I've been checking out your log. I know your pain. However, I think you need to rethink what you are doing. Here are my suggestions after battling acne from my 20s on to my mid 40s plus oily skin, some enlarged pores, etc.

1. Cut out all facial scrubs. Its a bunch of hogwash. Scrubs made my skin worse because all it did was move around the bacteria. You think that its going to scrub all the junk off, but it doesnt. Once I stopped scrubs, I saw improvement. Not overnight, but it took a bit and then the severity of the breakouts stopped. This also include the brush system.

2. If your face is oily, and it is, then use a mild cleanser in the am. Carry around facial wipes with you and use them at lunchtime etc. I wash my face about 3x a day sometimes, and it doesnt bother it at all despite what you hear as long as its mild cleanser.

3. I dont do facials anymore because I think they also dont work. See #1. They are relaxing but dont work. This is after years of spending $$$ for them. I ended up breaking out after every one.

4. Stop the Clinique. You are sensitive to it, throw it away. I also dont use any powdery mineral makeup anymore. I use a combo of Rimmel Matte and another mineral based foundation. Both do not clog pores. Do not apply makeup straight to your face. After you cleanse, and put on any prescriptions, then put on moisturizer if you need it plus SPF. I think you should try BP on the breakouts you have unless you are too sensitive for it. Then, using a fresh makeup sponge (triangular type like in Sephora) put some on your hand then apply to the sponge then to the face. You will avoid putting bacteria on your face this way.

5. For blackheads use a SA toner pad at night. This may make you break out wickedly but try it. If you are okay with it then just use it 1x per day.

6. Consistency is key. It sounds like you are switching way too much between products and regimans and not giving each one enough time to work.

7. Clean pillowcases and remove all your makeup at night. Hair up in a pony tail off face.

8. I'm on Finacea in the am and Differin .1 cream at night.

Thanks! Yeah, I don't use scrubs anymore. My routine has been pretty consistent for the past couple of months.

Morning

Soap Free Cleanser

Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner

Duac

Olay SPF 15

Everyday Day minerals

Night

Remove make up w/ neutrogena one step on a pad

Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser w/clarisonic every other night

Cetaphil MOisturizer

Wait 30 mins

Retina Micro

I'm going to the derm tomorrow. Broke out in white heads on my chins and both cheeks where I had blush.

Went to the Derm. today. So frustrating. He was pressuring me to go on antibiotics and to try accutane. I'm really against taking antibiotics because I have taken so many in the past like Doxycycline, Minocycline, Tetracycline, etc. I took them for years and I never saw improvement with them they never worked for me. He prescribed me some vitamin supplement to take instead. I will pick up the prescription for that tomorrow. I'm totally against going on accutane. It has way too many side effects and I would have to do blood work every month. That's definitely not an option that I am willing to pursue. Going to the dermatologist seems so pointless sometimes. I get there wait an hour to see the doctor for a 5 minute conversation. He doesn't listen to me. I have a facial on Wednesday. Went to the dentist and derm today. I was watching True Life: I have Acne on MTV and it made me really grateful.

[Edited link out]

Going to lay off the retin-a since I'm breaking out and the derm told me to. Face is really dry and itchy now. =(

Morning

Soap Free Cleanser

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

Duac

Olay SPF 15

no make up

Night

Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser w/clarisonic

Neutrogena alochol free toner

Pretika light

Duac

Cetaphil moisturizer

P.S my dream foundation. *drools* It's like air brushing.

SK-II Air Touch Foundation 16oz

Got a facial today. I picked up my prescription of Nicotinamide 750 mg and Aczone 5% gel. We'll see how this goes. I'm so sad. I put tide bleach on a tiny stain on my gorgeous 100% polyester dressy top and now it's ruined. =( I only wanted to get the stain out and now it left a more noticeable bleached stain.

Used the Aqua Cover girl smoothers tinted moisture yesterday. Last night left out retin-a just used duac twice.

My derm wants me to use

Morning

Duac &

Nicotinamide pill

Afternoon

Aczone

Night

Retin-a

Nicotinamide Pill

I guess my new regimen will after I work at the gym I'll use the aczone in the afternoon

Morning 8:00 a.m.

Soap Free Cleanser

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

Wait 10 mins

Duac

Olay SPF 15

Everyday Minerals or Aqua CG smoothers

Afternoon 1:30 p.m.

Take off make up with neutrogena one step cleanser on a pad

Cetaphil gentle cleanser

Neutrogena alcohol free toner

10 mins

Aczone

Cetaphil Moisturizer

Gym

Night 10:00 p.m. or later

Cetaphil gentle cleanser (w/clarisonic every other day)

Neutrogena alcohol free toner

Cetaphil moisturizer

Pretika red light

wait 30 mins

Retin-a micro

I really want to try this baking soda/acv/ egg white with lemon mask regimen too. I'll do it later

[Edited link out]

I was browsing through my picture log and wow...my skin actually has cleared up from when first started this log in Oct. '08. It's been five months and the cystic acne has reduced a lot.

Today

Five months ago

Tonight I used

Cetaphil Cleanser

Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner

Cetaphil

Aczone

I realize that if I ever travel I would have to take sooo many items with me for my regimen. Even when I go home from school I bring a ton of bottles and lotions with me.

Ughh i really don't know what to do with my skin. My acne is clearing up but I have so many blackheads and scars. My skin tone is so uneven. Can I just get a peel? I just want perfect skin. =( My hair is dying too it's soo dry. I've been putting jojoba oil in it but it just makes in oil and I have to wash it again.

Morning

SFC

Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner

Duac

Olay SPF 15

Cover Girl smoothers tinted moisturizer SPF 15

Nicotinamide pill

Afternoon

Removed Makeup

Cetaphil Gentle skin cleanser

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

Aczone gel/cream or whatever

Olay Spf 15

Gym. One hour. Showered.

Gentle Skin cleanser

Jojoba Oil as moisturizer

Lunch Smoothie: Grapes, plain yogurt, sunflower seeds, banana, black berries

Night

Remove make up again

Cetaphil w/clarisonic

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

Retin-a

Cetaphil

I've been taking vitamin E on and off and vitamin C because I'm scared of getting sick.

I agree. Give your skin a rest. The scrubs and toners = NOT GOOD

Skin is a lot clearer now. I just have the huge pores, blackeheads, and scars to deal with now. I missed an exam yesterday morning I went to school looking like crap with no make up. My friend saw me and was like how much make up are you wearing? I told him none and he didn't believe me. I've been using the aczone at night instead of retin-a.

Morning

SFC soap

jojoba oil

duac

olay spf 15

revlon day spa concealer

Covergirl aqua smoothers tinted moistuirzer

Afternoon

remove makeup

cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

neutrogena alcohol free toner

jojoba oil

aczone

Night

cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

jojoba oil

aczone on cheeks

retin-a on forehead

I've been taking nicotinamide (vitamin b3, zinc, copper) supplement that my derm prescribed morning and at night. I've also been taking vitamin e, for my hair and vitamin C occasionally. I've been having horrible allergies so I've been taking claritin in the mornings too.

Skin is pretty clear. I still have massive amounts of black heads and huge pores. I'm planning on switching to ACV toner soon.

Daily Regimen

Morning

Soap Free Cleanser

Neutrogena Alcohol free toner

jojoba oil

Duac

nictotinamide pill and vitamin e pill

Afternoon

neutrogena make up remover cleanser on a pad

cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

neutrogena alcohol free toner

jojoba oil

aczone

Gym for an hour

Night

cetaphil gentle skin cleanser w/clarisonic

jojoba oil

pretika

Retin-a on forehead. aczone everywhere else

nicotinamide

[Edited link out]

Used a egg white mask with acv and vitamin e. all over my face, chest, and back. went to the beach over the weekend so I have a bit of tan now except for my face since I covered myself with a towel there.

I have a pimple on a chin that's disappearing into a red mark so trying to prevent scarring. The zit on my nose that's been there since spring break is still there. =( I've been scarring so much now. It's more noticeable. I don't know if it's because I've the aczone. I've been limiting retin-a since it's been so drying on my skin.

Morning

Soap Free Cleanser

Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner

Jojoba oil

Duac

Olay SPF 15

Revlon Age Defying Concealer

CG aqua smoothers SPF 15

Afternoon

Remove makeup w/cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

Neutrogena alcohol free toner

jojoba oil

duac

Gym one hour

Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

Egg white mask w/ACV and vitamin e capsule

ACV toner w/water

jojoba oil

Duac

Night

cetaphil gentle skin cleanser w/clarisonic

ACV toner

Jojoba oil

Retin-a

Cetaphil moisturizer

Meals

Breakfast

Naked smoothie

ham sandwich

Snack

Banana

Smoothie: blackberries, strawberries, sunflower seed, vanilla yogurt, cherubs

Hard boiled egg

Green Tea w/ACV

Nicotinamide pill, Vitamin E, C, B5

Dinner

chicken

nicotinamide pill, vitamin e

Exfoliated with a coffee scrub mask this morning and used a egg yolk/honey/vitamin e mask afterwards. Then toned with ACV + water, moisturized with jojoba oil. Running out of nicotinamide pills so I need to refill.

Just still huge pores and scarring still. I sitll have the scar on my nose from the facial during spring break. Next weekend I will try an oatmeal mask for my blackheads.

Diet is soo not healthy. I've been eating pasta for the past three days and ice cream =(

Used retin-a tonight.

A whitehead emerged on my upper lip. I have two on my right jaw right now. Ugh I hate when I break out when I have presentations. The worst time. Ran out of nicotinamide.

Morning

SFC clarisonic

neutrogena alcohol free toner

jojoba oil

duac

spf 15

tinted moisturizer

concealer

Afternoon

removed makeup

aczone

night

duac

THe whitehead on my upper lip popped and now it's scarring. I have two scars on my right jaw now. The one on my left side of my jaw is dasappearing.

I mixed a

egg white

yogurt

honey

oatmeal mask

Then I put jojoba oil on. I haven't been using retin-a in a week.

Went out of town last night to a party and completely fell asleep with all my makeup on. smashbox primer, cliniqud perfectly wahtever foundation. etc etc. So drove back home today and did a oatmeal mask, egg yolk mask.

Expect a break out in two weeks.

Broke out with a pimple on my chin and right cheek. I think I have cosmetic acne. Came home took off the Tinted moisturizer and slathered on some Duac.

wow! you do so much stuff to your skin!

clarisonic+toner+oil+duac+moisturizer+makeup+masks+facials+aczone...

Its all so confusing! but i guess that's why having a log is such a great idea, b/c then you can have a record of what you did everyday and hopefully see a pattern of what works and what makes you breakout.

I'm using Aczone too (i think you may have already read that somewhere), and I haven't had any new breakouts since i started (4wks now) and the overall texture of my skin is better. I hope you see similar success!!!

lol yeaah I do. My skin has improved a lot. I just have blackheads and scars now. Aczone does really help! It's the less drying product out of Duac and Retin-a

Did coffee scrub (exfoliate) and yogurt mask (moisturize) yesterday. Routine is still the same. Alternating between Duac, Aczone, and Retin-a. Using Retin-a less now

Morning

Soap Free cleanser

(Skip toner sometimes)

Jojoba oil to moisturize

Duac

Vitamins: Nictoinamimde, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C

Make up

Cover Girl Aqua Smoothers tinted moisturizer

Revlon spa concealer

Afternoon

Remove make up and cleanse face w/Cetaphil

Gym

Wash face again

Aczone

Night

Cetaphil w/clarisonic

ACV toner (not diluted)

jojoba oil

Wait

Pretika Red Light

Retin-a on forehead and nose. Duac on cheeks and chin.

Vitamins: Nicotinamide, Vitamin E

Nicotinamide ZCF consists of

Nicotinamide USP 750 mg

Zinc Oxide USP 25 mg

Cupric Oxide 1.5 mg

Folic Acid USP 500 mg

I have minor bumps on my forehead but I think that's from wearing a hat while I've been going to the lib to study for finals.

Went to the doctor's this morning at 9:40 a.m. for my 10:20 a.m. appointment. Waited foreveer. I had a lump in my breast so I wanted to get that checked out. Left around 12:30 grabbed some lunch and drove to the second office since my primary referred me to get an ultra sound and mammogram at 1:15 p.m. I have a fibroadenoma lump in one of my breasts. It's not cancerous.

[Edited link out]

Woke up this morning and exfoliated my skin w/a coffee scrub, left it on for like 10 mins then rinsed it off. Then steamed my face to open my pores for 10 mins, squeezed from blackheads from nose, used an egg white mask with tissues 10 mins, then used a yogurt mask to hydrate and calm my face.

Toned w/ACV, Moisturized w/jojoba oil, 30 mins, duac.

I've never squeezed out blackheads before until I watched people do it on youtube. After steaming I just pushed down on my skin using tissue paper and out came strings of white sebum.

broke out on my chin for some reason. i had a white head in the middle and another one on the side. i'm putting red light on it as we speak.

thinking abut getting a skin medica vitalize peel for my scars and pores. has anyone tried that?

Went out last nite for cinco de mayo put on make up, tinited moisturizer, concealer, foundation.

I got a facial today she just popped the three zits on my chin and she didn't really extract any black heads though. Ugh i need to go to different facialist that actually extracts blackheads. It's all washing and masks but I want extractions to be done! Had my eyebrows and upper lip waxed on tuesday.

Been doing Retin-a in the morning and night to help with the scars from the facial. Been peeling but the scars are fading. I haven't worn make up in a couple of days. Really want to get rid of these blackheads =(

Skin is pretty clear just congested with blackeheads along my tzone. Pimples from the facial are fading and I just have scars now.

Morning

SFC soap free cleanser

neutrogena alcohol free toner

jojoba oil

wait 15 mins

duac

olay spf 15

cover girl smoothers tinted moisturizer

Afternoon

took off make up w/cetaphil cleanser

ACV toner

jojoba oill

duac

olay spf 15

went to the pool and laid out. covered my face with a my hat. still got burnt

Night

cetaphil w/clarisonic

ACV toner

Jojoba oil

wait and use pretika red light while watching the hills

Retin-a on forehead and nose

Duac on cheeks and chin

Hmm....i guess teh red light does increase collagen because I've using it on my chin for this zit and when i open my jaw really wide there's tihs dimple that wasn't there before.

Wore make up. smashbox primer, clinique foundation. hmmm should break out in two weeks.

Broke out in a hugeee cystic zit on the left side of my nose. actually it's four zits clustered together.i'm using red light on it. Hmm....I was thinkng about getting thermaclear.

soaked a cotton ball w/acv and covered the zit on my nose w/it