Settling In and Breaking Out

I've taken a hiatus from this blog because as all 7 of my followers know, we moved. We said "good-bye" to "Keeping Austin Weird" and "hello" to the Bloomington/Normal area of Illinois. Get it? Weird to Normal? OK, ok, I thought it was funny.

A little geographical background: Bloomington and Normal are two separate cities, but are connected to create a population of approximately 125,000. They may be right next to each other, but I feel like each community has its own flavor. Normal is where Illinois State University is located, so it has a collegiate vibe. There are several local coffee shops, a vegan restaurant and a historic movie theater that's recently been restored. It feels a bit like South Austin - where Bloomington feels more like Round Rock. State Farm is headquartered in Bloomington so it's more business-oriented than Normal. I've been to some great restaurants and walked our dogs in a couple of beautiful parks. I've also hit up Anne Taylor Loft which makes me VERY happy.

All in all, I feel like we're settling in well. With all the change we've gone through in recent weeks, it's been reflected in my skin. My forehead started to break out about a week after we found out we were moving and it hasn't gotten any better. I went from having clear skin to getting pimples almost overnight. And then, once I got to Bloomington my skin became very flaky, dry and itchy. I literally woke up one morning itching my eyebrows like a mad woman. My point in all this is that stress and our environment can wreck havoc on skin.

My breakouts are mostly on my forehead. And problems with this area may often be associated with our digestion and bladder. Considerations can include poor digestion, insufficient water intake and a possible history of bladder problems. Other traditional considerations are not thoroughly rinsing shampoo from the hairline, comedogenic ingredients in hair products or improper removal of make-up or cleanser. I haven't changed my hair products and I'm very anal about washing my face and rinsing it well. So perhaps it's the first set of considerations. Or, maybe it's just good ol' fashioned stress and a new environment. But to be sure, I increased my water intake and made sure I upped my fiber count. TMI? Probably, but it's my blog.

I also started giving myself a weekly PCA Skin Oxygenating Trio treatment. This treatment drives oxygen deep into my pores and breaks up the dirt and sebum that gets trapped. The combo of dirt and sebum can ferment and cause bacteria that gets trapped in a pore, causing a pustule (a pimple with pus and bacteria). In addition to cleansing my face morning and night, and masking once a week, I've been diligent about exfoliating at least twice a week. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells and stimulates new cell growth. I also tone, moisturize and use SPF (in the morning).

I've been using Burt's Bees Targeted Spot Treatment on my pimples because it has Salicylic Acid, a Beta Hydroxy Acid that can dry out our pores, helping to unplug them. Salicylic acid can also have a calming, anti-inflammatory effect on pimples.

Additionally, I've been trying to get 8-hours of sleep and work out regularly. Our skin is a reflection of what's going on in our bodies and I think I'm just out of whack. I suppose packing up your life and moving it to another location will do that. My breakouts may be a wake-up call that I need to be more diligent about my overall health. I'm hoping it gets better as we settle in to our new home and new life.

Picking Products

I often get asked, "Which products are the most important to use?" I don't really have a standard answer because each person is different and everyone's skin has its own unique need. Plus, we all have different budgets and time allowances - and this affects which products we use.

When I give a facial, here's what's usually involved:

• Two cleanses
• Exfoliation
• Massage with aromatherapy and massage oil
• Mask
• Toner
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen

Most people aren't going to go through all these steps everyday - nor is it necessary. At the very minimum, I recommend a good cleanser, a gentle exfoliant, a moisturizer and a sunscreen to use on a daily basis. Whatever products you decide to use, make sure they're right for your skin type (which I think is half the battle). For example, if you have oily skin with lots of breakouts or blackheads, you may want to find a cleanser with salicylic acid. You wouldn't use anything with salicylic acid if you're a dry skin type. 

Splish Splash
I recommend washing your face two times, twice a day. Yes, I said TWO times, twice a day. Washing your face the first time gets off all the dirt and debris we've accumulated overnight and throughout the day. The second cleanse actually reaches your real skin. It's like washing your hair. Think about the instructions on your shampoo bottle. It probably says something like, "Wash. Rinse. Repeat." The first wash removes the dirt and oil from your hair and the second wash actually cleans your hair. It's the same for your skin. Also, remember to wash your face with upward strokes. Don't help gravity by pulling down or you'll be sorry later on when you have saggy skin. 

Scrub-a-dub-dub
Our skin produces over 1 million dead skin cells every 40 minutes. Think about that. It's disgusting. That's why exfoliation is so important. You may not need to exfoliate daily, but you should definitely exfoliate at least twice a week. Use something gentle like Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant (which you CAN use everyday if you'd like). People often think of St. Ives Apricot Scrub when they think of exfoliating, but I think it's too abrasive for your face so please don't use it. Plus, it uses ingredients that are comedogenic which mean they're likely to clog your pores.

Exfoliation deserves its very own blog post because it's so important, but one more interesting reason to exfoliate is because it helps loosen up dirt and oil (sebum) that gets trapped in the pores. That dirt and oil is what causes blackheads. Exfoliation will oxygenate the pores and keep your skin clear and healthy. That being said, don't over exfoliate. If you experience redness or agitation, decrease the amount of times you're exfoliating and see if that helps. 

Lotion Potion
Moisturizing is important no matter your skin type. You just have to find the right kind of moisturizer. I have a client who wasn't moisturizing because she had oily skin and thought it would make her even more oily. As a result, she became an oily AND acneic skin type. Her body started producing more oil because her skin needed extra hydration. Once I got her using the right kind of moisturizer, her skin cleared up because it wasn't over producing oil. In her case, she used Dermalogica's Active Moist. You should use your moisturizer once a day at the least (nighttime) but you can apply it under your sunscreen if you feel you need extra hydration during the day. 

Out Came the Sun
My final product recommendation is sunscreen. Preferably SPF 30. I went into the nitty gritty details on my blog post from Tuesday, April 27, 2010, Fun in the Sun? Wear Sunscreen. It outlines what type of sunscreen to use, why it's so important and how often you should reapply.

There are other types of products you can add to your regimen such as serums, masks and toners. I personally use Vitamin C and Retexturizing Activator serums from SkinCeuticals for extra hydration. You just have to find the products that work best for your skin and be patient. I can help you identify products that are right for your skin type and get you on a regimen. Feel free to message me on this blog or call me at 402-699-3481 to schedule a consultation.