Hi again snow queen. Thanks for your continued help to everyone here!

Can you check the ingredients for me in these products: Thanks!

Aveeno Bar: (using it as a body cleanser)

[Removed link]

Tom's of Maine Unscented Bar: (body cleanser)

[Removed link]

Okay and the use of these cool things:

[Removed link]

Also the Dead sea salts I bought:

[Removed link]

Merry Christmas to you!

Hi Snowqueen. Thanks for your reply

Just another quick question.

 

Is it ok to apply evening primrose oil to your face, to help dryness? I am very worried that it could clog pores? Because it is a fatty acid can it cause pimples?

 

Thank-you

Evening primrose oil acts as an emollient and anti-inflammatory ingredient which can help soothe and prevent dry skin. Because of its emollient properties, I feel that you would get best results dabbing a little on after applying a well-formulated moisturizer, though that doesn't mean you couldn't try it just by itself. I've never heard of anyone breaking out from it, but that doesn't mean you won't. Clogged pores take around two weeks to form, so if you notice any unusual breakouts after applying the evening primrose oil it may be a problem for you.

Ah ok thanks i'll be sure to look into that and also it seems like theres been a lot of rumors going around about products inhibiting the ability for you to grow out of acne at a normal age, is this true if it's just hormonal acne (not counting any IBs from dropping the products after puberty) or does the skin become too dependent on it? I've just really been confused lately on what to do. I have a lot of trouble trusting all these products because of my past history of failed treatment.

There is no research showing that topical treatments actually cause acne to linger by making the skin become dependent on them; frankly I think that's nonsense. Most people I know of trying super-simplistic regimens may initially think they're getting good results, but the acne comes back in the end. If the skin actually improves on a long-term basis, chances are the products being used originally were too harsh, making the skin worse, and that the person experiencing good results only had mild acne to begin with.

Now, it is true that overly-irritating products can permanently damage the skin, which may make acne seem to linger, but that's why I recommend the use of gentle and effectively-formulated products.

Some products may contain igredients that clog pores in some people; these tend to be waxy thickeners and certain oils like lanolin.

Think of it this way- most people start breaking out when they were doing little or nothing to their skin, so if a super-simplistic regimen couldn't prevent acne in the first place, why would it be able to stop it?

Hey the Snow Queen I was wondering if you could please recommend a make up remover for me. My prescriptives make up doesnt come off very well with just luke warm water and cleanser.

Pond's Bare & Repair Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover (which doesn't have to be used just on the eyes) got really good reviews on Drugstore.com overall and looks like a relatively gentle option for the skin. I was reading through these reviews and the only complaints some users have is that it leaves the skin feeling a little oily, but most users say it is excellent at removing stubborn makeup and that it leaves the skin feeling soft, not dehydrated. Because of the comments some users had concerning the oily residue, you should probably use your regular cleanser after this product, but I would have recommended you use a cleanser after anyway.

Amandas_Jewels said:

Hi again snow queen. Thanks for your continued help to everyone here!

Can you check the ingredients for me in these products: Thanks!

Aveeno Bar: (using it as a body cleanser)

[Removed link]

Tom's of Maine Unscented Bar: (body cleanser)

[Removed link]

Okay and the use of these cool things:

[Removed link]

Also the Dead sea salts I bought:

[Removed link]

Merry Christmas to you!

I was surprised by the Aveeno cleansing bar, which is soap-free and actually looks like a decent product as far as these types of cleansers go. I would not recommend any bar cleanser for acne-prone skin, though, because they don't tend to rinse cleanly from the skin.

Tom's bar soap is a true soap product and therefore shouldn't be used (see the first post to this thread).

The other two products are meant to be used when soaking in the bath, but soaking (especailly in hot water) is damaging to the skin. Soaking in oatmeal won't thoroughly cleanse the skin, and salt can actually cause additional irritation. You may as well just use a hydrocortisone product over any areas experiencing irritaiton.

Merry Christmas to you too!

Thanks alot for your help.

The Aveeno Bar is actually a face bar I think but I figured scince the formulation seems to be so gentle I would try it. I bought 2 of them cuz the bars are kind of small lol.

Well I suffer from Acne but also from some Eczema. It's kind of a tricky situation.

Also almost all of the hydrocortisone products i've seen contain possible pore-clogging ingredients.

Do you have one that you reccomend?

I hear Aveeno makes one but I have not seen the ingredients.

Thanks!

Your gonna begin to hate me because I always have a million questions for you lol. Sorry.

Use as a body wash? ( have been thinking about it but wanted to make sure first )

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Thanks Snow Queen. Last night i tried it. I broke two, 1000mg EPO capsules and put it into my 60ml fruit of the earth aloe vera gel that has 10 drops of lavender oil. Is this OK?

This morning after i put my mineral makeup on, my face was hardly flakey. Usually its all flakey and dry. Works really good. Yes i will watch out any usual breakouts after 2 weeks. Because my face has been dry for about over 3 months, i do have some dehydration lines (hope there not wrinkles) on my forehead and around my mouth. When my skin starts to get moist again, will these go away. I dont want to age young, im only 17.

If you read the link below, this is how my dryness started.

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Thank-you SOooooo Much again MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Well I suffer from Acne but also from some Eczema. It's kind of a tricky situation.

 

Also almost all of the hydrocortisone products i've seen contain possible pore-clogging ingredients.

 

Do you have one that you reccomend?

 

I hear Aveeno makes one but I have not seen the ingredients.

 

Thanks!

I would try one of the hydrocortisone produts in a petrolatum base. Some people say that petrolatum clogs pores, others say it doesn't; you'll have to try it for yourself. Keep in mind that clogged pores take around two weeks to form.

As a plus, petrolatum is considered one of the gentlest ingrediants found in cosmetics.

If I remember right Aveeno's contains waxy thickeners, like all the cream hydrocortisone products, which may or may not clog your pores. I saw a gel hydrocortisone product which would have been perfect for acne-prone skin, but it contained menthol, an irritant.

Hydorcortisone products are meant to be used on a short-term basis; long-term use can damage the skin. Anway, hydrocortisone is still a superior option to soaking a tub, which indefinately causes damage and may make eczema worse.

Amandas_Jewels said:

Your gonna begin to hate me because I always have a million questions for you lol. Sorry.

Use as a body wash? ( have been thinking about it but wanted to make sure first )

[Removed link]

Considering all the peppermint this product contains, definately avoid it. Peppermint is a skin irritant.

`tash said:

Thanks Snow Queen. Last night i tried it. I broke two, 1000mg EPO capsules and put it into my 60ml fruit of the earth aloe vera gel that has 10 drops of lavender oil. Is this OK?

This morning after i put my mineral makeup on, my face was hardly flakey. Usually its all flakey and dry. Works really good. Yes i will watch out any usual breakouts after 2 weeks. Because my face has been dry for about over 3 months, i do have some dehydration lines (hope there not wrinkles) on my forehead and around my mouth. When my skin starts to get moist again, will these go away. I dont want to age young, im only 17.

If you read the link below, this is how my dryness started.

[Removed link]

Thank-you SOooooo Much again MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm not really familiar with EPO, but when I searched it I saw that it was a glycoprotein, which may help with wound healing and act as an anti-irritant. Aloe vera is nothing special, but can help soothe the skin. I've also read that it can act as a water-binding agent. The lavender oil will only add fragrance to the mixture and may irritate your skin, worsening the dryness. Olive oil or jojoba oil would be better.

The use of a good broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen is the best defense against premature aging.

Merry Christmas!

OK. Thank-you for your response

Snow Queen quick question,

I noticed that you didn't recommend Paula's Choice Toners, I am wondering if it is because there are better ones? I am thinking about waiting to buy their toner because they are releasing two new toners in the beginning of the new year. You said that toners aren't neccessary, but they add ingredients that mimic the structure of skin? Is that suppose to mean they help with red/brown marks, the over all 'tone' of the skin?

marry xmas.

Snow Queen quick question,

I noticed that you didn't recommend Paula's Choice Toners, I am wondering if it is because there are better ones? I am thinking about waiting to buy their toner because they are releasing two new toners in the beginning of the new year. You said that toners aren't neccessary, but they add ingredients that mimic the structure of skin? Is that suppose to mean they help with red/brown marks, the over all 'tone' of the skin?

 

marry xmas.

Pretty much all of Paula's Choice products are good (in other words they are formulated without unnecessary skin irritants and effectively); I didn't recommend every Paula's Choice product even though I frequently recommend the brand in other posts because I don't want anyone to think that Paula's Choice products are superior to all other products; although Paula's Choice is my favorite brand, there are other good skincare products available from other brands. Looking back, though, I only recommend two toners, so maybe I should add Paula's Choice toners as options; her toners are actually better than the other ones I recommended and I recently ordered the Skin Balancing Toner with a gift card my sister gave me for Christmas.

Using beneficial ingredients such as those found in Paula's Choice products can help the skin be healthier and look better, which may help speed the fading of red/brown marks, but don't expect miracles withPaula's toners or those from other brands. If you have brown marks, try a hydroquinone product (though not in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide) and/or a retinoid product; you can also use retinoid products to help fade red marks but again, don't expect miracles. Hydroquinone won't help red marks. Paula's Choice makes good hydroquinone products (I'd recommend the one with salicylic acid) and Green Cream is a very popular over-the-counter retinoid (you can also use prescription retinoids like Retin-A).

Sun damage can make skin discolorations leftover from acne fade slower, so be sure to use a good broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.

As far as the name "toner" is concerned, I think it stems from the belief that these liquid after-cleansing steps can tighten pores and firm the skin (like how toned muscles feel more firmer and tighter). Most of the information cosmetics companies puts out about toners is false. It is my opinion that Paula uses the term "toner" so that her customers will not be unfamiliar with the product.

From [Removed link]

'Why are the Final Touch Toners being discontinued?

We know it is never good news to learn that a product you have been using will no longer be available. However, at the moment, these products are still offered on our Clearance page. Paula and her product development team are continually evaluating our products, and the Final Touch Toners were discontinued to make way for two new and far more advanced formulas, Moisture Boost Hydrating Toner and Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner (available early 2007), both of which contain more potent antioxidants and anti-irritants. Moisture Boost Hydrating Toner for normal to dry skin contains an impressive array of ingredients that aid the barrier repair process. Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner is a soothing formula that has a lighter, nearly weightless finish designed for those with normal to oily/combination skin. Please consider giving these new versions a try. We hope you'll agree that they make skin feel better than ever.'

My marks aren't that bad so I will give Moisture Boost Hydrating Toner a try and if that doesn't work I will try the Hydroquinone product.

Thank you.

hi Snow Squeen!

i've been using baking soda as exfoliant, but i've read on this site that it may actually not be good for the face. so, i've decided to try a new exfoliant, Aloe Gentle Exfoliator from Body Shop. it is supposed to be good for sensitive skin.

can you tell me if any of the ingredients could potentially be irritating? thanks alot!

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diatomaceous Earth, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Isononyl Isononanoate, Jojoba Esters, Myristyl Myristate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum.

Today i got rid of my mix of the lavender oil, and i got a new 60ml aloe vera gel bottle, and just put in 3 capsules of EPO, with no lavender oil. I think your right, the lavender oil has irritated my skin making my dry skin worse. I will see how this goes

Hi Snow Queen,

I bought a product by Neutrogena called : "Comfort Cream" (also called Comfort Balm apparently) which seems to be new as I can't find any info on it anywhere on the net, even on Neutrogena's own website. It's meant to moisturize your face and body.

After reading this thread it seems like it might not be a good idea to use this (I didn't open it yet), as you say to avoid moisturizers in cream form.

I'll list the ingredients so that you can confirm if I should stay away from it or if it might be worth a try :

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceyl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii, Sodium Acrylate, Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Crosspolymer, Sodium, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum.

By the way, I've never used a moisturizer, why do you recommend the use of such a product ? Does it help in any way to fight acne ? Or is it only to counterbalance the drying effect of the cleanser and Benzoyl Peroxide and have a smooth skin ?

Same with the sunscreens, it also seems like you think it's an essential part of a skin regimen, why is that ? Is it also because of the BP which makes the skin more senstitive to the sun ?

Or would you recommend the use of a moisturizer and sunscreen even if one wasn't using BP. I ask this because from your original post it seems like the use of a desinfectant (BP) is optional in your 5 step basic regimen while the four other steps remain essential, yet I don't see why one should use a moisterizer and sunscreen if not using Benzoyl Peroxide. (Unless of course one plans to lay on the beach under the sun in the case of the sunscreen).

Could you please shed some light on all this ?

I really appreciate the time and effort you dedicate to this thread for us fellow people suffering from acne.

You're the best !

Ok I just picked up some baby aquaphor wash at CVS. I've been using the Eucerin redness relief for the past 4 months, and I wanted to get a cheaper cleanser. The Aquaphor wash wasn't that much cheaper. But the redness relief wash always leaves a sticky residue on my face. So we'll see how I like the Aquaphor. I just stopped my course of accutane btw.

Another question if you don't mind.. Have you ever heard of using ice on acne before applying the BP. I've heard a few people doing that and i've also heard that it was suggested by the person who invented topical BP (not sure if thats true or not, but i've heard it from a few people). Anyways i was wondering if this ice thing would have any benefit or have any negative affects on acne prone skin.

hi Snow Squeen!

i've been using baking soda as exfoliant, but i've read on this site that it may actually not be good for the face. so, i've decided to try a new exfoliant, Aloe Gentle Exfoliator from Body Shop. it is supposed to be good for sensitive skin.

can you tell me if any of the ingredients could potentially be irritating? thanks alot!

 

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diatomaceous Earth, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Isononyl Isononanoate, Jojoba Esters, Myristyl Myristate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum.

Paula says that it's OK to use a little baking soda with a gentle cleanser as an exfoliant, but I have heard many complaints that this method causes burning/irritation. This may not be true for you, though. Baking soda is slightly alkaline, and alkaline products should ideally be avoided, but I would think that this wouldn't be so much of a problem if it were mixed in a slightly acidic cleanser, which most liquid cleansers on the market are.

The ingredients list you posted looks fine, though I'm a little concerned that the diotamaceous earth (which is the exfoliant used in this product) may be overly abrasive. If you're looking for a daily scrub, one using bead-like exfoliants might be better.

Today i got rid of my mix of the lavender oil, and i got a new 60ml aloe vera gel bottle, and just put in 3 capsules of EPO, with no lavender oil. I think your right, the lavender oil has irritated my skin making my dry skin worse. I will see how this goes

Good luck!

Hans said:

Hi Snow Queen,

I bought a product by Neutrogena called : "Comfort Cream" (also called Comfort Balm apparently) which seems to be new as I can't find any info on it anywhere on the net, even on Neutrogena's own website. It's meant to moisturize your face and body.

After reading this thread it seems like it might not be a good idea to use this (I didn't open it yet), as you say to avoid moisturizers in cream form.

I'll list the ingredients so that you can confirm if I should stay away from it or if it might be worth a try :

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceyl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii, Sodium Acrylate, Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Crosspolymer, Sodium, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum.

By the way, I've never used a moisturizer, why do you recommend the use of such a product ? Does it help in any way to fight acne ? Or is it only to counterbalance the drying effect of the cleanser and Benzoyl Peroxide and have a smooth skin ?

Same with the sunscreens, it also seems like you think it's an essential part of a skin regimen, why is that ? Is it also because of the BP which makes the skin more senstitive to the sun ?

Or would you recommend the use of a moisturizer and sunscreen even if one wasn't using BP. I ask this because from your original post it seems like the use of a desinfectant (BP) is optional in your 5 step basic regimen while the four other steps remain essential, yet I don't see why one should use a moisterizer and sunscreen if not using Benzoyl Peroxide. (Unless of course one plans to lay on the beach under the sun in the case of the sunscreen).

Could you please shed some light on all this ?

I really appreciate the time and effort you dedicate to this thread for us fellow people suffering from acne.

You're the best !

The Nuetrogena Comfort Cream looks fine; nothing special, but not bad, either. I recommend not using creams over acne-prone skin because the types of ingredients they use to get their consistancy may clog pores in some people.

Just so you know, a moisturizer isn't necessary unless you have dry skin, and even then it should only be applied to these areas of dry skin. Unnecessary moisturization can worsen breakouts and impair healthy skin function. Many people like using a moisturizer, even when they don't need one, because it makes the skin feel soft and smooth. However, so can a good exfoliant, while at the same time helping to prevent acne. The exception to the rule is that you should be wearing a sunscreen regularly and apply it to all exposed areas of skin, dry or not. The damage to the skin caused by unnecessary moisturization does not compare to the damage caused by unprotected sun exposure.

Sunscreen is necessary for everyone whenever the sun is out. Sun damage can cotribute to and maybe even be a factor in causing skin conditions like acne and rosacea, and is well-known to be a cause of premature aging and skin cancer. Many people think that if they don't get a burn or tan, then their skin is not experiencing sun damage, but this is not the case. UVA and UVB rays penetrate cloud cover, and UVA rays penetrate glass. Sun damage starts to happen long before you get a tan, and that damage is cumulative. Although UVA rays can cause a tan or even a burn, they cannot do so as quickly as UVB rays, so many people often don't immediately notice them. In reality, UVA rays are linked to malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

You may be wondering how sun damage may be directly linked to acne. When your skin experiences sun damage, skin cells prematurely die and the skin thickens. This makes it harder for the skin to normally slough off, increasing the risk of clogged pores. Also, the damage the sun does to the skin itself makes it harder for the skin to function normally in the first place, which can't be good for anyone, much less someone experiencing acne.

Here's an interesting quote from Paula Begoun, a cosmetics researcher, about collagenase, an enzyme which destroys collagen:

...MMP-1, also known as collagenase, is responsible for the destruction of collagen. Generated primarily by unprotected sun exposure and the aging process, it is also present in sebum (which may be a cause of acne). (Sources: Journal of Investigative Dermatology, October 2005, pages 673-684; Photochemistry and Photobiology, October 2003, pages 355-360; and Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, and Photomedicine, April 2001, pages 178-183.)

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Ok I just picked up some baby aquaphor wash at CVS. I've been using the Eucerin redness relief for the past 4 months, and I wanted to get a cheaper cleanser. The Aquaphor wash wasn't that much cheaper. But the redness relief wash always leaves a sticky residue on my face. So we'll see how I like the Aquaphor. I just stopped my course of accutane btw.

I hope you like your Aquaphor wash. I like it better than Eucerin's, but recommend Eucerin's more because it's easier to find.