Okay, lets talk skin.
I have always had problem skin and very (and I mean VERY) sensitive skin. Around the middle school/high school days is when my skin started to change (like everyone else). I would get pimples, break outs and the worst thing BOILS. UGH, boils (to me) are the worst. The get very large, red, irritated, extremely sore, and take forever to go away. I had pimples and boils all thru high school and into my twenties. I tried everything, over the counter remedies, homemade remedies, all natural remedies. My favorite for years was from The Body Shop, the Tea Tree Oil. Gosh, that worked great for me for a few years then my skin changed again and it stopped working, I was so bummed. Finally I decided to give Proactiv a try. At first it was a little harsh for my face. I got really red and my skin was even more sensitive. I called the company and they told me how to go about easing my way into Proactiv. So happy I called cuz' it did end up working. I've been using Proactiv for over 8yrs now and my skin has really cleared. When a boil or pimple come up I use the mask or their pimple zapper cream (can't remember the name but it works) and it clears it up in a day or two.
7 months ago I tried (for the first time) Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy. Oh my, I fell in love. At the time I happened to have a nice whopper of a pimple (but I think it was going the boil route) and I was at a Bare Escentuals Boutique. They were giving me a make-under and asked if I had ever used Blemish Therapy before? I said no but I'm interested. So they put it on my pimple. It killed the redness immediately. So with just that to show for the product I bought it. The next day when I got up the swelling was down and the redness was gone. I was completely shocked. So now, when a boil or pimple arise I slap some Blemish Therapy from Bare Minerals on it and it's gone. :)
When washing make-up off my face I like to use The Clarisonic with Philosophy's Purity Cleanser. You really get a deep cleaning which helps to prevent black heads and white heads.
Okay, also along the skin line, I've always (I can't believe I'm going to admit this) had a problem with back acne (head hanging down in shame). Now I know I shouldn't be ashamed. It's not so much of shame as it is embarrassment. You never want to have low cut dresses in the back, you don't want to wear bathing suits in the summer, you're just very self-conscious of that area. When I started on birth control pills that is when my back acne cleared up. I couldn't believe it. I seriously cried with happiness. I had no clue that that one pill could help me in that way. So for years I've been back acne free.
Just over one year ago I started going thru some health issues and my docs didn't know what was causing it and it could've been my birth control, so I had to get off of it. Well, within 3 months, BOOM, it was back (I seriously cried again but this time in sadness). :( The last year has been trial and error of products to help me in this area. And nothing has really helped. I've been stressed, which made it worse. I've been working out ALOT, and that of course made it worse. About 2 months ago I went by my Proactiv kiosk in the mall and they now had a 3 step system for the body. I thought, why not give it a try, it works for my face. I'm happy to say that YES it does work. My back is getting better. It's slow but it is working. I'm trying to get past the embarrassment of it and just accept me for me. Look, it's my body, this is what it does and I'm working on helping it.
I also love Philosophy body washes. All the fun scented body washes. I use them as well. They are light in fragrance and don't irritate my skin.
What do you use for facial cleansing? What do you use for body cleansing?
Wow, look what we go thru to look pretty and feel good about ourselves. But I do feel better about myself with clear skin. I think we all feel that way.
~Lady O
My favorite line in all of this is "I'm trying to get past the embarrassment of it and just accept me for me." I love it! I will message you an incredible video that I watch that helps me to be vulnerable enough to love me for me ;-)
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I had terrible sebaceous acne in my T-zone every "that time of the month" The painful blemishes lasted half the month. I started BC pill to regulate my hormones, but it threw my whole reproductive system into a war zone against my body. I had to discontinue use. I had near perfect skin in 2006 because of the 6 months of BC pill use, but since the periods from hell started, I couldn't take it anymore. I would trade having a blemished face for a tolerable period.
ReplyDeleteIn April of this year, I had a hysterectomy - kept my ovaries. My acne has disappeared since I had it done, and I feel worlds better. Thing is, I think my ovaries took the month off, and shut down temporarily while they get used to functioning without completing a cycle. I expect them to go haywire again any time now, especially since all my skin symptoms were hormonal. Nothing seemed to work previously. So, now that I don't have the problem organs anymore, my gyn said I can begin taking BC again, to regulate my hormones that the ovaries pump out. First time I see a blemish, I will be calling into the gyn to order BC. ;)
As far as products go, I tried Proactive, and it near burned my face off. I have very sensitive skin, everywhere. I have to use organic, natural soaps, and sensitive products for my skin. I have recently developed hand eczema (which I found I can control through my diet). I have to be very careful what I use.
I have been using Clean & Clear Advantage acne control cleanser for my face. I follow up with a moisturizer afterward. Both products contain 10% Benzoyl Peroxide. If I don't use the moisturizer, I become very, very oily in my T-zone -- This never used to happen to me. It's amazing how your body's chemistry will change when you have essential organs removed. So glad I kept my ovaries.
I will try the Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy if I happen to have any more bad breakouts. I used to LOVE Bare Minerals when I discovered it years back, but it got a little too expensive for me to maintain. Maybe I will get back into the groove of it sometime soon. I remember how great my skin felt when I wore it.