Reddit mentions: The best body lotions

omg!! toners = life for me
I once was a dehydrated, overexfoliated mess. I started using every moisturizing product under the sun and my skin loved it. I repaired my moisture barrier and everything was great. Until it wasnt. Suddenly every cream or serum made my skin clogged and breakout. Even the same exact products my skin once loved. I was so sad. I loved my multi step routine and suddenly anything beyond just cleansing and toning (western toners) made me break out.

Then I came here and asked for help and ta-daa!! I was introduced to the world of AB toners. Yesssss my multi step routine has been back in full swing ever since and consists almost entirely of toners.

So without further ado (sorry, these are not all AB but I wanted to include everything)

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence Watery texture. I love this product. At first, I was unsure it was doing anything. I was only using it once a day and didnt notice much. Until I stopped using it and noticed that not only did I lose a certain glow in my skin, but also my following products didnt absorb the same way. I now use it twice a day and love it.

Hada Labo Gokujun Moist Thin serum texture. Really good product. Its kinda thick for my skin (again, my skin will clog up really easily from too heavy of product) so I cant use it everyday, but if I am extra dry for some reason or accidentally overdo it with actives, this will resolve my issues literally overnight. Always good to have around. Considering trying the light version.

SAEM Urban Eco Harakeke Light gel texture. OMG my favorite toner. It has the most amazing herbal smell, makes my skin feel refreshed and plump but not sticky. Calms any redness or irritation. So nice, I use this twice a day.

Thayers Witch Hazel Cucumber Watery texture. I know this is a western toner and a lot of people have VERY mixed reviews on it. But for my oily skin, it is awesome. Keeps my oil in check, and the cucumber is so refreshing and calms redness and breakouts. I would not however recommend this for dry skinned folks.

Caudalie Vinoperfect concentrated brightening essence Watery texture. Another one of my all time faves. This is an "exfoliating" type, as it contains glycolic and lactic acids. But it is suuuper gentle. Keeps my skin texture balanced and bright. My skin responds very well to this product. I use it on off days of when I use my stridex, just in case (I dont want to go back to that over exfoliated life)

Pyunkang Yul Essence Thin serum texture. I see this one getting a lot of love here and Im so glad because this stuff is definitely awesome. Makes my skin feel hydrated, has a short list of ingredients and gives my skin a certain kind of bounce. Love this one.

Whamisa Green Tea Serum Toner Serum-ish consistency. OMG loooove this toner. It contains alcohol so I would probably not recommend it for dryer skin. But again, me and my oilyness love it. Its soothing, hydrating, feels great, dries well, and my skin was responding so well to it that I upped it from once a day to twice a day and have had great results.

Toners on my wish list:
Secret Key Milk
Want so badly to venture into the Sulwhasoo life but muh goodness they are expensive and The Balancing Water Ex that is highly recommended has a lot of the same ingredients I am getting elsewhere in my routine. Eh, someday.

Lastly, here is a thread I posted last week asking for thoughts on some of the more expensive toners. With my love of toners, I was curious to hear experiences as to whether the prices are worth it or not.

Happy toning!

I would like to preface this by saying this is what I would do for me personally knowing what I know now about my own skin. If I were making suggestions for someone else I think this list would be very very different.

Under $50:

Heimish All Clean Balm [$17]

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion [$11]

CeraVe Healing Ointment [$9]

Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen [$13]

This particular budget was actually a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. I prioritized Sunscreen first, because that is an important product to me and it is a product that was difficult to find something I was happy using every day. I picked the cleanser next because I knew it was going to be pricey at this budget. I really think oil cleansing has done wonders for my skin. I especially like balms. I find them much easier to use. I occasionally like to use a straight oil, but on a daily basis using something with an emulsifier is just more practical. In reality if I had to stick to this budget all the time, I would probably sub out the Heimish for an emulsifying cleansing oil like Kose or the Simple one. I just haven't used either of those yet, I wasn't comfortable substituting that for the sake of this exercise.

I don't think I would be totally happy with this routine long term. It's not as hydrating as I tend towards and it doesn't have any actives. The CeraVe lotion is nice, but I wouldn't LOVE using it. I picked this over the CeraVe cream because I find that the cream does not actually sink into my skin. It's nice over other thinner formulas, but it tugs at my skin uncomfortably if used on its own.

Under $100

Heimish All Clean Balm [$17]

Stridex Maximum Acne Medication Pads [$4]

Dear, Klairs Supple Proparation Facial Toner [$22]

Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution [$15]

Holika Holika Skin and Good Cera Super Cream [$17] (this is discontinued, but as long as it's $17 at Amazon or CVS where I bought it I will probably keep using it)

Jojoba Oil [$8 @ Trader Joe's]

CeraVe Healing Ointment [$3] [Travel Size]

Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen [$13]

TBH this is making me realize how much money I actually spend on my routine. GEEZ I DIDN'T NEED THIS TODAY. Essentially I just took out the CeraVe lotion and added my HG Hydrating/Moisturizing Layers. The Klairs seems like so much of a splurge here, but it really truly is one of my favorite products to use. It is very hydrating and soothing to me. I also added the Stridex because it's cheap, effective, easy to use and this is one active I know I can tolerate if I keep up my hydration/moisturization.

I think the CeraVe Healing Ointment is a true workhorse and I would never be with out it, BUT I don't actually use very much of it. I mean I bought my first 3 oz. tube 9 months ago and I don't think I've even used half of it. With the smaller budget it makes more sense to get a bigger tube because it can be SUCH a multitasker, but since I have a few more items in the way of "moisturizing" here, I would probably purchase a very small tube of the ointment (mostly for my lips and the corners of my nose) and also incorporate Jojoba Oil. I love Jojoba for cleansing and for mixing into other products. My very chapped lips also DRINK UP oils like no one's business.

I am ashamed to say this routine is still short of some things I use pretty frequently, but I would still be happy with it. It has everything I actually need.

Under $200:

Heimish All Clean Balm [$17]

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser [$15]

Stridex Maximum Acne Medication Pads [$4]

Stratia Soft Touch AHA [$14]

Dear, Klairs Supple Proparation Facial Toner [$22]

Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution [$15]

Stratia Rewind [$16]

Stratia Liquid Gold [$24]

Holika Holika Skin and Good Cera Super Cream [$17]

Jojoba Oil [$8 @ Trader Joe's]

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm [$15]

CeraVe Healing Ointment [$3] [Travel Size]

Raw Honey [$7ish]

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask [$5]

Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen [$13]

Again these all the same products as before. The three additions I use frequently are the LRP B5, Stratia Liquid Gold, and Stratia Rewind. The Raw Honey and the Queen Helene are masks that I know work for me and are fun to use. I very rarely use the honey buy itself, but it is lovely as a mask mixed with the Klairs (thanks to u/LGBTQBBQ for that tip). I've also included the Stratia Soft Touch here because it is on my list to try. I'm pretty sensitive to actives and I think a 10% Mandelic is something I could handle.

I actually really enjoyed having to think about my routine like this. I really thought I had paired down my routine quite a bit and I suppose I have, but even the $200 budget would not be enough to repurchase everything I use on a monthly basis. This (mostly) doesn't even include things I want to try or things I have around just in case or just because. Realistically I would have a couple more wash off masks, and eye cream (even though it is not at all necessary imo), at least one other kind of sunscreen, and maybe one or two other moisturizers.

But I guess I'm that kind of extra bitch.

...and like its a hobby right? It's ok to spend money on a hobby.

At least that is what I'll tell myself.

-pixi nourshing balm oil cleanser Take off with warm baby wash cloth (microfiber, 10 pk $5 walmart)

• botanical all bright 3-in-1 micellar cleansing solution$6.99 Walgreens. Works better than Garnier pink cap, gets everything off in one swipe, it’s amazing. Seriously. And moisturizing.
  
• la Roche posay toleraine purifying foaming face wash helps clear out the gunk, great ph neutral and helps dehydrated skin. Both my SO and I used this and were amazed what it did to our skin in 2 weeks time.
  
• cosrx 96 snail mucin (hydrating HA type serum)
  
• dr. jart ceramedin liquid a very moisturizing “toner” in a sense, it helps repair the moisture barrier and i love how my skin looks when i use this stuff. I also use it on wounds to help them heal faster.
  
• hada labo premium solution and hada labo premium milky lotion 2 step system. Use this for very dry days.
  
• drunk elephant frambroos serum will wake up with brand new skin everyday
  
• dr jart ceramidin cream As an all over layer once your done with these.
  -dr Dennis gross alpha beta exfoliating moisturizer a wonderful emollient moisturizer that wakes you up with brand new skin, think of it as a more moisturizer DE frambroos, that you can use on the days you don’t use DE frambroos to get moisture and exfoliating and plumping properties. It’s wonderful.
  
• ole Hendrickson banana bright eye cream wonderfully hydrating and also brightening under makeup as well, but can still be used at night. Plumps fine lines.
  
• organic jojoba oil dab over face and around eyes, over eyelashes, eyebrows. Jojoba oil soaks into the epidermis bc it is the same size if not smaller than our pore size (compared to all these other oils like rose hip, squalene, Marula, etc)
  
• organic grapeseed oil, one of the highest in oleic and linoleic acid, resveratol, omega 3, omega 6, vitamin E. Don’t use too much. jojoba, grapeseed, emu oil are my favorite. Emu helps anything put over or under cross the phosopholipid barrier and cross deeper into the epidermis.
  
• lock everything in with Cera ve ointment.
  
• la Roche posay double repair moisturizer UV SPF 30 Use this as a daily spf, it helps dehydrated skin.
  
  
  things to have in your arsenol
  
• stratia liquid gold a combo of niacin amide, cholesterol, other important ingredients in the right combo that can be added to your routine without going through the ordinary mindfuck.
  
• Niod flavonne mud mask a detox, purifying, protective, and responsive face mask. One of the few masks to actually have.
  
• sand & sky Australian pink sand mask Just do it. Have this in your kit because it Detoxes your skin and makes it look like brand new baby skin with small pores.
  
• biologique recherche mask Viviant You won’t be able to get this, but eventually hopefully down the road in your skincare journey you will understand why I am recommending this. One of the best in the world.
  
• Aztec secret healing clay a good clay mask that is multi-purpose. Can sprinkle in your bath with some epsom salt with a very, very detoxing bath. Or with a packet of aveeno (or off brand) colloidal oatmeal packs for calming, soothing yet detoxing bath.
  
• taste knockout tingling treatment You want to see your pores disappear and your skin stay nice and balanced? Use this the night before. It’s pure magic. I’ve never used biologique recherche pm1970 but I can only imagine this is the closest it comes.
  
• biologique recherche p50 pigm400 regulates melanin productions, evens and brightens skin.
  
• melazepam 20% I personally am eventually going to try this, it’s iffy to recommend this because I haven’t tried it.... but it’s definitely on my list.... for an even and brighter complexion. I’ve tried The Ordinary 7% azelic acid and that was cool but not much of a difference. This seems like you would actually see a significant difference. I personally use retin A and have for 16 years now, nothing would work as good (none of these products) without my retin a. Pore size would not be what it is today without it. Melazepam=Azaelic acid or whatever. It prevents re-keratinization, is an anti microbial, anti-inflammatory, and some other shit. This plus retin A are like a golden combo. Def on my amazon wish list.
  
• the ordinary 30% aha bha acid peel or whatever. One of the only TO products actually worth owning in my opinion. The rest are a clusterfuck that crowd up your sink and look cool. But only serve one individual purpose. Usually a mild one at that. By that way, watch that caffeine solution bc that can be very very drying. It can help with mild puffiness but lymphatic massage helps more to drain the fluid and all together help the cause, versus a solution that is going to dry out your skin in the end all.
  
  
  That’s all I’ve got. Obviously this is not a go out and buy all these products at once, but I do believe that every single product on this list would help your skin. The major ones being tarte knockout treatment, sand and sky mask, la Roche posay toleraine purifying foaming face wash, pixi nourshing cleansing balm, botanicals 3-1 micellar water, cosrx snail mucin, dr jart ceramidin serum, and the dr Dennis gross exfoliating lotion. Frambroos is magical too. Gosh. Just everything here. But those specifically are my hard hitters. If I had to go buy something right now to try and see results, it’d be tarte knockout tingling treatment. The results on resurfacing are amazing. Buy that and jojoba oil, it’s moisturizing, just pat it in. Cera Ve makes a big difference in occluding your products and really making them soak the fuck in,.
  
  

  I say this because I had skin just like yours about 3 months ago and I wasted my money on all these “HG” products everyone talked about, and they were pure shit. Find what YOUR skin likes girl,. And don’t go balls out all at once. Try one thing and see how your skin reacts, then start introducing like products. Don’t be afraid to return products to CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Sephora, Ulta. EVERYWHERE. Keep your receipts. Every. Single. One.

My acne is not as severe as yours, so I don't know if what I do would help you but we can give it a shot, right?

• I use CeraVe Foaming Cleanser in both mornings and nights to wash my face
  
• I don't use a BHA anymore
  
• I do use AHA, Alpha Hydrox 10% Glycolic in both morning and night
  
• I use a Salicylic Acid Peel 20% once a week, so far it has helped, I've only used it for two weeks
  
• After the peel, I use a MBD Black Pearl mask, mainly because it's soothing and very moisturizing, which is perfect after a peel.
  
• I moisturize with Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. People here vastly recommend CeraVe Moisturizing Cream because it has ceramides and it's pretty good.
  
• For sunscreen, I tried Cetaphil Dermacontrol, it's too oily and I didn't like it because it stung my eyes. I tried L'Oreal Ideal Moisture with SPF, didn't like it because it was heavy. I tried both Biore Aqua Rich and Biore Perfect Face Milk I loved both thoroughly; they are light, milky, smooth, they feel great on the skin and stay matte like it's nobodies business.
  
• I use the Thayer Cucumber Witch Hazel toner. No reason in special for the cucumber aside from me loving how it smells. It has helped me some with redness and inflammation.
  
  My routine is as it follows:
  
  AM
  
  
• Cleanse with CeraVe
  
• Apply Witch Hazel toner
  
• After it dries, apply AHA, wait for it to absorb 20 min
  
• Apply Cetaphil Moisturizer
  
• Apply sunscreen
  
• Makeup if any
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  PM
  
  
• Remove makeup and sunscreen with Pond's Cold Cream cleanser
  
• Wash with CeraVe
  
• Apply witch hazel
  
• Apply AHA
  
• Moisturize
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Every Friday night each week
  
  
• Wash with CeraVe
  
• Clean face with rubbing alcohol (my face is super oily)
  
• Apply Salicylic acid peel for 2:00 min
  
• Rinse acid
  
• Apply my beauty diary sheet mask for 20 min
  
• Moisturize with Cetaphil
  
• Apply thin layer of Aquaphor
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  And that's it, my skin has gotten way better and something that has also helped millions is that I went on the pill, since my acne is hormonal.
  
  Remember to patch test and to not abuse your skin, the gentler the better!!!! There are things that might or might not work for you, it takes a while to find what's best for your skin. If nothing works, you can always try PocketDerm or a dermatologist around your area, don't be afraid to ask for professional help. Good luck!
  
  

What's your total routine look like?

If your skin is sensitive, AVOID LUSH AT ALL COSTS. Essential oils and fragrances are terrible irritants - just because it's 'natural' doesn't mean it's gentle.

A basic routine is a cleanser, moisturiser and SUNSCREEN (not negotiable, yes even in the UK), with an optional exfoliant in the evening. You should probably try a double cleanse in the evening, using an oil cleanser first to break down the sunscreen, followed by a water based or foaming cleanser.

There are two kinds of exfoliation: chemical and physical. Chemical sounds scary, but is actually much much gentler on your skin than physical, which is the traditional scruffy, scrubby exfoliant that can super irritate your skin.

Here's what you could try:

AM:

• Cerave is now available in the UK, and it's packed with moisture barrier repairing ceramides. You could try their cleanser. You could try using a konjac sponge - Superdrug has them now - for some extremely gentle physical exfoliation. Basically, you soak this sponge in water and it puffs up into this deliciously squishy, jelly-like sponge. I've recently rediscovered cleansing with konjac sponges and have been loving it.
  
• I'm smitten with Hadalabo Gokujyun lotion, which is basically a giant bottle of pure hyaluronic acid serum. It' s a light, watery lotion that you pat into your skin. It works beautifully under sunscreen.
  
• Go ahead and lock the moisture in with this Cerave moisturising sunscreen. You need a quarter teaspoon to cover your whole face - that's more than you're used to doing. An easy way to make sure you're using enough is to draw a line of product up your index and middle finger, two strips total.
  
  PM:
  
  
• Double cleanse with an oil cleanser - this one by Simple is very very gentle and easy to find. To oil cleanse, pour a good tablespoon of oil into the palm of your hand, then massage over DRY skin. Add a splash of water to emulsify (oil cleansers have added ingredients that allow then to emulsify with water and rinse clean) and rinse with tepid water. Follow with your Cerave cleanser.
  
• Go in with another layer of Hadalabo lotion (I've actually been experimenting with the heavier Premium lotion, which is much thicker and feels like a traditional serum, so you could try that at night), and follow with Cerave in the pot to really lock in the moisture.
  
• OPTIONAL: you could try exfoliating at night. AHAs are good for surface exfoliation/getting rid of flakes; BHAs exfoliate within the pore and are great for preventing breakouts. The very gentlest AHA I have ever used is CosRX, but with your very sensitive skin you should definitely patch test. Just take a tiny bit of the product and dab it on one part of your face - for sensitivity I use my neck - every day for a week. You'll soon know if you have any issues.
  
  If you do choose to exfoliate, pat the product on AFTER you've cleansed but BEFORE you've used serums or lotions. Start using once or twice a week, then build up gradually as your skin gets more tolerant.
  
  Bonus: CosRX's Snail Mucin Essence is absolutely heavenly on irritated skin, so you might want to try that. If you do try it, patch test first, then pat the liquid on after your Hadalabo lotion but before any creams.
  
  Good luck!

It sounds like your moisturizer is not sinking into your skin because the whole point of a moisturizer is to lock in moisture.

When you told me your skin feels tight after a shower i automatically think dehydrated skin. SkincareAddiction has a good post on dehydration

What moisturizer do you use?

If I were you id use products with hyaluronic acid, like a serum or toner and then a gel based moisturizer and then at night a layer of moisturizer over that.

I also would take a break from harsh scrubs, cleansers and masks and only use the gentlest products.


Here is what I would recommend (Asian Beauty Skincare Exchange often has decants (aka small samples of products) so you can see and test out what works for you.

To get your skin back and hydrated :

AM:
Rinse skin with water -I don't know your skin type so if you're oily, use a very gentle cleanser (which i can recommend to you if needed)

Toner/Serum Hada Labo Hyaluronic Lotion Moist - many people on the skincare reddits I am active in rave about this product, because its super cheap for the amount you get and its soooo moisturizing. I personally think it is too light for me (I am veryyy dry and dehydrated, stupid midwestern weather lol) and I use the premium version of it. Some people complain about it breaking them out, but everyone's skin is so different. But I think doing a layer of this morning and night will really help.

Moisturizing Gel - this will add moisture and hydration to your skin. My favorites are Hada Labo Plumping Gel Cream and Mizon Snail Cream
You only need a little of these, but I find they are super hydrating and comforting. The Mizon Snail is an all in one miracle.

Sunscreen- pretty important step (in my opinion), some sunscreens have occlusives in it. Occlusives mean it is holding all the moisture in. Sunscreen choice really depends on your skin type (which I am happy to recommend you as well)

PM:

Double Cleanse but gently. First an oil cleanser (to remove makeup) and then a gentle water based one.

Same as morning

Then seal it all in with your moisturizer. I am so dry that I even put vaseline on my face at night and I wake up comfortable and hydrated.

As far as trying out products, if you're in the US, /u/Gothickornchic sells decants on Asian Skincare Exchange. She ships super fast and is so nice, and helpful. you can find her post here

If you don't want to do that, Amazon and most places have great exchange and return policies. Skin is very weird and its all trial and error :[ but i hope my recs help and if you need more recs let me know!

There are a variety of ingredients, methods, and products that could potentially help you. The problem is everyone is different, so it will have to be a careful trial and error (and patience over a period of time) before you can pinpoint the right solution for you and what the original cause was.

If you're going to try products, I highly recommend you buy small sample sizes if possible and try them out one or two at a time. Be careful and start small, especially with active ingredients. They're quite potent, which means they give powerful positive results, but you can also risk overusing them or using them in a dangerous combination. So do your research about correct application and be careful.

• BHA (salicylic acid), such as Paula's Choice or Stridex. A very popular ingredient with a great track record in preventing/clearing acne, clearing acne scars, and generally improving texture, tone, and color. I would recommend getting sample sizes of these to start.
  
• Azelaic acid is another great way to tackle both acne and scars. Paula's Choice has a great azelaic acid + salicylic acid combo that I highly recommend.
  
• Vitamin C. Can help greatly with acne scars. Paula's Choice, The Ordinary.
  
• Sulphur is known to be antibacterial and a mask containing sulphur can help suppress breakouts. But most likely will not help with scarring. Sunday Riley Saturn mask helped a few people I know with cystic breakouts.
  
• Differin. Contains adapalene which is known to clear and prevent acne. Be really careful and don't use with exfoliants.
  
• Benzoyl peroxide. Pretty commonly used to clear and prevent acne, but it has the unfortunate affect of bleaching clothes/pillows/etc and can be pretty strong. Paula's Choice.
  
• Aquaphor/vaseline/hyaluronic acid. It's possible your moisture barrier is not doing so well right now. Counterintuitively, being too dry can exacerbate acne. Also, if you're using exfoliants or other active ingredients, you'll want to make sure to stay hydrated and moisturized. Aquaphor, HA. Also recommend this Hado Labo HA cleanser and oil cleanser for a very hydrating double cleanse.
  
• Sunscreen. You don't mention it but you should be wearing a daily sunscreen that's non-comedogenic, especially if you are trying any of the products above. La-Roche Posay, Elta MD, Neutrogena.
  
  The list goes on and on but you can start your research here.
  
  To eliminate causes, pay attention to when you have breakouts. Make sure the products you're currently using are a good pH and aren't breaking you out to begin with. Don't eat dairy for a long while until you know it doesn't cause the breakouts.
  
  Hormonal acne is most often clustered on chin and jawline, is often cystic, and often flares up once a month (aka period). If that describes you, you might want to talk to a doctor or dermatologist about whether it's hormonal or not, because there are treatments for that, such as birth control or spearmint tea.

I'm no professional, but I've spent some time researching this subject, and lurking in the skincaretalk forums lightening community. There's a lot of noise to filter through, but I managed to find a few things that worked for me in getting rid of my own perma farmer's tan.

The first, and most important step of getting rid of a perma tan is SAP (Sun Avoidance and Protection). This literally cannot be emphasized enough, and aside from getting rid of a perma tan it's good for your skin's overall health. It looks like you've taken steps toward this, so snaps for you. Though it tends to leave a white cast, physical sunscreens (containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) are the best choice if you want to protect your progress, and prevent yourself from tanning again. Unless you're sitting directly in a sunbeam while you're inside, or in the path of direct reflections of sun, I wouldn't worry about sunscreen while inside. I personally wear long sleeves and sunscreen to combat against incidental sun exposure on the daily. If I know I'm going to be outside for more than a few minutes I have a UV umbrella that I use to protect against the sun. Do I look silly? Probably, but at least my skin won't look like an antique football when I'm older

As for actually getting rid of the tan, the first phase should be exfoliation, which it seems you've already started on. Look for products with AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid. Some readily available options you can buy at walgreens/CVS are Alpha Skincare Body lotion (12% glycolic) or Amlactin (12% lactic). The sidebar has recommendations on products more suitable for facial use if you'd prefer a gel or liquid option for this purpose. Do this for 6-8 weeks, and if your tan doesn't budge then add in active lightening ingredients into your routine.

Another user already mentioned some lightening ingredients to look for, and all these serve the purpose of inhibiting your melanin production and shouldn't make you lighter than whatever your lightest natural skin tone is. I personally used Kojie-San soap (containing Kojic acid) with a Salux cloth to great success on my body. I haven't used it, but I've heard Marie France soap has a higher concentration of acid and thus works more quickly than kojie-san. I used a combination of dermatologist prescribed Retin A and 4% hydroquinone on my face and neck, as the soap was too drying to use on my face. I have friends and relatives who have used Maxipeel #3 (which contains both Retin A and hydroquinone) successfully to get rid of their own face/neck tan, as well as acne scars as a bonus. Kojie-San, Marie France and Maxipeel are Filipino products, but in general, lightening products from Asian countries tend to be more trustworthy than products you may find from sub-Saharan African countries, which in my experience and research, stand a larger chance of having steroids in them. Wherever they are from, if you go for foreign products be sure to do your due diligence on the product itself and wherever you're getting it from. Amazon is usually a safe bet, but check the reviews.

There are some American creams available at the drugstore containing hydroquinone Ambi, with 2% hydroquinone, and Nadinola with 3% hydroquinone, the highest you can get commercially without a prescription in America), though without Retin A, these percentages will be largely ineffective for your purposes.

Getting rid of a perma tan will be a commitment, and progress will be slow, but as long as you are consistent and practice SAP, you'll get there.

Hi! I don't have a lot of specific knowledge about Japan, but here's some things that will hopefully be helpful:

1. The definition and regulation of cosmetics, functional cosmetics, and medications are different in every country, and I'm honestly not sure where BP or SA fall in Japan or how they're regulated.
   
2. I would look for an essence, serum, lotion, or cream with a known concentration of Niacinamide (usually 4-10%); there should be some good recs if you search the sub. [A quick search yielded a serum from 2Sol, and this MASSIVE list from u/GinsengBear and a Niacinamide wiki on r/SkincareAddiction.] Niacinamide is good for both anti-acne and anti-aging, and it helps support a healthy skin barrier. Making sure your skin is nice and hydrated helps your skin barrier also. You could try a Japanese lotion like Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion Moist, which is loaded with humectants and has the consistency of a lightweight essence. Once you're confident you have a healthy skin barrier, you could add AHAs, BHAs, Vitamin C, and/or retinoids. I personally like Azelaic Acid for acne. Cos de Baha has a serum that a lot of people like on this sub (this might be Korean; I'm not aware of any specifically Japanese Azelaic Acid serums). Note: Before adding any ingredients that increase cell turnover (like acids or retinoids), you need to have your daily sunscreen sorted out; these types of ingredients increase photosensitivity and make you more prone to sun damage if used without sunscreen.
   
3. Are you asking about face or body products? I would say if you're acne-prone, then I would avoid applying pure coconut oil on any areas of your face or body that are acne-prone, as it is highly comedogenic (it rates a 4 for comedogenicity on a scale of 0-5, 5 being the worst), so it can worsen your acne. I believe Nivea is a Japanese brand, and they have an in-shower lotion that I like a lot because I'm lazy about moisturizing my body, and it seems to work really well. There's a few versions that are all basically the same, but I prefer the Cocoa Butter one because the scent is the least offensive to me. Vaseline is a solid product; it's not comedogenic, but it's an occlusive, so you'd want to put something under it that would hydrate and/or moisturize your skin first (like the Hada Labo referenced above) and then put the Vaseline on top to lock it in. Otherwise your skin will still be dry, it'll just have a layer of Vaseline on top.
   
4. Nivea also has a lip balm that's marketed for men. It's supposedly not shiny/glossy, has no fragrance, has SPF 15, and doesn't taste like butt. If it was available to me in a way that wasn't $8/stick on eBay, I would keep it in my purse at all times, because this is exactly what I want in a lip balm. To help keep my lips from drying out over night, I put a little water + Hada Labo on them, let that soak in a bit, and then seal it in with Vaseline or an overnight lip mask on top.
   
   Good luck!

After using Philosophy and Proactiv facial products for a long time I suddenly began to break out regularly. As a teenager I never had pimples but mid-20s that changed. A friend recommended using Cetaphil as a moisturizer and it's really the best thing I've tried. (Her LA dermatologist referred her to it)

I have combination skin, mostly normal with some dry areas and live in an arid climate. Once daily face washing before bed with toner and make up remover, usually apply my moisturizer twice a day, and sunscreen once a day. A really easy, no fuss routine and my skin is much happier after I stopped messing with it and went the less is more route.

Here are my go to products

Cetaphil moisturizer
http://www.amazon.com/Cetaphil-Fragrance-Moisturizing-16-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001ET76GW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1369894969&sr=8-4&keywords=cetaphil

Witch Hazel Toner - At first the smell bothered me but it works. My boyfiriend likes it too.
http://www.amazon.com/Dickinsons-Original-Witch-Hazel-Perfecting/dp/B000GCQ04C/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1369895306&sr=1-2&keywords=witch+hazel+toner

Sweet almond oil is the best eye make up remover and moisturizer. It also works great as a men's shaving oil.
http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Sweet-Almond-Moisturizing-ounce/dp/B0019LVFSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1369895423&sr=1-1&keywords=almond+oil

This is my favorite splurge item from Philosophy.
http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Micro-delivery-Triple-Acid-12-count/dp/B006GACVYQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1369895490&sr=1-4&keywords=philosophy+pads

I use an Aveeno facial sunscreen and sometimes those make up remover pads if I'm in a hurry, am feeling lazy or during traveling. Natural make up is my style, I don't use a foundation or anything because my skin is pretty great. Favorite make up brands are BareMinerals, MAC, Benefit and Too Faced.

Hope this helps you to simplify your regimen and make your skin happy in your new home. : )

What are you currently doing for your skin? Tell me about your showering routine, especially.

Here are a few things that might help you feel better/look better:

1. Try to take cooler showers. If this means changing your typical water temp from hot to warm, it will definitely help. I'm not advocating ice cold showers, but cooler is definitely better for your skin. Especially during the winter months.
   
   
2. Use a mild soap/body wash. You may be doing this already, but it's a good place to start. Something that isn't loaded with fragrance is really helpful. Using really harsh body wash can really strip your skin and make it irritated.
   
   
3. Exfoliate once or twice a week. This will really help with any bumps and discoloration you may have. I personally use a salux towel loaded with a moisturizing, fragrance free body wash once or twice a week. This towel in particular is great at getting areas like your back and posterior that are hard to get thoroughly.
   
   You could also try chemical exfoliation on any breakouts or scarring you might have. Stridex in the red box is great for treating active breakouts (pimples, whiteheads, whatnot). For scarring or pigmentation, something with an AHA in it (Lactic or Glycolic Acid, for example) will really help. AmLactin is really excellent for this. When using an AHA, however, please apply sunscreen to any areas that your clothing doesn't cover during the day. It has been known to sensitize you to UV light.
   
   
4. Moisturize immediately after a shower. I don't know what your skin is like, or how much moisture it might need, but this step is really helpful with keeping your skin healthy and healthy looking. It heals faster when it retains moisture, and the texture will also improve. This could be applying baby oil while you're still damp in the shower, and then toweling off. It could involve a nourishing body butter (try to avoid too much fragrance though) after you've dried off. It could even include using a really thin, light moisturizer all over after you've dried off, if that's all you need.
   
   With all new products, try to buy the smallest size you can and introduce things one at a time. This will keep you from wasting too much money on products you don't like, and will alert you to any allergies or sensitivities when you introduce a new product.
   
   Sorry this is so incredibly long. Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions!

Hello!

I've been lurking on this subreddit for a few months, and while it's helped me put together a routine, I feel like there's more I can do to improve my skin!

To start, here are some pictures! https://imgur.com/a/0JLlV

I'm 31 (32 soon!), and I THINK I have normal/dry skin. Sometimes it feels tight or flaky in the morning, before I wash and moisturize. Overall my face is soft, but there's a tiny bit of roughness. I have the occasional breakout (around nose/chin), but it's never more than one or two whiteheads, and they usually go away after a few days.

My main concern is REDNESS, as well as whatever's going on with my forehead.

The pictures are after I've been up for a while, before I wash my face. This is about how my face looks normally, and I'd really like to reduce the blotches and have a more even skintone. My forehead is a little bumpy, with red spots.

Here's my routine!

AM

Splash some cold water

[MILK Makeup Matcha Toner
]
(https://www.milkmakeup.com/matcha-toner.html)

Mario Badescu Rosewater Spray

Cerave PM
(Brush teeth while it dries)

Shiseido Senka Aging Care UV Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

PM

Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser

MILK Makeup Matcha Toner

Stridex Red (Brush teeth while it dries)

Mario Badescu Rosewater Spray

LUSH Full of Grace serum


Cerave PM

Every once in a while I'll use the FOMO jelly mask from LUSH.
I also have this diy mask powder from WitchBaby that I haven't tried yet, but I was thinking about mixing it with Aloe.

I used the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion like, once. It didn't really do much for the pimple I had, but it could be because it rubbed off. Maybe I'd have better luck if I slapped a hydrocolloid bandage over it after it dries?

I WAS mixing Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil (new formula) with my moisturizer for a couple weeks, and it made my face feel GREAT, but I started getting more breakouts than usual, in spots that I don't normally break out.

I also tried using CosRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid every other day (alternating with Stridex Red) for about a month, and stopped because I didn't see much difference and I got tired of waiting 20mins to finish my routine.

I've been doing this since early January, and I haven't really seen much improvement. I really like to keep things simple (my PM routine is already on that border of being too much!), so I'd rather replace parts of my routine with things that could work out better, than add to it, unless it's super necessary.

I'm thinking about replacing the Matcha toner (which is kind of meh to me) and the MB spray with some Thayer's witch hazel (cucumber or rose?). I really like the MB spray because it makes it easier to apply moisturizer, but if I can do the same thing with Thayer's (in a spray bottle) then it'd be nice to combine the two steps into one product. And it'd be cheaper!

I'd like to add some sort of oil (rosehip seed? squalane?) that I can just mix with my moisturizer. I liked doing it with the Acure, but something about it broke me out.

I was also considering using Azelaic Acid instead of Stridex. If I did that, my choices would be either TO or Melazepam since I'm in the US.

I was also looking into the possibility of using Curology as a way to just mix all that good stuff into one product.

I'm very lazy.

Anyways, this ended up being REALLY long! I probably should have made this its own post, but I figured I'd try the daily help thread first!

Thanks for any advice!

Okay! I've got some stuff going.

For now, I'd say stop the noxema cleansing cream, and just wash your face with water. I'd also stop the ponds cream for now, as it again may be causing you more harm than good. It's cheap, but I also had a similar burning issue with it when I used it.

I managed to find a Canadian dupe to my moisturizer by scouring the crap out of canadian walmart, canadian amazon, and the drugstore you mentioned.

For your face, I'm gonna recommend Glaxal Base Moisturizing Cream, 100g for $10.42 on Amazon, or 450g for $24.99 on Amazon. This is a very bland (low ingredient, less likely to give you a reaction --- good idea for you) moisturizer that will get the job done hopefully without any sensitivity on your end. It is perfect for your face, and relatively reasonably priced. (I aimed for much cheaper, but I was looking for a really specific, basic moisturizer that was less likely to make you itchy)

A good hyaluronic acid may also help you, so I am recommending a hyaluronic Acid toner. It may seem a little much, but using a hyaluronic acid toner like this can help you get the moisture INTO your face, and then a protective/basic moisturizer like the one I recommend will help KEEP it in. The one I am recommending is amazingly cheap per mL and works really well. I am only just running out of this container exactly one year later (bought it in last May) even with daily, gratuitous use.

I recommend Hada Labo Goku Jyun Moist. Since you'll want to introduce this gradually, you could buy it from amazon here. Shipping takes a while from Amazon, but it's free and it's only $16 for the same thing on this site. Here is the same product at Ebay. The same product is also available at Yes Style with slightly faster shipping, but it's not free shipping.

They have several versions of the product, but I specifically recommend this one, because some of the other VERY similar serums from the line have more irritating ingredient lists.

If you feel like you need a cleanser, I'd recommend Spectro Fragrance Free Facial Cleanser for Dry Skin, 500mL for $11.58 at Walmart.

Since body cream covers a lot more real estate than the face, I looked for a much more reasonably priced body moisturizer.

I'd go with NIVEA Repair & Care Fragrance-Free 72H Body Lotion for Sensitive Skin, 625 mL, $5.98 at Amazon.

For the SPF ideas, honestly, unless you spend a lot of time in the sun, there is no need to start your skincare routine with a SPF. You're not using any topical retinoids or anything that makes you more sun sensitive. There is no rush to find this skincare ingredient.

Oftentime the skin is more sensitive when it's dry and inflamed like your'e describing, so you might have the worst time EVER trying to find an SPF that doesn't leave you itchy and unhappy. I'd say start with the moisturizers and/or the cleanser, and when you get some relief from your dry skin you can try to find a daily sunscreen.

​

Your routine will look like this:

AM

• Wash with water
  
• Hado Labo Goku Jyun Moist (Don't add into routine until 3 weeks after adding the glaxal base moisturizer, so you can make sure you aren't getting a reaction from the glaxal base moisturizer)
  
• Glaxal Base Moisturizing Cream
  
  ​
  
  PM
  
  
• Wash with water (If you get the Spectro Cleanser, only use it at night here)
  
• Hado Labo Goku Jyun Moist (Don't add into routine until 3 weeks after adding the glaxal base moisturizer, so you can make sure you aren't getting a reaction from the glaxal base moisturizer)
  
• Glaxal Base Moisturizing Cream
  
• Nivea Repair & Care Fragrance-Free 72H Body Lotion for Sensitive Skin, all over body.

I've had KP since I was a kid and am finally getting handle on it in my 30s. My current routine is glycolic lotion twice a day, creams on the affected areas 3-4 times a day, and then physical exfoliation and using zinc or sulfur soap a couple times a week to keep the bumps at bay. But since skincare is YMMV, here's the exhaustive list of almost two decades of treatment, in case some of these other things will work for you!

100% of the items can be purchased via Amazon in the US - it's pretty much the only way I shop.

Beginner Level

If your KP has just appeared, focus on physical+chemical exfoliation and moisturizing. Look for lotions with the following ingredients:

• Glycolic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/GLYTONE-Exfoliating-Body-Lotion-8-4/dp/B002D48QRK/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069563&sr=1-7&keywords=glycolic+acid+lotion)
  
• Lactic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/AmLactin-12-Moisturizing-Lotion/dp/B000TTPZQ6/ref=pd_sim_194_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000TTPZQ6&pd_rd_r=VMNB4G7XKMTDC8FCCPPW&pd_rd_w=3Hg0d&pd_rd_wg=6JKTf&psc=1&refRID=VMNB4G7XKMTDC8FCCPPW)
  
• Mandelic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Wu-4712052501942-Intensive-Renewal/dp/B00KQYJ9TI/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069480&sr=1-4&keywords=mandelic+acid+serum)
  
• Azelaic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MSSJP9Y/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Salicylic Acid [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Paulas-Choice-Weightless-Treatment-Antioxidants/dp/B00CS5U172/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069348&sr=1-7&keywords=paulas+choice+bha) (Or just use [Stridex Pads] (https://www.amazon.com/Stri-dex-Pads-Maximum-Strength-Pack/dp/B004WP0S74/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069393&sr=1-1&keywords=stridex&th=1))
  
• Retinol [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Retinol-Surge-Moisturizer-Cream-2-5/dp/B00OQQLNG4/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1493070177&sr=8-1&keywords=body+merry+retinol)
  
• Urea [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Eucerin-Skin-Intensive-Treatment-Lotion/dp/B0098YQH2O/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069275&sr=1-1&keywords=eucerin+urea)
  
  Paula's Choice and Derma Doctor's KP duty both work well because they combine a few of these, but you can also get Amlactin, Eucerin and Glytone which are more focused on a single ingredient. Nearly all of the Eucering, Gold Bond, Cetaphil, etc. creams that work have one of the above ingredients, so take a look at the back of the bottle or on CosDna to figure out what works best for you. Prescription creams include Carmol 40 and Ammonium Lactate in higher concentrations.
  
  Physical exfoliation includes:
  
  
• Salux cloths [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Salux-Nylon-Japanese-Beauty-Yellow/dp/B007IAE5WY/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493068965&sr=1-2&keywords=italy+towels)
  
• Italy towels [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C8DR1U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Hammam or Kessa mitts [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Zakias-Morocco-Kessa-Hammam-Exfoliating/dp/B0076YIPZU/ref=pd_sim_194_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0076YIPZU&pd_rd_r=XC3PKNKFAM2Z88K10WDT&pd_rd_w=M6c0H&pd_rd_wg=fsKqw&psc=1&refRID=XC3PKNKFAM2Z88K10WDT)
  
• Dry brushing [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DHHJ9S6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Sugar scrubs [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Hut-Sugar-Scrub-Moroccan/dp/B01EXDOQZY/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069250&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=sugar+scrub&psc=1)
  
• Salt scrubs [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F7WA2X0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• St. Ives wash [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J4YY4DM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Lush Buffy Scrub [[Link]] (http://www.lushusa.com/body/body-butters/buffy/02127.html)
  
  My dermatologist also recommended moisturizing CONSTANTLY, which really helped smoothe my arms. According to his instructions, "constantly" meant that I needed to be able to feel the lotion on my skin 24/7 for at least 3 weeks, which for me meant a new layer of cream every hour or two. Pretty much any moisturizing lotion or cream will do. I'm partial to [CeraVe Moisturizing Cream] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013GDK3SQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) (creams are less watered down than lotions, and this one drys down wonderfully, leaveing my skin feeling buttery but not sticky). Lush dream cream and Aveeno are also faves.
  
  Intermediate Level
  
  If a bit of exfoliation and moisture aren't working, you might want to consider if there are other skin conditions making your KP worse. For example, it turned out for me I had some fungal skin issues that made my KP bumps more inflamed. Topical steroids can help, but use with care as they can cause skin thinning. Try adding something with the following ingredients in to see if any of the following work. Also talk with your derm about getting a mild prescription treatment that might include an antibacterial or steroid component.
  
  
• Sulfur (typically sulfur soap, although you can also buy some creams) [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00685KUGA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• 2% Pyrithione Zinc (ZnP) (In [soap] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MWB0ZGE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1) or [cream] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N434AWO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) form)
  
• Tea tree oil [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017L8ZUJE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Clotrimazole [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Family-Care-Clotrimazole-Anti-Fungal-Cream/dp/B01K51YPCC/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069707&sr=1-1&keywords=clotrimazole)
  
• Hydrocortisone [[Link]] (https://www.amazon.com/Cortizone-Cream-Maximum-Strength-Anti-Itch/dp/B001AZTD52/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493069776&sr=1-1&keywords=hydrocortisone)
  
  As others have mentioned, sunlight also helps. Either give yourself 15 minutes of sun a day or look into UV treatments.
  
  Finally, consider dietary factors – for me cutting out dairy, sugar, and gluten when I really want crystal clear skin makes a big difference. Adding healthy oils and fats to your diet can also improve skin quality.
  
  Advanced Level
  
  I not only have KP, but years of scarring and redness (Post Inflammatory Erythema, or PIE) from picking at the bumps when I was younger. Laser treatments have almost 100% gotten rid of this and made my arms the smoothest and clearest they've been in almost two decades. However, these are pricey (for me, ~$200 a treatment and it took 4) and a serious time commitment. But if nothing else works, consider it.
  
  Other Tips
  
  
• If you pick, use a hydrocolloid bandage right away to make things heal faster.
  
• Vitamin C, niacinamide, honey/propolis, rosehip oil/rosewater, and all those other things this sub and /r/AsianBeauty love can really help reduce redness.
  
• Avoid overly hot showers, as this can be dehydrating. On the other hand, drink lots of water to hydrate internally.
  
• There are a ton of home/natural remedies out there, including using apple cider vinegar and coconut oil, none of which worked for me. These are seriously YMMV. Apple cider vinegar is low Ph, so if that helps, try using a [low Ph cleanser] (https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Foaming-Facial-Cleanser-Ounce/dp/B01N1LL62W/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493070492&sr=1-2&keywords=cerave+foaming+facial+cleanser) or [Ph adjusting toner] (https://www.amazon.com/MIZON-Daily-Clean-Toner-Fluid/dp/B00LUU42NU/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1493070538&sr=1-1&keywords=ph+adjusting+toner), which might be less harsh. Similarly, coconut oil is antimicrobial and moisturizing, so give it a try and if it works, investigate whether you need more moisture or antibacterial/antifungal ingredients in your other products.
  
• Last but not least, don't sweat it! KP is incredibly common and nothing to worry about. I spent years being super paranoid about my arms and keeping them covered up, only to discover none of my friends even noticed my skin or cared at all.
  

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths are the best if you have a bathtub. Bonus points if you have a bathtub big enough to soak your whole body. I just lie down with my legs criss-criss applesauced. There are magnesium lotions like this https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Lotion-Health-Products-Liquid/dp/B00K5QUAIG/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1493388568&sr=8-2&keywords=magnesium+lotion (sorry idk how to link on here) I've been wanting to try the lotion bc it's more economical than a bath, and more practical bc not everyone has the time/energy/luxury of being able to take a bath.
I also take magnesium citrate supplements to help with soreness and it seems to be reducing some of my pain. I started at 100 mg, but my pcp had me increase to 400 mg to help w migraines(which is 100% of the recommended daily intake)
If you get migraines, I recommend getting the strap-on freezable eye masks and keeping two in the freezer. I strap one on to my forehead, and when I'm too cold there, I flip it around to the base of my skull. And if I need more cold, I always have a spare in the freezer to replace the melted one.
Warm showers are nice when you have the energy to stand. If you don't, I used to keep a stool by the shower so I could sit and still be able to take hot showers with minimal energy.
If you want med recs, I'm on cymbalta and gabapentin. I recommend combining gabapentin with an antidepressant for long term use, and I use an NSAID (nabumetone, but ibuprofen and aspirin can work), analgesic (acetaminophen,) and caffeine combo to help as necessary. Also, don't be afraid to ask for tramadol! Sometimes there are really bad days that warrant the use of it. You just have to be careful w mixing it w alcohol and certain other meds.
I've heard weighted blankets can help a lot with pain, and have the added benefit of easing anxiety. They're quite pricey, but on etsy you can have one custom made for much cheaper than retail price. You can also make one yourself or have a friend that's into sewing make it for you. Estimated price for materials is 30-50 dollars if I remember correctly. Retail price on amazon is 200-300 dollars, and etsy prices are less than 200 depending on what weight you get.
Heated blankets are good too! They're like a heating pad for your whole body. If you live in hot places like california tho they're not always practical, but they're handy in the winter.
Invest in a good, quality mattress topper! They're relatively cheap. Never underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. Same thing goes for pillows - look for a good one for your sleeping style. Ikea has cheap ones that you can test out in store.
I'll edit as I remember more stuff.

After looking at your skincare and assuming you are a dry/normal skin type as you've posted, your routine is very invasive and more suited for an acne prone oily skin. The products you use are excellent because they are dermatologically effective, but you need to cool it with all the chemicals morning and night.

1. You shouldn't be worrying about what kind of cleanser you use but what kind of moisturiser you use for different seasons. Skin is drier during the winter so you need to use a richer moisturiser. And as you have pale skin it is also important you use a fitting moisturiser for the summer. For your skin type I recommend the hydrating cleanser, the foaming cleanser will be too drying.
   
2. BHA/AHA/Retinoids are too invasive for your eye area, stay clear from your eye area unless its an eye cream specifically for your under eyes. The formulation for under eyes and face is slightly different as your under eyes are more sensitive than the rest of your face, do this and you will have less wrinkles in the long run. If you want a good eye cream for dark circles I recommend this french brand.
   
3. Sure you can use BHA and AHA on your body but thats just a waste of money and time. The products you use on your face will have little to no effect on your body because the skin on your body is more thicker and resilient. I recommend exfoliating with a naturally derived product and moisturise your body as well because the moisture in your body's skin is as much important as your face. Mixing a few drops of rosehip oil to your moisturiser should help lighten the acne scars lighten over time.
   
4. I don't know what kind of skin products you mean, but simplicity is best. Use a moisturiser at night and then sunscreen on top during the day.
   
5. You don't need to lotion your whole body because your skin naturally produces oils to protect and moisturise itself. Make sure you do not shower or bathe in hot water because it strips your body from these natural oils, but if you have dry skin use the CeraVe lotion.
   
6. You will be more efficient and less messy as you become used to cleansing, grow a pair and suck it up.
   
7. Never self medicate or diagnose yourself with products you've researched on the internet, if you have rashes on your beard it is most likely because of the type of razor you use. You need to make sure you change your razor as frequently as possible (prevent bacterial infection) and also make sure the razor isn't too rough on your skin. Rashes could also be because your skin is dry (moisturise) or clogged follicles (use tea tree oil with your moisturiser).
   
8. Your normal moisturiser should be fine.
   
9. We don't actually reapply sunscreen, but we have sunscreen built into our foundation as well, so there is another layer of protection when we go out. Just make sure you carry a hat with you on extremely hot days, and wash your face and reapply sunscreen if you sweat during the day.
   
10. I prefer the pump as tubs are tricky to use in that you could contaminate the whole tub by dipping your fingers in. Pump is more hygienic and you can add a few drops of oil to your lotion if you want extra moisture.

Personally, I'd search for alternatives - not because I don't think the products aren't trustworthy, I'm sure they are!, but in all likelihood you'll be able to find a cheaper and easily accessible alternative. I get why derms push the fancy in-house brands, it's a great way to make money, but they do tend to be overpriced (and certainly aren't the only good & effective version of the product out there!) As long as it's not prescription-only, there are probably a bunch of affordable alternatives.

For cleansers, check out the cleanser wiki for recs

And as long as you're satisfied that the underlying cause has been treated, and since your derm is comfortable moving on to treat hyperpigmentation, you might want to look for alternatives to the cream as well.

> Ban A Tan Cream contains Arbutin Topical, Liquorice Extract Topical and Mulberry Extract Topical as active ingredients.

I know The Ordinary has an affordable arbutin serum! Imo licorice root and mulberry extract are nice gentle 'extras', but probably aren't doing the heavy lifting in terms of treating hyperpigmentation. They're still really nice tho! r/asianbeauty should have lots of good recs :)

If you want to check out other hyperpigmentation treatments, the PIH wiki is a good place to start. For body use, you might be interested in the following products:

Ingredient | Recs
| ---- | ---- |
AHAs | Alpha Skin Care 12% Glycolic Body Lotion - Glytone 17.5% Glycolic Lotion - AmLactin 12% Lactic Acid Lotion - Acne.org's big glycolic acid lotion
Arbutin | Hada Labo Shirojyun Albutin Medicinal Whitening Lotion (150ml (5 oz), so on the small side for body application)
Retinoids | Paula's Choice Resist Retinol Body Treatment (0.1% retinol) - Deciem Retin-Oil (hydroxypinacolone retinoate)

I try to keep mine simple while still doing what I can to prevent further damage. I didn't take care of my skin at all in my 20s so I'm undoing damage now, but the vitamin C serum and sunscreen combo have helped a ton. I have fairly sensitive skin, and it gets easily dehydrated as well.

Morning

• Wash with Clean and Clear Relaxing facewash. If my skin feels clean I skip this step.
  
  
• Spray Thayer's Rose Petal alcohol free toner. I love this toner, it minimizes the craters I have for pores a good bit.
  
  
• Cerave moisturizing lotion I also like Clinique Dramatically different moisturizing lotion but the Cerave works just as well and I get soooo much more for my money.
  
  
• Apply SolScents Clear Face sunscreen I can't find this one in stores and it's pricey so I've ordered a [biore] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SM99KY8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) one from amazon to try out instead, a lot more affordable too.
  
  
  Evening
  
  
• Wash with Clean and Clear Relaxing facewash. It works just as well as the Clinique one for me.
  
  
• Spray the witch hazel toner again.
  
  
• Apply Vitamin C Serum.
  
  
• Followed by the Cerave moisturizing lotion again.
  
  Whenever my skin still gets dehydrated for whatever reason I apply Rosehip oil. Sometimes I do a chick pea flour + Turmeric mask which works great but is a bit drying so the oil helps a lot.

I LOVE AZELAIC ACID. So I pretty well thought I would live with a red face forever along with a severely damaged moisture barrier. The biggest thing that helped me was azelaic acid. I use Melazepam from Amazon. Cheap and works! It's thick at first but smoothes into my skin leaving it kinda matte. At first it itched like crazy and I wasn't using it consistently enough. Then after more research, I decided to use it up and give it a chance. Along with anything high in ceramide, my skin got used to the 20% AzA. Maybe around the 10th day of twice daily use, my skin finally started to look normal. I also switch my oil cleanser to an olive oil based one and saw even more improvement in my redness. I've just added in Vit C to my under eye area and continuing to use Melazepam around the rest of my face and neck and my ENTIRE COMPLEXION is EVEN NOW! Would never have believed that was possible. Melazepam has also minimized my SFs on my nose, has finally stopped this ingrown hair on my neck from forming (I've had it for years!!!), and has cleared all the CCs on my forehead. I repeat: I loooooove azelaic acid, specifically Melazepam!

Current routine:

AM

Garnier Micellar Water - pink cap or Cerave Foaming cleanser

Cosrx Aha/bha Clarifying Treatment Toner

BELITAE Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid to my under eye area and upper cheeks

Melazepam to the rest of my face and neck, especially my nose. Sometimes I wait after the Vit C but not usually since I don't use them in the same spots.

I do wait 15-20 minutes after my actives step.

SCINIC First Treatment Essence 3 skin method. My face loves this more than the Missha FTE.

SCINIC Snail All In One Ampoule or SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule depending on the day.

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion

A'PIEU PURE BLOCK Natural Sun Cream SPF45/PA+++ I don't see much sunlight at all but when I do, this one keeps me from turning beet red imediately upon application.

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Derma Green-Cure Solution Recover Cream This is the best thing I've found for redness and skin barrier repair! My skin loves ceramides so much and this soothes like nothing I've found yet.

Medela Tender Care Lanolin Tube on my lips. Yes it's nip cream. I couldn't use it all up while nursing and it causes my skin to redden so it's perfect for a little lip color.

PM

ROHTO Hada Labo Gokujun Cleansing Oil My skin reacted to Holika Holika Soda Pore B.b Deep Cleansing Oil so this is my second one to try and I'm really enjoying it.

Cerave Foaming cleanser with a konjac sponge but waiting on
Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam in the mail.

Cosrx Aha/bha Clarifying Treatment Toner

BELITAE Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid to my under eye area and upper cheeks

Melazepam to the rest of my face and neck, especially my nose like the AM.

SCINIC First Treatment Essence 3 skin method.

All depending on how I'm feeling that evening:

LJH TeaTree 90 Essence

SCINIC Snail All In One Ampoule

SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule

Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

MIZON Snail Repair Eye Cream

Petitfee Black Pearl and Gold Hydrogel Eye Patch Not sure if I like these or not honestly...

Some or all of these layers followed by CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion and

Guerisson 9 Complex Horse Oil Cream

Pretty sure my shower filter, Mermosis, has also helped my skin and hair.

I also use sometimes REVITABOOST PEEL Anti-Aging Peel Pads or Cosrx Bha Blackhead Power Liquid but I skip my AzA on those days and just go back to my regular routine the following day. These are rare for me though because they make me ridiculously red again.

Things I'm waiting on in the mail:

ROSETTE Aqua Ceramide Gel

Rumase BIFIDA Snail Toner

Hada Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam

It's Skin Power 10 Formula - PO Effector

Hoping the all work well for me too!

This is great, I can make better recommendations now. Dove bar soap is great if it doesn't dehydrate your skin, you don't really need a expensive soap; I'd also compare Dove to Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash to see which is cheaper. You said your skin types "dehydrated" so I'd stick to using your CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser only on your face, but make sure this isn't the reason your skin is dehydrated (I don't know if your cleanser foams, but foaming cleansers can further dry out people with sensitive skin). Ultimately, your skin shouldn't feel tight or dry after showering.

If your skin is just dehydrated then you don't really need to add an exfoliant because, yeah they are priced way higher in Canada. Chemical exfoliants are more for evening skin tones and cleaning out pores, but you can check out SN AHA Toner, they should ship internationally. (Even in the US chemical exfoliants can be super pricey)

I personally don't really see a problem with deodorant with aluminum, but I know Lush carries aluminum free deodorant bars and powder that're reasonably priced in Canada, Arm & Hammer has their Essential Deo line, and a lot of vegan deodorants are aluminum free, I have no idea how well any of these products work though :(.

Applying lotion after showering can be really good, doing this seals in moisture. I don't know what CeraVe product your using as a moisturizer, but CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is really good at rehydrating skin due to it having ceramides. If you think that's too expensive/already using it, you can just use it to focus on areas that are really dehydrated; but I'd also check out this lotion. HadaLabo Lotion is a reasonably priced Hyaluronic acid thats great for dehydrated skin and if you use it for full body it should last awhile.

The cocoa butter is more of a cheap alt. for a deep thick moisturizer. Just a warning, I'd be careful with finding a high concentration glycolic acid; those are AHAs and over 15% they verge into chemical peel territory, constant use without having a tolerance can really mess up your moisture barrier. For reference I use Alpha 12% lotion a glycolic acid 2-3 times a week, but it's way more expensive in Canada and this is after using lower concentration acids for about 6 months^^super ^^good ^^for ^^my ^^scars ^^though . My skin types definitely not like yours though so if you can find something cheap I don't want to discourage you, I'd say go for it.

Last thing, I'd look up on humectants and occlusives, you said you use vaseline so I think you have that covered though. I use something akin to vaseline at night after everything else to seal all the moisture in.

I really tried to curate this to you so nothing would be too expensive, but if you use anything recommended it should help a lot. Focus on moisturizing, don't get discouraged we're our own worst critics, post to the sub if you have anymore questions-everyone heres pretty friendly, and good luck!

Bio-oil has mineral oil, mineral oil isn't harmful at all. A lot of people even use it to oil cleanse their face.

A lot of people here think bio-oil is overpriced, the main ingredient, mineral oil, is actually pretty cheap. I personally love bio-oil though. I haven't used Mederma, but they have an excellent reputation.

I've used neosporin to help fade scars, I noticed some improvement, but it took MONTHS. Like half a year. My advice is to use glycolic acid (a toner, serum, or lotion) wait 20 minutes then apply either neosporin, bio oil, or mederma. Really the choice is up to you, all would help. I'm recommending glycolic acid because it works by exfoliating the top layer of skin, it breaks the "glue" that holds the cells together. I think it would really help to kind of dissolve or wear down the top layer of the scar. Alpha Hydrox is great brand, I've used Mederma Glycolic Acid products and really like it.

I think your best bet is to get into a habit of using whatever products you choose everyday, and don't expect instant results. In a few months the appearance should be reduced.

edit: Applying sunscreen in the morning would also help discoloration. UV light will darken the scars.

No worries! I should clarify, AB toners are different in that they're made to be hydrating and more for prepping skin to absorb the next steps. They're not stripping or exfoliating like other toners. Basically treat it like a watery moisturizer. So after you wash your face (both am and pm) give yourself a spray of it, or soak a cotton round and use it on your face. Let it dry then continue your routine. AB will also call toners lotions sometimes, but again they're very light water/milky feeling. After cleansing you layer from thinnest to thickest. Add a toner to routine and see how your skin likes to see if you want to add anything else. Also add a new product to your routine one at a time waiting a week or two in between. That way it's easier to identify the culprit in case anything breaks you out.

For your pore issue I think you're just lacking moisture which led your skin to being a bit over exfoliated. I would just take the benzoyl peroxide out of your routine for a few days. I did that with the aha and just moisturized heavily and when my skin looked normal i slowly incorporated it back into my routine starting only once a week then bumping up to 2x. Now it looks good and I realized 2x weekly was all I needed.

I've actually used the ordinary niacinamide and zinc, it worked ok for the occasional breakout but didn't do much else and didn't do anything for oil control. TBH me switching to An and really giving my skin some love with extra hydrating toners and sleeping packs made a much bigger change in my oil production.

For your chin/mouth area I'd check out something like this I haven't used it personally (my issue is closed comedomes) but I've heard really good things. And you can use it just on your problem areas so you don't risk drying out the rest of your skin. Also hydrocolloid bandages are awesome for overnight healing, you can find them at Target, CVS,pretty much wherever. Lastly snail is known to be anti inflammatory and good for healing acne, so this essence might work well for you. Essences are to be applied after your toner and followed by your moisturizer. Congrats if you got to the end of this! Haha, but hopefully this helps :)

I've been a regular drinker for years (~4 standard drinks per night). It's obviously not the healthiest choice, but I take a number of supplements to (hopefully) mitigate the effects.

You've discovered what is probably the number one health detriment of drinking, sleep disruption. Lack of good sleep is going to destroy your health way faster than the direct physical effects of ingesting alcohol.

I struggled with bad sleep for a number of years. I believe in was a combination of more heavy drinking in the past and the stresses of graduate school.

Here's my recommendations for greatly improving sleep. Starting with the most helpful.

Glycine (3 grams before bed) - I found this recomendation on examine.com exactly for the problem of waking at night and this had probably the most obvious benifitial effect of any suppliment I've ever taken. It's an amino acid that I buy in bulk and mix in water with True Lemon to make a tasty drink before bed, but you could even eat it straight. Amino Acids tend to taste like sugar so you can save a lot of money by avoiding capsules.

L-Theanine (somewhere around 100 - 300 mg before bed sublingually and dose again if I wake up in the middle of the night) - I also buy this amino acid in bulk and keep an extra dose next to me throughout the night in case I do wake up too much. It helps you relax, lots of people like it. It's also good with caffeine during the day to improve focus and reduce jitters. The taste is a little acquired, but it's not too bad/strong. I kind of enjoy it.

Magnesium (citrate/glycinate oral or topical lotion) - This also helps with relaxation and is better with helping you fall asleep in the first place. I apply lotion because my digestive system does not handle oral well. Start small with oral and build up until you have loose stools then back off or go slower. I find that I sleep way more efficiently (as measured by FitBit) when I take the time to apply the lotion generously to my arms and legs before bed.

Slow release melatonin (5mg) - People have widely varying opinions about melatonin. I'm less sure how much it helps me, but I do take it and don't have any deleterious effects.

Let me know if you have any questions. I would order the glycine today. That stuff is amazing!

For dry hands, I recommend Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter by LUSH. It is hands-down (pun intended) the most moisturizing product I've used on my hands. If that's out of your price range, or if you don't like strong lemon scents, Trader Joe's has a nice balm for a fraction of the price. Still a bit lemony, but fades faster.

For body wash, I've been loving Dove's deep moisture line. All my old body washes and soaps became so drying on Accutane, so I had to make a change.

For face, Aquaphor is a godsend, and is required nightly to seal in all my moisturizer and oils. Moisturizer and oils are pretty personal, I just use coconut oil and CeraVe, but I highly recommend having an open mind and being prepared for some different products. My whole routine changed for Accutane, and that's the case for many people!

Also: SUNSCREEN. Sephora will let you try samples of any products, so I'd advise you go get a bunch of sunscreen samples and see which ones you like. Some leave a white cast; some felt a bit burny due to increased sensitivity of skin on Accutane. I eventually settled on CeraVe's SPF 50--it has white cast, but didn't burn or sting.

Overall, your skin will be super sensitive. I recommend shopping at places with solid return policies, and being patient with your skin. Good luck!

Hey, new here to ScA. I saw this thread was active even after being posted some days ago; so I signed up with hopes to become an active member of the community :)

Little about me: I haven't been doing skincare stuff all that often. In fact, I'm quite new to it. In addition, I'm currently rather young, and pursuing skincare in the hopes that once all of the 'problem areas' of my skin are clear, I can establish a daily 'up-keep' routine; preferably as minimalistic as possible (anti-bacterial soap & moisturizer).

Anyhow, the below is the information relative to my current situation. Feel free to flame me for what I'm doing incorrectly; although I would greatly appreciate hearing the reasoning behind your opinion(s). Looking forward to hearing some feedback and, hopefully, contributing at a later point (perhaps when I'm more informed on the matter).

Skin type: Blemish Prone (per my take on the guide)

Current routine:

• Morning:
  
  • [Shower] Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash (excluding facial application) (https://www.amazon.com/Dove-Deep-Moisture-Nourishing-Ounce/dp/B001ECQ4WQ)
  
  • [Shower] Neutrogena Rapid Clear Foaming Scrub (SA 2% - facial application only) (https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Rapid-Clear-Foaming-Scrub/dp/B003YCF4XO)
  
  • Equate Beauty Spot Treatment (BP 10% - facial application only (spot treatment)) (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Beauty-10-Benzoyl-Peroxide-Acne-Treatment-Gel-1-oz/43436404)
  
  • Neutrogena Rapid Clear Daily Leave-On Mask (BP 2.5% - applied everywhere spot treatment wasn't - facial application only) (https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Rapid-Clear-Stubborn-Leave/dp/B0195I8UMM)
  
  • CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion (Hyaluronic Acid - face & neck application) (https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-12-Ounce/dp/B000YJ2SLG)
  
  
• Evening (12hrs later):
  • Same as the morning
  
  
• Occasionally used:
  • Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine gluconate solution 4.0% w/v - Spot treatment applied via directions on bottle with q tip - tested extensively via separate patches of skin) (https://www.amazon.com/Molnlycke-HIBICLENS-LIQ-8-OZ/dp/B00E5R65SA)
  [?] Applications are extremely conservative, but becoming less-so over time
  
  Note: In addition, I'm changing bedding, towels, and wash-cloths often.
  
  How long: I've been using the above routine consistently for around two to three months now. And although my skin is getting better, the transition has been extremely slow. At times it causes me to wonder if there are things I can be doing differently. My motto when doing this has resembled something of "Rome wasn't built in a day". In that time I've effectively reduced all cysts, nodules, and pustules down to papules and open/closed comedones. I am happy with the progress that's been made thus far, but I am working towards clear skin altogether.
  
  Anything new: Pimples will appear (and re-appear, respectively) from time to time, but I usually am able to eliminate said blemishes within the realm of a week (or sooner). I figured this was a good sign. Other than that, I speculate that I have found some instances of staph infection on the surface of my skin, and am planning an appointment to the dermatologist when I get the chance.
  
  Location: Arizona (aka the surface of the sun). I feel this will prompt quite a few responses regarding sunscreen, and I have recently embraced the idea of including it within a routine; especially in my recent quest to eliminate the vestigial red-marks (PIH?) lingering on my skin.
  
  Matters of concern:
  I'm very liberal in my application of the above BP 10% 'spot treatments'. This my be irritating my skin unnecessarily, but I haven't experienced any obvious irritation. I'm also considering purchasing more Hibiclense with the intent of wide-spread usage (in an effort to clear the additional acne from my chest and back), but I don't know how effective that would be considering it wouldn't penetrate the skin like BP.
  
  Of course, thank you all again for the (potential) input. I greatly appreciate anyone who puts in the time to help a new-comer like me. <3

Okay, so I think you need to build a routine based on moisture. Some products I recommend that are easily available at Target/Walmart/Amazon/drugstores:

Cleansers:

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion *

Cerave Hydrating Cleanser

Toners:

Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist *

Thayers Alcohol Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner

Moisturizers:

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream *

Cerave Moisturizing Cream (aka Cerave in the tub)

Actives for texture/acne improvement:

The Ordinary Azealic Acid Suspension

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

I provided two options for each product. Note that the products with a * next to them are products I personally use and really love. The others are ones that I've seen highly recommended on this subreddit (and I also really want to try that Azealic Acid lol). I honestly think that with a simple routine like this your skin will clear right up and look really lovely, because your acne is minimal. All of these are non-comedogenic and gentle. Make sure to add only one product a week to make sure they don't break you out, and patch test on your wrist to make sure you aren't allergic to them. I hope this is helpful!

Using magnesium along with a high dosage of B2 (400mg/day) has helped significantly cut the severity and length of my headaches. I still have aura symptoms, but the actual headaches are now more likely to last hours instead of days & I'm not to the point of questioning the benefits of existence.

As has been noted above, not all Mg supplements absorb well. Magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate absorb especially poorly, and many aren't able to handle the laxative effect. I'd highly suggest trying a topical magnesium supplement - epsom salt soak, magnesium "oil", or magnesium lotion. I love a soak, but it's pretty inconvenient, and the "oil" tends to sting. However, I've had great luck with the lotion. I slather it on my neck and shoulders nightly to help release some of the tension (think about how athletes use epsom salt for tight/sore muscles). Generally, I recommend using it before bed because it has a relaxing effect that often makes people feel sleepy.

Here's a link to the product on Amazon: Ancient Minerals Mg Lotion


And, I know you didn't ask, but... I'd also note that when I do have a headache, I've found that a large dose of ginger in hot water (add honey if needed) is surprisingly effective. This is NOT a preventative like the Mg and B2. It is meant to stop a headache already in progress (There is some conjecture that says using these as a preventative could actually make headaches worse). Research has shown this to be as effective as sumatriptan (Imitrex), but without the side effects.

I have been in Korea for the past 6 weeks (normally live in Scotland) and I have been really trying to take advantage of Asian products and improve my skincare routine, with a major focus on hydration as I have very dry & dehydrated skin.

My skin hasn't really gotten any better or worse appearance-wise since I've been in Korea, but my hydration levels have improved somewhat.

I recently have been testing different products such as the COSRX Low-pH good morning cleanser and the Hanskin PHA cleansing oil, and have since gotten crazy amounts of whiteheads which won't go away no matter what I do :(


About me: 19M, Fair skin, started seriously trying to improve my skincare routine a year and a half ago, although I have had a skincare routine for maybe 4/5 years since I started getting acne.

Skin type: Dry; dehydrated; acne-prone (still have current whitehead breakouts every day on the lower 3rd of my face, mostly around my mouth, chin and nose area)

Climate: Currently hot & humid, but I normally live in Scotland which is cold, wet and windy most of the year.

Main skin concerns: Acne, dryness & PIE/PIH/acne scars

​

Current skincare routine

AM:

• Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Facial Wash
  
• HADALABO Gokujyun Hyaluronic Lotion
  
• COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
  
• The Simple Daily Lotion (Scinic)
  
• Etude House Sunprise Must Daily SPF50+ PA+++
  
  ​
  
  PM:
  
  
• Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Facial Wash
  
• HADALABO Gokujyun Hyaluronic Lotion
  
• COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
  
• The Simple Daily Lotion (Scinic)
  
• TactuPump (0.1% adapalene / 2.5% benzoyl peroxide) <<NO LONGER USING>>
  
  ​
  
  I also use:
  
  
• SLS-free toothpaste
  
• Vaseline lip balm
  
• Nexcare acne-patches
  
  ​
  
  I have been using TactuPump since November 2018, and it has mostly cleared my skin, however I still get several new whiteheads around my mouth/nose/chin area (occasionally other random places too e.g. jawline, neck forehead) every day and I use the acne-patches to help with those, but that is an adaptive method, not a preventative one.
  
  Although I really like this routine, my skin still feels a bit dry after everything is layered on in the morning. A lot of my dryness is of course due to the TactuPump, but I can't stop using it because I break out like crazy if I don't use it.
  
  I also find that the moisturser that I use is a little bit greasy and takes ages to sink in to my skin.
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE I stopped using TactuPump a few weeks ago and my skin initially improved, probably due to less drying effects of the tactupump, so maybe my current breakouts are due to not using TactuPump, but whenever I use it I always have loads of nasty whiteheads all over the lower third of my face.
  
  
  ​
  
  I'm broke too so pls give me affordable recommendations that I can buy in the UK/Korea lol
  
  ​
  
  Thank you very much for taking the time to read my post, I hope you have a lovely day, I would really appreciate if you could help me out, acne is ruining my self-esteem, I just want to get rid of it, it has tormented me enough for the past 4.5 years, I just want to be normal :(

For bacne:

1. Change to a salicylic body wash. I recommend Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash.
   
   
2. Use a salicylic acid exfoliant on the back, once or twice daily. I recommend Stridex Med Pads.
   
   
3. Finish with a salicylic moisturizer. I recommend CeraVe Renewing SA Lotion.
   
   
   You’ll notice the trend here: salicylic acid.
   
   Salicylic acid penetrates the skin, causes a softening and sloughing of the top layer of skin, and helps unclog pores to resolve and prevent acne. This acid is also lipophillic, which means it can even penetrate oily skin and already clogged pores, resulting in a deep cleaning. Salicylic acid can reduce sebum secretion, which is another way it can help reduce acne. Lastly, it's also an anti-inflammatory, which can help calm inflamed acne and promote healing.
   
   
   As a final note, unrelated to the bacne.. please stop using R+F products. The products are of average quality at best, way over-priced, and even more overrated. Not least of all that MLM schemes should be avoided. If you need help with your skin care, the community info in this subreddit has a really excellent FAQ and wiki, and members are more than happy to answer questions.
   
   
   Best of luck.

I have redness from drying out my skin/ destroying my moisture barrier (used Differin without moisturizing properly omfg why). I think your routine is simple, but could do with more hydration layers!

I got rid of all actives for 2 months. I simply washed my face with Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, Hada Lobo Hydrating Lotion, CosRX 97% Snail Mucin Essence, The Face Shop Rice Ceramide Cream, and then Etude House Soonjun Recovery Barrier Cream.

I think the red marks are there as inflammation and irritation. I would add some sort of Hyaluronic Acid (Hada Lobo Hada Lobo Gokujun Hylaronic Acid Moist) to help attract water and promote hydration instead of drying out the skin. Put this in the morning and night after cleansing, and then layer your serums, essences, and moisturizer on top of it.

In addition, maybe changing Cetaphil to Cerave Hydrating Cleanser (if you are interested- I personally found Cetaphil way too drying and exacerbating my redness).

Finally, I would also look into Innisfree Green Tea Serum to reduce redness. Many MANY people have said great things about Rosehip Oil. For me, Rosehip Oil was the game changer- it reduced redness dramatically (it's still there, but I don't look like I'm wearing red pain on my cheeks- and I'm a brown-skinned girl, so redness just stands out). I'm thriving off a sample of Pai Rosehip Oil. It's $40, so once my sample runs out, I think I'm going to hop on the Radha Rosehip Oil train.

Finally, you should add some sort of sleep mask to help with restoring your skin barrier. I just got Laneige Sleep Mask to help with hydration.

The Etude House Soonjung Line is really good for calming redness- I'm personally thinking about adding the Pathenoside Cica Balm to help with redness.

In addition, I've heard great thing about Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream.

P.S.: Don't add all of these products at once. I'm on month two of restoring my moisture barrier after eliminating all actives. When I added in a new product, I focused on adding one product per week. If I saw after the week my face got worse, I eliminated it.

There are a lot of brands in this offer I know nothing about, but there are a few things I can recommend:

La Roche Posay sunscreen, such as the Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen or the Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen. These American LRP sunscreens still aren't as great as the European versions, but they still work very well and I like how they sit on my skin.

I also love the LRP Toleriane moisturizer, but it is much cheaper where I live; I'm not sure it is worth the money with all great, cheap moisturizers available in America.

Mario Badescu buffering lotion is HG status for me. Nothing, not even prescriptions, work as well as this lotion on my cystic acne. I've never tried the drying lotion, which is for non-cystic acne, but I've seen it recommended here a number of times.

Also, seriously, the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. Technically, this is a skin care line for men, but who cares? I've read some good things about their moisturizers here, but never tried one. I maybe own the lip balm in every flavor....

Hydrating Face Wash in pump bottle: Just started using this and I really like it so far. I keep meaning to see if it can take off sunscreen but I keep forgetting not to do a 1st cleanse. LRP Toleriane Gentle Hydrating Cleanser was my HG, but this might be better. Will repurchase unless it runs out fast. Only $9, but my $14 ($9 on sale) LRP has lasted forever.

Gokujyun Lotion Moist: Love it, use it every AM. Much thinner than premium, sets quickly. Plays well under sunscreen. Might repurchase, but my try a different gokujyun lotion in its place.

Gokujyun Premium Lotion: Love it, use it every PM. Sometimes apply a lesser amount with wet hands to help the small amount spread better and find that it sets well (same with Kiku High Moist). Have already repurchased, will continue to do so.

Has anyone used the green ones? The Blemish & Oil control lotion or face wash? I'm tempted. idk why.

It can definitely depend on the product. I get the midday chapped lips with my Revlon Lip Butters and some of my lighter glosses, but my L'Oreal lipsticks feel perfectly comfortable for pretty much the whole day (with touchups). So when you go haulin', try not to restrict yourself to a certain line, type of product, or brand: try ALL the lipcolor formulae! :D Also, for general lip care: get thee to a tub of lanolin. I buy this brand--it lasts you forever, so the price is absolutely worth it. If you put it on religiously whenever your lips feel a bit dry, you'll probably see a reduction in chapping. And of course, inner hydration is incredibly important. Drink a big glass of water before meals, and drink up anytime you're a little bit thirsty! I know it's easy to ignore, but your body is trying to tell you something when you start feeling a bit thirsty. I hope this all helps!

Here is a collection of good advice that made all the difference for my L.L Bean ragwool sweater. Takes 2-3 days of tending to, but I only repeat once or twice a season.

Soak in luke warm water with Eucalan per instructions. Do not agitate as this causes more pilling and shedding. Drain. Add a pea size amount of liquid lanolin to a cup of very hot water, best shaken. Add this to luke warm water and soak overnight. Drain. Keeping in a lump, allow it to drain until only dripping wet. Lay flat on a towel and roll, pressing gently. Unroll and lightly shape the sweater laying flat. Flip onto a dry towel after about 12 hours. Once dry, use a de-pilling wool comb held straight up and down to brush off loose fibers. It took 2-3 washes to completly get rid of the strong gasoline like chemical smell (much different from the lanoline) from this new sweater, and after the 3rd wash much less pilling and shedding.

Eucalan: https://www.amazon.com/Eucalan-Lavender-Fine-Fabric-Ounce/dp/B001DEJMPG/

Lanolin: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00028MLKC/

Depilling comb: https://www.amazon.com/Cashmere-Wool-Pilling-Sweaters-Clothing/dp/B01MSTN5QU/

I do like the L.L. Bean ragwool sweater for softness and fit, but it's definitely not BIFL durability. I too tried the TW Kempton from a seller on Amazon, but it was unbearably itchy and unmanageable fitting...but so warm. Will find something new to try this season.

Salux wash cloths are great, they’ve got a fine-but-scratchy texture:
SALUX Nylon Japanese Beauty Skin Bath Wash Cloth/Towel - Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CSDDDG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZaeXCbQH3VAJ9

If you’ve got a bathtub, doing an acidic vinegar bath will help loosen up all the skin gunk:
https://wellnessmama.com/60094/vinegar-baths/

Separately, baking soda baths are also effective:
https://helloglow.co/baking-soda-bath-soak/

For body washes, try using one formulated for body acne — there will usually be a couple in most drugstores or Target. You will want something with salicylic acid in it.

Try moisturizing with something that has an AHA like glycolic acid in it, that way you will be gently exfoliating skin buildup even when not in the shower:
Alpha Skin Care - Renewal Body Lotion, 12% Glycolic AHA, Supports Healthy Radiant Skin| Fragrance-Free and Paraben-Free| 12-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MfeXCb2BJQMGH

Also consider booking yourself a spa day — most cheap Korean massage/spa places will give you a full body exfoliation-scrub-down option, and they’re THOROUGH.

Good job pulling out of a rough month. I’ve been there (lack of bathing and all) and it isn’t easy.

Hada labo premium is my HG! The moist version is good too, but the premium is just amazing. It's cheap, effective, and I will repurchase it forever. I do the asian beauty thing of layering humectant products up when my skin is really dry, and the moist version is better for that since the premium can get sticky if you apply more than 2 layers and takes longer to absorb. I also like sheet masks (I'm not fussy about which, and I've had good experiences with making my own with a mix of hada labo moist and thayers toner) to get hydration quickly when I've overdone it with exfoliation or slacked on skincare for a few days :)

stock up HEAVILY on cotton gauze, paper tape, aquaphor, and steri strips. steri strips are amazing. my surgeon placed inch long pieces all along my incisions, and told me to keep them on until they fell off. as they fell off i replaced them with longer pieces because the swelling made me feel like i was going to pop open. i pulled them off in the shower every few days to replace with clean pieces and i wore them for a few weeks after i had my stitches taken out, really until i felt like my skin had come back together. i liked to put bandaid brand gauze pads over my regular thin gauze for cushioning under clothing and to keep aquaphor on the skin. aquaphor will be really helpful in keeping incisions moist so they don't scab but also will help the gauze not stick to any pus or blood within the incisions.
also a nice fan will help keep you comfy and is great for air drying your skin after showers before reapplying tape and gauze (:

i found this bra to be the absolute comfiest. the fabric is thick and soft and the back is mesh for ventilation.

Howdy, skin twin! This is what my skin looked like before I started taking care of it, and if I fall off the skincare wagon, that's what it goes back to.

The main issues here are that your skin needs some exfoliation, and you need both a source of moisture, and a way to keep it in.

With exfoliation, you have two options: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation is stuff like facial scrubs, pore brushes, etc. It's a popular method, but it can be harsh to your skin. I like chemical exfoliation - specifically, and Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), which works by breaking down the bonds between dead skin and living skin, so the dead crusty bits can be gently washed off.

After that, you need to tackle the dehydration. Dehydrated skin gets that rough, uneven orange-peel appearance, and makes large pores more obvious. This is true even if your skin is oily - you can be oily and dehydrated at the same time, and dehydrated skin can actual trigger more oil production.

In addition to a moisturizer, you'd benefit from an occlusive to keep the moisture from evaporating, especially if you live in a dry climate or are exposed to air conditioning all day.

So here's a really basic routine you could try out. I use a lot of Asian products because they're cheap and work well, but you can find similar products local to you.

1. Oil cleanse

"Normal" face washes can be really drying, especially the ones marketed towards men, for some reason. If your face feels tight and plasticky after you wash it, your cleanser is to blame. I use an emulsifying oil cleanser.

You put it on your dry face, rub it around to get it to stick to the gunk in your pores, and then rinse with water, which makes it emulsify and become un-oily. Cool!

It doesn't actually have to be an oil cleanser - any hydrating, non-drying cleanser will work fine.

Some folks use a secondary cleanser after this, but unless you wear makeup, you probably don't need it, and it risks drying you out more.

2. Acid exfoliation

Now that you have a clean face, it's time to get rid of the dead stuff that makes your skin lumpy. For this, we'll use an AHA - I like this one from CosRX, even though it smells like dog piss on a mushroom.

This is a step you'll only do every other day, maximum. Start with every 2-3 days and go from there. Do this step at night, as AHA will make your skin less resistant to UV (more on that later).

Put a couple drops in your hands, massage it into your face, and then wait. It takes at least 15 minutes for the acid to fully break down that "glue" holding dead skin onto your face.

Rinse it off with water, dry, and move on to the next step.


3. Hydrating toner

The next thing you need is a thin moisturizer, something that can sink right into your skin to plump and de-leatherify it. These are typically going to based on hyaluronic acid, a "goo molecule" that your body uses in every squishy part of your body, from skin to eyeballs to bones. I like this one by Hada Labo, but there are good options from Klairs, Paula's Choice, etc.

Put a few drops on your hands and pat/squish into your face. Give it a minute to dry. If your face feels tight, you can repeat this step a couple times.

4. Ceramide lotion

Ceramides help to "waterproof" your skin from the inside, to prevent loss of all that moisture you just added. Cerave PM is pretty much the best bang for your buck - despite the "PM" in the label, you can use it day and night.

5 (Daytime). Sunblock

Before you go out for the day, you need sunblock. Damage from the sun is a huge contributor to crappy dehydrated skin, and now that you're exposing fresh new skin with the AHA, you're going to be even more sensitive to it.

Due to some weird laws surrounding what we can use in sunblock in the US and some other Western countries, it's likely that the only sunblock you can get in stores is that thick, oily, gross, white stuff.

The Japanese have the rest of the world pretty much beat when it comes to sunblock - Biore Aqua Rich is a solid choice, although you'll need something heavier for days when you're going to be sweating or swimming.

5 (Night). Occlusive

Now that you've done all this work to moisturizer your skin, you don't want it to just evaporate overnight. That's where an occlusive comes in - a thick outer layer that protects your skin and all the stuff you just put on it. Aquaphor is great for this.

So there you go - a solid starting routine! Try that out for a week and see if your skin doesn't start to look better - if you're not doing anything to your skin right now, you're bound to see some improvement with this.

Note that there is some risk of bad reactions whenever you're using new face stuff. The oil cleanser and lotion might give you a breakout of small white bumps, the AHA might feel to harsh and make your face red, you might be allergic to an ingredient in the toner, etc. If that happens, stop using everything, and start adding each item back into your routine slowly until you identify the culprit.

Good luck, and happy moisturizing!

There's a pretty easy way to avoid this:

1. Take a warm bath with some bath salts. After about 10 minutes of soaking or so, exfoliate your skin, try this: (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001POYT16/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) That's just an example, you can get some epsom salt (same stuff) at Walmart for half the price.
   
   
2. Exfoliating the skin first prevents ingrown hairs. Super important. The first time I did this, I did not know how to shave my body properly and I ended up being way too vigorous and getting lots of nasty razor bumps. To exfoliate I used:
   
   
3. Loofah or Pouf (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CTQMIC/ref=oh_details_o02_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) again check Walmart, it'll be cheaper. The main idea here is that you want to exfoliate dead skin and loosen up any hairs that are growing.
   
   
4. St. Ives Exfoliating Body Wash (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JLGC12/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) This is a really great natural exfoliant that you can put on the loofah/poof while you scrub
   
   
5. After exfoliation, you shave. I shave against the grain with a good Gillette razor using this shaving cream: Cremo Cream (http://www.amazon.com/Cremo-Astonishingly-Superior-Shaving-Creams/dp/B003FVWRCK/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=191FPDNMEKJB5PRZXF94) Which does a really tremendous job. You only need to spread a little bit of it around and it helps to give a really great shave without any irritation (great for both men and women). Plus it last a long time.
   
   
6. Moisturize with your favorite skincare lotion, brand doesn't really matter. You just want to keep that area moist and healthy.
   
   
7. LAST STEP. Most important, DO NOT DO THIS THE SAME DAY YOU SHAVE. DO IT EITHER A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER. Use an acid-based lotion like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TTPZQ6/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002D48QRK/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   The basic idea here is that through chemical exfoliation they'll smooth the red bumps and give you a very smooth look.
   
   
   This is my skincare routine and I don't get any of those ingrown hairs or razor bumps. I used too, though. That's why I do this.

Sooo these are just suggestions 😁 you could pick one from each category...or just do it however you'd like lol

_


Cleanser:

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 16 oz for Daily Face Washing, Dry to Normal Skin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSSDEPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TVQdBb4ADMMB7

__

"after shave":

this shit is AMAZZZZZING
seriously if you get NOTHING else, I'd say get this Paula's Choice toner. It feels like you're extinguishing a fire when you put it on (pour it into your palms and lightly pat on your face...then do it again).

Paula's Choice-SKIN RECOVERY Calming Toner-for Sensitive Facial Skin and Dry, Rosacea Prone Skin-Reduces Redness and Fine Lines-1-6.4 oz Bottle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00949CII0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SCQdBbJEW9ERM

HADALABO Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074GX619Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZGQdBb8FG4AHW

Bioderma Sensibio Moisturizing Toner for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I4OSYIS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yyQdBbMFZD2P2

_____

Moisturizer/hydration:

Hada Labo Rohto Goku-jun Hyaluronic Milky Lotion, 140ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BS3Q0XE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AKQdBbA8G3KB4

Skinfix Gentle Lotion - Fragrance Free - 12 oz
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RZN22ZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yAQdBb1CNHZ6T

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM 3 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F97FHAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TTQdBbQZ6KK4S

Squalane Oil is terrific. Yes, it's oil, so you may be apprehensive, but it's an oil that your body produces naturally and it absorbs extremely well and quickly. Next to the PC toner above, this is probably my most useful product. (It's way cheaper on their website directly btw.)
Always apply any oil after everything else (except sunscreen, which must always go last).

The Ordinary 100% Plant-derived Squalane 30ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071HWGWST/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2LQdBb8XVFN70

__

POSSIBLE treatment:

I don't use any topical treatments for acne per se, but here is one you could certainly try (sparingly):

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution (30ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FJBVZP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FQQdBbT93GWQ8

___

Sunscreen (mandatory! 😁):

Cotz Spf 40 UVB/UVA Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, 3.5 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008U2Y5ME/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6SQdBbWB9V26G

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM 3 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F97FHAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TTQdBbQZ6KK4S

__

Hope this helps!! :)

You mentioned wanting hydration, but aside from a bit of water and hyalauronic acid in the products that are intended to be used sparingingly (your AM actives) you only have a dedicated moisturizer. Additionally, your evening routine only has moisturizers and no hydrators, and tret can be pretty drying. I’d recommend adding a dedicated hydrator that you can really layer on before your moisturizer. I usually pat in 3-4 layers of hada labo moist and perhaps a spiritz of water before my moisturizer. Other thank that your vit c and the tret are good for dark spots/wrinkles respectively as long as you are giving them time to absorb/work before the next steps of your routine. Maybe consider getting a script for a higher percent tret from your dr if your skin can handle it. A humidifier in your bedroom if you live in a dry climate is also a good idea and will complement the hydrophilic nature of the hyalauronic acid.

One thing that happens in some cases that the neck grain is other than assumed, so map that grain carefully: guys sometimes shave against the grain on the neck thinking that they are shaving with the grain. You know that, but I repeat so others will know.

Good prep is highly important with irregular grain: wash beard with a high-glycerin soap---and consider Jlocke98's pre-shave: mix 1/4 c liquid Dr. Bronner's soap (any fragrance) with 2 tsp oil (lanolin oil is what I like best, but olive oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, etc., also work). Shake well and was beard with about 1 tsp of the mix before shaving, rinse partially with a splash, and apply lather, working it in well.

Read this post on blades: you might try a different brand. But use the first brand that works for you for at least two months. By keeping the brand of blade constant, variation from shave to shave is (probably) due to prep and technique, so you can focus more on perfecting those by not changing the razor or brand of blade. Also, after two months, you'll really know what that brand of blade feels like so when you try a new brand the differences are highlighted.

Note the four most common mistakes cartridge shavers make when switching to a DE razor.

You can take a look at the reader reviews of my introductory guide and decide from those whether the book is likely to be helpful to you. It's available from all Amazon sites.

Try CeraVe products - they have a Salicylic Acid (SA) line (Cleanser & Lotion) that would help with your acne, and they also have a Hydrating cleanser + amazing Moisturizer creme and moisturizing lotion too.

http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Renewing-SA-Cleanser-Ounce/dp/B00U1YCRD8

http://www.amazon.com/Cerave-Sa-Renewing-Lotion-Pack/dp/B009TWF80M/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

CeraVe's moisturizing products are amazing if you have solely dry skin + no acne, but I've heard reviews about it helping clear acne too even without the Salicylic Acid. CeraVe has some sort of patent in their products that help encourage your skin to renew its cells and encourage natural facial oils to emerge and help moisturize your skin without causing pimples.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/
^ You can read more reviews about CeraVe and see if it works; it worked really well for my horrible dry face rash that I got as a result of radiation + my bone marrow transplant. (Face was basically peeling and couldn't breathe/felt "stuck" because I stripped all the oil away from my face using too many harsh cleansers to get rid of the dead skin and rash. I used the hydrating cleanser and noticed a difference in 3 days with the moisturizing creme + lotion - creme for the really extra dry/flakey skin and lotion for my hands/other dry skin.

I used these products:
http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizers-Moisturizing-Cream-Ounce/dp/B001V9SXXU/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1453793769&sr=1-2&keywords=cerave

http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Hydrating-Cleanser-12-Ounce/dp/B000YJ2SKM/ref=dp_ccx_cts_image_beauty_1

http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-12-oz/dp/B000YJ2SLG/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1453793769&sr=1-1&keywords=cerave)

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/a/CeraVe/Skin-Cleansers/_/N-1z13ozbZ2794?categoryId=cat80170&ciSelector=leaf <--Read up the reviews here too for the different cleansers and see which ones would be best for your skin. You might be able to get a sample of these too if you went to a local Ulta store or contact CeraVe.

It's hypoallergenic and Dermatologist recommended for Eczema too.

CeraVe also has a $2 coupon on their website too :) I bought mine at a local CVS when they were having a great sale on it.

Let me preface this by saying that I'm a guy, so I'm really in unfamiliar territory here. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I started using minoxidil to stimulate facial hair growth, so I've wanted to start dermarolling as well to help with collagen production.

I've purchased a dermaroller and 70% alcohol, but I'm a bit lost on what moisturizing products I should use immediately after dermarolling.

My daily lotion right now is Lubriderm 3 in 1 but I imagine that's not something I want to use after dermarolling.

I've sort of browsed around on here and there's a lot of products and abbreviations that are lost on me, but it seems like vitamin C is a good option to use after dermarolling?

Something like CeraVe vitamin C Serum is something I've seen suggested. I've also seen others suggest Timeless vitamin C serum but I'm not quite sure what the differences are.

Do these seem like good options, or is there something better you'd suggest? I'll take any opinions/suggestions

So, the 10% lactic acid would exfoliate your skin, but if you can find a glycolic acid product at that concentration with proper pH, the glycolic would be more effective. The ability of the AHA to penetrate your skin is determined by the size of the acid molecule, among other things. Glycolic is smaller than lactic acid, so it will penetrate deeper into your skin and be more effective at exfoliating.

Another potential thing to think about is product size. The 30 mL bottle of lactic acid won't last very long at all. Since your body has so much more area than your face, generally you would want to get a larger bottle, like at least 4 ounces (body products are typically 8-16 oz. in size).

The glycolic acid 7% toner might work better for your needs. (240 mL)

http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-glycolic-acid-7pct-toning-solution-240ml?redir=1

Edit: also, just wanted to say that Alpha skincare 12% glycolic is a popular product for body PIH on this sub. Is this out of your price range?

https://www.amazon.ca/Alpha-Skin-Care-Renewal-Glycolic/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=sr_1_1/140-0849304-6381167?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1518750897&sr=1-1

I didn't do any price comparisons, so there might be more affordable options for you.

I have mild KP on the backs of my arms and serious KP on my legs. I have found a few products that have helped considerably.

Products

KP Duty Body Scrub by DermaDoctor ($50 USD): This is a body scrub containing Glycolic and Lactid Acid. Since it is rinsed off, I'm not sure how important those ingredients are. It is expensive and there may be less expensive dupes out there, but it has been the most effective and least irritating scrub I have ever used. I only use it once per week, so one jar will last for 6 months.

Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion ($17 USD): This is a 12% Glycolic acid lotion. It is very thick, so I only apply it at night, before bed. When I wake up in the morning, my skin is so hydrated and smooth. It is truly an amazing product. I love this stuff!

Routine

I typically use the body scrub on my arms and legs once per week. It should be applied on dry skin, and then rinsed off in the shower.

I typically use the body lotion on my arms and legs every night after I shower. Whenever I shave my legs, I use the body lotion immediately after. This helps prevent ingrown hairs by removing dead skin cells before they have chance to cover the hair follicle.

When I follow this routine consistently, my KP is barely there, but if I slack off, it will reappear.

Hi! I just recovered from dehydrated skin recently and live in Germany too! I find that layering hydrating products and then sealing it with an occlusive cream works best. Perhaps you could try a similar routine to mine like this:

​

1. Wash with water only
   
   
2. Hydrating toner x2 layers (Asian brands are best at this since they are more like a light moisturizer! I use Innisfree Green Tea skin, but you could try Klairs which is available on German Amazon.
   
   
3. A humectant such as Hada Labo premium mixed with another layer of toner. This is also available on German Amazon.
   
   
4. Sebamed Clear Face Gel
   
   
5. Seal it with Vaseline. Once your moisture barrier is better, you could try switching to thick layer Cerave Moisturizing Cream (this is available some Apotheke. You can find online which stores have it. Don't buy it online because the stores sell for only around 12 euro).
   
   I also suggest installing a water filter if your area has hard water.
   
   ​
   
   Best of luck!

I had a semi successful day yesterday. It went okay. I squeezed a spot on my temple/hairline but then I stopped myself, and honestly that is the part I have the most difficulty with--stopping myself once I start.

Here are the spot treatments I use:

• Walgreen's 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide. This is a generic for the Neutrogena On-The-Spot 2.5% BP, which I got because it doesn't have the emulsifying wax that Paula Praised Be Her Name complained about. Honestly though, when I run out I'm going to go back to the Neutrogena--I've got dry skin so something being more moisturizing isn't a con for me (and I buffer my BP anyway) and the generic stuff pills up SO badly when I top it off with vaseline. Sorry PB. Anyway. BP is seriously the most effective acne-killer for me. Every other day I use it in a thin layer all-over, and in between I use it liberally on my acne spots. It can be drying, but 2.5% buffered and topped with vaseline does the trick.
  
  
• Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion. This stuff is SUPER EFFECTIVE at beating cystic/nodular acne into submission, but it also kicks my moisture barrier in the ass probably because of the very high alcohol content. I use this very sparingly and only when I have painful inflamed cystic/nodular acne. I probably won't end up repurchasing this because it's really easy for me to overuse this, even as sparingly as I do.
  
  
• Evologie Intensive Blemish Serum. I got this in my BirchBox last month and I'm really digging it. Azaleic acid is the 2nd ingredient, and it's got salicylic acid and tea tree oil in it as well. It's a liquidy serum that dries clear. I use this as a spot treatment in the AM (I buffer this too). I hate that it's $35 for a half ounce but I'm considering purchasing it anyway because I really like it. The SA helps with inflammation, the TTO is antibacterial and antifungal, and the azaleic acid is antibacterial too I think.
  
  
• And last but certainly not least, hydrocolloid bandages. They are the rock star of spot treatments. But I don't have any sterile lances so using them means I've popped something.. I should really look into that. It is unbelievably satisfying to peel them off in the morning and see all my face gunk locked into the HBC.

Using my beauty account for this-

I've had bacne problems since highschool and recently decided to stop being shitty and really tackle it. General washing helped but here are two products that I think you should try out:

AmLactin "12% lactic acid neutralized with ammonium hydrox". I bought this exact bottle from Amazon. Here's what you do- shower with soap and warm water (using water that's too hot for too long will actually strip the good oils and make your breakouts worse) then get out, pat your back/shoulders dry, and rub a thin layer of AmLactin lotion all over until it's absorbed. Then put on a clean cotton T-shirt and go to bed.

So that's the lactic acid route, which has had quite good results for me. It went from 7/10 severity to 3/10.

The other thing I recommend, which I am waiting for in the mail currently, is Neutrogena Body Clear Body Spray, which is the Salicylic acid route and as far as I know can be used in conjunction with the AmLactin or by itself, though with this one you want to start with only a little bit and gradually increase the dosage to 1-3 times per day to see if it dries out your skin too much. I've only heard good things about this.

Other than medications, what you can do is use "gentle" everything that touches your back. For me, it had a lot to do with general sensitivity to the harsh stuff. When I use dryer sheets or heavily scented soap or laundry detergent, my body acne is worse. Using this "natural" laundry soap and "scent-free" stuff helped out on the clothing front. Even if you don't think you're allergic to anything, I've found that hypoallergenic bathing and laundry products help a lot, actually.

Good luck, bacne really hurts the ego sometimes.

Some things that might help:

Anything that goes near your chin (hands, chinstraps, jacket collars, pillows, etc) needs to be washed regularly and thoroughly. Try to touch your face as little as possible!

A good cleanser and chemical exfoliant can help you out. Some commonly recommended products here on SCA are CeraVe's foaming cleanser and Stridex pads (the red box, not green box). Both will help keep your skin clean and remove any bacteria that are causing you problems. It is important when using an exfoliant that you use a lotion afterwards so your skin doesn't get too dry, moisturized skin feels and looks better! Another common product here is CeraVe's lotion (there's a pump kind that's thinner, and a jar kind that's thicker and creamier).

Hydrocolloid bandages are a godsend if you have any active acne! If the blemish is 'open', cut off a small portion of the bandage and put that on the offending zit after you wash and moisturize your face for the night. By the time you wake up, most (if not all) of the fluid from the acne will be absorbed into the bandage, leaving the blemish flat and less red.

I hope this information is helpful to you! Acne can be so painful and embarrassing, but it can be managed and fixed. Best of luck! :)

It could be a variety of things causing the breakout. Hormones, a body wash/lotion, unclean sheets, or even an old loofa/sponge can be your downfall. Clean your bed spread with sensitive detergent and then start on your skin.



Get yourself a new loofa/sponge. Get in the shower and gently cleanse with a body wash that doesn't have a lot of irritants. I recommend VaniCream personally, but if you think something else will work better for you, well you know your skin best.



After your shower I would put on an AHA based lotion. I like Alpha Skincare. You'll have to remember to put on sunscreen when going outside. The AHA will make your skin sensitive to the sun.



If doing this for 3 weeks doesn't help any I would make an appointment with a dermatologist.



Good luck!

There are a lot of really good options for KP as well - some ridiculously high % of the population has it in some way or another so you are not alone! I would suggest U Lactin or AM Lactin from the drugstore (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Etc), or Makeup Artist's Choice has a glycolic acid body lotion.

Something like this or some people prefer this one a little more. Or from Makeup Artist's Choice they have this one is a nice pH and they are offering 25% off right now with the code 'peek' in all lowercase letters. Your skin will let you know if it likes lactic or glycolic acid better! Try a few things.

You're welcome, glad to help :)

Ouch - that does look painful.
Sorry to hear you're suffering.

Sometimes we really do just need to whine and complain a bit. No worries. I think we've all been there.

I'm sure you've probably tried all different kinds of things but have you gone for some oily options? Something like coconut oil, aquaphor or something similar?

I've been very pleased recently with the Eucerin Daily Hydration lotion. It goes on easily, isn't greasy, really has no smell (not like many others that have a faint scent, this has NO smell) and it has a very light weight feel on my skin....which I LOVE. I use it often and it's really helping.

Anyways, just some ideas for ya. Hope you feel better soon.

Hey I'm still recovering but something that has and still is helping for my tendons is this:

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Flo-Magnesium-Supplement-Zechstein-Relaxation/dp/B00K5QUAIG

Also, make sure to get magnesium glycinate.

Thankfully you only took one pill. You will recover, keep your head up :) If you need any support just message me. I'm 26 and was 25 when I took it so I know it's really scary to watch your body start to break down. I took 7 1/2 days worth along with steroids because I didn't know that they interacted with each other until it was too late (and my doctors a moron).

But I promise, it will get better. It just might take time. :)

I have pretty typical eczema all over, but it is profoundly itchy on my upper calves, breasts, and nipples. While steroidal ointments and creams help, the fastest relief has been a lactic acid lotion. It burns like crazy on broken/irritated skin, but really helped a lot. This is what I use daily - http://www.amazon.com/AmLactin-12-Moisturizing-Lotion/dp/B000TTPZQ6

Good luck! I hope you find relief soon.

First of all, I agree with the suggestion that you check out r/skincareaddiction. More specifically, without knowing more about your skin, here is what I'd recommend for you:

• A very simple facial cleanser like this CeraVe one - or check out the list they have on the sidebar in Skincare Addiction. Use this once in the morning and once at night before bed
  
  
• Stridex pads in the red box. These will help with your acne/ingrown hairs. You can use it on your face, arms, wherever. Start off using this once every day or every other day...You don't want to stress your skin out by doing too much too fast.
  
  
• A simple moisturizer like this. Use it after washing your face (or after using your Stridex pads).
  
  For your lips and nails I highly recommend getting Aquaphor Healing Ointment to use on both your lips and your cuticles. Aquaphor has a different product designated for lip treatment but IMO the healing ointment works much better on dry lips (plus it's multi-purpose).
  
  Also, if you can afford it, go get a manicure (yes it is possible for men to get manicures...they can clean up your nails for you). Then try to maintain the work they've done on your own with your nail clippers/scissors.
  
  For your hair since you haven't told us too much about it... If you can afford it, go get your hair (and beard?) cut professionally and ask the stylist for very specific tips and product recommendations. Ask them how you should be styling your hair and how often you should be washing it and getting it cut.
  
  Good for your for working on self-improvement! Good luck!

1. do not pop zits! dry them out, with honey or there are so many products you could use. Try [this one] (http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Badescu-Drying-Lotion-fl/dp/B0017SWIU4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427372694&sr=8-1&keywords=mario+badescu) Just dip a q tip to the bottom and apply it to the pimple and let it sit for a while.
   when you pop a pimple you can push the bacteria further back into your skin.
   
   
2. try a body wash with salicylic acid in it to get rid of that on your back.
   
   
3. you really should wash your face. You go through the entire day collecting things from the envirnment on your face including bacteria and mold.. then you go to sleep and put it on your pillow.. It's really important. if you're not wearing make up then any gentle face wash will do, just cater it to your skin type.
   
   
4. not much you can do about that. moisturizing will help delay wrinkles, but if your face is animated it won't matter too much. I'm 23 and have tons of facial expressions so I have them too. Don't worry about that though, they're not wrinkles just lines, we all have them! :)
   
   any questions let me know :) I'm trained in skin care so I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Rave: Meishoku Ceracolla Moisture Lotion

I bought this to replace the Perfect Gel from the same line because it has the same active ingredients (ceramides, mostly) and I'd like to use a more exciting moisturizer instead.

Now, I have not actually used this on my face yet ^because ^I'm ^an ^idiot ^who ^buys ^more ^products ^than ^she ^can ^reasonably ^patch ^test, but I've tried it on my lips (under balm) and my hands (under my normal hand cream) for a few days.
I have atopic eczema on my hands which means they're extremely sensitive, have dry spots and I regularly need to use prescription creams for flare-ups. Within ~2 days of using the lotion, my hands got SO much better! I wake up with hands that feel basically normal and I haven't needed to use my steroid cream in days. There's still slightly drier spots here and there, but the overall improvement is bizarre, especially considering I've used hand creams with ceramides before that didn't do much.

I completely second a fragrance free shave cream/soap, as well as the hyaluronic acid moisturizer afterwards. Here are some products I've used and highly recommend:

Kiss My Face Moisture Shave (Unscented) - Lathers great, non drying, very slick
Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Lotion - Wonderful after a shave; doesn't sting in the least. Non-greasy, liquidy gel-like. If you have more dry skin, a drop or two of your fave oil (I like sea buckthorn, argan, or rosehip) mixed in is great.

These are creamy/non-foaming face washes, but double wonderfully as a shave lotion. Both unscented:

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

​

​

good for scars: https://www.amazon.com/Rohto-Melano-Intensive-Anti-Spot-Essence/dp/B0188CAZKQ

good for acne: https://www.amazon.ca/Cosrx-Blackhead-Power-Liquid-Remover/dp/B00OZEJ8R8

good for acne: https://www.amazon.ca/Cosrx-Acne-Pimple-Master-Patch/dp/B00PBX3TN6

2 toners that are generally good for everyone: https://www.amazon.ca/HADALABO-Gokujun-Hyaluronic-Lotion-Moist/dp/B074GX619Q/ref=dp_ob_title_hpc and https://www.amazon.com/Hadalabo-Skin-Institute-hyaluronic-solution/dp/B013HHJV0C/ref=pd_cp_194_1?pd_rd_w=xuxTj&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=PNCEQPAYJ01D5T4G188R&pd_rd_r=69c57dac-5630-11e9-9f4e-dfdbc4ec4f80&pd_rd_wg=cEyQ3&pd_rd_i=B013HHJV0C&psc=1&refRID=PNCEQPAYJ01D5T4G188R

any tonymoly handcream because theyre cute and fun and everyone likes hand cream: https://img.grouponcdn.com/deal/3oZiBVh4T96HJsd7rGaHJtkpXXZq/3o-1500x900/v1/c700x420.jpg

You should check out /r/SkincareAddiction or /r/asianbeauty , the sidebar has some great tips and recommendations for beginners. Don't forget to introduce one product at a time at intervals of two week, so that if you react badly to something, you know what caused it.

Face-

Cleanser- Use a pH balanced cleanser like cetaphil or cerave. There's other great products listed on the subreddit if those don't work out for you. Your face is a bit acidic and basic cleansers ruin the acidity, resulting in dry skin.

Exfoliate - Chemical exfoliation is the way to go as physical exfoliation can damage the skin if done incorrectly or done too frequently, not to mention you can chemically exfoliate daily. Exfoliation can be categorized into BHA and AHA and the distinction between the two can be found here. Chemical exfoliation is used after cleansing and drying the face and has to be left in for about 20-30 minutes before moisturizing.

Moisturize - Finding the right moisturizer is more difficult for some than others and a great place to start is by looking at the recommended ones in the above subreddits.

Sunscreen - Suncreens can be separated into physical and chemical and many prefer physical over the chemical because it usually offers better protection and is better for sensitive skin, but physical sunscreen can also come with the side effect of leaving a white cast. Not all do so it's important to research and find one that doesn;t. If I remember correctly a spf of 30 and above is recommended and don't forget that you also need protection from UVA rays in addition to the UVB rays as spf only accounts for UVB.

Other - There's more advanced stuff like Vitamin C serums and such but it's better not to get into that right from the beginning. Also change out your pillow sheet often and drink lots of water.


Body-

Your body isn't as sensitive as you face so as long as you wash, moisturize, and use sunscreen, you should be fine. Personally, I use this every other day with a body wash and moisturize with this, but it's only because I have some acne scars on my body and I'm trying to get rid of them.

> What have you used on your seb derm?

EVERYTHING. Lol Basically, any lotion/topical I found that mentioned seb derm, I tried it. The dermatologist gave me prescription strength hydrocortisone and had me use that with an OTC anti-fungal. I've tried cleansing with sea salt, honey masks, etc. Everything would work awesomely for a week, and then the bumps would start forming again.


With everything I've read, the most recommended ingredients were zinc oxide, salicylic acid, and sulfur. My skin has actually been looking pretty good for a week or so now (knock on wood), so I'm sticking with my current routine of:


AM

• Rinse with water
  
  
• Apply a good layer of pine tar soap and let sit while I shampoo my hair; rinse
  
  
• After drying, apply a thin layer of Cetaphil Restoraderm lotion to just the area around my mouth and nose and let sit while I brush my teeth
  
  
• Apply EltaMD UV Clear sunscreen all over face
  
  
  PM
  
  
• Wash with Noble Zinc soap
  
  
• Every-other-night, apply BHA all over; let sit for 20 minutes
  
  
• Opposite nights, Vitamin C serum; let sit for 20 minutes
  
  
• Thin layer of Aveeno Eczema Therapy cream around mouth and nose
  
  
• Use Bee Naturals Oil-Free Moisturaizer everywhere else.
  
  
  I did just get a silver serum, which I ordered from overseas prior to my skin starting to calm with the current routine. If things start going south again, I'm going to give that a try.
  

• Hada Labo Moist is one of the cheapest and most effective hydrating toners.
  
  
• A good starting AHA is lactic acid, which is gentle and moisturizing (but still effective!). TO's Lactic Acid 5%/10% + HA is your best bet for affordability.
  
  Not sure what you want in a night serum? And I'd ditch the clay cleanser, simply because you already have an effective BHA product (Stridex) and you don't want to over-exfoliate your skin long-term.
  
  You also need a stronger, separate sunscreen!

Hey! The one thing I wish I knew when I was a teenager was to stop using the harsh stuff specifically made for acne. The proactive is probably irritating your skin and causing more acne, especially since you said you have dry skin. I whole heartedly believe the more simple the routine, the better. Acne is really just caused by dirty/dehydrated skin. Once the acne is there, it can be treated with certain harsher topicals, but starting with a routine that will gently clean your skin and keep it hydrated will keep the acne popping up in the first place.

tbh I would trash the proactive and that neutrogena moisturizer. I've used both, Proactive ruined my skin and that moisturizer didn't moisturize nearly enough for me. I would get the cerave foaming face wash and the cerave daily moisturizing lotion. I was having skin issues last year and started using just these two products and my skin made huuuuuge improvements. I still use them daily. (I'm only 22 btw) Moisturizing is really the key to clear skin.

https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-Hyaluronic-Ceramides/dp/B000YJ2SLG?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Foaming-Facial-Cleanser-Washing/dp/B01N1LL62W/ref=pd_sim_194_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N1LL62W&pd_rd_r=7VT2B2DQ1QNP0T9NG1JZ&pd_rd_w=AoZex&pd_rd_wg=w6lZS&refRID=7VT2B2DQ1QNP0T9NG1JZ&th=1

Also, I know this is super annoying to hear, but just drink a shit ton of water. It's the easiest thing you can do to help your skin and it truly does make a difference. If you can, stay away from dairy. Dairy is literally just loaded with cow hormones meant for a baby cow to grow. Humans don't need cow hormones, and thats why dairy makes a lot of people break out (including me) but thats a rant for another time.

Hope this helps!!

Magnesium lotion: https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Lotion-Health-Products-Liquid/dp/B00K5QUAIG/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1494207513&sr=8-2&keywords=magnesium+lotion

And some info on topical magnesium.

According to this study (http://www.fupress.net/index.php/ijae/article/viewFile/15991/14976):

"The intracellular magnesium uptake has been experimentally induced by applying, twice a day and for 4 months, on the skin of healthy volunteers, a spray of a magnesium chlorate supersaturated solution. Epithelial cells and blood samples were collected at time zero and every 2 months of treatment. Despite the constant serum concentration of magnesium along the treatment and in absence of any side effect, the EDS analysis reveals a progressive and regular intracellular magnesium increasing of about 100% of the values at each experimental step."

According to this study (http://www.cnelm.com/NutritionPractitioner/Issues/Issue_11_1/Articles/7%20Transdermal%20Mg%20revised2.pdf)

"In this study both the blood level as well as the cellular magnesium content were determined with the help of a hair analysis before and after a twelve week transdermal application with a 31 percent saturated magnesium chloride solution. Thereby after a twelve week course of treatment an average rise in the cellular magnesium content of 59.5 percent was determined in 89 percent of the test subjects. With oral magnesium intake, comparable results could first be achieved after nine to twenty four months. Furthermore, all patients showed an average improvement of 25.2 percent in the calcium-magnesium ratio during the test period. As a side effect, clear indications of a detoxification of heavy metals was observed in 78 percent of the test subjects."

I pick/chew/lick my lips a lot. Here's what has helped me (and maybe it'll help you?):

• Stopped using lip products with camphor or menthol (no more Burt's Bee's!)
  
  
• Stopped using lip products with flavors OR heavily scented (bye bye Lipsmackers and Eos). Even if the lip balm wasn't sweet tasting, if it smelled sweet I would subconsciously chew on my bottom lip.
  
  
• Started slathering on Aquaphor before bed, after brushing my teeth, at school, in the car, on a train, in a plane--you get the idea! I keep a big tub on my bedside table, a tube in my backpack, and there's always at least one small tube in each purse.
  
  
• Started ocassionally (maybe once a week?) exfoliating my lips. I don't want to over do it. I usually do this while I'm doing OCM--just put some of the oil on your lips and use a soft bristle tooth brush to gently buff your lips. It takes 10 seconds.
  
  
• Started being more conscious of my water intake and carrying a water bottle with my everywhere. I don't really think to myself, "Ok I need to drink at least 2 of these before lunch today" or keep track of how many oz I'm drinking. I just always keep my bottle handy and find I drink a lot more without thinking about it. The benefit is more than just less chapped lips, of course. EDIT: If you use one of those products but want to make the finish matte, just lightly pat on a little bit of transluscent powder with your finger.
  
  
• Ignore if you don't wear makeup: I try to avoid overly drying lip products, such as matte lipsticks (MAC Russian Red you are the love of my life but you're KILLING my lips!) and overly slippery products like lip glosses (I tend to rub my lips together constantly when I'm wearing one). I like lip products that kinda melt into your lips, like NYX butter lipsticks, MAC lustre finish lipsticks, and those Revlon lip crayons. They're moisturizing but not overly so like a gloss, so I tend to forget that there's anything even on my lips.
  
  
• Alternate strategy if you wear makeup: Wear a really bold lip color in a long lasting formula (I'm thinking something like the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks or the cheaper Sephora brand version). Whenever you're tempted to start picking or chewing your lips, just remember that you're rocking that awesome purple/coral/vampy red lip color today and you absolutely do not want to mess it up.

I like the Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion 12% Glycolic (Amazon Link), but only tend to get it on sale. I like the Alpha Skin Care one better than any of the Amlactin products, but I know a lot of people like Amlactin. YMMV.

My legs and arms also like some physical exfoliation every now and again, for which I usually use a basic sugar scrub.

I mix a very basic Lactic Acid exfoliant for my body. I use this sparingly a few times a week, and it has worked for me. The end formula has, aside from distilled water, 20% Lactic Acid, adding glycerin as a humectant, baking soda to adjust the ph, and Liquid Germall Plus as a preservative. If you check out r/DIYBeauty, you can find some resources.

I suggest oils like rosehip and marula for moisture but I know the folks over at /r/asianbeauty looove their CORSX snail essence! so definitely give it a try and see if you like that or any of the aforementioned oils better under your nightly cream!

hydrating lotions (they’re called lotions but are basically the same as toners) like this one from kikumasamune or this one from hada labo could work! but try the COQ10 spray! it might work just fine for you. (:

I have the exact same problem. I’ve been lurking r/skincareaddiction for years and war fairly overwhelmed by the mountains of products to try on a limited budget and sensitive skin. The few products that I tried were expensive and gave me allergic reactions. I started following r/asianbeauty, and I’ve had a but more luck. im only about a week into my new regimen, but i picked up Hadalabo moisturizing toner and COSRX snail cream that have seemed to help a lot.

Basically, i wash my face at night with my usual gentle wash, apply toner, let dry, apply snail cream, let dry, then apply regular moisturizer.

The last couple of days, ive had some flakes coming back, so tonight i put paulas choice AHA (exfoliating acid) on top of everything.

In the morning, I’ll either splash my face with water, or use micellar water and nothing else. Maybe a touch of my moisturizer with spf if i need it. i know i should use the spf every morning but im still figuring things out so im taking it slow.

I dont think im quite ready for foundation, but my face feels so much better so far. hope this helps!

note: on mobile and phone stopped autocorrecting so sorry for mistakes. amazon links below

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LEJ5MSK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

HADALABO Gokujun Hyaluronic... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074GX619Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

TONYMOLY I'm Real Avocado... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HN8P3JU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share — i didnt mention this but i really love this korean sheet mask

Is there an chance wrinkles are from aging and not just dry skin? If they are medium-sized, I would think it might be aging related. This may not be tolerable by him, but you can google short contact therapy for retinoids which allow for some of the anti-aging benefits without the irritation and give it a try.

I had super sensitive rosacea and psoriasis prone skin for awhile. Every single lotion I've ever tried irritated my skin, but for non irritating moisture, HADALABO Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist is unbeatable. It's not a lotion, it's a clear serum that is super mild but very moisturizing.

​

On top of that I use vaseline for extra moisture and it helps with psoriasis somewhat.

​

Hope some of this helps.

Shampoo - Loreal Ever Fresh Anti-Danduff (Sulfate Free). Anything organic and sulfate free is okay. Other than that, tumitindi ang balakubak and flakes.

Deodorant - Crystal Body Rock Deodorant (Unscented, Aluminum/Parabens Free, Natural, Hypoallergenic, and leaves no stain)

Body/Facial Moisturizer - Lubriderm Men's 3-in-1 Lotion Fragrance Free

Lip Moisturizer - Burt's Bee 100% Natural Lip Balm

Toothpaste - Anything, actually. But Colgate is my go-to brand.

Soap - Ivory Fragrance Free or Irish Spring Classic

Hair Oil - Johnson & Johnson's Baby Oil.

Facial Wash - Clean & Clear Morning Burst Oil Free. Cetaphil is nice, too.

Dental Floss - Johnson & Johnson REACH (Mint waxed)

Briefs - Anything Bikini Briefs (multicolored sets). For local brands, I like Bench and Warren. They last a long time bago maging "baconized." :D

Colognes/Perfumes - too many to mention (I have more than 30 bottles that I rotate, excluding samples and decants)

The issue(s) you need help with: I feel like a skin care disaster, I definitely need help developing a routine.

Skin type: Combo I guess? I have no idea. Some parts of my skin are dry and sensitive, like my eyelids. Others can be oily like my forehead. The pores on my nose are humongous and I'd like to reduce them. I was told my arms have keratosis pilaris but I never followed up with that.

Routine: I shower exclusively at night, occasionally using Public Goods Moisturizer and Lotion afterwards. I had been using Cerave but i got suckered into good marketing. I switch between using Ivory Aloe, Public Goods Body Wash, and Public Goods Bar Soap on Salux Wash Cloths. I was using a new loofah every month but I switched to the wash cloths and saw an improvement. Since I have three I was going to rotate them every few months but I realize i should probably wash and rotate them more often. I was also considering getting the Super Hard ones because my skin doesn't seem to be clearing up like it did when I first started using the cloths.

Location: Texas, USA

PM me for photos cause I don't wanna put my face on the internet

It's definitely dry, what I don't know is if it's dry and oily or just dry cause it's winter, I don't remember it being this dry couple of months ago but atm it hurts to frown etc. my cheeks feel normal most the problem is forehead.

I was using Simple Kind to Skin Moisturising Facial Wash and sebamed clear face care gel (which tbf doesn't feel very moisturising but works great at fighting spots).

either way if it's just dry and not dehydrated a softer cleanser such as Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser - 200ml (which apparently is non foaming according to SCA) and a new moisturiser; CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion (which is apparently good for dry to normal skin will help)

I don't have a sunscreen yet but I live in the UK and dont use an AHA so not hugely worried.

Issue: acne breakouts among face, neck, chest, and back

Skin type: combination, very oily T-zone

Current routine:

AM: Cleanse with kaolinite clay, BP wash on face, Selsun Blue on body. Moisturize face with Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion and Murad Oil and Pore Control. Moisturize body with Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion or B&BW Body Cream

PM: Same as morning. Night face moisturizer is just Cerave Night Cream.

Now, this routine is working pretty well, and I definitely attribute that to the Murad products. I was wondering if there was anything similar that I could use for my body and/or in place of the Cerave Night Cream. One thing I noticed was that the Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion has retinol in it and I feel like that makes the biggest difference for me. Any combination of products doesn't seem to work as well if there isn't some sort of retinoid present.

Edit: Ahhh, YES, use sunscreen! This def shouldn't be skipped

Hey there! I'm on Epiduo Forte (Adapalene 0.3% & 2.5% BP) so I understand where you're coming from.

I'd recommend taking it slow with applications. Have you used it every single night for 5 days straight? Don't do that!! You will damage your moisture barrier. I actually was put on Epiduo 5 days ago as well and I have only done 3 applications. The first week should be 2-3 applications to build your tolerance.

Use a bit of moisturizer before your Epiduo application. I personally use Cerave PM because my skin is dry and this is a nice lightweight "prep" for me. I also use a hydrating toner (there is a difference between hydrated and dry skin) immediately after washing my face and before the Cerave PM which helps immensely.

After I apply the Epiduo, I wait a little bit and use Vanicream - which is most likely similar to the La Roche creams you mentioned. You want something thick. Then I finish everything off with a pea sized amount of Cerave balm (basically like Vaseline/Aquaphor) and run my humidifier at night.

Despite ALL of that, I still woke up with dry patches. I think it's inevitable. Give your skin a 2 or 3 day break and focus on moisture. I do not have oily skin so that is out of my wheelhouse, but your skin could possibly be oily because it's dry and/or dehydrated. Here is the hydrating toner I use if you're interested. This will definitely help your skin.

My current routine:
wet face

apply CeraVe Foaming Cleanser(https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Foaming-Facial-Cleanser-Washing/dp/B01N1LL62W/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1543554976&sr=1-4&keywords=cerave%2Bfoaming%2Bfacial%2Bcleanser&th=1)

After having applied cleanser to all of face I use this brush for approximately one minute anad then I rinse my face with water(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071DZG44Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

After using the brush/finishing the cleansing process I use one of these pads and I apply it to all of my face
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074GF1PNL/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1#customerReviews)

I let my face air dry for like 30 seconds after using the stridex pad and then I apply this moisturizer lotion (https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-Hyaluronic-Ceramides/dp/B000YJ2SLG/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1543554993&sr=1-5&keywords=cerave+moisturizing+cream)

I believe that I need to start using some sort of sunscreen, no? If so what should I go for? I don't really know where to look for them just by searching "facial sunscreen" on amazon. (https://www.amazon.com/EltaMD-Clear-Facial-Sunscreen-Broad-Spectrum/dp/B002MSN3QQ/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1543555607&sr=1-4&keywords=elta+sunscreen) This one looks good based on the reviews but 1.7 ounces for $25 is kinda pricey considering that I'll be using the same amount of sunscreen as I would for my lotion. I have normal skin. Any advice on my current routine or input on what sunscreen I should get that's great for the price would help. Thanks.

It looks like KP (which i have suffered from my entire life) and nothing ever worked for me until my current routine. Seriously, anyone who has KP check this stuff out.

My routine:

I use some sort of an exfoliating body wash (i usually rotate between whichever one is on sale. Dove, Neutrogena, etc.) I try to stay away from any that are too "drying" like acne ones.

Then after my shower ( I shower in the PM) I use AmLactin Alpha-Hydroxy Therapy Moisturizing Body Lotion. I have never had any results from anything else until I started to use this stuff. It has CHANGED my skin. Here is a blurb about it from their website.

"AmLactin Moisturizing Body Lotion has a special formula with clinically proven 12% lactic acid that’s pH balanced for the skin. Don’t let the word 'acid' concern you - especially since lactic acid is a naturally occurring humectant for the skin with a certain affinity for water molecules to help keep skin hydrated. And the more moisture that can be retained deep within the skin, the softer and smoother your skin feels.

By encouraging natural skin cell renewal through exfoliation and delivering intense hydration deep within the skin, this lotion creates a soft, smooth texture you’ll love."

I love this stuff and usually put it on after every shower and sometimes in the mornings after my face skincare regimen.

It's a lot more expensive that other OTC lotions but it is WELL worth the price. I would pay three times as much for my results. Here's the amazon link. There are a lot of comments on the amazon page about how it worked for KP too!!! Read through some of them.

https://amazon.com/AmLactin-Alpha-Hydroxy-Therapy-Moisturizing-Fragrance-Free/dp/B00T7260EC/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500481456&sr=8-3&keywords=amlactin&th=1



EDIT
I also forgot to add that you need to use sunscreen!!!

Hi! I'm looking for some routine help/ transitioning into a winter routine. I wanted to add some more moisture into my routine, so I purchased HADALABO Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist since it was pretty highly recommended here. My question is when do I use it? In watching YouTube how-to videos, they say to use it immediately after cleansing, as a "lotion" in Japanese skincare is what Americans refer to as a "toner." But... I'm already using Thayers toner, and I use a few actives, and my thought is that if I put the hylauronic acid lotion on first, my actives will have a harder time soaking in (?). I'm pretty new to this skincare game, so any help would be appreciated.

As far as skin type, I think I have oily skin or maybe it's normalish? I don't know. My forehead feels oily by the end of the day. I don't know if any oil on the skin constitutes having an oily skin type, or if this happens to everyone. I occasionally get breakouts, but they aren't that bad, but I'm a picker (shocking? Is my anxiety showing? Oh my god am I doing this right?!?!?!), so I make them worse.

​

Here is my routine:

​

AM:

Oil Cleanse (dear, Klairs gentle black deep cleansing oil)

rinse off with lots of water in the shower

Tone (Thayers alcohol-free rose petal witch hazel toner)

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc (The Ordinary)

Moisturizer (Glossier priming moisturizer)

SPF (Supergoop! Smooth and Poreless 100% Mineral Matte Screen)

​

PM:

Oil Cleanse (dear, Klairs gentle black deep cleansing oil)

Water (aqueous? Am I saying this right?!?) Cleanse: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (Once I run out of this, I want to switch to something with a lower pH.)

Tone (Thayers alcohol-free rose petal witch hazel toner)

BHA (The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution)

Retinoid (The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane)

Moisturizer (CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion)

​

I've been following this routine since probably June, and everything seems fine. I think my skin is pretty resilient. I'm just looking to have a more of a "glow" and keep breakouts to a minimum (which also just means I need to keep my hands off of my face).

​

Again, main question is when to add in Hada Labo hyaluronic acid lotion. And should I even bother with Thayers? Any suggestions are appreciated.

​

Thank you!

​

Why all this exfoliation? The main purpose of exfoliants is to keep old dead skin cells moving . At 25, your skin doesn't need a lot of help for that, just a little boost. FWIW, some people cannot use glycolic acid at all without getting cystic acne. I'd recommend simplifying things before you add more.

The CLEAR line might help but forget the Ordinary products, they aren't going to make the difference you are seeking. As your moisturizer, give Olay's Luminous Tone Perfecting Moisturizer a 2 month try. It use much more effective fading ingredients.

What kind of sunscreen are you using? I don't see that mentioned in your message.

Note: For cystic acne flareups, I've found Mario Badescu Drying Lotion to be very effective.

I personally use Nivea Double action Q10 Balm after shaving and haven't had an issue with dry skin afterward.

On days I don't shave, I use Cerave Moisturizing lotion. It has ceramides and hyaluronic acid, super lightweight, absorbs fast, and won't leave you feeling greasy at all. PH balanced and non-comedogenic (so it won't break you out).

Before I apply my balm/lotion, I apply some Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel as it'll help your skin better absorb the lotion/balm.

If neither of those looks like good options, I'd suggest heading over to /r/SkincareAddiction and hopefully they can help you out!

• Get a shampoo that is SLS and Silicone free. Most of the times, the breakouts are due to them running down the skin while washing hair. Same with conditioner if you use one. Google will give you some brands that have them.
  
  
• Wash your body after you shampoo with a Sulfur and Salicylic Acid Soap.
  
  
• Moisturize with Cerave SA Lotion For Bumpy Skin. It has Salicylic Acid and that will be your leave in treatment for acne.
  
  
• If the above doesn’t work, you can add a stronger active like Benzoyl Peroxide once a week.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Edit: I just saw u/Scumteam14 adding a few notes about what you tried that may make my answer irrelevant, so please follow with what they said, They know their stuff. I will leave the recommendations if someone else has a similar case and is not sensitive to the actives I mentioned.

The Hada Labo helped save my skin when I was having a severe flareup- I was so dehydrated that I couldn't apply anything to my face, well except this and the ceracolla lotion. The japanese skincare tends to offer some very gentle options. Ceracolla also has a "perfect gel" which is more of a moisturizer, and there are different versions for both Hada Labo and Ceracolla- emulsions, moisturizers.

It wasn't hydrating enough, so I you ld layer bot lotions under a stronger moisturizer. I never found the perfect one though.

My issue with it now is that it had castor oil in it- I can't find the ingredient in the current formulation though, but it makes my face really hot. I'll not repurchase unless necessary because they are not cruelty free.

Why do you avoid dimethicone? I try to avoid it because it gives me cystic acne, but my face is so much healthier (other than the acne) when I use it. I've been using Derma E Hydrating day and night cream which has ingredients my skin isn't a fan of, but the formulation has regulated the oil production in my skin. I'm dry, but not dehydrated! And I've woken up with facial skin that resembles my neck!

Does your current moisturizer smell like lavender? I'm intrigued but concerned about the "Blend Of Floral Extractions" and lavender water.

The Aloe Vera didn't do much for my skin. I ended up using it for my body, but if you're interested, it's nice to have on hand even if it doesn't work.

New member to this subreddit. Looking forward to digging into the FAQ and wiki over the next few days... my current routine is not much of a routine and is very basic:

• AM - wash face/shoulders in shower with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (http://www.amazon.com/Cetaphil-Gentle-Cleanser-16-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001ET76EY)
  
  
• PM - wash face with Cetaphil Gentle Skin cleaner. Blot dry with bath towel. Occasionally apply Clean & Clear Acne Spot Treatment (http://www.cleanandclear.com/product/acne-treatments/advantage-acne-spot-treatment).
  
  I also have Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion (http://www.amazon.com/Cetaphil-Fragrance-Moisturizing-16-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001ET76GW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1395925959&sr=8-4&keywords=Cetaphil+Moisturizer). I only use this when my skin is visibly dry. Maybe I should be using this more often as part of my normal routine to keep my skin healthy.
  
  Thanks for your tips!

Personally, i have found this cream to be extremely effective: Cerave Sa Renewing Skin Lotion.

I used to have pretty severe redness and itchiness, but I lather it on really well after a shower, and it seems to do the trick.
If i don't take good care of myself (no excercise, heavy partying, etc), it tends to flair up pretty bad. Also, i lather up pretty good now before lending myself a helping hand...

Check out the /r/SkincareAddiction side bar. Here are some favorites they rave about (and I use myself with good results):

• CeraVe oil-free moisturizer - this shit makes your skin feel so soft and good. I literally smile when I apply this.
  
  
• Elta MD oil free sunscreen - sun screen that doesn't leave a white residue after applying, doesn't clog pores, etc.
  
  
• Cetaphil gentle cleanser - I don't personally use this, but it's a very gentle cleanser and shouldn't hurt your skin. Good way to get rid of the dirt on your face at the end of the day.
  
  You should go and read the side bar and do your own research before you use anything though.

Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion :) you’re very welcome! Hope it helps!!

Regarding your skin problem, try this stuff, I have Icthyosis, which is pretty bad in itself. This takes care of it in short order. Best stuff around for this kind of condition. I also use exfoliating gloves, helps to get that stuff off pretty quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/AmLactin-Alpha-Hydroxy-Cerapeutic-Dermatologist-Moisturizer/dp/B00BX57IOC/ref=pd_sim_194_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00BX57IOC&pd_rd_r=6N9RPVCZ865J60G7RWP1&pd_rd_w=u3V2w&pd_rd_wg=SAwhs&psc=1&refRID=6N9RPVCZ865J60G7RWP1

Good luck, having skin problems is a nightmare. . .

I usually go into a Starbucks that has a lockable restroom and have at it, if you plan it right you can get it, do your exfoliating, clean yourself up and bet out in ten minutes.

Pharmacist here: lol what /u/Weynard_Muldrake said is absolutely right. Using anything water-based (creams, lotions) pulls moisture away from the skin (which seems to defeat the point of lotion afterall lol) so if you want to moisturize, using an oil or an ointment (ointment especially) helps to create a barrier between the skin and the environment so the water/moisture can't evaporate off. Combination skin can be tricky; some kind of oatmeal mask first maybe then moisturize? A product that I like to recommend is pharmaceutical grade lanolin. This product has done WONDERS for my dry lips this winter, and lanolin is commonly used as a base in compounded ointments. I can't attest for Black Magic Soap but hope my comment helped a little. Good luck!

I think this makes me "bougie" (is that still the word the kids use?) but for me ain't nothing else but L'Occitane 20% shea butter hand cream. Expensive as hell for lotion, but it sinks right in and doesn't turn into silicone-based slime when you wash your hands.

There are probably cheaper alternatives, but feeling like a fancy old french lady a few times a day is worth a few bucks, too.

Or, any lotion with some AHA is great for brightening up skin tone and smoothing things out. I use this on my feet and elbows.

Ah ok, that cleanser has SLES which is quite mild. Since you're not having problems with your skin drying out, I don't see why you should switch to another!

In general cleansers don't do much since you rinse them down the drain, so I would say using a good moisturiser is way more important!

CeraVe products are highly recommended, such as [this] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001V9SXXU/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1480714372&sr=8-3&keywords=cerave+moisturiser&pi=SY200_QL40) one. [Eucerin] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0098YQH2O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1480714592&sr=8-1&keywords=eucerin+body+lotion&pi=SY200_QL40) is highly rated also. For less pricey options there's [E45] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001RYSEVK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1480714666&sr=8-1&keywords=e45+body+lotion&pi=SY200_QL40) and [Aveeno] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003H2GGZQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1480714703&sr=8-1&keywords=aveeno+body+lotion&pi=SY200_QL40). I would recommend trying one of the cheaper ones first, and if your KP doesn't subside then try the one of the first three.

Hope this helps!

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Milk - It doesn't make my skin feel tight and I haven't experienced any build-up yet, which is a huge problem with my skin and using some cleansers without exfoliation. I use micellar water after this if I'm using foundation because it doesn't get everything by itself, but for morning and non-makeup use, it's perfect. I rinse it off with water but it says you can also just wipe it off.

Heritage Store Rosewater - THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE. I don't care if it's a placebo effect, it feels wonderful on my skin, it smells magnificent, and it doesn't make me break out. I use it under Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion, which has hyaluronic acid, and together they moisturize my skin much better than with the lotion alone. (Pretty sure I've been drying my skin out by not moistening my skin first XD)

Cosmetic cornstarch - Brah. If your sunscreen and/or makeup leaves you looking like an oil slick, get this. It's super cheap ($1.50!!!) and is the main ingredient in a lot of makeup setter powders anyway. (I also tried the rice powder but it made my foundation weirdly patchy.)

Like others have said, magnesium will help. Get some magnesium lotion, it will help almost immediately! Also helps prevent midnight Charlie horses.

I got this on Amazon, and it smells like vanilla cupcakes :)

Hi! I lost ~120lbs at one point and I suffer from a disease called Lipedema, so I'm familiar with the skinfold issues.My dermatologist told me that it's often/usually yeast that gets between the skin folds. That sounds icky, but it's part of your normal skin flora. It just tends to flourish and go a little crazy in warm, dark, moist places (like skin folds).I was prescribed antifungal powder (Zeasorb with Miconazole Nitrate) to keep it dry and kill the baddies, without feeding them the way cornstarch would. If you wind up with a lot of ingrowns that get very blistery (this happens to me on one of my shins of all places) you may have a secondary bacterial infection from the skin being compromised, either the skin barrier getting damaged from irritation or from popping something or from shaving that area. Neosporin on those will help for certain kinds of bacteria and most people have that laying around, so you can try that out. If it doesn't work, you can try washing with hibiclens (chlorhexidine gluconate, it's the stuff you bathe with before surgery, available at any drugstore) and that will take care of most other bacteria. In the event that neither of these things help, you may have something that requires a prescription (like staph), or you may have hidradentits suppurativa, which requires a different prescription.

https://www.amazon.com/Lotrimin-Antifungal-Miconazole-Treatment-Clinically/dp/B001V9N61Y/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541602881&sr=8-5&keywords=miconazole+powder Here is the OTC version of the powder (which is the same strength as my prescription btw). In the summer, the stuff is a godsend and I even put some in my bra so I don't get sweaty and irritated under my boobs.

​

Good luck, and the cocoa butter may not be the ideal moisturizer for those regions you are describing. Yeast really likes certain fatty acids and derivatives, and you may be exacerbating the problem without realizing it. Amlactin, which is a body lotion which contains a fairly high percentage of alpha-hydroxy acids, can help lighten up discoloration on the body over time by gently exfoliating the area. WARNING HOWEVER: Don't use amlactin on parts of your body that are still irritated, because it will sting on broken skin. Something simple and designed to be hypoallergenic and non-irritating is what you should use until then (eucerin, cerave, cetaphil, vanicream - that sort of stuff)

This version of Amlactin contains ceramides to help condition the skin and restore your natural moisture barrier.https://www.amazon.com/AMLACTIN-Alpha-Hydroxy-Ceramide-Restoring-Fragrance/dp/B00BX57IOC/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1541603088&sr=1-6&keywords=amlactin

When you say he washes his face with soap and water, do you mean hand soap? Depending on the type, that can be pretty harsh. For skin that is already inflamed and sensitive due to active breakouts, using a cleanser that is too harsh will just aggravate the problem. A good first step for him might be to find something more gentle, that's formulated to be used on the face.

Two ingredients to look for that can be very effective at reducing acne and blackheads are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. There are cleansers that contain them, as well as other forms of product (lotions, serums, etc.) You can find low-cost products containing these ingredients. One popular one on this sub is Stridex pads. There's a lot more information about these two treatments in the sidebar, including more product recommendations.

A good routine almost always includes some type of moisturizer, especially if the person is using salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which are both known to be drying. A good basic one that is unlikely to break him out further is Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion. I think this one also comes in a small travel size, if he wants to get that to start with to test it out.

Sure! I like to keep my AM routine pretty simple because after my first period class I work out for an hour so I have to wash my face again anyways (I use micellar water)

Cleanse:

DIY water soluble oil cleanser or

CeraVe hydrating cleanser (with/without konjac sponge)

Actives:

Timeless Skin Care 20% Vitamin C Plus E Ferulic Acid

Wait 15 minutes

Sunscreen:

La Roche Posay Anthelios xl spf 50 fluid ultra light (PPD 42)

Moisturizer:

Depending on how dry my skin is I use either Trader Joes nourish antioxidant facial moisturizer (super underrated in my opinion, has lots of beneficial ingredients)

Or CeraVe moisturizing lotion

Try adding in something with hyaluronic acid or a serum step.

I'm also prone to dry skin and I love Hada Labo Lotions. (It's not a lotion, it's a hydrating toner. It's from overseas and they call it lotion.)
The moist is the most popular. I love the premium.

You may find experimenting with an occlusive at night helps lock the moisture into your skin.

I found this lotion on r/skincareaddiction and it’s my holy grail product. I’ve always struggled with backne and have tried washes, changing routines, etc and this is the only thing that made any difference. Its a little expensive but it lasts a while. I just use it every morning after I shower (I don’t do anything special in the shower). It doesn’t bleach my clothes. I think it works better than special washes because it stays on your skin longer. Highly recommend!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0YLODbHJA7TRD

Here are some ideas, from someone whose skin is very resistant to acne treatments:

1. That face wash just gets rid of grease, but is only a start. I recommend getting 5% Benzo Peroxide or 2% Salicylic Acid washes first if your skin is oily, or something with glycolic acid if you have dry skin.
   
   
2. Moisturize your face more often. The first step is not washing with soap more than once a day. Cerave's great for not clogging your pores. You don't need the face lotions; IMHO they're over priced when the body lotions do just as good a job.
   
   
3. A light acid peel (35% lactic or 10% glycolic if you have dry skin, 20% salicylic if oily) with a fan brush can be used once a week for one minute. Increase the time as you get used to it. Don't wash your face with more than just a splash of water on these days.
   
   
4. If most of the acne is not superficial (cystic or otherwise deep) or it's persistent in spite of acid peels, go to a dermatologist for options.

CeraVe Lotion is lightweight and fragrance free. It has good ingredients too. The cream version (in a tub) is heavier so be aware of that.

Gold Bond Men's Essentials is good too. It has a nice scent to it, but it's not too strong. It has a bunch of nice ingredients like urea, vitamin C, niacinamide, and peptides.

Yes! I have dyshidrotic eczema that flares up on my hands, elbows, knees and feet along with eczema (not sure on the type) on my eyelid. Mine is synced to my cycle at the moment which absolutely sucks. Anyway, I use this...well the nz version of it which is for dry skin. When its really bad, I apply a thick layer on the eczema and wait for it to dry. It seems to help more when I apply the thick layer and it gets rid of the redness. I also top it with vaseline when its super bad. It heals in a week rather than ten days or more. Mine isn't chronic (as in I get flare-ups rather than having it all the time but it is chronic in the sense that I have it for the rest of my life) so maybe thats why it heals with just normal moisturiser.

I'm also looking at amlactin which has lactic acid in it. Supposedly its good for eczema. Also eucerin makes pretty good stuff for eczema. /r/eczema has more recommendations.

Honestly? My advice is to get saniderm/tatuderm/tegaderm. It's a transparent waterproof dressing. You just slap it on and let it heal. It heals much better, and you don't have to wash and goop it all the time. You can buy it for yourself. My last artist didn't use it, so I just got some myself and applied it when I got home.

Here is the one I got off amazon, but they all have it in Walgreens. It is used for non-tattoo wounds/scrapes.

If you are gonna do it though, make sure you watch some application instructions.

If you don't want to do this, instructions are:

1. Wash with gentle soap 2-3 times a day. Dr. Bronner's is great.
   
   
2. Let air dry. DO NOT DRY WITH A TOWEL. The fibers can be irritating and carry bacteria.
   
   
3. When it is COMPLETELY dry, apply a thin layer of Aquaphor. Do NOT use neosporin.
   
   
4. Do this in the morning, when you get home from school/work, and before you go to bed. Try not to rub your tattoo on anything, and let it breathe.
   
   Talk to your artist too.

it's been said to you already but a ton of people have success with CeraVe products. I was in a very similar situation as you, in terms of skin and what I wanted out of a product, and their hydrating cleanser and their moisturizing lotion have done wonders for me. 100% recommend them both.

For what its worth, I use Stridex Red exfoliating pads as well (after my shower, 20 minutes before I apply the lotion).

Thank you but I purchased this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000TTPZQ6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 is that good or better maybe? :)

NAD, but looks like some type of dermatitis (eczema or psoriasis?). I get something similar on my neck. Avoid wrist watches or bracelets since those can exacerbate or even cause rashes. Try to keep it clean (avoid soaps if possible) and use emollients (I use https://www.amazon.com/Aquaphor-Healing-Ointment-Moisturizing-Protectant/dp/B006IB5T4W/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=aquaphor&qid=1565935777&s=gateway&sr=8-6 ).

For the following, you should really consult a doctor first: If you don't think it's scabies or some other infection, hydrocortisone cream can reduce itching and redness. You can get these at any pharmacy over the counter.

Do you have any issues with the joints in your wrist? Swollen? Painful? Warm? Diminished range of motion? These might be important for your doctor to know.

Good luck!

I recommend using a hydrating toner. This stuff helps the moisturizer sink in better. A popular recommendation is Hada Labo gokujyun lotion. I'm on my second bottle and I will keep repurchasing it. It's also fragrance-free.

Another recommendation would be using an occlusive after moisturizer. It locks in the moisture so it doesn't evaporate from your skin. There's good ol' Vaseline, Aquaphor, and CeraVe healing ointment (which is my personal favorite). They're all fragrance-free. You only need a small amount to cover the face. I use like... a dime size amount.

Body Skin Type: Normal-to-dry, Keratosis Pilaris on arms, upper stomach, and thighs, occasional body acne

Shower Routine (every other day):

• Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar w/ Salux Exfoliating Cloth, focusing on my upper arms where my KP is the worst
  
  Post-Shower Routine:
  
  
• Alpha Skin Care 12% Glycolic Acid Renewal Body Lotion, every other day. I love this stuff. It smooths out my KP quite a bit, and leaves my whole body feeling so soft. Calloused areas become noticeably softer with continued use for me, as well. I've been using it for about 3-4 months, now, and will definitely repurchase when the I run out.
  
  
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, every night. I wait 30 minutes on nights that I apply my AHA to apply this. My skin loves the extra moisture, but the AHA lotion is very moisturizing on its own, so this step could probably be skipped, if necessary.
  
  I'm still looking for a solution to the mild redness caused by my KP on my arms, but other than that I'm pretty content with my routine, as is. So soft!

• Name: Lanolin - I have this particular one here but any other brand should be similar
  
• Smell/taste: Unwashed animal, haven't noticed a taste
  
• Tinted: Clear
  
• SPF: No
  
• Likes: I didn't realize my lips could be this moisturized. After trying this I feel like other balms simply prevent my lips from chapping while lanolin truly moisturizes them. It is relatively inexpensive.
  
• Dislikes: This particular one comes in a little tub which isn't too portable but there are other options such as this one in a tube. It is sensitive to temperature and it can melt or become hard and feel waxy but it melts quickly on the lips.
  
  Kudos to /u/girlseekstribe for glamming me an HG :)

Aww I'm sorry to hear that! I really wanted the OCM to work because it seems like everybody on /r/SkincareAddiction has had such wonderful results from it sigh. I wash my face with the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and I gently exfoliate with a facial brush (this one is my favorite). I apply CVS Acne Treatment Gel to my larger, more recent pimples. I then apply two acne treatments prescribed by my dermatologist, Acanya and Retin-A-Micro. And finally I moisturize with either Ponds Dry Skin Cream or CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. I've just recently been trying out the CeraVe moisturizer and it's been working out pretty well (:

I do this routine twice a day. Haha sorry that list was so extensive but it doesn't take that long actually. What's your routine like?

It may not be acne. Lots of people (myself included) have keratosis pilaris on their upper arms, which can be mistaken for acne. I too pick at mine when I'm stressed, which only stresses me out more - infuriating!

The best way to reduce it is to apply a lotion with Alpha Hydroxy Acid. There are a lot available on Amazon. Here's one example.

https://www.amazon.com/AMLACTIN-Alpha-Hydroxy-Ceramide-Restoring-Fragrance/dp/B00BX57IOC/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=alpha+hydroxy+acid+lotion&qid=1551376244&refinements=p_72%3A1248873011&rnid=1248871011&s=beauty&sr=1-8

​

My mom is convinced that hers improves when she cuts out sugar and dairy, but I haven't noticed the same connection.

I hope you get relief soon! Be nice to your body - it's the only one we we get!

Hello.

I'm trying to surprise my wife for her birthday with some AB products. My only reference point is that she has sensitive to breakout oily/combination skin and has pinned some items on Pinterest.

Here's what I have so far:

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, 12 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YMJJSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_2OMmraOvVHpYA

belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb [Korean Import] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H4GOAZO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_E8213xrgbYSfV

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, 1 fl. oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017SWIU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_TBxTTig7H3qSs

Elizavecca 24K Gold Waterdrop 2hsam Cream Mask https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZDKOVE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.5mNzb3QFYZMG

Also some Stridex pads (she loves to use mine)

Is this enough to create a routine? If so what would the routine be? If not what am I missing?

Any and all help would be appreciated.

This is a basic routine that I think is great for anybody
Cleanser: you said you have dry skin so you need a more hydrating cleanser

Chemical exfoliant: I recommend a AHA exfoliant from Paula's choice AHA's are generally good for dry skin and not as drying as salicylic acid

Sunscreen: in the AM is a definite must for anything wrong with your skin really I recommend the cerave am moisturizer (make sure weather you pick that or not you get a sunscreen with at least spf 30)

Moisturizer: I also recommend you get the cerave moisturizing lotion
I said mainly all cerave products cause they have great ingredients and are pretty affordable for most but try them out for your self and see how u like it idk about a hydrating cleanser though

For skin irritation/burning/itching I use Aquaphor.
http://www.amazon.com/Aquaphor-Healing-Ointment-Irritated-Protectant/dp/B006IB5T4W

For sores or other issues that are a tad more severe I might just use vaseline.

If I am in real pain whilst using the toilet, instead of using toilet paper I'll use a toilet Sitz bath.
https://shop.riteaid.com/rite-aid-sitz-bath-8014670

Probably one of the best thing's I've used to help treat issues down there. Usually What I'll do is after you're done going, fill the bath with as much water as you can, preferably as hot/warm as you can take it. Then pour some epsom salt into it. Next you just have the bag filled with hot water, and it circulates the water in the tub. The water just drains out the back into the toilet. It makes wiping a lot easier and makes your bottom feel a lot better. I highly recommend trying this if nothing else.

Best of luck!

This product should fix it - https://www.amazon.com/Aquaphor-Advanced-Therapy-OintMent-Protectant/dp/B006IB5T4W

I started using Aquaphor on my daughter when she developed a very similar neck rash. It's all I use on her neck, and it's primary ingredient is Vaseline. I do not use lotions, powders, or body washes. All I do is put a fingertip full of it in her neck folds on each side twice a day (sometimes three times if it gets wiped off/she's sweaty/etc). The improvement I saw after a few days was DRASTIC. I swear by this stuff now. Best of luck and I hope your LO feels better!

I love Buffy as well for managing the KP on my legs. Unfortunately I don't think it's the best option for OP as it's pretty expensive ($24 for a large bar which will last you about 2-3 months if used every other day).

I actually think the cheapest option is buying the large 20 oz bottle of Amlactin from Amazon for $20.
http://www.amazon.com/AmLactin-12-Moisturizing-Lotion/dp/B000TTPZQ6

hey, so a few questions -

i popped on over to the FAQ -which parts did you find most helpful? i didn't find it very helpful. could you point me in the right direction?

for choices in these products, what made you go with CeraVe? i hear it recommended a lot. what's the hype about it?

also, there's so many cerave moisturizers. do you mean [this one?] (https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-12-oz/dp/B000YJ2SLG?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0)

Edit: Thanks for help guys! I'm a rare lurker but I saw this on my front page and had to ask some questions! OP -ya face look good!

Tanning beds work, but they're not nearly as effective as phototherapy.

There are three types of UV light used in mainstream phototherapy: UVA, narrowband UVB (or NB-UVB) and PUVA (psoralen-UVA).

• UVA is what most tanning beds provide (though some provide some UVB, mostly accidentally). While UVA does treat psoriasis, it's significantly less effective than UVB. It's also known to be damaging to the skin.
  
  
• PUVA is UVA combined with a medication called psoralen that increases the skin's sensitivity to light. It is by far the most effective form of phototherapy, and it was the primary form of phototherapy for many years, but it's fallen out of fashion a bit.
  
  
• Narrowband UVB machines emit a very thin sliver of the ultraviolet-B range of light. The healthcare has almost entirely switched to this form of light, as it's considered to be safer than broad-spectrum UVA, and doesn't require any special medications.
  
  How effective is a normal tanning bed compared to UVB? No idea. I haven't found any papers measuring it. It's probably only 20-30% as effective. You have to balance this against the skin damage (you may want to wear clothing and expose only the parts you want to treat).
  
  Keep in mind, too, that some people don't see any improvement from phototherapy at all. Psoriasis is a highly individual disease.
  
  As for scales, descaling is a thing. Find a moisturizer with 10-40% urea. Urea is amazing in that it dissolves dead skin cells, and also happens to be a natural moisturizer. Eucerin Dry Intensive 10% urea is a good one, though there are many other products.

Aquaphor. I picked up some from my local Walgreens just a few days ago, and my skin already looks SO much better. More vibrant, youthful, even-toned, and healthy. Also - taking a multivitamin every day has made a world of a difference in clearing up my acne and reducing redness. [Here's a link to the Aquaphor] (http://www.amazon.com/Aquaphor-Healing-Ointment-Irritated-Protectant/dp/B006IB5T4W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404326603&sr=8-2&keywords=aquaphor)

Skin type: oily(?)
current routine: moisturizer on affected area every morning and night [tried out cerave daily moisturizer lotion, and now trying out cerave pm facial moisturizing lotion]

So a bit of background, I always had a dark patch on my face just under my lip, which you can slightly see here

I decided to try to combat my acne by using products such as [paula's choice BHA]
(https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L5O4Q32/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1),
cerave hydrating facial cleanser and cerave daily moisturizer lotion

but then eventually the dark patch on my skin got really dehydrated (? I'm only saying it's dehydrated because of how it's all dark and textured is because of how its all gray and textured, although I dont know if it is infact dehydrated or something else)

I didnt know what was causing this to occur so I stopped using all my products and although all my acne came back the dry patch stayed [I stopped using products for a little under 2 months until I succumbed to the temptation to use the earlier mentioned moisturizers on that area] I honestly dont know what to do at this point, I know the FAQ says that after you feel like you've tried everything it's time to see a dermatologist, but I'm hoping someone has experience with this to help me, I dont know what exactly I should be looking under because on the surface it looks like really dehydrated skin but maybe I should be looking under a different topic? or should I just go off and head to the nearest dermatologist asap?

• Illi and Innisfree have the most widely available AB body products
  
• Nivea makes a great body sunscreen
  
• Salux cloths and Italy towels are great for physical exfoliation
  
• Check out Amlactin or Alpha Hydrox for AHA body creams; helps with KP

Also becuase I’m from the UK I’ll send you back the same products on the UK amazon just to check,


Squalane 100% Pure, 2 fl oz (60 mL) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003MJG19K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SI13DbJKGDANR


Jojoba Oil Nature Shine 100% Organic 120ml Pure & Natural Cold Pressed Aromatherapy Unrefined Moisturizer for Face, Hair, Skin, Nails, Cuticles, Stretch Marks & Sensitive https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L8KBP6T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RL13DbKESWDQ2


For the scrub they don’t sell it on amazon UK so this is what I’m using at the moment


Soap And Glory Scrub Of Your Life... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006L698KA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share



Loofah I’m using is


Salux Nylon Japanese Beauty Skin Bath Wash Cloth/Towel - White https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001KMR9WY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BO13Db43NPXWM

And another one is this:


Korean Italy Towel Exfoliating Bath Washcloth [4 Pcs] (Green) Techef Home https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LGLOKLM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2O13DbMGADH9M



Amlactin

Amlactin 12 % Moisturizing Lotion... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000TTPZQ6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I'm glad it's not just me- I thought I was crazy!! I usually have super dry skin but it's been SO oily lately. I have just been washing my face more often to combat it... but zits still show up 🙈I'm not 100% sure if it's pregnancy safe (not sure why it wouldn't be though) but Mario Badescu has a drying lotion for pimples that is amazing!

I love using a drying lotion like this one. I know it won't help now, but having it on hand really helps me when I'm breakout city before an event!

I've decided to get more serious in trying to combat by PIH and need some help in formulating a new skincare routine. I usually do my routine every 2 days after I shower and am treating PIH primarily on my chest, back and shoulders. Whatever I plan on using on my face I was also planning on using there too.

My main problem is trying to figure out when to apply a Brooklyn Botany Vitiman C Serum, TO Niacinamide, and Rosehip Oil. My theorized routine is as follows:

-----

CeraVe SA Body Wash

Eucerin In-Shower Body Lotion

Alpha Skin Care Body Lotion, 12% Glycolic AHA

To Ordinary Arbutin

CeraVa Moisturizing Cream (for face, back, shoulder and chest)

Some other generic lotion for everywhere else

Sunscreen

-----

Where should I fit the Serum, Niacinamide and Rosehip Oil, and why? I've been reading that the Serum could come after AHA, but it interferes with Niacinamide, which I have no idea where that would go and why it interferes. I also read that the Rosehip Oil can be mixed with my Moisturizing Cream; just add a few drops.

edit and addition - My current routine is a simple body wash, Alpha Skin Care AHA 10% and some Hydroquinone cream (both on face, shoulder, back and chest), Moisturize then Aloe Vera. My skin type is also pretty normal, it didn't break out or anything when I first ever introduced the AHA, and with age my skin has seemed to become stable; I don't break out very often anymore, just recovering.

I'm not a fan of Tend Skin, it has alcohol which is drying and causes other problems, plus it stings. I like this salicylic acid spray from Paula's Choice http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/collections/Clear-for-Blemishes/_/Clear-Acne-Body-Spray

Also these ingrown hair wipes from the Europeon Wax Center have salicylic acid and glycolic acid and work for shaving as well as waxing: http://www.waxcenter.com/strut-smoothly

Shaving more often might help as it does exfoliate. Using a lotion with alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid can help, too. Amlactin is one you can get from the pharmacy
https://smile.amazon.com/dpB000TTPZQ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_rHqmzb6S037TN
or Alpha Hydrox makes a lotion I can only seem to find online https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_sFqmzbBJR1S93

Good luck in your quest for smooth skin!

Fellow brown girl, I've found some great solutions over the years. Right now I use a body lotion with glycolic acid (Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion with 12% Glycolic Aha, fragrance-free and paraben-free, 12 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_dmBYHIabEXJJS ) but mixing licorice root powder and glycerine into a paste and applying for 20 minutes before showering every day also helped! Also obligatory please wear sunscreen because we need it too to prevent hyperpigmentation. :)

Cerave Moisturizing Lotion is £10 on Amazon. If you live in London you can have it delivered by tomorrow evening for free using the Amazon Prime trial. You might also be able to be in some shops in the UK, I don't know.

This moisturiser has a 5/5 rating on Paula's Choice's beautypedia. I have it myself and it's really good, in my opinion one of the best moisturisers you can buy in the UK.

You could also order the Paula's Choice moisturiser from their website. It would take a few days to get to you, though.

I've used that in the past as well as Gillette Series After Shave Gel with success. Right now I'm using Lubriderm Men's 3-in-1 Lotion which is the most economical (i.e. cheap) way to get the most bang for your buck.

The reason I like Lubriderm so much is the dispensing method. With those other options listed, I had a tendency to use too much. With one push/squirt, you should have plenty for your post shaved face. I'm sure most people frown upon the 'combo' products (which I usually do), but this has been working for me pretty well so far.

I use Neutrogena pink grapefruit scrub (or any salicylic acid body wash) on a shower poof to scrub my back and shoulders as the last step before getting out of the shower. Then I use 2 other products after my shower, 2-3 times a week:

(BHA-Salicylic acid) Nature's Cure Body Acne Treatment Spray - 3.5 fl oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00027DHYM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2B8FAb6G66FBX

(AHA- glycolic acid) Alpha Skin Care - Renewal Body Lotion, 12% Glycolic AHA, Supports Healthy Radiant Skin| Fragrance-Free and Paraben-Free| 12-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zD8FAbHYQ9JTC

Spray on the BHA after showering and let dry for at least 30 mins, then follow up with the AHA lotion. This has cleared up my back and shoulders 99.9%!

I use the plain old bodywash provided by the gym in their showers, but the key is to really hydrate with lotion after you get out of the shower and dry off.

I use this stuff all over my body, this stuff on my knees, elbows and bottoms of my feet and this stuff on my hair. Seems to do the trick- skin stays nice and soft and I no longer get comments saying, "you smell like a pool." Oh, also shower BEFORE the pool so you're wet when you get in, helps protect your hair from absorbing the chlorine.

Hi guys! Really interested in incorporating hyaluronic acid into my skin care, and have been eyeing the Hada Labo Rohto Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist.

However, I see two listings for it on Amazon-- this one is a bit cheaper than this one, and also lists parabens further down on the ingredients list, so I'm def more interested in that first one. In the Q&As, the seller states that the packaging is different than in the older listing because it is the reformulation from summer 2017 (therefore it has new packaging). Is this true? It barely has any reviews so it seems a bit sketchy to me. I don't even see the supposed reformulation on the Hada Labo website.

Does anyone know if it's a fake or legit? Please and ty.

I don't know about lift, but Cerave Moisturizing Lotion is pretty awesome for me in the summer. Light but still moisturizing, and layerable if I need some extra.

I'm looking at introducing some pure lanolin into my routine, but I'm not 100% sure on the comedogenic/irritation ratings. I found this online:

ingredient : comedogenic factor : irritant factor

Lanolins

Acetylated lanolin : 4 : 0

Acetylated lanolin acohol : 4 : 2

Anhydrous lanolin : 0-1 : ?

Lanolin alcohol : 0-2 : 2

PEG 16 lanolin (Solulan 16) : 4 : 3

PEG 75 lanolin : 0 : 0

The lanolin I've been looking at is this one, the ingredients list says it's 100% Lansinoh HPA lanolin - Lansinoh is the brand so I think this is something they've named. I don't know what kind of lanolin this is in regards to the ratings above. Any help?

Additionally as lanolin is quite thick and hard to use, this liquid lanolin caught my eye but I'm wondering if anyone knows how effective this is compared to the 'normal' thick stuff? Is it to lanolin as mineral oil is to vaseline? Is it still just as effective? What kind of lanolin would it be in regards to the ratings I found?

Thanks!

That's awesome!

I have KP on my upper arms and thighs so I know how hard it can be to treat. I use a SA cleanser in the shower and Amlactin lotion.

Honestly, Amlactin lotion is very much worth it if you have KP. When you run out of your current lotion you should try it! It's sold a ton of places in the US and isn't expensive.

I used the TonyMoly peach hand cream for awhile, but while it smells AMAZING, it's kind of mediocre as a hand cream and trace contact with my face tends to aggravate my dermatitis. Right now I'm using my regular body lotion (Acure Organics Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 unscented) because I can't/don't want to use anything with drying alcohols/strong synthetic fragrance but I'm thinking of getting this straight up pure pharmaceutical grade lanolin combined with the Nubian Heritage Mango Butter Lotion which has raw shea and mango butters along with weaker/stable forms of vitamin A, C, and E.

I've struggled with bacne for my entire adult life and only now (maybe 2 months) see consistent results.

I use the following:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PO7GKLM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apip_aOVxY3oMIQMVN

Then I follow with this but I didn't add it until after a week of just using the above was and my old moisturizer:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0071XPQQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apip_ZIXqoMmXx48cJ


Best of luck!

What's on your leg aren't pimple scars, but ingrown hairs and scars from that.

What you should get for that is a lotion with lactic acid (AHA), or PFB Vanish and rub that daily on your legs.

I find that the lotion with lactic acid really helps for my body acne. So, you can try that.

If you have face acne, try retinol. Wal-Mart has this really cheap retinol, it's called Derma E refining Vitamin A wrinkle creme.

Also, yeah. /r/skincareaddiction

My derm had told me AmLactin/Lac-Lotion was great for Keratosis Pillaris, and it worked well for me. It's 12% Ammonium Lactate (AHA) and is pretty cheap for a large bottle [$14 on Amazon] (https://www.amazon.com/AmLactin-12-Moisturizing-Lotion/dp/B000TTPZQ6?th=1), and is something that you can use on your face and body. I used mine and saw results in days. Be warned: it smells a little bit. Still works great though. AHA's and other actives do make you photosensitive, so you do need sunscreen.



Edit: I saw your note on how you don't get sunburnt- I don't burn ever either, and if it's one thing this subreddit has taught me, it's that the sun is actively trying to kill you, always, and that sunscreen is a must.

This is an amazing deal for anyone interested in trying it.

I had a dermatologist recommend you put it on after a shower when your skin still has some moisture. It's worked well for me.

Get gentle unscented face wash and gentle unscented moisturizer. “For all skin types” these are the best available in my opinion.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 16 oz for Daily Face Washing, Dry to Normal Skin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSSDEPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5FT-BbB4EQP0B

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion 12 oz with Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides for Normal to Dry Skin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YJ2SLG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zGT-BbD6A87PB

I bought some lanolin to try adding to my lathering bowl but found it to be way too thick; it just doesn't incorporate into the lather very well. However it is great for dry winter skin when mixed in about a 1:2 ratio with jojoba oil!

I have suffered from hormonal acne for years now. I’m also on birth control pills (Sprintec) and have tried different types of birth control... but this did not help. I’ve been on a handful of different types of antibiotics (that didn’t work for me) and have been on one course of Accutane. I still get flare ups but they aren’t as bad as before.

A few questions and suggestions around things that have helped me:

• What type of makeup do you use? There are comedogenic (pore clogging) ingredients in most makeup. It can also take weeks for pimples to emerge so taking care of your skin day after day is important. I use Bare Minerals ORIGINAL Loose Powder.
  
• What type of shampoo and conditioner do you use? Again, most shampoos and conditioners have comedogenic ingredients. I use GIOVANNI Tea Tree Triple Treat.
  
• Use laundry detergent that is scent free and that has the label “Free & Clear”.
  
• Try to find a benzoyl peroxide that also has sulfur in it for spot treatments. I use a brand from an acne specialist and it clears them up in a couple of days.
  
• Use a face product with Mandelic Acid!!! I haven’t tried this specific brand but MUAC (Make up Artists Choice) has a few products that contain Mandelic Acid.
  
• Don’t touch or pick your face!!! And wash your hands often!
  
• Put a shirt over your pillowcase before you go to sleep each night. Make sure you wash the shirt after a couple days of use!
  
  Other suggestions:
  
• Start creeping on r/SkincareAddiction or r/AsianBeauty
  
• Online consultations from Oakland Acne Specialists. This is where I go... but in person.
  
  Edit: wanted to also say that Mandelic Acid helps with hyperpigmentation and has been my holy grail for preventing new breakouts. Always start slowly with new products as they can cause more breakouts as your skin adjusts. Also, if you need a heavy duty moisturizer, I would suggest slapping on some Aquaphor Healing Ointment.

The best lotion I've ever used is Cetaphil Restoraderm. I order it on Amazon because I've yet to see it in any local drug stores. My dermatologist called it the "Ferrari of lotions" and it has worked wonders for me. I usually have that and CeraVe on hand. Use Restoraderm or CeraVe to moisturize after a shower and then slather some Aquaphor on top to lock in the moisture.

I have this same thing going on. I started using an AHA body lotion after showers like others have suggested. That pretty much stopped the formation of new pimples cold. The lotion I used(Alpha skin care 12% glycolic) was a little pricey to be applying all over every few days. I have since switched to using cetaphil restoraderm eczema body wash and a konjac sponge, and the results are still coming in though slower than the AHA lotion. Like others said the key is just (gentle)exfoliating and moisturizing.

This Eucerin or This Aquaphor.

It looks like they sell it in tubes too, but I just buy the tubs. I don't notice a difference between the two brands, to be honest. I use it almost every day and a tub lasts me like 6 months.

Yes, and I would also advise avoiding any area that holds a lot of moisture... since they're never really relatively "dry" (1cm radius from corners of nose, 5mm radius from corners of eyes, 5mm radius from corners of mouth). I also slather a thick layer of lanolin balm/wax on my lips before bed to ensure the tretinoin does not transfer from my face, to my pillowcase, and then onto my lips.

 

I am not 100% certain on this, but the wetter the skin is, the more permeable it is. You would think that it would be advantageous to apply tretinoin to damp skin for greater effect but it's never ended well for me, and I definitely pay the price within 2-3 days if not the immediate next morning.

I have tried 3:

• Gokujyun Moist: a bit thicker than water, quite hydrating, not tacky. It was hydrating enough for me on its own; I probably didn't need a moisturizer over it but I used one anyway, and it layered fine.
  
• Gokujyun Premium: Significantly thicker than the moist version; too heavy for daytime use for me so I use it at night between watery layers. I think this isn't suitable for my skin type (normal-oily) so I won't be repurchasing.
  
• Shirojyun Premium: Very watery. I got this mostly to help fade a tan and, in conjunction with Melano CC, it does seem to be working, albeit slowly. This is the least hydrating of the 3; I initially bought the other two because everyone gave them rave reviews, but this one is probably the moist suitable level of hydration for my skin.
  
  If I weren't working on fading a tan, I'd probably try for the Gokujyun Light or Blemish & Oil Control versions as those seem most suitable for my skin type, though I do wonder if an entire step dedicated to hyaluronic acid is necessary when it's a fairly common ingredient in many skincare products.

Hi there!

I just wanted to let you know that Automod has removed your comment because it contains an Amazon referral link, which we don't allow in the sub.

Could you please edit the URL so that everything from (and including) "tag=" is removed? That way, the product page will still be visible - but no one can make a profit from the link.

Alternatively, copy this link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006IB5T4W

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Magnesium oil (magnesium chloride) is also awesome for a bath, or applied directly to the skin. The life flo lotion smells awesome and is basically just a good general lotion. The life flo gel is my favorite form of topical magnesium. Stings a little, though, kind of like the spray, but isn't messy and seems to dry quicker than the sprays. Then there are a ton of sprays, here is life flo's. You can also buy flakes and either make your own spray or just put them in a bath.

I have the same requisites as you and I love using Elta MD over my CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. The sunscreen is great by itself but I use rather drying ointments from my dermatologist so I've gotta use both. Hope this helps!

I would recommend sugaring in the future (as well as this bomb SA lotion. Always great to see them when I look straight ahead and line up the middle of it so much.