How do I break free of teenage skin, ethically and cheaply?
August 11, 2011 10:10 AM Subscribe
Need an effective, over-the-counter, organic, cruelty-free acne treatment regimen!
After going on & off & on birth control again, I finally saw a dermatologist as my acne had gotten worse (in my mid-20s). I tend to have a lot of small, red, spots - sometimes large ones - and at my worst it is all over my face. The most-affected area seems to change. For years it was my t-zone, and in the past couple years it has been my cheeks.
previous OTC treatment: salicylic acid & benzoyl peroxide gels, Cetaphil facewash.
prescription treatment: sulfur face wash, clindamycin and sunscreen in the morning, and tretinoin or differin at night.
It worked great! Except now I have no health insurance. And I'm interested in looking at more natural products. NEVER again will I use BP. All my t-shirts and towels have been bleached.
I currently use: St. Ives scrub with salicylic acid, and sunscreen. My skin is starting to get worse, probably because I have no anti-bacterial component to my regimen. My skin is also very sensitive so I try to use products with very low concentrations of medicine.
So:
1. What are some good organic or "natural", preferably not animal-tested, brands and products?
2. How about tea tree oil? What's the best kind to buy? When do you apply it? Did it work?
3. Can you give me solid examples of OTC treatments that worked for you on a long-term basis? Nothing too harsh.
4. Any other tips for treating this stuff? I'm trying to drink more water and get more exercise, and have read in past threads about zinc deficiency.
BONUS: I am a frequent cyclist and seem to be getting more acne around my forehead, chin & throat where my helmet touches the skin. Best way to deal with this? Sanitize the helmet? Wash my face after riding (would be tough as I ride to work)?
Thank you for your help!
After going on & off & on birth control again, I finally saw a dermatologist as my acne had gotten worse (in my mid-20s). I tend to have a lot of small, red, spots - sometimes large ones - and at my worst it is all over my face. The most-affected area seems to change. For years it was my t-zone, and in the past couple years it has been my cheeks.
previous OTC treatment: salicylic acid & benzoyl peroxide gels, Cetaphil facewash.
prescription treatment: sulfur face wash, clindamycin and sunscreen in the morning, and tretinoin or differin at night.
It worked great! Except now I have no health insurance. And I'm interested in looking at more natural products. NEVER again will I use BP. All my t-shirts and towels have been bleached.
I currently use: St. Ives scrub with salicylic acid, and sunscreen. My skin is starting to get worse, probably because I have no anti-bacterial component to my regimen. My skin is also very sensitive so I try to use products with very low concentrations of medicine.
So:
1. What are some good organic or "natural", preferably not animal-tested, brands and products?
2. How about tea tree oil? What's the best kind to buy? When do you apply it? Did it work?
3. Can you give me solid examples of OTC treatments that worked for you on a long-term basis? Nothing too harsh.
4. Any other tips for treating this stuff? I'm trying to drink more water and get more exercise, and have read in past threads about zinc deficiency.
BONUS: I am a frequent cyclist and seem to be getting more acne around my forehead, chin & throat where my helmet touches the skin. Best way to deal with this? Sanitize the helmet? Wash my face after riding (would be tough as I ride to work)?
Thank you for your help!
Tea Tree oil worked a bit for me, applied right before bedtime since it leaves a bit of a sheen on the skin.
Another idea would be acupuncture - I tried that as well and depending on how severe your acne is it may help. I definitely saw a decrease in breakouts after treatment, and honestly I didn't really subscribe to acupuncture before this, it was a suggestion from my mother. Didn't get rid of it entirely for me, but did help.
posted by danapiper at 10:36 AM on August 11, 2011
Another idea would be acupuncture - I tried that as well and depending on how severe your acne is it may help. I definitely saw a decrease in breakouts after treatment, and honestly I didn't really subscribe to acupuncture before this, it was a suggestion from my mother. Didn't get rid of it entirely for me, but did help.
posted by danapiper at 10:36 AM on August 11, 2011
Best answer: When you say a lot of small, red spots – just how small are they? Is there any chance you have mild, emerging rosacea? If you do and you leave it untreated (or treated with just just over-the-counter cosmetics), you could end up with disastrous results.
The scrub you are using is just irritating your skin; it might work preventatively but that's the last thing you want when you already have acne. Diet, water or exercise have been shown over and over again to make no difference as far as acne is concerned, if you happen to be a person who believes in evidence-based science, so don't expect that to make much of a difference. Anything with even dilute tea tree oil in its formulation makes my skin feel (and look) like it's been on fire, so be careful when experimenting at first.
For cleansing, I use a Clarisonic Mia. No more blackheads or blemishes. As far as recommendations go, the Obagi system isn't OTC per se, but you can certainly find it online without prescription (including the Rx medications) for much cheaper than at a dermatologist office, and it works beautifully. I also get tiny blistery breakouts when biking with plastic sunglasses, for example, and use facial wipes, such as those made by Say Yes to Cucumbers and sold in travel packs to cleanse and soothe those areas.
FYI, you can buy generic tretinoin from online pharmacies for ~$12/tube and a little bit more for brand-name Retin-A Micro. That's cheaper for me than dermatologist co-pay plus prescription co-pay combined, so my sister, my mom, and I all buy the medication that way, and have beautiful skin. If you're like me and only need to use it once every few days, a tube will last you a long time. Since you already know it works well for you, it's not worth it to waste your time with unproven treatments. Contact me if you need a specific website recommendation.
Since you're in your mid-twenties already, don't forget to add anti-aging components to your skincare routine.
posted by halogen at 11:09 AM on August 11, 2011 [6 favorites]
The scrub you are using is just irritating your skin; it might work preventatively but that's the last thing you want when you already have acne. Diet, water or exercise have been shown over and over again to make no difference as far as acne is concerned, if you happen to be a person who believes in evidence-based science, so don't expect that to make much of a difference. Anything with even dilute tea tree oil in its formulation makes my skin feel (and look) like it's been on fire, so be careful when experimenting at first.
For cleansing, I use a Clarisonic Mia. No more blackheads or blemishes. As far as recommendations go, the Obagi system isn't OTC per se, but you can certainly find it online without prescription (including the Rx medications) for much cheaper than at a dermatologist office, and it works beautifully. I also get tiny blistery breakouts when biking with plastic sunglasses, for example, and use facial wipes, such as those made by Say Yes to Cucumbers and sold in travel packs to cleanse and soothe those areas.
FYI, you can buy generic tretinoin from online pharmacies for ~$12/tube and a little bit more for brand-name Retin-A Micro. That's cheaper for me than dermatologist co-pay plus prescription co-pay combined, so my sister, my mom, and I all buy the medication that way, and have beautiful skin. If you're like me and only need to use it once every few days, a tube will last you a long time. Since you already know it works well for you, it's not worth it to waste your time with unproven treatments. Contact me if you need a specific website recommendation.
Since you're in your mid-twenties already, don't forget to add anti-aging components to your skincare routine.
posted by halogen at 11:09 AM on August 11, 2011 [6 favorites]
If you go the supplement route, I would check into using Evening Primrose Oil as long as they won't interact with any meds you might be taking. Also, I would look into glycolic acid/salicylic acid peels. They have helped me a whole lot. Likewise a topical application of Niacinamide at a 5% concentration helps. You can add it to a moisturize your like or combine it with a non animal source of hyaluronic acid and water in a serum. You can get both at Garden of Wisdom, though the hyaluronic acid is back ordered. Other active ingredients that help with acne are: Zinc oxide (can be ordered separately and mixed with water and put on pimples, though this can be messy). B-5 is also a good skin care active for acne. If you go the DIY route, make sure you read the forums of the businesses I've linked to. Or hell, PM me if you want a further rundown of what might help. As with anything, I'm not your doctor and supplements, acids and adventuring in DIY skin care should be researched beforehand and used with caution.
posted by Issithe at 11:27 AM on August 11, 2011
posted by Issithe at 11:27 AM on August 11, 2011
I'm a few years older than you but it sounds like our skin is kinda similar. I read about the acne treatment program on acne.org about a year ago and did a modified version of it. Anytime I use anything harsh or drying my skin tends to get worse (it took me past age 30 to realize this, unfortunately). Lately, my routine is:
AM - Wash face in shower with either St. Ives scrub (my skin isn't terribly sensitive, I don't think, but I try not to use this more than a few times a week and I use it very gently) or Dove unscented bar soap. About 15-30 minutes after shower, use a tiny bit of Cetaphil cream (the heavy stuff in a tub) as a moisturizer on my face and neck, follow with primer, foundation, full makeup.
PM - Wash face with Noxzema (the original stuff in the tub). I briefly used Cetaphil cleanser at the recommendation of a dermatologist but never felt like it got my face clean, and when you're wearing makeup everyday, you want a clean face. Noxzema does that like nobody's business. I follow up with a slight bit more Cetaphil cream at night than I use during the day.
I still get pimples but they're much less frequent over the last year, and I think the Cetaphil is actually helping ease the fine lines around my mouth and eyes. Sometimes on the weekend anymore I don't use makeup, or only use eye makeup -- I couldn't have imagined doing that a few years back.
I don't know how animal-friendly any of these companies are, sorry.
posted by jabes at 11:50 AM on August 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
AM - Wash face in shower with either St. Ives scrub (my skin isn't terribly sensitive, I don't think, but I try not to use this more than a few times a week and I use it very gently) or Dove unscented bar soap. About 15-30 minutes after shower, use a tiny bit of Cetaphil cream (the heavy stuff in a tub) as a moisturizer on my face and neck, follow with primer, foundation, full makeup.
PM - Wash face with Noxzema (the original stuff in the tub). I briefly used Cetaphil cleanser at the recommendation of a dermatologist but never felt like it got my face clean, and when you're wearing makeup everyday, you want a clean face. Noxzema does that like nobody's business. I follow up with a slight bit more Cetaphil cream at night than I use during the day.
I still get pimples but they're much less frequent over the last year, and I think the Cetaphil is actually helping ease the fine lines around my mouth and eyes. Sometimes on the weekend anymore I don't use makeup, or only use eye makeup -- I couldn't have imagined doing that a few years back.
I don't know how animal-friendly any of these companies are, sorry.
posted by jabes at 11:50 AM on August 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My skin problems become significantly better when I stay away from dairy. Not breaking out all the time is almost worth the sacrifice of giving up cheese.
As for products, have you tried Lush? They use natural ingredients and many of their products are vegan. I like the Coalface Cleanser; it's expensive but lasts for ages.
posted by orrnyereg at 12:22 PM on August 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
As for products, have you tried Lush? They use natural ingredients and many of their products are vegan. I like the Coalface Cleanser; it's expensive but lasts for ages.
posted by orrnyereg at 12:22 PM on August 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I don't have acne, but I still have trouble spots on my forehead and chin. I love this Beauty Without Cruelty daily cleanser. My trouble areas have improved dramatically, and the overall texture of my skin is finer. The very first time I used it, it caused a little irritation on my cheeks and nose, but I've been using it for at least 8 months now and never had it happen again. I haven't tried their other products, but you may find something more suited to your exact skin needs that's still in line with your ethical concerns.
posted by syanna at 12:30 PM on August 11, 2011
posted by syanna at 12:30 PM on August 11, 2011
I can't help with the biology part, but daily habits can make a big difference on the severity of your acne.
-Wash your pillowcase and sheets frequently, and avoid sleeping with your pillow against your cheek at all costs. Oil from your skin will build up on fabrics, and as breathable as company advertisements will say about their pillows, pillows aren't all that breathable to your pores.
- In fact, frequently wash any clothes that touch your face, like scarves or jackets/hats that cover your face.
- Avoid wearing the same shirt for more than one day without washing it first. Oil from your body will build up on the fabrics. The less oil on your body, the less likely it will get on your face.
- Don't wipe your face on your sleeves, shirts, or wash clothes. If you wipe your face on the same piece of fabric more than once, you're basically wiping oil back on to your face.
-If you wear glasses, be sure to (carefully) scrub them clean with soap often, especially around the nose pads, the bottom of the rims, and the part that's closet to your temples.
-Avoid touching your face with your hands at all costs. This one can be tough habit to break.
-Cut down on oily and greasy foods. Be aware of products like mayonnaise that often fall off the oil-radar. Mayo is mostly made up of oil, so it might be best to avoid foods chalk full of mayo, like egg salad or chicken salad.
- I think you already alluded to this in your post, but the more you sweat, the more likely you will clear your pores. Exercise often, or go to hot spas. Remember to drink more water so your body can sweat more.
-If you have oily hair (or just even average hair), make sure you wash it daily, especially if you're hair is long enough to touch your face.
- You're probably already aware of this, but wash your face with a gentle soap twice a day: when you wake up and before you go to sleep. Be sure to pad it dry with a paper towel or an unused wash cloth.
Basically, you can't keep your body from producing oil, but you can reduce the amount of oil that comes in contact with your face and body on a daily basis.
Good luck!
posted by nikkorizz at 2:31 PM on August 11, 2011
-Wash your pillowcase and sheets frequently, and avoid sleeping with your pillow against your cheek at all costs. Oil from your skin will build up on fabrics, and as breathable as company advertisements will say about their pillows, pillows aren't all that breathable to your pores.
- In fact, frequently wash any clothes that touch your face, like scarves or jackets/hats that cover your face.
- Avoid wearing the same shirt for more than one day without washing it first. Oil from your body will build up on the fabrics. The less oil on your body, the less likely it will get on your face.
- Don't wipe your face on your sleeves, shirts, or wash clothes. If you wipe your face on the same piece of fabric more than once, you're basically wiping oil back on to your face.
-If you wear glasses, be sure to (carefully) scrub them clean with soap often, especially around the nose pads, the bottom of the rims, and the part that's closet to your temples.
-Avoid touching your face with your hands at all costs. This one can be tough habit to break.
-Cut down on oily and greasy foods. Be aware of products like mayonnaise that often fall off the oil-radar. Mayo is mostly made up of oil, so it might be best to avoid foods chalk full of mayo, like egg salad or chicken salad.
- I think you already alluded to this in your post, but the more you sweat, the more likely you will clear your pores. Exercise often, or go to hot spas. Remember to drink more water so your body can sweat more.
-If you have oily hair (or just even average hair), make sure you wash it daily, especially if you're hair is long enough to touch your face.
- You're probably already aware of this, but wash your face with a gentle soap twice a day: when you wake up and before you go to sleep. Be sure to pad it dry with a paper towel or an unused wash cloth.
Basically, you can't keep your body from producing oil, but you can reduce the amount of oil that comes in contact with your face and body on a daily basis.
Good luck!
posted by nikkorizz at 2:31 PM on August 11, 2011
BONUS: I am a frequent cyclist and seem to be getting more acne around my forehead, chin & throat where my helmet touches the skin. Best way to deal with this? Sanitize the helmet? Wash my face after riding (would be tough as I ride to work)?
Don't just sanitize it, that just removes bacteria. You also need to be concerned with the oil that gets left on it. If you can't wash your helmet, the very least you should do is wash, or wipe down, your face after riding your bike to remove any oil collected from the helmet, plus any oil that was excreted from your body through sweat.
posted by nikkorizz at 2:54 PM on August 11, 2011
Don't just sanitize it, that just removes bacteria. You also need to be concerned with the oil that gets left on it. If you can't wash your helmet, the very least you should do is wash, or wipe down, your face after riding your bike to remove any oil collected from the helmet, plus any oil that was excreted from your body through sweat.
posted by nikkorizz at 2:54 PM on August 11, 2011
i carry grapefruit facial wipes with me for bikeriding - they smell good and i feel super refreshed.
be careful, tea tree oil makes me break out like crazy.
not for nothing, but if it is rosacea (which i just developed myself), clindamycin works on that too - once you get health insurance again. do the spots feel like pimples? my spots didn't feel like anything - but then i'd get in the mirror and be all spotted. the other tipoff - the more i tried to treat the pimples, the worse it got. carbs - simple or complex - aggravates the situation as well.
posted by sockpuppet plots an escape at 5:19 PM on August 11, 2011
be careful, tea tree oil makes me break out like crazy.
not for nothing, but if it is rosacea (which i just developed myself), clindamycin works on that too - once you get health insurance again. do the spots feel like pimples? my spots didn't feel like anything - but then i'd get in the mirror and be all spotted. the other tipoff - the more i tried to treat the pimples, the worse it got. carbs - simple or complex - aggravates the situation as well.
posted by sockpuppet plots an escape at 5:19 PM on August 11, 2011
Best answer: I honestly don't know if what you're asking for is achievable, because if it were, I would be doing it myself.
I'm highly reliant on Cetaphil products as well as PanOxyl because they give outstanding results that no other product compares to - and unfortunately both of those brands test on animals. If I could find cruelty-free products that performed as well, I would proceed to use them, but I haven't found them yet and I've been looking for a very very long time.
Drinking water and getting exercise are good, but they won't do a thing for acne. There are almost no lifestyle changes you can make that will improve acne, which can really only be treated by treating your skin.
Having said that, last time I looked there was more-than-zero scientific evidence that a low GI diet might help, and also that skim milk was worse than whole milk. You also might want to avoid consuming very large quantities of iodine-rich foods like shellfish and red wine. Beyond that, you would have to go to a dietitian and design a proper elimination diet if you want to go the dietary route, because you are going to find people who will be eager to give you advice that basically any foods other than vegetables and any beverage other than water will contribute to your acne. Needless to say, sooner or later you are going to eat a bite of bread or meat, or drink a sip of coffee, and then when your acne doesn't get better you will focus on your lack of self-control rather than face up to the fact that you have no effective treatment for your skin disease. I have quite a bit of anecdata about people developing eating disorders from the effort to control their acne, since propaganda that acne is caused by diet is shoved in the face of nearly everyone who seeks advice about it. Maybe you wouldn't get an eating disorder, but my point is, that way lies madness. Don't get distracted by approaches to the problem that don't approach the problem.
Good luck. For the severalth time today, I feel extremely sorry that the USA doesn't have health care, and I'm sorry I'm not qualified to help you.
posted by tel3path at 5:52 PM on August 11, 2011
I'm highly reliant on Cetaphil products as well as PanOxyl because they give outstanding results that no other product compares to - and unfortunately both of those brands test on animals. If I could find cruelty-free products that performed as well, I would proceed to use them, but I haven't found them yet and I've been looking for a very very long time.
Drinking water and getting exercise are good, but they won't do a thing for acne. There are almost no lifestyle changes you can make that will improve acne, which can really only be treated by treating your skin.
Having said that, last time I looked there was more-than-zero scientific evidence that a low GI diet might help, and also that skim milk was worse than whole milk. You also might want to avoid consuming very large quantities of iodine-rich foods like shellfish and red wine. Beyond that, you would have to go to a dietitian and design a proper elimination diet if you want to go the dietary route, because you are going to find people who will be eager to give you advice that basically any foods other than vegetables and any beverage other than water will contribute to your acne. Needless to say, sooner or later you are going to eat a bite of bread or meat, or drink a sip of coffee, and then when your acne doesn't get better you will focus on your lack of self-control rather than face up to the fact that you have no effective treatment for your skin disease. I have quite a bit of anecdata about people developing eating disorders from the effort to control their acne, since propaganda that acne is caused by diet is shoved in the face of nearly everyone who seeks advice about it. Maybe you wouldn't get an eating disorder, but my point is, that way lies madness. Don't get distracted by approaches to the problem that don't approach the problem.
Good luck. For the severalth time today, I feel extremely sorry that the USA doesn't have health care, and I'm sorry I'm not qualified to help you.
posted by tel3path at 5:52 PM on August 11, 2011
Best answer: Jojoba oil. I used to have terrible skin and pretty much lost hope it would ever improve. I used all kinds of chemicals, took all kinds of antibiotics/medicine short of accutane because I was scared of it.
Now I only use jojoba oil - also as makeup remover- and occasionally some olive oil soap on a loofah pad thing for exfoliation.
I've also cleaned up my diet(I try to eat whole foods and avoid mystery ingredients, but I eat what I want), but I think the jojoba oil is what makes my skin actually look nice.
Not sure what kind of birth control you use, but I've tried several of them and they either did nothing for my skin or made it worse. Then after complaining to a nurse practitioner about how desperate I was to clear up my skin, she suggested I try desogen. I've been using that for the past several years and I think it's what jump-started the clearing up process. My face used to be an oil slick but I guess the hormones helped, and the jojoba oil is supposed to mimic skin sebum so it helps keep skin neutral...or something.
Good luck. Terrible skin made my life miserable for years. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!
posted by fromageball at 5:42 PM on August 13, 2011
Now I only use jojoba oil - also as makeup remover- and occasionally some olive oil soap on a loofah pad thing for exfoliation.
I've also cleaned up my diet(I try to eat whole foods and avoid mystery ingredients, but I eat what I want), but I think the jojoba oil is what makes my skin actually look nice.
Not sure what kind of birth control you use, but I've tried several of them and they either did nothing for my skin or made it worse. Then after complaining to a nurse practitioner about how desperate I was to clear up my skin, she suggested I try desogen. I've been using that for the past several years and I think it's what jump-started the clearing up process. My face used to be an oil slick but I guess the hormones helped, and the jojoba oil is supposed to mimic skin sebum so it helps keep skin neutral...or something.
Good luck. Terrible skin made my life miserable for years. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!
posted by fromageball at 5:42 PM on August 13, 2011
@tel3path - I agree about the health care in general, but I actually think acne treatment is an exception to that. I'm glad I stopped being able to afford the pricey chemical crap I was putting on my face and in my body over the years. If one antibiotic didn't work I was put on another; if one cream didn't work I was put on yet another...etc. An endless circle.
I do attribute some of my skin success to the birth control pills, but I think it usually benefits people to improve their diet and not put as much *crap* on their skin.
I say this as someone who had really terrible skin for many, many years. I didn't have the worst EVER skin, but I had consistently bad skin that obliterated my self esteem and confidence for many years. Some people have a better experience with doctors/dermatologists for acne, but I can honestly say that none of them helped me at all. Except for the nurse practitioner who I was talking to during a routine physical about my depression due to persistent acne.
posted by fromageball at 6:03 PM on August 13, 2011
I do attribute some of my skin success to the birth control pills, but I think it usually benefits people to improve their diet and not put as much *crap* on their skin.
I say this as someone who had really terrible skin for many, many years. I didn't have the worst EVER skin, but I had consistently bad skin that obliterated my self esteem and confidence for many years. Some people have a better experience with doctors/dermatologists for acne, but I can honestly say that none of them helped me at all. Except for the nurse practitioner who I was talking to during a routine physical about my depression due to persistent acne.
posted by fromageball at 6:03 PM on August 13, 2011
Response by poster: Thank you for the great answers, everybody! I know there isn't a quick, easy fix - what I was looking for was some suggestions and personal experience.
Things I will try:
sulfur soap
tea tree oil
jojoba oil
I didn't think about buying the prescription stuff online - I may try that!
Unfortunately, @halogen, though I am intrigued by the Clarisonic Mia, I just don't have the budget for it.
Also, @nikkorizz, before I went to a dermatologist, I was METICULOUS about keeping everything away from my face. Clean towel over my pillow and hair tied up every night, dabbing my face dry with paper towels, etc. It didn't seem to ever do much for me - now I use the same towel for a week and wash my sheets 2-3 times a month, and it hasn't made a difference. YMMV.
I should mention a couple of things I didn't in the question, that have worked:
1. Blotting papers/ Oil Absorbing Sheets (Clean&Clear make them, CVS has a knock off). I bought them to get rid of shininess without putting anything else on my skin, but they seem to be helping just by reducing the amount of oil! I let friends use them all the time and they are always grossed out but amazed. Haven't found a version made by a cruelty-free or organic company.
2. Washing my face with COOL water. Not cold (blood vessels will break, apparently) and NEVER hot - even in the summer. I always splash water on my face rather than putting it directly in the flow from the showerhead. This way my skin isn't over-dried.
I will update this thread if I find that I'm happy with any of the suggestions - keeping in mind, of course, that consistency is important and it can take up to 2 months to see effects from any one product!
Thanks again!
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 7:39 AM on August 18, 2011
Things I will try:
sulfur soap
tea tree oil
jojoba oil
I didn't think about buying the prescription stuff online - I may try that!
Unfortunately, @halogen, though I am intrigued by the Clarisonic Mia, I just don't have the budget for it.
Also, @nikkorizz, before I went to a dermatologist, I was METICULOUS about keeping everything away from my face. Clean towel over my pillow and hair tied up every night, dabbing my face dry with paper towels, etc. It didn't seem to ever do much for me - now I use the same towel for a week and wash my sheets 2-3 times a month, and it hasn't made a difference. YMMV.
I should mention a couple of things I didn't in the question, that have worked:
1. Blotting papers/ Oil Absorbing Sheets (Clean&Clear make them, CVS has a knock off). I bought them to get rid of shininess without putting anything else on my skin, but they seem to be helping just by reducing the amount of oil! I let friends use them all the time and they are always grossed out but amazed. Haven't found a version made by a cruelty-free or organic company.
2. Washing my face with COOL water. Not cold (blood vessels will break, apparently) and NEVER hot - even in the summer. I always splash water on my face rather than putting it directly in the flow from the showerhead. This way my skin isn't over-dried.
I will update this thread if I find that I'm happy with any of the suggestions - keeping in mind, of course, that consistency is important and it can take up to 2 months to see effects from any one product!
Thanks again!
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 7:39 AM on August 18, 2011
Response by poster: I'd like to update this thread with what has worked for me since I stopped using prescription skincare. My skin has improved and remained steadily pretty-good-for-me (meaning at any time I have a few small blemishes, easily covered with makeup, and occasionally irritated/dry skin).
Morning routine:
1. Wash with this Tea Tree Oil cleanser. Works like a charm! Natural/cruelty-free/environmentally friendly. Basically works like Cetaphil + antimicrobial action! Research suggests Tea Tree oil works as well as Benzoyl Peroxide, with fewer side effects, though it can take longer to see results. I would agree.
2. When I'm in the shower, I wash my face last to remove any stray conditioner, etc. I only shampoo every 3 days (curly hair) and my hair is not generally greasy.
3. Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer SPF 15. If I'll be hanging out outside, I put on a stronger, Neutrogena facial sunscreen.
4. Concealer with added Salicylic Acid.
5. Roughly once every 1 - 2 weeks, I mix some baking soda into my cleanser when I wash my face, to exfoliate. I have no idea whether this is good or bad, but it seems fine and makes my skin feel soft.
Evening routine:
1. Wash with same Tea Tree cleanser.
2. Occasionally, if my skin is very dry, a SQUIRT of jojoba oil. Overall, I have not loved using this. It feels greasy - I cannot use it during the day. During the winter it seemed to help a bit with dryness. I also use a small humidifier during the night, beside my bed.
I continue to:
1. Wash my face with ONLY lukewarm/cool water, to avoid drying it out (Don't use cold water - this will make your face red!)
2. Use blotting papers in the warm weather. They are awesome!
3. Be on Implanon (birth control hormonal implant) which is not supposed to affect your skin at all.
Also:
- I quit coffee! Decaf maybe once or twice a month, that's it. I drink lots of green tea and water. I also have no idea if this does anything, but there you go!
- And if I have a pimple that... ruptures? (I never squeeze them but occasionally friction will open them up) I dab rubbing alcohol on it, LEAVE IT ALONE, and the next day put a little bit of cocoa butter on it. To prevent scarring? Maybe.
- I never got around to trying sulfur soap, though I may if my skin worsens over the summer.
- I use the same towel for 5-7 days in a row, and the same pillowcase for 7 - 14 days. Changing this has never had an effect on my skin (I used to sleep with a new towel every night over my pillowcase, and dry my skin with paper towels! No change!), for what it's worth.
Best of luck to anyone who reads this!
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 10:21 AM on March 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Morning routine:
1. Wash with this Tea Tree Oil cleanser. Works like a charm! Natural/cruelty-free/environmentally friendly. Basically works like Cetaphil + antimicrobial action! Research suggests Tea Tree oil works as well as Benzoyl Peroxide, with fewer side effects, though it can take longer to see results. I would agree.
2. When I'm in the shower, I wash my face last to remove any stray conditioner, etc. I only shampoo every 3 days (curly hair) and my hair is not generally greasy.
3. Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer SPF 15. If I'll be hanging out outside, I put on a stronger, Neutrogena facial sunscreen.
4. Concealer with added Salicylic Acid.
5. Roughly once every 1 - 2 weeks, I mix some baking soda into my cleanser when I wash my face, to exfoliate. I have no idea whether this is good or bad, but it seems fine and makes my skin feel soft.
Evening routine:
1. Wash with same Tea Tree cleanser.
2. Occasionally, if my skin is very dry, a SQUIRT of jojoba oil. Overall, I have not loved using this. It feels greasy - I cannot use it during the day. During the winter it seemed to help a bit with dryness. I also use a small humidifier during the night, beside my bed.
I continue to:
1. Wash my face with ONLY lukewarm/cool water, to avoid drying it out (Don't use cold water - this will make your face red!)
2. Use blotting papers in the warm weather. They are awesome!
3. Be on Implanon (birth control hormonal implant) which is not supposed to affect your skin at all.
Also:
- I quit coffee! Decaf maybe once or twice a month, that's it. I drink lots of green tea and water. I also have no idea if this does anything, but there you go!
- And if I have a pimple that... ruptures? (I never squeeze them but occasionally friction will open them up) I dab rubbing alcohol on it, LEAVE IT ALONE, and the next day put a little bit of cocoa butter on it. To prevent scarring? Maybe.
- I never got around to trying sulfur soap, though I may if my skin worsens over the summer.
- I use the same towel for 5-7 days in a row, and the same pillowcase for 7 - 14 days. Changing this has never had an effect on my skin (I used to sleep with a new towel every night over my pillowcase, and dry my skin with paper towels! No change!), for what it's worth.
Best of luck to anyone who reads this!
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 10:21 AM on March 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
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posted by cobaltnine at 10:28 AM on August 11, 2011