She admits her skin improvement over the years is due to more expensive things like injectables and Botox, but her big favorite is Retin-A. I did find one video where you can see a big improvement over 3 years…I think an incredible improvement in her skin. Im doing a few, but don’t care to do 9 products.
Yes to the genetic component! Anyone who worked in biotech research can tell that killing or damaging a living thing is easy; repairing it is a daunting and next to impossible task. Our skin is designed to serve as a protective layer and has limited permeability, so any repairs more than skin deep are hard to achieve with topical oils and other GRAS ingredients. You need prescription-strength stuff. Retin-A is one such thing.
There is some discussion out there about her claim that her droopy eyelids improved due to retin-A that was not used in that area of her eyes. She said, “I guess it migrated up there.” That doesn’t really happen. Now is she saying she had Botox at the same time? Because originally it was just the Retin-A below her eyes that supposedly caused her upper eye lids to stop drooping. She looks a lot like my old college roommate and I wonder if she follows her.
I have used retain a…and botox (once…looking for a better less expensive doctor)…and yeah had a mini face lift. Retin a applied near or on the lid can migrate to the eye…inside the eye. Does anyone want acid on their eyeballs?
Maybe not?
I wondered about her upper eyelids, too. They look better but it’s hard to believe the retina-a migrating would do that.
I’m not sure why her droppy eye lids and having no surgery is such a big deal to her. She seems so intent on not having had surgery. I had a friend who’s insurance paid for it as it was hurting her peripheral vision. I thought it was a genic thing and there wasn’t much that could be done. Maybe I’m wrong.
It’s an interesting blog but some of the things seem a bit extreme i.e. sleeping on the back for less wrinkles and all the product. And the before and after pic, she clearly has on makeup on the after pic, not sure if that effects the results. Would have liked both to be sans makeup. And she admitted that the Botox helped not forming wrinkles.
Again, I don’t care what she does or doesn’t do. She’s found a way to make money, more power to her.
Thanks @conmama for sharing, it’s definitely an interesting blog.
You’re welcome, I think it’s a fun blog to follow. She did say she has no makeup on, that she has more professional lighting, but it looks like lipstick at least. I think she’s not sure about her eyelids, and is trying to guess why that raised. I think it has more to do with the Wands over her face and botox. As a matter of fact, I’m getting it for the first time next week and am nervous. Thankfully my Dermatologist recognizes this and we are being conservative. Jyst 15 units between the brows and one unit each under each brow to lift the droopy ends. That way if I want more I can have it. I’ll post my results. I’m nervous though. She said with 15 I would still be able to move slightly, but it will look much better.
This isn’t blog related, but seems relevant to the conversation. I went to a new dermatologist recently, and asked him if he would recommend any particular products for face routine. He did recommend retin-a, but for skin care serums, lotions, etc, he said if it makes you feel good, use it, but it doesn’t really matter what you use. He said it doesn’t even really matter if you use moisturizer - use it if you feel like it. I’ve heard this before,but this was recent confirmation. The cosmetics industry (or whatever you want to call that industry) would have you believe that certain things are important, but really much is genetics, staying out of the sun, etc. Think about our husbands - most don’t use anything at all, and they either have wrinkles or not, but it’s not based on their skincare routine
When D1 and I went on a tour of the Loire Castles in France, we learned a lot about Diane de Poitiers (1499-1566), mistress to King Henry II of France. She was considered peculiar because she bathed every day, stayed out of the sun, used lotions on her skin, and slept almost upright so that she wouldn’t get wrinkles. It must have worked, because she apparently looked decades younger than her real age (and was many years older-19-than Henry).
No way I’m sleeping on my back, much less practically sleeping sitting up. I guess I won’t look many years younger than my age. Not going to lose any sleep over it. 
@1214mom …I’ve always thought the same thing, but I’m going to do an experiment of my own after watching her blog. I did Retin-A for 4 years and stopped 2 years ago. I noticed just a teeny hair fall out fir a few years, then massive hair loss 2 years ago. Other things such as stress most likely contributed, but I googled Retin -A and hair loss extensively. I wish I had kept one study I found, but it is indeed a side effect to a minority of people. It is surprising how many complain about this. Anyway, my hair grew back, I lost about 40%. Is it because I went off RA, or something else? Who knows. But it’s spooked me enough to go off it for good. I have to say it help minimize my fine wtinkles, close pores and my upper skin would slough off every 2 months or so, leaving me with soft glowing skin underneath. I miss it.
So, I’m going to take a before picture, without makeup, smiling. I don’t have wrinkles when I don’t smile, but you can see them when I do. Then after 6 months, I will take another.
I will be using the Vitamin C and E Ferulic acid serum in the morning, and the Co-enzyme 10 with maytrixl 3000 at night. Will report back…my own Beauty report! Plus, look at this blog she did on her crepey skin. I find it amazing the difference in her knees especially. So, I guess I believe these products might work.
I understand why people get some results from Retin A as it does promote peeling. But I found I had consistently dry and even sometimes irritated skin no matter how I adjusted the time between applications. While I use a tinted moisturizer rather than foundation, it never went on smoothly and I always had peeling skin somewhere on my face. Simply could not use any bronzer or blush because it was powder based and that just made the dry skin more noticeable. So for me it really worked against itself. My skin was kind of a mess for the 6 weeks I tried it. I used the prescription Retin A and I think it was the lowest percentage.
For those who use it regularly, do you produce a peel and then just go off it?
I am not meaning to recommend retin-a. I tried using it a couple of years ago, and had an allergic reaction. I’m just reporting what the doctor told me, when asked specifically. I already have a fair amount of hair loss, so that’s just another reason I should not use retin-a again.
When I was younger, I was an “ivory girl,” and didn’t use anything except Ivory soap on my face. I didn’t use moisturizer, and had oily skin. For many years now I’ve tried different moisturizers, from pretty inexpensive (cerave) to what I consider expensive ((caudalie), and have mostly used Clinique.
I’m trying a few of the products on her list. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser - I like how it feels when you rub it on your face. CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion - it gives a little tingle/sting, but maybe I scrubbed my skin too hard first. Olay Regenerist Microsculpting serum, feels nice going on. I also picked up a L’Oreal Revitalift Volume Eye Filler treatment to see if it does anything. On occasion I’ll use Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Scrub Cleanser. My normal routine is to wash my face with Cetaphil, put on a little olay moisturizer, a little IT concealer, and done.
I have used retin A .05 (a low dosage) for over a year and I have never peeled. I can’t tell a difference in my skin but, honestly, I’m not sure if I would notice because I’m sure it would have been gradual.
I was recently at the dermatologist’s and asked about the .05 and she prescribed me a stronger strength. Might have been 1.0 but I’m not sure. It was over $250! The .05 was about $75 until I discovered goodrx.com and then I was able to get it for $29. So far I haven’t been able to bite the bullet on the higher dosage but I do wonder if I would peel.
I have been losing a little more hair lately but I went through menopause and associated it with that and it just started a few months ago which coincides more with the former and less with my retin A usage. I was unaware there was a link to hair loss by using retin a.
@1214mom …I really do think Retin-A is the gold standard! I was just sort of putting my own warning label on it. If you notice hair loss it might be that. The .majority of people don’t have that side effect.
I know a product that will produce a very gentle mini peel of dry skin from the face. It’s called Pretty Feet and Hands. Yes it’s for feet and hands but the company’s website states it may be used on the face as long as you are gentle. I can’t explain how it works – website says something about paraffin and evaporation - but it rubs off dry skin. I wouldn’t use it every day, perhaps once a week, then apply moisturizer.