Clean Face For School!! Help.

Aug 19, 2015

Nya C.

School's coming up and it's approaching fast. I'm starting the 11th grade and while I'm excited and prepared I'm also very nervous. I cleaned out my closet and brought all new clothes and shoes for a more mature, fashionista wardrobe. I just thought it was a wrap for the younger teenager look.

There's only one problem, I have really bad skin. It seems like my skin will be clear for a couple weeks and then the next week, acne shows up out of nowhere. The acne is really starting to get annoying and I hate it so much. My mom buys me all types of skin cleansing products but none seem to be working. What can I do?

Aug 19, 2015

Nya C.

I've used products from clean&clear and it says to use daily. But nothing works.

Aug 19, 2015

Shannon S.

Stop switching products. Stick with a good one like Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit collection.

Aug 19, 2015

Nya C.

I've never suggested that, I've just been switching hoping each different one will work. I'll look into that brand, thank you.

Aug 19, 2015

Alexis C.

How long are you using your product (s) for before you change to different ones? Do you change just your face wash or all of your products at once?

Aug 19, 2015

Jessica P.

I just got the Neutrogena pink grapefruit cleanser and used it 3-4 days and it dried my skin out mainly the creases of my nose my upper lip around my mouth and my chin...I agree you have to stop changing products...sometimes the skin will purge at the start of using a new product which is normal...all its doing is drawing out the bad stuff...try sticking with the product for a month and see what happens...are you using any masks or scrubs...these are also good to add to your skin care routine...I use a clay mask once a week as well as a scrub/mask once a week.

Aug 19, 2015

Lisa S.

Honestly I recommend ditching the drugstore cleansers. The only drugstore cleanser that I do use is CeraVe which is an awesome gentle cleanser that I like using in the morning. But I still use other products for acne in the pm. About 3-4 years ago my skin got really bad (mostly because I was very sick and stressed from that) anyways the best thing I did was stopped using stuff like Clean & Clear (I honestly think that stuff made my skin break out more and I've actually heard that they use harsh stuff to make your skin break out more; I don't know if thats true but I agree). The thing that also tremendously improved my skin was getting a Clarisonic. Yes, its expensive but it was worth every penny! You just have to make sure you use it consistently (most people complain it doesn't work and thats because they only use it a few times a week; if you want it to work right you need to use it everyday; and its also safe for everyday use) I just mine only at night after removing my makeup. In the mornings I don't use it and just wash my face with the CeraVe. Also, you have to get the right brush for your skin type or it can be too harsh for you and make you break out from the irritation. I use the delicate. As for cleansers I recommend Boscia, Murad, and Philosophy Clear Days. Avon also has a nice acne cleanser (I'll post a pic of which one) and its not very expensive. Also the other cleansers are more $ than drugstore but they last longer and work better so you get your money's worth in my opinion... Another thing is to always, always, always remove your makeup at night! I cannot stress that enough!! If I don't then my skin will inevitably break out the next day! Starting a consistent skincare routine is the best thing you can do for your skin!

Aug 19, 2015

Lisa S.

Another thing thats nice about the Clarisonic is I only use three skin care products total. I don't use special scrubs/exfoliators because the Clarisonic does it all. I also rarely use spot treatments. All I use is CeraVe, Acne Cleanser (right now I'm using Philosophy Clear Days or Fresh), and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and thats it. Since getting a Clarisonic I have stopped wasting my money on drugstore cleanser and other products because it does everything for me.

Aug 19, 2015

Jamie D.

I agree with Lisa about using the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser daily. I also love my Clarisonic. They are the best things I've done for my skin.

My skin reacts badly to salycylic acid so products like Clean & Clear and the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit facial washes make me break out. The Grapefruit wash actually burned my skin. A lot of people like it though, so you could definitely try it out. But as someone who also used to try all sorts of different cleansers with no results, I feel like it's probably not your best bet. It's easier to switch up spot treatments to treat your specific blemish problems than it is to switch up cleansers. And keeping the same cleanser will help balance out your skin.

I find the best way to keep skin in good and clear condition is to use gentle cleansers. Abrasiveness will cause micro irritations which can cause acne as well as texture. I highly recommend the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, as mentioned above. I use it 2x a day and add my Clarisonic at night. I also use the CeraVe PM Moisturizer 2x a day, and if I have dry patches at night I will layer the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (in a jar) on my dry spots.

As far as spot treatments go, I like the Clean & Clear Persa Gel 10 (benzoyl peroxide) and the Lush Grease Lightning (witch hazel and tea tree oil). But, when you use a spot treatment, make sure you don't over dry your skin. Even if you have oily skin, too much drying action will cause more irritation around the blemish. The Lush one is great at not over-drying because it contains aloe. I like it on large cystic pimples & it typically works on smaller ones too. For break out patches of the small bumps that seem to never go away, I like the Persa Gel 10. However, it's very drying, so I have to be careful when I'm using it. VERY OCCASIONALLY I will add an acne fighting face wash to my routine if my skin is freaking out, but even then it's normally better to keep using gentle products in the face of a breakout. You really have to gauge what your skin can take. When I feel it's necessary I use the Neutrogena Clear Pore Face Wash/Mask (benzoyl peroxide).

All in all, no my skin isn't perfect. I still breakout. But as a teenager, I'm not really sure there's any way around that. And after starting this gentler routine my skin showed a huge improvement. I was using too many products that were just drying out my skin & making it irritated instead of being effective at fighting acne. This routine makes it less likely that I'll break out, and gives me good, reliable treatment options for when I do.

Everyone's skin is different, and if you continue having problems, I would definitely see a dermatologist. But basing your skin routine around a set of gentle products & then adding some spot treatments if necessary should hopefully help you a lot, even if you don't use the exact products I use. For instance, you may not have a sensitivity to salycylic acid so you might want to incorporate that into your routine because it's an ingredient that works wonders for a lot of people. And make sure you give your skin at least a few weeks before giving up on your regimen. I know that waiting is the hardest part, but once you hit that perfect rotation, it all becomes worth it.

Aug 19, 2015

Lara R.

First of all, what's your skin type? Oily, normal, combination, dry??

Aug 19, 2015

Sabrie M.

Okay I had the same problem to you just have to fine what works for your skin Hun I use nip+fab it can be found at your nearest cvs or Walgreens there products work good keeps skin smooth and gets rid of ance it's honestly just your hormones they are all over the place in due time it will naturally ease up remember your beautiful regardless:)

Aug 19, 2015

Shannon S.

It's okay

Aug 19, 2015

Claire D.

I use a cleanser from a company called lather,it's very gentle on skin and you need to be super gentle with acne or else it will just get worse.

I recommend differin as well,it is a spot treatment that just zaps pimples away just like that.But you will need to visit a dermatologist to get it because it is not a drugstore product.As for a spot treatment that is more affordable I suggest diluted tea tree oil as it has antibacterial properties:)

For moisturizer I use the Clinique gel moisturizer,a little goes a long way;about half a pump.

For exfoliating I actually make my own with a little honey and brown sugar.It works better than any other store bought one I have ever tried but you can't scrub super hard or it will really damage your skin. I also drink lots of water to stay hydrated and it really helps your skin,but you don't really need to worry about your diet as for it doesn't really have anything to do with acne.

Good luck : )