The Daily Beauty Break

Hello there my beauties….thought I’d give ya a quick update on my “War on Acne”..(and wrinkles and sunspots,etc). Although I have been seeing tons of improvement since I started Spironoacltone, I still would get a good crop of the nasties monthly…and while the suckers hurt less, it’s still tough to be a makeup artist with acne. And unfortunately (for dear hubby), the spirono killed my already pathetic libido…I know, I know, TMI…

So my lovely dermatologist, Dr. Turner (you should see this woman’s skin…porcelin perfection)  lowered my Spironoalctone from 150mg daily to 100 mg…..She also upped my Differin from the  0.1% strength to a more hardcore 0.3%…and I gotta say (knock on wood, because everytime I talk about it I break out again)…but my skin looks FABULOUS my darlings. I’m peeling a tad bit, but just enough to know that this STUFF IS WORKING!!!!

So between the stronger, better Differin, the Om Aroma & Co samples and my good ol’ ZO Skin Health Grow Serum, I think I’ve stumbled upon a magic combination!!!

More adventures in vanity to come soon…(hey, if I can’t admit it here what’s a girl to do?)…..Actually, I think about my looks way less when I don’t have a mountain range on my face….

And if you’re like me and wage your own “War on Acne” do tell. I would love to know what works for you…

Be Beautiful Ya’ll……

Retinoids, Glycolic Acids, Chemical Peels,MIcroderm, Photofacials….RESULTS=AMAZING, but waiting for those results SUCKS…IN BETWEEN=FLAKES & REDNESS….All these skin treatments have one thing in common, they all help the skin literally shed the old (”wrinkles, acne, sunspots, OH MY!”) before revealing smoother, younger-looking skin.

What to do in between? Try Kryolan’s High Definition MIcro Foundation Smoothing Fluid ($44). This soft, micronized liquid foundation melts right into the skin. I used it on a client last weekend who just started Tri-Luma and it covered her melasma beautifully, while keeping flakes at bay ALL NIGHT….Even better, it contains sunscreen for daytime protection.

Now, why should an average gal even consider believing the High Definition Hype? Because the new digital format is “what you see is what you get”….So when cosmetic companies do special formulations for the camera it means YOU get to reap the benefits and look great….IN REAL LIFE.  I highly recommend “High Definition” makeup for the average gal who needs a little extra help…(like moi).

KRYOLAN has specialized in producing makeup for professional makeup artists  in film/print and tv for over 60 years….Why should you care? If you don’t look good, we (the makeup artists) don’t look good. Thanks for that Vidal……..

Be Beautiful Ya’ll!

Hello beautiful people…thought I’d give everyone an update today on my personal WAR against adult, cystic acne. Things are looking up for me! As some of you may know, I started my anti-acne journey on spironolactone around a month ago.  Spironolactone is a high-blood pressure med that dermatologists use off-label to help fight the cystic acne, scary hair growth and generally greasy skin that our hormones wreak upon us in our 20’s and 30’s…(and bless your heart; I am praying for you if you are still dealing with this crap in your 40’s).

So ANYWAYS, spironolactone works so well because it counteracts androgens (one of the pesky hormones responsible for the mess) in our bodies……

I was STUNNED how after 1 week of taking my face was COMPLETELY in the clear….this was at 100mg a day…well, next cycle unfortunately the nasty critters were B-A-C-K…although, not quite as huge and not quite as painful (huge in my book). SO my wonderful dermatologist Dr. Turner upped my dose to 150mg per day…since then my skin looks pretty great!!It’s “that time” for me, so I have some funky business going on right now in the chin area, but nothing that I can’t handle with a little makeup….

YIPPEE!!! If you are dealing with nasty adult, cystic acne I strongly encourage you to find a dermatologist near you that prescribes this drug (look at me, Josi the pusher) because SERIOUSLY….spironolactone WORKS...I have no idea why my old derm didn’t prescribe this…I’m telling you…..if you are on the antibiotic/retinioid roller coaster that I was on, it’s time to get off….There is HOPE my pretties!!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll….

So remember that old Ziana prescription that I had a while back that didn’t work on my acne (but did help my wrinkles…). Well I have been meaning to tell ya, I have found the perfect use for ALL my left-over prescription retinioids (wish it wasn’t just the Ziana that didn’t work out)…..I use a big dollop of my old prescriptions on the back of each hand, forearm and my neck once a night after my face ritual…. Don’t forget that the skin in these areas needs love too!!!

And the really nice thing is that since the skin is thicker there, there is absolutely no irritation…just skin that’s a little bit plumper!!!

Be Beautiful……..

Hello beautiful people! Well, FINALLY I am on my way to becoming a little more beautiful…..no seriously, if you know anything about my own adventures in beauty, you know that I have SUFFERED from horrible adult acne (of the cystic variety)…not only is it incredibly embarrassing to be a makeup artist with acne (thank God I am one though, or I probably would NEVER leave the house) but these little (big) suckers hurt!!! And since they are always along my jawline and mouth I can FEEL them when I am talking to someone…talk about self-conscious…..

When it comes to treatment of acne I’ve been there done that. I’ve done every kind of antibiotic (topical and oral), Azelaic Acid, cortisone injections, peels,ProActiv, Accutane (once when I was a teen…) and pretty much every prescription Retinoid on the market. I knew it was time to call in the big guns and did some research…and that was when I found Dr. Turner and her DermLaser Institute here in Dallas,TX. Dr. Turner and her staff were incredibly sweet and had a very calm, welcoming demeanor….and it always helps when an office offers stickers and jewelry to your 4 year old monster (I mean girl….)!!!!!

What I loved about the institute is that Dr. Turner combines a conventional dermatology practice with her cosmetic expertise….I was able to get my yearly full-body exam AND a cosmetic consultation at the same visit…Botox, anyone? More on that later……

But right now let’s just talk about zits. Dr. Turner gave my regime a jump start by first starting me on Spirolactone.…initially used to treat high blood pressure, spiro is an anti-androgen….meaning it blocks the body’s absorption of too much of this pesky little hormone that can cause hormonal cystic acne, excess facial hair and water retention. A beauty pill? HELLO, I’ll take it. I first heard of spiro at a recent photo shoot. After bitching to everyone a model I was working on and the other makeup artist told me they were using it…… and it was working wonders for them. So Yeah, I almost squealed a bit when Dr. Turner started off my suggested treatment with it…I proceeded to go home and Google the drug and you have GOT to read the reviews at Acne.org….my only question is why my previous dermatologist didn’t suggest it????

Second, Dr. Turner changed up my Retinoid from Ziana (which was NOT working) to Differin. I tried Differin a few years back and found it really it drying, but Dr. Turner prescibed a cream-based formula. I used it last night and it didn’t sting a bit and this am my skin looks great!!!

So yeah, I am SUPER hopeful this time. I am so happy to have found Dr. Turner and her beautiful institute….she works really hard to stay on top of all the latest and greatest in cosmetic dermatology (hey, kind of like I do with makeup! ) and it shows…..Next review? Anti-aging…Dr. Turner is REALLY good at injections…how do I know? Well….more to be revealed later…lol!

Stayed tuned for more on “War on Acne” and Be Beautiful ya’ll…..

So I went to pick up my second tube of Ziana yesterday at the pharmacy….although I don’t know why. …my cystic acne has really been a thorn in my side….and while I am the first to tell you that I am probably one of the most vain human beings on the planet….these zits hurt!!!! And it sucks even more since mine is hormonal, they are always by my mouth…so I am SUPER self-conscious when I talk (no, not right this second….knock on wood).

No really, prescription Retinoids are proven to fight acne and now that I am 33 luckily they also work for wrinkles,sun spots, hyper pigmentation, etc. Retinoids accomplish this by actually increasing the rate at which the skin creates and sheds new skin cells..studies have found that they can even prevent skin cancers! I am CONVINCED that the only reason I don’t look twice my age is because of this stuff. I am a serious sun-worshipper ( albiet a very careful one now…we HAD to get a pool when we moved to Texas or else we would probably never go outside it’s so damn hot)….But since I spent my formative beauty years in Seattle, I did some serious tanning bed-hopping when I was a teenager. Seriously, one of my best girlfriends worked at a tanning salon and I would go in after the shop closed and lay in the beds for HOURS………..

I would have to say if you are serious about your skin and want to avoid costly and painful cosmetic procedures down the line… then(once you reach a “certain” age) make an appt. with a dermatologist. I would love to say that those $300 creams work (and they do…) BUT no over-the-counter product you can buy (no matter how expensive) will contain the levels of retiniod that you REALLY need too see maximum results.

I’ve tried all the Retinoids, although my girlfriend Dixie (one of DFW’s finest up and coming fashion photographers) just told me about a  new product that she recently got that she is in love with….Obagi. She said her skin has never looked better..(although she is a member of the under 30 crew). I told her that I will for sure check it out next appt.

But back to Ziana…it’s supposed to be better than plain-old Retin-A because it combines Clyndamicin (an antibiotic) with retiniol to alleviate acne and the resulting infection it creates….resulting in (supposedly) less inflammation, redness and pain.

I don’t know..I’m not convinced. The deal is that you have to use these bad boys for a few months before you see optimum results……and patience is not my best virtue. I want what I want and I want it NOW!!!

If you’ve read this article and have experience in prescription beauty, tell me YOUR thoughts…….

Be Beautiful Ya’ll!