Product Order/Rountine...Help!!
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free skin care · Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:30 pm

Hi y'all. I've been lurking and learning here for about three months, and have spent a ridiculous amount of money based on your great reviews and recommendations! My skin has been somewhat...I'll say troubled...all my life, but I've just recently started to "invest" my time and money into it. I think turning 35 this year made me start looking too closely at my face in the mirror and it was a bit startling!!

So anyway, I've bought a ton of products over the past few months, and am now challenged by the right order to use them in. And also which products should not be used in conjunction with each other. I know a lot of this has been covered in other threads, but I'm still a bit lost. My skin is oily yet a bit sensitive, blackheads on my chin and nose are the bane of my existence, some hormonal breakouts on jawline and chin, some acne scars on chin and cheeks, and starting to see all of the signs of aging like crows feet, saggy eyelids and general lack of facial skin firmness. Oh, and perhaps a very slight case of rosacea. Oh again, and I have fair skin with freckles, blonde hair and blue eyes.

I guess maybe the easiest thing would be for me to list out the products I'm using and perhaps some of you generous experts can help me get them into the right AM and PM order?

Cleanser: Lavantine(La Vitton) Water Soluble Cleanser for Oily Skin or Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser (also occasionally Burt's Bees Orange Essence Cleanser or OCM using grapeseed oil, castor oil and sweet almond oil)
Toner: Zenbiotic Oxy Prep or Burt's Bees Rosewater & Glycerin
Other stuff: Zenbiotic O2 serum, Remede Super C Serum, Skinbio Super CP Serum (or SuperCop 2x, which I got as a sample but haven't used - are they different strenghts of the same thing?), Differin cream, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Senstitive, Skinbio Exfol Serum (or cream, have samples of both), Juice Organics Revitalizing Eye Cream, as well as various samples of HA, Emu oil, etc...

See...told ya I've spent a ridiculous amount of money! Shock

Anyway, I certainly realize this is all way, way too much to be using at once. My main concerns are balancing my oily skin, the blackheads, acne scars and the onset of the dreaded overall sag. If anyone has thoughts on how to make an AM, PM, and weekly routine out of all of this chaos, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise, I'll just keep buying more stuff and there'll be no room left for me in my bathroom!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

free skin care · Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:54 pm

Quote:

Skinbio Super CP Serum (or SuperCop 2x, which I got as a sample but haven't used - are they different strenghts of the same thing?)

Hi Persephone - I can see you're an enthusiast Laughing

I'm not very good at routines, but just wanted to warn you it's not a good idea to set out with the supercops; you need to acclimatise your skin first with CP serum or CP classic (creme) or P&R 3 (CP cream + retinyl palmitate). These are the lowest dose products for beginners. Even using those some people water them down to begin with. You could give yourself bad irritation particularly on the eye area if you set off with these. HTH Molly Smile

free skin care · Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:17 pm

Molly wrote:

Quote:

Skinbio Super CP Serum (or SuperCop 2x, which I got as a sample but haven't used - are they different strenghts of the same thing?)

Hi Persephone - I can see you're an enthusiast Laughing

I'm not very good at routines, but just wanted to warn you it's not a good idea to set out with the supercops; you need to acclimatise your skin first with CP serum or CP classic (creme) or P&R 3 (CP cream + retinyl palmitate). These are the lowest dose products for beginners. Even using those some people water them down to begin with. You could give yourself bad irritation particularly on the eye area if you set off with these. HTH Molly Smile

Thanks, Molly. I ended up with the Super CP Serum and SuperCop by purchasing the Acne Scar Reduction kit from Skinbio, mostly because it included 1 oz sizes of both Super SP and Exfol Serum, along with .50 oz sizes of Super Cop 2X and Exfol cream...all for $30! It seemed to cheap to be true. I have been diluting the Super CP serum 4 drops to 4 drops water per Scalawaggirl's schedule and haven't noticed any irritation after 3 days. Hopefully, that will keep me out of trouble. Haven't touched the SuperCop yet.

free skin care · Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:51 am

I think Scalawaggirl's schedule was for the ordinary CP serum. It's taken her two months to graduate to SuperCP serum and she's got tough skin. Anyway, bad news to introduce any new active every night in a row in my experience - work up to it; every 3 nights, every two and sparingly then more nights, more product. It might creep up on you yet.

I see no-one's come to your rescue

Maybe you should tell us what you're doing now and then it's easier to make smaller, step by step suggestions. At the moment it's too wide open. Is Differin new to you. Have you used C serums before? Are you used to AHAs/Salicylic? All of these need introducing gradually, almost one by one, especially if you've got sensitive skin.

free skin care · Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:14 pm

I agree with Molly. It's best to start slow and when you're certain there is no irritation, introduce the next item of interest. Believe me, it will save you much pain and sadness (kidding but it can be a negative experience).

As for the CPs, I have CP Super Serum on order but have not introduced it yet. I am still using regular CP serum, 8-9 drops each night along w/other CP products for different areas. I intend to slowly add (1 drop at a time on the same schedule I used before) the CP Super Serum to my CP Serum until I switch over completely - this is, of course, barring any issues that may arise. I'm just ready to kick it up a notch and Molly's right, my skin is tough.

Unfortunately, you may not see any issues for a bit longer. Sometimes, they crop up. I think with CPs, it's best to just assume you will get the uglies and then do everything on a slow-boat schedule so that you never do. That way, you can enjoy the benefits w/out the aggravation or defeat that the uglies can bring.

So, let's see your current schedule and maybe we can make more sense out of what you're doing.

free skin care · Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:28 am

Thanks, ladies. I was sort of wondering if I'd made the question a little too broad. Smile

My routine, such as it is, goes something like this...

AM
Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Zenbiotic Oxy Prep Toner
Zenbiotic O2 Soothe & Detox
Super C Serum
PSF Phyto Lift Cranberry Eye Gel
Juice Organics Revitalizing Eye Serum
Moisturizer (currently a Skin Medica sample)

PM
Lavantine Oil Cleanser
Zenbiotic Oxy Prep Toner
Zenbiotic O2
Super CP Serum OR Differen (alternate nights)
Juice Organics Revitalizing Eye Serum

I also use Juice Beauty GAP Sensitive occasionally.

I'm wondering if I can work in the Exfol Serum somewhere to help with the blackheads. Also, does diluting the Super CP waaaay down make it any safer to start with it? Every third night?

Anything I seem to be missing here?

Thanks again for your advice. Smile

free skin care · Sun Nov 12, 2006 2:30 pm

Quote:

Also, does diluting the Super CP waaaay down make it any safer to start with it? Every third night?

I understand the Super CP serum to be 40% stronger than the ordinary CP serum with added salicylic acid for penetration so I guess you could use Scallywag's original watering down schedule and recalculate based on that. The CPs should be good for balancing your oil production. I think alternate nights is fine if you're watering it down enough. You can put it over your differin later if you want to use it more often. I'm not sure when to add the Exfol - I'm not a multi-layer person and I don't know the Zenbiotic products at all.

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