Category: lists

Current Skincare Routine: May, 2018

~ Julia

This is currently what I’m doing to my face to take care of my skin. If it changes in the future, I’ll update with a new post, and reference with this one.

Morning Routine

Face Wash
I use one or the other, based on how good I was at cleaning my face the night before. The White Clay Foam is a little higher-octane.

Acid Toner

Moisturizer

  • CeraVe PM Face Moisturizer for Nighttime Use
    I like this formula well-enough: it was great for the winter when my face was a but a dried-out corn husk. It’s a little too occlusive for the summer Ohio humidity – the ceramides in it suck up all the moisture in the air, and makes me feel a little greasy.
  • belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
    Sample size purchased using Sephora Points – would love to be able to buy/afford the full size.

Evening Routine

Double Cleanse
The first cleanse is designed to remove makeup, and the second to cleanse the skin.

Acid Toner

Acne Treatment
One thing I discovered is that the only way I’m able to keep my acne at bay is by treating my whole face (not just spot treatment) every single day. Spot treating is locking up the barn after the horse already escaped.

  • DDF Benzoyl Peroxide Gel (5%)
  • (Formerly) La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo
    Made the switch to DDF because the cost/oz is so much better, part of which is because I think you aren’t paying for ingredients in negligible quantities. That said, if you can afford to use Effaclar every single day, it’s a great product.
Acne Topical Cream Comparison
I have an entire Sheet in my Google Drive that I use to do ingredient and price comparison on tons of different products. This spreadsheet is for acne creams, and I had originally compared 10 different creams, for price and ingredients.

Moisturizer

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You’ll note that I don’t have an SPF integrated into my skin care. Be ye not so foolish as me! Use sunscreen every single day, separate from what’s in your makeup product! I’m just super lazy and haven’t integrated it into my skincare routine.

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Edited 05/22/2018 @ 7:35pm EST:

Some Notes:

  • A lot of websites will give you a discount if you sign up for their email list. I’ve gotten great deals this way. To get around using an actual email account, sign up for a burner and never get pestered again (unless you use an actual email to confirm the order – then you’re on your own).
  • If you want to check what the ingredients in your skin care actually do, like I did in my spreadsheet above, go to the INCIDecoder, and nerd out.

So, I’m Grateful That Didn’t Go Worse…

~ Julia ~ 1 Comment
I’m dragging pretty hard today after a long day yesterday. We were doing introductions/networking in my capstone class last night and that ran until 10:30. I didn’t get home until 11:15, and didn’t fall asleep until midnight. I still got up at my regular time of 5:45 though.
I’ve uncomfortably noticed how awkward I feel/am when I’m talking to large groups of people. One-on-one, meeting new people is no problem: I’m pretty good at controlling the word vomit. When I’m giving large presentations, I’m fine: the focus isn’t on me, but on the subject I’m presenting, so there’s no room for over-sharing. But when I get up in front of large groups and have to talk about myself, it’s just this awkward diarrhea of the mouth that I can’t control while at the same time knowing that I’m not controlling it and wanting so bad to STFU.
That was last night, during our classroom networking/introductions; it was so painful. I’m still trying to not obsess over it, but we all know how good I am about not vortexing through negative self-talk…
Quite simply, between reliving every awkward moment from last night in my head several times over, and the lack of sleep, I can’t wait to be unconscious.

But there are definitely some things I am grateful for:
  1. Fresh haircut: it actually has shape again!
  2. Being able to grocery shop in a small town in a small store at 8:00 at night. I had the whole place to myself, practically!
  3. I did a Sun Salutation after my workout today, and good gravy, did that ever feel good!
  4. I had a raspberry Life Saver today, which was a nice little treat.
  5. My mini herb garden in my office: I nearly dried them right in their pots, but I’ve moved them around and am trying to save them. Keep your fingers crossed.

Wage a battle against embitterment and take part in Grace in Small Things.

New Semester, and Grace in Small Things #9

~ Julia
My first day of class was on Tuesday, and I am taking the “capstone” early (before I finish my electives) so that I can get it out of the way in the beginning of the year, and not have to try to cram it into a shortened summer semester.
I assume that this highly-integrated class is going to be just like a thesis defense, except I don’t have a year to finish it, only a semester. And it’s a group project. Which, given my track record with group work through my MBA, this could be bad news.
That said, I’m very committed to learning as much as I can in this class, and starting work early, and working on it often. I will not get caught with my pants down as far as learning the material is concerned, which is exactly how I felt at the end of last semester.
Here’s some other things I’m feeling grateful for, in addition to not proverbially mooning anyone:
  1. My hand-blown drinking glass I got from Hale Farm. I’ve put a lot of gallons through it.
  2. New pants from the Ann Taylor Factory Outlet. I now have more than two pairs of pants in my wardrobe that fit!
  3. Taco night. Good god-particle, I love me some tacos.
  4. Audiobooks that I can listen to while pedaling nowhere on the recumbent bike at the gym.
  5. The feeling you get when you pull the covers up to your chin when it’s cold out. So snug!

Wage a battle against embitterment and take part in Grace in Small Things.

Grace in Small Things #8

~ Julia ~ 1 Comment
Busy week here in the Wycket world. I’ve been very dutiful in going to the gym, and I’ve been every day this week. Tomorrow will be my “off” day, and Friday my personal training session. I try to do a mix of intense cardio with light lifting, because my PT is all lifting/strength. Sometimes, though, I have to share the small gym with another gentleman who uses every machine in the gym (it’s a small gym), and it’s nearly impossible not to be in his way in some way, or to cycle in on one of the machines he’s using. Today was one of those days, so I just did intense cardio and called it a night.
I got Zumba for Christmas, but I have to re-arrange the basement so that the TV is closer to the “dance” area, which also requires me to move a huge bookcase, move the TV stand, buy a DVD player/requisite cords, and get a longer cable cord. So, Zumba has pretty much sat un-watched, un-danced to since Christmas. And, I really need to learn the steps, because a friend and I are signed up for a Zumba class at the local community college at the end of March, and neither she nor I want to be dancing in the opposite direction and backwards the whole time.
I feel good: I feel like this fitness regime is going to stick, but I realize it’s going to take a lot of commitment on my part: the pounds and inches don’t lose themselves.
Here’s some other things I’m feeling grateful for, on top of the runner’s high:
  1. New nail polish color, from eBay, OPI DS Extravagance, and it’s on my tootsies.
  2. A fuzzy cat, purring on my legs.
  3. My new Zentangle book, Yoga for the Brain, and a set of Sakura Pigma Micron Pens, from K, for Christmas.
  4. My nubbly blanket that I actually got on clearance from Cracker Barrel about a year ago. It’s fuzzy, soft, warm, and looks great.
  5. Flavored seltzer water, which is my new drink of choice: it’s inexpensive, has no sweetener, and comes in 1L containers. I go through about 1.25L a day. I’m finally getting my water in.

Wage a battle against embitterment and take part in Grace in Small Things.

Grace in Small Things #7

~ Julia
Today is my last day of my mini-vacation. I’m definitely ready to be back on a routine. Too much unstructured time leaves me all at loose ends. That said, I am not ready for the “get back into the swing of things” rush that always happens when one comes back from vacation.
I’m definitely feeling some gratitude this week, too:
  1. Having supportive people in my life, no matter how near or far.
  2. Pictures of sunny beaches, even if there are none around Cleveland for miles.
  3. In a similar vein, huge, wooly, comfy (if ugly) sweaters to stay warm with.
  4. Fuzzy socks.
  5. Long naps on a comfy couch.

Wage a battle against embitterment and take part in Grace in Small Things.