This morning, I spent several minutes just staring in the mirror admiring my almost, perfectly clear skin.  Do you know how many other times I’ve done that in my life?  Exactly one.  

That’s right, one.

My (possible) salvation seems to have been, not the $300 UV light device that I purchased, which I stopped using a week ago, but the cleanser and treatment serum included with the device.  

For years, dermatologists have been encouraging me to wash my face with a cleanser made with salicylic acid.  Unfortunately, these washes are SO drying that I ended up piling on the moisturizer to compensate, which causes more acne.  But the Tria Clarifying Cleanser ($28) is a rich foam wash that isn’t drying.

The device also came with a Rebuilding Complex Serum ($50) that contains a blend of antioxidants, nutrients and salicylic acid.  

While the cost has me tempted just to buy the face wash (cause I LOVE it), I will probably buy both products to start out.  But I certainly never imagined that my “failed” Christmas gift would lead to such a fortuitous discovery.  

Let’s hope that these products really are the cause of my clear skin, and this isn’t all some cruel cosmic joke.