YES … you read the title correctly! I’m learning how to wash my face properly at 26! Phew. Okay so for the last five months or so my skin has been going through some S E R I O U S drama. It was like I was getting acne all over again! I couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from. I kept switching products and eliminating things and nothing was working. Since I have a pretty serious botanical allergy, I couldn’t use all the things people were recommending, like aloe or witch hazel, just to name a few. It sounds crazy, I know, but I can’t use any natural products on my skin without getting some form of contact dermatitis. My skin and I learned that the hard way about 4/5 years ago but that’s a story for another time haha!
I became so fed up with my skin that I reached out to the ladies at Spa Azure to see if they could help answer what was going on with my skin. While scrolling through their Instagram page I saw that they had a black esthetician, so I knew I would be in good hands. (reason number 45435 why representation is important)
I went in hopeful that there would be at least a product or two that I would be able to used to help me during my breakout but my skin had other plans! Even though I couldn’t use any of the products that were sold there, Helen (my esthetician) + the team at Spa Azure made sure that all of my questions were answered. I learned from Helen that I was stripping everything from my face, the good & the bad, by washing my face almost 3-4 times a day. Crazy, I know. I would wash my face BEFORE and AFTER the gym which was one of my biggest mistakes.
During my breakout phase, I was only cleansing and moisturizing. Helen recommended that I added in toning + exfoliation to my routine once I started to see improvements to my skin. She also recommended that I try microdermabrasion just to help get rid of the dead skin on my face, so I can start fresh. (haven’t gotten this yet, will report back if I do!)
I am happy to report that with just those few tips alone my skin started clearing up slowly within a few days. I still have a little ways to go but my skin and I are doing WAY better than we were a few months ago! Those ladies made me feel normal during my consult and cast no judgment towards me when I told them about my allergies to natural products. That reason alone makes me want to recommend Spa Azure to everyone!
To all of my fellow black women who are based in Charleston and aren’t sure where to go for all of your dermatologist needs, please be sure to make a consultation at Spa Azure and don’t forget to ask for Helen!