How I Finally Cleared My Skin After Years of Breakouts and Scars — Without Chemicals

For years, I threw money at skincare products — the expensive cleansers, the trendy serums, the dermatologist-prescribed creams. You name it, I tried it. And yet, my skin stayed the same: inflamed, broken out, scarred, and hopelessly irritated.

I followed every rule. Washed twice a day. Drank water. Avoided sugar. I even convinced myself that the burning sensation from those lab-formulated acne gels meant they were “working.” (Spoiler: they weren’t.)

The Breaking Point

One night I caught my reflection under harsh bathroom lighting and it hit me like a punch: I didn’t recognize my skin anymore. Red marks, cystic bumps, and acne scars covered most of my cheeks and jawline. I was doing everything the skincare industry told me — and my skin was only getting worse.

That was my turning point.

I started reading — really reading — the ingredient lists. I realized my skin was being assaulted daily by chemical preservatives, synthetic fragrances, and ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. So I stopped everything. Cold turkey.

Back to Basics: Why I Switched to Natural Skincare

I decided to rebuild my routine from the ground up — no chemicals, no junk, just ingredients my body would actually recognize.

The first major change? Ditching the synthetic moisturizers for beef tallow balm.
Yes, tallow. Like your grandma might’ve used. Turns out, grass-fed tallow is loaded with fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and closely mimics our skin’s natural oils. My skin drank it up — no irritation, no clogged pores. Just deep, soothing moisture.

➡️ Here’s the exact one I use and love:

Fighting Acne the Old-School Way

For active breakouts and hormonal flare-ups, I swapped the harsh benzoyl peroxide for sulfur — another old-school remedy that actually works.

De La Cruz’s 10% Sulfur Ointment became my nightly spot treatment ritual. I’d apply it for 10 minutes before bed, and within days, my breakouts started shrinking — without drying out my skin or making it peel like a snake.

➡️ This stuff is a lifesaver:

The Game-Changer: Derma Rolling for Scars

Clearing my breakouts was one thing, but the acne scars left behind were their own battle.

Enter: the microneedling pen.

I was skeptical at first, but after researching the science — controlled micro-injury triggers collagen production, smooths out texture, and fades pigmentation — I gave it a shot. And now? I won’t go without it.

Using the pen 1–2 times a week, paired with the tallow balm and sulfur spot treatments, my skin has transformed. Old scars are softening, the texture is evening out, and I finally feel confident bare-faced.

➡️ This is the microneedling pen I use at home:

I’m Still Healing, But Here’s What I Know Now

My skin isn’t “perfect.” It’s real, resilient, and healthier than it’s ever been. And I got here by doing the opposite of what I was told: by trusting simple, natural ingredients instead of harsh lab-made ones.

If you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work, maybe it’s time to stop fighting your skin and start supporting it — gently, naturally, and consistently.

Every product I’ve mentioned here is part of my current routine. I share them because they actually helped me — not because of hype.

I’ll never go back to my old ways.
This is the skincare journey I wish I started years ago.