Breaking Up (and out) Is Hard to Do: A Disproportionately Desperate Plea for Trivial Advice

This may sound trivial (and in the grand scheme of things undoubtedly is), but it's important enough to me that I'm dedicating an entire post to asking your advice. I do apologize in advance for serving myself more than my readers today, and I sincerely thank every person who not only reads this but shares their suggestions/experience with me. Anyway, here it comes..........so brace yourselves.

The skin care line I've been using for 20 years has been discontinued, and I seriously don't know what I'm going to do. (Ya gotta be kidding, right?) But no. I'm NOT kidding! (she reveals shamefacedly superficially seriously) The reason it's such a big deal? Because, before I found it, every single product I used on my face either gave me acne or made me allergic. Which is why I'm appealing to all of you for help.

Until now, I have loved using Principal Secret products, which will no longer be sold in the "original formula" that agreed with my skin so well. I've already learned the hard way that my skin reacts to the "advanced formula,"  as well as to their newest line, which contains an ingredient that swells your skin just enough to make it look less wrinkly. A lot of products have that stuff in them these days. Needless to say, I am allergic to the new, improved and (no doubt) groundbreaking skin-swelling lotions and creams.

So here's my question. Does anyone have a hypo-allergenic, mild, non-skin-swelling, moisturizing-but-not-overly-so type of skin care they swear by? Because I am going to have to try something new, and I am dreading it more than I can say. I had a little of my old Principal Secret stockpiled, but I'm on the last tube of eye gel and face wash, with only one extra jar of the moisturizer left. In other words, I am going to have to quit stalling and figure out what to do.

I don't even wear make-up, which makes the whole skin-care thing that much more of an issue. Also, my skin is becoming drier by the minute, so I do need a good moisturizer. (Too heavy a moisturizer, however, makes my face break out like crazy...even at 57.) And pretty much anything with a scent causes me problems. 

Excuse me just a minute, would you? Oh, heartless and cruel Principal Secret lab technicians lab rats formula formulators...How could you let me down after all these years together? How sharper than a serpent's tooth and such. Thanks. I needed that.

So there it is, sistahs. I've bared my soul. And my skin. Counsel me, o wise ones. I am all ears...and rapidly deteriorating facial epidermis.  =)

Growing Old Gracefully

©1997 by Susan Noyes Anderson

“You’re growing old so gracefully,”

is what I’m often told.

Is that a compliment?

Should I be proud, or just consoled?

Do wrinkles glide across my face?

Can old bones creak with style?

Are aching joints more pleasing when

you bend them with a smile?

If silver hair distinguishes and

bifocals refine, then

I am truly elegant, 

for both of these are mine.

I’m pleased that most observers find

my aging done with grace,

but I would gladly be more gauche

if that would slow the pace!