How much are you paying for your Curology with Tretinion? What is the base like compared to prescription cream base? What is the packaging like? Is it a tube? Thinking of switching. Thank you!

Forgot! It's also non-drying and irritating! There's a slight sting when initially putting it on, but it's not bad. Rather that than dryness and irritation after application.

7% glycolic acid has worked wonders for my oldest two. DS1 has mild acne and DS2 had moderate. It can be applied just once it twice a day. DS 1 has really bad clogged pores on his nose that we used prescription retin as but the glycolic acid works great as well and is so much easier to work with. We use the Ordinary brand. A bottle is $8ish at Ulta and lasts four of us using it for at least 6 weeks.

I have acne prone, combo, sensitive skin but with an extremely oily T zone. I've been using glycolic acid for a bit now and it's made my skin look so beautiful! It's an exfoliant for skin clarity (blackheads, acne) and is supposed to help with wrinkles and fade hyperpigmentation too. I haven't seen a huge diff with wrinkles, but it's softened lines and my skin just looks radiant and more even toned. I think my pores look smaller as well. This routine keeps my skin clear and happy: Wash - Nuetrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser (foaming not creamy version) Glycolic acid toner 7%- Ordinary $8 at Ulta and last forever Sunscreen - CeraVe ultra lightweight spf 30 I've recently started on retin a but I'm not sure if I'll keep at it except on problem areas like around eyes and upper lip. My guy with moderate acne has beautiful skin now that he's started the glycolic acid! He uses it on his back and his acne has cleared up there as well. He uses the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser with it.

Thanks to your post, I'm eagerly waiting to hear back from a local elder care facility about matching pen pals with a group of homeschool kiddos. The nurse, who answered the phone, was so appreciative and jumped on getting me to right person to make our request to. This is a facility known for welcoming community outreach, so with this plus the positive reception so far, I'm hopeful. THANK YOU for sharing this.

Okay, so both tinted sunscreens make Hot and Flashy's best of list. We have similar skin types. https://www.hotandflashy.com/all-the-mineral-face-sunscreens-ive-tested/ I'll go ahead and order the CeraVe and report back how it fairs.

I haven't. I'll take a look. Thank you!

I wish it worked for me too. I found a YouTuber who recommends the CeraVe tinted mineral sunscreen. In this video, she said the Australian is the only sunscreen she's tried that's ever bothered her skin. CeraVe tinted is just a 30, but I think I'll try that while I keep searching.

I'm trying to go mineral too. I'll look into those two brands. I'm spending some money on anti-aging stuff recently (retin a and gycolic acid-just a toner not peel) and would like to find something affordable to help curb the cost of my skincare. Also the reason I'm looking for higher spf. Thank you for the recs!

Okay, she's not a fan. Lol. That was helpful. I use the ultra light spf 30, so a different product than the other moisturizer she's comparing the mineral SC to. I do love the Elta, but it's expensive. Trying to find a cheaper alternative. The Australian one has so much silicone in it, and my skin does not like that. It breaks me out and clings to every pore and wrinkle too if I put as much as I'm supposed to for sunblock protection. That's for the tinted though. Do they have a regular, plain version?

I use the CeraVe 30 (holy grail took forever to find something that works for my acne prone skin) but think I need a higher spf. Anyone try the mineral 50 spf? It says it's oil free and noncomedogenic but sounds too good to be true. Would be great if it does what it says though. Thank you! CeraVeHydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50

Just wanted to share that although my antidepressant is still working wonderfully, I did realize that I needed some additional help with anxiety. My doctor offered to up my medication dose, but I didn't want to do that and opted for adding in ashwagandha, which has been the perfect combo. I would say that my anxiety now has virtually been eliminated and my mood is even better. I was stable and life was good with just the mirt, but adding the ashwagandha has actually brought a joyfulness for me. I'm only taking one capsule of the Gaia ashwagandha before bed.

Wanted to mention I found out recently that Costco carries ashwagandha. Lots of positive reviews on their website. Although a few said their supp didn't work as well as what they were taking prior, most said it worked better. https://www.costco.com/youtheory-ashwagandha-1%2C000-mg.%2C-150-capsules.product.100494260.html?fbclid=IwAR1gMkUvMFOOIKrGEKWK4NIPGkMYVKkTgwnG26pHwvatBCWWo1RqMEYGSfI

That's great you're feeling a bit better and noticing improvement. Those are hopeful signs that these will work for you. Yes, early days still. Happy for you!

Have you started anything yet? If so, how's it going?

And Ashwagandha is my favorite support to recommend for adrenal support in the early stages of any adrenal taxing situations. It coupled with vitamin C, which is huge for adrenal support, is a wonderful support to help carry one through any sort of distress and help head off more serious adrenal issues.

Just a heads up that along with benadryl, hydroxyine is listed as a drug to avoid or use briefly. They both have been found in studies to increase Alzheimer's risk. So okay for a short term solution, but not long term. It's the main reason I tried again and again to get of benadryl as a sleep aid coupled with the scary brain/cognitive side effects I was having using it. I started having sleeping issues when my dad died, and so for that really intense few months following, benadryl was great. But what I didn't realize is that cortisol was the underlying problem. By the time I did find that out, my adrenals were so shot that I wasn't responding to much of anything for treatment. One thing I try to do is find out how someone is sleeping who is going through a tragedy. Often, they're not sleeping well. I try to encourage them to support their adrenals as they're going through something that definitely taxes them and elevates cortisol causing insomnia. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/two-types-of-drugs-you-may-want-to-avoid-for-the-sake-of-your-brain

I hope you're sleep is much improved! DS is on a super low dose of ADD med for now because we think the other mood supps could help enough to avoid upping it. Low serotonin and ADD symptoms can overlap. It can be hard to know what's what she says. Doctor wants to see how he feels when he's been on the the others for a little longer before deciding a next step.

I forgot to mention that DS is on a low dose of adderall and the combo is just fine for him according to his doctor.

@ktgrok I'm not sure how your sleep is, but just the 5-htp (started several weeks before the ashwagandha) has improved my son's sleep wonderfully. He was having on and off bouts of insomnia for about the last 6 months but is sleeping so well now!

I wonder if that's why I felt so bad taking the bendadryl. Man, it helped me sleep, but I felt it's effects well into the next day. Thrilled to have finally found something else to help me get sleep.

I totally know large doses are needed by some. I also think that most people do not need that large of a dose and going low and upping low is probably the best way to find out what the best dose for you is, especially if you're supplementing without the supervision of a doctor.

That's interesting about B6 @PeterPan. I was just reading this article recently and it talks about B6 and D3 being the biggies to sup with if you want to go the nutrient route.

From the above article. https://www.hearthsidemedicine.com/post/calming-anxiety-and-insomnia-without-meds

I think that sounds great. My son is doing really well on the 100 mg of 5htp and 1 cap of the ashwagandha. He was definitely experiencing depression and has some cortisol/adrenal issues. This is a great combo for him, and his mood has greatly improved. He was so touchy about stuff and everything was an argument or taken to the next level. That was hard for all of us.