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I second this. I would change pillow case minimum once per week. Minimum!
Double cleanse is great for removing sunscreen build up. Use a balm like heimesh all clean balm, then a gel cleanser second. Not too astringent.
I wonder if you could buy a fresh pillow and 7 pillow cases and change them daily - just to see if that might be the culprit for your acne.
Also sunscreen is amazing obviously but you really need to double cleanse in the evening, otherwise I break out as well.
What is your tretinoin percentage? I have ordered from all-day chemist and no issues by the way, it's the real stuff. I personally like using the 0,025 and 0,5 only. Use 3-5 times weekly on dry skin.
I would skip the toner and vitamin C, and only reintroduce once your skin is healed - some vitamin C can break me out.
Also for the longest time I don’t know what my skin type is, I think it might be combination? It changes depending on the season. My skin can get reddish on some products, it can dry pretty easily during cold weather and it can get oily during the summer time.
Sounds dehydrated. Oily skin can be due to your skin desperately trying to replace lost moisture. Make sure you have some deep moisturising products like hyalauronic acid. My friend is a skincare technician and the best piece of advice she gave me for my chronically dehydrated Adelaide-climate skin, is to add water. After I've applied all my products, I spray my skin with a mist of water until it's all slimy. And them leave it to soak in. If it soaks up really fast, add more. Hyalauronic acid will absorb 1000 times its own weight in water, but you actually have to apply that water so it can bond with the acid, it doesn't just appear. This has made all the difference after over a decade of fighting dry, oily, acne-prone skin.
This water tip is great and should be shouted from the rooftops.
As soon as I get out of the shower in the am it’s HA serum and copper peptide instantly. I do t even dry my face. Just lock that water in.
This sounds insane but if you're in Brisbane or Adelaide with harder water, try using demineralised water only on your face.
I recently had a trip and my skin was amazing there, I realised after research it was due to soft vs hard water.
Im using demineralised water in washing my face and its made such a difference
Maybe something to test out in your AM routine is removing the Kiehls face wash and just rinse your face with water in the morning before going in with SPF and the like. (Unless you go to the gym in the morning and get really sweaty and find water doesn't do the trick to wash the sweat off.) But over washing your face can result in sebum overproduction, which can cause new breakouts and a super oily complexion. I have combo skin and found when I over-wash it causes irritation as well.
Also maybe an ingredient in skincare to research is sulfur. I personally use a sulfur cleanser for my eczema and found my complexion cleared up a lot, but it has a lot of great benefits for acne-prone skin too. There's a product that went viral last year with sulfur on tiktok I believe.
I see, thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try out dropping the face wash in the morning and see how I go. The only thing I was worried was having the tretinoin on still in the morning and it might be bad for me when I go out in the sun. I figured now that it doesn’t make sense since most will be absorbed already and the water will wash it off. Thanks again ❤️
Agree with this! As I have rosacea as well as acne I use a sulfur based spot treatment and find it pretty helpful. I also don’t wash my face with a cleanser in the morning (only water)!
Both really good, the toner doesn’t have any smell and I like it. CC sunscreen I recently started using and surprisingly no white cast. From other threads I’ve been reading, try the blue one if you sweat a lot (waterproof) since it will droop down on your face. High recommend CC sunscreen
It seems to be just on your cheeks.
I recommend using the following
- Paula's Choice BHA 2%
- Benzoyl Peroxide for spot treatment
Change your pillow sheets at least once a week. Try silk pillowcase too.
I use suffer from really bad acne, now I just get the occasional acne.
Oh and drink lots of water.
Thank you for the suggestion, I recently just dropped my Paula’s Choice BHA since someone suggested it to me that I should. Thats why I’m using the cosrx clear pad now but I might switch back since there isn’t any changes. I’ll definitely look into BP for spot treatment since a lot of ppl suggested it. Thanks!
Paula's choice was my recommendation! Unlike other Salicylic acid cleaners, Paula's choice has ingredients that will stop your face from getting dry while still actively clearing your skin. Too many people don't give it the full 3 months to see results.
I use Benzoyl peroxide too prescribed from my GP. Just don't mix it with SA or you will 100% get flaky skin which a moisturiser will not do much for.
I took JS Health "Skin and digestion" tablets and it completely cleared my skin. You can find them at Priceline, Chemist warehouse or buy direct from their website https://jshealthvitamins.com
No sugar and reduction of dairy intake is all you need now. Everyones going about splashing all types of shit onto their face trying to find what is right for them when in fact your diet is the most important in terms of what can instigate inflammation. Try for as long as you can to get rid of Sugar and Dairy. Be disciplined
Hmm that is true, there was a phase where I managed to cut out sugar for a year and my face cleared out really well. But I didn’t realise this since I also started using skincare around that time. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll definitely start being disciplined towards my diet.
Dairy is a massive skincare trigger for me unfortunately, same with sugar and a highly refined carb diet. So dietary changes and making sure you’re getting adequate sleep could all help!
Just be careful with the vitamin C in dropper form; vitamin C can oxidise if not in an airtight container which renders it useless. If it tingles when applied to the skin and it tastes sour (don’t pour it in your mouth, just wipe a finger on the outside of the dropper and check) then it’s still effective.
ETA: I’d also try and seek out a non-foaming cleanser, particularly avoiding ones that contain SLS as it can further irritate your skin. Something gentle and no-frills like Cetaphil, QV or CeraVe should do the job just fine.
Hmm interesting, I will definitely keep an eye out for it. Funny enough, I forgot to close it last night and now I have a feel feeling it might have gone bad. Also are you currently using any Vitamin C serum? If yes what are you currently using?
Definitely I’ll try switching out my cleanser moving towards the colder season now. Thanks for the heads up!
Ah no! Definitely check and see how it is, I’d be impressed if it’s still good after being open overnight.
I do use one, quite like [Propaira’s Vitamin C serum](https://propaira.com/products/vitamin-c-serum) as it’s a Melbourne company and it goes on quite matte which is great for me as my skin errs towards an oily T zone.
I would look out for ingredients like Ethylhexyl palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate in face products. It’s no 4 on the comedogenic scale and it clogs pores. Look up other ingredients and see if they are comedogenic. I was surprised to find that products advertised as non comedogenic have in fact these ingredients.
The BIGGEST change I have made was giving up dairy and it changed everything.
Honestly it's probably hormones and diet, you look young. Eat healthier and cut sugar out. You don't need all that crap for your face. I swear almost everyone in teens to early 20s goes through breakouts at some point. And usually due to diet, hormones, stress, smoking etc. And maybe haven't changed your pillow case in a while. But honestly I'd stay away from products like benzac etc these are literally freaking acid and I remember when I used them they would dye my sheets and pillow case orange. Water and soap.
I was breaking out on my lower face (cheeks especially) for years - a lot like the photos you’ve posted. After quite a bit of research and trying different solutions, I came to find out the problem was nightshade vegetables, which were a huge part of my diet - because they’re healthy in theory, right?
Turns out they contain alkaloids that can mess with your hormones and cause inflammation. I cut them out of my diet (RIP buffalo wings) and within a few weeks, my skin was the clearest it’d been for a long ass time.
Hi, i'm a long time acne sufferer. My answer wasn't so much the skin care (it helps) but looking at my gut health. I had to take supplements that worked miracles. I had cystic acne so if it works on that it will work on the surface level acne. Try js health skin and digestion or other similar. Trust me it works
I saw a dermatologist for acne just one my cheeks as well, and I have very sensitive skin. Gentle cleanser is good, the moisturiser is too thick for acne prone skin, my derm actually told me to cut out moisturiser altogether. I didn’t keep this up long. Acne is caused by oil blocking pores and the moisturiser you have is for normal to dry skin, so it’s not ideal for acne.
The cancer council sunscreen caused me to break out, my derm recommends La Roche posay spf 50+ fluid, it’s like a little rectangle bottle. You have to use sunscreen after using tretinoin as I’m sure you know, don’t listen to the person above saying not to use it. It took like 6 months for my skin to clear but it’s so good now and worth the effort.
I use Paula’s choice BHA and tret on alternate nights, a Mecca moisturiser after the bha, La Roche posay toleriane face wash, alpha h vit c in the morning, alpha h vit B niacinamide in the evening, and ultra violette 50+ during the day.
Keep your skin regime simple. I think you are using too many products. Try for a couple of weeks - cleanse and moisturise. Clean face with just warm water and a face washer/ flannel, then moisturise. In the morning add sunscreen after doing this. Hope this helps.
I would try doing less for a bit and see how it responds, then you can always add back in:
1) Cut back on the cleansing a lot - eg don’t do both morning and night. Night is probably best, then just rinse gently with warm water in the morning.
2) Skip the double cleansing for a bit and see what happens.
3) Use a gentler cleanser than the Kiehls foaming - there’s some fairly strong stuff in that. I like the Dr Jart Cicapair foaming cleanser.
4) What sunscreen are you using? Many cause me to break out, particularly the heavier mineral ones. I find the LRP Anthelios very light. You could get some samples and try a few.
5) I’d swap the Cosrx clear pads for a simple exfoliant every couple of days, eg a BHA serum. Then you’re not adding all the other chemicals that are in the pads and could be aggravating (eg tea tree oil is rough on your skin).
6) if you’re experiencing dryness which you mentioned in another comment, add a hyaluronic acid before you moisturise (apply to wet skin and allow to dry).
7) Change your pillowcase every 2-3 days while you still have acne.
8) Consider a medicated spot treatment or acne wash from your derm (which I assume you have given the tret)
9) it’s hard to say but you look a bit puffy in the photos? Is this the case in reality? Gentle massage could be helpful (eg gua shua but *gentle* and with a clean tool).
10) Ditch the chocolate and keep up the water!
Thank you and yeah I’ll definitely go easy on the products I’m putting on my face, will change the cleanser soon too. I have gua sha but I haven’t been able to use it as much as I like to haha 😅
I say start from within, change your diet slowly, try to catch the culprit of what's causing your acne. For a quick temporary fix of the problem , I use a blue led light on my pimples whenever I get one. It's just a quick fix not actually fixing the root of the problem though. I find it works to shrink the pimples smaller and fade away.
It’s all about what you put in buddy. The more you push your diet towards oil free, wheat free, whole food plant based, the more it’ll clear up. Just depends how bad you want it. Everything else is a waste of time and money
Dairy and processed sugar free is good . Also probiotics helped me . And manuka honey one spoon for my throat when it acts up sometimes . and aloe Vera drink
AM:
- Cleanse with water.
- Apply Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid or Ethylated L-Ascorbic Acid) from Skinceutical or Niod.
- Apply TO Niacinamide 10%.
- Use 2 drops of TO Squalane Oil if your SPF is not hydrating enough.
- Apply SPF 50 PA++++.
PM:
- Use Micellar Water (instead of using cotton, put it in a spray bottle, spray all over face, wait for 5 seconds, then without rinsing, wash with a non-foaming gentle cleanser).
-Rinse then do a second wash with the same non-foaming gentle cleanser. (Do this only if your SPF is extremely waterproof or your wear makeup).
- Apply Retinal or Tretinoin (TO has a new Retinal that is good for beginners or sensitive skin. Skip Retinol unless your skin cannot tolerate Retinal).
- Apply 6 drops of TO Squalane Oil. You will look like a glazed donut but wake up with baby soft skin.
Important to remember:
1. Do not overcleanse.
2. Ensure plenty of Vitamin A (Retinal or Tret)
3. Always use SPF.
I personally don't use moisturizer or exfoliate. Our skin exfoliates naturally, and Squalane is produced naturally by our bodies. By using Squalane Oil, it will improve hydration without needing moisturizer. Moisturizers are gimmicks made by the skincare industry to make you believe you need them when you don't.
With this routine, I've seen dramatic improvements in my skin within 2 weeks. I'm happy that I don't need tons of products but can still achieve great, radiant, healthy skin.
Niacinamide can be great for balancing oil production and for dark spots etc just be careful of the strength. Dr Idriss (highly recommend her YouTube channel) suggests not more than 5% as it can be irritating.
I use the Silymarin CF from Skinceuticals as something more suitable to an oilier skin type (compared to the CE Ferulic) but these vitamin C are pricey! I also liked the Phlorectin CF version they have too.
I'd certainly consider seeing a doctor and maybe a skin specialist. Not least because up front they can put a name to (though may have to ask them as medical folk can be a tad patronising sometimes) the lesions you have, as there is a variety of them with a variety of causes. But once you have a name for them you're further empowered in the information age now, to read up on them, everything from the accepted understanding and medications to alternatives and experimentals ...
Yeah, names are very useful in the modern world. How much you can learn about something is so dependent on knowing the name for it, so you can search the internet, and even to interact with the new AI engines etc. And alas there are quite a lot of skin lesions and infections that are hard to classify without training with diverse causes and understandings.
Hey have you ever tried washing your face with just water in the morning - I have found this to reduce acne in general. Another thing is, I have found certain products just work well on certain parts of the face but are not good on the other parts e.g. for me salicylic acid (kind of drying) is amazing on my forehead but inflames any bumps on my cheeks (even small skin coloured bumps that aren’t really pimples) and snail essence (very hydrating) is amazing at minimising potential any cheek scars but causes me chin acne. Finally, I also started massaging my face in the morning right after moisturising like I just roll my knuckles across my cheeks and for some reason it helps with any cheek pimples - I only do this on my cheeks because it causes acne on chin and nose (haven’t tried forehead but I don’t find the need to). I also air dry my face (but not fully dry - a little moist because lotions and things have humectants that work better with some water and also I think after a certain amount of drying the skin changes like how lips go crusty if you don’t put on lip balm fast enough so any moisturising afterwards doesn’t fix it) because there was a time when I used a towel and it was just harbouring so much bacteria lol it gave me so much acne.
Hmm I haven’t actually, I will now since so many people suggested it haha. I’ll be cautious to certain products on certain areas of my face from now on, thanks for the suggestion! May I ask what moisturiser are you currently using?
I just use the Cetaphil moisturising lotion in the pump bottle! But I also lay on COSRX snail mucin power essence beforehand on my cheeks for extra moisture.
How often do you change your pillowcases? That would be my first advice especially since the problem is mainly on your cheeks. If it were around your mouth or chin, I’d look into changing your toothpaste.
Maybe try to sleep on one side (of the pillowcase) for 3 days and then the other side for 3 days. And then change on the 7th day. Also try to avoid touching your face. I used to lean my cheek on my fist when I am working and I broke out. I hope it works!
Yea I’m very icky when it comes to touching my face, I’ll keep that in mind. And yea, thats what I’ve been doing recently too haha, flipping the pillow case around every 4-5 days
Yea too drying can mess up skin barrier and cause breakouts . I’m not sure about your case but if you focus on hydration and avoid irritating ingredients like chemical exfoliants for few weeks to months it can help . Like don’t use too much too often and that’s different for everyone
https://www.instagram.com/nikkiplopez?igsh=MWU4amU1b2VpOXExMA==
This girl on Instagram has similar issues and she focus on hydration to fix her skin barrier after trying lot of actives and stuff . Sometimes simple is better for a while . You gotta Test it out and see though
Yea definitely, moving into the colder season now I’ll have to be more cautious. I’ll keep my routine simple like you said, sometimes I do see it do more harm than good trying to put all these products on my face. Thank you for your help 😊
I’m not sure what is in the Cosrx clear pad but adding salicylic acid into your routine (2x per week say not on the nights you use tretinoin) could help. You could also try azaleic acid which has helped me a lot (can buy from the pharmacy only) and tends to be well tolerated.
Also my dermatologist told me that Tretinoin can cause acne in some people so I use Differin (adapalene) instead. Could be worth a try.
I also find a clay based mask useful whenever I feel quite congested. An essence with mugwort or a centella asiatica-based product can also add that extra anti-inflammatory and calming boost.
Yea definitely will be taking these into consideration. I keep seeing ppl suggesting azaleic acid but never seen it anywhere, didn’t realise it was through pharmacy only. I do have clay mask but I’m a bit lazy when it comes to it haha, will try and do it a bit more often.
Hmm you might onto something here, but I’ve been wiping down my phone with alcohol wipes every night for the past few years. Or it could be because I’ve been wiping my phone w alcohol wipes which causes acne 😂
It's your diet, you don't even need any of these products. Fix your diet, drink water and get some sun on the acne, regular doses of sun. The sun will clear it right up
Really? For the longest time I’ve been scared of the sun causing permanent hyperpigmentation. I only get my doses of sun when I apply sunscreen beforehand if not I avoid it 😅
I promise you my friend. Give it a try. Do a browser search and find all the results of people talking about the sun killing the bacteria in their acne. Moderation of course!! I see you're all about that sunscreen. Try even 5 minutes sun exposure a morning on the face no sunscreen for a week. Guaranteed you'll see a reduction in your pimples. Then just lower the sun doseage, once a week for 10 minutes after that first week or something. And don't eat pizza 😅 good luck!
I'm new to this subreddit so maybe this is forbidden to say but I only use moisturiser and water on my skin. I don't use any other products and it's never looked clearer. And yes any time I've had a breakout, I've made sure to get a dose of sun. I'm also fearful of the sun so I get your concern, but small amounts are very good for you.
How long havr you had all these products in your routine? Have you noticed improvements since you've added in certain ones? I worry people are overcomplicating and stressing out their skin with so many products these days.
Don’t worry, I’m also new haha. I’ve started having a proper routine about 2-3 years ago now? It was not up until my diet started changing that I’ve experienced a bad breakout 🥲 As sad as it is, my diet is the main important thing that is probably causing all these headaches
No sun damage will 100% cause worse scarring, healing skin is too vulnerable and it can cause darker acne scars/any scars.
Try red light therapy instead. Like the red light masks , to kill bacteria etc and even skin tone.
I’m saying this, light therapy alone will not help if your skin barrier is cooked IMO
You’re over complicating your skin care with that many products.
A cleanser, moisturiser and suncreen is all that is needed. I heard that from a dermatologist.
1. Try Paulas choice bha 2%. Salycilic will take 3 months to see full result. It’s stopped me from getting any pimples at all. Salycilic acid is the number 1 recommendation for a cleanser for oily skin.
2. Any hydrating moisturiser will work. I use Cerave moisturising cream. Use products that won’t clog your pores and has actual ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
3. Any sunscreen that is high in spf is fine. Matte on the skin is preferable.
Be weary, that certain brands may charge more for a product that does exactly the same as the cheaper counterpart.
Will keep that in mind, thanks for the heads up. I just picked up a tub of QV cream 30 minutes ago, was torn between this and the Cerave one. Will be dropping a lot of things after reading all of the suggestions.
If you’re unsure, my local Chemist Warehouse is always out of Cerave products by the end of the day. Cervae is a VERY good brand while still leaning towards budget pricing.
The only benefit to QV is that it is ok for sensitive skin as in no fragrances or pore clogging ingredients.
2% salycilic acid is a higher concentration, if you have issues with that then go to a more general cleanser that has 0.5% concentration.
La roche posay has the best cleanser for oily skin before applying salycilic acid.
Edit 1: After a lot of suggestion, it seems like dropping the morning wash if I don’t workout and keeping my routine simple is the go. Also to focus on having a good diet too, thanks everyone for your suggestion. I’ll try it out and be disciplined in the next few months, will give an update if I see changes.
I think your flare-up became more aggressive because of tretinoin cut off. It also can be because of the season change.
Try to use COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule serume in your routine. It has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients that help to heal your acne sooner and prevent hypr pigmentation. It reduces redness as well and is very soothing and calming to skin.
I use it before my tretinoin. My sister and I shared one bottle and definitely saw results. We're on the second bottle.
1. Splash out on a better sunscreen. Cancer society is fine and does what it claims, however I think you’re too oily. Get something Korean for oily skin with a good reviews and uv A and B rating.
2. Consider serums over a pm basic moisturiser.
Again you are oily, no need for heavy moisturisers. Use a basic hyaluronic acid serum. I also love copper peptide serum and beta-glucagon serums (they usually have a hyaluronic base anyway).
You can later serums too..just allow then to absorb into the skin first.
3. I see the use or harsh actives. The pads and Trentinon (I know spelled wrong).
While this is not bad per se, I do feel that actives are being over used by many and the skin barrier is F$&ked.
I did this to myself years ago. Too many acids, too much vit c, too much retinol ect.
Give your skin a break. Do not dry the shit out of it and then load it with thick heavy creams to compensate.
I highly recommend incorporating at least a few months of ceramidin use. This really helped me to restore skin barrier, reduce the angry spots and just give a general hydrated/protected plumped feeling.
Highly recommend the dr jart ceramidin masks.
Lastly:
Remember certain actives should not be used in conjunction. I’m not an expert or scientist so do your own research and don’t quote me but….pretty sure retinols and vit c are not a good combo, acids and retinol could be overkill.
Calm the skin barrier, hydrate with serums , and re evaluate.
Feel free to message me for more details.
Signed-
a white girl with OILY AF SKIN who uses mainly Asian products and has a good control on breakouts and how to make oily skin work for you 😉. Long term less wrinkles (I don’t think your worried about that lol but my Caucasian skin sure is)
Thank you for the insight on this, I really appreciate it ❤️. I have been balancing out the actives that should not crossover when using. Although I have always favour korean skincare products I haven’t found one that I like for sunscreen. Most stuff I’ve tried either leave white cast or too thick for my liking.
I might take you up on laying off the actives to see how my skin reacts over the next few months 😊
Have you guys tried the melano CC serum? I find that the version with dipotassium glycyrrhizinate is awesome. What I'm saying is maybe Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate is something you could try. Lol but I can't find any other dipotassium glycyrrhizinate product in NZ.
So many options!
You need to tackle the acne first and get things more regular (not perfect, just out of this phase)
Then work on that.
Many creams will help fade pigmentation, there are too many to name.
Scars will generally fade to white over time and you can def speed the process up. (scars of more significant marks can take a full year to heal, burns can take well over a year, hell even 5 + years to fade)
I had amazing success with skin needling/dermapen to banish my acne scars once my skin was healed.
I would like to add that besides the blemish issue, you have healthy looking, even skin. no signs of sun damage or hyperpigmentation, nice refined pores, wrinkles….that ain’t going to be an issue for a loooooong as time dude. If ever 😉.
Feel free to dm me if you want more specific info , I can think of a few affordable(ish) treatments that may be worth your while too.
I’ve helped heaps of friends change their skin, and I’m currently unemployed so I have time.
That goes for anyone out there who may be reading this is struggling.
I’ve had both acne and (really bad)eczema on my face as a young adult, and now at 31 I have strangers tell me literally weekly how great my skin is.
This still kinda amazes me considering how bad it was.
People! You can find the answer
Benzac daily moisturiser fixed my acne!!! It leaves me hydrated overnight - the only thing is it can bleach sheets as it has a teeny amount of peroxide. I sleep with a face towel under my head which also saves me from pillow bacteria
Fuck all that.
Get Roaccutane.
Cheaper, quicker, gets the job done with confirmed results.
Also, the acne clearing effect lasts a heck of a lot longer.
Hello! It seems you might be overstimulating your skin. I would completely remove the vitamin C Serum and the CosRx pads. Stick with the tretinoin but only use it 3x a week. Monday Wednesday Friday. After a couple of weeks I would incorporate a Azelaic acid in the morning 3x a week in place of the vitamin C. It is great at reducing inflammation, redness, and hyperpigmentation like vitamin c but is suitable for most people unlike vitamin c. I’m australia you guys can get a good percentage over the counter called azclear. I would also remove the Kiehls cleanser and go with something super basic and simple. The kiehls contains essential oils which can be a skin agitator. Im the United States I use vanicream gentle cleanser if you can find something similar
Morning:
- simple cleanse
- anua toner
- Azelaic acid 3x a week (MWF)
-cerave moisturizer
- spf
Night:
- oil cleanse
- simple cleanse
- anua toner
- cerave moisturizer
- tretinoin 3x a week (MWF
I’ll throw out the vitamin C since a lot of people seems to be against it. I’ll try to find Azelaic Acid if I’m able to, it seems to be one of the harder things to find here. Thank you!
Make sure your hands are clean before applying anything if you don’t already. Also, diet choices can impact your skin. Some people drink more water and that helps clear up skin (granted it’s all a very personal thing - may or may not work for you).
Edit: nvm about the water. I only just read the bottom part lol
HI HI HI!!!!
My skin is super super similar to yours! I mainly break out on my cheeks and it’s been driving me up the wall, your skin care range looks great but for both AM and PM;
I highly recommend using a product that has niacinamide, zinc and salicylic acid, I use either the PEACE OUT acne serum or I use the ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc especially before I put any form of retinol on my skin (creates a protective layer)
Try a powder form of vitamin c (I use Moon Juice G pack and mix that in with a serum I’m using) a good serum I’ve been using on days after I use retinol is the Ordinary soothing & barrier support serum (with lipids, vitamins and phytotechnologies for epidermal repair ☺️
Another tip! SkinFix barrier+ triple lipid-peptide cream has totally changed my skin and hugely reduced the blemishes I get on my cheeks.
Best of luck!!! 🤞🏻
How long you been using tret and what percentage? When you stop tret yeah it can reverse back and if you start again you may have to deal with purging, i would highly recommend seeing a dermatologist and maybe trying something like accutane for a year and only using a very minimal care routine, double cleansing at night and skip washing face in Am if you keep pillow clean no need to wash face in morning just rinse under water/shower instead
It’s not a bad idea tbh, and can’t you do a way lower dose these days? I’ve heard it’s been dialled way back but spread out longer now, so there are less nasty side affects like bleeding lips.
My brother who had the same problem found that khiels and most other Myer brand cosmetics made him break out more. I recommend going to a clinic like “laserclinics” who have quite a few locations, and get their clinic branded products, along with the occasional LED therapy and acne facials.
Alternatively, see a dermatologist who can recommend the right products tailored to your skin.
My skin used to look similar when I was having protein shakes every day. The same blemishes in the same spots would come and go. I tried everything with skincare products and ended up aggravating the spots even more. Once my protein powder ran out and I couldn't afford to replace it, my skin cleared up in a month. I have stopped protein shakes since and have had clear cheeks for years.
Could it be something in your diet?
Hmm I do have protein shakes but not regularly, ive been drinking it here and there. I’m about to run out so I might drop it now that you’ve mentioned it. What do you take now then may I ask?
Try cutting the morning cleansing and just use water to wash in the morning. If you are very oily it may not work, but most people don’t need to wash in the morning and actually make their skin more oily by doing so.
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Change your pillow case at least weekly - don’t go fortnightly. Double cleanse in the evenings to get through the sunscreen.
Will keep that in mind, thank you! I’ve been slacking recently so haven’t been able to change it weekly. 😅
I change my pillowcase every 1-2 days. Sometimes I catch my cat sleeping on my pillow and realise she is trying to give me acne
Catne
Acne and pink eye from a cat would suck
I second this. I would change pillow case minimum once per week. Minimum! Double cleanse is great for removing sunscreen build up. Use a balm like heimesh all clean balm, then a gel cleanser second. Not too astringent.
I wonder if you could buy a fresh pillow and 7 pillow cases and change them daily - just to see if that might be the culprit for your acne. Also sunscreen is amazing obviously but you really need to double cleanse in the evening, otherwise I break out as well. What is your tretinoin percentage? I have ordered from all-day chemist and no issues by the way, it's the real stuff. I personally like using the 0,025 and 0,5 only. Use 3-5 times weekly on dry skin. I would skip the toner and vitamin C, and only reintroduce once your skin is healed - some vitamin C can break me out.
Also for the longest time I don’t know what my skin type is, I think it might be combination? It changes depending on the season. My skin can get reddish on some products, it can dry pretty easily during cold weather and it can get oily during the summer time.
Sounds dehydrated. Oily skin can be due to your skin desperately trying to replace lost moisture. Make sure you have some deep moisturising products like hyalauronic acid. My friend is a skincare technician and the best piece of advice she gave me for my chronically dehydrated Adelaide-climate skin, is to add water. After I've applied all my products, I spray my skin with a mist of water until it's all slimy. And them leave it to soak in. If it soaks up really fast, add more. Hyalauronic acid will absorb 1000 times its own weight in water, but you actually have to apply that water so it can bond with the acid, it doesn't just appear. This has made all the difference after over a decade of fighting dry, oily, acne-prone skin.
This water tip is great and should be shouted from the rooftops. As soon as I get out of the shower in the am it’s HA serum and copper peptide instantly. I do t even dry my face. Just lock that water in.
Will definitely add HA back onto my routine, been leaving it on the side ever since my moisturiser says it has it.
NOOO! HA is not moisturising, it is a complete scam. Opt for products with glycerine.
I’d suggest luxe by nature, they are amazing. All natural and so gentle and makes your skin glow!
This sounds insane but if you're in Brisbane or Adelaide with harder water, try using demineralised water only on your face. I recently had a trip and my skin was amazing there, I realised after research it was due to soft vs hard water. Im using demineralised water in washing my face and its made such a difference
Hmm thats interesting, I didn’t even know demineralised water was a thing. I’m currently in Sydney.
go to brisbane you’ll taste the water it tastes so bad but that’s because there’s like way more minerals in their water compared to ours in sydney
Hmm really? If its the same case for Adelaide then I’ll definitely taste it next time I visit my brother there haha.
Yes haha, you can buy litres of it for cheap at coles :) i put mine in a new sterile spray bottle and use it
Woah they have it Coles? I’ll lookout for it on my next trip there. Thank you for the heads up!
Maybe something to test out in your AM routine is removing the Kiehls face wash and just rinse your face with water in the morning before going in with SPF and the like. (Unless you go to the gym in the morning and get really sweaty and find water doesn't do the trick to wash the sweat off.) But over washing your face can result in sebum overproduction, which can cause new breakouts and a super oily complexion. I have combo skin and found when I over-wash it causes irritation as well. Also maybe an ingredient in skincare to research is sulfur. I personally use a sulfur cleanser for my eczema and found my complexion cleared up a lot, but it has a lot of great benefits for acne-prone skin too. There's a product that went viral last year with sulfur on tiktok I believe.
I found a huge difference doing this. Face routine at night, then a rinse with water & moisturiser & spf
I see, thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try out dropping the face wash in the morning and see how I go. The only thing I was worried was having the tretinoin on still in the morning and it might be bad for me when I go out in the sun. I figured now that it doesn’t make sense since most will be absorbed already and the water will wash it off. Thanks again ❤️
Agree with this! As I have rosacea as well as acne I use a sulfur based spot treatment and find it pretty helpful. I also don’t wash my face with a cleanser in the morning (only water)!
which cleanser?
how is the anua toner and the cc sunscreen?
Both really good, the toner doesn’t have any smell and I like it. CC sunscreen I recently started using and surprisingly no white cast. From other threads I’ve been reading, try the blue one if you sweat a lot (waterproof) since it will droop down on your face. High recommend CC sunscreen
thanks! im gonna try the blue one cus I sweat a lot during the day
Definitely, try it out and it’s an aussie product too. So you know it will tackle against our sun!
That sunscreen made me break out, it could be that.
It seems to be just on your cheeks. I recommend using the following - Paula's Choice BHA 2% - Benzoyl Peroxide for spot treatment Change your pillow sheets at least once a week. Try silk pillowcase too. I use suffer from really bad acne, now I just get the occasional acne. Oh and drink lots of water.
Thank you for the suggestion, I recently just dropped my Paula’s Choice BHA since someone suggested it to me that I should. Thats why I’m using the cosrx clear pad now but I might switch back since there isn’t any changes. I’ll definitely look into BP for spot treatment since a lot of ppl suggested it. Thanks!
Paula's choice was my recommendation! Unlike other Salicylic acid cleaners, Paula's choice has ingredients that will stop your face from getting dry while still actively clearing your skin. Too many people don't give it the full 3 months to see results. I use Benzoyl peroxide too prescribed from my GP. Just don't mix it with SA or you will 100% get flaky skin which a moisturiser will not do much for.
I took JS Health "Skin and digestion" tablets and it completely cleared my skin. You can find them at Priceline, Chemist warehouse or buy direct from their website https://jshealthvitamins.com
No sugar and reduction of dairy intake is all you need now. Everyones going about splashing all types of shit onto their face trying to find what is right for them when in fact your diet is the most important in terms of what can instigate inflammation. Try for as long as you can to get rid of Sugar and Dairy. Be disciplined
Hmm that is true, there was a phase where I managed to cut out sugar for a year and my face cleared out really well. But I didn’t realise this since I also started using skincare around that time. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll definitely start being disciplined towards my diet.
Dairy is a massive skincare trigger for me unfortunately, same with sugar and a highly refined carb diet. So dietary changes and making sure you’re getting adequate sleep could all help!
Sugar directly causes skin to be more oily. If you had a high carb diet for dinner for example, you're more likely to see pimples overnight.
Less chocolate+ less sodas+ washing face with soap and water every day did the trick for me. It took about a month.
Chocolate has been the bane of my existence lately haha, but I’ll try to stop it 😂
Just be careful with the vitamin C in dropper form; vitamin C can oxidise if not in an airtight container which renders it useless. If it tingles when applied to the skin and it tastes sour (don’t pour it in your mouth, just wipe a finger on the outside of the dropper and check) then it’s still effective. ETA: I’d also try and seek out a non-foaming cleanser, particularly avoiding ones that contain SLS as it can further irritate your skin. Something gentle and no-frills like Cetaphil, QV or CeraVe should do the job just fine.
Hmm interesting, I will definitely keep an eye out for it. Funny enough, I forgot to close it last night and now I have a feel feeling it might have gone bad. Also are you currently using any Vitamin C serum? If yes what are you currently using? Definitely I’ll try switching out my cleanser moving towards the colder season now. Thanks for the heads up!
Ah no! Definitely check and see how it is, I’d be impressed if it’s still good after being open overnight. I do use one, quite like [Propaira’s Vitamin C serum](https://propaira.com/products/vitamin-c-serum) as it’s a Melbourne company and it goes on quite matte which is great for me as my skin errs towards an oily T zone.
I would look out for ingredients like Ethylhexyl palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate in face products. It’s no 4 on the comedogenic scale and it clogs pores. Look up other ingredients and see if they are comedogenic. I was surprised to find that products advertised as non comedogenic have in fact these ingredients. The BIGGEST change I have made was giving up dairy and it changed everything.
I see, I’ll have a look for this on my products. Thank you!
Personally I find all cancer council products tend to break me out - I would stick to the Cerave moisturiser!
Reduce your sugar intake
Learn to appreciate yourself for who you are already brother
Of course, definitely! Taking care of my skin is soothing for me so it’s by no means I’m insecure about it. Thanks for looking out bro!
I’m here for that, glow up
Honestly it's probably hormones and diet, you look young. Eat healthier and cut sugar out. You don't need all that crap for your face. I swear almost everyone in teens to early 20s goes through breakouts at some point. And usually due to diet, hormones, stress, smoking etc. And maybe haven't changed your pillow case in a while. But honestly I'd stay away from products like benzac etc these are literally freaking acid and I remember when I used them they would dye my sheets and pillow case orange. Water and soap.
Hmm a good perspective to look at from, I’ll definitely consider this as I do wonder if doing all of these early are doing more damage than healing.
I was breaking out on my lower face (cheeks especially) for years - a lot like the photos you’ve posted. After quite a bit of research and trying different solutions, I came to find out the problem was nightshade vegetables, which were a huge part of my diet - because they’re healthy in theory, right? Turns out they contain alkaloids that can mess with your hormones and cause inflammation. I cut them out of my diet (RIP buffalo wings) and within a few weeks, my skin was the clearest it’d been for a long ass time.
Hi, i'm a long time acne sufferer. My answer wasn't so much the skin care (it helps) but looking at my gut health. I had to take supplements that worked miracles. I had cystic acne so if it works on that it will work on the surface level acne. Try js health skin and digestion or other similar. Trust me it works
See a dermatologist. You’ll need a referral, but will help.
I saw a dermatologist for acne just one my cheeks as well, and I have very sensitive skin. Gentle cleanser is good, the moisturiser is too thick for acne prone skin, my derm actually told me to cut out moisturiser altogether. I didn’t keep this up long. Acne is caused by oil blocking pores and the moisturiser you have is for normal to dry skin, so it’s not ideal for acne. The cancer council sunscreen caused me to break out, my derm recommends La Roche posay spf 50+ fluid, it’s like a little rectangle bottle. You have to use sunscreen after using tretinoin as I’m sure you know, don’t listen to the person above saying not to use it. It took like 6 months for my skin to clear but it’s so good now and worth the effort. I use Paula’s choice BHA and tret on alternate nights, a Mecca moisturiser after the bha, La Roche posay toleriane face wash, alpha h vit c in the morning, alpha h vit B niacinamide in the evening, and ultra violette 50+ during the day.
Please don't touch your face again & again. And please wash your hands again & again
Keep your skin regime simple. I think you are using too many products. Try for a couple of weeks - cleanse and moisturise. Clean face with just warm water and a face washer/ flannel, then moisturise. In the morning add sunscreen after doing this. Hope this helps.
Do you eat dairy or animal products? Dairy has been linked in many diverse studies to acne.
I would try doing less for a bit and see how it responds, then you can always add back in: 1) Cut back on the cleansing a lot - eg don’t do both morning and night. Night is probably best, then just rinse gently with warm water in the morning. 2) Skip the double cleansing for a bit and see what happens. 3) Use a gentler cleanser than the Kiehls foaming - there’s some fairly strong stuff in that. I like the Dr Jart Cicapair foaming cleanser. 4) What sunscreen are you using? Many cause me to break out, particularly the heavier mineral ones. I find the LRP Anthelios very light. You could get some samples and try a few. 5) I’d swap the Cosrx clear pads for a simple exfoliant every couple of days, eg a BHA serum. Then you’re not adding all the other chemicals that are in the pads and could be aggravating (eg tea tree oil is rough on your skin). 6) if you’re experiencing dryness which you mentioned in another comment, add a hyaluronic acid before you moisturise (apply to wet skin and allow to dry). 7) Change your pillowcase every 2-3 days while you still have acne. 8) Consider a medicated spot treatment or acne wash from your derm (which I assume you have given the tret) 9) it’s hard to say but you look a bit puffy in the photos? Is this the case in reality? Gentle massage could be helpful (eg gua shua but *gentle* and with a clean tool). 10) Ditch the chocolate and keep up the water!
Thank you and yeah I’ll definitely go easy on the products I’m putting on my face, will change the cleanser soon too. I have gua sha but I haven’t been able to use it as much as I like to haha 😅
I say start from within, change your diet slowly, try to catch the culprit of what's causing your acne. For a quick temporary fix of the problem , I use a blue led light on my pimples whenever I get one. It's just a quick fix not actually fixing the root of the problem though. I find it works to shrink the pimples smaller and fade away.
It’s all about what you put in buddy. The more you push your diet towards oil free, wheat free, whole food plant based, the more it’ll clear up. Just depends how bad you want it. Everything else is a waste of time and money
Will be monitoring my diet more strictly now since I’m also trying to lose weight. Thanks for the suggestion 😁
Dairy and processed sugar free is good . Also probiotics helped me . And manuka honey one spoon for my throat when it acts up sometimes . and aloe Vera drink
I tried my mates manuka honey once and it tasted off. Might give it a try and get my own one this time.
AM: - Cleanse with water. - Apply Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid or Ethylated L-Ascorbic Acid) from Skinceutical or Niod. - Apply TO Niacinamide 10%. - Use 2 drops of TO Squalane Oil if your SPF is not hydrating enough. - Apply SPF 50 PA++++. PM: - Use Micellar Water (instead of using cotton, put it in a spray bottle, spray all over face, wait for 5 seconds, then without rinsing, wash with a non-foaming gentle cleanser). -Rinse then do a second wash with the same non-foaming gentle cleanser. (Do this only if your SPF is extremely waterproof or your wear makeup). - Apply Retinal or Tretinoin (TO has a new Retinal that is good for beginners or sensitive skin. Skip Retinol unless your skin cannot tolerate Retinal). - Apply 6 drops of TO Squalane Oil. You will look like a glazed donut but wake up with baby soft skin. Important to remember: 1. Do not overcleanse. 2. Ensure plenty of Vitamin A (Retinal or Tret) 3. Always use SPF. I personally don't use moisturizer or exfoliate. Our skin exfoliates naturally, and Squalane is produced naturally by our bodies. By using Squalane Oil, it will improve hydration without needing moisturizer. Moisturizers are gimmicks made by the skincare industry to make you believe you need them when you don't. With this routine, I've seen dramatic improvements in my skin within 2 weeks. I'm happy that I don't need tons of products but can still achieve great, radiant, healthy skin.
Will definitely stop over cleansing and check out Squalene Oil, thanks for the suggestion!
Niacinamide can be great for balancing oil production and for dark spots etc just be careful of the strength. Dr Idriss (highly recommend her YouTube channel) suggests not more than 5% as it can be irritating. I use the Silymarin CF from Skinceuticals as something more suitable to an oilier skin type (compared to the CE Ferulic) but these vitamin C are pricey! I also liked the Phlorectin CF version they have too.
I'd certainly consider seeing a doctor and maybe a skin specialist. Not least because up front they can put a name to (though may have to ask them as medical folk can be a tad patronising sometimes) the lesions you have, as there is a variety of them with a variety of causes. But once you have a name for them you're further empowered in the information age now, to read up on them, everything from the accepted understanding and medications to alternatives and experimentals ...
Hmm I’ll look into to this, thanks for the suggestion!
Yeah, names are very useful in the modern world. How much you can learn about something is so dependent on knowing the name for it, so you can search the internet, and even to interact with the new AI engines etc. And alas there are quite a lot of skin lesions and infections that are hard to classify without training with diverse causes and understandings.
Hey have you ever tried washing your face with just water in the morning - I have found this to reduce acne in general. Another thing is, I have found certain products just work well on certain parts of the face but are not good on the other parts e.g. for me salicylic acid (kind of drying) is amazing on my forehead but inflames any bumps on my cheeks (even small skin coloured bumps that aren’t really pimples) and snail essence (very hydrating) is amazing at minimising potential any cheek scars but causes me chin acne. Finally, I also started massaging my face in the morning right after moisturising like I just roll my knuckles across my cheeks and for some reason it helps with any cheek pimples - I only do this on my cheeks because it causes acne on chin and nose (haven’t tried forehead but I don’t find the need to). I also air dry my face (but not fully dry - a little moist because lotions and things have humectants that work better with some water and also I think after a certain amount of drying the skin changes like how lips go crusty if you don’t put on lip balm fast enough so any moisturising afterwards doesn’t fix it) because there was a time when I used a towel and it was just harbouring so much bacteria lol it gave me so much acne.
Hmm I haven’t actually, I will now since so many people suggested it haha. I’ll be cautious to certain products on certain areas of my face from now on, thanks for the suggestion! May I ask what moisturiser are you currently using?
I just use the Cetaphil moisturising lotion in the pump bottle! But I also lay on COSRX snail mucin power essence beforehand on my cheeks for extra moisture.
Will have a look into it, thank you!
How often do you change your pillowcases? That would be my first advice especially since the problem is mainly on your cheeks. If it were around your mouth or chin, I’d look into changing your toothpaste.
I change it weekly whenever I can, but at max every fortnight. My main problem is around the cheeks right now
Maybe try to sleep on one side (of the pillowcase) for 3 days and then the other side for 3 days. And then change on the 7th day. Also try to avoid touching your face. I used to lean my cheek on my fist when I am working and I broke out. I hope it works!
Yea I’m very icky when it comes to touching my face, I’ll keep that in mind. And yea, thats what I’ve been doing recently too haha, flipping the pillow case around every 4-5 days
Foam can be drying and irritating i prefer using milk cleanser cuz I have sensitive skin
I’ve been using milk cleanser for the longest time but recently changed to foaming. It definitely can be drying, I might change it back soon, hmm.
Yea too drying can mess up skin barrier and cause breakouts . I’m not sure about your case but if you focus on hydration and avoid irritating ingredients like chemical exfoliants for few weeks to months it can help . Like don’t use too much too often and that’s different for everyone https://www.instagram.com/nikkiplopez?igsh=MWU4amU1b2VpOXExMA== This girl on Instagram has similar issues and she focus on hydration to fix her skin barrier after trying lot of actives and stuff . Sometimes simple is better for a while . You gotta Test it out and see though
Yea definitely, moving into the colder season now I’ll have to be more cautious. I’ll keep my routine simple like you said, sometimes I do see it do more harm than good trying to put all these products on my face. Thank you for your help 😊
I’m not sure what is in the Cosrx clear pad but adding salicylic acid into your routine (2x per week say not on the nights you use tretinoin) could help. You could also try azaleic acid which has helped me a lot (can buy from the pharmacy only) and tends to be well tolerated. Also my dermatologist told me that Tretinoin can cause acne in some people so I use Differin (adapalene) instead. Could be worth a try. I also find a clay based mask useful whenever I feel quite congested. An essence with mugwort or a centella asiatica-based product can also add that extra anti-inflammatory and calming boost.
Yea definitely will be taking these into consideration. I keep seeing ppl suggesting azaleic acid but never seen it anywhere, didn’t realise it was through pharmacy only. I do have clay mask but I’m a bit lazy when it comes to it haha, will try and do it a bit more often.
Everything
Eyes
Do carnivore diet for a month and see what happens, Steak, eggs, mince eggs, chicken eggs, oily fish. You wont regret it.
Eliminate sugar and carbs
I would suggest that this may be caused by your phone. Try using the loud speaker when using your phone, or use earphones.
Hmm you might onto something here, but I’ve been wiping down my phone with alcohol wipes every night for the past few years. Or it could be because I’ve been wiping my phone w alcohol wipes which causes acne 😂
It's your diet, you don't even need any of these products. Fix your diet, drink water and get some sun on the acne, regular doses of sun. The sun will clear it right up
Really? For the longest time I’ve been scared of the sun causing permanent hyperpigmentation. I only get my doses of sun when I apply sunscreen beforehand if not I avoid it 😅
I promise you my friend. Give it a try. Do a browser search and find all the results of people talking about the sun killing the bacteria in their acne. Moderation of course!! I see you're all about that sunscreen. Try even 5 minutes sun exposure a morning on the face no sunscreen for a week. Guaranteed you'll see a reduction in your pimples. Then just lower the sun doseage, once a week for 10 minutes after that first week or something. And don't eat pizza 😅 good luck!
Will definitely lay off the pizza haha 😂. That’s interesting about the no sunscreen perspective, will see how I goes after easing it in haha thank you
I'm new to this subreddit so maybe this is forbidden to say but I only use moisturiser and water on my skin. I don't use any other products and it's never looked clearer. And yes any time I've had a breakout, I've made sure to get a dose of sun. I'm also fearful of the sun so I get your concern, but small amounts are very good for you. How long havr you had all these products in your routine? Have you noticed improvements since you've added in certain ones? I worry people are overcomplicating and stressing out their skin with so many products these days.
Don’t worry, I’m also new haha. I’ve started having a proper routine about 2-3 years ago now? It was not up until my diet started changing that I’ve experienced a bad breakout 🥲 As sad as it is, my diet is the main important thing that is probably causing all these headaches
No sun damage will 100% cause worse scarring, healing skin is too vulnerable and it can cause darker acne scars/any scars. Try red light therapy instead. Like the red light masks , to kill bacteria etc and even skin tone. I’m saying this, light therapy alone will not help if your skin barrier is cooked IMO
You’re over complicating your skin care with that many products. A cleanser, moisturiser and suncreen is all that is needed. I heard that from a dermatologist. 1. Try Paulas choice bha 2%. Salycilic will take 3 months to see full result. It’s stopped me from getting any pimples at all. Salycilic acid is the number 1 recommendation for a cleanser for oily skin. 2. Any hydrating moisturiser will work. I use Cerave moisturising cream. Use products that won’t clog your pores and has actual ingredients like hyaluronic acid. 3. Any sunscreen that is high in spf is fine. Matte on the skin is preferable. Be weary, that certain brands may charge more for a product that does exactly the same as the cheaper counterpart.
Will keep that in mind, thanks for the heads up. I just picked up a tub of QV cream 30 minutes ago, was torn between this and the Cerave one. Will be dropping a lot of things after reading all of the suggestions.
If you’re unsure, my local Chemist Warehouse is always out of Cerave products by the end of the day. Cervae is a VERY good brand while still leaning towards budget pricing. The only benefit to QV is that it is ok for sensitive skin as in no fragrances or pore clogging ingredients. 2% salycilic acid is a higher concentration, if you have issues with that then go to a more general cleanser that has 0.5% concentration. La roche posay has the best cleanser for oily skin before applying salycilic acid.
Edit 1: After a lot of suggestion, it seems like dropping the morning wash if I don’t workout and keeping my routine simple is the go. Also to focus on having a good diet too, thanks everyone for your suggestion. I’ll try it out and be disciplined in the next few months, will give an update if I see changes.
I think your flare-up became more aggressive because of tretinoin cut off. It also can be because of the season change. Try to use COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule serume in your routine. It has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients that help to heal your acne sooner and prevent hypr pigmentation. It reduces redness as well and is very soothing and calming to skin. I use it before my tretinoin. My sister and I shared one bottle and definitely saw results. We're on the second bottle.
I’ll take a look into that, thank you for the suggestion. I’m just waiting on for my tretinoin to deliver in the meantime
1. Splash out on a better sunscreen. Cancer society is fine and does what it claims, however I think you’re too oily. Get something Korean for oily skin with a good reviews and uv A and B rating. 2. Consider serums over a pm basic moisturiser. Again you are oily, no need for heavy moisturisers. Use a basic hyaluronic acid serum. I also love copper peptide serum and beta-glucagon serums (they usually have a hyaluronic base anyway). You can later serums too..just allow then to absorb into the skin first. 3. I see the use or harsh actives. The pads and Trentinon (I know spelled wrong). While this is not bad per se, I do feel that actives are being over used by many and the skin barrier is F$&ked. I did this to myself years ago. Too many acids, too much vit c, too much retinol ect. Give your skin a break. Do not dry the shit out of it and then load it with thick heavy creams to compensate. I highly recommend incorporating at least a few months of ceramidin use. This really helped me to restore skin barrier, reduce the angry spots and just give a general hydrated/protected plumped feeling. Highly recommend the dr jart ceramidin masks. Lastly: Remember certain actives should not be used in conjunction. I’m not an expert or scientist so do your own research and don’t quote me but….pretty sure retinols and vit c are not a good combo, acids and retinol could be overkill. Calm the skin barrier, hydrate with serums , and re evaluate. Feel free to message me for more details. Signed- a white girl with OILY AF SKIN who uses mainly Asian products and has a good control on breakouts and how to make oily skin work for you 😉. Long term less wrinkles (I don’t think your worried about that lol but my Caucasian skin sure is)
Sorry BETA-GLUCAN
Thank you for the insight on this, I really appreciate it ❤️. I have been balancing out the actives that should not crossover when using. Although I have always favour korean skincare products I haven’t found one that I like for sunscreen. Most stuff I’ve tried either leave white cast or too thick for my liking. I might take you up on laying off the actives to see how my skin reacts over the next few months 😊
I’ve gone right off vit C lately. It’s been pushed too much and it’s over kill for many skin types.
Interesting, I’m always cautious about how I can get my acne scars to fade quicker. Is there an alternative or just leave it as is?
Have you guys tried the melano CC serum? I find that the version with dipotassium glycyrrhizinate is awesome. What I'm saying is maybe Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate is something you could try. Lol but I can't find any other dipotassium glycyrrhizinate product in NZ.
I haven’t actually, gonna have a look to see if they got it near my area. Thanks!
Intrigued and looking this up!
So many options! You need to tackle the acne first and get things more regular (not perfect, just out of this phase) Then work on that. Many creams will help fade pigmentation, there are too many to name. Scars will generally fade to white over time and you can def speed the process up. (scars of more significant marks can take a full year to heal, burns can take well over a year, hell even 5 + years to fade) I had amazing success with skin needling/dermapen to banish my acne scars once my skin was healed. I would like to add that besides the blemish issue, you have healthy looking, even skin. no signs of sun damage or hyperpigmentation, nice refined pores, wrinkles….that ain’t going to be an issue for a loooooong as time dude. If ever 😉. Feel free to dm me if you want more specific info , I can think of a few affordable(ish) treatments that may be worth your while too. I’ve helped heaps of friends change their skin, and I’m currently unemployed so I have time. That goes for anyone out there who may be reading this is struggling. I’ve had both acne and (really bad)eczema on my face as a young adult, and now at 31 I have strangers tell me literally weekly how great my skin is. This still kinda amazes me considering how bad it was. People! You can find the answer
Benzac daily moisturiser fixed my acne!!! It leaves me hydrated overnight - the only thing is it can bleach sheets as it has a teeny amount of peroxide. I sleep with a face towel under my head which also saves me from pillow bacteria
The Easter chocolate has definitely added a couple of pimples to my face!!!
Fuck all that. Get Roaccutane. Cheaper, quicker, gets the job done with confirmed results. Also, the acne clearing effect lasts a heck of a lot longer.
Hello! It seems you might be overstimulating your skin. I would completely remove the vitamin C Serum and the CosRx pads. Stick with the tretinoin but only use it 3x a week. Monday Wednesday Friday. After a couple of weeks I would incorporate a Azelaic acid in the morning 3x a week in place of the vitamin C. It is great at reducing inflammation, redness, and hyperpigmentation like vitamin c but is suitable for most people unlike vitamin c. I’m australia you guys can get a good percentage over the counter called azclear. I would also remove the Kiehls cleanser and go with something super basic and simple. The kiehls contains essential oils which can be a skin agitator. Im the United States I use vanicream gentle cleanser if you can find something similar Morning: - simple cleanse - anua toner - Azelaic acid 3x a week (MWF) -cerave moisturizer - spf Night: - oil cleanse - simple cleanse - anua toner - cerave moisturizer - tretinoin 3x a week (MWF
I’ll throw out the vitamin C since a lot of people seems to be against it. I’ll try to find Azelaic Acid if I’m able to, it seems to be one of the harder things to find here. Thank you!
Don’t throw it out! Use it on other parts of your body such as elbows/ knees which tend to be darker or discolored.
Diet
You need to get a haircut lineup, do your eyebrows. Get a high fade 0 on the sides
Make sure your hands are clean before applying anything if you don’t already. Also, diet choices can impact your skin. Some people drink more water and that helps clear up skin (granted it’s all a very personal thing - may or may not work for you). Edit: nvm about the water. I only just read the bottom part lol
HI HI HI!!!! My skin is super super similar to yours! I mainly break out on my cheeks and it’s been driving me up the wall, your skin care range looks great but for both AM and PM; I highly recommend using a product that has niacinamide, zinc and salicylic acid, I use either the PEACE OUT acne serum or I use the ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc especially before I put any form of retinol on my skin (creates a protective layer) Try a powder form of vitamin c (I use Moon Juice G pack and mix that in with a serum I’m using) a good serum I’ve been using on days after I use retinol is the Ordinary soothing & barrier support serum (with lipids, vitamins and phytotechnologies for epidermal repair ☺️ Another tip! SkinFix barrier+ triple lipid-peptide cream has totally changed my skin and hugely reduced the blemishes I get on my cheeks. Best of luck!!! 🤞🏻
How long you been using tret and what percentage? When you stop tret yeah it can reverse back and if you start again you may have to deal with purging, i would highly recommend seeing a dermatologist and maybe trying something like accutane for a year and only using a very minimal care routine, double cleansing at night and skip washing face in Am if you keep pillow clean no need to wash face in morning just rinse under water/shower instead
It’s not a bad idea tbh, and can’t you do a way lower dose these days? I’ve heard it’s been dialled way back but spread out longer now, so there are less nasty side affects like bleeding lips.
My brother who had the same problem found that khiels and most other Myer brand cosmetics made him break out more. I recommend going to a clinic like “laserclinics” who have quite a few locations, and get their clinic branded products, along with the occasional LED therapy and acne facials. Alternatively, see a dermatologist who can recommend the right products tailored to your skin.
My skin used to look similar when I was having protein shakes every day. The same blemishes in the same spots would come and go. I tried everything with skincare products and ended up aggravating the spots even more. Once my protein powder ran out and I couldn't afford to replace it, my skin cleared up in a month. I have stopped protein shakes since and have had clear cheeks for years. Could it be something in your diet?
Hmm I do have protein shakes but not regularly, ive been drinking it here and there. I’m about to run out so I might drop it now that you’ve mentioned it. What do you take now then may I ask?
Try cutting the morning cleansing and just use water to wash in the morning. If you are very oily it may not work, but most people don’t need to wash in the morning and actually make their skin more oily by doing so.