In which I talk about skin issues.
Dress and shoes Target 2010
Bracelet and earrings hand made in Thailand. both were gifts for separate holidays from Dave. They are dyed stones and have a nice heft to them.
Cami Old Navy
I was taking detail shots and the phone rang. But you can see the earrings so that is all that matters.
I have been having some seriously skin issues lately. I have had acne since I was a teen but it would be a few here and there and lately I have looked like I am 16 and should see a dermo. I have tried everything over the years, everything. Yup tried that too. I have also been photoshopping like mad lately and using creative concealers. About a week ago is was just BAD. They were extremely painful and I was embarrassed. Dave finally admitted it was bad. (He usually says OH I DON'T SEE ANYTHING) hrmph. He even bought me a zeno. I wash my face, use special non clogging cream, all the right things but it just didn't matter what I did.
Since I couldn't get in to see a dermo for over a month I bought a new kit to try. Neutrogena Complete Acne Therapy kit. There are 3 steps to it and I have done all them for 4 days so far and I have seen a HUGE difference. At $19.99 for a two month kit I can't beat that price. RX as so much more. Proactiv too which I have also used. My skin is a bit dry and red right now but I know it will adjust but I can't get over how my clearer it is already. Silly me though FORGOT that it tends to bleach fabrics and ruined our BRAND NEW plum color organic cotton sheets we JUST BOUGHT. You what though for my skin clearing it was worth ruining some pillowcases and a towel. People online always say what a nice complexion I have and it always makes me sad because I didn't. I used good makeup, filters and airbrushing. Now you aren't gonna see any before pictures because TALKING about it is embarrassing enough for me.
OK thoroughly embarrassed now....
But wait I shall embarrass myself more. In 2002 before we got married I made an appointment at Clinique to have them show me how I should do my makeup for my wedding. I remember it was a big wig who had come in for the event and she sat me down took one look at me and said "Oh your skin is awful. Your getting married huh? Well we can slap some concealer on it" Needless to say I left feeling like pond scum. Dave was so upset he called corporate clinique to complain about this "IMPORTANT MAKE UP ARTIST" A week later I was invited to the local counter where one of the regular girls was so sweet and kind to me and Clinique sent me a big gift basket of stuff. Not that you should complain for free stuff but it was nice they cared about what happened to their customers.
Comments
You know I never even thought that the stress in my life might be making it worse. My life is stress city right now.
I also have sensitive skin to boot. Right now I am trying aqua glycolic on my sister's recommendation and kinda liking it! I would try the Neutrogena you are trying but I can't do salycilic acid and it's in everything!
Love those shoes, so mad I never got a pair~! Can't believe how they sold out and how high they are on eBay. Stupid Target.
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Mine is sensitive too. urg last week I was COVERED In rashes turns out I am allergic to pantene. I was trying to save money instead of the expensive one that had wheat in it I had been using so dave couldn't use it. Hive city.
So I go and buy my $28 dollar of wheat filled conditoner and tell dave DON'T TOUCH IT. urg.
I also switched to organic make up, and that seemed to help.
I get that cystic acne, where it's just a big, red, painful bump, with nothing in it to pop out.
I sort of just stopped using all the gunk that I was using, started using natural products, and it kind of got better on its own. I still get flare ups occasionally, but only when I'm seriously stressed.
Natural makeup was one of the worst offenders for me. I got some "mineral" makeup people were oohing about it made me break out.(it did my mom too. She was all rashy within an hour) I tried TWO other brands, breakout. I now don't wear foundation and only concealer where i need it. Seems to not affect me at all because I use it on spots instead of face.
I use makeup forever and YSL touche eclat.
I also love that I see your outfit here before I actually see you in person at work haha. Okay back to the spreadsheetin' basement with me...**shoulders pick-axe and trudges downstairs**
Also those shoes are amazing.
Murad's acne treatments work pretty good, but very expensive. I also like St. Ives Apricot Scrub but it's a little harsh if you have really sensitive skin.
BEST thing I ever started using is 100% Argan Oil. I could go on about it forever...I like the one by Josie Maran. It helps with redness and clears up breakouts in a day or so. It's really good for soothing the cystic acne bumps - they do seriously hurt. And for healing them if you can't help it and pick at em. Try the $14 .5 oz one first since the big bottle is pricey. I just smooth it on after my toner and before my moisturizer. Big benefit is that it's packed with Vit E/antioxidants and helps smooth fine lines. They've also got a huge bottle of it at Sally's (don't remember brand) for $8
i know i've already said it, but my deep cystic acne is so much better since i've started acupuncture. i still get 'em sometimes but they aren't as deep or painful and clear up really quickly.
i've been using korres and dermalogica on my face for the last year and i'm now a big believer in those two brands. i also take an herbal supplement, margarite acne pills, for the 2 weeks preceding aunt flo.
i have been getting red spots (i'm already ruddy) and i'm always so DAMN SHINY yet i have dry skin. AUGH!
your sheets sound lovely- maybe you could do some bleach spots on the rest and make it look like an intentional pattern or something :)
I had a death in my family and my blog reading and commenting suffered greatly.
What I am using right now is really working for me but I am saving all these comments in a file in case it stops! Thanks so much everyone!
I'm glad I posted it kinda helps knowing there are so many of us suffering
Heather- Your hair can definitely affect bacne, but how you wash it, not how often. I notice that if I don't wash my body after I wash out conditioner (ie wash hair, apply conditioner, wash body, then rinse conditioner), it can cause bacne due to the conditioner sitting on my skin and clogging my pores. Now I fully rinse out the conditioner before washing my body. If I want to leave in the conditioner a little longer, I rinse my hair while leaning forward under the sink or bathtub tap so that the conditioner doesn't run over my body, then just wash my face. I almost never get bacne now, just by making this small change in my routine.
I was thinkng about the laundry detergent and dryer sheets I use and whether or not they are impacting the situation...
Moni-Thanks for the glycolic acid lotion info, I'm gonna try that since I'm under mucho stress and breakouts are bad right now.
Heather- It could definitely be your detergent. I changed mine not long ago b/c of that. Try something unscented. The Arm & Hammer unscented made me itch, but the All Free & Clear is pretty good. I've recently switched back to Gain b/c it's just the best detergent period.
It's so great that your readers share all this info instead of just saying how pretty you look every day. One of the reasons I love your blog so much and take time to comment on it. Please keep up the great questions, I think we're all learning we're not alone in these problems!
Was just commenting on one of my own issues.