yes, i effin want perfect skin! i wanna have hard-boiled egg, porcelain-like skin!! lol, and this is my journey......

main problems that i'm addressing are stubborn blackheads, uneven skin tone, large pores, and imperfect skin texture.

right now, am on salicylic acid. it's not doing enough. so i'm gonna try different things. stuff i'm considering are AHA to replace BHA, taking evening primrose oil for hormonal breakouts, and polysporin. suggestions are welcome. i'm gonna go to the mall this weekend and buy new products and get this log started, yay!!!

4/17/2008 skin situation:
hormonal breakout just ended. no pimples. just some redmarks.

Current routine:

AM:
cleanse with lukewarm water
moisturize/sun protection with olay complete spf 15 sensitive (changing soon)

PM:
cleanse with cetaphil gentle cleanser
moisturize with jojoba oil when still damp
treatment with PC 2% BHA liquid (replacing soon with AHA)
wait at least 30min, then moisturize again with jojoba oil, if necessary

if i go into a picking frenzy, i apply tto to prevent infections (replacing soon with polysporin)

this routine keeps me clear, except when the effin hormones of the cycle kick in, then my skin deteriorates literally overnight. i still wanna be a women in the next life, but hopefully by then science is so advanced that there's no such thing as hormonal breakouts.

Soooo ive been battling my blackheads, uneven skin tone, redness, and hormonal breakouts now for awhile. I have been trying different products for a couple of years now and I now have a regime which i am pretty happy with.

Morning:

1.Cleanse: Clinique Liquid Facial Soap- mild- This is so good, its gentle, yet it also removes me makeup.
i used to use Cetaphil but it made my skin really oily, i felt it wasn't cleaning my skin enough so then i tried Neutrogena Skin clearing facial cleanser and this just aggravated me skin made it red and dry because it had alcohol in it. and alcohol is a big NO NO for my skin. I also tried the St Ives scrubs but they are all too aggravating for my skin, then i read your meant to be gentle to your skin and not scrub it, if you want to exfoliate it use a AHA or a BHA product instead.


2. Exfoliate: Clinique Clarifying lotion- mild. This is really good. Its an exfoliant and it has 0.5% BHA in it which yes is a small amount buuuuuuut just wait.....
I tried some other Clinique clarifying lotions which were aimed at people with acne and i used them and BAM my skin broke out like crazy overnight and then i realized the damn things had alcohol in them and all these irritating ingredients. Damn things.

3. Moisturize
Clinique Turnaround Concentrate...YAY! This has 1% BHA in it and glucosamine which are two exfoliants but it also moisturizes at the same time. With my skin i tried many other moisturizers for the day-time and they would all go on nicely but by lunch time i felt my skin was oily again which i hated!!! So this works well all day.

4. Prime- Napoleon Primer- This is good is provides some moisture and lets my makeup go on really well. If i feel my skin is oily i use Clinique Instant Pore Perfecter which basically mattifys that area you put it on. I put it on my t-zones.

5. Makeup
Either Bobbi Brown oil-free compact makeup
or Cliniqu Superbalanced or Superfit both oil free .
maybeliene Dream matte powder makeup.

Then at night i take off my make-up with
Night


1. Cleanse
Clinique liquid facial soap

2. Tone
Estee Lauder- Re-Nutriv Intense softening Lotion.
Then i tone my skin, i always thought this step was a sham. I didn't think i needed it but since using a toner at night my skin is smoother and it has evened out my skin tone!! hence the name Toner. It has stopped my skin from flaking as well. (if the weather is windy and dry i use the toner in the day-time as well)

3. Exfoliate
2% BHA Paula's Choice Liquid
I put this on to eliminate my blackheads i have been using it for 3 weeks now and it has worked. Most have gone I used to have them badly on my nose and cheeks and now i cant see them! And I own one of those magnifying mirrors.

4. Moisturise
Clinique anti-Blemish moisturizing cream (2.5% benzoyl peroxide)
I love love love this stuff. Its great. I used to use just a basic 2.5% BP product and it make my skin red. This doesn't make my skin red and it makes my skin feel really really soft and smooth and it prevents me from getting breakouts.

I'm really happy with this routine at the moment. I tried other products from Galderma, Neostrata, Clarins, neutrogena, Clearasil, Clean and Clear, Aveeno, Dr Lewinns, Biotherm, so I've tried and tried and tried and i hope I'm done!!!!!

I've been on this new regimen for about a week now, and it seems to be working for me, so I thought I'd stick my neck out and start a new log.

Quick background: I'm 41 and have had mild/moderate acne since I was 11. I've tried many, many Rx and OTC remedies; a lot of things have helped, but nothing has ever cleared me up entirely. Up until last spring, I had things pretty much under control; some mild cyclical breakouts but nothing I couldn't live with. Then I went to Spain for 2 months and came back with seriously bumpy skin. It looked like I had pebbles under my skin all along my jaw and in patches on my neck, cheeks, and forehead. It wasn't inflamed (unless I picked at it) but it looked and felt horrible.

I don't get cysts or badly inflamed breakouts; for the most part, I only get real pimples during the week before my period. What I have are seriously clogged pores with a whole lot of waxy white gunk backed up underneath. I still don't know why my pores got so much worse while I was traveling, but they are definitely the root of my skin troubles.

I found out about jessfoliation, green cream, and topical vitamin A while lurking around this board. The green cream interested me because it's a high retinol OTC product. (Retin A helped me a lot before, but I just couldn't deal with going back to the derm all the time, and I let my prescription lapse out of sheer laziness.) Anyway, I figured that the purging effects of the retinol would help my bumps ... and I read that the green cream is specially formulated to minimize redness and irritation, which are common side effects of retinoids.

The topical vitamin A interested me because of its purging effects as well. It's fat soluble, so it comes in an oil-based formulation; everyone who used it commented on how soft it made their skin feel. I figured it might offset some of the drying effects of the retinol while increasing the purging power.

3/11 UPDATE: I'm no longer using the topical vitamin A, and don't particularly recommend it to anyone else. The Green Cream is a far superior product.

Jessfoliation works for me, up to a point. I started it right away when I first got on the board, and for awhile it seemed like it might solve everything. At first, the bumps got smaller very quickly -- but then I just stopped making progress. Now I use it very cautiously, because of the retinol, but it is wonderful for sloughing off dead skin.

Anyway, this first week has gone really well. I've been using the products every evening except one, when it seemed like my skin was getting irritated and I took a 24 hour break to let things cool off. A lot of the bumps have purged, but in a fairly painless way -- I haven't gotten any huge pimples or cysts, just some small pustules. Some bumps dried up and flaked off. Others opened up into loose comedones that were easy to squeeze out and didn't leave red marks.

For some reason, the left side of my face has purged more than the right; when I pull the skin tight, I can see that there's very little gunk left under the skin on the left side. The right doesn't look horrible, but it's definitely bumpier.

I've been doing the regimen for almost 7 weeks now, im using cetaphil gentle cleanser, panoxyl 2.5 BP, and cetaphil moisturizing lotion. As it turned out, my face turned red and it so dry and flaky, ive been following dan's regimen but it worries me a lot, i feel like my face is already burned and stretched. Is this still normal? Please let me know. Do i need to continue or stop the procedure at once?

1.NO GREASY FOOD!!! dude, i had a baby face and always got compliments on my smile, lips, eyes and clear skin. then i got hired as an assistant mang at carlsjr and it all changed. no more compliments, just people scanning my face, connecting the dots. the work at my job is stressful, im pretty much there all the time, and i was always catching myself eating french fries and hamburgers in between paperwork, lunch rush, and getting loads of work done in limited time lines. Then after starting a war against my acne, ive changed everything in my daily routine. As far as food goes, if you want a good meal, but not tons of zits later there is things you can do about it. Most important, incorporate fruit in your diet. Your body treats you better for it. If you normally skip breakfast to open the store at six a.m. like me, just eat a banana or a yogurt. Pack a couple nutri grain bars in your pocket for a quick snack, its better than a quick fry or onion ring believe me. And if you have time, put together a salad for lunch. You dont have to sacrifice good fatty american food neither, chicken strip salad is a favorite of mine. Also, pasta is a quick, easy food that will fill you up for the day and supply you a sufficient amount of energy to get by. Angel hair pasta, bread sticks, and a salad for me is better than greasy ass french fries, a hamburger with processed condiments, and a gallon of soda.

2.DONT PICK AT YOUR FACE!!! alright, this is a little harder than it sounds. though it can be hard, it is extremely worth it. if you pick at your face, all you are doing is spreading the bacteria it carries, essentially causing more pimples. along with that in mind, it leaves scars, pimples are pimples but it is still your skin regardless. take pride in your skin, it can be as beautiful as you would like it. if it is a big pimple, you might feel like it must be popped because its so embarrassing. dont think like that, only god can judge you. there is a way to keep it off your mind though, its a psychological trick. if people stare at your face and you feel uncomfortable, just think of it as a tattoo. i think of my 'tattoo' as a big raiders logo printed on my face and when people stare i just hold my head up and shine with pride. for girls, you might think of it as a butterfly tattoo. whatever it is, just be prideful that you have more strength and poise to leave it alone.

3.RELIEVE YOUR STRESS!!! Thinking about your pimples all day isnt going to help the issue. all your going to end up doing thinking about your zits is end up in the mirror destroying your face. play a game of chess, watch sportscenter, listen to your favorite music. whatever you're into, do it. if you dont have much to do, find an open space and do a couple push ups. do a couple sit ups. and even if you can only do like five sit ups and your done. just sit there and say "damn i just did like five sit ups! im a sex machine"

4.DRINK WATER!!! Thats simple. Soda is loaded, loaded with sugars and all kinds of syrup that contributes to pimples. Drink water instead. If water isnt flavorful enough for you and you cant stop drinking soda. Find other ways to contribute to a clearer, more golden skin tone. Gatorade, orange juice, apple juice, vitamin water. Those are all great ways to cut the bad habits but not sacrifice the tast.

5.TREAT YOUR SKIN RIGHT!!! Most people get pissed and say fuck it, ima pop every pimple on my face! Im gonna do this! Im gonna do that! Hey, just take it easy killuh. Put the nitro-glycerin away, put the scalp down, and take a minute to breathe. Acne is not that bad. Seventeen million people have acne, thats just in the U.s. alone. So take it easy on yourself and your skin. If you are washing your face and it hurts, stings, and irritates, you are doing too much. An easy way to wash your face while being sensitive with it at the same time is the use of oxy clean pads. I know, you're thinking "what the fuck is this guy on?" Nothing. The conventional use of oxy clean is to wipe these alcohol drenched pads on your face and irritate the phuck out of your skin. This is not what i am asking you to do. If oxy clean pads are too much, I do have a solution you could use. I have sensitive skin so I use a 'sensitive-skin cleanser'. So, I take an oxy clean pad, soak it in water to dilute all the alcohol. Squeeze my cleanser on the pad, about the size of a nickel, rub it into the pad, and you have your own custom oxy clean 'sensitive-skin' cleanser. The pad is good for deep cleaning(ever seen the dirt the pad picks up?) and its still sensitive enough to satisfy your skin type.

Hey there,

Well I have decided to start a log since my acne woes continue much longer than I expected them to. My history: I have always had mild acne since I was in about 8th grade. I have had comedones in certain areas since then (some of which haven't budged since then). I had one breakout in my Junior year of high school (2005) which was significantly more than what I am used to but a script of Benzaclin managed to calm that down extremely quickly and I went on to being relatively acne-free with the occasional spot over the following 3 years. Fast forward to now. I am a Junior in college (20 years old) and have recently started to have much more trouble with my skin. Starting in the springtime of 2008 my skin went to hell. Ok maybe not hell, but hell in my eyes. I broke out in a about 10 inflamed spots a month from March to July and recently it has began to calm a bit but I am still getting around one pustule a week. The comedones are the culprits of this as I fear they are all finally coming out. After a trip to the dermatologist, I was handed antibiotics (which I didn't take, don't believe in the theory behind using antibiotics for acne) and a script of Differin .03. The Differin did nothing but worsen the problem leaving my previously clear forehead congested and broken out (lucky me).

Shortly thereafter, I made a decision to start working with Face Reality Acne Clinic as a long-distance client.

Currently: I have been using their products for the past 4 week and am in California right now about 12 hours post-treatment (my first and only at their clinic, will follow up in MI). The products have been less irritating and break-out causing than Differin proved to be, which is a plus. The treatment was slightly disappointing at the moment, but I don't think I have given it enough time to truly assess it as a whole. I have broken out in 2 smaller but inflamed spots at the sites of 2 extractions and also a bump (which I perceived to be a bug bit) that was on it's way out is now fully inflamed again from being pressed on. In addition to that, my face is completely spotted in redness all over. They told me that this would clear by the morning but here I am and it is as red as ever so I'm a little concerned about that.

Current Status: 3 Pimples, 1 cyst that never goes away (3 1/2 weeks and counting), a couple true red marks but a tonnn from the extractions.

Current Regimen:

AM: BP Scrub (2.5%), Salicylic Toner, BP 5%, Vitamin A Forte, SPF

PM: BP Scrub (2.5%), Salicylic Toner, BP 5%, Exfol-A

I'll try to update pretty frequently, I hate acne...

So I decided to go off my Oxy 10 BP facewash since it was drying my face completely. Until I see my dermatologist in November I am doing something new.

Cleansing:
-Washing face with Dove sensitive skin bar
-After drying, applying Proactive repair lotion (2.5% BP)
-Washing back/chest/shoulders ONLY with Dove bar

Dietary:
-Improving my horrible diet (lived off carbs most of my life and I'm wicked thin?!), trying to get into more fruits/veggies/meats
-Trying to make and drink green smoothies 3 times daily

Suppliments
-Daily vitamin and Omega 3 capsuls

Exercise:
-Cardio etc...whatever I feel will help me and make me feel good

And most importantly...ENJOYING my life and not focusing on my flaws.

I hope this works!

Hello members and guests of Acne.org,

My name is Maia*, and I've just been officially diagnosed with non-inflamed acne. Sounds like I just told you that I have cancer and three months to live instead of a zit infestation. Even if I'm not likely to die from a pimple, I didn't even know what non-inflamed acne even was and I've been trying to evict them with little or no avail since they first moved in at age 13 (note: if you can't differentiate whether you have inflamed or non-flamed acne read the bottom of this log or go to Facerealityskincare.com and take a look at their before/after photos). It's easy for other people to scoff and tell you that it's just a rush of teenage hormones which will most likely disappear as you get older. Maybe true for some. A LOAD OF HORSE SHIT for those like me. Pardon my French.

So yesterday afternoon, I made my first visit to Face Reality, and thank whatever god you wish that they were easy to find, I've been proven to be annoyingly terrible at reading directions, but I made it here on the dot (they charge your card if you miss an appointment without 24 hour notice people,so don't waste their time!) I first took note of this clinic about a month ago from Yelp because they happened to have raving reviews, which I took as a good sign, but luck has it that a college student like me does not have a bottomless wallet to fund pricey treatments (not to mention products) at her disposal. But someone thought I should celebrate an early Christmas when my boyfriend, Juan Casanova, found this great opportunity to do some pro bono work for Face Reality and I just happen to fit their requirements.

Upon my entry into the building, I was warmly greeted by Patrick, whom I recognized as the voice I talked to over the phone. He told me to take a seat, kindly offering water and tea and when I sat down who else but Laura (the proud owner of Face Reality) was finishing up a client in front of me (who was notably in the further stages of acne treatment because her skin looked so healthy) testing mineral makeup which I found out later they have their own special blend (oooh..) I was moved shortly into a cozy room equipped with the familiar massage-like chair and the bonus of a fountain (brownie points for a serene setting). It wasn't until I was laying down that I heard the music playing from the speakers, which brings me to my next point, BRING AN IPOD TO YOUR SESSION. Especially if you need extractions. This is the part no one (especially estheticians) want you to hear because it's not pretty but it's almost always completely necessary for those who suffer from non-inflamed acne. Don't like pain? Ask yourself how much you'd like to see the skin you were born with instead of the skin you're stuck with right now. Trust me, it's not a day at the beach but it's no root canal. And if you can tough it out, you'll be worshiping the ground Laura walks on when she puts the soothing serum on your face. She explained in detail (without any humiliation on my part) what ingredients in food, fabrics, and makeup often irritate the skin and why to avoid them. An example (that even I had no idea about): seaweed (like in sushi, which I CRAVE all the damn time) contains a crazy amount of iodide content known to aggravate skin. As much as I wanted to despair at cutting back on sushi rolls, it was a giant relief for me to really understand what my skin reacts to and how I can actively prevent future breakouts instead of waking up to see my face in the mirror and feeling like I have no control over the pimples I have now and the gazillion more I know are coming.

Needless to say, I went home with a red face, however, in what I believe was a smart move on my part, I curled my hair so I felt a little less dumpy. My appointment was in the middle of the day so if I'm going to see people which I did, I can distract them with some spring-loaded hair and maybe some shiny reflective jewelry. You can't expect miracles to happen with your acne overnight, that's why it's called Face REALITY. What can I tell you, life sucks that way. Bring your pimple-pocked mug to Laura and deal with it. She does long distance too.

I was given a nicely typed regimen and a large baggie of products to follow for the next two weeks and if you'd like to see how it goes for me and decide for yourself whether this is what you are looking for, I'll be updating every 3-4 days on my progression towards clear skin.


Maia





*Some names have been changed because this is the Interweb where freaks and geeks reside and also I just liked test driving other people's names as my own. (I didn't confirm that I wasn't a freak (or geek) myself. >=)



ACNE TYPES:

Inflamed Acne: Visibly red, extremely sensitive and prone to oily skin. Looks like you've been dumped in a vat of hot Canola Oil and are suffering from it to this day. It runs in my family in two separate generations. If not treated properly, your face may look like my Uncle Freddy, who has as many craters in his cheeks as Utah has Mormons.


Non-Inflamed Acne: Bumpy dull skin, some acne but not as widespread as inflamed acne, dark spots, oily skin, and not sensitive or hot to the touch. My skin, I've noticed, adapts to cleansers very easily which disillusions me to think that new products are working and then I realize 2-3 weeks later that I break out once more. If you've got these symptoms or more, you may be like me and have a classic case of non-inflamed acne.

been moved

hey everyone

i am going to use the acne free 3 step program with the blackhead terminator to see if it clears up my minor acne and blackheads.

the program has a purifying cleanser (step 1), renewing toner (step 2), and a 24 hour time released benzoyl peroxide cream (step 3), after using these i will apply the terminator to my nose area as that is where i get most blackheads.

day 1- i have a red bump on both cheeks, minor acne near the sideburn area, and mild acne around my nose. i have blackheads on my nose also. i started the regimen today (january 24)
my mother said my acne was looking better(but she is my mom so she probably is just saying that.)

day 2- skin is a little dry around my mouth corners, looks a little flaky but i am putting clinique moisturizer on it.

Today is going to start day #1 of a 30 day challenge to no skin picking. For 8 years I have suffered from a disorder known as self injurious skin picking. I found out that I am not the only person suffering from this disorder when i visited the website www.selfinjuriousskinpicking.com.I decided to post a log here to see if there was anyone from acne.org that has skin picking issues. I began skin picking when i started getting break outs the summer before my sophmore year of high school in 2000. I would pick at my pimples and cause them to scab and then scar. I have suffered with this for 8 years and made my skin much worse than it actually is. I dont really have acne anymore, just an occasional pimple and some blackheads. but i pick at anything i can on my face making scabs everywhere. There are times that i get to busy and dont pick and my skin will clear up, but that doesnt last long i always find a way to pick again. I have tried everything and I am determined that i can fight this disorder. I am going to keep a log of my progress each day for 30 days and try the very hardest possible to keep my hands off my face. here is my plan-

1. In the am I will touch my face only to apply makeup after my shower
2. throughout the day i can only touch my face to reapply makeup
3. in the pm i will wash face with cetaphil cleanser and apply BP to any active spots/ I cannot pick at any active acne or blackheads.
4. I will log my progress each day

So heres to ending this battle and having the good skin that is underneath this crazy disorder.

Okeedoke...

So I'm sure some of you have seen my posts proclaiming the wonders of The Oil Cleansing Method.

Well after doing that method for a month, my skin started having a reaction to something. It might have been the avocado I tried one night or something else..IDK.

At any rate, I decided to stop the method and try something new. I just bought some Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash and Complex 15 Face Cream. I bought it after seeing a post suggesting to use the two products together.

Having already used Purpose, I am fine with using it again. I don't really remember what made me stop using it. I think it might have been because it was a little drying eventually.

But now I am only washing my face with a cleanser at night instead of morning and night. I think that will be better. In the morning I just wash my face gently with water and moisturize with the Complex 15. It just soaks right into my skin. I like it. The smell is a little funny though.

I think the OCM made my skin a little dry so I think the Complex 15 is going to be good for me. Thankfully, the local CVS store had it.
__________________________________________________________________________

So yea, this is my log as of now.

Today my skin is doing okay. I have a few pimples on my forehead and some on my cheeks and chin. Nothing major...

A problem I have is picking at my skin. I really need to stop. Sometimes it's an unconscious thing... :/

I know it will only make things worse but...*sigh*

I will try my best to leave my skin alone and with God's help, I know I can break the habit.

I had my first consult/treatment with FRSCC last Thursday. I live on the East Coast but was in CA for a business/pleasure trip with my husband and decided to make an appointment for a consult with FRSCC and then continue as a long-distance client after reading great reviews on this site.

I was very nervous going in as I had never had a facial before, nevermind extractions, and am OCD about people touching my face. Laura is such a warm soul and soon put me at ease and I began to relax. She told me I had non-inflammed acne, congested, dry skin, and tested some products and my skin was not sensitive at all to the higher concentrations of glycolic. The extractions did hurt some, but were more of a pinching. I thought it would be a lot worse.

Laura did what felt like about two dozen extractions, a few of them being milia. Of course I freaked out when I looked in the mirror afterwards at how red my face was and bumpy where the extractions were, although I did expect it somewhat. Laura said it would probably take the rest of the day for the redness to go down, which after a few hours the bumpiness was much, much better.

We experimented after with their mineral makeup line. I liked their line very much. I thought it went on a little heavy, but it wore great the rest of the day. I'll probably end up purchasing!

So Laura wants to wean me off of the BP I have been using because of the dryness of my skin and put me on the following regimen for the next few weeks:

PM: (every other night)
wash with FR silica scrub
tone with FR salicylic toner
2.5 BP all over

PM: (every other night)
wash with FR silica scrub
tone with FR salicylic toner
apply Vivant Derm-A-Gel
wait 15 minutes
apply FR Hydrating Emulsion
apply FR Cranberry Cream

AM:
wash with FR silica scrub
tone with FR salicylic toner
Paula's Choice 2% liquid BHA (since I still have a bit leftover)
(spot treat BP if I wish)
apply FR Hydrating Emulsion
apply FR Micro-TZ SPF 17

Laura is planning on eventually replacing the BHA with a 5% glycolic and I'll also start using the Derm-A-Gel every night in a few weeks and no more BP.

I'm liking the regimen so far. The extraction sites are flat, but still a little red. I'm sure it will take a couple months for all the current non-imflammed sites to disappear, but the goal is to keep them from forming in the first place. I have a couple micro zits on my chin, but the good news is I have had zero flakies on my skin since starting, which is a feat in itself! I love love love the Hydrating Emulsion so much. It goes on completely matte and totally hydrates my skin. The jury is still out on the cranberry cream. I love the smell in the jar, but I think it's a little overpowering for me since I'm not much of a fragrance person. (I never use perfume and use fragrance-free shampoo and conditioner). I'll give the cranberry cream a few weeks and see if I get use to the smell; if not I'll see if I can take it out of my regimen.

I'll continue to post my progress with FRSCC.

I am 36 years old and have survived 23 years of Acne with the help of every prescription and over the counter concoction known to man. As well as heavy makeup. God bless Dermablend I have oiy skin that is dry on top, so it feels somewhat leathery. I have no wrinkles. When I started the Obagi program, I had several cysts along my jawline and above my lip. I also have quite a bit of hyperpigmentation both from acne scars (all over but predominantly on my cheeks and forhead). I had 3 very dark areas of Melasma around the top of each eyebrow. I am fortunate in that, alhthough I had cystic acne (3 course of Accutane, which didn't help by the way), I somehow managed to avoid pitted scars. I have no idea how but I thank God a lot for that. My scars are either red or very dark brown spots.

I entering my 4th week on the Obagi Nu Derm System. My cysts are gone except for one. I am experiencing tiny whiteheads or clogged pores I guess, along my lipline but it's nothing I can't handle and they clear up quickly (although crop up in another spot the next day it seems). I only have 2 red acne scars left and I can't believe it. My melasma has faded but is not gone yet. I am however, as red as a tomato allll the time. I've seen "during" photos of other people and I am far redder than they were lol. Anyway, I thought I'd post here and be brutally honest about my progress. If the Obagi continues to work, great, if not, I intend to post that also.

My Obagi routine is as follows:

AM
Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser
Let skin dry for 15 minutes and applye Obagi Clear
Obagi Exfoderm Forte
Obagi Sunfader sunscreen

PM
Olay daily facial cloths (the kind you have to wet)
Differin Gel 1% on any areas that need it
Obagi Clear
Obagi Blender mixed with Tretinoin .25%

I just completed a Makeupartistschoice.com 18% TCA peel on my chest and back but it hasn't peeled much yet. The few scars I treated on my back are very brown and crinkly looking. One spot on the top of my shoulder did peel and is a lot lighter, probably 80%. I'm curious to see if it will get lighter as my skin continues to heal.

I will be performing a stronger TCA peel on my face tomorrow and will be taking time off to heal from that. I am hoping it will remove most of the remaining melasma and the 2 remaining acne scar/spots.

The Obagi has made my pores appear much smaller and my skin is not as oily. I used ot have to blot every hour or so but now I can go 4-5 hours without blotting. It reminds me of when I was on Accutane. less oily skin was the only benefit Accutane gave me actually. Anyway, I realize it is simply the treatment but it's still really nice and I hope it lasts. I intend to use Obagi maintenance for as long as it works for me.

Within the past month or so, I have decided to get aggressive with my skin! This is a whole new phase that I'm beginning. I spent the whole of my 20s more or less accepting the blocked pores and oiliness, using mattefiers and pressed powder every day(and I hate makeup).

But since discovering this site a few weeks ago I have been reading some threads here, and elsewhere online, and I ordered some new products... Maybe I can finally be free of blackheads and scarred skin.
(I only occasionally get any inflammatory acne now, so that's not much of a problem - it seems to be diet-related...)

The products that I am using (for the past 7 days) are:
Green Cream L6, Vivant Mandelic Acid 15%

I cleanse with Freederm Lotion and Neutrogena Blackhead Clearing Cleanser(with Salicylic Acid). In the shower I wash my face with Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Scrub.

And I've been dabbing some of my beloved witch hazel on after the green cream, if I feel that it's slightly greasy, before putting on my mattifier and pressed powder...

I don't have a regimen properly worked out yet.
I am not so sure anymore about my Neutrogena products(maybe they'll go in the rubbish, along with Biore etc...).
Also other cleansers and creams that I've been mindlessly using for years, I've recently discovered they are comedogenic. It's funny, but I seemed to have just presumed that all cleansers are inherently non-comedogenic... Or I didn't devote too much time thinking about it!

I'm also experimenting with 25% Vitamin C serum, which I have a sample of. It seems to soften my skin for when I want to exfoliate. And I'm looking around for a good exfoliant..

Moistuiser-wise, I am probably just going to use jojoba oil, if I need to...

So far - it's been just a week - my skin is looking clearer, gradually improving I think..

Today my face was a bit red.
I should have paid more attention to this, and maybe not used any mandelic this evening. But I did, and I think my skin would've preferred a break!
I slathered some jojoba oil afterwards, cos my skin was not happy! (I'm not even sure if this old bottle of jojoba oil is a non-comedogenic brand!!)
Also skipping the green cream for tonight. Used it this morning already. (I had been using it twice a day).

Time for zzzzzzzzzz now. Will post in more detail tomorrow... good news hopefully

hi, i'm the 3rd participant of the FRSC non-inflamed acne treatment program. first of all, i just want to say i feel incredibly lucky...no--blessed! to be a part. i still can't believe someone would want to due such remarkable treatments on me simply for the greater good of non-inflamed acne sufferers worldwide! thanks SO MUCH to the FRSC staff, especially kim who treated me, and laura & pat who made this all possible!

speaking of the staff, i have never been more blown away by a staff in my life. these are a few of the warmest, sincerest people i've ever met. every person i interacted with-- i have not one negative thing to say about anyone...i can't even say someone was even *slightly* distant. everyone was so amazingly personal...it seemed almost surreal. i was in skincare heaven!

anyway, on to my 11/9 treatment. just as i suspected, i had both inflamed and non-inflamed acne, but definitely mostly non. the inflamed i only have 2-3 of, i think. also, i mostly have my acne on the underside and jawline of my face. this might make it seem less severe, till you *feel* my face. i have the characteristic non-inflamed acne in the sense that if you stretch out the skin, the bumps turn white from the pressure. they're also notoriously difficult to get to w/o intervention. my skin has felt pretty clogged up for months now. (this whole problem started early this summer, but got dramatically worse with my stressful school schedule.)

so i had my face cleansed and then analyzed with the serum test and it was determined that since i have a few inflamed pimples still, we were gonna start with the salicylic acid treatment first...then move on to something else. it didn't take long; kim put the treatment on and told me to hold a small fan she had to my face to lessen the tingling. we did that for a few minutes and then she moved on to the extractions.

i knew my pores were really plugged; to be quite honest, i can't remember the last time i used any kind of mask whatsoever, so i knew a lot would come up. kim confirmed that something was coming up every time she pressed, but what didn't occur to me was how painful this can be when it's your entire face being pushed down with a teeny instrument in a teeny spot. i have a high tolerance to pain, so i was sure i wouldn't sweat it, but it was pretty painful, to be quite honest. i mean, i didn't cry or anything, or force her to stop, but pushing especially into my jawline or any other place where there was less fat and more bone underneath was OUCH. it was a very welcome relief when that was over!

once that was all done we were finished, so i asked out of curiosity to see what kim used for the extractions. i shouldn't have been surprised...what they use is simply a professional version of the extractor they sell at any drugstore. of course, the fact that kim and the other estheticians are trained specifically to do all sorts of prepping for my skin beforehand makes their extractions a lot more successful though, no doubt! she did explain that yes, the cleansing and salicylic treatment helped loosen the gunk in my pores.

i went home with a baggy of products (see my regimen below) that day and a face only slightly red. when i looked closely in the mirror i saw miniscule red dots in a few pores, but nothing blazingly obvious. i also went home with a strict instruction plan of care and info on acne, zinc, and acnegenic ingredients. (see their website for more details; a lot of it's there.) i was, for example, grossed out to find that one of the (many) products i brought had "dehydrogenated tallow phthalic acid amide" in it...which is BEEF FAT! EW GROSS! this is SO sad coming from a glycolic cleanser! ugh!

11/10
this is my first full day on the take home treatments. (as i stated above, you can read what that is below.) i am really liking it so far...except for the fact that i have to wait for 15 min before i can wash off the BP. last night i forgot about that and went to bed significantly later than i thought i would...
i tried the dixie cups the staff gave me to ice my face, but the ice wasn't solid yet so i spilled some on the floor while i was using it. plus, it's not really easy to get the ice on my face with the ice on the bottom of the cup since there's a ridge on the bottom. (i'm sure it'd work much better if i'd frozen them tilted somehow so i can ice more from the side of the cup.) anyway, i just decided to use one of those blue gel "ice" inserts for your cooler? there's just so much more surface area so it's a lot easier.

i really like the products; my face somehow seems brighter already. i initially apply them all to the underside of my face where the acne's the worst, then go upward. i think i have really resilient skin, because the salicylic acid and the BP aren't bothering me. i feel slight tingling when i use the SA, but nothing horrible and uncomfortable like when i used my axelex!

i noticed VERY slight flaking today too, but literally what looked like 3 or 4 tiny pieces of skin coming off. i'm assuming this is from the 1st SA treatment i got from kim. anyway, it was nothing scaly/dandruffy (like when you use too much 10% BP), just a few soft pieces of shedding skin. i noticed this tonight again around a few of my pimples (which were now..."softer?" or "flatter?"), and i take that as a very good sign!

...so i'd say my least favorite product is the BP, but that's only because that's the main thing that makes my neck what it currently looks like- an old lady's, lol! that's only because the skin on the neck is different from on the face, so it gets more dehydrated from the BP. it actually doesn't really look like an old lady's normally, but when i jut out my chin the skin under my face shows thin lines, and i don't really have wrinkles at this point (plus i have a super oily face). i didn't freak out because i saw this using my own BP. however, my BPs a cream and the one i got from FRSC is a gel, so i finally experienced what dan kern meant by "the superiority of a gel."

i also want to say my favorite product is the SPF 30. i know most ppl adore the cranberry cream, and yes, it's great i must say (more than the smell i actually like its consistency), but i am impressed with the consistency of the SPF. i am by NO means a sunbather. i am on the fairly careful side with my skin, despite the fact that it's pretty resilient (i think it's 'cause i'm japanese; the japanese are hypersensitive about protecting their skin from the sun). however, i can't stand the consistency of almost all SPFs! most of them smell, look curdly and spew oil on application-- pretty gross. the only one i swore by is my kara vita spf (and they're known for their spf) since it's so lotiony and lasts an entire 8 hours without reapplication...but i'm not talking about my previous sunblock, i'm talking about the FRSC one. even though it can't boast a continuous 8 hour coverage, i love the lack of smell and the consistency. it slipped on beautifully- very smooth. i *did* notice it made my face shiny though (but NOT AT ALL GREASY) but i don't care since i use mineral foundation on top anyway.

k, i think i wrote A LOT. i was playing catch up and know i'm overdue- sorry! i'll write more on my progress in a little bit. till next time!

So I went to see Laura on Saturday and had a treatment. Like everyone else said, people here are very nice and sincere. They make you feel like they know what they're doing. Im not going to go into detail of how the place is and blah blah blah. So let me describe my condition. I'm 23, asian, have acne since high school. Laura said I have non-inflamed acne. It will take 3 months to have clear skin (let's hope so). Laura also said I have a lot of dead skin, making my face look and feel rough. My skin is sensitive and oily. With past experiences, I know that my skin can get irritated and red super easily. So yesterday, Sunday morning, I started my regimen. Below is a list of the products I bought from Face Reality.

As of Sunday morning, I have one underneath-the-skin-and-about-to-be-developed pimple, on my cheek. So I washed my face with the scrub cleanser, apply salicylic toner, apply glycolic serum, and then apply the sun screen. After i used the products, my face was fine, not irritated, or red, or anything. So I was a happy camper. Then after the mall, errands, and everything else, I came home at around 9pm- ish and realized that my face was getting a lil sensitive. It felt sensitive and kidda itchy. I think the glycolic serum was kicking in and making my face sensitive, but I'm just guessing. So I went to wash my face with the Scrub, put on Acne Med (BP), waited 15 mins, and washed it off with the Scrub. Then I applied the salicylic toner and Cranberry cream (smells good by the way). At this point, my face was still red and kidda irritated from the experience I had at 9pm-ish. Then I went to sleep.

This morning, I woke up with red and irritated skin. I was freaked out. It was so red and kidda swollen that I had to call in sick today because I dont think I could go to work looking so horrible. I'm waiting to call Laura to see what's going on. So I just washed my face with water and put some Hydrocortisone and sun screen because I had to go to school. I didnt wash with the scrub or apply toner today because again, my skin is super red so I dont know if I should do my morning regimen. I wish i could cut school but it's going to be an important day and I have to turn in my paper. sigh. so, as of right now, as i am writing, my face is getting a lil better. I guess the hydro cream is helping it a lil bit. So my first day of using the regimen, i'm a lil frustrated and discouraged. But I dont know, let's hope I will be able to tolerate glycolic serum because I think it is making my face a lil cleaner-looking? but yeah, it also makes my skin red and irritated. So we'll see. Ok enough of me ranting. I'll contact Laura later and keep yall posted.

AM: Wash with Face Reality Face Scrub
Apply Face Reality Salicylic Toner with a cotton round
Apply Face Reality Glycolic Serum (Every Other day for two weeks)
Apply Face Reality Oil Free sunscreen

PM: Wash with Face Reality Face Scrub
Apply Face Reality Acne Med (5 % BP)
Wait 15 mins
Wash off with Face Reality Face Scrub
Apply Face Reality Salicylic Toner with a cotton round
Apply Face Reality Cranberry Cream (moisturizer).

Are any of you guys long distance customers, if so can u tell me how it is??