Vanity Journey - Facial laser with DRx

In my life, I guess the hardest battle that I've to deal with currently, is probably the battle against acne scarring. Why is the journey to good flawless skin such a treacherous one? #firstworldproblems indeed.

I've been going to DRx for my skin problems and I love them & their products because they help to minimize black/white heads and reduce the frequency & size of my pimples if they do occur. One major problem I have with recurring pimples is that they often leave a red mark after they're gone & they would be there for the longest time :( 

So in this post, I will talk about a treatment that I've been going for since 2011. I've gone for about 7 sessions & these laser treatments have dramatically improved my skin condition. This post will be an image heavy post & lots of unglam ugly pictures so please do not judge! 

I've gone for 2 different types of laser, one invasive ( can't remember the name of the laser) but it was to target deeper scars and leave bloody marks all over and it was extremely painful! I went for two sessions of that and then decided to stop because I really couldn't bear the pain and the downtime.

But it helped to improve the appearance of deeper scars!

For the second type of laser, it is call the CO2 fractional laser. It is done for the overall resurfacing of the skin and it is usually quite painful at the upper lip area and the area around the eye.

So this is the condition of my skin before my laser. The main bout of the scars and large pores are at the sides of my cheek and scars on my nose as well 

Before the treatment, I would have to apply a layer of numb cream on my face and let it settle and take effect for about an hour. Normally I would ask the nurse to apply a thick layer as I have very low tolerance for pain!

I do not have pictures of the during but you can easily google it on YouTube. 

This is on the night of the laser treatment. As you can see, the skin will turn a little red after the treatment and it's normal. I regretted telling the doctor not to increase the power of the laser. I shouldn't be so chicken if I had wanted to see greater effects in this session. I NEED to have more courage for my next session. 

The face was actually burning because I had just showered and it was really painful :( 

After the laser treatment, for the next few days, you will be required to put a layer of hylauronic moisturizer (HM) on your face. The purpose of of HM is to moisturize the face while encouraging new cell growth. I dislike this, because it makes my face super oily and I can't lie on sides while I sleep. The feeling is just "eww". 

Day 2 of healing. Not much of a difference except that the face is slightly less red and the 'tiny dots" on the face are starting to turn brownish.

Day 3 of healing. In the last picture,you can see that the scabs have turned brown and are ready to fall off to reveal the new skin! My forehead is less red than the other areas as the doctor had used a lower power for that area as there is not scars on the area.

Normally on day 3, my face will start to itch and I would usually use a facial mist to calm the area and reduce itching!

Day 4. Not much difference from day 3. But skin becomes brownish due to the tiny dots.

Day 5. Scabs have mostly fallen. Skin remains pinkish.

Did a comparison collage between before laser treatment and 5 days after laser treatment. How wonderful is the treatment! I'm really addicted to CO2 treatment as I can see the effects after 1 session. 

But the only thing is, I would need to reduce the interval between each treatments to see better effects. The last time I did this was in March and I had delayed the treatment for 7 months before doing it again October. However, te period of downtime was what had caused the delay as I can't take a week leave so often. 

Day 6. Scabs have mostly fallen & new skin is revealed. Acne scars are much shallower except for some stubborn scars near the nose area and cheek area. But otherwise, I'm really happy with the effects of this treatment.

Shopping hauls for May

Retail therapy works for me ALL the time but sometimes it takes a toll on my poor wallet. But it's alright, 'Buy Now, Guilty Later' is my philosophy of life.

So this month, I bought the following ; -

1. DRx toner - the toner I swear by because it removes the last traces of dirt and make-up. This is even more important for me now because I am currently suffering a break-out on the whole face. No idea why this is so even though I have not been lazy when it comes to cleansing and other steps of skin care. Major sigh, skin woes please leave me alone!

2. Kiehls' Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Mask - Since I am suffering from outbreak now, I think I would need to keep more pores really really clean. So after reading the reviews online and checking out the product in the store, I've decided to give this mask a try.

Some info: Intensively purifies to minimize pores. This thoroughly cleansing masque may be used for normal to oily skin types to help eliminate debris and dead surface skin-cell accumulation that can clog pores and leave skin dull-looking. With ingredients sourced from the Marajo Island at the mouth of the Amazon River, this unique formula is rich in minerals and helps eliminate surface toxins from skin. Deep-cleansing masque helps to purify skin, leaving the appearance of pores minimized and skin refined.

3. Lancome La Base Pro Face Primer - I've been using this face primer since I started using makeup and I really love this make up primer. However, I stopped using it for some time as I didn't see the counters selling this anymore and I thought they had discontinued it. Also, I have stopped using make up for some time in the hope that my skin would get better (sigh, it did not).

Some info: Benefits

• Refines skin’s texture and diffuses light to visibly reduce imperfections
• Glides smoothly and evenly over skin
• Promises better makeup wear - stay true, more vibrant color
• Leaves skin perfectly matte and satiny‑soft, never greasy
• Ideal for all skin types

Technology

• Elasto-Smooth™ technology forms a silk‑like network on skin to create a soft‑focus effect, like a filter on a camera lens
• Contains silicons and emollients that create an even canvas for foundation
• Oil‑free formula feels comfortable on skin and controls shine

4. Nail polishes - China glaze's Ruby pumps. My all time favourite red nail polish. / Seche vite Quick dry top coat / OPI - (can't remember the name) / Etude House Easy Peel-off base coat.

5. Yellow suitcase from Paper Market : Talked about it in earlier post!

6. Infinity Ring : One of the few rings that I own because I am not a ring-person. I prefer earrings and necklaces. I actually saw this ring last week and was contemplating if I should buy it. I decided against it in the end. But the days after, I kept thinking about the ring and hence I decided to buy it in the end, yesterday! I will also be making the boyfriend pay for it (only $4 la) to represent his infinity love for me. heh heh.

That's all for this month & I am actually feeling guilty about buying all these things already. :(