Your 30s have entered the chat……………
One thing none of the women around me warned me about my 30s, was the drastic changes my body would go through. Heading into 32 I had gained weight in places I never had, and my eyebrows were thinning while my girlstache was thickening. My body was taking on a different shape and my hormones had a mind of their own. As terrible as this all sounds, this wasn’t the worst part. The worst part of early thirtydom……ADULT ACNE!
In my 32 years of life I had never experienced acne. I was fortunate enough to have always had clear skin that required minimal maintenance. Then…BOOM….adult acne shows up at 32. Man did it suck. Not only did it take over my lower face and jaw line, it took over my life. I spent every morning caking on makeup to hide it and every evening washing, scrubbing, picking and popping to alleviate the cystic swells that were on every inch of my lower face. Something else I had to learn the hard way was skin care. I hardly washed my face as a teen, I picked any time a blemish showed up, and I never used sunscreen. To make matters worse, I tanned. I tanned a LOT in high school and into college.
The Summer of 2015 I made a career move that landed me in Phoenix, AZ. I was newly single and all the adult stressors you face in your 30s were in high gear. My skin was ready to serve me a piping hot cup of karma. A month before I arrived in Phoenix, my acne was bad. It wasn’t unbearable but it was bad! It was cystic acne and with every healing zit 3 more would appear. The tricky part with managing cystic acne is that often the blemishes never come to a head. This means they can’t be popped, and you have zero control with how long it takes for each blemish to heal.
What causes cystic acne in women? So many things. Bacteria infection below the dermal layer can cause cystic acne. An increase in androgenic hormones (testosterone) can also cause cystic acne. Both factors can join forces too and really wreak havoc on your face. In my case, it was both causes. After a couple months in Phoenix my cystic acne had become unbearable. I had a new boyfriend and I would wince every time he came near my cheeks to kiss me. My whole face was tender to the touch. My bottom jaw felt swollen tender and bruised all the time.
I was desperate trying any remedy I read about or saw on YouTube. I tried Proactive (Benzoyl Peroxide). I tried salicylic acid face wash. I tried hyaluronic acid face wash. I even tried oil pulling. While I was testing out different remedies, I consulted my OBGYN for hormone help. We tried 3 different types of birth control. Every skin care + birth control routine I cocktailed, and nothing worked. I switched up my diet multiple times thinking the acne would magically disappear. After 10 months of trying different remedies I had lost all hope. I can remember sobbing one night asking my boyfriend how he could stand to be with me because my face was so ugly. I couldn’t stand to look at myself in the mirror so I had no idea how this man could look me dead in my eyes every morning and tell me how pretty I was. My self-esteem was nonexistent through all of this. I didn’t feel sexy or pretty or myself. Adult acne had consumed me. I refused to be in pictures and rarely wanted to go out in public.
I know I know, it all sounds super dramatic. Some of it was. Vanity is so toxic for your self-esteem. But it was the pain that was so bad that I was becoming desperate. Fortunately, my boyfriend’s step mom was (is) a renowned aesthetician in Scottsdale. Her office was going to start offering a new laser service to alleviate ailments such as mine but before they did, they needed a guinea pig. My boyfriend (now husband) knew I was struggling with my skin and mentioned it to his step mom. She immediately offered me the guinea pig position at her office. I was overjoyed. There was light at the end of the acne tunnel!
Photo credit: Dr. Stephen Beals
I embarked on a 12 week skincare journey at Dr Stephen Beals, MD,PC of Scottsdale,AZthat consisted of bi-weekly BBL photofacial laser appointments coupled with bi-monthly chemical peels. In addition to the laser and peel treatment, I was provided with an entire skincare management system to use. Jan Marini’s Skincare Management System is a five-step skincare system. It includes a Bioglycolic Face Cleanser, C-Esta Face Serum, Bioclear Face Lotion or Cream (depending on if it’s the normal or dry System), Transformation Face Cream or Age Intervention Face Cream (also depending on normal or dry System) and an Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 33. As for the specs on this amazing system: The System’s key technologies work synergistically to provide maximum results across multiple skin concerns. This comprehensive system incorporates Vitamin C, peptides, growth factors, AHA and BHA exfoliators, hydrators and sunscreen to deliver rapid improvement in the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles, uneven texture, acne, redness and sun damage.
I used the entire skincare system morning and night during my laser treatments and still do to this day. After having tried every skincare line out there, I finally found a product that was reactive and proactive at the same time. It was helping heal my acne from the outside in.
I was amazed at how all three remedies worked together to clear my existing acne and prevent any future cysts. The laser treatments, chemical peels, and skincare system worked together to limit the amount of sebum my oil glands were producing and kept my face clean and moisturized. I saw about an 85% improvement once I reached the end of the treatment. It gradually improved from there as I continued to use the Jan Marini skincare line. If there is one thing I invest in regularly, it is my skin. The Jan Marini skincare management system is worth every penny. I buy the entire skincare system 3x a year and simply refill the face wash every 60 days (or as I run out). I’ve linked their product page here.
I do want to disclaim that laser treatment of any sort can be costly as can regular chemical peels. I would argue it is worth every penny though. I’m sure if I added up what I spent on trial and erroring my way through face washes and birth control, I spent the same if not more than the amount for 1 laser treatment. It’s also worth mentioning that most healthcare savings accounts will cover these kinds of treatments (and the product). It is also worth looking into whether your health insurance covers skin resurfacing procedures. Some insurance companies will cover treatment for cancer prevention and even certain scar removal.
I really cannot say enough positive things about my acne recovery. Dr Beals’ team helped to heal my skin and my confidence. I am so very thankful for the remarkable results Jan Marini Skin Research skincare products delivered. I am a dedicated customer for life. To be honest though, I’m not surprised I had such great success because their products have won awards and have been feature on the Today Show.
If you’re in the Scottsdale / Phoenix area, and are interested in cosmetic dermatological services, feel free to schedule your appointment at Dr. Beals’ office here. If you’re outside of the Phoenix area, be sure to do your due diligence when finding skin resurfacing laser professionals. Read the reviews, and shop different provider prices.
Leave your skincare journey comments below. Let me know what questions you have about the Jan Marini Skin Research skincare line. Thanks for reading about this journey! As always, I appreciate your support.
Shop the Look
