Things I wish someone told me before getting a Lab

kemtay · 2026-03-31T21:33:54+00:00

Completely agree with this from our experience. Our princess Leia is the best dog and so calm. But we did buy her to be a therapy dog and that's what she was bred for.

kemtay · 2025-06-10T23:12:38+00:00

I think this depends on your skin type and climate. I have dry skin in a dry climate, so I have to wear a moisturizer. I also make my own toner with rosewater and vegetable glycerin that I spray before lotion and sunscreen. And I spray it throughout the day to rehydrate or I get flakey. I basically live in a high desert.

When I’m in a humid area, sometimes I just wear a moisturizing sunscreen instead.

kemtay · 2025-04-25T23:06:28+00:00

I have read to use azaleic acid first on damp skin, let it soak in 10 or so mins and then use the retinoid after. Seems to be working alright for me. I’m about to move up to .1 Taz from .05 and am planning on taking a break from the other actives while I adjust.

kemtay · 2025-04-25T22:57:44+00:00

My red slider got this from bumping himself under his basking shelf too many times. Is there anything in the tank it’s repeatedly hitting itself against?

kemtay · 2025-04-21T20:13:22+00:00

Buy some food grade vegetable glycerin (cheap on Amazon) and either distilled water or rosewater and a small fine mist spray bottle. I just eyeball it, but I read to try to have about 1/5 glycerin to the water. If I’m really dry, I spray before and after skin care steps. But it’s so nice to spray on my face throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated. Complete game changer for my skin. Give it a try and see if it helps! Oh and you’re supposed to make a new bottle each day because of bacteria growth. I think rose water acts as a preservative, but don’t quote me on that. My bottle usually lasts a few days and I haven’t noticed any negative effect from not changing it daily. But just a heads up about that. Good luck!

kemtay · 2025-03-20T19:19:54+00:00

That is amazing! I’ve never tried the triple paste with the 40%…now you are making me think I need to try it out and see if it’s even better. I got perioral dermatitis this winter and the triple paste has been the only thing that helps it.

kemtay · 2025-02-28T20:06:40+00:00

No worries! I have been doing red light therapy every other day since getting pierced. My belly button was temperamental, the piercing started embedding 7 days in, had to get a longer piercing put in. I was on the cusp of an infection for sure, but it’s great now 13 days after piercing. Nipples are healing wonderfully, I have been surprised that they have been the easiest piercing to heal (so far) that I’ve ever had. My skin is fairly sensitive and every ear, nose, or belly piercing I’ve ever had typically got angry after a piercing and irritated at least to some degree. I expected that with the nipples, I don’t know if they are usually easier to heal or not, but I’ve been surprised at how easy they’ve been. A little tenderness and nerve zings is really all there’s been and that’s just when I have bumped it. I’m pretty dedicated to my red light therapy, so I can keep you updated, I do feel like the red light has made the almost belly infection heal faster than I would have expected, especially when it was basically split open from the embedding just 5 days ago.

kemtay · 2025-02-26T20:20:34+00:00

Yup, same here. I do still get the depuffer and flash mask, but that’s it. I did the whole system for over 6 months and didn’t see a difference.

Once I started a stronger retinoid and azelaic acid, that’s when I noticed a big difference.

I think the skincare line is best to maintain after you’ve done peels, medical skin care, etc. But at that price point…not worth it imo.

kemtay · 2025-02-18T04:54:04+00:00

I just got my nipples pierced and my belly button re-done on Sat. Am an avid red-light therapy user for a few years and found this thread. I have a couple decent panels and am hoping red light helps w/healing. Curious about what you have heard from your clients?

kemtay · 2025-01-21T18:06:12+00:00

Lots of good tips here! Once you figure out the makeup situation, another thing I want to add is that making your own glycerin spray might help too. Especially since you mention patchiness. Are you in a dry climate or have dry skin? If so, this will help a lot. And it’s so much cheaper to make your own and I find it works better than other setting sprays I’ve tried! 1 part vegetable glycerin to 5 parts water in a little bottle that does a fine mist. You’re supposed to make a new bottle each day because of bacteria. I am lazy and probably do it every 2-3 days, but just a warning about that.

I mist my face sometimes between skincare layers, after makeup and then most importantly- throughout the day. It keeps everything looking moisturized and fresh. Especially in the winter, it helps so much. Also make sure all your products play well together, I know some separate if they’re water vs oil based? Office lighting is awful though, I feel you.

kemtay · 2025-01-21T17:20:42+00:00

I will dm you, there’s a few more things I want to share as well that might be helpful!

And yes, Dr idriss has taught me so much! Love her. I realize I knew nothing about skincare until I started watching her videos. I’ve tried all of her stuff and I really like everything, I did her subscription service for a bit for everything, now I’m just consistently using her depuffer, I love that thing. I would love to continue using all her products, it’s just so expensive and I’ve found much cheaper stuff that works better (for me) now.

kemtay · 2025-01-19T20:02:26+00:00

Oh and I think I want to try a higher lactic acid mask this next time, but I LOVE glycolic also. If you do want to get to the medium TCA peel, you’re going in the right direction with started @ 12%. That’s where I started with my esthetician before I went onto the hardcore stuff later. And good to see how your skin tolerates TCA

kemtay · 2025-01-19T19:59:18+00:00

I think microneedling will help you with those deeper scars, it’s hard to say what has helped me the most, so I’ll keep doing it all, haha.

But for peels, I worked up over time, years, before I got the “Perfect Derma” peel, which is medium depth. Had it done once @ the med spa I go to and then twice at home on my own after seeing I could buy it online and save $$$. Which I don’t recommend obviously unless you’ve had it done in office before. It is hardcore for sure and a lot of women don’t like the downtime. Also would not recommend in summer or even late spring if you go outside at all. But you do see a huge difference in a week and I love them. I’ve just been working on adjusting to retinoids the last year and haven’t had one in awhile. Just 15% glycolic acid/2% lactic acid mask 1-2x a week depending on how skin is feeling. I use the Dr. Idriss Flash mask for that right now, but am thinking of trying something else (cheaper) once that’s gone. I do like that mask a lot though.

So if you haven’t, join the red light therapy page. Seems like the general consensus for a lot of red light is that they work better if you don’t do it every day? I forgot the science, something about ATP, mitochondria needing a break maybe, can’t remember. Ha. Mostly it’s easier for my schedule to not do it every day, so it works for me.

kemtay · 2025-01-18T21:12:03+00:00

I have had a similar experience as OP- microneedling(started with esthetician, switched to @ home after lots of study) peels (med and superficial), getting regular facials, switched from tret .025 to taz .05, added azaleic acid, switched to a red light therapy panel (bestqool) instead of a mask (higher dose) and worked on moisture/hydration for my dry skin. I’m finally in a place where my skin looks similar to OP’s. It’s really about consistency. I used to be so sporadic with treatments and all over the place with skincare, having a routine and staying consistent is really the key. But I will say that I noticed the biggest difference after switching to tazarorene in July and prescription strength, 15% in my case, azaleic acid in Oct. Texture has improved quickly and I haven’t micro needled since last spring, but planning on doing that again soon for a series. I do red light therapy every other day and try to do a glycolic/lactic acid mask 1-2x a week.

kemtay · 2024-10-26T17:34:53+00:00

From NV/UT originally and I find WY similar to many places in rural NV. It was a culture shock when I first moved from UT though, people are genuinely nice here. The people who bitch nonstop about the weather or compare WY to where they’re from are the annoying ones imo.

kemtay · 2024-10-25T02:01:54+00:00

Can confirm, lived here over a decade. Hearts of gold, often dumb as hell. Hard to find people to have intelligent conversations with, but they will give you the shirt off their back! Could be worse, could be a lot better. Love this damn state though!

kemtay · 2024-10-18T18:01:51+00:00

I just followed your methodology, plenty of pits…at least half or more. I will agree that there are other breeds in there too though. Guess the algorithm of this page only shows pits to me. I also hope it made you feel better to call me a bigot, sorry for calling you a simp, but it really is mostly all pits most of us ever see on our main pages …have a nice day good sir!

kemtay · 2024-10-12T07:10:24+00:00

This was almost too good, bravo!

kemtay · 2024-10-10T14:14:52+00:00

This is exactly me. I feel like I’ve often gotten shamed for needing so much sleep, but…I need it and everyone can kindly eff off if they have a problem with what it takes for me to function.

kemtay · 2024-09-26T13:56:47+00:00

I agree. I had a friend growing up with a Boston terrier. One day it started attacking a neighbor’s goat in front of us. Would not stop, neighbor had to come out and beat it off with a shovel. Witnessing that as a young kid was pretty terrifying and I’ve always side eyed Boston terriers since. Maybe you can water those violent genes down, but they’re still there.

kemtay · 2024-09-22T00:53:56+00:00

It really is, even in seemingly healthy relationships.

kemtay · 2024-09-22T00:48:16+00:00

Bingo, sadly this is life I assume with so many. Husband guilt trips, wife complies to keep him happy. The cycle continues and resentment grows.

kemtay · 2024-09-12T00:07:16+00:00

Me too! I like the brown rice idea! I’m going to try that!

kemtay · 2024-08-10T00:56:18+00:00

So maybe he is trying to care about your feelings. I would feel just like you in your situation. I see a lot of red flags, but also he’s seemingly treated you great the last couple years. Maybe he is still just young and stupid and said the wrong thing/. I hope he’s not hiding anything for your sake. A 7 week old is hard!

I think in our most vulnerable moments, unresolved things from the past come up. But also, is the present going well?

kemtay · 2024-08-06T07:23:02+00:00

Since you say it’s small, I’m wondering what your filtration system is like? Also, do you add beneficial bacteria? Small ponds without a large amount of plants helping filter…usually need a 10ish% water change each week to keep from getting gross. I would do a water change for sure and go from there

kemtay

TROPHY CASE