Ugly Skin

I use Clinque, and I think it does a nice job. It's a little pricier than the stuff you can get at Target, but not too much more. I think the soap is $8.50 for the bar, and maybe $11.50 for the pump style, and the lotion is around $17. They have a 3 step procees, but I don't use every step. Their website has the information and pricing on it, go to www.clinique.com
If you can get it at their "bonus time", you'll get free stuff (samples and such) so the price won't seem too high then. The stuff actually last a really long time, I think I get new stuff around every 3 months or so.

I use the Proactive cleansing system (from the infomercials). The products aren't harsh and my skin feels good and looks good. I've been using it for about 5 years and I love it.

It is a little pricey but I found I don't need to use it as often as directed so that cuts down on the cost. I also joined the club. They like to mail the cleanser/toner/lotion to you every 2 months, but you can request less frequent mailings. I get it every 4 months. You don't have to join the club to buy it. You can buy it as you need it from their website.

Hi A.

Part of the skin problem could be all of the different types of products you are using. Find one you like, and use that for your face wash and moisturizer. Clinique is expensive, but I had a friend who had terrible acne, after a month of using that I was blown away. That's to expensive for me personally, but it worked for her.

This is going to sound dumb but I recently tried Pantene for my hair. Now my hair is soft and golden and shiny, it made a huge improvment for me. The winter had dried my hair out, and that took care of it.

If you're feeling frazzled pamper yourself. Have a Mary Kay party or something. It doesn't cost you anything and you get free stuff! I just had one for a friends wedding and the girls loved it.

A. I just want to tell you Karen said it all I also represent the same Wellness company she does. And the number one things is daily vitamins we don't get enough nutrients out of the foods we eat now days. Think about it today we get 3 or 4 crops grown each year now compared to years ago where they only grew 1 crop. We are losing loads of valuable nutrients and vitamins due to this and all the chemicals put into the environment. Second is good eating habits and excercise. We must also do daily facial clensing our skin works its hardest in the am hours. I never clensed my face until 1 1/2 years ago when I went to a presentation and learned that for everyday we don't clense our face it adds 7 days of aging onto us, and that scared me. I now clense my face and moisturize it every night before I go to bed.If you have any more questions don't be afraid to ask.

B. R. (PA)
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I use proactive.It's not too exspensive. I found that at first it makes you break out a little more then all the sudden your skin just changes . You have to be faithful with it for the first month or so then you can use it sparingly. As far as the hair above your lip , I use nair to zap it off. don't bleach it ...it's still there just blond now. Nair stinks but, you put it on wait ten minutes and then wash it off . It's easy. Take some vitamins and drink water. lay off the caffine, you'd be surprised what caffine does to your skin. we all go through this period in our lives when things change and we have to start taking better care of ourselves

Hello A.,
While it is true that a good skin care line is good, it is by far more important what you are putting into your body. Here are some tips that I found worked wonders for me:
Drink lots of water! 8 glasses a day. Yes, that is the answer to all problems, but it is true. There are toxins everywhere that we take in every day, more in our homes than we even realize. So cleansing them away with water is a good start.
Daily vitamins are super important for busy mommies since we don't seem to have time to eat enough of what we need to balance our diet. Calcium, fiber, omega 3s, and many other important minerals just don't seem to be easy to grab up when we are running so much. Definately take a great supplimental line to be sure you are getting all the recommended amounts of the healthy stuff.
Grape seed extract seems to be the best thing out there to cure skin and hair issues. It is a strong antioxidant that is believed to cure a large number of ailments that plague us today.
Try to get good sleep, and destress when you can. These two things are a huge cause for depletion of energy, which in turn leads to neglect for our health and desire to try to look and feel our best.
When I was searching for a company to help me and my family become healthier and more energetic I came acrossed a great wellness company that offers vitamins, weight loss suppliments, natural cleaning supplies, hair and body products, and skin care. The company is called Melaleuca, and I now refer many families to it because I believe that they offer the best products at a great price, and I hate taking my kids to Walmart. They deliver all your everyday needs to your door, and guarantee everything you buy. You can send anything you don't like back anytime.
Melaleuca also gives me credit for refering customers to them in the form of revenue sharing, and so I get paid just to show other people how to get started with their orders. That is how I earn an income while I get to stay home with my 4 children. I am not selling anything to you, just offering you a possible solution to your problem.
I hope I was able to help with my advice, and please let me know if you need anymore information on Melaleuca. I would love to show you how to sign up and give this awsome company a try.
Best wishes,
K.

number one...take prenatal vitamins. They help keep your hair growing and healthy. You can go to trade secret in the mall and they carry biologe line and they have a really good conditioning line, I used it as a hairdresser. If you feel that you hair looks dull you can always throw on a box of haircolor similiar to what you have just to shine it up a bit. Stay away from volumizing shampoos because they will dry out your hair. As far as your face, in walmart they have a acne line called acne free which only cost about 20 bucks and works just as well as proactiv. There is also a make up line called physicians formula. They have a powder concealer pallet that is specificallt designed to even your skin tone. It has a bunch of pigment colors to harmonize your own. another line that works but is more money about 60 bucks is bare minerals. They even have a shimmer powder that will liven you up a bit.

hello there,
i always used to have problem skin and the only thing that helped me was proactive...its the judith light,jessica simpson skincare line..lol...i tried everything and its the only thing that worked for me...it really does make your face smooth and feeling healthy right away..i have very sensitive skin and cant use anything with salicylic or glycolic acids...alpha hyroxy...any of that..i also cant use anything with clay so alot of masks are out for me...so i really cant point you in any direction as far those products are concerned...as far as the mustache thing..its either small hairs or its your skin...i dont know about you, but when i was pregnant with my second child i got the pregnancy mask...brown discoloration on the face..i got it on the sides of my eyes(right above my eyebrows)and over my mouth...it got alot better after i had my baby..but its still there..and now since i have been out in the sun, it has gotten darker...my ob says there is not much you can do about it..although i have looked into a non invasive procedure which takes a laser to the dark spots on your body to lighten them..a little pricey..but i may end up doing it as some point..i tried the bleaching creams and the skin lightening lotions, they did nothing but make me break out..for my hair, i only use thick extra conditioning repair conditioners...i use whatever for shampoo..and i dont blowdry or use gel etc...i shower at night and wash my hair, put it up wet in a bun and then in the morning when i take my hair out,its soft and wavy..then i spray a little hairspray..it depends on your hair type..if your hair is straight and thin you have to pretty much wash it every day...using little conditioner...if you have hair like mine, thick with wave to it then you shouldnt shampoo as often and use more quantity and quality conditioner...i dont claim to look great...but i think i used to look real good(before kids)..lol...and i know we all could look alot better if we had the time,energy and motivation to do so...lol..but who has those things after you become a mom??take care..i wish you good luck...R.

I had the "blotchy" problem after my first child. My skin had always tanned very easily, but now my face becomes hyper-pigmented in areas very easily - with minimal sun exposure. It drives me nuts because I never have that flawless skin tone anymore - just blotches. I went to the dermatologist & she told me that it was called "melasma" - often appears during pregnancy, but then doesn't always go away (& mine definitely did NOT after my second child). She told me that I could use a bleaching product that would get rid of it, but then as soon as I went in the sun for any period of time, it would come back without diligent sunscreen usage.

I never did the bleach, but I've been trying to be very good about sunscreen - even for every day use as a moisturizer. It helps a little. I use a prescriptives product (it has magic in the name - I wish I could remember the name) under my base that helps smooth out the color of my skin.

I might try the bleaching one day when I know I'm done having kids - I'm not going to bother when I know it is just going to come back.

I empathize with you - I never feel like I look good unless I have makeup on anymore - especially in the summer when it gets worse. Good luck!!

Adrio~ I think you are being so hard on yourself. You have 2 small children and thats alot of work!! Now , I would try to find one brand of skin care products and stick with the whole like. Mixing and matching brands can cause problems.For example, If you like the Neutaogena Vuisbly even then use the wash and moituriser. AS far as the acne , it is most likely from hair poducts that you are using. Try to keep the hair products off your skin, Shield your forehead when you spray. The mustache you can wax and it isnt as bad as you think. Whatever you do dont SHAVE it. Waxing isnt too bad in price. It ranges from 7.00 - 15.00 depending where in the area you go.

L.

Hi A.. I think you are being a little bit hard on yourself. I'll bet you are lovely. I don't really know a lot about how to clear up skin, but I have a lot of discoloration on my upper lip too, and bleaching seems to be working. I apply it every night before bed. I used to sunbathe a lot, and now that I'm older I regret it. Al you pretty young mothers should be using sunblock. If you feel you need a bit of color, there are lots of great fake tanning products now. As for hair, I think maybe you need a deep conditioner. Put it in and leave it in for as long as you can. Then maybe in a few days you can try a little hair color for depth and shine. I have thick, dry hair, so I like to comb conditioner through my hair in the shower and it really helps a lot. And don't be so hard on yourself. You are a great mom with great kids, and so what if your skin is a little blotchy? It will all work itself out. Good Luck!

hi. i realize that you posted this almost a year ago! and i hope you have found something that works for over this time period. i havent read the other 21 responses, lol, but i just wanted to tell you what works well for me. i had some normal pimples through high school and early 20s. i always wore liquid foundation and pimple cover up trying to masque my skin imperfections. i couldnt use any acne treatments b/c i am allergic to benzolye peroxide, which is the major ingredient in most of the medications. i would get hives all over my face if i used just a tiny dab of pimple cream. a few years ago for christmas, my mom got me bare minerals make up. (you may have seen the infomercials) it took me a few weeks to get used to it, but i have been using it for almost 3 years now an love it. i know you mentioned cost. for me, over time, this make up lasts longer. and my skin is better so i spend less on trying all different over the counter products. the brushes are a big part of applying the product an they are a little pricey, but if you get them in a kit, they are a better deal also. over the past 3 years, i have had much more confidence and people have complimented me and many of my friends and co workers now all use this make up too b/c they were so impressed my the improvements that i had. its not a really heavy make up, so it was hard for me to get used to b/c i used to the coverage of a heavy liquid foundation, but all of those chemicals were just clogging my pores and giving me more pimples! so once i stopped and used the natural make up, eventually my acne went away, and it looks so nice and natural and covers up dark circles, skin discoloring, and a few acne scars i have. i dont work for bare minerals i promise! i just really love it. im a stay at home mom so i dont have the money to blow either, but i just buy it piece by piece until i built up my collection. hope this helps! good luck!

I recommend the Mary Kay microdermabrasion!! It makes the skin feel soooo soft and helps get rid of the blotchies!! Probably the skin change is hormones and possibly a need for a multivitamin.....by the way, a multivitamin a day helps us stay younger looking too!!

I am a Mary kay consultanat and the reason i became one is because the products made my skin so wonderful i can send you some info if youlike but it was truely amazing how much it actually helped my skin and its cheaper then most products of the same calibur.

A couple of thoughts from the skin care lady: your basic routine is great (two thumbs up for daily sunscreen!). Hairline acne is often a reaction to whatever you're using in your hair, so since you say your hair's not looking great either, it might be a good time to try some different (inexpensive) hair products. I just got a sample of the Sunsilk ThermaShine system (the purple bottles), and I really like the shine it gives. If you're really growing facial hair with any length, you're going to need to remove it, not just bleach. Maybe waxing? As for the dull, blotchy skin, exfoliation is good for the dullness, but go gentle and use a peel rather than a scrub, because scrubs can make any acne or blotchiness worse. I also like Olay Regenerist serum, or you could also try any of the retinol products available at the drugstore. And, of course, there's always makeup. Neutrogena makes a tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 or 30 that comes in several shades and isn't too expensive. You could switch that in for your Dove moisturizer on days when you feel extra blotchy. And on a whole-body front, how are you eating? It sounds like you might not be getting enough good fats in your diet, which will make both your skin and hair look dry and sort of deflated. Flaxseed oil supplements are a cheap source of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which are super for your skin and also good for your cholesterol levels, but it will take several weeks to show improvement from anything you do from the inside out. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions--M.

Hi A.. I just wanted to let you know there is hope!!! I am a consultant with Arbonne which has amazing skincare, all botanically based and all our products produce results. We have been around for over 27 years and people see the difference within a few days of using our products. We do carry different skin care lines for anti-aging, we have an acne line as well as hundreds of other products for your whole family. Also, the products you are using now probably contains some perfumes, dyes or mineral oil which is really hurting your skin and your health. We also have a Resist supplement which will help your skin, hair and nails. We do have hormonal creams which may help balance your levels. You can visit www.arbonne.com and I can get you 35% off everything. Please let me know if you need any further info - I would love to help.

L.

A.,
I just saw your post and was wondering if you had any luck yet with what you were seeking. If not, I can recommend BeatuiControl's skin care lines and makeup products. The products are formulated to target three layers of skin, and work to maintain clear skin, repair damaged skin, and prevent damage to inner layers. There are lines for sensitive, acne, and three other types of skin. Products can be mixed and matched from each line to create a solution just for your concerns. Best of all, they are reasonably priced, easy to get, and you can book Free one hour in home SpaEscape with me and earn your skin care set at 50% off. Please see my business listing on MamaSource for information!
B. Lang
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Sally Hanson cream hair removal for face-use it every couple weeks, works like a charm.

I don't sell the stuff at parties, but I signed on with Arbonne so I could get the discount on their products for myself. Their anti-aging face line is awesome. My skin is the best it has ever been and it only took about a week or two to show visible results. I know I sound like a salesperson, but I'm really not. My whole family uses it now and we all love it. It does really work. You don't need to get the whole line (expensive). The daily cleanser, toner and day time moisturizer are enough.

Good luck to you!

Hi A.,

Try Arbonne Swiss Skin Care products. I have been using them for two years - they are wonderful! Check out their website. www.arbonne.com

Good Luck!
C.

avon has a at home chemical peel that works wonders, it cost about $25 and it will remove all that dead dull skin, and leave your face with glowing healthy skin, olay has a kit also, for about the same price, but i have never used it. adult acne is a problem. try ACNE FREE, its the generic brand of proactive and it can be bought at walmart, for $17 for the kit, or you can buy the acne cream for about $2, works great, clears up skin in about 2 days, overnight you will notice a difference.

get yourself a daily clarifying shampoo, and use it for like 3 days, then switch back to another shampoo. use the daily clarifying for about 3 days 1x a month to remove shampoo build up. see shampoo's, soap and skin creams are made of fat, which builds up on your skin and hair, all you have to do is look at your tud and shower and see that buildup, its not dirt, its soap, shampoo, i know, i make soap, shampoo, even glyercian soap is made of fat{ and a whole bunch of other things} that builds up.

then i would do some highlights in my hair, that would take care of any dullness, then get a haircut, a mini make over, a little at a time, your worth it.

I would talk to your doctor cause you may have a medical condition that is causing some of these problems such as a thyroid problem. Good Luck

OK - sounds weird, but get your thyroid checked...

i love aveeno products. i have very sensitive skin. i use the aveeno daily scrub every am and pm. i also use the daily moisturizer with sunscreen - it is supposed to help even skin tone too. aveeno products aren't inexpensive, but not rediculously priced either...