I'm all for Indian Summers. This Octoboer/November season has been verging on fantastic - brief instances of cold, followed by unseasonable warm weather. Unfortunately it's been wreaking havoc on my skin. The fluctuating ups and downs of this season's temperature and humidity are probably not doing such great things for your skin either.
The Ritual
Towards the end of summer/early fall I'd say my skin was doing great. I wasn't wearing makeup, I had my regimen (courtesy of LUSH), and my skin was beter than it had been in years. No irritation, zilch. This is saying a lot considering I've struggled with my skin since I was 12 years old.
But once the temperature started fluctuating as we entered November, my skin began to struggle. I was seeing cystic acne, rosacea, irritated skin, and clogged pores. Even my normal regimen wasn't doing the job at this point. Normally, that's:
-
Morning
- Lush's Angels on Bare Skin face scrub
- Tea Tree Water toner
- Cosmetic Lad moisturizer
- Tea Tree oil or Rx Benzoyl Peroxide topical cream for any breakouts.
-
Evening
- Ultrabland soap-free cleanser
- Tea Tree Water toner to remove
- Rx Tazorac topical cream
I highly recommend this as a regular daily regimen if you have all of the following: a) sensitive skin b) prone to blackheads c) prone to cystic acne d) a T-spot (combination skin). For the crescription creams, please consult your doctor to determine what's right for your skin. I'm no doctor.
The Solution
So last night I was home after a night out, frustrated that I had to wear foundation in order to feel confident in my skin. It's amazing how your comfort level in your own skin can really determine how comfortable you feel in certain situations. It finally occurred to me that I could fix this myself with just a couple ingredients in my kitchen cupboard.
The Honey-Coconut Facial Mask
This is a simple, two-ingredient face mask you can make at home. The honey has antibacterial and 
astringent properties,sucking the junk out of your pores and calming down your skin. The coconut oil ismoisturing, giving your skin the necessary moisture to balance out. Sometimes we forget how much moisture our skin really needs.
Ingredients:
- 1 part virgin coconut oil
- 1 part honey