Hi guys, it’s that time again for a brand new blog post! WOOOO!! Today I’ve teamed up with Proactiv for their new #Trueselfie campaign.

The lovely people at Proactiv heard about my skin issues (namely breakouts, rosacea, oiliness + sensitivity issues) and they sent me three of their products to try out. So for the last month I’ve been using Proactiv’s Skin Exfoliator, Mark Fading Pads and Eye Serum. I’m going to tell you a little about each product that I’ve been using, and then I’m going to get onto the really inspiring stuff.

 

– Proactiv + Skin Exfoliator: This exfoliating cleanser features benzoyl peroxide micro-crystals, which help to clear away existing spots, whilst at the same time preventing new breakouts. It also has glycolic acid which helps to gently resurface the skin, and keep your skin looking healthy and glowing.

 

 

 

 

– Proactiv + Mark Fading Pads – These little pads contain Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Green Tea extract. Theyre designed to help fade the appearance of marks left behind by acne spots and scarring.

 

 

 

 

 

Proactiv + Eye Serum – This serum is a lovely addition to the Proactiv range. It’s a brightening serum containing Vitamin C and liquorice extract help to reduce the appearance of dark circles. It is also quite rich in texture, and has peptides and Vitamin E to help nourish and protect the delicate eye area.

 

It’s recommended that you use the Skin Exfoliator daily, morning and night. I started out by using it in this manner, however I found my skin is better suited to using it twice per week, to slough off any dead skin cells, and give my skin a really squeaky clean feeling. When I first started using Proactiv I was suffering from a pretty terrible breakout. I had loads of tiny whiteheads ALL over my face. Sounds gross – and it was. I think I may have eaten something that I have a sensitivity to without realising it, as my skin was itchy, almost like an allergic reaction. So the day I received my Proactiv products I immediately began using them. I washed my face using the Skin Exfoliator, and then went in with the Mark Fading Pads. Sure enough, the next morning when I woke up my skin was significantly better! Still not perfect (will my skin ever be perfect? I don’t know) but the whiteheads had really diminished. I now use the Mark Fading Pads once per week. I’ve been using the Eye Serum nightly! I take a small amount on my finger, and as it’s quite a thick formula, I gently dab it around my eye area. It’s lovely and cooling.

Now let’s hop back to the Proactiv #TRUEselfie campaign. Proactiv have done some studies which show that increasingly, young women seem to be incredibly critical of their appearances. In their studies Proactiv discovered that more than a quarter of girls aged 11-18 in the Cosmetic Surgery capitals of Sydney and Queensland would want to undergo some form of cosmetic surgery*, 98% of girls believe that they are under an immense amount of pressure to look a certain way**, and 74% of girls believe that they are under pressure to ‘please everyone.’***

*Dolly Magazine survey using 4000 girls ** National Report on Self-Esteem *** Girls Inc., The Supergirl Effect

I find it incredibly sad that young women today feel so pressured to look a certain way. It is my personal view that there is no such thing as ‘ugly’. Everyone is unique, and your facial features are unique to you too. They are made up of the culmination of all your ancestors before you, and their heritages. I know it’s hard to look in the mirror and feel beautiful 100% of the time, but if you can at least appreciate where your features come from, hopefully that can help you feel at peace with your appearance. I myself used to struggle a lot with my appearance. Around the age of 13 – 15 I developed acne rosacea. I didn’t particularly have a lot of confidence in my appearance to start off with, so when my face broke out in tiny white bumps EVERYWHERE and became incredibly oily, I was horrified. I felt hideous. I got teased at school for being ugly.

I’m now 27 and I am happy to say that I am quite a confident person. I know who I am, I know what I like and I like who I am. (Say that 10 times fast, it’s tricky!) My skin still isn’t perfect, as far as I know rosacea is hereditary and cant be cured, so whilst I can control my breakouts with Proactiv, my skin is still red and blotchy. I don’t think I’ll ever feel 100% confident, not with my skin the way it is… but I’m ok with that. I share a lot of bare faced selfies on my Instagram account, because I like to show you guys that may be struggling with your appearance, that I’m not perfect. That I understand what it’s like to look in the mirror and feel your heart drop. To feel ‘ugly’ Even though I feel insecure a lot of the time about my skin, I still share photos with you guys of my bare face because I never want you to feel like you’re alone.

So when Proactiv approached me with their #TRUEselfie campaign I was delighted to jump on board. Proactiv wants YOU to upload your naturally beautiful (barefaced!) TRUEselfie to social media to help spread and celebrate inner confidence. Being comfortable in your own skin (no matter what that looks like) and feeling confident about yourself.

If you post your own bare faced selfie and use the hashtag #TRUEselfie, you’ll have a chance to win a one year’s supply of Proactiv skincare! Woo! All you have to do is tag Proactiv on your selfie: @ProactivAus on Instagram or Twitter (feel free to give them a follow too if you want!) and make sure to include the hashtags: #TRUESelfie #WinProactiv to go into the draw.

 

 

 

I know it’s not easy to upload a bare faced selfie (I’ve done it a lot and I still struggle with it!) but if I can do it… you can do it too. And you know what? It’s actually kind of freeing when you do it! Why should you hide?? There really is no such thing as ugly, just gorgeous, individual faces and quirks.

 

I love you guys!

Stephi xx

You can purchase the Proactiv products I’ve been using here: http://www.proactiv.com.au