In The Glow

The Acne Practice: Will Practice Make Perfect?

If you struggle with acne, like I do, you understand why I am always in search of the "next big thing" that is going to help me gain the upperhand in the struggle to have clear skin.  Recently, I started watching YouTube videos that showed what can only be described as somewhat of a miracle product from The Acne Practice.  Initially, these products were only available through the doctor's office that promotes the success of its patients via the videos on YouTube.  However, there is now a home version that is availabe online for a fraction of the in-office treatment.  Now, when I say fraction, I mean that you save upwards of $700 by trying the products at home.  That's not to say the products are cheap, by any means.  A starter kit will run you at least $250.  But, if you are a true product junkie, like I am, and if you really have a hard time keeping your face clear, then you would shell out five times that amount for a product that works.  I know I would, which is why, last week, I forked over the nearly $280 it cost to get the Moderate Starter Kit from The Acne Practice Boot Camp line of products.  And when I received my package, today (shipping was AWESOMELY FAST), I was like a kid on Christmas morning!

The program is essentially a 3-step kit.  Since I have tried them all--Murad, Proactive, drug store brands, etc--this was no shocker.  However, unlike most of the kits I'm used to, none of these products are leave-on.  That's different.  The general concept is the same as most other kits, as well--benzoyl peroxide-based washes/creams/gels, but the formulation is a bit different that I have seen, of late, witht he products being applied for only up to 1 to 2 mintues before rinsing off.  I also like the incorporation of zinc into the products since, a long time ago when I stayed relatively clear, it was due to a zinc oral supplement my esthetician at the time recommended I use.  Of cousre, the products also are not irritating--I washed tonight and applied the regimen and, unlike my initial use of Proactive, I didn't get all stingy or irritated and there was no tight, itchy feeling once it was all said and done.

I have committed to the regimen and even took a before video to provide my feedback to the company.  All-in-all, I'm pretty optimistic about these products.  And it feels good to have some hope. 

I will keep you posted with a weekly update from now unitl the next 3 months, which is how long "Boot Camp" lasts. 

I Wear the Mask

When things around me are at their worst and I'm stressed, you can see it all over my face.  Literally.  I break out like a 15 year-old.  And let's face it, in an age where we do everything to hide the truth--our age, for instance--I have tried everything to hide my what my face reveals I'm feelings.  To that end, I wear the mask--the Rodan and Field's Proactiv Refining Mask, that is. 

I've had skin issues since I was a teenager and, over the years, I've done accutane (which worked extremely well, for me, but about two years later, my body and hormones were changing as I approached 30 and--BLAM!  My face got angry. Grrrr!), OTCs, Retin-A Micro (works well, too, but you need a prescription and I recommend taking a break which my face couldn't go that long without an eruption), even used Proactiv with succuess while in college.  But I somehow got away from using it.  BIG MISTAKE and I'm trying to correct the damage that it caused, now.

Now I'm back on the only thing that has worked consistently for me to grind my breakouts to a halt and help repair my skin--Proactiv.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a beauty product junkie and I will always give other products a whirl.  I just figure out a way to safely weave them into my "regular" beauty routine and I make sure I'm not off Proactiv for long enough to cause my system to get off cycle. And I from here on out, no matter what path my quest for product takes me down, I vow that I shall wear the mask!

HINT:  Proactive is a mild exfoliant.  I need something more aggressive over the long haul.  So, I will do a Skin Culture Peel about once every four months (and I may scale that back, once I have the results I'm working for).  When I do the peel, I don't use the Proactive wash but I will use the Reparing Solution every couple of nights.  I think it sinks into the pores better at night and when I'm peeling.   And in between Skin Culture Peels, I use a light exfoliant, like Skin Biology's LacSal Serum. 

Out With the Old (Skin)

As any good aesthetician will tell you, in order to get that glow, you've got to EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE.  There's no getting around it.  If you're not blessed with that "great skin" that constantly renews and refreshes itself, then you've got to find products that will help you out.  If your skin doesn't get the proper amount of exfoliation, then you could wind up looking tired and haggered beyond your years.  And if you have "problem" skin like I have, failure to find something that really works for you and stick with it could lead to discoloration, blotchiness, and clogged pores. 

My secret weapon is a peel that I found about while searching for something to help me with the sudden on-set of breakouts and dark spots I was experiencing.  Because I had some experiece with chemical peels (the at-home kind and the ones you get in a doctor's/esthetician's office), I was aware of the potential drawbacks--tight, itchy skin; flaking for days; and the potential to create additional hyperpigmentation--but I was also aware of the rewards--beautiful, glowing skin, free of superficial imperfections.  So, when I found Skin Culture Peel, I was all in! 

Skin Culture Peels are a brand of phenol peels available in four degrees, from light to intense:  1,000 (light) through 4,000 (intense).  You can order them through the Skin Culture Peel website, and within a few days, they arrive in your mailbox.  But don't take their at-home convience for weakness--these peels are not for the faint of heart and do require commitment, since they are applied over a course of several days to a week, towards the end of which time, peeling is MAJOR!  But trust me, it's worth it! 

Because I am trying to correct at least 2 years of neglect and abuse to my face--I was going through a phase where I wouldn't commit to any beauty routine and I had several months of hyperpigmentation due to my raging hormones--I started with the   4,000.  One word--AMAZING.  Better than any peel I've ever received in a doctor's office, and I've done TCA, microderm, you name it!  Since my first one, almost a year ago, I've done two Peel 3000s (well, 1 and 1/2--now I am at a point where I can do spotwork and maintenance). 

The peels are a little pricey, but if you use a jar sparing, it will last a while, especially if you don't need a major overhaul, like I did.  (Even though the directions say use the whole little jar, I ususally got 2-3 applications from one jar.  Also, they offer a whole skin care line, but I opted out of the lotions and cleansers and just incorporated the peel into a gentle cleansing routine of generic, "cheap" products. ;0)  But that's just my method--find what works for you.)

GUARANTEED TO GET YOU GLOWING!

HINT:  In my opinion, the peel is too strong to be combined with any "serious" skincare.  I would go Cetaphil cleanser, a light moisturizer, and a sunscreen until at least a week after one of these peels.