Recent Skin Care Woes, and Remedies

Any of you all ever "play" with your skin care?

Even when you find something that works for you, curiosity tends to consumes me when the newest miracle product hits the market. People always seem to want better, firmer, younger, the list goes on! (me included)

Sometimes ladies, curiosity kicks you in the butt...the punishment? A face full of problems from experimenting. I've had it all, swelling, redness, dryness, scars, and then some, even all at the same time. Even my eyelids were peeling! (vivid picture much?)

You would think I would learn my lesson? =P

I had recently ran out of my skin care which was working perfectly fine, but due to a backlogged queue of items in my skin care drawer just to "try out" mixed with constant curiosity, and admitting some damn annoying blemishes that appeared, I ended up really messing up my skin last week

Because this is not the first time this has happened my bathroom looks more like a pharmacy skin care aisle. Items for dry skin, masks for oily skin, creams for aging skin, etc.

You name it, it's probably in my bathroom!

Back to last week, I ended up using a combination of products that led to a red and slightly swollen/puffy face resulting in complete dryness and peeling, even on my eyelids!

I normally have combo oily to oily skin so this was a complete 180, not a problem , due to unfortunate experience I am going to share some of my skin care tips and tricks to get your skin back to normal

Lil Lady Life's SOS Skin Care Plan for Dry Skin - Red Skin

Dry skin is just…ugh. Sometimes I hate having oily skin due to spotting and constant blotting but dry skin is pretty annoying too. Make up sticks to it and makes dry patches look so much worse. Your skin is in a fragile state of dehydration and a complete submerance of moisture is in order.

Tip 1: Yogurt Mask: If you have dry skin try a hydrating Yorgurt mask. This is cheap, natural, and 1 tub can last multiple uses. Whatever you don't use in the tub can be eaten so there is no waste

(Night Time) After cleansing your face, instead of moisturizer apply a dallop of plan natural yogurt all over your face (chilled) Grab yourself whatever is on sale. Brand name is not necessary here, just make sure it's natural

For some reason I have a feeling full fat is better, but the lower fat was on sale...

Distribute it all over your face for about 15 minutes then wash it off. Your skin should look more hydrated, supple, and soft. Repeat for 2-3 days and pro long if necessary until flaking ceases. Follow with your toner and moisturizer of choice

Tip 2. Vitamin E

If you normally use more harsher or stripping toners, when you have dry skin I recommend switching to a toner or serum that contains Vitamin E. It will hydrate naturally and is gentle to use. My favorite and a very convenient brand to buy Vitamin E items are from The Body Shop. Vitamin E toner for AM and PM and whenever your face feels a bit tight and needs a refresher, the mini spray to go is just what the Dr. ordered, Ive gone through so many bottles of this stuff

Tip 3. Aloe Vera

If your face is red and irritated due to products you are using, switch out your moisturizer at night for a few days with pure Aloe Vera Gel. It has natural soothing properties to gently calm the skin down and bring down redness. When my skin is irritated I slather this on my face. It looks like hair gel but will absorb into the skin. If I spending the day at home I will periodically every few hours apply aloe vera gel all over my face throughout the day

(make up less day of course) to give my face a boost of gentle soothing agents

Aloe Vera Gel is also claimed to assist with scar turnover

Tip 4: Gentle but Hydrating moisturizers

Olay Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin - I SWEAR BY THIS. Whenever my face has become dry, like SUPER dry, enough for it to literally crack I run to this. I would apply this day and night and apply a generous amount, maybe 2 quarter sizes and apply it all over my face and neck. Initially it looks greasy but it always always get 100% fully absorbed. Every time my skin gets dry I use this for about 3 days and I am completely cured. This is a complete HG item for me. I prefer this over my La Mer~!

Olay does make a non sensitive skin and more hydrating version but I think this version is very greasy and would 100% endorse the sensitive skin version.

I also did not like the smell of the original formula

When applying moisturizer to extremal dehydrated skin, you can feel a burning sensation. If you had used the moisturizer previously and never experienced the stinging reaction, it means your skin is 100% parched and any form of moisture is going to give a slight burn. You are going to have to clinch your teeth and just rub it on. The sensation should not last long and after a few days of your new routine the burning should stop

Tip 5: Aquaphor: Yes this is greasy but in small dosages, this has an unbelievably effective. You have to be careful, this stuff looks and feels like Vaseline. Place this on your most stubborn dry patches and not all over. Just on those stubborn sections

I use about a penny sized amount for the entire face's worth of dry patches

Tip 6: Water: DRINK THIS. We all know it, we all should do it. The more water you drink not only flushes out your system of any crap really, but also brings a more healthy color to your face, and creates a glow only H20 lovers achieve.

I aim to drink about 1 gallon of water a day. I definitely do not make this goal daily, but some days I do go over. Another reason to the huge list on why water consumption is a MUST. Parched skin needs hydration inside and out

If you do not like water plain, spruce it up with a slice of lemon, splash of cranberry juice, or drinking it with caffeine free herbal tea, hot or cold mmmm

Tip 7: Non harsh spot treatments: I know, I know, when you get a spot you just want to ..DESTROY IT. Let's be real, it needs to be removed ASAP. I have and still admit tingly do use harsh spot treatments to try to get rid of burdensome spots, but the best and least drying way to get rid of a blemish is a low percentage acne treatment. I recommend the Neutrogena treatment as it is only 2.5% benzoyl perixode. 2.5% is enough strength to diminish spots, without the harsh after effects of dry peeling skin around pimples - ever conceal these? not pretty!

Tip 8: Thicker Eye Creams: If the delicate skin around your eyes are dry, it's painful! It's a very sensitive area of the face and I do admit when I am dry there and moisturize, it hurts! It means the area is severely dehydrated, and needs to soothed. I recommend a thicker eye cream, it doesn't mean a heavy eye cream, but something with more oomph to hydrate. The current eye cream I am using and recommend is Khiels Creamy Avocado

That's it ladies, my SOS plan + tips using simple products that can be found in any pharmacy and kitchen

In about three days from my own experience all flaking stops, skin is supple and soft again, and most of all hydrated

What are your SOS dry skin care tips?