Hello World! I hope everyone is well. I wanted to kind of change up some things in here a little bit and write an entry where it focuses on some products that I have come to love that have helped change my life. I don’t mean to be dramatic but when your self esteem is more positive your life just seems to work a whole lot better.
Recently I finally was able to get health insurance. I know that it seems like such a small thing to be stoked about but when you have to pay 150-300 dollars for an office visit and then medication.. Shit, you become really stoked with something as simple as health insurance. The first day my health insurance was active I made an appointment with a dermatologist I found on Yelp! (Yes, a dermatologist. I have been suffering from moderate acne for the last 2 years. It fucking sucks.) The name? Dr. Douglas Hamilton M.D. . I have only seen one dermatologist before and he gave me Retin A for my acne. It just gave me this insane chemical burn. I hated using it. So naturally I was a little resistant to go see another doctor especially since that Rentin A cost me 80.00 dollars and I still have a full bottle in the bathroom. That shit sucks so bad I think about putting it on peoples faces that I hate so it burns their faces too! >:( Moving on… After I finished filling out all of the tedious paper work I went into my room awaiting Dr. Hamilton’s arrival. Once he came in the room he asked me about my problem. I told him and his intern (who was mildly attractive in the Jewish you’re going to be a dermatologist soon and completely loaded and so that makes you more attractive to my wallet which is located in my pants but I mean my vagina kind of attractive.) that the problem was I had started getting acne about 2 years ago. I explained that prior to that I never had any issues with my skin. I never did anything special to take care of my skin before. I washed my face with whatever shit I had in the shower. I never wore makeup. Girls used to envy my skin and tell me how amazing it was and how they wish they were born with my perfect Italian skin. Then 2 years ago I just started exploding with break outs. It got bad all over… on my chest.. on my face… on my back.. sometimes even on my scalp. I explained to Dr. Hamilton that it not only was painful and took forever to heal but it was really effecting the way I looked at myself. For the first time in my life I could not leave my house without makeup on because I was too embarrassed for people to see my acne and my dark spots where past acne was. The awesome thing was that he didn’t just give me medication and sent me on my way. He actually explained to me some causes of acne and what I was doing wrong and different solutions and WHY he was giving me the medication he was giving me and what else we will be doing in this on-going process to solve my issues. He told me that scientists don’t know a whole lot about acne and why it happens to some people exactly at 24 like it happened to me. He said that diet does not play a role in acne at all. He explained to me what acne was… which is fucking gross… But he didn’t say that. I did. So he asked me what I was doing to care for my skin before I had come to him. I explained to him my regiment. I used an all natural fruit oil vitamin a, e, and d cleanser. I used an alcohol free aloe based toner and cetaphil face lotion with two drops of jojoba oil. (I have SUPER dry skin and jojoba oil is amazing for your skin and acne as well.) I used to also use a scrub every other day with my clarisonic face brush. He told me my first problem was that I was doing way too much stuff to my face and I was irritating it which would also make me break out more. (Go figure!) He recommended a face wash to me that he sold inside of his office for a cheaper than retail price…. Behold all that is this amazing cleanser! Neova Herbal Wash made by ProCyte!!!
Secondly, he said he would like me to use a different moisturizer at night time in addition to my cetaphil and jojoba oil. It was formulated and made by Dr. Hamilton for his patients. It’s called “Ultra Lite Moisture Dew.”
In addition to those two being the ONLY THINGS I did to take care of my face I was also give 3 prescriptions. I was so skeptical when he said I was to only do that. AND to wash my face I used JUST MY HANDS for 15 seconds then use tons of water to rise with not too hot, but warmer. He said if my face broke out I could use a hot wash cloth and put it on the affected area to steam it. I’m telling you I was like… Man this is a waste of time. No way in hell this is going to work. . .
The prescriptions I was given were:
Acanya gel.
I was to apply that in the morning after 20 minutes after I washed my face. Then 20 minutes after that I could moisturize.
Next, I was given something I had heard about on TV but never used…
Differin gel 0.3%
The last step to my process of healing my face and body was for oral use… (Heh, Oral.)
Oracea 40MG Once Daily 20 minutes before food intake with one glass of water. #FML
Dr. Hamilton suggested this because it not only helps with acne from the inside out but it also helps people with rosacea. Which P.S. I totally have. I’ve always had these red undertones on my face my whole life. Who knew there was a cure for that. I just thought I was red all the time because that’s just how I was. Whoops. I mean I knew rosacea was a real thing… But, I didn’t know what it looked like in a mild case. I had always seen the most extreme cases.
Finally, Dr. Hamilton said I need to discontinue using the MAC makeup I grew to love and switch to a mineral makeup. If I was going to be in the house I would have to not wear anything and let my skin breathe. I didn’t really like when he said that and I said.. NO I NEED SOMETHING THAT COVERS THIS SHIT OR I LOOK LIKE A MONSTER! He laughed. When I was in the office I was pretty broken out. It was bad. I thought it was because I got that clean and clear black head eraser which made my blackheads on my nose disappear but then like 1 week later I got huge zits all over my face and they all turned into scabs and hurt really bad. My back was broken out too! It was disgusting and super painful. I followed his regiment suggested even though I had serious doubts. After the first night of use I had awoken the next morning to a face and back that was DRAMATICALLY clearer. I was amazed. My skin was drying out very fast though. On the 3rd day I came to work with no makeup on because my face was super dry and I tried to put makeup on but I just had snake face. It really sucked. I took my makeup off and put a shit ton of that moisture dew shit with a shit ton of jojoba oil on… I let it soak in all day. I didn’t wash my face with soap that day either… Just water. I was super embarrassed and when I walked into work I kept my hood up. Someone stopped me and said… “Oh my god.. look how clear your face is.. what are you doing differently?” I kind of smiled and just went on my way. By my 5th day of treatment I had discontinued using both products in one day and kind of switched it up to alternating days. Only because I really have dry and sensitive skin and that shit HURTS! The alternating seemed to really help the dryness. That evening I went over to my friend Ryan’s house and he complimented me on my skin and how much better it looked. He said he felt bad for how broken out I was before that because he used to suffer with acne too… I was kind of glad I didn’t have to feel like a weirdo.. you know acne is kind of embarrassing at least to me.. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. It does horrible things to your self esteem and confidence levels.
The last changes I had to make in my skin care were to stop using my good old MAC makeup… Oh boy, I was SOOOO NOT happy about this. I did research every night on what were the best Mineral foundations and powders… and blushes… and primers… All that lady stuff… Ill spare you the details and tell you what I went with…
For a face primer and all around lazy day thing I went with: Philosophy The Supernatural Poreless, Flawless tinted SPF.
I have only two words to review this product… : FUCKING AMAZING!
My Foundation I chose….: Philosophy: The Supernatural airbrushed canvas with SPF 15
Additionally, I got blush from the same line by Philosophy as well as the lipgloss:
When I first put that powder on I was thinking to myself…”This shit better work because for 35 dollars I could have eaten the whole week… I swear Ill kill that god damn doctor if this doesn’t work..”
I put a little dab on a brush and swirled it around my entire face 3 times. I put the brush down and opened my eyes… I looked in the mirror and said to myself..”Holy fucking shit… THIS IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN MAKEUP AND SKIN CARE!”
It takes me 15 minutes to get ready now as opposed to the 60 + it took me before. 5 of those 15 minutes are me getting dressed. I’m not even kidding you. This shit doesn’t even feel like its on your face. You literally feel like you have no makeup on and your skin looks FLAWLESS! It was by far worth every fucking penny.
So, that’s it peoples. That’s my review of these things that I love. They are amazing. Dr. Hamilton is amazing… and if you live in Los Angeles he has an office in Beverly Hills and in Woodland Hills. He published a book which I got a copy of called, “Beverly Hills Beauty Secrets by Douglas Hamilton: A Prominent Dermatologist and Plastic Surgeon’s Insider Guide to Facial Rejuvenation.”
Next time I am going to review the AbCircle Pro. That should be fun! We’ll make this a regular thing in my blog… Things I like: Because I am self absorbed. :)
Also, here is a picture of my face with just that powder on it… Just look how amazing it is… :) My face.. Not the makeup.. JUST KIDDING!! ;) Or am I?
xoxox
MM
P.S. Feel free to purchase me any of these things off of my wishlist or a sephora gift card then I can go buy it myself :) That’d be awesome!!!
