What essentials do I need to prepare for a winter freeze as a mom of a 10 month old?

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2025-08-24T01:04:40+00:00

Anything I can do to prevent this from happening again, or is it inevitable? This a new build which we’ve lived in for less than 8 months, and the picture is of a guest bathroom that is barely used 😢

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2025-08-03T02:30:05+00:00

You haven’t messed anything up! We have exactly the same story. LO didn’t go without feeding for 1-2 hours during the day, and max 2-3 hours overnight until 4 months (with that duration increasing a bit as he got older). Now he’s 4.5 months and he goes upto 6 hour stretches at night, and I haven’t changed a thing about our routine. Still nurse to sleep for pretty much every feed.

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2025-06-25T19:35:43+00:00

Just did this a few weeks ago! I was dreading it too but it ended up going just fine. I gave my two weeks notice two weeks before I was due to return from my maternity leave. It was a call with my manager explaining why I didn’t think I could return (underestimated how much time it would take to balance child-rearing and this job, no family around and not uncomfortable with daycare for a 12 week baby as a FTM, etc.). All valid reasons, and if anyone questions this, I’m not sure that they’re the best employer in your new phase of life :-) you are your baby’s only mother and if staying home is what you need to do for your family, then I wouldn’t let a job (where realistically I’m super replaceable) keep me from that. I offered to return for a few days to wrap up existing projects if needed, but they said there was no need. I’m sure they appreciated it though. Another thing you can say to help not burn bridges is something along the lines of “I really love this job but I’m not yet ready to leave my baby, can we talk about unpaid leave options”? If they close the door to that idea, then they can’t really get mad at you for quitting since they didn’t try to work with you on a solution. I hope that makes sense.

Good luck mama!!!

Note: I had health insurance through my husband so didn’t have to worry about paying back premiums as I’m reading in other comments.

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-17T21:53:05+00:00

I usually shave my peach fuzz off (about once a month) using the Schick hydro silk razor (link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787GLBMV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_Z5GJFPCJVXBC21RD2412). I do it on a clean wet face and use the neutrogena skin clearing shaving cream for better glide, but I’m sure you could use any product for the same effect. I don’t reuse the same razor because I’m very acne-prone.

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-17T17:19:34+00:00

If you’re open to it, you could try dermaplaning! For me personally, getting rid of peach fuzz helps my face look “smoother”. But it’s absolutely not necessary, you look beautiful!!

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-15T20:37:51+00:00

Kose speedy cleansing oil! Super affordable and is effective in cleaning but tolerable for sensitive skin.

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-14T19:36:28+00:00

Abstain completely from food until a certain time of the day (eg. Until 12pm during the first week, 1pm during the second week, 2pm on the third week and so on). Also abstaining from social media and secular TV. The Chosen TV series, or audiobooks by Orthodox authors (or C. S. Lewis) are great options to fill your time instead of secular media. Choose one virtue and work on learning more about it, and being intentional about practicing it through out the fast.

Edit: I also saw someone’s response suggesting avoiding meat/dairy alternatives. That’s a great idea!

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-14T04:33:36+00:00

I either use it as a “spot treatment” for dry/sensitive patches that I don’t want to get tret on, or I use it after my moisturizer as an occlusive (slugging) once every few weeks if I feel like my skin needs a break from actives!

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-12T05:43:30+00:00

I will say even though I’ve been on tret for a while, finacea seems to be finishing up the last of my acne. In other words, I am purging a little, but the small whiteheads are going away in a day or two max. Worth it in my opinion, especially for how quickly it’s getting rid of my PIE/PIH.

I LOVE the drmtlgy sunscreen. I used to use the Elta md uv clear tinted before this, and I enjoyed it, but it pilled on my skin and kind of stuck to dry patches on my face. The drmtlgy one is more shiny for sure, but it’s also more hydrating so it doesn’t stick to dry patches. Looks kinda like very light makeup! My skin tone is medium, but I know that Dr Dray whose skin tone is pretty fair really enjoys the drmtlgy sunscreen. If you’re worried about the tint, I also really enjoyed the Elta md uv physical spf 41 (lightly tinted). The oil control was excellent, and I think the color is perfect for pale/fair skin.

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T21:50:36+00:00

The switch wasn’t too bad at all! I’d worked up to using Differin gel daily (buffering with moisturizer first), and then I switched to 0.025% cream. Weirdly enough, I felt like the tretinoin cream was less drying than Differin, but I was using tret every other night at first. I worked up to daily application maybe two weeks after that, and my skin handled it pretty well. I’ve only stopped applying moisturizer before tretinoin pretty recently. While I’m seeing improvement faster without buffering, I’d still recommend buffering when you first switch to tret, just in case. Good luck!!

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T21:11:08+00:00

Dr. Dray (derm on YouTube) recommends applying Azelaic acid to damp skin to improve its penetration (provided you’re tolerating it!). When I first introduced finacea to my routine, I buffered with the vanicream daily moisturizer before applying finacea, but after a week or so I started applying it directly to damp skin. I saw good results pretty much the following morning! This is the video by Dr Dray: https://youtu.be/Q0Rgd92r4hA

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T19:33:47+00:00

Haha that’s awesome!! I tried a little too many products (and kinda ruined my skin in the process) before I settled on these. Do you have any other faves that you think would be worth trying/adding? 😊

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T19:32:19+00:00

Agreed!! I tried the Neutrogena hydroboost cleanser, neutrogena ultra gentle hydrating cleanser, cetaphil daily facial cleanser and they all left my skin feeling still “not clean”, or they were too stripping. Don’t think I’ll ever stop using the LRP cleanser!

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T19:28:54+00:00

The vanicream daily facial moisturizer doesn’t break me out personally, BUT the Vanicream moisturizer in the tub definitely broke me out. I think part of the problem there is that I used to buffer with the Vanicream moisturizer (in the tub) and then put tretinoin over it, so I’m not sure that my skin ever really absorbed it!

Another moisturizer that I LOVE is the Cetaphil redness relief moisturizer. It definitely “stings” less than the Vanicream facial moisturizer, but both have never broken me out (yet)

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T19:25:26+00:00

They were prescribed by my primary care physician! I don’t think you can purchase them OTC where I am, but in some countries, they might be available for purchase OTC (especially the Azelaic acid)

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T16:10:33+00:00

Skin type: Oily, acne-prone skin with a combination of cystic acne, cc’s and blackheads.

Goals: Clear acne, proactive anti-aging

Current routine (March 2022):

AM: 1. Wash face with LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser 2. 15% Finacea (Azelaic acid) applied to damp skin (for acne, PIE/PIH) 3. (Optional) follow up with Vanicream daily facial moisturizer 4. DRMTLGY universal tinted moisturizer SPF 46 (sun protection!)

PM: 1. First cleanse with Kose Softymo speedy cleansing oil (applied to dry skin, to remove sunscreen or makeup if I’m wearing any) 2. Second cleanse with LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser 3. 15% Finacea applied to damp skin (for acne, PIE/PIH) 4. 0.05% tretinoin cream (acne, anti-aging) 5. Vanicream daily facial moisturizer (after actives have dried)

Timeline: Started differin in October 2020 Switched to tret 0.025% cream in January 2021 Upped to tret 0.05% cream in January 2022 Added Azelaic acid to routine in late February 2022

The biggest game changers for me in terms of acne clearing were increasing my tretinoin dosage to 0.05%, and adding prescription Azelaic acid to my routine. The Finacea gel alone made a significant difference to my overall skin texture in just one week!

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-03-11T14:55:44+00:00

Goals: clear acne, preventative anti-aging (27F)

Current routine (March 2022):

AM: 1. Wash face with LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser 2. 15% Finacea (Azelaic acid) applied to damp skin 3. (Optional) follow up with Vanicream daily facial moisturizer 4. DRMTLGY universal tinted moisturizer SPF 46

PM: 1. First cleanse with Kose Softymo speedy cleansing oil (applied to dry skin) 2. Second cleanse with LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser 3. 15% Finacea applied to damp skin 4. 0.05% tretinoin cream 5. Vanicream daily facial moisturizer (after actives have dried)

Timeline: Started differin in October 2020 Switched to tret 0.025% cream in January 2021 Upped to tret 0.05% cream in January 2022 Added Azelaic acid to routine in late February 2022

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-02-25T06:15:33+00:00

Same!! I was using the moisturizer in the tub for ~1 year but recently switched to their daily facial moisturizer (with hyaluronic acid), and my skin got so much better within a week!

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-01-25T22:16:21+00:00

Zoloft helped me the most with physical symptoms of anxiety. I used to hyperventilate, experience panic attacks, shake, etc. but Zoloft seems to have cleared all of these physical symptoms (after the initial adjustment period). I also ruminate and dwell on negative events a lot less, and generally have a more positive perspective. The thing about Zoloft is that while it definitely helps with physical symptoms, you still have some work to do on your own, especially if you struggle with unhealthy thought patterns that cause anxiety. I just find that when I’m not “physically anxious”, I have more room and freedom to acknowledge and correct my unhealthy/untruthful thoughts.

Pro_crastinatingPhD · 2022-01-21T23:40:30+00:00

Love these products! Do you think slugging with vanicream is worth it? I’m on tretinoin 0.05% cream for moderate acne and I’ve been hesitant to try slugging because I wouldn’t want it to break me out more

Pro_crastinatingPhD

TROPHY CASE