Congested Skin
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Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:02 am

Hi guys:) I was just wondering if anyone could help me or have any ideas

A lady at a skincare place said i have congested skin. I have heaps of little bumps across my forehead and chin, as well as heaps of whiteheads and blackheads, and some acne scarring so basically my skin does not look smooth at all and very damaged. But the treatment at the clinic meant alot of peels and i cant afford that, but i was just wondering if anyone has tried any products for congested skin that actually work?

I am using clear skin care at the moment from online but hasn't seemed to help but i came across Dr Lewinns Reversaderm package and was wondering if anyone had tried the Glycolic Clarifying Cleanser?

thanks Smile

free skin care · Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:14 am

it would be ideal if you were able to get those beta peels at the dermatologist office since this would be the best solution for congested skin. Try using the Jan Marini glycolic cleanser and Jan Marini glycolic cream

free skin care · Tue Jun 25, 2013 9:30 am

Its hard to say what the best course of action may be, but if they said that its ONLY congestion and not some kind of infection you'd need to eradicate first, and your budget is minimal, I'd try the above, or some mild home peels and ocm massage.

I'd say try to space out one or two facials at the salon, whatever you can afford, but only if you absolutely feel good and trust the place. They can help remove the already existing whiteheads & blackheads, and surface buildup, while you begin the process of taking care of your skin yourself at home. It won't be an overnight fix. It'll take ongoing upkeep.

There are some nice fruit peels that are inexpensive, or there are loads of diy things you can try - asperin masks, lactic acid/yogurt masks, and following everything you do with something as simple as an apple cider vinegar & water toner should help calm your skin.

Read up on all those here, and on ocm massage - 50% olive oil & 50% castor oil. If its too drying, use less castor oil. It may seem like it gets worse, but the congestion needs to be "pushed" out of your skin first, and once that happens (after a couple of months) you should see improvement.

Good luck!

Tue Jun 25, 2013 11:49 am

As an alternative to peels, have you ever tried a microdermabrasion cloth? I've been using one recently and I've noticed an improvement with the blackheads and acne, I've only used it twice so far so I can't give a full review of it yet. But I've bought a SA peel in the past, and it surprisingly didn't do that great to clear up the blackheads and acne, maybe I wasn't using the right products at the time, I don't know, but it was disappointing, I was thinking it was going to eradicate everything. It was aslo a mild peel, 15 or 20%, but I find this to be working just as well so far, if not better. I don't know if all cloths are the same, but the one I bought is a waffle weave one. Before, I was using a cleansing brush (pretika), and I thought I was getting good exfoliation with that...but I couldn't believe the difference using the cloth, it gives way more exfoliation and helps get those blackheads out, the brush couldn't do that.

free skin care · Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:17 pm

I agree, micro-fibre cloths (which are I believe, the same thing) are awesome. Just remember to be extremely gentle with them.
Plus you can get them for a dollar! Don't wash them with your regular laundry, or the cotton will gum up the micro fibres and render them useless. Never put them in the dryer, either.

I tried brushing my skin, both face and body, and didn't like it. I really wanted it to work but it seemed too harsh for me.

free skin care · Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:06 am

If budget is an issue, there are some cheaper solutions that I have tried and found helpful, but a bit too drying and peeling for me. Neutrogena makes a toner than has 2% salycilic acid. It is simple and effective at shoughing off skin, but it makes me peel badly sometimes. That might be good for you in the early phase of clearing out the "gunk," but a product you use less often when its under control. Also, I order generic Retin A from all day chemist in India. It is super cheap and works. The actual product is cheap, but shipping is expensive, so I suggest ordering lots of different kinds in bulk in one order so you can see what works for you. These are great budget solutions, and can free up room in your budget to get some higher quality products to make a good routine.

free skin care · Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:12 am

If you want to splurge on better products, DDF 10% Glycolic Oil Control also has 2% salicylic - it is more gentle and moisturizing that the Nuetrogena. Also Being True Cosmetics has a great "purifying" line for acne control.

Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:38 pm

LoriA, which microfibre cloth do you recommend?
There are so many out there just on Amazon.. And they look very different.

free skin care · Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:52 am

I have had this issue as well and find that OCM works, but takes several weeks to completely clear out the congestion. It can also get worse before better. I use 1/3 each of castor, almond and hemp oil, but I have also used other combinations. The key is castor oil, but you don't want to use more than 1/3 because it can be very drying. I use the oil in the shower each morning after my face is nicely steamed. I do Tanaka massage with the oil and finish with just an all over massage. I also wash before and after with Neutrogena acne wash. I also make an exfoliate that I use once a week to remove the dead top layer to allow the congestion to escape. I combine about 12-15 uncoated generic aspirin with just enough water to get it to dissolve into a paste and then add a teaspoon of honey. I lightly massage this into my skin avoiding eyes. I find it works best with my clairsonic because it is somehow less pressure than I use with my fingers. If your skin is inflamed, I would skip this step or be sure that it is VERY lightly massaged. Then I rinse. If you have extra aspirin mixture, use it on your neck, chest, elbows or hands. It is great to smooth the skin. Hope this helps.

free skin care · Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:00 am

I also like NCN Pumpkin peel. This might be the better choice over the aspirin scrub if your skin is inflamed.

free skin care · Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:15 am

CarolineP - that's the beauty of micro fibre cloths, they're so cheap, you can get 1 of each and pick the ones you like best and get more! I've got a stack of them, a few different kinds. Then do a load of just microfibre laundry (no harsh/perfumed detergents/softener/bleach, no dryer).

There's a really thorough post on here somewhere about how and for what purpose they were first manufactured (auto industry!), what to look for, and how to look after them, etc. They said to avoid dark (esp blue & green, I think) or vivid colors because the harsh dye damages the microfibres. I actually weeded a few light green & blue out of my collection only because they felt like regular washcloths. Others were shiney/slippery and felt like they slid across my face and felt too synthetic - ones with a soft, refined, natural cotton-ish kind of feel seem better. Get them in the cleaning aisle or automotive section.

Or get one off one of the skincare sites if you don't like the thought of putting cleaning cloths on your face, or would prefer something fancy, and pricey! Smile

Just be *extremely* gentle with them. They can cause a lot of damage (a la rug burn) if you go in assuming they're like regular washcloths.

Tue Jul 09, 2013 9:42 pm

Cleaning aisle or automotive section, that's perfect. Thank you! Wow I'm so excited to give this a try Smile

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