As an aside - Several readers over the years have written in claiming that SD is caused by only one thing and all you have to do is _____ (whatever they are shilling) to stop your problem. I disagree. I think it is pretty obvious from most of my reader responses, that SD can have several different root causes and you have to work it on your own end to find fixes. My own fix came about from cutting dairy out of my diet. I encourage you to read back through comments of others struggling (without thoughtful medical help BTW) to find the answer to their own disease state. Best of luck to us all!
It has now been 3 and one half years since my last Seborrheic Dermatitis outbreak came to a close. I do not use any Seborrheic Dermatitis medication, neither OTC or prescribed. I haven't needed them since 2008.
My current care routine closely follows what I originally developed in 2008, with minor tweaks here and there.
Above is a January 2012 skin photograph. If dryness shows up, it will start at the nasolabial folds, and that is my notice that whatever product combination I am using at the moment is NOT working.
I am still dairy free (I still miss nachos, but I'll smell some of hubbies cheese to get my fix), and have started eating eggs (really only in fried rice, because the smell of just eggs is a bit revolting). Eggs do not seem to have an impact on my skin issues.
I fell off my workout wagon in 2009/2010 due to "Cubital Tunnel Syndrome", and have only returned to regularly scheduled exercise for the last six or so months. While I did not see a large skin change with my workout losses, my energy levels were very different, as was my personal outlook. I am a much happier, and easier going person when I get a regular workout. :)
Products currently in the lineup:
Soap - All Terrain All Natural Wonder Wash Fragrance Free
(this is also my shampoo, my dog wash, and my occasional clothes wash on vacation)
This is the rare soap that does not dry out my skin, and yet can be used several times a day. I'm ready to start putting it in pump bottles for handwashing.
Facial Lotions/Creams - this category is always under revision because I've rarely found anything with which I am truly happy. The La Roche Posay Toleriane and Toleriane Riche works very well for me, but I find their prices ridiculous (about $20/ounce). And no, I don't think it is R&D I am paying for, but rather "the European mystique" and L'Oreal's advertising budget, since L'Oreal is the parent company of La Roche Posay.
- Almond Oil - this was an amazing discovery last year. This is pretty much my go to night oil/lotion. It absorbs fairly quickly. I use it on my face, neck, chest, hands (especially nails), basically anywhere. However, it does not absorb immediately, so it is not something for a morning routine unless you like the slicked up skin look. Totally unscented and rarely, if ever, causing any kind of breakout.
- Giovanni D:tox System Replenishing Facial Moisturizer - this is the morning moisturizer I reach for if I am staying inside all day (or in the evening if I am going out). My only issue is that it has a fragrance that I dislike, it reads as a light greened floral. It does dissipate fairly quickly, but I'd still prefer something unscented and unfragranced. (I don't abhor the fragrance as I do with other products such as The Healing Seed "Facial Cream" or Alaffia "Baobab & Shea Butter Skin Renewal Face Cream".) This is my replacement for La Roche Posay Toleriane, but I am looking for a replacement for my replacement - unscented please.
- DeVita Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+ - is my morning moisturizer when I'm planning to be outside for any extended length of time (over 15 minutes). This may be just perfect. However, it is a recent acquisition and I want a full summer with it before I jump on the bandwagon (it is better than Kimberly Sayer Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer - SPF30, which is simply too drying for winter). I plan to order more DeVita lotions and creams with my next iHerb order.
Beauty without Cruelty Fragrance Free body lotion is in my kitchen. Not amazing, but not bad. No scent to interfere with food enjoyment. Absorbs quickly.
Mode De Vite Shea Butter Body Lotion "unscented" - does smell of the neem in the product. The scent throws me off, but this is the only lotion I reach for when the skin is really damaged and needs serious relief. Strangely enough, also the only lotion of which I have a backup. So while I don't like the scent, its benefits outweigh the negatives. The scent does dissipate over an hour or so.
Nature's Gate Fragrance Free Moisturizing Lotion for Sensitive Skin - this is the lotion in my bathroom that I use before bed just about every night (after my almond oil application). Like the BWC lotion it is neither amazing nor bad. It works, the scent does not distract me while I'm trying to fall asleep. Absorbs quickly.
Makeup
Lipstick - Reds, Oranges, Plums, and Browns
A small selection of my lip products. I keep buying, because I can rarely find a great color. Good, yes, great no. I have coloring between neutral and super warm, and lipsticks are usually made for the cool and the super warm. I do not react to any of these lipsticks, which is a major and common concern of mine. I've reacted to Cover Girl, Almay, and Josie Maran lipsticks and lipglosses.
Revlon Super Lustrous "Ravish Me Red", Revlon Colorburst "Candy Apple", Fyrrinae Lip Lustre "Hair Dye", Silk Naturals Butter Cream "Mango", Korres Cherry Lip Gloss "Natural Purple 25", Korres Mango Butter Lipstick "Natural Purple 25", Revlon Super Lustrous "Plum Baby", Korres Cherry Oil Lip Gloss "Golden Brown 37", Korres Mango Butter Lipstick "Cinnamon", and Revlon Super Lustrous "Highbeam Tan"
Revlon Colorburst lipsticks, Silk Naturals Butter Cream Lip Glazes, and Korres Cherry Oil Lip Gloss all have scents. They are faint scents (so faint, apparently that some people cannot smell them, see Scrangie's post on Revlon Colorburst - I don't have that problem) but they dissipate rapidly enough that I still wear them. Not as often as I would if they were completely unscented (as they should be, in my opinion).
The Silk Naturals Butter Cream in "Mango" is a replacement for the Fyrinnae "Hair Dye" which is apparently discontinued. However, I will keep searching for a more widely distributed replacement, since smaller companies have a much higher product line turnover than larger companies (some kind of supply and demand nonsense).
The only primer I have found that works for my skin (and does not cause a reaction). It keeps my eyeshadow from creasing, which happens within two hours without a primer.
Eyeshadow - In addition to a small collection of Stila and Mac, I have two and a half tubs of loose and mineral eyeshadows. 95% of those shadows come from these six companies:
Aromaleigh "Nocciola", Fyrinnae "Griffonrider", Korres "Golden Bronze 27S", Meow Cosmetics "Trophy Cat", Morgana Minerals "Emily", and Silk Naturals "Caliber"
Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Peacock and Perfect Storm. They are expensive, but I like the ingredients list better than the Covergirl Liquilineblast Eyeliners. I do wish they had a much wider range of colors.
Kat von D liquid Tattoo Liner in Maya. Easy to apply, lasts all day, and has not dried up yet. A celebrity's personal life does impact my choices and I'm not sure I'll be able to buy anymore KVD stuff.
Cover Girl Liquidlineblast Eyeliner in Brown Blaze and Violet Voltage. Made in Germany, just like the Too Faced, and sharing a remarkable similarity, the ingredients lists do differ but they both work quite well. I prefer Cover Girls price and Too Faced inci.
Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil's are holy grail products for many enthusiasts. However, they migrate on my lower lid, staying in place only for an hour or two. So while I do have several UD 24/7 liners, I'll reach for my Too Faced, KVD, or CoverGirl first.
Face Primer - Korres Vitamin E Silicon Free Primer
Especially useful in summer, when I know plain moisturizer is not going to keep my makeup on all day. The sweat defeats primerless application every time. Korres other primer, Quercetin & Oak, causes a moderate allergic reaction (so glad I never purchased a full size). So I will stick with the less expensive primer as long as they make it.
One of the few powdered foundations that does not irritate my skin. Other powders can make me feel as though I am buffing with sand. Not so this foundation. Not to mention, it is one of two foundations I've used in my entire life that actually match my skin. Most foundations are not warm enough.
Aubry Organics Organic Lip Balm "Tangerine" - works, but too much citrus oil
Mode de Vite Karite Lips "Vanilla" - works, but too much vanilla
Dr. Bronner's Magic Organic Lip Balm "Naked" - a favorite, works well all night long
The Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Balm "Natural" - a favorite, and I have a backup. The slightest of scents, perhaps from the rosemary extract, but it does not bother me.
Now Completely Kissable "Vanilla" - it works, but I don't like the scent.
Terra Firma Cosmetics Chai Tea Lip Moisture - a favorite, it is what I reach for when my lips are damaged. Unfortunately, they no longer sell this ... and it was the only Terra Firma product I could wear, so not impressed with anything else I bought. Their "lip balm" has a similar ingredients list, but it is not the same item.
Weleda Everon Lip Balm - another favorite of which I have a backup. However, it always takes me a couple days to get used to the rose scent again. It really works well, but I'd prefer one that did not have such a strong scent.
As an aside, I have a young pup to whom I have lost several tubes of lip balm. They seem to call to him from across the room. I have found their chewed remains in the strangest places. So now all my tubes are placed relatively high, because waist height is far too low for my circus pup.
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