Week 26: Banish Acne Scars

Welcome back lovely people!

If this is your first time stumbling along my channel then I would like to welcome you to my little sanctuary... aka the place where I love to just ramble on about my little skin transformation journey.  I call it a little one but let's be honest, it has been a loooong time coming.  As you can see by the title of this post "Week 26."  That's almost 6 months!  However, my skin has come a very long way as you can tell by the pictures I post every week.  Some are better than others of course and that's to be expected.  Some days I eat my recommended amount of greens and other days I eat my not so recommended amount of McDonald's... *guilty*  Hence why sometimes I have new scars popping up.  Yes, it is something I am working on, but c'mon... we are all allowed at least one cheat day, right?

I decided to include three different sets of "Before & After" photos to show you the transitions that have gotten me to where I am today (Week 26)!
Starting with Week 6 ↓

Next we have Week 13 ↓

 And finally, we have Week 26 ↓
 
I plan to order another Banish Acne Scars kit in the M size and continue to use the Banish products until my skin is at least 75% clear.  Of course, I'd be happy if it were 95-100% clear but I'm content with some of my scars still lingering around.  It is important to realize that the scars on your face represent a moment/time in your life.  Now, whether you associate your scars with a negative or positive time in your life is entirely up to you.  I just think that down the road it would be cool to look at the tiny scar on your chin or cheek and see how far you've come.  Even looking at some of my smaller scars now I just think to myself, "Damn... I got through that" you know?  I don't know maybe I'm not making any sense here, but to me it's a pretty neat and empowering feeling.  Like I have said before, fuck 'em! They're just scars, it's not a big deal!  I know it's super cheesy to say but beauty really does come from within and it's important to recognize and embrace both your outer beauty but more importantly your inner beauty!

Click here for my Week 25: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 24: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 23: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 22: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 21: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 20: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

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Click here for my Week 13: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 12: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

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Click here for my Week 10: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 9: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 8: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

 Click here for my Week 7: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 6: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 5: Banish Acne Scars blog post! 

Click here for my Week 4: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 3: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 2: Banish Acne Scars blog post! 

Click here for my Week 1: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here to purchase products from Banish Acne Scars!

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn  

"I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse."

Florence Nightingale

Week 25: Banish Acne Scars

Welcome back beautiful people!

I hope you have all been enjoying your last couple of weeks of the summer and for those of you who are back to work now or getting back in the swing of things at school... hopefully it's not stressing you out too much!  Remember to take time out for yourself, obviously not too much time, but you know what I mean.  

I'll be the first to say that my face has taken a beating these last couple days.  I finally moved into my new place down where I go to school so moving was already as stressful as it is.  That, as well as lack of sleep and sleeping with my make-up on? Yeah... I don't blame my skin for freaking out.  I know it is SUCH a bad habit but sometimes the urge to fall asleep just takes over and I of course regret it the next day but......... that sleep though.

 
I noticed a couple of changes on the Banish Acne Scars website and thought I'd address the one major change!  If you've noticed, I have changed all of my blog posts that talked about the 0.5MM sized roller because Banish no longer sizes their dermarollers like that anymore.  So what used to be 0.25MM is now size "S," 0.5MM is now "M," 1.0 MM is now "L" and their Pen Stamp is still the same.  Therefore, the banisher that I use is the M size in case any of you were wondering.  As far as the actual rolling goes, my technique is still the same.  I start off with a clean face and roll each major section of my face (cheeks, chin/jawline, forehead, and nose).  I make sure to go over each section in every which way (rolling up and down, side to side, diagonal, etc.).  I then follow up with the serum once the actual rolling is done and it's off to bed I go.  

 

I also have been trying my best to drink lots of water (at least 8 cups a day) and for the last week I have been eating a bowl of raw spinach leaves every night before bed.  Yes, it sounds gross BUT, dark, leafy greens are essential in anyone's diet, especially those trying to get their skin in check!  I personally don't mind the taste of raw spinach leaves, however, it's something I've had to get used to.  As long as you got a big glass of water by your side to help wash it down you should be fine! (:  Enough rambling, onto the huge chart of all my left and right side pictures (Week 1-24)... 

Right Side

Left Side

Now that you've seen all the pictures from the previous weeks, let's get onto this week's shall we?  As you can see I had a couple little friends pop up on my chin/jawline area because why not?  Stubborn little things I tell ya!  Overall though I am pleased with the results that the Banish Acne Scars system continues to give me.  I really don't have to say this because I've said it a million and one times but just to reiterate... banishing acne scars is a slow process, especially when you have no acne coming and going.  I have however been testing out some new skin care products (not new to the market but new to me) which have been doing wonders on my skin which I may have to update you guys on in the near future!  I want to keep testing them out so I can see whether or not they provide long-term benefits of just initial ones!  

 

Click here for my Week 24: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 23: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 22: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 21: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 20: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 19: Banish Acne Scars blog post!
Click here for my Week 18: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 17: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 16: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 15: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 14: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 13: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 12: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 11: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 10: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 9: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 8: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

 Click here for my Week 7: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 6: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 5: Banish Acne Scars blog post! 

Click here for my Week 4: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 3: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here for my Week 2: Banish Acne Scars blog post! 

Click here for my Week 1: Banish Acne Scars blog post!

Click here to purchase products from Banish Acne Scars!

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn  

"Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going."

Sam Levenson

ORIGINS: Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask

"Activated charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. White China clay absorbs environmental toxins, and lecithin dissolves impurities. Without all that stuff down there, skin breathes a sigh of relief."

Welcome back everyone!  

I'm sure it's no surprise to you that I love facial masks for a number of different reasons.

First off, many face masks are meant to be somewhat of a "quick fix" meaning that if you haven't been taking good care of your skin, (out all night partying then coming home and sleeping in your make-up.... we've all been there trust me), applying a face mask is a great way to kick start back into your old skin care regimen.  Secondly, there are so many face masks on the market today that they are bound to carry at least one that is catered to your skin's needs.  And last but certainly not least, face masks are a great way to sit back, relax, and pamper yourself in the comfort of your own home without the hefty price tags that come with fancy salon visits!

I always like to start off these posts by explaining the 5 W's (and how) of the product: 

WHO: The Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask

WHAT: A mask with activated charcoal to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. 

Ingredients include:  water,myrtus communis (myrtle) leaf water, kaolin, bentonite, butylene glycol, montmorillonite, polysorbate 20, peg-100 stearate, charcoal powder, xanthan gum, lecithin, peg-150 distearate, propylene glycol stearate, sorbitan laurate, glycerin, propylene glycol laurate, simethicone, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, hexylene glycol, trisodium edta, dehydroacetic acid, phenoxyethanol.

WHERE: Can be bought anywhere Origins products are sold (i.e.: Sephora, Macy's, Amazon, eBay, etc.)

WHEN: Use once a week or as often as needed.  

WHY: When environmental toxins, dirt, and debris get under your skin, its waste-filtering system gets jammed, pores get clogged, and skin looks cloudy. By using this mask, nature's complexion clean-up crew gets to the bottom of skin's overcast condition and clears the way for it to act its best.

HOW: Start by opening pores with a warm, moist towel or you can boil some water into a bowl and tilt your face over the bowl to steam your face (sauna's are great for this too!).  Next you want to apply a thin layer of the product to your face; application tool is up to you.  You can use your clean fingers or use an old foundation brush.  I use my Real Techniques pointed foundation brush to apply a thin layer of the mask all over my face making sure to avoid the eye/eyebrow area.  Allow the mask to dry and harden (about 10-15 minutes), then rinse well.  

Pros and Cons of the Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask
Pros (+)	Cons (-)
Decent amount of product (3.4 fl OZ/100 mL) in a sleek, squeezy tube Spreads very easily (a little goes a long way) Thin consistency which allows the product to be washed off easily Helps reduce/shrink pore size especially on the nose! Also helped tremendously with the little tiny acne bumps that I used to have (the ones that you can't pop/pick at because they are just under the skin) Softens and smooths skin	Price ($25 US and $30 CAN) Leaves the skin dry/tight feeling so I would not recommend this for those with dry skin Somewhat of a strong fragrance (I actually don’t mind the fragrance but some may be sensitive to products with fragrance in them)

The pictures listed below show when the mask is first applied to my skin and 10-15 minutes after.  Right away you can see how thin the mask applies as there are no visible clumps in the product.  The mask starts out as a wet, grey colour and eventually dries up to a darker grey.  Once you move your face and see cracks starting to form from the mask you'll know it's time to wash that baby off!  You also want to make sure you follow up with a good moisturizer.  I have combination-oily skin and I find the mask tightens and dries up my skin ever so slightly so for those of you with dry skin types you may or may not have a positive experience with this product.  If you do go ahead and purchase the product I'd love to hear about your experiences with it in the comments below!  

 Freshly applied ↑ 

↓ 10-15 minutes later

 

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn   

"Every exit is an entry somewhere else."

Tom Stoppard