So, I have been struggling with the way my face looks for quite some time now. Nothing has seemed to to make a big difference when it comes to the specific issues I have to deal with.
Recently I have started using tretinoin and RapidBrow serum and I think I have renewed hope in that things can get better. Read on for more details about it!
My past and current issues
PCOS has affected my skin by causing me to struggle with acne. While it is not so bad as it once was when I was young- the lesions have left me with hyperpigmentation (dark spots) that have been incredibly hard to get rid of.
By incredibly hard, I mean that I have yet to find products that are able to fade them.
The hyperpigmentation is not my only unfortunate skin issue. I now also deal with signs of aging such as two faint lines on my forehead (thought they went away but I was wrong), dullness and a rough-looking texture.
Again, no products have really helped me thus far
In addition to all of that, I also have had sparse eyebrows since I gave birth to my son (eight years ago). Before that I had bushy eyebrows that needed to be waxed/plucked at least once a month.
I am guessing that the loss of eyebrow hair is due to either PCOS or aging (or both?). Hypothyroid is a common medical issue that causes eyebrow hair loss but my thyroid is working fine (according to tests) and I do not have any other symptoms of it.
Needless to say, the skin flaws and sparse eyebrows have put a bit of a damper on my self esteem.
Starting Tretinoin
I decided to take the plunge and start on a tretinoin journey. It is supposed to be one of the most powerful acne and anti-aging product that someone can use.
I had been mulling it over and chickening out due to the “purge” (bad breakouts) that can occur in some people. One day I just looked at all of the products that I had bought to hopefully fix my issues and just said, “screw all of this!” I was fed up.
Since Tretinoin may be all of those products in one, I felt it was time to have that as my main skincare staple.
Tretinoin comes in .01%, .025%, .05% and .1% strengths. The forms include gel, cream and liquid. I decided to start up with the .025% gel tube that I had and go slow to hopefully reduce the side effects.
Skincare experts state that it is best to stop all actives for a week before beginning tretinoin. I did just that which was mentally hard for me. What was interesting to me was that the bad jaw and chin acne that I was dealing with at the time- completely cleared up in my time off of actives. That meant that I started my journey off with clear skin.
As of the time of writing this post, I have only applied it the tretinoin three times with three days in between each time. Here is my routine:
AM-
- Splash face with water and dry it.
- Apply RapidBrow and let it dry.
- Apply moisturizing SPF 50 sunscreen every two hours.
PM (on Tretinoin days which are done every three days)-
- Wash face with Vanicream and let skin dry for 30 minutes.
- Apply RapidBrow and let it dry.
- Put a pea sized amount of the tretinoin in my hand. Take tiny dots of it and dab them around my face. Spread the dots out so that there is a thin layer of the tretinoin covering all of my skin. Wait for 30 minutes after applying it.
- Apply Vanicream lotion all over my face.
- Apply my CoQ10 Vaseline all over my face (a thin layer) right before going to bed.
PM (non-tretinoin days)-
- Wash face with Vanicream cleanser.
- Apply RapidBrow and let it dry.
- Apply Vanicream lotion all over my face.
- Apply my COQ10 Vaseline all over my face (a thin layer) right before going to bed.
I plan to add in aloe Vera gel in the mornings to soothe any purge that may happen and add some extra anti-aging (albeit, very mild) action each day.
My plan is to work up to using tretinoin every night and then eventually move up to the next highest strength. The timing is all dependent on how I handle my current routine.
Using RapidBrow
RapidBrow is a serum that is supposed to enhance one’s eyebrow hairs. It has a blend of ingredients that includes peptides, biotin, apple fruit cell extract and almond oil. The product comes in a small tube that resembles mascara.
I had heard of the RapidBrow serum before but it was only until five weeks ago that I decided to buy it. I didn’t want to get my hopes up but I was kind of excited to see if it would work or not.
After putting it on my brows twice a day for the past five weeks, I can honestly say that they have indeed been enhanced. They are actually getting pretty bushy! I also love that it has not caused any irritation to my skin.
What I don’t love about it is the cost and the fact that the results go away after ceasing use. At around $40 and the fact that you can never stop using it- makes for a product that I question the value of me buying frequently.
While I did buy one more tube, I will probably have to consider other options after I finish it.
In conclusion
While I don’t want to get my hopes up-I am excited to be on my tretinoin journey. The science behind it and positive anecdotes make me feel like there is a better chance of it helping me than all the other products out there.
In regards to my eyebrows- RapidBrow results have been nice but I won’t be able to keep up paying for it.
How is your skin doing?
Thanks for reading!
Find RapidBrow here: https://rapidlash.com/products/rapidbrow-eye-brow-enhancing-serum
Here is the Tretinoin Wiki document: https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vRQmcAj-x5A8JIQygtW2Rg89uPsJPR5JLH_dLxLNCW4eazWW4i49bsrF0e2YYx10wx00ctaUnyvHfyD/pub#h.1y5tp62brmv7
#tretinoin #acne #antiaging #drdray #skincare #eyebrows #pcos
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