5 Things I STOPPED Doing to Improve My Skin

[@kristinej.9599]

Two things I stopped doing -- first, ignoring lifestyle choices (diet, sleep, stress, etc.) that were affecting my skin/health, and second, impulsively buying recommended products without thinking through my individual needs especially age, climate, and what I'm already doing successfully and shouldn't mess with.

[@kendallstark4302]

Kelly, I do so appreciate your brand of honesty. There are other honest KZbinrs on here, but yours just clicks with me 💖

[@KellyDriscoll]

❤🙏I love to know that we click!

[@RockMusicIsPerfect]

OMG, thanks for talking about picking at your skin on an emotional basis. It's so hard to stop, but I try not to spend a lot of time looking in the mirror. That helps a bit. Have a beautiful day! 💙

[@KellyDriscoll]

This is a great point, spending less time in front of mirror helps big time!👍

[@spookyjess999]

Really like your philosophy around loss of power/control and trying to make up for that with skincare

[@pretzelsfan]

Kelly I appreciate your channel so much. I will have to share though that once I stopped skincaring my skin finally improved. It went back to my skin health before I integrated skincare as a hobby and ultimately damaged my skin barrier. I wasn't using anything harsh either. Mostly just calming hydration and yet my skin was weak. Stopping and just cleansing and sunsticking when I go outdoors was all I needed. It's not as fun (consumerism during a pandemic is real), but my skin is finally healed. Still appreciate your voice but personally I've opted out of most skincare.

[@kendallstark4302]

Same. I've bought a few toners and one of them clogged some pores on my jawline. It's such a shame because they feel so good on the skin! I might have to go the simple route of cleanse, moisturize, and protect only.

[@Ellafitzgerald1]

Thank you so much for your thoughts on picking/squeezing as a coping mechanism. Physical sensation or pain often is a means to deal with stress, anxiety or loss of control. Self harming is one example. I remember times, when my habits of squeezing my skin could certainly have passed as self harm or "stress release". Nowadays I feel the difference between the strange pleasure of popping a pimple or the extensive squeezing while brooding over depressing thoughts. If the latter happens, I know it's time for some self care or a helpful conversation to break out of the cycle. Thank you for creating the opportunity to talk and think about this, Kelly!🌹

[@ShraddhaManvi]

My journey has been so similar to yours. Omg, the 90s with their oil-free marketing was the first major blunder that I committed in my teenage years. And it took such a long time to get here today. Thank you for this video because honestly we need to examine our psychology rather than products to help save our skin.

[@emmacoppard6196]

I have stopped using chemical exfoliators and my skin in sooooo much better!! My breakouts have reduced so much and skin looks healthier. Also adding layers of different toners has helped my skin too.

[@Banana11128]

Stopped trying so many skincare items,I love watching skincare bids, one day I watched dr dray night time routine and bought all she use,my skin did not like coz we re all different. For me a gentle skincare routine is best

[@Hellerpn]

Today is my first day putting sun screen on my neck and chest area. Thanks for the the information. Somehow I never thought of doing it on a regular basis. Phyllis Heller

[@allison_may]

I’m also a chronic picker! It’s definitely part of my anxiety that I’ve had most of my life. I’d have such a strong urge to pick that often became overwhelming. I love that you brought up the topic of exploring positive coping skills. So important from a mental health perspective. I found for me personally, I get relief if I use a pimple patch and then just taking a break or going for a walk to help distract myself. Getting into skincare in general has also helped because I don’t want to go backwards in the progress my skin has made by creating an open wound. 👏🏻

[@lorainemcgillivray77]

Hi Kelly removing all fragrance made the biggest difference for me. During perimenopause I developed the start of rosacea (after already being eczema prone). I had a LOT of irritation and extreme dryness/redness. Simplifying my routine and removing all EO's from my face and body products made a big difference to my skin overall. Of course retinoids and azelaic acid have made a big difference to how my skin looks now, but removing the fragrance was a huge part of calming my skin down. I used to use a lot of spa brands and more natural brands, loving the sensorial experience of the EO's in my products. I have got used to fragrance free products and now find scented stuff overpowering - even in candles or heavy perfumes. I still wear a small spritz of perfume on my stomach for an evening out etc, but my skin is so much happier now with the fragrance free face and bodycare. I'm not a skin picker and I do wear spf. Exfoliation is something I have to be very cautious with and usually only use an AHA/BHA once a week. With the cell turnover from my retinoid and azelaic acid I just don't need much more - even with very dry skin. The other thing that made a big difference is accepting my very sensitive skin won't tolerate numerous active ingredients. As a skincare enthusiast it's very tempting to want to try all the actives people claim work wonders, but very sensitive skin needs gentle care. Vitamin c is a no no for me. The low ph needed makes my skin freak out and it's not worth the irritation to keep trying to find one that works for me. Best wishes.

[@MeghanaAnjali]

Great video! Can you do a video that goes more into skintuition? I hear a lot of people talk about listening to their skin but I can't figure out how to do that

[@we2824]

What I think what she's talking about (in my humble opinion anyway) :p is things like noticing when your skin feels dry or tight, oily or itchy, etc...If I may give you an example from my experience, When I am working in my classroom (I'm a teacher) I've noticed that my already dry skin feels extra dry the longer I'm there. To the point of feeling almost powdery, but I've applied no powder (as mentioned already, I'm a dry skin type so why would I and 2nd of all, no time). I chalked it up to terrible air quality, not being able to control said air, and not drinking enough water on top of that. However, when I started my new routine last year to help repair my moisture barrier and continue keeping it healthy, THANKS KELLY! Lol I now know what i need to do to get rid of that feeling (besides washing my face). I recently also was using the Beauty of Joseon Ginseng water that she has mentioned, but instead of doing me any good, I thought I wanted to rip my face off it made me so itchy. That stuff is NOT for dry skin. Gave it to an oily friend instead. Last but not least, when I'm applying even my daily routine stuff and my face starts getting that tacky feeling. It seems to be mostly when I've used too many layers of toner...so I assume that is my skin's way of saying "too much!" :) I hope this was helpful.

[@elacampusano7341]

Thank you very much for teaching us to listen to the requirements of our skin and to have more control over the processes rather than quick results.

[@lavayuki]

Really great advice! I love all your honest reviews as well, especially swatching the products to show they are actually like as not a lot of skincare KZbinrs do that :)

[@KellyDriscoll]

Really glad to hear that! It takes me a lot more time/effort to add those things in so I'm really happy to know it's helpful!

[@Minaaamii]

I went from never wearing sunscreen to wearing it every time I went out (but only when I went out) to wearing it everyday. Now I feel so uncomfortable if I don’t wear sunscreen lol I didn’t apply it when I was sick and in bed all day cause I didn’t wanna get them on my bedsheets/pillowcases (and I def didn’t have the energy to go through my entire skincare routine) but I felt so uneasy cause my bed is by a window lol

[@naipaz1343]

Stopped washing my face in the morning with cleanser and only water. It as helped tremendously.

[@queenb2450]

Honestly when I tried that, it broke me out even more so I went back. I don't know how people do it?

[@fallguy6196]

First time I ever used salycidic acid the next morning was the best my skin has ever looked. And I have super dry sensitive skin and I had no business really using such a strong exfoliant. And I got addicted to it and used it 3 times a week and it eventually made everything worst. Now I use a PHA which is so gentle but I'm not even sure if it's doing anything. I do remember a long time ago I did a yogurt mask and when I washed it off my skin literally looked like a painting it was beautiful I don't no how to replicate that lol

[@Banana11128]

Maybe just use the exfoliater you like less often, I have a chemical gel exfoliater I love but if I use to often makes my skin worse,so I just do when I feel my sk7n needs it and I find not doing it around my cycle helps as skin drier that week ,so exfoliating makes worse!

[@aurora6763]

I used salicylic acid just twice and my skin has never recovered from the damage even now 3 years later. The moisture barrier has healed from being sensitized but the damage from dehydration is irreversible. I developed fine lines and wrinkles I never had before, the natural glow and smoothness is gone. My pores are enlarged no product can change that.

[@becominghealthyandhappy]

Great video Kelly! I’m actually doing a bit of an experiment with my skin lately and I’ve already seen improvement. I was having a lot of redness and a lot of irritation and for a week and a half, I have only washed my face with water. No cleanser and no wash cloths and in a few days I started to see improvement. I’m probably not going to do it forever, but I think I really damaged my skin barrier with over cleansing and with just using water, a lot of my natural oils are staying on my skin and it feels a lot more hydrated and a lot of redness and irritation has disappeared. I’m very pleased!

[@KellyDriscoll]

That's great! You really don't need a cleanser in the morning, glad to hear you're listening to your skin!

[@qingdaogrrl]

Yup!

[@qingdaogrrl]

I moved in December and only took a hada labo creamy face wash with me plus my smallest jar of moisturizer - the pyunkang yul intensive repair cream and my skin has never been happier. Now that I'm all settled in and trying to use up old products, I've made it sting and burn and decided to stop chasing the solution to my problems and get back to SIMPLE and less is best!

[@rileypaigemc7018]

Yes yes and yes! My best skincare advice is to focus about making your skin healthy before making your skin look good. Exfoliants and retinol are awesome and make your skin look good, but they will ruin your skin if you’re not nourishing your skin. To nourish think clean (double cleanse, should feel clean but not tight after cleansing), hydrated (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid) moisturized (like creams or oils, ceramides, peptides, and other skin building ingredients) and protected (spf 30+). Having a consistent foundation is a game changer! After getting my foundation, my sensitive red acne-prone changed insanely !!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@maggiebar77]

This was a great video! Thanks for being so open and vulnerable while giving some great advice

[@jacquelynstewart6965]

The popping pimples thing is so me. It is brought on by my anxiety for sure.

[@suzyh5874]

This video is so helpful. Yes I remember the first time I used a chemical exfoliant without knowing what it was. It was azelaic acid and blew me away when I saw the results. Years later I'm using an online prescription with tret and azelaic acid and struggling with Tret face on occasion. I totally agree it's complicated!

[@meowcenary21]

Such good info! 38 year old me wishes this was available in my teen years. As a mom I am definitely reinforcing healthy practices over what my teens see online.

[@ajengyf]

Thank you Kelly! Watching this made me realise that, truly, skincare is a journey, our skin is constantly changing and we need to listen to it! It take me some time to figure it out and thanks to you, I learn sooo much about my skin now!

[@KittenCasserole]

Great video, you did a really great job with this one. Recently, I started to limit the amount of toner I use which made my skin less over-hydrated and more able to absorb moisturizer

[@jsp11b]

I'm obsessed with you, Kelly! Keep being you. I looked over at my skincare collection and can't help but notice that a lot of my current favorites are recommendations from you. I relate to all your points in this video and have deffffinitely made some of the same mistakes. Much love ~ thank you for always posting wholesome educational content, it is much appreciated!

[@assimpleasgravity]

Hey Kelly, number one probably rings true for sooo many people, myself included. Even just examining the skin up close and trying to find flaws or issues that you can get your hands on (literally) and the connection to feeling in control and relieving anxiety in the end always leads to very unhappy skin and much longer healing times. For the last year, I've for the first time ever have experienced acne, and being given multiple actives by my derm and then just waiting and learning to not be too harsh on my skin and shifting from immediately wanting back super clear perfect skin to setting the goal of achieving healthy skin with a non-compromised skin barrier. Even though I've had sensitive reactive skin and taking it slow was already a mantra for me I found out that I was still impatient and getting frustrated while also not being able to simply leave my skin alone. Same with body skin, the excessive dryness is all-encompassing but I still manage to sometimes go almost a week without putting any lotion on my legs and am then shocked by the amount of flaking and angry ingrown hairs. Similar to you I've also recently started being conscious of my skin in its entirely and it's needs; maybe you could share your favorite body products or what your routine looks like. Skin-Intuition is such a massive skill but it does take quite some time to learn. Patience and kindness are probably the starting pillars but I'd love to hear you talk about this more. As always, great video! :)

[@meowcenary21]

I stopped over exfoliating with various products. My poor skin was flaking, breaking out, and sore. Now I use one product 2-3x weekly. Learning that simple is better.

[@hhbn7865]

Can you give timestamps in your videos...

[@cjaneg97]

I have always had bad anxiety and would always pick at/bite my lips, but I started getting mild acne when I was 21-22 which redirected into picking my skin. Which is what got me into skin care and although I do still have bad days (and the marks/scars to prove it) having a routine has helped immensely and greatly improved my mental health over all.

[@sknight2810]

Actually im surprised that as soon as i start skincare i apply sunscreen everyydayyy i count it as a fixed part of my morning routine. I never feel like ugh sunscreen i forget! Haha if anything i tried to save my sunscreen by not wearing one day bc im in a dark room but i still feel weird

[@gabrielatorres5760]

I never thought it could be a coping mechanism until you said it. As soon as I heard it it made sense. Thank you Kelly for the awesome and candid information ❤️

[@KellyDriscoll]

Really glad that this resonated with you! It's something that took me a long time to understand myself but it's allowed me to gain a lot more control over the behavior and find better ways to manage stress.

[@ChiCityLady]

A lot of popular sunscreens were recently tested and found to have carcinogens in them, not on the labels. There's a published list online. Please check and make sure you're not using one of those daily. Exposure a couple days probably won't hurt you, but repeated exposure is risky.

[@AwakingOceanborn]

Kelly exposing all of us (well, me at least) with the fact that picking absolutely comes from a place of stress. I would love to say that I don’t pick at my pimples anymore because I’ve learned how to manage it but nope, I just switched them for biting the inside of my lip (gently) or playing with a strand of my hair or grinding my teeth at night. Something that I realised I had to stop doing to improve my skin was putting base makeup all over my face, even if it was something as lightweight as tinted moisturiser and it made me feel super confident and like I was in an Asian drama (I am watching The Untamed and everyone has magical skin what the heck). Yes, I double cleanse, and yes, I make super sure that the stuff I buy is not going to break me out but the second I deviated from putting it on the centre of my face I noticed an increase in texture.

[@maryamlaushi9108]

I stopped using too many products. Came down to 2/3 per routine and my skin significantly improved.

[@NN-ei1fb]

I stopped using physical exfoliates. I used to use st Ives apricot scrub everyday and then wonder why my skin was inflamed and sensitive!

[@cfazande]

I have been forgetting the back of my neck. I have short hair! The rest of my face and front look ok at 48. I’ve been using sunscreen my whole life. But I got out a mirror and looked the back of my head this week! Yikes!

[@cupiedoll9759]

Great video Kelly. Excellent points to be brought up to the forefront! 😘

[@suemazrn]

Learned if I exfoliate just twice a week, I am fine. Any more than that, and I have irritation.

[@mayc9483]

I love your videos! I love to listening to you. I hope you are doing well. PS: your hair is full snd beautiful! Thank you for such informative content and sharing your experiences! ❤️

[@rangolijain9684]

Kelly you've taught me so much about skincare. Lots of love from India. 🥰

[@fongpauer4546]

love your videos kelly !

[@susancruz729]

Great video. Patience is a virtue. A reminder to look at the motivations behind behavior.

[@julia_l-c]

I think I over-exfoliated last week and my skin in breaking out more this week :( I was trying some new masks and apparently they had low level AHA or PHA in them, and I still did my regular 2-3 days of exfoliating toner....whoops. Luckily, was already working on hydration and skin barrier so minimal damage, just dealing with calming everything down this week.

[@KellyDriscoll]

Oh no! It sounds like you have a good plan of action in place! 👍

[@bbsail]

I hope to get better. I pick and I exfoliate...but even a little gets me itchy, red and patchy.

[@dianad744]

Great video! I am looking at adding a vitamin c to my skincare routine, which product would you recommend for dry dehydrated acne prone skin. Thank you

[@fallguy6196]

In trying to wear sunscreen everyday but I can't find any that I like. I've wasted so much money trying to find one they all suck for me and ruin my skin if I wear them allday everyday.

[@christiepaguirigan7391]

The fluid/serum kind of sunscreen works soooooo well for me. Anything that’s cream/lotion kind of sunscreen dries my skin thereby turning me into a disco ball even if I double moisturize. All went away when I tried liquid/serum kind of sunscreen. Currently using Skin Aqua (white with gold cap) and I just love it. I also love the Missha Watery Essence cause the finish is just sooooo good (dewy but not greasy nor tacky- it actually feel so smooth) but they sting my eyes ☹️ Anessa (gold with light blue cap) is the best but it bores big holes in my pocket 😅

[@susancruz729]

Also, I have learned to embrace my own sebum! A pre treatment with an astringent of kombucha, and then water only to rinse rinse rinse. Scalp and total body.

[@ambikapandeyadhikari7192]

Thank you Dear ❤️ for always giving best information and guide lots of love and appreciation . You always look beautiful 😍

[@romy3582]

Agreed! 💫

[@vasanthmukundan2958]

Hai kelly have a good day,I actually want know more about k beauty round lap products especially sunscreen,can you please tell more about that please thank you kelly

[@valentinaci7888]

The sunscreen part..I had perfect skin when I used to apply just a little bit in the morning. When I started applying a lot and reapplying every 2 hours as all these influencers say we have to,my skin went crazy. I never in my life had this bad skin with so many breakouts. Now I have a lot of acne scars and it's all because of sunscreen. I know that if I find the perfect one, that goes well with my skin then I will be fine, but all this experimenting with different sunscreens, the journey to find the perfect one, has made my skin worse then before. Sunscreen was supposed to protect me from spots and stuff but it actually caused them. Skin cancer, I am not worried about that becaue I never liked the sun, so I avoid it all the time. Just my experience.

[@valentinaci7888]

@Trinity M Thank you for replying, haha, I posted this comment one year ago. In the meantime I did find some sunscreens that don't break me out. And masks are no longer mandatory outdoors where I live, and this seems to have helped a lot, too. Pigmentation from breakouts I had, they are fading, but slowly. Actually they no longer bother me as much. I jave grown to like my skin as it is, and to enjoy my skincare routine. Thank you for commenting!

[@krnkn4664]

I want to get quick results so that i can try more skincare and ruin it again :D

[@susancruz729]

Green tea kombucha rosemary and mint.

[@eliotrudolph3868]

“Addiction to fast results”. I feel seen.

[@108-tasnuvarahman3]

Very informative 🧡🧡🧡

[@kamilaaidarkulova3985]

So informative, thank you so much

[@matthewpower7148]

Another great vid! Thank u!

[@susususu9871]

its such a good video, thank you

[@teriboudreaux6743]

I sooo cannot stand any form of aha on my skin. Glycolic is the absolute worst of the worst. It stings. Its burns. I get these red inflamed areas that kinda look like huge raised rashes on my face. Even at low percentages like 5%-7%. I repurposed my ordinary 7% glycolic toning solution for my back and chest where I seem to break out a bit as well. It worked miracles on my bacne. I barely ever get a those huge painful cyst back there anymore. I also use it on my butt at well. It's such a versatile product. Lactic is the same way just not as bad. If I use a 5% lactic acid leave on serum my skin is tight and burns in the morning. Mandelic isnt to to bad if use conservatively. I guess because it acts more like a bha. I get my aha exfoliation from my cleansers and that seems to work great without giving me irritation. Bha is my absolute favorite. I use 2% bha around 3 times a week. Some times less depending on how my skin feels. I'm super prone to breakouts and congestion and I have an oily skin type. I'm thinking of switching to the CosRx BHA toner for something gentle to use daily. And keep my 2% for when my skin need a little pick me up. It really is so so so important to listen to your skin everyday and give it what it needs daily. Everyday is different.

[@marrykozakura9352]

If you want a low percentage of Bha I can recommend the Benton Aloe toner with 0,5% of Bha

[@fallguy6196]

Try pha it's the most gentle one.

[@sara.m88]

My skin is so sensitive to actives too. Having combo skin is so difficult too. I have a normal to oily T-zone and it reacts very normal to exfoliants. But the rest of my face is normal to dry and is very prone to irritation. I tried Adapalene but it ruined my moisture barrier. My cheeks were so dried out and irritated. I tried Paula's Choice Bha and it broke me out and was too strong for my skin to handle. Lactic Acid was too gentle so it did nothing for me. I don't know what to use to exfoliate without it being irritating to my skin.

[@fallguy6196]

@@sara.m88 pha are by far the most gentle. I use the inkykist pha toner and it is extremely gentle. It's going to take alot longer to work than other aha's or bha's but...

[@fallguy6196]

What's your favorite medium daily moisturizer so far ?

[@pikachuiswatchingyou]

About overexfoliation 😭 salicylic acid worked so well until I couldn't bear it

[@sara.m88]

What do you use to exfoliate your skin? My skin type is similar as yours and a lot of exfoliants dry my skin out.

[@KellyDriscoll]

What works for me might not work for you! I use prescription tretinoin which is blended with azelaic acid and that gives me 90% of what my skin needs and can handle. I recently started to occasionally (as in 1x a week or less) use a low % BHA but that's about it.

[@sara.m88]

@@KellyDriscoll Thank you for your reply!!!!

[@we2824]

To Kelly and all us 80's ladies out there...SEABREEZE!! OXY Pads! ***Me Wondering why I have such DRY skin now....

[@cynthialopez2084]

Lol I remember using the Seabreeze so many times a night thinking it would clear my skin....🙄🙄 and loving the fragrance of the Clean and Clear cleanser and Noxzema thinking they were legit because of the fragrance...

[@cherieozga5879]

I do because I am bored

[@aashag3192]

Hi Kelly 🌚 I am first one to watch this video😱

[@christinesearle5553]

Aahh... but how do you really know you’re the first to watch the video? Maybe others like myself beat you but chose not to comment 😀🤷‍♀️

[@aashag3192]

@@christinesearle5553 yeah may be... This is the first time when I clicked on the video that had 0 views in it😁

[@keylvs]

new subscriber 👻

[@KellyDriscoll]

Thanks for subbing!💖

[@joshuaheseddemetria6369]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@we2824]

With apologies to any gentlemen and friends of the LGBTQI community, I didn't mean to leave ANYONE out in my previous comment. I was merely trying to be humorous in reference to an old song title, and realized too late what I said could be offensive. Please accept my apology. I have a poor sense of humor sometimes. :0

[@sweetysinghal8040]

❤️