The Endless Chase For the Glow

I believed myself immune to advertising since most of it is novelty items. I learned to not be impulsive when I made purging my closet a part of my life and realized the wasted, unused items stuffed in a corner were often these emotional purchases. I was past the "low hanging fruit" phase of my shopping love and believed that being discerning will lead to savings and better choices.

I saw an ad about a snail mucin serum that promised to repair skin and that piqued my interest.

I wasn't a hormonal teen but still suffered from acne occasionally. The acne now left hyperpigmentation that stayed for months and I was so self-conscious. I spent tons on concealers and foundation that it should have been a tax deduction. Will these blackheads ever go away? This snail mucin promised to fix it all. I've been hearing whispers about miracles with Korean skincare and all of those comments danced in my head while I read this serum ad. I just had to try.

It's so easy to justify skincare purchases as it has a function and tangibly benefited you. Even if it's the same type of item, I told myself, "but this one has peptides!" while my other mask was a moisturizing one. Rinse and repeat a dozen times and this is how I had a drawer of masks.... and sections for each skin product category.

There was a time I would have looked at long routines and think, "ain't no one got time for that!" I felt maybe it was all worth it if it gave me truly the skin I want. The Korean skincare method involves an 8-10 step process but, I was excited to buy new products. I want glowing plump skin. Give me an even skin tone! I believed I can finally have skin that can skip the layers of concealer.

Click, add to cart, click, click.

The advertising matched my habits, showing me Korean skincare lines for my new addiction. I could scroll past but now I wanted them to find me. I lingered over every skincare ad and clicked on most of them. I rushed to skincare review websites and skincare forums daily to learn more. I watched endless Youtube product review videos.

I constantly tweaked the routine. Maybe this toner will be better than my current, or at least the reviews say so. I chucked my fairly full bottle of toner into my skincare drawer and placed on my counter my brand new one. I saw my drawer of rejects had gotten full and I shamelessly ignored that I'm back to my old habits of emotional purchasing.

Despite the constant research on the newest and best, my skin only improved marginally. I had to mitigate my expectations and told myself to be patient.

After a year I felt downtrodden that I still had hyperpigmentation and I am not the glowing skin Goddess I was promised.

I browsed Facebook and saw an old coworker was advertising she opened an esthetician practice not far from my home. She claimed to specialize in acne and hyperpigmentation so I booked a skincare consultation. I need answers as to why is this not working. I purchased the most talked about and well-reviewed items and given them plenty of time to work.

I brought a backpack full of my routine items to show her. It was heavy and overstuffed which should have been an indication I've gone too far. As she read through ingredients and talked to me about each item, it was clear I was "doing the most" and it was a disservice to all the effort, time, and money I have sunk into skincare.

While some had decent ingredients and were good choices for my skin, the concentrations of the active ingredients were minimal in some and were why it took so long to take effect. She added a few products from dermatologist skincare lines that had higher concentrations of active ingredients and kept a few of my favorite products. We tossed out most of my skincare routine and simplified it. My skincare became a hobby that overtook my life. I didn't see how badly I clung to purchasing the new and the best rated until I had to use only what she approved.

I started to go to her monthly to tackle the hyperpigmentation and acne scarring. In only four months, my skin looked better than it ever had.

I was even-toned, acne-free, and glowing. I did not need concealer to hide dark spots anymore. I switched to a tinted moisturizer from a build-able coverage foundation. I still had acne scars, but I believed her when she said we will tackle that issue in time.

People started to notice, and I was solicited constantly for skincare advice. I found most fell for similar traps as I did. Folks either tried too many things, had an incomplete routine thinking one wonder product will do it all, or had products that were incorrect for their concerns entirely.

I think the skincare industry banks on the overload and the confusion to hook you into buying a lot of it based on the promises written on the packaging. Even when it's not what you need, it's so easy to say "yes" to what the box claims to offer. I didn't need that, but who wouldn't want prevention?

Even if you are looking for an at-home routine, it's worth it to get a facial and start your face with a clean slate and have an expert help you create an effective skincare routine.

Despite me dispensing this advice like a broken record, I still have people ask me why their routine isn't working a year down the road. They are trapped in trying too much and seeking advice from whomever has an opinion. I'm just a keyboard expert and not a real one. The best thing you can purchase is real guidance. Splurge on the expert and get real results. I spend a decent amount on my facial treatments, but I would have saved myself time and trouble if I went sooner. I am so glad that her advertisement found me and saved me from more clickbait.

My at-home routine is manageable now and has staples that work. I don't suffer from acne, my acne scars are nearly gone, and my skin texture has improved. I don't feel self-conscious having a "naked" face. Best of all, the routine and monthly visits are manageable. I do not miss spending an hour on my skin daily to only receive mediocre results.

Now if I can tackle finding a natural deodorant that does work, I would be an unstoppable.

That drawer of rejects is still full.