(no subject)

[scheherezhad]

I sometimes get curious about random things, so I have a question for the comm:

What's the best product/routine you've found for your skin?


For me, it's been using witch hazel as a toner, and treating blemishes with salicylic acid or sulfur products. I'm more into the cosmetics part of product addiction than I am skincare, so I've never really had a skincare routine. I don't often go buy skin products until it's necessary, but I'll almost always try something new when I need them.

That's how I found that sulfur works for me, by trying e.l.f.'s mineral blemish powder (active ingredient: sulfur 3%) on a whim and finding that it soothed my eruptions, sometimes even making smaller spots disappear overnight. Having had luck with that, I tried their Zit Zapper (active ingredient: salicylic acid 1%), figuring that since it was $1US, it wasn't a big deal if it was a dud. It also makes many of my small spots disappear, though it's a tossup on larger ones; sometimes it diminishes them, sometimes it brings them to a head.

The witch hazel was sort of a roundabout discovery. I had seen it recommended as a toner for ages, but I initially bought it in hopes of it soothing some chronic itching on my legs (which it has helped with, a bit). Once I started using it regularly as a toner, though, I suddenly saw a marked improvement in my skin. I used to have a lot of small, random breakouts, but after a couple of months of witch hazel, those stopped almost entirely. Now I only tend to break out right before my period, or when I can't keep my hands off my face.

My next notion is that when I run out of the commercial cleansers I've been using, I'll give oil cleansing a go.

So what about you all? Any successes, or are you still searching for the right things?

Comments

[eleanorjane]

I use Clarins' One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. It's basically what the name says - it's a cream cleanser with a bit of graininess to it to exfoliate, but it's not a full-on scrub. I use it every other day and it keeps my skin amazingly smooth and flake-free; it's probably the single best beauty product I've ever used (although judging by the MUA reviews it's not universally loved).

Before that, I used to use ground adzuki beans mixed with a little bit of water to form a stiff paste. Odd, but awesome.

[karenarthur]

I have had terrible gross adult acne since I turned 20; I've tried benzoyl peroxide in every strength, salicylic acid, sulfur, retinoid cream, antibiotics, etc etc. Nowadays I keep things mostly under control with flax oil and accuflora probiotics, and I have found that AHA cream is the only topical treatment that's ever seemed to make a huge difference.

I use Olay sensitive skin wash with their scrubby spinny brush aparatus, Boots Expert sensitive skin toner, Alpha Hydrox 10% Anti-Wrinkle cream or the generic Walgreens AHA Cream, and then Neutrogena liquid sunblock. In the evening I do the same thing, but use Neutrogena retinol anti-wrinkle cream instead of my spf. My skin looks great for the first time in ages.

[thejeopardymaze]

Diet can be a factor, depending on the person. I no longer drink low or non-fat dairy, cut down on sugar, and eat a lot more saturated fats now. When it comes to cleansers, I never use anything foaming, oily stuff seems to work pretty well for my face for some reason. Your mileage may vary.

[the_grynne]

I have dehydrated, oily and congestion prone skin, and I've found that a combination of thorough but gentle cleansing, layered moisturisers, AHA/BHA to control breakouts, and vitamin C to even out skin tone has improved the appearance of my skin enormously.

I've gone through phases where I used anti-blemish/clarifying cleansers, as well as cleansing oils, but they only seems to make my congestion worse.

My current routine*:

Morning
Botani Purity Facial Cleanser
Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lotion, or whatever lotion I have lying around
EmerginC Vitamin C Serum
Eisenberg Eye Contour Gel
Avene Hydrance Optimale Riche
Clinique City Block
By Terry Baume de Rose Crystal SPF15 to prep lips before lipstick

After work
Bioderma, to remove makeup
KORA Organics Luxurious Rosehip Oil, a couple of drops, pressed into damp, cleansed skin with hands

Evening
Trilogy Cream Cleanser, wiped off with a hot muslim cloth
Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lotion
Chantecaille Retinol Intense // Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum, on alternating nights
La Roche Posay Effaclar AI, if I have any breakouts
Huiles & Baumes Face Smoothing Serum, a facial oil, but only in winter when I get very dry patches
Avene Hydrance Optimale Riche
Bod Lip Balm, after brushing my teeth

Weekly
Sisley Botanical Face Mask with Tropical Resins


*I blog about beauty, so I'm constantly testing new products, which is why my routine is a lot more elaborate than any normal person's would actually need to be.

[0jack]

I have terrifically dry skin. The kind that can look like alligator scales if I don't stay on top of it. Also, I get terrible celiac/allergy breakouts on my hands that are violently itchy and then clear up to leave hard, dry plaques behind. Occasionally, I get strep or staph breakouts on my face and neck and chest. They're painful and they scar.

I discovered emu oil in the last few years. It feels horribly atavistic to be spreading the rendered fat of a giant bird over my skin, but there you go. It seems to do a better job of settling my skin, especially the elbows, than other oils. Flax oil, squeezed out of the capsule, is good for moisturizing my face skin when I'm having a breakout. I don't know why.

Also, I bought Yes oil-based lube for its obvious purpose and then have ended up using it on my terribly dry skin—mostly hands, again, but other places, too. I know it's completely off label but the ingredients are a perfect blend for what I'm after. Here's the ingredient list: http://www.yesyesyes.org/ingredients.htm When my skin is so bad that even neutral "sensitive" moisturizers cause it to burn and swell, the Yes (especially over damp skin) saves me. I think it's the beeswax. When I have the energy, I'll make my own.

The last thing is the water softener. We have terrifically hard water and finally got a softener. I've noticed a positive change in my skin since then.

[drunkoffthestars]

Oil cleansing + hot washcloth steaming: I've inherited my mother's adult acne, and my skin tends to be oily, but when using standard Retin-A generic, which cleared up my skin a ton, but I was ending up with these giant dry patches next to my nose. Then someone on DW told me about oil cleansing and A MIRACLE OCCURRED. Mostly clear skin and no more dry patches! I aim for ~2-3x a week, preferably in the shower, and a lot of holding a hot wash cloth on my face. I still get a lot of tiny spots, usually blackheads, but I rarely get any infected pimples anymore, and all the million of tiny bumps are mostly gone (unless I don't keep up with things). I use ~9:1 Jojoba oil:castor oil, mostly b/c that's what I had on hand at the time.

Acne.org moisturizer: The other thing that was suggested to me was that maybe I really do have sensitive skin. The moisturizer I was using was nice and light, but the SPF made it burn a little, and at the end of the day, my eyes would itch a lot. The Acne.org moisturizer is super-light and goes on really nicely, and doesn't leave an oily residue unless I'm really dry and add a little jojoba oil to it.

AHA: Does amazing things to smooth out my skin. I don't know how to describe it, but it's like the retinoids but with less drying. I also got it from Acne.org, and it has licochalcone in it, which the dude there is super-obsessed with. I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but my face is doing great.

Prescription retinoids/antibiotics: I still use these at least once a week, but usually not much more than that, and only on spots that are trying to break out. Combined with the AHA (not at the same time), they keep my face clear. I'm super fond of the new one that is a peroxide+retinoid mix, but it is balls expensive, so I use it sparingly.

I'm still looking for something(s) that would let me leave the prescription shit behind, but overall I'm happy with where I am.

[thejeopardymaze]

Cleansing cream or cleansing milk made for dry/mature skin, toner made with tropical fruit extracts, gentle cleansing scrub, moisturizer, not exactly in that order.

I only use 'natural' and mostly organic brands because I can't stand most of the stuff sold on most grocery and drugstore shelves.

I do think jojoba is pretty great as a cleansing and makeup removing oil, even though the price has gone up alot recently.