want 2 try

Skincare Rx sent an email regarding a discount for the EPIONCE product line.

Here's a little blurb:

^ oops-I'll fix that soon, chicks.

The key ingredient being: AZELAIC ACID

What caused me to perk up went something like this: "blahblahblah anti-bacterial blah anti-inflammatory blahblahblah aging, blahblahblah blemish prone..."

They were speaking, or typing, my language!

I've tried their MaMa lotion (the original version) with "M's" acids so it's certainly not outside of my reach to try another acid but let's look at this a little closer.

The reviews for their entire product line were glowing. The reviews on the MUA site were glowing.

Apparently "azelaic acid" is the key ingredient in a product called Finacea that everyone raves about (-yes, something I actually have NOT tried. Yet.)

It's also present in Metrogel.

ugly pore "things" that won't go away...

They're called sebaceous hyperplasias. They're benign but they're UGLY.

It's a type of 'cyst' in which the pore basically turns inside out on itself. So not only is the pore larger than the surrounding skin, but the texture is not smooth. Picture a teeny tiny cauliflower of a pore. Bumpy, etc.

Peels don't do it.
Sometimes cauterization doesn't do it.

How do I know? I have 'em! Four to be exact. I have 2 on my forehead (supposedly the most common location), 1 on the side/temple, and 1 on my cheek!

I have heard of a few people having excellent results through the laser cauterization. I don't know what type of device or frequency is being used. So if this is something that you are plagued with, don't hesitate to try having a doctor remove them.

What happens is the tiny point of the device burns the pore until the layers of the skin come off. (ouchy, but worth it...) When the skin layers heal, the skin should have healed over and even texture result.

Today was the day...

Injection day!



Now it's back to flaxseed and an occasional aspirin or Advil.



First we reviewed the results of my IPL 2+ weeks ago. Verdict? "Yay" for the face and an "eh" for the chest area. I didn't get the outcome we expected so he thinks he needed to go higher (on the setting); something he was afraid to do at the time b/c I immediately developed welts that looked like hives. (Thankfully, non-painful...but I'm a tough cookie!)



I wanted to try Juve around the marionette lines again; it had been over 1 1/2 years with good results. It's been 7-8mos since I got the Juve in the upper cheek and TT's (tear troughs) and (we) felt that I could use a bit more.

And it was time for Botox. (Which I try to do less than once a year...)



Two weeks ago I went off all potential blood thinning agents which includes some vitamins and herbs. I'd planned take some arnica montana this a.m. but well...I realized I forgot it when I was in yoga and had already left the house. The last time I'd abstained for only a week before and the bruising and oozing was immediate! I've also heard horror stories about PS recovery so they advised me to go off everything at least 2 weeks prior and I did.



We did not use a topical numbing agent prior.

We did use little pre-cut frozen sponges afterwards.

He ended up using 36 cc of Botox and 2 (!!) full syringes of the Juvederm.



So far, so good. I'm happy with the results. Of course, it'll take awhile for the Botox to kick in and also for the Juvederm to accumulate "water" and become a bit more distended.



If you plan to have this done:

• * Stop all Advil, aspirin, Flaxseed, omega 3's, fish oil, etc. Maybe even some high potency Vit C's


• * Keep your head elevated in an upright sitting posture for at least 4hrs afterwards. No bending forward at your computer or laptop.


• * Work out that morning and do not do any exercising for a full 24 hrs.


• * Don't rub your face


• * Do any lasers or peel work before not after.

My Skin Needs Its Walking Papers

Walking Papers is the title of a new book by Francesco Clark due in stores this summer. He was a former magazine editor, paralyzed by a night-time dive into a shallow pool years ago. Confined to a wheelchair with limited mobility, he was also distraught about the health of his skin which had gone crazy with texture and clogged pores, etc.

Since his dad was a naturopath, he drew upon his knowledge and medical prowess to develop products that would help him b/c nothing else seemed to give him results.

He found, what was for him, the HG*

Hence, Clark's Botanicals was born.

www.clarksbotanicals.com

I'm TOTALLY intrigued. If you get your hands on this stuff, please let me know your thoughts!

*HG=Holy grail, Best ever, as in "This is my holy grail of cleansers."

Do you use makeup as in foundation?

And if so, what brand?

And if not, why

I'm intrigued by this new product...then again, I'm intrigued by MOST new skin products. READ HERE.

I do not regularly use foundation. I haven't found one that is my "HG". Usually it is hard to use foundation WITH antioxidant or anti-acne products.

I previously used Prescriptives, but stopped. This was before the cosmetic company went defunct.

I previously used Jane Iredale (powder). I stopped for the same reasons cited above.

I mostly use a bit of undereye concealer and Dermalogica's tinted spot concealer. For special events during the day, I use SolBar's tinted sunscreen and at night, whatever mineral make-up (powder) is around and recent.

skin tags

Do you have skin tags?

I seem to get them on the lower neck and the areas around the bra line. Makes sense b/c it is said that they tend to accumulate on areas that get rubbed/friction.

Another school of thought is that they're tied to digestion. And genetics, of course, play a part.

Here's a link to an article on removing them: READ MORE

I've tried the freezing off method, cutting off method and simply letting the Derm "zap" them. Obviously the most successful and easiest process was letting the doctor handle it during a routine visit. The issues arise when she doesn't exactly get the "mark" and it has to be re-done. And, the cost.

Insert :-(

Not having a good skincare day. Started right before the weekend. Lots of little whiteheads in areas where there were previously NONE. Nothing new to the routine...EXCEPT I went back to using the Fenix sunscreen. And I did have several particularly sweaty yoga workouts. Always something.

Today, I will go back to prepping and using the Dermawand. And try NOT to pick.

How's your routine going?

picture of "perfect skin" - question mark...

June is....

NATIONAL ACNE AWARENESS MONTH

new laser for acne??

CLICK HERE

Hmm...I thought the "blue light" was a) considered a laser and b) is for acne.

Must. Do. More. Research.

Welcome to our new home!

I'm obsessed with skincare (or skin "care"). If it can be ingested, injected or applied topically, I've probably done it.

I have yet to find “the” thing that makes my skin, or me, happy.

And by happy I mean- clear.

And by clear I mean, no eruptions and smooth texture. Some days are better than others which is why this is entitled “Good Skin Bad Skin…” and I plan to post my routine & “status” to figure out what the offender(s) is.

“Red Skin…” is for my zits.

“Blue Skin…” refers to my undereye area.