Things I Did When I Was Younger

We all have things what we did when we were younger that we cringe at. I've had my fair share, and I'm going to brave the judgment and lose a bit of my dignity by sharing it with you.

Please, please don't try any of these. Learn from my mistakes. I literally made them so you don't have to.

1. Washed my face with honey and stale, foreign water.

A few years ago I went to Jamaica to visit family (fun fact: I'm Jamaican + Guyanese). Before going there, I had read somewhere online that honey was good for your skin. Me, being the try-anything-once-or-twice-or-three-times person that I am, decided to give this a go. Long story short, I only used honey and whatever water was available to me (oftentimes water that had been sitting around in a huge basin). Needless to say, I broke out. Very, very badly. Hyperpigmentation central afterward (I had never had it prior). Moral of the story? Do your research before you trying something completely new on your face (ESPECIALLY if traveling), and always use fresh water.

2. I used a strong acid face mask every other night, right after a strong clay mask, and in conjunction with my Clarisonic.

Yeah, I know. See yesterday's post to see how I paid the piper for that one.

3. I plucked my eyebrows too thin (comma eyebrows, anyone?) and then drew a line with a black eyeliner to fill them in.

But didn't everybody?

4. I used Proactiv.

Now, read before you get angry. Proactiv works for millions of people, but it didn't work for me. I had really good skin when I was younger. Really, really good skin. For some reason or another, I got a blemish and I thought, 'Proactiv!!'. BAD idea. It worked beautifully for me for a few weeks, but then I suppose I grew a tolerance to it because my skin flipped out. And when I say flipped out, I mean my skin really lost its mind. It was so terrible that I went to a dermatologist and was given 2 topical prescriptions (Ziana and Tazorac, use every night, alternating). Those finally cleared me up, but I will never forget how miserable I was during that time. I haven't touched a 3-step system since.

5. I tried teatoxes.

Again, read before you get angry. This didn't work for me. It might work for you, but it didn't work for me. That being said...

Yeah. I gave into the Instagram fitness fad. Boy, was I running to the bathroom (TMI?). And after the 28 day teatox (I can't believe I spent that much for loose-leaf tea), I was less bloated! But you know why? BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING TO THE BATHROOM. Ugh.

6. I tried fitness pills.

Yep. You heard me. Now, let me start off by saying that this wasn't needed, but I was obsessed with getting a sick body. I'm 5'4 and a little over 110, but I wanted a sick stomach (aka. washboard abs). The result of taking these? A (literal) sick stomach. I can't believe I didn't go to the doctor when taking these. Weak, lightheaded. BIG nono. Don't take any fad fitness pills. Work out and eat your veggies like the good Lord intended.

5. I used continuous heat on my hair.

I have a lot of hair. A lot of it. And I got it relaxed (chemically straightened) when I was about 11 years old (no choice, but hey, I ain't mad at it). When I was younger, my hair was nearly at my ribcage. Years of week heat styling/chemical relaxing/no care did some damage, I lost that length. Fast forward to the present and my hair is nearly past the back of my bra strap. I chemically straighten 2x a year and don't use any heat at all. I just through it up and leave it alone. Moral? Stop putting continuous heat on your hair. Your hair will thank you once you quit.

6. I shaved my entire face with an eyebrow razor.

I had seen people doing this on Youtube and thought it would be a great idea. I bought the same eyebrow razor that they used on Amazon and went to work on my face. Immediate result: BABY soft skin. Results after a few days: Irritated skin covered in a rash/red bumps. Needless to say, the Youtubers failed me. Now I use the eyebrow razor for my eyebrows. As God intended.

7. I use heavy, heavy, heavy foundation that suffocated my skin. And then continued to use it past the expiration date.

I'm looking at you MAC Studio Fix & Studio Fix Cream Foundation. On the plus side, I finished an entire 2 bottles of the liquid foundation and 1 entire compact of the cream.

8. I never wore sunblock.

"Because," I thought, "what's the point?"... I'll leave it at that.

9. I loved me a good scrub. I loved me a St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

As I know now in my adulting years, that I probably should've steered clear of that one. As I'm recently finding out, makes a great body scrub!

10. I was a picker.

A bad, bad picker. I'd pick and pick at all of my spots until they were bleeding, and then, if there was still a whitehead the morning after, I'd pick at them some more. I'd squeeze cysts until they burst. I was left with scars, scabs, and, of course, dark spots afterward. I've since cut the habit completely and my skin is so happy because of it.

11. I used strong clay masks multiple days in a row.

When I say strong, I'm talking about Aztec Healing Clay strong (and, not ironically, it was that mask). I thought that using it 3-5 days in a row would rid me of my spots faster. HA!

12. I never changed my pillowcase.

And I wondered why I was only breaking out on the right side of my face. Hmm.

13. I wore too much makeup.

Just in general. I don't even wear that much makeup now due to pure laziness. It was even to the point that I had my dad (who never comments on anything I do) say that I should ease up on the makeup. I don't know how I woke up at 6:00/7:00a to beat my face while in high school. I'm not knocking anybody that does do this. In fact, I'm impressed that you have willpower than I do

14. I used a chemical peel at home.

That was labeled as having 50% glycolic acid. And then used baking soda to wash it off (as the instructions told me). I only kept it on for 1 minute before washing it off. The most, 4. Moral of the story, NEVER do these at home. Go to a professional. I could've burned my face off!

Well, that's it! There are hundreds of other things, but if I listed them this post would go on and on. Tell me if you want a part 2, and I'll lose a little more dignity and face a little more judgment by sharing it with you guys.

xoxo,