What in the WORLD am I thinking???

I think I may have mentioned a time or two on here that I have problematic skin. "Problematic" is the nice way of saying that I have the skin of a pubescent boy with a French fry addiction instead of a 33 25 year old woman. I am fighting wrinkles and acne at the same time, and I'm losing both battles. 

Royally. 

Napoleon had a better result at Waterloo. 

I am now flailing about, reaching for whatever foothold I can grasp that might lead me to the summit of clear, smooth skin. I have stopped short of sandblasting, but just a smidge short.

Here's a rundown of my nighttime face cleansing routine:

1) Wash my face with Olay sensitive skin foaming face wash to remove makeup

2) Wipe off with clean washcloth. 

3) Use bareMinerals Foaming Face Wash on my Clarisonic to get a deep clean

4) Reuse that same washcloth to wipe my face clean.

5) Use prescription Prascion cloths to again wash my face. I used this face wash to fight the acne. 

6) I let my face dry for a few minutes (very few)

7) Apply Origins Brighter By Nature Serum and let dry

8) Apply Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil and let dry. 

9) Apply 0.05% trenition cream (Retin-A)

I felt like this was an exhaustive cleansing routine, and I have been so disappointed that I have not only not had any results from it, but my acne isn't improving at all. Probably not worse, but DEFINITELY not better. 

Then I just happened to be watching some of my YouTube subscriptions, and Leighannsays talked about another YouTuber, Glintzy, and her success with using Lush face products during her own bout with acne. Being the sucker for persuasion that I am, I jumped right on board with Lush products and purchased 3 products right after watching this video:

She sold me immediately. 

But did you notice what she used to clean her face with? Olive Oil? Huh? 

Have you lost your daggum mind? 

Well, evidently I have. 

I have been doing it now every night since Friday night.

I have super-duper oily skin, and here I am, slathering on EVOO to clean my face at night. 

Nutso.

I also stopped using my Clarisonic, which breaks my heart. I love that thing. I can't help but think, though, that was bombarding my skin with 3 kinds of cleansers, 2 manual exfoliators (Clarisonic and the washcloth), and one chemical exfoliator (Retin-A). As much as I wish I could strip my skin into submission, I had to consider the possibility that I was doing more harm than good.

So, my new nighttime cleansing routine is this:

1) Slather EVOO on my skin, massage with fingertips. 

2) Wet a clean washcloth and gently remove the oil and makeup that it removes. 

3) Use Prascion cloths

4) Apply Origins Brighter by Nature, let dry

5) Apply Tarte Maracuja Oil, let dry

6) Apply Retin-A

I realize I haven't drastically reduced the steps in my routine, but I have to go about this in baby steps. Like I said, my natural inclination is "Shock and Awe". I want to bomb the blemishes right off my skin, but alas, that's not working.

I'm not sure this is going to be the answer, either, but I had to let my readers know that I'm doing this. It seems more than a little crazy to me. Nevertheless, I'm giving it a try. 

Wish me luck.