Need some advice for my face

[h0neyandthem0on]

Hey guys,

I tend to get the most pimples on my chin.. mostly around that time of the month for me. But my skin has not been clear in that area in a long time. Because of that reason, I tend to not wear foundation there as I don't want to clog or worsen up that area even more. When the pimples go away (and my chin area is reddish), I sometimes wear a little foundation (Neutrogena skin clearing foundation), but sometimes I still don't. For the rest of my face I use Maybelline Fit Me foundation. But I never even wore it all over my face, I would just apply it in the redder areas along with concealer. And I would just apply it with my finger, and use a powder brush to set it. I realize now that that foundation is probably not the best for my face because it tends to get oily throughout the day and that I probably would need a more matte foundation because this Maybelline one tends to look a little dewy...

But anyways, I need a little advice. How do you girls apply foundation when you currently have pimples? Do you still put foundation over the pimples or just avoid that area? Or not wear make up at all? Of course in the morning and night, I wash my face with face wash and use an astringent but for me, it doesn't automatically make my pimples go away and it frustrates me at times because the pimples on my chin can get so big. Currently I have 2 noticeably big pimples on my chin that have FINALLY started to heal..after about a month /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> Even though they are healing (as in, they aren't as red), I can still see the marks, so I would probably need something to make the blemishes go away. I don't do the whole popping them thing because I don't know how to and I don't want to make it worse.

For more information about my face:

I wash my face twice a day with this cleanser:  http://www.target.com/p/clean-clear-deep-action-cream-cleanser-6-5-oz/-/A-11537198#prodSlot=medium_1_59

And after I wash my face, I apply this astringent: http://www.target.com/p/clean-clear-deep-cleaning-astringent-oil-fighting-8-oz/-/A-12921228#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=clean%20&%20clear%20deep%20cleaning%20astringent%20for%20oily%20sk

My cleanser is running out so I bought this product by St. Ives to replace it. I used it a few years ago and I remember liking it as well: http://www.target.com/p/st-ives-blemish-blackhead-control-apricot-scrub-6-oz/-/A-11129467#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=st%20ives%20exfoiiant

But yeah.. I'd like to know your guys skin care and make up routine. Especially those who tend to get oily skin like me. If you can please shed some light on me or if I'm doing anything wrong it would be greatly appreciated! I know my breakouts are mostly due to that time of the month but I'd like it a lot of if I can finally learn how to reduce or prevent the breakouts and not make it appear so obvious when I go out in public because my parents are always making comments about it and I hate it. I also read that getting pimples around the chin area is caused by stress and lack of sleep. I do admit that I don't get a lot of sleep sometimes but my body doesn't allow me to sleep all that long anymore. Mostly I am fine with just 5-6 hours of sleep and I do wake up easily to noise and all that. Also I can be stressed at times due to work but I am currently on vacation /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Anyway, if anyone has any tips or advice on products to use, please let me know! And thank you if you've read my entire post up to now. You are amazing.

 

[Dalylah]

As someone with oily/sensitive skin I found that I used to try and combat the oil not realizing I had over cleansed myself so to speak. Sometimes if you cleanse with a cleanser that is too strong, too abrasive or too often your skin responds by making even more oil and sebum. When I started using more gentle cleansers, made sure to moisturize afterward and found gentler exfoliants my face calmed down a lot.

I use Cetaphil Gentle Face Cleanser on a daily basis and then Shea Terra's Rose Hips Black Soap Face Wash once or twice a week. The Shea Terra is a strong soap but helps clean out blackheads without using a scrubby exfoliant. You can use it as a mask as well.

They key to getting a nice clean face without "exciting" the oil glands is getting your pores open gently. You can get your pores open via products or via good old fashioned warm/hot water. For a daily use, steaming your face in the shower or over a sink full of hot water works wonders. It allows all of the junk out without pulling. Some exfoliants force your pores open by tearing them. All of the St Ives Apricot Scrubs I have come across the grainy exfoliant particles are way too large, jagged and tear at your skin. I also found that when I used them personally my face felt great at first but then it broke out just as much or even more. If you want to exfoliate use something more gentle like Dermalogica or even adding a teaspoon of granulated sugar to your regular cleanser (this works surprisingly well).

Once you are done cleaning, let your face rest for a few minutes and then moisturize every time. This is counter-intuitive for people with oily skin but it is a must. In summer I use oil free products and in winter I go back to regular. If you completely strip your face of its oils you need to replace them because otherwise your face will respond with more oil. I didn't use to moisturize because my face was so oily. Now that I do, it isn't nearly as oily because my skin isn't getting stripped. Some moisturizers I love are Cetaphil, Eucerin and Burt's Bees.

As far as makeup goes, I use Revlon Photoready for my foundation. I do use a concealer if I have breakouts.

You speak about lack of sleep and stress which are huge triggers for breakouts. So are poor diet, medical problems, and allergies. Keep your hands off your face too as much as possible. The more your fingers pick at it or even run them over it the more likely you are introducing more dirt and possibly bacteria to add to the problem.

Anyway, sorry I'm so long winded. Hope this helps.

 

[h0neyandthem0on]

Thanks for your reply! It was a great read. I think I'm getting more sleep right now (since I'm on vacation /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />) but I will try to get more once I have to go back to work. I also have a gym membership right now, trying to get into more shape. I currently do not use any moisturizers but will try to find a good one soon. I do have a moisturizer right now but I never use it because it just feels like thick and smells like sun block which I do not like. The bottle says it's oil-free but when I apply it, it just feels greasy. It's by Neutrogena.. I don't use it often at all and most of the time I just forget about it... but I did apply a tiny bit to my cheeks last night and it reminded me of how much I don't like or use it. I think I may just toss it out and buy a new one from Sephora. With St. Ives, I'll try to just use that scrub maybe twice a week so I don't hurt my face using it twice a day like my other face wash. I'm gonna go shopping for more products for my face. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Annelle]

Chin breakouts are typically hormonal related, which makes sense if it happens during your time of the month.  I find that it doesn't really matter what products I'm using, if my hormones dictate that I'm going to break out, then I break out.

A few things I'll use are acne related items -- such as a concealer with salicylic acid in it, so it conceals the acne while also medicating it throughout the day.  I also use a water peeling exfoliator.  There are a few of the asian brands like Graceland's Collagen Peeling Gel or Toyo Cure Aqua Jel.  (It's like a water based gel that you rub into your skin and your dead skin clumps into balls so you can just rinse it off.  There's no abrasiveness, and the chemical only affects the dead skin so it's very gentle.)

The last thing I use all the time is Mario Badescu's drying lotion.  It's half salicylic and half calamine.  You dip a q-tip into the bottle (it's separated into 2 parts, you don't shake it together, the q-tip goes through the clear top liquid and dips into the pink opaque at the bottom), then dab the combination onto your acne, then go to bed.  This stuff works about 80% of the time for me, and when it works, the size is down by about 60-70% come morning. (I've noticed a few times the acne is resistant and it'll take 2-3 days before I get strong results, but most of the time I see a huge change in the morning.)

as far as moisturizers go, remember that oily skin does not mean that you have moisturized skin.  Dry skin ages faster!  Your skin needs retain water to be moisturized, and oil won't moisturize it.  If your current moisturizer makes you feel greasy, then your skin isn't absorbing it well. Try out a different brand, I personally like the Olay brand, but different brands work better for different skin types. (my skin is dry and not very oily)

 

[MakeupMyLife]

Ive been struggling with oily skin and bad acne for about 5 years now. I completely agree with what Dalylah said. Mosturizing is so crutial in a skin routine and to prevent excessive oil production. I really recommend trying Cetaphil. I never moisturized up until about a year and a half ago and man did it make the biggest difference! Moisturizing before bed after washing your face is most important because when youre asleep thats when your skin is most active and is shedding layers of dead skin and repairing itself so making sure your skin is 100% free of makeup and moisturized is VERY important. Which brings me to the next topic, its fine to apply concealer/foundation ontop of breakouts. Applying cover up on breakouts for the day wont really do damage UNLESS the breakout is open or oozing(obviously) if the breakout is open, apply some aloe vera gel or some witch hazel, allow to dry then dab on some concealer. The only time that wearing makeup will effect your breakouts is when its left on your face overnight. The makeup or its residue will clog your pores while your skin is trying to shed the top layer of skin to bring up the new layer causing major irratation and aggrivated oil glands. After moisturizing, my skin has improved alot. I doesnt get nearly as oily as it used to and I breakout less. Unfortunately both parents have acne so do to genetics, Ill have acne the rest of my life but its improved alot. Well thats my advice to you! I wish you the best and hang in there girl!

 

[h0neyandthem0on]

Annelle - what kind of salicylic acid conceal do you use? I currently use Bobbi Brown's creamy concealer kit under my eyes..but would be willing to get a separate concealer to use for my blemishes and pimples on my chin.

I think I'm gonna look into buying the Mario Badescu's drying lotion. It sparked my interest

And also the Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial from Sephora

What good facial moisturizers are out there? I think I may either try Olay or something from Sephora. I think I tried Cetaphil for my face before but I wasn't sure I liked it so much. I may try it again though. I think at this point, I might throw out the Neutrogena moisturizer I have.

 

[abbyr]

I've been dealing with almost the exact same issue for a while now.. and I've used a ton of different products. I was seeing a dermatologist, but I found that the products I was subscribed were no more effective than ones I could buy on my own. Plus I didn't need to spend hours waiting to see my dermatologist! I've found that natural based products are more effective for my skin as well - even though I have oily skin, if I use chemical-heavy formulas, I found that my skin dried out.

I've gotten into a nice routine now, and with the exception for that time of the month, I'm decently happy with the products I'm using. Below is what I have used before and liked:

Morning:

1. Yes to Clear Skin (great line - the one with the tomato on it) facial cleanser

2. Bona Clara toner (no alcohol - just balances the pH of my skin)

3. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer

4. Neutragena Shine Control makeup (all over my face, including blemishes)

5. Urban Decay 'De-Slick' Makeup setting spray (AMAZING product that helps my sin throughout the day!)

When I get home for work:

1. Wipe off all my makeup with a Philosophy Purity wipe

2. Gentle cleanse with Bona Clara facial cleanser - easy enough on my skin for a 'wash the day off and let my skin breather' cleanse

At night:

1. Yes to Clear Skin cleanser

2. Bona Clara toner

3. Bona Clara Serum

4. Alba Acnedote Spot Treatment (you can get it at Target)

5. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer

I don't use all of the products in that manner every day - depends on the time of the month, but I have found that the above work well together because they are all naturally based and gentle and effective on my skin. I recommend ALL OF THEM, and you can get them either at Target or Sephora or at http://bonaclara.com/

Let me know how it works out! I'm always willing to try a new product if other people find success with it!