Month: February 2023

Carrie’s Chitchats

~ Carrie ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes I feel like I have nothing specific to write about- just some random chitchat so maybe this can become a thing? We’ll see…

At the beginning of the year, my husband and I made a plan to tighten up our mental health. One way to prioritize that was to carve out more time for ourselves which is no easy feat when you have 2 young kids and a dog who we pretty much consider our 3rd child. In order to do this, we made a commitment to start getting up before the kids instead of with the kids. Although challenging at first, it’s now nearing the end of February and we’ve been consistently waking up around 6:30am to do the things we want. Some days this means getting an early workout in, other days we sit on the couch and read together. I’ve also picked up the habit of journaling and have come to look forward to setting my intentions for the day ahead- it’s a good way to stay mindful and hold yourself accountable for your actions and behaviors….the current one I’m working on is keeping my emotional reactivity in check. I’ve also begun reading a quick daily meditation via this book that I’ve come to really appreciate and look forward to every morning.

I toyed with the idea of seeing a therapist again just for mental hygiene but I noticed that in the past, in between therapy sessions, I wasn’t necessarily doing the work that we had discussed. So the therapy didn’t seem all that therapeutic or beneficial. I mentioned this lack of effort to a neighbor friend of mine and she told me to check out the book How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera. Although I’m only halfway through it, I have in fact been doing the work and I can say that it has been majorly benefitting me and my family. Happy mom/wife, happy life right? In addition to the book, part of my overall improvement in mental health has been a general shift in thought patterns such as not dwelling on things, remembering that I can only control myself (as much as I want to help someone or improve their life, I don’t have power over them), and not comparing myself to others (reminder: comparison is the thief of joy). These shifts and changes have been TOUGH to follow through on and maintain…my husband and I recently lamented, “why does improving ourselves feel like such constant work and will it get easier?” I don’t know the answer to that but I will say that so far, the work has been worth it.

My (upgraded) Skincare Routine

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

I’ve officially upgraded my skincare routine and I’ve come here to tell all of my (one) follower(s) about it! I’ve really noticed a difference in my skin these last few weeks and even my husband has noticed a difference. Well- that’s after nagging him like a puppy about it…howdoesmyskinlook, howdoesmyskinlook, howdoesmyskinlook? Good, he says. I’ll take it. Here’s the scoop:

  1. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser: this is my OG facewash I’ve been using for the past 15+ years. I would classify my skin as “normal” but it works for all skin types (oily, dry, normal, etc). It’s basic, non-irritating, and I like that it easily removes my makeup. I use this twice daily, in the am & pm.
  2. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: that was a mouthful, eh? I’ve only been using this gem of a product for the past month but I noticed a difference in my skin within days of using it. My skin just feels cleaner after one swipe of this stuff which is evidence that the salicylic acid is really working to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. Bonus points for the glow and evenness my skin has benefitted from. Talk about a glow up! I use this every morning. On the nights I’m using Tretinoin, I will skip Paula’s as I believe both products would be too harsh on my skin.
  3. Maelove: The Glowmaker Antioxidant Serum: about a year ago, I journeyed to Sephora in an attempt to upgrade my skincare routine and purchase some holy grail tried and true products. I left with an eyebrow pencil and feelings of defeat. One of my main goals was to buy a vitamin C serum as I’d heard this product is essential to any decent skincare lineup but after the salesperson tried selling me on a 1 oz bottle for $80+, I hightailed it out of there. After, I went on a mission to find a vitamin C serum that wouldn’t break the bank. *Maelove has entered the chat* Their products are clean, the packaging is sleek, and they’re actually affordable! Quite the unicorn product, am I right? After using the Glowmaker for some time, I noticed a decrease in fine lines, increase in my skin’s glow, and I like that the serum doesn’t have an oily texture. Vitamin C is said to help slow down the skin’s aging process and serves as a barrier to protect your skin from environmental factors like the sun. After washing my face with Cetaphil and exfoliating with Paula’s Choice, I apply my Glowmaker.
  4. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen: do I need to elaborate on this one? It’s lightweight, packs a 40 SPF punch, and the ingredients are clean. I feel like the sheeny texture provides a nice foundation for makeup application. Bonus points for how long the bottle lasts! I use this every morning after applying the Glowmaker.
  5. Tretinoin: I’m not quite ready to take the plunge on Botox yet so instead I did the next best thing and called up the doc for some of the good stuff. I’m seeing a reduction of fine lines and my skin just seems more new and fresh. Maybe she’s born with it….maybe it’s the tretinoin. I apply a pea-sized amount every other night and while I noticed drying and flakiness initially, my skin has acclimated quite well in the month+ I’ve been using it. One caveat: my insurance didn’t cover this one so cranky Carol was up in arms at the pharmacy when the $70 price tag was announced. However, with the small size application and the fact that I don’t use it every single night, I believe the tube will last at least a good 6 months. If not, I’ll be asking for the manager…
  6. Maelove: The Night Renewer Glycolic Acid Cream: after 1 night of using this cream, I woke up and said “woah” in the mirror. I noticed a big difference in my skin- it felt and looked tighter, more glowy, and extremely hydrated. Apparently glycolic acid is another one of those ingredients that works to shed old skin cells, uncovering those newer, cuter ones underneath. I did notice a slight burning sensation upon the first few uses and Maelove recommends easing your way into it by using it 3 x/week to let your skin acclimate.