After having my lovely baby girl, it took awhile for me to gain back my own time. I am sure I should have done this long ago, as every mom is different. I consumed all my time and energy into my little bundle and ignored myself for quite some time. I think I realized almost a year and a half, upon returning to work, that I have to balance out time better. Meaning, put time aside to actually get ready for work, be presentable. This took awhile for me to adjust to. I think I would have adjusted easier if I didn’t let my weight and thyroid issues bring me down and if I could fit those workouts in, I need so desperately. Days are long when you are a commuter and when you get home and are happily greeted by your baby, everything else that mattered a half hour ago doesn’t and now it’s your baby’s time. I am sure this sounds familiar to a lot of working mommas.
I had started really ignoring mirrors. I have also gained a couple of scars since my baby, she can really grab on to your face when she gets it and that’s actually the first time I ever looked in the mirror. Checking my scratches out, I noticed <YIKES> that my face needs some care. It was all dry with my eczema flare up, red patchy cheeks, large brown melasma spots that still remain long after my pregnancy. Usually I treat my eczema with a daily moisturizing regiment that I have not followed since being pregnant as one of the creams I used, learning that it was not safe to use while pregnant, Vitamin A cream.
Well ladies if you suffer from any or all of the above… I swear by my skin regiment so far. To correct the large dark melasma spots I went to a dermatologist who prescribed me some medicated cream to put on the spots, I was out $55 dollars and it didn’t work and was not covered under benefits. So I thought after a dermatologist can’t do much for me except advise laser is the next step, I just excepted my patchy face.
Months later, a girlfriend and I ventured over to Shoppers one day during our lunch break, she was interested in getting some makeup. I started showing up at work wearing makeup to conceal my dryness and skin discoloration, and was actually enjoying wearing my makeup again. Co-workers were noticing, I guess it wasn’t all that bad. So I showing her how easy it is to apply the Smashbox tinted moisturizer (LOVE IT) and that all she needs is that and a loose powder to set it, voila a nice face. We had some time so we asked the cosmetician to assist in applying this all onto my friend’s face so she could get an idea, as she had never wore makeup and really needed help. During this my friend asked about cream to remove/lighten her acne scars. The cosmetician immediately showed her a small tube of Vichy ProEven. She said that they can’t keep it shelved and customers have been claiming it is working for them. So my friend got it, and so did I thinking it wouldn’t hurt to try it on these dark brown patches. I must say word carries quick, I was saying,"I hope this works for my pregnancy mask", and a lady at the register had over heard and quickly inquired about what we were talking about and bought the cream too. Retail price is somewhere in between $43.00 - $47.00. Also you may get lucky and get it on sale sometimes at Shoppers.
In the past I have used Jamieson Vitamin A cream for my night (renewal cream) this is a little jar of golden cream, it doesn’t smell too nice but magically brings your face back to life upon waking up every morning. The cream absorbs easily into your face, and it gives your face a nice clear, soft radiant appearance. Do not use vitamin A cream, if you are pregnant, breast feeding, and do not wear vitamin A cream outside in the sun. I actually purchased a new jar and wear it daily again, as part of my daily moisturizing regiment.
PREGNANCY AND SKIN CREAMS:
"Because some topical ingredients get absorbed into the bloodstream, there are some you want to avoid," adds Leslie Baumann, a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami
The more powerful and targeted products get, the more we need to be careful about what we have in our skin-care regimens during pregnancy. While most commonly used products are completely safe, there's a handful of ingredients considered potentially harmful to a growing baby. Below, see our guide to what to look for when shopping the beauty aisle.
If you plan to breastfeed, adds Johnson, continue following the guidelines noted below until you stop nursing.
These powerful substances, found in some antiaging moisturizers, are lauded for helping reduce wrinkles and improve skin tone. Retinoids are a type of vitamin A that speeds up cell division (quickening your skin's renewal) and prevent skin collagen from breaking down.
Differin (adapelene)
But retinoids are one of the skin-care ingredients that experts, including Baumann, recommend that expectant moms stay away from. Some studies have shown that high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy can be harmful to an unborn child. And oral retinoids, such as isotretinoin (Accutane, an acne treatment), are known to cause birth defects.
If you've been using a skin cream that contains a retinoid, don't panic. Retinoids have not been shown to cause problems in their topical form in pregnant women.
"There is no data to show these retinoids ingredients are harmful when used on the skin — doctors are just being extra cautious," explains Baumann.
On the label:
Retin-A, Renova (tretinoin)
Retinoic acid
Retinol
Retinyl linoleate
Retinyl palmitate
Tazorac and avage (Tazarotene)
Bottom line:
This mild acid is used to treat certain skin disorders, including acne, and you can find it in a number of skin products, such as cleansers and toners. It can penetrate facial oils to get deep into pores and clean out dead skin cells. Salicylic acid is in the aspirin family, so it can also help reduce inflammation or redness. BHA, or beta hydroxy acid, is a form of salicylic acid and is used in some topical exfoliants to reverse signs of aging.
Salicylic acid
But salicylic acid is another no-no for pregnant women. High doses of the acid in its oral form have been shown in studies to cause birth defects and various pregnancy complications.
Again, doctors are being cautious by recommending that pregnant women avoid the topical use of salicylic acid. Small amounts applied to the skin — such as a salicylic acid-containing toner used once or twice a day — are considered safe, says Johnson.
But the concern is stronger about face and body peels containing salicylic acid. "This kind of 'soaking' in the ingredient is similar to taking one or more aspirin when pregnant," she explains.
"More product used equals more absorption into the bloodstream," adds Baumann. Always check with your doctor before having a peel treatment. Better yet, she advises, if you must have a peel, have it done professionally at your dermatologist's office. A dermatologist will know how to do it safely during pregnancy.
On the label:
Beta hydroxy acid
BHA
Note: Alpha hydroxy acids, sometimes listed as AHAs, glycolic acid, or lactic acid, are safe.
Bottom line:
Best to avoid
ABOUT VITAMIN A CREAM:
Effects
According to Derma Doctor, vitamin A causes drying and peeling of the skin if too much is applied. In this way vitamin A is used as a drying agent for acne to erase blemishes. Vitamin A delivers the same effect on different conditions such as oily skin or psoriasis. Derma Doctor states that vitamin A creams not only work on acne but on any skin condition that responds to exfoliating agents and keratolytics. This means that nearly any condition that is improved by speeding up the skin exfoliating process can benefit from vitamin A cream.
Vitamin A Cream for Acne
The original purpose of vitamin A cream was to fight acne and it is still an effective treatment. Vitamin A creams are the most hydrating of the vitamin A treatments that include gels, solutions and ointments. Vitamin A cream is most prescribed for excessively dry skin since it is less drying than Vitamin A gels or solutions. Users use a small amount of cream once daily or every other day and within a few weeks your acne will dry up and start to disappear according to Derma Doctor. Side effects of vitamin A cream for acne can include redness, burning, peeling or sensitive skin, according to Derma Doctor. Derma Doctor advises working with your doctor to develop proper dosing based on your reactions to the cream.
Vitamin A Cream other Uses
According to Derma Doctor, in addition to acne, vitamin A cream is used to treat oily skin, wrinkles, skin lesions, flat warts, psoriasis and thickened skin.Some vitamin A creams are marketed for treatments of conditions other than acne. Vitamin A cream attacks these conditions either by drying them out in the case of oily skin or by making the skin exfoliate more rapidly. In the treatment of psoriasis and thickened skin, the cream causes the skin to peel more rapidly -- meaning the damaged skin is taken away quicker than it would be naturally.
Vitamin A Cream for Wrinkles
Vitamin A cream reduces wrinkles and even helps promote the production of skin building compounds, according to the Archives of Dermatology. According to Derma Doctor, vitamin A creams help build collagen fibers minimizing fine lines. Creams for wrinkles are diluted in moisturizer so that excessive skin drying does not occur. An Archives of Dermatology study cited increased collagen and the introduction of glycosaminoglycan that helps retain water, as the reasons vitamin A cream works on wrinkles.
Michee’s Facial Moisturizing Regiment
Morning:
- Wash Face with warm water and gentle cloth.
- Vichy Spot remover Cream, rub in and let if absorb.
- Alba Facial Vitamin E Cream, pat on and let absorb. (LOVE THIS, bottled Hawaiian scents)
- Apply your tinted moisturizer and/or foundation
- Set with a loose mineral powder.
Night:
- Wash Face with: Alba Facial Cleanser (LOVE THIS, bottled Hawaiian scents)
- Vichy Spot remover Cream, rub in and let if absorb.
- Jameson Vitamin A Cream, pat on and let absorb. (LOVE THIS, bottled Hawaiian scents)
I have been doing this moisturizing regiment for about a month. My skin has less breakouts, appears brighter, the large brown spots on my cheeks the right is almost gone the one on the left cheek is lightly faded. I am so happy with the outcome using the combination above.
I truly wish I had taken pictures to show a before and after of my face as you would truly be amazed. My friend has a darker complexion and I don’t know if she is as religious about her skin care, but she said she has noticed that using the Vichy ProEven she has seen improvements. Just by looking at her, her skin is lighter over all and her scars are not so prominent.
Seriously take care of you skin, it doesn’t take long to get back that radiant glow and feel like a million bucks again.
