Friday, 6 November 2015

Banish Acne Scars: Pumpkin Enzyme Masque

Welcome back beautiful people!
It's that time of year again when many stores start selling pumpkin flavoured products such as Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte, Tim Horton's Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Yankee Candle's Pumpkin Spiced Candle, and the list goes on and on and on.  One pumpkin flavoured product that is actually sold all year around is the Pumpkin Enzyme Masque from Banish Acne Scars!  The mask is a great anti-acne mask which contains lots of vitamins and enzymes to help smooth out the skin's texture while keeping the skin healthy!  Pumpkin contains natural ingredients that are great for getting rid of acne, and getting rid of scarring so if you're looking to get rid of any of the two, look no further!
This chart was taken directly from the Banish Acne Scars website and shows exactly what the Pumpkin Enzyme Masque contains and the benefits.

Vitamin A
Great for healing skin!
  • Dries out acne
  • Heals blemishes
  • Promotes exfoliation of skin to prevent new acne from forming
  • Essential Vitamin for healthy skin, hair and eyes
  • Treats oily skin
Vitamin C & Beta-Carotene
Antioxidant to protect skin so it can heal!
  • Reverses skin damage
  • Binds with free radicals so they won't harm your fresh new skin cells
  • Defends against cancer and damage from the sun
  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Builds more collagen
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
The natural exfoliator.
  • Slough off dead skin cells
  • Lightens blemishes from hyper pigmentation or scarring
  • Exfoliate skin to show off your healthy glowing skin underneath
  • Keeps skin moisturized and heals any skin flaking
Zinc
The immune system booster.
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Prevents scarring
  • Helps heal damaged skin
Ingredients: Pumpkin Fruit, Organic Bilberry Fruit Extract, Organic Sugar Cane Extract, Organic Orange Peel Extract, Organic Lemon Peel Extract, Glycerin, Tetrasodium ETDA, Vitamin E, Phenoxyethanol, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Vitamin C, Glycolic Acid, Neem Seed Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Cinnamon Bark Powder, Ginger Root Powder, Nutmeg Powder.

Application Process:

  1. Start with a clean face. 
    • As with any face mask, you want to make sure you start off with a clean face.  If you plan on using this first thing in the morning, I'd suggest just wetting your face with water.  However, if you plan on doing this before bed, take off all your makeup or anything you have on your face with a gentle cleanser, wash off, and pat dry.
  2. Apply.
    • Application is super easy with this product!  You can use your clean fingers to take a toonie-sized amount and apply it all over your face.  You can also use a foundation brush to apply which is my preferred method because it is less messy that way.  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.
  3. The waiting game.
    • Now is the fun part.  Put on some Netflix, watch some YouTube videos, listen to music, read a book, etc., etc., etc.  Now's the time to do whatever you want while you wait for your mask to almost completely dry.  I usually leave mine on for 10 minutes.  You'll know when your mask is ready to be taken off when you notice it starting to flake off when you make certain facial expressions.  The colour and texture of the mask also changes which indicates that it's time to wash it off!
  4. Wash off the mask to reveal cleansed and soothed skin.
    • The best way to wash off this face mask is to apply lukewarm water to the skin and gently massage off.  You'll notice the first few massages won't get everything entirely off, this is normal.  Just keep applying water to your skin and eventually it will all rub off.  Once it's all off, simply pat dry with a clean towel.  Apply your favourite moisturizer if needed and you're good to go.

So I'll just go over a quick Pros & Cons list:
Pros
  • All natural & organic.
  • A little goes a long way.
  • Lightens blemishes from hyper pigmentation or scarring.
  • Dries out active acne which helps to heal blemishes.
  • Gives a nice cooling sensation (if kept in the fridge) to the skin
Cons
  • Heavily fragrant, so if the smell of pumpkin pie bothers you than this may not be the product for you.  I put this in the "cons" list because for some it may be considered a negative, whereas I personally don't mind the smell.
  • Price point. Again, for some this may be an issue.  The product is $29.00 USD for 2 oz, although a little does go a long way, it is all based on personal budgets.
 
Click here to purchase the Pumpkin Enzyme Masque from Banish Acne Scars!

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

"I always tried to go a step past wherever people expected me to end up."
Beverly Sills

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Week 29: Banish Acne Scars

Welcome back wonderful people!
I'd like to welcome you to another blog post regarding the transformation of my skin.  The reason I say transformation is because my skin has come a very long way.  Over the course of about 7 months I have been using the M size dermaroller purchased from the Banish Acne Scars website.  Basically what dermarolling is, is a device that has teeny-tiny needles on it and you use it by rolling it over your skin in every which way (up and down, side to side, diagonal, etc.).  What this does is creates little holes in your skin which triggers your skin to "think" that it has been damaged resulting in your skin to work extra hard to "fix" the problem (gosh, how many more times can I say skin in that sentence?).  
Dermarolling can be used for a variety of reasons (i.e.: hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, etc.) however, I use it strictly for my acne scars.
Now, you may be wondering, "Jess, if you started using the Banish Acne Scars system back in January, how are you only on Week 29? Shouldn't you be in the 40's?  And the answer to this question is yes, I should be at Week 44 actually.  HOWEVER, I have not been using the roller every single week. I know..... shoot me!  Kidding, don't do that.  But yes, just like you, I am human too.  There are some weeks where I don't use the roller, and there are other weeks when I use it twice.  If we are focusing on the actual pictures that have been taken, then I am on my 29th Week.  With all of that being said, let's get into some before and after pictures (my personal favourite part of these posts).
 The first set of before & after pictures are from Week 7, the second are from Week 9, and the last set (the ones right above this text) are obviously this weeks!  I have said this before and I will say it again, I never retouch or edit my pictures.  I simply take the shot and crop them on my computer.  Nothing else.  How lame would that be anyway if I were to edit out some of my acne scars?  Heck no!  I want you all to see the difference the Banish Acne Scars system is making on my skin.  It really is a great line of products which I would recommend to anyone looking to fade their acne scars and/or hyperpigmentation (the proof is right there in front of you).  Speaking of other products in their line, expect to see some reviews on other products that Banish Acne Scars offers and sells on their website!  I'm super excited to share them with you all!
Click here for my Week 28: Banish Acne Scars blog post!
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Click here to purchase products from Banish Acne Scars!

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

"Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me."
Carol Burnett

Monday, 19 October 2015

Week 28: Banish Acne Scars

Welcome back beautiful people!
I would like to send a warm welcome to those who are just tuning in (and I do mean warm) considering I'm in bed, under the covers, wearing and over-sized sweater dreading the weather outside.  I do love cold weather and the change of seasons but I'd much rather prefer cold weather while I'm inside a warm house.  Winter is coming my friends... stay warm out there.  With that being said, I think it is time I stop rambling and get onto this week's Banish Acne Scars post!
In regards to my actual active acne, I have noticed such a difference in my skin whilst I've been using Proactiv+ (which i have a separate blog post about here).  I finished my 30-Day Trial size and have now moved over to the 90-Day Supply size.  I almost smell a change in my skincare routine post happening very soon... because this stuff is working wonderfully on my face!

As for my actual acne scars, it's still the same old, same old which I am not complaining about!  Personally, dermarolling is something I see myself doing for a long time, even once majority of my acne scars are gone.  It is a great way to plump the skin all while building collagen.  Yes, I may take breaks in between rolls or not do it so often, but it is definitely something I see being in my regimen for a long time.
 Pictures on the left were taken from Week 25 and those to the right are obviously this week's!  So what you're looking at there is a 3 week difference that Banish has made.  Nothing astronomical or out of this world, but it's something, you know?  I've said it before and I will say it again over and over, "banishing" acne scars takes time.  The change will not happen overnight but don't let that discourage you! Your self worth is worth waaay more than some stupid scars on your face.  Keep your chin up and keep moving forward :)   

Click here for my Week 27: Banish Acne Scars blog post!
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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  

"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work."
H. L. Hunt

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Week 27: Banish Acne Scars

Welcome back wonderful people!
 I hope all my Canadian babies out there had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lots of food and great company!  Being obsessed with Instagram, you know I have a bunch of pictures to show you of my Thanksgiving outfit this weekend!  
Outfit Details
Dress: Old Navy
Over-sized Cardigan: Aerie
Tights: Dollarama
Knee-high socks: Ardene
Necklace: Stole it from Mama Glynn (sorry I don't know where she got it)
Shoes: Target 

I hope you are all enjoying the lovely atmosphere that autumn brings.  Whether it's the cooler weather, the changing of the leaves, the different holiday scents/flavours, etc., autumn is such a lovely time of year (at least for me it is).  With the changing of the weather comes a need for more hydration on my skin.  I try my best to apply a really rich moisturizer at nighttime before bed and the one I have been using lately is the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.  It has a very thick consistency and is formulated for normal to dry skin.  Especially now that I am using the Proactiv+ skincare line (full review here), my skin is a lot more on the normal-dry side so this moisturizer is perfect at nighttime.  
As for my skin and my post-acne scars in particular, I feel like my skin is at a stand still as of late.  It's not really getting any better, nor is it getting any worse.  This is completely normal for those of you who are going through this and can't figure out how or why it's happening.  With Halloween coming right around the corner, I've been trying my best to eat healthy and work-out as much as possible.  This includes 60 minutes of physical activity a day (walking, jogging, running, cardio, elliptical, etc.) as well as incorporating more vegetables in my diet, specifically dark, leafy greens.  I'm the type though that finds it super hard to stay on a strict schedule and/or diet.  It just sucks that fast food is so convenient and quick and healthy food takes time to prepare/cook.  However, I try to stop myself when passing by fast food restaurants and have been buying a lot more health-conscious groceries.  Enough blabbing, onto the before and after photos (which by the way are never edited, photoshopped, etc. just raw and real).  
 The pictures on the left hand side were taken from Week 4/5 of my Banish Acne Scars Journey!  I really hope you can see the drastic difference that 20 weeks has made.  I think it's also a great way of showing you how the system works.  For some, you may see results within 5 or even 10 weeks, for others, it may take longer.  As you can see, I'm still using the roller 27 weeks later and I don't plan on stopping until I am satisfied with the way my skin looks.  Don't get me wrong, I love the skin I am in, but I can't wait until my scars are teeny-tiny to where they almost look like freckles! Hey, a girl can dream ;)

Click here for my Week 26: Banish Acne Scars blog post!
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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  

"Go big or go home. Because it's true. What do you have to lose?"
Eliza Dushku