Progress

I am not sure how many days have passed 

since I started ''Having My Healthy Skin Back'' mission, 

but there is improvement! 

My acne scars are fading and shrinking. 

I am not sure how they shrink, 

but they can be mistaken with my freckles, 

also my freckles are fading off 

and I look real pale, 

but this is not a big problem for me, 

because I always get freckles 

when ever I go out on a sunny day, 

so I prefer a white flawless skin over yellowish-brown freckles. 

Of course my skin dried 

and it was feeling like I have sand particles on my skin, 

so I used Burt's Bees Citrus Scrub. 

The result....

it was painful! 

Now 

I am using my Dermalogica microfoliant exfoliater 

and 

I use my Olay Pro X tool 

and 

Viola! 

Another good result of medicine+cream+gel is 

I don't get oilly on my T-zone. 

If only I can make it to Day 30 I will be saved. hehe 

XOXO

Lola :)

Journey to a Healthy Skin...

I am so sad that I need to give a break on my No.7 Hot Cloth Cleanser, not because it's not good enough, 
but because my doctor suggested La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel For Oily Sensitive Skin. 


La Roche Posay is doctors favorite I am not sure why, but it was suggested by a dermatologist to me before. 
However, when I used it's moisturizer that was supposed to reduce oil problem the results were not nice at all. 


So, I am skeptical about it, but I want my clear skin back so I will do whatever I will need to do. 


I used the La Roche-Posay cleanser for the first time today. 
It's really light and gentle and didn't dry my skin and it doesn't have a scent. 
So far I liked it, but we'll see...


After cleaning my skin I use Clindoxyl it has Benzoyl Peroxide and Clindamycin in it.
I know benzoyl Peroxide dries the skin, and the doctor told me not to use a moisturizer. 


Sorry, but I don't like doctors when they tell you, you are too young to use a moisturizer. I find them old fashioned and out dated. First of all we don't live in and ideal environment where there is no pollution and no stress, second I am 25 and scientifically your skin starts aging at the age of 25 so I need to take precautions! 


I will try to do what she told me to do, but I don't know how long I can go with a moisturizer and a toner. 


Clindoxyl gel feels like a moisturizer first, but it's sticky at the same time, but it was okay after my skin absorbed it and dried. 


In the morning and at night I take one 500mg Ornidazole.


.....and at night I put on Benzamycin. They sell it in three diferent tubes and you need to mix tube A to tube B then add the mixture of tube AB to tube C and you store in the fridge. I think it's fun. I always liked mixing things like a mad scientist hehe.
When you need to apply it you put it some on your face when you opened the fridge and store the rest in the fridge without taking it out and putting it back on. Otherwise it will go bad fast. 


I started the pill last night so today is Day 1. 5 


I'll report back on Day 30.


Until then...


Take Care,
Lola
XOXO

A New Journey

Unfortunately for a while I won't be doing make up. Or at least I will try not to.


Although I do not have an acne problem currently I had two terrible 2 cystic acne and dealing with acne scars lately. So I went to see another doctor for it. 


Because she knows our family history she told me it's genetics and I have inflamed cystic acne triggered by congested pores due to cosmetics products. I exactly know what she is talking about; Bare Escentuals Mineral Lose Powder. 


She gave a pill, a mask that you do by mixing three different ingredients, and a gel to use for a month. I got the first pill last night, and you might think it's crazy but my skin looks calmed down and one of two active acne I have already deflated. 


Although I will try not to put on any make up not to slow down the process of treatment, I cannot give up on my eyeliner and my lipsticks. 


Currently my favorites are Revlon lip glosses and Maybeline summer colors. Swatches are coming up...  

All about blushes

Recently I lost control in the mall. No, not in the parking lot lol, in the mall itself, and I bought quite a lot of stuff let's say. 

Hey, but I needed those! 

After checking out few videos, and articles, I realized I lack the right make up and skin care products I need, and simply I was being lazy about taking care of my skin. 

So, I couldn't resist the call from the mall and I gave in and went to the mall. 

Unlike many girls, I enjoy going shopping alone. 

This is something I figured out when I started college. 

Of course, it's always fun to go the mall with friends, 

but when you are alone, you have a clear mind, and you can focus on your target easily. 

I always do my market research, or at least I know what to get. 

So, when I go to the mall, I go and get what I need and then I leave without wasting extra time. 

Well, the last time, I couldn't resist the urge to look around and do some window shopping, but hey, I should be allowed to do that every once in two years, right?

So, what did I get....

I was in need of a new blush. 

Although I had a perfectly fine drug store blush (Neutorgena

Healthy Skin Custom Glow™ Blush & Bronzer in color Posie Glow) I wanted to get a high-end blush. 

So, I found this cutest pink glowy blush from Cargo called Amalfi at Sephora. 

If you check out their website the blush looks orange, but it's the pinkiest pink you can ever see in a blush. 

I am not really familiar with Cargo. 

Once, I wanted to get their foundation in a big rectangular tube, but Sephora didn't have my color even in their storage. 

I don't know what's the deal with Cargo and Sephora, but for some reason they don't carry Cargo products as much as they carry other brands. 

Some stores do not even have a Cargo stand/kiosk! 

So, it was my second attempt, and it was a success this time at the second Sephora store I tried. 

Finally, I got my blush! 

First, I tried the color in the store and I wasn't really impressed, considering all the horrible lighting in the store. 

However, when I checked my make-up in the car, and when I got back home, 

I was simply in love with the blush. 

Although it took me more then a week to find time to go back to the store to get it, I finally got my blush.

It's funny, when I buy something, clothes or make up/skin care products, I can't wait for the next day to wear it. 

So, the very next day, I was so happy when it was time to do my make up to go out for errands. 

However, the color looked washed out on me. 

Although I am a fair skinned girl, some colors just do not show up on my face. 

I think it's because my yellowish brown freckles that I almost hate. 

I was quite disappointed, but I decided to deceive myself adding some of my favorite blush (Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow) on top. 

So, I was looking sun-kissed glowy. 

The results were even more disappointing after four hours, 

there was no evidence of Cargo blush. 

I decided to give it a second chance, before returning it. 

If I am not using it, I am so returning it!

There is no way, I will keep a product that I don't use. 

After all it's not free. 

I paid $26+tax if I recall it correctly.

The second time same thing happened. 

This time I was determined to return it and find a new blush. 

So, I used it for the third time and the same day I returned my first Cargo purchase. 

Their products or the company can claim to be environmentalist that is really nice, 

but if you can't give me what I am looking for, then, sorry, but you are not for me!

I also tried Too Faced Leopard Love Complexion Perfection Kit.  

Although I was really impressed with the bronzer in the set, the blush was still not quite right. 

I gave up on finding the perfect high-end brand blush, because I have to admit, 

I have the perfect drug store blush. 

I even have a personal story about that blush. 

Last summer, I went to stay with my friend at their summer house in a near by island. 

Like I said I am fair skinned and I look really pale without make up, 

I almost look sick right after winter, and I don't have the chance to get sunny days until summer in where I live. 

So, I am confessing something I haven't confessed yet; I wore make up everyday even at the pool. 

I know it's not something healthy, but I just didn't want anyone to see my imperfections. Especially, when my cystic acne decided to come back with blemishes along with it. 

So, the day we arrived when we were having tea with my friend's mother, 

she said "why don't you tan like Angie. Look how healthy she looks. Her cheeks are really rosey." 

Right after she said that I really blushed, because my tan was fake. 

It was all thanks to my make up, but for the first time it was good not to called as the fair skinned sick looking girl. :)

(Posted on March 20, 2011)

Losing my healthy skin...

I think I was really naive when it comes to make up knowledge. 

No, not in terms of my make up skills, 

but I never thought actually some make up products can cause me to break out. 

Recently, I remembered one incident... 

Because I changed my skin care products at that time I blamed the new guys in the collection for the break out. 

However, it was the mineral loose powder I used. 

I remember wanting to itch my face like crazy, and kept getting blemishes all over my face, and my combination skin dried out and I had no idea why. 

So,

...the Oscar goes to I.d Bare Essentuals Mineral Loose Powder for the worst loose powder EVER!!!!!!!!! award. 

Their powder has an ingridient called BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE. 

Ladies and gentlemen, this ingridient is not your friend! 

Cosmetics companies use this product, because it gives you a nice pearly glow. 

Screw the glow, it's allergenic!, and according to researches most of the population is allergic to this ingridient. 

The common signs are itching and blemishes on the skin and cystic acne.

Guess who got acne like thirteen year-old at the age of 20?!

Which is funny, because I never had acne before even when I was a teenager up until I used this product, and I thought poor Dermalogica caused this. 

I started using Dermalogica again, and let me say this Dermalogica is a kind angel! 

It cleared out my acne almost completely in two months. 

Deja Vu

I had the same itching like crazy feeling when I used Maybelline Dreammatte Mouse. 

I Googled the ingredients in this product and I found out that this one is also formulated with bismuth in it. 

All this time I thought I can't tolerate drug store products, because they are cheap, but the problem was one of the ingredients. 

If you have sensitive skin like me stay away from powders that has bismuth oxychloride in it. 

Bismuth oxychloride is a natural ingredient found in the majority of mineral cosmetics. It is the main irritant in some brands of mineral cosmetics that often causes itching, rashes and mild to severe cystic acne. If you choose a mineral cosmetic that includes bismuth oxychloride it may cause additional irritation. If you have had a reaction to mineral cosmetics in the past it is likely because of the bismuth oxychloride in the product. (http://www.carefreebeauty.eu/sensitiveskin/bismuth)

You can google Bismuth Oxychloride allergy for more information... Personally I haven't heard Afterglow cosmetics other than a girl talking about it on youtube. (AndreasChoice) Recently, I went to Ulta, because I wanted to get a mineral loose powder for light coverage and a natural look.  Finally, after feeling frustrated, sad and depressed about the way my skin is, I am taking care of my blemishes, and acne scaring.  I will talk about the products that made miracles on my skin later,  but now it's make up time.  Powders... So, it was time to get out of the closet and show some skin....I mean my face. Lol  So, me and the seller girl spent a good 15 minutes to find a product that does not contain bismuth in it.  Never thought it was going to be this difficult.  The only one we could find was Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder.  Although I have combination/oily skin this product is good enough for me.  However, it's extremely expensive, even more than Dior.  So, I ended up getting a smaller size, but it's a set, so I got the primer, concealer, foundation and the loose powder in the set, Complexion Perfection.  My previous powder Lorac was oil-free, but still it was not helping my T-zone.  So, I decided to try something else after I ran out of it.  After all there are so many products out there and since we are mortal, we have limited time on this planet. Lol My next mission is to find out why my eye make up products are irritating my eyes as if I suddenly develop a pink eye for few hours.  It must be something in the products! By the way did I tell you I am still dealing with the cystic acne that bismuth oxychloride in the my make product caused for years ago!  It's sad!  I never had more than one small zit at a time until I turned 20 and used BE mineral loose powder and then 2 years ago Maybelline Dreammatte Mouse.  They screwed up my skin! (Posted on March 20, 2011)