Epiduo FULL REVIEW

Well hello everyone!!
I know a post or two back I told you guys that I was starting Epiduo, the adaplaene and benzoyl peroxide gel that you use nightly for acne. Here is my REVIEW of it after using it for a month.

HERE is this link to the official Epiduo website. All the FAQ's are on there!

WHAT IS EPIDUO & HOW DO YOU YOU IT?
Epiduo is a gel. It is 0.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. You use it once nightly before bed time and then (I) wash it off my face in the mornings when I get up.


DISCLAIMER:
Let me start off by saying that this is NO MIRACLE CREAM! I still have acne/scars/cystic acne/etc. I just have much less! I starting noticing the effects within about 3 days.

REVIEW:
Firstly, one of the major down sides to it is DRYNESS. I think you will find that with most acne creams/gels though. My doctors office gave me samples and a kit that had the following in it: 1) Epiduo 2) Cetaphil gentle cleanser wash 3) Cetaphil facial moisturizer with spf in it 4) A card that makes your prescription no more than $35 (My co-pay was less, so I didn't use the card.). The actual cost of the full sized 45GM prescription is around $212.00, so you will DEF want to use this prescription card provided in the sample.
I have been using Benzoyl Peroxide Creamy Face Wash 10% for years now(I actually stopped using it about 4 months ago because my face quit reacting to it), and the Epidou still caused dryness for me. At night you CAN put a moisturizer over the Epiduo, but I still find some dryness the next day.

OVERALL:
If you can get your hands on some samples like I did, it is DEF worth a try. I mean, its FREE, why not?! I'm sure just like all the other acne medications out there, my skin will eventually get immune to it and I'll have to find something else. If you've read ANY of my other acne blogs, you will find that I have been through lots of doctors, medications, prescriptions, antibiotics, face washes, $$$$, etc. to help my acne. One of my doctors said that my birth control pill may have something to do with it, but I'm not willing to part with birth control. It has helped me with lots of other "lady problems," and if dealing with acne is a side effect, then so be it. I have tried multiple brands of the pill, and I've had acne with all. They say the testosterone in the Pill can cause acne. What CANT cause acne, right?
I would say that for me, Epiduo has helped A LOT.

BOTTOM LINE:
Try it. 4/5 stars in my opinion.  :)


SIDE NOTE:
The BEST thing I can recommend for you is washing your face with CETAPHIL. Click the link and go to there page. You can print out a coupon for a dollar off, I believe. I think it has also helped my skin a lot, in conjunction with the Epiduo.

~It's my party and I'll cry if I want to...~

*Well folks, today is the day. I'm officially 22 years old today!*

Where did 21 go?? AHHH! Just wanted to post a quick blog saying hello, and I hope everyone has a great day! I will try to post some pics from this weekend's birthday celebrations!! :)

<3


**EDIT 8/14/11**
Here's some pics from my birthday weekend! I had a great 22nd! Thanks for the birthday wishes! :)

Me and my mom. (Dress is from Maurices)

My boyfriend, Patrick & I.

We went to a Japanese steak house where they cook in front of you. They
take your picture for you, but you have to wear this CRAZY hat! HAHA!

My mom made me cupcakes!

My mom had flowers delivered to the house for me :)

My friend Courtney gave me this! Its Sinful Colors (Timbleberry & Verbena);
and the Natural Eye Kit from Rue 21! (and just FYI, its AWESOME! Perfect doup
for the Two Faced Natural Eye Pallet!!)

JC's (makeup diary's) awesome giveaway!!!!

OMG! So I have been following JC for a little while now, and just came across her giveaway today (I'm a little behind on the blogging!).

CHECK IT OUT! WOWZERS!!
Her awesome giveaway!

How nice :) Thanks JC!

**50 FOLLOWERS; THANK YOU! & a small acne blog...**

*OMG 50 FOLLOWERS!!*

You guys are AWESOME! I cant believe 50 people like reading my crazy, random, blogs! Thank you so much! I know I don't blog a ton, but I do it when I can & it is so fun! I love talking to people from all over the world! THANK YOU- THANK YOU- THANK YOU! I have "met" some really sweet people from blogger! :)

--SMALL ACNE UPDATE--

Yesterday I went to my regular doctor for a physical for school and what not, and my doctor even asked me about my acne (thats when you know its bad!). He said he wanted to give me some samples of a gel called Epiduo. You put it all over your face, once a day after washing it. I'm not "holding my breath" that it will work, but hey, I'll try it! Have any of you tried Epiduo before??

Well, I guess that's about it guys! Thanks again for all your sweet words! Talk to you soon :)

"Say yes to the dress..." BROOKE STYLE :)

Ok everyone! I work at Maurices (a womens clothing store) and we got this VERY CUTE/DRESSY dress in, about a week ago. I love it, but the problem is where to wear it? Of course I tried it on...heres the pic:

$69.00

I would totally buy it, but it looks very "homecoming" dressy. I'm in college so we don't have dances anymore.
Would you wear this dress?
:)


*I am not being paid to show you this dress.

Update on my life: I GOT IN!!!!

*Just wanted to start off by saying I HAVE NOT FORGOT ABOUT MY BLOG!! I am so sorry I have been too busy to blog, but I have DEF not forgot about it & I have missed everyone! :)

Ok, on to the update! So I'm going to tell you guys the whole story, so it may be a little lengthy. I attend a technical college, and last year (Aug, '10) after I finished all of my core classes, I applied for the program Vascular Technology (which is ultrasound of the veins). You pretty much have to have a 4.0 to get in, and there was 8 of us going for 1 spot (that's another long story haha). Needless to say my 3.5 GPA wasn't good enough. 

I started looking over my options because I'm not getting any younger, and I really needed to get into a program. There was program at the same school as mine, just on a campus an hour away, called Invasive Cardiovascular Technology. It accepted 11 students every fall (as most programs do), so I applied for it in September '10 (the next acceptance date was Aug '11, so I was getting a "head start.") The program required 2 classes that I had not yet taken, and I was also told to re-take all of the B's I had, so that way I was guaranteed a spot. ...So I did ALL that. My final GPA for the CVT program was around a 3.7. 

SO, last week on July 15th, I received a letter in the mail. I thought it was my ACCEPTANCE letter, but when I opened it, I was definitely wrong. The letter read (and this is word for word):
" Dear Brooke: Our records indicate that you have declared Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) degree as your major. In light of the economic conditions facing the Technical College System of Georgia, Colleges have been reviewing program viability. As part of this process, GNTC is closing the CVT program. We will not admit anymore students into this program. We would like to offer your guidance in another career path at the college..." the letter went on to give names and phone numbers of people who "may could help me."
1ST OF ALL, NO APOLOGY?! I have been working towards this program for another year, and I get no apology?! I called both the numbers listed on the letter, there was pretty much NOTHING they could do for me. Needless to say, I was balling my eyes out, making 1000 phone calls. I was suppose to be at work 1-10 that day. I called my boss and told her my situation, & told her I needed to go apply for other schools ASAP because I had technically already missed the fall deadlines. She told me I could come in later, so off I went to apply to a community college in my town. I was prepared to pretty much start ALL OVER, which was really devastating to me. 

2 days later I receive a phone call for the Dean of my school. He said he had some good news, but only for me. He said the looked over all 13 of the applicants to the CVT program, and I was most qualified. He then went on to tell me, that they made 1 spot in the Vascular program and I GOT IT!!!!!!! The ONLY down side to it, is since they added me in so late, that the only place for me to do my clinicals was 3 hours away from my house in another state! Of course I said YES no matter what, I would do ANYTHING to be in, but I am VERY WORRIED about what I am going to do, come second semester (January '12) and I have to start driving to another state 3-4 days a week. 

Now, the dean did tell me that they NEVER end with as many people as they start with. He said the program is VERY hard. A lot of people drop out, they can't handle it, they get pregnant, etc. If this happens, I may can get a closer clinical site. Of course that made me nervous. I hope its not to hard for me. He said it is a lot of physics :\. He also said he recommend that I NOT have a job. As some of you may know, I have 2 jobs and I work almost everyday. I have already talked to my boss at my main job about it, and she said depending on my availability, I may have to step down (I am a manager). That's the last thing I need, a pay cut.

So with all that said, that's why I haven't been blogging much lately. Between working 8 days straight, applying for other schools, talking to my school, etc, I feel like a rag doll! I hope you all understand! This is the best news EVER! In 21 months I will have a degree and be making REAL MONEY! (Not that I am not making real money now, but I am a retail manager & a nanny...ya know?) I know I am going to be STRESSED out to the MAX pretty much the whole time. I already have tons of anxiety (that I may go to a doctor about, because with all this added stress, I hope I can handle it...my mom has a lot of anxiety too), so I hope I can make it through! SCHOOL STARTS AUGUST 22, 2011!!

I hope this wasn't TOO long (...YA RIGHT!) :) If you read it all the way through give yourself a pat on the back! HEHE! :)  See yall later!

p.s. Sorry for the weird, white background. Don't know how to remove it?! 

The Beauty Would You Rather Tag 2011

Hey everyone!
I saw this tag on vintagemakeup's blog page! It looked fun, so here goesssssss!


-Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eye liners, lipsticks and lip glosses or lose all of your palettes and eye shadows?
I would rather lose all of my palettes and eye shadows because I wear mascara EVERYDAY and I don't have a palette with mascara in it!


-Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?
Never be able to cut it again.



-Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?
PINK<3


-If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?
Can I say BOTH? ...oh I cant? Ok, clothes...but it won by just a smidge!


-Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner or eyeliner as lipstick?
Eyeliner as lipstick.


-Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?
Sephora ALL DAY!


-Would you rather use only one eye shadow color or one lip color the rest of your life?
LIP COLOR FOR SURE!


-Would you rather wear winter clothes in the summer or summer clothes in the winter?
Summer clothes in the winter. Im always hot! HAHA!


-Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?
BRIGHT :)


-Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a pony tail or a messy bun?
Messy bun...that's my everyday hair style already!


-Would you rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lip gloss?
Never be able to paint your nails :(. I love lip gloss too much.


-Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all? Or sharpie them in everyday?
Sharpie, duh! lol!


-Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?
Nail polish, for sure!