Your favorite skincare

[jamjoyful]

What's your holy grail of skincare?

I have pretty acne prone skin but I had it well under control with proactiv plus. Since I weaned and got pregnant again it isn't working at all. My skin is dry and breaking out. I've tried all natural oils and washes. They tend to irritate my skin.

I'm debating switching back to Arcona but wanted to see other options before I pay the hefty price tag.

[youdontsay]

I use OCM with a mixture of avocado oil and castor oil. It takes a while for my skin to get used to it, but I love it and it's cheap!!!!

[spicysalmonroll]

I have really "normal" skin- dryish cheeks, oily t zone, never had acne. I don't wear any makeup so for years I didn't even use products. I would just wet my face in the shower, occasionally use hand soap, no moisturizer.

Then there was a big thread about products on the knot a few months ago and I decided to try some. Got the Mario Badescu regimen kit from Ulta ($30 for 4 small products). I really love it and have definitely seen an improvement in overall skin tone. I bought a separate kiwi exfoliant same brand and I really love it. When these kit sizes run out I will buy the big ones.

[steph]

Biore for combination skin with my clarisonic is my go to while pregnant. If I get lazy and skip using the clarisonic for even just a day or two, within 2 days my face breaks out.

[roofusdoofus]

I use the Mary Kay acne line and botanicals or time wise. My skin is horrendous right now because of the hormone craze, but normally it does a great job and I'm extremely acne prone.

[roofusdoofus]

I also recommend a toner and a clarisonic-type brush. The combo gets my face so much cleaner. It's amazing how much dirt I still get on the cotton ball after using the toner after washing my face.

[penny2103]

I'm also acne prone. For me, acne- specific products actually make it worse. I have to use something gentle. I use Cetaphil cleanser and a witch hazel toner. My skin completely changed when I switched to that toner. I also highly recommend the clinique gel moisturizer.

[dc2london]

Coconut oil! It removes eye makeup, moisturizes without clogging pores, and is totally pregnancy and BF friendly.
It's also perfect for the nips. It's antimicrobial and antifungal so it can help prevent thrush while moisturizing

[hrushka]

I have dryish skin, but other than that no problems. I use Aveda, which is supposed to be pretty natural.

And I second dc2london on the coconut oil. It works for just about everything. Yes, even as lube.

[kokopelli]

Boscia clear complexion line. It doesn't dry my skin out but keeps breakouts away. It's safe while pregnant. I've used it for 5 years and it is amazing

[countrycotton]

For me the key to keeping clear skin has been my clarisonic. It's an expensive tool but I can use a gentle wash like cetaphil and my skin stays clear. Before the clarisonic I was using very expensive acme stuff (proactive) and my skin wasn't as good as it is now. A basic clarisonic is only like two months of proactive. So it pays for it self quickly b

[dc2london]

Jan 17, 2016 18:20:30 GMT -5 countrycotton said:

For me the key to keeping clear skin has been my clarisonic. It's an expensive tool but I can use a gentle wash like cetaphil and my skin stays clear. Before the clarisonic I was using very expensive acme stuff (proactive) and my skin wasn't as good as it is now. A basic clarisonic is only like two months of proactive. So it pays for it self quickly b

I always look at these at Ulta and wonder whether they ate worth the investment. Maybe I will put one on my wish list!

[jamjoyful]

I miss my clarisonic. I haven't been able to use it because my cleanser has exfoliating beads. I'm googling all the suggestions like a maniac. I want to get samples of everything!

[spicysalmonroll]

Be careful with the exfoliating beads. The girl who did my facial was telling me that ones like st. Ives apricot scrub are really bad for your skin. The beads are too large and cause tears in the skin. Even though that "sandpaper" feeling is nice, it's doing harm. There are a lot of creamy exfoliants out there that might not feel like they are getting the job done without the roughness but they are.

[jamjoyful]

Jan 17, 2016 20:06:45 GMT -5 spicysalmonroll said:

Be careful with the exfoliating beads. The girl who did my facial was telling me that ones like st. Ives apricot scrub are really bad for your skin. The beads are too large and cause tears in the skin. Even though that "sandpaper" feeling is nice, it's doing harm. There are a lot of creamy exfoliants out there that might not feel like they are getting the job done without the roughness but they are.

I am glad you said this. I've really wondered if Proactiv is too harsh with the exfoliant in the daily wash. My skin is extremely dry all along the bottom half. To the point where makeup falls right off from flaking.

[spicysalmonroll]

Jan 17, 2016 21:06:01 GMT -5 jamjoyful said:

Jan 17, 2016 20:06:45 GMT -5 spicysalmonroll said:

Be careful with the exfoliating beads. The girl who did my facial was telling me that ones like st. Ives apricot scrub are really bad for your skin. The beads are too large and cause tears in the skin. Even though that "sandpaper" feeling is nice, it's doing harm. There are a lot of creamy exfoliants out there that might not feel like they are getting the job done without the roughness but they are.

I am glad you said this. I've really wondered if Proactiv is too harsh with the exfoliant in the daily wash. My skin is extremely dry all along the bottom half. To the point where makeup falls right off from flaking.

Oh wow I've never used proactiv but exfoliant shouldn't be used more than twice a week.

[jamjoyful]

Jan 17, 2016 21:17:53 GMT -5 spicysalmonroll said:

Jan 17, 2016 21:06:01 GMT -5 jamjoyful said:

I am glad you said this. I've really wondered if Proactiv is too harsh with the exfoliant in the daily wash. My skin is extremely dry all along the bottom half. To the point where makeup falls right off from flaking.

Oh wow I've never used proactiv but exfoliant shouldn't be used more than twice a week.

Oh man! I'm so frustrated. It was the one thing that worked for a long time. I've tried so many countless products and brands.

[musicgirl]

I tend towards oily skin when not pregnant, and when I AM pregnant all hell usually breaks loose. I have managed to avoid breakouts this time around by putting a single drop of tea tree oil in with my moisturizer (I use the Cerave AM). I can count on one hand how many zits I've had so far this pregnancy, and that is seriously saying something. The oil stinks, but you get used to it, and nobody can smell it but you (right when you put it on).