One month after I started paying attention, and my skin isn’t getting any better, if anything, it’s worse. And I’m fed up.
Skin Barrier
I’m looking after my skin barrier, which is what I should have done when I started. I suppose starting a month later than I should have done isn’t the end of the world. But a month of using actives I shouldn’t have been using is possibly a remarkably stupid thing to have done. Especially as I am (in theory at least) an intelligent woman who can do her research…
Please, I beg of me (and you, if you’re reading this) don’t fall in to all the hype about active ingredients until you have your skin barrier firm and solid and fit to cope with anything you want to try out on it.
Best way to do that is to check out Shereene:
Cleanser and moisturiser, with the addition of a richer occlusive at night until my skin stops stinging. No exfoliation. No Vitamin C. No Hylauronic acid serums. Nothing but my basic Clinique items: Take The Day off balm, followed by Dramatically Different oil-free moisturiser during the day, and the original DD moisturiser plus Moisture Surge at night.
(Back in April, I was still on a search for economical replacements for these products. They are, to be honest, extremely good, but on the expensive side. Not HUGE, but not supermarket price either.)
Flushing
Another thing has cropped up as well: alcohol is causing my skin to flush. In horrible butterfly patches across my cheeks and a streak across my forehead. It’s hot too, rather like a menopausal hot flush (though my menopause ended around 15 years ago, so…) Just a couple of glasses of wine (red, white all the same) and up it comes. I don’t remember (or maybe I just didn’t look for it?) this happening before, but it’s uncomfortable, so I’ve decided to go teetotal for the moment.
It might be part of the disruption of my skin barrier, but man, I hope that I’ll be able to have a glass or two again one day.
Life’s not fair. Sigh.