Hi there,

I am a newbie and am trying to work out how these things work!

I have always had quite good skin through my teenage years - had very few pimples or dry skin. However, in the last year or so I have experienced some changes I would like to take some control over. I am turning 30 later this year (if that helps). My skin has become very dry in patches mainly on my cheeks and near my mouth. In addition to this I have noticed that I am getting small blackheads on my forehead. I also get very painful blind pimples (which I try my absolute best not to attack - but sometimes they wont go until i do!) these ones are usually on my forehead close to and between my brows or occasionally on my chin near the jawline. I have been applying benzac 2.5% with moderate success.

at the moment I use Alpha H triple action cleanser, I did use micro cleanse - it may be my imagination but I felt it was clogging my pores further. I cannot find a moisturiser that works - they either sting or clog pores. I am trying estee lauder hydra complete gel based oil free moisturiser, I need to use a fair bit and it is still dry after a couple of hours.


I want to try pore packs but am afraid that it will take more that the pore contents out!

My apologies for giving my skin's life story (very embarrassing :redcheeks: ) but does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for a routine? i am open to any brand etc

Hi special k! :waving: Welcome to the forum!

Hi Special K!

dryness tend to be annoying in the winter. That coupled with blackheads can be confusing too.

The microcleanse should be helping to unclogg for sure. The glycolic and granules in that are good stuff.

As for a moisturiser that will help both dryness and the unclogging I think the ultra a treatment cream may work a treat: http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewItem.asp?idproduct=1832

I think the even skintone serum will also work very well on the black heads (give it time though!): http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=1829
this is used once a day under your moisturiser.

How's that for a start?

Thanks for the quick reply Allison!

I will definitely be trying these two items out - a more thing - how often do you recommend i use the micro cleanse - is once a week enough?

one more thing i have been doing a bit of reading about ultraceuticals on the forums - in particular the ultra a cream you recommended, is it anything like the alpha -a 10% balancing moisturiser & exfol? as i have tried this in the past and found it to really cause breakouts and just get stuck in my pores.

has anyone who has used either of these two tell me their experiences.

I think I'm suffering information overload!!! ::rollthoseeyes:

micro cleanse can be used three times a week.

The even skintone serum is not a moisturiser as the balancing moisturiser is in the alpha H range. The balancing moisturiser contains glycolic as its active ingredient where even skintone serum contains lactic acid and BHA.

You do need a moisturiser on top of the Even skintone serum

:clapping: