I'm kind of concerned about my cosmetics

[Dreamchaser]

Especially my facial moisturizing cream because of the ingredients. I have combination, sensitive skin on my face that leans much more towards the dry side and I need to use a pretty heavy moisturizing cream on my face.

I understand not everyone thinks that cosmetics can affect the hcg diet but I use Tropical Traditions moisturizing cream on my face and the ingredients include organic virgin coconut oil and organic virgin palm oil.

Here is the complete ingredient list: purified water, organic virgin coconut oil, plant based emulsifying wax, palm stearic, grapefruit seed extract, organic beeswax, and organic virgin palm oil. Contains no essential oils for people with allergies or sensitivities to scents.

Not to mention I also use Estee Lauder Double Wear liquid foundation, Suave Naturals Conditioner for condition only hair washing and Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion which I slather on my whole body every day when I get out of the shower. My skin is very dry!

I'm not sure how I would be able to stand living without these products and really don't want to have to try! But of course I want to succeed on the diet.

If anyone has any good recommendations for oil free substitutions, especially the facial moisturizer, please let me know.

Any input is appreciated! I start my 1st round in a couple of weeks.

[LilacBruze]

I normally use a facial moisturizer by Bliss Labs but have been using the Jergens cold cream I normally use to remove my make-up instead since its main ingredient is mineral oil. I can't help you on oil-free but from what I understand, mineral oil is okay to use (albeit greasy as heck!) I rub it on and then take a slightly moist wash cloth and gently wipe off the excess.

This part of following protocol is killing me! I have super dry skin too and usually use shea body butter but have been using baby oil instead. Soooo not the same.

Oh, and I use a mineral powder makeup in place of foundation.

[CMac]

is cosmetics, lotions, toothpaste etc that important really? I dont plan on changing any of that currently. I guess when I stall I may re think that but I mean I don't think you should suffer dry skin or a headache because its not on protocol.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I normally use a facial moisturizer by Bliss Labs but have been using the Jergens cold cream I normally use to remove my make-up instead since its main ingredient is mineral oil. I can't help you on oil-free but from what I understand, mineral oil is okay to use (albeit greasy as heck!) I rub it on and then take a slightly moist wash cloth and gently wipe off the excess.

This part of following protocol is killing me! I have super dry skin too and usually use shea body butter but have been using baby oil instead. Soooo not the same.

Oh, and I use a mineral powder makeup in place of foundation.

Man, I really hate this. I cannot stand using mineral oil or baby oil as lotion. I agree it's so greasy and yucky!

What kind of mineral powder makeup do you use?

[LilacBruze]

I use a discontinued kind from Avon. They don't sell it any more but I stockpiled 5 jars of it when it was on clearance.

I have a trick I use when dealing with the baby oil. I put it on when I first get out of the shower and my skin is still damp. I have a full length terry cloth robe I then put on instead of toweling dry. It helps blot/absorb the baby oil so it is not greasy on my skin. Of course, I have to wash the robe a few times a week but it's not too bad.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I have a trick I use when dealing with the baby oil. I put it on when I first get out of the shower and my skin is still damp. I have a full length terry cloth robe I then put on instead of toweling dry. It helps blot/absorb the baby oil so it is not greasy on my skin. Of course, I have to wash the robe a few times a week but it's not too bad.

You are a better woman than me!

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by Dreamchaser

Man, I really hate this. I cannot stand using mineral oil or baby oil as lotion. I agree it's so greasy and yucky!

What kind of mineral powder makeup do you use?

A lot of the Lubriderm lotions have a mineral oil base so are ok to use. The only one that I think is out because of added oil is the extra-moisturizing one (extra-dry skin, maybe?). I like the sensitive skin one. Jergens also has a "skin firming" lotion that's good. On the facial moisturizer, Neutrogena has an oil free that is nice. I use Physicians Formula mineral foundation but just look at the OTC stuff--a lot of them have "mineral" lines these days.

On the moisturizer, toothpaste, conditioner etc., I'm not sure that it matters as far as the diet goes but the HE!! if I am going to eat 500 calories a day and get stalled by some stupid toothpaste or lotion! (btw, the Crest Cinnamon is really tasty!)

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

A lot of the Lubriderm lotions have a mineral oil base so are ok to use. The only one that I think is out because of added oil is the extra-moisturizing one (extra-dry skin, maybe?). I like the sensitive skin one. Jergens also has a "skin firming" lotion that's good. On the facial moisturizer, Neutrogena has an oil free that is nice. I use Physicians Formula mineral foundation but just look at the OTC stuff--a lot of them have "mineral" lines these days.

Shelby - What is your facial and body skin type as far as dryness is concerned?

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

On the moisturizer, toothpaste, conditioner etc., I'm not sure that it matters as far as the diet goes but the HE!! if I am going to eat 500 calories a day and get stalled by some stupid toothpaste or lotion! (btw, the Crest Cinnamon is really tasty!)

Excellent point!

[LilacBruze]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

On the moisturizer, toothpaste, conditioner etc., I'm not sure that it matters as far as the diet goes but the HE!! if I am going to eat 500 calories a day and get stalled by some stupid toothpaste or lotion! (btw, the Crest Cinnamon is really tasty!)

Agreed!

[shelbyla]

I would say medium dry. Although in the past I used a lot of lotions, these days, I rarely use moisturizer on my face or body. I've actually found that the less moisturizer I use, the less I need it. It's kind of like "training" your hair to not be washed very often. If you stop doing it (or cut down), your body starts making more of its own moisturizer. (Or in the case of hair, LESS moisture/oil.) The hcg has really made me notice this about my lip products. I am a lip balm FREAK--I mean I have lip balm EVERYWHERE. Obviously on hcg, you can't use anything with mint, camphor or eucalyptus so most of my regular lip balms are out. I started using Aquaphor on my lips and I've found that I only apply it about once a day, as opposed to every couple of hours as I used to. The two exceptions to this seem to be my hands and my feet. I am hypothyroid and this can cause a lot of thick skin and dryness for both hands and feet. During P2, I deal with the dryness as best as I can with the above mentioned lotions (I also use the daily trick of a little baby oil on wet skin, including my hands and feet). The first day of P3, I go directly to slathering my hands and feet with straight vitamon E oil before bed!

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

The first day of P3, I go directly to slathering my hands and feet with straight vitamon E oil before bed!

Another reason I just love P3 I get to use my coconut oil lotion once again I miss it now especially since I have been "sunning" myself. Cannot wait for P3!!! I miss food, body wash and lotion.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

On the moisturizer, toothpaste, conditioner etc., I'm not sure that it matters as far as the diet goes but the HE!! if I am going to eat 500 calories a day and get stalled by some stupid toothpaste or lotion! (btw, the Crest Cinnamon is really tasty!)

Amen sister Could not have said it better myself. I like the cinnamon toothpaste too. It is wearing on me

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

I would say medium dry. Although in the past I used a lot of lotions, these days, I rarely use moisturizer on my face or body. I've actually found that the less moisturizer I use, the less I need it. It's kind of like "training" your hair to not be washed very often. If you stop doing it (or cut down), your body starts making more of its own moisturizer. (Or in the case of hair, LESS moisture/oil.) The hcg has really made me notice this about my lip products. I am a lip balm FREAK--I mean I have lip balm EVERYWHERE. Obviously on hcg, you can't use anything with mint, camphor or eucalyptus so most of my regular lip balms are out. I started using Aquaphor on my lips and I've found that I only apply it about once a day, as opposed to every couple of hours as I used to. The two exceptions to this seem to be my hands and my feet. I am hypothyroid and this can cause a lot of thick skin and dryness for both hands and feet. During P2, I deal with the dryness as best as I can with the above mentioned lotions (I also use the daily trick of a little baby oil on wet skin, including my hands and feet). The first day of P3, I go directly to slathering my hands and feet with straight vitamon E oil before bed!

Body Lotion - I am hypothyroid as well and have always had extremely dry skin on my body, even as a little girl. Dry skin brushing helps me tremendously but I'm don't think I can just do the dry skin brushing and go But I guess the Aveeno that I use is OK, so that's AWESOME!

Lip Balm - Oh man, didn't even think about that. I am a lip balm freak too and my lip balm does have mint in it. I'll have to get some Aquaphor for that.

Foot Cream - That is another story. Gotta have my foot cream and I'm sure the one I use has the wrong stuff in it. It's called Flexitol and it's very, very thick. I get it at Walmart and it works awesome. I guess I'll have to try some baby oil on my feet at night with socks on. Not looking forward to trying that one!

Maybe Aquaphor would work for the foot cream.

[Dreamchaser]

What about regular Colgate Cavity Protection toothpaste? It's just regular flavor, not mint. It's a white paste, not gel. That should be OK, shouldn't it?

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

I would say medium dry. Although in the past I used a lot of lotions, these days, I rarely use moisturizer on my face or body. I've actually found that the less moisturizer I use, the less I need it. It's kind of like "training" your hair to not be washed very often. If you stop doing it (or cut down), your body starts making more of its own moisturizer. (Or in the case of hair, LESS moisture/oil.) The hcg has really made me notice this about my lip products. I am a lip balm FREAK--I mean I have lip balm EVERYWHERE. Obviously on hcg, you can't use anything with mint, camphor or eucalyptus so most of my regular lip balms are out. I started using Aquaphor on my lips and I've found that I only apply it about once a day, as opposed to every couple of hours as I used to. The two exceptions to this seem to be my hands and my feet. I am hypothyroid and this can cause a lot of thick skin and dryness for both hands and feet. During P2, I deal with the dryness as best as I can with the above mentioned lotions (I also use the daily trick of a little baby oil on wet skin, including my hands and feet). The first day of P3, I go directly to slathering my hands and feet with straight vitamon E oil before bed!

By the way, thank you Shelby! (again)

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by Dreamchaser

What about regular Colgate Cavity Protection toothpaste? It's just regular flavor, not mint. It's a white paste, not gel. That should be OK, shouldn't it?

Colgate Cavity Protection has mint in it according to the Colgate website... "Great mint taste..."

And I DO think Aquaphor would work for feet too. It's for "severely dry skin" or something like that. The other thing I do for my feet is give them a REALLY good scrubbing with a pumice stone every week. Not perfect but it helps!

I am going to have to look into the Flexitol thing. Thanks for the tip!

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

Colgate Cavity Protection has mint in it according to the Colgate website... "Great mint taste..."

And I DO think Aquaphor would work for feet too. It's for "severely dry skin" or something like that. The other thing I do for my feet is give them a REALLY good scrubbing with a pumice stone every week. Not perfect but it helps!

I am going to have to look into the Flexitol thing. Thanks for the tip!

Oh, OK, I didn't realize that about the Colgate. So any toothpaste with cinnamon is OK as long as mint is not in the ingredient list?

Flexitol - No, don't look into that one. I was saying that I'm sure it's not good to use. I just looked on my bottle and it does have shea butter and tea tree oil in it. I was saying that I need to switch from Flexitol to Aquaphor for foot cream.

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by Dreamchaser

Oh, OK, I didn't realize that about the Colgate. So any toothpaste with cinnamon is OK as long as mint is not in the ingredient list?

You got it! Crest Cinnamon is good and widely available.

Originally Posted by Dreamchaser

Flexitol - No, don't look into that one. I was saying that I'm sure it's not good to use. I just looked on my bottle and it does have shea butter and tea tree oil in it. I was saying that I need to switch from Flexitol to Aquaphor for foot cream.

Looking into it for AFTER P2!

[Dreamchaser]

Oh, OK Shelby. I love the Flexitol!