Girly thread v. soft hair and pretty faces

[n3ophy7e]

Old one is here

 

[n3ophy7e]

The last few posts in the old one:

^ What is sulfate? This is not something I look out for.

Okay, I need advice peoples. I am getting really fucking sick of my face. I've always had oily\acne prone skin, but on top of that my skin also gets really dry and is sensitive to many ingredients in face washes. Benzo porixide absolutely MURDERS my skin, sacylic acid is a little better but ehhh. Lately I've been getting really dry around my lips and cheeks and its just super frustrating Does anyone know of a good wash for combination skin? I have to use something to treat the acne otherwise I will break out like crazy, but at the same time it sucks having tight itchy skin and it just doesnt look glowy and smooth like I want.

I might just suck it up and go to a dermotologist unless its super expensive.

^Sounds like you should talk to your dermatologist.....
But my suggestion would be don't use soap. Wash your face with just water.......
If you want to use soap I would take Mariposas lead and use a sulfate free soap and lotion......
Burts Bee's products are good, and sulfate free.......
I like them all but love the carrot soap and lotion.....
You could try making your own soaps- the easiest way is buying a melt and pour base from somewhere like www.brambleberry.com (they offer a number of sulfate free options- just read the ingredients list because there are some bases with)
You can choose your base and decide what you feel is right for your skin.
You can then add in essential oils and things like vitamin E or an extra splash of a moisturizing oil if you'd like.......
If you are looking for an exfoliant soap- and choose to make your own, you can use products such as almonds ground up, coffee grinds or a seed , like poppy seeds.....
There are a million and one things you can add to your soap to make it right for you-
Like adding spirulina (blue green algae) is good for acne.....

Sulfates are in everything- that is why I think it is best to make your own or buy organic- but sulfates are supposed to be behind a million and one complaints (it is suggested they cause cancer even!)- They can dry out your skin, and irritate sensitive skin.......Google it.....there is a ton of info online about it!
Let us know what you do and how it works!!

This is a big post- sorry

Hmmmm I have exactly the same problem too hun, so I feel your pain.
I'm currently experimenting with a few different face washes, they're all really gentle (i.e. no scrubs or anything too corrosive). So far my skin is still as shit as before so I'm in the same boat as you, dermatologist might be the next step

I think most dermatologists ARE pretty expensive because they're specialists. But no harm in sussing it out.

 

[kytnism]

dermalogica for me ALL the way.

i never gave a shit for skincare when younger; but as im aging and my pores are enlarging (not to mention a few lines appearing where there were none) i cant go to bed before toning and moisturising. i used to use dior products, although a girlfriend recommended dermalogica to me for mature skin; and i havent looked back since.

in the morning i wash my face, tone, moisturise and use their concealing spot treatment; which works to fix blemishes as well as penetrate acne and other skin deformities, containing treatments which works to heal bad areas AND mask them at the same time. its fantastic.

im not going to lie, its bullshit expensive; but worth every cent and if you dont believe in invasive/cosmetic surgery options; give dermalogica a try. you wont regret it

 

[ThaiDie4]

Ocean- thank you for the advice! I may have to check into that Brambleberry site and see if you can make soap for your face. I pretty much have to use some sort of wash or I will breakout like crazy- water alone doesn't do it for me But perhaps sulfates are whats behind my drying skin?? I need to look out for that for sure.

N3o - I'm sorry to hear you are in the same boat But yeah, I've found too that scrubs generally just irriate it worse, so I'm trying a more gentle wash now (Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash)- it's okay, but im still getting the dryness. I may have to end up going to the dermotologist if this continues bc enough is enough

Xenocat- Glad to hear you found a line that works for you I've been looking for one since I was like 13, lol!! I don't know if dermalogica would work for me or not, I don't have the aging problem since I am only 21. It's worth looking into though! I have the same problems as you with blemishes and large pores I think I am one of those people who is just fucked genetically with skin. I used to get like massive acne when I was teen, it was not cool

 

[kultron]

Don't give up on Benzoyl Peroxide. Many at first who use use too high a percentage in a topical solution. My dermatologist recommended a 5% cream called Spectro Solution. They also make an excellent face wash called SpectroGel. You only need a tiny bit of the B.P., like a pin sized dab is enough for 1 or 2 zits. I can't tell you enough how well and fast it works.

For a moisturizer, I use Body Shop Hemp face protecting lotion. The trick to using it effectively is to wash the face with warm water first then apply, as the lotion will be better absorbed that way. I'm the same age as you and went thru the same stuff you did. However I saw a dermatologist when I was 18 and he gave good advice and gave me some sort of minor meds, they seemed to work well in addition to recommending a regimen of face washing with b.p. and moisturizer. He suggested Accutane if that didn't work, but accutane is an intense med and I don't recommend it. I've heard Neutrogena isn't the best brand for face cleansers unfortunately. I'd recommend getting a cleanser designed for sensitive problem prone skin or whatever it is called.

 

[n3ophy7e]

^^ Great advice kultron, thank you

Re: Accutane/Roaccutane
I had terrible acne from the age of about 14, all over my body (face, neck, arms, back, etc). Mum took me to a dermatologist and I was put on a course of Roaccutane for 6 months. It worked well while I was on it but my acne came back pretty soon after finishing the course. So I was put on another full 6 month course of it.
Afterwards my skin was PERFECT. No pimples, not oily, not dry, not sensitive, just NORMAL.

Fast forward to 9 years later and my acne has pretty much returned again (obviously not nearly as bad, but it's back)

I suppose it's time to see the dermatologist again! 8) :D

BUT, to back up what kultron said, Ro/Accutane is a really potent drug, and really should be the absolute last resort. It apparently wreaks havoc on your liver too, and that is never a good thing!

 

[mariacallas]

This has worked for me very well (especially during my oilier / pimply teenage years) I put a capsule of clindamycin (Dalacin-C back here..300 mg capsule opened up and poured ) into a bottle of my favorite oil control astringent. My skin cleared up pronto and I've been using it ever since (not everyday though....only for those times when I catch a zit...) ..Im not sure clindamycin is OTC in the States though!

 

[queenbee1127]

ThaiDie, have you considered birth control? I hated my skin for years and years, tried everything I could think of to stop breaking out and nothing worked until I got on birth control. I've been on it for almost 2 years now, and my skin has never been better, I only have minor breakouts right before I get my period.

 

[ThaiDie4]

N3o, I almost went on Accutane when I was younger too, because I'd heard many success stories like yours. In the end, I couldn't handle getting my blood taken each month so I decided not to. Needles = scary

Thanks for the advice, MC and Queenbee :D I don't know if cladymicin is OTC or not, I've never heard of it before. As for birth control, I've definently considered that! I worry about gaining weight though... does BC really make you fat, or is this a myth??

I've got a lot of suggestions here, and out of all of them, something is bound to work!!!! I thank you all for taking the time to give me your advice

 

[queenbee1127]

I also heard a lot of people say birth control makes you gain weight, so I was weary to try it initially, but in the end, I'm so glad I did! I haven't noticed a MAJOR difference in my weight, and the few pounds I may have gained due to BC were definitely worth the flawless skin (IMO).

The thing about birth control is that there are so many different kinds with different hormone combinations, that if you try one and you don't like it, there's dozens of others you can try.

Good luck!

 

[CHiLD-0F-THE-BEAT]

There are now a lot of birth control pills on the market that have zero effect on your weight. I'm on one of them.

 

[ThaiDie4]

Yay! This is encouraging to hear. ^ COTB, do you mind sharing the name of what you take so that maybe I could ask my doctor about it??

 

[CHiLD-0F-THE-BEAT]

My pill is Microgynon 20 ED. I don't know if it has the same name in the US, but that's what it's called here. I've never had an issue.

Also, I found this information from a health website:

Myth - The Pill makes you fat

Not necessarily. When the Pill was first introduced it contained much higher levels of hormones than what is available in the formulations today (100-175 micrograms of oestrogen compared to 20-50 micrograms today). While weight gain was associated with these older high dose pills, the Pill formulations used today do not always result in weight gain. It is estimated that in the first year of use:

* 20-25% of women gain more than 2kg
* 60% of women experience no change or have a weight change within 2kg (both up and down)
* 15-20% of women actually lose more than 2kg weight (6).

The progestogen in the Pill can increase appetite which may result in weight gain. Some women may also experience water retention but this can often be reduced by switching to a lower dose pill. Some brands of the Pill are said to be more effective at reducing the symptoms of water retention.

 

[ThaiDie4]

Thank you!! This is great to know. I appriciate you looking up that info :D

 

[queenbee1127]

Other positive side effects of the pill are obviously, no babies, but clear skin and bigger boobs!! It really is a miracle drug.

 

[ThaiDie4]

WHAT???

Bigger boobs?!

This is amazing

 

[n3ophy7e]

Sorry to burst the Pill bubble guys, but I have had horrific experiences with all different types of contraceptive pills. Hormonal contraceptives cause me to develop pre-menstrual dysphoric disroder, and I have tried several different combination pills, progesterone-only pills, and the Nuvaring, all leading to the same result.

That is definitely not to say that will happen to anyone else, but just wanted to share a different side of the story!

 

[chrissie]

The pill freaks me out. I'm also not fond of the dreaded baby disease () but I think I'll take my chances.

 

[poopie]

yes, my boyfriend and i have a mutual desire for a barren sterile existence, which keeps up from becoming KID+.

ugh, i'm been on 6 different pills and the depo-provera shot. i've been using just condoms (not to mention the pull-out-and-pray method) for about 5 years. i still get gnarly mood swings, but i least i know how severe they will be and how to cope with them (as opposed to the chaos that i, personally, experienced on the pill). plus, i'll take my pms zit or two. makes me feel youthful! gotta love wrinkles and a big red pimple first thing in the morning!

not to keep talking about it, but i bought about $65 worth of shit-i-don't-need from aromaleigh.com tonight. they have the most amazing brush collections! a taklon set (with a high quality kabuki brush for mineral makeup) and a fiber optic or "skunk" set. i think i'll take some pics of how vivid and fun the colors really are on my next day off.

 

[n3ophy7e]

i've been using just condoms (not to mention the pull-out-and-pray method) for about 5 years. i still get gnarly mood swings, but i least i know how severe they will be and how to cope with them (as opposed to the chaos that i, personally, experienced on the pill).

Yep, we've been using the pull-out method + spermicide for years, so far so good! And we're at the stage that if I do get pregnant we totally don't mind In fact we're planning to aim for that very result within the next year or so!

i think i'll take some pics of how vivid and fun the colors really are on my next day off.

I'm intrigued! I'd love to see some pics