Skin care help needed please!

[PugMom4Now]

I really need help with my face routine. My skin hasn't looked all that great for the past year. I don't have bad acne, but typically have a HUGE zit or two hanging around at all times. My skin always looks splotchy though and I'd like to have clear skin with an easy routine.

I was previously washing with a cleanser that was an acne fighter, and it didn't do anything to make my skin look better. I decided to try the OCM, and while that really made my complexion look great, it made me break out much more. I did that for about 3 weeks when the breakouts were getting too bad. I was using EVOO and CO.

Then someone gave me the link to the acne.org site where they have a skincare regime on there where you use a ton of benzoyle peroxide, so I decided to try that. I've been doing that for about 2 weeks and my complexion isn't very splotchy, but it is so dry it's making my nuts. And I put a lot of moisturizer on it. I hate this feeling and I hate using so much products that aren't natural.

I'd just like advice on what to use. I'm open to trying something new for at least 3 weeks to be sure that it is or is not working, but nothing seems to work to give me the clear, smooth complexion that I want. I don't wear makeup either, so it's very noticeable.

Sorry for the long post, but my face feels horrible today and I just don't know where to go from here.

[angelove]

I wish I could give you some advice but unfortunatly I'm in the same situation as you. I wish OCM had worked for me but it wasn't the case. I'm so desesperate with my skin now, I look like a teenager

I will be watching this tread closely

[zonapellucida]

Two suggestions : Tea tree oil and vitamin e. I use both on my breakouts wiht great success. Us the tea tree first and then squeeze a capsule on for overnight.

[Moukii]

My favorite topic...

Sorry I love this stuff...

For oily/congested skin, it's very important not to use harsh astringent cleansers that strip your natural oil. When you strip the oil, then your skin thinks it needs to produce more oil, and the vicous cycle begins. (Maybe I should get my own column)

So...you need to surface cleanse with something that doesn't strip your 'pH mantle' of your skin. Then deep cleanse the junk (oil build up) from the pores. Then use a healing toner (this shouldn't be a cleansing step) to hydrate your skin cells. Some toners help to bring your skin back into balance. Then use an ultra light moisturizer or oil (I'll explain) to protect your skin from the outside environment. When your skin comes in contact with pollution, it produces more oil to fight it. Moisturizers give protection. I mentioned putting an oil on oily skin because the right oil can have a homoepathic action on the skin. The (healing) oil on the skin, tells the skin, 'okay there's enough oil now, stop producing as much' and it brings it back into balance over time. The oils I'm thinking of actually absorbs into the skin and don't look oily or greasy after putting them on.

Then, to really help the skin A) Don't use a moisturizer at night. At night the skin breathes and goes through it's healing process, so you don't want to sufficate your pores. And B) Try doing a herbal steam bath and a clay mask to pulls junk from the pores.

I only use and recommend organic products so I'd recommend Jurlique and Dr.Hauschka. Both are an initial investment but last forever because you only need a tiny amount unless other products.

All items can be found here:

http://www.saffronrouge.com/s.nl/c.A...ategory.964/.f

For Oily Skin:

Daily
Jurlique Foaming Face Wash with Tea tree & Lavender (surface cleanser)
Jurlique Face Wash Cream (deep cleanser & exfoliant)
Jurlique Day Care Conditioner (toner, balances skin)
Herbal Recovery Gel or Day Care Face Oil or Day Care Face Lotion
Options:
Night time :: Herbal Recovery Mist OP
Mask: Moor Purifying Mask

Or for Dr.Hauschka
Cleansing Cream (deep cleansing, exfoliant)
Clarifying Toner (balances)
Normalizing Day Oil (or Moisturizing Day Cream)
Options:
Facial Steam Bath
Cleansing Clay Mask

Also really watch your diet and what makes your skin flare up? Is it at a certain time of the month? Greasy food... And drink tons of water to flush your system out.

Hope this helps. Just ask if you have questions.

[girlndocs]

Have you tried using baking soda & water? Mix it to a paste in your palm, then wash your face with it. No vigorous massaging! You don't want to irritate your skin at all.

You might want to tone after that with a very, very, very dilute acv/water solution to help your skin maintain its acidity.

ETA: Milk of magnesia is truly amazing as a mask for pimply skin, and it's very gentle.

[pioneermama]

Baking soda and olive oil. A sprinkle of baking soda and rub in the olive oil well and then use a warm wet washcloth to gently wipe off the oil (about 6-7 times) then a splash with colder water at the end to get any grit remaining.

I've used everything and this is cheap and easy and everyone tells me that my skin looks great. I don't break out. Oh and from what i understand olive oil picks up dirt from the skin but the molecules are too large to actually be absorbed into the skin pores when cleaning in this manner. Who knew?

[mraven721]

Great post, Thank you!

Originally Posted by Moukii

Sorry I love this stuff...

For oily/congested skin, it's very important not to use harsh astringent cleansers that strip your natural oil. When you strip the oil, then your skin thinks it needs to produce more oil, and the vicous cycle begins. (Maybe I should get my own column)

So...you need to surface cleanse with something that doesn't strip your 'pH mantle' of your skin. Then deep cleanse the junk (oil build up) from the pores. Then use a healing toner (this shouldn't be a cleansing step) to hydrate your skin cells. Some toners help to bring your skin back into balance. Then use an ultra light moisturizer or oil (I'll explain) to protect your skin from the outside environment. When your skin comes in contact with pollution, it produces more oil to fight it. Moisturizers give protection. I mentioned putting an oil on oily skin because the right oil can have a homoepathic action on the skin. The (healing) oil on the skin, tells the skin, 'okay there's enough oil now, stop producing as much' and it brings it back into balance over time. The oils I'm thinking of actually absorbs into the skin and don't look oily or greasy after putting them on.

Then, to really help the skin A) Don't use a moisturizer at night. At night the skin breathes and goes through it's healing process, so you don't want to sufficate your pores. And B) Try doing a herbal steam bath and a clay mask to pulls junk from the pores.

I only use and recommend organic products so I'd recommend Jurlique and Dr.Hauschka. Both are an initial investment but last forever because you only need a tiny amount unless other products.

All items can be found here:

http://www.saffronrouge.com/s.nl/c.A...ategory.964/.f

For Oily Skin:

Daily
Jurlique Foaming Face Wash with Tea tree & Lavender (surface cleanser)
Jurlique Face Wash Cream (deep cleanser & exfoliant)
Jurlique Day Care Conditioner (toner, balances skin)
Herbal Recovery Gel or Day Care Face Oil or Day Care Face Lotion
Options:
Night time :: Herbal Recovery Mist OP
Mask: Moor Purifying Mask

Or for Dr.Hauschka
Cleansing Cream (deep cleansing, exfoliant)
Clarifying Toner (balances)
Normalizing Day Oil (or Moisturizing Day Cream)
Options:
Facial Steam Bath
Cleansing Clay Mask

Also really watch your diet and what makes your skin flare up? Is it at a certain time of the month? Greasy food... And drink tons of water to flush your system out.

Hope this helps. Just ask if you have questions.

[PugMom4Now]

Thank you all for the advice. I'm so annoyed at myself for trying this benzoyle peroxide method and making my complexion feel so horrible. It looks like I have splotchy sunburn. I'm sure I used too much and I have pale sensitive skin so it's probably too harsh for me. And I try to use natural products and then I go buy this.

Right now I need to get some moisture back into my skin. I used some Burt's Bees apricot oil this morning and steamed then wiped that off. Then I put some moisturizer on and it still feels like sandpaper. Does anyone have a recommendation for a way to deep moisturize my skin? I need this tight feeling gone before I can focus on where to go next.

I really appreciate all of the advice.

[Moukii]

Pure Oils...

Exfoliate then moisturize. No point on moisturizing dead skin cells. But don't scrub, this can tear the skin tissue. Do a press and release motion, rolling the finger tips from one side to the other (make sense?). This also activates the skin's lymphatic system, gets circulation going and deeply cleanses the pores.

Then for something basic, try using a LITTLE bit of pure base oil such as Apricot, Rosehip (best), Evening Primrose (may be slightly sticky if you use too much) or Camelia Oil (Green/White tea). Massage it in in little circular motion and leave that as your moisturizer.

Don't moisturizer at night, same reason as I said above "At night the skin breathes and goes through it's healing process, so you don't want to sufficate your pores.".

For extra moisture, I personally love Jurlique's Herbal Recovery Gel which I use UNDER my face oil.

Base oils deeply moisturize, they are similar in consistency to the natural sebum of the skin, and they go in and surround dirt and pull it out. I love oils.

Also on a side note, toning hydrates the skin cells, moisturizing moisturizes and gives protection against outside junk. Both are important.

[Moukii]

P.s.

Baking Soda will change your skins pH balance.

[angelove]

Moukii,

I really love all the great advice you gave to PugMom4Now, you really seem to know I lot on the subject !! I would like to try the products you mentionned but can not afford them. Do you have a similar face routine with simple natural ingredients that I can mix at home if necessary ?

Thanks for your help,

[mamadodson]

I use marykay, and love it, if you want to know my routine...pm me...

[Moukii]

Hmmm...

Hmmm...for oily skin I need to think about the cleanser a bit. As you can tell I'm a skincare nut. I don't actually wear make up but I take amazing care of my skin...and I experiment a lot.

For a toner, try green tea in a mist bottle. It doesn't smell nice and won't keep more than a few days. But green tea is amazing for the skin. I play around with floral waters which is very similar to the green tea mist really. Recently I've tried Sandalwood water with Rose water, before that Orange Blossom with Rose. It can get fun. (ok maybe only for a beauty nut.)

Then try oils instead of moisturizers as I mentioned. An organic bottle of oil is less than a good organic moisturizer and lasts way longer. You only need a tiny amount for your entire face and neck. Rose Hip, Apricot, Camelia (white/green tea), Evening Primrose...there's a chart here that tells you which oils for what skin type. There are lots of oils, some that you may have in your kitchen.

http://www.saffronrouge.com/s.nl/c.A.../it.I/id.35/.f

When you get comfortable, start playing with face care oil such as Rose, Neroli, Rose geranium, Frankincense, Rosewood, Palmarosa, Ylang ylang, tea tree, even simple Lavender. Right now I've made a blend with Macadamia Nut Oil, Rose Hip Oil and Almond Oil mixed with Rose, Jasmine (my favorite), Melissa and Frankincense. Most people freak out at putting oil on your skin but trust me if you put the right amount on, your skin won't be oily and it'll be soft as a baby's bum.

I'll need to think about cleansers more. I've never made one personally.

[Moukii]

Home made cleansers...

Ok, here's my efforts on an exfoliating cleanser. Note, not make up remover.

Ground up Almonds
Tahini
Water
Evening Primrose Oil (or some other face oil)
Add some of the face essential oils I mentioned above if you have them.
Mix everything into a paste.
Press and release into skin with a rolling motion.

You could try Green Tea instead of water.

Play around with the consistency. It should be like runny breakfast oatmeal.

[Lucky Charm]

Moukii....i found this thread by accident. Like the OP, i have problems with my fair sensitive skin, that is dehydrated, yet can be greasy.

So the day oil from Dr. H wont clog my pores? Does it absorb....i do wear makeup, mostly a tinted something or other, so you can see my freckles.

I want that Jurlique cleanser, but its so expensive!

Maybe i should go the Whole foods and see if they have a cleanser thats similar, but not as expensive.

and for the record, i have been using ProActive (from the cheesey infomercial) for about 4 years. It does do the job, but i would just love for my skin to be soft

[klondikesky]

Being a mama isn't so good to my skin, either. For me, simple seems to be just right...

Water-- drink lots and lots....
Relax & Reduce Stress-- breathe, roll your shoulders, put a drop of lavender oil on your pillow, then...
Sleep
(not always easy)

This is the first thing I try when the breakouts begin... I also stick with a basic routine. Gentle cleanser morning and night, day cream and night cream (Burt's Bees carrot nutritive is wonderful and affordable) and a gentle herbal blemish treatment (also Burt's Bees) to get the spots (and ferocious zits).

Be at peace. Still your soul. Listen and smile.

Your skin will follow your lead.

[tinybutterfly]

I found this in a Dear Abby article years ago and it worked really well for me. I have my son doing it now. For 30 days, once each day, you use only the egg yolk as a mask. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then wash it off with a mild soap. After the 30 days, you use the egg yolk mask once every two weeks for 3 months. Later if you break out again, do the once every two weeks routine again OR start over with the 30 day regimine depending on what you think you need. The egg yolk has lots of vitamen A in it, which is what is in retin A, but using the egg yolk itself is much milder.( Don't use this if you are allergic to eggs.) After you seperate the yolk from the white, you can just cook the egg white if you eat eggs. The yolk will keep in the fridge for 3 days, then break a new egg. I have oily skin, saw several dermatologists over the years and this is what worked best for me! Now I only wash my face at night with sappho almond soap or Noxema(to remove powder and blush.) In the mornings I only use water to wash my face.