Acne Problems.

Yes i have posted this topic before but i want more input.
What magically cured your face when you began to use it?
I want stuff that doesn't dry my face up, and doesn't cost a whole lot, maybe nothing??


Anyone.
Let me know. I can't stand pimples on my face.
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Replies

  • CarleyLovesPets
    CarleyLovesPets Posts: 410 Member
    Bump.

    I would also like to know.
    I seriously hate my skin.
  • I use proactive...I have used proactive since high school and I love it!!!! Cost 65 dollars for a 60 day kit
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    I use proactive...I have used proactive since high school and I love it!!!! Cost 65 dollars for a 60 day kit

    proactive is not for everyone. it's one of those things that once you start it, you have to use it forever.

    when I used it as a teenager for my mild-moderate acne, it burned my skin and gave me worse skin problems that I started out with.
  • I use proactive...I have used proactive since high school and I love it!!!! Cost 65 dollars for a 60 day kit

    proactive is not for everyone. it's one of those things that once you start it, you have to use it forever.

    when I used it as a teenager for my mild-moderate acne, it burned my skin and gave me worse skin problems that I started out with.

    Dried out my skin terribly.
  • KlaMorgan
    KlaMorgan Posts: 72 Member
    i cant use proactiv either.. it made my skin worse. i use the vichy normaderm line. its amazing!
  • shaleasymphony
    shaleasymphony Posts: 172 Member
    black soap. use it twice a day and a skin moisturizeror plaibaby lotion. also it helps to do a mint mask once a week if you have light skin or mud mask for dark skin. i went to cosmetology school and this really works. i had loyal clients who came in once a week for facials hope this helps!!!
  • shaleasymphony
    shaleasymphony Posts: 172 Member
    black soap. use it twice a day and a skin moisturizer or baby lotion. also it helps to do a mint mask once a week if you have light skin or mud mask for dark skin. i went to cosmetology school and this really works. i had loyal clients who came in once a week for facials hope this helps!!!
  • i cant use proactiv either.. it made my skin worse. i use the vichy normaderm line. its amazing!
    What's normadermn line??
  • I have been using the pro-active knock off at walmart. It is cheap and effective. I only use it when I start to break out. I will have a few good months of clear skin and then a month or so of not so clear skin. That is when I break out the knock off and it clears it right up. If that doesn't work, head to the dermatologist. They can work miracles....well....at least in my experience they have. Good luck!
  • Sassy922
    Sassy922 Posts: 399 Member
    Nothing. I've tried Proactive, Skin ID, Clinique, Avon. You name it, I've tried it.

    Honestly, what works best for me, and its not perfect, but best, is good old fashioned bar soap and face moisturizer. Also, I don't wear any face make up, like concealer, blush or foundation.
  • ihateroses
    ihateroses Posts: 893 Member
    Carleys Clear and Smooth!

    Saved my skin. Cleared up in a month and has been clear since (this was after proactive, doctors prescriptions, everything over the counter, etc etc).

    Only prob is you can only order it online. But its affordable and one bottle lasts you at least 3 months.
  • Its_Nat
    Its_Nat Posts: 184 Member
    Pimples or Acne? My daughter has severe Acne and we finally gave in and went to see a Dermatologist on a doctors recommendation. She's now taking high doses of Vitamin A.

    Zinc tablets can also help, but if it's true acne you need medical help - that's the only way to clear it.

    Other than that, oil free face wash, oil free toner, and oil free moisturiser.
  • Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil

    Amazing product!!!!!!
  • What is black soap and where can I get it?
  • You could try taking probiotics. They really helped me with my acne that just DIDN'T GO AWAY but they're kind of expensive and they need to be refrigerated so they're a pain...just don't order them online because like I said they need to be refrigerated and unfortunatly amazon does't ship your orders in a mini fridge. :P
  • shelbiejo
    shelbiejo Posts: 283 Member
    Clinique, clinique, clinique! I've used EVERYTHING and this is the only that worked and kept working! I use their acne system, but they have a bunch of different ones for different skin types. And it is only $35 for the group set that last me about 3-4 months.
  • cwmw
    cwmw Posts: 30
    Yes i have posted this topic before but i want more input.
    What magically cured your face when you began to use it?
    I want stuff that doesn't dry my face up, and doesn't cost a whole lot, maybe nothing??


    Anyone.
    Let me know. I can't stand pimples on my face.

    I avoid powdering my face at all costs, as that ends up clogging pores and causing a vicious cycle. Other than that, clean and clear is good if your skin is oily, otherwise water works fine :)
  • grandmakaye44
    grandmakaye44 Posts: 1,205 Member
    Yes i have posted this topic before but i want more input.
    What magically cured your face when you began to use it?
    I want stuff that doesn't dry my face up, and doesn't cost a whole lot, maybe nothing??


    Anyone.
    Let me know. I can't stand pimples on my face.

    I struggled for years, even taking oral meds. Nothing worked until my dr. prescribed a topical erythrumyacin (sp?). It was in a witch hazel solution and cleared up my face in a very short time. I'm sorry I don't remember the exact name of the medicine. Good luck. Kaye
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    I also can't use proactive or things from the drug store (it irritates my skin and then causes a rash). I can use B.Kamins blemish gel that I get at Sephora (here in Canada anyway). It has 5% benzoyl peroxide in it, which is actually more than twice as strong as the other ones I mentioned that irritate my skin. But, this is a well made product and it has moisturizers in it. It will dry my skin if I don't put moisturizer on after I apply it, but as long as I use a light oil free gentle moisturizer I'm fine. It's not cheap, but it lasts a long time, so I only need to buy it every few months (it may even last me 6 months). I don't have acne, just occasional blemishes because I have oily, but sensitive skin.
  • nfrewin
    nfrewin Posts: 73 Member
    Nimue Skin Technology is fantastic!! Dr Hauschka is also supposed to be very effective but i haven't tried it personally.
    Unsure if it would work for really problem acne though, if that's the case you're probably better off to see a dermatologist
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    As I understand it, the important, active ingredient in ProActive is plain and simple old benzoyl peroxide, which you can buy in any grocery store much more cheaply, without having to sign a long-term contract obligating you to keep buying the product for many months.
    ProActive is a sore subject for many dermatologists who believe it is an instance of unfair marketing.
    There used to be a soap called Phisoderm that was quite popular among persons with acne because it was non-drying. You might want to look into getting some of that (if you can find it) or asking your doctor about gentle skin cleansers. As I understand it, that is probably your only option if you are prone to drying . . . that or tetracycline.
    Tetracycline can work wonders for some. But, it, too, can be drying.
  • MD1Girl
    MD1Girl Posts: 46 Member
    It's not cheap, but I use my Clarisonic. It doesn't really matter what cleanser I use with it. Right now I'm using Biore Ice for blemishes. The brush makes any cleanser work fabulously. My face cleared up in a matter of days after using it.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    My skin has been really awful lately too. I think I've over-irritated it trying harsh products, making the flare ups worse and worse.

    My sister, who's had terrible skin her whole life swears by using a honey mask. Like, plain old honey. Supposedly it's cleared her skin up more than anything she's tried. I think I'm going to give it a go tonight. My skin can't get much worse at this point! I'll report back after trying.
  • My skin has been really awful lately too. I think I've over-irritated it trying harsh products, making the flare ups worse and worse.

    My sister, who's had terrible skin her whole life swears by using a honey mask. Like, plain old honey. Supposedly it's cleared her skin up more than anything she's tried. I think I'm going to give it a go tonight. My skin can't get much worse at this point! I'll report back after trying.
    yes let me know how that works!
  • MysticMaiden22
    MysticMaiden22 Posts: 324 Member
    I have constantly had skin issues. Recently I started using Proactiv, however my skin did relapse into breaking out again.

    I've had a good solid month lately without breakouts after switching to natural products, exfoliating my skin twice a week, and using a mask twice a week as well.

    In the morning, I use Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser. Then I go about my usual makeup routine, being sure to use a foundation primer.

    At night, before bed, I use the gel cleanser again, then swab Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner all over my face with a cotton ball. After that, I use Jason Aloe Vera 98% Moisturizing Gel as a moisturizer instead of an oily lotion. On the days that I exfoliate, prior to using the moisturizer, I use Bare Minerals Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser. And on the days that I use a facial mask, I use French Green Clay that I purchase from mountainroseherbs.com.
  • GCLyds
    GCLyds Posts: 206 Member
    I use proactiv. It works really well. I only use it in the mornings. At night I just wash with hot water, and use a good moisturizer. If I use the proactiv twice a day it dried out my face. Once a day keeps my skin clear.

    For those that say you have to keep using it once you start, well duh. If its killing the bacteria on your face and you stop using it, the bacteria will come back and give you acne again. So yeah, I have to keep using it. Its not proactives fault.

    So anyway, because I only use it once a day, one shipment will last me like 3 months or longer.

    This was after one month. I get the odd zit here and there, but not the huge cystic ones I used to get.
    MIDOCT20103-1_zps7c9e3ad2.jpg
  • astrylian
    astrylian Posts: 194 Member
    I have never had great skin, but it was worse as a teenager than now as a young adult. Proactive was painful for me to use, it set my face on fire, and so they switched me to the Gentle Proactiv solution without the salycic acid. I use Clean and Clear's Morning Burst Face Wash - really mainly because it smells nice and is supposed to brighten your complexion (I don't pay attention to my skin to be able to confirm or deny that claim.) Neutrogena's Pink Grapefruit is nice too.

    Both of those have salycic acid as well, so I am not sure why Proactiv enflames my face so painfully. Perhaps it has a larger percentage? I also have a problem with my face drying out and becoming a tight leather mask after washing, especially during the winter season. I am not sure why that happens.

    I have naturally oily hair, so I occasionally break out around my temples/hairline, or on my scalp, even though I wash my hair every single day. I also have a bad habit of touching my face, so I am sure that never helped the situation. Perhaps there are some external contributors to your skin condition as well.
  • ihateroses
    ihateroses Posts: 893 Member
    I use proactiv. It works really well. I only use it in the mornings. At night I just wash with hot water, and use a good moisturizer. If I use the proactiv twice a day it dried out my face. Once a day keeps my skin clear.

    For those that say you have to keep using it once you start, well duh. If its killing the bacteria on your face and you stop using it, the bacteria will come back and give you acne again. So yeah, I have to keep using it. Its not proactives fault.

    So anyway, because I only use it once a day, one shipment will last me like 3 months or longer.

    This was after one month. I get the odd zit here and there, but not the huge cystic ones I used to get.
    MIDOCT20103-1_zps7c9e3ad2.jpg

    Yes but most people that have tried proactiv who had only minimal results messed up their skin even more after they stopped using it.

    It is exactly what happened to my skin, it was WAYYY worse than it ever was before I started Proactiv. Somethings up with those ingredients.
  • dotmango
    dotmango Posts: 33 Member
    I AM SO EXCITED YOU POSTED THIS.

    Any cleanser with Salicylic Acid in it is going to be AMAZING for acne affected skin. Wash with one twice a day. Period. This is the single best decision anyone with bad skin can make.

    But you need a scrub to get rid of yucky black heads? Recent discovery: mix baking powder with a facial cleanser with Salicylic Acid in it. Rub over affected area. Rinse thoroughly. Say good bye to blackheads and zits and yucky skin!

    But you have combination skin and MUST moisturise--- OLIVE OIL. PH neutral and so won't make your skin greasy, despite your intuition to the contrary. I like to moisturise with it before a shower and rely on the heat of the hot water to completely open my pores. Rub this in like crazy though before dressing. I have never stained anything but others seem to have done so.

    I find that reducing stress, increasing activity, drinking more water and improving what I eat all make my skin better as well.
  • maremare312
    maremare312 Posts: 1,143 Member
    My top two tips--Mary Kay Acne Cream and changing your pillow case often!

    I also have always been a fan of Clinique's skin care line, especially their bar soap for faces and their astringent (they call it something silly, like Cleansing lotion or something?)

    Also, stop wearing powder and foundation! It might cover your acne up today, but will cause it to be so much worse in the future. Also, if you are a teen, have hope, you will grow out of the worst of it! :)