Stearic Acid

Hey there everyone.

Recently my skin has become almost completely clear, so I've taken this time-out to change some products around and perfect my regimen.

So far I've picked out a great product for almost every step of the regimen except a moisturizer.
I've been using Vaseline Intensive Care Moisturizer which seems to get the job done. The problem is that one of this moisturizers main ingredients is Stearic acid. Recently I've read in a number of skin care articles that Stearic acid is a common skin irritant and will usually aggravate and cause outbreaks of acne.

I have 2 questions:
What are your takes on Stearic acid?
and..
What moisturizer would you recommend for guy with fairly dry skin? (Preferably a product available in Australia).

Cleanse Before or After Exfoliating

Just a quick question, should I cleanse before or after exfoliating?

Cheers.

Regimen Success (Before and After)

Hey Everyone.

After hitting the 6 month mark on the regimen recently I decided to take a picture and Compare the results to the picture I took at the beginning of the regimen.

So here we are: proof that the regimen works.


BEFORE: This picture was taken after 1 month of the regimen.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7118/1monthbw4.jpg

AFTER: This picture was taken after 6 months.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1870/6monthsgl0.jpg

What now?

Ok so here's the situation.
I've been on the regimen for 2 months and my skin has almost completely cleared.
The problem is that my skin is progressively becoming dryer. Moisturizing used to be enough but I doesn't seem like it's doing the trick any more. I also have a LOT of red marks and discolouration from a year of mild - moderate acne. My skin is no longer inflamed or painful which in my eyes is a win, but it looks worse than it did before I started the regimen.

My question is, what do I do now?
Considering that my skin is clear should I stop using BP? I'm thinking that I'll start applying it only in the evening.
Should I start treating my red marks?

I'm also sick of the fact that I constantly have so many chemicals on my face. I'm only using 1/2 finger of BP and about 1/4 finger moisturizer but if I run my fingers along my face around midday rolls of the dried cream / gel form under my fingers.
Should I wash this off?

I honestly have no idea what I should be doing at this point.
Has anyone out there been in the same situation or have any advice for me?
I'd really like some help.
Thanks.

Regimen Success?

Hey everybody I started the regimen a little under 2 months ago and I'm proud to say I've seen some results. So I thought I'd log my progress (As I can remember it) over the last 7 weeks.

I'd love to upload some pictures but the internet I'm using at the moment is way too slow, so maybe I will in a week or two when I move back to Brisbane.
I would describe my acne as mild to moderate. Over the last year an average day would mean around 4-5 inflamed pimples usually whiteheads on my chin and/or the sides of my nose, several very painful cystic-like pimples on my forehead, numerous black heads on my nose and dozens of blind pimples around my jaw line and chin area.

Pre Regimen:
Before Starting the regimen I had been cleansing with ''Clearasil 'Deep Cleanse'' for around six months, I'm not entirely sure If this was really doing ANYTHING by itself, so I really can't comment on it. I did however find it did a good job at drying my skin out which seemed to clear up the remains of a recently active pimple, leaving only a red mark.

I started the Regimen on Boxing Day (26/12/07)

Week 1:
My first week on the regimen was really just following the insturction that came with the benzoyl peroxide to make sure my skin would not react to it.

Days 1 - 4:
Cleanse Using ''Innoxa' Young Solution'' Facial Cleanser.
Spot treated Active acne ONLY, with "Benzac AC 'Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%" once a day.
Days 5 - 7:
Cleanse Using ''Innoxa' Young Solution'' Facial Cleanser.
Spot treated Active acne ONLY, with "Benzac AC 'Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%" twice a day.

Progress Made: Absolutely none, I didn't expect anything to happen at such an early stage so I can't say I was disappointed.

Week 2:
Week 2 meant using the BP over my entire problem area. At this stage I only considered my problem area to be my chin and jaw line.

Cleanse Using ''Innoxa' Young Solution'' Facial Cleanser.
Treated chin / jaw line with quarter finger of "Benzac AC 'Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%"
Moisturize using "Vaseline' 'intensive care moisturizer" enriched with Vitamin A and E

Progress Made: Absolutely none. Still, this is to be expected.

Week 3:
Week 3 meant increasing the amount of BP I was using. I also decided to start treating the rest of my face.

Cleanse Using ''Innoxa' Young Solution'' Facial Cleanser.
Treated chin / jaw line / nose and forhead with half finger of "Benzac AC 'Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%"
Moisturize using "Vaseline' 'intensive care moisturizer" enriched with Vitamin A and E

Progress Made: At this point in the regimen I noticed that I was suffering from less frequent breakouts. Although these breakouts seemed to be just as bad as they had been.

Week 4:
Week 4 went exactly the same as week 3.

Progress Made: At this point I was noticing a steady decrease in the severity of my breakouts as well as the frequency. Also my cystic acne had COMPLETELY cleared and my blackheads were also GONE.

Week 5:
Week 5 meant increasing the amount of BP I was using. And changing from a regular 3 bladed razor to an eclectic shaver. I realised I was breaking out after every shave with the razor.

Cleanse Using ''Innoxa' Young Solution'' Facial Cleanser.
Treated chin / jaw line / nose and forhead with three fifths of a finger of "Benzac AC 'Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%"
Moisturize using "Vaseline' 'intensive care moisturizer" enriched with Vitamin A and E

Progress Made: Something amazing happened in week 5 of the regimen, I noticed that not only my nose and forehead were remarkably clearer but the acne on my jaw line and chin and completely flattened. Before week 5 It hurt to run my finger along my jawline and it felt very rough and raised, but after week 4 it was completely flat. My acne was no longer inflamed.

Week 6
Week 6 went exactly the same as week 5.

Progress Made:
A significant reduction in severity, frequency and life span of active acne.
HOWEVER at the beginning of week 6 I suffered from a very serious breakout around my lips, 6 very inflamed white heads in a symmetrical pattern around my lips. They were very inflamed and very painful, I could barely go out in public, let alone eat. These cleared up by the end of the week but I had to prick and squeeze at least 3 of them.

Week 7
In week 7 I made some slight changes to my regimen.
I switched to a cleanser that was alcohol free and enriched with vitamin E. (Just to see what happens). I also changed the moisturizer I was using in the morning to one that contained a few extras that I read were good for the skin.

Morning:
Clease with "Nivea' 'sensitive skin Facial Wash for men".
Treated chin / jaw line / nose and forhead with three fifths of a finger of "Benzac AC 'Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%"
Moisturized with "Seacret' 'Aftershave balm"

Evening:
Clease with "Nivea' 'sensitive skin Facial Wash for men".
Treated chin / jaw line / nose and forhead with three fifths of a finger of "Benzac AC 'Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%"
Moisturize using "Vaseline' 'intensive care moisturizer" enriched with Vitamin A and E

Progress Made: NO NEW BREAKOUTS! I had not and to this date have not had a single new active pimple ever since the huge breakout at beginning of week 6.

Week 8:
Today Marks day 3 of week 8 on the regimen and I am proud to say my skin is completely clear. The regimen has been absolutely great so far and there's no way I'm stopping now.
I do however have a lot of discolouration from over a year of acne. In other words, lots and lots and lots of red marks. Which is accentuated by the fact that I have rather pale skin. But you can't win them all right?
So wish me luck!


Total Costs so far: $78 AU.
Progress Made so far: Excellent.