Please help me with skin routine? ?
So, I've asked a couple questions like this, but haven't gotten much help... and I really really need it. I've been using AcneFree Severe lately, and it worked wonders at first but now (almost a month later), I think it's doing more harm than good. My skin is getting so dry and irritated that it actually hurts when I put on moisturizer. I also have about 5 huge painful pimples that are under the skin (and unfortunately they're getting worse with stress since I just had a week of finals in school!) So I think I'm gonna try another skincare routine, and I already have some products on hand. I have:
Biore:
Blemish Ice Fighting Cleanser
4-in-1 Self-foaming Cleanser
Pore Unclogging Scrub
Triple Action Astrigent
Neutrogena:
Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub
Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit
OIl-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Scrub
Oil-Free Acne Wash
My skin is typically pretty dry (especially in winter), but pretty acne-prone. I have blackheads on my nose, forehead, chin, and cheeks. I have annoying little whiteheads that don't really form a head though on my jawline. I have clogged pores on my forehead, and sometimes I get those painful under-the-skin bumps.
Any help at all, especially with personal experiences with these products, would be so appreciated! Thank you!
August 31st, 2010 - 17:23
i dont have any experience with the products you’ve listed.. BUT.. I know that during the winter you should invest in more moisturizing products since your skin tend to be drier.. switch it up with cleansers once in a while: your regular cleanser once a week and a milky cleanser another. also, i wouldn’t recommend you use any type of foam cleanser or astringent since foam cleansers contain detergents which do dry out the skin, and astringents are a little strong to be using all the time. also exfoliate only a few times a week, especially since you said you are acne-prone. exfoliating too much can actually cause irritation and make acne worse. after cleansing, apply moisturizer.. nothing cream or oil-based as they can clog up your pores. look for a lotion.. something water-based. make sure your products contain no oils or fragrance, as fragrance is one of the top irritants of skin. it might not do anything to YOUR skin.. but just to be on the safe side i would avoid it. :) hope this helps
August 31st, 2010 - 17:23
Trying changing your diet; drink more water, eat more fresh fruit and veg, cut down on sugar, fat and fried foods. When you look after your insides your outside appearance should improve.
August 31st, 2010 - 17:23
healthy diets help make sure you keep your hands away from your face. only put face moisturizer on not anything else. if that makes it worse let your skin dry out and see if that helps. also consulting a dermatologist would help and part of it could just be puberty.
August 31st, 2010 - 17:23
i used to have skin a little like this.
i tried so many products and found that it often made it worse by irritating my skin….also using the products just dried it out.
a couple of weeks ago i started using a deep cleansing seaweed facewash from the body shop and i can really see a difference.
als to help get rid of blackheads i simply put about a teaspoon of table salt in a "blob" of facewash and then washed it off with COLD water.
ive stopped using hot water to wash my face and think it has really helped.
a couple of time a week i will put the salt in my facewash and use it all over my face…but if its really sore i would wait until it feels a little more comfortable.
i use "simple" rich moisturiser. its great for sensitive skin.
hope this helps.
August 31st, 2010 - 17:23
Definitely stop using Acne Free Severe. If you like a three step program, use the regular Acne Free kit, or the one that helps redness too. I’m pretty sure the severe kit contains 10% benzoyl peroxide….anything with 5% or more benzoyl peroxide will really dry your skin out and make it peel.
I’ve always had problem skin, so I’ve tried almost everything. The Biore line never worked for me. It didn’t help my skin, and almost seemed like it irritated it more. I do like their pore strips though. If you are suffering from dry skin and hate putting a moisturizer on, skip on astringent. It can make your face dry as well.
I haven’t had any experience with the pink grapefruit products yet. I did not like the oil-free acne wash though. Again, it just didn’t seem like it helped. As for scrubs, only use them twice a week. Any more than that will dry out your face and make it irritated.
If you can, I highly recommend going to a dermatologist. Taking an oral anti-biotic usually helps most people. I take doryx, which is a form of doxycycline. Differin gel is probably the best prescription topical to use.
If you can’t see a derm, there’s a couple products I recommend. I’m really tired of wasting my money on all these acne products you buy at the store. They all have the same bad chemical ingredients in them. A lot of people aren’t helped by these products because the ingredients in them just irritate their skin more. I recently ordered African Black Soap, off of ebay, and it leaves my face feeling really soft and clean. The quality soap is sold by sellers who have it shipped in from Africa, usually Ghana. A bar costs about $8-9 including shipping. Google it, and you’ll see all the good things it does! I’ve also been using pure, unrefined African shea butter as a moisturizer (bought off ebay). You can read all the benefits of it as well. Next, I also discovered Tepezcohuite soap. You can buy it on ebay for about the same price. It’s a really interesting story behind it, but it’s proven to be a cellular regenerator to help clear up skin. It has numerous other benefits as well. This is all I’ve been using lately. I haven’t noticed a dramatic change, but my skin feels a lot better.
You should wash your face two to three times a day. Morning, after school or work, and before you go to bed. Make sure all the make up you use in non-comedogenic, and make sure your applicators are clean!!! It’s also important to keep your hair off your face while you sleep.
I really hope this helps you. I know how horrible it is to have bad skin. Best of luck!