Let's Talk About Skincare, Part 2- The Extras

Sorry for the delay in getting this second post up. It's been a challenging week, but I'm back and ready to talk about skincare!

This is Part 2-"The Extras". I'll be talking about the "extras" I use to treat problem areas and breakouts. I'll also tell you about the "big gun" products and treatments that I have tried.

The Extras

• Bio-Oil: I've been using this for about 4 years now. I dab this on dry spots or post breakout marks. I have some on my night stand for my hands and cuticles. Love this stuff! It's also good for stretch marks and for pregnant tummies.

  

• Boscia Luminizing Black Mask- I use this mask once or twice a week on my face, neck, and chest. Like many other reviewers have said, "It's like a big Biore strip for your face."  Be careful and don't get this on your eyebrows or too close to your hairline. If you do, then you can easily have a hair removal session. "Kelly Clarkson!!!"

• Ole Henriksen "Truth is in the Eyes" Eye Peel- Yes, you read that right, "eye peel". This is a mild eye treatment with glycolic and lactic acid. I've read many times that no amount of moisture will improve dark circles and deeper lines around the eyes. Supposedly, you have to thicken the collagen to reduce the appearance of dark circles and lines. Retinoids and acids are proven to thicken collagen if used consistently. 

I use this in the morning and night. The directions say to use it at night, but I do both.

• Hydrocortisone and Bandaids- I use these for unexpected breakouts. You know those big, honkin' chin pimples? My former dermatologist told me about doing this. I have gone in before to have a cystic pimple injected with hydrocortisone. It hurts like a mother trucker. Sore pimple and a needle jammed in it.....good times I'm telling ya. But it really is a miracle worker when it comes to big event/monster pimple combo we all have had. Here's what you do at bedtime: wash your face with a mild cleanser, pat dry, and squirt a pea-sized amount of hydrocortisone cream onto your finger. Apply to the breakout and cover with a bandaid. Leave on all night. It really does help reduce the swelling and redness. 
• Neosporin and Bandaid- If you're a skin picker, I recommend using this after you've done your damage. Use it the same as the hydrocortisone/bandaid combo. Neosporin will kill the bacteria on the surface of the open pimple. 
• Visine eye drops- Good old Visine. It's not just for your eyes. Get the basic formula, not the allergy AC or whatever it's called.  Put a few drops on a cotton swab and hold on a pimple for 30 seconds to a minute. It helps reduce swelling and redness.
• Peter Thomas Roth "Unwrinkle Peel Pads"- I use these a few times a week at night before applying Retin-A. WARNING: Don't do this if you have not consistently used acids and retinoids. I've used strong products for 20 years. My skin is very accustomed to these type products.  Oftentimes, before a laser treatment or peel, estheticians and/or plastic surgeons will have you "prep" your skin with retinoids or acids. An esthetician told me that she preps her skin with a mild acid before using her nightly Retin-A. She said it improves the efficacy of Retin-A by sloughing off old skin cells and provides an even surface for the retinoid to work. 

You wash your face, wipe your face and neck with the pad, leave on a few minutes, and rinse. I pat my face dry, then brush my teeth, etc. before applying Retin-A Micro. 


Stay tuned for Part 3- "The Quirky". You get to find out about how I wear some SEXXAH Scar Sheets on my face to bed. HA!

Let's Talk About Skincare (Part 1)

The Basics

A little history behind my obsession with skincare:

My skin is oily and I've had issues with breakouts since I was 13. My teenage years were spent using tubes of "Oxy" 10% benzoyl peroxide acne treatment. That's all that was on the market when the dinosaurs ruled the earth at that time. Little did I know....I am very sensitive to benzoyl peroxide, and it can actually make my break outs worse. 

As a teenager, I'd spend my summers tanning to "dry out" the pimples. In the winter, I'd pack on more makeup than Christina Aguilera to cover up the massive breakouts. Sounds sexxah, huh?

I found a wonderful dermatologist in my early 20s that educated me about acne and how it's related to hormones, cell turnover, and even diet. He also encouraged me to start an anti-aging regime, even though I wasn't "old". 

I won't go into all the acne meds I've taken through the years, but I will say that I've used some form of retinoid (Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Tazorac, etc.) for 20 years now. If you have the time, do a little research on retinoids and their ability to build collagen. Prescription strength retinoids are truly the gold standard in anti-aging.

If you  haven't started snoring yet have read this far, 

here's "The Basics of my skincare routine:

Morning:

• Cleanser:  Clarisonic Brush with Johnson's Baby Shampoo. I started using baby shampoo on my face after I asked a ageless and gorgeous 60-year-old woman what products she used. She told me she'd been using baby shampoo on her skin for 40 years. SOLD. I alternate using Johnson's with MD Forte Facial Cleanser. This stuff is strong. It's 20% glycolic compound, so you have to work up to it. I put it on my dry skin, let sit for a minute or so, then add water and cleanse. 
• Serum:  Skinceuticals Phloretin CF Broad Spectrum Treatment. I could talk about free radicals all day, but I won't bore you. This serum compound contains vitamin C and phloretin and has changed my skin tone dramatically. It's not cheap, but my bottle has lasted almost a year.
• Treatment: Dermaquest Skin Therapy Peptide Mobilizer . Also pricey, but you can find coupons online all the time or even try eBay. My esthetician told me about this product. They don't even sell it at the salon, so I know her endorsement was not sales-based. I've read a lot about the use of peptides in tissue regeneration and its ability to reverse sun damage and aging. I rotate this treatment with MD Forte Facial Lotion III (30% glycolic acid).
• Protect: John Masters Organics SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen . I recently started using this sunscreen because it contains no dimethicone or parabens. So far I like it pretty well. It does feel and look like sunscreen when you first put it on, but it absorbs pretty quickly. My choice in the summer is Neutrogena-Spectrum + Advanced Sunblock Lotion SPF 100 +. You can tell by the "100+", mama don't mess around.

Night:

• Cleanser: Lazy nights- Neutrogena Make-up Cleansing Towelettes Refill. If I'm too tired to do the whole skincare routine, I use these wipes. These wipes don't burn my eyes, and they thoroughly remove all my makeup. Don't buy the ones in the box. They're more expensive, and yeah, they're more expensive. That.is.all.                                                                             Non-lazy nights- University Medical Acne-Free Oil Free Purifying Cleanser on the Clarisonic brush. I can't tolerate benzoyl peroxide lotion on my skin, but do really well with this cleanser. I tried Proactive products in the past, and didn't like them at all. This cleanser keeps my pores clean and isn't irritating.
• Treatment: I alternate 2 products at night. There's no rhyme or reason. I usually use what's in close proximity.  Most often I use Retin-A Micro pump in 0.1%. As you may know, this is available by prescription only.  The second treatment I use is also doctor prescribed--Evoclin foam. This is a topical antibiotic (clindamycin) that I've had success with in the past year. 

There you have it....my basic skincare routine. It may seem a little complicated, but essentially it involves cleansing plus 3 quick products in the morning, and cleansing plus 1 product at night. For only a few minutes 2x a day, you can make a big difference in your skin.  

Let's Talk About Skincare

I've had a few of you "youngins" ask me about my skincare program and what supplements I take. I did a post in the past about my skincare products, but I've changed it up since then. I think it's important to periodically make changes to your skincare routine. I have some "tried and true" Holy Grail items that I'll never give up, but if I start having breakouts, you better believe I'm going to pull out the big guns.


So first, let me preach a little. No amount of products, peels, supplements, or jugs of water are going to give you changes in your skin if you tan or smoke. Those two habits are going to age you faster than anything, and it's often irreversible. 


Friends, you have to stay out of the tanning beds and sun! I cringe when I see a beautiful 20-year-old fried to a crisp, all red-faced with legs as dark as cedar siding. Throw in some "weekend" smoking, and you'll have this.

END. OF. RANT.

**Disclaimer: By no means do I consider myself a skincare expert. My skin is NO WHERE near perfect. I still battle with acne. UGH. My suggestions are based on what has worked for me through the years.

I'll divide my skincare routine into 4 posts:

1. The Basics:  This includes what I consider to be the "basics" of skincare. I'll discuss my choice of cleansers, serums, sunscreen, etc.
2. The Extras:  This will include what I use to treat breakouts and problem areas. I'll also talk about the "big guns" of skincare.
3. The Quirky:  You may say "What the Helena?" when I tell you some of the crazy things I use and do for the sake of anti-aging and acne control.
4. Supplements and Food:  I'll share with you what supplements I regularly take, along with foods that have improved my skin. 

Check back tomorrow for my suggestions!

Things I'm Loving Right Now

I'd love to share with you a few items I've discovered in the last month. 

Philosophy "Amazing Grace" Body Butter

I bought this at Sephora. It smells so clean and even though it's extremely moisturizing, it doesn't feel greasy.

These are individual pads (think Stridex acne pads) that contain alpha, beta, and gamma acids along with peptides and vitamins.   You wash your face, and swipe the pad all over your face and neck. After a minute or ten (I have resilient skin), you simply rinse. 

This isn't a miracle product, but I love how convenient and quick these are. I noticed that my pores are cleaner & my overall skin texture is smoother.

 &

John Masters Organics Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been experiencing hair loss pretty badly the past five years. So much so, that I'm now regularly using a Rogaine/Latisse combination daily. I also take biotin and multivitamins along with silica and other supplements.

Hair loss, especially for women, is utterly devastating. It's not supposed to happen to us! In addition to the mentioned treatments, I've been doing a lot of reading on hair loss, its causes, and ways to prevent it.

One of the interesting things I recently read is how a hairdresser noticed the amount of hair loss she had been seeing in women in the past 10 years. After doing years of research with medical professionals and scientists, she saw a direct correlation between sulfates in shampoo and hair loss. Here's the article. Check out that website. It's very informative. 

Not all sulfate-free shampoos are created equal though. I utterly HATE  Pureology shampoo. I know a lot of you love it, but for my hair, the pH is off. That's why my hair looks like a wad of straw when I use it. Then I have to use 2 gallons of conditioner to get it to detangle. Then it's flat. Major fail.

The thing I love about John Masters' brand is that he's done extensive testing on the pH of all his hair products. After washing/conditioning my hair with the above products, my hair feels clean, strong, & silky.

I've also noticed that I'm not getting GOBS of hair in my hands when I wash it. 

Do any of you use sulfate-free shampoo? Are you using it to protect your color or highlights or for other reasons? Just curious.

What new products are you loving?

5 Under $25

I haven’t blogged in so long, so you may want to hush those howling hound dogs, put on a pot of coffee, and call in sick to work.

I’m back and ready to share

5 of my favorite items under $25.

1. Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-In Split End Protector Treatment- This smells great and really smoothes out those rough, janky ends.



2. Windex Wipes- I have these under all my bathroom sinks for touchups.

3. Purpose Gentle Face Wash- gentle, cheap and never dries out my skin. I love to use this on my Clarisonic face brush.

4. Tweezerman Slant Tweezers- I love these for my unibrow brows!

5. Sally Hansen Just Feet Spa Night Time Heel Repair Wrap – use this with the Night Time Heel Repair Ointment. This gets rid of those gnarly-cracked Granny heels. Serious stuff. I think I got mine at Wal-Mart or Wal-Greens.

   

Do you all have any favorite items that you recommend?

My First Giveaway! CELLCEUTICALS!

I’m excited to announce my very first giveaway! First off, I am in no way being compensated or receiving endorsements from Cellceuticals or the developers of their products. This giveaway consists of products that I use regularly and bought myself. I love them so much that I want to share them with a lucky winner.
I did a post HERE a while back describing my skincare regimen. The Cellceuticals system combined with retinoids and diligent sun protection has totally changed my skin! My skin feels healthier at (gasp!) almost 40 years old than it did 10 years ago. I can have rather reactive and sensitive skin. This program has calmed my skin a great deal and it never feels irritated and tight after using it.
Kim Kardashian loves Cellceuticals too. Check out her recommendation.
The winner will receive (1) 5 piece Cellceuticals Skin Treatment System which includes:

• Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser- This stuff is the bomb diggity. It never dries my skin out. I use it on my Clarisonic Brush and it cleans like no other cleanser I’ve used.
• Extreme Defense Anti-Cell Damage Skin Treatment-This is the day treatment. Feels very light and clean.
• CellGenesis Regenerative Skin Treatment- This is the night treatment. It feels like a light serum and moisturizer mixed together.
• Bonus size of Ceractive Active Moisture +Barrier Repair Skin Treatment
• Bonus size Neocell Micro-Resurfacing

Total Value of: $120.00

To enter:

1. Just leave a comment or question, or let me know if you have a design/decorating topic you’d like me to discuss in the future. This equals 1 entry.
2. If you are a follower of the blog prior to this contest…..you get 2 entries. *Just to make sure, let me know that you are a follower in your post.

That’s all! No retweeting (unless you want to), no telling me how much you love me (he he. Unless you want to.), and no becoming a blog follower (even though..I’d love for you to follow). I won’t make you jump through hoops, build a shrine to me, or follow me when you follow 453,832 other blogs.
The winner will be announced Wednesday, January 27th after 12 pm Central Time.

Peel Baby Peel

Dearhearts, here's a continuation of the previous post, "What's in Your Medicine Cabinet?" So here's my nighttime skincare routine.

• First, I use the Cellceuticals Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser on my Clarisonic Pro skincare brush. I wait a few minutes after cleansing before proceeding. Many years ago, my dermatologist told me to wait a little while before putting on retinoids. It is supposed to allow the skin time to regain some of its natural moisture. I don't know how scientific this is, but I have noticed if I immediately apply retinoids, I have more flaking and dryness the next day.
• I alternate between retinoids and a nighttime cream. During the harsh winters here, I find that I can't use a retinoid more than 4 days a week. So here's what I use:

• I use the same products during the day, but I have no set system with what I use at night. I just try to 'listen' to my skin. My theory is at night , you "treat" problems and during the day you "protect" your skin from having problems. If my skin is feeling a little dry, I'll use CellGenesis Regenerative Skin Treatment. I would like to bathe in this stuff. It is so light, but so effective. By the way, I am not affiliated in any way with Cellceuticals. I'm just a girl spending money on skincare stuff, like most of you....and I'm telling you what works for me.
• The retinoids I use are prescription strength. I use Tazorac brand gel 0.1%. Let me tell you, this is the "big guns". I had to work my way up to this strength over the course of a few months. It really helps with acne, but the main reason I use it is for anti-aging and collagen building. I also use Retin-A Micro Pump 0.4%. This is a much milder retinoid, and I tolerate this better in the winter.
• After a vacation to the beach later this summer, I have LOTS of hyperpigmentation on my forehead. I'm having a really hard time getting rid of it, so I've started using Lustra Ultra with 4% hydroquinone and 3% retinol. I use this on my forehead and the other creams on the rest of my face and neck.
• When I'm super tired, and really, really tempted to not wash my face before bed, I reach for these. Swipe, swipe, toss, and go to bed. No creams, just sweet dreams! he he

• If I feel a monster brewing under the skin (a.k.a. the zit monster), I use this little trick to kill the bacteria and treat the pimple while I'm sleeping.

First I zap the blemish with the Thermaclear Acne Treatment Device. This is like the Zeno Acne Treatment device on steriods. It hurts like a mother and is startling, but it has saved the day for my skin a few times. Next, I put a dot of antibiotic ointment on the area, then cover it with a "dot bandaid". In the morning, I take the bandaid off, and start the morning routine all over again.

So that's it. Sounds complicated, but I've got it down to only a few minutes!