First time post, needing advice....suddenly im so old.
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Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:40 am

Im 37 and a mom of four. Ive used RAM for years, atleast 12 years. I probably havent used enough sun protection because ive always struggled with finding the right on as my skin is very reactive and clog prone. Suddenly i look so old. I still havesome acne that is really helped with spirolactone. I have lines undermy eyes, im beginning to see crowsfeet at the corners of my eyes. I have uneven texture anda few acne scars. I also have a double chin and am stRting to see a loss of elasticity of the skin on my neck. I just look so old.

What i currently use is:
Garden of Wisdom cleansing oil
Clean and clear daily pore scrub
Olay sensitive lotion
Neostrata eye cream
Avene eulage (around eyes)
A wide variety of sunscreens - the best one i ever used was shiseido spf 55, now discontinued.

Makeup
Revlon colorstay
Everyday mineral foundation

Any advice? Whats the best antiaging thing you recommend?

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:47 am

Sunscreen is the most important thing, IMO. You need to find one you like and use it every day, rain or shine. Otherwise, stick with an A product at night, which has the most studies and is a proven anti-ager. (I love Eluage. Are you just using it around your eyes?) After a while, you may want to add a topical C in, or, you could do some reading on copper peptides. Some people have had issues with that product. They are not a quick fix, and will require a long time investment.

Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:03 am

I use the eulage around my eyes and RAM everywhere else. Should i layer the two?

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:11 am

jyount wrote:

I use the eulage around my eyes and RAM everywhere else. Should i layer the two?

Since Eulage contains Retinaldehyde I would not layer it with RAM. Some ladies do use retin-a around the eye's but since you are using RAM I would not suggest RAM since it may be too irriatting.

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:16 am

GirlieGirl wrote:

Since Eulage contains Retinaldehyde I would not layer it with RAM.

Agree, I wouldn't layer RAM and Eluage.

Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:16 am

I just ordered Devita International Daily Solar Protective Moisturizer, SPF 30. Hope this one is a keeper.

Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:22 am

I didnt want to layer the two. I really like the avene, RAM is too much around my eyes.

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:55 pm

First of all, I wish people wouldn't worry so much about crow's feet. I've thought to myself SO many times how beautiful and flattering someone's crow's feet looked. Change doesn't necessarily mean ugly.

Could you do without some of the products for a while and see how your skin adjusts? The clean and clear pore scrub sounds irritating. Could you try a microfibre cloth very gently for exfoliation instead? That would be one less product, and one less risk of potentially irritating ingredients. And I'm a strong believer in ocm massage and this could help with both your clog-prone pores and if you use certain massage techniques, the chin & neck issues as well. You don't have to invest loads of time into it - a few minutes a day or even every 2 or 3 days may be enough to help with circulation.

And yeah, Devita's great! Good to hear you're trying it. If you got the moisturizer, will you need the Olay lotion? I use the Devita body lotion, which is enough for my oily skin. I believe it has lots of helpful goodies for skin in it as well as sun protection, so I feel good applying it.

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:10 pm

Probably a silly question but is the Devita body lotion a sunscreen product or just for light moisture?
I bought the face sunscreen from devita and like it.

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:22 pm

Its an spf 30 as well! 19% zinc oxide.
Its supposed to be less oily so that's why I use it on my face. I love it.
The moisturizer is more recommended for those with sensitive skin, prone to breakouts though. I have the moisturizer too, and haven't used it much, but so far don't find it particularly oily either.

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/devita-solar-body-block-s-p_14233.htm
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/devita-solar-protective-m-p_14027.htm

Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:00 pm

Gosh i hope i havent ordered the wrong devita product?

Ive tried the microfiber cloth and it really irritates. Ive used the clean and clear scrub for a long time. Its very gentle and nonfoaming. I think thats why it doesnt irritate.

As for the oil cleansing method, i have never had anything dislodge like i hear about other people. Ive massaged for quite a while, too. If i use the GOW oil and massage for over a minute it really irritates and dries my skin. But it cant be beat for removing makeup, ss and daily grime. I love how clean it rinses.

I have very reactive skin and have been hesitant to try new things. This might not be the time to intoduce the devita -- the air is so cold and dry right now. I do runa humidifier at night and that does seem to help. Thank you all for your input and suggestions. When i realized i could see some loss of firmnessand a double. Hin i freaked out. Ive consider facial exercises but depending on who you listen to their value is debatable. Ive also considered a led light thing. Not really sure which way to go.

Another thing that scares me - im 5'4", 138 pounds. I could stand to lose a few pounds. Im sure that would help with the double chin. But would that only increase my sagging?

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:38 pm

It sounds like you chose the right Devita - the moisturizer is the one recommended for sensitive skin!

Of course, you shouldn't try anything you don't feel comfortable with and I don't mean to make this complicated or difficult for you.
Just bear in mind that if you're using multiple products, containing multiple ingredients, it gets harder to isolate what may be irritating to you. The scrub & the lotion you're using have long ingredient lists (some which certain people here are dead set against) and the GOW oil looks pretty clean but includes rosemary oil which might be ok for cleanup, but may not be ideal for the deep penetration of ocm.

As rileygirl said, sunscreen is very important given the A's you're using, so if nothing else, try to find a way to tolerate that. Maybe patch test on more balanced areas of your skin?

And all sorts of things can impact the condition of our skin - diet, exercise, weather, stress, so try not to worry too much, you'll probably bounce back!
Good luck! Smile

free skin care · Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:33 pm

Welcome on board! Very Happy

We are similar ages and my skin is also sensitive and reactive, but I have made HUGE strides in resolving that in the last couple of years. My T-zone is less oily, fewer comedones, my eczema is almost gone and fine lines are plumped.

Your Clean & Clear pore cleanser contains sulphate surfactants which are contra-indicated in dry or sensitive skin. It may not visibly irritate whilst you are using it but it will definitely be damaging your skin's protective acid mantle/ stratus corneum. Sad

This means other products, the weather or even plain tap water can irritate and that acne bacteria can get in. Even sulphates in toothpaste foam and shampoo bubbles can cause problems at the cellular level, so be sure not to let these touch your skin.

I wouldn't dare try a microfibre cloth, but I do use a muslin cloth with my regular creamy cleanser and it leaves my skin silky soft. I can even use it *very gently* when I have a rash. No scrubs mean no extra chemicals for my skin to deal with. Definitely look at switching your sunblock to one based on zinc oxide as this is less likely to cause irritation than a chemical sunscreen, plus zinc can control acne bacteria. I would not add vitamin C or copper peptides until you have reduced the sensitivity and increased your skin's hydration levels. One product you might consider is an organic aloe vera gel because this has proven healing, calming and anti-ageing properties. My skin loves it emulsified with a gentle plant oil or my regular moisturiser, not on its own.

Secondly are you consistently meeting or exceeding all your government's recommendations for healthy eating? Research shows some foodstuffs cause inflammation and inappropriate immune responses, whilst others heal, calm and help your skin remain hydrated. The most important guidelines are the ones covering oily fish, fruit and veggies, sugar and white/ refined carbohydrates.

Losing weight at a sensible rate with a balanced diet does not cause skin to sag. What causes sagging is losing weight too fast (crash diets/ gastric band), cutting out entire food groups or genetics. You need to maintain your muscle whilst you diet because the amount dictates your metabolism and holds the skin and underlying fat in position. Also to eat enough protein (little and often, every 304 hours) and healthy fats for your body to understand there is no famine, and so that it has the building blocks to repair your skin and maintain your muscle mass.

Lifestyle healthcare is what I do for a living so let me know if you want further detail down the line. Wink

free skin care · Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:29 am

At 37 you're not old - so don't even start thinking that. You sound as though you need a makeover. If you can afford it, go and have a facial and get some professional pampering. Or just try some new skincare products just for the hell of it - and try a gadget or two just to make yourself feel that you're doing something pro-active.

Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:34 am

Thanks for all the kind responses. I know Im not eating a healthy diet. I survive on junk food and soda many days. Age/metabolism has finally caught up with me and its showing.

free skin care · Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:29 am

Definitely get off of the junk food and sodas and start eating a lot more salads, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds - your body will thank-you for all of the antioxidants and healthy fats - and definitely start drinking lots of water!

With this change alone you'll see the years lift right off your face within weeks! Wink

free skin care · Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:07 am

jyount wrote:

Thanks for all the kind responses. I know Im not eating a healthy diet. I survive on junk food and soda many days. Age/metabolism has finally caught up with me and its showing.

Awww, don't sound so defeatist. Dermatologists agree that the minority of ageing is inevitable, and that some of the damage we ALL do is reversible. There are not too many on here who have worn sunscreen their whole lives, never smoked, eaten right, no stress etc. Some ladies have totally turned around their skin by making a change and settling in for the long haul.

You've identified a problem AND you've identified a source of advice on the solution, so you are halfway there already! Wink

You will be amazed how quickly starting to eat well changes your energy levels, skin quality, mood, sleep patterns ... It's honestly not as difficult as might seem, there are lots of cheats and clever tricks to make healthy choices easier. Let us know how we can help you. (((hugs)))

free skin care · Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:56 am

jyount wrote:

Thanks for all the kind responses. I know Im not eating a healthy diet. I survive on junk food and soda many days. Age/metabolism has finally caught up with me and its showing.

Yeah it all starts to show in the late 30s. As much as you can try to eat well- add some animal protein & good fats to your diet like fish or krill oil, olive oil, butter etc-- you need fats from a variety of sources to be healthy. Read Mark's Daily Apple for more info:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz1iyhEwk00

37 is pretty young to be in hormonal changes but it could also have something to do with it if you don't exercise/eat right. Exercise/diet can help boost hormones naturally which can have a good effect on skin.

Your skin care sounds OK. A TCA peel might help freshen your skin up some:
http://www.makeupartistschoice.com/

Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:14 pm

It's funny that I saw this thread today because I was about to post the SAME EXACT THING! 37 yrs old and I feel like my face and skin in general has aged 5 yrs in the last 12 months. Same exact problems: congested skin, crows feet, even the double chin! Is it just this age?

I will admit I have either neglected or abused my skin pretty much my whole life. I've never worn sunscreen because they all break me out. Same with skin products in general. My skin turns red and breaks out so easily. And now I have black heads, wrinkles, dry skin, and sun damage!

This is my first post, but I've been reading posts on this site for about a month, mainly researching OCM and sunscreens. I finally started OCM (with 50 castor and 50 jojoba) 3 nights ago, and my skin seems genuinely happy for the first time in my life. I haven't had the big release of blackheads and congestions I've read so much about. But my skin isn't red and isn't breaking out. And the blackheads do seem to be lessening. I can tell I'm going to need to add in something for moisture, but I'm scared to do too much until I know for sure my skin is ok with the castor/jojoba. So that's all I'm doing for now. I don't wear make-up, so all I do is OCM at night and then wipe my face with a lukewarm washcloth in the morning. I ordered DeVita solar sunscreen for face. When that comes in, I'll add that in the morning. Just trying to take it one step at a time.

I have also replaced all drinks with water. And removed desserts and sugary foods. I think my husband is starting to get nervous, wondering where all the brownies went! Smile

free skin care · Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:32 pm

Welcome DeeDeeJ: sounds like you are on the right track! Be sure to also include plenty of long chain omega-3s from fish body oils. Very Happy

Hopefully you will soon find you have more energy, which hubby may benefit from ...

free skin care · Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:15 pm

Hey DeeDeeJ, 50/50 castor/jojoba may be good at first to really clear stubborn congestion but may be extremely drying.

So you might try:
1. lessening the amount of castor in your ocm recipe, instead of adding a moisturizer, or

2. patting back on a little of the jojoba ALONE, after cleansing. Just warm a few drops between your fingers and press it on where you think you need it.

That way you're not risking the addition of another product.
I'm guessing that besides that, the Devita for face will be moisturizing enough so you won't need anything more.

"my skin seems genuinely happy for the first time in my life" - isn't that the most awesome feeling?!!

free skin care · Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:23 am

DeeDeeJ wrote:

It's funny that I saw this thread today because I was about to post the SAME EXACT THING! 37 yrs old and I feel like my face and skin in general has aged 5 yrs in the last 12 months. Same exact problems: congested skin, crows feet, even the double chin! Is it just this age?

I will admit I have either neglected or abused my skin pretty much my whole life. I've never worn sunscreen because they all break me out. Same with skin products in general. My skin turns red and breaks out so easily. And now I have black heads, wrinkles, dry skin, and sun damage!

This is my first post, but I've been reading posts on this site for about a month, mainly researching OCM and sunscreens. I finally started OCM (with 50 castor and 50 jojoba) 3 nights ago, and my skin seems genuinely happy for the first time in my life. I haven't had the big release of blackheads and congestions I've read so much about. But my skin isn't red and isn't breaking out. And the blackheads do seem to be lessening. I can tell I'm going to need to add in something for moisture, but I'm scared to do too much until I know for sure my skin is ok with the castor/jojoba. So that's all I'm doing for now. I don't wear make-up, so all I do is OCM at night and then wipe my face with a lukewarm washcloth in the morning. I ordered DeVita solar sunscreen for face. When that comes in, I'll add that in the morning. Just trying to take it one step at a time.

I have also replaced all drinks with water. And removed desserts and sugary foods. I think my husband is starting to get nervous, wondering where all the brownies went! Smile

I love OCM and I'm OLD! I also put a light layer of grapeseed oil on my face about an hour before bed. It completely absorbs by bedtime and it's calmed my dryish skin down considerably.

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:27 am

37 seems to be the magic number for many with skin aging. It was the exact same age I noticed changes and it seemed like I aged overnight!! Laughing

Sunscreen is the MUST DO!! 365 days a year no matter what, no excuses! I use retin-a everywhere on my face, no place is left uncovered but my face can handle it. Not everyone can use it around the eyes. Diet has also been the big turn around in my skin. I eat very little red meat if any, it is usually turkey, tuna or chicken...lots of veges and fruits, soy, nuts, homemade kefir, green and white tea, flax, wheat germ, NO SODA or SUGAR, water (I still struggle with getting enough water though), drink Picual EV olive oil every day....supplements I take include Vit C, collagen powder, MSM, hyaluronic acid.

I tell ya, reaching the late 30's point is a real eye opener because it seems that's when we start to notice the changes. I totally feel for you but really, all is not lost. I have really turned my face around in the last 4 years and I get taken for late 20's all the time, still get carded for alcohol. In fact, the guy I've been dating for the last few months is 12 years younger than I Laughing

I have no doubt with some changes in diet and skincare you will be able to turn your face around as well. Diet is a BIG one! You need to start within and work your way out.

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:13 am

Totally agree, Bren. The late 30's seems to be the turn around time for one's skin. That is the age I started all this skin care stuff, too. I also never wore sunscreen until that age! Definitely never too late to turn your skin around.

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:22 am

I was in college from 34 to 37 and also went through a divorce during that time. I will honestly say my diet sucked royally during my college years and the stress of the divorce only added to the "changes". I wasn't eating much of anything and lost a lot of weight and that's when I looked in the mirror one day at the age of 37 and said "What the hell?!?!"....after that is when I found EDS.
I didn't use sunscreen either, in fact, my 37th birthday year was when I went on a 3 week Florida/Caribbean extravaganza with my kids and baked my ass off Laughing

...believe me, it was the last time I ever had a tan!! haha. Since becoming a member here in 2008, it has been SPF 30 or higher 365 days a year Wink

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