Lizard faced

[flexagon]

I got a facial last week, and quite a talking-to along with that. Apparently my skin is both dehydrated and clogged, which sounds pretty unappealing (possibly just short of leprosy along that axis). The aesthetician asked me if I exfoliated -- I said yes, I use this stuff that has papaya enzyme about once a week. But this apparently is nowhere near strong enough to get rid of the layers of crap on my 30-something skin, which makes me feel sort of betrayed. She sold me a classic scrub that feels like fine-grit sandpaper and said to use it 3-4 times a week. And moisturize nightly. And get my butt back there in a few weeks to let her go at me again. I think I will... I have the money, and it would be pretty great to have nicer skin... and, honestly, she had me when she said more exfoliating/moisturizing would make it easier to get blackheads out. :P

Disgusting.

You know what else happened in the last week though? I won that Diplomacy game we had going at the office, and I even won the way I wanted to: in a draw with my teammate. After three months of play, that felt extremely good. Of course, this comic from 3eanuts.com is still appropriate.



Coffee/lunch with all the players is planned for next week, so that we can part as friends.

Comments

[a-kosmos.livejournal.com]

Congrats on winning the Diplomacy game!!!

I don't think that the skin thing is all that gross. I've tried a couple of microdermabrasion facials, and I'm going to try ultrasonic facials next.

[flexagon]

Thanks! :-)

I was tired when I wrote that... you're right, my skin's not horrible, and all biology's a little messy when viewed close up. I'll stick with blackheads being on the disgusting side, though.

[khamsin.livejournal.com]

I went to a Korean spa over the weekend and really regret NOT getting the full body scrub.

[flexagon]

I want to try a Korean spa someday. I hear good things.

[khamsin.livejournal.com]

Apparently the same people who run Spa World also run this place (http://nyspacastle.com/) in New York. A friend raved about it when I told her I'd been to Spa World. TOTALLY worth the money for the relaxation, and I've heard the body scrub is strange but envigorating and really does make a huge difference in your skin.

[dr-alycat.livejournal.com]

I've been to a Korean spa in LA, and it was great although NOT AT ALL like an American-style place... no scented candles or dreamy music... more what some would think of as "not as nice" but probably just "traditional."

The full body scrub was pretty awesome, assuming you aren't uncomfortable being basically nude and worked over by a professional :)

[coraline]

so i'm curious... where did you go, and how much did it cost? i also have problematic skin, and i worry that they'd want me to use expensive or icky things that i won't follow through on, but... nicer skin would be lovely :}

[flexagon]

sure! I saw Beatrice at the Marc Harris salon in Boston, and it cost $90 for an hour. I think she's the best I've ever had. I've been to her twice now -- the first time was years ago -- and what I finally figured out is that, while it's an unpleasant walk from South Station, it's a fairly nice walk from Park Street.

Both times she's (successfully) tried to sell me a single product from the Rhonda Alison line:
http://www.rhondaallison.com/retail_products.html

The first time I don't know if the stuff ever did anything, but this second time, the scrubby stuff definitely scrubs.

I'm with you... nicer skin would be lovely.

[dr-alycat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing about the facial. I have a gift certificate for a place in Cambridge, but as someone who never wore sunblock as a kid and also probably has years-old blackheads, I am really afraid of the skin critique I'll get...

[flexagon]

I think you should go take advantage :-)

If nothing else, you get a temporary boost and you get to lie there letting someone else take care of you.