Acne.org Products
The_Snow_Queen said:SweetAmber said:Dear Snowqueen, I have some questions about sunscreen- there are 2 kinds of sunscreen right? mineral based and chemical? Can you please explain what the difference is between these filters and I would like to know whats best for your skin to use now that the summer is comming.
- Is it the right thing to first put on moisturizer and on top sunscreen or can I use sunscreen alone?
Hi SweetAmber,
Here's some links that you might find interesting which overview sunscreens, both chemical and physical:
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/pd/sunscreen/types.php
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/pd/sunscreen...lsunscreens.php
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/pd/sunscreen...lsunscreens.php
You might also find this link helpful, which includes information on proper sunscreen application:
[Removed link]
A large part of which sunscreen ultimately works best for you can only be found through trial and error. For example, a sunscreen might offer good broad-spectrum sun protection without causing breakouts or irritation in most other people, but it does for you.
Physical sunscreens seem to be more likely to clog pores, but synthetic sunscreens are more likely to cause irritation (irritation can also trigger breakouts). If you notice that your skin seems more sensitized than that of others I recommend you try a physical sunscreen first.
If you're participating in outdoor summer activities like swimming or anything that causes you to sweat, you need to use a water-resistant sunscreen and follow the application tips mentioned above in the "Sun Essentials" article. It would also be helpful to wear a hat and sunglasses to further sheild yourself from the sun. I should also mention that sun damage can lead to cataracts of the eyes, which is another reason to wear sunglasses.
If you find that your skin doesn't seem dry when just applying yout sunscreen alone, you don't need to use a moisturizer under it. Otherwise, apply moisturizer under your sunscreen to these dry areas of skin. Sunscreen should always be the last skincare product applied to your face, since the use of other skincare products over it can reduce its effectiveness by diluting it.
Thanks for your time!
I think when I have a day cream without SPF, one which I like to use, I can also top that with another cream with SPF or just a sunscreen right?
Do you use a sunscreen everyday?
cowboy101 said:Could you tell me if these ingredients look alright?? The first ones my cleansing agent I just got it and like it, its fragrance free which is good because i hate strong smells, but i wanted to have you double check the ingredients. The second one is my moisturizer which i used during the summer, but sorda didnt work during the winter. ThanksAqua/Water, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Dimethyl Ether, PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Isobutane, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Bisabolol, Butane, Zinc PCA, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Propane, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 21, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Octyldodecanol, DI-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Nylon-66, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Nylon-12, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Zinc PCA, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Salicylic Acid, Propylparaben, Parfum/Fragance.
Your cleanser and moisturizer both look fine. I can't tell you whether or not the salicylic acid in you moisturizer acts as an exfoliant because I don't know the concentration or pH of it, but I'm guessing probably not given that the majority of salicylic acid products are poorly formulated.
SweetAmber said:The_Snow_Queen said:SweetAmber said:Dear Snowqueen, I have some questions about sunscreen- there are 2 kinds of sunscreen right? mineral based and chemical? Can you please explain what the difference is between these filters and I would like to know whats best for your skin to use now that the summer is comming.
- Is it the right thing to first put on moisturizer and on top sunscreen or can I use sunscreen alone?
Hi SweetAmber,
Here's some links that you might find interesting which overview sunscreens, both chemical and physical:
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/pd/sunscreen/types.php
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/pd/sunscreen...lsunscreens.php
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/pd/sunscreen...lsunscreens.php
You might also find this link helpful, which includes information on proper sunscreen application:
[Removed link]
A large part of which sunscreen ultimately works best for you can only be found through trial and error. For example, a sunscreen might offer good broad-spectrum sun protection without causing breakouts or irritation in most other people, but it does for you.
Physical sunscreens seem to be more likely to clog pores, but synthetic sunscreens are more likely to cause irritation (irritation can also trigger breakouts). If you notice that your skin seems more sensitized than that of others I recommend you try a physical sunscreen first.
If you're participating in outdoor summer activities like swimming or anything that causes you to sweat, you need to use a water-resistant sunscreen and follow the application tips mentioned above in the "Sun Essentials" article. It would also be helpful to wear a hat and sunglasses to further sheild yourself from the sun. I should also mention that sun damage can lead to cataracts of the eyes, which is another reason to wear sunglasses.
If you find that your skin doesn't seem dry when just applying yout sunscreen alone, you don't need to use a moisturizer under it. Otherwise, apply moisturizer under your sunscreen to these dry areas of skin. Sunscreen should always be the last skincare product applied to your face, since the use of other skincare products over it can reduce its effectiveness by diluting it.
Thanks for your time!
I think when I have a day cream without SPF, one which I like to use, I can also top that with another cream with SPF or just a sunscreen right?
Do you use a sunscreen everyday?
If you find that your sunscreen by itself is not hydrating enough for your face, you can apply a moisturizer underneath it to dry areas. If your sunscreen is moisturizing enough, you don't need an additional moisturizer. Make sure you apply your sunscreen last.
I wear a sunscreen every day, and not just on my face. I apply sunscreen to all areas of skin which are exposed to the sun's rays.
Hey snowqueen, Im not sure of the ph of that moisturizer, but i do know the concentrations. There is less then or equal to 2% of the Capryloyl Salicylic Acid and less then or equal to 0.3% of the Salicylic Acid. I use Mandelic Acid right now, does it matter if i still use this moisturizer since it has Salicylic acid in it? I didnt know it it was alright to mix the AHA and BHA. Also for my cleanser, do you know why it has Propane in it, haha, i saw that and i sorda wondered what the would be used for in cosmetics. The cleanser is a self foaming cleanser and not a pump one either, one of the propelled bottles so to say, could that be why its in there? thank you kindly.
Hey there snowqueen. How have you been? I had a question for you. You said in your list of things not to do, not to purchase cleansers that have medication in them, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. I agree with what you said and i understand it totally. But why do so many companies make products, specifcally cleansers that have some type of medication in them? It just crosses my mind a lot. Dermatologists and those alike are supposed to help people, but it seems to me like recommending those types of cleansers and creating them, wouldnt that be considered not helping people? I read a post from LionQueen about Vivant Madelic acid....from what i read he is also the co founder/creator of Retin-A and Retin-A Micro.....many people love his Mandelic acid and say its a mircale product, I personally find Retin-A to be a miracle product, i think he is very good at what he does and is more true to his art then some others in his position. But looking over his products i realized he makes cleansers with medication in them. Also I understand pH and how with BHA's if its too high, they are worthless. Why do so many companies make BHA products with high pH levels? Do they not know the information that we know? I mean they are developed by Chemists...so i would assume that they would know about pH. I also saw a post about La Roche Posay products in your forum. Ive been to 6 dermatologists and many more estheticians....now i do tend to agree that they are not always right, But every single one of them gave me the highest recommendation of La roche posay....Ive also been to france twice and i must say, La Roche Posay is stunningly HUGE in its country or origin. So many people there would praise the products, but yet i read in that post that the pH of their BHA product is 5.5 meaning it wont exfoliate. Why would they even bother creating it? And why are there so many people who have used it and seen amazing results if chemically speaking its impossible for it to work? Please do not think in any way that im bashing you because im not, I agree with everything you say, I just dont understand why others dont.
And funny enough, after all that, my main reason for this post was to ask you about ingredients in a cleanser i want to try, i actually received samples of it. My concern is that it has Mandelic acid in it, now it only has 0.5% in it so im not sure if it would make that big of a difference but i decided to ask to be safe. thank you for helping me and also debating with me in a way, but more just filling me in on the messed up cosmetic market. thanks again
Ingredients: Purified Water, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth-13, Carboxylate, Isopropylparaben FD&C Green No.3, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laureate, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Algae Extract, Isobutylparaben, FD&C Blue No.1, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-i150 Distearate, Mandelic Acid (0.5%), Butylparaben, Fragrance
Hey snowqueen, Im not sure of the ph of that moisturizer, but i do know the concentrations. There is less then or equal to 2% of the Capryloyl Salicylic Acid and less then or equal to 0.3% of the Salicylic Acid. I use Mandelic Acid right now, does it matter if i still use this moisturizer since it has Salicylic acid in it? I didnt know it it was alright to mix the AHA and BHA. Also for my cleanser, do you know why it has Propane in it, haha, i saw that and i sorda wondered what the would be used for in cosmetics. The cleanser is a self foaming cleanser and not a pump one either, one of the propelled bottles so to say, could that be why its in there? thank you kindly.
When I looked up capryloyl salicylic acid, the source I found said that it is used as a skin conditioning agent. Salicylic acid is not in a high enough concentration to act as an exfoliant in your moisturizer and . I don't think it would be a problem for you to use mandelic acid with your moisturizer. I'm pretty sure that propane is used in small amounts in cosmetics to keep products from freezing and melting and to help deliver ingredients into the skin, but don't quote me on that. Isobutane, which is in your cleanser, acts as a propellant and is something you see a lot in certain hair care products like mousse.
Hey there snowqueen. How have you been? I had a question for you. You said in your list of things not to do, not to purchase cleansers that have medication in them, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. I agree with what you said and i understand it totally. But why do so many companies make products, specifcally cleansers that have some type of medication in them? It just crosses my mind a lot. Dermatologists and those alike are supposed to help people, but it seems to me like recommending those types of cleansers and creating them, wouldnt that be considered not helping people? I read a post from LionQueen about Vivant Madelic acid....from what i read he is also the co founder/creator of Retin-A and Retin-A Micro.....many people love his Mandelic acid and say its a mircale product, I personally find Retin-A to be a miracle product, i think he is very good at what he does and is more true to his art then some others in his position. But looking over his products i realized he makes cleansers with medication in them. Also I understand pH and how with BHA's if its too high, they are worthless. Why do so many companies make BHA products with high pH levels? Do they not know the information that we know? I mean they are developed by Chemists...so i would assume that they would know about pH. I also saw a post about La Roche Posay products in your forum. Ive been to 6 dermatologists and many more estheticians....now i do tend to agree that they are not always right, But every single one of them gave me the highest recommendation of La roche posay....Ive also been to france twice and i must say, La Roche Posay is stunningly HUGE in its country or origin. So many people there would praise the products, but yet i read in that post that the pH of their BHA product is 5.5 meaning it wont exfoliate. Why would they even bother creating it? And why are there so many people who have used it and seen amazing results if chemically speaking its impossible for it to work? Please do not think in any way that im bashing you because im not, I agree with everything you say, I just dont understand why others dont.
And funny enough, after all that, my main reason for this post was to ask you about ingredients in a cleanser i want to try, i actually received samples of it. My concern is that it has Mandelic acid in it, now it only has 0.5% in it so im not sure if it would make that big of a difference but i decided to ask to be safe. thank you for helping me and also debating with me in a way, but more just filling me in on the messed up cosmetic market. thanks again
Ingredients: Purified Water, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth-13, Carboxylate, Isopropylparaben FD&C Green No.3, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laureate, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Algae Extract, Isobutylparaben, FD&C Blue No.1, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-i150 Distearate, Mandelic Acid (0.5%), Butylparaben, Fragrance
Hi crazychica, I've been fine, and thanks for asking. As to the first part of your post, I don't entirely understand why ineffective/irritating products continue to be developed myself. I think there are several factors: First, cosmetics chemists are hired to develop products how they are told to. So, if La Roche wants a salicylic acid product to have a pH of 5.5 (which I'm guessing is because that's roughly the pH of the skin), cosmetics chemists will make the product that way. Second, the heads of successful cosmetics companies don't always know that much about how various ingredients act on the skin, but they do know how to market their products to consumers tastes. This brings me into my third reason, which is that most consumers are not educated themselves about products and intredients so don't demand products to be better formulated. As to why ineffective products can still be popular, I believe that it's because these products, while ineffective at doing what they're advertised to, might have beneficial ingredients which soothe the skin, make it feel silky smooth, etc.... I also think that wishful thinking can be a big factor in why ineffective products become popular. Consumers want a product to work (especially if that product has been highly recommended and comes with a big pricetag), so attribute any perceived improvements in their skins to be a result of using a product. La Roche Posay is a line that is frequently sold by doctors and estheticians, which is a big reason as to why so many recommend it. Even those who don't sell it recommend it because it their colleagues do. As with almost every line, there, La Roche Posay makes good and bad products, so it's not always a bad thing that the line's products are so frequently recommended and used.
As to the second part of your post, your cleanser looks fine. I really wouldn't be concerned about the mandelic acid in it because it's not left on the skin for any substantial length of time, and it's in such a low concentration that I wouldn't think it would exfoliate effectively anyway.
I don't feel it's necessary to see an esthetician to get acne under control in general or to get facials. I agree it can be beneficial to see an esthetician for the reasons you've mentioned, but I don't feel it's an essential part of getting acne under control, it's just one possible treatment option which is largely subject to the skill and knowledge of the esthetician. Again, I'm not saying it's bad to see an esthetician or that it's better to try and treat acne on one's own first; how beneficial seeing an esthetician is depends on the needs of the client and the esthetician's skill and knowledge.
Bottom line, when you suggest to someone so generally that there is just no reason to see an esthetician other than the occasional micro, peel, or zit popping , you really are doing them a great disservice.
I simply said to Jade Phoenix that I didn't feel it was necessary to see an esthetician. I didn't say that estheticians should be avoided. In my last response to you I agreed that seeing an esthetician could be beneficial if he/she was skillful and knowledgeable for the reasons you stated. I don't see why you're still arguing with what I'm saying.
I just have to chime in with my own experience regarding seeing an esthetician. I agree that the skill of the esthetician in treating acne is very important - and I don't think very many of them specialize in treating it. However, if you CAN find someone who specializes, they can be incredibly helpful in getting your skin clear. I go to an esthetician in the SF bay area who is absolutely amazing at treating acne. She successfully clears more than 90% of her clients that follow her regimen (were talking all types of acne and severity levels - she treats inflamed, non-inflamed, cystic). I think its not just the facials that make or break the regimen. I think that having someone who can see your skin on a regular basis to determine if you are getting too dry, if things are progressing well, etc. can help a lot. My esthetician will make adjustments to her clients regimen based on how their skin is reacting and what she sees when you come in. I think it is also helpful to have someone take the guesswork out of what to use and how to use it. She has a very prescribed regimen which include products selected for each individual's skin. She uses most of the same kinds of OTC products people use here - BP, glycolic and salicylic acid, vitamin A skin conditioners, etc. She uses fairly strong concentrations of these products, but has a method of getting your skin used to the products and teaches you how to use them so they don't irritate your skin. I think that where many people fail to get clear with their own regimens, it is not necessarily due to a specific product not working, its that they don't use the product correctly or in the proper combination with other products, or they don't use a product that is strong enough to clear their acne but not so strong as to irritate the hell out of their skin. Having someone teach you all this, who actually sees your face and knows what they are talking about is what I think makes her so incredibly successful at treating acne. She may be a rare find though!!
I don't feel it's necessary to see an esthetician to get acne under control in general or to get facials. I agree it can be beneficial to see an esthetician for the reasons you've mentioned, but I don't feel it's an essential part of getting acne under control, it's just one possible treatment option which is largely subject to the skill and knowledge of the esthetician. Again, I'm not saying it's bad to see an esthetician or that it's better to try and treat acne on one's own first; how beneficial seeing an esthetician is depends on the needs of the client and the esthetician's skill and knowledge.
Bottom line, when you suggest to someone so generally that there is just no reason to see an esthetician other than the occasional micro, peel, or zit popping , you really are doing them a great disservice.
I simply said to Jade Phoenix that I didn't feel it was necessary to see an esthetician. I didn't say that estheticians should be avoided. In my last response to you I agreed that seeing an esthetician could be beneficial if he/she was skillful and knowledgeable for the reasons you stated. I don't see why you're still arguing with what I'm saying.
I just have to chime in with my own experience regarding seeing an esthetician. I agree that the skill of the esthetician in treating acne is very important - and I don't think very many of them specialize in treating it. However, if you CAN find someone who specializes, they can be incredibly helpful in getting your skin clear. I go to an esthetician in the SF bay area who is absolutely amazing at treating acne. She successfully clears more than 90% of her clients that follow her regimen (were talking all types of acne and severity levels - she treats inflamed, non-inflamed, cystic). I think its not just the facials that make or break the regimen. I think that having someone who can see your skin on a regular basis to determine if you are getting too dry, if things are progressing well, etc. can help a lot. My esthetician will make adjustments to her clients regimen based on how their skin is reacting and what she sees when you come in. I think it is also helpful to have someone take the guesswork out of what to use and how to use it. She has a very prescribed regimen which include products selected for each individual's skin. She uses most of the same kinds of OTC products people use here - BP, glycolic and salicylic acid, vitamin A skin conditioners, etc. She uses fairly strong concentrations of these products, but has a method of getting your skin used to the products and teaches you how to use them so they don't irritate your skin. I think that where many people fail to get clear with their own regimens, it is not necessarily due to a specific product not working, its that they don't use the product correctly or in the proper combination with other products, or they don't use a product that is strong enough to clear their acne but not so strong as to irritate the hell out of their skin. Having someone teach you all this, who actually sees your face and knows what they are talking about is what I think makes her so incredibly successful at treating acne. She may be a rare find though!!
Exactly. I couldn't agree more. And good for you 
I have so many questions that i don't which to ask so i'll limit myself.
First, I only shower once a day? Is it that harmful to my skin that i don't shower more?
Second, I bought St. Ives for extra dry skin? Is this a good lotion to use?
Third, Is AXE shower gel an ok body wash to use?
and Lastly, Do i have to use multiple exfoliants similiar to you? I'm not that lazy of a person, but i can't believe I have to do all that just to protect my skin...
Hi SnowQueen,I was wondering where i can purchase the following:
Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector; SPF 15
Selectively Moisturize with Dove Sensitive Essentials Sensitive Skin Facial Lotion
Thanks!
Most department stores (Macy's, Nordstrom's, etc...) sell Clinique products. Dove Sensitive Essentials Sensitive Skin Facial Lotion can sometimes be found at Target, or you can order it from drugstore.com.
VAS said:I have so many questions that i don't which to ask so i'll limit myself.First, I only shower once a day? Is it that harmful to my skin that i don't shower more?
Second, I bought St. Ives for extra dry skin? Is this a good lotion to use?
Third, Is AXE shower gel an ok body wash to use?
and Lastly, Do i have to use multiple exfoliants similiar to you? I'm not that lazy of a person, but i can't believe I have to do all that just to protect my skin...
I only shower once daily also (as do most people, I hope), but I wash my face twice daily. It's a good idea to wash the face twice daily, especially if you're suffering from facial acne, to remove surface sebum and debris (the face tends to be much more oily than the rest of the body).
Is this the lotion that you're speaking of?
[Removed link]
If yes, than it's fine to use over areas of dry skin.
I'm not sure which AXE shower gel you're using, but from what I saw I wouldn't recommend any of them because they're all highly fragranced and almost all contain menthol (which produces a tingling/cooling/invigorating sensation that's actually a sign of irritation). Neither of these things are good for the skin.
I don't use multiple exfoliants on my skin. Retin-A is not an exfoliant, rather the tretinoin it contains works from the dermis to help normalize cell production and function, which in turn helps normalize pore function. Exfoliants slough off dead skin cells from the skin's surface and, in the case of salicylic acid, inside the pore. Here's an article which briefly touches on the difference between chemical exfoliants and retinoids like tretinoin:
[Removed link]
At the minimum I think it would be best if you cleansed twice daily, used an exfoliant like the Paula's Choice products I use, and wore a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen during daylight hours. If you have areas of dry skin, you'll need a moisturizer to spot treat those areas and if you have inflammatory acne you might benefit from the use of a disinfectant like benzoyl peroxide. You can read more about building a regimen in Part II of the first post to this thread.
i don't think this is entirely truewhy are cream forms bad?
i think it doesn't depend on specific types of products
but the ingredients used.
Creams aren't always bad for the skin, and they won't worsen everyone's breakouts. However, the waxy thickeners they typically contain which are used to give them their creamy consistancies can potentially clog pores, which is why I advise against them.
Do you have any tips of helping treat facial redness? Im on roaccutane by the way.
Since you're on Roaccutane you'll want to do is little to your skin as possible. That means gentle cleansing (using no washcloths or scrubs) with lukewarm water, applying a fragrance-free moisturizer to areas of dry skin, and a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen (actually, you should avoid the sun altogether as much as possible while taking Roaccutane). It would be a good idea to avoid any of the skin irritants mentioned in the first post of this thread as well.
Some gentle, fragrance-free cleansers you could try are Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser and Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
Because Roaccutane causes the skin to become very dry, the application of a calming, creamy moisturizer can make your skin feel much better. Moisturizers containing soothing agents such as Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer With Antioxidants would be very beneficial.
If your skin gets especially irritated, the temporary use of a hydrocortisone ointment may help (overuse of hydrocortisone products can thin the skin and lead to premature aging).
Since synthetic sunscreen ingredients can be irritating, I recommend you use a sunscreen containing the physical sunscreen ingredients of titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Clinique makes some good physical sunscreens.
You'll also need to protect your lips from the sun. Paula's Choice Moisturizing Lipscreen with SPF 15 provides UVA/UVB sun protection and is hydrating to dry lips.
The_Snow_Queen said:VAS said:I have so many questions that i don't which to ask so i'll limit myself.First, I only shower once a day? Is it that harmful to my skin that i don't shower more?
Second, I bought St. Ives for extra dry skin? Is this a good lotion to use?
Third, Is AXE shower gel an ok body wash to use?
and Lastly, Do i have to use multiple exfoliants similiar to you? I'm not that lazy of a person, but i can't believe I have to do all that just to protect my skin...
I only shower once daily also (as do most people, I hope), but I wash my face twice daily. It's a good idea to wash the face twice daily, especially if you're suffering from facial acne, to remove surface sebum and debris (the face tends to be much more oily than the rest of the body).
Is this the lotion that you're speaking of?
[Removed link]
If yes, than it's fine to use over areas of dry skin.
I'm not sure which AXE shower gel you're using, but from what I saw I wouldn't recommend any of them because they're all highly fragranced and almost all contain menthol (which produces a tingling/cooling/invigorating sensation that's actually a sign of irritation). Neither of these things are good for the skin.
I don't use multiple exfoliants on my skin. Retin-A is not an exfoliant, rather the tretinoin it contains works from the dermis to help normalize cell production and function, which in turn helps normalize pore function. Exfoliants slough off dead skin cells from the skin's surface and, in the case of salicylic acid, inside the pore. Here's an article which briefly touches on the difference between chemical exfoliants and retinoids like tretinoin:
[Removed link]
At the minimum I think it would be best if you cleansed twice daily, used an exfoliant like the Paula's Choice products I use, and wore a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen during daylight hours. If you have areas of dry skin, you'll need a moisturizer to spot treat those areas and if you have inflammatory acne you might benefit from the use of a disinfectant like benzoyl peroxide. You can read more about building a regimen in Part II of the first post to this thread.
What type of wash should i use to clean my face twice a daily? The same cleanser i use in the shower?
In reference to the lotion, No that's not the particular St. Ives i was talking about. For some reason the one i'm referring to isn't found on that link either.
Here is the type i'm referring to...[Removed link]
So what type of soap do you suggest i use in the shower?
I still have some Benzoyl Peroxide body wash left from my old acne regime, but i'm now taking accutane. Do you think i should still use the Benzoyl Peroxide even if my dermatologist said to stop all the products i was using while on accutane?
Thanks for all your help!
Do you have any tips of helping treat facial redness? Im on roaccutane by the way.
Since you're on Roaccutane you'll want to do is little to your skin as possible. That means gentle cleansing (using no washcloths or scrubs) with lukewarm water, applying a fragrance-free moisturizer to areas of dry skin, and a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen (actually, you should avoid the sun altogether as much as possible while taking Roaccutane). It would be a good idea to avoid any of the skin irritants mentioned in the first post of this thread as well.
Some gentle, fragrance-free cleansers you could try are Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser and Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
Because Roaccutane causes the skin to become very dry, the application of a calming, creamy moisturizer can make your skin feel much better. Moisturizers containing soothing agents such as Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer With Antioxidants would be very beneficial.
If your skin gets especially irritated, the temporary use of a hydrocortisone ointment may help (overuse of hydrocortisone products can thin the skin and lead to premature aging).
Since synthetic sunscreen ingredients can be irritating, I recommend you use a sunscreen containing the physical sunscreen ingredients of titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Clinique makes some good physical sunscreens.
You'll also need to protect your lips from the sun. Paula's Choice Moisturizing Lipscreen with SPF 15 provides UVA/UVB sun protection and is hydrating to dry lips.
I rang my dermatologist and he recommended using vaseline. Since he is a dermatologist, I have no reason to dispute him, just wondering if I could get your opinion on this?
VAS said:The_Snow_Queen said:VAS said:I have so many questions that i don't which to ask so i'll limit myself.First, I only shower once a day? Is it that harmful to my skin that i don't shower more?
Second, I bought St. Ives for extra dry skin? Is this a good lotion to use?
Third, Is AXE shower gel an ok body wash to use?
and Lastly, Do i have to use multiple exfoliants similiar to you? I'm not that lazy of a person, but i can't believe I have to do all that just to protect my skin...
I only shower once daily also (as do most people, I hope), but I wash my face twice daily. It's a good idea to wash the face twice daily, especially if you're suffering from facial acne, to remove surface sebum and debris (the face tends to be much more oily than the rest of the body).
Is this the lotion that you're speaking of?
[Removed link]
If yes, than it's fine to use over areas of dry skin.
I'm not sure which AXE shower gel you're using, but from what I saw I wouldn't recommend any of them because they're all highly fragranced and almost all contain menthol (which produces a tingling/cooling/invigorating sensation that's actually a sign of irritation). Neither of these things are good for the skin.
I don't use multiple exfoliants on my skin. Retin-A is not an exfoliant, rather the tretinoin it contains works from the dermis to help normalize cell production and function, which in turn helps normalize pore function. Exfoliants slough off dead skin cells from the skin's surface and, in the case of salicylic acid, inside the pore. Here's an article which briefly touches on the difference between chemical exfoliants and retinoids like tretinoin:
[Removed link]
At the minimum I think it would be best if you cleansed twice daily, used an exfoliant like the Paula's Choice products I use, and wore a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen during daylight hours. If you have areas of dry skin, you'll need a moisturizer to spot treat those areas and if you have inflammatory acne you might benefit from the use of a disinfectant like benzoyl peroxide. You can read more about building a regimen in Part II of the first post to this thread.
What type of wash should i use to clean my face twice a daily? The same cleanser i use in the shower?
In reference to the lotion, No that's not the particular St. Ives i was talking about. For some reason the one i'm referring to isn't found on that link either.
Here is the type i'm referring to...[Removed link]
So what type of soap do you suggest i use in the shower?
I still have some Benzoyl Peroxide body wash left from my old acne regime, but i'm now taking accutane. Do you think i should still use the Benzoyl Peroxide even if my dermatologist said to stop all the products i was using while on accutane?
Thanks for all your help!
I can't comment on your lotion because I can't find an ingredients list for it. If you want to post the ingredients list I'd be happy to give you my opinion on it.
You can use body cleansers on your face depending on how they're formulated, but the problem is most body cleansers contain lots of fragrance which is too irritating for sensitive facial skin (it's not good for body skin either, but facial skin tends to be more reactive). If you want to use just one cleanser for your face and body you can try these:
Eucerin Aquaphor Baby Gentle Wash (it is marketed for use on babies but contains the same cleansing agents as cleansers marketed for use on adults)
Paula's Choice All Over Hair and Body Shampoo
The Eucerin product can be ordered on drugstore.com or sometimes can be found at RiteAid (check the baby aisle), and the Paula's Choice product can be ordered off of [Removed link] or [Removed link].
You can also use a separate cleanser for your face; since you're on Accutane I recommend you use something fragrance-free like Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser or Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
You should never use soap products in the shower (which usually, but not always, comes in bar form); instead you should use gentle surfectant-based cleansers. Your AXE cleanser is actually a surfectant-based cleanser, but it's not gentle. You can try the above recommended cleansers. Aveeno also makes some decent body cleansers, but they're not fragrance-free despite what they may claim on the label (trying to find a fragrance-free bodywash is easier said than done).
I don't really recommend medicated cleansers in general (see Part I of the first post to this thread), and you should definately stop using it since your dermatologist told you to. Accutane users should do as little as possible to their skin (see my response to jm123's post above).
Do you have any tips of helping treat facial redness? Im on roaccutane by the way.
Since you're on Roaccutane you'll want to do is little to your skin as possible. That means gentle cleansing (using no washcloths or scrubs) with lukewarm water, applying a fragrance-free moisturizer to areas of dry skin, and a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen (actually, you should avoid the sun altogether as much as possible while taking Roaccutane). It would be a good idea to avoid any of the skin irritants mentioned in the first post of this thread as well.
Some gentle, fragrance-free cleansers you could try are Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser and Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
Because Roaccutane causes the skin to become very dry, the application of a calming, creamy moisturizer can make your skin feel much better. Moisturizers containing soothing agents such as Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer With Antioxidants would be very beneficial.
If your skin gets especially irritated, the temporary use of a hydrocortisone ointment may help (overuse of hydrocortisone products can thin the skin and lead to premature aging).
Since synthetic sunscreen ingredients can be irritating, I recommend you use a sunscreen containing the physical sunscreen ingredients of titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Clinique makes some good physical sunscreens.
You'll also need to protect your lips from the sun. Paula's Choice Moisturizing Lipscreen with SPF 15 provides UVA/UVB sun protection and is hydrating to dry lips.
I rang my dermatologist and he recommended using vaseline. Since he is a dermatologist, I have no reason to dispute him, just wondering if I could get your opinion on this?
Vaseline is fine and has virtually no risk of skin irritation. It acts as a skin protectant and emollient. It can be soothing on its own, but might not be enough, which is why I posted the other recommendations.
Do you have any tips of helping treat facial redness? Im on roaccutane by the way.
Since you're on Roaccutane you'll want to do is little to your skin as possible. That means gentle cleansing (using no washcloths or scrubs) with lukewarm water, applying a fragrance-free moisturizer to areas of dry skin, and a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen (actually, you should avoid the sun altogether as much as possible while taking Roaccutane). It would be a good idea to avoid any of the skin irritants mentioned in the first post of this thread as well.
Some gentle, fragrance-free cleansers you could try are Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser and Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
Because Roaccutane causes the skin to become very dry, the application of a calming, creamy moisturizer can make your skin feel much better. Moisturizers containing soothing agents such as Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer With Antioxidants would be very beneficial.
If your skin gets especially irritated, the temporary use of a hydrocortisone ointment may help (overuse of hydrocortisone products can thin the skin and lead to premature aging).
Since synthetic sunscreen ingredients can be irritating, I recommend you use a sunscreen containing the physical sunscreen ingredients of titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Clinique makes some good physical sunscreens.
You'll also need to protect your lips from the sun. Paula's Choice Moisturizing Lipscreen with SPF 15 provides UVA/UVB sun protection and is hydrating to dry lips.
I rang my dermatologist and he recommended using vaseline. Since he is a dermatologist, I have no reason to dispute him, just wondering if I could get your opinion on this?
Vaseline is fine and has virtually no risk of skin irritation. It acts as a skin protectant and emollient. It can be soothing on its own, but might not be enough, which is why I posted the other recommendations.
Thanks a lot. And i suppose drinking a lot of water would help? Also, how long until the vaseline should start to make a difference? Any ideas? Thanks again.
jm123 said:The_Snow_Queen said:jm123 said:The_Snow_Queen said:jm123 said:Do you have any tips of helping treat facial redness? Im on roaccutane by the way.Since you're on Roaccutane you'll want to do is little to your skin as possible. That means gentle cleansing (using no washcloths or scrubs) with lukewarm water, applying a fragrance-free moisturizer to areas of dry skin, and a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen (actually, you should avoid the sun altogether as much as possible while taking Roaccutane). It would be a good idea to avoid any of the skin irritants mentioned in the first post of this thread as well.
Some gentle, fragrance-free cleansers you could try are Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser and Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
Because Roaccutane causes the skin to become very dry, the application of a calming, creamy moisturizer can make your skin feel much better. Moisturizers containing soothing agents such as Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer With Antioxidants would be very beneficial.
If your skin gets especially irritated, the temporary use of a hydrocortisone ointment may help (overuse of hydrocortisone products can thin the skin and lead to premature aging).
Since synthetic sunscreen ingredients can be irritating, I recommend you use a sunscreen containing the physical sunscreen ingredients of titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Clinique makes some good physical sunscreens.
You'll also need to protect your lips from the sun. Paula's Choice Moisturizing Lipscreen with SPF 15 provides UVA/UVB sun protection and is hydrating to dry lips.
I rang my dermatologist and he recommended using vaseline. Since he is a dermatologist, I have no reason to dispute him, just wondering if I could get your opinion on this?
Vaseline is fine and has virtually no risk of skin irritation. It acts as a skin protectant and emollient. It can be soothing on its own, but might not be enough, which is why I posted the other recommendations.
Thanks a lot. And i suppose drinking a lot of water would help? Also, how long until the vaseline should start to make a difference? Any ideas? Thanks again.
The Vaseline could make an improvement almost right away, but it's not something that's going to affect your skin long-term, so you'll have to keep applying it as needed. Drinking water can help, but it's not all that you should be doing. You might find this article interesting:
[Removed link]
The section entitled "Water Content of the Skin" touches on the issue of drinking water.
The_Snow_Queen said:VAS said:The_Snow_Queen said:VAS said:I have so many questions that i don't which to ask so i'll limit myself.First, I only shower once a day? Is it that harmful to my skin that i don't shower more?
Second, I bought St. Ives for extra dry skin? Is this a good lotion to use?
Third, Is AXE shower gel an ok body wash to use?
and Lastly, Do i have to use multiple exfoliants similiar to you? I'm not that lazy of a person, but i can't believe I have to do all that just to protect my skin...
I only shower once daily also (as do most people, I hope), but I wash my face twice daily. It's a good idea to wash the face twice daily, especially if you're suffering from facial acne, to remove surface sebum and debris (the face tends to be much more oily than the rest of the body).
Is this the lotion that you're speaking of?
[Removed link]
If yes, than it's fine to use over areas of dry skin.
I'm not sure which AXE shower gel you're using, but from what I saw I wouldn't recommend any of them because they're all highly fragranced and almost all contain menthol (which produces a tingling/cooling/invigorating sensation that's actually a sign of irritation). Neither of these things are good for the skin.
I don't use multiple exfoliants on my skin. Retin-A is not an exfoliant, rather the tretinoin it contains works from the dermis to help normalize cell production and function, which in turn helps normalize pore function. Exfoliants slough off dead skin cells from the skin's surface and, in the case of salicylic acid, inside the pore. Here's an article which briefly touches on the difference between chemical exfoliants and retinoids like tretinoin:
[Removed link]
At the minimum I think it would be best if you cleansed twice daily, used an exfoliant like the Paula's Choice products I use, and wore a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen during daylight hours. If you have areas of dry skin, you'll need a moisturizer to spot treat those areas and if you have inflammatory acne you might benefit from the use of a disinfectant like benzoyl peroxide. You can read more about building a regimen in Part II of the first post to this thread.
What type of wash should i use to clean my face twice a daily? The same cleanser i use in the shower?
In reference to the lotion, No that's not the particular St. Ives i was talking about. For some reason the one i'm referring to isn't found on that link either.
Here is the type i'm referring to...[Removed link]
So what type of soap do you suggest i use in the shower?
I still have some Benzoyl Peroxide body wash left from my old acne regime, but i'm now taking accutane. Do you think i should still use the Benzoyl Peroxide even if my dermatologist said to stop all the products i was using while on accutane?
Thanks for all your help!
I can't comment on your lotion because I can't find an ingredients list for it. If you want to post the ingredients list I'd be happy to give you my opinion on it.
You can use body cleansers on your face depending on how they're formulated, but the problem is most body cleansers contain lots of fragrance which is too irritating for sensitive facial skin (it's not good for body skin either, but facial skin tends to be more reactive). If you want to use just one cleanser for your face and body you can try these:
Eucerin Aquaphor Baby Gentle Wash (it is marketed for use on babies but contains the same cleansing agents as cleansers marketed for use on adults)
Paula's Choice All Over Hair and Body Shampoo
The Eucerin product can be ordered on drugstore.com or sometimes can be found at RiteAid (check the baby aisle), and the Paula's Choice product can be ordered off of [Removed link] or [Removed link].
You can also use a separate cleanser for your face; since you're on Accutane I recommend you use something fragrance-free like Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser or Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
You should never use soap products in the shower (which usually, but not always, comes in bar form); instead you should use gentle surfectant-based cleansers. Your AXE cleanser is actually a surfectant-based cleanser, but it's not gentle. You can try the above recommended cleansers. Aveeno also makes some decent body cleansers, but they're not fragrance-free despite what they may claim on the label (trying to find a fragrance-free bodywash is easier said than done).
I don't really recommend medicated cleansers in general (see Part I of the first post to this thread), and you should definately stop using it since your dermatologist told you to. Accutane users should do as little as possible to their skin (see my response to jm123's post above).
The ingredients of my St. Ives product are Water, Alkyl ethylhexanoate, glycerin, stearic acid, cyclomethicone, glycol stearate, sorbitol, cetyl alcohol, mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum), dimethicone, peg-1 dimethicone, petrolatum, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, stearmide amp, hydrolyzed silk, panthenol, tocopheryl acetate, helianthus annus (sunflower) extract, chamollia recutita (matricaria) flower extract, sambucus nigra flower extract, primula veris extract, olive oil peg-7 esters, triethanolamine, propylene glycol, diodium edta, methylparaben, dmdm hydantoin, carbomer, magnesium aluminum silicate, fragrance (parfum)
So is my Axe cleanser THAT bad to use just because it's not gentle? It feels gentle lol.
The_Snow_Queen said:jm123 said:The_Snow_Queen said:jm123 said:The_Snow_Queen said:jm123 said:Do you have any tips of helping treat facial redness? Im on roaccutane by the way.Since you're on Roaccutane you'll want to do is little to your skin as possible. That means gentle cleansing (using no washcloths or scrubs) with lukewarm water, applying a fragrance-free moisturizer to areas of dry skin, and a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen (actually, you should avoid the sun altogether as much as possible while taking Roaccutane). It would be a good idea to avoid any of the skin irritants mentioned in the first post of this thread as well.
Some gentle, fragrance-free cleansers you could try are Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser and Olay's Gentle Foaming Facewash.
Because Roaccutane causes the skin to become very dry, the application of a calming, creamy moisturizer can make your skin feel much better. Moisturizers containing soothing agents such as Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer With Antioxidants would be very beneficial.
If your skin gets especially irritated, the temporary use of a hydrocortisone ointment may help (overuse of hydrocortisone products can thin the skin and lead to premature aging).
Since synthetic sunscreen ingredients can be irritating, I recommend you use a sunscreen containing the physical sunscreen ingredients of titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Clinique makes some good physical sunscreens.
You'll also need to protect your lips from the sun. Paula's Choice Moisturizing Lipscreen with SPF 15 provides UVA/UVB sun protection and is hydrating to dry lips.
I rang my dermatologist and he recommended using vaseline. Since he is a dermatologist, I have no reason to dispute him, just wondering if I could get your opinion on this?
Vaseline is fine and has virtually no risk of skin irritation. It acts as a skin protectant and emollient. It can be soothing on its own, but might not be enough, which is why I posted the other recommendations.
Thanks a lot. And i suppose drinking a lot of water would help? Also, how long until the vaseline should start to make a difference? Any ideas? Thanks again.
The Vaseline could make an improvement almost right away, but it's not something that's going to affect your skin long-term, so you'll have to keep applying it as needed. Drinking water can help, but it's not all that you should be doing. You might find this article interesting:
[Removed link]
The section entitled "Water Content of the Skin" touches on the issue of drinking water.
Just another question....about a year and a half ago I got burnt on my face, it was very red and i got a cream and it went within a week. Is there any chance that has made my skin more acne prone?