I’ve struggled with hormonal acne for as long as I can remember. For the most part, I’ve gotten a handle on it with a consistent routine, good sleep, a plant-based diet, and making sure to drink water. The occasional facial from Samantha Mims also makes a huge difference, along with keeping my stress down as much as possible.
But with a global pandemic, sometimes that last part isn’t doable. Stress coupled with the irritation that can come with mask-wearing has made my poor skin quite confused: It’s dry, irritated, and broken out. I hit a low point after my flight from Chicago to New York in September, when it felt like a new pimple was popping up every day, and everything about my old routine just made my skin sad.
In a moment of desperation, I was looking through products in my cabinet that I’d never tried before. When I saw Osea’s Blemish Balm and Ocean Cleansing Mudd, they sounded like everything I needed.
The Blemish Balm, which is gentle enough to use daily as a light moisturizer, is packed with seaweed, tea tree oil, and thyme, which are all great for reducing redness and inflammation within the skin as well as preventing future breakouts. Grapeseed oil and jojoba oil provide added nourishment, which doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy, just hydrated and refreshed.