954 replies to this topic

[The Tominator]

How often are you using it? If you aren't seeing any irritation, you could use it twice a day.

Are you exfoliating at all?

I might try it twice a day, especially if it would reduce oil. As for exfoliating, I use a soft washcloth 3-4 times a week, but I'm never sure if it's benefitting or not. Although my skin feels smoother and the enlarged pores on my cheeks look cleaner, blackheads in other areas--mainly my brow area/temples--are more visible. Should I continue exfoliating and hope these blackheads are simply being forced to the surface, or is the exfoliation making things worse? And people think the universe is difficult to grasp. Try solving the mystery that is my skin!

[LionQueen]

How often are you using it? If you aren't seeing any irritation, you could use it twice a day.

Are you exfoliating at all?

I might try it twice a day, especially if it would reduce oil. As for exfoliating, I use a soft washcloth 3-4 times a week, but I'm never sure if it's benefitting or not. Although my skin feels smoother and the enlarged pores on my cheeks look cleaner, blackheads in other areas--mainly my brow area/temples--are more visible. Should I continue exfoliating and hope these blackheads are simply being forced to the surface, or is the exfoliation making things worse? And people think the universe is difficult to grasp. Try solving the mystery that is my skin!

If the blackheads are becoming more visible, then yes, I think they are surfacing.

You might look into a soft synthetic brush for exfoliation ... I am not a big fan of washcloths. A gentle enzyme scrub or peel could be useful right now as well, but please note that SOFT and GENTLE are key words in this advice.

I would say, give the mandelic some more time. You might also think about seeing either a derm or an aesthetician and having extractions done, since your blackheads are so stubborn (unless you are a do-it-yourself kind of guy). My experience was that once the blackheads finally all came out, they never came back in force ... I still get an occasional one or two when my hormones are acting up, but that's all.

I will look at the Linda Sy site and take a look at the ingredients in the cleanser and try to find something similar and gentle in the shops here in England as I would rather not get everything I need sent over due to cost and sometimes things not getting delivered here.

Am ordering samples from GoW.

Thanks again for the help.

No problem!

If you are in England, I recommend the Calmin cleanser ... it's developed especially for people with rosacea. Don't get their Environmental Protection cream, though, it's a pore clogger.

[BradtheBrad]

So I've been using Mandelic Acid for about 2 weeks now and my nose is starting to become shiny instead of flaky? There are now empty pores where the blackheads used to be, I guess they are making oil? I assume these will close up over time as new skin comes to the surface?

Hehe, so many questions, sorry about that.

[Blackheads]

[/quote]

No problem!

If you are in England, I recommend the Calmin cleanser ... it's developed especially for people with rosacea. Don't get their Environmental Protection cream, though, it's a pore clogger.
[/quote]

Thank-you, I have just e-mailed the acne-rosacea.co.uk site for details about it's availability and to see if it is pore clogging.

Really looking forward to trying the Mandelic Acid out.

I was told a sulfur mask once a week helps to calm Rosacea but find anything I put on can irritate especially if it needs washing off. Do you know much about sulfur masks?

[LionQueen]

So I've been using Mandelic Acid for about 2 weeks now and my nose is starting to become shiny instead of flaky? There are now empty pores where the blackheads used to be, I guess they are making oil? I assume these will close up over time as new skin comes to the surface?

Hehe, so many questions, sorry about that.

Now that the pores are clear, it is easier for the oil to flow through. They should tighten up a bit as you continue using the mandelic.

You might consider trying to find a matte moisturizer to cut the shine .... Clarins makes one and so does DDF. I've bought both from Sephora. I really liked the Clarins one.

I was told a sulfur mask once a week helps to calm Rosacea but find anything I put on can irritate especially if it needs washing off. Do you know much about sulfur masks?

Enough to not use them myself. I can't imagine that they would calm rosacea. Sulfur is very, very drying. IMO, it's a good antibacterial, but too harsh for sensitive skin ..... especially in mask form.

[BradtheBrad]

Now that the pores are clear, it is easier for the oil to flow through. They should tighten up a bit as you continue using the mandelic.

You might consider trying to find a matte moisturizer to cut the shine .... Clarins makes one and so does DDF. I've bought both from Sephora. I really liked the Clarins one.

Damn, woman, I can only fit so many products into my apartment! j/k... I use the neutrogena alcohol free toner 20 minutes after I put on the mandelic. ill let things play out for now. APPRECIATE your help!

fyi: when i got my vivant mandelci in the mail (ordered from clear healthy skin.com), there was a card with it that showed what regimen they should use. they actly suggest putting BP on first to kill bacteria, then a mandelic toner, then the mandelic acid serum, and moisturization to conclude. what would the difference be between a mandelic toner and the one i use?

[LionQueen]

they actly suggest putting BP on first to kill bacteria, then a mandelic toner, then the mandelic acid serum, and moisturization to conclude. what would the difference be between a mandelic toner and the one i use?

I'm guessing $30 or so.

Honestly, I don't know. I didn't even know Vivant made a mandelic toner ... I don't use toners. What does their website say about it?

[reedman21]

hi again,
i have another thing to add and a question for everyone.
my skin seems to pretty much improve and worsen as it likes while completely ignoring what i do to it.
as i already said my status improves and worsens with change in keratinization, which seems to happen on a regular basis in approximately the same time span.
medication can now keep the skin from going mad in periods of hyperkeratinization but not keep the keratinization away.now when the keratinizationprocess decreases by itself all the comedos simply disappear very quickly and the skin is clear.

how does your skin behave?i have read a few times here that people have gotten rid of blackheads for good once they had disappeared.this only happened on my nose.the little black ones are gone.still i get new bigger impurities in all sorts of places which appear and disappear with the keratinization.

now i am wondering if i have to live with this change in skin condition for the rest of my life or if something could help.
i read that retinoids increase cell turnover to only some days (4-5?) instead of many weeks.
does that mean that the process of dead skin cells forming and blocking cells and then disappearing again (which takes a while with me, havent figured out how long though) could speed up?

is there any way of getting the skin to a level where the hyperkeratinization can be kept away for good?
every time i want to go to the derm my skin improves so i cant show her what i mean.right now i have a few good examples of impurities and you can also see the dead skin cells on the surface.
so if i dont have a miracle disappearance over night i will go to my derm tomorrow(yeah, she says i can come anytime, cool eh?)

still i would be greatly interested in any input.sorry if this doesnt exactly fit this topic but i thought it would be good to post this here since we are all dealing with blackheads here.

thanks for any help
fabian

[yungbuk]

i just ordered a sample for 18 buks.....i have small blackheads that nose strips wont take out....this will work rite?

[superman87]

Garden of Wisdom 15% Mandelic Acid without alcohol has been working pretty well for me. They ship very fast and have great customer service too. I ordered a sample on a monday and it came in the mail on a wednsday. Unfortunately, the top had come off in the mail and some of the acid had spilled out so I emailed GoW asking for a replacement and they sent it out that same day. I got the new bottle on Friday. I only use the Mandelic Acid on my nose and have been using it for about 3 weeks and I am still on the first bottle. The wierd thing is, the other day another bottle came in the mail. I found this rather strange so I checked my bank acount but nothing had been charged. Lucky me.

[The Tominator]

I was initially applying the MA to my nose with my fingertips and it didn't burn at all. I wasn't sure it was working, so I began using a Q-tip, as someone had suggested. Well, it's burning! Lol. For me, that's good news, because everyone else claimed the MA stung a bit, but I didn't notice that at all, at first. Anyway, it's been about two weeks, and I've started applying the MA to my temples, where a lot of blackheads tend to crop up. Now my right side is smooth and even, but my left side is red, irritated, and blotchy. I'm wondering if this is a result of purging and will eventually subside, or am I overusing the MA?

[LionQueen]

Now my right side is smooth and even, but my left side is red, irritated, and blotchy. I'm wondering if this is a result of purging and will eventually subside, or am I overusing the MA?

I would stop using the MA there for 2-3 days or however long it takes for things to settle down ... then go back to using it. Sounds like you have a bit of irritation going on, and that spot just needs to heal.

[The Tominator]

I eased off the MA for a day. Things are much better. I'm actually encouraged that the MA is capable of irritating and burning my skin. Lol. It sounds crazy, I know, but after all the products I've tried, I thought my skin was lifeless.

Question: Skin is peeling in the areas I applied the MA. Is this normal/good? At least it's doing something.

[LionQueen]

Question: Skin is peeling in the areas I applied the MA. Is this normal/good? At least it's doing something.

Totally normal. If the peeling bothers you, use the MA less often. I am still trying to find a perfect balance here ... my skin is peeling today, too.

[Blackheads]

I am pleased to say my 2 samples of GoW Mandelic acid arrived today.

I have read through this thread a number of times but before I start to use the serum I just want to check with you that my plan sounds ok.

I plan on applying a small amount of the serum to my nose with a cotton bud after I have washed my face. Leave for 30 minutes and then moisturise as normal.

Will apply the serum once a day or less often if it irritates.

How does that sound?

Also I recieved a sample of DMAE gel 1%Hyaluronic acid gel. What is that used for?

[LionQueen]

I plan on applying a small amount of the serum to my nose with a cotton bud after I have washed my face. Leave for 30 minutes and then moisturise as normal.

Will apply the serum once a day or less often if it irritates.

How does that sound?

Also I recieved a sample of DMAE gel 1%Hyaluronic acid gel. What is that used for?

Sounds good.

DMAE is for skin tightening/lifting, over time. If you want to use it, here is where it fits in:

Mandelic acid, wait 30 minutes; DMAE, wait 5 minutes; moisturize.

[Blackheads]

I plan on applying a small amount of the serum to my nose with a cotton bud after I have washed my face. Leave for 30 minutes and then moisturise as normal.

Will apply the serum once a day or less often if it irritates.

How does that sound?

Also I recieved a sample of DMAE gel 1%Hyaluronic acid gel. What is that used for?

Sounds good.

DMAE is for skin tightening/lifting, over time. If you want to use it, here is where it fits in:

Mandelic acid, wait 30 minutes; DMAE, wait 5 minutes; moisturize.

Thank-you.

Do you find it better to apply the mandelic acid with a q tip?

I tried it today with a q tip and felt as if it was just staying on it rather than going onto my skin and felt more of a tingle on my face when applied with a finger tip.
Maybe the cotton buds I have are smaller than the q tips you get there. Is this how yours look?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_swab

Also, if you had a choice to apply Retin A or Mandelic acid to a papule that appeared which would you use?

[LionQueen]

Do you find it better to apply the mandelic acid with a q tip?

I tried it today with a q tip and felt as if it was just staying on it rather than going onto my skin and felt more of a tingle on my face when applied with a finger tip.

.............

Also, if you had a choice to apply Retin A or Mandelic acid to a papule that appeared which would you use?

Just do whatever works best for you. It's more efficient to use your finger tip to apply it, actually, as you don't lose any to absorption in the cotton.

Mandelic would be a more effective spot treatment for papules than Retin A, IMO.

[left210]

Lionqueen - i am looking for some help on how to use my products. I am currently using the Paulas Choice Skin Balancing cleanser and the 2% BHA lotion. I also use the Mandelic Acid from GOW and just got the Diacneal. Can I use all of these at once. I had been putting on the MA in the morning and the Diacneal or Green Cream (I am out right now) at night. Can I use the BHA with these and if so where do I put it in?

[LionQueen]

Lionqueen - i am looking for some help on how to use my products. I am currently using the Paulas Choice Skin Balancing cleanser and the 2% BHA lotion. I also use the Mandelic Acid from GOW and just got the Diacneal. Can I use all of these at once. I had been putting on the MA in the morning and the Diacneal or Green Cream (I am out right now) at night. Can I use the BHA with these and if so where do I put it in?

Try alternating between mandelic and BHA lotion in the AMs and see how that goes .... keep me posted, I am curious about this regimen!