Skincare Updates
TLDR: I got Botox again.
Reminder that today is the last day to enter the NIRA Laser Pro giveaway! If you want to see the device in action, I go into more detail later in this video. And for paid subscribers, there is another skincare giveaway just for you after the paywall from Dermelect.
Since using the NIRA, multiple long-time friends have remarked on how glowy/smooth my skin looks — one going so far as to touch it while saying “Woah, where are your pores?!?” I’ve been super happy with my skin texture and brightness.
But it’s not just the NIRA that has been responsible for my good skin days. Here is the update I’ve been meaning to share for some time — all the products I’ve been using for six months or more and spent my own money on.
Retinol/Retinal/Tretinoin: For those of you who don’t know the difference between the three, a quick summary is that they’re all a Vitamin A derivative and are often considered to be the gold standard for acne prone and mature skin. Retinol is the gentlest, then Retinal, and finally Tretinoin (Retinoic Acid). The latter requires a prescription and after alternating between Naturium, Maya Chia, Sunday Riley, and various Medik 8 levels for several years, I decided the time had finally come for me to get my first Tretinoin prescription. I could’ve just gone to my dermatologist, but I decided to take a baby step first and just use Agency’s service online. The first month is pretty much free, the products really feel good, and the experience couldn’t be easier — but I still don’t know if I’m going to stick with it. I don’t like how many products Tretinoin interferes with. Even at this very low dose and using it sparingly sandwiched between moisturizers, it is extremely drying and I find myself peeling randomly in the middle of the day. I think most likely I’ll keep alternating and build up my tolerance once or twice a week, but I enjoy having a multi-step skincare routine and playing with gadgets a little too much to simplify it to the place where it’s just one product and one moisturizer/SPF. I think I’m alone in this though; most people like a simple face care system. But for me, it’s too boring, and I don’t know if I’ve seen enough of a difference or am patient enough to make it worth it.
Vitamin C — This is probably the next ingredient every dermatologist or esthetician says you should be using (a lot of them differ in opinion when it comes to using it with tret) and I just cannot bring myself to drop $182 on what’s supposed to be “the best” serum that everyone says smells like hot dogs. So I have been using two much lower-priced versions that are also highly rated: Maelove’s Glowmaker ($33) and Timeless’ 20% ($27). I personally much prefer the feel/smell of Naturium’s version and once I finish these two bottles I’m probably going to go right back to that.
Cleansing Pads — After poking fun at Stridex with Maggie Smith on an episode of the GXT podcast, I found myself re-gravitating towards pre-soaked cleansing pads. They’re disposable and therefore not environmentally friendly, but they really have made such a HUGE difference in decongestion and removing dullness in a way that my usual AHA/BHA toners on a reusable cotton pad can’t. My favorites have been Mediheal’s Phyto Enzyme Peeling Pad, First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads, and Sephora’s Glow Peel Pads. They all sting a lot less than Stridex or Sea Breeze did.
Cleansing Balms — I’ve been using a few, from Clinique to Versed to Naturium to Cerave and I have to say that aside from scent, they’re all kinda the same. But my favorite is still the Inkey List version which comes in a tube (preventing it from getting watery or contaminated like the rest, which are all tubs) and — at $13 for 5 oz., it is also one of the cheapest.
SPF’s — I already did an entire post but I wanted to update about the Beauty of Josen Sun Serum that had previously tingled my skin. That went away after about two uses and it is now one of my (and Abe’s) favorite SPF’s; I reach for it more than the original version which I finally bought and do love, probably because the serum is clear/doesn’t stain my clothing and just feels like skincare. Note — it is slightly drying, so I usually layer some heavy duty moisturizer underneath first.
Botox in a Bottles — I have tried Matrixyl on its own; also mixed with Argireline (both versions by The Ordinary) and together via Asterwood’s serum for well over a year now and I’m here to tell you — they feel good, but they do very, very, very little in terms of “freezing” your face.
Castor Oil — Who is Castor Oil’s publicist? They’re doing an incredible job making one believe it will cure everything from wrinkles to stomach issues. I’m talking kale level coverage in certain circles. I bought a huge bottle and have barely made a dent. I really hate the way it feels — thick like honey. And even though it is supposed to smell like nothing, I smell something and I don’t like whatever that something is. I used it along with Gua Sha and did some facial massage which does feel nice, but the experience is too gnarly; I just can’t keep up with it. Castor oil also made an incredible hair mask when I kept it on for a few hours before washing. Silky smooth strands. But again, I cannot stand the feel/smell so that’s ending. I’m sticking to my tried-and-true Squalane oil instead, which feels great and truly smells like nothing.
Botox — I really did NOT want to make Botox a part of my routine again. But despite all the above, plus nightly face taping, I haven’t been happy with my forehead wrinkles. I had tried so hard (more than a year and a half) to just embrace my forehead lines/crows feet and not care — but after a 1.5 years of looking at myself every day thinking “Today I’m going to accept this” and feeling worse that I didn’t, I decided to just accept that I wanted Botox.
A few weeks ago, I noticed a new med spa in my neighborhood while walking Miles. Paywalling the rest because I want to be completely honest about my experience. I write more about why I paywall my posts here.