As this month comes to an end, so does this year and this challenge. To say I finished triumphantly would be a lie. This past week I have been depressed about a number of things, mainly this blessed holiday season. With that depression and added stress, I have broken out horrendously and I have been picking a lot. I couldn’t help myself as Saturday morning arrived and I realized that I was having my first Christmas away from my parents and my plans for it were to go out drinking with friends. I ended up doing a thirty minute spree of popping everything and anything leaving my skin blotchy, bleeding and incredibly tender. I did make the best of that night, and on Sunday spent time with other ex-patriots commiserating about how much we wish were home and how much it sucked that we would be working on Monday. Also, in South Korea Christmas is considered as a couple’s holiday, so trying to find a restaurant to go to is incredibly difficult. It makes you feel extra alone and missing the ones you do love. Read More »

Good old Aunt Flow has come to town, so I have a wonderful display of acne. This acne however is not on my face, I had some small break outs but nothing like the usual  volcano-like zits and white heads. I have had an increasing number of breakouts on my back, legs and chest these past few days, which is something I am not unfamiliar with, but is just as uncomfortable. Because really, who wants to have a zit on their boob? Or a bunch of black heads on their butt? Or a white head sticking out and rubbing against their bra strap all day? Really, this is just getting ridiculous and not being able to pop these suckers, ones no one will see of course, it shouldn’t matter? No, I with held and didn’t pop one, except accidentally the zit that was rubbed open by my bra strap, but that doesn’t count.

This week has gone a bit more smoothly and not nearly as bumpy as I expected it to have been. I worked very hard at not touching my skin and trying to get more sleep in then I was previously. I did though start reading The Hunger Games and that kept me up late for the past couple nights until I finished all of them. Even with lack of sleep I feel that my skin is becoming softer and smoother. Even though I do have a number of black heads around my hair line due to working out and having a head band, the number of zits is not as much as I would usually experience during my period.  I am hoping that not popping and not touching my face helped out a lot with keeping my break outs down to a minimum. Read More »

Something that motivated me to do this challenge was the fear of popping a zit at work and having it bleed as if I had been stabbed. I’m sitting here at work holding a tissue to my face because I absentmindedly popped a zit on my face. What could be more humiliating than that? Having six or seven Korean kids come up and scream “Teacher! You bleeding!”

This first week has been marginally difficult. While not touching my face has not been that hard, not popping any zits has been. Every time I have had the urge to touch my face and I acknowledge that it is happening,  I stop and try to think about what I am feeling. Basically whenever I’m feeling bored, frustrated or down in the dumps, I tend to go crazy with wanting to get rid of the zits as fast as possible. It’s always been that way, throughout middle school, high school and college. I would get in the dumps about something and just start picking away, trying to eradicate the problem by picking away at something I didn’t like about myself.

My friends who have known me the longest have seen the changes my skin has gone through. From the typical pubescent acne to my current “Wow, you have acne and you’re how old?” they have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of it all.  I asked some of them this last week if they noticed my skin when they first met me and I’ve heard a mixture of “Oh, I hardly notice any more.” Um, I didn’t ask if you notice now and you haven’t seen me in four months. My friends all seem to have clear, smooth complexions and the only advice they would give me about my skin is just to not pop the zits.  Well, no sh*t. But when you turn and look at yourself in the mirror and there are zits and black heads spanning most of your face, you just want them gone by any means necessary. Popping has been, for me, the most effective and immediate way to get rid of it.  It also doesn’t hurt that I’ve turned into some sort of stress relief. Getting rid of that puss has turned into a symbolic way of ridding stress in my life, I am physically pushing it out of my body by popping a zit and forgetting by doing so I add more stress and shame to how I look by adding a scab or a new scar or pit.

After a week of trying to not pop any zits, touching my face, and washing my face every morning and night, I think there is a small difference. I haven’t had as many new breakouts in the past week. But it is incredibly hard to resist the urge to pop or prod some of these black heads that have sprung up around my neck and jaw line these past couple days. I believe I’m getting closer to that wonderful time of the month and my skin is becoming incredibly more sensitive. Add those extra hormones to the extra work outs I’ve been doing and I’m sure I’ll be broken out with fresh zits all next week and I’ll be DYING to get rid of them.

Recognizing my triggers, however, helps me to avoid them. I know when I’m bored that I need to occupy my hands with something. I can’t just sit still and blankly watch some YouTube video or be passive in my classroom. I need to move my hands more often. If I’m stressing out, working out will help relieve that tension in a much more constructive manner. When I’m sad though I don’t really know how I should handle it. Constructively speaking I should keep myself busy and try to not focus on how I feel, but when I’m upset about my skin, it seems completely counterproductive to ignore it. Writing has helped to focus the energy to acknowledge what has upset me, but I need another outlet that isn’t writing or working out. Any advice?

I want to say thank you to every one who has commented and been so supportive. It is so wonderful knowing that I am not alone and others feel the same way. Thank you too for the advice and I want to explain to everyone the reasons why you may notice I don’t mention any use of Accutane or birth control as a way to alleviate my acne problems. I know that Accutane can be incredibly useful and great at solving acne and could help with the slight Rosacea I have but the side effects are too much. When I was 17 I had asked my doctor about it and he said there wasn’t enough evidence for him to suggest I would need it. As well, it is more likely that it would cause more harm to the facial blemish, a large purple blotch from a blood vessel, than it would in helping decrease in size that is on my right side of my face. This is the biggest reason why I will never use it because I fear that this mark will always be on my face and it is the most noticeable characteristic I have. I had some friends in high school who used Accutane and some did have great results but for some it didn’t change their acne much either. I feel that with a lot of my acne problems it is from my own doing, continually touching and popping zits.

With birth control, I have never taken it due to family history of it causing ovarian cysts in almost every female in my family and has hindered some of the women in my family from being able to become pregnant easily after they stopped using the medicine for a year. With all medication there are side effects and with medicine that influences my hormones, I am not comfortable. I hate the feeling of not being in control of my own body and it is plausible as one commenter suggested that my acne is caused by a hormonal imbalance and these medicines could be used to help treat and correct that. I would rather try an old fashion approach of eating right, a normal sleeping schedule, and exercise. Again, thank you so much every one for how wonderful and gracious you are all being with your comments.

Allison is a 2010 graduate who is currently teaching English in South Korea. She likes Reese’s peanut butter cups and a good brown ale — two things she cannot find in South Korea. Oh, and she likes to write.

Clear Skin. Perfectly smooth, no bumps, uneven color or blemishes to been seen. This is one thing I don’t think I’ve had since I was possibly 9. I can remember my first zit when I was 10 and my mother used that little contraption that is meant to pop zits with out having you physically touch them. It hurt like a bitch and didn’t really do anything. The next day, the zit was still there and it was bigger. My mother had told me not to pop the zit with my fingers but the thing was throbbing. I looked in the mirror and there it was, glaring back at me with a giant head of puss on the edge of my nose. At the age of 10 I knew I was being mocked and I swear now I could hear it saying “Nanner, nanner, nanner, you can’t get me!” (Okay, it really wasn’t, but it was my first zit) I tried to use the thing my mom had used before but I couldn’t figure out which side to use so I used my fingers. I gently pushed on either side of the zit and then pop! I felt a sudden sense of relief from the pressure the puss had been exerting on my skin. Read More »

It’s weird when you think about it – the way a simple word can gross you out as much as watching those nasty surgery shows on TLC or stepping over fresh puke on your way to class on a Monday morning. But it happens. A lot. There are just some words that give us all the heebie-jeebies and after my mother used the word moist to describe how amazing her brownies were this morning, I decided 1) I’m too grossed out to eat a brownie right now and 2) it’s time to make a list of the words that make me feel icky, uncomfortable and downright dirty.

Yeah, I guess I’m a masochist.

Crusty: I know that crusty bread can be a good thing, but that’s usually not what I’m thinking about when I hear this word. Hard as I try (and trust me, I try!), I can’t get “crusty underpants” out of my head.

Panties: Ask me how many times I’ve uncomfortably giggled when the older, voluptuous lady at Victoria’s Secret offered to show me where the ’5 for $25′ panties were. Is it possible for a 20-year-old girl to feel like a dirty, old man at the mere mention of the word??

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It’s been a while since I did a Quick & Dirty Review, but don’t worry – it’s back.  I know you were freaking out, getting hives, breathing deeply into brown paper bags. It’s all better now. Let’s get to it, shall we?

I wanted to share this golden nugget of awesome with you: Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector.  Yes, it’s quite the title, but it’s not overcompensating for anything.  I figured what better way to start off the New Year than to erase the dark spots of your past.

Great metaphor, I know!

This product is absolutely amazing! I’ve been using it for two weeks and my spots are already fading.  You all know I’ve been dealing with acne and scarring for a long time, and if you’re facing the same problems, this product is for you.  While it’s above my normal budget ($49.50 for 1 oz), it’s completely worth it.  If you can look past the price, you should check it out.  Watch the vid for all the dirty details and then snag some online at Sephora or Clinique. Read More »

It’s weird when you think about it – the way a simple word can gross you out as much as watching those nasty surgery shows on TLC or stepping over fresh puke on your way to class on a Monday morning. But it happens. A lot. There are just some words that give us all the heebie-jeebies and after my mother used the word moist to describe how amazing her brownies were this morning, I decided 1) I’m too grossed out to eat a brownie right now and 2) it’s time to make a list of the words that make me feel icky, uncomfortable and downright dirty.

Yeah, I guess I’m a masochist.

Crusty: I know that crusty bread can be a good thing, but that’s usually not what I’m thinking about when I hear this word. Hard as I try (and trust me, I try!), I can’t get “crusty underpants” out of my head.

Panties: Ask me how many times I’ve uncomfortably giggled when the older, voluptuous lady at Victoria’s Secret offered to show me where the ’5 for $25′ panties were. Is it possible for a 20-year-old girl to feel like a dirty, old man at the mere mention of the word??

Facial: A big thanks to the porn industry for ruining one of the most relaxing spa treatments known to mankind. Never again will I be able to comment on “the best facial I’ve ever had” without feeling absolutely disgusting.

Moist: “Mmmm, these muffins are really moist.” Shudder.

Supple: If you are writing a super market romance novel, this word is perfect. “The supple young woman walked over to the counter while every men’s gaze was glued to her.” Anything else is just plain wrong.

Wet: This term not only describes something that is covered with liquid but also what is not dry. Yes, wet can be used to describe a counter top, or a plate. But it is also used to describe other things: “Did you hear that slimy, wet fart?”

Ointment: The word itself sounds like an infection. Which makes me think about all the gross, oozing things that you’d need ointment for. Which makes me want to barf.

Yeast: Even seeing it on a recipe card for some yummy homemade bread just makes me think of…. down there. And no one wants to put some fresh jam on that ish. (Editor’s Note: And if they do, well, double ew.)

Pimply: I don’t know if it’s the combination of the “p” and the “l” or if it’s the mental image of some poor soul whose entire face is covered by those juicy pimples, but yeah – I kind of threw up in my mouth.

Tits: Boobs, breasts, lady lumps….they all sound so much more pleasant than ‘tits.’ It’s just so derogatory and ugly. As are the people who would actually use this term.

Chunky: Think about it – is there anything positive in this world that can be described as ‘chunky’??

What words give you goose pimples? (Ew. Pimples.) Share ‘em below and maybe together we can forge a campaign to rid the world of this nastiness once and for all.

Our friends over at The Gloss recently did a post on all the things they don’t miss about being in their twenties.  But as a twenty-something myself, I’ve gotta say – I’m pretty content.  Sure, there are moments I wish I had a little more cash or that my job was a bit cushier.  But some of their points were reminiscent of things I realized in my teens.

Granted, I’ve always been way ahead of the social learning curve but I think most of us would agree.  Forget leaving your twenties behind, I think those awkward early teen years are the ones I’d sooner like to leave in the dust.  Seriously.  Do you remember…

Having not-so-great fashion sense.
I remember being a freshman in high school and wearing an Abercrombie tee for gym class that said “Nighttime Full-Contact Football” across my boobs in sparkly letters.  And I believe I paired that stellar top with some white running shorts and those Adidas sneakers everyone had.  Except mine were gold.  Now tell me, who let me walk out of the locker room looking like such a horrendous mess?

Bad hair.
Maybe you were the brunette who tried Sun-In and ended up looking like Carrot Top.  Maybe you thought pink highlights were a good statement to make. Maybe you didn’t know what a flat iron was. Or were you like me and experimented briefly (but on multiple occasions) with bangs?  And I’m not talking about the cool side-sweepy ones. Read More »

Mornings are hard enough without having to deal with fancy make-up techniques and surprise zits. Keep these 3 steps in mind when you’re rushing out the door and you’ll be sure not to show up to class with an eyeliner disaster.

1. First things first; after you splash your face with fresh cold water in the morning and smile at yourself in the mirror (damn girl, you lookin’ fine) make sure to avoid these make-up blunders. I think Snooksters should read this…

2.  Acne is the first thing I notice on my face in the morning. For some scary reason I thought the zitty buggers would stop popping up after I endured a brutal awkward phase and puberty. Hmph, not so much. It’s a mine field on your face sometimes. Come morning, take the natural route in fulfilling your wildest clear skin dreams.

3. And most importantly, remember to love yourself.  As you look in the mirror every morning, take this note to your body (personalized for you) and recite it.  Being comfortable in your skin is the best beauty tip out there.

There is nothing like waking up ready to start a new day, only to behold what appears to be a gargantuan pimple on your face. Believe me, I’ve been there. Suddenly, what could have been a pleasant morning heads directly towards Awfulsville.  Instead of looking forward to running into a crush, the goal becomes to walk very quickly in the opposite direction….with your face buried behind your hair. Granted, I do realize that there are infinitely worse scenarios that can be inflicted upon a person, but at the same time us ladies should not have to face the awfulness of pimples amidst all the other chaos in our lives.

Simply put, the world would be a much better place if pimples did not exist.

So the question is: do these loathsome little suckers form haphazardly or can we control their formation?  It used to be that doctors claimed diet has nothing to do with acne. Well not anymore.  Upon doing some investigation, it turns out the medical research indicates that there is indeed much we can do to prevent zits – actions that don’t involve buying hoards of benzoyl peroxide creams and cover up.  In fact, what we eat largely determines how healthy our skin looks.

Welcome to my one-article class on eating your way to healthy skin. Nom nom. Read More »