1. Proactiv and me are not working out. I started using the products a few weeks ago twice a day and it severely dried out my face. So I switched down to once a day and then down to once every other day when my face was still feeling itchy and super dry. Then I started waking up to red splotches on my neck, puffy eyes, and redness around my eyes, and realized I probably had some sort of allergy to the products. I waited until my face was cleared up from the reactions to try again (once every other day) but I still woke up with splotches on my neck and puffy eyes so I guess it is time to call it quits. I’m sad because it was starting to work but I need to find something gentler on my face and more all-natural. (Any suggestions?)
2. I had my review last Friday! And it went amazing! I try to keep work chatter to a minimum on this blog so I won’t delve into the details but suffice it to say, I emerged from my boss’s office with a smile and my insecurities surrounding my work performance vanished. Yay!
3. My cousin had her baby on Tuesday! Her name is Mia Jayne and she was 8 lbs, 6 oz, and is a little chunkster already. My mom and I went to the hospital Tuesday night to see her and she is just absolute perfection. My cousin was completely worn out but an absolute trooper with all the guests (in the 30 minutes we were there, eleven people came to visit her!). Little Mia, though, is beautiful and I’m so in love with her already. She is now the lock screen on my phone (which makes me happy whenever I look at it) and I hope I get a chance to visit her this weekend. These arms are sorely lacking in baby snuggles lately.
4. We are having a huge issue with Dutch crying when we’re gone. I’m not sure if he does it all day, but I can hear him crying when we get home. I really hope he’s not doing it all day. I think it’s the new place and not really having any windows to people watch, but we’ve had one complaint and I really do not want to get another! We’ve tried leaving the TV or radio on and sometimes that works but lately it hasn’t been. I found some tips online that I’m going to try out (like exercising him more, buying a Kong, and not making a huge deal out of leaving) so I hope to God these work. Because, honestly, it tears at my heart to walk up to my apartment and hear him crying. I feel like the worst dog mom ever! Not to mention, I know it’s annoying for our neighbors and I never want to be the neighbor with the annoying dog! Anyone have any other tips to try? (I may even buy a Thundershirt, if it comes to that!)
5. Tonight, I am chatting with Ashley (as part of her 100 Free Coaching Calls birthday celebration. You can still snag a spot!) and, although I’m super nervous, I’m also excited to see what clarity she can bring to certain things weighing me down lately. I also plan on going on my first run since I broke my ankle (!) on Saturday morning. Sunday, my brother is coming over to watch football. (His Niners are 4-1 when he comes over to watch when they are on TV. Apparently, I am a good luck charm.) It should be a pretty low-key and calm weekend so I’m excited to get lots crossed off my to-do list this weekend!
Happy Friday, friends! Any fun weekend plans? Any tips on gentler face washes and/or tips on ease my dog’s separation anxiety?
So excited for our call tonight!
My weekend plans include a few coaching calls, wrapping up the final details for the Dream Catching Workshop that is launching on Monday, and cleaning out my closet. (Fun times!)
I used ProActiv for a long time and then my skin changed ( oh body changes!) and I had a similar result. I used the philosophy products for awhile but the fragrance bothered me. A good friend of mine who has had similar acne and oil issues as I did started using MaryKay TimeWise and her skin looked AMAZING! I tried it out and after just one day, I felt like I had new skin. There are 3 steps to the process and 4 daily products (something for day and night) so it’s expensive at around $80 BUT it lasts six months ( the moisturizer so far has lasted me 8!!) and I honestly feel like it’s the best investment I’ve made.
Thanks for the tip! I will have to check them out. ProActiv would have cost me $60/month so $80 every 6 months doesn’t sound bad at all! I’m just bummed ProActiv didn’t work out for me because I could tell it was working, but I guess my skin had other ideas!
I’ve been using Arbonne Clear Advantage for years. It’s a gentle but medicated wash with 2% salicylic acid. I am allergic to Proactiv (specifically benzoyl peroxide) and I have found Arbonne to be a great alternative.
I had really bad skin when I was an adolescent. Super oily in general, a few dry spots, bad acne, and incredibly sensitive. I started using baby wash as my face wash, and use it to this day. It is mild, but cleanses really well, takes off makeup, but is also gentle and not over-drying.
I used to be really afraid to use facial products that weren’t “oil free” since my skin was already oily, but now I don’t shy away from a really good moisturizer. My skin is much better as a result.
So, here’s my skin regime: Face wash is baby wash (I use the Target brand), daytime moisturizer is Olay something or other with SPF 15 (and I actually recently bought the Target version of that, and it’s just as good), and at night after I wash my face, I use witch hazel as a toner and then slather on a rich night cream. I use this: http://www.target.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/p/boots-expert-sensitive-restoring-night-treatment-1-69-oz/-/A-12734562#prodSlot=medium_1_1
It’s cheap and wonderful, and again…from Target!
I know I already said this on Twitter, but I’m so glad your review went well!!! And hello, Miss Mia is probably one of the cutest newborns I’ve ever seen.
Have a wonderful weekend, lovely lady!
Oh, thank you for giving me your skin regime! I like stuff that works AND is cheap, haha! I will definitely have to try it out and see if it works for me.
That little baby girl is seriouslyyyyyy the cutest thing ever. Yay for new babies in the family! You’re going to have so much fun with her 😀
That’s so cool that you took up a coaching call with Ashley! I hope it went well 🙂
I wish I had an idea for you instead of Proactiv. One of my best friends when we were in CEGEP had one of the worst cases of acne I’ve ever seen (he would break out into welts. It was awful) so he went to a doctor who put him on a seriously acne drug for 6 months. It completely cleared him up and he hasn’t had any complications since… But I really can’t remember the name of the medication. I also wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but have you thought about making an appointment with a dermatologist if it bothers you that much? Maybe they can prescribe something for you that won’t irritate your already sensitive skin. How frustrating though!
Hope you’re having an awesome weekend, lots of baby cuddles too I hope! 🙂
A coworker actually mentioned getting a prescription for it, which I may try as a last resort. It bothers me a lot so I know it would be worth it, I’m just hesitant to take a pill for it just yet. I keep putting off finding a dermatologist, but I may have to bite the bullet and schedule an appointment – especially with the way my face reacted to ProActiv!
Congrats on your review! That is such great news since I know you were nervous!
I’ve used Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for years, no complaints here. http://www.cetaphil.com/products/gentle-skin-cleanser
You know, I used Cetaphil for a while and I like the way it made my face feel, it just didn’t help with oiliness or breakouts. =/ I think it’s a great product for everyday use, but maybe my problems require more than OTC face washes.
Precious looking baby!
Weekend plans: Car shopping, thank you dinner for a few friends who fixed my now totaled stolen car for practically free, lots of cleaning, and returning some stuff to Urban Outfitters. The returning is something I’ve put off because I don’t know how to parallel park my wide Impala rental. Ha!
As for dog separation anxiety. No contact or affection up to 20 minutes before you leave. More boundaries from him (if he follows you everywhere you go when you’re home, don’t let him). The boundaries will force him to be less codependent and that he can be himself even when you’re not around. More exercise! All per Dog Whisperer. 🙂
Thank you SO much for the tips! Dutch is very codependent on me…. and I totally allow it. Ha! We snuggle all the time and he’s ALWAYS around me. But I will try out these tips and hopefully he gets better. I think he’s just set in his old ways and still a little scared of the new place.
That is a bummer that proactiv isn’t working for you. 🙁 I did it years ago and while it dried out my face, it did work for me. I hope you find something that works!
I had a fairly unplanned weekend, which is just what I needed after a string of busy weeks!!
I was really looking forward to ProActiv and what sucks is that it WAS working… but it was also causing other reactions so it’s a big bummer!
Yay for unplanned weekends! I’m glad you were able to relax and take it easy this weekend. 🙂
My friend swears by the oil method! http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/ Maybe that would work for you!
Oh my gosh. Mia is adorable! Congrats to your cousin.
And congrats on the great review!
If you have similar skin to mine (quite oily) I actually just buy any product that has sea salt in it. I bought mine from Whole Foods and I use derma e fruit enzyme face scrub. It’s helped me a lot 😉
Has dutch just started the crying thing since you’ve moved in? I think he honestly needs time to settle in…the crying will pass.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to try it out. Anything to get rid of the oil!
I think it’s the new place, too, because he was never like that at our other place AND it took him a while to settle in to that place. I just feel bad for our neighbors and I get worried they’ll start complaining. I just hope he settles in soon!