u/lemonbasilberry

Photos 1&2 taken recently July 2026

May 2024, I decided to completely stop taking birth control after being on it on and off since I was 16. I'm now 31.

Some history: I know post-pill acne is real and I tried my best to give it a few months to see my skin clear up but it just would not and I was struggling with hormonal acne. Maybe it was part that and part the random second puberty phase no ones talks about when you turn 30 lol.

Come January 2025, I couldn't take it any longer so was prescribed Spironolactone. Since then, I've been on 50mg which has completely gotten rid of my hormonal acne. Now I just struggle with PIH/PIE.
Since Jan 2025, I've also been on 15% Azaleic Acid and spent a year on Dapsone and 3 months on Hydroquinone - I am no longer on Dapsone + Hydroquinone.

December 2025, I started incorporating 0.025% Tretinoin and as of 3-4 weeks ago, I recently added Vitamin C Serum.

My main concern now is that my suncreen stings a bit and it lingers and leaves my face a bit red. Not sure if that means my skin barrier is messed up.

Photos of my current morning & night time routine above.

Morning routine: La Roche Posay Purifying Gentle Cleanser, Trader Joe's Vitamin C Serum, 15% Azaleic Acid and Neutrogena Hydroboost Moisturizer & SPF 50 Sunscreen

Nighttime routine: La Roche Posay Purifying Gentle Cleanser, 0.025% Tretinoin and Cerave Healing Ointment.

I recently added curtains to my studio but I gotta say, the best way to make it homey is my pug, Juniper 🥰

Enjoy my studio/pug tour!

I posted a while ago asking the best way to hang up curtains in a rental and ended up drilling into the wall!

Some folks may not understand why it was so hard for me to decide but I’ve moved around 10 times in the last 5 years so never took the time to adjust and learn how to decorate my place. Also I’ve had some petty landlords in the past so didn’t quite feel confident drilling at first but then said fuck it lol.
I also got spackle and practiced on existing holes which made me more comfortable using a drill.

I plan to finally settle down here for more than 2 years so am slowly making it more homey.I’m very pleased with how they turned out!

I’ve had this set on for just about a week and am pleasantly surprised that they’ve stayed put!

It’s my first time using this brand. I’m usually a Nail Reformation or Celebritips gal but only find them at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s which are a bit out of the way for me. I found these at Target & I was curious about this brand and right of the bat noticed how light and natural they felt compared to nail reformation/celebritips.

I’m very thorough with my nail prep in general and can usually have my press ons last for 2-3 weeks. I did not use the glue primer the Ohora nails came with - I just used a left over glue stick I had from Nail Reformation. I also didn’t want to alternate the colors so just used one hand for each lol

Retail brand: Ohora
Color: Morning Espresso

I’ve moved around a lot so never got around to hanging things up in the places I’ve lived in.

With that being said, I’m trying to hang these light linen curtains + the rod but am having trouble deciding which way to go about doing so.

I went to IKEA to get the curtains, rods & rod brackets/holders that require you to drill into the wall. I was having doubts about drilling into the wall since I’m in a rental so then picked up some command strips meant for curtains but realized they likely won’t stick well enough to my walls since they are textured.

Ideally I would like to hang the curtains above the white frames to give them a floor to ceiling type effect (the blinds were already installed before I moved in.) I love my bay windows but it’s making it tricky lol

Currently i just have the curtains in the rods resting on the ledge of the window frames until i decide the best way to go about this 😅

TIA!! ❤️