As someone who was fortunate enough to never experience teenage acne, I am now confronted with monthly hormonal breakouts and by-golly is it a journey.
As some of you know, I am 42 and have been experiencing perimenopausal symptoms for a while now.
Along with bouts of hot flushes, night sweats, nausea and other fun stuff, I've noticed the skin on my face changing.
It's a lot oilier, and about a week before I get my period, I have a breakout of acne. Usually it's around my chin / mouth area, but sometimes in other places; and horrifyingly often the acne hurts.
My sister (who did experience teenage / adult acne), assures me this is all normal, and she is very patient with me even though I'm sure it kills her inside that I'm only just experiencing this now considering she's struggled with it her whole life.
Because of my good fortune / genetics, I've never really had to have a proper skincare routine because I never felt like I needed it (although I probably should have been at least doing something). Other than daily sunscreen, I never consistently used skincare products and I never washed my face outside of using soap in the shower ... don't come for me with the pitch forks please haha ... if I wore makeup then I used a makeup remover but that's about it.
Now I'm 42, and finding myself needing to wash my face multiple times a day because it just feels so damn oily and gross.
I realise a lot of people (my sister being one of them) have been dealing with this for decades, but it's all new to me and a part of my perimenopause journey.
My daughter is just starting out her journey with acne, at the age of 12, and it would seem so am I. So we are actually discovering things together and although it sucks, it's also great to learn these things and share them with her.
At the moment I'm still figuring out what products work for me and what don't, but my sister has recommended the Cerave range (as have a lot of my followers), so I started using the Cerave Acne Control Cleanser - this is also what my daughter uses.
I also use the Cerave AM Facial Moisturising Lotion, but I do love the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery, I just don't have enough money at the moment to keep buying it.
My skin, whilst oily, is quite sensitive. And if I don't find the right kind of moisturser with SPF50, it can make my eyes water pretty badly. Both of the products above haven't done that for me which is great.
At night, after I cleanse, I actually have been using The Herb Farm's Menosupport Night Cream. Full disclosure - I was sent this to try with no obligation to chat about, but I have been really enjoying using it (if that's a thing). I LOVE the smell of it, and find it really relaxing haha which I know sounds weird but I connect with the smell and it works really well for my skin.
My sister has recommended using pimple patches on the pimples that hurt, so I'll be doing that as well, but if any of you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them!
This is all such a new space for me, and whilst I know it's not for a lot of people, I appreciate people who understand that each person's journey with acne in life is different and that not all of us are the same.
My mind boggles at the change in my hormones and how it's affecting every single thing in my body ... don't even get me started about my hair though. It's still thick and lucious but lordy it gets oily at the drop of a hat.
That's a story for another time though ... hit me with any recommendations or stories about acne / hormones / perimenopause.
I have more acne now than when I was a teenager! So I feel you Maria.