10 Acne Friendly Things I'm Loving Right Now

It's been a minute since I've written one of these. Since it's election day I thought a post about how to improve your skin would be an ideal distraction. Since it is election day I strongly encourage a big glass of wine but make it red and make sure it has the DOC or DOCG label (it's better for your skin). Here are a few acne friendly things I'm loving right now if you're on the hunt for some new products! 1. Clearstem's new HydraGlow moisturizer- This just launched a few weeks ago and I'm super obsessed. It's so hard to find a moisturizer that is completely free of pore clogging ingredients and endocrine disrupting chemicals. This one also contains bakuchiol which is a natural form of retinol so it's anti aging but wont thin your skin. Home run product in my book! 2. Beef Liver Capsules- I know, it sounds gross but honestly it's a supplement and you can't taste a thing. Liver is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet and contains a lot of the essential vitamins and minerals our diet is missing. This is a great alternative to a multi vitamin as most multivitamins typically contain high doses of b12, vitamin D, and biotin which can contribute to acne. 3. Matcha Latte's- Ya'll I'm trying to give up coffee and it's been a draaaaaag. I'm 1,000 percent an addict. I recently did a food sensitivity test and coffee came back extremely high which broke my heart. I'm apparently sensitive to the actual coffee bean, not the caffeine so I switched to Matcha Lattes. Matcha contains L-Theanine which is an anti-inflammatory and is typically a little less dehydrating than coffee. I do 8oz of cashew milk, a dash of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of matcha powder and 1 scoop of Dao Joint Vitality. 4. Dao Digestive Harmony- Most people who struggle with acne have chronic inflammation and struggle to properly digest foods, especially protein. I typically take a digestive enzyme to properly break down fats, carbs and proteins but I'm also really digging this supplement. It's a powder that you can add straight to your water (it actually tastes good). This is a great option if you ate too quickly or are struggling with an upset stomach. 5. He Shou Wu- Say what? Bare with me here. When people tell me they are struggling with breakouts I always ask what supplements they are taking. The most common supplement I hear is Biotin. This is a big NO NO for people who struggle with acne. When you have acne you're already producing skin cells 5-6 times faster than the average person. Biotin tells you to produce EVEN MORE skin cells. You don't need any help in that department! If you're taking biotin to help with hair growth take He Shou Wu instead. It's a Chinese herb and I typically recommend taking it in tincture form as it's the easiest way for your body to absorb it. 6. The Ordinary Peeling Solution- You guys. This peel is great and it's only 8 dollars. It's also free of toxic ingredients and contains glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acid to help exfoliate. It doesn't get much better than that. I recommend starting out with using this 2-3 times per week. Just cleanse, pop this peel on for 10-20 minutes and then wash off. Make sure you moisturize after as this peel can be drying, especially in a Minnesota climate. 7. Face Reality Sal C Toner- I love a good toner and think everyone should use one. Even when you think you've washed all your make up and the remnants of the day off, I guarantee you if you took a cotton round with toner, you would find makeup and dirt that was missed. This toner is also great to soak some cotton rounds in and carry in a ziplock bag with you through the day to help with maskne. It contains salicylic acid and willow bark to offer exfoliation and niacinamide to offer anti inflammatory support. 8. Face Reality Sulfur Spot Treatment- To touch on the maskne epidemic that we are all facing, I love this spot treatment. Sulfur is a much less toxic option than the ever popular benzoyl peroxide pimple shrinker. BP can be great as a mask a few times per week but using excessive amounts contributes to chronic inflammation and long term thinning of the skin. This sulfur spot treatment also contains neutrazen which helps reduce redness. 9. Avocado Toast- Total Millennial over here. Actually my husband commonly refers to me as a hipster which I'm cool with. Several studies have shown that sticking to a low glycemic diet is shown to be effective in managing acne. If I'm going to eat carbs I always make sure to pair it with a fat to slow the blood sugar spike. Bonus: Did you know that in one study done by The Harvard School of Public Health, it showed that women who ate the highest amounts of monounsaturated fat (avocados contain the best kind) were 3.4 times more likely to conceive after IVF than those who didn't incorporate any into their diet. I like to mash up half an avocado with a scoop of collagen peptides, salt and pepper and then put it on sprouted bread. 10. Priia Cosmetics Bronzer- Being an esthetician means I avoid the sun like the plague. It ages you, gross. My husband frequently tells our neighbors I'm afraid of the sun. I honestly think they believe him (eye roll). However, this bronzer makes me feel like I have a sun kissed glow. It's a loose powder so I just put a couple shakes into my foundation. This company as a whole is amazing. It is the only 100 percent acne safe make up company I have found. HIGHLY recommend checking them out.

Ookay kids that's all I have! Happy Election Day! XOXO, Kaila