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AlexxaHex
11-22-2007, 01:32 PM
Redifer is awesome. And she has gorgeous skin - AND she's from Buffalo (like me)! Welcome to SW - great advice.

scarlett_vancouver
11-22-2007, 03:30 PM
Raw honey IS a proven antibacterial...although most of the scientific research has only been done on Manuka honey, some of the properties probably carry over to other types.

Redifer, I would be interested in trying your method, but it sounds so...time consuming! How much time do you spend, per day and per week, on this?

Redifer
11-22-2007, 09:39 PM
Redifer is awesome. And she has gorgeous skin - AND she's from Buffalo (like me)! Welcome to SW - great advice.

Thank you! LOL You're from Buffalo too? Sweet! And thanks for the welcome, much appreciated!


Raw honey IS a proven antibacterial...although most of the scientific research has only been done on Manuka honey, some of the properties probably carry over to other types.

Redifer, I would be interested in trying your method, but it sounds so...time consuming! How much time do you spend, per day and per week, on this?

It really isn't that bad on time, I promise! It takes me about 5 minutes daily, and then the once a week scrub takes about 10 minutes.

I usually slather on the honey, and while it's sitting, prep everything else. Let the tea start seeping in hot water, prep my cotton pad with the essential oils. Once that's done, I sit for another 2 minutes, wash the honey off with the tea, and then rinse quickly with water. Pat dry, swipe the cotton pad over my face twice, air dry, and then moisturize!

The once-a-week oil/baking soda/witch hazel takes about 10 minutes. It really gets all the crud out of your pores that accumulates throughout the week with makeup and sweat. Splash face with hot water, let the oil sit for about 5 minutes. Scrub off with the baking soda and rinse. Then tone with witch hazel, and moisturize.


I know, when my friend first started telling me about it I was sure it was going to be a huge mess and horribly time consuming. The first time I did it took a littler longer, but after the 2nd or 3rd time it's down to a science and you can whiz it out easy!

Alaska
11-22-2007, 09:43 PM
I bet you can line up a bunch of premixed squeeze bottles and it wouldn't be so bad!


I'm leaving for 3 weeks soon and taking a TRAIN for 2 days each way, so I'll start in Jan.

AlexxaHex
11-22-2007, 11:46 PM
Thank you! LOL You're from Buffalo too? Sweet! And thanks for the welcome, much appreciated!


I grew up in B-Lo - lived there for 25 years - now I live in SoCal.

LoveSexMoney
11-25-2007, 10:17 AM
I found an article which further expands on Redifer's method:

ViolaStrings
11-25-2007, 12:33 PM
Get on minocycline. It sounds like you have cystic acne (painful bumps under the surface you can't pop, I had them too). I got on 100 mg a day and my skin is completely clear.

scarlett_vancouver
11-25-2007, 02:10 PM
Admittedly, my skin was great when I was on doxycycline daily (antibiotic, used as an antimalarial but also in treatment of acne)...but there's something really scary to me about long-term antibiotic use.

ViolaStrings
11-25-2007, 02:32 PM
Admittedly, my skin was great when I was on doxycycline daily (antibiotic, used as an antimalarial but also in treatment of acne)...but there's something really scary to me about long-term antibiotic use.

I agree, but when your acne is REALLY bad, that's kind of a trade off. I had to ask myself "Would I rather be totally safe and a pizza face all my life, or use this small dosage of an antibiotic daily and run some health risks?" I figure working in smoke multiple times a week and my awful diet is probably worse for me - and the cause of it! When I'm not stripping, my skin is great. Heavy make up plus smoke makes my antibiotics necessary.

Alaska
11-25-2007, 07:41 PM
Get on minocycline. It sounds like you have cystic acne (painful bumps under the surface you can't pop, I had them too). I got on 100 mg a day and my skin is completely clear.

I did that once before. It was okay, but wasn't %100 perfect, plus I had the side effect of feeling like I had pinworms in my ass at night, and it makes you xtra fertile so you should be using BC + condoms. (good thing I was 13-14, I never would have listened!)


Redifier, or anyone else that might know......what is your method for going about taking off a FULL FACE of concealer and foundation? I feel like it's necessary to remove that firstm THEN start cleansing yr face.

LoveSexMoney
11-25-2007, 08:36 PM
the article I linked to above explains it. Basically, the oil takes off all of the fake-up.

Alaska
11-25-2007, 08:42 PM
^thanks! that was a good article.

LoveSexMoney
11-25-2007, 08:58 PM
yw! I usually use Pond's cold cream but I'm going to try this proprietary blend of oils now :)

NatalieFRPhilly
11-25-2007, 10:42 PM
where do you find tea tree oil?

Alaska
11-25-2007, 10:43 PM
health food store, herb store, online

scarlett_vancouver
11-26-2007, 12:52 AM
^ even chain drugstores have Tea Tree oil now...usually in the vitamin section

Alaska
11-26-2007, 12:54 AM
Maybe up in C-A!! lol. We don't even have post offices at the drugstore. :( ;)

ahmeerah
11-26-2007, 07:42 AM
Newb here.. just posted in coming out.

Seriously, and this is going to sound totally off the wall:

Raw Honey. For real. Slather it on your face, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with green tea, and rinse again with barely lukewarm water. Tone with a wet cotton pad with 3 drops of lavender&tea tree oil, and moisturize with coconut oil.

Once a week, wet your face with HOT water, slather your face with a mixture of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Castor Oil. Let sit for a few minutes. Then scrub with baking soda, and rinse. Tone with witch hazel, then moisturize.

For serious. It works. I used to have HORRENDOUS skin, and it was even worse when my hormones fluctuated. A good crunchy friend gave me her secret to her beautiful skin, and my skin has never been better. I'd post a pic of it, but I have no idea how.

I just ordered some castor oil. I want to try this! Rgarding the "rinse with Green Tea": how? I have to make tea? Boil water? etc? Or ... what product are you using?

Here's what I've been doing that also works:

Daily wash/scrub with Dr Bronner's (olive oil base) mixed with baking soda (aluminnum free). Then I moisturize with coconut oil. I love it!

ahmeerah
12-03-2007, 11:07 PM
I have castor oil on my face RIGHT NOW and I'm getting ready to scrub it off before bed.

Has anyone here tried Redifer's technique yet?

NinaDaisy
12-04-2007, 04:14 AM
Me too. I don't know what your diet is like but I've noticed a big difference by limiting my intake of white sugar and refined grains. Still not *perfect* but vastly improved.

I used to be kind of skeptical about that approach, but after my face (and upper neck! :-[ ) exploded last week it might be worth a shot. I'm having egg whites with turkey and provolone for breakfast now instead of cold cereal.

I had a an incredibly hectic week and realized yesterday I've been ingesting way too many refined carbs over the last couple of weeks. Combined with this as the week when Aunt Flo comes for her monthly visit and...

I also went off the Obagi for a while too. Time to go back. It worked so well for me.

ahmeerah
12-04-2007, 07:43 AM
I used to be kind of skeptical about that approach, but after my face (and upper neck! :-[ ) exploded last week it might be worth a shot. I'm having egg whites with turkey and provolone for breakfast now instead of cold cereal.

I had a an incredibly hectic week and realized yesterday I've been ingesting way too many refined carbs over the last couple of weeks. Combined with this as the week when Aunt Flo comes for her monthly visit and...

I also went off the Obagi for a while too. Time to go back. It worked so well for me.

You can also just try nixing gluten (e.g., wheat, oats) and dairy all together. That REALLY helps. That combined with taking ionic magnesium (helps to stay alkaline; when I'm acidic, I get acne) saves my face.

But I want gorgeous, silky skin now so I'm trying this castor oil thing. I admit, I slept in it. I read someone online that it can be good to sleep with a little bit on your face. I hope I don't go too overboard. I tend to go overboard with new things.

LoveSexMoney
12-04-2007, 09:16 AM
I used to be kind of skeptical about that approach, but after my face (and upper neck! :-[ ) exploded last week it might be worth a shot. I'm having egg whites with turkey and provolone for breakfast now instead of cold cereal.

I had a an incredibly hectic week and realized yesterday I've been ingesting way too many refined carbs over the last couple of weeks. Combined with this as the week when Aunt Flo comes for her monthly visit and...

I also went off the Obagi for a while too. Time to go back. It worked so well for me.

yeah, hormones coupled with refined foods is not a good combonation for me either.

I'm back on Obagi too as of 2 weeks ago. Although I ran out of clear so I'm just using the blender with my retin-a. Also I use the ptr glycolic toner instead of the obagi toner.

Alaska
12-04-2007, 09:54 AM
I'm gonna try Redifier's method in Jan.


For now I'm finishing up the Murad set I got for free in the mail one day! It's pretty good.

BrunetteGoddess
12-04-2007, 01:33 PM
I've been using ACV as a toner for 4 days now and even though it reeks, I love it!

scarlett_vancouver
12-04-2007, 01:50 PM
Maybe up in C-A!! lol. We don't even have post offices at the drugstore. :( ;)

Haha. Yer so backwards ;)

circe221
12-10-2007, 03:01 PM
I found an article which further expands on Redifer's method:
http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

This sounds really interesting! I am almost afraid to try it since my face is oily to begin with, it sounds too good to be true! Has anyone tried this? I am just wondering how often you should use the oil cleansing method - the article says that it should be done regularly but not too frequently. I wonder what that means, or if it's different for each person?

Alaska
12-10-2007, 03:05 PM
^Check for Redifier's posts in here!

LoveSexMoney
12-11-2007, 08:49 AM
This sounds really interesting! I am almost afraid to try it since my face is oily to begin with, it sounds too good to be true! Has anyone tried this? I am just wondering how often you should use the oil cleansing method - the article says that it should be done regularly but not too frequently. I wonder what that means, or if it's different for each person?

I'd try it first for removing makeup at the end of the day. Try that a few times and see how it works out for you.

ahmeerah
12-12-2007, 02:11 PM
Update: My skin is clear and I've been using the castor oil as part of my face washing regimine at times but more frequesntly, I've been using it as a moisturizer: I wash my face, pat it dry, apply aloe vera gel and then a micro thin layer of castor oil. I used to use coconut oil. Now I switch it up!

I don't have acne because of my diet though. My main problem is getting rid of the scars. So, I'm waiting for my Retin A to come in the mail.

tRoUbLeMaKeR
01-02-2008, 02:19 PM
Someone told me (on here I think) that an endocrinologist is actually the person to see for acne. Dermatologists only work on short term (very harsh) fixes using medication, but an endocrinologist can actually tell you what you can change in your diet and vitamin/mineral intake to help your overall chemical balance. Much more effective and safe, IMO.


Alright....I got past my initial break out when I posted this and switched make up and face washes. Everything seemed okay until last week....now my chin is even worse - I look deformed :( So I made an appointment for my doctor and I need some input:

I have an HMO and am having to see a regular doctor first. It's a new plan so I've never been to this doctor....well I was wanting to get a referral to an endocrinologist....maybe that may give me more answers to the acne that at 23 is still haunting me. What I'm curious about is what I should say to the doctor? I've been warned that HMO doctors are not the best and that the doctor might insist that I need a derm, only because he knows nothing about endocrinology. So would I just say I want to see an endocrinologist to evaluate the internal chemistry balance issues that may be causing my pimples?

Also, someone suggested (on here) that chin pimples are stress related. How do I control this if this is true? Should I take meds or something - like for the stress?

God I envy those with good skin! LOL!

buffie06
01-02-2008, 03:40 PM
HMO doctors are fine.Just tell him your problem and he will prob write you an rx , if you want a referral he should give you one no problem, just ask. When I had problems w/ acne I got a prescription for minocycline and it cleared up great.

exotic0690
01-02-2008, 07:01 PM
I had horrible crazy acne.. The tanning bed and the Proactiv 3 step system changed my life !

Jeanette
01-02-2008, 07:28 PM
Here's a link for some more info and input from others who have tried the oil cleansing method. http://www.forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=5612

I just tried this for the first time the other day with a 50/50 split of castor oil and evoo. I liked the way my skin felt, but I did get a small pimple a day later, could just be my skin purging. I was able to take off my super waterproof mascara with the oil mixture. Apparently that castor oil is supposed to help healing and discloration, which is what I'm hoping for. My skin is very thin skin with some acne scarring. After just two days of applying the castor oil on my scars they seem to already be fading.

tampadancer
01-03-2008, 02:12 AM
I have been using solodyn, a prescription antibiotic, for about 7 weeks now,and my skin is clear, with the exception of an occasional tiny pimple. My skin was a disaster... so I hate the idea of antibiotics to control acne, but anything is better than acne :( I might try using this oil regimen now, in addition...

ahmeerah
01-03-2008, 07:30 AM
I think i finally found the Holy Grail for keeping the skin acne-free. At least it's been working for me. Now that I've been supplementing with ionic Magnesium, I got one zit once over the course of two months after eating one of those HUGE dark chocolate blacks from whole Foods. Other than than, no new pimples. Zero.

I used to have to eat really meticulously to maintain acne-free skin but then I remembered how much an alternative health guru i know praised Magnesium Chloride.

I think it has to do with maintaining an alkaline system (as opposed to acidic).

I take about 1000 mg/day in divided doses. I put it in my water bottles.

I started the Retin A less than a week ago and so far I like it. I use it for my scars and I guess to reduce the affects of aging (it's supposed to be good for that). And I've been moisturizing with castor oil OR I've been using it as part of my face washing regimine.

desavirsire
01-03-2008, 09:21 AM
Ahmeerah where do you get the ionic magnesium? I found Ionic-fizz magnesium on vitamin shoppe but I'm not sure if thats right. Also does it add a bad taste or a chalkey texture to the water or can you not even tell that it's there?

I've been taking spironolactone as suggested in a few threads on here. It works wonders for making my skin less oily but it's still not perfect. The only way I can acheive perfect skin is to severely restrict my diet. No flour, sugar, etc. Basicly only eat meat, fruits and raw vegetables.

ahmeerah
01-03-2008, 10:50 AM
Ahmeerah where do you get the ionic magnesium? I found Ionic-fizz magnesium on vitamin shoppe but I'm not sure if thats right. Also does it add a bad taste or a chalkey texture to the water or can you not even tell that it's there?

I've been taking spironolactone as suggested in a few threads on here. It works wonders for making my skin less oily but it's still not perfect. The only way I can acheive perfect skin is to severely restrict my diet. No flour, sugar, etc. Basicly only eat meat, fruits and raw vegetables.

I get mine from Vitamin Shoppe. It's by the company Concentrace. It comes in a small glass blue bottle with a dropper. The fizzy products make me gassy so I've been staying away from those.

Although I don't have to be as strict with my diet it's still pretty strict! For me, non-strict means I can still eat my gluten-free cookies and not break out. But I still have to stay gluten-free - so definitely no white flour. I'm not sure if it's directly related to past break outs but I know for certain that it had a lot to do with my digestive issues. I eat low sugar and use stevia instead. But that's more to keep my measurements in check! ;)

desavirsire
01-03-2008, 11:21 AM
Thanks for the info ahmeerah I a few more questions though. I found the blue bottle on the vitamin shoppe website it says that there are 2 Liquid servings per container. Does this mean that a bottle only lasts you 2 days or am I reading this wrong? Also you didn't mention if it adds any taste to the water?

ahmeerah
01-03-2008, 01:23 PM
Thanks for the info ahmeerah I a few more questions though. I found the blue bottle on the vitamin shoppe website it says that there are 2 Liquid servings per container. Does this mean that a bottle only lasts you 2 days or am I reading this wrong? Also you didn't mention if it adds any taste to the water?

The bottle itself holds 2 fl oz but there are 15 servings in each bottle. Each serving is 100 mg of magnesium. That's about 1500 mg of magnesium (other minerals are in there too). Honestly I would just start with 400 mg a day. That's a recommended dose for athletes. See how that works. If you take too much all of a sudden it can give you mild diarrhea.

BrunetteGoddess
01-03-2008, 02:02 PM
My cheap solution has been the apple cider vinegar. My skin has always been oily and acne prone. After one month of use, my skin just keeps getting better. It's almost totally clear and way less oily. I also use a moisturizer with acne medication in it and sunscreen everyday.

ahmeerah
01-03-2008, 02:38 PM
And no, the taste is hardly detectable depending on the ratio of water to magnesium. It's not chalky. Definitely don't take it straight. It's GROSS! But if you add no more than 500 mg to 1.5 L of water, there's really no taste. I think 500 would be the max as far as taste goes in a 1.5 bottle of water.

italianbeauty
01-04-2008, 06:46 AM
My cheap solution has been the apple cider vinegar. My skin has always been oily and acne prone. After one month of use, my skin just keeps getting better. It's almost totally clear and way less oily. I also use a moisturizer with acne medication in it and sunscreen everyday.

I have been doing the same! It is cheap, and for me, has been totally effective!