The Internet Ruined My Skin
The very place that was supposed to hold all the unlocked secrets ruined my skin.
Once upon I had what the internet coined as “glass skin”. Smooth, blemish-free, glowing. Of course, it’d only been like that after my skincare obsession that bloomed as a bored 14-year-old. But at 21, something came to threaten my flawless canvas.
So let’s travel through the phases of my skin-revitalizing journey to understand the lessons I learned along the way.
Phase 1: Delusion
I call this phase delusion because I was convinced that my breakouts were more severe than they were and it sparked a continuum of bad decisions. My fear of what the changes in my skin would do to my self-esteem ignited my obsession with trying to find a quick fix.
Funny enough, when I look back on pictures the breakout is barely detectable. But for a girl who’d worked for 5 years to have scar-free glass-esque skin, a few blemishes weren’t acceptable.
It was my perfectionist attitude and a bit of insecurity that convinced me that my skin had completely collapsed. That was about 16 months ago, Summer of 2023.
Phase 2: Scared & Afraid
After a few months of hoping the flare would calm down gradually, I began to panic. I’d tried products and scoured the internet to find the skincare regimen to tackle my breakout. My fingers flicked as I consumed hours of TikToks and blog articles with suggestions.
I got acquainted with the cult of Korean skincare, which resulted in many trials and failed experiments. Around this time I was introduced to oil cleansing, social media's secret to clear and glowing skin. For me, it was the gateway to even more problems.
What I learned:
A 10-step routine is overkill. With that many products, you’re probably wasting money and may be irritating your skin further.
Research the ingredients in your products before you buy. Much of the most-hyped skincare is formulated with bad ingredients.
Phase 3: Obsessed & Overcompensating
By this time my skin crisis had extended past half a year and I wanted anything to be the solution. Day after day, I’d examine my pores hoping they’d be free of black and whiteheads. When they weren’t, I’d slap patches on the fiery craters and fall asleep looking like a child’s sticker collection. Before I could appreciate another day on this earth, I was peeling patches and hoping they completed the job of excavating the bacteria on my skin. I tested luxury recommendations and dermatologist-approved products at Ulta and Sephora. Only to return for an exchange of whatever new solution I had found during one of my deep dives.
What I Learned:
Give new products a month to start showing results in your skin. A week or two, let alone a couple of days isn’t going to be a real test.
Picking at your skin is like asking for more pimples to arise. Besides inviting more bacteria, you’re aggravating your skin.
Phase 4: Over It
At this point, I’d entered post-grad life and prayed that the problem was stress-related and that my school-absent life would be the solution. I was a year in and starting to find some comfort in posing makeup and filter-free again. Not to mention, I decided to cut out oil cleansing just to test a theory. Maybe the recommendations of skincare users weren’t the key for me. When I started with my new routine and silenced the opinions of online teachings, my skin started to see relief. I ditched the oil and reevaluated what I felt my skin needed and my glow started to reappear.
What I Learned:
Consider using oil cleansers solely for removing makeup. While its properties may be helpful, that doesn’t mean it’s a daily-use product.
Blemishes don’t distract from your beauty. Allow your skin to experience change without unforgiving scrutiny.
Certified clean products will do wonders for your skin and soothe your concerns about what you’re using on your body.
So maybe the internet didn’t ruin my skin and my perfectionist attitude did. However, the main lesson is that social media is not a bible for beauty regimens. Finding what makes your skin flourish requires attention and exploring your own needs.
16 months later my healthy glow has returned, but not without the blows to my self-esteem. One of my greatest revelations in the process has been that if your self-esteem is easily shattered by your physical appearance it’s time to do some work in the self-love department. While I learned that the internet doesn’t contain the secrets to perfect skin, I found that striving for perfection is the problem in the first place.
Maybe you’re actively working through breakouts. Maybe your cheeks are dotted with scars Remember that perfection does not equal beauty.
With Love,
Allie
