My complexion looks like crap.

[Ellen Forradalom]

I don't really pay much mind to these things, but yesterday I was started to see how awful my skin looked. I think I need to do something beyond sunscreen and big hats. Beyond increasing the amount of water I drink, what do you skincare experts recommend?

[Fridays Child]

1. Check in with MrsGrumpy. She recommends...

...L'Oreal Revitalift. I plan to try it myself. :hi:

[benburch]

2. My sister sells Mary Kay...

Claims she can work wonders. (Of Course.)

[redqueen]

4. That stuff works, I think.

I used a few of their products for a while, and when I saw someone whom I used to work in the same building with months before, he actually commented on how good I looked. Asked if I was using something because I looked so much younger. That really surprised me.

'Course I'm not using it anymore. :P

[the Princess]

19. Mary Kay is the best

I sold it for 13 years - and I have used it since I was 21 and I'm now 44. Not a wrinkle in sight. :)

[ChickMagic]

3. I'm probably not the one to ask

but I have this stuff for my feet to keep callouses at bay. It's got polyethelene granules in it. When my skin is looking bad, I scrub it with that. It's all pink and rosy, and the dead skin is gone.

[eek]

5. need more information

gimme some specifics like:

define "like crap"
rough, red, acne, patchy etc
dark skin, light skin, olive etc

[Aiptasia]

6. dermabrasion helps

scrub off dead skin cells and wear down wrinkles, laugh lines and crow's feet. I once heard that professional boxers use low grit sandpaper on their skin to make it nice and smoothe, but you can do just as well with a loofah or similar scrubby pad.

The harshest thing I use on my skin is soap and water, which is what my dermatologist recommends. I do occasionally have clogged pores, and I use an alcohol based pore cleaner for that.

[elehhhhna]

13. the home derma kit or salon? tell more, please!

[Red State Rebel]

7. Depending on how much you want to do....

I am a fan of Chemical Peel. The one I did was through a home kit. http://www.makeupartistschoice.com/. I used the TCA Peel 12.5% for $30.75. My skin is fair and not really sensitive but sunburns easily. It was very easy to do and while it was itchy for a while, it wasn't bad and I liked the results. I'm getting ready to do another one.

My skin was just getting dull. I have used Retin A and it helps also, but the Chemical Peel really got results.

[elehhhhna]

14. I bought some but I'm afraid to use it

Probably end up lookinglike Phantom of the Opera...

Tell me more. Please?

[Red State Rebel]

18. I was really nervous about it too

I had had some spots done by my dermatologist but never an allover thing~

I think I had the kit for a couple of weeks before I worked up the nerve to try it. Their website was helpful - seeing that plenty of other women tried it and it worked ok for them.

They tell you to use vaseline around your eyes so it doesn't get on that tender skin and around the edge of your lips too. Then I just used a q tip and started at my forehead going in lines straight across. It didn't take a minute and I could feel it burning. It stops doing that on it's own within a few minutes then when it was time I washed it off and followed their instructions as to the followup. I basically used anti-biotic ointment as a moisturizer for the next week or so. When it started getting itchy, I used anti-itch ointment or cream. I kept it with me everywhere I went and used it as often as necessary. It itched! I never saw any drastic peeling of skin off my face. I think using the ointments keeps it from doing that, but after my showers, day by day I could see it start to look better as the dead skin cells sloughed off when I washed my face.

My skin stayed pretty dry and tight for a couple weeks but I just kept lubing it up and it was normal before long.

[MissMillie]

8. alpha hydroxy cleanser

and a light weight moisturizer.

[elehhhhna]

11. MURAD skin smoothing lotion has high AHA concentration & works great !

[otohara]

9. Diet, Vitamins, Detox

You may have a hormonal imbalance also. I had horrible skin and all the antibiotics and that horrible acutaine did nothing.

Vitex is amazing for hormonal imbalance in woman (capsules are fine), you should start taking acidopholis, good multi vitamin, extra antioxidants, Fiber Smart (brand), Vitamin A, E, Calcium.

Stop eating dairy, no toxic brown liquids made my big corporations (coke, pepsi) Increase veges, decrease all sugars.

e-mail me for more info if you're interested.

[purr]

10. I'm working on my 3rd child...

and for the first time in my life my face looks like it exploded. I have acne so bad I am embarrassed to go out. I also have it on my back and my chest. Its so gross. I'm only 19 weeks so I'm only half way through and its only getting worse as I go on. Sigh.. Never had acne in my life. :(

[elehhhhna]

12. See post 11, above.

That's whn my skin got gooofy & this stuff works (The kids are now 11 & 8).

[purr]

15. I seen it...

does it have any of that bad ingredient that causes birth defects? I'm always more cautious putting something into or on my body while pregnant. I dont even like to take tylenol for a bad headache.

[elehhhhna]

16. No. I had my OB read the bottle.

It's topical and made from sugar cane enzymes, IIRC.
Fake tan lotion & nail polish are okay too.
You CAN streak your hair but might want to avoid full-coloring.

Tylenol won't hurt ya but an icepack (frozen corn or peas) worked best for my preggy headaches.

[Cadence]

17. What specifically are you seeing?

[Ellen Forradalom]

20. An all over lack of youthful dewiness

as evidenced by deeper lines, an unholy sheen, bumps, and leatheriness.

[liontamer]

21. internal and external tips

internal:sleep more, get more exercise, make sure you're eating a lot of fruit and vegetables


external: exfoliate

[Cadence]

22. Try the dermanew at home microdermabrasion kit

it will work wonders for that. It's from Sharper Image but you can get them cheaper on ebay if you do a search.

Also the Aveeno Postively Radiant cleansing pads are really good particularly for evening out skin tone and making your skin less bumpy...but use a good moisturizer with them they can be drying without one.

[Susang]

23. Dr Tomi Pandolfino

http://www.nmpg.com/default.aspx?page=article&article=Bios/TPandolfino.1.xml