Acne was my skins worst nightmare. I threw everything at it -harsh cleansers, tea tree oil (straight up, like a psychopath), and even Castile soap, which left my face so dry it could’ve doubled as a desert floor. Nothing worked. If anything, my skin got angrier.
Then came Proactiv. I thought, this has to work, right? Everyone uses it. Well, let me tell you, my skin hated it. Not only did it fail to clear my acne, but it gave me actual sores. At that point, I knew I had to do something completely different. Not just switching out my skincare but reevaluating my diet, my environment, and even my toothpaste (because, spoiler: what you put in your mouth matters for your skin). And guess what? My acne and perioral dermatitis healed. Naturally. No antibiotics, no harsh prescriptions just a complete overhaul of how I treated my body, inside and out.
Here’s exactly what worked.
1. Checked My Skincare (And Threw Out the Strippers)
You know that tight, squeaky-clean feeling after washing your face? Yeah, that’s your skin barrier screaming for help. I was guilty of using stripping cleansers (hi, Castile soap) and spot-treating pimples into oblivion, which only led to more breakouts.
What I did instead:
Switched to a moisturizer that supports the skin biome (like our Yung Night & Day Cream) instead of trying to dry my skin into submission.
Ditched anything with SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), fragrance, and seed oils common irritants in skincare.
Exfoliated with fine sea salt to gently slough off dead skin without disrupting my barrier.
2. Questioned Every Ingredient in My Bathroom (Even My Toothpaste & Shampoo)
My acne wasn’s just coming from my skincare, it was everywhere. My toothpaste contained SLS, a known irritant, and my shampoo and conditioner? Full of fragrance, sulfates, and silicones that would run down my face and back in the shower.
What I did:
Switched to SLS and fluoride-free toothpaste (no more angry chin breakouts).
Chose clean shampoo & conditioner so my skin wasn’t getting bombarded with irritants in the shower.
Washed my pillowcase twice a week, because no one wants to rub their face in old skincare, sweat, and bacteria.
3. Dug Into Food Allergies (and Said Goodbye to Dairy, Wheat, and Sugar)
Gut health and skin health? Same thing. What I ate was directly fueling my acne, and my body was not vibing with dairy, wheat, or sugar. Turns out, I had IgA and IgG food sensitivities, which were triggering inflammation under the surface. (Think lesser known allergies - for me it was peas, red beef, blueberries as well as wheat, casein, dairy and more).
What I did:
Partnered with a naturopath and got food sensitivity testing (IgA & IgG) to see what was messing with my skin.
Eliminated dairy, wheat, and excess sugar, and within weeks, my breakouts drastically improved.
Focused on whole foods, lots of vegetables, healthy fats, and quality proteins to nourish my skin from within.
4. Stopped Treating My Skin Like the Enemy
Before, I attacked my acne like it was some war I needed to win. Stripping cleansers, harsh treatments, and over-exfoliating only made things worse. My skin didn’t need to be punished, it needed to be supported.
What changed:
I stopped over-cleansing and let my skin regulate itself.
Focused on barrier-supporting skincare (again, Yung Night & Day Cream was a game-changer).
Ditched aggressive treatments and just let my skin heal naturally.
5. The Results? Clear Skin Without the Suffering
When I stopped fighting my skin and started listening to it, everything changed. No more painful cystic breakouts, no more perioral dermatitis, and most importantly, no more over-drying my skin into oblivion. Most importantly though? I felt amazing and beautiful without makeup. No longer did I feel people were staring at me because of my acne/scabs/scars and that is so incredibly freeing.
If you’re struggling with acne and feel like you’ve tried everything, start with these changes. Your skin isn’t the enemy. It’s just trying to tell you something.
And if you need a moisturizer that actually supports your skin instead of stripping it, Yung Night & Day Cream has you covered. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Glow get it,
Kate