Friday, November 4, 2011

Friday Free for All

• I’ve decided that it is time for a skincare regimen. This was prompted by my most recent dermatologist appointment for a never-ending acne flare up. Her: what do you use on your face? Me: Dove soap. Her: Twice a day? Me: … Her: any lotions, creams, moisturizers or anything? Me: Nothing. Her: ALARMED look on her face. I’ve sort of known it was time for a while now, and what better time than when I was put on an oral antibiotic plus a retin cream to clear up my face. I am required to wash my face, and use a moisturizer with SPF. So I might as well make this a whole routine now, I suppose. This is where I ask you, wise internets, what do you use? I want to know day night and in between. I have oily acne prone skin. So, GO! Recommend some things please.
• Also at the dermatologists office, I was asked what sort of contraception I am using. When I told her I had an app, she nearly spit her teeth out. I don’t know what she was picturing me doing with my phone, but I do have a cycle tracking app and I am also very in tune with my cycle. So that is what we do. This caught me by surprise, because I am used to usually, getting the lecture from my OB GYN, for all intents and purposes, the “you know we don’t support this…” line of crapola, and look. I know. I do. It has taken me 3 years to get back to really paying attention to my body, but please listen to me when I tell you that I know my cycle. I know my body. I KNOW. And if something happens, it does and it will be fine. I’m not an idiot. So leave me alone, Pimple Popper; MD.
• This is the same dermatologist who screwed up Hub’s back, by the way. I never reported how that went. He had the revision with the plastic surgeon in September, and it was smooth sailing. He was barely sore, and the scar looks great. 100 times better than before. And Hub was not a jerk or a baby after the surgery. Actually, he took me to lunch and then we bought a dishwasher. He surprised me. And other than the pain of changing his dressing, there were no ill effects. Saly for the win.
• I really really liked Swistle’s post the other day, and I am also fond of the comment I left her. I don’t always comment on everyone’s blog. And I apply my own logic to why people don’t always comment on my blog. And I am ok with it…so ok! I don’t think I have it in me to be a power-blogger anyway. Anyway, here is what I wrote over at Swistle’s:

“I am guilty if having referred to "all 4 of you" in a couple of posts. I am ok with it, and I am ok with the number of comments, that I get, whether it is 1 or 25.

Here is my line of thought: I subscribe to something like 40 blogs in my reader. I am going to click out of my reader to comment for 1 or 2 reasons:

1. you are one of my blogging bffs (and I feel like I have a couple of those), and my commenting is my way of checking in and saying "Hey, what's up."
2. Something you wrote resonated with me, and I feel compelled to comment.

If I apply the same logic to my own blog, and the comments I get, it matches up. Certain people will always comment, and that is because we are buddies. Others will only comment when I am not writing crap.”
• I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a new blog that is all about coffee. I make coffee my life’s mission anyway, so I might as well share what I am up to. I don’t know if I would have enough content to make it any sort of successful blog though, so that’s my dilemma. So, maybe coming soon. Maybe not.
• Those of you who asked for photos of the girls’ new beds: coming soon. They are sharing our master bedroom, and it is not overly girly. BUT when Lucy’s bedding comes, AND when Hub fixes the light (that Liv broke upon discovering that she could reach it from the top bunk), I will post a picture.
• I’m trying to do NaBloPoMo again this year. I’ve only made it all the way through once. We shall see what happens.

14 comments:

Saly said...

Maybe I should clarify--the girls aren't sharing the master bedroom with Hub and me. They are in the master and we are in the smaller room, also known as the nursery. Still with Winnie the Pooh prints and all.

Swistle said...

I like Oil of Olay. I used to love the Dove face lotion, but it got discontinued (and is now selling for $50/bottle on eBay, AS IF). I tried a few other things (Aveeno, Neutrogena), but they irritated my skin or irritated my eyes or just didn't feel nice to put on or WHATEVER, and so then went back to the Oil of Olay I'd used until I switched to the Dove. They have several formulations and one is for oily skin. I use the sensitive skin formulation because it's unscented; I wonder if that might work for oily skin too, or if it's too moisturizing?

I liked your comment on that post, too!

I would read a coffee blog!

emily said...

I'm commenting so you know I love you! :) I do love reading your blog ... hehe.

I want to see pictures of the famous owl bedding!!! Maybe you posted them before and I missed it?

Tess said...

I never know what to do with skincare. SIGH. My skin is SO DRY and in the winter it literally peels off my face around my nose. HAAATE.

Anyway, I've tried several things and right now I'm back to using Philosophy Purity cleanser (expensive but a bottle lasts FOREVAH). I like Oil of Olay as well for moisturizer.

Nik-Nak said...

I use Cetaphil (5 bucks) to cleanse with. Works great at getting all the make up off.
I switch between using Mark moisturizer lotions (whatever I feel like fits my needs for that time of year) and a foundation primer that is supposed to have an anti aging serum in it.
I also started using Clinque All About Eyes when I started getting concerned about my crow's feet (I'm 25! Why do I have crow's feet??) and it seems to be working well. About twice a week when I don't leave the house I usually give my face a break and just wash it and don't put anything at all on it. It seems to be working for now.

Jess said...

I used to like Aveeno, but then Torsten convinced me not to use it anymore because most mainstream/drugstore products contain chemicals and whatnot that are not good for you (see also: recent Johnson & Johnson scandal). So now I use, and love, a German brand called Weleda. We use their baby line for Callum, too. You can get it at Whole Foods or online.

Shalini said...

I use Noxzema to wash, oil of olay with spf 15 for moisturizer. My skin isn't awesome, though. It's fine.

But! I heard some moms talking about homeopathic stuff and they said taking licorice root helps, especially with acne flareups around the lips. I bought some for Gregg, as he gets that all winter. I'll report back if it works (if you care).
I, too, would read a coffee post.

d e v a n said...

Our skin is different (mine is VERY dry) so it may not work for you but I LOVE Arbonne's face cleanser. It's not cheap though.
I also use their foundation with a built in SPF and it may be my favorite thing ever!! I'm on a med that makes my skin extra sensitive to getting sunburned so that's a must.

d e v a n said...

Just saw Jess's comment and want to say that we use Weleda for diaper cream and it is good stuff!
Also, Arbonne is chemical free which is another thing I like about it. :)

Mommy Daisy said...

Saly, my skin is just like yours. I have no idea what to do with it. And I only wash my face once a day, in the morning, in the shower, currently with Clean & Clear Deep Action cleanser. It's doing nothing for me, but I'm too cheap to replace it. I'll use it until it's gone, then try something else. Let me know if you find something that works!

I am actually commenting on blogs more not that I've made a commitment to write every day in Nov. Not sure why, but since I'm blogging I feel like reading and commenting more. But it is tough not to take commenting or lack of commenting personally.

Anonymous said...

Well, I am a grandma compared to you, so take this for what it's worth. I've had a lot of problems with breakouts, esp the last year (hello - stress!) and I've had cystic acne in the past.

What I've settled on (and like) for the last 6 months or so is:

Washing: Neutrogena® Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover (I also use the one without makeup remover). I wash twice a day - once in the shower and once before bed (without fail, do not go to bed with a dirty face!!)

Moisturizing: Oil of Olay Complete Ageless Skin Renewing UV Lotion with SPF 20 (I'm rabid about having SPF).

This Oil of Olay is not heavy (which I hate) or does not smell like sunscreen (which I hate even more).

I only moisturize in the morning, not after I wash my face before bed.

You can also use this site (you have to sign up but it's free) to check out what they say about almost all beauty products. http://www.beautypedia.com/

Laura Diniwilk said...

Okay so I have horrific rosacea and therefore am not normal. I have found that the less I do, the better my skin behaves. I wash it with the grapefruit neutrogena facewash stuff in the shower in the morning, and follow up with aveeno positively radiant (which is like SPF 30 or something). At night I just use those cucumber wipes in the green package - you can find them for $5ish at target. I don't recall the name right now, but I will check for you if you are interested. I keep them on my nightstand because I am HORRIBLY LAZY and that's the only way I'll take care of my skin at night at all.

Misty said...

Do you think the dermatologist was concerned about pregnancy while you were using the retin cream? Is is similar to Retin A? :(

I would read any blog you post to. :) I am glad you are posting every day! I wanted to do it...and then life happened. Sigh.

Mama Bub said...

I use Kiehl's because after years of searching, it's the only thing that doesn't make my sensitive skin go crazy. It's pricier than drug store brands, but not outrageously so. They have so many options and an excellent, full refund, return policy.