HELP PLEASE!!!
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:24 am

You guys seem experts here and I am in desperate need of advice before I spontaneously combust due to panic!

I think I've ruined my skin...long term.

Ive basically worked out that I've been over exfoliating...for the last six months or so I've been using (please dont shout) exfoliating body gloves all over my body...as well as on my face and neck Embarassed

Ive basically got myself into a routine where my face and neck feel overdry to the point of being rough, every few days, unless I scrub away with the gloves!

I'm now paranoid that Ive overdamaged my skin to the point of no return and am paranoid that I have a saggy wrinkly turkey neck...im only 33!!!

IS there anything i can do from this point onwards to sort of my skin and have youthful young looking skin again like I used to get told all the time!

Arrghhhh!

Eagerly awaiting your expert responses, and be gentle with me Im a total skincare novice!

free skin care · Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:09 am

I would just cut back to a very basic routine; gentle cleaner and moisturizer. You can try cortisone cream or ointment but only for a few days max. It will help calm the irritation but does thin your skin if used long term so only for a few days. You skin should straighten it self out over a couple weeks.

free skin care · Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:18 pm

You should do everything that GG suggested... go for something gentle. You can still exfoliate, but perhaps try a chemical exfoliator this time at a very low concentration and less frequently (like every 2-3 days). YOu still need something to get rid of the damaged skin cells, which is why it is still important to exfoliate. Just make sure you are gentle with cleaning from now on and use a moisturizer too. Whatever caused you to use such an abrasive method in the first place if you don't mind me asking?

free skin care · Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:43 pm

I agree--back to basics... gentle basics. I think you'll bounce back, though. I used a Buf-Puf for years, and my skin is great now, just a bit sensitive, so I have to be very gentle with it.

Once your skin settles down, perhaps you can see what type you are, and start looking into repair products.

free skin care · Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:37 am

I had that experience few years ago. what I have done to "correct" back my skin tone is.

1. very gentle cleanser.
I suggest A-Derma Exomega Shower Bath Oil. It can be use on body and face.

Here is the information:
Exomega Shower and bath oil, thanks to its guaranteed soap free gentle cleansing base, gently cleanses the fragile epidermis of atopic skins, without damaging it even in the presence of hard water.

It softens skin and compensates for skin dehydration foaming formula.

Proven effectiveness:

Exomega shower cleansing oil is guaranteed soap free and has been designed especially for atopic and very dry skin (babies, children and adults).

It also provides the skin with the ingredients it needs (whole extract of the Rhealba Oat, Omega 6 essential fatty acids, hydrating and lubricating compound) to soothe and compensate for dryness, making the skin soft and gentle to the touch.

you can order from
http://well.ca/products/a-derma-exomega-shower-bath-oil_15024.html

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2. very gentle smoothing mist which can calm your senstive skin.

I suggest: Botani Smoothing mist from AU

Features:
Suitable for all skin types, especially ultra sensitive skin
Non-alcohol base
Hydrates and tones the skin
Refreshes the skin

Benefits:
Calms and soothes skin
Provides relief for sunburn and irritated skin
Great to set make-up

Active ingredients include:
Rose Extract - Rejuvenates and regenerates the skin, has a toning and astringent effect on capillaries.
Chamomile Extract - Heals and soothes irritation.
Aloe Vera Extract - Assists in accelerating the healing of damaged tissue, and protects against future damage.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) - Skin antioxidant
Tocopherol (Vitamin E) - Skin antioxidant.

Since it is a mist; therefore you can easily spray on ur face remember ***DON"T pat tone on your face ***

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3. Used a very gentle moisturizer.
I suggest Botani boost balance moisturizer.

Soothes and calms the skin
Locks moisture into the skin using Olive Squalene
Leaves skin feeling revitalised, supple and smooth
Soothes minor shaving irritations
Boosts skin elasticity
Softens the skin, smoothing fine lines
Firms, uplifts and provides a healthy glow

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REmember to use sunscreen too !!!!

Remember NOT to use any serum b/c the concentration may be too strong for ur skin right now.

Take ~ 2months to seen effect. b/c skin cell renew every 28days. if you are over exfoliate, it takes ~ 2 to 3 cycle to renew your skincell !!!

you can find Botain info at
http://www.botani.com.au/products/

and can read other customer review.

http://www.botani.com.au/testimonials.php

Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:50 am

Wow thanks so much all for your responses...panic is slowly lessening. Took make up off with olive oil last night which I tried before too and it already feels better.

I've always been a keen exfoliater - I too used to use a buf-puf as a teen and loved the shiny new feeling it gave my skin!

Not sure why I started using the gloves to be honest...think i did it once and it made my skin feel nice so I've carried on and got myself into this terrible cycle!

To be honest because I havent exfoliated for a few days the skin on my face feels like it needs a good scrub but I am fighting the * spam alert * - ha!

Thanks so much for the reccomendations but im in the UK and think alot of these products are stateside? Will look into UK alternatives though - you gals know your stuff!

I've never been that into my skincare to be honest and always been lucky with being able to use whatever I want on it...think im now paying the price though!

Anyone have any experience of using the Body Shops Vitamin C skin reviver while we're here?

THANKS! xxx

free skin care · Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:57 am

I don't find Body Shops Vitamin C skin reviver is working, I received that as gift; however i only used for 2 wks. Not effective at all

btw you shouldn't use any Vitamin C on your skin right now; b/c ur skin still very senstive.

and i suggest not to use exfoliate cloth / glove anymore b/c that is bad for ur skin(esp when you get older, your skin cell take more cycles to regenerate).

free skin care · Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:01 am

UK has some excellent products too haha

btw if you are searching for squalene products (squalene is from Olive oil too but molecule is smaller and more easy to absorb)

and botani offers international shipping, you may consider this if your skin is really bad. and if you find ur olive oil clog ur pore after using for couple wks.

thanks

free skin care · Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:38 am

I just thought of another product thats simple but great for irritated skin....La Roche Posay Thermal Water. This always helps my skin when its irritated.

free skin care · Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:02 am

I second the LRP Thermal Water. LRP Cicaplast is really soothing and hydrating too. And both should be easily available to you in the UK.

I switched from Buf-Puf to chemical exfoliants (AHA and BHA), and it went pretty well.

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