Haircare!

For what it's worth, my hair is fairly healthy. My hairstylist, Christine, couldn't even tell that I use heat and styling tools every day on my hair. Which.. is strange, but I'll take it!

I don't really use anything special, but I have been preferring lately the Garnier Fruitis bio-degradable shampoo. It still smells fruity enough that it doesn't overpower the conditioner (which is Moroccan Oil) I get no complaints from my fiancé that's for sure :)

As far as a lot of products after the shower, I use the heat taming spray, and rarely I have to use the "its a 10" leave-in conditioner - but even then its only 2-3 sprays (and I have a LOT of hair!)

-Casey

Dermalogica

As I've said, I have dry skin. Today I went to Ulta and fell back in love with the Dermalogica Ultra-calming skincare line.

I have a lot of redness in my skin, and this cancels it out. With that being said, redness is my biggest problem. To start, I got the 30 day supply of the set - and if I continue with it I'll gradually purchase the full size of each product. Dermalogica is expensive, otherwise I'd have bought all the items already.

I also got a bronzer and mascara from purminerals, bigsexyhair hairspray (which is initially why i went) and a hairbrush. I'm pretty satisfied with my purchases, I just need to go back to the salon and get the morocean oil treatment I wanted (ill do that when I go back).

My stomach isn't feeling too good, otherwise I'd continue but I'm going to go back to watching Daria!

x

update on Clinique

I've been using the Clinique system since I got it, and I must say - I'm impressed. The cleanser doesn't lather, it feels like its sinking into my skin and it feels great once I rinse it off. My skin doesn't feel dry or tight once I'm out of the shower (which, for dry skin is pretty awesome).

The moisturizer really evens out my skin and it leaves me feeling hydrated and clean. I feel much better about using the system than i did before.

The only downside I can see is the toner - which is alcohol based so it does dry out the skin a bit - but with the moisturizer it feels like it cancels that loss of moisture from the toner.

End result being my skin is super soft and it gives me great relief to wash my skin knowing the result is something worth the money.

I'll give another update on this in a week or two just in case there's something that goes haywire and I'll begin testing/updating other products, too.

i'm off work for the next few days so I'll be going through a lot more products, not just one-by-one like I've been concentrating on.

x

Clinique 3 Step skincare system

Today I ventured to Boscov's and purchased the Clinique skincare system for Dry skin.

I'm type 1, Very dry/dry skin due to my previous boughts with acne and my time with accutane to rid of the mess that formerly was my face.

I'm still learning how to post pictures and I don't have any at the moment; but when I figure it out I'll post pictures so you guys can see how bad my skin used to be - and why it's so important to keep it clear now.

So, this is not the first time I've tried the Clinique system. In fact, I tried it before I used accutane and it didn't do anything for me. My skin used to be oily/combo and I wasn't nearly as educated as I am now with what my skin needs and wants.

With that being said, I used the process today and I'm finding my skin is smooth. Through one use (and we all know this is not enough to judge anything on ... yet) I'm happy.

Luckily, I don't really get acne anymore (except for hormonal) and even when I do it's 1-3 on my face and they clear up within a few days. If I'd still had constant acne I'd have looked at the acne solutions system. I also remember the last time I used the system I was using the bar soap which dried out quickly and helped me make the choice to pick up a different skincare regimen.

Previous uses also had me trying the lotion and the gel for moisturizer - which I disliked both of them at the time. Currently I'm using the type 1 for liquid extra mild soap, clarifying toner (which I'm not so much a fan of because it's alcohol-based) (this dries out the skin even more); and the moisturizing lotion. My skin feels great and it's only been about 20 minutes after the shower, so that's a good sign. I'll post the next time I think about it (or in a week or two) depending on which comes first - just to see if there's been a constant difference or if I've noticed any problems coming up while trying out the system.

I got mine at Boscov's but this can be purchased wherever there is a Clinique counter.

Standard sizes for all 3 products came to 53$.

From smooth sailing skin,

Casey

Ulta 11.11.11

Went to Ulta today since the rewards points were released for last quarter!

I got Lancome's Tresor perfume (and it smells so0o0o0o good!)

and a hairdryer since mine is old and the attachments are all missing.

The girl at checkout commented on how many points I had I was like ... you don't have a lot of people with this amount? She laughed, and said, "no, most people have half of what you do.."

I'm glad I am such a valued customer.

In other news, went to Barnes and Noble for lunch *including Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

yum-

Warm from the inside out,

Casey

Sephora, Ulta, New Beauty and Nordstrom

So I've bought a few things in the past week and let me tell you!

Completely worth only eating ramen noodles for 2 weeks!

I'm planning on doing reviews for the things I've bought over the past month; I'm also planning on doing some videos to correlate the posts.

I'm still planning a wedding, and I feel like this might be a good reducer of stress for me. So this is the plan, for now.

We'll see how this goes :D

Irene

Hi everyone!
I feel like I should be blogging about stuff other than the medicine since it's over.

As anyone that reads this knows, I live in Delaware and we're next on hurricane Irene's hit list. My dog is running around like something is wrong, but I see wind and normal amounts of rain. I should have off tomorrow, due to the driving restrictions - and the fact that everyone has been losing power- but we'll see what happens.

I'm done training as of Friday, and my new schedule fixes to begin tomorrow... but with Irene - who knows.

I'm wondering if anyone actually reads this? If not i don't care, but I'd like to know.. curiosity.

While all of this exciting stuff is going on (and while I still have internet and power) I am watching nightmare on elm st 3, and talking with my mom.

We'll see what happens, everyone.

x

Accutane/Update

Hi everyone in computer land!

I've been taking Accutane for a while now (since my last post) and my face is clear, however the true problem I'm taking it for is Hydradenitis Supprativa. It has helped a lot to manage the problem. I think I have one or two months left and I'm hoping it does a final good job.

In other ways of the world, I recently got a promotion! I'm still in Delaware, but I am now an internet/phone support specialist. I'm really excited to be given the chance to take on a new role within my company. I have training for the next 4 weeks, so that should be really fun. I'm not positive who is in my class, but I start on Monday - so I'll find out soon enough.

Other than that, I'm engaged (in case I didn't bring that to light before) and I'm getting married in March 2012!

So, for the most part - happy updates - I am planning on updating this thing more, I'm just at a tight end of school where I have finals in 2 weeks, and then I have 4 more classes left... so I've been stressing about that, and planning a wedding, on top of everything else! I'm very excited.

I hope everyone or anyone reading this is doing well.
x

going on 4th month

I'm still taking Accutane. The doc upped my dose - so far, no difference in side effects - but I have been using the Jack Black lip balm thanks to www.xsparkage.com and my lips have never felt better!

I filmed my first video today, but its loaded in the camera and not on the memory card- so when I bring the cords in I'll be able to film and upload some videos!

As for the lack of an update, I recently got engaged - and I've been planning, working, etc. so I have really put this off to the side (now that finals are over) I'll be able to pick everything back up again!

xo

Accutane.. day 6 (really, day 5)

Hello world.

it is 4:30am on Sunday. I have some things to report, but unfortunately for the last few days I had nothing. Thus, no update.

My skin seems to be getting "better" for lack of a better word (ha ha) however my body is definitely not liking the medicine. I have been throwing up every other day now, with nose bleeds and what i affectionately call raisin lips. Now as of today, my lips were getting so completely dried that my lip balm was clumping and my lip would begin to bleed (without me noticing, of course) and said clump/blood would then be stuck to my teeth. Which is very unfortunate for me.

I have found some great products at Lush yesterday, one is called grease lightening, it is a heavy duty spot treatment for nasty buggers and within hours the few pimples I put the stuff on were completely dried up and now have red bumps. Which, hopefully is a success. We will see.

After having a long day yesterday (coming home at 3-4am from wal-mart) I slept until 11-12 today went to the mall, and then fell asleep at 8 waking up at 12. So now my schedule is completely crazy.
Luckily, I can clean, do laundry, etc.
My face has not been any more/less dry than normal, but I wouldn't have expected any of that yet - not for another week or two. So we'll see I guess!

Today is the start of day six for me, I generally have yuckies in the morning, so if i do I won't be going to work today. We'll definitely see though.
I will possibly post tomorrow, maybe this will only go to once a week and have a better break down. I'm not sure yet. I doubt anyone reads this, but I enjoy having a time-line of everything that has been happening to me.

Casey

Day dos

Hello internet and probably non-realistic friends (except for folks that have asked to read.. :) )

It's definitely day two, and nothing is happening yet. I feel like I am getting back cramps, and joint pain but that may be due to the fact that I am overweight (which is a goal that I am working on diminishing this year..) and not because of the medicine.

I, while am also on this journey of medicine and being able to feel beautiful I have begun leaning towards more organic things in life. Like shampoos, make-up, food, etc. I feel like that will help me in the long run. I am also forcing myself to write in this every day as I never truly am able to stick to something. Whether its a hobby, or otherwise. Aside from school, but I pay for that so it doesn't count.

As a light side note, the blistering cold is not helping my chapped lips either. Again, I think its from the weather that this effect is happening on my lips and not the medicine.

Well, coming to you live from Wilmington at 1:33am and I am exhausted.

It's snowing :)

Casey

Accutane: day 1

Hello world.

Today I had my first dose of accutane.. the derivative I'm taking is called Claravis. Needless to say, aside from the already freezing weather (and chapped lips) I have yet to begin side effects. Now that I am actually taking the medicine I will be posting pictures, and daily posts about the trials and tribulations throughout my experience.

As of right this second, the only things that have had slight changes is my bath routine. Which, my dermatologist recommended I change from anti-bacterial body wash to a more moisturizing one - due to the severe drying effects of Vitamin A (which is essentially what the medicine is). I have decided that the doses will be during dinner (on my break at work) while after I come home is when I will most likely blog about it.
So far my hopes are high, as I have been waiting for a really long time about this and fixing my problems without surgery would be fantastic.