TTMA your skin care/preventing acne

[sleepymonkey]

I have had skin problems since I was 13 and I am now almost 39. It has actually finally started getting better in the past few years but is never totally clear. I find Oxy products to be way too harsh for my skin, actually anything with benzoyl peroxide irritates my skin. Apparently I have very reactive skin and the more stuff I put on it to fight the acne only made it worse. The best face wash I have found for my skin is Purpose gentle cleansing wash. I only use it in the morning and I follow it with a little Purpose dual treatment moisturizer (I have oily skin and this stuff is great.) I actually find only washing my face once a day has helped cut the oil and acne. For spot treatment, I will use stuff with salicylic acid, like Neutrogena Rapid Clear spot treatment. I actually really prefer the Murad Acne Spot Treatment with sulfur but it's hard to find (the stores seem to sell the one with benzoyl peroxide and it is nowhere near as good.) I have heard the sulfur acne treatments are often better for adult acne but they're hard to find and often stink; the Murad one doesn't. I also really love Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Defense but at $88 for a small bottle, it got cut from my budget a few years ago.

[notagoddess]

I'm 30 and I have tons of acne, which really sucks. I can't use my prescription acne products while TTC and I haven't found anything else that works.

So what I do is just use a gentle skin care regimen. It doesn't get rid of the acne, but it minimizes irritation. I use Cetaphil cleanser, a day lotion with sunscreen, and a night cream. I don't use them anymore because they're expensive, but I love the Body Shop aloe line for sensitive skin.

[ThankfulSnail]

I am 27 and in the last 6-9 months have had the same thing- worse acne than ever in my life. I've recently switched to Clean & Clear's Continuous Care acne wash and like it; I've seen no new break outs but only marginal clearing of existing break outs. I also noticed a difference in the last week since I gave up dairy completely, but that's a pretty drastic measure.

[onesweetworld]

Philosophy Clear Days Ahead. I swear by it with my clarisonic

[peaseblossom55]

I use a 3 step kit I got in target, it works ok. I forget the name of it right now. I use a moisturizer as well- Clinque and a eye cream- Clinique and an anti wrinkle cream from Olay. Nothing too fancy. I had prescription acne treatments which were awesome but I can't use them while TTC.

[sanibel21]

I have had life long acne issues. It is such a self esteem killer for me! I haven't really found anything to be the cure all, but now I wanna try some of the stuff mentioned by pp's! I wash once to twice a day with cetaphil and spot treat with benzoyl peroxide and clindamyin gel with cetaphil moisturizer over it because the spot treatment is drying. I tried salycilic acid, doxycycline with no success. Definitely worse with ovulation and AF so its just a revolving door! So annoying!

[diamondsndaisies]

I used to have mostly clear skin in HS and pretty much until I got off my BC about a year ago. I have recently started using the Norwex body cloths and it has helped significantly. I will still get a few zits right before I Ovulate and right before/during my period. I also have issues with acne/cysts under my arms and the body cloths have helped that a lot too!

[PirateCat]

diamondsndaisies, I'm intrigued by the Norwex cloths. They really work?? How long did it take for you to notice a difference?

[lilsneezy]

I have combination skin so I rotate between a few products depending on how my skin is at the moment.

Two products I always use are Purity Made Simple by Philosophy and Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator. I use the Philosophy cleanser twice a day and Proactiv just in the morning. I've been using Proactiv for at least 8-9 years and it's the only thing that works for me. I ran out recently and thought I could get away with using something else… Nope.

I also use this cleanser by Glamglow and Dr. Brandt's microdermabrasion skin exfoliant. They're both pricey so I only use them once in awhile when my skin is really acting up.

I don't use any fancy moisturizers. Just plain ol' coconut oil.

[diamondsndaisies]

Feb 9, 2016 15:32:51 GMT -5 PirateCat said:

diamondsndaisies , I'm intrigued by the Norwex cloths. They really work?? How long did it take for you to notice a difference?

Maybe a week or 2. I was extremely hesitant to use them because the idea of not using soap is a little scary, but I finally gave in and tried them. I have been using them for several months and I love them. I only notice my acne if I am ovulating or getting my period or if I forgot to wash my face at night or something stupid like that. 

I bought the 3 pack so that I could have one in the shower, one on the sink and an extra to have just in case. 

[PirateCat]

diamondsndaisies, interesting! How do you clean the cloths?

[BurritosAtEveryMeal]

Feb 9, 2016 13:30:26 GMT -5 ****** said:

I use Rodan & Fields, Unblemish regimen.

This! My skin looks the best it's ever looked with the Unblemish products. Super expensive but worth it.

[diamondsndaisies]

Feb 9, 2016 16:24:49 GMT -5 PirateCat said:

diamondsndaisies , interesting! How do you clean the cloths?

I use the soap that they make. They say that using others are so full of needless fillers and it can clog the fibers and reduce its effectiveness. 

[ourcrazynavylife]

I'm just going to throw this out there. I'm trying the oil wash technique.
Basically a combination of essential oils and a base oil of your choice. Massage on in the shower. Then steam face with a wash cloth x2 then rinse off.

The premise is that "like dissolves like" so the oil will get rid of the existing oil on your face.

[butlerfan]

I use mary kays botanical line of face cleanser and moisturizer and face scrub. I love it and feel like it's gentle but effective. I use the cleanser with their face brush...that I never remember the name of.

[britta]

Feb 10, 2016 21:44:10 GMT -5 butlerfan said:

I use mary kays botanical line of face cleanser and moisturizer and face scrub. I love it and feel like it's gentle but effective. I use the cleanser with their face brush...that I never remember the name of.

Skinvigorate. I got you.

[butlerfan]

Feb 10, 2016 21:52:23 GMT -5 britta said:

Feb 10, 2016 21:44:10 GMT -5 butlerfan said:

I use mary kays botanical line of face cleanser and moisturizer and face scrub. I love it and feel like it's gentle but effective. I use the cleanser with their face brush...that I never remember the name of.

Skinvigorate. I got you.

Thanks! #toolazytolookherself