As someone who had a TERRIBLE experience with acne growing up, there's no surprise I want to be a dermatologist. I tried a million different things from drugstore products, prescriptions, you name it. When I think about the amount of chemicals I have exposed my skin to I cringe and can only imagine the damage they've done, but as a teenager I didn't care as long as my skin was clear.
A lot of people can be very dramatic when it comes to having bad skin, they think having one massive pimple between their eyebrows is the end of the world, but when you have oily skin and severe cystic acne covering your whole face, it really does start to feel that way. When I was 11 or 12 I started getting zits and at first I thought it was something that would be temporary because everyone deals with acne at some point in their life. But after two years had gone by I was starting to worry that I would never have clear skin and it reached a point where it was becoming detrimental to my self esteem. My mom noticed how much it effected me and so she took me to the doctors to see if they could do anything about it.
I would tell you all the things I have been prescribed for my skin but I really don't remember the names as they were all long and complicated, however, the one I do remember is the one that cleared my skin for good. Accutane. It wasn't until my doctor referred me to a dermatologist that I was finally given what I consider to be my holy grail. It was a 6-month treatment that came with many side effects (sensitivity to the sun, extremely dry skin) but I just wanted to start ASAP. My treatment began in August of 2012, and at the time I was someone who was obsessed with tanning (something I completely regret now) and so I didn't exactly where a lot of sunscreen and that resulted in very very bad sun burns, and I'm not someone who burns easily, but on this medication I was. The only side effect I really suffered from was super dry skin, and I promise you I'm not exaggerating, my face was constantly red and flaking to the point where in the middle of winter people would ask if I had a sun burn. My lips were always chapped no matter how much vaseline I used, it was not fun. But the acne was subsiding so I was willing to suck it up.
By about the fourth month of being on accutane people began to compliment me on how fantastic my skin looked, something I had never been told before, and by the end of the treatment my skin was 100 percent clear, I couldn't believe it. The side effects lasted for about 8 months after the treatment had ended, but eventually I stopped getting sun burnt so easily, the redness went away, and my skin was no longer dry. I had such a good experience with Accutane and I would recommend it to anyone in heartbeat, I just wish my doctor had suggested it sooner so I could have avoided the acne scars that now cover my face. I still breakout every now and then but it's nowhere near as bad as when i was 12-16. If you have severe cystic acne I highly recommend talking your doctor about Accutane or at least visiting a dermatologist to discuss other treatment options. However, DO NOT just take it because you get bad breakouts, it is very strong drug and is not something you want be taking if you don't need to, I only chose to proceed with the treatment as a last resort. I now stick to mostly natural face products to try and minimize the damage that chemicals will do to my skin in the future. If you have an questions about Accutane don't hesitate to ask. I will be making a post about my skin care routine soon so check back often!
♡Emma
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Sunday, 9 November 2014
The Perfect Coat
So now that it's November and freaking cold outside (well not that cold, but my university is on a mountain so there is a noticeable temperature difference) i'm finding myself piling on jackets, sweaters, scarves, and occasionally gloves. Everyone knows it always rains in Vancouver so I basically live in my wellies, and yes you guessed it I own Hunters, to be honest I sometimes wished I owned the shorter ones I find the tall ones to be so clunky and restricting. Last week I made the mistake of trying to survive in my runners only to end up with cold and wet feet by the end of the day...bad idea.
The fall and winter are seasons where you have no choice but to layer, so why not make the most of it when it comes to how you dress. For months I have been searching for the perfect coat but I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, all I knew was that it had to be grey or black (typical) and wool. After looking online at the usual, Forever 21, H & M, Zara etc, I saw a few that caught my eye, but nothing that made a lasting impression. I knew I was going to have to search further to find exactly what I was looking for, realistically I should have been studying instead of online shopping, but I hadn't been to a mall in ages so I had to get my fix.
I'm obsessed with Kendall Jenner's style, she always looks flawless, and during NYFW her outfits were to die for, unfortunately the only thing I could afford that she owns is most likely a hair tie, yes that is a massive exaggeration but you get the point. The one outfit of hers I think I've stared at more than my textbooks (just kidding i'm working my ass off) is this all black ensemble consisting of this AllSaints coat, these Helmut Lang leggings, and these Celine boots.
I am absolutely obsessed with this coat and I've been searching high and low for a look alike that's affordable. The funnel neck and asymmetric hem make it so unique and the contrast of the wool body and leather levees is simply stunning. This coat would look gorgeous with anything, the colour is so versatile. I don't think i've ever been on a brands website and loved every single item they sell, I would buy one of everything, but my name isn't Kendall Jenner and I was not born into a multi million dollar family called the Kardashians.
I knew this coat was out of my price range and I was having such a hard time finding something even remotely similar to it. But on Friday afternoon I went shopping with my mom and came across this beauty in Danier Leather. I had just walked out of Sephora and was not expecting to spend a ton of money that day but as soon as I saw this coat I knew I had to try it on. It came in black and grey and both colours looked amazing but you can never go wrong with black it will always be classy. I've never been one to spend so much on a single article of clothing, but it was on sale, 100 percent wool, and the sleeves were lamb leather (I know, i'm a terrible person). I couldn't believe how soft it felt and I knew it would keep me warm. At first I felt guilty about buying it but then I realized you have to treat yourself every now and then, I usually save my money and i've been working so hard at school so I thought, why not? The girl helping me said the jacket was one of their best sellers and she was even going to buy it for herself before they were all gone.
As I get older i've learned that you get what you pay for. If you're going to spend $50 dollars on a coat, chances are it will only last you a season or two before it starts pilling or threads start coming loose, the same goes for shoes and jeans. But it's also important to realize that you should be selective when choosing what you're going to spend the most on, ensuring that it's something that will never go out of style.
♡Emma
The fall and winter are seasons where you have no choice but to layer, so why not make the most of it when it comes to how you dress. For months I have been searching for the perfect coat but I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, all I knew was that it had to be grey or black (typical) and wool. After looking online at the usual, Forever 21, H & M, Zara etc, I saw a few that caught my eye, but nothing that made a lasting impression. I knew I was going to have to search further to find exactly what I was looking for, realistically I should have been studying instead of online shopping, but I hadn't been to a mall in ages so I had to get my fix.
I'm obsessed with Kendall Jenner's style, she always looks flawless, and during NYFW her outfits were to die for, unfortunately the only thing I could afford that she owns is most likely a hair tie, yes that is a massive exaggeration but you get the point. The one outfit of hers I think I've stared at more than my textbooks (just kidding i'm working my ass off) is this all black ensemble consisting of this AllSaints coat, these Helmut Lang leggings, and these Celine boots.
I knew this coat was out of my price range and I was having such a hard time finding something even remotely similar to it. But on Friday afternoon I went shopping with my mom and came across this beauty in Danier Leather. I had just walked out of Sephora and was not expecting to spend a ton of money that day but as soon as I saw this coat I knew I had to try it on. It came in black and grey and both colours looked amazing but you can never go wrong with black it will always be classy. I've never been one to spend so much on a single article of clothing, but it was on sale, 100 percent wool, and the sleeves were lamb leather (I know, i'm a terrible person). I couldn't believe how soft it felt and I knew it would keep me warm. At first I felt guilty about buying it but then I realized you have to treat yourself every now and then, I usually save my money and i've been working so hard at school so I thought, why not? The girl helping me said the jacket was one of their best sellers and she was even going to buy it for herself before they were all gone.
As I get older i've learned that you get what you pay for. If you're going to spend $50 dollars on a coat, chances are it will only last you a season or two before it starts pilling or threads start coming loose, the same goes for shoes and jeans. But it's also important to realize that you should be selective when choosing what you're going to spend the most on, ensuring that it's something that will never go out of style.
♡Emma
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