Project Glow Recap

on May 26, 2009
in All Posts

Angela, you are a miracle-worker!

 

One month ago, I wrote Angela an e-mail whining about my sallow, uneven skin tone and breakouts. "I’m 25!" I wrote.  "Shouldn’t my skin be more… adult?!"  She asked me to tell her about my current skin care routine, and I must admit I blushed when I described my daily face scrubs with a bar of Irish Spring soap (I think Angela nearly fainted in horror).

 

Angela promptly "prescribed" a new skin care routine for me.  We called it "Project Glow," which included St. Ives Apricot Scrub, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti Wrinkle Cream in SPF 15, and LOADS of vitamin-packed Green Monster smoothies.  I stuck to the skin-care routine religiously for an entire month, and I managed to drink GMs or Amazing Grass almost every day I was at home.

 

Before Project Glow:

CIMG4443

After Project Glow:

CIMG5463

NO MAKE-UP!  Can you believe it ?  My skin tone is so much more even, I look brighter, and I am pimple-free! A lot of my splotchy redness has disappeared.

 

I think it’s important to note that although I didn’t/couldn’t give up dairy as Angela asked me to, I did become a vegetarian two days before beginning Project Glow.  Some of you have asked how going vegetarian has made me feel, and I am very happy to say that I feel cleaner, lighter, and a little kinder.  :)  (I have not lost any weight).

 

Also, I think it’s worth pointing out that the Before Picture was taken prior to me starting an absolutely INSANE 65-hour a week work schedule.  So, if anything, I am more tired and functioning on a helluva lot less sleep in the After Picture.   If I hadn’t started Project Glow, the Lord himself only knows what kind of hot mess I would look life!

 

Note: the St. Ives Facial Scrub contains walnuts, so if you are allergic to tree nuts, you want to use something else.  I am allergic to ingesting walnuts but the scrub didn’t bother me.  Also, several people noted in the comments that they find the scrub to be too harsh to use twice a day, but I had no problems with it.

 

I BELIEVE in the power of a good facial scrub and Green Monsters! 🙂 They definitely worked for me!  What skin care tricks have you found success with?

{ 44 comments }

 

  • healthy ashley May 26, 2009, 4:40 am

    I definitely see the difference! Your skin looks awesome!

  • Meganerd May 26, 2009, 4:45 am

    wow!! your skin looks great! Do you think it was a combination of everything or just using the apricot scrub that did it for you? I’m scared to try green monsters lol.

  • Stacey May 26, 2009, 5:07 am

    Wow! What a difference! You look great, and now I will be converting 🙂

    Oh and I will definitely be trying out a green monster this week!

  • spicygranola May 26, 2009, 5:23 am

    You look great! Big difference. If you find a good scrub without salicylic acid let me know, it dries my skin out.

  • Anne May 26, 2009, 5:34 am

    Wow, I definitely see a difference! Your skin looks gorgeous!

  • kirsten May 26, 2009, 5:34 am

    your skin looks amazing !!

  • Priyanka loves food May 26, 2009, 5:41 am

    WOW! your skin looks so clear and radiant!! I think my skin is improving pretty well with the Green monster too!!

  • Anonymous May 26, 2009, 5:42 am

    I love desert essence facial products,and aubrey organics. My new discovery for facial lotion is alaffia, it’s sustainable and fair trade. http://www.DesertEssence.com
    http://www.alaffia.com
    http://www.aubrey-organics.com
    earthybrit
    you my friend, look amazing!

  • Thinspired May 26, 2009, 5:46 am

    Caitlin you are truly glowing! Wow! I’m really pumped to keep going with the green monsters now 😉 I’ve been wondering how this project was going and have been looking forward to the recap. Beautiful!

  • Jess May 26, 2009, 6:01 am

    I switched to using the St. Ives facial scrub too twice a day and sticking with my normal moisturizer. Alleluia I think Angela is a miracle worker lol. Seriously my skin is so glowing now! Who knew all I needed to do was swap face washes!

  • Brandi May 26, 2009, 6:03 am

    that’s awesome! I love that face scrub and love the way my skin feels after 🙂

  • RunToFinish May 26, 2009, 6:04 am

    i really believe the green monsters are making my skin softer and my hair grow faster, I know my nails are growing lightning fast

  • Colleen May 26, 2009, 6:04 am

    Your skin looks fabulous!

    I find that drinking a lot of water and regular sweat sessions seem to flush all the impurities out. Also, if I happen to skip washing my face at night I notice it breaks out almost immediately, so in the past couple of years I’ve probably only missed 4 nights at the most.

  • veggierunnr May 26, 2009, 6:05 am

    This is my first time commenting- so first off, I love your blog! Your skin looks great. I absolutely live by the St. Ives Apricot Scub- I use it twice a day and have no irritation problems whatsoever. Like you, I am a vegetarian and I drink a green smoothie almost every day and I believe these definitely keep my skin clear. I also don’t use foundation or other makeup on my skin because I feel like skin needs to “breathe”. Seems to work. Keep up the great posts!

  • K from ksgoodeats May 26, 2009, 6:09 am

    You look even more gorgeous!! I noticed when I went vegetarian my skin cleared up quite a bit. Glad Project Glow worked for you 🙂

  • M-Rah May 26, 2009, 6:39 am

    OMG! Your skin looks great! I, too, am 25 and struggle with acne and uneven skin tone. Haha, I also use bar soap! Agh! I’ll be going to the store so I can try your routine ASAP!

  • seesaraheat May 26, 2009, 6:40 am

    I used to use St. Ives a lot and just got out of the habit, but I found a coupon for some this weekend, so I’ll be buying that as soon as my current stuff runs out. I have found that I can’t wash my face too much or else it has the reverse effect, so that’s my tip I guess 😉

    You look great!

  • Amanda May 26, 2009, 6:40 am

    Lookin good!! I am pretty lucky when it comes to skin, but I have started drinking Green Monsters because they are delicious and nutritious!

  • The Decayed Gentlewoman May 26, 2009, 6:41 am

    Your skin looks wonderful!
    I’ve been having a couple green monsters a week lately, and I have noticed that my skin has been awesome.
    Then, this weekend, I was on an unfortunate low veggie streak and I broke out!
    Back to the spinach for me!

  • Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) May 26, 2009, 6:44 am

    I really do need to try Project Glow! My skin is so dry, red, and sensitive!

  • Sarah May 26, 2009, 6:47 am

    I use the St Ives scrub once a week – I have very sensitive skin so anymore than that irritates my skin. My other trick – I don’t use soap. Lol! I stick to non-soap cleansers. Soap is very drying and harsh. I’ve tried just about every non-soap facial cleanser out there and my favourite is moisturizing Spectro-Gel. Not fancy – but it works!

  • Rose May 26, 2009, 6:50 am

    Caitlin – you look great! Thanks for this recap.

    I swear and live by the Body Shop’s Green Tea Body Wash, Scrub and Oil. I used to have horrible skin, and green tea products work best for me.

  • Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) May 26, 2009, 7:04 am

    you look great! I should start project glow for my wedding. My skin could use it.

  • Trish May 26, 2009, 7:21 am

    I wash up with Cetaphil. It’s the best – very gentle. Luckily, I was blessed with really good skin. I could probably count on one hand all the pimples I’ve had in my whole life. Plus, my mom is 72 and hasn’t got a single wrinkle – I am hoping I take after her! 🙂

    I just started using the Olay ProX stuff – before that I used RoC. I haven’t noticed a huge difference in either one but then again, my skin was in good shape to begin with. I am lucky. 🙂

    And I totally see a difference in your skin. That’s wonderful that what you did worked – and so fast too.

  • Christina May 26, 2009, 7:23 am

    Your skin looks great! More green monsters definitely have to be incorporated into my diet this summer!

  • Joy May 26, 2009, 7:28 am

    You look great! I’ve had the same skin care routine for a while now but i love it: in the morning just splash with water and use olay complete spf 15 moisturizer. at night i cleanse with aveeno clear complexion and scrub with burts bees citrus facial scrub + the same moisturizer. sooo nice

  • Beth May 26, 2009, 7:28 am

    Looks great! I also suggest Aveeno products if you want to switch it up. Their new “Positively Ageless” line is fab. Never too early to start preventing the signs of aging!

  • Oh She Glows May 26, 2009, 7:37 am

    Who hooo!!! My Gosh I can’t get over the after picture!!! You look amazing!!!!!!!! yawhoo!

  • Graze With Me May 26, 2009, 7:43 am

    My biggest skin care trick is using exfoliating gloves in the shower daily. It makes all the difference in the world.

  • Kiersten May 26, 2009, 7:59 am

    your skin looks great. who would have thought that such a small change in routine would make such a big difference!

  • Katie May 26, 2009, 8:16 am

    Hi Caitlin, I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog and it has inspired me to create my own blog which you can now find at http://dancerunbefit.blogspot.com/. I use St.Ives facial scrub and it is THE BEST, trust me I have tried them all. You have really inspired me by all your loooooooong running and biking. Thank you!!

  • Jessica May 26, 2009, 8:20 am

    Your skin looks great!! Good for you! I use proactive. It works very well but I think my skin is addicted to it, which isn’t a good thing. If I go a day or two without it my skin goes haywire fast.

  • eatfabinnyc May 26, 2009, 8:53 am

    How amazing! You’ve always looked great but so exciting! I want to try that now!!
    xooxx
    s

  • Erin May 26, 2009, 9:21 am

    I just use SpectroGel, twice a day. I’m 20 and my skin has always been a bittt of a mess. Never serious acne or anything, but usually a pimple (or 4) on the go and a bit of red-ness. I hated it..I too was getting the point where I thought I should be growing out of that.

    I’ve been working out and cutting out refined, white junk for the past 4 months or so and I saw my brother for the first time in awhile and he noticed that I was skinnier (I went from 115 to 107 and I’m 5’1…you notice), but what made me REALLY happy was he said that my skin looked “so clear”! Coming from a jerky older brother, that’s pretty awesome 😉 So.. I guess my routine is SpectroGel + cleaner diet + exercise.

  • Rachel May 26, 2009, 10:31 am

    Thank you so much for sharing your process with us! I feel that way all the time – I’m 24, why is my skin the same as when I was 13? – and I’m still searching for a routine that works for me. I’m loving all these tips!

  • Joanna May 26, 2009, 10:54 am

    Hi Caitlin – just curious – I noticed you have been talking about weight recently with stopping running and going veg…do you weigh yourself everyday?

  • Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point May 26, 2009, 10:55 am

    joanna- no i just try to anticipate questions people will ask me in the comments and answer them in the posts. 🙂 i weight myself once a week or so.

  • Kate May 26, 2009, 11:01 am

    wow! your skin looks gorgeous 🙂

  • lilveggiepatch May 26, 2009, 6:45 pm

    Congrats! What a confidence re-cap. Although I often exfoliate, I didn’t know how important the GLOVES were to the process. In only a little over a week, I’ve noticed such a difference! Thanks!!!

  • Texan Couture May 27, 2009, 6:25 am

    Your skin looks great! Thanks for sharing, I need to go pick up those products now!

  • Kristin P. May 27, 2009, 6:29 am

    First of all, your skin looks great! and I totally agree with your comment that you feel ‘cleaner and lighter’ after going vegetarian- I had the exact same experience! Thats exactly what I told my friends.

  • sweetkaroline June 1, 2009, 7:19 pm

    You look awesome…just wanted to send a little tip your way that really works, alpha-hydroxy lotion everyday after you wash your face…it helps to slough off the old skin and leaves it glowing! I get told all the time how young i look and i swear it’s because i’ve used that lotion twice a day for the past four years!

  • Kate June 2, 2009, 11:34 am

    You look great! I’m definitely tempted to try the Green Monster after seeing your results.

    My best skincare trick is being gentle to my skin. I use a mud mask once a week, wash my face with Cetaphil twice a day, and use Eucerin’s Redness Relief night cream and day lotion with spf every day. My constantly broken out skin has cleared up and my skin has become less blotchy and more even-toned. I kept trying expensive scrubs and peels and treatments and it never worked. Using products for sensitive skin actual keep my skin clearer than all sorts of acne products.

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