Nereid's Looking Glass
07-23-2014, 02:13 AM
With summer getting hotter and humidier (is that a word?) (No, no it's not.), breakouts are looking like a more commonplace occurence in the Looking Glass household. Because I'm an adult, I don't do that half-ass acne anymore. I go full-out, boss mode with my breakouts! (Sorry for being gross.) :p This has actually been a very bad summer for me. Winter would not just GO AWAY and leave EVERYONE THE HELL ALONE this year in the Cheesehead State, so we ended up with a very dry winter coupled with a very February-like spring--even into the month of May, mind you. Now, in June and July, it's looking like the weather people just can't get anything right: we were supposed to get a line of thunderstorms to break up the humidity but nah. Looks like it's still hot, humid, and sweaty as balls with no relief in sight. The abrupt changes of season combined with a weirdly oppressive and temperamental summer is wreaking havoc on my pores. I have never had a summer that has affected my skin in such a high-rating negative way.
Like anyone else, I change my skincare with the seasons but the foundation of it remains the same--as in I don't skip moisturizer just because it's whatever season, I just use a different one that is more suited to my skin's needs at that time.
Currently, my skincare consists of Neutrogena glycerin soap, Stridex salicylic acid pads, Mary Kay Clear Proof Oil-Free Moisturizer, some kind of sunscreen for day and a serum for night, and Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel (which has benzoyl peroxide). These things may seem very drying to some people, but I have highly problematic skin and I've tried oil-cleansing. I really have. Bought a very nice bottle of jojoba oil for it and everything; ended up giving the thing to my coworker after two months because it made me break out. This regimen keeps my acne in check for the mild seasons of autumn and spring but--GOOD GRAVY!--this summer is killing me, Smalls!
I've been drinking more water to keep my skin hydrated on the inside and have gone several weeks without wearing foundation to see if that would help. Alas! To no avail have my efforts proved! (Someone get me a skull; I feel the muse!) My makeup brushes are clean; my pillowcases do not touch my face more than twice before being washed; my face gets washed twice a day, on the regular; my fingers stay away from my face! *It's for health, not just vanity. EVERYONE is sick and, apparently, at 25 you forget all that your mother taught you about covering your mouth and washing your hands. With mostly near-retirees in the vicinity, they've had since the Korean War to forget what the hell a tissue is for.*
I know I'm not doing anything wrong, per se, but I feel like there is more that I could do!
For those times when washing and moisturizing don't cut it, what are the products that you use? Any seasons or climates in particular that make you look like a goddess/Oscar the Grouch after a bender? Oh! And don't just do skin care! If you've got some great product recommendations for makeup, procedures, or even medication, drop them here! (I'm desperate. Seriously. Look at me. Look into my eyes. DESPERATE.)
Nicole, half of Nereid's Looking Glass
Skin type: acne-prone, combination to oily; non-cystic acne with minimum breakouts, focused on the chin and jawline
P.S. I have scheduled a facial appointment with my wonderful aesthetician, without whom I could not live.
P.P.S. It's awfully humid and hot here in my neck of the woods. I've been losing more hair than usual. Any thoughts on that? Perhaps too much distress in my life? (There's two types of stress: eustress and distress. Eustress=the good type of stress, like getting up on the stage or going skydiving; the rush and then calming effect. Distress=the BAD type of stress; can become chronic and lead to heart issues and less serious symptoms; usually does not go away after the "rush" but continues to take a toll on one's body.) Or maybe the humidity is making my scalp rebel against the little follicles it's supposed to coddle and care for.
P.P.P.S. I'm not going to post pictures. You'd probably barf and I don't want to do that to you guys. I like you! :)
Like anyone else, I change my skincare with the seasons but the foundation of it remains the same--as in I don't skip moisturizer just because it's whatever season, I just use a different one that is more suited to my skin's needs at that time.
Currently, my skincare consists of Neutrogena glycerin soap, Stridex salicylic acid pads, Mary Kay Clear Proof Oil-Free Moisturizer, some kind of sunscreen for day and a serum for night, and Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel (which has benzoyl peroxide). These things may seem very drying to some people, but I have highly problematic skin and I've tried oil-cleansing. I really have. Bought a very nice bottle of jojoba oil for it and everything; ended up giving the thing to my coworker after two months because it made me break out. This regimen keeps my acne in check for the mild seasons of autumn and spring but--GOOD GRAVY!--this summer is killing me, Smalls!
I've been drinking more water to keep my skin hydrated on the inside and have gone several weeks without wearing foundation to see if that would help. Alas! To no avail have my efforts proved! (Someone get me a skull; I feel the muse!) My makeup brushes are clean; my pillowcases do not touch my face more than twice before being washed; my face gets washed twice a day, on the regular; my fingers stay away from my face! *It's for health, not just vanity. EVERYONE is sick and, apparently, at 25 you forget all that your mother taught you about covering your mouth and washing your hands. With mostly near-retirees in the vicinity, they've had since the Korean War to forget what the hell a tissue is for.*
I know I'm not doing anything wrong, per se, but I feel like there is more that I could do!
For those times when washing and moisturizing don't cut it, what are the products that you use? Any seasons or climates in particular that make you look like a goddess/Oscar the Grouch after a bender? Oh! And don't just do skin care! If you've got some great product recommendations for makeup, procedures, or even medication, drop them here! (I'm desperate. Seriously. Look at me. Look into my eyes. DESPERATE.)
Nicole, half of Nereid's Looking Glass
Skin type: acne-prone, combination to oily; non-cystic acne with minimum breakouts, focused on the chin and jawline
P.S. I have scheduled a facial appointment with my wonderful aesthetician, without whom I could not live.
P.P.S. It's awfully humid and hot here in my neck of the woods. I've been losing more hair than usual. Any thoughts on that? Perhaps too much distress in my life? (There's two types of stress: eustress and distress. Eustress=the good type of stress, like getting up on the stage or going skydiving; the rush and then calming effect. Distress=the BAD type of stress; can become chronic and lead to heart issues and less serious symptoms; usually does not go away after the "rush" but continues to take a toll on one's body.) Or maybe the humidity is making my scalp rebel against the little follicles it's supposed to coddle and care for.
P.P.P.S. I'm not going to post pictures. You'd probably barf and I don't want to do that to you guys. I like you! :)