I write about a good number of products that have disappointed me—either because they irritated my skin, led to breakouts, or just didn’t seem to be doing much for me at all. But because I was raised by immigrant parents who know what it’s like to go without such luxuries, I try not to automatically dispose of products before trying to think of a way to upcycle it. Without further ado, I’d like to share a few of my most recent attempts to give disappointing products a new lease…

I’m generally a pretty private person, but I like to share useful information with people. That’s why I’m uncharacteristically switching gears to something that’s more personal today: buying an engagement ring. Mr. MDTC and I recently got engaged, and he volunteered to write a guest post to share everything he learned from this experience.

Recently I had the opportunity to conduct a Q&A with Dr. Ratika Gupta, an allergist and mom based out of New York. As someone who has eczema, I’m always on the lookout for tips on finding skin care products that won’t aggravate my skin. I really appreciated getting advice from a professional who specializes in this for a living. Read on to learn about her favorite product for soothing eczema, common allergy triggers in beauty products, and her thoughts on organic skin care.