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September 23, 2006 5:06 PM

I need help with skincare products for my face! Details inside.

I am a healthy 18 year old asian male with sensitive, acne prone skin. My acne is not really a problem anymore after finishing my Acutane treatment six months ago (I still get a pimple or two every now and then), but there are a couple of problems with my skin.

First of all, there are these little white follicle things on my nose. I don't know what they're called, but they look like little, thick white hairs on my nose. They make my nose look fat and unsightly. I would like to get rid of them.

Secondly, my I would like softer skin. My face is often dry, and I have been applying a moisterizer called Cetaphil, but it only provides temporary relief. Are there any moistorizing cleansers that you would recommend?

And lastly, I want to do something about the scars on my face left from popped pimples. Someone I know had really bad scars left on his cheeks from his acne, but now his skin looks like he never had pimples in the first place. I am hoping that there is something that accelerates the healing of the face. Does anybody have an idea?

Some more info: I have pretty sensitive skin, probably from using various acne medications over the years, and right now, I am using a cleanser from Cetaphil every morning and night, and a topical acne treatment called Retin-A Micro before I go to sleep.

Please recommend some good quality skincare products :D

posted by veol to Health & Fitness (20 answers total)

Clinque for men products are quite good.. but pricey. The extra strength face wash works great, and the M lotion moisturizes well.

Out of the drugstore stuff, Garnier Pure line is quite good (the blue packaging).. around $7 here in Canada, cheaper if you're in the states.
posted by ninefour at 5:10 PM on September 23, 2006

The Cetaphil cleanser is second to none, and you'll find other threads on here attesting to this. I didn't find the moisturiser so good though, and my face much prefers this Neutrogena moisturiser.

My experience is that finding a moisturiser that suits you is often simply a case of trial and error.
posted by forallmankind at 5:23 PM on September 23, 2006

Second the Clinique suggestion.
posted by fire&wings at 5:34 PM on September 23, 2006

What are you washing your face with? It sounds to me like the pores on your nose are clogged with gunk. I get the same thing from time to time, usually when I don't keep up with my routine.

I use Purpose's gentle cleansing bar on my face twice daily, which doesn't overdry my face. This helps keep the clogged pores, and my acne, under control. Also, make sure you are drinking enough water to keep your body hydrated at all times. This has helped greatly with keeping my skin from drying out.
posted by Loto at 5:37 PM on September 23, 2006

Sorry, missed the part about you using Cetaphil.
posted by Loto at 5:40 PM on September 23, 2006

My boyfriend has the same problem with the clogged nose pores, using those Biore pore strips about once a week have helped to some degree.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 5:46 PM on September 23, 2006

1. I'm sure someone will come along and tell you to use Biore strips (on preview, hi wuzandfuzz!), but I have never had any serious success with them. For the clogged pores on the side of your nose you should try using a mask. Queen Helene's Mint Julep mask is effective, readily available at drugstores, and dirt cheap. Origin's charcoal mask is excellent but pricier. Use this once a week and you should notice a difference.

Also, make sure you rub the sides of your nose with a washcloth when you wash your face. I find that between that and the mask my nose stays pretty clear.

2. Cetaphil is incredibly overrated, IMO. I like Dove's Day Cream a lot, and it has never broken me out. Very thick and creamy, SPF 15, and not greasy.

3. Mederma is supposed to greatly reduce scars - I have friends that have used it with great results.

For a facial cleanser I cannot recommend Clearasil's plain blue tube enough. It is a simple cleanser - no salicylic acids, etc - so it is not drying. A lot of times us acne-prone people get too used to lathering our faces up with too many drying chemicals, and we end up with even worse problems then if we would just leave our faces alone.
posted by gatorae at 5:52 PM on September 23, 2006

Have you checked out acne.org?
They have been a good resource for different cleansers and have a good message board to discuss different sensitivities.

Do you think the white stuff is just whiteheads? Maybe you're still producing excessive sebum. Occasionally I get a lot of blackheads on my nose, which I can eliminate with benzoyl peroxide (2.5% to 3.5% only) spread on at night. The main problem is that there's a good chance your pillowcases will bleach from the BP. You could also try Biore peel strips, which will adhere to and yank anything out of the pores with which it comes in contact.

I did see great improvement in skin-color continuity just from switching to a gentle soap (the J&J Promise bar cleanser) and lathering on the Cetaphil moisturizing cream after showering. Whenever I shave, I also use Neutrogena RapidClear Acne Defense Face Lotion (2% salicylic acid). Also important: before you was your face, wash your hands well with a good hand cleanser. It may take several weeks of faithful adherence before it starts to clear.

As Loto said, drink lots of water. Like a gallon a day.

As for the scars you already have, you might want to defer on doing anything on that (e.g. dermabrasion) until the active problem has been under control for a while longer. This may be a few years (make sure you ask your friend what he did) before it will be worthwhile. You can offset a lot of pitting by dressing well, being physically fit, and staying confident in yourself. Maybe dermabrasion?
posted by bafflegab at 5:52 PM on September 23, 2006

I have been very happy with a Glycolic Acid cleanser, that I bought after a facial, for keeping my pores from clogging. And I usually do a once-over in the mirror after I wash my face with that and very hot water, and perform gentle but widespread extractions. The cleanser seems to make this much easier as well as keep my skin glowy and fresh-feeling. I paid $25 for 12 oz. of cleanser.

I use a Neutrogena Oil-reducing wash other times, and can say that the Glycolic Acid seems to dry my skin far less, fwiw.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 6:04 PM on September 23, 2006

Cetaphil is amazing but as a body lotion - not as a facial moisturizer. They may have toners and the like, but if you're looking for good clean products try Neutrogena and Clinique; Burt's Bees also has some great products too (a orange peel mask that's as good as Clinique's 7 day scrub). Part of the problem is the 'moisturizing cleaners' as you call them - generally I think you can find a good moisturizer, and a good cleaner/toner, but rarely both together. Clinique's clarifying lotion is great, and their DDML ('dramatically different moisturing lotion') is good too, although a little too oily for me. It is very much hit and miss - try a few and see what works for your individual chemistry.

bafflegab's suggestion regarding defering action on anything like dermabrasion at this point sounds good, too. If possible, see a dematologist and get their views on the matter. And since you're 18, let me say it does get better with age (like many things) - and it's good you're being proactive so you. Good luck!
posted by rmm at 6:50 PM on September 23, 2006

I have dry skin and I use Lush's Baby Face to cleanse and Skin Drink as a moisturizer (both are under skin care/facial care, at least on the US site). It's expensive, but it lasts forever.
posted by amarynth at 7:37 PM on September 23, 2006

aside from topical things to put on your face, try getting a facial. the person performing the facial will extract all the whiteheads (the little white follicle things) and blackheads after steaming open your pores.
posted by pinksoftsoap at 7:38 PM on September 23, 2006

Hi Gatorae!
Its true, I'm sure the pore strips work better for some than others, but you can't deny the insane fun of examining them afterwards to see all the crap that was on your nose. Personally, I've found they work best for me when I can see the gross whitehead or blackhead and could pop it myself, but don't want the big red mark that it would cause.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 8:17 PM on September 23, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for all your suggestions! I now have a big fat list of things to try out. Like forallmankind said, I'll have to rely on trial and error to see what works best. You guys are great, thanks again.
posted by veol at 10:20 PM on September 23, 2006

Be careful with the Biore pore strips. A few months after finishing my Accutane regimen, I tried using them and ended up ripping a little skin off the end of my nose. I might just have freakishly sensitive skin, though. Also, you might want to consider going back to your dermatologist and asking for help with the specific problems you outline above, particularly since you are still using a prescription-strength acne medication. Your doctor may just scale back the Retin-A Micro a bit, or prescribe an alternate medication, if that’s what is causing the dry skin.
posted by sheila t at 11:03 PM on September 23, 2006

You might try Aqua Glycolic. It was recommended to me by my dermatologist. I use the cleanser and the face cream. I was told to put the cleanser on and then scrub my face firmly with a washcloth, splash my face with very warm water at least 30 times and then use the cream. It worked on that dry skin feeling immediately, like the first time I used it. Be sure to wash it off your hands though, for some reason it dries my hands out. You can order it online or get your pharmacy to order it. Sometimes they keep it behind the counter but you have to ask, they don't keep it out on the shelves. It's really important to use a good sunscreen all the time if you use it since it removes that surface layer of dead skin cells.
posted by BoscosMom at 12:27 AM on September 24, 2006

To get rid of the gunk in your pores, go to a beautician and get yourself a facial. More guys get them then you probably realise, and, for what you get they're relly not that pricely. The person who does your facial will be able to tell you the problems with your skin and a good one will probably recommend a product that you can use to cleanse/moisturise.
posted by cholly at 2:01 AM on September 24, 2006

Also, my beautician got my (16 yo) brother with acne prone skin on dermalogica products, and his skin is clear and not dry at all after using it.
posted by cholly at 2:04 AM on September 24, 2006

Also, wear sunblock! I used to use retin-a micro without using sunblock, and my skin looked bad because retin-a increases your sun-sensitivity. Once I started using a moisturizer with sunblock included my skin started looking much better. No to mention the fact that you should wear sunblock anyways...
posted by btkuhn at 3:09 AM on September 24, 2006

Ok, stop me if you've heard it before. In most states, the type of professional you will want to see is called an Aesthetician or Esthetician (not a beautician, who in this state is a hairdresser). Dermalogica is ok product, used in most Esthetician schools (because it's relatively cheap!), but there is better stuff out there. My favorite is Skin Medica. If you are in the Seattle area, let me know and I'll put you in touch with somebody who can help you out. And you will absolutely need a real pro to help you with the scars and the stuff on your nose.

In the meantime, there are 4 things you need to do to your face twice daily. All product should be high quality and non-clogging/non-comedogenic. In an ideal world, let one step dry a bit before applying the next one.

1) Clean. I'm sorry, there is no such thing as a moisturizing cleanser. Cleansers take things off your face, and one that leaves stuff on your face is counterproductive.

2) Tone. Toners equalize the pH of your skin and prep it for the rest of your skin care routine. Make sure it is alcohol free.

3) Serum. This is your topical anti-acne stuff, like ben peroxide or salycytic acid.

4) Moisturize. In the day, use a moisturizing sunscreen or moisturizer with sunscreen. At night you won't need sunscreen.

Since you still get occasional zit, you might also consider a Zeno. My lady in Seattle can sell you one of those too (in fact she's got them on discount right now).
posted by ilsa at 12:09 PM on September 24, 2006