GTT: Beauty Secrets

.  .  .

Consider ^that^ me trying with alllll my might to squash the urge for self-deprecating "humour" insulting myself.  Oy.

When I was 11, whore moans started stopping 'round to visit (luckily they didn't bring their bitch master, Aunt Flo, for another two years) and I started getting lots of teeny, tiny bumps on my forehead and the odd zit on my nose.  I started using good, old Noxzema, and the little bumps cleared up right quick.  (We won't, however, discuss the time my mother refused to help me with my bangs because she didn't want to "touch that zitty nose!"  Thanks, Ma.  *eye roll*)  As I got older, I started adding crap like Oxy for those once-a-month break-outs, but I don't think I was even aware of moisturizer until I hit my early 20's.

I used to get compliments by the boat-load about my skin - it was the only thing I really got complimented on.  Unfortunately, when I hit 27, alllll those years of good skin karma came back to bite me in the ass.  Hard.

You see, for some reason I got it in my head that at my *ahem* advancing age, I should be taking better care of my skin: *proper* cleansers, toners, moisturizers, day creams, night creams, sun screens, etc.  I ended up with cystic acne in my chin (where I swear I had never had a zit in my life prior).  I had huge, painful white heads that morphed into pulsating red bumps after I tried to pop them.  The blackheads on/around my nose exploded and all of a sudden I had noticeable pores.  I was so very ashamed and felt like it was somehow my fault.  I was embarrassed to be seen in public.  During that time, I probably tried every single face product (under $50) under the sun.  Because I wasn't giving any of them a fair chance to work properly before getting frustrated and moving on, I likely prolonged my suffering.  You know what made my damned skin smarten up after NINE awful months?

Noxzema.

iiiii KNOW!

I'm not using it right now, and I honestly can't remember why (if I remember correctly, I think that I had purchased three separate jars in which the texture was just off - it was somewhat grainy, and oilier than usual which, with my sensitive-ass skin, was a no-go).  I loved my darling Noxzema enough that I contacted them via their website inquiring about the off-batch (all the batch numbers in the various stores in town were the same).  They were unaware of a problem and assured me that the product was fine, but it wasn't: I broke out again. I'm using Cetaphil now, which is awesome and gentle and chemical-crap-free.  However, it's not enough for the summer months when I have to use something a little stronger to cut the sweaty ick.

My skin is... better, now.  For the most part.  I still get the odd pimple here and there.  My pores on/around my nose are still large (and blackhead filled, mostly).  I still get annoying little clogged pores on my chin.  But it's not the train wreck it was, and I'm no longer afraid to leave the house lest I frighten small children.

I wonder if I should try Noxzema again...