As someone who has struggled with acne for my entire life, I thought that I had tried everything that this world had to offer. This included everything from gentle face washes, to birth control, and to prescription face creams that make your face dry up so much that it peels. I had thought that I was done and doomed forever with a constellation face full of pimples.

However, a friend of mine saw a face care routine on Pinterest and she had started to experiment with it. I was skeptical because she had pretty clear skin already, and really didn't need the intensity that I did. Deciding that I had nothing to lose, I embarked on the clear-skin journey and was not disappointed.

Step 1: Wash your face with dial bar soap (not pictured)

Step 2: Wash your face again with the Equate Gentle Skin Cleanser.

Step 3: Take one finger and place it over the top of the tea tree oil, turn the bottle upside down, and apply the oil onto your face using one finger (or you can use cotton pads, but I don't have any). Wait for a few minutes so that your face cools. The first time that I used it, my face felt like it was burning a little. Warm up your skin to this product by only using a little bit at first.

Step 4: Get a washcloth and fold it in half. Use one corner and get it slightly damp. Pour the Dickinson's toner onto the rag, and then apply to your face. You could also probably use cotton pads for this too, but I've been improvising. Wait a few minutes for the toner to settle into your face.

Step 5: Grab your regular face wash (I used the equate pink grapefruit body wash), and lather it onto your face. Rinse it off and pat your face with a towel to try.

Step 6: DON'T USE THIS EVERY DAY, but every few days, as the 6th step, apply a gel mask or face scrub of your choosing. I used the Freeman Feeling Beautiful Sugar Polish Mask and I've loved it!

As much as I love all of these products, I cannot take credit for the discovery.

Here's BEFORE.

Before.

Here's AFTER.

My skin is not perfect by any means because I failed to do this routine every single day, but it's gotten so much better. I'm now so confident and I love my skin enough to wear makeup without using foundation. The best part of this experiment is that it was relatively cheap. I didn't buy any high-end creams or spend loads of money on a prescription. Instead, I used drugstore products and got amazing results.

Same day, different lighting.

If you're wondering if you should try this, the answer is yes. Is it a lot of steps? Sure. Is it 100% worth it? YES.