take better care of my skin

I still can’t bring myself to washing my face and putting on face cream before going to sleep. I even put on a daily evening alarm on my phone and it still doesn’t help!

Well, at least for the last two days I’ve been putting on body lotion…

what did i change since my last entry? i quit drinking coffee and started drinking green tea. my face is an oil slick now! i have about six active big ones right now, but they’re healing fairly quickly and it doesn’t seem like new ones are popping up, thankfully. well, atleast i don’t have be concerned with keeping my skin moisturized now… :/ hmmm…

it’s become a habit to take care of my skin every morning and evening. i’m finally happy with my skincare regimen. my products are kind of expensive but i actually look forward to using them so that makes it worth it.

hopefully my skin just keeps getting better and better. i will re-evaluate in a month or so.

• Cut out any food items that contain sugar or fructose corn syrup as one of the ingredients out of my diet.
• Commit to not “picking” at my face, even when I am stressed.
• Consume 3 servings of fruit or veggies per day.
• Hydrate with at least 4 full glasses of water per day.
• Follow the regimen of my new skin product faithfully for the next two months, with a subsequent re-evaluation and documentation of results.

Wish me luck in this endeavor. Peace out.

since i started using the Paul & Joe Whitening Serum and it works! the first week, i used it every night (directions actually recommend twice a day) and saw such a dramatic difference. the hyperpigmentation on my face has definitely lightened noticeably. however, i felt that maybe it was too intense for my sensitive skin so the second week, i used it every other night. haven’t noticed much of a difference so i’m going back to using it every night. i figure i just need to moisturize more.

Those wrinkles won’t go away, of course, and they’re what annoys me most, but my skin looks okay. I don’t see what else I could do right now… except for the less coffee-goal that I’ll keep on my list (tough) and of course, a more relaxed life style (err, sometime next year?). I’ve learned this year that I have sensitive skin, which I don’t think I had in the first 25 years of my life, so that’s strange. But I take care of my skin alright – cleane-tone-moisturize and sometimes a little extra pampering – no more experimenting, too (I stick with Avène and hope that’s the right decision). I get a facial once in a while when I can afford it, and love it. So, what more can my skin ask for???

Can sunscreen and antioxiadnts make up for years of swim team sans sunscreen? I’m just gonna say, “YES!”

is finally back after being dried out, peeling and raw from being sick. it finally didn’t look like i was trying to cover up snake skin with my foundation!

i’m back to using my Caudalie Vinoperfect night cream. the Paul & Joe Whitening Serum came today but i’m going to wait a few more days before using it to make sure my skin is completely healed first. i look forward to trying it out. i hope it works.

I decided to experiment with my roommate’s array of soaps and cleansers. A daily foaming facial wash by The Body Shop, followed by an apricot scrub by St. Ives, and lastly Korres wild rose moisturizer (which was mine). My face feels tingly and fresh, but I’m not sure if that’s a sign of clean skin or the chemicals reacting violently with my pores.

I don’t have terrible skin, to be honest. I get maybe one zit right before you-know-what and aside from occasional dryness there’s no candid problem to address. But, as it has been said before me, there’s always room for improvement. Also, adhering to a routine brings me a sort of joy. Structured, well-ordered joy.

i’ve easily spent over $500 on skincare since i started this goal almost two months ago. but to me, it’s such a worthwhile investment. plus, i don’t really spend $$ on anything else – i don’t shop for clothes or shoes often. the last time was last autumn(?) – my clothes are lovingly worn in.

anyway, i finally gave up on the Boscia Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF 15. it’s just not hydrating enough for me, and trying to make up for that one aspect is not worth it. my fling with Boscia is over. i do however still like the Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens and that is the only thing i will repurchase. as a replacement, i caved in and got the Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream SPF 15, which is two-and-a-half times the price of the Boscia moisturizer (both 1-ounce tubes). :/ i do like it and can picture myself repurchasing it in the future. it’s moisturizing, non-comedogenic, antioxidant-rich, and smells pleasant enough with sunscreen.

after my failed attempt with Kiss My Face Organics SPF 15 TreatMint lip balm, i splurged and bought Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15. i never thought i would spend over $20 for a lip balm and i ended up buying this twice because i thought i lost the first one. my bottom lip did peel a lot after using this in the first few days but i think that just removed the dry, dead top layer. i haven’t had peeling since. this feels very moist, almost like Vaseline, and there’s a slight shine. it’s not glossy, though, and i think it makes my cream lipstick look better, as well as make it last longer on my lips. the stick is very soft so care has to be taken in applying sparingly. also, this stuff will melt if it gets too warm. the scent is like lemon cake. since i have two now, i keep one in the bathroom and one in my bag.

since i’m concerned about hyperpigmentation, i ordered Paul & Joe Whitening Serum. there’s great reviews on it all over blogs so i thought i’d try it.

and to finally deal with my body being darker than my face, i ordered Likas Papaya Soap to try to get rid of any tan that i have. i think it’s especially important if i’m going to be further lightening my face.

i think that will be the end of my shopping for a while. i think. ;)