19 replies to this topic

[CelloIsLove]

So here's the deal.

On March 27, I stopped using soap, toners, topical stuff, etc on my face. I've only used Olive Oil, applying it and then buffing it away with a soft washcloth.

I saw some great results from this, until I went back to school ten days later and started wearing makeup again. There were two problems with this:

1. The makeup itself was great, natural, and non-clogging. But like all mineral powders, it dried the oil from my face, which kind of defeated the purpose of the natural regimen, and
2. it made me have to buff the EVOO off harder, killing the dead skin mask. So my acne got worse after this.

-_-

My acne is moderate, with pustules and some cysts. I think.
It's most populated on my forehead and the sides of my face. I have blackheads on my nose. Who doesn't?

So in 44 days I go to Germany, and I'd rather not go there with a raging breakout, especially in a place where most people have clear, perfect skin.

So as of yesterday, I've dropped everything. No cleansing at all, and no makeup. AGH, that's hard for me. Really hard, because I find most of my confidence about my skin in my makeup. But this is the way I see it; I can go through the 30 day recovery phase without makeup, or I can suffer with it for years and years more.


Basically, this is my regimen:

○No washing, picking, etc
○Daily exercise
○Reduce stress by not obsessing over my skin
○Healthy diet: Dairy-free, low gluten, no processed food. Lots of water, fruits, veggies, lean meat, unsalted nuts, etc.


So far since I started yesterday, my skin looks great. Everything is far less inflamed. My skin was pretty flaky from the EVOO treatment, but more so now. I guess I'll just have to live with it while the dead skin mask builds up.

[D'Anne]

I'm a girl too and I can relate with what you said about make-up (it does boost your confidence). I couldn't give it up even during the "caveman regimen" as everyone calls it . The thing is I only used foundation to cover up the occasional red spots. Which means I kept my forehead make-up free. My make-up routine was (and is) concealer for my dark circles, eyeshadow/eyeliner, mascara, blush and some lipcare. I found this worked for me.
I think you should keep those areas where you break-out as untouched as possible (no water, oil, make-up or picking), but I don't see why you couldn't use eye make-up. I wish you good luck with your skin and your trip to Germany. Bring pictures.

[CelloIsLove]

Oh yes, I forgot to specify. I will DEFINITELY be wearing eye makeup/lip stuff, etc. No, I could NOT go out in public without any makeup whatsoever. I would probably faint from embarrassment. Besides, I hope if I can divert attention away from my skin, it will be beneficial.

Ahaha. I'm so stupid

[CelloIsLove]

So here we are at day 4ish.

My face is rather flaky, which isn't very flattering. My acne is definitely drying up, but had a mild flare in inflammation from bad sleep/stress last night and today, and a diet glitch yesterday. As in, I didn't eat very well, and that always kills me. But my skin is still looking better than it has in a long time.

I went to school today without any face makeup on for the first time in...three and a half years? It was a big step for me. I probably couldn't have done it without three factors:

-Going out in public on Sunday without it
-The improved condition of my skin
-The deep desire to continue improving my skin

The most important part was probably just keeping my confidence level up. I smiled a lot, which helped. It helped keep a lot of the stress away. Plus, nobody wants to talk to a scowling person with no confidence, you know?

It was nice to, for once, not have to worry about my face looking oily. The dead skin mask keeps everything looking matte and natural, which is great. The old bad part is the flakiness. I'll apply a little EVOO tonight to see if I can fix that a little, because I still have a lot of faith in the stuff, and it helped a lot before I went back to wearing makeup.

Of course, like I said before, I'm wearing eye makeup. I don't know what I would do without it...At night, I use a cotton ball and EVOO to wipe it off, and it works very well. Actually, I apply the EVOO with my finger, and wipe it away with a dry cotton ball.


The coolest thing about this is that every zit eventually comes to a head, and once it gets there (if remained untouched) it dries up and goes away. Which is mega cool.

It's hard, of course, to go out in public with whiteheads on your face. All I can say is that bangs are a wonderful thing.

[beckyg]

I'm trying to cut back on makeup too. I'm on Dan's Regimen, but I've always contemplated the Caveman. I never had acne before college, and I'm pretty sure mine is brought on by stress. And due to stress from last semester, I took it out on my face. I was used to really clear skin with minimal effort and I really irritated my face trying to get my face back to the way it was, making things much worse. It's back to where it was in high school, only I have to use BP now to get it like this. ): I really would prefer a natural regimen without any topicals, but I don't want to lose four months of hard hard work to get my skin clear again. No-one in my family has acne but me ): which is another reason I've contemplated the caveman - I don't have a history of acne.

Anyway, does EVOO help with flakiness? That's been my main fear (besides my acne coming back with a vengeance if I drop BP) about the Caveman. I haven't seen a Caveman thread made by a girl, so I'm interested in seeing how things go for you. I'll check back in. (: and good luck~ I hope things work for you!

[CelloIsLove]

I'm trying to cut back on makeup too. I'm on Dan's Regimen, but I've always contemplated the Caveman. I never had acne before college, and I'm pretty sure mine is brought on by stress. And due to stress from last semester, I took it out on my face. I was used to really clear skin with minimal effort and I really irritated my face trying to get my face back to the way it was, making things much worse. It's back to where it was in high school, only I have to use BP now to get it like this. ): I really would prefer a natural regimen without any topicals, but I don't want to lose four months of hard hard work to get my skin clear again. No-one in my family has acne but me ): which is another reason I've contemplated the caveman - I don't have a history of acne.

Anyway, does EVOO help with flakiness? That's been my main fear (besides my acne coming back with a vengeance if I drop BP) about the Caveman. I haven't seen a Caveman thread made by a girl, so I'm interested in seeing how things go for you. I'll check back in. (: and good luck~ I hope things work for you!

I'm glad you're interested!

EVOO is spectacular stuff. It definitely helps with the flakiness, helps everything heal faster, and fades red marks as the same time. The dead skin mask is inevitable, but the EVOO keeps it from being noticeable. When I was doing this before, I would apply EVOO to my skin, massage in, and then buff off with a soft washcloth. But, like I said before, that didn't work when I started wearing makeup again. Right now, I just apply a little in the morning and before bed. I rub a little in my hand, and pat it onto my skin, and it seems to work pretty well. Also, you don't have to worry about your skin looking oily, because your skin will start to absorb it's own oils like it's supposed to, and the dead skin mask actually keeps everything looking pretty matte

If you have any more questions, always feel free to ask.

[CelloIsLove]

Day 5.

Everything is going well so far.

-Some flaking, but I apply a little EVOO 2x daily, and it helps
-Smoother skin; some of my skin actually feels SOFT, which is pretty cool
-A lot less inflammation; some pimples are healing at a remarkable pace
-Several pimples are just plain gone.

Every few mornings, I splash with cold water, and lightly buff with a soft towel, and apply the EVOO. It seems to help a little.

Today I did a little of what we'll call "maintenance". I ran VERY LIGHTLY over my face with a clean fingernail. I didn't do it hard enough to disturb the dead skin mask, but to rather remove some little hardened things from some of my cheek pores. Comedones? I don't know what to call them. Anyway, they came right out of my pores and the remaining mild redness went away quickly.

My diet has been rather healthy, but not obsessive. I've been trying to get sufficient sleep and exercise.

So far, so good

[CelloIsLove]

Day 6ish

I looked at my forehead today up close, and was amazed. Everything is just healing up, and my pores look pretty small.
I've been trying to use more EVOO by dabbing it gently to my skin after splashing with cold water. It seems to help a lot.

My skin is definitely smoother and healthier. I still have a lot of faith in this regimen.

I've also been exercising more often to I can sweat to produce more oil in my skin and clear my pores. Plus, it's good for you

I left this out because I assumed that anyone reading this would already know, but when I do get whiteheads, they go away really fast. Sometimes in a matter of hours. It's pretty spectacular.

[ican'tbelieveit]

[/quote]
I'm glad you're interested!

EVOO is spectacular stuff. It definitely helps with the flakiness, helps everything heal faster, and fades red marks as the same time. The dead skin mask is inevitable, but the EVOO keeps it from being noticeable. When I was doing this before, I would apply EVOO to my skin, massage in, and then buff off with a soft washcloth. But, like I said before, that didn't work when I started wearing makeup again. Right now, I just apply a little in the morning and before bed. I rub a little in my hand, and pat it onto my skin, and it seems to work pretty well. Also, you don't have to worry about your skin looking oily, because your skin will start to absorb it's own oils like it's supposed to, and the dead skin mask actually keeps everything looking pretty matte

If you have any more questions, always feel free to ask.
[/quote]

Heyy,

I was wondering, you said that the EVOO helps with the red marks??? did it fade all of yours?
& are you going to exfoliate the dead skin off eventually? lol I'm pretty clueless here

[CelloIsLove]

I'm glad you're interested!

EVOO is spectacular stuff. It definitely helps with the flakiness, helps everything heal faster, and fades red marks as the same time. The dead skin mask is inevitable, but the EVOO keeps it from being noticeable. When I was doing this before, I would apply EVOO to my skin, massage in, and then buff off with a soft washcloth. But, like I said before, that didn't work when I started wearing makeup again. Right now, I just apply a little in the morning and before bed. I rub a little in my hand, and pat it onto my skin, and it seems to work pretty well. Also, you don't have to worry about your skin looking oily, because your skin will start to absorb it's own oils like it's supposed to, and the dead skin mask actually keeps everything looking pretty matte

If you have any more questions, always feel free to ask.
[/quote]

Heyy,

I was wondering, you said that the EVOO helps with the red marks??? did it fade all of yours?
& are you going to exfoliate the dead skin off eventually? lol I'm pretty clueless here
[/quote]

EVOO does help with the red marks. I can't say it's gotten rid of them all completely, but it definitely is working faster than anything else I've tried. Most people who have done this regimen scrape off the dead skin gently with a clean fingernail after about 20-30 days, depending on the thickness of the mask, and the condition of the skin.

[beckyg]

Hey, just wondering how things are coming. (:

[Charlotte_89]

So here's the deal.

On March 27, I stopped using soap, toners, topical stuff, etc on my face. I've only used Olive Oil, applying it and then buffing it away with a soft washcloth.

I saw some great results from this, until I went back to school ten days later and started wearing makeup again. There were two problems with this:

1. The makeup itself was great, natural, and non-clogging. But like all mineral powders, it dried the oil from my face, which kind of defeated the purpose of the natural regimen, and
2. it made me have to buff the EVOO off harder, killing the dead skin mask. So my acne got worse after this.

-_-

My acne is moderate, with pustules and some cysts. I think.
It's most populated on my forehead and the sides of my face. I have blackheads on my nose. Who doesn't?

So in 44 days I go to Germany, and I'd rather not go there with a raging breakout, especially in a place where most people have clear, perfect skin.

So as of yesterday, I've dropped everything. No cleansing at all, and no makeup. AGH, that's hard for me. Really hard, because I find most of my confidence about my skin in my makeup. But this is the way I see it; I can go through the 30 day recovery phase without makeup, or I can suffer with it for years and years more.


Basically, this is my regimen:

○No washing, picking, etc
○Daily exercise
○Reduce stress by not obsessing over my skin
○Healthy diet: Dairy-free, low gluten, no processed food. Lots of water, fruits, veggies, lean meat, unsalted nuts, etc.


So far since I started yesterday, my skin looks great. Everything is far less inflamed. My skin was pretty flaky from the EVOO treatment, but more so now. I guess I'll just have to live with it while the dead skin mask builds up.

It sounds like you don't react well with your make up. Are you sure nothing in the ingredients is irritating your skin? What kind of make up is it?

[CelloIsLove]

What I am about to say, I do not say lightly. I considered this strongly, and decided that this was the best course of action for the moment.

I am putting this experiment on hold.

I am not happy with myself for this, and I am deeply sorry if I've disappointed anyone in this decision.

The end of school approaching brought on a terrible slew of stress, bad food, and lack of sleep, which resulted in a breakout from hell, and I had to start wearing makeup again.

I know my confidence failed, and what I did was pretty weak. But after scrubbing off the DSM, there was only place to go; the beginning, and start all over again. That wasn't going to happen.

So currently I am washing with a mild oatmeal bar, and moisturizing with Vitamin E. This seems to be having a great effect. Sometimes I wash with green tea as well.

Lifestyle changes and stress control are also going to help.

This operation will pick right back up this summer, after my trip to Germany.

Thanks for all of your support, and I will see you again in July.

[CelloIsLove]

I'm Back!

Aren't you excited? I am.

This is the absolute positive beginning of the end. No going back from this now. Hopefully, as readers can see, this regimen is both extremely simple and difficult. In order to follow this and get real results as fast as possible, one must:

♥Give up foundation, concealer, powder, and any other makeup that is applied where acne exists
♥Give up soap on one's face, at least until the healing process is complete (a very, very mild, natural soap)
♥Grow self confidence exponentially
♥Go through the healing process and deal with dead skin and other possible side effects
♥Take on a new, healthy, active lifestyle

I think that sums it up. It's not easy to do this, especially for girls, but it IS possible.


If you read my previous posts, you'll know about my trip to Germany. It was awesome I didn't go clear as I had hoped, but there are worse things. Most people in Germany have clear skin. Part of this is their diet. They generally follow a normal Paleo diet with little sugar. They also engage in a healthy amount of exercise.

I cleared up a little by following their diet and lifestyle, which was cool. I also did something else-I dropped my army of supplements. They're just not natural. Besides, it's one less thing to worry about.


This next part is REALLY COOL.

The last part of our trip was spent in a youth hostel in the middle of Germany-between the flatlands and the mountains. We were set on a hill/mountain overlooking the Rhine, and we were hiking A LOT. Not to mention that is was hot, all the time. Not only did the width of my thighs decrease (I'm very thin, but whatever body fat I gain goes to my thighs and my cheeks. Like the one's on your face, not your ass) but I sweated like you wouldn't believe. I cleared up SO much in those couple of days. The exertion, the enjoyment, the stress-free lifestyle, and the SWEAT added up to significantly clearer skin.

I came home to some serious stress and emotional strain. That, the diet change, and the lifestyle flip exhausted me and made me break out to my previous caliber. Blech.


TODAY IS DAY THREE.

I knew what to expect, but it blew me away anyway. I'm using a whole bunch of NOTHING on my face. No water, no EVOO or anything. Well, a little EVOO on a cotton ball to remove eve makeup, but that's it. My skin was a little oily the first few days, but it seems to be regulating itself now. Cysts are coming to heads that go away quickly. Inflammation is way down.

I'm also trying to incorporate some sort of vigorous exercise in every day, and otherwise stay actively doing SOMETHING all the time, which has been mostly cleaning (and a lot of it xD). Heck, scrubbing floors is exercise. Basically, the goal is to cause my face to sweat to build up my acid mantle and purify pores, improve circulation to make skin heal faster, and stimulate my Lymphatic drainage system. Oh, and relieve stress, which is mucho important.



Alright. I promise the next posts will be shorter.

[wapak]

Welcome back! Its nice that you enjoyed your trip.

What can I say? You pretty much know everything you need to deal with your problem so there's nothing for me to say anymore. I'm happy for you!


Good luck!

[CelloIsLove]

Thanks Wapak I'm glad to be back in the USA, where it doesn't cost £.50 to take a piss.


Today is day 4. Because I have the habit of producing mammoth sized posts, I'll do something else I also have a habit of; making lists. Maybe my posts won't be as intimidating to read

-Inflammation continues to go down. Dead skin is forming, but not very much
-Skin is not oily or dry. Just normal
-I have this thing on my chin, this big, monstrous lump underneath my skin that's been there for almost 2 weeks. It seems to be getting smallerish, but I also think it will have to eventually come to a head. I will keep everyone posted on the happenings with Monster Zit.
-I haven't been getting as much exercise as I would honestly like to be getting, but I will do some today, and hopefully start exercising every day.

So far, so good.
Woohoo! A shortish post This has to be a first for me.

[CelloIsLove]

Today is day Seven!

Woo!

I will make a list once more, as to avoid being boring.

:F

-Dry skin mask is building up and is more visible. You can see the flakes if you look closely. Some healing zits have large flakes covering them, so I assume they are healing.
-Most active acne is healing, red spots are fading a little. It's been pretty hot, so I've been sweating, even on days I don't exercise much.
-I broke out a little today, meaning that some active pimples became a little inflamed/came to a head. No new zits though. The reason behind breaking out was that I went to two different parties and ate more sugar than I normally eat in several weeks. Oh well
-Zitzilla (that bump under my skin on my chin) actually came to a head later that day. Crazy, huh? Now it's a small lump with a little scab on it, which is currently covered by a flake. I think I'll leave it alone. A zit like this would have normally taken me another two weeks to fight with creams, etc.
-Yesterday I noticed a similar lump on my forehead-painful, swollen, and with a small head. I admit I squeezed it because it was hurting, not that squeezing relieved the pain much...anyway, today it's almost gone.

I'm posting pictures today, hopefully! My computer's a tard, so don't bet your life on it. I took them today. I had some from earlier, so you could get a better idea of my skin before I started the regimen...but somehow I deleted those. Or something.



Edit: Pictures from day four up now! More awaiting approval from more recently

[CelloIsLove]

Has it really been ten days???
Wow!

Last night, erm, this morning I mean, I didn't get to bed until about three. Had to go pick up my sister from the airport at midnight. But I slept in till about 11, so hopefully that won't screw me over too badly.

Over with the boring stuff. List time!

-Less redness every day. Last night, I dabbed (not rubbed) a little EVOO on my face (I know, it goes against the whole "nothing on your face" thing) but it was a TINY bit, and it helped moisturize a little. It also seems to be helping the red marks fade, which is good. Because I have a lot of them.
-Quite a dead skin mask building up on my cheeks, hopefully on my forehead soon too. My nose seems to be resembling the texture of sandpaper more than skin these days, but I can only assume that's good.
-No problems wearing eye makeup so far. I use a tiny bit of EVOO on my finger to loosen the makeup on my eyes (or rather, to resemble a panda) and then use a dry cotton ball to wipe it away (without letting any of it touch the rest of my face). In the morning, I wipe my eyes with a little water on a cotton ball to remove the oil so the makeup doesn't smudge.

[CelloIsLove]

Day eleven


Blah. I'm not healing as quickly as I could be for a few reasons. First of all, it's been unreasonably dry out. Where is the rain? Dunno. Second, I've been unreasonably stressed out. IT'S SUMMER! WTH? Whatever. Anyway, I tend to stress most when I sleep, so I haven't been sleeping well at all, and then during the day I'm tired, so I haven't been doing as much active stuff as I'd like to. And when I stress, I eat bad things.
Very bad things.

Like chocolate and ice cream and Pop-Tarts and Lucky Charms.
Boooo.

Today I got all emotional about stupid stuff and ended up crying, sending a big, FAT, mascara/eyeliner stained tear all the way down to my jawline.

NOOOOOO!

I had to dab it off with a little water and toilet paper, so hopefully no real damage done.


No new zits, and everything is still healing. Dead skin mask is getting thicker (I can easily see the flakes) but not healing as fast as it should be, thanks to my hindrances. Blech.


To do:

Yoga
Meditation
Exercise
Dishes


Hopefully I can get my life back in line by tomorrow

[strato]

Hey, how do you wash your hair?