The Lost Post

Hi Guys!
Again, sorry for the lack of posts. Everytime I have a difficult time with my skin, my posts fall off, while I try to figure out what my problem is and how to fix it!

I have been doing a lot of research on skin care ingredients. I have more irritations than I realized and now am reading all I can on various irritants that may do the following:

1. Make my eyes itchy and red
2. Activate my allergies (my nasal and sinus passages specifically)
3. Create large pores and pimples

Number 3 is lower on the priority list now that I've found a workable skin care regime. BTW - this has changed since I last posted so I will do an update at the end of the post.

See my previous post on ingredients that can cause a flare up.
I'm going to add these items to MY list:

methylisothiazolinone
parabens - Methyl and Propyl and Butyl and Ethyl Paraben
Petrolatum
Glycol - often used as solvents for preservatives and other materials. Examples are Propylene, Butylene, Pentylene, Hexylene, and Caprylyl Glycol.
PEG - Polyethylene Glycol - https://www.truthinaging.com/review/what-is-it-pegs 

Phenoxyethanol - "2-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether and 2-phenoxy-ethanol. Other names, however, could be a bit trickier to spot, such as rose ether. To make matters more confusing, some manufacturers don't even disclose the preservative on their product labels. Phenoxyethanol can also be used as a fragrance, and in some cases, manufacturers simply list it as "fragrance" on the product label. So, if a label states it contains "fragrance" but does not specify what kind, be aware that it may be phenoxyethanol."

The thing is... some of these items are ok for most people and that there is debate as to whether there is a danger for any of these ingredients. I've read some forums where a few people report their sensitivity to Butylene Glycol, but not Propylene Glycol and vice versa. Petrolatum for example is in most lip products. Some say it's just plain bad. Others say it's only bad if it's not from a plant based source.  On some lists Aloe Vera is also listed! So it really depends on who you are listening to.

What I've learned from all of this is that everyone has different sensitivities; mine are very particular. Yours will be too. You will have to test out different products to narrow down your trigger. Because I am so sensitive I am trying to weed out the offending ingredient. It means that I have to find the line between clear skin, eczema and all the other symptoms I've displayed recently.  
In the last few months, I've been reading blogs and science articles on chemicals, and watching youtube videos that describe skin care products that are supposed to be natural and not irritating. I find that a lot of products that tout themselves as natural still have one or more ingredients that can be irritating to some wearers. I read a lot of reviews before I try something. I've found that even after a lot of research,  and four stars, I will have a reaction with that item.

My goal now is to simplify my regiment. I've been using a lot of hydrating products, and some of them were contraindicating. Some are only good for me during the day, while others I use only at night.

The quest continues!

On my pinterest board, I've posted some items that I've either tried or want to try. I also note in the description the name of the ingredient that may be a point of sensitivity.

Recent Bad Acne Breakout + Eczema

Hi Guys,
It's been awhile since I last posted and there is a reason. At some point in the last two weeks, I had a very very bad reaction on my face to something. It's still unclear what that item is. At the moment, it could be any of the following: cheese, soda, stress, peri-menopause, a new product. I'm sure there are more possible culprits, but after seeing my aesthetician, I'm thinking it's a combo of those main items.
Because my eczema is a fairly new diagnosis and also because until two years ago, I had near perfect skin (THANK YOU MOM!), I reacted poorly. In my home lab, I experimented with everything. I threw anything I could think of, at it. I also pulled back on all of my usual products and habits. In the end, all of that was WRONG!
I forgot some very basic things...
1. You cannot treat 41 year old skin like it's 16. Applying hot water and then cold water, and not using moisturizer, is NOT the answer. DUH
2. What works for everyone else (your husband, your dad, your coworkers) may not work for you.
3. Picking at it like a teenage boy isn't a good habit.
4. Be careful about changing your habits. Using new hair products could impact your eczema or skin care regimen. 

Not ever having had a bad acne breakout, I had no tools in my arsenal. I never had picked at my skin. I had rarely popped a pimple successfully. Why I didn't go straight to my dermatologist or my aesthetician, I don't know. I just freaked out! I picked and poked and applied products that were too strong, I didn't change my diet, and stressed out more.

I've decided to follow a regiment that is informed by my aesthetician and use products made by their company that are all natural and some products that I already use that fill the regimen that they suggest. I plan to adjust their prescribed regime to my preferred products after my face calms down. Hopefully this is a one time deal and not an ongoing problem, though I understand that acne can be about managing it and not eliminating it.

First things first:
1. swap out cotton pillow case with satin
2. wash two times a day. (previously I washed once and used a facial wipe at other times, to avoid drying out the skin)
3. Change the order of "applications" after showering and in the AM. Face first, body, and then hair.
This is in response to the idea that a new product was the culprit.

At the moment, I am using the following, in this order:
1. EO Products Cleanse for face
2. adding Jessa Vanilla-Soda Blemish scrub to my face cleanser every other night
3. Jessa Anti-oxident Blemish Toner
4. Hada Labo Hyaluronic Moisturizing Lotion- tap into skin
5. 100% Manuka Honey Hydration + Mask 1oz - use as mask every other day for moisture. 

6. Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation®  for moisturizer

I'm on day 4 after my visit to the skin care specialist and most of the blemishes are scarring over, a few are less red and a few are erupting after microderm treatment.

So the following posts will be about my journey. I considered posting pictures, but I will be participating in a video series by my aesthetician. Those photos will be good quality and hopefully we will see some good BEFORE and AFTER comparisons.

I hope you will join me in my Journey!

If you have any comments or suggestions, I will take them. Comment below!