This post is part of a campaign for Oxy Canada for which I’ve been compensated.
Mother nature can be a cruel prankster. As if it’s not enough for teenagers to deal with the awkward, smelly, drippy reality of their new adult bodies. She also throws in a hormonal cocktail that unleashes raw emotional torrents without warning. She cuts their confidence off at their knees and makes them negotiate all kinds of new territory with no experience to guide them. She gives them adult bodies and the impulse control of toddlers.
And then she gives them zits.
I’ve struggled with bad skin for almost as long as I can remember. Teenage acne has given way to adult rosacea and managing flare ups will be my life-long cross to bear. But at least I know what I’m doing now. I have a dermatologist and prescription creams and I know my triggers and I know how to apply make up (if I can find the time). Most important, though, is that a red bump on my face doesn’t make me want to crawl under the bedsheets and never come out.
I can still remember the sting of walking through the halls of my high school, convinced others were laughing at me and my acne. (And some of them totally were. Don’t doubt it for a minute.) The state of my skin undermined my social confidence across the board and fed a sense of desperation which was followed by full on rebellion. And desperation and defiance don’t lead to the most mature and responsible decisions. Trust me.
So a product like Oxy that actually works to clear up most cases of teenage acne can be a godsend. There is a whole range of products to choose from and they can make a huge impact on the day-to-day stresses of teenage life. Hey, they can make a difference even if you’ve already graduated high school … and university and have a career and a couple kids under your belt. Postpartum pimples anyone? You’re so not alone.
And while we’re gushing about Oxy, you might as well head over to the Oxy Canada Facebook page and “Like” it. Then you can enter their Clear It Up Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of three iPads in a grand prize draw in September AND weekly draws of $50 Visa gift cards. They’ve even given me a special PIN number that will get you an extra entry. Here it is: ipmhhw3q
Photo credit: discoodoni on flickr
Disclosure: I am participating in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for OXY and receive compensation for my post. All opinions on this blog are my own.