Help me choose another product?
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free skin care · Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:41 am

Hello everyone, this is my first post. I just found this site and really wish I'd found this years ago! I am very much a novice with skin care and makeup. I need help and it's time sensitve. So while I continue using the search function, I thought I'd ask for help.

I'm 29 and have adult acne really bad on my chin. Most of it is cystic. I've always had acne issues but it became cystic three years ago. I've had two bad experiences with dermatologists so I'm a bit nervous about trying another. After much reading here I realize I need to change my skin care routine.

I'm almost out of cleanser and need to buy something in the next few days. I currently use Clinique 3 step with the acne cleanser. Yes, I've read all the bad posts about Clinique! My skin has gotten better since starting Clinique but it's still quite bad. I need something new. I was thinking about the Dr H or Juice Beauty lines. They keep showing up when I search for "acne" here.

Can I just get a cleanser and replace the other products when they run out? Or is it best to switch to a new line all at once? Is there a chance of products interacting badly if I use the clinique I have left along with other products? I'm not used to spending this much on skin care so there's a bit of a sticker shock. But I'm desperate and need to find something better. Thanks!

free skin care · Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:40 am

Hi Misha! Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry to hear about your adult acne. I'm 24 and have been struggling with acne for years--- it's so frustrating! Changing up your skincare routine can definitely be a very pricey venture, but I definitely think it would help you to see more results in terms of your acne. Clinique's 3 step system is so harsh, I'm sure your poor oil glands have worked themselves into a frenzy trying to keep up, which definitely isn't helping your acne, I'm sure. Cleanser is definitely a good place to start. Recently I had a really miraculous acne experience--- I talked about it in another post, but I'll describe it again here to give you some ideas for products to start with. I came home the other evening to find a couple of really swollen blemishes on my forehead, and some more sprouting up, so I sprung into action. I washed my face with Zenbiotic's Face Wash (www.zenbiotic.com---GREAT for acne!), zapped the blemishes with my Zeno, did a Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel, toned with Zenbiotic's toner, spritzed my face with PSF's O2 serum, put Juice Beauty's Blemish Serum on the blemishes, and then dusted my whole face with Bare Escentuals Rare Minerals. Miraculously, I woke up to a completely clear face, so I think I've stumbled onto a great system. HTH!

free skin care · Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:32 pm

Ok - someone else is welcome to jump in here to contradict me.

I purchased the Dr. H Daily Face Care kit for Oily skin a while ago because I wanted to try out their products before committing. I was really disappointed in the cleansing cream at the time, because I didn't feel that it actually got my face clean enough (it was last summer, so with the heat and humidity, I really felt the need for a good cleanser). Anyhow, based on reading here, I think that I needed to use both the cleansing milk and the cleansing cream. I like my other Dr. H products (toner and masks), so I may try again using both.

free skin care · Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:01 pm

manslayerliz...I did come across your other post and it's posts like those that have convinced me to try something new. It blows my mind that anything can get rid of blemishes that quick! I'd settle for a blemish lasting less than a few weeks. I think I will try a new line and get rid of the Clinique stuff.

Emma_Jane...I was going to get that same kit simply because it gives me a way to try it before diving in with my wallet. I haven't found any other lines that offer something like that. How much product does the kit give you? I'll probably find out right away if it irritates my skin. But because of the price I was thinking it's only enough last a few days.

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:37 am

You're right, Emma_Jane. The Cleansing Cream doesn't actually remove make up, etc, so you need to use a separate cleanser before the Cleansing Cream. Sometimes I use the Dr. H Cleansing Milk, and sometimes I use another cleanser, but I gotta have my Cleansing Cream!^-^ I also think your idea about the Dr. H oily skin trial kit is great. I've actually been thinking of getting it myself because I want to try the masks and the day oil...

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:44 am

Try the homemade version of the cleasing cream, you do not a seperate cleanser with this one Very Happy

Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:24 am

I was waiting for this topic to come up again because I have found what works for me too, and it isn't anything very expensive. In the book "The Acne Cure" Dubrow and Adderly recommend a combination of three things, each does a bit to help but together they are great. What I use after cleanser ( I like Clean and Clear deep action cream cleanser) is 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide gel from Dan Kern's 'clear skin regimen'. I put it on, massage it in, and then brush my teeth then rinse it off in the shower after about 5 minutes. After shower I use Neutrogena Clear Pore cream, which is a 2% salicylic and not at all drying. Then do the whole moisturize & makeup thing. At night I use either BP or SA under moistruizer as well. The third thing they say to use is 'glycolic acid' between 8&10%(I will try Pimple Eraser when I run out of the samples I've been using). I only use this about twice a week. Somehow the combination of these three chemicals have turned my acne off, at age 45 I finally have clear skin. Now I just have to target the signs of aging that were coming along while I was busy fighting zits.
This is long, but it works for me and isn't pricey, although I do like the 'high end' products too.
Isn't this forum fun?

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:24 am

Manslayerliz, will clindamycin work on cystic acne? Ever since I have started using it a few weeks back, or two, can't remember, I haven't had any new pimples. Would this help on her chin also?

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:30 am

Actually, it's been so many years since I've used Clindamycin, I couldn't say for sure if it would help cystic acne or not, but I'd say it's a great sign if you haven't been getting break outs! Please keep us updated!^-^

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:48 am

I don't know if I should keep using it. I use it twice a day and now I am wondering if my skin will become dependent or immune to it? But, I am afraid to stop using it because my skin is so clear. Usually I would have a couple days a months when my skin would be soo clear and then bammm new pimples and they took forever it seemed to clear up. Now my skin have been clear since two day after starting to use this stuff.
Does anyone know if you can become immune to it? If its an antibiotic then I would think it would.

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:36 am

I don't really have an acne problem but I do get hormonal pimples on my chin. I had bought the MD Formulations sensitive kit and it has the facial cream and critical care cream in it. Anyway, within a day and a half my pimples were gone. I finished using the kit but had some facial cream left. Just recently I have been using Meaningful beauty which was a bit ho hum. I got more pimples on my chin again this month, applied the MD facial cream from last month and again, they disappeared by morning.

I don't know if it is just the facial cream of the combo of the critical care cream which is brilliant too but it worked for me. It is expensive to buy them outright but the packs are reasonably priced or you could always ask for a sample and see if it happens as quickly for you too.

Juliette

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:42 am

razinkane clindamycin is supposed to be very effective for treating cystic acne. You are right about becoming immune to it. Like any antibiotic, it is possibe to develop bacteria resistance. How often does this happen? I don't know but I have heard that using benzoyl peroxide in combination with antibiotics helps prevent bacterial resistance. But benzoyl peroxide has it's drawbacks too and if the clindamycin alone is working for you then I would be very hesitant to add benzoyl peroxide to your routine!

free skin care · Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:53 am

Thanks everyone, such great info. I'm going to Sephora tomarrow to get something. I don't think I can wait for something to get here by mail. My cleanser (bar of soap) is the size of my thumb nail! Finding this site has saved me and my skin from another trip to the Clinique counter. I'm really excited and can't wait to start trying stuff. I'm finally hopeful that I can deal with my acne. Now it's just a matter of finding what works for me. Thanks for the ideas

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