splotchy/ uneven skin tone

[swell_mel]

Sorry I've been posting a lot lately, I'm just really desperate to get my skin in shape. My skin lately has been very splotchy and my skin tone is uneven. It's mostly splotchy redness around my nose and a bit on my cheeks, my chin a little and my forehead. I used to have freckles but now they just look like faded brownish spots. I'd love nothing more than to be able to go without makeup but I'm very self conscious. I saw a picture of me from about 5 years ago and my skin was *flawless*. It's really getting me down. Right now I am washing with honey every night, every 2 days or so I do a baking soda scrub/mask, I use ACV as a toner and about once a week I do a yogurt/honey mask. I did a green clay mask tonight for the first time and that was fun. lol I'm wondering if it's my diet. I've started eating healthier but are there foods/ingredients that are *known* for causing skin issues like mine? Would drinking lots more water help? TIA for any help!! Tonight is just one of those nights you know. :

[bygones75]

Are you nursing? Maybe it's melasma (which is hormonally-caused.) Even if you're not, it could be an after-effect of your pregnancies.

I have it... the only thing that works is Pigment of Your Imagination by Philosophy. It's not entirely natural, unfortunately, but I too get very self-concious about my skin.

[Mallori]

What makeup are you using? What are you using to remove it?

Are you diluting the ACV? I use it as a toner, and I use 25% ACV, 75% distilled water. I used to use it stronger, but diluting it more was better. It is still effective, and I think at a stronger concentration, it makes the redness worse, but since I diluted it more and used distilled water, my redness/splotchys are fading.

Do you have acne issues? The baking soda might not be necessary.

Last thing i'd look to is the yogurt. Maybe someone else can weigh in on that one.

[Mallori]

Another thought...what are you using to moisturize. That is important. I have some rosehip seed oil on order, as well as some others to try. In the meantime, i've been cutting slips off my aloe plant and slathering that on. It's lightweight, makes my skin a bit on the tight side, but it is soothing. And no toxins.

[swell_mel]

Thanks for the tips. Yes, I am still nursing. I will look into melasma. I'm not diluting the ACV but I will try doing that. I get occasional blemishes in my t-zone but usually have tons on blackheads in my t-zone and the baking soda has really helped with the blackheads. Maybe I should cut the baking soda down to once a week. Really the sides of my face look great. It's just my tzone and the area just to the sides of my nose that is awful. : Oh, I've been using some Aveeno face moisturizer (ironically for evening out skin tone) but got jojoba oil last night so will be using that from now on.

[willibug]

I have used pharmaceuticals for this in the past. It was a combination of Retin-A and one other cream. I got prescriptions from a dermatologist. I, too, wanted to do the natural thing, but the problem was affecting my self esteem. Anyway, I had good results, but the spots came back not long after I finished treatment. Now, a few years later, I'm using an Oil of Olay product--Regenerist cleanser, which is a mini chemical peel. You need to protect your face from the sun while doing this. I've had limited results with this--not as good as the two creams I originally used. I don't want to do pharmaceuticals again, if the results won't last. The lemon juice idea is interesting! Andbygones75, I'd be intereted to hear more about that Philosophy product. I've never heard of it.

[bygones75]

Originally Posted by willibug

Andbygones75, I'd be intereted to hear more about that Philosophy product. I've never heard of it.

It's for dark spots or other pigment problems. Uses kojic acid to fade them. My melasma is BAD, particularly on the sides of my nose and upper lip. It's the only thing that fades the marks.

[willibug]

Thanks, bygones! Mine is bad, too. How long have you used the cream, and do your spots come back when you stop?

Thanks!

[bygones75]

I actually only have to use it in summertime... my melasma fades during the winter because I'm not out in the sun. During summertime, I wear it every day -- I don't stop because otherwise the melasma does get worse. It doesn't go away entirely, but it definitely helps. (It has an spf to prevent further dark spots, and the kojic acid lightens the ones already there.)

[His Own]

I wonder if you aren't over-cleansing your skin. This year I have been using something I NEVER thought I would try - old fashioned cold cream, and my sensitive skin loves it! I read about it several places on the internet and thought I might as well try it. Ladies with acne said it cleared them up; ladies with dry skin said it kept them moist and glowing.

If this interests you, here is a good way to use it. Buy some Pond's Cold Cream for your first try. Put about a teaspoon of this on your dry face, then smooth and massage it in for a minute. You can go to the next step, or let it sit on your face for about one minute. I like to let it sit. Then you take a wet, very warm washcloth, lay it over your face for a few seconds, then wipe off the cold cream. Don't scrub it off; leaving a little behind works just fine. I don't need to use moisturizer or oil or anything else afterwards. Since doing this, my skin is just wonderful, soft, clean, dewy. I like this better than any fancy regime I have tried. It works similar to the way OCM works, but I find that this works much better.

I was very hesitant at first, as my skin reacts to fragrances, but I did not react badly. Ponds is good, but I like to make my own homemade cold cream better. I searched the internet and found several recipes. In making it myself I know that I have used good quality ingredients, and I add nothing with any fragrance. Love the stuff!

Anyway, I don't know if this would work for you or not, but it's inexpensive and rather fun to try. I now use this instead of soap under my arms, etc. It is extremely mild, but gets me quite clean, and my skin is happy.

Good luck with whatever you try!