Week 17 - I love my skin!

Day 109 - I've done over 100 days on the regime. I am so happy with Obagi, my blackheads has improved by 90%. I still have some, but they are so small and I'm convinced they will go away. My enlarged pores are also significantly improved. I rarely wear a full face of make up anymore as I love my skin now. As tough as this was in the beginning, I would do it all over again knowing what I know now and seeing the results! I went for a check up with Dr Sarah this week as well and she's very pleased with my results, I may not need the blue peel. I'm going to see how I go over the summer and maybe take the plunge in September or October if I want to. We are changing me up a little and I'm cutting back on the Exfoderm to once per week but still continue the clear once per day and the Tretinoin every other day. I also use the Clenziderm products every other day now. Plus I love the Elastiderm eyecream. I don't look my age! I'm not only saying that but have been told this by several people over the last few months. Hurray!

Day 110 AM

Week 15 - I think the Elastiderm cream is working!

Day 96 - My skin has recovered from the holiday now and I'm back on the routine. Noticed this morning that my under eye wrinkles seem to have improved significantly. They seem to have evened out a lot, that's amazing news! The skin looks so much smoother. I started using the Elastiderm cream in week 7 and it's now week 15, so results didn't happen overnight but now I see a significant difference! I have forgotten to use the Tretinoin cream twice this week so I'm sure I will peel a little as I'm now compensating by using it two days in a row. I really love how my face looks using Obagi Nu-Derm! Will upload some pics asap.

Week 14 - Recovering from holiday slacking.

Day 90 - I went to NYC on holiday for a week and kept up with the regime with the exception of two nights and the skewered time difference after flights. I'm not sure what happened but coming back I had two spots come out and my skin is now flaky again as I've been going a bit hard with the Clenziderm products to counteract the breakouts. It could be due to the bad diet and increased cocktail consumption I guess...

Week 12 - Getting very comfortable in my new skin.

Day 78 - It's interesting to see that the addition of the Clenziderm Pore Therapy toner can have such an effect on my skin. I've dried out a little so have to cut back on use as I've done too much too quickly. Skin felt tight today so I will take a days break from the Clenziderm face wash too. So coming into week 12 I should really start to see the benefits now. Apparently week 12 onwards I can "expect skin to become firmer and tighter with improved clarity and healthy glow." I'm in agreement on the glow already, it would be great if it got firmer around the eyes. It's so hard to tell if the Elastiderm eye cream is working as I feel like I'm staring myself blind at my face daily. My wrinkles are definitely not worse though!

Day 82 - Got my skin back on track again after overdoing the Clenziderm Pore Therapy. When I met some friends over the weekend they were very complimentary about my skin and said it's very plump and one of them couldn't believe my age, as I've never met him before I was very pleased with the compliment. I'm off to NYC soon so will see if the face freaks out with flight dryness and different water quality!

Day 82 AM

Week 11 - Skin seems back to "new normal".

Day  71 - The last week has seen improvements but I still have enlarged pores and blackheads, just much less than before. Peeling has now calmed down to minimal and this is the most normal I've felt since starting Obagi Nu-Derm. My skin looks very good, just not perfect. I've been able to wear make up but keep it to blusher and mascara, maybe some eyeliner although I can finally put on a full face of mineral powder if I want to. I feel better about my skin for sure! I wonder if more improvements are to come or if this is as good as it gets? Will ask Dr Sarah tomorrow.

Day 72 - Met with Dr Sarah again and she said my skin is looking good. She said I can cut down and use Obagi less if I want to but I said I'm happy to keep the regime up like it is as I'm coping well and peeling/flakiness is less and I want to be more aggressive. So we have agreed I go to 18  weeks keeping this up. I'm adding another toner as I said I still want to blast the blackheads and pores, now I will use Clenziderm Pore Therapy toner every other day. It contains salicylic acid so will help with the blackheads. I suspect I'm in for a week of adapting again but that's ok. Dr Sarah also reassured me I will see more results in the coming weeks as my skin cells keep renewing. Yay! I will also think about adding a blue peel at the end of the 18 weeks.

Day 73 AM

Day 74 - I looked a bit pink yesterday morning after using the Tretinoin over night and the new toner in the morning. It did calm down during the day though. My friend today said my skin looks very good and I was out in the harsh daylight / lovely sunshine without any make up on, so it made me happy to hear.

Day 77 - I have used the Clenziderm Pore Therapy twice per day so now I'm peeling a bit again and my skin feels tight. It's just that I like it when it tightens the skin and pores as blackheads aren't visible but now I have to cut down to once per day until my skin adapts.

Week 10 - The stubborn blackheads are finally showing good improvements!

Day 64 - It seems my persistent Clenziderm wash and clarisonic face brush efforts are finally paying off. In the last day or two I've seen great improvements in the blackheads and pores on my chin. This area has been so stubborn so far that I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen so when I inspected my face this morning and saw the blackheads diminished I almost did a happy dance. I'm going to continue the 3 minute routine with Clenziderm as many evenings in a row as my skin can take. I'm still peeling so it's mostly two days on and one off as it's strong stuff. It's now week 10 and I've been patient waiting for these results. Obagi Nu Derm definitely keeps delivering the longer you use it.

Day 66 PM

Day 66 - My face is such a nice even pale colour now and no pigmentation issues at all. I think in the last week it's dawned on me how great and healthy it looks. I'm still peeling a little but it's calmed down from last week. I think my skin is slowly adapting to the Clenziderm wash. I rarely use any of the hydrate cream anymore, only on dry spots if I'm at work and want to minimise the flaky look. This week I can wear a bit of blusher and concealer but sometimes the under eye skin is peeling still.

Day 68 - My routine is working pretty ok, flaking is slowing down and I've used Clenziderm quite a lot this week but kept the Tretinoin to every other day alternating with the Exfoderm. Next week I'm back to meeting Dr Sarah again. I'm considering the dermarolling as I am not 100% happy with the pore size yet and my small scars on the nose are still visible. I will see what she says before making drastic decision.

Week 9 - Excited to see more results.

Day 57 - I've come to grips with the Clenziderm and Tretinoin combination but still adjust a little depending on how my skin feels. I see a lot of improvements in pore size and blackheads too. Skin has settled and doesn't get oily or too dry. Still peeling though and struggling to use make up as a result.

Day 58 AM

Day 59 - My skin looked good yesterday and I even managed to wear powder and I wasn't flaky or dry. Wohoo! Today I'm back to peeling however. I'm getting a bit paranoid about my under eye wrinkles from all this close up scrutiny of my face for the last eight weeks. I'm hoping the Elastiderm eye cream will improve wrinkles or else I'm off to get Botox!

Day 62 - My forehead and part of my chin are still stubbornly fighting my efforts to eliminate the blackheads and large pores but considering I don't wear make up my skin looks good. Met a friend for lunch yesterday and she couldn't believe I didn't wear make up and looked so fresh faced. I guess I might be staring myself blind at the remaining "imperfections" rather than appreciating the even skin tone, fresh glowy skin and overall improvements in pores everywhere else. Although I might give dermarolling a go and see if it helps me along further. Can't believe I've made it 9 weeks on this system and it's now part of my routine. Even slathering on three or four creams in the morning takes no time and is like second nature.

Day 63 AM

Day 63 - Today I have a two tiny spots coming and I blasted myself with the Tretinoin and Clenziderm wash over Easter weekend so I am looking a little pink this morning. My skin is also a little dry around the mouth but I'll recover quick if I give myself a day off the Clenziderm. I'm really trying to get the stubborn areas as much as the face can take....