RO: De ceva timp tot vreau sa scriu acest articol si sa va arat ce schimbare a suferit tenul meu in doar cateva luni cat si cu ce l-am ingrijit pentru a obtine rezultatele actuale. M-am gandit ca metamorfoza este un termen adecvat transformarii suferite.


Am mai scris pe ici pe colo, prin articolele din trecut faptul ca m-am chinuit cu niste pustule in zona de sub maxilar si s-a dus o intreaga lupta. Astazi va voi arata toate produsele pe care le-am folosit in ultimele luni, iar rezultatele cred ca se vad clar in poza ce deschide articolul. Apropo, imi cer scuze, sper ca nu v-am speriat prea mult cu partea de "before".



Dar sa va spun cum a inceput totul: prin Decembrie am observat ca tenul incepe s-o ia razna, imi apareau cosuri in obraji, loc in care in mod obisnuit nu am probleme. Asa ca am zis sa incep un noua tura de Retin-A, de data asta cu mult mai multe informatii despre ce face cu adevarat crema, informatii citite la Pasagera. Nu m-am prea tinut eu de tratament iar in Ianuarie deja se prefigura un tablou foarte cunoscut: incepusa sa "rasara" pustulele sub maxilar si stiam ca voi trece inca o data printr-o perioada prin care trecusem in trecut. Asa ca am luat decizia de a-mi schimba complet rutina de ingrijire si de incorpora pe cat posibil cat mai multe produse bine formulate. Am apelat la cele Paula's Choice si incet, incet, am achizitionat noi produse pe care le-am incorporat in rutina pana am ajuns in momentul de fata.

Am sa va arat atat rutina pe care am avut-o la inceput, perioada ce a coincis cu vremea rece sau racoroasa si apoi schimbarile facute, o data cu incalzirea vremii dar si cu schimbarea necesitatilor tenului meu.


Si acum sa va prezint "combinatia castigatoare", incepem cu rutina de dimineata:


1. Ma spalam pe fata cleanser-ul Now Foods Cream Cleanser Green Tea Pomegranate. Desi este un cleanser pentru tenul mixt, nu am simtit ca mi-a uscat tenul, are 2 iritanti la ingrediente (unul in concentratie foarte mica) dar multe alte ingrediente benefice iar agentii de curatare fac parte din categoria celor blanzi. Din pacate s-a terminat destul de repede, am sa-i fac un review candva, am pastrat ambalajul special pt el. :D

2. Aplicam lotiunea tonica Skin Balancing de la Paula's Choice. Lotiunea a fost luata la a doua comanda si atunci cand am ales varianta pentru ten mixt m-am gandit pe termen lung si la faptul ca atunci cand vor creste temperaturile si zona t va avea tendintele de ingrasare sa contracarez asta cat de cat.Atunci cand am luat-o poate ca a fost putin cam light pentru tenul pe care il aveam atunci dar acum, mi se pare minunata. Eu folosesc lotiunea strict pentru aportul suplimentar de ingrediente hidratante si o aplic in felul urmator: pun o cantitate mica in palma si apoi o aplic pe ten si masez putin pana se absorabe in piele. Stiu ca poate vi se pare ciudat/neobisnuit,

3. Dupa lotiunea tonica astept cateva minute (nu stau dupa ceas deci nu as putea sa va zic exact, dar in jur de 5-10 minute) inainte de a trece la aplicarea BHA-ului. Am ales tot Paula's Choice si am mers pe varianta Skin Perfector 2% BHA Lotion care pe langa acidul salicilic contine si ingrediente hidratante si lasa o senzatie foarte placuta. Cateva luni am tot incercat sa gasesc combinatia perfecta intre Retin-A si BHA, initial am mers pe aplicarea alternativa, o seara Retin-A, o seara BHA. Dupa ce am fost sigura ca tenul meu s-a obisnuit bine si cu BHA-ul si scapasem de iritatii am incercat cateva seri sa aplic ambele produse in aceeasi seara. Dar tenul meu nu a fost deloc de acord cu aceasta combinatie si a reactionat iar eu am ajuns intr-un final la combinatia de acum: aplic BHA-ul dimineata si Retin-A-ul seara, in fiecare zi. Combinatia intre cele doua mi-a facut foarte bine, am reusit sa scap de cosuri si pustule fara a fi nevoita sa recurg si la Brevoxyl, punctele negre s-au mai ameliorat, porii dilatati s-au mai curatat, per ansamblu tenul este mult mai curat. Acum astept sa se duca si ultimele semne de sub maxilar.

4. Dupa exfoliant astept din nou tot vreo 5-10 minute si apoi aplic o crema hidratanta. Ultima piesa a puzzle-ului a fost crema din gama Skin Recovery tot de la Paula's Choice. Am ales aceasta varianta pentru ca tenul meu era destul de afectat si avea nevoie nu numai de ingrediente hidratante dar si emoliente. Inainte de a alege am luat mostre pt Moisture Boost si Skin balancing pentru a vedea care mi se otriveste mai bine dar atunci am simtit ca nici Moisture Boost nu a facut fata. Dupa ce am inceput sa folosesc crema chiar s-a simtit o ameliorare a tenului, au disparut iritatiile, roseata abia daca mai era vizibila, doar foarte putin in obraji. A fost minunata atunci, acum insa, nu prea. In timpul verii zona T prinde tendinte de ingrasare asa ca acum am ales o crema mult mai usoara.

5. Dupa crema Skin Recovery aplicam crema de protectie solara, initial am ales tot una de la Paula's Choice, pe cea cu cel mai mare factor de protectie dar cea care contine si oxybenzona: Extra Care Non-greasy Sunscreen wih SPF 45. Am avut multe zile in care nu am avut absolut nicio problema insa existau si zile in care ma cam irita crema si dupa o iritatie de toata frumusetea fix in ziua in care am fost la Silhouette pentru diagnosticul tenului (din toate zilele, fix in aia s-a trezit sa-mi irite pielea :( ) am renuntat s-o mai folosesc. Are ingrediente foarte bune dar oxybenzona este problematica. Acum folosesc o crema de la Nivea Baby, recomandata de Pasagera.

Si acum sa va spun pe scurt schimbarile intre rutina mea din perioada rece si sa va zic cam ce s-a schimbat de cand s-a incalzit.


1. Am inlocuit cleanser-ul cremos de la Now Foods cu un gel de curatare de la Boots, din gama Simply Sensitive, tot din recomandarile Pasagerei. E bland si ma impac foarte bine cu el.

2. Cum am scris, am inlocuit crema din gama Skin Recovery cu una mai usoara si am mers pe cea din gama naturala si recent lansata de Paula, Earth Sourced. In functie de cum imi simt tenul o aplic doar in obraji, zona acum normala sau pe toata fata.

3. Nu am mai folosit crema cu SPF de la Paula's Choice si am inlocuit-o cu una Nivea Baby pe care o pot folosi atat pe corp cat si pe fata.

4. In functie de cum imi simt tenul renunt la crema Earth Sourced si trec direct la cea cu SPF de la Nivea, de exemplu in ultimul timp asa am facut.

Iar acum rutina de seara:


1. Imi curat tenul fie cu demachiantul bifazic de la Balea, fie cu lotiunea micelara Bioderma Sensibio H2O. Imi plac amanadoua foarte mult si amanadoua sunt foarte eficiente.

2. Din nou cleanser-ul Now Foods venea in actiune pentru a indeparta tot ce mai ramanea in urma, demachiant/machiaj s.a.m.d.

3. La fel ca dimineata, urmatorul pas era lotiunea tonica, tot Skin Balancing.

4. Aici intervine inca o schimbarea fata de rutina de dimineata: in loc de exfoliant, seara aplic Retin-A, cam la 5-10 minute dupa ce am aplicat lotiunea tonica, in fiecare seara cu o exceptie despre care va voi zice ceva mai jos. V-am povestit intr-un articol despre experienta mea cu Retin-A cu partile bune dar si cu partile mai putin bune.

5. Si din nou crema Skin Recovery.


Si aici au intervenit cam aceleasi schimbari ca cele de la rutina de dimineata: cleanser-ul Boots Simply Sensitive Wash Gel si crema de fata Paula's Choice Earth Sourced.

Pe langa produsele prezentate ma mai folosesc si de niste lavete cu microfibra de fiecare data cand ma spal pe fata (am scris un quicky de unde le-am luar si cat am dat pe ele), este singura exfoliere mecanica pe care o fac de...foarte mult timp (de cand am inceput sa folosesc BHA-ul in Ianuarie). Lavetele sunt foarte fine si nu agreseaza deloc pielea si nu am avut nicio problema de la faptul ca folosesc laveta de doua ori pe zi, pentru a indeparta cleanser-ul de pe fata.


In ceea ce priveste tratamente saptamanale, momentan nu folosesc decat unul de la Paula's Choice, si anume exfoliantul cu AHA din gama RESIST, Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA. Il folosesc doar seara, o data pe saptamana, desi planuiesc ca in viitor sa-l folosesc mai des. Iar in seara in care folosesc acest tratament renunt la Retin-A pentru ca, asa cum scriam ceva mai sus, tenul meu nu se prea impaca cu exfoliant chimic+Retin-A aplicate in aceeasi seara, asa ca prefer sa fac pauza in seara in care imi aplic acest tratament saptamanal.

Cam asta ar fi tot, rezultatele sunt foarte bune, tenul meu arata mult mai bine, este mai fin, textura pielii s-a imbunatatit, nu este unul perfect, nu cred ca am sanse sa ajung acolo, porii inca sunt acolo, punctele negre si ele, dar semnificativ diminuate. Tenul este mult mai curat, cosurile doar ocazionale iar atunci cand ma mai pricopsesc cu cate unul se vindeca mult mai usor, cele care sunt sub piele si dureroase ori dispar inainte sa apuca sa iasa mai mult la suprafata ori, in loc sa-mi iasa ditai...iese ceva mic si nesimnificativ care trece repede. Cicatricile se vindeca mult mai repede iar tenul meu incepe sa semene cu cel din tineretile mele. :D In  iarna primavara foloseam Colorstay-ul cu acoperirea lui medie+corector, acum folosesc Avon Ideal Flawless cu o acoperire mica spre medie, ba de multe ori chiar nimic, poate un strat de pudra,

Nu este nimic spectaculos, dar eu sunt multumita de rezultate si am sa mentin aceasta structura  pentru moment, dar in mod sigur ma voi aventura in a incerca si alte produse de la Paula's Choice (am mostrele pe care vi le-am aratat aici si mai astept setul RESIST), la capitolul cleansers voi merge in continuare pe variante ieftine si blande, dar produsele pe care nu le indepartez la scurt timp de pe ten voi fi in continuare atenta la ingredientele lor.

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EN: I have been wanting to do this article for some time and show you the transformation that my face has gone through and I thought that metamorphosis was a good title, considering the transformation.

I've been telling you here and there in my articles about my skin problems, about the fact that I have been dealing with pustules under my jaw line and a whole battle has been dealt trying to overcome this problem.Today I'm showing you my routine during this battle, as for the results, you can see them in the first picture of this article, I think it speaks for itself. By the way, hope I didn't gross you too much with the before picture.

But let me tell you how this whole thing started out: about in December I noticed that my face was going a little bit crazy, I would have pimples on my cheeks, area where I would almost never have them so I started with a Retin-A treatment, treatment that has been very efficient in the past. I wasn't quite consistent with the treatment and in January I noticed the first pustules under my jaw line and I knew what was going to uncover next because of past exact experiences. So I then decided to drastically change my daily skin care routine and use only good formulated products. I opted for mainly Paula's Choice products and little by little, I purchased products and incorporated them into my routine.

I am going to show you my routine at the beginning, e period that coincides with the cold months, as well as the changes made once the weather got hotter and the necessities of my face changed.

I will begin with my morning routines:


1. First off in the morning I would wash my face with the Now Foods Cream Cleanser Green Tea Pomegranate. A cleanser recommended for those with combination skin but still one that wouldn't dry my face, it has 2 skin irritants in its formula (1 of those in a very small quantity) but many other good ingredients and the cleansing agents are mild. Unfortunately, I managed to finish it quite fast and I saved a little bit especially for a future review. :)

2. After the first step, I would go and apply the toner: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore Reducing Toner (that's the new name it has now :) ). When I got it, in the second order for Paula's Choice products, I thought on the long run, knowing that my T zone tends to get a little bit oilier during hot times and that's why I chose this one. Looking back, in the beginning it was a little bit too light but now it's perfect and I love it. I use a toner strictly for the contribution of moisturizing ingredients and this is the way I use it: I pore a little bit of toner in the palm of my hand and then apply it on my face and gently massaging until it is completely absorbed. I know it's unusual but it works for me.

3. Until moving to the third product i wait around a little bit, about 5 or 10 minutes and then I apply my Paula's Choice Skin Perfector 2% BHA Lotion. I went for this version because, beside the salicylic acid, it has moisturizing ingredients as well and the sensation after using it is very nice. After a couple of months or so of trials, I decided that I was going to use the BHA once per day, every morning. As for results, my blackheads have diminished, along with the Retin-A I have managed to get rid of my pustules problems without 

4. And again 5 to 10 minutes of waiting until moving to my moisturizer. The first one I got back in April was the one from the Skin Recovery line, for normal to very dry skin. My face was affected by the Retin-A/BHA trials and this cream was the perfect bandage for it. I was in need not only for the moisturizing ingredinets, but also some emolients. After trying some samples, I concluded that even the Moisture Boost moisturizer wasn't enough and that's why I went as far as getting the Skin Recovery one. The effects didn't take long to appear, my skin's conditions improved rapidly, my irritation subsided, as well as the redness (to the point that it was almost gone, just a little bit of on the cheeks). But as the weather got hotter and also as my skin's condition improved, it became too much so I now have a much lighter moisturizer.

5. The last step is the SPF and at first I went again for a Paula's Choice product, the  Extra Care Non-greasy Sunscreen wih SPF 45. Unfortunately, this cream contains oxybenzone (allergen) and though most of the time I wouldn't have any problems with it I don't know how I did it but I managed to get an irritation that scared me a little bit, I somehow wound up with a big red spot on my neck and that was the day I decided not to use anymore no matter how good it was, no matter the good ingredinets, I wouldn't want to risk getting something like that again.

And now for the changes in the morning routine:


1. Instead of the Now Foods cleanser I now use one from Boots, Simply Sensitive Wash Gel. It's gentle and I like it.

2. The lighter moisturizer that I now use is the newest one from Paula's Choice, the one from the Earth Sourced line that contains products with 98% natural ingredints.

3. And as for the SPF, I know use one from Nivea Baby and I can use it for my body as well as for my face.

4. Depending on my skin, I opt to skip the Earth Sourced Moisturizer and go directly to the SPF cream, lately this has been my routine.

And now let's move on to my evening routine, pictured below:

1. If I wore makeup that day I first remove it with either one of 2 products: Balea byphasic makeup remover or Bioderma Sensibio H2O. I love these 2 products, almost equally, maybe Sensibio more but they're very effective in cleaning my makeup.

2. Again with the cleanser, if I hadn't worn makeup on that day I would have skipped directly to this step.

3. And the toner again, the same one.

4. Here comes the difference, instead of the BHA, in the evening I use Retin-A, almost every night. I have an article about the ups and downs of Retin-A, although it is written in Romanian, you can try to translate it using the gadget in the sidebar.

5. After waiting 5-10 minutes I go on with the Skin Recovery moisturizer.


And, the same as for the morning routine, the difference between this spring's routine and my actual routine is the switch from the Now Foods cleanser to the Boots Simply Sensitive one and the Skin Recovery Moisturizer to the Earth Sourced one.

Besides the products shown above, I also use a microfiber cloth, every day, twice a day, I remove my cleanser with it and it has been the only scrubbing I have been doing in...a long time. The cloths are gentle and don't affect my skin and as the turn rougher, as time goes by, I just change it for a new one.


As for weekly treatments, at the moment I am using a single one from the RESIST line from Paula's Choice, Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA to be more accurate. I only use it in the evening, once per week though I am planning to increase its use to at least twice per week and when I do use it I don't use the Retin-A cream because, as I've written above, my skin is too sensitive to use both exfoliant and retinoids at the same time (or to be more exact, in the same night :D).

And this is about it, the results I've had have been great, my skin is not perfect and nor do I think I will reach perfection, the pores are still there and so are the blackheads though significantly diminished. My skin is cleaner, the pimples ocasional and when I do get one they heal quicker, if there is one of those pesky under the skin ones, it either dissapears before surfacing or it just surfaces as a tiny normal pimple that goes away quickly. Also the texture of my skin is nicer, smoother

It isn't something spectacular, but I am very pleased with the results and I will continue with this routine. Of, course I am curious to try other Paula's Choice products (I have the samples that I've showed you here and also waiting for the RESIST sample set). Although, for the cleansers I will continue to use more affordable but still gentle products, as for the products that I don't remove after a short period of time I will continue to be vigilant when it comes to their ingredients.

*photos via Paula's Choice EU, Boots, Bioderma and Google