So I'm getting old, and it fucking sucks. I've always been a pretty good-looking fella, but now lines have begun to appear on my face, and my skin has roughened, and there are moments when I'll swear that I'm downright ugly. (I smoked from the ages of 21 to 32, and just quit about 2 months ago, precisely because I wanted to arrest the damage that smoking was causing to my face.)

But let's discuss the deterioration of our faces, and how we can close the barn door on aging after the horse has bolted. In particular, my big problems are

1. I use this Renova shit that my dermatologist gave me. It's supposed to work minor miracles on one's complexion, and I suppose it does, but it also turns my face red and makes it dry if I use it every day. My dermatologist says it needn't be used with moisturizer, but I'm starting to wonder if she might not be in a professional minority there.

2. I never get enough goddamned sleep (I'm just an insomniac) and I have these blue circles and lines under my eyes. I got this Thiamine stuff, and it actually seems to work.

3. Over the winter, these fucking lines appeared that run from my nose to the corners of my mouth. Why do these things exist? Where did they come from? The dermatologist says there's nothing to be done about these lines except fillers; but I've heard of facial exercises, and I've read folks on internet forums talk about how these exercises actually work. Admittedly you have to hold your skin in a weird position for 10 minutes a day; but I think I'd be willing to do that.

I guess that's enough to start on. Oh, what sunscreen do you people use? Also, is it stupid and gay for a guy even to be worrying about all this shit? I've always been a bizarre, socially inept freak, and have always relied on my looks to get me what occasional play I'm fortunate enough to enjoy. If my looks were to go altogether, I'd be pretty fucked.

4/24/2014 9:14:41 PM

4/24/2014 10:06:16 PM

Jeffrey, I know all the skin care secrets, but I'll have to charge you, $60/hr for consultation.

4/24/2014 10:19:18 PM

you're Asian, you don't need skin care products. you'll still look like a 25-year-old when you're 37.

unless you're offering to sell me the anti-aging secret that all Asians secretly use, in which case, fuck yeah, $60 would be fine.

4/24/2014 10:26:53 PM

This is what I do. It isn't much and I'm just using the best "cheap" products I could find after very minimal research. I also was fortunate to never have any kind of bad acne and I haven't yet begun to see any effects of aging so maybe I'd be doing more/using something different if either were the case.

I use a facial scrub a few times a week - http://www.amazon.com/St-Ives-Fresh-Apricot-Scrub/dp/B000UVY8IE

I use whatever face wash my wife currently has every morning/night. She just bought me some Nivea for Men stuff that I've been using. Guess she didn't want me using hers anymore, I dunno.

I use this moisturizer every day/night - http://www.amazon.com/St-Ives-Moisturizer-Timeless-Collagen/dp/B000UVZU1S

And I started doing a clay mask once a week recently. I don't really think it does anything but at least I'm making an effort? - http://www.amazon.com/Freeman-Feeling-Beautiful-Avocado-Oatmeal/dp/B0088W2WEO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

[Edited on April 24, 2014 at 10:39 PM. Reason : .]

4/24/2014 10:38:18 PM

Preventative Botox is key. Don't hesitate on those fillers. Keep using the Renova. Start chemical peels when the time is right. When parts of your face start to droop, get you some surgery. Other than that, you need to work on concealing your vanity. But that's it!

I use Clarins, Shiseido, and Peter Thomas Roth sunscreens. They all have different applications.

4/25/2014 12:00:10 AM

some people only use trentinoin every 2 or 3 days because of the irritation. I'm using a lot of shit on my face right now, but retin-a isn't one of them.

for the dark circles, try a luminizing eye cream like clarins gin-zing... i got a sample of that and i'm liking it so far.


I'm using murad acne care products for the most part (I don't have much acne, but things tend to clog my pores easily, including my hair products ), alpha-beta hydroxy acid mist (andalou organics) and a gel (swisstec brand) with retinol and hyalauronic acid (i put these on my husband after he shaves and it's great) almost daily, and a glycolic acid toner, charcoal mask and microdermabrasion scrub once a week each.

so i wash my face, put on eye gel, then the a-b hydroxy mist, then the murad pimple creams, then the retinol gel, then a murad moisturizer (i have the perfecting day cream if i'm staying inside, and the spf15 mattifier for going out). Each layer has to dry before I put on the next, so I just go sit in front of a fan to apply all of that.

4/25/2014 9:51:52 AM

I love my face products too (just a face wash and a face cream), but that what nature intended, to be applying 5 different products? Yes, I know, that's a can of worms, but I am not arguing here, just wondering if there is a better more natural way to take care of facial skin and to eliminate the problems that people encounter.

There is a whole bunch of people out there who make their own face and hair care products and swear by them, saying they have eliminated years and decades old problems with natural home-made products. Anybody in that boat?

There is also the oil cleansing protocol. There was a thread in the lounge, I am sure it is still there, just search. Many users here swore by it, saying it eliminated many problems, including acne, red bumps, pores getting clogged, lines/wrinkles, oiliness, yes, even oiliness. It is on my list of things to do, has been, for many years, but never got around to it.

[Edited on April 25, 2014 at 12:29 PM. Reason : ]

4/25/2014 12:28:06 PM

you might want to look up oil foliculitis before you try oil cleansing. rubbing oil on your face can not only result in clogged pores, but feed certain types of bacteria/protists which consume oil and normally live in small numbers in the skin, causing nasty infections. the worst part is that the scientifically illiterate people doing this tell themselves and others that these infections are actually their skin is 'purging' stuff from deep within the pore and that they should persist with the treatment because it is working, which is bullshit.


'Nature intended' for you to splash some bacteria-filled water on your face a few times a month and call that a facial. What we're talking about here is explicitly defying nature to improve the quality of skin in a measurable way without causing other detrimental effects. Why do you feel better eschewing the extracts of the actual active chemicals from natural sources in favor of using the crude raw materials which also contain components that cause detrimental effects?

Most 'natural facials' either contain oil and/or sugar sugar which feed bacteria, strong fruit acids or bases such as baking soda that disrupt the pH balance of the skin's acid mantle, or sharp grit 'scrubs' that actually cause small lacerations to the skin which can allow bacteria to enter.
Dermatologists think it's better to use the weak acids and vitamins extracted from plants without the unwanted ingredients and emollients that don't clog pores and make things worse, and that's what i'm choosing to go with.

Anyone is welcome to play Hell's kitchen with their face, but there isn't any evidence that it works for many people, while there is a lot of evidence to the contrary, and there is also evidence that the stuff I use on my face does result in an improvement for the majority of people.

4/25/2014 12:51:22 PM

i've never had issues with acne...assuming i don't put any products on my face

clinique's dramatically different lotion is perfect, but it's comparatively expensive

i've been trying different products for almost 2 years now and i've finally settled on garnier moisture rescue gel-cream and it works great: http://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Moisture-Refreshing-Gel-Cream-1-70-Fluid/dp/B003RF82UK

it is completely non-greasy (in fact, it feels as if my face is completely dry, but never tight) and doesn't cause me to break out...you can buy it locally for $6-7 for a small jar

i've read good things about boots no7 facial cream, which is available at target (but not showing up online for some reason) for $5-6

4/25/2014 10:20:01 PM

So I've been using this shit



for about 8 months, but during most of that time I was using it every two nights. However, about a month ago I bumped it up to every night, and since then I've noticed a tremendous difference. I look better than I've looked in years. Some of it, I'm sure, is due to the fact that I'm getting regular sleep again, but nonetheless, I have no doubt whatsoever that Renova has played a huge part, and that it will make you more attractive and take years off your face. It makes your skin so smooth. If you're concerned about looking attractive (particularly if you're in your thirties) you should make an appoint with your dermatologist and get some of this shit prescribed (or just order it online from a Mexican pharmacy.) /gay

5/12/2014 11:39:56 PM

How much was it? If I ordered it from a Mexican pharmacy what are the odds that it would be the actual product and not some Jergens in a renova bottle?

5/13/2014 8:02:42 PM

it was like $180 bucks at the dermatologist...I think the Mexican pharmacies sell it for $50 or so.

I've hear ppl on semi-reputable websites (which I can't find now) say that they ordered Renova from Mexico, and it was legit. On the other hand, ordering shit from Mexico is sketchy. But personally I'd guess >75% that it'll be real shit.

If you're really interested, I'd recommend you browse forums and stuff, see if anybody got screwed ordering their Renova from foreign parts. I'm going to do that before I shell out another $180 for another bottle.

5/13/2014 9:36:40 PM