Acne!!

[kamane18]

I've been quite acne prone my whole life but it's really pretty bad right now (just over 4 weeks). Don't want to use even class B drugs/creams if I don't need to - does anyone have any safe remedies for facial acne? Home remedies are fine - toothpaste doesn't seem to help much though and it's way too many spots for that!

[BlissfullyLoving]

Soap with tea tree oil helps me (I use Dr Bronners). I also used Burts Bees blemish oil...which really helps me.

I have never tried, but heard great things about using the oil method. You wash with castor oil and moisturize with extra virgin olive oil, I think. If you google (http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/) or do a search on here you can see the method. It involves steaming your face and a process to make sure you get all the oil off.

[Critty]

I use kanolin clay to make a mask to suck up my extra oil and apply 1 -2 x per week and I apply tea tree oil with a q-tip to any blemishes at night. If yours is really bad, you could try wiping over the areas with a cotton pad. Of course a good oil-free moisturizer is a necessity as we get colder or you could get your skin promoting too much sebum (I am a makeup artist by trade).

Blissfully - that oil cleaning method looks very interesting, thanks for sharing that! I often use olive oil when my skin is freaking out with rosacea, it seems to calm everything down, but not clog my pores.

Christie

[BlissfullyLoving]

Originally Posted by Critty

Blissfully - that oil cleaning method looks very interesting, thanks for sharing that! I often use olive oil when my skin is freaking out with rosacea, it seems to calm everything down, but not clog my pores.

Christie

I know. I know a few people that do it, and they all had great results with it. The process can be a little tedious, and you have to make sure that you get off all the castor oil.

[WeasleyMum]

I'm with ya. I'm breaking out like a teenager working at mc'ds. My DH actually pointed it out before I even POAS and guessed that we might be preggers again. No help on solutions, though-- I'm reading this thread w/ great interest!

[kamane18]

Based on some other threads I saw I started using raw organic honey as a scrub/mask at night and bought some concentrated tea tree oil to use as spot treatment. Hopefully they help!

[kamane18]

Critty - you are a makeup artist? What foundation do you recommend for acne prone skin? Need something that won't make me break out more, has decent coverage for existing breakouts but doesn't look too thick or fake. And of course is pregnancy safe! Thanks!

[heatherh]

I've been using honey as a face wash and it's been working pretty well until lately. Actually, it was working well even through the hormonal tribulations of m/c and such. But lately I've been getting these awful inflamed painful things. Is TTO safe to use when pg? I may try that.

What is good for healing the existing ones? I've got a family thing next weekend and it would be nice to hurry up the healing of the current ones.

[kamane18]

I'd definitely go with the tea tree oil! Trying the honey wash at night here (followed by TTO). If that doesn't work I may try washing 1-2x a day with baking soda.

[Critty]

Originally Posted by kamane18

Critty - you are a makeup artist? What foundation do you recommend for acne prone skin? Need something that won't make me break out more, has decent coverage for existing breakouts but doesn't look too thick or fake. And of course is pregnancy safe! Thanks!

I would avoid any specifically for acne prone skin, as it will contain salicylic acid. Do you want to avoid parabens as well? One of the safest kinds is mineral makeup, but not the kind in the drugstore, as they have bismuth, talc and perhaps even parabens in them. My friend Robyn makes some nice powders (i just got a sample pack from her) http://www.purelycosmetics.com/pure-...-21_30_45.html and if you let her know your skin issues and that you are pregnant, she will be able to recommend the right coverage. Her stuff is bismuth free, so it won't make your face itchy. I know Every day minerals is also bismuth free: http://www.everydayminerals.com/inde...d=21&Itemid=41 but I haven't tried it ...

Christie

[BlissfullyLoving]

Originally Posted by Critty

I would avoid any specifically for acne prone skin, as it will contain salicylic acid. Do you want to avoid parabens as well? One of the safest kinds is mineral makeup, but not the kind in the drugstore, as they have bismuth, talc and perhaps even parabens in them. My friend Robyn makes some nice powders (i just got a sample pack from her) http://www.purelycosmetics.com/pure-...-21_30_45.html and if you let her know your skin issues and that you are pregnant, she will be able to recommend the right coverage. Her stuff is bismuth free, so it won't make your face itchy. I know Every day minerals is also bismuth free: http://www.everydayminerals.com/inde...d=21&Itemid=41 but I haven't tried it ...

Christie

I have used bare minerals makeup before, and I hate it. I did not like the way it felt or the way that it looked. Have you used it before? Is this a common complaint? Or, is it just me? I am curious if I would have a problem with all mineral makeup, or if it was just that brand?

[Critty]

Originally Posted by BlissfullyLoving

I have used bare minerals makeup before, and I hate it. I did not like the way it felt or the way that it looked. Have you used it before? Is this a common complaint? Or, is it just me? I am curious if I would have a problem with all mineral makeup, or if it was just that brand?

A lot of people (me!) can't stand bare minerals because it contains bismuth which can be very irritating and make your skin itch. I also found it sat on top of my oily skin and would slide off during the day. Something I never experienced with other powder or liquid foundations. I asked Robyn about it and she recommended I warm my brush with my hair dryer after applying and then buff it in. Warming it blends it into the skin better ... and it does seem to work. Lots of mineral makeups are the same, but some smaller companies are different, so you have to play around with it, luckily most sell sample sizes for you to try.

My fave foundation is (not mineral) Make Up For Ever HD Foundation which I use with Smashbox PhotoFinish Light Primer (the white one, it is oil-free) underneath. It is $$$ and I think it does contain parabens. But it covers up my roscea and breakouts like no bodies business and it looks so natural. You can get it at Sephora.

If you are concerned about parabens, I would stick with mineral makeup. If you want a flawless look, check out the Make Up For Ever HD foundation, it truly is my Holy Grail foundation, after almost 20 years of searching!

Christie

[heatherh]

The once in a blue moon that I wear makeup, I use everyday minerals. I'm definitely *not* a makeup person, but it's very not-annoying. I like the sunlight and regular concealer (can't remember the name!). Not hugely covered up, but it makes me feel a little more polished, yk?

[BlissfullyLoving]

Originally Posted by Critty

A lot of people (me!) can't stand bare minerals because it contains bismuth which can be very irritating and make your skin itch. I also found it sat on top of my oily skin and would slide off during the day. Something I never experienced with other powder or liquid foundations. I asked Robyn about it and she recommended I warm my brush with my hair dryer after applying and then buff it in. Warming it blends it into the skin better ... and it does seem to work. Lots of mineral makeups are the same, but some smaller companies are different, so you have to play around with it, luckily most sell sample sizes for you to try.

My fave foundation is (not mineral) Make Up For Ever HD Foundation which I use with Smashbox PhotoFinish Light Primer (the white one, it is oil-free) underneath. It is $$$ and I think it does contain parabens. But it covers up my roscea and breakouts like no bodies business and it looks so natural. You can get it at Sephora.

If you are concerned about parabens, I would stick with mineral makeup. If you want a flawless look, check out the Make Up For Ever HD foundation, it truly is my Holy Grail foundation, after almost 20 years of searching!

Christie

Thanks! Glad to know I was not the only one. I will check into those other things you recommended, and interesting tip about applying the mineral makeup.

[kamane18]

So the honey scrub wasn't working for me. I've switched to a paste/scrub from baking soda (after I use a gentle cleanser first). Seems to be helping prevent new breakouts but can't seem to get rid of the HUGE cystic pimples on my chin - right on either side below my mouth. Using TTO on them but still nada.

As for makeup, I started using Revlon ColorStay Active and it seems to cover pretty well without causing new breakouts.

[2in09]

i actually have horrible acne, i have my whole life, but when pg it clears up.

[nukedwifey]

I'm very acne prone and since I became pregnant I have stopped wearing all make-up, period. I used to just wear concealer on my under eye circles, blush, and eyeshadow but I stopped it all and my skin has never been so clear. I was breaking out and my derm suggested I use nothing if I wanted to get it under control. It worked. My skin was under control before pregnancy but I can't use or take the medicines now that I'm pregnant, so here's what I've found to work for me. I've had one pimple since cutting out makeup (on my chin, huge cystic) that I treated with a natural SA from Garden of Wisdom (Distilled Water, Pineapple Distillate, White Willow Bark, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxycellulose, Optiphen). It worked really well (I got it as a sample thought I'd try it). I also wash with EV Olive Oil, it melts dirt and grim away and seems to exfoliate out blackheads, and then follow with a gentle cleanser like Burt's Bees Tomato Complexion bar or Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser to cut the oil. And if I have a breakout I use the Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick. It has TTO in it. You can use just plain TTO if you'd like too. I also use a 10% Mandelic Acid solution on my nose and forehead for additional exfoliation of blackheads. I also moisturize, if necessary, with pure Mango Butter. I also exfoliate with a salt EVOO solution that I make myself.

Also you can try acne.org. There is so much info there from prescribed (that you probably can't use if pregnant) to all natural treatments to regimens and experiments. It should help you out a lot. I've found a ton of info there.

[aprilv]

i agree with the pp. my sister has the most lovely skin, so after struggling for years with mine, i asked her- WHAT is she using? her answer- nothing, no soaps, no makeup, no lotions! literally, she just splashes with water at night and that's it. mothering had an article about teenage beauty a few months back that discussed how all the lotions and products are actually designed to keep you breaking out so you keep needing them.

i decided to try it. it was icky for a few weeks because i didn't cover any 'flaws', but now my skin is looking better than it has in years. it was worth it. i might put a little powder to balance minor redness, but that's it.

not sure how safe this is during pregnancy, but i was told that taking zinc also helps-- i did see improvement from that a few months ago, as did my brother who has struggled for years with terrible acne. my prenatal vitamin has a ton of zinc, 167%.

[kamane18]

Thanks everyone. Would love to try going without makeup (even eye makeup counts?) but can't right now with work - I look too scary and am in a sales type job! Interesting with Zinc as well!

[beachcomber]

I can't go without makeu right now. I look totally bagged and have since my toddler was born. Heh. I really like Everyday Minerals. It covers the dark circles, hides the break outs and feels very light.