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Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:50 am  |
I can’t find a skin care routine that works for me. Switching products weekly has probably ruined my skin. Forgive me for the long post, but I really need your help and advice!
I am 24, female, with combo skin. I have had some hormonal issues that led to acne which started the whole downhill battle with finding the right regimen for me. Right now, my skin is very congested, big pores, blackheads, and some acne marks that do not go away! Also, I get very oily as the day progresses which clogs my pores more.
I eat very healthy, good carbs, low sugar, no dairy, no gluten (I miss my greek yogurt with granola, but oh well…) As far as supplements I use the acne supplement called ACNE-D (from Amazon), it’s not doing anything, along with a multivitamin and Biosil.
My skin regimen varies. Here is what I am using now:
AM:
1. Wash with a foaming cleanser (Caudalie brand, have heard that foaming cleanser might not be good for skin as they strip away natural moisturizers).
2. DIY Toner with apple cider vinegar (1/8 ratio) Cannot find a good toner without irritating alcohol, open to suggestions
3. C E Ferulic (timeless brand from amazon) Could the c serum be lading to the clogged pores? What is an alternative to antioxidant serum. I am trying to help prevent wrinkles but my skin is not behaving at all.
4. Clarins UV sunblock SPF 40
PM:
1. Foaming Cleanser
2. Original Alpha beta peel from Dr. Dennis grosss (will stop as they are very harsh for me, even with every other day usage)
3. Olay 7 in 1, fragrance free moisturizer (will stop, even though it says it is oil free, and does not clog pores, I don’t think its true for me)
Eye area:
1. Used this retinol product from avene, but it made my few wrinkles worse!!! It burned my skin I think.
2. Now I am using this vitamin c crème from sephora, not it love with it, might be too much acid for my skin.
Products I am thinking of trying out:
1. Giving my skin a break from all the cleasers and toners with BIODERMA cleansing water
2. Use a lightweight lotion (dr. dennis gross oil free)
PLEASE HELP, I used to have great skin, people would always ask me what I do, until my hormones got out of whack, (controlling this with diet and exercise, and are better now) but my skin is not the same. |
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Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:33 pm |
I agree with you about the foaming cleanser - I think it's way too harsh for your skin.
What I do is use bioderma once in awhile - if I'm in a rush etc. - or otherwise, use a cleansing milk or a cleansing cream that doesn't foam with a washcloth - I like the REN clay/calm one, or PSF green tea cleansing milk. It's important to use a washcloth with a cleansing milk or cleansing cream just to make sure you get all of it off. I buy really cheap microfiber washcloths from ebay and switch to a clean one daily (I have cloths that look like this - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/3-x-Microdermabrasion-Cloth-Acne-Wrinkles-Clear-Complexion-Healthy-Skin-/150868867273?pt=US_Skin_Care&hash=item23207c38c9 - but I haven't bought from this seller so can't vouch for these particular cloths).
I also like to use a glycolic acid toner - I'm using the Quantum Hydrox one right now because I'm in Canada and can get it easily, but I also like Nip+Fab Glycolic pads.
I also agree with you about using a plain moisturizer - I'm using the skinactives european cream right now cut with some of the coral kelp (about 2/3 cream to 1/3 kelp) and my skin seems to like it. Another thing you could try is just some pure aloe vera gel mixed with jojoba oil - I prefer the edible aloe vera gel, and I squirt some in the palm of my hand, mix in a few drops of jojoba or rosehip seed oil and apply.
The Clarins sunblock seems ok, but I prefer to use a sunblock with only zinc-oxide as the sunblocking ingredient - I find titanium dioxide irritates my skin. |
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Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:34 pm |
| Also I don't wash my skin in the mornings, only in the evenings. |
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Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:38 pm |
| That is very helpful mur. I will try to avoid the morning wash, as I think it doesnt help my irritated skin. What sunscreen do you use now? Any other advice is much appreciated. |
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Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:28 pm |
| An inexpensive product to try that is good for acneic skin is Stridex pads(they make a sensitive version).They help with oil and unclogging pores. You may also want to add a simple,oil free moisturizer to your routine.Your skin often produces excess oil when it's not getting any moisture. |
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Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:00 pm |
| Angelcat47 wrote: |
| An inexpensive product to try that is good for acneic skin is Stridex pads(they make a sensitive version).They help with oil and unclogging pores. You may also want to add a simple,oil free moisturizer to your routine.Your skin often produces excess oil when it's not getting any moisture. |
Great recommendation...I use the alcohol free version of these and always have some on hand for breakouts. |
_________________
No longer answering PM's due to numerous weird messages. |
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Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:43 pm |
I see a huge issue in that you're mixing and matching a ton of different brands together into one routine.
Have you ever considered sticking to one brand and using their suggestions?
A friend of mine who is 22 with combination skin had the same issue as you. She switched over to one of Zenmed's acne kits and saw an immediate improvement.
You should notice an immediate improvement if you chose the right kit from the start.
P.S. this isn't an endorsement for Zenmed, I'm sure many other brands offer similar results. |
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Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:24 am |
| I think that you are using too many different products and there are of different brands. My personal experience is to use fewer and less irritating skincare. I have been using non-foaming cleanser for years. My favorite is cetaphil cleanser. Maybe you can try. |
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:56 pm |
Hi there,
You've had some good advice on here. Just wanted to add that I have been there. I suffered a life time (and still an ongoing battle)of skin congested pores and breakout prone dehydrated skin. You're luckier than me as you know at least you started off with good skin, so Im sure you can get back to it.
After 1.5 years of consistency and trying things I have finally found what helps and works.
Recommendations are (not including dietary):
Wash skin with gentle milk (non foaming)cleansers made from more natural ingredients and stay away from SLS's and other harsh sulphites (including hair products that rinse off on you face in the shower).
At your age a nice Vit B and C serum would be good as well as a gentle AHA/BHA serum (if you want but no need to add that if you don't suffer from breakouts). You can DIY Vit C serums I never likes serums like Skinceuticals and I buy from skinactives now or DIY my own. Not all C serums are made the same and I found some made my skin congestion worse. Freshness is the key so have a think about DIY if you're up to it.
I would keep to serums and stay away from creams if they clog your pores. Don't apply too much and alternate your products so you don't layer too much.
Also a good investment (for me anyways) was a clarisonic to wash my face at the end of everyday and also acted as manual exfoliation. I stopped scrubs etc as I think they made my skin worse.
LED light has helped too, skin treatments like microdermabrasion and even skin needling has helped.
Like I said its a journey, and wish you the best on yours.
PS don't forget your sunscreen. I find burnout for kids doesn't break me out. Sunscreen will help keep your skin looking good in terms of prevention.
Goodluck |
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Sat Jul 13, 2013 6:06 am |
Here are my suggestions. I'm 42 and have suffered with oily, acneic skin for 20 years. I've tried it all, short of Acutane. My skin issues are definitely hereditary and hormonal.
Two years ago, I started to get my skin under control by getting rid of all harsh cleansers, anything with sulfates or acids. After watching Josie Maran a hundred times on qvc, I caved and bought her oil cleanser. I'm not being dramatic when I say it changed my life. My breakouts diminished greatly and chronic areas finally cleared up. I'm convinced that after years of drying, stripping cleansers, topped off with a ton of acne products, my skin never had time to heal. I just kept stripping the oil, thereby encouraging more oil and congested pores. I'm no longer using JM, I make my own cleansing oil now. It's dirt cheap, simple and it works just as well.
The other thing I added within weeks of changing my cleanser was the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. Again, a life changer. I've not tolerated benzoyl peroxide well in the past. It always dried my skin up and left it itchy and red. But I read about this and it was my last ditch effort before going on Acutane. It works incredibly well on my skin. It clears breakouts, prevents new ones, doesn't dry my skin at all. It's a miracle for me.
Other than that, my skincare is very simple. I use oil cleanser, aloe, Effaclar Duo, a variety of oils or MSM cream at night if I'm dry. And religious use of sunscreen. I avoided oils like the plague for half my life and now I can't live without them.
I avoid silicone at all costs. It clogs my pores and I breakout immediately. It's only my experience, but I think cones are bad for acneic, congested skin.
I hope you find something that works for you. Struggling with acne is time consuming, expensive and depressing. My skin hasn't looked this good in twenty years. It's finally clear. I kid you not, last week my boss asked me what I was doing to my skin because it was glowing. Glowing??? Me? Totally shocking, I've never heard that before. |
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