Serious Help, Please!!

2 weeks ago exactly, I stopped using my Proactiv cleanser because it was causing my skin too much irritation, redness and drying everyday. I started to use Baby's Own soap instead and within a day or 2 my skin looked and felt much much better. It was beginning to clear my skin and only a couple pimples surfaced, and they were killed with a spot treatment.

Now, 2 weeks later, my skin is horrible! My neck and jawline are covered in pimples. I feel like crying. I've had acne for a while, but it was always kind of manageable and I was used to the breakouts I did get.

I don't know what has caused this and what can I do? My only thoughts are that the proactiv had little beads in, so maybe I'm not exfoliating anymore.. or maybe the BP in the cleanser was helping my skin, however it made my skin horribly dry.

Is there a purging period when switching cleansers?

any help would be appreciated!
Thanks.

lost a thread!

I was reading a thread not too long ago about living a healthy lifestyle. It started with a really long post about taking vitamins and supplements, baby brush exfoliant, eating right, excercise... they used a matrix quote?! a lot of quotes actually. The poster said he/she did over 100 hours of research.

Anyway, I can't find it. I bookmarked it on a different laptop, but I don't have it here with me.

Any ideas? I thought it was pinned in holistic, but I can't find it.
I'm pretty sure it was pinned somewhere.

Thanks!

Proactiv Cleanser

I must have forgotten what the active ingredient in the Proactiv cleanser was because I read the bottle in the shower yesterday and it contains benzoyl peroxide 2.5%. I knew the Repairing Lotion contained BP but I didn't know the cleanser did. I think my skin is sensative and it's always drying out and getting a little red, and now I guess I know why. It's also very grainy and rough.

Does anyone know of a good cleanser to switch to from the Proactiv cleanser. Although the Proactiv one dries my skin out, I'm afraid to switch to another one and break out severly.

I've been using Proactiv for maybe 4 years. At first it cleared some of my acne up using as recommended. Then I read that the toner was pointless.
In the last year or 2 , I've just used the cleanser regularly, skipped on the toner, and used the repairing lotion (benzoyl peroxide) whenever I felt I needed it. It dried my skin out and made it red using it everyday. I also read that BP ages the skin quicker.

Thanks

ACV

I've look around for this answer, but there are so many threads and posts about Apple Cider Vinegar and I can't find the answer.

My question is... Is taking ACV a permanent fixture to my life if I want clear skin? It's been working for me, I suppose and if I stop taking it, I'll break out, So will I be taking this every day for the rest of my life if I want clear skin?

Washing your face everyday is something that you do whether you have acne or not, but drinking 3 tablespoons of vinegar a day doesn't seem right.

So let me know if ACV worked for you and you were able to work it out of your daily routine.

thanks.

Tips for men

I was hoping some of you could HELP! by sharing some tips or opinions.. whether you're a guy or a girl.. on, I suppose skin care tips. This isn't limited to acne. General skincare.
I have acne, however- It's not as bad as some cases I've seen, but I think if you have any acne, you can agree it feels horrible no matter what degree.

Besdies acne, my skin looks tired sometimes - bags under my eyes, fine lines. This is only sometimes. I'm not old enough for wrinkles. When I furrow my brow, the creases in my skin stay red after I've relaxed.. or for example..opening my mouth wide to floss - the skin all around my mouth turns red.
I also get chapped lips. I think lips look best when they stand out - you can tell where lips are, you know? Even on a guy. If my lips get chapped and they lose colour, they get closer in colour to my skin and it looks funny.

I do moisturize. maybe i'm not using the correct one or doing it right. haha

I feel very self concious sometimes - I don't like to get close to people when I talk to them, or smile in front of them. I haven't ever been care free and not worried about how I look even with my closest friends - so you can imagine talking to girls...

There are other beauty issues that affect me too. I'm no Robert Pattinson/Edward Cullen - I don't like my teeth or smile, I'm hairy.. the list goes on.. but I think skin care definitly has been holding me back most.

If you've read this far, thank you. I hope someone can help.