RU-vid limits how much I can type in the description so I wasn't able to add all the links to products unfortunately. If there is something you want a link to, leave it in the comments and I will answer with the name and link for you here!
I love that you mentioned that these things might work, might not work. How you say you aren’t sure if something is really making a difference, but is something you’re using. So many creators when they share skin care products they will act like everything they’re using is absolutely what’s made a difference or just completely changed things for them. And even if it’s true, it’s not going to be the case for everyone. So it’s important to mention! And many don’t mention if they’re getting things like Botox and act like their results are only skincare, which isn’t cool! Also, as an RN, I LOVE you mentioned how you get your levels checked regularly!! That’s so IMPORTANT, especially if taking supplements. Way too many people start taking different supplements without even really knowing if they need it or not and some things being too high can cause issues or even be dangerous (just like being too low can be). So when people are going to take supplements it’s always SO SO IMPORTANT to get your blood checked first to see what you actually need and go from there! 🙌 AND when on supplements and medical professionals ask what meds you’re taking, ALWAYS include any supplements, herbs, etc. They can interact with prescription meds just like other prescription meds can interact with one another. They can also cause issues for people just like regular prescription meds can. And I’ve seen that so many patients don’t realize they need to include supplements, herbs, etc. when saying what medications they’re on. I started asking it if people don’t mention it. If they give their meds and don’t mention any supplements or herbs, I’ll always ask them specifically if they’re taking any OTC supplements or herbs. A lot of medical professionals don’t. So it’s always important to include them! Anyways, thought I’d mention that for everyone to know! ❤
Absolutely! That is a very good point! I started seeing a naturopath in addition to my primary care doc in my late 30's because I didn't feel I was getting any help with just generally feeling crappy and I'm so happy I did because they introduced me to the world of regular blood testing and non rx supplements. I can honestly say, that has made more of a difference in my health and how I feel than my pcp ever did!
@@redgirlreviews I can totally understand that! It’s sad but so many PCPs are in such a hurry to see as many patients as possible that they just don’t take the time to really talk to their patients and are just way too quick to prescribe something for symptoms instead of really getting down to the root of it and finding it might not require a prescription, especially since a lot of prescription meds are so strong a lot of the time! And usually nurses are a nice middle ground to help get the info and bring it to the attention to the PCP, but there’s also just way too many nurses that either got into it for the wrong reasons (think it’s an easy way to make decent money, which it definitely is not 😂) or did get into it for the right reasons but have become so jaded by the horrible system that they just don’t take the time they normally would to really talk to and listen to patients. It’s great there’s other methods now for people to get that kind of attention like with a naturopath!
Thank you for this candid and thorough view of your anti-aging journey. I’m 47 and many challenges you mentioned really hit home. This channel is really something special. Happy I found it. ❤
Girlfriend you are my goals! I’m 42 and I think I’ve done a pretty good job taking care of my skin. But I can tell things are changing rapidly lol. I also had my kids at a more mature age, so there is the way weight gain and loss is affecting me. The sagging is the worst!!! I don’t mind seeing some lines, but I am really unhappy with my chin and my under eye bags. I am not one for surgery either, because I had 2 c sections, that’s enough for me. Not gonna lie though, I’m seriously considering kybella and a little filler. I’m gonna compare tips with you here and I really appreciate you shared them 💕
I'm 50 year old redhead and always had oily oily oily acne prone skin ...makeup in the 80s and 90s nightmare 😂 so when young coworkers say omg you don't look 50 I tell them years of sunscreen and hats and i spend a fortune on eating healthy, supplements, and skincare...but genetics play a big part oily fair freckled skin runs in the family which i think may help with signs of aging we cannot be in the sun without major protection...I tried tanning in high school/college so dumb 😂 I just love your content I'm not as glamorous or stylish as you but your my trust redhead content creator who's helped me up my makeup game❤
Thank you so much for the kind words! I totally agree with you that we had to inadvertently protect our skin or we'd fry so it really helped with the aging process...oh boy the 80's and 90's before they even made makeup light enough for us...I went through a goth phase just because they had all the white makeup I swear.🤣 Also lived in CA for a few years around early teens and fried the crap out of myself trying to 'tan' too. We all have that phase before we accept reality. 😝
@@redgirlreviews I haven’t been taking care of my skin most of my adult life. It sounds kind of dumb, but I didn’t know I was supposed to! I’m trying to keep it as simple as I can while still getting results, and your lists are helping a lot for me to see what I need as well. What was the name of that first sunscreen that you said is your favorite? You don’t have to put a link in, just spell it out and I can Google it. I got a few K sunscreens from styleVana I can’t wait to try, but it takes forever for it to ship from there!
@@redgirlreviews the ordinary eye serum LOVE! And the vitamin C serum you suggested is also great! My fingers are not stained for the vitamin C any more and my face doesn’t smell lol.
Thanks Jessica for this A+ video! It kept me company while on the treadmill. This is great advice! I will take some of your recommendations and actually have a lot of this in place. I want to try lasers for rosacea, broken capillaries. Then I have a handful of those over-productive oil glands. Jowling/marionette lines are becoming a concern for me.
I’m so glad I could be helpful! The lasers for broken capillaries works really amazingly well so definitely worth looking into. I don’t recommend trying to use the little cauterizing hand lasers for the sebaceous hyperplasias (basically burning them off one by one which is what most derms do to treat them) as this didn’t actually get rid of them and left me with lots of burns that would heal and then a couple weeks later the darn things would be right back. Tretinoin helps settle them down a little but not much only in that it sort of dries your skin out a bit. Those pores literally never go away. They settled down on Accutane but as soon as I went off it they came back again in all the same spots…amazing and a bummer. I didn’t find that the co2 laser fixed them either which supposedly is another treatment for them.🫤
Omg girl yes I feel you on the aches and pains. I have been thinking of trying collagen or a protein in my coffee. I’m a bit of a supplement maniac lol. I do think they help, and yes omg yes for HRT! I take a very low dose testosterone. I also take LDN which has been a game changer for my hashimotos and autoimmune arthritis. Not trying to give any health advice, but look it up and see if you think it would help you. I get it from a functional doctor or naturopath. Thanks again for all the great health and beauty tips darlin 💕
Yep I try just about anything my naturopath gives me as an option just to see if it helps! I haven't tried LDN, what is that? I've had all the bloodwork done to see if I show inflammation or auto immune disease and it never shows anything...so that's good on one hand but frustrating on the other because I still don't have a good fix for my constant soreness when exercising etc. Super frustrating! I'm trying low dose testosterone right now as well to see if it helps with muscle building since my levels are literally 0.8...UH pretty much non existent!
@@redgirlreviews Oh man yeah that’s how low my testosterone and estrogen both were. It’s terrible and yes it will leave you feeling so weak and fatigued, even if you don’t have an underlying autoimmune condition. If you saw a general doctor they don’t always look deeper, unfortunately. If your naturopath can do the bloodwork I would ask them to also check for Epstein barre. I did not know but I have this and it is a chronic kind. But now knowing I have it I know what route to manage it. The LDN stands for low dose naltrexone. It isn’t a pain medication so it won’t make you feel weird, but it has lowered my pain and inflammation, and especially my nerve pain, significantly. It also does help with muscle tone, which I struggle with due partly to hashimotos. So it works well with the low dose testosterone. Definitely ask about it. Only draw back is you do have to get it compounded, so it’s not covered by insurance. I pay about $90 for 3 months at a time. For me it has helped my nerve pain significantly also. I really do feel ya sister. Hang in there 💛
@@Hillcountry_Catholic I just got back from checking my bloodwork and the testosterone really got my levels up into the more ideal levels for women and we are upping my estrogen to a .75 patch so am hopeful that both of those with starting up working out again will get me feeling better. I'm awfully sore but also just started lifting weights a little bit again so does make some sense. Really hoping that gets better with consistency. Already I can work out now and not feel like I literally have the flu for days afterwards so that is a big improvement. Before about a month ago when I started up the estrogen/testosterone I could only do the lightest workouts. All of that to say the hormone levels are SO important to how you feel so addressing them is so important. If I continue to have issues though I will definitely look into the LDN and ask about Epstein Barre as I'm pretty sure I've never been tested for that. Thank you so much for the info and support!
Just ordered the OMNILUX LED mask… I am waiting on another red-light therapy mask from another brand (currentbody I think it’s called) but, you recommend this one (men’s) which makes sense, so I got it❤❤ I’ve thought about some fillers for a few years now, as I have some vertical lines around my mouth that I’m subconscious about😢 (my friends and husband say they don’t notice… but I do!), but I’ve not gone and actually talked to anyone about it. I’m almost 60 and I’ve got really good skin for my age… I love my routine and skincare products that I use… thank you for your input on what you use and do❤❤
Absolutely! I love that we have a great way to openly and honestly all share what we have tried and what works/doesn't work that is outside of all the garbage that is marketed to us. It's a great resource! I'm still very happy with my Omnilux mask and for lines around the mouth I do have one of my botox docs who does a great job filling in the lines right around the mouth but I wouldn't go to just any doc who does filler if you do decide to pursue that. My doc is called Dr. Levy and he has an instagram channel where he shows him filling lip lines here: instagram.com/reel/C2sp6iZyMTR/ instagram.com/reel/CpQl5cmgZMa/ and here: instagram.com/reel/Cmj7n7WKuVC/
@@redgirlreviews so, Botox also helps with the lines?? I didn’t know that! The only reason I’ve steered clear of Botox is my mother tried it once and found out she is allergic to it (it caused her to break out in hives😩), so I just didn’t ever think on it. I was thinking more on the collagen or hyaluronic acid for the lines. Yes, I love that we as women can openly and nicely discuss options that we ALL (whether we partake or not)think about. I’m glad you do like the red light mask… there are just so many on the market atm, it’s hard to pick!! I didn’t know “Omnilux” was the original mastermind behind the machine!! That’s a huge selling point for me❤️ (and that someone has actually used and can say they personally have seen results!!) thanks for sharing your experience with us ❤️❤️
I think you could try microdosing isotretinoin to 15 mg a week and then 5mg a week- for a total of 20mg a month. You could get the same benefits and cut out all the dryness. This is what korean dermatologists are advicing
Super interesting! I think I’m doing some version of this by going on it until I get too dry and then stopping for weeks at a time but I like the idea of not having to cycle to bad skin and restarting constantly! Thanks for the info! I’m totally gonna try this!
Hello! I really appreciate videos like this one, thank you very much for this!!! About Accutane, what I don't quite understand is, if isotretinoin (accutane) reduces the sebaceous glands and they produce less oil, the skin will be much less lubricated and that dryness would make fine line and wrinkles much more notisable, especially in the area around the eyes where the skin is so delicate. I have heard several dermatologists say that oily skin ages much less than dry or normal skin, and that is due to the fact that it produces more sebum. So, I don't understand how it "rejuvenates the skin" if it is reducing the production of natural lubricant (sebum). I get the collagen part, however, sebum is very important too. Did your doctor explained some of this to you??? if so, I'd like to know so that I can undertand. Thank you! All the best! ❤
Yeah, I wondered about that too! From what I've heard, they still don't understand exactly how oral accutane works versus tretinoin directly applied to the skin. Supposedly they both increase collagen production and skin turn over so that keeps the structure of your skin more thick and youthful. The side effect of turning off your oil glands when taken orally helps with heavy duty cystic acne and sebaceous hyperplasias but the topical one definitely never affected my oil glands which is what I personally needed to clear up my skin. I definitely agree that the ultra dry skin does look older but you end up moisturizing so much to compensate that you end up looking ok. Low dose accutane is not near as drying and can be easily managed with moisturizers. I'm taking it every other day now at the lowest dose and I'm really not too terribly dry. I just don't get oily by end of day like I used to so more 'normal' skin. I think this is more the anti aging dose that a lot of derms are taking themselves, just enough to up collagen production supposedly without excessive dryness. When you take it for cystic acne usually it's at a much higher dosage which is terribly drying and miserable and not cute while you're going through it but usually that is only for a duration of 6 months and then you are supposed to be done with it. Low dose is more maintenance I think if you are just an oily bish like me.🤣 Also, not sure if there really is a correlation between oily skin and looking younger. I think it's sort of a misnomer because some people just aren't as moisturized. Dr. Dray has said oily skin actually stretches out pores and can be saggier as you age in some ways. OIly skin doesn't really correlate with the actual collagen and structure of the skin just the hydrated look. Wrinkles only form for lack of collagen, not dryness is my understanding. Hope that helps!
@@redgirlreviews Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my question, I really appreciate it. My dermatologist prescribed 5mg 3 times a week for my very oily scalp (because according to him the excess of oil is the culprit of my hair loss), and I also have combo skin, so he thinks it's going to be beneficial (I don't have acne), I'm also in my early 40´s so he mention the antiaging benefits but when I told him my concerns about it I think he didn't quite like it because he didn't take the time to explain to me, that's why I was looking for answers on youtube. So thanks again, I subscribe to your channel ❤
@@tatianaa.3694 Welcome! and I'm so glad I could be helpful 😊 It's so hard to get good info even from docs it seems so I totally hear you and have a lot of the same questions myself. I even went to a botox doc who when I questioned specifics on filler etc. and told him I had bad outcomes with other docs he just got offended, blamed me for basically being too picky and said if I'm like that I would likely be unhappy with his results as well...this guy is a surgeon! He didn't even consider that as I show in the video it was completely true and I've had some super bad results from supposedly good docs. Good Lord the egos and frankly disinformation. One doc will tell you one thing and another will tell you the opposite...my take away is that none of them actually know for sure other than what they've personally observed in practice so when someone unusual like me shows up they don't listen because it doesn't fit with their experience...ugh. Anywho, asking for a deep explanation of how something like Accutane actually works...well good luck, frankly even the studies don't agree and answer a lot of the questions and of course the info continues to change with time.
Thank you sooo much for this video! I follow very similar routine that i created myself. Question: how did you get rid of your freckles? I have an exact pale skin and red hair :) (You have gorgeous hair by the way)
Thank you so much! So I've always wondered about the difference between freckles and sun damage/age spots and still don't have an answer exactly BUT I can say that IPL treatments in office are extremely effective at bringing up brown pigment in your skin and lessening the look of freckles or age spots or both! It is a pretty easy treatment to tolerate compared to others I've done and usually a little less expensive. Usually they like to do a series of 3 or 4 spaced a month or so apart if you are just starting out. It is sooo satisfying because in a day or two, the brown pigment literally comes to the surface of your skin and you can wipe it off like coffee grounds so you see it fixed in real time without pain etc. It's sort of amazing actually! The bonus is that the action of the lasers going down a level into your skin and blowing up the pigment causes healing and collagen stimulation...not a ton but definitely some! The ablative lasers will also lessen freckles but with a lot more down time.
Great video Jessica very informative 😮, i was finally able to watch it. I see you got the Omnilux for men, i've been using it for a while now not sure if it really made a difference but then again i didn't take pictures , i agree with the NuMe device did nothing for me but i'm using the Ziip and i have to say i do see improvement but i started using it about the same time as the Omnilux and i started using tretinoin so at this point i can't tell which one is responsible for the improvement 😂, maybe all of it together ..🤷🏼♀️
Isn’t that always the case! Results are usually subtle so it’s damn near impossible to know what’s responsible which sucks. One thing I did notice that happened quickly was that over the last 3 months I used birth control to lower my estrogen levels (we monitored through blood tests so we could watch it go really low) and my jowling suddenly started to return really fast and skin got extra loose on my neck 😳🫤 regardless of what I was doing topically. I’m now in the process of supplementing with estrogen patches to reverse that and try to keep a steady high level rather than big swings like I was having before that caused ovarian cysts…I can’t win. Anyway I’m hoping I can get my sagging to reverse a bit with hrt but it was a wake up call to that being the most impactful thing I’ve seen on my skin outwardly showing aging…ugh.
@@redgirlreviews I haven't had a period for almost 4 years so i guess i'm in menopauze but i don't notice any difference in my well being , birth control has always been a pain for me, horrible migraines, bloating, weight gain arrgghh 😩, so i stopped using it after trying i think 8 different ones over a period of 15 years. I'm a bit hesitant about using hormones due to the increased risk of cancer. So far I don't notice much of the menopause and I don't have any symptoms, hopefully it stays that way 😅. Have a great weekend Jessica ❤️🌞
@@TheBoots72 I agree with you on birth control...always been a hell no for me due to all the same reasons. Made me CRAZY too...excellent. 😑 That is wonderful for you that you've had no major symptoms with menopause. I am so jealous! 😂 Have a great weekend too!
@@TheBoots72 quick question, did you say you are in Spain somewhere? I'm thinking of my first trip to Southern France and am looking for recommendations etc.
@@redgirlreviews Yes i'm in Spain, i'm Dutch/ Italian though. Crazy enough, I have never really been to France, except on transit to the Netherlands 😂 so i'm not the right person to recommend anything . But France is beautiful. Very hot this time of the year just like Spain, hopefully i will be able to go to the Netherlands soon to escape the heat 🥵, i hate summer lol, and it seems the older i get the more the heat gets to me 😩
You may not have the answer to this but what about birth control pills as far as keeping estrogen high? I’m not at menopause yet but I came off birth control 2 years ago. I’m 38.
I'm not an expert but in theory that should work I think. The 'estrogen' we get in pills aren't complete though and are often chemicals that work like estrogen but aren't the bioidentical kind which I think works better for me personally. The patches they give you for HRT are the bioidentical kind which theoretically treat you better. I personally don't react well to any of the pills with 'fake' estrogen in them but so far I've actually really had no issues at all with the bioidentical estradiol patches and my low estrogen side effects have been improving. No doubt you will go through physical changes coming off the pill you were on before if it had some sort of estrogen in it but I don't know if it is the same kind that has effect on your skin unfortunately.
@@Randompotatoes-qs7bm Thank you so much and welcome! I'm navigating my way through this getting older stuff myself as well so I love having a place where we can all share ideas and what is and isn't working!
Interesting, what's the difference other than obviously how it gets into your system/skin? My current dermatologist told me the thought is that they will have the same anti aging effects on the skin and that the oral accutane may actually be stronger than the topical in it's effects...but he never elaborated as to why. He uses it himself for anti aging as does my botox dermatologist and several of the dermatolgists/doctors/surgeons I watch on RU-vid but they all say there is not any one study that actually shows it works for sure...kind of being guinea pigs themselves.
@redgirlreviews Topical tretinoin works mostly in the way that the skin cell turnover is faster. "Tretinoin promotes cornified cell detachment and enhances shedding. Tretinoin increases mitotic activity, thereby increasing loosely-adherent corneocytes turnover. By doing so, the comedo contents can be expelled, with a reduction of microcomedo precursor lesion of acne vulgaris" The mechanisam of action in isotret isnt completely clear: The pharmacodynamics of isotretinoin are poorly understood. Isotretinoin produces its effects through altering progress through the cell cycle, cell differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. These actions reduce sebum production, preventing the blockage of pores, and growth of acne causing bacteria. Also while it is safe, it can cause potential issues for the liver if used for a prolonged time, like any other medication. I think dr. Dray has a good video on this topic. I personally loved isotret. for my acne, but it seems easier to slap tret on at night. I dont have to worry that I will burn in the sun or develop a sun allergy. I personally see those types of meds as amazing but with a lot of potential side effects that could occur if we use it too long. Idk if that makes sense. Like if you drink an aspirin every 2 months the rate for side effects is very low, but if you drink it everyday for months and months, the chance gets bigger that you get side effects.
@@Laura-ln3or I love Dr. Dray so will have to go watch more on this from her. This makes some sense to me then on why Accutane helps me so much. Extreme oiliness brought on by wild hormonal swings is one of the root causes of my acne and certainly the sebaceous hyperplasias that showed up after 40. Topical tretinoin didn't do much to help with oiliness for me, might have helped with collagen production over the years but was so irritating topically that I wasn't able to use it enough to get a lot of the benefits of it and also did not fix oiliness overall or acne. It also explains why they are not so sure about it helping with anti aging taken internally if it's not necessarily causing the cells to turn over faster but instead disrupting the functioning of the cells and subsequently somehow the production of oil. I always wondered why I needed to go off of it after surgeries etc. as the oral accutane is known to slow healing of soft tissues...seems like if it increased cell turn over like the topical kind it would help healing but definitely wouldn't do that if it just disrupts how skin cells function in an unknown way when taken orally. That would indeed likely slow healing. Very interesting, thank you for sharing!
Girlfriend you are my goals! I’m 42 and I think I’ve done a pretty good job taking care of my skin. But I can tell things are changing rapidly lol. I also had my kids at a more mature age, so there is the way weight gain and loss is affecting me. The sagging is the worst!!! I don’t mind seeing some lines, but I am really unhappy with my chin and my under eye bags. I am not one for surgery either, because I had 2 c sections, that’s enough for me. Not gonna lie though, I’m seriously considering kybella and a little filler. I’m gonna compare tips with you here and I really appreciate you shared them 💕
🥰 Thank you! And yes, I SO hear you on the sagging...it sucks! Hopefully some of what I shared will help here but I will say it took time to see results sans surgery or fillers which can be pretty immediate (bad or good). Fillers are great for changing the balance of your face and filling hollows but they are not super good at lifting sagging even though a lot of docs will say they can...ehh not exactly. I do think the led mask helped me but it was subtle and took quite awhile to see results.
@@redgirlreviews oh I’m about to buy that red light mask! I know, I’m so back and forth on the fillers. I mean I worry because I am that person who will probably have a bad reaction lol. Ugh ok definitely gotta get that mask!
@@Hillcountry_Catholic 😆 I hear ya. If there is a small percent chance on just about anything that someone is going to have a bad outcome with procedures it's always me I swear! Ugh. 🤣 On that red light mask I did get the men's mask because it is meant to be a little stronger to get through men's thicker skin and is also a little larger for more coverage.
