Skincare

My Skin

I have a slight obsession with skincare products. About three years ago, after a trip to Turks and Caicos (and our third beach trip of the year), I noticed brown spots above my lip. Those same spots were there earlier in the summer, but I shook them off. I am naturally freckled and I just assumed they were freckles that would go away.

This particular trip was in September. When we got home and went to my mom and dad’s house to pick up Lily (our dog)…my mom said…why do you have a mustache. Whew…this hit me hard because no one had ever noticed what I saw when I looked in the mirror. I knew it must have been bad but again…I was like…it is just my freckles because we have been in the sun all week.

Keep in mind that by this point in my life I ALWAYS used sunscreen. I cannot say that I did as a teenager, but once I hit my 20s I did. Anyway, after my mother’s comment, I started to google dark spots above my lip. Guess what came up – MELASMA?! So…I ordered some over the counter skin lightening cream. This did nothing. I then scheduled an appointment with an esthetician at a local plastic surgeon’s office. I scheduled this in February. We got back from Turks and Caicos in September. So, in five months, the darkness had faded. However, I was super self conscious by this time. When I looked in the mirror all I saw was darkness above my lip.

While at my appointment, she did the thing on my face where you could see the sun damage. Boy, is this shocking to see what the sun does to your skin. At this point, I knew it was from my teenage years when I would lay by the pool and bake for hours most days….boy did I regret doing that at this point.

The esthician did make me feel a little better about my darkness as she said she would have probably not even noticed it had I not pointed it out. She did give me some Obagi retinol cream to use to help fade the darkness. This was my first experience with retinol. I have not stopped using retinol since (I LOVE IT)!!

Before I get into my favorite products…I will clarify that I have Normal – Dry Skin.

As far as skincare goes…I have been very particular about my skin since early 20s. Once I hit my 20s, I used creams and serums at night and pretty much always wore sunscreen on my face.