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I couldn’t believe it either.
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Even writing the worddark spotsfeels emotionally triggering.
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I moved to New York three years ago with big dreams, an air mattress, and pocket change.
My once-spotless skin quickly became filled with countless dark spots.
At one point, it got uncontrollable.
@mayaalena
In fact, I even wrote about how working in beauty made my skin worse.
I was prematurely testing product after product without understanding how certain ingredients reacted on my seriously sensitive skin.
But I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that I was hiding behind makeup to feel beautiful.
@mayaalena
I tookevery opportunity to interview a dermatologistor an esthetician to figure outwhich products would work for me.
Since I’ve been using the below products, my dark spots have faded drastically.
And here I am, baring it all in these makeup-free photos to prove my progress is real.
I’m indebted to these heavy hitters, and this is exactly how I use them.
(Can you tell that I’ll never let them go?)
Not even kidding, I immediately grab these.
Something about massaging my skin with these hydrating wipes feels so therapeutic.
It’s my first step for taking away every trace of makeup.
They’re gentle yet strong enough to remove stubborn mascara.
Plus, each wipe is pre-moistened with hydrating ingredients, so they don’t dry out my skin.
At this point, I’ve thoroughly removed my makeup and I’m getting into the real dark-spot fighting.
Its star-studded lineup of ingredients is the perfect cocktail for dark spots.
Plus, it’s blended with vitamin C, which has a major brightening effect on dark spots.
Afterward, my skin looks supple and radiant.
Someexfoliatorshave a tendency to feel rough, but this one seriously is reminiscent of an at-home spa treatment.
Incorporating acid-based products in my routine has been one of the driving forces in fading my dark spots.
These powerful pads are loaded with a healthy dose of 5% glycolic acid and 2% salicylic acid.
This refreshing toner feels so soothing to the skin.
It’s blended with aloe water, antioxidants, and fatty acids, which cloak my skin with hydration.
It combines B5 gel and hyaluronic acid, which is a heavenly combination foracne-prone skinlike mine.
I have dehydrated skin.
So in order for my pores to not thirst for more moisture, I double up on serums.
Hyaluronic acid is the body’s natural hydrator, so the more, the merrier.
I have abnormally small pores that don’t correspond well to thick, cream-based products.
In this case, I carefully scoop out a tiny bit of this and slather it onto my skin.
I’ve publicly expressed to the world my love for this product, which knows no bounds.
I like to put it on top of my moisturizer.
I’m not sure why; it just feels right.
Or even when a pimple begins to brew, this stuff knocks it right out.
My skincare routine doesn’t feel complete without showing love to my lips.
By this time, my skin’s ready to hit my silk sheets and knock out.
There are a lot of claims out there, but consider this testimony the real deal.
