Neutrogena Advance Solutions Complete Acne Therapy System Review

Four months ago I left Philadelphia for the United States Virgin Islands. I left behind all the stresses of city living, the never ending rat race that moves us along. However, my acne followed me across the Atlantic Ocean into the Caribbean Sea. Where it found itself happily back on my face. I knew it was because of the climate: the heat and hot-hot sun. I went to the health food store to buy a bottle of Jojoba Oil, but it was triple the cost of Trader Joes. Not gonna happen. Later that day I was watching the tele and I saw a Neutrogena ad claiming that its new acne system works faster than ProActive. !Really! So I went to the local Kmart and got myself the Neutrogena Advance Solutions Complete Acne Therapy System. On sale there was also a face brush very similar to the Clarisonic face brush that I have been hinting for for quite some time, but it was more than I wanted to spend. I had already gotten the Acne Therapy System for $27 and I didn't feel like spending money that I didn't have. Then I remembered the Dermalogica Facial Brush I won in an office contest and decided just like afrobella that I was going to implement this tool as part of my new regimine. That evening I went home wet my face with some warm water, applied a quater-size amont of cleanser in my hand and applied it to my face. The active ingredient in the cleanser is salicylic acid. Then I wet the facial brush and made circular motions with it around my face. Gently massaging and lifting away dead skin cells and debris. After I washed the cleanser off of my face I applied the "night cream", which has a benzoyl peroxide base and went to bed. I have to admit I did notice a reduction in some of my pimples the following morning. Then I repeated the first step and applied the "day cream" to my face. The day cream basically is an SPF 15 cream with a natural product base that is not elaborated on. I felt like the day cream made me sweat even more. I could feel it on my face. I think the next time I'll just use less product. I recommend this system for anyone suffering from mild to moderate acne. I don't know how well it would work for someone with really bad acne. If you or anyone you know have tried it please leave a comment. I am still using the product but because of my hectic lifestyle there are nights where I don't follow through with the steps. If you are going to use this system be commited to it. Just like ProActive or Murad, if you don't commit to the program it will not work.

Clarisonic Face Brush

I was just over at afrobella.com when I read about the Clarisonic Face Brush. Afrobella herself credits this tool along with a regular cleaning system with Cetaphil as her breakthrough regime for healthy, acne-free skin. Long story short: I NEED THIS BRUSH! No joke. I just read the reviews for it on essentialdayspa.com. I am sold. I need one pronto. My birthday isn't for another two months and I can't afford to spend $195 on a face brush even if it means perfect skin.....or can I? We'll see. If I do get it I promise that I will share every step of it with you. I'm so excited and I don't even own one. If you have a Clarisonic Face Brush or have used the kit before can you please share your experience with us. We'd love to hear.

Q & A Product Review/Interview

I had my co-worker Jennifer and her teenage daughter try the Himalaya Products on their problem skin. Although I have tried the products and have shared my results with you I wanted you to hear it from someone else. Thanks you so much Jennifer and little Jenn!!

Q 1. How would you describe your skin (texture, moisture level, acne, ect) before using the cream facial wash?
A. I am very fair with sensitive skin. I also have severe rosacea on my checks. So I get break outs and extra dry skin in those areas.

Q 2. How would you describe your skin (texture, moisture level, ect) after using the cream facial wash?

A. Certainly helped the rosacea calm down. Skin felt smoother and less tight than after other facial washes.

Q 3. Would you recommend this product to anyone?
A. I recommended it to my 14 year old. It is a wonderful product. It is not harsh at all. Does not strip delicate skin of the moisture it needs.

Q 4. How do you feel about the toner? Did it leave your face feeling? (Dry or refreshed? Tight or moisturized? ect.)
A. Because of my dry / sensitive skin I tend to only was my face at night and was rinsing w/water in the am to refresh I switched to the toner - it doesn't make my face feel that 'tight' feeling that the water sometimes does. I almost feel like I don't need the moisturizer. It feels refreshed and smooth.

Q 5. Did the mask help with your break out? Was the smell pleasant? Was it easy to apply, to take of? Would your recommend it to friends?

A. I liked the mask - my daughter used it more. The smell was really nice.

Q 6. Did the Pimple cream help reduce the size of your pimples? How long would you say it took to diminish the size of your pimple? How did you feel about the smell, texture, application, ect.

A. The pimple cream got me started! I started on my cheeks with my rosacea spots and it really calmed the acne down. I gave it to my daughter and she loved it. She used it daily on some of her trouble spots and the acne cleared - she gave it to her friends and now they love it too. I would say it took about a 4 days to a week to see a difference but anything that tells you it will work overnight is just going to dry your skin out and strip it and make matters worse down the line. I love this product.

Q 7.Would you recommend Himalaya Herbal Health care to your friends? Where did you get your product (answer only if you ordered products) Where did you get them from? Was the process easy? How was accuracy of bill? How long did it take? How was the customer service (answer only if you had direct contact with the company). Would you use them again?

A. Yes, I have recommended the product. Ordered online - so far just the pimple cream.

Birth Control and Acne

It's been a while since I've last posted anything but to be honest I have been going through a dermatological roller coaster! My skin was doing great with the Himalaya-Pimple-and-Acne-Cream-with-the-Jojoba as a moisturizer routine but as the hot days of summer approaches it is slowly going back to how it use to be: oily and broken out. Being the impatient person that I am I wanted something that was going to fix this problem quick, fast and in a hurry. So I resorted to something that I told myself I will never do again: Birth Control.

The nurse at the Planned Parenthood Clinic was very nice. I had been to this particular clinic the last time I was on the pill. However this was over two years ago and my file was deleted. Luckily I remembered what pill I used and was on my way home with a two month supply of Ortho Tri-cycln Lo. Within the first three days I saw immediate results. Just like the first time I used it my skin looked amazing. It was smooth and radiant. I absolutely loved it. then about 19 days into taking the pill my boyfriend's grandfather died suddenly and just like that my skin ruptured into a million (more like 7) huge zits. Now I'm rearing the last couple days of my second pack of pills and my face still has not cleared up. I am going back to the clinic on Tuesday to get more pills because I really believe that it can help my skin. I believe that the stress caused by my Nonno's death is what caused my severe breakout. Nonetheless I have returned to my beloved Himalaya Pimple Cream to ease the discomfort along my chin and jawline.

This severe break out really proves to me how much we need to take life easy. Stress kills and its effects on your skins can be very evident. Today my boss had a huge purple pimple right in the middle of her forehead. I have never ever seen her skin like that before. She has never seen her skin like that before. So being the cautious woman that she is she went to her doctor who informed her that the monstrosity on her face was caused by stress! Honestly I'm crossing my fingers that the breakout I experienced is caused by stress and not the pill because there are more perks to taking the pill besides smooth skin. (birth control hint hint). I will be beginning my third set of pills starting sometime next week. So I will continue to blog about acne and birth control in the next up coming post.

Get Rid of Body Acne!

There are several causes as to why some of us have body acne. Some reasons are the same as why we have acne on our faces. Things like genetics and over production of oil. Some tips for getting rid of body acne especially on our chests and backs are as follows:

• Wear breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen in the warmer seasons and climates. Unbreathable fabrics like nylon can keep sweat and dirt close to your body and aids in clogging your pores.
• Wash your body with a gentle anti-bacterial cleanser such as Cetaphil.
  
• Moisturize your body. I have been using jojoba oil on my chest an shoulders for the past few weeks and I have noticed a big difference in the texture. My skin took a beating this winter!
  
• Get a new bag! Back packs are bad for people with back acne because it makes your back sweat and keeps the sweat on it. I just got a bag from The Gap that goes over my shoulders.

Some people have stated that benzoyl peroxide has helped them with their body acne. I tried BP before and it made my skin itchy and irritable. Its also bleached my t-shirts. Study now shows that BP causes free radicals! This is something many of you might want to be aware of. I am an anti-oxidantaholic so I try to stay away from free radicals as much as I can.

There are also some negative side effects to salicylic acid. I read that it can be absorbed into the skin and should not be used if you are breast feeding or pregnant. I think that is kind of scary. That's why natural is the way to go!

Body Acne

Spring is in the air and that only means one thing: Summer is right around the corner. Time to get rid of the bulge and hit the shore. I can't wait! As ecstatic as I might sound about the summer time I also get really frustrated that time of the year. One reason is my pesky body acne problem. Its not as bad as it use to be I will be honest about that. I have been putting Jojoba Oil on my chest when I get out of the shower. I cannot stress any more how amazing jojoba oil is! However there are some spots left that are really embarrassing. I have some scars on my shoulders and upper arms also. They are just pigmented scars and I know that maybe some skin bleaching cream can get rid of them ,BUT I REFUSE to put any of those products on my skin. Part of this blog is for me to find natural and healthy ways to help people care for their skin. Nonetheless this is a learning experience and who knows I might have to resort to those creams, but only under desperate measures. Speaking of scars I found a natural skin brightener, but I am not going to write about it now. Soon I will do another review for my new Himalaya Products, FYI , they have been doing great!

The Secret to "Glowing" Skin Is...

...Jojoba Oil, yea I said it. That stuff is great. I have been using it for a couple weeks now and I have seen nothing but improvements. I did break out a little bit but it was near that time of the month and I always do during "that time of the month", but it went away in couple days.

Also remember to drink lots of water and take your vitamins. It only does you go in the end and makes your pee really yellow. Teehee.

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Ooooooooh guess what....I GOT NEW PRODUCTS!!! From Himalaya Herbals, but you have to wait until I test them all for a review. Until then good health and glowing skin!

Jojoba Oil and Acne

Lately I have been searching for a new "all natural" moisturizer. That's when I came across jojoba (hohoba) oil. I have heard about the moisturizing wonders of the oil before however I had no idea that it can be used to treat acne. So I headed out to Trader Joe's
and got me a 4oz bottle for only $6.99!

What is Jojoba Oil?
When you have acne-prone skin the last word you want to hear is oil, since we associate oil with breakouts. Jojoba Oil on the other hand is not actually an oil but a wax ester very similar to the natural oil that our body produces through our sebaceous glands. I'm sure that you are probably asking yourself "how does this help my acne ?" Well the answer is pretty simple. The jojoba oil tricks your skin into thinking that it has produced enough oil so it won't over produce oil and clog your pores. If you don't get it don't feel bad it took me a while to get it. It is great for dry skin and hair. I have also read that it can reduce fine lines and wrinkles!

Test Time
So I set out to test the wonders of the miracle oil myself. First I cleansed my face pat dried it and applied a dime sized amount of oil in my hands. I rubbed my palms together and and stroked my neck and face upwards gently massage my cheeks and nose area. When I looked in the mirror I got a little nervous. I thought that I had over applied the oil and decided to wipe it off with a towel. I passed the towel over my nose and cheeks. When I looked in the mirror...brace yourselves....all of the tiny little black 'thingys' on my nose were GONE.

So I did some more investigating and it turns out that Jojoba oil is an EXCELLENT CLEANSER. It is also great at removing buildup around hair follicles making it treating dandruff and dry scalp. ***side note*** I just purchased JASON Organic Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioner, two words AWE SOME..teehee*** Jojoba Oil is also packed with vitamin C. It is also loaded with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

I found some pretty informative websites about Jojoba Oil that I think you guys might be interested in. Check em out!


Soaper Choice This website gave me straight forward info on Jojoba Oil and its wonders.
Acne.Org I really enjoyed reading the unbiased and varying reviews from different people who used Jojoba Oil to treat their acne.
Ageless
I found this website to be informative. However I would not purchase their product, simply because I got such a great deal at Trader Joes.
Opia, Inc I thought this guy's story was interesting. I hope it wasn't made up just to sell a product.
Rosacea & Jojoba Despite the tasteless web format, I believe this website will give hope to those suffering from rosacea.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Battle Acne?

No, I am not going to stop using the Himalaya Pimple Cream. This stuff is amazing!! My skin looks great, I feel great and I feel happy!! But for those of you who have tried the cream and it has not worked for you I have stumbled across a few ayurvedic and natural remedies to help you fight acne and win your battle over the bumps! Today I am going to focus on Hydrogen Peroxide.


The reason hydrogen peroxide fights acne is simple. The bacteria that causes acne is anaerobic. This means that the bacteria that causes our breakouts don't like OXYGEN. I visited this website the other day and I read a bunch of reviews from people who claimed that HP has cured their acne. So I (the human guinea pig that I am) decided to try it. I had a little bugger on my chin that was really starting to annoy me because it was literally the ONLY pimple on my face (God bless Himalaya !). So I took a cotton ball and soaked it in HP. I placed it on my chin for about 5 minutes. When I took it off the pimple was DRIED UP! I couldn't believe it! So I decided to do a little more research on HP and its effects on acne because I had never heard anyone using it to treat acne before I visited that website. So that's when I went to this other website, which totally made me change my mind about using HP for my break outs. I am not sure now if I would recommend it to people because of the free-radical effects of the HP but I do agree with the people from www.earthclinic.com who said that it cleared up their acne. I think I have to consult my 'biologist sister'. I am torn on this one guys. What do you think?

Home made mask

As you all know I am completely obsessed with tumeric, not only for its antioxidant properties but also for it's ability to treat many skin problems such as ance and eczema. I rencently made a homemade mask primarily composed of turmeric and orange juice. It was really easy!

3 tsp of turmeric
3 tsp of orange juice
(Blend them together, for a more liquid texture add a bit more orange juice.)

I wanted the "luiquidy" texture so I added about 5 tsp. When I applied the mixture to my face it suprisinly went on easily. After the first layer I decided to add another layer to my face because it was starting to fall off. I also recommend that you where black or an old t-shirt that you dont want anymore becaus the turmeric stains easily. My hands were orange for a long time after I washed them. I kept the mask on for about 15 mins and washed it off. Before I added the water to my face I gently exfoliated my skin by rubbing my dry hands on m y face. I loved the gritty texture of the mask. I had to wash my face three times for the "yellowness" to completley come off of my face. My white ceramic sink looked a mess also. I do not recomended using this mask if you are white or have a very pale complexion or pressed on time. In the end I thought that my skin looked brighter it felt a lot softer. I think I will do this once a week or two. To all of you adventurous readers out there give it a try and tell me what you think!

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Although you may not have heard of Hidradenitis Suppurativa it is possible that you may have it and not know it. Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), also known as acne inversa, is an inflammatory skin disease that affects only a reported 1% of the population. I believe that it affects many more people but it is not reported because of misdiagnoses and because people are too embarrassed to talk about it. HS is often misdiagnosed as acne, ingrown hairs and even herpes. When I first researched this skin disease I noticed that a lot of people described their symptoms as "bumps on inner thigh" or "bad ingrown hairs" or "Herpes under the arms". For the record I want to clarify that HS is not genital herpes (HSV2). It is a skin disease that affects areas of skin such as the inner thigh, under arms, buttocks and breast.

Symptoms

• Painful boil, lesions
• Pain and tenderness under the skin
• Pus or fluid like discharge from lesions or tracts on or under the skin.
• Red, tender swelling, in the groin area
• Odor infected areas

No one knows the exact cause of HS however many think it is a type of endocrine disorder along with clogging of the apocrine ducts. While others believe that it is a combination of both along with a variety of bacteria that causes the infections. Our apocrine glands are prominently located in the underarms as well as the genital area. Although we may not know the cause of HS we do know that it is most prevalent in African American women and overweight individuals. Obesity, however is not a cause of HS neither is poor hygiene.

Treatments

• Topical antibiotics
• Loose clothing should be worn at all times
• A good antibacterial soap such as Dial or Lever 2000
• In some cases surgery is needed
• Loosing weight can be helpful but keep in mind that the disease is not caused by obesity, it just makes it harder to cope with.
• Avoid antiperspirants
  
• Birth control pills maybe used to create a hormonal balance
• Steroids may also be used to decrease inflammation

Support

• The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation is an excellent resource.
• Although I am not a member of this yahoo group. I recommend joining it. It is for support group for people living with HS.
  
• I also visited David Stearns website. He is one of the forerunners in the fight for a cure for HS.
  

If you are suffering from HS or is unsure if you have HS please consult a physician before your condition gets worst. Please do not be embarrassed there are many like and no one should have to suffer alone. I will try to post more on this topic because I think that it is very important that people with HS are heard and that they are informed about their condition. Take care of your beautiful selves until my next post, stay blessed.

Vitamins and Acne

This morning I got up and took a look at myself in the mirror. To my surprise my skin looked great! I have been using the Himalya Pimple Cream daily and it is doing a great job. Recently I started to only use it as a spot treatment. After I wash my face I would apply the Pimple Cream to a particular bump and after it is fully absorbed into my skin I will add some moisturizer. Moisturizer is essential for healthy skin. I use The Vitamin E Moisture Cream from The Body Shop. It works great. It is very light weight and blends into the skin easily.

I recently started taking vitamins also. I believe they are playing a significant role in the way my skin looks now. I started taking vitamin E and vitamin A capsules daily. They are two of the oldest veterans in the skin care market.

As many of you may know large quantities of vitamin A has been used to treat severe acne. Prescription medicine such as Accutane is a great example of how the vitamin has been used to treat and control acne. However large quantities of vitamin A is extremely toxic and hazardous to the body. In women it can cause reproductive problems, so be sure to ask your doctor about going on a vitamin A regime especially if you are pregnant or nursing. The vitamin A pills I am taking are only at 8,000 IU. I take it once daily with a meal. If you are not into taking vitamins because you don't think it is natural, I recommend it eating foods such as spinach, carrots, broccoli and mangoes to name a few.

Vitamin E is one of the biggest heroes in the Vitamin world. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that is used to battle free radicals that can damage cells and also lead to heart disease and even cancer. Not only is Vitamin E great for you skin and kicking free radicals butts its a great for your immune system. When used with Vitamin C, Vitamin E works even harder. With that said I take 400 IU of vitamin E along with two vitamin C tablets each packing 500 mg of ass kicking goodness. Foods rich in Vitamin E include, once again, spinach, mangoes, peanuts, wheat germ oil, kiwi, soybean and corn to name a few. So don't forget to take your vitamins!

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I have been very busy with my new job and my new sleeping schedule has put a damper on my twilight posts. However I have not been too busy for my skin. I am still using the pimple cream. Unfortunately I have not been so regular with the neem capsules. It is really hard to say what the effects were on me because I did not feel a difference. I don't even know if I was suppose to be feeling anything. Nonetheless I will continue to take them...when I remember.

Oily skin

Today when I was at work I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I saw how oily my skin looks. My first taught was to run to the bathroom and wash it but then I realized that without a any moisturizer my face would dry out and would over produce oil so I waited it out. The Pimple cream is still doing a good job and even though it says that its for all skin types I don't know if I would recommend it for oily skin.

I also wanted to rave about one of my favorite face washes of all time that I completely forgot to mention: Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser from Aveda. They also have a new line of skin care products for acne. I can't comment on that as yet because I haven't tried any of them.

This face wash is awesome and I can't wait to purchase it again! By the way I am still going to get the neem face wash for those of you still interested in neem and its wonders. I too am very curious about this product and I hope it helps in the battle against the bumps.

4 days later

I broke out. I missed a night of the routine and I broke out. Just a little bit though. No monsters just the little tiny annoying ones. Thats what I get for going to bed intoxicated. Well folks I'll let you know how long it is going to take for this fleet of bumps to leave. Oh also I got some turmeric from my house mate. I am going to try to make a homemade mask. I'll let you guys know how it turns out. Peace!

Day 6

I wish I could tell the whole world about these products. I have been taking the neem capsules everyday. I noticed that I have been regular since I started taking them. I don't know if it is one of the benefits, but I do like being more regular.

My skin is still looking good. The spots are starting to fade a bit. Some of the scab from old pimples have come off and it does not feel as though there is anything under it. I still have a few little blackheads around my mouth. I read recently that your toothpaste can break you out. So when you are brushing your teeth you should avoid letting the toothpaste drip from you mouth onto your chin. As much as I try to avoid the drooling its sort of hard cause I am a messy brusher.

Anyways I think I am going to order the Neem Face Wash. One reader had very good things to say about it and as you all know I don't mind being the Guinea Pig for the greater good.

Oh yeah before I forget to tell you guys my interview went well. I got an offer and I took the job. I am so excited!! I guess my skills were stronger than my confidence because my skin looked horrible that day. However now that my confidence is higher I know I will be able to do the best that I can. I know it sounds cheesy but those of you whose confidence has suffered from low self esteem because of acne know exactly what I am talking about.

Well everyone take care...until tomorrow!

Day 5

I woke up this morning with a huge SOB on my cheek. When I washed my face though it started to become a bit softer and eventually popped. So I put some of the Pimple Cream on my face and and after about 30 minutes it took the redness away. I am really impress with this cream. I haven't seen my skin like this in a long time and I am really happy!!

I am going to order a couple more products from Himalaya. They have a product called the Neem Face Pack .

Description:

Neem, a time-honored botanical used for thousands of years and Turmeric, well known for it's antioxidant properties, empower this earthy herbal formulation to promote a healthy complexion for skin. Apply once or twice a week to clean and rejuvenate your skin.

Use Directions:

Apply evenly over cleansed face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes. Allow it to dry for 10-15 minutes. Remove with wet sponge and wash the skin with cool water. Use once or twice a week.

Price:
$8.99

I am going to get this. When I do I will let you guys know if I like it or not. YaY!!

Apply evenly over cleansed face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes. Allow it to dry for 10-15 minutes. Remove with wet sponge and wash the skin with cool water. Use once or twice a week.

One issue solved.

As you guys may recall a couple posts ago I couldn't figure out why on the website it said acne-n-pimple cream but when the order came it said pimple cream. Well I went to the company website that makes both products and they call it Pimple Cream. So I'm not crazy and neither are you.

Visit their website at www.himalayausa.com

Days 3 & 4

I am starting to notice a great significance in the texture and overall appearance of my skin. I have been sticking to my regimen and is still taking the neem capsules. The "make-up" mask-like feeling is still there however I have come to realize that this occurs mostly when I over apply the product. Now I only apply as thin a layer as possible. You can spread the cream out if you put a little work into it so that way you won't have to apply too much of the cream. By the way Happy New Year to everyone. I wish you all good health and great skin!!

Night # 2

Tonight I repeated the regimen. I am really beginning to see a big difference in my skin. My mom said she noticed it too. My confidence is definitely getting stronger!