face time

(I've been meaning to do this review for months- I finally have some good results, so it's time!)

I got the Clarisonic skin brush 6 months ago. My 30's has introduced me to the horror that is adult acne. At the time of purchase, I was desperate for anything that would help. I figured that spending that kind of cash would do the trick. (Don't get me wrong- I love my Clarisonic, it just didn't solve the problem on it's own. I highly recommend one if you have the money.)

I was using it twice a day, with salicylic acid face wash. I also use MD Skincare's Alpha Beta Daily Peel at night, and their All-over Blemish Solution. My pores did shrink, and my blackheads got way better- only a few remain, and if they are bugging me I can get them out easily without making them erupt into monster zits.

My main problem is the cystic acne. Terrible monsters. They look and feel like normal whiteheads and then BOOM! They turn into gigantic painful red lumps that refuse to go away and leave awful scars behind. Pick them or not, the end result is the same. Looking like a pizza face teenager, and my favorite, scars.

(for years I used Proactiv. I finally realized that it just made my skin worse. I replaced it with MD Skincare stuff. It has worked great, but does not help with the cystic acne, and it's damn expensive.)

After 2 months of not seeing any difference in the cystic acne, I got lazy and dropped the use down to once a day. Then every other day. After a few weeks of this- they got better. Laziness paying off? That never happens.

Okay here is the really good part. My friend Kelly just got a job at the Kiehls counter at Nordstrom. So I checked out their website to see if they had anything interesting. I had always written them off as being too expensive, I'd never even looked at a price tag. So in checking out their website, I actually found quite a few items that might help my terrible skin.

I set off to Nordstrom last Wednesday to see Kelly and to buy some new face stuff. I was bound and determined to buy the Blue Herbal cleanser, toner, and moisturizer- a triple whammy on my oily and stubborn skin. I could get all 3 for around $60- a screaming deal compared to the $90 All-over Blemish stuff that I have been using forever. I love it, but if something could work better for less- I'm all over it!

Kelly advised me away from all 3. Said it would dry me out way to bad. "But I'm SO oily!" I said. "Trust me," he said. I ended up getting the Ultra Facial cleanser- super simple, non drying, no salicylic acid, just basic face wash. I also got the Blue Herbal Moisturizer, and the Blue Herbal Spot Treatment. I have never used moisturizer- I'm so oily that I never get dry.

After ONE day. Let me say that again. After ONE day of using the Ultra cleanser with the Clarisonic, then my usual Alpha Beta Peel, followed by the moisturizer and the spot treatment, my face was clearer. I had a few budding monsters and that spot treatment stopped them dead in their tracks. The ones that were already present are healing without getting worse first like they always do.

Now, I know there are a ton of products out there that may give me great results. But I'm not willing to pay $30 for a tiny tube of spot treatment. I kinda don't care if it works- it's too much money. But the Kiehls Blue Herbal Spot Treatment is $16. The Ultra cleanser is $18, and the Blue Herbal Moisturizer is $23. I can handle those prices. I'm thinking I may replace the Alpha Beta Peel with a toner, and go all Kiehls but I'm gonna ask Kelly which one he'd recommend.

A huge, giant shout out to Kelly- you saved my skin. I will be seeing you often- much to the disappointment of Sephora.

Now if I can just do something about my hair...