The Chronic Consumer

I have been battling adult acne for a long time now, and am always looking for and testing out new products to help in the fight. My acne isn’t horrific or anything like that. It’s mild to moderate, but it’s persistent as hell — and is of course embarrassing since I’m in my mid-30s.

I’d only tried supplements once before, when I briefly experimented with Nature’s Way DIM-Plus, which didn’t prevent pimples, but helped a bit with redness and irritation. However, I stopped taking DIM out of sheer laziness — and didn’t notice much difference after I went off it.

Then I read that Zinc Picolinate has been helping some adults get their acne under control, so I decided to order some for myself. Bear in mind that I only read acne-related forums and message boards when I’m in the midst of a full-blown breakout and therefore really desperate to try something new!

Anyway, I purchased the NOW Foods brand of Zinc Picolinate, a bottle of which contains 120 capsules of 50mg each. Apparently, zinc picolinate is supposed to “support enzyme function” and help restore balance so that your hormones don’t go crazy and produce pimples.

I started taking 2 capsules a day at first, but as that represents 660% of the recommended daily allowance and since getting too much zinc can be bad for you, I scaled back to one capsule a day after about a week. Nothing much happened either way, as I didn’t notice a reduction in acne after taking the pills. It’s hard to say, of course, whether or not the zinc helped prevent new acne, but I highly doubt it. My acne just wasn’t noticeably affected at all.

One bottle of zinc picolinate only cost something like $6.99, so if you’re desperate, by all means go out and try it. Just don’t put all your hopes into this being the miracle cure you’ve been searching for, because it simply doesn’t work. At least not for me.

I’m the kind of person who snacks almost all day long. I get hit with cravings for something salty, or sweet, or cheesy, and I just have to dig into the pantry to find something to satisfy my hunger. It’s one of the pitfalls of working at home, and has certainly helped add a few pounds to my frame.

I’ve realized that I’m not going to be able to eliminate my cravings entirely, so the best I can do is try to eat healthier food when it’s snack time. Towards that end, I’ve recently started buying David Pumpkin Seeds to keep at my desk instead of pretzels or potato chips — and I’m surprised at how much I like these things!

You wouldn’t think that something like pumpkin seeds could be satisfying, but they really are. I just pop a couple handfuls in my mouth whenever I get a craving, and that usually takes care of my snacking needs for at least an hour or two. The pumpkin seeds are roasted and salted, and pretty darn tasty!

Anyway, I’m glad I’ve found a new snack that’s relatively low in fat and calories for a generous serving size. Have you tried pumpkin seeds recently?

I like Paula’s Choice skincare products because I have sensitive, acne-prone skin and the stuff in the Paula’s Choice line is very gentle and non-irritating. The only problem is that I have to mail order my Paula’s Choice products, which can be a hassle at times since it’s so much easier to just grab something off the shelf at the drug store.

Anyway, whenever I do remember to plan ahead, I try to stock up on the Paula’s Choice products that I use most often, such as the Skin Recovery Toner and the AHA Gel. Luckily for me, now is a great time to order, as Paula’s Choice is having a sale on toners and cleansers. From now until March 31, all toners and cleansers in the entire line are a whopping 25% off. Plus, there’s just $3 shipping on all orders!

That’s a pretty sweet deal right there, so if you want to try Paula’s Choice for yourself or restock your supplies, this is the time to do it! No special codes or coupons are necessary; all discounts will be applied at checkout. Have fun!