Morning

GM Collin Gel Purifant Face Wash

GM Collin Acne Complex (spot treatment)

Olay Moisturizer SPF 15

Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup

Breakfast

home made soy milk and special K

Afternoon

Neutrogena One Step Gentle Cleanser (Complete makeup remover)

With Clarisonic Skin Care Brush 1 minute on Low

Olay Sensitive Moisturizer

Snack

Green Tea

Papaya

Night

Dermalogica w/Clarisonic

Olay Sensitive

GM Collin Acne Complex (I just ran out of retin-a)

Dinner

Spaghetti w/canned tomatoe sauce

Shake and Bake w/chicken breast

I drank over the weekend...so we'll see how my skin reacts. I haven't been working out later since I had exams last week. Will go jogging tomorrow.

I seriously think my clinique foundation is breaking me out. I have breakouts around my eyebrows now since I had them waxed last week. Two whiteheads on my chin today. Hmm..I don't really know if the clarisonic is effective for everyday use.

Morning

Neutrogena Scrub

GM Collins Acne Complex

Olay SPF 15

Clinique Foundation

Breakfast

chocolate soymilk

sandwich thing from bakery

special k bar

Afternoon

Neutrogena one step gentle cleanser (make up remover cleanser) w/cotton pad

Dermalogica Anti-bac with clarisonic skin brush

Olay sensitive moisturizer

Snack

papaya milkshake with soymilk

special K cereal original

Still trying to get consistency in my picutres...haven't exactly mastered the lighting yet.

I think the clarisonic is spreading bacteria since I had several active pimples. I'm going to lay off that for a week and just use it on my forehead and nose. Last night I fell asleep on my bed watching t.v. when I woke up I slathered some GM collins acne complex on without washing my face first since I was so sleepy. My roommate made french fries for dinner and I had some. We'll see how my face will react to that next week. It's so hard to eat healthy especially in the mornings... I wake up and just grab whatever I see and catch the bus to go to class. Hmm....I also noticed that I don't eat that much. Maybe I'll go on a detox diet this weekend too and a facial? I'm going to go to Sam's club this weekend and stock up on groceries. I'm going to just hibernate in the apt and study since my roomie's going home. My hair has been so dull and dry lately. Ugh I hate it. My health/diet must be affecting it. I remember I could just wash my hair and air dry it last year and wake up happy with my hair. I wouldn't even brush it just go to class lol.

I ran out of retin-a so..I'll just use the GM collins acne complex until I go home. My pretika light should be coming in soon. Target takes forever in shipping. Atleast the package is in the same state as me now.

Morning

Neutrogena Scrub

GM Collins acne complex

OLay SPF 15 moisturizer

Clinique perfectly real foundation

Breakfast

special K bar

bread

Afternoon

Neutrogena One step (make up cleanser) with cotton Pad

Dermalogica

Olay sensitive moisturizer

Everyday minerals (I dusted some on before I went to the mall)

Snack

papaya w/soy milk smoothie

Night

neutrogena daily scrub w/clarisonic

acne complex

olay sensitive moisturizer

Dinner

white rice

chicken cooked with chardonnay

french fries

Green Tea

List of what to buy

Jojoba oil

vitamin e liquid and pill

strawberries

carrots

asparagus

shrimp

celery

blueberries

grapes

salad

apple cider vinegar

special k bar

bare naked smoothies

plain yogurt

lactaid milk

wheat bread

eggs

Morning

GM Collins Purifiant face wash

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

Olay SPF 15

Clinique foundation

Breakfast

chocolate soymilk

nutrigrain bar

bread

Afternoon

Neutrogena ONe step (make up remover) face wash

Neutrogena alcohol free toner

Olay SPF sensitive

Everyday Minerals

Gym 40 mins

Snack

Papaya milkshake

Ocean spray craisins trail mix

Night

Neutrogena daily scrub w/ clarisonic

Pretika Light sonic (red light)

GM Collins Acne complex...b/c I ran out of Retin-A

Olay sensitive

Dinner

pasta w/alfredo

garlic bread sticks

Yay my Pretika came in today~! Do i need to wear googles for it? Hmm....I was a little disappointed with how small the Pretika light was and the directions that came along with it weren't very clear. The pretika seems like a cheap plastic toy with batteries. We'll see how my skin reacts. Wow my skin has definite broken otu like crazy...I don't know if it's because of the new clinque foundation that have. Once I start using makeup to cover it's hard to not use it. It's an addictive a cycle. I can't not wear make up. My everyday minerals doesn't give me as much coverage as my clinique but my clinique perfectly real foundation is breaking me out. =(

Well I shall hibernate in my apt this weekend and avoid wearing make up.

I've never worn liquid foundation but I've read that it is definitely not good to use on acne prone skin. Have you thought of just getting by with pressed powder? I use Neutrogena Healthy Pressed Powder, it's light coverage but it is completely non pore clogging.

I woke up this morning and white heads all over my chin. Maybe it's the pretika purging it? I used the pretika light for about 8 minutes last night, two minutes on each section. This morning I used it for 20 mins, five minutes on each section. Wow so I have definitely concluded that my clinique foundation has broken me out badly.

Morning

GM collins Purifiant (face wash)

20 minutes of Pretika light

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

GM Collins Acne Complex

Breakfast/Lunch

Green Grapes

Dry Special K cereal (original)

Publix Salted Mixed Nuts

Custard Buns

Swiss Miss Hot chocolate mix w/soy milk

Night

Yogurt Mask for face

Mayo mask for Hair

Cetphil Gentle Cleanser

Pretika light for 10 mins

GM Collins Acne Complex

Dinner

Brown Rice

Spare ribs cooked with chardonnay and garlic

Hmm...yeah I have no food in my apt other then my roomie's food so there goes my detox diet and I'm too lazy to go grocery shopping. But I shall go tomorrow. I've been just been lounging around my room. =)

[Edited image link out]

I've never worn liquid foundation but I've read that it is definitely not good to use on acne prone skin. Have you thought of just getting by with pressed powder? I use Neutrogena Healthy Pressed Powder, it's light coverage but it is completely non pore clogging.

Yeah..maybe I'll give it a try. I have cover girl fresh complexion pocket powder but that clogs my pores up. Thanks for the advice!

I woke up again with white heads along my chin and Tzone area. Maybe it's my regimen? I don't think the pretika would purge my skin so quickly. That mayo mask that I used for my hair has definitely repaired my dry hair. Yay I'm happy!

Morning

Neutrogena Daily Scrub

Pretika 9 minutes

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

Acne Complex

Afternoon

Shower

Neutrogena Daily Scrub

Olay SPF 15

Everyday Minerals

Dinner

Ramen (plain) no additive flavoring

Two slices of whole wheat bread with tuna made with miracle whip

Papaya, Frozen Mixed berries (blue berries, rasperries), soy milk smoothies

Night

GM Collins Purifiant w/clarisonic

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

Pretika 12 mins

GM Collins Acne complex

Ahh my face broke out with white heads again. I think it's because I haven't been moisturizing after using the GM Collins Acne Complex which has Salicylic Acid in it. I'm going to moisturize after night now and use less drying cleansers

Morning

GM Collins Acne Complex

Olay SPF 15

Everyday minerals Light, Silk Dust, Multitasking concealer, sunlight concealer

Breakfast

Bare Naked Mixed Berries smoothie

Special K bar

Banana

Afternoon

Neutrogena One Step Complete (make up remover) cleanser w/a cotton pad

Cetaphil Cleanser

Cetaphil Moisturizer

Lunch

Quizno's marinated chicken sub?

Snack

100% nature's own wheat bread with tuna

banana + mixed berries+ soy milk smoothie

fat free vanilla yogurt with green grapes

Night

Cetaphil cleanser

Pretika for 10 mins

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

Acne Complex

Cetaphil moisturizer

Dinner

White Rice

Chicken sauteed with chardonnay and onions

steamed mixed vegetables

I stopped using the Pretika Red light yesterday since I kept breaking out in white heads every morning. I guess the light was cause because this morning I woke up with no white heads. I will start using the clarisonic again tonight.

Yesterday night

Cetaphil wash

Neutrogena alcohol free toner

GM Collins Acne Complex

Cetaphil moisturizer

Morning

Neutrogena Daily Scrub

neutogrena alcohol free toner

GM Collins Acne Complex

Olay SPF 15

Everyday Minerals

Afternoon

Neutrogena One step (make up remover) face wash w/cotton pad

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

Cetaphil

Snack

banana, mixed berries, green grapes, fatfree light vanilla yogurt smoothie

two slice of 100% whole wheat bread

brownies roomie made

dinner

ramen w/out preservative flavoring

chicken cooked with chardonnay

Night

Neutrogena Daily Facewash w/clarisonic skin brush 1 minute

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

Pretika for about 1 minute

GM collins Acne Complex

Cetaphil Moisturizer

So I didn't break out in white heads again this morning. Just three along my chin. Hmm.....I'm going to eliminate the Pretika light from my regimen for a week. I haven't been using my clinique foundation for the past couple of days either and I've begun moisturizing again. I started using my clarisonic again too. Ahh we'll see. I couldn't get a facial appointment for this week since I'm driving back home for the weekend to get my retin-a. I have no classes today! The flu bug has been going around campus so...I shall avoid human contact lol. I guess my regimen results will be apparent in a month? I've been taking pictures religiously everyday and I don't know if I see a difference. I've been comparing my day 16 pictures with my day 1. The recent whitehead breakout from the pretika light/clinique foundation/non moisturizing has definitely not helped. I'll post the past 8 days sometime. My pics are too large to upload onto here and I'm too lazy to upload of them on a hosting site.

Morning

Neutrogena Daily Scrub with Clarisonic

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

G.M. Collins Acne Complex

Cetaphil Moisturizer

Breakfast

Brownie

Three slices of wheat bread

soy milk blended with mixed berries

Snack

Green Grapes with fatfree light vanilla yogurt

Gym one hour

shower

Cetaphil CLeanser

Cetaphil Moisturizer

Everyday Minerals

Night

Neutrogena ONe step (make up remover) cleanser

Neutrogena Daily scrub w/clarisonic

Neutrogena Alchol free toner

GM collins Acne complex

Cetphial moisturizer

I remember when I was 11 and started breaking out I was so miserable. At 15 I decided my goal in life was to be acne free by 18. That obviously did not happen since I'm 19 now...going on 20 soon. Acne is such a frustrating psychological and physiological disease. It was emotionally crippling when I was growing up. I had such low self-esteem. *sigh* Fortunately I am a lot more confident now. Well...I'm trying really hard now with all the different regimens to see what will be successful for my skin. I had just scars before but all this experimenting has made me break out like crazy. So now I'm trying to stick to my previous regimen which was

Neutrogena Daily Scrub

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

Cetaphil

Retin-a Micro

and Everyday Minerals in the morning.

My health conscience eating/non eating has made me drop about 15 ibs. I did not even realize it until I weighed myself last week. My normal weight is usually hovering around 118 now I am 106. Last summer the height of my weight was 125ish since I was on vacation.

My goal. No sugar. No High fructose corn syrup or whatever. I've already eliminated dairy since I became lactose intolerant last year. I will work out for 30 mins atleast 4 times a week. I will avoid drinking since it damages my liver and my liver is essential for eliminating toxins?

My dermatologist is pretty much useless I go into the office, they talk with me for less than 30 seconds and just prescribe some antibiotics for me. I am not allowing myself to be on antibiotics anymore. I have been on them when I was in middle school/high school and they did not help at all. I have tried doxycycline, tetracycline, minocycline and every freaking drug imagineable for about 5 years and did my skin clear up? Nope. Meds are bad. I'll stick to a more holistic approach.

Drove home today and went shopping. Literally I got off the highway and went to the mall. Yaay! I bought a juicy couture tee shirt and two eyeshadow pots from stila. I will start my retin-a tonight since my meds here.

Morning

Neutrogena Scrub

'' Alcohol free toner

GM COllins Acne Complex

Olay SPF 15

Everyday Minerals

Night

Neutrogena scrub w/clarisonic

''Alcohol free toner

Pretika light for like 1 minute for entire face

Cetaphil MOisturizer

Retin-a Micro

Woke up with some minor white heads today. I left my camera at my apt so I have nothing to document with...other then my crappy fujifilm 4.1 camera. Oh well I'll wait until tomorrow. Hmmm....I realy think the Pretika is the culprit behind the white heads. Last night I concentrated the pretika on my chin and right cheek and this morning there were white heads on my chin and right cheek. I'm going to lay off it for a week until the Retin-A purges my skin again. Right now I have a minor break out on my right Tzone area cheek. It's not full broken out but it's red and itchy. Has anyone experienced breaking out from using red light?

Morning

Neutrogena Daily Scrub

'' Alcohol Free toner

GM collins Acne Complex

Olay SPF 15

Everyday minerals

Evening

everyday minerals

stila water lily cream rouge pot

Night

Cetaphil with pad to remove cake up

clinique eye make up remover

Neutrogena Daily Scrub

Cetaphil face wash w/clarisonic

Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner

Pretika 30 secs on each area

Cetaphil Moisturizer

Retin-a

I use the moisturizer before retin-a b/c retin-a really dries my skin out and my dermatologist suggested I switch it around. I know I said I would lay off the pretika but it's so tempting to use it. =(

Anyways went shopping again today with friends. yaay. I think shopping makes me feel less unfulfilled. Thus it makes me happy =)

Hi! How long have you been using Retin-A? How do you like the mineral makeup? I've heard from some people that mineral makeup leads to breakouts.

It might help to simplify your skin routine and use it consistently for a few months. Sometimes, it takes a while for something to really work, so after using it for a few months, then you'll really know whether or not it works. Are you also using anything antibacterial?

Good luck with your regimen and with school and everything!

Hi! How long have you been using Retin-A? How do you like the mineral makeup? I've heard from some people that mineral makeup leads to breakouts.

 

It might help to simplify your skin routine and use it consistently for a few months. Sometimes, it takes a while for something to really work, so after using it for a few months, then you'll really know whether or not it works. Are you also using anything antibacterial?

 

Good luck with your regimen and with school and everything!

I've been using Retin-A for over a year now. It's okay. I used retin-a when I was in middle school/high school too but my dermatologist stopped me when my skin was clearing up and put me on clindamycin. -_-

But he put me back on it last year in July '07.I was somewhat clear before. I just had blackheads and acne scars.

Then I started using liquid foundation to achieve the "perfect" skin look which just broke me out like crazy. I ran out of retin-a for two weeks so I'm starting over again. Every day minerals is good. It doesn't give me full coverage but it provides coverage for redness. I'm still trying to find a good concealer to cover the hyperpigmentation. Hmm....I think people will break out more with liquid then certain mineral foundations. I know people tend to break out from Bare Escentuals.

Today is day 19. But day 2 for my retin-a. I drove back to my apt today. Went shopping again before I left my house since I needed to buy my friend a birthday present so I bought her Roxy perfume? Whatever. I didn't speed so I only used up less than a quarter of my tank rather than half my tank driving back to school. Yay. AND gas prices went down. Woo. Well sucks for the bad economy. Mmm.....I don't think I woke up to any break outs in white heads this morning. I have two postules on my chin and a faint one that erupted on my left my eyebrow.

Morning

Cetaphil w/clarisonic

Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner

GM collins Acne complex

I forgot to moisturize in the morning since I was waiting like 5 mins my the Acne complex to absorb while i was packing =(

Afternoon

Everyday Minerals

Night

Cetaphil w/clarisonic

Alcohol Free toner

Cetaphil moisturizer

Retin-a Micro

It's colder now. I think I'm getting sick since my throat hurst. I came back to the apt and had some Tazo green tea with a drop of echinacea. But I didn't to a chance to drink it while it was warm since I had to leave to meet a friend. =(

What I had today since 4:30 p.m.

Tazo green tea with a drop of echinacea

Papaya mixed berries w/soy milk smoothie

Airborne

dinner was shrimp and spaghetti

papaya raw

some other brand green tea with echinacea and lime

Vitamin C 500 mg

I still have that annoying sore throat that wont go away. AHHH I don't want to be sick. =(

No white heads this morning! Hmm....I think my skin is clearer now. I have a minor pimple still above my eyebrow and one on my left cheek. I think the one on my cheek was caused by the stila rouge pot (cream blush).

Morning

Neutrogena Daily Scrub

'' Alcohol Free toner

GM Collins Acne Complex

Olay SPF 15

Everyday Minerals

Breakfast

Bare Naked mango smoothie with two drops of echinacea

pastry bread

special K bar

Vitamin C 500 mg

Lunch

Ramen

Mixed berries w/green grape w/V8 promengranate juice smoothie

100% whole wheat toast

Green tea with two drops of echinacea and honey

Vitamin C 500 mg

Night

Neutrogena Complete one step (make up remover face wash) w/cotton pad before shower

Shower

Neutrogena Daily Scrub with clarisonic on forehead and nose

Cetaphil Face wash w/clarisonic on cheeks and chin

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

Cetaphil Moisturizer

Retin-a Micro

Dinner

Angel hair pasta with chicken and Alfredo sauce

Green tea

Hey SH...I just got through reading your log. Wow, you keep alot of detail about your daily activities! It sounds like you have a good diet going. And sorry to hear about you getting sick

One thing that struck me, and I may be wrong, but it seems like you use a HUGE range of products, alternating them, like you siad, depending on how your skin feels. For me, I know that whenever I introduce a new product, be it a cleanser, toner, topical med, moisturizer, etc., that it takes at least several weeks to get used to. And you also have the makeup aspect too, so you have it even more difficult in terms of getting down to basics with skin care. I see that when you breakout, you dont know what may be the culprit behind it exactly, so you eliminate a product for a bit and then reintroduce it shortly thereafter. I'm the same way...if I use something, and the next day I have a breakout, I immediately stop it, leave it in my bathroom cabinet, and come back to it at a later date when i feel like trying something new again. I have been in the process of stopping that behavior for the past couple of months, and just sticking to one regimen, and keeping with it long enough to know for sure if its helping or not (ie 3-6 months). You know your skin better than anyone else, so obviously, do whats best for you. But I would recommend maybe cutting back on alternating so many different products at such a rapid pace, resist buying anything new, and cutting back to just what you NEED (the basics, cetaphil, moisturizer, retin-a and sunblock.) Again, its only a suggestion, and a humble one at that

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

So I've come to the conclusion that I have been exfoliating my face too harshly. I use the clarisonic to exfoiliate, then the toner, then the Retin-a exfoliates my skin by it self. Not only that I've been using the Neutrogena Scrub as my cleanser and the the salicylic acid (GM collins acne complex) in the morning. My regimen has been very complex lately but this is has been a very experimental month for me.

My goal is to look for an antibacterial face wash that is super gentle and that can remove make up. Currently i have the Dermalogica Anti-bac face wash, Neutrogena One Step Complete make up remover cleanser, and the Neutrogena scrub. But I don't use the anti-bac face wash often since it's too drying and harsh on my skin. I usually break out when I use it.

With all that exfoliation, you should stay looking as young and fresh as a 15 year old forever but in the short term, i think its great that youve decided (i think) to cut back on exfoliating products. i'm currently on retin-a too, and use a salicylic acid exfoliant in the morning, and i dont find any irritation to speak of. if you want some GREAT info, check out [Edited link out] , and look up the info on exfoliating. i think that the site even differentiates between the exfoliating that retin-a does and what a BHA or AHA exfoliant do. If you feel up to it, check it out...i use all of the info on the site to come up with my regimen. Good luck!

Thanks for the info! =)

Definitely sick now. I think I have a cold. Yuck.

Breakfast

Green Tea with two drops of echinacea

two slices of toasted wheat bread

Ginger Tea

vitamin c 500 mg

Morning

Neutrogena Daily face wash

'' Alcohol free toner

GM Collins Acne complex

Cetaphil moisturizer

Olay SPF 15

Everyday minerals

Afternoon

Ginger tea with two drops of echinacea

ramen

Neutrogena One step complete make up remover w/cotton pad

shower

cetaphil facewash

Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner

Cetaphil moistuirzer

Everyday minerals

Dinner

mixed vegetables with chicken meat

Tazo green tea w/2 drops echinacea

500 mg Vitamin C

Night

Neutrgoena One step cleanser (make up remover) w/cotton pad

Cetaphil face wash w/clarisonic on forehead and chin

Alcohol free toner

Cetaphil Moistuirzer

Pretika light on pimple on temple (experimenting)

Retin-a Micro

My skin is definitely been more sensitive now with all the exfoliation. I'm going to lay off the neutrogena scrub and find another cleanser to u.se with my clarisonic. I used the pretika for a minute on my left temple.

I put a tea bag on the pimple on my chin that was humongous last night. This morning it became like a white head. So I used the pretika light on it this morning for two minutes. I came home and another zit broke to the surface and became red. I'm still sick. =(

Morning

Neutrogena scrub

'' Alcohol Free toner

GM collins Acne Complex

olay SPF 15

everyday minerals

Breakfast

Bread

Bare naked smoothies with two drops of echinacea

vitamin c 500 mg

Afternoon

I took a 3 hour nap with my makeup still on =(

Lunch

four slices of whole wheat bread

Mixed berries w/ papaya in a blender

black currant tea with two drops of echinacea

green tea

Neutrognea onet step make up remover cleanser

Shower

Cetaphil cleanser

Neutrogena alcohol free toner

Cetaphil moisturizer

Clinque perfectly real foundation

stila blush

Dinner

chicken

potatoes

mixed vegetables

ginger tea w/two drops of echinacea

vitamin c 500 mg

walphed nasal decongestant

fruit punch

Night \

Neutrogena one step make up remover cleanser w/cotton pad

Cetaphil cleanser with clarisonic

Alcohol free toner

Cetaphil moisturizer

Retin-a

Eh.. can't really rememember my morning slash afternoon regimen. atleast i've refrained myself from drinking since i've been sick lately.

Morning

cetaphil cleanser

alcohol free toner

gm collins acne complex

olay spf 15 moisturizer

everyday minerals

afternoon

one step make up remover w/pad

cetaphil cleanser with clarisonic

neutrogena alcohol free toner

cetaphil moisturizer

nap

shower

cetaphil moisturizer

cetaphil cleanser w/clarsonic

alcohol free toner

cetaphil moisturizer

clinique perfectly real foundation

Dinner

calamari at carrabba's..it was good but bad choice because I haven't had greasy fried food in months.

Night

Neutgrogena one step w/pad

Cetaphil cleanser with clarisonic

neutrogena alcohol free toner

retin-a micro

i'm breaking out in my chin again