OOPS! MY SKIN CARE PRODUCT BURNED MY FACE

So now I’m trying Olay Vitamin C’s new skincare product.

I never spent much money on skin and makeup products; never had any skin issues. Matter of fact my skin was pretty. I was blessed with good genes and got a lot of compliments on my face (have been asked more than once what kind of makeup did I use when I wasn’t wearing makeup). The facial routine that I used over the past 60 plus years was simple.

I washed my face with Dove soap and a washcloth. Yes, soap. Never used a facial cleanser. And yes, a washcloth. I wanted to have a soapy washcloth to clean and exfoliate my skin. On my clean skin, I used Olay Regenerist Micro sculpting cream and Olay eye lifting serum. Prior to a couple of years ago, I used Esoterica cream (a skin brightening cream). For my lips, I gently rub with a washcloth and apply vaseline. That’s it.

(For those of you wanting more information on skincare, YouTube offers a lot on skin and make-up care for mature women.)

A couple of years ago I stopped using a skin brightener and used nothing but Olay. Earlier this year dark brown spots appeared all over my face and neck so I decided to try another skin brightening product. At the same time, I started using Olay Retinol cream.

Soon my face and neck started burning and itching. It was so bad I had to put a cold washcloth over my face to quiet it down.

Time to see a Dermatologist.

She diagnosed me with Eczema and prescribed a corticoid cream. That didn’t help. She changed the cream and that didn’t help. Then it dawned on me that it might be the Retinol product mixed with the skin brightening product. By now my face not only has some age/brown spots, but it also looked burned! So I called the Olay company to speak with their consultant. She explained that some customers are sensitive to Retinol.

The Esthetician at my nail salon said when first starting to use Retinol, begin slowly like once a week, then twice a week, and work up to every night to get the skin adjusted to it (I began using twice a day). And a skin brightening product should not be used with Retinol.

So I researched using Retinol and found that in addition to starting slowly it should not be used on damp skin. The face should be dry before applying a Retinol cream. Also, if the skin is sensitive use a moisturizer after using Retinol cream.

So now, right at the holidays, I’m stuck with skin with this pigmentation crap on my face. I’ve begun using Olay’s new Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum and Moisturizer product. Also added sunscreen to my regimen (which I was not doing before).

It’ll be February before I can see a cosmetic dermatologist for information on what can, if anything, be done to rid my face and neck of this dark pigmentation. So “watch this space” for what’s to come with my skin.

This article’s focus was not supposed to be about my burned skin but it turned out this way. The message was supposed to be that the cosmetic industry has set it up where women feel they have to buy all these different kinds of skincare products. I feel that most of us don’t need to spend a lot of money on a skincare routine.

I was at the farmers market the other day (before my skin got burned) and while talking with the sales clerk, she found out my age. She shouted, “What do you eat?” People constantly ask “What do you use on your face?” but never “What do you eat?”

This is the point I wanted to make in this article. Much of how “good” our skin is has to do with what we ingest, our water intake, and other environmental factors, i.e. smoking.

In addition to my simple skincare routine, I eat fresh foods, drink a good amount of water, you get the drift.

All I’m saying here is when it comes to skincare, I think most women waste a lot of money on products. I think more than what you put on your face it’s what you put in your face.

Your genes, stress, living habits, and eating/drinking habits all play a part in healthy skin. And I’m sure you know this already. Having said all that, I now have to begin spending more on skincare. Gotta buy some primer, concealer, SPF, etc. But hey, I’m 83. 🙂

Oh, I almost forgot. Olay has this skin analyzer that’s cool. Go to their website and skin advisor. Follow directions to analyze to get your skin age. My result was skin age 57. Now that ain’t half bad 🙂

By the way, Olay has not offered me anything. This is simply coming from a satisfied customer. Not that I would refuse if they should offer.

Another message here is whatever you do in your skincare routine, do research before you start using a new product. Learn what not to do and how to do it because there are a lot of new products on the market. Olay has product consultants that you can call with questions and I found this amazing dermatologist on youtube.