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Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:25 am  |
If a cleanser has pore clogging ingredients should it be a problem for acne prone individuals or would it cause clogged pores? On one hand it seems like it would be bad to use any product with problem ingredients. But wouldn't they be rinsed off? Would it matter whether the cleanser is a foaming cleanser or a cream one? What if you use a toner afterwards? I would like to hear your opinions and experiences.
Here is why I am asking. My pores have been really clogged lately. I have more milia than usual and have even been getting blackheads which I never get. I am trying to pinpoint the cause of this but never considered my cleansers. However, a few days ago I had opened a new box of my usual morning cleanser, Yonka Cleansing Cream, and as I was throwing it away I saw that it had comedogenic ingredients. So now I am wondering if this could be the source of my pore problems. I am also concerned because the new Amore Pacific Foam cleaner that I just got has comedogenic ingredients and I am not sure if it would be okay to use it or not. |
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Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:47 pm |
Well first, to get this off my chest, I finally found a site - Space NK that listed all the ingredients of the REN products (I was almost going to buy full size without sampling.....) AND I did not like them at all...
Their cleansers contain myristates...!
I think if you used a cream or non foaming cleanser which leaves a residue, it would be good to check the ingredients especially if you find yourself sensitive to such ingredients. Plus, if you are layering several products with glycols, petrochems etc, it can all buildup too.
I used to be cursed with blocked pores, simply because of the texture of my skin - it made me prone to them, and being unaware of reading labels, no matter what I used it would just cause me to have patches of blocked pores.
Now I use a gel cleanser, and always a cream based cleanser to rebalance the skin, and I only spritz toner, a hydrosol or Dr H stuff, (wiping simply sensitises the skin more).
Also, I make sure to use a clay based mask to draw impurities out, at least once a week - I avoid those pre-mixed masks which can contain glycols and petrochems to give a moisturising effect.
I know that you have rather sensitive skin, have you tried using DIY stuff to cleanse your face? Like glycerine and oils? What cleansers have you used, are you sensitive to Dr H and Jurlique too? |
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:33 am |
I think that Juice Beauty Apple Cleanser is amazing for blocked pores!!
(Just thought I'd add in my 2 cents!)
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:54 am |
That is not good about the REN Miranets.
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:21 am |
miranets,
It seems that you are saying that a cream cleanser is more of a problem if it had comedogenic ingredients than a foaming one. I use the Yonka Cream Cleanser in the morning and remove with a muslin cloth (from what you are saying removing this with a cloth is not a good thing to do since I have sensitive skin!). In the evening I use Kose Cleansing Oil which I rinse off and then use Cellcosmet Purifying Gel cleanser. I may stop using any cleanser in the morning and go back to just rinsing with water. I have said this before but the only reason I started using a cleanser in the morning again is to have a "clean" face for my C serum to sink in.
I have never been a big mask user but did try the Borghese Fango Mud a while back and it really irritated my skin. Since my skin in easily dehydrated I also do not want to overdry it with a mask. Do you have any recommendations for a good clay mask that won't overdry or irritate my skin?
I have considered OCM from time to time but just don't have the confidence in it to give it a try. I am also afraid to give the DHCC a try partly because I feel it will make my acne worse and also because my skin does not seem to like exfoliation from particles. I have tried the Jurlique Ultra Sensitive Face Wash and this worked great for my sensitive skin. My only complaint is that it slightly overdried my skin. I have been considering going back to the Jurlique but I have a small stock of foaming cleansers to try first. Sometimes I even think about going back to Cetaphil!
Lucinda I have looked at the Juice Beauty products and there are so many ingredients in them that I don't think my sensitive skin would be happy with! However, I did order the Green Apple Peel but more so to compare it to other AHA peels. |
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:29 am |
Hi Theresa! I was using a lot of cream cleansers and I noticed I was getting more and more clogged pores and milia (OK, when I say more, I actually mean it was just getting out of control, LOL!), but when I started using the Juice Beauty Green Apple Cleanser regularly I found it not only helped with the clogged pores, but also with fading red marks from acne. It hasn't irritated my sensitive skin either--- if you'd like to try it, I'd happily decant a sample for you! (We sensitive-skinned gals have to stick together!!)
I def. agree with miranets that a clay mask will also help, but I avoid those pre-mixed masks like the plague these days as they tend to irritate my skin. Instead, I mix up my own clay mask using either Dr. H's clay or Burt's Bees. (These days I'm using Burt's Bees since the texture is lovely and it's so affordable.) If I'm experiencing a lot of breakouts I load my mask up with tea tree oil, otherwise I just mix it with green tea, paint it on with a foundation brush or sponge, and let it do its magic!
One more thing--- I don't know if you are a toner girl or not, but if you're experiencing a lot of clogged pores I think it's a good idea to use a toner to make sure you've removed the last bits of residue after cleansing. HTH! |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:05 pm |
Liz thanks for the offer. Actually I am getting a sample of the regular Juice Beauty Cleansing Gel with an order I placed with Sephora recently. This seems similar to the Green Apple one except it doesn't have any AHAs so I will see how my skin reacts to the other ingredients. The main reason I am reluctant to go with the Green Apple Cleanser is because of the AHAs. My skin does fine with glycolic peels but just cannot tolertate everyday use of AHAs.
Has every cream cleanser you tried caused problems or just most of them? I am really thinking of just switching to water in the mornings since using a cleansing gel or foam twice a day is too much for my skin. The Yonka Cleansing Cream is very gentle and non irritating which is why I chose it but if cream cleansers are going to be a problem then maybe I should just skip using them. Another alternative I am considering is using the Bioderma Crealine H2O cleanser in the morning. This is a cleansing water and is no rinse so it is sort of like a toner. I do not consider myself to be a toner girl but since I have three of them stashed away perhaps I should try using them.  I may consider the clay masks at some point. My problem is that I am trying not to change too many things in my routine at once so I can see what works and what doesn't! |
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:22 pm |
Hi TheresaL,
I would think cream/milk cleanser would be more pore clogging than foam cleansers in general. whenever i use a cream/milk cleanser, i always feel a film.
i would stick to those airy foam cleansers--the ones that pump out foam. i use that in the morning to rinse away all my night creams and stuff, then exercise, and then use other types of cleanser. a really gentle one is arouge's foaming face wash which i bought especially for my mom who has sensitive skin:
http://www.shopzenyaku.com/shop/1002.html
i don't know very much about ingredients, but i have heard that it's pretty pure. the ingredients are listed on the site. let me know if you find so otherwise. skinceuticals also has a few foaming cleansings, but i have not tried them.
as with toning, i never wipe my face with toner and cotton, but rather spritz or pat the toner on, and i don't notice a difference with pore clogging. |
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about to hit my 40s, retin-a user, differin, LRP |
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:39 pm |
skincareaddicted I have a trial pack of the Arouge that I haven't even opened yet! In fact I think you are the one to bring the brand to my attention in the first place.  I was planning on eventually trying the Arouge cleanser as my evening cleanser. I will have to see how gentle it is and whether I think it would be gentle enough to use twice a day. I am still leaning towards the water only option for mornings but am undecided on this.
I am the same way with toners when I use them. I just put some in my hand and pat it on. So it is good to know that you don't seem to experience clogged pores from doing it this way. |
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:00 pm |
Theresa - I have the same problem as you - really sensitive skin, but a tendency for clogged pores. What's a girl to do???
I have just started using PSF green tea cleanser followed up by their R and R toner(I've been using the toner for a while, but the cleanser is brand new). I have high hopes that maybe this will work - it isn't irritating my skin, now I just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that it also cleans my skin well enough to avoid clogged pores 
I'll let you know how it goes. If you find anything that works for you, please post your success |
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Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:34 pm |
| Theresa, correct me if I am wrong - just tyring to get an idea of your skin type before I give out any suggestions.. Were you the one that did the 70% glycolic peels for milia/blocked pores? If so, did you find irritation after using the peels, or what were the side effects in terms of sensitivity? |
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Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:39 pm |
elizasue please do let us know how the PSF products work for you.
miranets my skin type is combination/easily dehydrated/very senstive and acne prone. I pretty much have it all!
Yes I was getting 70% glycolic acid peels at my derms and stopped a few months ago. I know that stopping the peels was not the cause of my clogged pores because I started getting the clogged pores within days of my last peel. I originally started getting the peels because I had some milia (nowhere near how many I have now) that I wanted to get rid of. I did not have blocked pores in general and did not have blackheads both of which I have now.
My skin never seemed to have a problem with the peels. My face would get really red right afterwards and calm down to a pink within 10 minutes or so. The glycolic acid stung while it was on and I could feel stinging for 20 minutes or so afterwards but that was the extent of the discomfort. I experienced some tightness and depending on the intensity of the peel I occasionally had some raw spots or patches of skin that would turn brownish. My skin did flake and peel a few days later at which time I resumed using my Differin. All in all I would say my skin tolerated the peels very well. I actually am considering doing some peels on my own. I would start out at a low % and move up to stronger. I am not sure how often I will do the peels but am thinking every two weeks to start. When I got them at my derms I did a series of 6, two weeks apart then went to once a month. I currently use MaMa lotion once a week. I will probably be swithching to a plain Mandelic Acid 10% or 15% and would like to be able to use that at least every other day. As I said before I got the green apple peel but mostly to compare this to regular AHA peels. I would prefer to go with something where I can know exactly what the AHA % is and the pH. Like I mentioned above for some reason my skin does not like using AHAs everyday in leave in products. I also cannot use BHA which is why I am hoping that my skin will tolerate the Mandelic. What would you suggest? |
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Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:46 pm |
Hi Theresa, thanks for sharing.
I think I have very similar skin type and problems as you, and I also went through a stage where my skin tolerated acidic products well but it seems the results were short lived and I ended up with very sensitised/blemished skin afterwards. I'll just give you some background info and my suggestions afterwards (sorry it's gonna be long)
I used to have very oily skin in my early teens, which in turn caused lots of blocked pores and I did have several milia that took yearsssss to disappear. When I first started to venture into skincare I began with the supermarket basics.. like Clearasil etc etc, then I moved onto the Clinique 3 step with a whole bunch of other blemish/pore minimiser products (and in hindsight, I realise I was smothering my skin with alcohol and AHAs). For the first time I had remarkably clear skin after about 2 months of using Clinique, but then I experienced severe redness and peeling.
Now, after almost 2 years, I realise that my skin, only on the areas I have applied the stronger products, has become very dehydrated/tight and always have fine lines if I squint very hard - and these areas are places which are most prone to current blocked pores and if I'm not careful, develop into milia. So in a sense, these are the areas which have almost formed a scar-tissue like surface. Compared to areas of my face which were never exposed to acne products, they are virtually smooth, poreless and have no redness or dehydration and I never have blemishes or blocked pores.
I have also used Differin and another prescription acne topical, they worked for the blemishes, but not as a whole face treatment to clear blocked pores because it was too drying.
My first suggestion is, have a really really close look at your skin, and compare it to areas which were not exposed to peels or acne products, such as eye area or the area of skin near your ear lobe. If you do find that they are drastically different in texture, then it is a sign that your skin has started to develop scar-tissue like surface. Usually the peeled area is a lot more 'shiny', especially straight after cleansing and drying, if you look under a strong light you can see a difference.
The area of skin which is different, usually is more thin, and pore size is either very enlarged or constricted. Once this skin surface changes, it may be the cause of your existing problems of unusually common occurence of blocked pores.
My suggestions for your skin care routine, would be a change in how you treat your current condition and how to help your skin recover from the peels. I would try avoiding any acids for a while, and try alternative and gentler ways to encourage your skin to heal and normalise again.
I really hope this doesn't come across to sound like one of those push-over conversion things! I just want to share my experience with you and the methods I have discovered after trial and error that have really helped me.
HTH |
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Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:55 am |
miranets I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with me. No it does not come over as a push-over conversion at all!
I will have to think about this and debate it. I took a good look at my skin after I washed my face this morning and other than the milia and pimples it looked pretty good. I noticed that I do not have as many blackheads as I thought but I do have a lot of milia. My pores that are not clogged look very good. They are small but I would not say they look constricted. My skin does look a little dry in some spots though. I only have one spot on my face that looks "different" and that is on my nose. Actually, I never put any AHAs on this area because it is so easily irritated. My skin does not have a shiny apperance except for the area on my nose.
Let me make sure I have this correct. Did it take two years after you stopped using AHAs, Differin, etc. for your skin to develop the scar type skin or did you notice it sooner and it is just still there after 2 years?
I am always careful to not use products that cause irritation and avoid products with alcohol listed high on the ingredient list and avoid using AHAs except as peels or if there is so little in a product that it doesn't make a difference. I have been using Differin for over 8 years and yes I have to be more careful using other actives but the Differin itself does not usually cause irritation (if it does I back off using it). For years I only used the Differin and no exfloiation until I started getting the peels done. I did the peels for 2 years and if anything it made my pores look ever better (they honestly never looked bad until a few months ago). My pores did not start looking yucky until two years after I started the peels.
If what you are saying is true then I should not even consider using Mandelic Acid or doing peels. Do you think that using a C serum with ascorbic acid could be a problem too? I have never been one to do much exfoliation other than the peels which I stopped in May and the MaMa lotion (which seems to have helped with the clogged pores a little). I stopped the peels because I did not want to continue with something that was so "rough" on my skin and because it did not help with the milia like I hoped it would. I should say it did not help with the milia as much as I hoped it would. I only want to start doing them again to clear up some of this mess with my pores. I will have to think about whether that is a good thing to do or not. BTW if I start the Mandelic I will be half face testing it so it should prove interesting! The Mandelic is supposed to be better tolerated by sensitive skin and I will see if that is true for me.
Do you think that my skin is damaged from the peels and that is why I am getting all the clogged pores? Why now? Were the peels despite the fact that they were damaging my skin keeping my pores clean and then when I stopped them my skin ended up damaged and that damage is causing my clogged pores? My pores actually started getting bad days after my last peel. Was this just inevitable due to the accumualated damage or did something else cause it? What would you consider alternative and gentler ways to encourage my skin to heal and normalize? BTW I have come to realize that while I may or may not have damaged skin I do have dehydration. And I think that this whether from products or dry climate (the later a big problem for me) tends to make things worse.
I hope I don't sound critical here. My mind works by trying to poke holes in new ideas it encounters. If it can't do so then I start accepting those ideas. |
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Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:35 pm |
Theresa, you don't sound critical at all It's great that you ARE aware of what you use on your skin.
Well firstly, I'm glad that your skin has not developed any of that scar-surfacing after the peels, which means that your skin can still recover to it's original texture.
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| Let me make sure I have this correct. Did it take two years after you stopped using AHAs, Differin, etc. for your skin to develop the scar type skin or did you notice it sooner and it is just still there after 2 years? |
I had been using harsh products for much longer, probably since I was 15. But I never really scrutinised my skin, until about 2 years ago, so the texture of my skin could have started to change as soon as I started to use those products. Plus I never used sunscreen or moisturised properly, so all of which would have worsened my skin. The scar type skin used to also look very raised (inflammed and porous), so if I looked close, I could actually see a distinct outline of red patches around my forehead, temple, tzone etc. This area is still quite porous.
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| If what you are saying is true then I should not even consider using Mandelic Acid or doing peels. Do you think that using a C serum with ascorbic acid could be a problem too? |
If you want to try a whole different approach to see if you skin can get back to the way it was before the peels, I would use spot treatments for the milia and a gentler approach to treat the rest of the skin, even if it is still oily/blemish prone. I don't have a problem with Vit C on my skin, though sometimes the 20% does cause tingling and itching for a few mins, but I never get irritation or peeling from it. I would choose a good vit c serum without lots of fillers, to help with cell turn over.
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| Do you think that my skin is damaged from the peels and that is why I am getting all the clogged pores? |
I think it is quite apparent that the peels are the cause of your breakouts. They may lift surface blemishes, but change the skin in a way that actually causes them to become more prone to them. I think peels treat existing problems, but do not do anything to prevent them.
The damage can also be accumulated, so it sort of all comes out after several sessions of peels. Peels general thin out the skin over time, so it also does leave your skin more prone to dehydration, worsening your condition if you did have it before.
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| What would you consider alternative and gentler ways to encourage my skin to heal and normalize? |
First, don't be afraid to use oils on your skin. Perhaps not something as strong as OCM, but just light and non-refined oils to help with normalising sebum production which can help with future blemishes.
I would change your cleanser. I never thought natural skin care worked because my skin was still always clogged even using the entire Dr H range (except for the cleanser). After I used the cleansing creams, it was so amazing, I had never seen such clear skin in my life. The Dr H CC is a little stronger than Jurlique, but both can 'sting' esp after a hot shower - but if you use it on its own after skin is dry, it also helps to dry up the blemishes.
I know you are worried about the particles in these cleansers, but I don't find them abrasive at all. Jurlique is more like a lumpy pulp, and if you don't rub but only press, it shouldn't irritate at all.
As for the milia, I massaged tea tree oil onto the spot ever night for a few weeks, avoiding any other areas of skin because it will dry it out. It does take lots of time for the milia to dry up and be purged.. |
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Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:31 pm |
| miranets wrote: |
I think it is quite apparent that the peels are the cause of your breakouts. They may lift surface blemishes, but change the skin in a way that actually causes them to become more prone to them. I think peels treat existing problems, but do not do anything to prevent them.
The damage can also be accumulated, so it sort of all comes out after several sessions of peels. Peels general thin out the skin over time, so it also does leave your skin more prone to dehydration, worsening your condition if you did have it before. |
miranets I did notice that when I was actually getting the glycolic peels I would always get a pimple of two 9 to 10 days afterwards but I never got clogged pores until right after my very last peel. How do peels change the skin to make it more prone to blemishes? Conventional wisdom is that they are helpful for acne and blemishes. I agree that peels thin the stratum corneum and because of this can compromise the skin barrier but they also thicken the epidermis. Also, I would think that occasional peels would have less of a dehydrating effect than daily AHA use since you are only going in once a month or so and disrupting the skin barrier while with everyday use it is a constant thing. I guess I am not convinced that occasional peels are a bad thing. I haven't ruled it out but I am not sold on the idea yet! I would think that if peels/AHAs are the main cause of my clogged pores then using MaMa lotion should have made them worse and not better. I can't say that the MaMa has been a miracle but it does seem to help.
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First, don't be afraid to use oils on your skin. Perhaps not something as strong as OCM, but just light and non-refined oils to help with normalising sebum production which can help with future blemishes.
I would change your cleanser. I never thought natural skin care worked because my skin was still always clogged even using the entire Dr H range (except for the cleanser). After I used the cleansing creams, it was so amazing, I had never seen such clear skin in my life. The Dr H CC is a little stronger than Jurlique, but both can 'sting' esp after a hot shower - but if you use it on its own after skin is dry, it also helps to dry up the blemishes.
I know you are worried about the particles in these cleansers, but I don't find them abrasive at all. Jurlique is more like a lumpy pulp, and if you don't rub but only press, it shouldn't irritate at all.
As for the milia, I massaged tea tree oil onto the spot ever night for a few weeks, avoiding any other areas of skin because it will dry it out. It does take lots of time for the milia to dry up and be purged.. |
Actually I don't have any issue with putting oils on my skin and have been considering doing so. The OCM concept just scares me as I don't see how this can clean my skin! While using oils and then removing them with a cleanser seems okay to me.
Which cleanser do you think I should change? I am also leary of using cream cleansers as I have had such problems with them in the past. I figure I can maybe use them once a day but I really feel uncomfortable not using a cleanser that I feel really cleans (not overstips but just thouroughly cleans) my skin at least once a day. I just don't have the confidence in cream cleansers to do that! I guess I need to work up the nerve to try one of the cleansers you mention. Do you think it would be okay to just replace my current Yonka Cream Cleanser with the DHCC or the Jurlique? I may have to try the tea tree oil. Do you use it pure or mix it with something?
I really appreciate you taking the time to go through all this with me. |
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Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:22 pm |
Not being a dermatologist, I can only speak from my own experience. I think overtime, peels will thin out the skin, and may or may not stimulate collagen production (depending on post-peel care) in the long run. The thickening of the epidermis may not be in the original texture of skin before you started peels - so pores and follicals may change in a way that makes regular sebum production difficult to surface.
Also, peels could be severely dehydrating your skin (and moisturising simply doesn't replace the lost skin carrier), thus aggrevating sebum production which can cause milia - which I think is the most severe form of blocked pores.
I have only slowly introduced astringents back into my skincare, such as using the Dr H steam concentrate (plant alcohols) as a weekly toner. But I have seen much better results using Decleor balms which are so rich and emolient, I was such a sceptic before I first tried. I was actually TERRIFIED when I first went to a Dr H consultation, the very thought of using even a cream on my skin horrified me - I was very slow to change over, and kept on using gel cleansers and serum type moisturisers.
I have used DIY version of Jurlique, with higher concentrations of nut oils (around 50%), mixed with a hydrosol, glycerine and ground oats - which actually leaves my skin 'squeaky' and tight clean.
In the mornings, I would suggest just rinsing with warm water to dissolve any buildup and using a warm or cold muslin compress to pat dry - but do not wipe. You can still use a gel cleanser at night, for heavy duty cleaning, but finish off with a cream or oil based cleanser - like Jurlique, not the other way around! It defeats the purpose of OCM if you remove the oil afterwards.
Oils, especially when mixed with glyerine or lecithin, can emulsify with water - meaning it can be rinsed clean.
I remember you asking about a weekly mask treatment, sorry forgot to answer. I find the Dr H clay cleansing mask to be great, but very drying if you allow the mask to dry on your face. Dr H actually recommends it to be kept moist at all times, for 20 mins. If you cut the Dr H mask with pure kaolin or rhassoul, it is less 'drawing' and may be a good way to start.
As for the tea tree, I use it neat, but learning the hard way, only use it on large or raised blemishes, it is simply too dehydrating for treating blocked pores.
You can always try the 40 ml Jurlique, and ask for a sample of the DHCC if you order. If your skin liked the Jurlique sensitive face wash, stick with it, but you can try a very 'light' OCM afterwards and rinse with warm water to remove the oil.
I think most of the changes you make would not have instant results, it would take months to actually notice 'benefits'. I have at times during my Dr H/natural skin care stage, wanted to give up and go back to conventional AHA treatments.. but I'm really glad I stuck through. |
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Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:21 am |
miranets I will have to really think about this as it would mean some big changes!
I am starting to think that my skin does better with more natural products. About 7 months ago I switched from using mostly natural products (Jurlique, Sanoflore and Doux Me) to using products with chemicals. The change was sort of gradual. At first the products that I used had only a few chemical but I guess as I got used to them I started feeling comfortable with more and more chemicals in my products. (I never felt comfortable with chemical cocktails as I like to put it!) The thought that my skin does better without all these chemicals has been on my mind alot lately. I also have been thinking about the dehydration thing and how much of a problem that is. I don't know if I will go to all natural products or if I develop a routine of carefully chosen actives plus natural products. I don't want to give up my Differin (or another retinoid) or my Vitamin C. I am still debating the AHA thing. I am not comfortable with using peels long term but may do a few to help get rid of my clogged pores (only after I get the situation under conrol). I do want to try using the Mandelic Acid to see if that will help with my pores and with my acne. For a long time I was using benzoyl peroxide for my acne and since giving that up in May I am finding that the Differin by itself is not suficcient to control my acne.
While I may not be ready to make any dramatic changes right now I have very much appreciated your input on this. You have challenged some of my beliefs about what is the best thing to do and I appreciate that. It has really got me thinking about things.
Just one question. If you use OCM or a cleansing cream that leaves some oil on your skin would that make it more difficult for any actives your apply (Differin, Vitamin C) to be absorbed into your skin? Okay, I actually have two questions? What is your opinion of enzyme peels? |
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Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:44 pm |
The type of cleansers that I have used, that leave a 'film' on the skin, tend to be only plant oil residue, which is actually very easily absorbed into my skin once I rinse and pat dry. I have also wondered of thick films stop other products from penetrating (as I like to begin moisturising with my cleansing step).
I have not had issues with oil based topicals (like Decleor balms), because I can see great effects from that.
I am not sure what sort of base Differin is in, I am guessing petrolatum, so it should be able to emulsify with oils.
As for water-based products, like vitamin c serums, I haven't had issues with absorption because I can still feel the 'tingling' when I apply, which must mean it is reaching into the skin.
I don't think plant oil films can act as barriers, unlike petrochemicals.
Now onto enzyme peels. I haven't done any specific reading on these, so I am not sure how to differentiate them from acid peels. I am guessing from personal experience enzymes act a lot faster and dissolve skin cells.
I have used a DIY enzyme emulsion, which was a little strong so it kicked in within 10 seconds and left my skin quite red..... but VERY smooth, no dryness or irritation afterwards. Once again, I am trying to avoid anything that accelerates exfoliation when I don't have enough products that can match into terms of accelerating cell turn-over.
PS. I have just started using the REN sensitive skin care range, the samples should last about 2 weeks. On first impressions, the cleanser is just ho-hum and doesn't have any 'damage control' - something that calms redness while i cleanse. But the Omega 3 serum is amazing, it soaks into my skin within minutes, actually leaving it looking matte. When I saw the ingredients for REN, I didn't see anything remkarable about the Omega 3 serum or Omega 3 moisturiser.. but I am liking both so far. I'll let you know how it goes. |
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Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:30 am |
miranets my understanding of enzyme peels is that they are in general gentler. Although I imagine that would depend on the specific formula. Once a week I use a cleanser that contains enzymes and it does not irritate at all. I have used two different types of these cleansers and both have been very gentle. In the past I have used enzyme peels and these seemed pretty gentle too. I may have to do more research on this.
I have been interested in the REN Omega 3 products for a while now so yes please let me know how they work for you. BTW where did you get samples of the products? |
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Wed Sep 20, 2006 12:33 pm |
I just remembered the formulation of my enzyme emulsion.. I did also put willow bark extract (salicylic acid), I guess that's what made it sting. My skin generally does not loterate acids well anymore..... esp lactic!!!!
I emailed Ren directly, and they asked some specific questions about skin type, if you want to try the Sensitive range, just make sure you reply with a skin condition that they would think suits those products. The first set they sent got lost in the mail, so they were pretty nice to send another. |
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Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:01 pm |
miranets I just noticed in your signature that you are only 20!  I never would have guessed! Your knowledge and experience with skincare issues just made me assume you were much older.
Are you in the US? I wonder if REN would send samples all the way to the US? |
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Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:49 pm |
| I'm much further, in NZ actually. Ren is based in the UK, so they should ship to the US unless they have exclusive distributors already. |
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| Thu Mar 06, 2025 3:11 am |
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