Hi All

I am desperately in need of some urgent advice as to what to do with my skin. I've just turned 30 and to be honest apart from a pimple here and there have always has pretty good, clear skin.

For the past 4 months or so my skin has been absolutely horrific........... I have a combo skin which is fairly sensitive and is prone to breakouts every now and then, maybe a pimple here and there.

For the most part my skin is usually pretty good with the ocassional pimple, but never as bad as it has been in the past few months and it's really starting to bother me. WHAT HAS GONE WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

Whenever I get a pimple it 's usually on my cheeks, maybe one or two max. But for the past 2-3 months I have noticed that my forehead has started getting tiny little blackheads and is constantly covered with a handful of small pimples that look horrible. Even the pimples I am getting on my cheeks and all over are becoming a bit of joke and they are taking ages before they totally heal and go away. Just as my skin looks as though it's improving it goes down hill again and the whole saga starts over again.
I've never had pimples on my forehead so this is totally bizarre for me and unfortunately no amount of makeup can hide those bumps.

I do find that my skin dries out a lot and tends to flake a little on my cheeks but more so on my nose . No amount of moistuirsier appears to get rid of this, what is the flaking/peeling skin on my nose? I have had this for the past 6 plus months.

I used to use Proactiv but stopped this perhaps 4-6 mnths ago and have since just been using a cetaphil cleanser and moisturiser. Because I have sensitive skin a lot of products don't suit my skin and I find that I start to break out even more when I try different things.

I've been reading about Alpha H & Ultraceuticals products and they sound pretty reliable. I was hoping that you could recommend some skin care products and a reasonably easy skincare routine (don't have much time in the morning) that would suit my skin and get rid of these horrible breakouts on my face and forehead once and for all. I prefer not to use too many products on my face and tend to keep it relatively easy otherwise I probably wouldn't stick with it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated & thank you for listening

Welcome to the forum :waving:

I am sure Allison will be able to help you.

Welcome to the forum Aussiebeauty :waving:

Hi Aussie Beauty :waving:

Hi guys, thanks for the welcome :waving:

:waving: Welcome to the forum :)

Welcome to the forum Aussiebeauty. Allison our resident Beauty Therapist is probably the best person to help you here.

Hi Aussie Beauty :waving: Allison will be able to help you!

Hi aussie beauty,

ok simple but effective at clearing....

AM
cleanse with gentle cleansing gel:http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=1821
the AHA will help that forehead

follow with ultra a sheer cream:http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=10699
this is non greasy and will help to clear things up!

follow with light non clogging SPF becca primer SPF 30+:http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=11020

PM
cleanse

follow with even skintone serum:http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=1829
AHA and BHA to get in and de-clogg!

follow with the ultra a sheer cream again (as in AM section)

exfoliate three times a week with the alpha h micro cleanse:http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=3689
this will be effective on removing the flaky bits and clearing

how does that sound?

everything is fragrance free so shouldn't irritate in that capacity.

stress and external factors can cause big skin changes as can medication... you had a big change in skin routine to- back to a very simple one so there could be a few factors at play there...

let me know how you go.
:clapping:

Thanks for the speedy reply Allison.

How long do you think all these products will last me? And how long do you think it's going to take for my face to get back to normal again??? If this lasts too much longer I may have to remain housebound................ Don't want to scare the neighbours, he he he Or should I say scare myself.......I'm the one who has to look in the mirror eeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm not overly phased by the expense of the products as long as they do end up lasting me a reasonably amount of time. Some tubes you buy cost a fortune and 3-4 squirts later its empty.

$350-400 could become a little expensive if I'm having to re-stock these items every few mnths.

Are there other products that are similar that you would also recommend?????

If anyone uses any of these products I would love to hear what you think of them.

Thanks again Allison your a star :glee:

maybe have a look at the reviews for UC & alpha h as they r good reading
there r a lot of fans of the microcleanse on the forum
i have used the UC ESTS & love it , it's made a big difference to my skin [less clogging & less hormonal zits] u only use 4-6 drops a go
i have a sample that a lovely adoreable sent me of the BECCA spf primer & LOVE it

SO glad you love it fuss!

Hey all

I got all of my skincare goodies yesterday and started my new routine today as per Allison's suggestions, fingers crossed.

I have a question if I may. In the morning I use the UC cleansing gel, then I use the UC ultra sheer cream and then a becca primer. Should I be using some form of Moisturiser? Or is this what the primer is supposed to be for?

I had a look at what all the products do but I'm still not 100% clear. Primers are mainly to use as a base before moisturising and then I thought you put on your makeup. On the back of the Ultra sheer it says I should follow by moisturing.

This is only the first day of using these products, but when I put on the ultra sheer cream it was quite dry when put on my skin (not hugely dry but just not as moist as I guess I'm used to my skin being from my other previous products)

Thanks guys for all your help and warm welcomes.

yep the UC "sheer creams" r a dry formulation , i have combo skin & would be fine to use these 2 as my moisturiser but it really depends on how u skin is after , do u think it needs more ?

the BECCA primer can be used as a pre foundation primer or just as a light [zinc based] sunscreen , it is very effective for sun protection with added benefit of not clogging the skin

I will give it a few more days but I think I might need something more.

At the moment the skin around my nose is extremely dry and flaky so if I don't have something that is a litte moist it looks pretty horrible. I'm hoping that the exfoliating cleanser that I will be using will do something to fix this. It's bizarre because I never had a dry, flaky nose before and for the last 6 mnths I just can't get rid of it, it's so difficult.....

you can take a look at product reviews in the reviews section of the forum and often products have reviews on the actual info page on each that I provided links for.

Products can last between 4-6 months. My eye cream always lasts way longer! If you are using an item twice a day obviously it will go faster than using separate day and night products. Your exfoliant will last a while of course because it's a generous size and you are only using it three times a week.

it's a very simple program for now so it's not as costly as going with a couple of serums and so on..

Every one's skin responds differently time wise. I always say wait a few months for real results however your skin will begin to respond within a couple of weeks with minor changes. You need to give your skin time to allow for cell turn over and so on.

let us know how you go! :clapping:

Hi Allison

I have been using my poducts for the 4-5 days I am already noticing a difference, I like the cleanser you recommended & the micro cleanse as it is not rough on your skin at all.

Can you recommend a few different moisturisers for me?????? I've been using my cetaphil moisturiser because my skin has still felt a little dry after my skincare routine.

Thanks for the help, you've been a gem.

great that you are already seeing the results!

well this was the moisturiser that I recommended to keep it simple and cost effective (see the full program for the extra bits of detail):
ultra a sheer cream:http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adoreb...dproduct=10699

you could use the ultra c sheer at one end of the day and the ultra a sheer at the other end of the day to strengthen the results. Here is the link to the ultra c sheer: http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=4734

alternatively you could do this with using the ultra a sheer (or c sheer) in the morning and use the alpha h age delay in the evening: http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=11151

the first routine was a super simple one to get you started but those are other VERY effective options.

:glee:

Hi all, just a quick progress update.

I have been using my new skincare routine & products for the past 2-3 weeks now and I have to admit my skin has been much better. I did have a bit of a break out a week or so back but all is on the mend I think.

I still have the bumpy forehead that I mentioned in my original post, if I look really closely I can see tiny little blackheads all over. My forehead has definitely improved but I'm just wandering if this will eventually go away. I've never had any problems with this area and I just want it smooth & back to normal as it used to be.

Around my nose and mouth-chin areas my pores still seem to be clogging up, when you look closely you can see that my pores are not clean and free from dirt, makeup, the world etc and if squeezed something always pops out ( my apologies as I know it doesn't sound too nice)

Any thoughts...................

thanks again everyone for you advice

You need to give your skin a minimun of a month... the poor lot of cells is working overtime to bring new little healthy ones to the surface.

I know those ads on TV say guaranteed results in 14 days (those results usually refer to your skin feeling a bit softer and not much more).

Your cell turnover takes a full 28 days for new ones to come to the surface. You need to let this happen a few times over to really see a difference.

Hmmm god was meant to have made the world in seven days from the word on the street and then I think he took a nap on the seventh day... your skin is a lot busier than the man in the sky and It'll take a bit longer to give you the world...

as those funny pantene people said " it won't happen overnight but it will happen"

:chuckle:

Your so right Alison and everything you said is spot on. I appreciate all the advice you have offered.

I guess I'm just a little sensitive about my forehead at the moment. I have more bumps on it now than I did before and I am just hoping that it goes away soonish.

I'm sorry for all the questions but this is really the first time that I have ever had a problem with my skin so I suppose I am a bit of a novice when it comes to all this.

I have somwhere to go in a few weeks so I guess I'm getting a little anxious about looking like a puberty stricken teenager, he he he (at least I can see the humour in it................)

What do you think has caused my forehead to break out like it has???? I understand the change in routine is one factor but my forehead was causing me problems a little while before I changed products 6 mnths ago?????

And what happens if it still hasn't improved in a few weeks time??? Do I try another routine????

Thanks A

so the bumps feel worse? Is it irritated or angry or itchy at all?

you mentioned a few posts ago that it was looking better is it just the same as what it was when we started or worse?

Have you changed your diet at all during the times where it tends to get worse (more dairy at all?)


:penguin:

The bumps on my forehead in the last week or so have calmed down alot. They are still there but not as bad as they have been for the passed few weeks. They appear to be small blackheads that cover most of my forehead but you have to look closely to see that they are blackheads, from a distance they just look bumpy.

They don't hurt as much they just feel a little tight I suppose. Diet hasn't changed at all. It's funny, it's literally like one day I had none and the next they started appearing - bizarre.........

I try not to squeeze the blackheads but that seems to be the only way of getting rid of them and the bumps but I then end up with tiny red spots all over my forehead for the next few days when I do, can't seem to win.

I'm still using the the same routine you gave me but I have noticed that the flaking, dry skin particularly around the corner of my lip, nose and forehead is still present. After I finish off with the Ultraceuticals Ultra A sheer facial cream my skin still feels very dry and there is not alot of moisture in my skin - I think I might need something that doesn't leave my skin feeling so tight.

I have to admit my skin is taking alot longer to heal lately when I have a breakout or get a pimple, my skin used to heal pretty quickly before but lately the pimples appear to be lasting longer and the scar they leave is taking alot longer to finally disappear.

Thanks

Aussie. I remembered when I used a new conditioner my forehead broke out, but then I had a fringe which is not helpful when trying to clear a forehead. The new conditioner was very rich and so I think it accounted for the break out. Just a suggestion.

We know that' it's not the skin care that's causing the bumps because they were there before we started. that's why I was asking about other factors that may be contributing.

Winter does tend to dehydrate the skin and a lot of folks find that when winter really starts to set in they notice the dryness. You can get the ultra A sheer in the regular formula that has a bit more moisture..

If the bumps are black heads it is a good idea to have them extracted.

Are you using the microcleanse and even skintone serum too?

You did say in your first post that your pimples were taking a while to heal so that was happening before we started on the program, the vitamin c cream will slowly help to accelerat healing

how are the break outs on the cheeks going? You said in your first post that those break outs were bothing you a bit...

hope we can see some more progress very soon!

Hi

Your right about the forehead being an issue before I started with this new skin routine, my forehead is alot better than what it was when I started this routine, there are still bumps and blackheads there but no where as many as before.

I have been using the microcleanse and the skintone serum, after applying the serum is when my skin feels really dry, I then apply the Ultra A sheer cream and it still feels pretty dry. To combat this I have still been using a little of my cetaphil moisturiser as it reduces the tightness and dryness, is this ok?

I haven't had many breakout on my cheeks, still the odd one and they are still taking ages to heal but like you have mentioned before we have to give my skin a chance to work it's magic.

I have a dry patch just under the left side of my mouth, it's always flaky and a little red and it appears to have gotten larger over the past month. I thought it might be like a dermatitis but it is not itchy, it just feels quite dry and nothing I seem to do it getting rid of it. I have been putting more moisturiser on this spot to help alleviate the dryness but it actually seems as if it is getting worse if anything. What do you think this is?

Thanks for your help, you have been very sweet.

Well I am glad that there is progress in a positive direction so far, I know it may not be as fast as you would like but as least we are going forward.

I am thinking of introducing a hydrating serum to calm the redness and balance things a bit more: phyto corrective serum- http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=4355

it is applied under your moisturiser both morning and night. It will sink straight in. This should help with hydration a bit but also keep it calmer.