Week 5 - Obagi

August 29, 2012 Heading into my first PMS week. This will be a good test of how my skin is doing usually I will break out around my forehead, chin and cheeks. Nothing yet...My face feels like little balls of skin are rolling off my face when I wash it in the morning. Still not wearing makeup. Actually, I really don't feel like wearing makeup. Maybe just a little bit of liner but that's it. Feeling pretty good about the results so far.

End of week update. Had one pimple pop up in my hairline near my cheekbone. I had one try to pop up on my chin but it went away by the end of the day. My chin line has been really flaky. I need to order more supplies.

After 2 days of tretinoin 0.1%

Week 4 - Obagi

Welp, this week I am super flaky and peely. Still not able to wear any make up. I've been good at not touching my face for the last few weeks because if I did I would start a peel that wouldn't stop. But this week I don't even have to touch my face. My face looks like it has chunky dandruff. Is dry and appears wrinkly. I look awesome! (insert sarcasm) Although, my pores, wrinkles and brown spots have faded a lot since my first week. Yahhh! My face feels sunburned and is red/pink from my cheeks down to my chin. I knew this was going to be a process. But really can't wait to be finished with the crumbly peely stage. I can't remember when things started to look good the last time I did this. This time I am not going to stop the maintenance routine.

Zits almost heeled, redness around corners of my mouth.

After workout. Boy did my face sting.

Tuesday, August 21st, I burnt my hand pretty good on my clay meatloaf pan. I decided instead of lifting heavy I would do some cardio. My face was soooo red and tight after my workout http://youtu.be/4iOG82afyTw.  I could barely open my mouth to eat. Back to heavy lifting today.

Wednesday, August 22nd, I've decided to take a break from the blender and trentinoin until this Saturday. My husband has a company picnic this Saturday and I don't want to scare the little kids. I really hate to take a break with my face finally peeling the way it is. But he really wants me to go. *Sigh

I found this fantastic site http://www.truebeauty.com/q7.php It helps you help find your individual obagi protocol, lays out what you will experience throughout the process and the maintenance program. *Note: Seriously, I am not a Dr....

The overall appearance of my skin is more evenly toned, pores have greatly reduced, my t-zone is less oily by the end of the day and I am less itchy and red. Instead of my skin peeling off in dandruff like chunks the skin is peeling more like a snake in small pieces. I only took 2 days off of the tretinoin last week. Wednesday and Saturday. Friday night I upped the tretinoin to 0.1%. The skin was really tight and shiny on Saturday.

Obagi Week 3 - Itchy

(NuDerm) My face is looking a little red. Nothing scary. My skin really doesn't start to peel until around 3 pm each day. Around my mouth, nose, under my eyes, ear lobes, eye lids and my chin. My schedule is the same as last week.

I used the .1% tretinoin Saturday night since I didn't have to go anywhere on Sunday.

I've had a few breakouts on my forehead, cheek and the tip of my nose. But the pimples kind of flare up fast, dry out, get hard and pop out of the skin within 2-3 days of popping up.

My skins texture is feeling softer. With some rough patches. Pores are starting to look filled down. My whole jawline is itchy and flaky. So far so good.

(Elastilash) My eyelashes are starting to curl up and appear to be thickening. :)

Zits on forehead, brown spots on the cheeks & nose.

Week 2 - Obagi

Pores are shrinking on my nose and cheeks. Forehead frown lines are disappearing. My oil build up spots are starting to shrink. My usually oily chin isn't breaking out anymore.

I did try to pop a pimple by my eyebrow and just ended up severely irritating the area. I've had a third eye for the last 3 days. Although, using the Obagi has really brought the swelling down and dried out the area. I can actually take my bangs and split them down my left side instead of the right side to hide it. It was pretty bad. 

I haven't been wearing makeup for the last 2 weeks. Whenever I try to apply it my skin gets all crumbly. Peeling has been minimal.

My schedule is the same as the week before, except I am not taking a break with the trentinoin.

I am continuing to have weekly chemical peels on my neck and on my hands. Using the GM Collin peel kit.

I'm also using the Elastilash Obagi. I'm on week 2. I had tried getting eyelash extensions for about 3 months. I absolutely loved them until I started to notice bald spots. So I stopped using them. My top eyelashes were shorter then my bottom eyelashes when they were removed! It's been about 2 months since then and my eyelashes have come back a little. But I thought I would try Elastilash since it was one of the more inexpensive products out there and it has had pretty good reviews.

4 week Pre Obagi & Week 1 - Routine

I began by using GM Collin Derma Peel for 4 weeks. Once a week on my face and neck.

The peel was very mild on my skin. It only gave me a slight tingling sensation. But I think it prepped my skin for the Obagi process. *Keep in mind that I have been through the Obagi process once before in 2008. My results were amazing but I stopped using Obagi for a few years. Now I wish I hadn't.

Week 1 Obagi Routine: I ordered the Obagi NuDerm Normal to Dry travel set. I gave my daughter the cleanser as I prefer the foaming gel cleanser. But I am prefering the exfoderm to the exfoderm forte. Less drying and cracking of my skin.

Foaming Gel

Instead of using the Obagi Vitamin C Serum I am using the GM Collin Vitamin C Serum it seems to stay fresh longer:

Also, instead of using the Obagi tolereen for redness or inflamation I have been using Cortizone 10 plus. Much cheaper with the same results. Although, there is a little stinging. I might have to break down and order the tolereen. I've had to use this on the corners of my mouth. Otherwise, the corners of my mouth are red and slightly raw.

I am currently using the Trentinoin 0.05%. I've had minimal peeling. I might move up to the 0.1% strength cream if I don't start peeling more soon.

I have ordered extra Sunscreen and Toner (apply with a cotton ball it will last longer). They both run out the quickest.

It has been pretty tame so far. I have seen marked improvement in my skins texture and oiliness. But am still having minor breakouts around my hair line and cheeks.

Winkles under eyes, indent in cheek saggy jaw line.

 

 

 

 

 

Greasy t zone, makeup covering zits on chin, forehead & corner of nose.