I feel like a 13 year old.

peppermintsquare · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 162 Location: austin

I am 27, will be 28 in July.

I recently acquired braces on my lower teeth and a palate expander on my upper teeth (will eventually lead to braces up there too). The palate expander has given me a slight speech impediment which is getting better but if I'm not speaking carefully, it's noticeable.

On top of these wonderful orthodontic appliances which have not been so great for the old self esteem, my face is breaking out something fierce. I feel all red and splotchy.

So... tell me about some wonderful skincare products (I prefer to keep it natural/cruelty-free) and ways to pump up the old self esteem.
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Elf_Chick · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Dallas, TX

hey sweetie,
as to skin care products, i use cetaphil and i know a number of others do too. my friend who gives facials for a living recommends it to all her clients too if that means anything.
if you're talking about covering the redness up, you may want to look at Burt's Bees Wings of Love line; my mom just bought their tinted moisturizer and really likes it, and it's not heavy like foundation. They sell it at Whole Foods and such.

as to self-esteem, how about making something cool? like do a new craft that you wanna try, and when you see the awesome thing you made you get to go, "Look how cool i am!" Well that's what i've been doing lately (and i'm making a lot of stuff in the process).
if you can spare the cash, maybe treat yourself to a nice new outfit/article o' clothing, piece of jewelry or something that you'd like to look at. a little retail therapy can do the trick.

feel better, chickie! also, i may have a chance to get down to your town next month; i'll let you know, and if you wanna meet up again that would be rockin'. :)

-S

sun bear · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 443

If you didn't reveal your age I'd swear you were my friend, she's 26 though and she's getting braces and complained that she has a few gray hairs, getting braces and is breaking out.

They say adult acne is from high stress, not from dirt or raging hormones as it is in younger teens. The best way to combat that would be to do some relaxing spa kinds of treatments and to eat well, you won't see immediate results, but you'll feel better in a short while, the less stressed you are, the better your skin will get.

Good luck :)

jt

paperjane · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 5 Location: las vegas

I just wanted to commiserate--I also have braces....a lovely throwback to my adolescent experience, which apparently did not do the job the first time around. :(

Have you had the nerve to get any of the colored elastics yet? I can't believe there are like, three shades of pink alone!

Initially I was really self conscious--don't worry, you get used to them. The weirdest thing is my orthodontist is my friend and it was a little strange to have to "Bite down....good...okay, open" while he peered into my mouth.

If you check my website...that's me on the front page. And why am I not smiling, you ask?

peppermintsquare · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 162 Location: austin

Oh, paperjane, I'm glad there is another adult braces wearer around here! Your picture is cute - I would have never known had you not said you were wearing braces. Recently, I had to be in a picture taken at work and the photographer took like 15 pictures, of which he chose the one with my mouth open. Ugh! I kept it shut for a reason and he knew that!

When they asked me what color for the elastics, I said, "uh, neutral". The receptionist at the office wears braces though and she's always rockin the hot pink or red elastics. I don't think I could do it. Maybe for Halloween this year, I'll do orange and black alternating elastics. Hehe!

I actually don't mind the braces all that much. The palate expander sucks though.

It's just been bringing me down lately.

Elf Chick - funny you should mention Burt's Bees as I just purchased some of their transparent facial powder. I swear, for some reason, I always feel like powder is making me break out more. Maybe that's my imagination. Thanks for the Cetaphil tip!

I'm trying to drink lots of water to help out my skin, but unfortunately I just can't pass up the morning coffee.

Aargh! To feel like a 13 year old again sucks!
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CraftinFool · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 809 Location: New England

I second the recommendation for cetaphil. I use that daily, along with Aveno toner and moisturizer, and that has helped my breakouts. (Except on my back - yuck. Nothing seems to help my hideous bacne).

Yeah, I can relate to the feeling of, hey, shouldn't I have grown out of pimples by now? At this rate, I'll have pimples and wrinkles at the same time ):

Hang in there. And maybe do up your eyes! When I breakout, I go crazy on the eye makeup b/c it makes me feel prettier and I always hope that maybe people will look at my big lashes instead of my big pimples.

aessedai · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Coastal Maine

I think when I get a dental plan I may invest in some straight teeth and whatnot.
Does anyone have any experience with Invisalign?

deborahthecraft · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 364 Location: California

I really want to try the invisaline once I get the rotting teeth in the back of my mouth taken care of(no sense having baraces whan they are falling out!).
I'd be interested to know experiances with it.
Ive seen some mid 30-40 year old customers that have them but look fine.You can tell they have them and the suck up their saliva much to often while talking but they aren't like the braces of the 80's thats for sure!

peppermintsquare · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 162 Location: austin

as for invisalign, that is what I was hoping for, but it wasn't an option for me. clear braces aren't even an option for me, save maybe four upper teeth in front (but it will extend my treatment a few months).

crazy. I knew my teeth were crooked but my goodness, apparently in orthodontic terms they are in a horrible state.
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twilight · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 330 Location: New Mexico

Bummer about the braces-on the good side at least you don't have 13 yr old boys taunting you for having them. (for me it was 15/16 year olds but still something I'm glad is in the past)

I recommend tea tree oil. I bought a small bottle at the health food store that I've had for over a year. You just put a drop on a zit and it starts to dry it up. As I'm getting older I'm getting the hard little bump zits that never get a head so I can never pop them. The tea tree oil usually gets rid of them in three or four days.
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zahmeece · Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 43 Location: SATX

Invisalign is the way to go. I'm 51 and correcting crooked lower teeth and extensive overbite, open bite, and narrow bite on the uppers. I've had them 7 months and my teeth look great. Only 4 months to go. They make you talk a little funny but not much. A friend got regular braces and they tore her mouth up. I just smugly said "I told you to get Invisilign."
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Nancy Flynn · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:14 pm Post subject:

oh! poor thing. i'm agreeing with the people who say to treat yourself if you can-- a mani/pedi is always a happy thing that feels glam (even if you do it at home, or skip polish).

powder DOES make me break out-- especially if it has mica in it. those little sparkly flecks seem to clog my pores. i'd also suggest laying off anything new you've been putting on your face-- new meaning since 2-3 weeks before you started breaking out. i find that i often start breaking out a few weeks after i've started a new product...

good luck! it will pass...
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PSnyder · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 20 Location: Texas

I, too, had the pain of wearing braces, but now when I look at my teeth, I'm so glad that I did.
I had to wear this awkward appliance called a splint that looked like a boxer's mouth guard. I barely spoke, because I had such a speech impediment and a lisp from the horrible thing. So, I feel your pain.
About the skin... I love Cetaphil, but I also love the Aveeno skin wash. It is specifically for adult acne. If you have a Target they make their own version of both the Cetaphil and the Aveeno, as they are a bit pricey.

* Also... If you noticed the redness gets worse after orthodontist visits, you could be allergic to latex. Because there is so much face-touching involved and your skin is more sensitive, especially around your mouth. I have a latex allergy, and I first noticed a reaction on my face.

karlaBOO · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Knoxville, Tn.

The red splotchies are no fun, I agree.

Some things I feel would help you are:
1) Aveda makes something called Balancing Infusions. They have three different ones for different skin issues. The one for Acne/Oily skin is made to spot treat, but it also can be used by the drop in your moisturiser, or mask. As long as your usual products don't have mineral oil or petrolatum in them, then you should be able to mix the Aveda infusion in. Just use about 2-3 drops.

2) I couldn't get my husband to use the above method. He has VERY oily skin, and breaks out easily, however treatment products dry his skin. He uses an apricot scrub in the shower, and then a medicated face wash. The one he has right now is Clean and Clear. He insists on his system. *shrug*

Good luck with whatever you choose. And, remember, a lot of people find braces adoreable.

illybang · Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 135 Location: AL

ugh, honey that sucks for you
i don't have many ideas to offer, but i can sympathize... i had that horrid expander when i was 16 and it made me lisp something awful AND gave me a huge gap in my teeth (which caused taunts from schoolmates, but i laughed with them which made it that much easier to bear)
the only thing i can suggest for the breakouts is maybe to get a good facial at a spa... the technicians know how to really get in your pores and unclog them

just keep in mind how beautiful your smile will be when you get your braces off and it will make this "misery" that much easier to cope with

*oh and! remember when gwen stefani had braces? she was rockin' 'em like they were the new trend like whoa! so no worries girl!
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