The Slow Glow-Up: How I’m Healing My Skin with Less Panic and More SPF
I started my skincare glow-up the week before we moved to the beach—no pool, no sun, just me, my prescriptions, and a bit of logistical chaos.
The timing was ironic. I decided to get serious about my skin just as we were about to uproot everything and move across states. No serene mornings. No beach walks. Just sweaty drives between Alabama and Florida, rushed photo sessions, and one very tired face.
But maybe that’s why I stuck to it—because everything else was chaotic, and this little routine was mine. I wasn’t even swimming yet (too busy for pool d
ays), but I was wearing SPF like it was my job. I was washing my face every night. I was hydrating more. I was undoing months of stress and skincare neglect with quiet, consistent steps.
And this time, I didn’t spiral or overthink. I opened ChatGPT and typed:
“Help me rebuild my skin barrier—simple products only. Nothing irritating, I just want to stop reacting to everything.”
Within seconds, I had a list that actually made sense. No overhyped serums. No complicated layering. Just drugstore-level, French pharmacy-adjacent products and a gentle, realistic plan.
I even shared a makeup-less selfie and photos of the exact products I was using. Not because I had perfect skin, but because I was finally doing something that felt sustainable. Calm. Grounded. Repeatable.
It wasn’t a transformation.
It was a reset.
Where I Started
Redness, tightness, and flares
Breakouts along my jawline
Skin that reacted to everything
No consistent routine, just scattered product guilt and wishful thinking
Phase 1: Barrier Repair Only
This was my June (and now July) commitment. No active chasing. No peeling. Just protection, hydration, and healing.
AM Routine
SPF — I rotated between:
PM Routine
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (pink cap) or La Roche-Posay Toleriane Cleanser
Moisturizer again (Physiogel)
Either:
– Nothing (barrier reset nights)
– Or tretinoin sandwiched between two layers of moisturizer (1–2x/week)Occlusive: a dab of Aquaphor on dry spots, lips, or around the nose
Prescription Support
I started spironolactone this month—a low dose, just to help with hormonal breakouts along my jaw. And yes, my skin did purge. It wasn’t pretty. But it also wasn’t permanent. After about two weeks, I could feel things settling: less inflammation, fewer flare-ups, and clearer healing.
What Helped Me Not Pick
One underrated hero of this season: pimple patches. I kept a pack of breakout dots in my skincare drawer and travel bag, so if I felt the urge to pick—I’d wash my face, patch it, and walk away.
Hero Mighty Patch – classic, cheap, easy
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch – thinner, more invisible under makeup
Not only did they stop me from messing with my skin, but they sped up healing and made me feel like I was taking action… without overdoing it.
What Else Was Going On (Because, Life)
Right in the middle of all this, I also let my tirzepatide shot lapse during one of my travel weeks. I didn’t mean to—it just fell off my radar with the move and work and everything else.
And honestly? I felt it.
Not just in my skin (hello, hormonal breakouts), but in my mood. My energy dipped. I got a little more impatient, a little less hopeful. I could feel myself slipping back into old thought patterns… the “what’s the point” energy that creeps in when I don’t feel steady.
So I got back on track. I patched what I could—my skin, my routine, my attitude. That’s what this whole glow-up is about anyway. Not perfection, just care.
What Worked
My skin feels calmer—less unpredictable
Redness has gone down
Makeup sits better, but I also need it less
I don’t dread my routine anymore. I enjoy it.
Products I Used (All Linked on LTK →)
What’s Next
I’m not rushing, but eventually I’ll add:
– Niacinamide (low % blend)
– Azelaic acid (for redness + texture)
– Maybe a French pharmacy mist because I’m me
For now? This works. This feels like healing. This feels like home.