All about SKIN and Isotretinoin Update

First, HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

This would be for my personal records but on January 26, 2010, it would be my 9th month OFF Isotretinoin (Acnetrex) - A potent drug that I took for my nasty zitz last June 2008 till April 26, 2009.

Link to my Isotretinoin History

Consumed 22 boxes and 8 more tabs.

Around late August, I felt my skin was breaking out one by one and I noticed that it only occurs when I am stressed and with no sleep. Its also probably due to the fact that I also stopped putting Adapalene (cause I was stubborn and lazy)

I had another dermatologist by this time because I relocated to the province (But I had no intentions of leaving my previous derm in Makati) so this 2nd derm told me that I have to take more of this drug cause I am complaining for occasional zits. Still haven't decided until now if I will take another course (in lesser quantity)

Then I had my first diamond peel around September. Then another diamond peel before October. Results are satisfactory! Now I can put make up flawlessly. But I need to do more to remove the scars completely. I stopped the diamond peel because I want to visit my 1st derm about my diamond peel procedure. Which until now I havent done yet due to uhh delayed scheduling heehee.

PS. I think it will take me until January 19 to visit Makati again so I will just go and have another diamond peel by Tuesday.

Before the diamond peel I’ve tried several cleansers like Dessert Essence and VMV Superskin 3. But I still stick to Cetaphil until this time.

My regimen during the diamond peel is:

Morning: Clindamycin (spot treatment), Olay White Radiance Old Formula SPF 19

Evening: Adapalene, Whitening Cream (from 1st derm)

When I continued Adapalene and Clindamycin, my zits have improved.

And my regimen at the moment is:

Cleanser: Cetaphil

Morning: *Clindamycin + VMV Sunblock from Superskin 3

Evening: *VMV Superskin 3 Toner (every other day) + Whitening Cream

I dont use the Adapalene anymore cause I want to finish the VMV Toner.

For the (*) asterisk, I dont put them everyday. I have to check my face if it feels sensitive and burning, I stop at least a day until I feel like I can continue putting them again to my face.

Sometimes, I use Apple Cider Vinegar when I feel like I want to rest off chemical products and needed some natural remedies.

Definitely Sunblock is my #1 protection and I cannot bear to remove it to my regimen. Avoiding the sun is a must!

I still get zits like 1 or 2 once in a while but they are controllable. And I notice that I only breakout after putting make up for 8 hrs with no washing of face OR a day/week/month of NO QUALITY SLEEP and POOR DIET.

Oh by the way, I am a semi vegetarian since November of 2008. I rarely have red meat in my diet. I eat brown rice and I drink water a lot. Although I love eating sweets, they are only in small amounts.

And I am also particular with the products I use to my face, hair and skin. If I use a certain hair product, I avoid those with strong fragrances. I also test at least a day to two weeks if its compatible to my face. My hair currently likes the products of Shine Moist (Shampoo and Hair Wax Treatment-NOT the color treated one) and Citre Shine (Conditioner). For my skin, seems like AVEENO loves me because it keeps my skin moisturized and it doesn't give me any zits at all. And as much as possible with cosmetic products particularly with the foundation and face powder, I use hypoallergenic ones like VMV/ Clinique/ Laura Mercier. But with the eye shadow, ELF is ok. Its better to be safe for the foundations and face powders because you put a lot of these on your face as compared to the eye shadows.

Link to the history of my Skin Allergy and Eczema is below which is already cured now (they really crack like el nino).

I don't like to complicate much my skin regimen. If do, then I will be stressed out and as I have said, stress gives me ZITS. :)

xoxo

[Review] VMV Hypoallergenics Products

Hey there! I'm taking a quick break to update my dusty *cough* blog. I think it deserves a new product review since the last time I posted is about my oDesk stint.

Here we go!

Being acne prone, I have to take care of my face in my full 100% EFFORT. No LESS. You have to know that already after reading several of my beauty posts. :) So in return, I continuously search for products which are fine and friendly to my skin. Also, I try to purchase those which are readily available in the market. The products made by derm are not convenient for me since I have to visit my derm to purchase it all the time. Plus they are not as big in volume so I resorted in searching for others. So I tried VMV.

{VMV SUPERSKIN LINE}

I purchased the SUPERSKIN 3 line which is for Oily Skin (See Pic) The skin specialist claimed that I have oily skin, I trusted her. The products were not bought at the same time. I tried the Facial Wash first and I must say its a good cleanser. Seems to me like the Cetaphil product. The results are not significant since its only a cleanser. When I finished the tube, that’s when I bought the Toner/Primer (Clindamycin, Phosphate, Retinoic Acid) I also bought the VMV Mositurizer which has SPF 15. I tried the toner together with Cetaphil and didnt buy the VMV cleanser since I felt they are just the same consistency and purpose.

In using the VMV Toner:

Start with 2x-a-week applications
ONLY. Slowly increase to 3x-a-week, then once-every-otherday,
then once-a-day, until you achieve 2x-a-day usage.

I tried the regimen for three times. The first trial, I wasn’t able to finish the regimen because I discontinued it after the advise of my derm. The second trial, I tried it but didnt follow the “start slowly” cliche of VMV since my derm said, I can continue it together with Adapalene. This is what I did: MORNING: VMV Toner, EVENING: ADAPALENE. Result? My face burned. I gave my face a rest until I was able to do the third trial, I followed the regimen completely but nothing happened and I still have darkish-reddish color in my face (an indication of burn) It must be the amount that I put in my cotton pads (cause its almost dripping wet) or it could be that…the product is too strong for me. So I stopped and just continued the Adapalene ALONE with the VMV Moisturizer with SPF 15. Oh by the way, the moisturizer promises a no shine effect in the face but I still have experience shine in my face unless I put powder. It’s probably the humid weather of out country. I am not that raving it but I have learned to like it since its protecting my face from the sun.

The Verdict?

VMV Superskin line is promising. It is a great alternative for the skin’s maintenance. For as long as you know your skin type. In my case, I should have taken the Superskin 2 which is for Combination Skin. Cause I perspire easily, the Sales Attendant must have mistakenly looked at my face as Oily. Which is wrong cause we should know our skin better than the Sales Attendant.

Should I buy it again? Yes for the toner and Moisturizer but with a Superskin #2. The cleanser as I have said is just Cetaphil with a cutesy packaging. 

SIDE NOTE:

Superskin line has coconut oil as one of the ingredients. Somebody in the girltalk forum said that this is comodogenic. As stated in VMV brochure: 

…but coconut oil is pore friendly, nonallergenic,
and its fatty acids are a normal component of human skin’s barrier
— so instead of just preventing water loss, coconut oil actually helps replace
the skin’s lost lipids.

So don’t worry unless you have really tried the product itself and received bad reaction in coconut oil. For me, it’s harmless.

Check the VMV website for a copy of the brochure.

{Next up…VMV Cosmetics}

The first VMV product that I have purchased is their VMV Illuminants Brilliant Finish SPF 25 in Desert. Looking away from its flowery title, its simply a foundation with a big SPF. What can I say BUT I LOVE IT! Being a scarred for life from my past acnes, this product helped me conceal it and it gave me a fine finish and my skin like it so much that it didnt give me breakout even after wearing it for a day. This is the same as their VMV Cheeky Gorgeous-Flush Blush in Cabana Cutie. Again, its only a blush. I like this color very much especially if I want a subtle blush effect in my face. Now after some time, I realized that Desert color is getting too dark for me. Soon after I finished it, I bought a lighter shade refill which is Petal.

The Verdict? GREATLY RECOMMENDED! I like it.

Will I purchase them again? ABSOLUTELY. I can’t wait to try their other products like the eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick and liquid foundations. The only problem is they have less choices of color to offer but nevertheless they are still great!

Before ending, I have to give props also to VMV Soft and Swift Make-Up Remover. Its currently what I am using as I have been trying out a lot of heavy eyemake up recently. *blame youtube gurus* and *thank them at the same time for learning* heeeeheee. I like it so much as it has no disturbing scent. It removes the make up instantly and also gentle on the eyes.

See the pic for the results and the accumulated dirt (with just a one swipe of it!)

Before using this, I was only into Clinique’s Make Up remover until I found VMV. Its cheaper than Clinique’s too!

 

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QUALITY: Great for a Filipino owned product.

PACKAGING: Slightly bulky especially with the Cosmetics line. They include a wallet type of zipped white leather in each of the foundation and blush on. The information listed in the packaging are cute. Since it was typed as if the product is talking to you face to face. There are a lot of words and it looked like a Paul Smith design isnt it? It looks cute and definitely a packaging that makes a good first impression.

PRICE: This is however the only con that I can state. They are quite expensive especially with the cosmetics line. And I heard they increase every month? Well they spend so much with the researches, that’s the reason why they deserve an increase. But as a consumer, the increase doesn’t attract me much. Well if the price continues to be higher than the other OR rather popular ones, I guess that’s the time for me to switch. :)

tada. xoxo