Acne: part II

In this second post I would like to explain my daily routine. In the morning, I start using Dermalogica's Dermal Clay Cleanser. Some people think that oily skin shouldn't be cleaned in the morning because it destroys the lipid bilayer, stimulating the secretion of oil and therefore, breakouts. However, I can't not wash my face in the morning.

After cleaning comes moisturizing. Acne treatments usually dry the skin. Oily skin with imperfections is sensitive by definition, moreover dry skin can lead to breakouts. So, be careful because oily skin needs a good moisturizer. I have had problems finding a good  and non-greasy moisturizer but I finally found it. It's Effaclar H by La Roche-Posay and it's recommended for oily skin weakened by drying skin care products. Honestly, I can't recommend it enough. 

Next I put my sunscreen on. At this point, I'd like to clarify something. Most people think the sun is the best ally against acne. False. The sun only makes everything worst in the long term, "in the summer, its slight anti-inflammatory effect temporarily improves the appereance of imperfections. Yet UV rays greatly stimulate sebum production and thicken the skin leading to bloked pores. In the autumn the opposite happens: the imperfections reappear in even greater numbers." If in general, everybody should wear sunscreen, people with acne need it even more. I use Anthelios AC 30 from La Roche-Posay which is suitable for oily skin. 

At night I clean my face with the extremely gentle cleanser for intolerant skin from Avène. A good cleanser should be as mild and as natural as possible and this one match this criteria perfectly. Right after that, on alternate days, I use the isotretinoin.

I also recommend the use of exfoliators at least one or twice per week to get rid of dead skins. I really like REN's Multimineral Pore Minimising mask, which I already mentioned in this post.

To sum up, we all need time to discover our skin needs. Along the way, you'll learn from your mistakes and you'll eventually find the products that suit you well. You should bear in mind that to have a good skin you must cleanse thoroughly, moisturize and protect it from the sun. These three steps work for everyone.

Source: La Roche-Posay, me.

Acne: part I

It's been a time since I wanted to share my experience with acne but I didn't dare to do it. Many people think it is only a teenage problem, but there are many adults that have to face it as well and the stress is usually one of its causes.

I actually didn't experience big problems with acne during my teenage years, however when I reached the 20's the situation got worst, especially because I started to have cysts. I tried many things until I grew tired of it and I made an appointment with the dermatologist. That's honestly the best thing I could do and that's also the most importance advice I can give you: the first thing you have to do is visit your doctor.

The first recommendation he gave me was to use oil-free products. It's quite obvious, but, some brands don't specify this and you have to be careful. It is also important not to touch your pimples. After all, they are infections and if you touch them they will get worst and the scars will remain longer. The treatment he prescribed me was compound of antibiotics, a cream to fight acne and an AHA enhanced cream for treating scars. I won't give names* because I don't want anyone to buy them without visiting the dermatologist first. For instance, in my case, the antibiotics didn't do me any good and I had to stop taking them after two days. That's why the medical tracking is so important.

My acne got better but it persisted in certain areas and it got worst during my period. The dermatologist proposed me a new treatment based on isotretinoin. This medicine is being used for more than twenty years and it is very effective but its side effects are quite severe. Moreover, if you are a woman you can't get pregnant, because the isotretinoin has teratogenic effects. In fact, you must take pregnancy tests periodically and you must commit to take contraceptive pills.

After all, the pill controlled my acne. In the end, the dermatologist didn't prescribed me the isotretinoin orally, only for external use which is less aggressive. My skin looks way better and the breakouts only appear occasionally.

*If anyone is interested you can send me an email.

Source: Dermalogica

Eau thermale Avène

I recently discovered Avène Thermal spring water and right now I can't imagine my life without it. It is bottled directly from the source thus preserving all its properties. It is recommended for sensitive and irritated skin. I personally use it to improve skin hydration, as the products I use for acne leave my skin very dry. The freshness is felt inmediately and my skin looks better every day. Apart from that it has an affordable price (9€ for a 300 ml. spray.)

Hace poco que descubrí el agua termal de Avéne y ahora ya no me puedo imaginar mi vida sin ella. Es recogida directamente de la fuente y se envasa en un spray, conservando así todas sus propiedades. Está recomendada para pieles sensible o irritadas. Yo personalmente la utilizo para mejorar la hidratación de la piel, ya que los productos que uso para combatir el acné me dejan muy seca. La sensación de frescor es instantánea, y mi piel ha ido mejorando día a día. Además de todo eso, tiene un precio bastante asequible (9€ por un spray de 300 ml.)

REN

Sometimes I realize I don't talk enough about beauty on this blog, which is weird because the subject interests me. To amend my mistakes I am going to talk about REN. I was introduced to it by Vanessa Traina who named it among her favourites skincare brands in an interview for Vogue Paris. After reading several positive reviews I decided to give it a try and I ordered their purifying clay mask and so far so good. It leaves my skin smoother and since I use it I have less blackheads. I haven't tried more REN products so if you have a previous experience share it, please.

A veces me doy cuenta de que no hablo lo suficiente de belleza en el blog, y es raro porque en general el tema me interesa. Así que para enmendar mis errores voy a hablaros de REN. Descubrí esta marca de cosméticos gracias a Vanessa Traina que la mencionaba entre sus favoritos en una entrevista para Vogue París. Después de leer varias críticas positivas me decidí a probar su mascarilla purificante de barro y lo cierto es que no me arrepiento. Deja mi piel muy suave y desde que la uso tengo menos puntos negros. No he probado ningún otro de sus productos así que si teneis experiencia previa con REN compartidla.

In the name of perfection

It's no secret we live in a hedonistic society obsessed with perfection; one only has to think in all the tools within our reach to change what it is not written in our genes: plastic surgery, make-up...and the list goes on and on.

After much thought, I can't think -apart from the obvious- of any reasons to explain this phenomenon. Aren't flaws the ones that give us character?

On top of it, is the overuse of Photoshop. I beg those who are working at magazines to stop it because most of the times it's on the verge of tackyness.

"A flaw, a mistake. That's what makes the poetry, gives it the painterly quality". Miroslav Tichý.

Maybe not - Cat Power

Beauty routine

I've always wondered what Chloë Sevigny does to keep her skin inmaculate and glowing. If you are in the same boat as me, congratulations because she confessed her beauty regime to Marie Claire. Good genes also help.

"I recently started having microdermabrasion at Mamie's Spa in New York City, which leaves my skin bright and my pores tight. My home version is Kiehl's."

Other Chloë's favourites:

DIOR DiorShow Mascara: "I love lots and lots of lash and this is the best - I can keep it on without drying out my lashes."

MAC Cream Colour Base in Premeditated: "This pigment packs a punch, so just a bit does the trick. Besides, I find most men don't like a lot of makeup." This sentence surprised me because I wouldn't have imagined she got ready just for men.

SMITH'S Rosebud Salve: "This balm, a small hairbrush, and a gold Estée Lauder compact from the Tom FOrd Collection two years ago are always on my person."

RENEW & RELAX spa: "The day after a long night of dancing at the clubs, I go foa fabulous foot massage at Renew & Relax, a nail place near my house in downtown Manhattan."

ESTÉE LAUDER Tom Ford Collection compact

CHLOÉ Eau de Parfum


Source: Marie Claire via TFS


Downtown - Petula Clark

Put on your mask

Keeping my skin healthy is as important for me as wearing nice clothes. I follow a daily beauty regime, but sometimes my combination skin gets rebellious and I need something extra.

Not so long ago, I tried a honey mask and it surprisingly works. It works as a peeling, removing dead cells, and letting your skin smooth and glowing.

You only need some honey and sugar. Apply it over your clean dry face in circular movements. Rinse it off and moisturize. Wait for the next morning to see the results.

Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel

Paris, part deux

First, I am sorry to dissapoint you but I won't be posting many pics, simply because I don't have them.

During the afternoon we were introduced Aaron de Mey, the new make-up artistic director of the house. He just exudes creativity, and looking at his scrapbooks was such an experience. We could see where his inspiration comes from, and what is his working method.

I also liked the fact that he was very down to earth which I guess is not very common. For instance, he related some dreadful anecdotes: like this designer (he didn't give names) who made him change make-up of all the models five minutes before the show started (!).

Overall, it was such an amazing and fulfilling day.

Paris

I'm already back home and willing to tell you all about my short trip to Paris. Firstly, I must say I went there to attend a blogger event organised by Lancôme. It was really nice to meet other writers and share our thoughts about the blogosphere, fashion, beauty and all that jazz.

During the morning, we were presented the new fragance called Magnifique, created by the perfumer Olivier Cresp.

The scent features Nagarmotâ (a plant they discovered while doing some research in India), Rose and Saffron. The final result is a sweet perfume with wood touches, very feminine and sexy thanks also to the red container.

C'est Magnifique - Cole Porter (it's actually the song of the campaign, but it was covered by a band whose name I can't recall).

More posts coming soon!

Braids

One of the things I miss most about long hair is wearing braids. They make me feel so girly and polished. And I don't want to stop wearing them just because I have short hair.

So I started looking for inspiration and found these pictures of Gemma Ward and Natasha Poly wearing French braids, and the best thing is that I can wear them too. I won't be wearing Heidi braids any time soon, but I realised, I have alternatives.

Song: Please,please,please - James Brown

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I've been nominated by Soir de Fête (thank you!) for the thinking blogger award a few days ago, and I kept forgetting to answer the questions. So, here they are:

1. What is the story behind the name of your blog and nickname?

Quite dull to be honest. It occurred to me while thinking for a fashion related word that exist in several languages.

2. What has been your best and worst blogging experience?

The best thing is positive feedback.

The worst thing about the blogging experience, is the people who doesn't value your work and insult you.

3. What do you think/ want to happen to your blog in 2008?

Good things I hope! So far, this blog has been giving me more than I ever imagined.

Miraculous oil

Recently, I spent some time looking for the perfect moisturizer for my oily/dry (depending on the zone) skin. Three essential characteristics were needed.

• Be cheap.
• Not tested in animals.*
• Recommended for oily skins.

Stella McCartney's skin care was my first option, but at the impossibility of finding a place to buy it, I searched a substitute. About a month ago, the Dr. Hauschka and his Normalizing Day Oil came to the rescue. So far so good. You might think an oil it's not the best option for an oily skin, but I promise it works, at least on me.

*I checked it and Clinique doesn't test on animals.

Song: Fitter Happier - Radiohead. "Careful to all animals (never washing spiders down the plughole)"

Suffer in the name of BEAUTY

Yesterday I got a facial done. And it was the most painful thing I've done since I was 6 years old and my tonsils and adenoids were removed without anaesthetic. Don't think I am a moaner, because (I promise) I cried of pain.

After two hours, I left the beauty center with a puffed up face and thinking about the results. The beautician said in two days my face will look flawless, but even with that I don't know if I should follow her recommendation and come back in two months.

What about you? Do you suffer in the name of beauty?

Song: Pain - Jimmy Eat World

The importance of a well groomed eyebrow

Well groomed eyebrows can transform a face. They are the frame of our eyes, consequently, they have the power to change the look. Thanks in part to Carine Roitfeld, thick eyebrows are IN. The rule: keep the brow shape as natural as possible.

If you've never groomed your brows before, I recommend you to go to a professional threader. But if you don't have the time, or you would like to know how a well groomed eyebrow should look like, I'll give you some tips.

First of all, you have to remove the hair in the space between the eyebrows and under the arch. Then, if your eyebrow hair is too long you have to cut it. But be careful! Brush the hair upwards and cut the end.

Finally you have to do the shape. It's easy if you have a pencil, slanted tweezers and you follow the next steps.

Hold the pencil and place it at the corner of your nose. The point where the pencil meets the hair is where the eyebrow should start. After that, angle the pencil up across the iris and you have the arch. To find the end, angle the pencil a little bit more lining it up with the centre of your lower lip and the corner of your eye.

Tip: tweeze your eyebrows after a hot shower.

Song: Hairdresser on fire - Morrissey

Il Dottore...

...Perricone.

I sometimes have acne, it is not really a big problem, but obviously I don't like it. I tried Clinique products and they don't work well, at least on me.

Lately I have been hearing about the goodness of Perricone products to get perfect skin. So I am going to try with the three classic steps: cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

1.- Pore Refining Cleanser, Acne Care.

2.-Pore Refining Toner Pads, Acne Care.

3.- Pore Refining Moisturizer, Acne Care.

Post Data: If you know more about Perricone acne products, give me advice and share your experience, please.