When focus = obsession = spending

My focus this past month has been on skin care as my skin has been having a tragical time of it. This is possibly due to a hormonal upheaval which is possibly due to the fact that my recent birthday puts me firmly on the threshold of a new decade. My skin care regime now involves anti-aging, wrinkle repair, moisturizing, and acne wrangling. Oh yes, it is a delicate balance and a tricky tightrope to maneuver indeed.

This momentous birthday came with the overall intention to focus on my health and skin which in my mind will stave off any depression over not being 21 anymore.

Of course with me any new focus usually involves spending money on crazy things that will help me keep focused. Despite my knowledge of my ridiculousness I participate in it anyway.
It's not cool but it's the truth.

I've returned to the school of Perricone because ultimately I know he is right. Cleaner eating helps your insides and your outsides. That and while I was at the Planet Beauty looking for zit medicine I got sucked back into his vortex of expensive products that promise beautiful skin. But not in a miracle, magical way. More in a "you really have to eat right, take care of yourself AND spend a shitload of money" kind of way.

I'm currently waiting for my sample of Cold Plasma that I found online for only $10. It is regularly a really expensive product so finding a sample was a big deal. I realize that if I fall in love with it I will be looking at a really tough decision. But apparently "if you only use one product, this is it." That's what the girl at Planet Beauty told me anyway (genius name btw, who wouldn't want to live on a planet of beauty. I would love to commute between there and Planet Unicorn).

Of course while I was on the site I had to buy "Skin Clear" Supplements because that is my problem right now and it seemed like it was made just for me and what I am going through at this moment. It's like google whispers in my ear and says "hey girl, don't fret. We have just what you need." The siren song continued: "Hey, we know you are feeling a little tired and are always looking for an energy boost. Why not try a little of this?" So yes, I also bought something called PEP too. So my super cheap $10 "find" turned something a little more expensive.

But hey, it's all in the name of health...and good skin.
And vanity.

There is a point in here somewhere...

I've come to accept that even at my age I am going to suffer some bad skin days and breakouts. Actually, let me re-phrase that, I have come to expect it. I haven't really accepted anything. Now true, Alicia Silverstone is promoting her new book, Kind Diet, where she asserts that her skin just "glows" because of her vegan choices. Her skin does look amazing and I'm positive that right after I finish the Fast track detox again next week, I will give that one a go.

I'm always on board for a new diet, I'm sorry, I mean "lifestyle."

Who knows, maybe she's right and being a healthy vegan does wonders for your skin and it has nothing at all to do with gazillions of dollars and excellent facials and expensive products. I don't know. I'm skeptical considering Dr. Perricone's difficult to follow, but ultimately successful Wrinkle Free diet is heavy on the fish and really did improve my skin. I've never lived a vegan lifestyle so I guess I can't compare it equally at this point. I wouldn't mind seeing the two battle it out on Oprah, however. His diet has tons of expensive supplements. I wonder how Alicia stacks up. It's all expensive that's for sure.

I'm still totally in. There isn't much I wouldn't try for beautiful skin.

Actually, that isn't really my point. I got a little sidetracked.
My point is, if I'm having a bad skin day, it hardly seems fair that I would also have an incredibly painful zit inside my nose as well. Ok, logically, Alicia I know that it makes sense (why is she yelling?), but in terms of fairness it seems they shouldn't both occur at the same time.

Would you rather have an incredibly painful inside the nose zit that no one can see, or an ugly but totally not painful zit on the outside of your nose?

That is my point/question.

I love mushrooms! Who knew?

I'm on my second round of medicinal mushrooms. I am definitely a fan.

Seriously, I think they are working in spite of all the not good things I've been doing to myself (ice cream doesn't usually topple my resolve so I can't explain what happened there. Someone said "Dilly Bar" and I ate it. Moving on).

My skin has improved, I think my energy levels have increased (I can always use more of that, perhaps I will increase my dosage), and Newshead said that my eyes looked brighter (completely unprompted, btw).

Now you may be wondering what extensive research brought me to the mushrooms.

None.

I actually don't like mushrooms. hate 'em, think their texture is undesirable and their taste kind of icky. Not to mention I can't get over the fact that they are grown in shit.

But like most of my endeavors, I can forego my reservations and distaste if the promise of good skin, weight loss or more energy is involved.

Anne, my new work friend, who has enviable skin, hipped me to the 'shrooms. She did all the research and that was enough for me so I just bought what she had. Have to say, I'm glad I did. I'll admit, I kind of hoped they wouldn't work so I wouldn't be hooked on something that I have to keep buying but oh well, I'm a convert. And they are in pill form so nothing weird to chew or cook or touch. In fact, I just pretend they aren't mushrooms at all. Works like a charm.

If, like me, you are interested in adding mushrooms to your list of things you shouldn't spend money on but do anyway, please look up the many many benefits of medicinal mushrooms. It is rather boring/facinating stuff.

If you'd just like to take my word for it (well really Anne's) and try it yourself, here's the pertinent info:

Mushroom Science is the brand
The three we take twice a day are:
Cordyceps Cs-4 (energy and endurance)
Reishi Gano 161 (premiere tonic herb)
Coriolus-PSP (supports healthy immune system defense)

Some Whole Foods have them but I ordered them online because I ran all over the city trying to find them and realized that it isn't that easy. Click click click and they are delivered to your door.

You're welcome.

http://www.mushroomscience.com/