Guys, I am loving accutane.
It’s been about three weeks since I’ve been on it, and my skin already looks better than it has in years. So far, the only side effects I’ve experienced are dry skin and extremely dry lips and some back pain. I was really worried that my skin would purge, or that I’ll experience my anxiety levels go up, but so far this hasn’t happened.
Also, my hair. I just went three days without washing it and I didn’t even have to reach for dry shampoo, because there wasn’t a trace of oil on my scalp. Yesterday, as I was getting ready to go to work, I was actually doing my hair and kept thinking “wait, did I wash my hair last night?” because it looked so…. “fresh”.
Because my lips are so dry now, I try to avoid wearing lipstick. I noticed that’s something that makes them even drier. When I say dry, I mean dry. They’re so dry that they’re bleeding. I did a lot of research before deciding to go on Accutane and a lot people recommended this Agave lip mask from Bite Beauty. I loved it so much that I already ordered another tube. So far it’s the only product that helped me and the best part is, I don’t have to re-apply it every five minutes. Seriously, if you suffer from dry lips, give it a try, you’re gonna love it. It sort of feels like lipgloss- very rich, slightly sticky texture. It’s a leave-on product so that’s what I’ve been using instead of lipstick.
As far as my base goes.. there’s one thing that’s currently missing from my routine: a mattifying powder. This, to me, is soooo strange because it’s one product I was never able to do my makeup without. Even when using a BP gel or Retin-A when my skin was also very dry, it’d get oily during the day. Not the case anymore. I’m loving L’Oreal’s True Match foundation- as I say time and time again, probably one of the best drugstore foundations I’ve ever used. I top it off with juuuust a little bit of Surreal Light powder all over (which is absolutely stunning, by the way) and I have a perfect, light base. Some of my favorite mascara + brow pencil and I’m good to go.
I’ve been really loving this simple makeup routine. It’s quick and easy and really all I need on most days. I’m just so excited that my skin is finally looking better after that horrible post-antibiotic purge, that I love wearing such a light and simple base.
46 Comments
MihaBalan
November 24, 2016 at 10:08 amGot my eye on the Marc Jacobs coconut Faceprimer and it s not even expensive but I will have to find it on some UK sites ( cause of taxes).
Loving your post as you know I am a big fan of your blog .
Happy Thanksgiving!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:04 pmAww thank you Love!! That primer is great!
Lubna M Umar
November 24, 2016 at 10:39 amEverything seems so beautiful ! I love the True Match foundation too ! I totally relate to the bleeding lips problem ! Will definitely try the lip mask x
Lubna
themisslubna.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:06 pmThat foundation is such a great drugstore product!
Kelly Stanton
November 24, 2016 at 11:42 amLooks a beautiful, simple yet effective routine to me! I need to try the MJ primer still as always hear great things. Added to my list. Kelly xx
http://www.KELLiLASH.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:09 pmIt’s such a nice product!
Rosie von Waldherr
November 24, 2016 at 12:06 pmI love simple routines like this! The simpler, the better =D and I’m happy your skin is doing better!
xoRosie // Rosie’s Life
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:11 pmThank you so much Rosie!
Zoe Mountford
November 24, 2016 at 12:28 pmI love l’oreal true match! It is the first foundation I ever brought and I still love it now x
Zoe Mountford x
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:11 pmIt’s so amazing, isn’t it!
Katie S.
November 24, 2016 at 1:18 pmI’m so happy to hear that your skin is doing well! I’m sure that’s making life about 10,000x easier!! I’ve been loving a simple routine myself lately, which is strange since I usually like more dramatic looks in the fall/winter. The darkness in the morning makes me sleep longer which gives me less time to get ready, so simple it is!
Katie | http://www.overthemoony.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:14 pmIt is!! I still can’t get used to the fact that my makeup isn’t melting off by midday haha :) I don’t blame you, I feel the same way haha ;)
The Gossip Darling
November 24, 2016 at 1:18 pmOh wow!!! I had no idea you were on accutane!!! I am on meds as well and dry lips are my enemy!!! I am going to try our recommendation!!! Good luck!! I def simplified my makeup routine as well. :)
Mel | http://www.thegossipdarling.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:15 pmYeah, just went on it! Definitely try that lip mask, I love it! Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream works great for me, too.
Charmaine Ng
November 24, 2016 at 1:32 pmI LOVE the packaging on the Marc Jacobs faceprimer!! I would get it just for that.
– Charmaine
http://charmainenyw.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:15 pmHaha, I wouldn’t blame you! :)
Berfin Gence
November 24, 2016 at 1:56 pmTrue Match is the best yess! I wanna try this Marc Jacobs primer tho :)
http://beristenbul.blogspot.com.tr/
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:15 pmIt’s a great product!
Sheridan Grady
November 24, 2016 at 3:28 pmThat hourglass palette is just so gorgeous! x
http://www.shayholly.co.uk
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:15 pmIt is! I’ve been using it nearly daily since I got it haha ;)
Beautylymin
November 24, 2016 at 4:15 pmI’m obsessed with that MJ primer & Hourglass palette at the moment – Surreal Light is everything! xx
Beautylymin| Urban Decay Bundle Giveaway
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:16 pmYessss! Love that palette so much.
Ambar Syed
November 24, 2016 at 4:48 pmI went on accutane last year and although it worked wonders for the first three months, but by May this year, my acne became worse than ever before :( I think I might have to go on another course and see if that helps but I was gutted that it didn’t work for me the first time round. I hope you have a successful treatment Paula!
– Ambar x
http://www.herlittleloves.co.uk
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:17 pmOh no, now I’m going to be paranoid haha :) God, I hope that doesn’t happen to me I’m seriously so tired of dealing with my skin :( Did you experience any other side effects, apart from dry skin and lips?
Thank you so much Ambar!
Ambar Syed
November 30, 2016 at 4:26 amNo, I only had dry skin and lips throughout the treatment (and a little afterwards as well until the medication had left my system), and my skin was great from about January until April. Since late April my acne seems to have come back worse than ever, as if it’s compensating for the time it wasn’t there! There’s no explanation for it, but I’m due to go on another round of Accutane soon so hopefully that will help me.
I wouldn’t worry though, Accutane does work for a lot of people! x
Alina
November 24, 2016 at 5:47 pmYay so happy to hear you’re getting on so well with Accutane, I am especially liking the sound of your hair not going greasy (I wold never be able to go more than 2 days without washing mine). It sounds like you have the perfect base combination here x
Beauty with charm
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:17 pmMy hair is naturally so oily, I’m so not used to not washing it for a few days- not that I’m complaining haha :)
Kiss & Make-up
November 25, 2016 at 4:07 amThe lip mask sounds pretty amazing!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:21 pmIt is! :)
Kiran
November 25, 2016 at 9:19 amGorgeous routine, I love True Match too. Definitely need to try an Hourglass powder. Beautiful post, glad your skin is looking better x
ALittleKiran | Bloglovin
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:22 pmThank you so much Kiran!
ThePartyParrotBlog
November 26, 2016 at 8:08 amBack pain – same here! Always happens to me after traveling during winter. By the way that Agave lip mask is amazing, I really like it together with Clarins Lip Oil. Both are really good at hydrating my lips, which are always chapped and dry. Need to try that MJ primer now. Thanks for sharing!
Naya
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:22 pmI want to try that lip oil, might get it soon as this combo sounds great.
Samantha Frances
November 26, 2016 at 2:07 pmI’m just finishing my first month back on Roaccutane and I’m the same! Dry skin and dry lips but I’ve also got really dry eyes which I didn’t have last time I was on it. My skin has unfortunately flared up as a reaction to it so I can’t wait for it to settle down over the next few months! I think I might have to give that lip mask a go, I’m currently just smothering them in Carmex! xxx
http://www.samanthafrances.co.uk
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:25 pmI had really dry eyes during first week, but now they seem to be a little better. Pretty much everyone I talked to said that they had to go back on it because their acne came back after the first time around. Is that what happened to you? Ugh I wish I went on it sooner, but was super paranoid about the side effects.
Samantha Frances
November 29, 2016 at 3:05 pmWhen I first went on it it completely cleared my skin up and I was spot free for around two and a half years! Then when I came off the combined contraceptive pill I was on I got the odd spot here and there but nothing major. Then at the beginning of this year I was put on the mini pill which completely destroyed my skin and brought the acne back worse than ever! So now I’m back on Roaccutane to try and clear that up but it did actually work for me the first time round. I’m not sure if it was the combined contraceptive pill that kept my skin clear or whether it did actually work, but yeah I know quite a few people who have had to go on it more than once. I know someone who stays on it constantly on a really low dose to keep their skin clear. Yeah the side effects are really scary, I was definitely wary about taking it! xxx
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 5:28 pmOhh I thought it came back right away, that would have been a nightmare! Yeah, birth control is what destroyed my skin in the first place when I was much younger ;( I’m on a low dose of Absorica right now so far I tolerate it much better than I thought (just bad back aches and dry skin and lips) but I love the results already. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! x
Samantha Frances
November 30, 2016 at 8:13 amI’ve heard it has come back straight away for some people but the majority of people who go on it have their skin cleared straight away and for good! That’s okay I hope it works for you! :) xxx
Kelly
November 26, 2016 at 9:19 pmThis reminds me to use my bite lip mask more, I remember loving that product so much. I’m so glad your skin is getting better now, I haven’t heard of accutane before.
Perfect Shade of Mauve
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:27 pmThank you so much Kelly!
Bernadette
November 27, 2016 at 5:29 amI need to try that marc jacobs primer, it sounds incredible! And that hourglass palette looks gorgeous!
http://www.themakeupaficionado.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:29 pmThat palette is stunning, love the powders.
Dagmara Klich
November 28, 2016 at 9:44 amI wish I could go three days without washing my hair
and it would look ‘fresh’, wait, two days would be a miracle already, haha!
I’ve been also enjoying using lightweight foundations
and dusting it over with the Surreal powder which just add such a pretty finish
to the skin. x
Mummy’s Beauty Corner
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
November 29, 2016 at 1:29 pmIt does feel like a miracle to me right now haha :) It’s so difficult to get used to, but I’m not complaining haha :)
steff @ brighterdarling.com
November 30, 2016 at 11:28 amI took your advice and picked up the Maybelline Matte + Poreless and also the Tru Match. Tru Match is GORGEOUS! I can’t believe I haven’t tried it in like 10 years. Reminds me a lot of Armani Luminous Silk! And neither have broke me out (a Godsend)! Also, I remember Accutane, lol. I did about 9 months back in 2008/2009. I had to stop early because it made my cholesterol skyrocket even though I was eating entirely vegetarian to keep my numbers down…. but it did work and although I still break out now, no more cystic breakouts like it used to be. :) Oh… and I swore by Aquaphor everywhere then. On my face, lips, tops of my hands (I remember that was horrible… esp bc I was living in Philly and it was colder).
Jennifer Monforton
December 1, 2016 at 7:00 pmAh, the Bite Agave Lip Mask is my favourite lip balm ever! I’ve been way tempted by that MJ primer and you really can’t go wrong with Hourglass powders :)
http://www.vibrantbeautyblog.com