A Journey in Adulting & Self-Care

 If you've ever marveled at the smooth under-eye areas in magazines and media, you are not alone. As we age, fine lines and wrinkles are common but what about wrinkles that are always under the eyes? I'm talking about wrinkles that you may have had even as a child! Look at this cutie! Yes, those wrinkles may remain into adulthood These wrinkles may also be be accompanied by dark circles and dry skin. Basically, these are a result of allergies or eczema issues you may have had as a child. Rubbing the skin under the eyes from itching or dryness can also further exacerbate the issues. Nonetheless, identifying the problem is your first step! Now, here are some steps you can take to lessen their appearance: Allergy shiner with less prominent lines underneath 1. First and foremost, do get tested for allergies . Identifying your triggers can help you manage your exposure. In my case, it was childhood asthma which was managed on its own as an adult. However, I did notice that taking Z

 I recently found a fabulous salon where I was introduced to the Candela laser, an alternative to the GentleMax. It was surprisingly effective, where even after one treatment I was able to see improvement in my pigmentation and scarring. If you are a person of color and are interested in increasing collagen, reducing fine lines and addressing scarring, this could be a great option for you! I would definitely recommend lidocaine to help numb the skin beforehand. It make the process way more comfortable and helped my aesthetician get to all the areas she needed without me tearing up and needing a break. She was even able to get to my dark circles which, honestly, I just assumed were permament. Apologies for low-quality! But you can see that my dark pigmentation near my sideburn is longer and my skin is more textured in the left picture whereas the dark spot is a bit lighter and scarring is less noticeable on the right. I am currently on treatment 3 of 4 in a package so I am hopeful that

 I was recently asked about how I keep dry winter skin at bay and I didn't realize just how intensive my routine truly was! My philosophy is that I am lazy, plain and simple. Whatever I can do in one step to prevent future action is in my best interest. Of course, just like any other posts, feel free to cherry-pick and add or adapt steps that fit your lifestyle. Moisturize mee...moisturize me... 1. Use hydrating products in the shower This is a work-in-progress but currently these steps allow me to keep my skin pretty hydrated even though I enjoy taking the hottest shower imaginable. - LUSH Honey I Washed the Kids This body wash not only smells like delicious candy but it lathers up without drying my skin out. I've tried other body washes and even oil-based body washes, but consistency come back to this since everything else seems to dry my skin out. - Franks' Body Scrub I love a good scrub, especially since I use an epilator which can cause ingrown hairs. But I am pretty p

 If you are a POC who is reaching a certain age, then maybe you've seen them creeping up. The little 3-D freckles that pop up and seem to get darker and more noticeable with time? You've definitely seen them on celebs such as Morgan Freeman. My grandmother had them, the guy who ran the Indian grocery store had them...everyone who was brown and over 50 had them. These are benign papules that develop on the face or neck, sometimes as early as adolescence. Sometimes its sun exposure, sometimes its genetics but they are generally harmless. However, in case anyone is kooky enough to take medical advice from a blog, please always see a dermatologist for any weird or new skin growths! Yeah, yeah they are normal...but I don't want them! There are a few ways to prevent and treat DPN if you decide they are bothering you. You can use glycolic acid to prevent new ones from forming and the ones you have from getting more noticeable. Larger ones will need a doctor to remove them in a way

 Oh, you've done it now...you got super excited about your new skincare haul and went a little overboard with all your products and now your skin looks...weird. How do you know if you have damaged your skin barrier? And if you have, what do you do next? Signs you've Over-Exfoliated: - super shiny skin...like Saran Wrap - feels tight or dry - skin cracks when you make facial features or open your mouth If you are seeing any of these signs, then it is highly likely that you have damaged your skin barrier. Your skin needs to by hydrated in all its seven layers, otherwise you run the risk of drying it out and creating micro tears and allowing fine lines, wrinkles and even bacteria. Steps to Repair Your Skin Barrier: 1. Stop any actives! I remember when I found BHAs...they were fantastic at making the blackheads on my nose disappear. If a little bit works then obviously a lot must work even better, right? WRONG! I was pulling sheets of skin off my nose because I had damaged the barr

Putting my money where it counts is important and sometimes...you make mistakes. Dysport is a mistake for me. I got a Groupon for 50 units of Dysport and while I understood that it was weaker than Botox, I figured...I only got 10 units of Botox, so 50 is perfect! Nope, wrong! That was not the case for me. When I entered the clinic, the lovely receptionist showed me to the back room and was gracious and patient in listening to my concerns. Looking back, I should have recognized this wasn't the clinic for me as  it seemed the receptionist believed in the "more is more" philosophy when it comes to filler. She was a beautiful, sweet lady but it was clear from a mile away that her upper lip was not God given. So when she told me 50 units wasn't enough and there was no way I could redistribute it around my face as I had done with Botox...I was admittedly a bit surprised. I had hoped I could apply the cost of my Groupon to switch over to Botox but they insisted it would be t

As I am learning more about my skin, I am learning to see it in a different light. When I was battling cystic acne, it felt like a betrayal from my skin which literally had one job...keep germs out...and instead I was dealing with broken skin and active breakouts everyday. Now that the dust has settled, the scars and residue of those battles still remain. Upon consulting with my dermatologist, we talked about ways to help deal with these concerns, mostly acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. Some interventions I had already begun, mostly Vitamin C and tretinoin. I was ready to try lasers but as a POC, I was concerned about further exacerbating my hyperpigmentation and needed something that would be safe. She suggested Gentlemax Laser. Used for laser hair removal, this heats up the layer of skin underneath to activate the body's healing mechanism. However, compared to some stronger counterparts such as Fraxel or CO2 lasers, Gentlemax has no downtime and doesn't even require anest

 Ok, I have to admit...I have a major sweet tooth. I used to love sneaking into the fridge and swiping a scoop out of the can of condensed milk because it tasted like heaven. My favorite "cereal" was white bread with loads of sugar poured on it. However, as I have gotten older and more conscious of the impact of sugar on my health, I was also surprised to hear how sugar itself can cause you to prematurely age. This process is known as glycation and is different than regular aging because it has more of crosshatch appearance to its wrinkles. It is also characterized by sagging as the collagen underneath is separated and damaged. Basically what happens is that the sugar molecules prevent circulation and bind to the collagen molecule, which essentially ends up being destroyed. As we age, collagen is produced at a much slower rate and when the collagen can't bind together you see a loss of firmness and elasticity. In fact, this damage can render certain collagen induction tre

 Similar to my Skincare sins I will never repeat, my journey has had me overdoing or messing up my skin in more ways than one. Luckily, I was able to fix these fairly easily as well. So pull up a chair and learn from my mistakes! - Overexfoliating my skin So, if AHAs are good...and BHAs are good...and retinol are good...then all three must be good! Nope, I damaged my skin barrier so much that my skin had a weird plastic-y sheen and felt so tight. After some research I realized I had stripped all the moisture our and had damaged my skin barrier. I had to use the seven layer method and lay off actives for a while before my skin stopped looking like Saran Wrap - Actives every day...and night I had blackheads on my nose and was so excited when I saw results from the CosRx BHA lotion. I started applying it twice a day and had my skin flaking off. Even with sunscreen, it wasn't enough to help protect my skin and I was shocked that I could pull dead skin off my nose. Again, slow and gentl

 Even if you are brand new to skincare, you have most likely heard of The Ordinary.  One of the first skincare companies to approach skincare from a scientific approach and less marketing-oriented, The Ordinary believed in empowering customers to gain knowledge around skincare ingredients and routines but they also priced their products incredibly low. There are other subsidiaries with different formulation and higher price points but the Ordinary quickly gained traction with simply, transparent ingredients, clinical packaging and helpful routines. It was my first foray into cherry-picking products to customize my own routine. Below are the items that worked...and what didn't: The Good Argireline Solution This was huge at erasing wrinkles around my eyes and eyebrows. It could have also been an issue with hydration but I noticed when I stopped using this, my wrinkles were deeper and more noticeable. I will continue to use this as a spot treatment, especially for my tech neck! Retino

 You may have seen Youtube videos or ads pop up for this strangely phallic device and I am here to help demystify this strange device. The high frequency device comes with different glass attachments that glow with neon gas when the device is turned on. Basically, this is a very old technology developed by Nikola Tesla and was originally used to clean wounds before the advent of antibiotics. The device works by creating ozone or enriched oxygen molecules on the surface of your skin. This is a naturally anti-bacterial and helps blood vessels push away toxins, while the cells in your skin are enriched with nutrients and hydrating volume. As a result, high frequency wands are wonderful at treating acne and stimulating blood flow. How to Use You can opt for either the gauze method or use oil to create a slippery surface and allow the wand to glide over your face. I prefer to use reseveratol + ferric acid from The Ordinary for its texture and anti-inflammatory properties. Put one finger on

 Ah yes...after a long, busy day, we are all ready to crash into our cozy beds and get a good night's sleep. But, not until you have completed your 12 step routine, facial yoga and taking a cryogenic nap in the anti-aging chamber! Ok, I kid but in all seriousness, one of the worst things you can do to your skin is sleeping with makeup. Your skin repairs itself at night and makeup is not something that contains goodies to be absorbed overnight. So, no matter how tired or drunk you are, clean your face before going to sleep every night! Here are some basic steps to include... Level 1: Augh! I can't...just get me to bed ASAP Ideally, you don't have makeup on and it will super quick to get your face clean but the reality is that you may have a full face of glam by the time you are ready to turn in for the night. If this is the case, at a minimum...keep makeup wipes so you can swipe your face before crashing to bed. If you are upright long enough to add a few more steps, conside

One of the ways I approach skincare and try to make it more budget-friendly is by finding effective ways to recreate pricey procedures at home. While I know I cannot replicate the high-strength procedures or training of skincare professionals, slow and steady certainly has its benefits in the march against time. Microcurrent technology has been around since the 1980s and essentially uses low-voltage electric currents to help stimulate collage production, ATP development, giving a more lifted and defined look. As we age, most people are either sinkers or saggers...looking at my family, I am a sagger which means microcurrent facials may be use the thing to add to my routine. The Nuface device is one of the first FDA approved device that is available to consumers. Please know, this means that it is safe to use but it does not mean it will guarantee results. It comes with a conductive gel which helps ensure that you do not feel the currents as it zaps your skin. If you can feel it, you eit

 While there are a variety of interventions and procedures available to us, I firmly believe that skincare should suit you and no one else.  We have peels, lasers and other procedures that harness our body's natural healing abilities to help address skin concerns. If you (and your doctor) feel that fillers or injectables are the right step for you, go for it! Some people use these to preserve their features while others use it to enhance them. The latter can become tricky in this age of social media and issues like body dysmorphia can cause us to quickly spiral into uncanny valley. A person who doesn't look like a person...because their face doesn't move naturally = uncanny valley. However, I decided to get Botox when my teeth grinding was getting severe enough and I couldn't sleep comfortably with a night guard. Turns out that you can't just get a portion of a syringe so I figured, why not...let's get a sprinkle of Botox throughout the rest of my face. Oh, boy.

 Ah yes, summertime...the season for skirts, shorts and sundresses. It also means that we may need a bit more attention to these exposed parts than we had given during previous seasons so I have here some tips and tricks to help keep your skin hydrated and radiant! I also would be grinning this big if my skin was so radiant! 1. Drink Water Ok, yes...this seems like a no-brainer but my goal is to make self-care accessible and if you don't already know, you know now...drinking water is key to self-care, inside and out. Whether its sparkling water, infused water, water in fun bottles, use whatever you need to help you stay hydrated, just avoid sugar which would defeat the purpose. 2. Exfoliate I usually am a fan of chemical exfoliants but when it comes to body care, I like physical exfoliants. It just seems more efficient with all the ground you have to cover as compared to your face. Dry brushing gives me crazy dolphin skin but learning about macular amyloidosis  (a grey, patchy lesi

 This blog was born out of two reasons: 1. for my daughter to have a documented way to take care of herself...when she decides mama has something worthwhile to say and 2. from the numerous friends and family who have asked to have my ideas and research documented for them. The specific topic of healing acne scars was something that has been requested a few times so I thought it was about time to document it! What is scarring? So, for the purpose of this post, I will be discussing acne scars. Many people refer to any mark left after acne is gone as acne scars but there are actually two different types of scars, PIH and atrophic scars. PIH (Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation) These are the red or brown discolorations that are left after your acne is healed. This can be a result of popping the pimple or just because you have melanin and your skin is prone to pigmentation. They are not 3-dimensional and you may have reasonable success in covering it with makeup. These scars will get worse

If you've heard the term "double cleansing" and have an idea but not quite sure what it means, not to fear! I am here to help explain what double cleaning is and how you can add it to your routine. Double cleansing is the practice popularized by Asian beauty where you wash your face twice. Easy enough, right? Well, the cleansing is a bit different each time. First cleanse This is great at removing make-up, sunscreen and more stubborn layers of dirt, pollution or other residual evidence of the day. This is done using an oil-based cleanser which might be in a liquid oil form or in a balm-to-oil form. The whole point is that if you can get this layer off then our second cleanse can focus on a gentle cleansing which doesn't strip your skin.  Personally, I love oil cleansers which are gentle enough to work into my eye area because I like waterproof mascaras and long-lasting brow products. I also look for products which don't drip too fast so it doesn't feel as gooe

 I've decided that my stance on getting older is that I don't want to feel older than I look and I don't want to look older than I look. This means that if I can combine feeling good and having my exterior match that, even better! My recent spinal surgery had be thinking, are there ways that I can expedite healing at home without aggravating my muscles? That's when I discovered red light therapy. What is Red Light Therapy? Basically, light is a form of energy and our cells use energy to replicate and perform necessary functions, right? You can have light as low as 400 nm like gamma rays which is bad for you and as high as 800 nm which is radio or tv. Some light isn't visible to the human eye (infrared, UV) and some is, like the visible light spectrum of colors.  As you can see from this graphic, different wavelengths of light  permeate the skin at different depths and is measured in nanometers (nm). Blue Light (400-450 nm) Can be used for treating acne and reversing

 What is Microneedling? Microneedling is a procedure that has been around for a while and basically is the act of creating micro-wounds in the skin or channels which help activate your body's natural healing process. These wounds are not significant enough to damage your skin but enough to signal that your body needs to produce collagen and heal itself. Done properly, microneedling has a variety of benefits such as reducing fine lines, appearance of pores, scars, hyperpigmentation and even hair loss. Risks of Microneedling Since you are essentially inflicting damage on your skin, you run the risk of further damage and scarring to your skin. If the equipment or environment is not sanitized properly, you also run the risk of infection and complications that could result from it. You could end up with skin worse than the issue you were trying to fix. I am sharing all this with you to make sure you do not take the decision to microneedle at home lightly. This procedure is done best by

 Tretinoin, retinol, Retin A, Differin, adapalane...is your head swimming yet? Chances are you have heard of one of these and maybe even how amazing retinol is but don't know what it does or how to add it to your routine. This mega-post will help you make sense of things and hopefully get you started on this super ingredient. I would like to note, r/tretinoin on Reddit was super helpful and informative on my tret journey. This treasure trove of information and resources made it so easy for me to figure out what to do next and what to expect. What is Tretinoin? Tretinoin is the ingredient in brands such as Retin-A that is an active derivative of Vitamin A. If you've heard of retinol, it is the much weaker version that is available over-the-counter. The way it works is by helping expedite cellular turnover, a process which is as quick as 15 days when we are young and slows down as we get older. This is why our soft, babylike skin becomes dull, tired and wrinkly as we get older.