Four Favorites: the beach

Swim Suit | Sunglasses | Flip Flops | Skin Care 

I keep It Pretty Simple, Stupid when I go to the beach.  Seriously, as long as I have on a trustworthy bikini, my faithful rainbow flops, ray-bans and spf I'm good to go! All I need! Well, perhaps maybe a towel and some brewskies, too. 

I've been working entirely too much for my own good and I'm in desperate need of some one on one time with Mr. Sunshine and my stud muffin. I obviously hate myself, considering I'm the one who volunteers to work these 14 hour shifts.  What can I say, girl's gotta shop!

Happy Hump Day,

one doctor's appointment

I'm going to continue my focus on skin care for today's post.

Tanning. Let's talk about it.
If you know me personally, you know I'm almost always sporting a tan from the months of Feb-Sept. I've always loved a healthy glow. I've always believed "fat looks better tan."

In my own defense, as I would often try to argue when confronted with my tanning addiction,  I don't always use a tanning bed.  After I achieve my little glow from the tanning bed, I would just use natural good ol sunshine...without a good spf.  I thought this was okay, right?! I already have a tan, why do I need to protect from sunburn?  How stupid could I be? 

I started tanning in a tanning bed when I was just 16 years old.  I got a job at a tanning bed my first year of college that I was able to tan at for free. I spent every free moment at the pool or beach in the summer tanning. Not ever using sunscreen.

My husband has always tried to get me to stop tanning.  I would whine and whine "but I love how I feel after being in a tanning bed, it's such a stress reliever", "I just feel better when I'm tan!"  And although this may be true, those feelings didn't help me when I was sitting on the exam table a year ago when my doctor told me she was referring me to a dermatologist to get a mole looked at that has increased in diameter and changed colors within two months.

Alone. I sat there alone.  With my own feelings of guilt.  It's not like she diagnosed me with cancer or told me I was dying. But right then and there I knew what this could be.  I knew.  I knew all along what tanning beds could do.  Is this really happening to me.  

Two weeks later, I was sitting on the exam table in the dermatologist's office naked as she raided my body up and down looking for more moles or abnormal marks.  She knew, I couldn't hide it. 

 "How long have you been using a tanning bed?" I just sat there, emotionless. It took me awhile to answer that it's been a total of 5 years.  She took the time to teach me the dangers of tanning beds and the damage sun can do to my skin although I already knew.  She told me all these moles and freckles on my body can change in the years to come. I just wanted to disappear.

20 mins later, I walked out of her office with with 2 moles cut off and nasty stitches on my face. Did it hurt? No. Was it over? No.

I went back two weeks later to have the stitches removed and get the results.  Benign. Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you.  It was around this time my dear friend Mary told me about one of her college friends Chelsea, who was just like me. But her story isn't the same.  She didn't get to hear benign after she went to the doctor about a bump on her back that she found years after giving up tanning.  I strongly urge you to read her story about her adventure with melanoma.  It's still an adventure.  It's not just skin cancer.   Your life could change in one doctor's appointment. 

I'm not perfect. I still have my bouts with the UV rays. But over the last year, I've taken my skin care more seriously than I ever have, and my view on indoor tanning has changed so much.  Like my Daddy always told me, every decision has a consequence whether it's good or bad. Make that decision count. 

If you don't take the time, time will take you.

Skin care. Let's talk about it.

How many of you fall asleep with your makeup on, wash it off the next morning, then reapply?
Guilty.

Your skin has about maybe 10 mins to breathe, granted most makeup probably rubs off on your pillow at night. And I know, some makeups say they're safe to sleep in but I still don't think I'm convinced quite yet.  When you are resting at night, your skin is at work.  During the day, debris and dirt is collecting on your face over your makeup. If you don't wash this off at night, your pores become clogged when your normal skin flora is trying to do it's job. Sebum is being secreted into these pores and they are becoming backed up, usually giving a bumpy appearance. Let me remind you, I am guilty of this

Trust me, this is a mild case of what my Tzone usually endures 

Now, don't get me wrong, I have always battled acne regardless if I wore makeup or not. Stress is the devil and it sure shows on my skin. Just washing my face doesn't go make it lookin' like Cindy Crawford's or anything. But when I take the time to actually wash my makeup off at night and cleanse it from dirt and oil...'ya know actually do my skin care regimen, my face appears better and more importantly my face feels better.  

As you know, I'm in nursing school and I love just about everything there is about the practice of medicine.  If I wasn't a married woman or aspire to be a mother one day, I would have probably gone to medical school. Anyways, back on topic. I religiously watch the T.V. show The Doctors, and a certain episode comes to mind as I type this blog. I think it's a really good source to refer to because it's real. I took the liberty of finding a little snippet and I hope you watch it because it has a great example! 

http://www.thedoctorstv.com/videolib/init/3379

I'll never forget the first time I went to my derm about my acne, she said..."If you don't take the time, time will take you." Do what? Okay, Okay, Okay.

It's been a struggle. "I fell asleep on the couch."  "I'm too tired." "I'll do it tomorrow." I make up every excuse on the earth not to do it! But seriously, what does my derm care if I do it or not, she's getting money. I should care though.  I'm the one who has to live with scars, wrinkles, and pictures of big RED pimples after my adolescence.  

I know I'm only in my twenties, but I recently read a book called 30 things every woman should have and should know by the time she's 30 and can you guess what one of those things we should have is?

A skin care regimen. 

So, what does one consist of? Here's a link to Real Simple that helped me based on my skin type and yes, it is Affordable and Effective

On my good days, 'ya know when I take the time. Here is what I do. I'm giving you the whole mother load!

AM 

1. Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleanser
2. Clindamycin topical solution on my Tzone (this is a prescription)
3. Neutrogena Moisturizer with SPF 15  this is crucial, especially if you use any type of acne medication that can dry your face or can make your skin extra sensitive to the sun (I learned this the hard way)  Even it it is over the counter. And remember to put this on before your makeup so it sits under your foundation and moisturizes all day long

PM

1. Make up removal with Olay daily facial cloths
2. Retin-A on Tzone (this is also a prescription)
3. Garnier 2-in-1 wrinkle reducer this may or may not be needed but it makes me feel better :)

Also, a few times a week I will use exfoliating face wipes for any dead skin and Proactiv Refining Mask. Whatever I do to my face, I do to my neck. 

I am hoping by posting this, I will become more self conscious of being too tired at night :)

I posted on IG last night about some acne troubles and a few responded with using coconut oil and tea tree oil. What do you do for skin care? 

xoxo