22 replies to this topic

[pretendingtobepretty13]

The only foundation that has worked for me in the last decade is the Mary Kay cream to powder foundation. You can use it alone or with the powder.

The catch is, if you use it with any cleansing products other than MK brand, the foundation will not adhere to your face as well and may become cakey or slickey. Even certain MK products make the foundation look not right on me.

I really would like to go back to not wearing foundation anymore, but that may not be an option as I have scars and uneven skin tone, especially with the hyperpigmentation from old zits.

[tleighbaker]

I understand your frustrations finding a good makeup to use, I have tendencies toward acne as well. I think what's most important is that you find the cause of your acne. A lot of people think that it's an oiliness thing, when that's not completely the issue. In my experience, even if you go to a dermatologist they load you up with perscription medications like benzyl peroxide face wash, diffrin gel, accutane, etc. All of these medications are based on drying your skin out or shrinking sebaceous glands (that's specifically accutane- which has a lot of dangerous side effects) Anyway, a lot of times when a person uses this method of clearing up their acne it does a couple things A. dries your skin out to the point where your body will overcompensate for its oil loss, increasing the amount of oil your skin produces along with making it thicker and B. excess drying to the skin thins it out and although it may not be visible at the time, induces aging. There are two ways at looking at oily skin. 1. Oily skin is more prone to acne. 2. Oily skin ages better than dry skin.

It's extremely difficult to find a good makeup like when you're trying to cover acne. It isn't just one color difference and it's also a textural issue. One day you have a teeny tiny blackhead, so small you may only notice it when you're picking at your face at the end of the night (because most people with acne will- this is called acne excoree and it can even develop into being an impulsive psychological issue) the next day it's one of those red dots on your face that doesn't really raise; a few days later it's a yellow-white pusing welt on your face! Then, after picking and picking and picking it's finally one of those scabs.

Lets face it- if youre using makeup mainly for the purpose of concealing your acne, you're often left with little satisfaction. How annoying. It's not as easy as going sans-makeup, though. I will not only answer your question, but give you a couple extra tips to reduce your acne.

First off, the most important thing to do is to find the right skincare system to use. This ALWAYS directly effects the appearance of your makeup. NO- if you skip out on your moisturizer it doesn't make your face less oily. In fact, if you don't use a moisturizer, you'll be more prone to acne. I'm sure many of us have used products like proactiv or st. ives apricot scrub- this is not the right solution. While exfoliation is a critical step you must take when treating acne, you don't want to scrub the living daylights out of your face. These products can often times give you quick results but they don't last a lifetime. If you're in a bind I recommend using cetaphil cleanser for oily skin in the morning, following up with witch hazel, and then following up with an oil-free moisturizer. In the evening, after you apply your witch hazel as your toner (i often times have had encounters with people who will do something like use rubbing alcohol DON'T USE THAT) apply a facial mask ( 2-3x per week, alternating it nightly), repeat with your toner, then follow up with your moisturizer. The cheapest, most effective face mask you can use having an acneic skin type is as follows: take a tablespoon of PLAIN (not vanilla) greek yogurt and apply to your face in upward, outsweeping motions. Let it sit on your face for twenty to thirty minutes- whether it's dry or not, rinse it off. Another critical technique in skincare that will make a huge difference in your acne is to remove your cleansers and facial masks using a clean, soft cloth. It's quicker&cleaner than splashing your face twenty times and it's more effective. Since using this cloth method cuts down on so much time in your skin care routine, it will even encourage you to wash it ever night more often. Don't be too rough with it though. Anyway, this yogurt mask is super cheap and it also has brightening benefits to it, so it should also lighten acne scars over time. You'll see your REAL results in two to three weeks. Don't be disheartened if you have a breakout during this time, because it takes two weeks to actually develop a pimple and have it show up on your face, so this period of time is critical so you can expel the already existing ones. Many people go in for acne facials and wonder why they break out afterward- this is why.

Anyway, onward with makeup. You have your smooth-er canvas now. Somebody told me once that it doesn't matter what makeup products you use, but rather that youre applying them with the proper tools. Don't use your fingers! Although you are definitely better off buying better makeup products contrary to this advice, this bit of advice is going to make the biggest difference. Don't stick your fingers in the tube or the palate! Ever wonder why your foundation turns a little orange after a single month of use? Anyway, a good way to avoid contaminating your makeup products with oils and bacteria that's naturally on your hands is to disperse it onto a clean kleenex or tounue depressor. The best at home makeup application that you can get without dropping a ton of money on an airbrush system, which i overall recommend if its in your affordability range, is to use the proper brushes. I recommend this set: http://www.sephora.c...&categoryId=B70
because of the way that it's woven and the materials its made out of, it has resistance to harboring bacteria and oils from your face. With regular use, that is unavoidable so regularly (weekly wash your brushes in the morning after you do your makeup, squeeze out the excess water, reshape them, and set them out on a counter to dry, and they should be dry if this is done properly by the next morning when you're ready for another makeup application. Although using the proper tools is key, if your skin is very sensitive to getting acne, yes, you will want a certain kind of makeup. Look for NONCOMEDOGENIC on the label. Otherwise check out the ingredients list. If your makeup product contains common ingredients such as mineral oil, talc, cetearyl alcohol, or lanolin. http://www.temptalia...ts-to-watch-for

Put your pillows through the wash cycle once every other week if not weekly.

As always, stay hydrated and have a healthy diet.

Then your makeup will look superb!

[tleighbaker]

I wanted to add some additional notes to my response just so you can understand why I said a few things of the many things I said.
First, when I said not to scrub your face, the reason is that this can spread acne. Acne is cause by P. Acne Bacteria, and if you graze an existing blemish you can potentially spread it causing a bigger breakout.

Second, some people don't know the order in which to use a skincare system. Although it may sound asinine it could be completely possible that you could be using it in the wrong order. Cleanser, toner, mask (then tone), treatment serums, then moisturizer.

Third, don't use a toner or astringent that is too strong. I strongly recommend that you stay away from anything resembling the high-alcohol content-ed teal colored astringent from clean and clear. If you feel that your skin is tight after applying your toner or that it stings when it's applied it's because youre stripping your skin of it's necessary oils, and when stripping them your body will either overcompensate and produce more oil than usual and in a thicker consistancy, or it will dry out your skin and it will cause inflammation- which is not always visible to the naked eye but can cause more acne.

Fourth, the reason I recommended Cetaphil cleanser for oily skin is because it's not made with a detergent (soapy), it's a gel-cleanser (often times oil-based cleansers are recommended because "oil removes oil" but overall that's a bunch of whooey- no cleansers are good for all skin types though. you won't want to use a cream cleanser either unless you have dry skin) and it's pH balanced so your skin will not struggle trying to re-regulate it's pH- causing more acne

Fifth, want to know what skin type you have? if the pores on your face are generally larger throughout your face you have an oily-combination type skin. If your pores are generally smaller you have a drier- normal type skin. No matter what products you use to treat your skin with you can not ever change your skin type. It will remain true to you throughout your whole life, although once you get older your oil production will slow down.

Six, unrelated to what i had written in my previous posting, I wanted to address those little blackheads people get on their nose- good news! They aren't actually blackheads and pretty much 98% get them. They're called sebaceous filaments. The thing that distinguishes them from an actual blackhead is that they are not a technical comedo- they don't have p.acne bacteria and they arent hardened. Unfortunately, they're almost impossible to get rid of but if they really drive you crazy, get regular facials.

Seven, the dangers of using accutane. People these days are all about instant gratification and instant results. We are impatient and usually don't consider the remifications of the choices me make.

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  
• Crohn’s Disease
  
• Ulcerative colitis
  
• Severe depression
  
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
  
• Birth defects.
  
• Liver damage (characterized by loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  
• Allergic reactions

If you choose to use a medication like accutane, tocopherol, retinol, or any type of perscribed topical acne medication, rethink getting any waxing services, your skin could lift.