Skin Care

[LadyAKA]

Just wanted to say Soror AKAtude is correct.
Gosh I think yall see the cheap coming out in me..... when I think of cheap I think
of Woppie G. saying to Stella, something like you being cheap and that ain't even attractive I love that show, 2001 is the time for big vacations......

[Legal Diva]

Hello ladies!
You all will think that I'm crazy for making this suggestion, and I thought the person who made this suggestion to me was crazy too, but an inexpensive solution to acne prone, oily skin is SAFEGUARD soap. Yes, good old Safeguard anti-bacterial soap and water. I've always had oily skin and I've tried Retin A, tetracyclene and all the other stuff. Although these things worked they were all expensive. Also, I just got tired of going to the dermatologist every five minutes for refills.
Since I've been using Safeguard (and Clean & Clear Astringent--once a day, for the last 3 years) I have practically blemish-free skin even though I wear make-up practically every day. In fact, most people don't know whether I'm wearing foundation or not. Of course there are certain times, say every 3-4 weeks (catch my drift) that I get a few small pimples, but nothing major. I would suggest to anyone with oily skin to try it before spending a whole lot of money on something else. I have also heard of people (to whom I haven't suggested this) with other skin problems using Safeguard with good results.

[tickledpink]

My daughter & I have very dry skin --- and we're prone to eczema outbreaks every so often when it gets too dry. To moisturize ---it is essential to drink plenty of water. Also, I do not use soap on my skin because it tends to dry it out even worse (this also came from advice from my dermatologist). A good, inexpensive moisturizer that I've found is plain old Noxema (the generic brand or Suave will work). At times, I use it as a cleanser (I alternate with either Suave or StIve's apricot scrub) but I put a dab on after cleansing to moisterize at bedtime and in the morning. My skin is smooth & even toned, so those that I tell that I have eczema are surprised. Steam definately works (yes, I'm also cheap and have not invested in a facial spa, so... guess what I use... )Hope this helps!

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>>>"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised... Proverbs 31:29-30

[SkeeWee14]

Ladies,
I have tried to use the Mary Kay facial cleansing products and they RUINED my skin. I liked their cosmetics, but the skin care products were horrible to me. I don't really suffer from pimples very much now (maybe one or two when that time of the month comes) but I did as a teenager. Now I have these blemishes (not a lot but more than I care to have) that won't seem to go away. I've tried Black Opal Fade Gel as well as Vantex by Fashion Fair. Nothing seems to work. Any suggestions? I'm striving for the day that I can have beautiful, clear, glowing skin...before the wrinkles kick in (lol).

[LadyAKA]

I wanted to say that I do use Mary Kay cosmetics (color) and those work fine on my face but right now the cleansers don't seem to be doing anything, except give me acne ....but I am going to keep using it till it is all gone, it could be the rapid change in weather (New York is going from cold to hot and back to cold in a matter of hours now-a-days). Oh and drinking 'water' is a novel idea just joking, but really I hate water....but if it is good for you and it clears your skin, I guess I better get on board.

Added:
tickledpink when you don't use Noxema as a cleanser what do you use? I am curious, I use Dove for the moisture, but is water good enough - help!

[This message has been edited by LadyAKA (edited June 02, 2000).]

[Discogoddess]

Just wanted to comment about the facial steamers:

Try and use purified water in your steamer or in your pot. The city water here in Chicago produces a stank-looking white ring in my pots when I boil water for a long time, and I wouldn't dare put that anywhere near my face! So watch out, city dwellers!

I want to start pampering my skin more, since I've pretty lazy about it in past years. However, I'm breathing HEAVY on 30 (as of June 21) and I want to do some preventative maintenence. I've been lulled into complacency by years of looking at my grandmothers, who have flawless skin at 86, 85, and 75! Yall know black don't crack! So, my question is to those of you who maintain a good cleansing/exfoliation/mask/facial schedule: how do you do it? Do you mark it on your calendar? Schedule time with a facialist every so often? I'm not good about keeping to a schedule, and would love to learn.

DG

[famegirl4]

I have been using the Clinique 3-step system since high school, and it's the best I've ever known. Anything else I'd have to switch up from season to season but not Clinique. You can get it at any major department store. The conair facial steamer seems to be cool so far. I got mine about 2 weeks ago and since the first time I used it my skins been noticeably softer and smother. It did a wonder for my oily skin. I've used everything from Noxema and Seabreeze (both too harsh) and even rubbing alcohol (which someone told me to use a few times a day) but nothing has made a difference the way Clinique has.

[PositivelyAKA]

Sorors i also recommend Ponds products the foaming face wash, toner, and moisterizer are very good, and for sensitive skin that is not acne pron i would try Purpose Cleanser (or no more tears by johnson and johnson same exact cleanser just more for your money and marketed for babies) One dermatologist recommended i use dial anti bacterial, i've also done levar 2000. i've learned stick to whatever works no matter how out there it sounds.

[Diva_56]

I have been addicted to Neutrogena since I was 16 it really helps with any skin problems. I recomend the sensitive skin moisturizer, the cleanser (either bar or liquid), and I have added clinique's clarifying lotion #2 (check with the representative for the right formula to use) Has anyone tried a product from Benefit cosmetics called WonderBod? I telling you the man in your life will not be able to keep his hands off of you because your skin is soooo smooth and soft. Also for a quick pic me up in the morning (or any time of day) try Clarins Energizing Morning Cream. It costs a pretty penny (46.50 a jar:eek but you won't regret using it. There you have it. My skin care secrets exposed to the world.


have a blessed day ladies...

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In complete darkness we are all the same... It is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us... Don't let your eyes deceive you

Janet Jackson

[This message has been edited by Diva_56 (edited June 05, 2000).]

[Diva_56]

I meant to say in that post not the smile!

[AKAtude]

Now see, this just goes to show that you really have to experiment to find what works best for you. I tried Neutrogena and will never use it again! It seemed to make my acne worse. I also tried Clean and Clear before and didn't like that either. I used Noxzema from the 6th grade to my sophomore year in college. Then, I began with Clinique, Oil of Olay, or Dove. Those are the only things I would use again, although I've heard good things about Ponds as well.

[Taykimson]

Tickled Pink,

I hear you about those excezma out breaks. Unfortunately my daughters also inherited it from me. For dry excezma skin, I found nothing works better than Eucerin lotion. It is pretty greasy, but it also acts as an exfoliant, so it clears up an excezma rash. Cetaphil is also good for dry skin, and it is non greasy. However, Eucerin works better for dry skin.

One product to stay away from with excezma prone skin - Palmers Cocoa Butter Lotion. It will make excezma flair up! I was using it to keep the blemishes away - but it is not worth the pain.

[tickledpink]

You are definately right about Eucerin. I haven't used it in so long, I forgot about it. It's a great moisturizer (although it's expensive as heck!). My daughter had ezcema so bad when she was a baby that she had to use a topical steriod for a while. But the Eucerin helped so much. Thanks for the heads up about the Palmer's Cocoa butter lotion. For blemishes, I just use a little Ambi everynow and then and it doesn't irritate me.

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>>>"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised... Proverbs 31:29-30

[This message has been edited by tickledpink (edited June 07, 2000).]

[Taykimson]

Oh yes. I know about the topical steroids. I always make sure I have a tube available.

My daughter’s situation did not get better until I took matters in my own hands and ordered books and began to read. Doctors tend to have the attitude that they know best and you shouldn’t question why they are prescribing a treatment (I do not mean to offend any of my Sorors or Sisterfriends in medicine).

Doing research is true for any situation. I found this REALLY great book on hair care and it has been my Hair Care Bible. I ordered it from Amazon.com. It is The Black Woman's Guide to Beautiful, Healthier Hair in 6 Weeks! by Carolyn Gray. It gives step by step directions. I went from afraid to wash and comb my own hair (because of breakage) to losing hair only through normal shedding. I must say it required a dramatic change in my habits. Since March I have not blow-dryed or hot curled/flat ironed my hair. And I don’t let my beautician do those things either.

Back to the general topic of skin care, 6 years ago I went to the Dermatologist and I haven’t looked back. Yes, the prescriptions are expensive, but I love the results. Initially I was given Benzamycin, Retin-A, Melanex (for blemishes), and Hydrocotizone (2.5%) so that I would not have a reaction to all that other stuff! Now, I only use Retin-A and I don’t use it that regularly. Retin-A has another benefit – it reduces wrinkles! One note on Benzamycin, if you don’t need it I wouldn’t advise using it. It is benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin. Erythromycin is an antiobotic and it will make you grow more resistant acne strains which will be harder to treat.

[SkeeWee14]

Hello Ladies,
I'm really curious about what is the best thing to treat blemishes? I have a few blemishes left on my skin from my acne prone teenage years. I've tried just about every fade gel and cream out there, but nothing seem to work. I used the cocoa butter, but it did nothing for me. I was told that using a bleaching cream all over your face won't help because it would only lighten your skin and not necessarily the dark blemishes. I want something specifically for the blemishes. Any suggestions?