Skin Care Journey: Mandelic Acid Peel and Retin A part 2

Very brief update on my journey with the 15% Mandelic Acid and Salicylic Peel. I'm upset at the moment which is why I have no update pictures. My skin is breaking out! I know the seller warned about an initial break out in her info pack, but I had been living a pretty breakout free existence for sometime due to the Retin-A. I had somehow forgotten what a real breakout was till I re-experienced it the past two weeks. Yes, I'm still using Retina-A but it is not working . 


Other than that, I've had no "serious" adverse reactions, I had a harder time during my first weeks on Retin-A. So I feel I should see the full 6 weeks through. And prepare to refill my Retin-A prescription with the quickness. 


XX 




P.S:
After writing this I switched to Duac which my doctor had prescribed as an alternative to Retin-A to help clear my spots.I have used it for 3 days now and my break out has cleared. 

New Music Post

Maroon 5 and Christina Aquilera - Moves Like Jagger



I'm sure everyone has heard about this! It is so damn catchy. 

Nneka - Soul is Heavy

Some people might know Nneka from the Chase and Status remix of her song "heartbeat". She is one of my favourite modern Nigerian singers.  

Lenny Kravitz - Stand

I love me some Lenny Kravitz. "Believe" was me and my ex's song. 

African Music Post: YINKA AYEFELE - NEXT LEVEL (IYIN ATI OPE)

YINKA AYEFELE - NEXT LEVEL (IYIN ATI OPE)

This is a type of traditional Yoruba song. Basically the musician has been gifted money by people in high society or he was introduced to them at a party and in turn he writes a song and name drops them. Luckily it's got subtitles, so you can follow his name dropping easily.


XX


p.s: don't let the youtube title fool you there is nothing gospel about this song. 

Exfoliation 101 with Clinique's Guiding Dermatologist

I'm a big fan of exfoliation and when I came across this I just had to share.

Q. What are the benefits of daily exfoliation versus exfoliation treatments?

Generally we recommend relatively gentle exfoliation twice a day with the appropriate Clarifying Lotion. Keep in mind that it's better to adjust the strength of the exfoliation than to change the frequency. In other words, it's better to exfoliate twice a day using mild or moderate exfoliation than to exfoliate once a week with an extremely harsh process, like a very rough scrub, for example. Exfoliation is comparable to exercise; it's better to follow a custom fit, moderate program on a regular basis, than to overdo it, randomly. If your skin is accustomed to daily exfoliation, it's OK to exfoliate more aggressively on occasion, either at home or at the dermatologist's office (daily training versus an occasional marathon).

Q. How can exfoliating daily help your skin look younger?

Daily exfoliation improves the surface appearance and function of the skin. Studies show that exfoliation increases epidermal turnover rate, resulting in a clearer, smoother, more even-toned skin which has greater translucency, 

than skin which is not exfoliated on a regular basis

.

Q. What are the benefits of chemical vs. physical exfoliants?

Chemical exfoliants may have an additional beneficial action, such as acting as an anti-bacterial. Chemical exfoliation is also easier to control. However, both types will benefit the skin.

We have found salicylic acid, a chemical exfoliant, to be the absolutely best exfoliator for over-the-counter use. There are so many benefits to salicylic acid: it is a gentle, effective, non-allergenic exfoliator. It has anti-microbial properties. Salicylic acid slows down or interrupts the mechanisms that contribute to the skin looking aged. It's time-proven. Another advantage of salicylic acid as an exfoliator is that it's not a photo sensitizer. Some exfoliators can make your skin a bit more sensitive to sunlight, salicylic acid will not. In 40 years, we have never 

seen an allergic reaction to salicylic acid.

Read More http://www.ivillage.com/exfoliation-101-cliniques-guiding-dermatologist/5-a-146575#ixzz1S67pmorn 

Skin Care Journey: Mandelic Acid Peel and other bits

I took the plunge and used the 15% Mandelic Salicylic Combination Peel I purchased on ebay. I've only used it once, but so far so good. It reacted exactly the same as any other peel I have used in the past. I'm still using Retin - A at night and the mandelic acid toner I accidentally purchased during the day. 


My Skin regimen as it stands:


DAY
Boots - Cleansing Mousse
Queen Helene Mint Julep face scrub
Mandelic acid toner
Good Things Moisturiser. 


NIGHT 
Johnson and Johnson Baby wipes to take off make up.
Pore Perfecting Deep Clean Mousse with DHC face brush.
Retin - A




WEEKEND
Saturday Morning
15% Mandelic Salicylic Combination Peel
Vitamin E (take off with hot cloth)
Usual day regimen 


Saturday Night
Usual night time regimen


Sunday Morning
Vitamin E (take off with hot cloth)
Usual day regimen. 


Sunday Night
Boots Intensive Mask.
Retin - A




My Skin as of July 10.

Fresh spots from Usana...






Dry skin, but seemingly smaller pores.


If you are thinking of coping my regimen or buying these products PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE STOP if any irritation occurs. It is normal to feel light tingling when using certain products, but if it is unbearable STOP. I can't accept responsibility for other people's foolishness. 

Skin Care Journey: Products

I paid a trip to boots on Sunday and picked up a few new items to add to my arsenal.





Boots Intensive Moisture Mask
I love, love love this. I used it on Sunday night after taking my make up off and before applying Retin-A. My skin was so soft this morning. It got me thinking about how much I moisturise my skin. I think of moisture in relation to my hair, I know what to use - oils, baggies, scarfs, deep moisturisers and even ghee. But, I never really intensely moisturise my face outside of my daily face cream. I think this might be a new beginning for me.



Boots - Cleansing Mousse, Pore Perfecting Deep Clean Mousse
For the past couple of months, I have been trying to use up skin care products I had laying around the house and I've managed to do that. I haven't been able to make it to the shops to replenish my supply so my brother gifted me a bottle of - Usana face wash which I mentioned in a previous "Skin care Products" post. Unfortunately since using it, my face started to breakout. I felt an under current of bumps beneath my skin that sent a shiver down my spine. Needless to say, I stopped using it, but not quickly enough. I have some new spots that have scared and darkened. I went to Boots to see if I could get a bottle of their Vitamin E face wash which I have had good experience with. But, they didn't have it so I settled for the  Cleansing Mousse and the Pore Perfecting Deep Clean Mousse from their botanicals range. It's only been a day, so I've yet to see the difference.



Lancome Genifique Sample
On my way out of boots, I stopped by the Lancome counter to pick up a bottle of their hypnose mascara (which I love) and I got this sample free. It is a light moisturiser and I was told it can we worn under make up...so it is like any other moisturiser. I tried it today and it started out fine, but the moisturing effect didn't last all day. By mid afternoon, I found myself reaching for the nearest moisturiser to get rid of the tight feeling. 




Skin care update to come shortly....

Bumper New Music Post

 I'm loving all of these at the moment.


Gym Class Heroes  ft. Adam Levine: Stereo Hearts



I loved Travis' Solo album, so much,  I secretly hoped this would be in the same vein. Not that I mind this song, Adam Levine (the second hardest working man in music) sells it. I think without Adam it would have been mediocre. 

Estelle ft Rick Ross - Break My Heart

After "American Boy" everyone called Estelle a "One Hit Wonder", this kind of amuses me because it was also said after she released her first album. Estelle keeps going away coming back blowing everyone out of the water and slinking quietly away only to return and do it all over again.

Patrick Stump - "This City" (ft. Lupe Fiasco)

Lupe's rap really brings this together. I stan for Fall out boy and Patrick Stump, so much so I saw them in concert! I have their last album on repeat whenever I need to get revved up.