Beautiful Skin Every Day
As an aspiring dermatologist, working a full time internship at a derm office, I'm setting out to teach everyone the tricks of the trade that I learn every day for fresh, beautiful, clear skin.
I'll be posting information I research. Things I learn. And answer the questions that you want to know about your skin issues!
*I am not claiming that I am a dermatologist or that I have a degree in the field. I am just restating my thoughts and opinions on what I learn throughout my journey. *
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Olay ProX vs the Clarisonic Brush
Approximate prices depending on where you buy them:
Olay ProX: 29
Clarisonic Mia: 149
Clarisonic Classic: 195
Okay, obviously the big difference between these three is clearly the price. I have the Olay ProX that I got at Ulta. Originally it was 29ish, on sale for 25, and I had a five dollar coupon. So, 20 dollars for my little beauty.
Personally, I love my little olay, and I don’t see much of a difference between that one and the clarisonic brushes. We sell the clarisonic brushes at my work for about the same retailing price, which is way out of my price range to begin with.
The physical differences: the Clarisonic original is pretty damn bulky. The mia is cute and smaller and comes in different sizes. The claro brushes seem to have a softer brush head than mine, but mine still doesn’t feel rough by any means. The claro has more technology involved… aka… it charges instead of using batteries, it has a few different speeds… and it beeps when you’re supposed to move from section to section on your face. The olay one is very simple, sleek, uses batteries, and only has two speeds.
But regardless of the hefty price difference, I think they both do wonders on your skin. I mean, on the Claro website, you can see pictures of bacteria on the face/makeup on the face with and without the claro, and it’s such a huge different between that and using your hands or a washcloth to wash your face.
I might update this post a little more in a bit. I’m in school right now and typing this between classes instead of studying (which I totally should be doing) but oh well.
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Okay so….
I sucked at posting the past three weeks. I got so caught up in school, my internetship, my relationship, and my family that I just didn’t have time to write in this blog.
I’m sorry!
I hope to write way more often!
Anyway!
Aldactone review:
Basically if you didn’t see my post before this, it’s a pill you take every morning that works with your hormones, if you are a woman, to stop the testosterone in your body from over producing (yes, women have testosterone as well) so you won’t get those cyst like lesions on your face.
My review on them after taking them for about a month?
I think they are doing a pretty good job. I get compliments on my skin much more than before. I don’t have the breakouts that use to drive me insane. The only downfall that I noticed was that you experiencing spotting for a bit before/after your period (which is totally annoying) but totally worth it in the end.
I have a bunch of ideas in my head of things to post and a ton of really exciting news to share with you guys in the next few days! Stay tuned!
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“Do you have any tips on helping people with oily skin? My skin is bad enough without makeup on…but when I do wear makeup, I use the oil-free kind and STILL get oily skin.”
There are a few ways you can get rid of that excess oil. (Some oil is good, but too much can just be annoying. Trust me, I know.) The first thing is to just always keep your face nice and clean. Clogged pores can get irritated and just not pretty looking from all of the extra oil. Washing your face 2 times a day can help with all of the blemishes that you get.
Next, you can use a face wash that is made for people with oily skin. When washes are made for people with oily skin they are usually more natural based to help clear pores.
Do not try to overly dry out your skin with astringents or toners because that will just cause the pores in your skin to produce more oil which will just completely defeat the purpose all together.
Oil blotting sheets are always nice to keep in your purse. Along with natural, mineral makeup. None of that crap that is filled with stuff that you don’t have the slightest clue what is really is made of. And honestly, the more expensive the makeup is, usually is a good key to how well it will keep your skin. Cheapo makeup is nice, yeah, because you don’t have to spend more than 5 bucks, but that 5 bucks is usually stuff that is just so bad for your skin.
I hope this helps a bit. I’m really tired and worn out lately. If I find more stuff to help you out, I will def. post them for you!
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Side note (not a helpful hint)
But!
I had one of the doctors at my work start me on aldactone. It’s an oral medication you take daily for the treatment of acne.
http://www.everythingacne.com/spironolactone.htm
^^ more information on the medication and how it works.
It says you’ll see results in several weeks, so I’m going to keep doing my normal face routine and see how it goes. I’ll be posting once and a while to let you guys know if this medication really helps. =]
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There's no actual way to shrink your pores, is there?
Asked by Anonymous
Sadly, there is not a way to actually shrink your pores! Eek.
Pores are just openings in the skin that aren’t controlled by muscles. So you can’t physically shrink your pores, but you can make them less “noticeable.”
Large pores are caused by our oil glands in our skin. And frankly, the more oil your glands produce, the larger and more noticeable your pores will be. Also, as you get older, your skin loses it’s elasticity, causing skin to be more loose and show off your pores more. Not to mention the older you get the more sun damage you probably have making those pores look even worse. Eek. I know, right?
How do you keep pores looking minimized?
Keep your skin nice and clean. Don’t let pores get filled with oil, but also don’t scrub so much, because that in turn just causes more oil to be produced. Apply a retanoid topical cream to your skin to prevent bacteria from entering those pores. And if your pores still bother you and you use make up to cover them, just make sure you use a noncomedogenic makeup (one that doesn’t clog your pores.)
Hope that helps! Xox.
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How often should I exfoliate?
Asked by Anonymous
If you scroll down a few posts, I did a little blog on exfoliating and how I feel about it. Check out there, hopefully it will answer your question. =]=]
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Does putting a dab of toothpaste on a pimple/zit overnight really help or is it a myth?
I got this question from an anon the other day and figured that many girls would want to know the answer to this crazy idea.
The answer is yes… and no.
I wish I had a 100% answer of a yes or a no for my viewers, but the truth is, it just depends.
Toothpaste on acne works in two ways. It can act as a mask to draw out bacteria and impurities in the pores. The other way is that supposedly toothpaste can reduce the size of a pimple. I feel like toothpaste should be used as a last resort pimple solution if one suddenly pops up and you don’t have any other topical ointments (or can’t get to the derm to get an inject in a cyst.)
So if you do have to use toothpaste on a pimple look for an actual tooth paste instead of the gel ones that you can get. Also, the more natural, the better. The organic toothpastes will be the best. The shorter the ingredient list, the better it will be to help reduce the swelling of the pimple.
So like I said, toothpaste should only be used as a last resort for pimples. If you have a huge event or something to go to and you have a big tumor on your face that pops up, do not pick at it. You’ll just make it worse. Whiteheads can be carefully “removed” by holding a hot wash cloth on the spot and gently squeezing out the contents. Seriously, your best bet on getting a pimple gone last minute is going to be going to a dermatologist office to get it injected with a steroid shot. (My work uses one called Aristocort, and I swear by getting these injections on the pimples that won’t go away on their own or with topical ointments. They help reduce the size within two days! Not to mention, getting rid of a pimple before it gets worse will help to prevent the red spot that some acne leaves for days, or sometimes, weeks.)
Hope this helps to solve this good ol wives tale. -
lately my skin's been breaking out a lot even when im not on my period, are there any pills that i can take to help clear my skin?
Asked by Anonymous
Being a girl, it’s super hard to control hormone levels in your body which can cause some awful breakouts around that time of the month and even when you’re not on your period. You’re not alone! Not to mention, stress can also mess with your complexion as well!
There are a bunch of antibiotics on the market that can help out with your complexion and help tame/get rid of those nasty breakouts.
The main ones that I see prescribed at my work:
Solodyn. http://www.solodyn.com/
Aldactone. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000733/
(I see these two medications used for patients quite often. If used properly and used along with washes and topicals, I’ve seen some amazing results.)
Accutane: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000532/
(I’ve seen Accutane used on patients with more intense acne. It’s a pill that’s run and given out through the government, so blood tests and pregnancy test always have to be done along with the medication.)
I’ve seen amazing results with all three of these oral medications that are given to acne patients. However, like all medications, these too have side effects. The links I gave you should help you a bit to help you better understand what each medication can do (good and bad.) But ultimately, the best thing to do would be to talk to your dermatologist about which treatment plan is the best for you and your skin type. I hope this helps a bit!
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Got a question for me? I (might/probably) have the answer! Ask away!
Side note: Sorry if it takes me a day or two to answer. I’m not only a girl with a full time internship at a doctors office, but I’m also a full time Biology student, so I constantly have homework. I apologize in advance! I swear I’ll answer everything =] Xo. Briana
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Oh and also!! Exfoliating techniques? :)
Asked by Anonymous
I’m not a huge fan of exfoliating washes and cleansers that you can buy over the counter, and here’s why:
Although you may feel like your skin is getting super clean with those scrubs that feel like sand all over your face, you’re actually making your skin worse! I know, it sounds absurd, but it’s true. Those rough particles actually cause microscopic cuts in your skin making not only an easier path for bacteria to get into your skin, but actually spreads the acne that is already on your face to those new open cuts! Eek!
Your best bet is to wash your face twice a day with a washcloth, or look into buying a Clarisonic brush (yeah, they are pricey, but worth it.)
If you have the time, and money, to go to a dermatologist office, they offer chemical peels that really work at peeling off that gross layer of dead skin cells. Most derm offices also offer micro dermabrasion techniques that can be pricey, but totally worth it!
Hope this helps! Xo.
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![Helping your skin and beauty routine from the inside out!
So, I got a call from my best friend today who claimed that her hair was falling out! Eek. So, I’m sure by now we all know that stress affects our skin, hair, and well, overall feeling about how we look! So I’m going to share a tip I gave her today, along with a few others that I know of =]
Product: Biotin
Where you can get it: Basically anywhere! (Target, Walmart, CVS, etc)
What it helps with: Biotin is a natural enzyme that your stomach produces to help strengthen your hair, nails, and skin. This over the counter pill, which only costs around 4 dollars for a bottle of 50, is supposed to make your hair thicker and healthier. Trying to grow your hair longer? Biotin also helps with that. Since healthier hair grows faster, taking this supplement will help with hair growth. It’s also great for brittle nails that flake! I know personally that my nails get pretty thin, because I wear fake nails sometimes, and have to give them a little… uumpf. So, I think every woman should have a bottle of Biotin in her daily routine!
Product: Vitamin C
Where: Over the counter, anywhere.
What it helps with: Vitamin C was recently discovered to help counteract the damage that the sun can do to your skin! And let me tell you, I didn’t thin skin cancer was a huge deal until I started to work in a Derm office and see patients with skin cancer constantly. This product helps to reduce the damage of free radicals that are not very friendly to your skin cells.
Product: EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids)
Where: Your food!
What they do: If your skin is really dry and you get blackheads often, your body may be lacking in EFAs. Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two supplements your body needs to help your skin look it’s most gorgeous. Foods you should eat to get these supplements in your body include: cooking oils, grains, cold-water fish, and flaxseed. Don’t feel like messing around with your diet because you are a picky eater? You can easily get these supplements in vitamins such as Fish Oil, which yeah, smell bad, but totally get the job done!
So ladies (and maybe the gents!) those are my three supplements that I think you should start to include in your daily beauty routine! Hope these hints help ya out a bit.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrc8zjAp371r2f27lo1_500.jpg)
Helping your skin and beauty routine from the inside out!
So, I got a call from my best friend today who claimed that her hair was falling out! Eek. So, I’m sure by now we all know that stress affects our skin, hair, and well, overall feeling about how we look! So I’m going to share a tip I gave her today, along with a few others that I know of =]
Product: Biotin
Where you can get it: Basically anywhere! (Target, Walmart, CVS, etc)
What it helps with: Biotin is a natural enzyme that your stomach produces to help strengthen your hair, nails, and skin. This over the counter pill, which only costs around 4 dollars for a bottle of 50, is supposed to make your hair thicker and healthier. Trying to grow your hair longer? Biotin also helps with that. Since healthier hair grows faster, taking this supplement will help with hair growth. It’s also great for brittle nails that flake! I know personally that my nails get pretty thin, because I wear fake nails sometimes, and have to give them a little… uumpf. So, I think every woman should have a bottle of Biotin in her daily routine!
Product: Vitamin C
Where: Over the counter, anywhere.
What it helps with: Vitamin C was recently discovered to help counteract the damage that the sun can do to your skin! And let me tell you, I didn’t thin skin cancer was a huge deal until I started to work in a Derm office and see patients with skin cancer constantly. This product helps to reduce the damage of free radicals that are not very friendly to your skin cells.
Product: EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids)
Where: Your food!
What they do: If your skin is really dry and you get blackheads often, your body may be lacking in EFAs. Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two supplements your body needs to help your skin look it’s most gorgeous. Foods you should eat to get these supplements in your body include: cooking oils, grains, cold-water fish, and flaxseed. Don’t feel like messing around with your diet because you are a picky eater? You can easily get these supplements in vitamins such as Fish Oil, which yeah, smell bad, but totally get the job done!
So ladies (and maybe the gents!) those are my three supplements that I think you should start to include in your daily beauty routine! Hope these hints help ya out a bit.
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Applying your makeup: Are your brushes and tools causing your acne?
We’ve all been there. A terrible breakout. So you load on the makeup to try and cover the redness, bumps, and blemishes. But is the makeup you’re using and the way you’re applying it worse for your acne?
I recently read and article about makeup and how it can affect your skin. An type of acne (yes, there are different kinds of acne) called Acne Cosmetica is technically acne that is caused by not only makeup, but anything that touches your skin. The best way to avoid acne like this, which often just looks like small bumps, is using makeup that is non-comedogenic. Other makeups can clog your pores and form even more acne. Yikes.
The best rule of thumb when applying your makeup: Try to use your hands as little as possible. Your hands always have bacteria on them. The more you touch your makeup to your face, and back into your makeup, the more bacteria that you will have to be able to clog your pores. (Not to mention you don’t want to get all of that nasty bacteria in your makeup that you spent your hard earned money on)
Brushes and sponges are the way to go when applying your makeup. However, most people don’t remember to wash their brushes. Using baby shampoo on your brushes once a week, or every two weeks, helps to get rid of that excess bacteria. Air dry your brushes, don’t scrub them dry, to keep them nice and fluffy. As for sponges, you can get a pack of 50 or more sponges at the dollar store, that I think work just as great as the expensive ones. The only problem with using sponges to apply your makeup is that most women use a sponge until all of the “clean looking” sides are gone and then toss it. But the truth is, once you use a sponge once, let it sit, and pick it up the next day, the bacteria has already spread to the other side of the sponge. Using that sponge again can easily contaminate your skin. So the best best with sponges, toss them after one use.
I know you love your friends, but try and avoid sharing makeup and brushes with your friends. That could just cause more trauma to your skin. Check expiration dates on your makeup.
So, how long should your keep your makeup?
Foundation: 3-6 months.
Concealer: Can last up to 12 months if you use a brush.
Lip gloss and stick: Can last up to a year.
Mascara: 3 months
The last tip on keeping makeup: If it changes color, texture, consistency, or smell, toss it!
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Could you touch on diets and using makeup/makeup sponges? This is going to be a very helpful blog, thank you!
Asked by Anonymous
You got it, dude! =]
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Do I wash with hot water or cold water?
The answer: Neither!
Okay, okay, obviously you need to wash your face with water. But using hot water and cold water are both not going to improve the complexion of your skin. Using cold water won’t technically harm your skin in anyway, however, using cold water while washing your face (or body) for that matter, won’t allow the pores to open and get rid of that nasty bacteria lurking in your pores just waiting to form a big fat pimple on your face.
So, you would think, “Okay, so I should use hot water?” Wrong. Hot water is bad for your skin as well. Hot water will open your pores, yes. However, using hot water is not good for your skin. It gets rid of the natural oils that your skin does have, and need, in order to not dry out. So water that is too hot, will dry out your skin, not only on your face, but also on your body. Hot water also will make eczema and rosacea worse. (Not to mention too hot of water in your shower can make your hair more dry, and fade out your color treated hair that you paid a hefty amount of money for.)
Warm water is always your best bet. Not too hot, not too cold, but just right. (Just how Goldilocks liked it.)
A good method to washing your face: Moisten your face with your hands, or washcloth, before using your cleanser. After face is damp, start with washing your forehead for about 20 seconds in circular motion, then your cheeks for 10 seconds a piece, then your nose and chin for a total of 20 seconds. Make sure to rinse all of the product off. (Leaving any cleanser on your face can clog up pores again with all of that bacteria that you just washed off of your face.) Then, “zap” your pores closed with cooler water to prevent bacteria from getting back into the pores. And voila, a clean face!
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Could your shampoo be the culprit for that acne on your face and back?
The answer: Yes, most definitely.
Most people would never associate their acne problems on their face and their back with the shampoo and hair products they are using.”It’s cleaning my hair, isn’t it cleaning my skin as well?” That’s a big question that is asked at my work, constantly. But they truth is, this is a major culprit to those little cyst like acne bumps you can get all over your forehead, cheeks, in your hairline, and sometimes, back acne. Yuck.
But what in the shampoo is causing this acne problem? An ingredient called Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, is the bad guy in this situation. Basically, this ingredient is what makes your shampoo smell good. So, a helpful hint, if it smells awesome, it probably isn’t that great for your skin! (Not to mention I did a lot of research on this nasty little ingredient and found out that it can be linked to hair loss because it attacks the hair follicle. It also has been found to cause bladder infections, and can sometimes be linked with cancer!)
So now you’re probably thinking, “Shit, my shampoo smells good, is that why my skin isn’t clear all the time. Help!?” And help I will do! So obviously I can’t guarantee that just changing your shampoo is going to make your skin as beautiful as a supermodel or that beautiful girl in your Calc class that you’re totally envious of, but this is definitely going to be a step in the right direction!
So, onto the help! It can be a bit tough to find these shampoos, so I found a list online to help you in the search for your next shampoo. Basically, if it’s an organic hair care product, you’re set. But even the good ol L’Oreal shampoo has some that don’t contain that nasty ingredient!
So here’s a couple websites to help you!
