40, fine lines, brown spots, acne...help!

[Venice Mamacita]

Hi everyone ~ I'm desperate to find a skin care line that addresses all these issues . . . I've tried a million products and none have worked consistently or for an extended period of time. I'm almost 41, have clogged pores and hormonal acne in the t-zone and chin but fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes . . . on top of all that, I have some brown spots from too much sun in my teens & 20s (tan accelerator anyone?). I'd love something non-toxic to me and the environment that doesn't cost $300 . . . any ideas? At the very least, does anyone have an outstanding eye cream or spot-fading serum? Many thanks in advance!

[sunnysandiegan]

I recommend working from the inside out. Take a look at your food/water intake. Improving the quality and health of these will have a bigger impact on your skin than "treating" the outside. Remember, skin is an organ and reflects the state of what is going on inside our bodies...

[chattyprincess]

For sure start drinking more water if you don't already, also I take an evening primrose oil supplment I find that as well as a good omega 3 supplement does wonders.
Have you tried Desert Essence Throughly Clean Face Wash?It is amazing, I also use thier face lotion as a base and add two drops of Rosehip seed oil, and a drop of vitamin E oil at night, and just the wash and lotion in the am.

I too have clogged pores (nose!chin!) and occasional zits. I use a scrub every 3/days or so that is 1/4 cup of oats and 3tbsps sea salt put through the coffee bean grinder. I then put a tblsp or so in my palm and mix with water and scrub away (also a great body scrub!) exfoliating is so essential in keeping pores unclogged and your face nice and mostiurized.
Once a week after I do that I do an asprin face mask 2 asprin dissovled in a teeny tiny bit of water and then spread over my face and left for 5 min. If you have an asprin allergy do not use(or are under the age of 12 as asprin is NOT reccomened for use on childern or while pregnant!). Also it can be drying so do not leave on any longer! (on asprin face mask night I do not face wash after wards I just apply lotion/oils after mask and im good!)
About 3 days after my asprin mask I boil a pot of water pour it into a bowl and set in it on the table and hold my face over it and throw a towel over my head and let my face "steam" for about 5/10min sometimes adding essential oils to the water. I pat my face dry and mix up a bit of clay and water, apply to face and let set till tight and dry. it draws all the impurities out and tightens the face!!
Really and truly since starting to do this my zits only happen one or two every so often, usually where my sunglasses touch. I also notice my skin is more "elastic" like and that at the end of the day im not an oil slick. I started doing this about 2 months ago and started using the Rosehip Seed Oil 1 month ago. Since starting with the oil I notice a major difference in my pore size (SO SMALL!!!)
I think I might buy some of the Desert Essence Jojoba Oil and start using that mixed with the vitamin e and rosehip so that I am using less different "types" of stuff on my skin. With the lotion/oil combo I always rub it on my face and then in tiny circles all around (careful not to pull!) I rub it in really well. I find it increases the circulation and absorbtion of the oils. You can just go to bed but if you are still awake 30 min later and there is any leftover oil I usually leave it there or you can dab it off with a kleenex/towel.
The most expensive product is the rosehip seed oil, you can find it cheaper but I love love love the kosmea brand and philosophy.


http://www.vitacost.com/Desert-Essence-Face-Wash
http://www.vitacost.com/Desert-Essen...al-Moisturizer
http://www.vitacost.com/Aztec-Secret...n-Healing-Clay
http://www.kosmea.com.au/aspx/what_is_rose_hip_oil.aspx

Sorry so long but I hope this helps, 2 months ago I was so so very desperate to get my face into order I was sure I would be the only 80 year old with acne!!! This routine is not even 1/4 the price I used to pay and works 100% better!
~Kate

[chattyprincess]

I forgot to ask are you wearing any makeup currently? If so what kind?
thanks!
~Katie

[artemis33]

I completely sympathize because I am pushing 40 (39 in a few months) and have similar issues with my skin. It is so hard to take because up until just a few years ago I always had really nice skin and looked much younger than my years. Not anymore! Once I had DD, lots of dark patches appeared on my skin (possibly melasma, or just sun damage - not sure) and it has aged me terribly

Anyway, I have recently attempted to start attacking the problem. I had purchased a tube of cream with hydroquinine to treat the melasma a few months ago, but I only used it once because it was so toxic smelling.

I recently bought an herbal oil alternative and it sounds promising but it is too early to tell if it works. This is it:
http://www.isabellacatalog.com/prod....1302/inv/12406

I also switched to the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) which I have found really suits my skin. I use about 15% Castor Oil and 85% Organic Sunflower oil, since I keep that on hand for cooking anyway. It is nice and light and I add a few drops of EO's to give it a nice scent (I use lavender and orange). I like that I can use a couple drops as moisturizer as well, though I still use additional products for that. I like that it is so simple to use, to make, and it leaves my skin so soft. Plus it removes makeup, so I don't need more than one thing! (I had tried cleansing with honey before that, but it doesn't remove makep....I only wear a little, but I don't want to have to clean my face twice!)

Another line I like is some of the products from MyChelle. REally nice natural stuff. They have a whole line of apple 'skin brightening' products. I have tried most of them, and the one I can say for sure gives results is the Apple Brightening Peel. Other favorites are the Fruit Enzyme Scrub (for exfoliating daily), the Incredible Pumpkin Peel (an alternative to the apple one - both give good results), the Pumpkin Renew Cream and the Nighttime Revitalizing Cream. There are other things that sound nice that I haven't tried yet.

http://www.mychelle.com/allproducts.aspx

I really like Aubrey Organics Luminessence line too - I had tried the eye and night cream before I tried the Mychelle stuff. Both are nice.

Anyway, if you find something fantastic I'd love to hear about it! I plan to experiment with some homemade exfoliants once things settle down here - I have read that a sugar and oil scrub works well.

Sorry for the book, but this is on my mind A LOT lately!