For as long as I can remember, I have always had bad acne. I am not talking "a pimple on prom day" bad either, I am talking about years worth of medications, facial peels, topical products, regimented routines, and more. In middle school I even started on an Accutane regiment which required monthly blood tests in order to ensure that my white blood cells count and liver levels were normal.
Upon entering high school, my acne was better than it had been in the past, but the problem was not resolved. Through a serialized makeup routine I learned how (to the most part) cover up my acne. College came and went, and between concealer, and (let's be real) often being too lazy to do full makeup, I came to be more accepting of my skin. Now, I usually don't do full makeup at all except for special occasions.
This past December, my mom gave me a gift of a few different products from Lush. After she had started using Lush products and loved how they made her skin feel, she purchased a few for me to try as well. I had been in love with Lush Bath Bombs for years, but had never used any of their other products. Here was my chance. I would only use Lush products on my face for one month straight and see what, if any, effect they had on my acne-prone skin.
As a company, Lush is 100% vegetarian, and even 80% of their products are vegan. While I am neither, I love using products by a company which truly seeks to live out their values, including only purchasing ingredients from companies who do not commission testing on animals. I also love that as a whole they try to package their products "naked" whenever possible aka without generating plastic waste.
Oh, and seriously, if you haven't ever taken a bath with a Lush Bath Bomb you are missing out.
So here we see me on Day 1 prior to using any Lush products. As you can see, I have some acne scaring around my face, and an inflamed pimple on my left cheek and on my right chin. I also will note that on the day this was taken I was wearing a few layers of concealer to cover up the worst of my acne.
And so we began my one month of only using Lush products. Here are the products that made up my skin care routine for one month straight.
Step 1: Herbalism Face and Body Cleanser
Lush is not kidding about fresh ingredients. The first ingredient in this face wash is ground almonds. This is truly the "cleanest" smelling cleanser I have ever encountered. It reminds me of being outside after the first rainstorm of the season (a large feat here in Southern California).
It was also my first time using a facial cleanser in a solid form as opposed to a liquid. Overall, the process is pretty simple. Put a pea sized amount in your hand and add a few drops of water so it turns into a paste. Then massage into your skin until you rinse off with warm water. I have used this product morning and evening every day for the past month.
Step 2: Dark Angels Face and Body Cleanser
I have used charcoal exfoliators in the past, but this was the first time that one of these exfoliators really felt like it was doing its job. Similar to herbalism, the product comes out in a solid and must be mixed with a few drops of water in order to create a paste. A few notes: It is definitely messy, so I would recommend washing your face with Dark Angeles in the shower (as opposed to standing over your sink). I learned the hard way that if you don't get it all washed off you will have a large dark streak across your neck that one of your friends will point out at dinner.
While I originally used this product every evening, I switched to using it every other day.
Step 3: Vanishing Cream Moisturizer
The Lush moisturize I used was vanishing cream. This moisturizer is incredibly lightweight, and a little goes a long way. Once I applied to my face, the best description I could think of was "soft as a baby's bottom," which for someone who does not have children nor has ever been around small children that much is a strange description. This Lush face cream is truly my favor product I have ever used on my skin. Throughout the day my skin remains hydrated and silky smooth. In addition, it never feels like it is weighed down with a heavy moisturizer. I cannot recommend this product enough, which I have used twice a day for the past month.
Step 4: Tea Tree Toning Water
Whenever I spray this on my face, I feel like I am leaving a full spa day. In addition to the clean smell, it leaves my skin feeling super fresh all day.
So how did these products measure up against my acne-prone skin?
Before:
After:
While in the first photo I am wearing concealer and still have quite a bit of acne visible, in the after shot you will notice a total skin transformation (and 100% makeup free)! While I still have a few healing scars, overall my skin is much clearer and feels completely smooth to the touch! Not only did using these products help keep me from new breakouts, but it reversed years with of acne scaring in one month.
Overall, I know not everyone will be able to use Lush cosmetics. Everyone's skin is different, and the the products can be expensive. However, if you have the opportunity, I full-hearted recommend using Lush cosmetics as part of your skin care regiment. Lush had a dramatic effect on reducing my acne and would be a great addition to anyone who suffers from acne prone skin and pimples.
This blog post was not written in affiliation with Lush nor have I received any product or monetary compensation for reviewing these products.