digestion and give u more energy and get dramatically clears skin in 2 wks!!
Recipe;
2 tablespoons of apple vinegar
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 cup of warm water
A dash of molasses or honey or whatever else u wanna add for flavor
Drink 30 min before a meal
Also eat more apples, cucumbers, carrots, red peppers
I love how brutally honest you are! it helps me and other people realize that we all have imperfections and it sucks that social media can make us feel insecure about ourselves. I suffer from really bad dry spots and ingrown pimples. Thanks for posting these products, I’ll definitely check these products out. if possible, can you please review some products that you’ve tried in the past, i know everyones skin is different but i think it would be awesome to see what products we should stay away from. I’ve tried Le Mar, and i might sound crazy but it didn’t help at all!! so hearing your opinion would be great. Sending you love from NYC! beautiful blog.
Girl! I used to have acne so bad and it was all over my face, chest, and back. I was really embarrassed and self conscious about it. I too got a ton of lasers, peels, etc etc etc to get rid of it but, it still came back. I am also vegan and eat clean so, my diet wasn’t really an issue. My dr said I had cystic acne and it would never really go away unless I took accutane.
I was worried about the depression part so, I made sure I paid close attention to my feelings and moods. I took it for 8 months. I was about 28 years old and I felt like I was 90! I remember walking down the street and my hips were ACHING. It was a grueling process however, my skin is AMAZING now. It is one of the best things I ever did and, looking back, I seriously wish I took it earlier. I never get a zit now and my skin feels so much smoother. My man also took accutane when he was in college and he has the same feedback. No regrets. It is truly AMAZING. I think the depression thing is related to having bad skin. I really messed with you. Also, a lot of kids take it and you know how emotional we all are in high school. Taking it when you are older may be fine.
Also, I am doing the obagi nuderm system now to get rid of my melasma from pregnancy. It’s amazing!
Hey Morgan,
Thanks for being so open and honest, as always!!
There’s a product by Dermalogica that I feel like you may benefit from; it’s called the Daily Microfoliant, which is a super gentle yet effective enzymatic exfoliator. It’s a rice-based powder that also contains: salicylic acid, colloidal oatmeal, and is free of any of those nasty harsh chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, and formaldehyde.
It’s suitable for any skin type, especially for those who have sensitive skin (which I also struggle with.) I honestly swear by this product as it has helped my skin out tremendously and can’t recommend it enough!!It’s also super affordable only $21 CAD (which I believe is approx $15 USD) for the mini travel-sized bottle and I believe $60 USD for the full size one. I typically recommend trying out the mini before committing to the full-size bottle in the event that for whatever reason, it doesn’t work out for you.. however, I’m almost certain you won’t have any issues with the product, as I’ve recommended it tons of other people who only have good things to say.
Also, you only need to dispense a tiny amount of product (1/4 of a teaspoon) so the mini travel bottle will last you a very long time. I provided the link below in case you would like to check it out. :) xoxoxox
https://www.sephora.com/ca/en/product/daily-microfoliant-P423688
Wow. Thank you. Didn’t knew that you have acne. It’s hard to share the truth behind acne and the fact of suffering from it. So thank you!! I had acne after I stopped using the birth control and tried to get rid off it over one year. I had the same problems like you: didn’t want to be outside with other people and got depressed. After a lot of treatments (nearly daily cleaning with cosmetologist, hydrafacials every month, microdermabrasion and other antibiotics) I started to take Accutane.
It is true, i took that medicin 8 months and the last 2 months I realized that my mood has changed a lot. But after I finished 4 weeks ago it all disappeared within 5 days. Of course I had dry lips, joint pain and was really tired during the therapy.
Compared to the depression because of the acne it was way easier to handle. Because you know that it’s just for a couple of weeks.
I can totally recommend you Accutane. I was so sceptical and afraid before but now I am more than happy!
I personally don’t have any acne issues but I live in the Caribbean since day 1 and the sun is definitely my best friend and enemy at the same time. I’ve been using the ENEOMEY products (it’s a French brand) which were recommended by my dermatologist. I also love the brand FRESH. They have great exfoliating masks and other great products which so far have been working for me. Yet another great post to show everyone that flaws don’t make us less beautiful!
Morgan,
Literally love and respect you soo much!!
Thank you for being vulnerable and honest with us. Why can’t more people be open and transparent like you? Nobody is fucking perfect and I wish EVERYONE would understand that. Maybe we would have less hate in the world. People are so caught up with chasing perfection- something that does not exist- only to stress themselves out in the long run. Anyway- I completely agree with everything you said about acne. People forget we are made up of mostly water, so we MUST drink a lot of water – LESS SUGAR LESS DAIRY. This honestly is what wrecked havoc on my skin- milk is horrible For us – has hormones that make people break out and not to mention is animal cruelty. A lot of what we eat is fake food and processed crap WE MUST EAT WHOLE FOODS- More greens and veggies. I have seen lot of people go vegan to clear their acne. We literally become what we eat. When a lot of us eats crap food we feel like crap, food is supposed to fuel us not make us crash. Anyways Morgan have you ever tried Paula’s Choice BHA ? Tarte Knock out treatment toner? Those two products have changed my life& keep my acne and Cysts away, they are the only two products that have cleared my pores (made them less noticeable and skin feeling soft) and don’t cost a arm or a leg. Another thing I recommend is oil cleansing and massaging face for 10-15 mins. Hope this helps 💖
Love you Morgan!
You are so beautiful first of all, second thing I think we all had the acne problem and so have I however during time i used birth control pill and it did saved my skin. Apart from that i strongly agree with the obaji peel. I started using tretinoin and all the creams and they do make a difference. Keep us posted Morgan xxxxx
#Realtalk I love it. I suffer from adult acne but I do so many chemical peels & as licensed esthetician I have tried a lot of products. Chemical peels r the only thing that works for my skin.
Thank you so much for sharing
Adriana
Thanks for sharing I hope this helps clear up my skin, can you also please share what vitamins your taking? I know that plays a part in skin too ❤️
I’ve been taking birth control for years and it’s literally the only thing that saved my skin. I used to get bad breakouts too and spent thousands on facials. I went to some stupid facialist at Dr. diamonds office in BH and she kept giving me so many peels bacteria got in my skin and it got worse so I had to see another dr for it. Anyway it got better with birth control and I highly recommend it. It’s my third year I’m taking it
Thank you for this raw skincare post. I was an avid reader of Jennifer Stanos blog and she was seeing Dr. Taheri (omg searched 10 Mins to find that out because I forgot his name!) I remember buying all his products since I had unlimited funds and was unhappy at that time in my life when I had everything (girls dream of type of life) but I was down and had not “made it there in life yet” is what my reasoning is for being self conscious, I would hate going anywhere with my skin, I’d hibernate and felt ugly, ugh. Anyway, you turned me on to bleach cream a Year or two ago and can’t thank you enough for it. Keep it up girl! ❤️ From Bay Areaaaa!
The struggle is real, thank you for posting this! XOXO
Thanks for still being so real about your skin care struggles!!
Much Love xxx
Zo skin obagi is the best!!!! The only products who helped my acne!! I swear by everything for these products! But like the doctors said if I want to have nice skin I will be on obagi forever
Morgan,
Thank you for being so real!
No one ever, EVER, deserves to receive hate comments about acne or deciding to use filters, “those bitches” are the ones who need a life.
Continue to be That Bitch who is real and honest and totally beautiful inside and out!
Morgan Osman
Author