Which toner are you using? A toner is an extra-cleansing step that can sooth skin after cleansing and help remove flakiness. It can add beneficial ingredients (anti-irritants, antioxidants, water-binding agents, cell-communicating ingredients) to oily skin types without slathering on moisturizers that can make breakouts worse. But all this depends on the toner's formulation; some toners only serve to irritate and dry the skin.

 

Anyway, since you didn't mention that you've used oral contraceptives or retinoids, they might be worth looking into. Retinoids help normalize cell production and pore function, while certain oral contraceptives can help diminsh oil production and thereby clogged pores. You can make an appointment with your doctor to find out.

 

I use the proactiv toner. I would like to use antibiotics but i do know they interefere with my birthcontrol and so that is a problem with me. The only reason i dont go to the dermatologist is bc that is the only thing my insurance doesnt cover and its ridiculously expensive. So its really hard for us to do something like that and my parents dont think my acne is that bad to help pay for it. So that is why im trying to get as much help here as much as i can

 

The Proactiv toner uses glycolic acid, so this toner's purpose is to exfoliate.

If your health insurance covers regular doctors visits you can probably get acne treatments that way. I actually got my prescription for Retin-A Micro from my doctor, not my dermatologist. I think that if you haven't used prescription retinoids or have only used certain ones they'd be worth looking into. Antibiotics can work very well agiants inflammatory acne, but you can't use them for long periods of time because bacteria become resistant to them.

Hi Snowqueen sorry to bother you again. I'm currently clearing up so feeling a little glad. I also stopped using that irritating toner you told me to and switch to the apple cider vinegar mixed with 60% water. I'm kind of surprise that this cheap toner is doing well for my skin, it makes my face really clean and fresh and it does help fade acne marks like they claim. Anyway, I have this really big fat zit on my nose, I think its a nodule. I can see the whitehead so I'm wondering whether its advisable to use a sterile needle to poke it and drain out its contents but i'm scared it will leave scarring.

Secondly, its a little silly but I think I don't really understand the term " products that make you breakout" Though I have not many zits, I have a lot of acne marks, so I used my old foundation( not expired yet) to hide them. Problem is I used it today, and I found that I developed 2 small zits on my right cheek after I used it. I used that foundation a couple of times and even when I had clear skin and it did not happen before. This is sort of the first or second time it happened. Is this considered a reaction to the foundation or breakout? I think its not breakout but sometimes I feel it is. Is it? My obsession with getting back that clear complexion I had a few months ago has somehow clouded my judegement. So what does breakout really means? 5, 6 zits at a time?

A Clinque girl passed me this sample of foundation today:

[Removed link]

So I'm wondering whether its good and will you recommend it? I'm thinking if my old foundation does give me zits I may want to change to this one. It contains titanium dioxide which some people say can induce acne but it looks like its there for the SPF. I know mineral makeup is best for people prone to acne but its quite hard to find it in Singapore. Maybe we do have but I have trouble finding it and I bet its expensive. This Clinque foundation also cost about $54 here which is really quite expensive for me if I were to pay out of my own pocket.

Thanks again

madelinetjai said:

Hi Snowqueen sorry to bother you again. I'm currently clearing up so feeling a little glad. I also stopped using that irritating toner you told me to and switch to the apple cider vinegar mixed with 60% water. I'm kind of surprise that this cheap toner is doing well for my skin, it makes my face really clean and fresh and it does help fade acne marks like they claim. Anyway, I have this really big fat zit on my nose, I think its a nodule. I can see the whitehead so I'm wondering whether its advisable to use a sterile needle to poke it and drain out its contents but i'm scared it will leave scarring.

Secondly, its a little silly but I think I don't really understand the term " products that make you breakout" Though I have not many zits, I have a lot of acne marks, so I used my old foundation( not expired yet) to hide them. Problem is I used it today, and I found that I developed 2 small zits on my right cheek after I used it. I used that foundation a couple of times and even when I had clear skin and it did not happen before. This is sort of the first or second time it happened. Is this considered a reaction to the foundation or breakout? I think its not breakout but sometimes I feel it is. Is it? My obsession with getting back that clear complexion I had a few months ago has somehow clouded my judegement. So what does breakout really means? 5, 6 zits at a time?

A Clinque girl passed me this sample of foundation today:

[Removed link]

So I'm wondering whether its good and will you recommend it? I'm thinking if my old foundation does give me zits I may want to change to this one. It contains titanium dioxide which some people say can induce acne but it looks like its there for the SPF. I know mineral makeup is best for people prone to acne but its quite hard to find it in Singapore. Maybe we do have but I have trouble finding it and I bet its expensive. This Clinque foundation also cost about $54 here which is really quite expensive for me if I were to pay out of my own pocket.

Thanks again

If you want to attempt to pop the lesion on your nose, do so at your own risk. Popping can be beneficial, but can also make matters worse by damaging the skin, which can lead to scarring. You can get scars whether or not you pop pimples, though; how likely you are to scar depends on your skin and how it heals. If you've experienced scarring in the past from similar lesions there's a good chance you'll scar from this one too. If you do decide to try and pop the pimple, make sure you don't oversqueeze. Only use light pressure; if that doesn't work, stop.

Breakouts don't happen overnight and typically take a few weeks to form, so you probably would have gotten those blemishes whether or not you used the foundation.

I don't know the ingredients list for the Clinique foundation, but I'm guessing it's probably OK to use provided you like the look, feel, and application of the product. The makeup might reduce the look of pores, but it won't actually shrink them. No makeup can, and many less expensive makeup products can help make pores look smaller. There's no reason why you should spend $54. The titanium dioxide is used as a broad-spectrum sunscreen ingredient. If you've used other products containing this ingredient with no problems, it's probably fine for you to use.

Also, mineral makeup is not necessarily best for those prone to acne. If you like mineral makeup, that's fine. However, some people are sensitive to bismuth oxychloride, an ingredient that is found in many mineral makeup products. Additionally, many mineral makeup brands make powders which contain rice or corn starch, which can aggravate inflammatory acne. Claims that mineral makeup is indefinately better for skin are false.

Hi.

wow.

that list was big but good thing i read it.

I was gonna buy witch hazel for aftershave.

Ingredients:

Natural Witch Hazel Extract and fragrance, Aloe Vera, Purified Water and natural grain alcohol (10% as a preservative).

 

also.

 

i've been in shaving forums and all they do is suggest shaving soaps because canned foams and gels are full of bad crap for your face.

 

the two soaps they recommended.

 

"GOLD DACHS SHAVE SOAP"

The word from Germany is that Gold Dachs is particularly good for those with sensitive skin who sometimes are irritated by other shave soaps or creams. Natural ingredients derived from plants, no harsh chemicals, no preservatives, moisturizers.

 

 

and.

 

"UNSCENTED SHEA BUTTER shaving soap"

Ingredients: Olive, Coconut, Palm and Castor Oils, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sodium Hydroxide (Lye), Mountain Spring Water.

 

 

both are for sensitive, dry skin which i have. supposedly the soaps help u get a closer shave without, no ingrown hairs or razor bumps.

 

can u help snow queen?

 

I wouldn't use the witch hazel product you mentioned above. It is likely to cause irritation which can actually cause ingrown hairs. What might help sooth the skin and prevent ingrown hairs after shaving is to dissolve two or three uncoated aspirin in a quarter cup of water, since aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties. Instead of using plain water, you can also use soothing ingredients like glycerin and green tea (green tea also has anti-oxidant properties). Don't make a big batch of this mixture, since there are no preservatives to prevent it from going bad.

 

Shaving gels, creams, and foams are not bad for the face provided they don't contain any unnecessary skin irritants. It doesn't matter if these irritants can either be derived naturally or synthetically; naturally-derived ingredients are not necesarily good for the skin (see my reply to crazygamar on page 40 concerning this issue). And just because something is a chemical doesn't make it bad; water is a chemical. Your shaving product should be emollient and fomulated as gently as possible.

 

I wouldn't recommend using soap products of any kind, no matter how gentle they claim to be(see Part I of the first post to this thread). Soaps are made with lye, which can absolutely be a harsh chemical. You'd be better off using gentle liquid surfectant-based cleansers like those recommended in Part II of the first post to this thread.

 

so you can use those cleansers you mention in part 2 to shave?

Does it matter if the water is cold or hot to put the aspirin in? I guess I'll just stick with moisturizing with complex 15 after every shave.

That's my problem.

I can't find a good shaving gel or foam for my type of skin. (dry, sensitive skin) It's very hard.

These are the ingredients for the shaving foam I am using.

(water, stearic acid, triethanolamine, isobutane, laureth-23, sodium lauryl sulfate, propane, fragrance)

Not too many ingredients but It does have 1 or two ingredients that you mentioned earlier that can be irritants. It doesn't sting my face when i put it on. I just can't get a close shave with that foam. It does irritate when i try shaving though. I gotta shave really slow so i won't pull any hair.

I've been wanting to buy a shaving gel that has these ingredients.

(water, palmitic acid, triethanolamine, isopentane, glyceryl oleate, stearic acid, fragrance, isobutane, sorbitol, hyroxyethylcellulose, PEG-90m, propylene glycol, ALLANTOIN, SILICA, BHT, BLUE 1) what do u think about this shaving gel?

Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash. I like the ingredients on that one. Hopefully you can use it to shave.

How is this?

 

Morning

 

-Nivea mens energizing scrub..rinse

-wash with spectro gel (best pH I've found)

-Nivea Visage moisturizing toner

-Retin-A Micro 0.04%

-need sunblock

 

 

Night

 

-exfoliate with baby brush while washing with Dan's cleanser

-Nivea Visage moisturizing toner

-Paula's BHA2% Liquid

-Dan's BP

 

I'm not too sure if I want to continue using the Nivea toner and scrub. I may replace them with Dove, Aveeno, more Paula, etc. I haven't used the Nivea toner much because i feel that it adds quite a layer of substance so that everything else sort of glides over it way too smoothly. Unless that is a good thing. I don't want things to get too gunky though. Also been changing cleansers like mad. I've tried Eucerin redness relief (a little drying), Purpose liquid (also drying to my surprise). I'd say I like Dan's cleanser and Spectro Gel the most, although I'm not sure if Spectro Gel cleans well enough. One thing about Spectro though is that it's very soothing and seems to restore pH. I like using it in the shower after the scrub. Between the BHA, cleanser, and toner, i don't really want to buy everything online. It's expensive. Although , I am a little curious about Paula's toner and cleanser. I also wouldn't mind trying the Clinique cleanser that you use. Haven't found it in stores yet.

 

That looks pretty good, though personally I wouldn't use the baby brush prior to the BHA. Why not just use the baby brush in the morning with your cleanser and not buy a scrub at all?

 

I love Paula's Skin Balancing Toner. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it controls oil production (you shouldn't expect that from any toner), but it is a very good product. I haven't tried any of Paula's other toners, but if your skin has been having problems with dryness and flakiness one of her toners formulated for drier skin types might be better for you. You can always order product samples if you're not sure.

 

Clinique products are sold at Clinique cosmetics counters, which are in most major department stores.

 

My brush isn't actually a baby brush. It's from Bodyshop and made for the face. I've heard that baby brushs aren't as soft as what I have. While this might sound good, I've seen people on this site who prefer the baby brush because it removes flakes better than the real soft face brushes. I think I'll take your advice and ditch the scrub.

oh and my face is very oily right now. I still had some flakes after I cleansed, and had no problem with dryness today due to the oil production. I think it was caused by going back on BP last night. Producing oil in addition to some prior flaking. Hopefully things will stabalize.

How is this?

 

Morning

 

-Nivea mens energizing scrub..rinse

-wash with spectro gel (best pH I've found)

-Nivea Visage moisturizing toner

-Retin-A Micro 0.04%

-need sunblock

 

 

Night

 

-exfoliate with baby brush while washing with Dan's cleanser

-Nivea Visage moisturizing toner

-Paula's BHA2% Liquid

-Dan's BP

 

I'm not too sure if I want to continue using the Nivea toner and scrub. I may replace them with Dove, Aveeno, more Paula, etc. I haven't used the Nivea toner much because i feel that it adds quite a layer of substance so that everything else sort of glides over it way too smoothly. Unless that is a good thing. I don't want things to get too gunky though. Also been changing cleansers like mad. I've tried Eucerin redness relief (a little drying), Purpose liquid (also drying to my surprise). I'd say I like Dan's cleanser and Spectro Gel the most, although I'm not sure if Spectro Gel cleans well enough. One thing about Spectro though is that it's very soothing and seems to restore pH. I like using it in the shower after the scrub. Between the BHA, cleanser, and toner, i don't really want to buy everything online. It's expensive. Although , I am a little curious about Paula's toner and cleanser. I also wouldn't mind trying the Clinique cleanser that you use. Haven't found it in stores yet.

 

That looks pretty good, though personally I wouldn't use the baby brush prior to the BHA. Why not just use the baby brush in the morning with your cleanser and not buy a scrub at all?

 

I love Paula's Skin Balancing Toner. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it controls oil production (you shouldn't expect that from any toner), but it is a very good product. I haven't tried any of Paula's other toners, but if your skin has been having problems with dryness and flakiness one of her toners formulated for drier skin types might be better for you. You can always order product samples if you're not sure.

 

Clinique products are sold at Clinique cosmetics counters, which are in most major department stores.

 

 

My brush isn't actually a baby brush. It's from Bodyshop and made for the face. I've heard that baby brushs aren't as soft as what I have. While this might sound good, I've seen people on this site who prefer the baby brush because it removes flakes better than the real soft face brushes. I think I'll take your advice and ditch the scrub.

 

oh and my face is very oily right now. I still had some flakes after I cleansed, and had no problem with dryness today due to the oil production. I think it was caused by going back on BP last night. Producing oil in addition to some prior flaking. Hopefully things will stabalize.

 

The brush is probably fine so long as it feels soft and not too bristly.

Hopefully your regimen will work out well for you.

Thank you Snow Queen

Are there any moisturizers with SPF that you recommend? Preferably one I can find at a drugstore. Or is it better to use a sunblock that does not contain moisturizer? I use Complex 15 moisturizer, and it has no SPF.

snow_queen.

can you please let me know if those cleansers u mentioned in PART 2 all the way from the beginning can be use for shaving? instead of using the foam i use.

also.

I've been wanting to buy a shaving gel that has these ingredients.

(water, palmitic acid, triethanolamine, isopentane, glyceryl oleate, stearic acid, fragrance, isobutane, sorbitol, hyroxyethylcellulose, PEG-90m, propylene glycol, ALLANTOIN, SILICA, BHT, BLUE 1) what do u think about this shaving gel?

snow queen, about clinique sunscreen, well not i hate it, but it seems discolor my skin when i wear it, especially on red mark because of acne....

anyway do you have other recomendation, as long i can order it via internet i think thats fine, and how about paulas sunscreen ? is paulas sunscreen good too ?

thanks !

Hello, I have read Snow's opening post and was shocked at some of the information that was given. It made me question the product I just bought a few days ago, Clean And Clear Continuous Acne Cleanser.

This cleanser has menthol, fragrance, mineral oil, sodium c14-16, and bp 10% from what I read right off the back. From reading what what Snow said, I take it this should be a product to be avoided.

I find it curious as to why it was given such good marks here on Acne.org.

[Removed link]

Thankyou for your time.

Thank you Snow Queen

 

Are there any moisturizers with SPF that you recommend? Preferably one I can find at a drugstore. Or is it better to use a sunblock that does not contain moisturizer? I use Complex 15 moisturizer, and it has no SPF.

It's always better to use a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen during the daytime to protect your skin from further damage and reduce your risk of getting skin cancer.

Olay and Dove make some daily moisturizers with sunscreen you might like. If those are too greasy for you try Neutrogena's Dry Touch Sunscreens. If your skin is combination and the Neutrgena sunscreen doesn't provide enough hydration for you over some areas it might be best for you to buy a good moisturizer, such as one from Dove, apply that to dry areas only, and then apply the sunscreen over all exposed areas of skin.

snow_queen.

can you please let me know if those cleansers u mentioned in PART 2 all the way from the beginning can be use for shaving? instead of using the foam i use.

 

also.

 

I've been wanting to buy a shaving gel that has these ingredients.

(water, palmitic acid, triethanolamine, isopentane, glyceryl oleate, stearic acid, fragrance, isobutane, sorbitol, hyroxyethylcellulose, PEG-90m, propylene glycol, ALLANTOIN, SILICA, BHT, BLUE 1) what do u think about this shaving gel?

You can try the cleansers when shaving, but I usually recommend using emollient shave gel lotions, gels, foams, etc.... I suppose everything depends on how your skin in particular reacts

The shave gel you posted would be better if it had no fragrance, but it's not bad.

snow queen, about clinique sunscreen, well not i hate it, but it seems discolor my skin when i wear it, especially on red mark because of acne....

anyway do you have other recomendation, as long i can order it via internet i think thats fine, and how about paulas sunscreen ? is paulas sunscreen good too ?

 

thanks !

I don't know if you saw, but I recommended Shisheido Ultra Light Sunblock Lotion SPF 30, which I think is available to you in Japan and doesn't need to be ordered online.

Paula's sunscreens are good; choose the one appropriate for your skin type.

If you need to you can spot treat dry areas of skin with a separate moisturizer underneath, so long as sunscreen is always the last product you apply.

Viscosity said:

Hello, I have read Snow's opening post and was shocked at some of the information that was given. It made me question the product I just bought a few days ago, Clean And Clear Continuous Acne Cleanser.

This cleanser has menthol, fragrance, mineral oil, sodium c14-16, and bp 10% from what I read right off the back. From reading what what Snow said, I take it this should be a product to be avoided.

I find it curious as to why it was given such good marks here on Acne.org.

[Removed link]

Thankyou for your time.

Although product reviews can be useful in determining the application, feel, finish, etc... of a product, I very rarely use product reviews to determine how well a product works. There are many reasons for this, including:

1) Often users haven't been using the product long enough (a month at the very minimum) to determine whether or not that product is really working

2) Users often don't include what other treatments they are using which might instead be responsible for their improved skin conditions, or provide incomplete lists of treatments

3) Users can falsely think that acne pimples must be "dried up" and think the dryness they're experiencing is a good thing when it is really a sign of irritation

4) Products which contain irritants like menthol produce a cooling/tingling sensation, a sign of irritation, which tricks users into thinking that a product is "working"

5) A user might associate fragrances, like lavender, with the quality of a product

Mineral oil is not bad for the skin, though it can be beneficial for acne sufferers (particularly those with oily skin tpyes) to avoid oils and moisturizers in general. The acception to this is of course during the daytime, when a sunscreen must be used. However, there are now some very lightweight sunscreen options available that are not likely to cause breakouts or feel greasy on the skin.

Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be very effective acne treatments, but I don't recommend them in cleansers.

Thank you Snow Queen

 

Are there any moisturizers with SPF that you recommend? Preferably one I can find at a drugstore. Or is it better to use a sunblock that does not contain moisturizer? I use Complex 15 moisturizer, and it has no SPF.

Almay daily moisturizer for normal/combination skin with grape seed has an SPF of 15 and it's wonderful. It has antioxidants that can help soothe the irritation you are experiencing. It might help with your flakes, too.

Thank you Snow Queen

 

Are there any moisturizers with SPF that you recommend? Preferably one I can find at a drugstore. Or is it better to use a sunblock that does not contain moisturizer? I use Complex 15 moisturizer, and it has no SPF.

Almay daily moisturizer for normal/combination skin with grape seed has an SPF of 15 and it's wonderful. It has antioxidants that can help soothe the irritation you are experiencing. It might help with your flakes, too.

 

That would work too. It contains a broad-spectrum sunscreen and ingredients which are not likely to cause irritation or breakouts. Because Almay is best-known as a makeup brand, Almay skincare products are often times found in the makeup aisle.

Hi Snow Queen,

Thanks for making the recommendation for Eucerin Redness Relief face wash. I absolutely love it!

I have a question about Aveeno's sunscreen. Any concerns? Or a recommendation for a better product?

AVEENO SUNBLOCK LOTION, FACE, SPF 30

INGREDIENTS:

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.4%, Oxybenzone 5%

Inactive Ingredients: BHT, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Cholecalciferol, Diethylhexyl 2,6 Naphthalate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract (soybean), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben, PEG 100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Squalane, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Water, Xanthan Gum

Many thanks.

Did you get all these info from Paula Begoun, especially from her book, The Beauty Bible? Sounds a lot like it.

Hi Snow Queen,

 

Thanks for making the recommendation for Eucerin Redness Relief face wash. I absolutely love it!

 

I have a question about Aveeno's sunscreen. Any concerns? Or a recommendation for a better product?

 

AVEENO SUNBLOCK LOTION, FACE, SPF 30

 

INGREDIENTS:

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.4%, Oxybenzone 5%

 

Inactive Ingredients: BHT, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Cholecalciferol, Diethylhexyl 2,6 Naphthalate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract (soybean), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben, PEG 100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Squalane, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Water, Xanthan Gum

 

Many thanks.

It is a broad-spectrum sunscreen, but all the fragrance it contains might be a problem. Are you looking specifically for an SPF 30 sunscreen, or would an SPF 15 sunscreen be OK? You might like the SPF 15 lotions Dove, Olay, and Almay make. You might also like some of the lotions Clinique offers, which come with higher SPF ratings. Or you might like Neutrogena's Dry-Touch Sunscreens, which also come with higher SPF ratings (though if you have areas of dry skin you'll probably need to wear a separate moisturizer underneath over those dry areas).

Did you get all these info from Paula Begoun, especially from her book, The Beauty Bible? Sounds a lot like it.

I did learn most of what I know from Paula Begoun after reading her book, The Beauty Bible, though not everything.

Good morning!

I put on Dove SPF 15 every day, but yesterday I got a sunburn, so I thought I'd look into something with a higher SPF. Plus, I have patches on my face that are darker, so I want to cover them with a higher SPF in hopes that they will eventually blend in with the rest of my face! Following your recommendation, I think I may go with Neutragena Dry Touch 30 or 45.

Thank you.

whatamess said:

Good morning!

I put on Dove SPF 15 every day, but yesterday I got a sunburn, so I thought I'd look into something with a higher SPF. Plus, I have patches on my face that are darker, so I want to cover them with a higher SPF in hopes that they will eventually blend in with the rest of my face! Following your recommendation, I think I may go with Neutragena Dry Touch 30 or 45.

Thank you.

Part of your problem may also have been that you did not apply enough sunscreen or that you needed to reapply your sunscreen

If you haven't already seen it, you may find this article, which details facts about sun exposure and proper sunscreen application, helpful:

[Removed link]

Wearing sunscreen is an important part of preventing dark patches from occuring and worsening, but you'll probably find that you need the help of an inhibitor of melanin production to help fade them. Some over-the-counter options you can try use hydroquinone, an FDA approved skin lightener. One hydroquinone product you may be particularly interested in is Paula's Choice Clearly Remarkable Gel, which contains 2% salicylic acid as well meaning that you wouldn't need to buy a separate exfoliant.

NEVER use hydroquinone products at the same time as products containing benzoyl peroxide, or else you will experience a temporary staining of the skin.

If benzoyl peroxide is a necessary part of your regimen, you may get benefit from using a product containing kojic acid. However, kojic acid is a very unstable ingredient, so it's not unlikely that a kojic acid product you buy will become ineffective. Pevonia Lightening Gel is one hydroquinone-free skin lightener which contains kojic acid, as well as azelaic acid and an alpha hydroxy acid (ingredients which can also fade discolorations), that you may be interested in, though it's expensive.

Some users find that using a combination of over-the-counter retinoids, like Green Cream, in conjunction with alpha hydroxy acids helps fade discolorations.

You can also see your dermatologist for prescription-only skin lighteners, such as Azelex (a 20% azelaic acid cream). In addition, Azelex was approved in 1999 by the FDA for the treatment of acne because its disinfecting properties and ability to help pore function can benefit acne sufferers. Prescription retinoids, which can also help fade discolorations, may also be prescribed to you to use along with other melanin production inhibiting treatments.

You might find this article about skin lighteners useful:

[Removed link]

Thank you, that's really helpful.

I have a question:

Can Differin be used with sulfur? Or salicylic acid?

Thanks in advance.

Thank you, that's really helpful.

I have a question:

Can Differin be used with sulfur? Or salicylic acid?

 

Thanks in advance.

According to the makers of Differin, salicylic acid and sulfur can be used with the treatment with caution. If you just started using any one of these treatments, you may not want to apply them separately until your skin has gotten used to the treatment(s), which should take a few weeks. Disinfectants like sulfur can be used as often as twice daily but must be used at least once daily. Salicylic acid can be used as often as twice daily and as little as once every other day, though you'll probably find that you get best results using it at least once daily. Differin is most effective when used once daily or once every other day, and the makers say that using it once daily is preferred. You can combine treatment applications, depending on how well your skin reacts, though I would probably not use all three treatments at once.

There are very few well-formulated salicylic acid products on the market. Most either have too high of a pH to act as exfoliants, contain skin irritants like drying alcohols, or both. Medicated cleansers are not effective because the medication gets rinsed away. In addition, these products usually have too high of a pH to allow the salicylic acid to exfoliate anyway. If you let the cleanser sit on your skin a few minutes in hopes of giving the treatment time to working, you are also giving the cleansing agents in the cleanser time to cause problematic irritation for your skin. The reason why many people say salicylic acid cleansers are harsh is because they typically use harsh surfectants like sodium C14-olefin sulfonate; the problem is not the salicylic acid, but rather the cleansing agent used. A great example of one such salicylic acid cleanser is Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash. And it is not just salicylic acid cleansers that have a reputation for being harsh, but salicylic acid products in general. Again, this is the fault of "inactive" ingredients like SD alcohol 40 or other common skin irritants. When in well-formulated products, salicylic acid is relatively gentle for most people. As mentioned before, though, there are very few well-formulated salicylic acid products availabe. If you're not using one of the salicylic acid product recommended in the first post to this thread, chances are it's not well-formulated and you shouldn't be using it (and especially not with Differin).

Sulfur itself has an alkaline pH, which may affect the effectiveness of your salicylic acid product and retinoids. When used as the active ingredient in disinfecting products, those products may have been formulated to have a neutral or acidic pH, meaning that they would not negatively impact the effectiveness of salicylic acid and prescription retinoids. Just to be safe, I would recommend waiting between fifteen minutes and a half hour prior to applying sulfur when using a pH-sensitive product, or testing the pH of your sulfur product so you know for sure.

Differin is considered a retinoid because of the way it interacts with retinoid receptors, but is not actually a vitamin A derivative. I think I remember reading online that Differin had a higher pH than other retinoids and is not pH-sensitive in the way that Retin-A is, but could not find the site again. I would still recommend waiting fifteen minutes and a half hour prior to using sulfur treatments as mentioned above, unless you know that your sulfur product does not have an alkaline pH. If nothing else, this will at least help lessen the amount of irritation you will experience from using such treatments.

Hi Snow Queen. This is the 3rd or 4th time I'm coming to you for advice, haha. Right now my regimen is:

Morning:

-Cleanse with Cetaphil

-Apply 2.5% BP Aqua-Gel

-Moisturize with Dove Deep Moisture Day Lotion

Night:

-Cleanse with Cetaphil

-Apply 2.5% BP Aqua-Gel

-Moisturize with Dove Sensitive Skin Essentials Lotion

The thing with my skin is that its very oily - so oily that my skin at times changes its tone significantly (when I haven't cleansed it in a while). I use the Dove SPF 15 lotion in the morning that you recommended and it moisturizes very well. The problem is that it makes my skin look kind of overly greasy - is the clinique spf 15 lotion you use a better option than dove?

Hi Snow Queen. This is the 3rd or 4th time I'm coming to you for advice, haha. Right now my regimen is:

 

Morning:

-Cleanse with Cetaphil

-Apply 2.5% BP Aqua-Gel

-Moisturize with Dove Deep Moisture Day Lotion

 

Night:

-Cleanse with Cetaphil

-Apply 2.5% BP Aqua-Gel

-Moisturize with Dove Sensitive Skin Essentials Lotion

 

The thing with my skin is that its very oily - so oily that my skin at times changes its tone significantly (when I haven't cleansed it in a while). I use the Dove SPF 15 lotion in the morning that you recommended and it moisturizes very well. The problem is that it makes my skin look kind of overly greasy - is the clinique spf 15 lotion you use a better option than dove?

The Clinique sunscreen I use is matte and not very hydrating, but that's great for oily skin because oily skin does not need a moisturizer at all. The sunscreen is very slightly tinted; I would recommend testing it out at a Clinique counter prior to purchase. If you order online from Clinique's official web site it is my understanding that you can be refunded for used products that you dislike, though don't quote me on that. If you have both areas of dryness and oiliness, you can spot treat those dry areas with a moisturizer prior to applying sunscreen and at night under no sunscreen.