After Losing 100 Pounds I Rebuilt My Beauty Routine From Scratch

Losing weight — a significant amount of weight — was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I look good...damn good. I feel good. Life is great. But no one ever prepares you for the changes that happen to your body, both internally and externally, that make the process of weight loss even more...interesting.

Of course, there are things that even an over-the-counter beauty and wellness product can't quite fix, and I'll be honest with you, I'm not opposed to the under-the-knife way of doing things, either. I've had loose skin removal surgery, Botox, and even tried filler (once, and it wasn't for me). But that only handles so much. It doesn't do anything about the crepey skin on your arms, or the dark spots I'd suddenly developed on my face as a result of hyperpigmentation because of the influx of skin changes, or even the amount of hair loss that came with my weight loss. And it really doesn't prepare you for looking in the mirror and thinking you look great, but also somehow a little older than you expected. That's where daily upkeep comes into play.

Here are the things I learned about my beauty routine after losing 100 pounds, and the products that have helped me along the way:

1. I lost a significant amount of collagen in my face and, if I'm being honest, I think it aged me just a tad.

Extreme weight loss depletes collagen fast, and it's the collagen that keeps your face looking full, firm, and like itself. I noticed first around my cheeks and jaw that I'd developed a slight hollowness that only comes from your face shrinking. I looked good. I just looked like a slightly older version of good than I was expecting. So I went after it from every direction.

Internally, I added Spoiled Child Liquid Collagen to my mornings. It's a tablespoon-sized pre-mixed shot with type 1 and type 3 collagen, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid, and it comes in pineapple flavor, which at least makes me feel like I'm getting a bit of a treat. I'm usually a skeptic when it comes to anything that promotes collagen, but I have to say, my skin got noticeably plumper within a few weeks, and my hair started feeling stronger once I started using it.

Revive Collagen  handles the marine side of things, using hydrolyzed collagen that absorbs faster than most other sources. For anyone whose skin elasticity has taken a hit, this is what addresses what the topicals alone can't reach.

And topically, I stacked:

SkinMedica's TNS Advanced+ Serum . It's expensive, nearly $300 — I know, but hear me out. It is the only growth factor serum clinically proven to address sagging skin, and after two months of using it at night, despite my better judgment, I now understand why people name it as one of their holy grails. The blend of growth factors and peptides works on firmness, fine lines, and texture simultaneously, and the results are resulting.

The SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra Serum was the other piece, and finding out it was specifically formulated for the kind of skin laxity that comes from rapid weight loss was just what I needed. It visibly lifts and tightens the jawline, cheeks, forehead, and neck. I use it and can confidently say this will be a part of my forever routine.

I also added Replenza , which is physician-formulated to support skin elasticity, muscle recovery, and digestive health for people actively managing weight changes. When you're also working out through all of this, your body needs more targeted support than a standard supplement routine is built to give. I think of it as the thing that makes everything else in this routine perform better.

2. Nobody warned that me my face would need this much help.

I was always on the fence about peptides, but the SkinCeuticals P-TIOX is what I reach for every morning, and I am not being dramatic when I say it's changed my skin. It's a peptide-powered serum clinically proven to reduce nine types of expression lines, built to complement Botox, but effective enough on its own that I don't feel like I'm missing something. The niacinamide and PHA offer a smooth texture, while the peptide complex works on the lines themselves. I'd say after about four weeks in (you have to give it time, folks), my skin looked smooth and glassy in the way Botox gives me that glow after it's settled in for about a week.

Rumor has it they just dropped an accompanying cream, and I can't wait to try that one next. Combine this with tretinoin and sunscreen, and chef's kiss.

3. My skin tone got worse before it got better.

Years of carrying extra weight means years of skin friction, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation quietly building up. Once I lost the weight, it intensified, which is exactly the opposite of what I thought would happen. Face Reality's Glowtone Corrective Serum is how I handled it. With this one, there are six active brightening ingredients that work together, including tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, and alpha arbutin. What I love about it is that it fades existing spots while blocking new ones from forming at the same time. It's also acne-safe, which matters when your routine is already stacked, and you can't afford to create a new problem while solving an old one.

4. It turns out, my body needed just as much help as my face.

All the content about skin after weight loss is about your face, but we can't forget about what it does to your body, too. I've since gotten skin removal surgery on my breasts, arms, and legs, but what surgery doesn't account for is the crepey texture you get, or even the stretch marks that remain there. DRMTLGY's Retinol Body Lotion is what I use now, and I genuinely wish I had started sooner. Retinol is one of the most proven skincare actives that exists, and most people only use it on their face, which is where most people — including me — mess up.

This formula pairs it with ceramides and shea butter, keeping your skin hydrated while the retinol addresses texture, firmness, and stretch marks over time. I used it as a spot treatment on the areas that changed the most, and the difference after a few months was impressive.

5. This peptide made my skin feel less like skincare and more like science.

I didn't believe the science behind OneSkin's Head-to-Toe Skin Health Duo until I saw it on my own skin. Both formulas work on getting rid of old, sluggish cells that have basically stopped doing their job. I used the face and body versions together for a few months and the change was noticeable. Particularly enough to keep using it among all the other products I've already got on my counter. My skin wasn't just smoother, it looked like it had more life in it.

6. This is the laziest skincare step that actually works.

I was skeptical of LED masks for a long time, partly because of the price and partly because I never felt I had the time for one more thing. The Shark CryoGlow changed my mind. It's the only LED mask combining red and blue light therapy with cryo-inspired under-eye cooling, and it works on blemishes, fine lines, and collagen. The under-eye cooling handles puffiness in a way that no eye cream I've tried has been able to replicate. Pre-programmed modes mean I press one button and watch TV, and don't have to think about it. Consistency is everything with LED devices, and this one removes every possible excuse for not being consistent.

7. This is the part of the journey nobody tells you about.

I was not prepared for this part, and I'm still struggling to manage it. Telogen effluvium is the clinical term for hair shedding that occurs after rapid weight loss, and I did not know that term when I started. I just knew I was standing in the shower watching an amount of hair go down the drain that didn't feel right, and it was unsettling in a way that surprised me, given everything else my body had already been through that year. Nutrafol was what actually worked, along with oral minoxidil prescribed by my dermatologist. Most people see real results between three and six months. I took it every single day, as prescribed, and my hair came back…somewhat. I'm still working on it, but so far, the results are resulting.

8. The rebuild is still happening, honestly.

My body is still settling, and my routine settles with it. But the thing I keep learning is that the products that worked before don't automatically work for the body I have now, and finding what actually meets my skin's needs is the next part of my weight-loss glow-up journey.

Have you had to rebuild your beauty routine after weight loss? Which products worked for you? Share in the comments or the anonymous form below.

Your daily brain workout: If You Can Actually Solve This 25-Word Mega Chain, You're Probably A Certified Genius

Read it on BuzzFeed.com