Omg, never leave your pimples. If you can, pop them for sure. Those idiots who tell not to, don't listen. If you don't pop a pimple, they'll take like 3 times as long to go away.

The reason why you aren't supposed to pop is because popping causes scarring. And also you should try not to touch your face as much as you can because touching your face a lot just adds more oil to your face (the oil from you finger tips and hands goes onto your face and clogs your pores). So don't pop the pimple, just wait it out. In the long run it is much better for your skin to just wait.

Snow Queen -- you mention in the first post that Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisture Gel is a moisturizer worth considering. What do you think about her other moisturizers (the Hydrating Treatment Cream and the Skin Recovery Moisturizer)? Since my skin tends to be dry, I think the Moisture Gel is probably not the best choice for me.

 

Thanks!

If you go to the FAQs on Paula's Choice. They talk about what is best for each skin type. The problem I'm having is that there are like 2 choices for each skin type. So that leaves me asking 'Which one of the two will work the best?'

When it comes to the reasons of acne. Is it mostly genetical or due to stress and hormonal imbalance....

In my experience it seems like it is hormonal. Neither of my parents, or grandparents have acne. My oldest sister doesn't either. Although my older sister and I do. So I think in my family's case it is stress and hormonal, and not genetical.

hello!

i just have a very small question.

is it for certain (scientifically proven) that our skin can't become immune/get used to BHA and retinols and thus stop working?

sam9009 said:

okay Queen, the dudu black soap comes in a liquid form

Ingredients below:

Pure Honey

Shea Butter

Osun (Camwood)

Potassium Palkernelate

Sodium Palm Kernelate

Glyceride

Aloe Vera

Lime Juice

Lemon Juice

Water

Fragrance

Have you guys tried Grandma's Lye Soap? We get ours at [Removed link]

Helen

For the do's, check out the products recommended for the regimen. I have found most of them pretty good.

Part I: Avoiding Harmful Products\

 

ok what about AmLactin lotion? That is the best moisturizer I have ever tried!

 

 

When Buying Products

 

Don't Buy Cleansers That:

 

1. Contain harsh surfectants like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate.

 

2. Are in bar form. These contain harsh cleansing agents like sodium cocoate, and the ingredients that keep them in bar form can be absorbed into the skin to clog pores. Also, many bar soaps have alkaline pH levels, which actually encourages bacterial growth.

 

3. Are daily scrubs containing uneven particles like walnut . These can tear at the skin and cause irritation.

Look for scrubs with smooth, round, bead-like particles.

 

4. Contain waxy, pore-clogging thickeners. Products in cream form tend to have these.

 

5. Contain animal oils*. Animal oils resemble human sebum and can clog pores similarly.

 

4. Give a "tingly" or "cooling" feeling. That feeling is caused by skin irritants like menthol and camphor.

 

5. Are medicated. If the medication contains a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid, the cleanser is almost certain to have too high of a pH (over 4) to allow it to act as an exfoliant. Chances are that the majority of any medictation used in a cleanser will be washed away before having any real effect. If you let a medicated cleanser (either one containing a chemical exfoliant or one containing benzoyl peroxide) sit on the skin in hopes of giving the medications time to penetrate, than chances are you'll also be allowing the cleansing agents time to irritate the skin.

 

* Emu oil for some reason seems to be an exception according to users of this site.

 

Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:

 

1. Contain drying alcohols, witch hazel, peppermint, or other skin irritants.

 

2. Contain animal oils. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

 

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients, as these can encourage bacterial growth.

 

Don't Buy Salicylic Acid Products* That:

 

1. Contain skin irritants like drying alcohols, witch hazel, peppermint, or other skin irritants.

 

2. Have a pH higher than 4 or else the salicylic acid will not be an effective exfoliant. A good idea of a product's pH can be obtained with pH indicator strips.

 

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients (See "Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:")

 

* Most salicylic acid products are not pH correct, contain irritants, or both.

 

Don't Buy Benzoyl Peroxide Products:

 

1. That contain skin irritants.

 

2. To use in conjunction with prescription retinoids (with the exception of adapalene which is used in Differin). Benzoyl peroxide renders most retinoids unstable and should be applied only in the morning if a prescription retinoid is being used at night.

 

3. Contain animal oils. (See Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

 

Don't Buy Tea Tree Oil Products That:

 

1. Contain skin irritants.

 

2. Have less than a 5% concentration of tea tree oil, or more than a 15% concentration. Too little tea tree oil is likely to be ineffective, and too much may be irritating. You can, however, buy pure tea tree oil and dilute it, so long as you aim for the right concentration.

 

3. Contain animal oils. (See Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

 

Don't Buy Moisturizers That:

 

1. Are in cream form. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

 

2. Contain animal oils. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

 

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients. (See "Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:")

 

4. Contain skin irritants.

 

Don't Buy Sunscreens That:

 

1. Are in cream form. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

 

2. Contain animal oils. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

 

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients. (See "Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:")

 

4. Do not contain avobenzone, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, mexoryl sx, or tinosorb; the ingredients recognized by the FDA to provide adequate UVA protection.

 

5. Do not have an SPF of 15 or higher.

 

6. Contain skin irritants.

 

In General

 

1. Don't use products that contain skin irritants. Skin irritants prematurely kill skin cells, littering the skin with more dead skin cells than it can naturally slough off, thus creating a greater risk of clogged pores. Skin irritants also interfere with the skin's healing process, which can result in an increase in bacteria.

 

Some common skin irritants are:

 

Alcohols. Ethanol (grain alcohol), denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl, and SD alcohol should be avoided. (Exceptions: Ingredients like cetyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols. Some alcohols like SD alcohols can be used in small amounts. An ingredient is in a small amount if it appears at the end of an ingredients list).

Ammonia

Arnica

Balm mint

Balsam

Bentonite (can be used in the occasional clay mask, but avoid frequent use or formulations which contain other "actives")

Benzalkonium chloride (if it is one of the main ingredients)

Benzyl Alcohol (if it is one of the main ingredients)

Bergamot

Camphor

Cinnamon

Citrus juices and oils

Clove

Clover blossom

Coriander

Cornstarch

Essential Oils

Eucalyptus

Eugenol

Fennel

Fennel oil

Feverfew

Fir needle

Fragrance (may be listed as "Parfum")

Geranium

Ginger

Grapefruit

Horsetail

Jasmine

Lavender

Lemon

Lemongrass

Lime

Linalool

Marjoram

Melissa (lemon balm)

Menthol, Menthyl Acetate, and Menthyl PCA

Mint

Oak bark

Orange

Oregano

Papaya

Peppermint

Phenol

Rose

Sandalwood oil

Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfate

Sodium lauryl sulfate

TEA-lauryl sulfate

Thyme

Wintergreen

Witch hazel

Ylang-ylang

 

2. Don't base your use of a product on whether or not it says "non-comedogenic," "oil-free," "hypo-allergenic," "dermatologically tested," and similar terms. These are flashy marketing terms that have no regulations, therefore, they can mean anything. As mentioned earlier, products with waxy thickeners and animal oils (not plant oils) are most likely to clog pores. Mineral sunscreen ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can clog pores, though synthetic sunscreens like avobenzone can irritate the skin of certain people and also trigger breakouts. Everyone is different and will be sensitive to different ingredients, so there is no real way of knowing what will or will not clog pores, just what may clog pores. One other thing- acne can take two weeks to form, so if you break out right after starting a product, don't assume that product was the culprit.

 

3. Don't use specialty products (chemical exfoliants, moisturizers, etc...) that are in jar packaging to minimize air exposure. Oxygen can render certain ingredients unstable. Also, with jar packaging, there is a concern for product contamination. Sunlight can also render certain ingredients unstable, so if you buy a product in clear packaging, be sure to store it in a dark space (such as a medicine cabinet or drawer).

 

4. Don't assume that the stronger a product (i.e. the higher the concentration of an active ingredient), the more effective it will be. Using a product that is too strong for you may cause irritation that can worsen acne. What is a good strength varies by person.

 

5. Don't assume that naturally-occurring ingredients are better for your skin. As can be seen by the list of common skin irritants above, there are plenty of ingredients both man-made and naturally-occurring that can be irritating to the skin.

 

6. Don't touch your face if you can avoid it so as to prevent the spread of contaminants.

 

7. If you have trouble with inflammatory acne, change your bedding often (once a week), and keep anything that touches your face frequently (like a phone or washcloth) clean and disinfected to prevent the spread of contaminants.

 

8. Don't use makeup testers on your face to prevent the risk of contamination.

 

9. Don't apply your moisturizer over areas of your face that are not dry. Applying moisturizer where it is not needed can increase the risk of clogged pores by mixing with excess sebum and "gluing" dead skin cells to the skin's surface.

 

10. Don't tan. Tanning only temporarily masks acne, damaging the skin in the process, which can actually lead to a worsening of acne. Even if tanning did help, it's not worth the risk of skin cancer, premature aging, cataracts, cellulite, and rosacea associated with unprotected sun exposure.

 

11. Don't steam the skin or rinse with hot water as this can cause irritation and capillaries to surface. It is best to wash with luke-warm water.

 

12. Don't give up on a new regimen. You need at the very minimum one month and preferrably two to see results. When using prescription retinoids, you need at least three months.

 

13. Don't over-scrub the skin as this can cause irritations. It is best to use gentle, circular motions. When drying the face, pat the skin dry as opposed to rubbing it dry.

 

14. Avoid doing anything to aggravate a pimple. It may be beneficial to pop one provided the pimple is ready to pop, but only apply light pressure. Never squeeze, scratch, or pick at it. If light pressure does not release the contents of a pimple, you will likely worsen it should you increase that pressure.

 

15. Don't use more than one method of exfoliation at once. For example, don't use a scrub followed by a salicylic acid product, or a salicylic acid product followed by an alpha hydroxy acid product. You risk over-irritating the skin.

 

16. Don't generously apply products (with the exception of sunscreen, which should be generously applied). Usually only a dime-sized amount / thinly applied layer is all that's needed for the entire face. Over-applying products can be harmful to the skin.

 

17. Be happy! Who knows, your skin might even get clearer as a result. If not, it's better to have acne and be happy than it is to have acne and wallow in gloom.

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Part II: Building a Regimen

 

Here are some products you could use to help build your own customized regimen, which are also listed in the responses below.

I recommend building a basic regimen that includes at the minimum these steps:

 

1) Cleansing with Lukewarm Water

2) Exfoliating

3) Disinfecting (If You Have Inflammatory Acne)

4) Moisturizing Dry Areas Only (Nighttime)

5) Applying Sunscreen to All Exposed Areas of Skin (Daytime)

 

You can also include other steps in your regimen, like the application of toners which don't contain chemical exfoliants (not that toners containing chemical exfoliants shouldn't be used if that's your method of exfoliation) or of retinoids. Also, you don't have to apply all these products at the same time; for example, you can exfoliate as often as twice a day or as little as once every other day. You should, however, cleanse twice daily.

 

Something I want to make very clear is that I am not advertising a cure for acne. The above mentioned steps follow skin care basics and are beneficial to most people. Subsequently, using a regimen following these steps may result in clear skin, but it may make absolutely no change whatsoever. If you use the wrong products or can't tolerate certain steps like exfoliation or certain types of ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, it might even make your skin worse. If you're looking for a starting point to treating acne or have been following a damaging skin care routine and want to stop, I definately recommend giving such a regimen a chance, but I don't want to give anyone false hope that their acne will disappear from following it. You may have a stubborn case of acne that is beyond the help of over-the-counter treatments, in which case I advise you seek a dermatologist's help. I also want to stress that the treatments I recommend below are not the only decently formulated products out there (though the salicylic acid products I listed are the only ones I know of that are both pH correct and gentle).

 

 

Some cleansers you may want to consider are:

 

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild Formula

Eucerin Baby Aquaphor Gentle Wash

Eucerin Redness Relief Cleansing Gel

Paula's Choice (any cleanser)

Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

 

 

Some manual scrubs you may want to consider as exfoliants are:

 

Essential Nutrients Daily Exfoliating Cleanser with Soft Massage Beads

Nivea for Men Energizing Face Scrub (women can use this too)

 

 

Some toners (not containing chemical exfoliants) you may want to consider are:

 

Biotherm Biosensitive Soothing Refreshing Spring Mist

Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion*

Derma E Pycnogenol Facial Toner, Fragrance Free

Nivea Visage Moisturizing Toner

Paula's Choice Toners

 

*This contains about a 0.5% concentration of salicylic acid at a pH of around 4, making it minimally effective for exfoliation, though you probably won't notice a significant difference in your skin due

 

Some salicylic acid products you may want to consider as exfoliants are:

 

Bare Vitamins Skin Rever-Upper (if it really has a pH of 3.8, as the company claimed in an e-mail)

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Defense Face Lotion

Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Anti-Blemish Daily Moisturizer

Paula's Choice 1% or 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid products*

Serious Skin Care Clarifying Treatment

 

*Paula's Choice makes by far the best salicylic acid products

 

 

Some benzoyl peroxide products you may want to consider as disinfectants are:

 

Dan's Clear Skin Regimen Gel (2.5%)

Jan Marini Skin Research Benzoyl Peroxide (2.5%)

Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel (5%)

Oxy Balance, Sensitive Skin Acne Treatment, Vanishing Formula (5%)

Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solutions (2.5% or 5%)

Persa-Gel 10, Maximum Strength (10%)

Zapzyt 10% Benzoyl Peroxide

 

Some tea tree oil products you may want to consider as disinfectants are:

 

Derma E Tea Tree and Antiseptic Cream* (5%)

Desert Essence 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil (diluted; aim for between a 5 and 15% concentration in your mixture)

 

*This product is in jar packaging, so the vitamin E and other antioxidants won't be stable, but the tea tree oil should work. It is also in cream form, which users may want to be wary of.

 

Some over-the-counter retinol* products you may want to consider are:

 

Diacneal with 6.4% Glycolic Acid

Green Cream

Jan Marini Factor-A Lotion

Makeup Artist's Choice Retinol Serum (which comes in clear packaging, so store it in a dark place)

 

*Products containing retinol do not necessarily produce similar results to prescription retinoid products

 

Some moisturizers you may want to consider are:

 

Dove Sensitive Essentials Daytime Lotion (no SPF)

Green Canyon Spa Skin Barrier Serum

Malibu Hemp Moisturizer Body Lotion for Dry Skin

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisture Gel

Zia Natural Skincare Herbal Moisture Gel

 

Some sunscreens you may want to consider are:

 

Clinique Super City Block SPF 25 Oil-Free Daily Face Protector

Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protector

M.A.C. Daily SPF 15 Light Moisture

Neutrogena Active Breathable Sunblocks

Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunsblocks

Proactiv Solution Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 15

seems snowqueen is m.i.a./ i hope she is alright.

Hi!

I was wondering if these two are bad >__<'

Vichy Toner:

Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, PPG-26-Butter, PEG-40-Hydrated Castor Oil, Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Parfum/Fragrance

Neutrogena Pore Refining toner:

Ingredients: Water, Alcohol Denat (35%), Glycolic Acid, Hamameid virginiana, Sodium PCA, Salicylic Acid, Aloe barbendensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Mentha piperita, Allantoin, Sodium Lactate, PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum

Neutrogena has Eucalyptus globulus but I'm not sure if that's the same as Eucalyptus on the list. Also, Alcohol Denat is in them so not sure -__-'

Anyone help?

Hi!

 

I was wondering if these two are bad >__<'

 

Vichy Toner:

Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, PPG-26-Butter, PEG-40-Hydrated Castor Oil, Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Parfum/Fragrance

 

 

Neutrogena Pore Refining toner:

Ingredients: Water, Alcohol Denat (35%), Glycolic Acid, Hamameid virginiana, Sodium PCA, Salicylic Acid, Aloe barbendensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Mentha piperita, Allantoin, Sodium Lactate, PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum

 

Neutrogena has Eucalyptus globulus but I'm not sure if that's the same as Eucalyptus on the list. Also, Alcohol Denat is in them so not sure -__-'

 

Anyone help?

alcohol denat is drying and an irritant to the skin

For the exfoliating lotions, how would it work to put a lotion on before your acne medicine? Is it ok?

Is Olay foaming face wash a suitable cleanser?

I am sorry if this has been asked, but I am new, and dont feel like going through 40+ pages to see for myself.

IS there any cleanser-toner-moisterizer sold together that are effective?

very informative- thanks for doing this research- much appreciated!

Hi Snowqueen,

Really enjoyed reading your posts. Was thinking of the following regime for my daily washing, shaving and moisturizing. Could you have a look and tell me if you think its a good idea?

Many thanks

Al

Clinique [Removed link]

Clinique [Removed link]

Clinique [Removed link]

Clinique [Removed link]

brit-al said:

Hi Snowqueen,

Really enjoyed reading your posts. Was thinking of the following regime for my daily washing, shaving and moisturizing. Could you have a look and tell me if you think its a good idea?

Many thanks

Al

Clinique [Removed link]

Clinique [Removed link]

Clinique [Removed link]

Clinique [Removed link]

Hi, i'm not snowqueen but i thought i'd give in my two cents if you care to read it. i also use the clinique soap (i copied from snowqueen, shhhh ). i really like it as it doesn't break me out. i'm sure snowqueen does too since she's been using it for a while now. i don't know about the aloe gel or gel lotion as i've never tried it. as for the city block, it broke me out. and i've read horrible reviews on it from makeupalley. but snowqueen uses the city block so i guess it really depends on your skin.

hope that helps.

Thanks for your reply. I bought everything apart from sunblock. Moisturiser seems to work well so far but the mild soap is very drying, checked out the ingredients and it contains sodium Laureth sulfate and sodium sulfate, two of the ingredients to try and avoid, hmmmm?

The shave gel ingredients look ok, but i think i might stop the liquid soap. Does your contain those ingredients too? Maybee the US version is different than the UK version.

I have had allergic reactions to both neutrogena and clinique. I don't remember if it was to the makeup or to the soaps because it was a while ago and I have just stayed clear of both. I was using purpose gel for soap then my derm told me to start using the bar, and my face always seems too dry afterward. I also use Retin-a micro and with both my face will peel like crazy and be inflamed. I have always blamed the retin-a but do you think it might be the soap? I use dove sensitive skin w/ spf in the morning and perscriptives sensitive skin in the afternoon as a moisturizor (perscriptives seems to be the only makeup and lotion line that i am not allergic to) i don't seem to have oily skin like most people w/ acne my skin is actually pretty dry

the mild soap works fine for me. i've actually never experienced any drying from it. but then again, i always apply my dove moisturizer after washing my face. the dove moisturizer is the best moisturizer there is!!!!! i love it so so much!!!!

i wouldn't recommend diluting tea tree oil, i use the 100% stuff undiluted for spot treatment and it works great at drying out the pimples. Just dont use it very often, or it will overdry your skin, but its fine for once in a while.

I was reading your recommendations about sunscreen and have a few questions. I am outside all day for my job and need sunscreen. I have based all my brands on being non-comedogenic (wont clog poors) and if it is Hypo-Allergenic. You said in your post that there is no regulation so don't shop for those specifics. My derm recommended those when choosing a sunscreen, so I am at a loss. I have the products below in my possession, not sure which ones to use exactly. I have been using the Spray SPF45 Neutrogena, since it is easy to apply after putting on mosturizer and BP; but I ran out and the only thing the store had was this Fresh cooling stuff which I see contains Menthyl, and PCA. I am hoping it wont breakme out. I also have The Nuetrogena Spray SPF30 Is hard to rub in, and I think its more irritating be rubbing my face so hard. The others are aveeno products.

Heres the list:

[Removed links]

The Snow Queen has not logged in to Acne.org since May to provide her opinions to your questions, so I'm closing this thread.

Reopening at the request of The Snow Queen so she can update the thread.

I couldn't find where this was brought up but I might have just missed it. What shampoo and conditioner do you recommend using?

I plan on following your guidelines!

I couldn't find where this was brought up but I might have just missed it. What shampoo and conditioner do you recommend using?

 

I plan on following your guidelines!

No shampoo and no conditioner.... Biggest mistake people do is use Shampoo and Conditioner.

Maybe once a week , but other than that just use water. and avoid water and foam dripping down your face... if you shower , turn around and lean back towards the shower head and let the water fall down behind the scalp and run your fingers backward to push water out of the hair and away from the face.

Plus , dont use fabric softener on your towels and only pat dry, ( i air dry, takes longer but meh...)

I couldn't find where this was brought up but I might have just missed it. What shampoo and conditioner do you recommend using?

 

I plan on following your guidelines!

 

No shampoo and no conditioner.... Biggest mistake people do is use Shampoo and Conditioner.

Maybe once a week , but other than that just use water. and avoid water and foam dripping down your face... if you shower , turn around and lean back towards the shower head and let the water fall down behind the scalp and run your fingers backward to push water out of the hair and away from the face.

 

Plus , dont use fabric softener on your towels and only pat dry, ( i air dry, takes longer but meh...)

 

......are you sure? Once a WEEK? You are male aren't you? Sorry if that seems rude but I have a lot of hair that gets greasy and gross if I dont shampoo it for a week! :C There has to be SOMETHING I can use that wont irritate....

I couldn't find where this was brought up but I might have just missed it. What shampoo and conditioner do you recommend using?

 

I plan on following your guidelines!

 

No shampoo and no conditioner.... Biggest mistake people do is use Shampoo and Conditioner.

Maybe once a week , but other than that just use water. and avoid water and foam dripping down your face... if you shower , turn around and lean back towards the shower head and let the water fall down behind the scalp and run your fingers backward to push water out of the hair and away from the face.

 

Plus , dont use fabric softener on your towels and only pat dry, ( i air dry, takes longer but meh...)

 

 

......are you sure? Once a WEEK? You are male aren't you? Sorry if that seems rude but I have a lot of hair that gets greasy and gross if I dont shampoo it for a week! :C There has to be SOMETHING I can use that wont irritate....

 

Hahhahaha, yeah i am male ,

Wull i guess i dont have much hair to wash and i really dont get that dirty so you know...and yeah, i thought you were a guy too so , my bad.

Well, see here's the thing...if you use shampoo and conditioner, some of that conditioner will still be in your hair, and then it will get oily (like you say it does) then you'll have conditioner and oil on your hair and then hopefully you dont got bangs or hair falling all over your face...

Wear a headband i Kid ikid

But im sure there must be some other way....maybe it's time for a new hair style shorter this time maybe? eh?

or else try to just shampoo...and do the proper washing routine. the Key is to keep the hair from falling into your face and providing more oil into your face...plus when you sweat try not to have too much product on your hair as it will trickle down on your face...and i hates when that happens. Headband maybe?