Shit That Works

Now, I'm a stickler for ingredients. But, if something works, you may be willing to make the sacrifice that every ingredient may not be 100% organic, preservative-free, or vegan. While we make strides to be healthier, better and overall much more conscious of what we put in/on our bodies, I like to think of it like First Lady Michelle Obama's fight against obesity. She plants gardens of vegetables, encourages kids to eat right, but admits that even kids sometimes need to eat like...well, kids. Meaning a) you have to live your life and b) if it's WORKING for you, stop worrying about it. I tell ALL of my clients - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

This is my list of what I like to call...SHIT THAT WORKS. 


For some reason, these products work for me, and because I'm nice (and I want them to never go out of business), I'm going to share them with you :) Happy reading!

ACZONE - There are two awesome dermatologists that you should know the names of: If you're in NJ, Dr. Eric Siegel of Millburn LaserCenter, and, if you're in the city, Dr. Channing Barnett of Barnett Dermatology. Dr. Siegel gave me a year-long Rx of Aczone, which is awesome for us gals with acne AND rosacea..(i.e. super sexy)...and also gave me a REALITY check. He told me no more picking which was some of the BEST advice I've ever gotten***. Dr. Siegel also told me to stop hot yoga cold turkey. He says it's a breeding ground for bacteria...which is probably true...but I honestly think that I'd rather have a few zits and have my zen than be a crazy biznitch with perfect pores. Can I get an A-men?

***FYI, if you pick, I totally don't judge you. I say if you MUST pick, do it gently with your finger pads, not your nails, and sanitize immediately once it pops with a toner (some like Proactiv, but nothing else from the line) or Lavender Witch Hazel (my personal choice), otherwise the infection will spread. If it doesn't pop, GIVE UP and STOP SQUEEZING. But best of all, just stop picking altogether and reward yourself for your awesome non-picking habits.

Now, onto the goods: I'm straight-up allergic to Retin A. If it works for you, I am so jealous. But you're gonna have super sensitive, super RED skin for a LONG ASS time. That shit dried my skin out so badly, I was scratching at it for a week after BOTH times I quit! I thought it was worth going through an allergic reaction (twice) just to have clear skin. Oy, desperation. Make sure you're balancing your treatments with something soothing. Some dermatologists forget to tell you that. Try aloe vera, honey, a gentle moisturizer with milk or yoghurt in it (great for antiaging and very soothing), or, if you're an oily girl that digs an oil, Ren's Omega 3 Night Serum ROCKS (and others recommend Rodin's Olio Lusso.)

What you need to know: The treatments.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel CHANGED MY LIFE. - It's a 2-step blend of 5 different acids that are gentle enough for sensitive skin but tough enough to slaughter your acne, tighten your pores and brighten the skin. It also exfoliates :) Make SURE if you try it a) don't use it every day, build up to it and b) wear a (preferably organic/oil-free) SPF when outside!! Also, my other acneic sisters rave about: Cane and Austin pads and Dr. Colbert's Facial Discs. As with everything, get a sample so you can try before you buy.


Erin's Faces Oil Free Night Treatment. Organic skincare at its best! Salicylic and Glycolic acids - healing (honey, arnica, vitamin e), preventative, re-texturizing and clarifying (cinnamon). Oil-free, paraben-free and easy on the wallet for the humungo jar that you get!

I'm also really into homemade remedies! These two WORK: Honey/Apple Cide Vinegar/Sugar and Honey/Lemon/Cinnamon/Nutmeg. 

The Moisturizers.
Dr. Gross Hydrapure Oil-Free Moisturizer with Chelating Complex, Maelin & Goetz's Vitamin E Moisturizer and the Oil Free Quench Serum by Kate Somerville.

The Cleansers.

Boscia's Purifying Cleanser. I use it twice a day, but in the evenings with my CLARISONIC - (I started with the Sensitive brush head, then built up to the Deep Pore. Check out my buddy Erin's blog for more deets on cleansing brushes!)

Lastly, I really need to tell you how hot I am at night when I'm skyping with my long-distance sweetheart. I shower and have frizzy hair (which he affectionately calls my "poodle hair") and spot treatment ALL over my skin. 

The Spot Treatments.
My HG for spot treatment is Tea Tree Oil (for getting inside the zit - check out the benefits here) and Dr. Dennis Gross' Correct & Perfect Spot Treatment (for drying that shit up from the outside.)

Some other popular items for spot treatment (although not by me, necessarily) are Mario Badescu's Buffering Lotion, Kate Somerville's Eradikate and Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion. I personally found these TOO drying, so I had that nasty crusty pimple thing going. I am such a sexy beast.

So, peeps, try some of this shit out! Or, better yet, do you have your own list of SHIT THAT WORKS?? Leave a comment below, let me know what you think and, most importantly, love yourself!

Ta ta for now!