Anyone can recommend a manual exfoliator which I can use in the shower? Please not St. Ives....its terribly rough and sharp

Many of you here are too young to know anything about the enormously popular book "Life Extension", written more than 20 years ago by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw. Below is an excerpt from the chapter "Looking as Young as You Feel". I took the liberty of putting the first sentence of the second paragraph in bold, to emphasize the obvious relevance to what some of us have been discussing here lately (whether or not sebum really has anything to do with skin moisturization):

"Skin appearance can be markedly improved by using Na-PCA, the sodium salt of 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid, the principal natural humectant (moisturizer) in your skin. The ability of skin to hold moisture is directly related to its Na-PCA content. The ability of Na-PCA to pull water out of the air is amazing. If you put out a small amount of dry Na-PCA in the Sahara Desert, in a few hours it will become a puddle because of the water removed from the very dry air there! Older people have about 50 percent less Na-PCA in their skin than young people, thus contributing to a dry, hard skin condition. Bathing and swimming can lead to dry skin because your natural Na-PCA is leached out. Na-PCA can be found in some premium quality skin-care cosmetics. Look at the labels to see if it is listed as an ingredient.

"Here's a simple experiment you can do that will demonstrate the fact that it is water, and not oil, that keeps skin soft and supple. Cut some small pieces of hardened leather from an old shoe, and soak one piece overnight in baby oil, another piece in water, and a third in a 15 percent solution of Na-PCA in water (see Appendix I for a supplier of Na-PCA). Next day, remove the pieces of leather from the liquids, dry them off with a paper towel, and compare them for flexibility and softness. The pieces soaked in the Na-PCA and water and the water alone will both be soft, whereas the oil-soaked piece will be much less soft. Now hang the pieces up to dry. The piece soaked in plain water will rapidly dry out and harden, whereas the piece soaked in the Na-PCA solution will remain moist, soft, and supple."

i am a guy, but over the past year i've basically developed an addiction to using concealer. it wasn't bad at all at first, but my skins gotten worse and worse, and now it takes me about 2 hours every morning to cover my skin. but i do want to say i do a DAMN good job at it. you cant tell at all. but i'm a teenager, and i'm tired. does anyone know of a super fast way to cover up pimples completely or a super amazing concealer to use? right now i'm using a combination of Covergirl Fresh Complexion and Maybeline 24 hour Super Stay.

has anyone tried Murad acne complex and if so
how good does it work?

I've been using Proactiv for 11 years now (started at age 25). It worked OK for the first 4 years, never perfect, but it has gradually stopped working completely. Last week I decided to quit cold turkey. Within days I had about 30 new whiteheads and 4 cysts. I started getting acne at age 13 and the acne I have now after quitting Proactiv is worse than anything I have ever experienced. It's actually really shocking how bad it is. I've read similar stories from hundreds of other former Proactiv users. My question is, has anyone figured out a way to successfully quit using Proactiv without having such horrible effects? Here's what I've found so far. Any other advice would be very appreciated. I have searched the internet for hours and hours, and this is all I could find.


Thanks for your help.

www.ehow.com/how_4420018_stop-using-proactiv-solution.html

Hi everyone!

Brand new, so glad I stumbled on this site.

Sorry if this has been covered before but I didn't really find anything.

I had only had bigger acne problems since I got into my 20's. I've been on Loestrin for a while, which helps and I"m giving the BP method a try.

My only concern is that I'm 26, and starting to show some signs of aging. I'm so nervous about drying my skin out and creating more wrinkles. Anyone have any suggestions?

Also, I haven't seen much on Hope in a Jar reviews. I used it last winter and it seems alright but I also seems to be having a good few months. My face has been wacky lately so I just wanted to hear other's opinions. It seems to have some anti-aging benefits but isn't too heavy like others I've tried.

Thanks in advance, or if I missed a thread along the way just send me a link.

oh, woops... my problems. I get mostly blackheads and whitehead with the occasional crazy bump. Haven' quite figured out exactly what hey are yet, but they are big and painful, sometimes pop sometimes don't.

Also, I have crazy deep white heads on the side of my chin/under my lips area and around my lips? Wierd, but I figure once I find a method that works overall I will spot treat.

I have a friend that turned me onto this. She said it prevented her from getting cysts on her face, I was shocked because her skin looks so good, and certainly not acne-prone. I have very, very oily skin and was afraid to moisturize my grease pit of a face

I recently had a major breakout and my skin was a disaster from cysts, whiteheads, "undergrounders", redmarks, dry patches from treatment, etc. AND, I was using Aczone w/not much success...the only good thing about it was the gritty texture that I could scrub into zits. Anyway, I finally got it under control w/Kavi sulfur soap, Kavi sulfur suspension, vitamins and THIS freaking moisturizer that hasn't made me break out at all! I break out from EVERYTHING and I'm not exaggerating! If I eat spaghetti and a noodle hits my chin...big huge zit that lasts a couple weeks, if my daughter cuddles w/me and she puts her head on my cheek...big huge cystic zit that lasts forever, etc...

I only have to put 1 layer of gook on my face for moisture, sunscreen and it exfoliates! The ingredient list is hideously long, but does have alot of good things in it.

Ingredients:
ANEW ADVANCED All-In-One MAX SPF 15 UVA/UVB Lotion
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
OCTINOXATE 7.5%
OXYBENZONE 4.0%
AVOBENZONE 2.0%

OTHER INGREDIENTS:
WATER/EAU
GLYCERIN
DIMETHICONE
AMMONIUM GLYCOLATE
GLYCOLIC ACID
CETEARYL ALCOHOL
GLYCERYL STEARATE
PEG-100 STEARATE
TRISILOXANE
HYDROGENATED LECITHIN
POLYSORBATE 40
MUCOR MIEHEI EXTRACT
HYALURONIC ACID
BISABOLOL
HESPERETIN
ORYZANOL
ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT
SODIUM ASCORBATE
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
TETRAHYDRODIFERULOYLMETHANE
TETRAHYDROBISDEMETHOXYDIFERULOYLMETHANE
TETRAHYDRODEMETHOXYDIFERULOYLMETHANE
DECARBOXY CARNOSINE HCL
DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) ROOT EXTRACT
ALGAE EXTRACT
SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM (TOMATO) FRUIT/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT SPIRAEA ULMARIA EXTRACT
RETINOL
BETA-CAROTENE
RETINYL PALMITATE
CHOLESTEROL
SQUALANE
HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER
BEHENYL ALCOHOL
CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE
CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN)
CHOLETH-24
CETETH-24
POLYSORBATE 60
MALTODEXTRIN
BUTYLENE GLYCOL
BENZYL ALCOHOL
METHYLPARABEN
DISODIUM EDTA
ACRYLATES/CARBAMATE COPOLYMER
PARFUM/FRAGRANCE

Just wanted to share my experience!

PS: I quit using Aczone, because it was a waste fo time and money! No more script meds for me!

Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone has tried Chris Gibson's e-book of getting rid of acne naturally in as little as three days? It sounds too good to be true, but if it works I want to do it...it does have a money back guarantee.

Anyone know?

Neutrogena DEEP CLEAN FACIAL CLEANSER, What do YOU think??
I need YOUR help on this one guys..

my questions??

Does it cause breakouts?
And Are there any ingredients i should be aware of??

heres the list of ingredients:

-water
-cocamidopropyl betaine
-sodium c12 15 pareth 15 sulfonate
-salicilic acid
-linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate
-propilene glycol
-fragance
-disodium EDTA
-yellow 5 (fd &c)
-red 40 (fd & c).

thanks:

Are there any stores that sell some sort of AHA? Like walmart or something. I've tried looking for products but haven't been able to find any

Hopefully someone knows of something.

Hey Guys,

So, as many loyal Olay consumers might know, the company discontinued their original formula for their Olay Complete SPF 15 Sensitive Skin Moisturizer this summer. The active ingredients changed to provide "better" sun protection, and use avobenzone instead of the zinc oxide. So, I went on a hunt to find a similar product. I scoured the internet to find the old formula, and had 2 websites ship me what they claimed to be the old product that they had leftover... to no avail. It was the new product.

I thought I'd have to give up and just completely take a chance on a new moisturizer. However, by a freak chance of luck, I was in Trader Joe's one day, and looked through the hygiene and facial products. A bottle, which looked like the old Olay Complete bottle, caught my eye. I turned it over to check out the ingredients, as usual, and found that the active ingredients were the EXACT SAME as the ones in the old Olay Complete moisturizer's formula. I was ecstatic. Not only were the active ingredients the same, but the other ingredients were practically identical as well and the SPF was 15. Amazing.

If there was anyone who lovingly cherished the old formula, you should really go to Trader Joe's and pick up the Enrich Moisturizer. It won't disappoint.

-Michelle

i'm a little weary of some ingredients and i can only find one review.

hey just saw it for the first time and picked up a bottle (5 bucks i think). it is a 5% bp face wash for sensitive skin (made by oxy). there are no reviews for it anywhere as it is brand freakin new.

the normal oxy bottle is red-- this one is green.

anyone try it?

So, I'm getting low on my supply of Canus Unscented Goat's Milk Soap. I was thinking of adding AHA to my regimen and wanted an even more gentle soap - not that this stuff is harsh in the least.

I use it because it has a pH level VERY similar to that of human skin and actually makes my face feel clean (unlike Cetaphil)

I plan on picking up some Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Lotion and noticed they have a dandy little foaming facial wash that seems to have pretty high reviews.

Anyone tried it? There's no actual AHA in the cleanser, I don't think, but it's supposed to be fairly gentle and help balance the pH level of your skin to prep it for the AHA afterwards.

And, because of my love of goat's milk soap, are there any liquid variations that don't contain tons of oils?

Other than experience with these, can anyone recommend a decent facial cleanser?

and no, I will NOT use Cetaphil, Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, Burts Bees or Aveeno.

These are the ingredients (in my translation from swedish):

Urea, fractioned coconut oil, emulsifying wax, hydrated canola oil, propylene glucol, carbomer, dimeticon, solid paraffin, glycerolpolymetacrylat, propyl-parahydroxibensoate, metyl-parahydroxibensoate, sodium lactate solution, lactic acid, glyceryl stearate, polyoxyetylene stearate, water

I got this in prescription to fight accutane dryness but I am not really willing to use it if it's comedogenic since I still get pimples (I am only 12 days into treatment).

Very thankful for answers or just some speculation!

I know it's completely wonderful as a moisturizer since I've used it on my hands already but the oils and whatnot scare me.

Hi there,
has anyone suffered from acne & ezcema at the same time ? it's really terrible & difficult to treat as the areas with ezcema is dry which needs lotsa moiturizers & with my acne-prone skin is really difficult.
Anyone who'd experienced this before & mind sharing ?
Thanks.

Hi everyone,

I've been using Origins brand Checks and Balances facial cleaner. However after perusing this site I've noticed people warning against kelp, then discovered that my cleaner contains Broad Leaf Kelp Extract. Could this cleanser be contributing to my acne flare-ups?

Thanks!

I was browsing acne youtube vids today and came across this channel: http://youtube.com/user/acnepractice

I was very intrigued by the videos and the results that the people had. I went to their site: http://www.acnepractice.com/ to read more about it.

It sounds way to good to be true, but all those videos are convincing. Has anyone tried it?

For a while now I have been on a regimen of Erythromycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel in the morning and Tazorac gel 0.1 at night. Generally, my skin is okay, but recently my acne has flared up, most likely due to stress from school. I use a mild cleanser and Neutrogena oil-free Moisturizer spf 15 (although I should be using 30).

My question: Due to past acne, I have some minor scaring, and in isolated spots, uneven skin. Also, although I am 24, I have developed wrinkles on my forehead. I am not looking to have my skin absolutely perfect, but just wanted to know if there are any products that yall had experience with that could help even out my skin and also lessen the visibility of my scaring/wrinkles.

If so, when would I apply it in my regimen?

Thanks

Hey,im new..

I am having trouble and no luck with burts bees,been 3 months too. I tried the acne solutions products and no luck,and my best friend swore by the tomato soap,so now I am using the garden tomato soap,garden tomato toner,acne spot on treatment,radiance day creme moisturizer,and the herbal blemish stick.

This is my routine..

Wake up and before work get a shower and scrub my face pretty hard with the tomato soap,and then rinse it off,get out of shower and let face dry,and then put on the moisturizer and put the spot on treatment stuff on few spots and head to work. Other day i do all of the above except i do the herbal blemish stick instead of spot on. At night i do the same,though not every night. Some days i just leave it at the moisturizer though,and dont do anything after. I just can't decide what is right because of my luck.

I have acne all over my face in different spots,and it sucks but an area that really bugs me is my whole area below my lips and down. That whole chin area. It has been enflammed for about 2 months. Constantly red and hardly any skin color. Lots of cracks and lines in skin and dry skin,and just raw looking. As well as pimples that are like very small white spots and under skin. It is SO Annoying,it wont heal and get better,and ithink it has something to do with product overload..

Any help would be appreciated! thanks..

DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT
the dove foaming face washes, even for sensitive.
they gave me the worst breakouts of my life.

Hey, I just joined the site because I feel the need to share this amazing natural acne cure with anyone who suffers.
I used to have perfectly clear skin, with only the ocasional zit, but over the past few months I have started to break out badly and it was starting to leave scars.
I have tried everything, from proactive to milk of magnesia, and nothing worked. Then I found a site that reccomneded tea tree oil, its amazing!
I saw results within one hour, the redness and swelling decreased, and by the end of the fist day of use, some of my pimple actually started to disapear,!
my skin has not looked this good for a long time, I am so happy that I found out about this, and I just wanted to share it, my only regret is that I didnt find out about it sooner, It really seems like a miracle!!!

I hate that Olay Complete's sensitive skin formula changed. What are some products that are just as good? Besides Eucerin Everyday Protection

I have oily combination skin and I've been trying out a soapless douchegel, Neem soap and Sheabutter as a moisturizer for about a month and my acne has worsened. I started with little bacne and acne on the face plus a few pimples on the chest. Now my chest has become a minefield after using both products for this period of time. Funny enough my back has cleared up a lot and for a few weeks my face was entirely clear.
Nevertheless, I am really freaked out and scared to use it again.

My douchegel has the following ingredients: Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Sodium benzoate, Sorbic Acid.
Of which the red colored ones are accoriding to most lists highly to fairly comedogenic.



My Neem soap also contains Coconut oil which is the same story, although I read a lot of controversial articles.

Now I am looking for the culprit and an alternative regime. I am going to switch to Aloe Vera gel, but a body cleanser is more of a problem. There is no body cleanser, soap or douchegel that does not contain Sodium Chloride.

Is Salt really a problem to the skin? What is your experience? And should I continue using the Neem soap?
Please note down your skintype when you post.

(P.S: I am taking all these vitamin and mineral supplements)

I found a great non-soap cleansing bar thats better then any other cleanser or soap i used for the face. Just wet your face in warm water, lather in hands, rub face with fingertips, rinse and pat dry. Its called nature's plus natural beauty cleansing bar, it has no soaps, no irritating ingredience, lye, tallow or alkalis. Its made from organic humectants and emolients, vitamin E and allantoin. It's PH is 4.5 which is close to the PH of normal skin (5.5).. your skin needs to have a cleanser that is close to the normal PH level of skin in order to maintain healthy skin. Your skin creates a barrier to keep out contaminants from entering the skin cell walls, if your skin is broken from harsh alkaline cleansers like BP or other harsh soap and acne cleansers your skin is vulnerable to acne and infections. i currently have no acne lesions at all because ive been using this soap for about 2-weeks it is really a lifesaver! When i get flakey skin i use l'bri's oil-free moisturizer... organic natural ingredients is the KEY to maintain healthy skin and non-irritated red skin! later.

adam

Dont know which board this goes under, but I have a serious problem

Every day there is more buildup of dead skin or keratin, I dont really know for sure what it is, and all I can do is wipe it away, I dont know how to stop it from coming. It isnt dry skin, because if it was, the lotion would absorb into the skin and would mositurize it.

Instead, if i use lotion on it, it just seems to wipe it away. And when I wipe it away, my face gets really irritated and really red for a few days. This is a problem because if I let it build up, it looks very bad especially up close, it looks like dry crust or fungus on my cheeks under my eyes, or if I wipe it away everyday, my face is very very red and unattractive.

What can I do to prevent this from coming?

Pepperment oil - Apparently it's an essential oil if that is of any help. I cant find if it comedogenic or not. Thanks for looking.

Check this site out... it'll explain it all better than I can. I ran across this on a list of Mother's Day gift ideas on msnbc.com. Let me know if you've heard of this, or better yet... if any of you have ever tried it.


Panasonic Misting Pore Cleanser at The Sharper Image

Check it out