What is your skin care routine & productucts?

[littlemissladybug]

I know this has been discussed before.

I think I need to change either my cleaner or moisturizers.

Currently my routine is
Morning/night- Neutragena Naturals cleanser + remover
Morning/night- Vit C serum from Sally's
Morning- Neutragena clear skin sunblock
Morning- Origins Vitazing
Night- Keihls Ultra facial cream
Trying my Retin-A again

I think I've finally gotten control over my cystic acne but I have little bumps all over and I can't get rid of my blackheads. I don't know what else to do. I never had acne until I was pregnant with my son in 2008.

I recently went off Doxycyclin Hyclate and so far no changes in my breakouts. I also just went on birth control pills and am hoping it helps but I'm not sure how long I should give it before I go back to my Derm.

Can you recommend products if you have acne prone skin? I prefer drugstore since it's easier to get to, but at this point I will do anything.

[Deleted]

www.pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=recommendations&action=display&thread=9878

That is my routine.

Daily use of Retin A got rid of my blackheads after about 3 months. I would really just work on building up to daily use of the .01% because I think this will help a lot. Other than that, the only thing I've ever had help with blackheads is getting a facial with extractions. You can also buy an extractor at Sephora and do it yourself, but it takes a bit of practice.

[ElizabethBennet]

I use the oil cleansing method. I've always had trouble skin (dry, sensitive, and acne prone) but since starting this I haven't had many problems. I did go through a purging period but my blackheads and dry patches are gone. I use a mix 10% castor oil to 90% almond oil. After that I apply rose hip oil and clinique eye cream. This is my evening routine.

In the mornings I rinse with water and then use Lancome Visionnaire (I probably won't repurchase this when I run out because I don't think it's worth the cost), Origins UV Face Protector, and some more eye cream.

[ElizabethBennet]

I also got a sample of the Boscia Bright White Mask and I've used it a couple of times and love it. I may be purchasing that one next.

[veruca5839]

Night:
remove makeup with Boscia Makeup Breakup oil
wash with Purity
use Clarisonic w/Purity every other night
Ole Henricksen Truth Serum for face
Argan or rosehip seed oil for face
Origins eye cream

Morning:
wash with Purity
eye cream
Burt's Bees Sensitive day cream


I have sensitive, very acne prone skin, and this system has been working for me. When needed I use Mario Badescu drying lotion, buffering lotion, and healing cream. These have been fantastic for my cystic acne. I still get breakouts and times when my skin freaks a bit, but overall it's much less and not as severe. I have far fewer cystic breakouts than ever before. FWIW, prescriptions from the derm didn't help me long term. Also, retin-a did not work with my skin. I gave it a year and my skin was so much worse after using it. I think my skin is just too sensitive.

[Deleted]

Morning:
Cetaphil cleaner w/ clarisonic

Pm:
Coconut oil to remove eye make up
Mac make up wipe

My skin is really prone to cystic acne, it started about 10 years ago. The only thing that has kept my skin clear is being on spirinolactone. The clarisonic has helped a ton, but the spirinolactone is what really cleared it up.

[littlemissladybug]

Thanks, I'll check out some of these products. I forgot to add that I do use a clarisonic at night. I remove my makeup with the neutragena then put some on my clarisonic.

I've heard such great things about Philosophy products, I'll need to give it a try. I always cringe at the price of high end face products then regret not getting them.

[SKP82]

I swear by Paula's Choice products. My skin looks sooo much better since I started using them. The products are not super expensive and they have a fantastic return policy. You can return anything (even if you've used it) within 60 days for a full refund. I have found the products that work best for my skin, but I've had to return some things.

I don't do the same routine every day. I go by how my skin looks. For instance, if I am starting to break out a little bit, I will use the acne toner.

Here are the products I use from Paula's Choice:
www.paulaschoice.com/product/skin-balancing-oil-reducing-cleanser/cleansers-makeup-remover

www.paulaschoice.com/product/skin-balancing-pore-reducing-toner/toners

www.paulaschoice.com/product/resist-anti-aging-clear-skin-hydrator/moisturizers

www.paulaschoice.com/product/resist-cellular-defense-daily-moisturizer-with-spf-25-and-antioxidants/moisturizers

www.paulaschoice.com/product/skin-balancing-daily-mattifying-lotion-spf-15-and-antioxidants/moisturizers

www.paulaschoice.com/product/resist-weekly-resurfacing-treatment-with-ten-percent-aha/bha-aha-exfoliants

If you are having trouble with blackheads, I would suggest using the Oil Cleansing Method once a week. It really gets that stuff in your pores out.

[shoegal77]

I can't find anything that works for me either, I have to go back to the dermatologist just don't want to start taking antibiotics and prescription creams again (already on BC for PCOS). I have been struggling with oily skin/acne since my teenage years and I am in my mid 30's now. Hopefully these wonderful ladies can give you some good recs.

[frannyr]

Very simple - wash 2x/days (morning and night) with Dove soap and moisturize after - day and night - with Kiehls Ultra SPF Lotion.

In the winter I use eye cream daily under my eyes (i.e. Clinique All About Eyes). If my skin is very dry in the winter, I replace the nighttime Kiehls lotions with Kiehls cream.

[formerlyknownasefl]

Morning wash with dove soap Clinique toner moisturizer with Kiehls ultra facial cream
Night wash with neutrogena acne free face wash and moisturizer with Kiehls then some obage tretinoin cream every other night

[maucat]

I won't share my routine because I have dry skin, but I have a product recommendation. I just got a sample of Paula's Chocie BHA 9. That thing does serious work on clearing skin! It's gotten rid of whiteheads for me the same day. It's pretty powerful and you're only uspposed to use it once a day. It seems to work amazingly well.

www.paulaschoice.com/product/resist-bha-9/

[RoxMonster]

My routine is really simple. Every morning and evening I wash my face with Cetaphil face wash and put on Cetaphil moisturizer right after. That's it, but it works for me.

ETA: I had acne problems as well and used a bunch of topical things subscribed by my derm last summer. They worked and I stopped using them after a few months. Cetaphil has always worked well with my sensitive skin, so I keep using it instead of the fancy expensive lotions my derm suggested (they actually bothered my skin more).

[jewel]

Sept 30, 2012 13:08:55 GMT -5 littlemissladybug said:

Thanks, I'll check out some of these products. I forgot to add that I do use a clarisonic at night. I remove my makeup with the neutragena then put some on my clarisonic.

I've heard such great things about Philosophy products, I'll need to give it a try. I always cringe at the price of high end face products then regret not getting them.

I have been really happy with a few Philosophy products. I love the regular Hope in a Jar moisturizer, Purity cleanser, and the micro peel.

I think this is a better peel though: www.sephora.com/clinical-peel-reveal-dermal-resurfacer-P296846?skuId=1370725

In general, my brand perferences are: Philosophy, Fresh, Peter Thomas Roth, Murad, and Ole Henrickson.

Using the Clarisonic, a few good brand name products, and increasing my water intake did wonders for my skin. Quitting my birth control pills made it worse again. Boo.

If you have a Sephora nearby, go in and ask for a few samples. They'll give you little containers of anything you ask for. No need to spend that much money on anything without trying it first. They'll also take returns on anything, even if you've used it, if you decide it doesn't work for you. You can return via mail, if you don't have a Sephora nearby. I love them.

[littlemissladybug]

Just ordered samples from Paula's choice and will head to sephora this week for some more samples. I'm excited to try out something new and hope to see some results. Thanks ladies!

[bleubook]

I keep it really really simple. I take a multi vitamin and l lysine. Drink a lot of lemon water.
I use philosophy purity cleanser daily and their exfoliating cleanser every few days.
For a moisturizer I use (after trying like everything on the market) Trader Joes facial lotion. It's SPF 15 and it's freaking perfect. Right now I'm using it night and day. I also like the neutragena retinol products. I might add in their night cream.

[bleubook]

Just wanted to add I think my makeup is a big reason for my great complexion. I use everyday minerals. It's an online only brand. very affordable and non irritating. I've been using it for at least 6 years.

[SKP82]

Oct 1, 2012 7:48:15 GMT -5 littlemissladybug said:

Just ordered samples from Paula's choice and will head to sephora this week for some more samples. I'm excited to try out something new and hope to see some results. Thanks ladies!

What samples did you order? I just ordered some products because they are having a sale (15% off entire purchase).

[littlemissladybug]

Oct 1, 2012 8:13:24 GMT -5 SKP82 said:

Oct 1, 2012 7:48:15 GMT -5 littlemissladybug said:

Just ordered samples from Paula's choice and will head to sephora this week for some more samples. I'm excited to try out something new and hope to see some results. Thanks ladies!

What samples did you order? I just ordered some products because they are having a sale (15% off entire purchase).

I ordered-

RESIST BHA 9
Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel
Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner

[lmdbww]

I cleanse in the shower w/the Clarisonic Mia and a cleanser every other night. Otherwise I use the Burts Bees facial cleansing wipes to do a quick once over at night and to remove eye makeup.

Moisturize with Ahava Dry Skin moisturizer
Philosophy Eye Hope (or Hope in a Tube) for eye cream.

Right now i'm using a mystery cleanser that I had to product test for Loreal but when i'm out i'll prob be going back to Ahava Cream Cleanswer (only because i'm almost out of the mystery cleanswer and nobody can tell me what it is! lol It's amazing, I love it. lol)

If I tan my face I either use Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow pads, or the Jergens Natural Glow face (which I dont love, it takes way too long to get any sort of noticable color IMO).