33 replies to this topic

[Sluijs]

hee there!

I am kind of new to this forum, but I am not new when it comes down on product testing.
I recently bought Dan's regime kit (will arrive in 1-2 weeks or so), but after reading this I am doubting whether I should try it out, or should I try this washing with water only regime?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Kind regards,
Katja

[FSAS]

hey guys what happens if you wear makeup? i really dont wanna wash my face but i need to wear makeup just to go outside (not really an option as if i dont wear makeup theres no way im leaving my room like this). i use olive oil to get the makeup off and just wash with manuka honey and use tea tree oil. doubt this is helping because my skin hasnt exactly changed. well the only clear parts of my face (very small areas) are baby soft, tiny pores amazing. (thats whay my skin would look like if i didnt have acne but the rest of my face is a mine field. so i was wondering if im still doing my face a good thing by using olive oil and mankua honey and never really ever used chemicals?

[chunkylard]

FSAS, on 22 January 2012 - 04:55 PM, said:

hey guys what happens if you wear makeup? i really dont wanna wash my face but i need to wear makeup just to go outside (not really an option as if i dont wear makeup theres no way im leaving my room like this). i use olive oil to get the makeup off and just wash with manuka honey and use tea tree oil. doubt this is helping because my skin hasnt exactly changed. well the only clear parts of my face (very small areas) are baby soft, tiny pores amazing. (thats whay my skin would look like if i didnt have acne but the rest of my face is a mine field. so i was wondering if im still doing my face a good thing by using olive oil and mankua honey and never really ever used chemicals?

Most ingredients nowadays in cosmetics aren't comedogenic or particularly dangerous, although there are a few unnecessary and extremely questionable ones (parabens come to mind.) Chances are your makeup isn't doing you any favors but probably isn't doing much damage either.

If you're doing everything else right, the negatives of wearing makeup aren't going to negate your healthy lifestyle. If wearing makeup gives you a bit more confidence, go for it. Mineral makeup is usually the least offensive. As long as you wash it off with something gentle dont worry about it.

[Ukulala]

I'd agree with the above -- though even mineral makeup can have ingredients you don't agree with. I just realized yesterday that my pricey mineral makeup was probably making me break out. Not a fun realization. ;/ I use jojoba to take it off -- that really helps me. Then I just splash with water.

FSAS, it's hard to say; it's so different for everyone. Manuka, for example, didn't really do much for me, as much as I wanted it to. D'oh, another $30 down the drain! You know what HAS helped me a lot, though? Aloe, straight off the plant. I just clip part of the leaf and spread its soothing gel all over my face in the morning. It's so awesome. The sad truth is it often just takes trial and error until you find the right regimen for you. Are you supplementing well/ eating well? That can have such a huge impact.

And Slujiis -- again, it depends. A lot of us on here (me included) are fairly opposed to BP, as it has more cons than pros, but many people espouse the hell out of it. Whatever you're comfortable with is your best bet, as is - always - figuring out root causes of your skin issues. I'd say how old you are is a huge factor to take into consideration, as is lifestyle, past health, diet ... There's so many factors.
Since you're new to this site, I'd suggest scoping around a bit. Look for threads that answer questions you have, and look for users that have similar issues / are of a similar demographic to you - that helped me.
Good luck!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a slight update, I am doing MUCH better. This not washing business is going amazingly well - combined with the fact that I'm vary wary of my makeup now, as I really think it was adding to my skin issues. I'm now looking for a different powder, but I'm also doing my best to go out without makeup and without fear. I know it seems silly to some, but when you get accustomed to wearing even a light powder, it can be so daunting to exit the house without it!
Yay. I will update again in a bit, but YAY.

chunkylard, on 18 January 2012 - 08:34 PM, said:

Cod liver is good, but depending on processing it can be a bit iffy.

Yeah, I totally went all out (go big or go home, right?) and purchased some MEGA expensive green pastures fermented cod liver/butter oil combination craziness. It had rave reviews, and hey, I'd always rather support a small, organic, at least vaguely environmentally friendly company anyway (which they are).
I'll let y'all know how this stuff is!

As always, thanks for the information.

[dejaclairevoyant]

You guys should look into Jlynne cosmetics. REALLY quality mineral makeup, all sorts of colors, it's just awesome. And it doesn't break out my skin at all, unlike the irritation (not realy acne just... irritation) from cheap compacts and powders I use sometimes.

[corgisoulpower]

I got a sampler of mineral powder online from faerie organic, they send you a bunch of different shades for like $6. Good stuff, although I rarely wear foundation anymore.

[Ukulala]

Just an update, in case anyone's curious - or maybe just to help me.

Not washing is okay. I'm kind of discouraged, again, because I'm getting one of those "time-o-the-month" babies on my chin. That happens pretty much every month, though (hey! cool!) this one seems smaller than previous months. Could be I'm just leveling out, or could be that the CLO/fermented butter oil I started taking is helping.

Still, I'm getting discouraged - but I keep reminding myself of the thing that chunkylard said I really like :two steps forward, one step back is still progress!

I may invest in the derma-E face wash if in a couple of days I'm still feeling this not washing isn't fully working. I aim to get to a point where I don't rely on external products at all, but perhaps easing my way in and helping my skin through transitions and such isn't such a bad idea.

A visit to the naturopath today has me on these supplements:
multi
Cod liver oil (vit D and A, mainly, as well as the fish oil benefits)
clorophyll (for my blood or something; I'm still a bit lost and uncertain on that one)
probiotic
Vit C

It's a lot, but hey, if it works, right?
Also stopped using that makeup that was breaking me out. Danged Mineral Fusion! Just got a sample pack of that Faerie Organics in the mail; I'm wary to use it for fear of more breakouts, but if it was in fact the Laurol Lysine doin' a number on me (as I suspect), then this should be fine. Where on my face should I test it out, do you think, and for how long (before I apply it all over) ?

Thanks to everyone for all the advice, support, etc. Onward and upward!

PS -- A few amazing things are how much better I feel overall, A, and B, how little other people seem to notice my slight skin issues. I even have a boy ... thing ... right now, and he's not phased at all. Amazing how much worse it seems to us, eh? I tend to forget that we are all *more* than just the sum of our parts. Heh.

Regards!

[corgisoulpower]

A tinted moisturizer that doesn't look cakey would be rad. Whenever I wear foundation I use a mineral power concealer by maybelline kind of on my whole face as a base...I used to have a stila one but a natural/effective one would be great.

[Ukulala]

Sigh. I'm sorry to use this as a personal diary (sort of, bua ha ha), but I just keep coming back here to vent and try and figure it out.

I'm getting REALLY discouraged by this. Very much considering going back to some face wash or topical treatment, despite my utter belief that my body has the ability to heal itself. I noticed today something coming up on my left cheek that just reminds me of the breakouts I was getting from the makeup before .... though I haven't been using makeup! It's possible it'll stay below the surface and just disappear (sometimes these sorts do that), but man. It's hard not to get down.

Of course, negative emotions are only detrimental, so I'm trying to keep my chin up and such ... but yes. It's not easy.

Considering using the Burt's Bees salicylic acid wash that I have ... either that or the Derma-E business, though I'd have to go out and buy that.
There's always differin, which worked for me in the past, but buH! I don't want to deal with those chemicals again!

It's just frustrating. I know it's silly, but I'm 24, I eat supremely healthy, I exercise, I take care of myself. This skin issue just doesn't fit in with me and I am so ... frustrated about it. Again ... that does no good. But there you have it.

Well, let's see how it goes. I'll figure it all out someday.

Now: to go on a walk.

[bobbi364]

Sounds all hormonal to me. You should still do a weekly exfoliation process even if you are on water only, which I highly recommend. The water only method would never cause you to breakout, not unless you have a lot of dead skin building up and blocking pores, which is possible if you skin isn't functioning correctly, as in shedding on its own, having a balanced blood flow and low hormonal influence on your blood/body.

[Ukulala]

It IS hormonal, I'm sure of it, but how do I help that? I'm taking supplements I hope will help; I'm exercising, sleeping well, eating well, etc. I used to be on the BCP but I don't want to go back on it for a wide variety of reasons. As I feel at a loss and totally just... helpless, I'm considering topical alternatives.
This may be better in the morning ... often, evenings are just harder for me. ;/ But God, as we all know, I'm so sick of feeling unhappy about my skin. And it was fine up until July! Everything was FINE before july. But then - baBAM! Craziness. For months!

Sigh. It'll be okay. Thanks for the input, everybody.

[bobbi364]

I know I have already recommended this but I will do so again. CLAY, CLAY, CLAY AND MORE CLAY. It is a great all natural product, 100% bentonite clay (volcanic ash), that rids the skin or impurities. If I had acne I would do like 2-3 clay masks a day for 2 weeks to rid the skin of dead skin and allow the pores to be cleansed. The clay also rids red marks and hyperpigmentation, as it resurfaces all the junk out of the bottom of the pore, the reason it is red. I recommend Aztec healing clay, however, bentonite clay is bentonite clay, so if you can find it cheaper, get that. I know amazon has 2 and 1 lb options, and whole foods usually carries it for like 7 bucks a lb, or even cheaper.

I would not recommend any chemicals as those dry out the skin and can cause irritation that leads to prolonged acne/pigmentation, or even result in new acne. Clay does not dry out the skin, a good reason it is great. Also, because it is all hormonal, limit the amount of hormonal activity. Reduce things that are hormonally related.

[Ukulala]

Oh yes? Clay - even for hormonal acne?
I know ... I agree with you about the chemicals, so much. But... ! It's also ... so hard to ignore the promise of clear skin. On my good days, I am persistent in my insistence (heh) that my body CAN heal itself, WILL heal itself, KNOWS what it needs ... and what it needs is definitely NOT harsh chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
On my bad days ... or evenings, such as this one ... it's so tempting to slather whatever I'm told on my face just to make it okay.
I'm honestly super tempted to just go back on Birth Control. I don't want to mess with my hormones again, but it worked. :/

I hear you about hormonal activity, but erm, most activity is hormonal. Our hormones are always there - and I had no issue with ANYTHING while I was on birth control + Differin (pretty sure it was mainly the BC though).

Life goes on, things make sense eventually. Onwarddddd.

[Ukulala]

Better, better, I'm doing better.

I've started washing my face with the salicylic acid wash again; at least until I clear up, I'm conceding that this is the step I'm taking to ensure clearer days!
Yesterday, I really hit a wall. I was in tears - hormonal from being on my cycle - and my mother was consoling me. I told her I was tempted to go back on BC just for the skin benefits. She shrugged and said, "if it's causing you this much grief, go back on it. Or use creams. It's not worth this sort of emotion."
And ... she has a point. I KNOW how much of any given condition is connected to the mind -- and I KNOW I'm not helping myself by feeling down about skin. Which is why I'm using the salicylic acid, at LEAST to get clear; then I can take it from there. I KNOW that works for me ... so I'm giving it a shot.
Topicals are at least less harmful than the pill. :/

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has been supportive or offered advice or kind words throughout this. As I said... it all makes sense eventually!

Now - to first Friday!