From: Allure
Lately, we've been feeling inspired and empowered by the #skinpositivity movement that's taking over Instagram. Regular people and influencers alike are flooding our feeds with makeup-free, unfiltered selfies, and we're totally for it. It's a not-so-subtle reminder that none of us are alone in our skin struggles and that the emotional impact of imperfect skin is a very real thing. That's not to say that acne-sufferers should throw in the towel and accept their skin woes as just a part of their reality — especially if that's not what they want to do. And actually, we're here to tell you that there have been great strides and innovations made in the past few years that are a definite cause for excitement.
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Perhaps one of the most significant developments in recent memory was the FDA's approval of Differin Gel Acne Treatment — a prescription-strength topical retinoid — for over-the-counter use. If you are not familiar with retinoids, then let us fill you in: they are heavy-hitting skin-care products that regulate cell turnover, calm inflamed acne skin, fight acne where it starts, and can even prevent new breakouts from forming. Acne-sufferers rejoiced at the news, because it meant that this promising treatment was more accessible and affordable. Since its introduction to the other side of the counter, it's helped countless people on their quest for clearer skin.* Last year, amidst all of the buzz, we asked a few Allure Beauty Enthusiasts (women from our inner circle of loyal readers) to try the treatment themselves. The results were astounding in just a few weeks, as you'll see below. Now, in celebration of Retinoid Education Week, we checked back in with these same women, who have been using Differin Gel Acne Treatment for the past year, to share their own skin journeys, and it was truly moving to see what a difference 12 months made — not just on the appearance of their skin, but also on their confidence.
*Differin Gel Acne Treatment is ideal for those with mild to moderate acne, or even occasional breakouts.
Ashley has experienced every kind of acne in the 18 years she’s been dealing with it. And she’s tried many ways of hiding it, including covering her face with her hair and piling on makeup. Now, for the first time since she was a teenager, Ashley has clear skin. “I don’t have words to describe it,” she says. “Honestly, it’s amazing.” And, as a bonus, she no longer spends as much time on her morning routine or stresses about running out of foundation. No makeup? No problem. “I went to the gym for the first time with no makeup on, which was a huge accomplishment for me,” says Ashley. “Before, if someone who knew me saw me in the gym, I would normally run away. Now I’m like, ‘I’ve got this.’ I have a new peace of mind.”
For Carlie, makeup used to be a must-have. “I was caking on makeup to cover my acne, which in turn made the acne worse,” she says. “I carried concealer everywhere.” Now, she feels comfortable leaving her house barefaced — and, when she does choose to wear makeup, it’s much lighter and more natural-looking than before. “I feel so good about my skin,” she says. “It’s a total transformation. My skin glows now.”
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Before Differin, Cati never knew when she’d wake up with a fresh breakout. This made her feel self-conscious 24/7, which is why she stocked her desk at work with an emergency makeup stash. “I always had concealers in several shades, multiple color correctors, and a mirror on my desk just in case,” says Cati. But a year can change a lot. She is now comfortable going for a coffee run in the morning without a speck of makeup, and she also feels happier at her part-time gig at a beauty company. “I’m no longer thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what kind of makeup am I going to wear?’ or ‘Should I bring something with me in case I have a stress breakout?’ I can just focus on doing my job, which is a relief.”
Lizet has experienced on-again, off-again breakouts, with flawless skin one day and a spattering of pimples everywhere the next. “I didn’t go out that much, because I never knew if I’d have a good day or a bad day,” she recalls. But while her skin has cleared up in the past year, her calendar has only gotten more and more packed — and she has not only reconnected with old friends, she's also making new friends. "I feel more social and more willing to go out and have fun,” she says. “I love the skin I’m in now. It really helped bring out the best in me.”
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Soshana has been dealing with constant breakouts since she was nine years old, so she had come to accept it as part of her reality. But now that she has clearer skin, she is cognizant of the emotional impact that her acne had on her — and even how it held her back from meeting new people. With a restored sense of confidence, she notices that she's much more approachable. “I feel like I get more positive attention,” she says. “And I feel like people are more willing to come up and talk to me.”
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Since her first pimple in middle school, Terecille has tried everything to control the breakouts on her forehead. Prescription gels from a dermatologist, birth control pills, multi-step skin-care systems: You name it, she’s tried it. She even reached a point when she got bangs and often wore her hair down in order to hide her acne. After using Differin Gel Acne Treatment, her acne has faded away — and so has her self-consciousness. “I walk around knowing that people aren’t staring at my face because I have a pimple,” says Terecille. “I used to think about makeup in terms of what would distract from a facial blemish, and now I don’t have to worry about it at all.”
See more at: Allure
See more at: Allure
