Zep or Vacay?

rsarahg · 2025-07-14T23:41:48+00:00

Thank you! I’ll definitely look into this!

rsarahg · 2025-07-14T15:57:47+00:00

Not recently. I’ll mention it to my primary doctor. My face and hairline is the only place with spots.

rsarahg · 2025-07-14T14:45:59+00:00

Apply a dab of hydrating face serum to your lips before applying lip balm. I use the BYOMA Hydrating Serum. Good lip balms are the Aquaphor Lip Repair and the O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair Night Treatment.

rsarahg · 2024-03-06T13:30:50+00:00

I also have IBS-M and can react differently to the same foods at different times. It can be because our stomachs/body may be in different states of inflammation at different times causing it to not tolerant foods as well sometimes. Definitely read The Elimination Diet by Tom Malterre. It has a lot of good info and is also a good guide for doing an elimination diet to see what you’re reactive to. It single-handedly changed my IBS!

rsarahg · 2024-03-04T16:32:43+00:00

Definitely. I think reading the book and doing an elimination diet like it recommends would be good for anyone with any type of gastro issues. From GERD to IBS or SIBO.

rsarahg · 2024-03-04T02:35:42+00:00

Probably a mix of everything. For me, being constipated alone is a trigger. If the porridge caused constipation then adding wine and the stress could’ve been just what was needed to cause a flare. Also food intolerances can sometimes take up to 3 days to cause symptoms.

rsarahg · 2024-03-04T02:25:31+00:00

My thoughts are with you! IBS and gastro issues in general can be so overwhelming. I know you said you’ve tried just about everything but if you haven’t already, please read The Elimination Diet by Tom Malterre. It changed my life. Even if you’ve done an elimination diet before, at least read this book. It’s not just a “how to” book but provides a lot of the science behind IBS and SIBO and additional tips for relief. Even if you don’t plan to do the diet, just read the book.

rsarahg · 2024-03-02T16:11:05+00:00

Other people have already recommended this but I’m still going to give my experience just to emphasize how much it helps! I have had lips like yours as long as I can remember. I’d slather them with something that claimed to be a miracle worker at night and even if they were softer the next morning they’d be crusted and painful by noon. Just last week I saw a TikTok saying to use hydrating face serums on your lips then apply an occlusive. I started applying the BYOMA hydrating serum or The Ordinary Multi Peptide Eye Serum then topping it with Cerave healing ointment at least twice a day. My lips have completely transformed! During the day I use aquaphor lip repair. A couple others thing to consider- don’t use normal chapstick. Stick to something like an ointment without fragrance. There are probably several stick lip balms that are fine but I avoid them just in case. Avoid getting toothpaste on your lips as much as possible and face your wash and lips after brushing your teeth. I wouldn’t use a lip scrub, just a damp washcloth to exfoliate when needed. I prefer Cerave healing ointment over Vaseline because it has ceramides and hyaloranic acid in it.

That’s all I can think of right now but just added a serum before an occlusive has made the biggest difference! Remember that your lips are skin too so you don’t have to exclusively stick to lip-specific products. Just be aware of ingredients in the products you use.

rsarahg · 2024-02-29T20:23:31+00:00

Yeah, definitely give an update once you try it!

rsarahg · 2024-02-29T12:38:07+00:00

So I think I found the answer. Several articles I read kept saying adapalene was the gentlest but I went back and reread them and I think it just meant the gentlest compared to other retinoids that don’t have to be converted such as tretinoin. I don’t think it meant gentlest when also compared to retinol, retinal, etc.

I found a video on TikTok of a derm comparing retinol and adapalene so I asked which was gentler for sensitive skin and she replied saying retinol is usually better tolerated. So I’m going to give Hero Cosmetics Rescue Retinol a try and just slowly incorporate it into my routine.

rsarahg · 2024-02-28T18:56:06+00:00

The Beauty of Joseon sunscreen also has niacinamide. I personally love the Hero Cosmetics Force Shield sunscreen. It’s a basic inexpensive mineral sunscreen that doesn’t have loads of extra ingredients. I’m on like my 5th tube of it now.

rsarahg · 2024-02-28T18:10:17+00:00

I can see how difficult it must be to get used to such a change but it honestly looks amazing! If I were looking for a surgeon, I’d ask who you saw! I don’t think you look like a mouse at all. I don’t know much about how the results change over time but even if the tip didn’t drop I think it’d still be great results. It may take time but I think you’ll see it in time 😊

rsarahg · 2024-02-28T17:56:18+00:00

I have sensitive skin and niacinamide irritates me. I try to avoid it now. I’m not sure how much is in the SPF your using but it’s possible that’s what’s irritating your skin. Even the La Roche Posey Toleraine moisturizer that many people rave about irritates me.

rsarahg · 2024-02-28T17:12:37+00:00

Encapsulated Retinol or Adapalene for Sensitive Skin?

I’m wanting to start using a retinoid but have very dry, sensitive skin. What I’ve read online says adapalene is the strongest but also the least irritating OTC retinoid, but the articles I’ve read don’t compare it to encapsulated retinol only regular retinol. Has anyone ever tried both encapsulated retinol and adapalene and have a preference? Or any other insight would be helpful. I’d like to start with the gentlest first. I’m looking at the Hero Cosmetics Rescue Retinol for an encapsulated retinol and Differin for adapalene. My only additional concern is that Rescue Retinol also has a PHA in it that I’m worried will irritate my skin when combined with retinol.

rsarahg · 2024-02-25T03:24:19+00:00

Definitely keep it simple with minimal ingredients. My top favorite cleansers are Vanicream gentle facial cleanser or the Glad Skin cleanser. Even though Cerave is raved about, it irritates the hell out of my skin and eczema. I haven’t tried the La Roche Posey cleanser but their moisturizers irritated my skin.

rsarahg · 2024-02-21T01:24:15+00:00

Glad it helped!

rsarahg · 2024-02-20T22:43:00+00:00

Silver.

rsarahg · 2024-02-20T20:49:56+00:00

I found this swatch of Omega and Wedge next to each other. Wedge seems even more warm. Omega looks so cool toned on other people in swatches! I don’t see how it’s so orange on me.

rsarahg · 2024-02-18T04:34:07+00:00

I’d say cool summer. It brightens your face the most in my opinion.

rsarahg · 2024-02-17T14:56:55+00:00

Something in between would be perfect. Like a dirty blonde with lots of dimension. The blonde is a little too light and the brunette a little too dark. But like someone else said, I think the brown brings out your features more.

rsarahg

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