heitea

If something works for you, keep it up.  I had horrible results with coconut oil as well as jojoba oil but my friend does well with both.  One thing to keep in mind for others is that coconut oil is pretty high on the comodogenic scale while jojobo is said not to clog your pores.  I think though that trying it out for yourself is the best option and if your skin is not broken, don't fix it.

I agree that you should never ever just jump into a new skincare routine. You could definitely hurt your skin rather than help it. Coconut oil doesn't break me out and my skin is SUPER sensitive. But yes...I definitely suggest spot testing instead of just slathering it all on your face. You don't want disastrous results!

you can even use the coconut oil as a cleanser too like if you dont wanna use harsh products. (plus im all into animal rights and a lot of face washes/ moisturizers test) i don't use anything on my face at all other than coconut oil i replaced my cleanser with it and i use it as a moisturizer and my skin cleared right up and old red marks are lightening a lot im so happy i tried it and shocked because when i read about it i was like hmmm another house hold remedy that prob doesnt work but im sure glad i tried it. and its awesome in your hair too! theres soo many uses. makes your hair healthy. good for your skin..it evened  got rid of some crows feet i had around my eyes (im only 25). but a friend of mine met a woman in her 50s that looked like she was in her 20s because she uses it everyday..its anti aging!! i use it as deodorant too because regular deodorant leaves white allover my clothes and it apparently can cause breast cancer so i gave it a try and it does work! and doesnt leave white marks all over your clothes lol. it also works for getting rid of yeast infections lol and apparently whitens teeth too. the uses are endless lol. the best one i find is by Nutiva. smells sooo good and it was like 12.99$ but its probably cheaper other places because the store i got it at is expensive for everything

I used coconut oil as a cleanser last night and this morning, my red marks were so much lighter! I might stick to using JUST coconut oil from now on.


The jojoba oil/grapeseed oil/tea tree oil mixture that I'm using might not be the best option for me. I think it's the tea tree oil. I always crave some sort of "medicinal" smell/feel to my products so I added tto. However, it's always been irritating to my skin in the past, so I don't know why I thought it'd be a good idea. Boo. I'll try just coconut oil for a bit

I would also like to give a girl's point of view on this.

At your age, everyone expects everyone else to have at least some acne. And because of this, we usually look past it. People will not define you by your acne, I promise. If girls are calling you cute..then you are, even with acne! Trust me, it takes a lot for girls to compliment a guy, so if your crush called you cute, she still thinks it. Acne does not change the fact that you are a good looking person. I wish someone had told me that in high school at your age (I'm 22 now). People can still see your face through your acne. They still see your facial features, your smile, your eyes. They can still enjoy your personality and your laugh.
I wish you the best on Accutane. I've never been on it, but I really hope it works for you. It's no fun to go through high school believing that you're not as good as you could be. If Accutane doesn't work, you need to try to convince yourself that you are still awesome, acne or not. You deserve to have a great high school experience-- and only you can make that happen. I know your acne hurts, but people just see what's on your face, they can't feel it. It's much more severe in your head than what they can perceive. Good luck!

Oils are great - they can really help control oiliness and moisturize the skin at the same time. I've been using Jojoba oil for over a year now - it's amazing. I absolutely love it. At first it can feel a little greasy - it can feel like it may clog your pores but in most cases, if you get organic it won't. It's great as a moisturizer as well as a moisturizer base if your skin is super dry... It can make you look a little orange if you use too much but it's really great. Jojoba oil is very similar to your skin's natural oils, so when you put it on your face it tricks your skin into thinking that it doesn't need to produce any of that pore-clogging sebum.

 

Coconut oil is an awesome moisturizer. It's quick and simple. I just started using it on my face and I love it. All the antioxidants in it are helping clear up the whiteheads on my chin - that's a task even Benzoyl Peroxide couldn't do for me. It absorbs really quickly - less than 5 minutes. You won't even be able to tell you have it on. For the first time today I tried mixing Jojoba Oil and Coconut Oil for a completely natural oil moisturizer. It takes care of flaking really well without leaving my skin greasy. It's really low-maintenance. I also hear great things about Avocado Oil. Good luck trying out natural oils!

That's interesting that you said jojoba oil can make your face orange....I thought I was looking a little more tanned today. hahaha, so weird. I added more jojoba oil to my mixture a few days ago and that's when I noticed that change in my skin color. Oh well! I'd rather be a little orange than dried up! Do you wear makeup at all? What do you use to remove it if you do?

I just started using the cocout oil (unrefined, organic, extra virgin) like 3 weeks ago and its amazing! i cant believe all these years of spending all kinds of money on stupid products that claimed miraculous results and BAM coconut oil is the one that works and really well! its even lightening my scars! and people are so skeptical about it when they hear about it because its oil but its amazing

Hi Cassiie,
It lightens my scars as well! So many people claim that coconut oil is very comedogenic, but I haven't found that to be so at all! AND I use quite a bit on my face, so if it was pore-clogging, I'd know. haha. You mentioned that you've only been using it for about 3 weeks and already see a difference-- I noticed changes in my overall complexion in a short period of time, as well! This stuff's great! I wish you continued success!
 

 

I have been getting an hour or two of sun every day for the past few days, and my skin is clear and the red marks are much harder to see due to the tan. Woo!

 

Note: I have close to an "olive" skin tone, and don't burn. So I can lay in the sun for two hours and not burn, but tan really well. 'spose I'm lucky in that way.

 

So lucky! If I laid in the sun for two hours, my skin would probably just shrivel up and fall off my body. haha But the sun always helps my skin, too! Which is why I take vitamin D on days that I don't get much. But a tan on my legs usually helps hide any sort of stretch marks that I got during the fun times of puberty-- so I totally understand how a tan would help hide red marks! Cool!

 

 

Skin update: I've been removing my makeup with oil at night and just rinsing with water in the morning-- and my overall texture is so lovely But I've broken out a little more than I usually do with some whiteheads. booo.. I thought that all my blackheads were gone from using Paula's Choice BHA...but every time I use the oil on my face, I can feel more of the plugs coming out and leaving me with very soft skin where usually I have rough patches. Anyway, not sure if anyone reads my posts....it seems like there's just a few people who respond to each other on this thread. haha My words kind of drift off in the wind here...

 

I read them! When I'm on anyway. Be careful with oil cleansing. That totally ruined my skin after a week or two. At first the results were amazing, but then I broke out horribly and started getting these really bad infections in my face. I personally think you need to wash your face with soap (you as in, everyone not just YOU lol) but that's just me. Different things work for different people but personally I would never try oil cleansing again after my horrid experience with it.

 

My skin: Doing okay. Still having the breakout from the kefir. Never touching it again as long as I live. I feel like shit right now because I'm in the process of applying for this writing job for SEARS (big company woohoo) and it's very well paying but sooo stressful. Seriously, I'm doing my app and I almost threw up from the stress. Having to write a large, well-executed piece on the subject of "back up batteries" is enough to make a person want to blow their brains out. So why am I applying to do it as my job again? lol

 

Oh well... at least they pay you (a measly amount) for the application itself so my time isn't totally wasted if I don't get it.

Oh geez! I hope I don't get any infections! That sounds scary....

I just wish I didn't have to do anything to my face...and oil sounds like the best thing "natural" thing to get my makeup off, I guess...I don't know. So far, I'm liking the results but if it ends up in a broken out, infected mess, I'll go insane and then go back to Paula's Choice.

Good luck with your application! That does sound stressful! I'm applying to Army Officer Candidate School to become an Officer in the Army all while teaching biology and environmental science at the high school level.... and I'm super stressed right now, too. And thanks for the acknowledgement....haha now reading back on that, it sounds a bit like a cry for attention on my part. My bad... haha

 

I have been getting an hour or two of sun every day for the past few days, and my skin is clear and the red marks are much harder to see due to the tan. Woo!

 

Note: I have close to an "olive" skin tone, and don't burn. So I can lay in the sun for two hours and not burn, but tan really well. 'spose I'm lucky in that way.

 

So lucky! If I laid in the sun for two hours, my skin would probably just shrivel up and fall off my body. haha But the sun always helps my skin, too! Which is why I take vitamin D on days that I don't get much. But a tan on my legs usually helps hide any sort of stretch marks that I got during the fun times of puberty-- so I totally understand how a tan would help hide red marks! Cool!

 

 

Skin update: I've been removing my makeup with oil at night and just rinsing with water in the morning-- and my overall texture is so lovely But I've broken out a little more than I usually do with some whiteheads. booo.. I thought that all my blackheads were gone from using Paula's Choice BHA...but every time I use the oil on my face, I can feel more of the plugs coming out and leaving me with very soft skin where usually I have rough patches. Anyway, not sure if anyone reads my posts....it seems like there's just a few people who respond to each other on this thread. haha My words kind of drift off in the wind here...

 

haha my skin would do the same thing if I lay out in the sun! I don't go tan ever - just burn. But I've always been careful with sun exposure because of the fact I burn so easily... I don't know why people say the sun or vitamin D helps their skin (never really looked into it) but I usually notice a little improvement in my skin if I have been in the sun for a while. I just assumed the added redness from the sun was helping to hide all the red marks I have

 

Good to hear your skin is doing nicely - hope it continues to improve! I know what you mean about the 'overall' skin texture being nice but there being some problem areas still. Mine has been like that lately - but with A LOT of problem areas / active breakouts unfortunately. But I'm happy at the moment with the skin texture - I've been using a kaolin clay mask (with some other ingredients in there too) and I think that's helping. Besides, I think it's fun to use a mask now and then - like a mini spa / facial at home

 

(Also - I read your posts too! I might not always have something to add or to reply to people's posts but I read everyone's posts here).

Thanks Lily!! I tan after I burn, but still...the burn is not a good experience.

But yeah, I've got four active spots, which freaks me out because I haven't been breaking out at all lately. But my skin is still glowy and soft. I love masks too! I do them sometimes when I get home from my job (I'm a high school teacher), and it just helps me feel pampered after being stressed all day haha. And even if it doesn't help my acne, it's fun to pretend

And I suppose I do the same thing-- read everyone's posts and think about them, but don't always reply.

I'm feeling not-so-great about my skin right now. I have been stressed and hormonal and I ended up with some chin under-the-skin acne, damnit.

My skin has been the best it has ever been in the past couple months and now that I'm going through some changes in my life...I'm seeing my old skin coming back to haunt me. It really freaks me out.

I've been hardcore looking at the oil cleansing method-- or at least incorporating more oils into my skincare regimen. This is because coconut oil has drastically changed my skin and I want to see if different oils will help it out even more. I'm nervous about not using Paula's Choice products because they're what helped my skin as well. Ah...I'm torn....

By the way, in response to all the relationship talk on here....I'm dating a very shy guy who I love more than anything. He has never been in trouble with the law and is very career-oriented. I like that he's genuine and cute and that we can talk all the time about intelligent, interesting topics. I find his shyness endearing and I like him the way he is--even his insecurities. I'm outgoing and love meeting new people whereas he doesn't mind not talking to other people in social situations (not saying he actively avoids people). Don't look for someone because they are a certain way....just look for someone who clicks with you. Don't limit yourself to a "type."

Wow, Congratulations!

I was the same way throughout high school-- I would wake up insanely early to put on my makeup..just to be miserable throughout the day wanting to wash it off. I had a similar emotional response this year when I took a shower and realized for the first time that I had truly acne-free skin. I still wear makeup, but now it's fun to put on!

Did you just "grow out of it?" Or were you using something in order to get rid of it?

I always have this fear of breaking out , but it's been month of having clear skin with occasional zits. My skin has been very smooth for months! Thus, I am going to stop being afraid of breaking out. I am not going to worry about my skin anymore. I will not search for zits in the mirror, I will not touch my face to spot an active one, etc.

Same! Despite my clear skin (but, with the occasional zit), I still search for them! It's ridiculous! The other day, I got out of the shower looking fresh-faced, and for some reason decided to sit there in front of the mirror and pick at literally nothing. It made my face less than fresh. Boo. I'm with you, though! No more worrying about it so much! My face is back to fresh-mode, and I'm content with it-- No more zooming in on my pores.

No appetite, no strength to go to school or socialize. It's raining a lot these days. I just want to starve myself and get into the hospital so that I can be away from all this and feel too bad physically to think. In two months I have to move out and I'll have nowhere to live, money is over and I can't take the student loan anymore, my boyfriend left me, my face is a mess... I want to sleep. A long dark sleep without any dreams. 

You have so much left in life, Pianina. Time will pass and you will heal, inside and out. Have you tried getting a side job-- just an easy money type job? Like at a bookstore or a coffee place? It might keep you busy and make you feel good about making some money and improving on just you. Alone time is good for reflection, but too much can be painful. You will find someone else to make you feel happy and loved-- you're still so young and you're very beautiful. You have time, so don't give up yet. Life is not easy, but there is beauty in it, I promise. Keep your head up-- we are all rooting for you.

I'm very tempted to try this. 

 

I experimented with olive oil for about a week, and was very happy with the results. I don't leave it on though. I'm positive that would break me out.

I would massage it into for face for about 5 minutes, leave it on for about 5 more minutes, dab off the excess with tissue paper and then use face wash  I noticed my face wash lathered a lot better with the oil on my face, and my skin was left softer than it has ever been. I just couldn't stop touching my face after. I think it helped with the overall tone and texture of my face, too.

I also went on a sugar/alcohol binge during that week, and subsequently broke out, and although I know it was from the sugar and booze, I'm going to wait until my skin is clear again before I resume massaging with olive oil.

Yeah, I wouldn't be confident enough with my skin to use oil on it until it was at least fairly clear. I never even thought of oil as an option until I was clear from my own acne regimen. But coconut oil has brought my skin to a different level. Instead of having kind of ruddy looking, uneven skin, I'm regaining my natural "peaches and cream" look.

I've read some good reviews on olive oil, but even more on coconut oil! I love touching my face now. Although, I probably shouldn't lol. Sugar and alcohol doesn't trigger me (thankfully!!), so I don't have to worry about drinking. I think I would go crazy if I couldn't have some beer or wine every now and then  haha

I've been using Paula's Choice products for a while now and have gotten quite clear because of them (see my log in my signature). However, I still can sometimes get hormonal acne or little flare-ups every now and then. 

For example, a couple weeks ago, I had a cyst on my jawline. It was the only active blemish that I had, but it hurt. So, after seeing a review on Coconut Oil from my favorite YouTube makeup tutorial-ist (shaaanxo), and seeing what lovely results she's had from using it, I decided to go out and buy it.

At first, I was skeptical...I mean, putting oil on my acne-prone face seemed disgusting. So, I just put a little bit on my cyst before I went to bed, and a little on my lips for extra moisture.

Well, when I woke up, my cyst was almost gone. It was awesome. And I put coconut oil on it again the next night, and it was completely gone in the morning.

....I still thought it was a fluke because well, honestly, everything I have ever thought was great for my skin (other than PC Products) has ripped my face to shreds eventually...

So, I started putting it all over my face at night and my red marks have SIGNIFICANTLY reduced. And sometimes, if I've used my facial brush before I spread the oil on my face, I can feel the coconut oil "pulling" any blackheads out....

Anyway, two more stories and then I'll be done:

1. I was beginning to get a cyst two days ago, so I placed some coconut oil on it in the morning (I usually just use it at night 'cause it's super oily). By the night, it was gone. AND, I had picked at it so I figured it'd probably just get worse.

2. My boyfriend's nose gets red and flaky and he recently started putting coconut oil on it. Well, after a couple uses, his nose is much more normal colored and not flaky at all. He's really happy about it.

Just remember-- if you get coconut oil: Get the COLD or EXPELLER-PRESSED VIRGIN COCONUT OIL. Not the refined crap.

Has anybody else had good experiences with coconut oil?

My boyfriend has a red, flaky nose. He's been putting coconut oil on it every night for about a week and a half now and his nose looks better than it's ever looked. Hardly any redness and NO flaking. As for SPF, I use Lioele Triple the Solution BB cream that has SPF 30 in it. It has really good coverage too. I've also been using the coconut oil at night and my skin is less red, as well. If you are going to use coconut oil, make sure you get cold-pressed (or expeller-pressed) virgin coconut oil. It should be white, solid, and great smelling like coconuts. Good luck!

Thank you okaythen

I hate inside.

Sum1killme, I'm so sorry I read your posts and know the pain you're in. We all understand how frustrating it is to wake up day after day with more acne. It really hurts. Just be diligent and know that one day it will be better and that we're all here for you and each other.

Hey there everybody,

I'm not sure if anyone's really looked at this "log," but whatever, it helps me figure out how my skin is doing....haha

So, I've changed up my skincare a little bit as of late. I'm now doing things that I would NEVER have done when I had full-blown acne...because they seemed scary. But now I realize treating your skin gently is the best way to go.

Okay, here is an update on my skincare, and the new things I added will be in green.

AM:

1.Wash face with (A LITTLE BIT OF) Paula's Choice Pore Normalizing Cleanser OR PC's Skin Balancing Cleanser

2. Put a little more cleanser on a tiny Sephora Face Complexion Brush and LIGHTLY AND GENTLY run the brush over my face in big circular motions

3. Put Paula's Choice 2% BHA Gel (used to be lotion, but I accidentally ordered gel, and it's the same effect on my skin).

4. Brush my teeth to let the BHA dry a little.

5. Aveeno Skin Moisturizing Lotion

6. Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream- I use this as a foundation and apply it with a foundation brush. It has the BEST coverage and doesn't leave my face covered in zits. Woo! The only thing is that you have to put a powder over it or else it looks shiny.

7. Have Super B Complex vitamin, Vitamin D, 2 Flax capsules, and Zinc

PM:

Steps 1&2 are the same for the nighttime as they are in the AM.

3. Put Paula's Choice Daily AHA on.

4. Brush teeth.

5. COCONUT OIL- Holy crap, it's amazing.

So, I want to talk more about some of these products.

Sephora Face Complexion Brush: I started using this about 5 days ago and my skin is noticeably softer. I wanted to buy the Clarisonic Mia to get rid of the remaining blackheads I have in my cheeks and nose, but it's insanely expensive! So, I decided that I'd experiment with a manual brush and see if it had any effects. Well, I'd say that after a week of using it, I'm hooked. My skin looks MUCH calmer, my red marks are fading DRAMATICALLY, and my face is lovely and soft. The only thing is that the bristles of the brush are starting to fall out (whatever...it was 5 bucks.). This is one of the things I would have been afraid to use on my face before, but it's so great for my skin that I wish I had used it when I had worse skin.

Paula's Choice BHA Gel: I like the lotion better, but the gel has the same effect on my skin. The "lotion" is more of a liquid and doesn't leave any residue, whereas the gel leaves a bit of a sticky film. But it goes away after applying moisturizer.

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream: This is a Korean BB Cream that has completely changed the way I put on makeup. It has beautiful, medium to heavy coverage, unlike American BB creams that are more like tinted moisturizers. I put it on with a foundation brush and I think that it's contributing to my ever-increasingly clear skin. It also has SPF...and being a really pale girl, that's awesome.

Last but not least:

COCONUT OIL: OMG this stuff makes me so happy. I put it on every part of my body and on my toast in the mornings now. It's the best nighttime moisturizer ever. I was SO afraid that putting oil on my skin was the worst mistake I could ever make, but it turned out to be a great decision. It calms my skin and makes it soft in the morning. I only use it at night on my face, and my face soaks it all up by morning. But, if you're going to use it, DO NOT BUY THE REFINED COCONUT OIL. You have to get virgin coconut oil, cold or expeller-pressed. It's solid and white and smells great like coconuts.

Bad. My acne is very moderate right now, but why do I look so fucking disgusting? I removed all the pictures from our Easter dinner where I was present... Maybe I should just wear a mask on half of my face, like Phantom of the Opera? It's scarred from the previous cysts, there's this giant red cyst which doesn't shrink or go away, and dozen of dark red spots... It was impossible to look at myself in the pictures and I had no wish to retouch them as I usually do. What's the point in presenting a lie? As soon my acne gets reduced from the bcp and vitamin A + D I'm using now (with really good results so far) I'm going for chemical peals or Fraxel. I just can't live like this anymore, hiding one side of my face... 

People, please I beg for you advice how to reduce the side of a giant cyst, with pus clogged beneath, never coming to head! It looks like some mini tumor, I think it's the biggest cyst I've ever had. It's on the lower part of my right cheek, right after the "laughing wrinkle". Hurts when I smile. I warmed it as most of the websites advice, but it increased in size. Tried to ice it but it just got more angry red. I can't look at it anymore, if there is no other way, I'll cut it open myself and release the pus... But this will result in one more scar.... Help me (((( 

Hey Pianina,

I had a big BIG cyst under my jawline last week. I just started using coconut oil on my face around the same time, too. I was really afraid to use coconut oil on my face because well, it's oil and that seemed gross. So, instead of smearing the oil all over my face, I just put it on my cyst, and in the morning, it was pretty much flattened, but not completely so. It wasn't a miracle, but it was DEFINITELY helpful. Now it's completely gone Then, two days ago, I got a little mini-cyst on my chin and I put coconut oil on it overnight. In the morning, there was a little white head, so I popped it and now it's gone except for a little red mark.

I got expeller-pressed virgin coconut oil (it's white and solid, but when you rub it in your hands, it melts instantly). It may not work miracles, but it doesn't break me out, helps with redness, reduces cysts and moisturizes beautifully at night.

As for how I'm feeling about my acne:  I still have some tiny blackheads, which are finally going away due to a facial brush I got (similar to Clarisonic, but manual--only cost $5, not $150! lol). But the redness is pretty much gone, and the red marks are fading. It takes me 15 minutes to do my makeup instead of an hour. I feel so much better about myself-- even when I get a zit, I feel "okay" with it. It's both a change in attitude and in my actual physical state.

I do agree there are difficult times in a monogamous relationship. But I can't imagine the strain or the sense of sadness in a polygamous relationship-- always trying to be the "best" person that someone is with. It would be too much.

Anyway, I don't think that polygamy is going to solve the problem of jealousy. In fact, I would think that it would make it worse. Think of it: A woman is dating a man, but also dating three other men. All of those men are going to want to be her favorite, and when she showed a little more liking to one, the others would feel cheated. Now that doesn't seem ideal to me at all.

I am not denying that I have never felt physically attracted to another person. I have. But I have respect for myself and my boyfriend and would not act on those feelings. Pianina, I have a feeling that if you're in a relationship in which you are emotionally invested, I assume your boyfriend has that respect for you, as well.

I have been with my boyfriend for almost 7 years. I am 22 now. We are in an exclusive, monogamous relationship and we love each other's company. We are best friends. We would rather spend time with each other when we're not working. This is not a rare thing. Lots of people are with the loves of their lives. It is possible. People are intelligent, thoughtful, considerate beings (for the most part). Your boyfriend does not sound like someone who will jump at any pretty face that he comes across. Hopefully he is not that shallow.

"It doesn't make sense to reject someone you are attracted to just because "you are already with someone"" -- Yes it does. If you are in a beautiful relationship with someone that you are attracted to AND connect well with, it makes sense to CONSERVE that, despite an attractive "other" person.