Zit wars
Out of nowhere, my complexion has exploded in breakouts; I suddenly resemble a thirteen-year-old boy. Pinpointing the cause of zits is always difficult, particularly when you’re a beauty gal who regularly switches up her routine and enjoys “experimenting” with products. (Substitute the word “experimenting” for the phrase “being stupid” and then we’re in business.) Could it be the samples of antioxidant infused, anti-aging Vivite? (But the skincare rep said it wouldn’t flare up my skin!) The hint-of-color-plus-SPF Neutrogena Color Boosting Sunblock SPF 30? (Um, the bottle says non-comedogenic.) The two days when I ran out of cleanser and was using whatever I scrounged up in D. and A.’s cabinets? (So why isn’t their skin breaking out?) Or maybe it’s that good ol’ standby: stress. Whatever the reason, I’ve been fighting back with military precision: first up, thirty seconds of careful washing twice daily with my beloved Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash. At night, I apply Clean and Clear Persagel 10, which contains 10% benzoyl peroxide. In the morning, I apply Bare Escentuals Rare Minerals Blemish Therapy, an invisible, sulfur-based treatment, followed by the peptide-packed, one-of-the-few-products-that-definitely-does-not-make-me-break-out In An Instant Instant Firming Serum. Finally, I’ve been blasting myself once a day with the ThermaClear Acne Treatment Device, a handheld bacteria-killing badass that is very quickly making a difference. Of course, all this complexion warfare is leading to dryness, but my skin and I are negotiating a fragile treaty whereby it understands that if it stops looking like a pizza, I will stop infusing it with benzoyl peroxide and sulfur. Alors, then everybody wins.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I had a similar issue a few weeks ago. I wasn’t sure what to do and ALMOST bought Proactive. But I went on a trip to Target and found Neutrogena’s Advanced Solutions Complete Acne Therapy System (it was on sale). It’s been pretty good. Not perfect, not the wonderful solution, but better than it was. My skin was very dry at first, but I took the weekend off (back to their Oil-Free Acne Wash), and now it seems to be better. Also, I’m moisturizing more.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I am with you on this one! I don’t really have awful skin, but I met with a dermatologist when my face was horribly broken out and she prescribed Retin-A Micro. I just started the regimen (every other day with a mild cleanser like Cetaphil) and my face looks the worse it has ever…Thank GOD for Bare Minerals huh :), it is the only thing covering the ghastly stuff I hide behind (without, I hope, causing more zits)
April 10th, 2008 at 4:27 am
Hello
Have you been considering the stress factor? When I feel too stressed, a few days later (never immediately, I don’t know why it acts like a time bomb), I find pimples on my face (and ezcema on my fingers).
Maybe what you need is a nice massage and spend good times with your friends and family.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Try the Patricia Wexler line with AcnoStat. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks and my skin is much better. I will still get a spot here or there on my chin, but it usually my own fault (i.e. I mess with a tiny invisible little guy and it becomes a big angry guy).
I’m also seeing better results the longer I’ve been using it. It’s a salicylic acid based line but it also has anti-aging ingredients. I’m loving it. It was a real tough decision to stick with one whole line for a while though. I love experimenting with products, too!
April 10th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Jolie! I found the most amazing trick to have beautiful skin without pimples! And it cost almost nothing: Biologic green tea! You have to drink a lot of green tea, and then you use the soaked bag and rub it all over your face. You let it dry. You ca put infused tea bags in the fridge to use it before going to bed. The green tea contains a lot of ati-oxident that penetrates into the skin. It also makes the skin heal faster. If you do a web search, you will see the wonderful reviews about this trick.
Sorry for my english, I speak french!
I hope it helps you!
Emma
April 10th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Bonjour, Nadine! Well, I’ve found that the only thing that works in terms of getting my skin under control is…birth control pills. Not just Ortho-Tricylcen, either. Most birth control pills will help stabilize your hormone levels (which are often largely responsible for breakouts). It’s just a matter of finding which one will do the trick for your individual needs. I used to have huge zits on my face, but now I mostly get a couple of small ones a month. Still annoying, but at least not the crater-inducing breakouts of the past.
Salut,
Marjorie
April 10th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Do you like the BE Blemish Therapy? I meant to ask you about it in my comment to your last post, but clicked on “submit comment” before I remembered to!
Hope your skin clears up soon!
April 11th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Hmmm…i read somewhere that you’re not supposed to mix salicylic acid (Neutrogena acne wash) and benzolyic acid together…is that true?
April 11th, 2008 at 9:57 am
My skin was so clear up until I quit using birth control last July. I had the occasional breakout, but rarely had problems.
Suddenly once I removed the depo factor, I breaking out horribly on my cheeks and forehead. As bad skin had never been a problem for me, I had no idea what would fix it. The oil free acne wasn’t wasn’t helping when combined with the moisturizer I was using. I started trying different products in hopes it would get better. Now I’m using the Boots No. 7 cleansing cloths at night with the Olay Complete All Day UV Moisture Lotion for sensitive skin and the Oil Free Acne Wash in the shower in the mornings and other than the odd pimple, have found my skin to finally be clear again. It could be that my hormones are also stabilizing after being off the shot for nearly a year, but I really don’t want to test that theory and find out, since what I’m doing seems to be working!