4 replies to this topic

[Jordosaur]

Hi guys! My first post ever shall be a plea for help, it seems!

For reference, my skin is oily, but my T-zone especially and to me, my pores seem fairly large and obvious and I have loads of blackheads. My acne isn't terrible, but it's still mightily depressing and rubbish for my self-esteem.

Basically, my 'regimen' has been completely messed up for a long while now. I found this site a long time back but didn't have the commitment to follow the regimen properly. The last few months I've become determined to try and clear my skin or at least improve it a fair bit by the time I hit 18 in Feburary. I'm currently being prescribed Oxytetracycline but I'll be honest, after 2.5 months I'm not seeing a whole lot of improvement.

Right now my 'regimen' (using the term very loosely, it's not very good haha!) is this...

Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facial Wash Gel
Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser

I do this morning and night. I've used BP before, I got prescribed Quinioderm 5% for a few months but didn't see lots of improvement but after reading this site, I suspect I wasn't using enough. It wasn't too unkind to my skin either.

Now I know this is pretty crappy and that's why I'm asking for help. I want a new cleanser, eventhough I have seen improvement since my switch to this simple one from the Neutrogena one I was on, I get the feeling a foaming cleanser will be best. My moisturiser leaves me feeling and looking greasy, which is a big no-no! The same happened when I used the Nivea oil-free moisturiser. I'm not sure what the stance is on toner, so should it stay or go?

Crucially, I want product recommendations. What cleansers are good and reasonably priced (under £10) and does it matter if they're foaming cleansers or not? I was thinking I'd just move back to Quinoderm 5% for my BP as I know it's okay for my skin. I'm thinking either Clean & Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser or Boots Botanics Oil-Free Moisturiser.

If you managed to read all this, thank you! So yeah, any and all help is very, very appreciated.

PS - Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I figured it was the best place as I want advice on things I can get in the UK.

EDIT - Forgot a few questions. The regimen says no scrubbers but I was just wondering if they are okay as long as they're used rarely? Like once a week? Same for face masks. Specifically the Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2 in 1 Wash & Mask. Thanks again!

Edited by Jordosaur, 25 December 2011 - 03:50 PM.

[Nelo18]

not to brag but I use the best cleanser, exfoliant and moisturizer. and they're afforable and available at drugstores.

[Jordosaur]

not to brag but I use the best cleanser, exfoliant and moisturizer. and they're afforable and available at drugstores.

Well I'll definitely give the Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser a look! Can't say I've had much luck with Olay products though, something about them irritates my skin.

Thank you !

[zahid]

I see that this is your current regime :

~My Current Regimen~
AM
~ Boots Botanics Pore Perfecting Deep Cleanse Mousse
~ Ibuprofen 5% Gel
~ Boots Botanics Sensitive Oil-Free Moisturiser
PM
~ Boots Botanics Pore Perfecting Deep Cleanse Mousse
~ Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Night Treatment Gel
~ Clean & Clear Dual Action Oil-Free Moisturiser
Exfoliate
~ Boots Botanics Purifying Face Scrub
~ Every Wednesday AM & Sunday PM

And all I'll say is that this is wayyyy too much you are using! First of all, get rid of all of them. Using too much stuff harms your skin.
Stick to the basics :
Exfoliating facewash .. in your case Clean & Clear blackhead scrub facewash
OXY ON THE SPOT 2.5% BP for your acne
After you use OXY, use SIMPLE moisturiser 15 mins. later after the OXY has dried.
Do this twice a day.
If your skin feels dry at anytime, simply apply moisturizer.

[Jordosaur]

^ It's okay, I haven't updated my regimen in a while. I use just 4 products now

Morning - Botanics Sensitive Cleansing Foam, Panoxyl 2.5, Olay Beauty Fluid Sensitive
Evening - Repeat.

And then I keep Avene Thermal Water Spray with me during the day to hydrate my skin. I'm pretty much clear, on the home stretch and then I've got to deal with scars!

OXY On The Spot was too costly and dried my skin out loads, so I replaced it with Panoxyl 2.5 Gel. The Simple moisturiser was too greasy and broke me out and I switched the Clean & Clear scrub because the little beads were irritating. When I overhauled my regimen, I went for basic products that didn't have huge claims, just simple ones.

Thank you for your help though!