Final Verdict: Derma Roller

I'm back for my final verdict about my Derma Rolling experience. I have already finished my 10th DR session last month and I believe that I can now give an unbiased review on it because it's already almost a month after my last session and I could inform you if it does have a lasting effect or not :)

Brief history about my skin condition:

- I have skin asthma that makes my skin really sensitive. I tend to break out with a lot of products and my scars takes a lot of time to fade away and they usually stays reddish and doesn't turn brownish.

- I have acne prone oily skin since I was 12 years old. I once got clear skin for a whole year after taking Tetralysal for 6 months (2 years ago) but my acne came back last summer because of the heat (my skin asthma attacked with a vengeance and made my already sensitive skin a lot more sensitive to the elements! Arrg!)

- After a lot of trial and error on different topical and oral medications (my skin tends to stop responding to meds after 2-3 weeks so I need to continously shift regimen), my derma and I decided to try derma roller coz it will "...stimulate your own skin to heal itself by increasing the blood circulation and producing collagen..."

Here's my BEFORE picture. This shot was taken after my 2nd session. I think this is my worst skin ever in my history!


At PRESENT, I have already stopped using my skin care regimen from my dermatologist. I can't continually use my dual action acne cream (I used this at night) anymore because it contains adapalene that doesn't do anything for me except creates more pimples and benzoyl peroxide which makes my acne scars a lot darker than usual. Although, I do swear by this product because it's the one and only product that I used for a long time and it helped cleared out my acne. It's just not advisable to use if you don't have active acne anymore, so I stopped this three months ago.

note: I think Galderma has a similar product named Epiduo. You might want to check it out if you have stubborn acne :)

I also used a medicine called extra strenght acne gel (I used this in the morning). I think it's a topical antibiotic that targets those stubborn infected area to help kill the bacteria. I used this for a couple of months too until my acne stopped popping out :)

So for now, my current skin care regimen is:

AM

- Etude House Pure Joy cleanser (This is a hypo-allergenic cleanser)

- Laneige Pore Trouble refiner (This toner is so mild)

- Etude House AC Clinic Gel Lotion (it's a moisturizer with salicylic acid)

- SKII Facial Treatment Clear Lotion (this doesn't do anything special...this contains salicylic too)
- Etude House sunblock SPF 49 PA++ (for sesitive skin)

PM

- Cleanse with EH's Pure Joy cleanser
- Tone with Laneige Pore Trouble refiner
- Moisturize with EH's AC clinic gel lotion
- Treat with SKII Facial Treatment Clear Lotion
- Prevent aging with tretinoin cream (I got one from my derma)
Every other day
- I use Laneige pore trouble cleanser. I don't use this everyday since it can be drying. It has small beads that is not harsh on the skin so you can use this as frequently as you want.

I'm under this skin regimen for over 3 months already and so far, I only get one or two small acne during my period (as seen in my photos below). My current problem now are my blackheads and whiteheads. They don't really want to go away. I don't think derma roller can help prevent blckheads and whiteheads if you love oily and sweet foods like me. It would really take a good diet and good skin regimen for you to have clear skin.

What i look like now ^_^
I have nothing on my face. I just finished taking a bath and I thought of showing you guys whta my skin looked like now after 10 sessions of derma roller. What do you think? :)


What I liked about derma roller:

- It helped stopped huge cystic acnes from errupting even during my periods. I just get one or two small zits that goes aways after a day or two.

- It made my skin a lot more firmer, brighter, healthier and clearer

- I saved a lot of money because I don't need to have a lot of skin care products now to maintain my skin's condition (no acne!)

- I don't need to use a thick foundation anymore whenever I go out. I just need to use a pressed powder to control my oilies, dab a tinted lipbalm and I'm good to go. (My readers who dropped by the clinic and saw me knows what I mean. I rarely put makeup on atwork hehe)

- If I do get pimples, it goes away easily.

- It made my cheeks rosier. I have this healthy glow that I love.

- It has anti-aging benefits too so it'd like hitting two birds with one stone..actually three birds, coz it also helps in making deep crater-like acne scars shallower.

- It's not painful because your face has a thick topical anesthesia.

- Derma roller can also be used for hair loss, melasma, scars, wrinkles...it's just a matter of what serum your dermatologist will use on you.

*I used collagen most of the time and I tried the lightening serum too on my last 2 sessions for the scars.


What I don't like about DR...

- A little expensive because it costs Php20,000 for 10 sessions. Although, it's still a lot cheaper than other clinics that charges Php30k for 6 sessions. You need to provide 50% down payment then pay the rest during your next sessions.

- Derma rolling alone was unable to remove all my acne scars, both the dark spots and the crater-like scars. You might have noticed that I still have a lot of post acne scars on my cheeks. And my acne scars are not that deep either. So I'm still on the lookout for a better scar removing procedure.
- It did not totally helped with my oilies. I still have an oil mine in my face hehe.

- I'm not yet totally sure if my being free from acne can last a long long time without any kind of acne medication so I'm still looking for a great serum to put for maintainance purposes. I don't want to have bad skin again.

- There are some patients who do experience breaking out after every session even though their concern is not active acne but post acne scars only, so I don't know what to say about that.
Do I regret undergoing this procedure? No. Even though I still got a lot of scars and I'm not sure if the effect is long lasting, I am still very much satisfied that it removed my stubborn acne for the last months. Having clear skin even for just a while is already a blessing for me. I know that I have sensitive skin so I'll definitely breakout every now and then whenever I try new products but at least I now have a skin that reacts good with medications so that I heal quickly. And I will never regret paying and undergoing derma rolling.

OVER ALL RATING:

4.5/5 - for acne control/treatment (I still geet whiteheads and blackheads)
3.5/5 - for scar removal (for dark spots and ice pick scars)
4.5/5 - for anti aging (I've seen patients that had shallower wrinkles after DR)
5/5 - for healthier looking skin

Will I recommend this? Definitely! I recommend this for those who have saturated all the anti acne medications out there and have not found the one product that can help clear out their acne. I do believe that undergoing derma rolling combined with a good skin regimen, healthy diet and lifestyle can definitely clear outt stubborn acne.


TIPS:

- Consult with your dermatologist first about this procedure before having this done because it might not be a match for your skin type.

- Make sure that the one who does this procedure on you is trained and knows how to handle the instrument.

- Be religious in following the treatment schedule. Every session should be done every 2-3 weeks to maximize the effect.

-Lessen your intake of oily food and sweets to prevent breakouts

- Sleep early. Late nights will make your body produce more testosterone...more testosterone = acne.

- Change your pillow case as frequent as possible to keep your skin clean from all the dirts, oils and bacterias that are stuck in your pillowcase.

- Be patient. There's no fast track treatment on acne. You should finish your targeted number of sessions before deciding to give up on that procedure and look for the next one.

- As much as possible, stop trying out new products until you've cleared your acne coz it might aggravate your skin and makes your sessions useless.

My last words would be: "Self discipline, consistence and patience is the real key on achieving clear skin..." I'm still struggling with this manta but I am trying my best to follow this simple saying. It is hard to stay away from pizzas, burgers and fries, cookies and ice cream, but I am eating them less now than before. I also don't sleep without removing my makeup and washing my face even if I'm too tired to do it. Having clean face helps our skin breath and repair itself at night :)

I hope this post can help you guys decide if derma roller is worth a try or not. It's not for every one but you won't know if it's for you unless you went out and try it or have asked your derma about it.

Thank you so much for visiting and reading my long post. Till next time. Bye! ^_^

Review: Basic Beauty 2-way Powder + DR#7

Hello everyone! It has been around a week since my last post. I'm currently getting acquainted with my new job. I'm learning the procedures that I will be doing to patients and also procedures that I needed to assist the doctor. It's not that difficult but since I've been away in the medical field for a long time, I can't really move as fast as I used to. But on the other hand, I'm very much enjoying interacting with people. I even get to meet some of my readers there and it's a very nice feeling to chat with them in person. So guys, please introduce yourself when you do visit there so I will know you too :)

Now, on to my review of the week. I mentioned this product in my Best of 2010 products. It's the Basic Beauty Beauty 2-way powder.

I've been using this everyday for atleast 2 months already and I think it's enough testing to give my review on it :)
Overview:

It comes in a cute small packaging. It can actually fit in my palm and my hands are small, mind you hehe :)
The logo of the brand, shade and the ingredients are all placed in the cover instead of the usual which is at the botton of the pan.
Another unique feature of this compact is the mirror. It is uniquely placed at the bottom of the pan.
It also comes with a cute washable sponge to use for touch-ups.


WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT:

- Gives me a natural matte look for 4-5 hours. This is an achievement for me coz I am super oily and I do start getting oily 30 minutes after I wash my face.

- Hypo-allergenic. This brand claims that it is hypo-allergenic. I also showed this to my dermatologist and she said the ingredients are fine.

- I did not experience any breakouts or any type of allergic reaction (like itchiness). I really have sensitive skin and I can only use limited number of products on my face that won't give me itchiness so I'm really happy that I did not experienced any kind of bad reactions from this.

-Very light on the face. It feels like you don't have anything on.

- Can be used to set liquid foundation coz this won't give any additional coverage.

- The shade Light is perfect for me.

- It doesn't appear chalky for me.

- Very compact and will easily fit any size of makeup bag.
- It has a built-in mirror and also a sponge so you won't need to carry a separate mirror and brush for touching up during the day.

- Sturdy packaging. I accidentally dropped this and the powder inside did not crack and the whole case is still intact.
- Affordable. This is only Php280! (I can't remember the exact amount but it's around P280)

- Can easily be purchased locally. I got this in Trinoma Landmark department store.


*CONS*

- It has a tendency to cake if you use the sponge applicator to retouch often. I prefer using my Ellana baby buki in retouching throughout the day.

- Because it doesn't have any coverage, for days that you want to cover up imperfections, this won't do at all. It's just like putting a transluscent finishing powder.

-It's only 8grams so it will surely be used up quite fast if used often.

- It only has 3 shades: Light, Medium, Dark.

Here's a shot of my bare face.
Note: This shot is taken 2 days after my 7th derma roller session ^_^

Here's a pic of me wearing Basic Beauty 2-way powder in Light only.

I know it looks white but it does blend in on my skin after a couple of minutes and then become dewy after 3-4hours because of my oilies. It really looks natural in person :)

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5 - I love this product! If only I can use this as my foundation, I will definitely give this 5/5 rating :)

WILL I BUY AGAIN? Definitely! I'm even contemplating on trying out other products from this brand :)
Hope you all enjoyed this post. Till next time. Bye! ^_^

Derma Roller Diary: Progress 1st -> 6th

Hi everyone!! I have a lot of good news for y'all. First is that I'm officially an employee of MBM Skin Clinic starting today and is now a dermatological nurse under Dra. Michelle Manuel (my derma). Yay! I really can't believe my luck that I will be able to train under a very good and well known doctor in the field of dermatology. It's obvious that I love skincare stuff and I really am lucky to be working in the area that I love. I can now share with you all new procedures (and even promo available) that can be done in the name of beautification and keeping our skin healthy :)

My second good news is that, everyone in my family is doing great, health-wise. My Lola is still cancer free, my dad has already recovered from his illness, my mom's health concerns are ruled as not serious, my loveones are all healthy! Oh, and my pets are too! I have 2 new puppies that are both healthy and big ^_^

The third good news I received lately is that my bf has also been hired as a staff nurse too (and good paying at that compared to other health care facilities in the country). We can now really start gaining experience so when we migrate to Canada in the near future, we will have a good chance in getting a job as nurses :)

And lastly, I now have totally acne-free face yay!! I proved this when I can't replenish my topical acne medication for more than 2weeks and all I can do is wash my face 2x a day with Cetaphil for oily skin and I'm still acne free until now. I really can't believe I can last a long time without any medication at all. I usually end up breaking out before if I don't put any type of acne treatment on my face for at least a week and it's been going 3 weeks now and I'm still clear hehe.. Although, I still got myself today another acne treatment cream just for maintainance (I got one with a lower dose of medication since I don't get cystic ones anymore) ^_^

To show you some proof, here's some pictures of my progress from day 1 of my Derma Roller upto my latest which is my 6th session :)

FIRST SESSION

3ominutes after procedure

2nd SESSION

3rd SESSION

*sorry, no photos for 4th session*

5th SESSION

6th SESSION - my face right now

Did you see how big the difference my Derma Roller did to my face? And that's just 6 sessions with just a maintainance of acne treatment. I think the DR helped my skin to absorb the medication better and at the same time prodding the deeper layers to reproduce healthier skin cells and heal itself. This procedure is really heaven-sent to me ^_^

NOTE: Bad news for those who want to undergo Derma Rolling in the future. The price of the DR from the manufacturer, according to my derma, is increasing lately that's why many clinics including her are increasing the price of the procedure. I'm so lucky to have paid my whole 10 sessions last year while the price is still low. I think, last I heard, my derma already charges Php20,000 for 6-10 sessions of DR. This is still way cheaper compared to other derma clinics like Belo who charges around Php40,000, IMO. Maybe the manufacturer learned that they are really in demand...the higher the demand = the higher the price.

Anyway, I still believe this procedure is worth every penny since it works. DR can be used for acne treatment, antiaging, hair growth, etc. Same instrument is used and only the medication infused in the skin is different for different purposes :)

I hope you guys did not get bored with my uber long post again. Until next time! Thank you for dropping by. Bye! ^_^

Love,
Gale

My Best Products for 2010 + mini reviews

Hello! I'm back! How's everyone? I hope 2011 will be better for all of us..It already started getting better for me so I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year ^_^

So, I decided to start my 2011 with a year-end list of the best products I used throughout 2010. These are products that I discovered in 2010 and loved and also products that I am still loving despite the years that have passed.

In no particular order...

*ELLANA SHEER VELVET POWDER PRIMER

- You all probably know that I love this to bits because I use this a lot on my FOTDS. It really helps control my oil and it also makes my skin appear smoother especially on pictures. This is really the cheaper version of MUFE HD Powder, IMO. I started using this 2 years ago and I'm still loving it until now. I think me and my sis used up around 2-3 pcs of this already coz we use it almost everyday hehe :)

*ELLANA UNDEREYE CONCEALER in CHEER (Peachy shade)

-For a years, I loved using yellow undertone concealers (Mary kay concealer, Ellana Awake, Monave Buttercup, etc) to brighten up my eyes, but this year, I learned that peachy concealers can cover dark undereye circles better so I tried this one.. I loved this because it doesn't give me the reverse racoon look wherein your undereye area is just too bright for it to look natural especially in pictures. This product can make your eyes look awake and brighter too but not excessively. Great to use alone if you don't need too much coverage or you can apply it on top of a peach undereye concealer on days where you have dark dark circles due to lack of sleep.
TIP:
-moisturize undereye area first to prevent the product from setting in the lines.
-Use a fluffy brush in applying on top of a creamy concealer to prevent caking.
-Use concealer brush if you want a heavier coverage



*TIANUO LIP OIL & LIP ICE SHEER COLOR
-I love these two because I can blend these easily on my lips for some color with added benefit of moisture. Both are non drying and long lasting. They give off a different shade of pink as you can see in the swatches below so I just switch them up everyday.
For me, Tianuo lasts longer on the lips and gives off a more vivid shade of pink than Lip Ice, so if you want a bolder lip look, go for Tianuo.
Although I usually carry Lip Ice with me for touch-ups during the day because it's in a stick form and won't stain your kikay kit. I also love that it just gives me a just-bitten look everytime. Really a YLBB lippie.

*BRUSHES

- Here are my favorite brushes of all time. I think I can live with just this set.

My must have brushes.

ELLANA BUFFFER BRUSH - One of the softest brush I own. I have tried a lot of face brushes and this is the best for me. I love MMU so I usually have powder foundations and setting powders and this brush delivers for the on-the-go girl like me. Since it's big, I can do my whole face in less than a minute with even coverage and smooth finish. I also did not experience any shedding, deforming or even having scratchy hairs even after a year of frequent washing (Unlike with natural hair brushes). And since it's synthetic, it's cruelty free.

ETUDE HOUSE DUO FIBRE BRUSH - I just love the size of this brush. Perfect for the whole face for applying liquid foundation or for your cheeks for applying blushes. I just love how soft and compact the hairs are which helps in creating that flawless finish. It's also quick drying so you can wash it as freqent as you want. I did experience a little bluish stain on the white hairs but I don't really mind coz it ddoesn't really transfer on my face. I love this way better than my MAC 187 SE because this doesn't shed.

LUMIERE DUO FIBRE BRUSH - I got this 2 years ago and it's still the same as when I got it brand new. Really good quality brush. Doesn't shed and bleed. It's also very soft and easy to clean. Perfect size for appplying blushes and highlighters. Although it says "powder" on the brush handle, it's too small for that function.

MAC 217 E/S BRUSH - This is already more than 2 years old and I'm very glad that it's still white haha. I love how it is very multi-functional (blending eye makeup, putting colors on lid, applying highlighters and concealers) and very easy to dry. I would love this brush to bits if only it's not scratchy. I really hated it when after a couple of washes, it became scratchy. I need to wash this after every 2-3 uses just to condition the hairs so that it won't irritate my eye area that much. But nevertheless, I still give this 4/5 because it delivers.

LOEW CORNELL 3/8 mop brush - a very affordable alternative to MAC 239 shading brush. Delivers well and very cheap. I'm very happy to be able to get this last year through Sol. It packs color on the lid very well and I can also use it for blending harsh lines. I can really recommend this as a good buy.

CHARM CONCEALER & EYELINER BRUSH - These two brushes are included in the first ever batch of Charm brushes produced (Is it 4 years ago? not sure). Although I'm pretty sure Chram brushes now are a lot better in quality than before, I'm still not in need of getting a replacement because they still function well even though I've used them thousands of time already. Look how old the handles look now haha but I still love them to bits. Good job on these ones Sophie!

*SHISEIDO EYELASH CURLER

- This curler is already going 4 years old and it still looks brand new. I just replace the rubber every now and then but the curler itslef is good as new. Very sturdy and reliable. It did not get rusty, bended whatsoever. I don't even buy Shiseido rubber, just Fanny Serrano refills but it still works the same as when I use the original one. Really a good investment to buy good quality products that you know you will use frequently for a long time. It really pays-off.

MAKE UP FOREVER STAR POWDER No. 902 & MAC COCOMOTION PIGMENT

- This combination is my go to night time eye makeup. My eyes look so pretty and put together whenever I use this combo. Both eyeshadows are very pigmented and lasts very long so they are perfect for my oily lids. I've been using these eyeshadows for 2 years and I have used a lot of them already. I'm still debating whether to buy a full pot of MAC cocomotion or I'll just get another sample online so I can save some money and buy another product hehe...anyways, I am still in love with them so I included these two in my best products list :)

*ETUDE HOUSE PROOF 10 EYELINERS

- I discovered this late last year and I fell in love with them right away. I just love how easy and simple it is to use compared to using gel liners. This is a pencil, so you have control in applying your liner unlike with liquid liner that it's so hard to create a straight line. This also have a sharpener at the end if you want a pointed one to create a finer line or a wing. Etude House carry different types of liners but I have only tried Proof 10 ones because they are the waterproof ones. I really have oily lids and even with a base, my liners smudges after 5 hours, but with this one, that doesn't happen. I really love how long lasting it is on my lids. Although I can't say the same if you use it on the waterline coz I haven't tried that. I just apply liner on my upper lashline to have an illusion of a fuller lashes haha.

The blue one is under the Jewelry line which has shimmers/glitters while the black one is from the regular line. Both are waterproof :)

Isn't it vibrant? I'll do an in-depth review on these liners next time so I can discuss it more with lots of pictures too :)

*BASIC BEAUTY 2-Way powder
-I came across this brand in Landmark Trinoma. It is a hypo-allergenic brand like Clinique and VMV. I don't know if this is a local brand or imported but it is really affordable. This powder is just around Php280. I've been using this everyday since I got it last month. I even showed it to my derma so she can check the ingredients for any irritating substance and she gave me a thumbs up (yay!) . I have not experienced any kind of allergic reaction from this powder. No itchiness, pimples, redness whatsoever (even on very humid days). It also controls oilies very well. I usually get oily within 30 mins after washing my face but this powder can keep me shine free for around 5 hours! For a very affordable product, it really delivers!

The packaging is a little unusual because the mirror is at the bottom of the pan and the label in at the top but it looks cute.
I will also do a separate review for this since I want to share a lot about this product. All I can say for now is, this is my HG powder at present :)

*DERMA ROLLER
- Last but not the least, my savior, derma roller. I really really am grateful for this product because it salvaged my skin. I am now acne free, yay! I have finished my 6th session and I am still planning on finishing the last 4 to totally remove my acne marks.



Please watch out for my next post because I will do an update on my Derma Rolling experience.. I will show you guys how improved my skin is now :)
Sorry for a very long post. I think I missed blogging so much that's why I can't stop typing haha...Till my next post! bye!

Derma Roller Update

Hello everyone! Sorry for being MIA again...December is a really busy month with all the events happening and everything. Also, I can't take pictures of all the stuff I want to review for you guys coz my digicam is still in the repair shop. I had it checked out coz the screen have a purple tinge at the side and I got afraid the problem will progress so I sent it for repair ASAP.. Hopefully, I can get it this weekend (They told me I'm supposed to expect it by Saturday, but who knows)...But for now, no pictures post...

Anyway, since I don't have pictures to show you all of the result of my Derma Roller #5 + Collagen, I'll just enumerate the things I noticed in my skin after the procedure ^_^

*A day after DR*
- My skin still appears pinkish
- It became soft
- Appears smooth all over
- My skin feels a little sensitive (like when you used too much astringent) because of the needles

*A week after DR*
- Skin still appears smooth and rosy (No need for blush!)
- Oiliness is lessened and appearance of pores is finer.
- I'm loving the appearance of my skin at this time because I look flawless in pictures even without anything on haha (and even with my dark blemishes on the cheeks)
- I got compliments that my skin had really improved ^_^

*2 weeks after DR*
- The effect of the collagen has lessened already. My skin is still soft to the touch but the same when I just got it. ..BUT I still love it :)
- I'm getting oily again but my pores is still not that huge so at least that's a retained effect from the DR.
- The rosy cheeks is still there so I really look healthy

*OVER-ALL REVIEW after 5 Derma Roller session*
- I don't get huge cystic acne anymore even during my period! Yay! I'm so happy that I've achieved my priority goal for undergoing this procedure after 5 sessions.

- My ice pick marks are slowly elevating and I'm crossing my fingers that they will all flatten/be of the same level as the rest of my skin before my 10th session is up.

- My skin appears clear even if my acne marks are still dark.

- I have permanent rosy skin now which makes me look like I have healthy skin to start with :)

- Having being able to confidently go out with just a tinted sunblock on my face and without worrying too much about acne really helped in my self esteem so I'm a happier person over-all ^_^

I still have 5 more Derma Roller sessions and I'm now aiming for a flawless skin ^_^

I'm thanking God for all the blessings I'm receiving right now and I hope all of you will also receive lots and lots of blessings especially now that it's Christmas season :)

Bye!

-Love Gale-

Derma Roller #3

Hello everyone! I hope all of you are having fun :)

As promised, here's the continuation of my Derma Roller (DR) Skin Diary.. As you all know, my 3rd DR was postponed for almost a month because I broke out and we needed to give my new meds a chance to work. 2 weeks ago, I was able to have clear skin so my derma decided that we can push through with the 3rd derma roller.

Here is a shot 2 weeks after my 3rd DR. I just got out of the shower so this is my bare face.

I hope you can notice the improvements too :)

My skin's texture became finer and smoother especially the areas that I rarely get pimples/acne. My ice pick acne scars are starting to "elevate" and I'm crossing my fingers that they will disappear totally after a couple of sessions.

My acne breakouts also became smaller so it's really a blessing for me that my new meds is working and that the DR has helped in the absorption process. I hope the acne control effect of the derma roller will be seen in my skin soon.

I'm planning to get my 4th session within this week so expect another update in 2 weeks :)

Till next time. Bye!

Skin Diary: Derma Roller Experience (1st)

Hello everyone! I hope all of you had a great week and will have another good one :)

I know I promised all of you that I will post pictures about my derma rolling experience last July 14 but my derma had to go somewhere that day so we re-scheduled it today.

My derma and I talked and decided that we will do the removal of warts (I didn't know I already had a lot hehe) first then proceed to derma rolling. So I went to the clinic yesterday but since I have a lot of pimples (it's that time of the month last week) my doctor can't actually see the warts hehe so I just had a facial then asked to come back today.

First off, I want to apologize, I was unable to take a picture before I underwent the procedure. But my skin did not change much after the procedure minus the reddish color of my skin hehe so I still think it can be used as a "BEFORE" picture for future reference ^_^

WARNING: I do not have great skin so the following pictures will show my flawed skin without any makeup editing, whatsoever...

Here's a shot 30 minutes after the procedure was done. I was a little flushed looking. You can see the marks from the facial and cautery but no marks of the needles from the derma roller.

arrgh! look at my acne scars...it looks worse in person.. huhu

Here's a shot 3 hours after. The flushed look disappeared already and I only have a slight blushed look on the cheeks.

*My face is a little shiny coz I have an antibiotic gel all over my face.

Here's what I can tell you about my Derma Roller experience...

-You will have topical anesthesia applied to your whole face, so allow an hour for that. Take this into consideration when scheduling for the derma roller.

-And since you have anesthesia, you won't feel any pain. I can just feel the sensation of having something rolling on my skin but no pain from the needles. hmmm, I can describe it as if you are pressing your hair brush on your skin. No pain but you can feel it...I hope I make sense here hehe :)

-It takes around 30 minutes only for the whole procedure (waiting for the anesthesia to work NOT included)

-Redness is not too much. You just look flushed as if you put a lot of blush hehe. It subsides after an hour or two then you'll just look like you are blushing as seen on my picture. No needle marks visible after.

-They say that you can see a difference even after a week...so I'll be putting up a picture after a week to show you guys if it's true or just a rumor haha

-According to my derma and research in the internet, it usually takes 5-6 sessions before you achieve the result you want. 

This will be done every two weeks and I'm really hoping I'll have clear skin before my 25th birthday on November hehe...I'm really crossing my fingers ^_^

-This is a little expensive. It cost around Php12,000 for 10 sessions in my derma's clinic. And I heard that it's already cheaper there coz there's someone that told me she spent Php30,000 for this! That's a huge difference don't you think? I don't get it why big known clinics charge too high on procedures.

So, yeah, I'll come back on Thursday for a checkup. this is my first session so my derma needed to check how I reacted to it. then it will be every 2 weeks ^_^

I really saved up for this and that's why I'm not posting a lot of reviews lately...money's tight right now especially since I don't have a large salary...but I really think this is worth it. I really like to invest on my skin because beautiful makeup is useless if the base is ugly right? ^_^

Till my next post! Wish me luck guys! Have a happy monday! ^_^

Skin Diary + Good News =)

Hi guys! how are you doing? Well, I was inspired to give hope to other ladies who is suffering from acne/pimples like me...I hope this post could help you in some ways :)

I've been having this battle against acne/pimples since I was 12...for the last 11 years, I hopped from one derma to another (looking for The One that could solve my dilemma), I had many expensive and painful treatments, and bought so many topical medications (both low and high end) that did not gave me any positive result that last...either these will only aggravate my skin's condition or the good effect will last me only a couple of months then they will start losing their effectivity...I'm just glad that now that I'm 23, my face is clearing up...this is because I have found my fairy godmother in the form of my current dermatologist, Dr. Michelle Manuel.

Dr. Manuel was recommended to me by my bf's mom...she said that she's good and doesn't charge high, so I decided to go. I went there late September 2008 for my first checkup. She listened to my concerns very patiently then she asked me for my history (what products I used, what treatments I had, and the effects they had on me) and the current products I'm using at that time..

I know I've said all these things to you in my first post but I just want to put a brief summary about my condition before showing you my progress within my 6months of treatment...Actually, I found some pictures taken before and during the treatment period..so I want to take this opportunity to show you all (I know that the best way to show how huge the improvements are) my progress pictures..I'm hso glad I'm really brave to show the whole world my bare face lol :)



BEFORE THE TREATMENT:




See how many acne I have? Gross right? This is how I looked like for a couple of months before I went to Dr. Manuel.

AFTER 3 or 4 MONTHS OF TREATMENT:



A HUGE improvement right? This is the result of the following:

- 4 months of taking Tetralysal antibiotic. The last month is for tapering the medication.

- 2x a day usage of glycolic soap, acne lotion, celeteque facial moisturizer

- sunblock (SPF 80) every morning.

- 4 facials (cleaning, vacuum and laser), a few injections (for the huge and deep acne), and a couple chemical peeling for my scars.

- Tretinoin every other night from fourth month.

NOW (my 6th month):I know I have makeup on this one but I only have a very light makeup on so you can still see the current state of my skin...I used (all MMU) Ellana sheer velvet powder primer, Dayna's Minerals foundation and a light blush...as you can notice, my only problem now is removing the few marks left behind from the deep pimples I had...I underwent spot peeling before I started applying Tri Luma cream on the spots last month..this is for lightening the discolorations. After a month of using the cream every night, the marks have lightened already but I still have the very dark ones on my right cheek..so I plan of coming back to my derma to ask for a faster whitening solution for those very stubborn spots :)

It still feels like magic for me..I have suffered from acne for 11 years and I was treated within 6 months..really amazing...This happened without my any of those "your skin will get worse before it become clear" or the phase of "purging" that I experienced before Dr. Manuel...As soon as I visited her and gave me 3 products to use (gly soap, acne lotion and sunblock) , my skin started to improve slowly but surely...surely meaning once they got healed, they never came back..so for those of you who are suffering from acne, don't lose hope..you just need to find the dermatologist and the products that will work for you. Just be patient coz there is no such thing as an instant result..better to do it slowly and safely rather than fast and then say "if only" in the end..so keep on smiling!


TIPS:

- be patient in looking for the right dermatologist and products for you

- be patient and consistent in your regimen..even if you don't think it is working, just continue to use the product coz there are products that take some time before you can see the full effect

- talk to your derma about your concerns so she can give you a solution for it..don't self medicate!

- try not to use any new product without consulting your derma so as to prevent any cross reaction with your treatment that can cause another bout of breakouts

- keep on smiling!

Before I forget, most of the products I use are priced below Php300 only and they lasts me 3-4 months of 2x a day usage every single day..So you don't really need to spend more to get better results...Till my next post! Ciao! :)

Foor those asking about where they can find my dermatologist, here's her info:

Dr. Michelle B. Manuel

MBM Medical and Skin Clinic
2nd Floor Wilcon Center
Visayas, Avenue, QC
Telephone # 986-6712

*I can give you directions how to go there..just send me a comment or an email (galebart_15@yahoo.com) :)

-=oOo=-

Yipee! I got in for the training in Bernardino General Hospital today! Even though I will not get any allowance or salary for this training, I'm still happy coz I can now practice my profession even though the training period is for 3 months only...I'll just do my best so that once the training is finished, I can be absorbed by the hospital to become an employed staff nurse :)