Your Best Pore Treatment
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free skin care · Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:51 pm

I came across this website my accident, and had since felt in love with it.
Had made some process on my makeup improvement (or at leat i hope, detail to come next) after reading your product reviews and suggestions.

I need some advise on my big pore, combination skin please. Currently I'm using DHC, it doesn't do much to my skin. I have combination skin with very oily nose, I usually need to blot my nose a few times a day. Crying or Very sad

I get breakouts every once in a while. I'm 25 years old Asian with light skin (using BE #2 fundation, may need to mix #1.2 and #2) with large poors, especially on my nose.

Here's what i'm thinking after reading all of those wonderful reviews:
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (daily exfoliation, i'm using Neutrogena Black Head Eliminator now, is it too coarse?)
Dr. Hauschka cleansing cream (i heard it tightens pores too)
Dr. Hauschka rejuventating mask(pore treatment)
Decleor AromEssence Ylang Ylang Oil (night moisture)
Decleor Essential balm (to work with Ylang Ylang, which one do i apply first?)

Thank you all, and i really appreciate your comment and suggestions.

free skin care · Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:56 pm

ok,
so after i read through the thread at
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=4843

i went to sephora and grab a starter kit of BE (which comes with a set of brushes and 2 fundation, a warmth, and a veil), along with NARS multiple in profofino, they were out of the power eye liner in soft black, otherwise, i could do more damage to my credit card Very Happy

I tried it on this morning, right after my current moisturizer, which gave me a little tight feeling (from the moisturizer, i think), I used to use Clinique city block after my moisturizer and didn't feel anything, maybe the city block has some moisturing function.
Anyway, now i need you ladies to suggest me a good moisturizer (see my post above) to go with my new BE makeup and NARS multiple.
Any tips on applying this cream blush? I've never used one before.

free skin care · Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:28 pm

I think carekate's ACV toner may help as well

free skin care · Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:42 pm

The best for tightening pores in my experience are:
*Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream
*Homemade Dr H Cleansing Cream
*Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
*Decleor Neroli Oil
*Jojoba Oil (try mixing in a little Lavender Essential oil)
*Witch Hazel

The Rejuvenating face mask more balances your complexion minimising scars rather than shrinking pores but I would still recomend this.

free skin care · Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:31 pm

***retracted***

Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:01 pm

Absolutely, without question, it's Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream for me Smile

free skin care · Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:09 pm

Sorry yuki, I retracted my previous post coz I thought you already got the products on your list. My excuse for the brain spasm is the sugar absention diet I'm on Laughing

I've just had a tiny bite of chocolate cake so what follows should be more on topic Laughing

First off, I am currently using all of the products on your list. If you can get just one my vote is for the Dr H CC. Pores enlarge because they are filled by gunk and this gently coaxes out the gunk, resulting in smaller pores for me.

If you can get another product to use with the Dr. H I recommend the Microfoliant. This product exfoliates the surface of my skin and supports the work of the Dr H by sloughing off the skin on top of congested pores and allowing the gunk to be expelled.

These 2 products may be enough for your condition. I suggest you try out samples and see how you get on before buying the full sizes. If you find that your pores still need help consider the other products on your list and try them out. In my experience it may take more than one product to resolve the issue. HTH

Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:43 pm

I tried both Avon's micro exfoliant and Dr. Hauschka's Cleansing cream. They both gave a good result.
The Micro exfoliant gave more short term instant result while Dr. H gave a slow but long term result.

However, when I used the 2 products together, my pores are enlarged and my skin gets dry! I then read the instructions carefully and found that the micro exfoliant shouldn't be used in conjunction with other type of exfoliant products.

I then gave up the micro exfoliant coz I think my skin feels healthier while I use Dr. H's cleansing cream.

free skin care · Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:56 pm

i use both the dr h cc and the microfoliant but i only use the microfoliant once a week and only after i've cleansed my skin with the dr h cleansing milk, not the cream - just so i avoid the over-exfoliation of my skin.
i do find that the microfoliant dries my skin out quite a bit so i have to put loads of moisturiser on that day (or if i do it at night i slap on a layer of decleor essential balm for baby soft and smooth skin in the morning).
this combination has, for me, been great. once of week use of microfoliant is quite enough for my skin Smile

Kiwigirl.

free skin care · Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:50 pm

IS Clinical Active Serum is AWESOME for shrinking pore size. I bought IS Clinical several months ago and could not believe the difference it made on my T Zone. I love this product! Must admit I have not repurchased it as I have my tried and true skin care line. I can't justify spending the money on a minor problem (pores in my case). At this point of my life firmness and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles comes first. Rolling Eyes

I have including PSF Pumpkin Peel to use weekly. The Pumpkin peel is lovely and reasonably priced. If pore size is your main issue I would recommend IS Clinical Active Serum. When you use Active Serum it is strongly advised that you use HydraCool over it. Perhaps you could get some samples off EBay (if ever interested).

Dr. H's Cleansing Cream is a winner. As far as the other items on your list I have never tried them to comment. Sorry to bring another product into this thread. As soon as I hear large pores, oily skin or breakouts I think of IS Clinical.

free skin care · Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:55 pm

The feel of my skin after Microfoliant is very different from the feel after DH CC. My skin feels smooth with both but I get drier after the Microfoliant like Kiwigirl. But not so dry as to trigger sebum overproduction, thankfully. When I use the DH CC I don't even use moisturizer coz my skin does not look like it needs it.

I *don't* use both products at the same time. I rotate them and if my skin is protesting I skip exfoliation altogether. Sorry if my post seems to imply otherwise. The point I was trying to make is that a combo of these products is a 2-punch strategy that will exfoliate the skin surface and also help remove build up in the pores. These effects pave the way to smaller pores.

free skin care · Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:18 pm

girls,
You all are wonderful. I am about to place an order off ESD. Gotta support this website, it's been awsome.

Thank you all for warning me about the dryness of combination use of both Dr. H CC and Exfoliant.

I'm seriously thinking about making ACV Toner now from all the wonderful reviews. Went to Whole Foods today tried to find Vit C crystals but didn't find it. Sad

free skin care · Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:27 pm

Just received my ESD order a couple days ago. Had used Dr. H CC for 2 days and nights by now. I don't see the miracle that everyone is talking about. Maybe i just need to be patient with it.
I have a question about aspirin mask,it doesn't dissolve completely, does it? coz when i add a few drops of hot water to 4 aspirins, it just breaks apart the aspirin, into...about salt and sugar size, could never completely dissovle it. Didn't see miracle on this one either. I have tried three times so far.

My order from ESD also include the Dermalogica daily microfoliant, and Decleor essential balm. I haven't used Dermalogica daily microfoliant, because i read from other thread saying that i should use Dr.H CC twice a day for a couple weeks for my skin to get use to it (also a good way to see if this product is working on my skin) and then add Dermalogica.
Right now i just use Decleor essential balm after i clean my face with Dr. H CC at night. I'm not sure if i'm applying the essential balm correctly. I couldn't really get a small rice size of balm in my palm and warm it up, so I just swirl my finger on the essential balm and get as much as i could and put into my palm to warm it up and press onto my cheeks and all over my face.
Am i applying this correctly? Confused

In the day time, I wash my face with Dr. H CC and then put on DHC extra virgin olive oil and wait for a few minutes, then apply Bare Essential make up.

I know i probably need to do my ACV toner, but i hesitate because i want to get all the material(my essential oils and Vit-C) before i start making the ACV.

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:29 am

Hi Yuki,

Sorry I didn't see this thread before now.

I had HUGE pores on my nose and on the cheek area right by the nose. The pores were huge because of blackheads that never seemed to respond to commercial "blackhead" products. I also had adult acne which, while not horrible was certainly enough present to wound my pride.

I started OCM in late August ... and within days, 90% of my blackheads were gone. Of course, I wanted to see instant pore shrinkage ... but didn't! Laughing

I used the ACV toner and aspirin masks and continued with OCM. I told myself that all those years of abuse from commercial products promising to clear my adult acne couldn't be undone in just a few days! Confused

The OCM not only cleaned out the huge pore blackheads, but after about a month of using it twice a day, it normalized my skin so that I was no longer a true "oily". My nose didn't oil up part way through the day ... or overnight. My skin condition was as close to "normal" as I could have hoped.

It's been my experience that when you rectify one problem, you then get to see the other problems which were less obvious than the problem you just solved. Shock

That was certainly true of my face. I was so focused on clearing up those darned blackheads in those huge pores, I didn't see the tiny blackheads in the still tiny pores.

So ... I began adding DHCC ... the home crafted version ... to the routine. At night I use OCM to get all the makeup and accumulated grime off and then I follow up with DHCC ... tone with ACV toner ... yada, yada, yada.

In the morning, I do a brief OCM [just a thin layer of oil which I ease off with a warm to hot washcloth] and then use DHCC letting it "dry" on my face like a mask. [I actually use the time it's drying to clean my sink and vanity area! Laughing

By the time the sink and vanity are clean and re-arranged into neatness, the "mask" is dry!]

I then rinse off the DHCC and follow up with the ACV toner, Vitamin C serum [and let it sink in], wrinkle treatment [and let it sink in] then spritz my face and add just a drop of jojoba oil for moisture.

I then put on my mineral makeup.

After two months of using OCM and ACV toner ... then adding the DHCC into the routine, I noticed that those HUGE pores are no long quite so huge. They are actually diminishing both in size and depth!

I have to credit the ACV toner with much of this improvement because I don't think I've been using DHCC long enough for it to be solely responsible for the improvement.

What I'm getting at is that at my age, "instant improvement isn't possible. I'm over 50 ... and things just don't have the same elasticity as they once did. Still ... given patience and this very sensible, simple routine [and you'll note that this routine is made up of products that have very few ingredients] ... my skin is healing and improving.

I don't have sufficient disposable funds to invest $500 to $1000 on a line of products ... and even if I did ... my experience is that the fewer ingredients used the better my skin likes it! Laughing

That's why I opt for mostly home crafted products.

So whatever products you decide to use, make a promise to yourself to give them 3 months before you decide if they are or aren't working. It sometimes takes that long before your system settles down to the changes ...

Good luck

Mary

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:43 am

yuki wrote:

Here's what i'm thinking after reading all of those wonderful reviews:
Decleor AromEssence Ylang Ylang Oil (night moisture)
Decleor Essential balm (to work with Ylang Ylang, which one do i apply first?)

FYI - Decleor Aromessence Ylang Ylang oil is *not* for night moisture! You use it in the morning to help regulate your sebum (oil) production. Check out my “skincare regimen” for more info about it: http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=7244&highlight=carekates+oily+skin

Also, you do NOT need the Vit-C crystals to make your homemade ACV toner. In fact, we’ve now come to the conclusion that including them in the toner makes it a pro-oxidant rather than an anti-oxidant. I will be editing my recipe to remove Vit-C crystals from the list of ingredients just as soon as I can find the time.

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:30 am

hpjrt wrote:

Hi Yuki,

Sorry I didn't see this thread before now.

I had HUGE pores on my nose and on the cheek area right by the nose. The pores were huge because of blackheads that never seemed to respond to commercial "blackhead" products. I also had adult acne which, while not horrible was certainly enough present to wound my pride.

I started OCM in late August ... and within days, 90% of my blackheads were gone. Of course, I wanted to see instant pore shrinkage ... but didn't! Laughing

I used the ACV toner and aspirin masks and continued with OCM. I told myself that all those years of abuse from commercial products promising to clear my adult acne couldn't be undone in just a few days! Confused

<snipped informative post for brevity>Good luck

Mary

Mary, what exactly do you use in your Oil Cleansing regime? Your own mixture or a commercial one? Thanks!

I've found Paula's Choice beta hydroxy acids are helping with my black heads, I use the 1% gel at night on top of the 2% liquid and instead of the gel during the day, I use the 2% lotion.

But what really boosts the beta hydroxies is carekate's apple cider vinegar toner. I don't use it all the time, I use it for a few days every couple weeks because I do find it irritates a bit if I use it all the time or even every 2nd day.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:59 am

Question for Hpjrt....What is OCM?
Thanks

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 1:11 pm

OCM is Oil Cleansing Method. If you do a search here at EDS you'll find several threads on it.

I use my own combination of oils. I began with 50/50 castor oil and extra virgin olive oil. I didn't like the olive oil ... seemed to "heavy" for me ... so I switched to grapeseed oil ... 50/50.

Initially I increased the percentage of castor oil ... but I've had to decrease that as my skin became normalized. Right now it's about 40% castor oil and 60% grapeseed oil with a drop or two of jojoba. I also added Sweet Orange essential oil because I really like the smell of it ... and I think it's calming for my skin.

The OCM has been so beneficial for my skin I can't see me ever using anything else ... which is a real shame because I adore the lovely bottles and jars of commercial products. My skin doesn't like what's inside ... but I'm a real sucker for packaging! Laughing

Mary

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 1:18 pm

I agree with others that the Dr. Haushchka Cleansing Cream is good for pores. For oily t-zones like mine, I have found that the LaRochePosay Effaclar K has done wonders for that area. I believe it is salicylic acid plus an AHA. Excellent under makeup, too.

Before finding the Effaclar, I gave myself a Salicylic Acid mask once each week and that helped quite a bit as well. I got the powdered SA from thepersonalformulator.com.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 3:45 pm

Hey Mary

A couple of questions...
1) Is castor oil moisturizing?
2) Where do you get your grapeseed oil?

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:10 pm

Hi Ena,

Castor oil is a cleansing oil. It may also be a moisturizing oil ... but I know that when my mixture was 60% Castor oil and 40% grapeseed oil, it was "drying" ... which is why, now that my skin has "normalized", I have had to reduce the amount of Castor oil to 40%.

I get both my castor oil and my grapeseed oil at my local health food store. Both are cold pressed.

Mary

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:11 pm

I too find that I have to be careful how much Castor Oil I put in my Cleansing Cream, it literally sucks anything off your skin, it is fantastic for my oily skin and large pores but I do have to be sparing with it.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:33 pm

that's so intersting. I always thought because it was such a heavy oil, it meant that it was also very moisturizing. I've been using it as a moisturizer and couldn't understand why my my skin felt so dry even though I'd used it heavily (yay winter weather). I think I might have to look into jojoba as a moisturizer.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:40 pm

Mary your OCM sounds wonderful- and since I am of similar age and skin type to you, I can't wait to "mix" up a batch. I love orange oil essence, too.
Thanks

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:07 pm

Mary,
thank you very much.
I'm currently using DHC (www.dhccare.com) oil cleanser ( i think it's made out of olive oil) but the bottle is almost empty, and I'll try your recipe afterwards.

I really need to made my ACV toner and add it to my skin regime, only if i can find sometime to order essential oils and get it going,coz i don't think i can handle the strong vinegar smell. Very Happy

Oh, and i didn't know i was suppose to let Dr. H CC dry before i rinse it, thanks for the tip. Very Happy

So, am i doing the aspirin mask correctly then????

carekate, sorry if i confused you, i actually ended up buying Decleor aromessence baume essentiel, not the ylang ylang one. So, i think i do use this one at night, right? You think i should get the ylang ylang oil too Smile

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