Help me with a new Skin routine - Oily skin, 30+ with wrinkles, age spots etc.

[lulillan]

I am using this right now:

Clinique Liquid facial soap (for oily skin)

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 (oily skin)

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing gel (oily skin)

Cliniqe All about eyes rich

Once a week I use Clinique Deep Cleansing Emergency mask

I do like these products quite well, they are OK. But I do have problems with large pores, age spots, old acne scars and even acne from time to time. My T-zone is very oily but my whole face is quite oily. In wintertime I need more moisture but then I tend to get more acne as well and more shine. Heavier moisturizers also clog my pores and then I get more acne.

I am also a bit over 30 now and I have quite a lot of fine lines and especially around my eyes. My skin is also much drier around the eye-area.

I would like to find something new that is working just as good for me but that also is a bit more anti-aging without being to heavy on my oily skin.

Thanks!

 

[Andi]

According to Paula Begoun´s review, the clarifying lotion you´re using contains alcohol. Now, some say a toner containing alcohol is ok for oily skin, but alcohol is still drying and possibly irritating and may cause free radical damage (just quoting Paula Begoun here). The Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion seems to be a better option.

I see that you´re not using a chemical exfoliant in your current regimen. Adding one would be a great addition to an anti-aging regimen (it can improve your acne marks, sun spots and will stimulate collagen production), and it may help to prevent breakouts. Since you´re oily as well as acne-prone, a BHA (salicylic acid) is recommended (Neutrogena´s Acne stress control 3-in-1 hydrating treatment has 2% salicylic acid and the correct pH, again taken from Paula). I have oily (not acne prone anymore) skin and use an AHA (10% glycolic acid gel from Alpha Hydrox...a US drugstore brand), which is suppobly better for dry skintypes & sun damage, but it works fine for me.

For your moisturizer I would look for something that does more than just moisturize. I´d look for something that contains Retinol, but the product needs to be in an opaque pump container (or a tube) because retinoids degrade when in contact with air or daylight. Retinol is not near as potent as prescription Retin-A (which is awesome, that´s why I to talk about it all the time lol), but it will still have a small effect, which is something that can´t be said for a lot of mysterious extracts that are added to anti-aging products.

Antioxidants are great too, and they need protection from air & daylight as well. For your eyecream you can look for one containing Retinol also (or just use your moisturizer around your eyes, if it doesn´t contain fragrance, which is unncessary anyway)

And the most important thing out of it all: daily sunscreen or moisturizer with sunscreen, SPF 15-30 (depending on how much sunlight you´re exposed to and how long you´re gonna be outside)

If you´re a Clinique fan, you probably could still use their products exclusively (they apparently have some great moisturizers, but you have to look into each product and find out what´s in it - yet again I would recommend Paula Begoun´s reviews..are you sick of it yet? lol), but switch to a few different products. The 3 step system isn´t going to do anything in terms of anti-aging though, it´s pretty basic stuff. Don´t buy into anti-aging cream hypes, but do your research on what products actually contain ingredients that are proven to work (retinoids, AHAs and BHAs, hydroquinone, possibly antioxidants etc)

 

[lulillan]

Thanks a lot for your really long and interesting answer!

I forgot to mention that I do use Clinique 7 day scrub 1-2 times a week as well. This is absolutely a must for me since I wear mineral makeup. My make up also has SPF 15 so I use that every day. Now I also try to keep out of the sun, before I used to lay a lot in the sun which probably has caused a lot of damage on my skin. I got my dark spots during pregnancy and they tend to be a bit more pale in wintertime but then in the summer they get darker again.

I will try the other Clarifying Lotion next time. Perhaps it's more gentle to my skin if the one I use contains alcohol. I have just used it because it's for oily skin. But perhaps it makes my skin even more oily (compensation?).

My acne is more due to hormonal issues and also stress related. It's better now but I do get acne from time to time. I have had a hard time finding products that are for problem skin but at the same time also suitable for a bit more mature skin and not for teens. But as you says, I should probably just look into the products a bit more and see what the ingredients are.

I can for sure change to something else than Clinique, it's just that I have been using it for so long and it's been working for me.

I will look for the Retinol! I think it's time to find something that does more to my skin than just the basic. With age you get other needs..... and I feel that my skin has matured a bit too early. That's probably too late now but perhaps I can do something for the future...

THANKS again!

 

[Andi]

It´s not like you´re 70, so I don´t think it´s too late!

You can get definitely rid of the visible sundamage (depending on how bad it is you can use OTC products or you may have to see a dermatologist), but the damage that´s already there due to sun worshipping will show later.

I´ve read that the overall tone & texture of your skin can visually "age" you (if you have lots of sunspots, uneven skintone) as well as make you look younger (if your complexion is even toned), so it´s not just about wrinkles. Pigmentation issues can be treated with topical treatments (hydroquinone has been around for a long time and it´s proven to work, especially in combination with Retin-A or AHAs which speed up cell turnover), while existing wrinkles don´t respond that well to topicals (Retin-A being one of them, but besides that there isn´t a whole lot that works). So if your major concerns are acne and pigmentation issues, it´s probably not as bad as you think it is for now!

You can always start out with a 2% hydroquinone product from the drugstore, and if you find your sunspots don´t lighten enough you can get a prescription for 4%. And I´d personally use an SPF 30 daily. If your skin isn´t protected enough (which is why your sunspots get darker in the summer), it´ll be a lot harder to get rid of hyperpigmentation permanently. A sunscreen needs to be applied liberally to get the full amount of SPF that´s on the label, and with a foundation with SPF alone you´re probably less likely to apply the recommended amount (cause nobody wants cakey foundation lol)

By the way, you can still use some of the products that are marketed towards teenagers, mainly BHAs. Using a salicylic acid product (like a serum) will clear your pores as well as stimulate collagen production, which is definitely great for "mature skin" as well (I´m sure your skin isn´t mature, and it definitely won´t look that way once you get rid of sunspots etc). And if you can get a prescription for Retin-A, it´ll be great for acne AND work on fine lines.

 

[Dragonfly]

I'm not sure if you are using a bar soap as oppose to a liquid cleanser.

Never use bar soap - the waxes can clog pores and cause breakouts.

If you are getting lines around eyes at 30, you need to always wear sunglasses.

And make sure the spf moisturizer is used around your eyes also.

 

[theniajewels]

hi lulillan i have to very oily skin after all the moisturies i use( and believe me i use a lot, oh and i am 26 with acne problems) the best products that i found is the estee lauder idealist( skin refinisher) its a serum and helps to reduce oil from the face and it works from the first use and help the day cream you apply after absorb better and for the night the advanced night synchronized for the acne scarring and the fine lines this two products help me so much with the oil and the acne

i hope to help, and sorry for my english is not the best i am fromm Greece! 

 

[lulillan]

Originally Posted by Andi /img/forum/go_quote.gif

It´s not like you´re 70, so I don´t think it´s too late!

You can get definitely rid of the visible sundamage (depending on how bad it is you can use OTC products or you may have to see a dermatologist), but the damage that´s already there due to sun worshipping will show later.

I´ve read that the overall tone & texture of your skin can visually "age" you (if you have lots of sunspots, uneven skintone) as well as make you look younger (if your complexion is even toned), so it´s not just about wrinkles. Pigmentation issues can be treated with topical treatments (hydroquinone has been around for a long time and it´s proven to work, especially in combination with Retin-A or AHAs which speed up cell turnover), while existing wrinkles don´t respond that well to topicals (Retin-A being one of them, but besides that there isn´t a whole lot that works). So if your major concerns are acne and pigmentation issues, it´s probably not as bad as you think it is for now!

You can always start out with a 2% hydroquinone product from the drugstore, and if you find your sunspots don´t lighten enough you can get a prescription for 4%. And I´d personally use an SPF 30 daily. If your skin isn´t protected enough (which is why your sunspots get darker in the summer), it´ll be a lot harder to get rid of hyperpigmentation permanently. A sunscreen needs to be applied liberally to get the full amount of SPF that´s on the label, and with a foundation with SPF alone you´re probably less likely to apply the recommended amount (cause nobody wants cakey foundation lol)

By the way, you can still use some of the products that are marketed towards teenagers, mainly BHAs. Using a salicylic acid product (like a serum) will clear your pores as well as stimulate collagen production, which is definitely great for "mature skin" as well (I´m sure your skin isn´t mature, and it definitely won´t look that way once you get rid of sunspots etc). And if you can get a prescription for Retin-A, it´ll be great for acne AND work on fine lines.

No I'm not 70

But I can see that I have more fine lines around my eyes than others my age. I can cover most of my sun damage with make-up so it's not that obvious when I wear makeup. But I have large spots mostly in my forehead and also on my cheeks. I would say that my acne together with my large pores and my very oily skin is perhaps my issues but also that I don't want any more wrinkles/fine lines until I am a bit older. I am only 32 but I look more like 42.

I don't spend that much time in the sun and I live in Sweden so it's not like we have that much sun here...

I mean that the summer is short and I do try to stay away from the sun if I can. The problem I have with most SPF's is that they make my skin even more oily and I just hate it. But since I started with the mineral makeup with SPF my skin is much better.

I will sure look into different products. I will see what I can find over here...

 

[lulillan]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I'm not sure if you are using a bar soap as oppose to a liquid cleanser.

Never use bar soap - the waxes can clog pores and cause breakouts.

If you are getting lines around eyes at 30, you need to always wear sunglasses.

And make sure the spf moisturizer is used around your eyes also.

No I don't use a bar soap, I use the liquid cleanser.

I don't actually spend that much time in the sun but I do wear sunglasses when I do.

 

[lulillan]

Originally Posted by theniajewels /img/forum/go_quote.gif

hi lulillan i have to very oily skin after all the moisturies i use( and believe me i use a lot, oh and i am 26 with acne problems) the best products that i found is the estee lauder idealist( skin refinisher) its a serum and helps to reduce oil from the face and it works from the first use and help the day cream you apply after absorb better and for the night the advanced night synchronized for the acne scarring and the fine lines this two products help me so much with the oil and the acne

i hope to help, and sorry for my english is not the best i am fromm Greece! 

Thanks for your tip! Your english is fine, I am from Sweden so I am not that good either

I used to wear a serum from Clinique called "Advanced stop signs" or something like that. It was for dark spots, first fine lines etc. But I can't really say that I noticed any change with that one. I had the eye cream as well.

 

[lulillan]

Hi everyone,

I have now started using Exuviance and I am not using Clinique at all at the moment.

I have been using it for about 3-4 weeks now and my skin is more balansed, not so oily anymore (I use a heavier moisturizer, but still my skin is under more control). I have got a few breakouts but I guess that is normal when you try new products. I have also been using Exuviance Performance Peel AP25 which is great. My dark spots are slowly not that visible and are more easy to cover now with make up.

I will look for a Neutrogena age shield sunblock for the spring/summer so hopefully my dark spots will keep away. Well, they are not gone at all but they are so much better. I want to keep it that way. And with time perhaps they can be really good.

One thing though since I started with Exuviance I believe that my pores are a bit larger than they used to be. Or maybe they are just more visible now when my skintone is more even? I am not sure...

 

[magosienne]

Thanks for the feedback !