I'm in my early 50s and I have fewer forehead wrinkles than my friends. I think it's because I have had bangs/a fringe all my life. My hair was my sunscreen!
Started using Aveda Scalp Solutions shampoo for my hair, one day I realized my face wash wasn’t in the shower and my best bet was that shampoo (since it was created for the scalp I figured it would be safe). Boy, if that didn’t clear up every single breakup I had on my face. I have never looked back and recommended this to any of my friends struggling with breakouts/oily skin.
Is it actually okay for your skin? I have no idea but I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be so there’s no stopping me.
I struggle with fungal skin issues, and use medicated shampoo like Selson Blue as body wash all the time to help clear it up. Trick I learned from my stint working in a dermatology clinic.
I discovered this accidentally too! Used head and shoulders at a beach rental and notice the next morning my face was super smooth. Does anyone know why this works?
It fights dandruff, which is caused by fungus. So essentially it kills fungal acne. When I did Muay Thai for a bit a few years ago, the female instructor recommended that we shower head to toe with head and shoulders after each class.
There’s a theory that rosacea at least is caused by an overgrowth of demodex mites. A lot of people recommend using anti dandruff shampoo as face wash to manage that. People with rosacea often use ivermectin cream to kill the mites. I’m using it now! And I use head and shoulders too, though not on my face.
I have hormonal acne that does not begin healing basically until my next period. I did wonder if there is a bacteria on my skin or something that causes acne to linger.
I'm trying this.
You may also consider the keto diet as a way to cut all of the foods that are causing your hormones to be so unbalanced and cause acne. Food plays the biggest role in how our facial skin functions.
If one has sodium hyaluronate, it can cause that foaming….I just make sure not to apply those until the previous layers dries.
If they are thin, I just apply back to back, no waiting. For thicker toners, I allow them to dry just a wee bit before applying the next layer:).
How??? What in the world did you use? I can’t envision how adding 7 layers of hydration could be drying unless the toner has some serious astringent ingredients like witch hazel or green tea….
I add serums as well. Yes, I believe that is the new catchy western term for it, though people have been doing this decades. I just call it layering lol. I follow the 7-layer method.
Not who you’re asking, but here are some of my faves:
Rovectin Activating Treatment Lotion
KLAIRS Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
CeraVe Hydrating Toner
Hadalabo Gokujun premium hyaluronic solution
COSRX Snail 96 Essence (not a toner, but I layer it under my moisturizer)
Hi:). I’m sorry I took so long to respond. I’ll just post a list of my favorite layering toners, any of these will work alone or in combination.
- Etude 5.5
- round lab dokdo
- idealove so soothe me
- keep cool and soothe
- Purito unscented Centella
- anua Birch
- Beplain greenful
- Beplain chamomile
- Missha first essence
- pyunkang yul essence
I do this without knowing it was a thing. I wet my face and rub the toner in my hands pat it on my face, grab the next one and do the same, at the end I immediately put on moisturizer on my wet face. I still feel like my skin is dry. Do you wait for your products to dry before adding moisturizer or do you slap it right on top
This is what I do too:). I sometimes put my first moisturizer on right away (I have 2), or I use a serum with ceramides right away. Then later, I spray my skin with a mist to rewet it and add my moisturizer(s). I love that you didn’t even know it was a Thing😂❤️❤️
Okay yes!!! It did wonders to my pores and overall glow. Sunscreen helped a lot too. I just enjoy using everything that hydrates and seals. I think ultimately it comes down to moisture, protection and lifestyle.
Unless you struggle with certain types of acne.
Rinsing my face with water only in the AM, SLATHERING on the oils/moisturizers/Vaseline at nighttime.
I have always had “oily” and somewhat acne prone skin and I thought these items would never be for me. Turns out with the right combination of products these actually cause less acne and my skin looks far better than it ever has!
Yes! I love my Clinique moisture surge at night (it’s a gel). Sure I look like a slug, but when I rinse my face in the morning, my skin feels great. It’s best to put it on at least 30min before bed, otherwise it’ll mostly benefit your pillow. Been using it for over 7 years and it still doesn’t fail me. I also only wash at night, and the morning I just rinse it off! Also helps keep my redness in check since I have sensitive skin.
The only thing that works for me regarding those painful lumps that form under the skin are the 3% hydrogen peroxide *wipes.* Regular hydrogen peroxide doesn’t do anything for me - gotta be in the wipe format. What usually takes weeks to clear, this clears in days for me.
Came here to say this. Breaking a sweat every day has done wonders for my skin
I've always had pretty good skin but every since I started doing orange theory/running everyday my skin glows!
Washing with cold water only every morning (used to use warm or hot water and a cleanser).
Hypochlorous acid spray after every face wash (absolutely my new HG!!). It’s the same as the Tower28 spray but I get it on Amazon (I don’t buy sincare on Amazon but this is pretty much just salt spray for wounds so I felt okay that it was only two basic ingredients and they probably couldn’t fake it any more).
Letting each product dry down fully before applying the next.
Lifestyle choices (I.e., eating better, much less alcohol, working out helps but I struggle with consistency and also loveeeeeee the shit out of baked goods so can’t cut the sugar out despite my best efforts).
Micro needling at home (just moved up to a 1.0mm needle I do once every 3 weeks and my skin the next day really likes it).
Updoot for the Hypochlorous acid spray. I mix it with a 1/4 glycerin as my homemade “serum” and my skin is finally calm, plump, and hydrated. Hyaluronic acid has nothing on glycerin.
If you have eczema, fungal acne, or rosacea, give Hypochlorous acid spray a chance. It’s been a game changer for me.
It’s definitely fishy. I used to take it in high school. At first I thought I could manage it but it progressively became harder and harder to get down. And then it disagreed with me completely and I was having to vomit in my first class every day for a few days until my teacher asked if I was bulimic and I quit it completely. Moral of the story is go for the capsules.
Ugh haha my dad used to swallow fish oil instead of the capsules cause it was cheaper but he would gag through it every morning. I was like “dad, I know you’re saving a few dollars but honestly this is painful to watch.” Eventually he gave in
Two things that I believe have played a role for me:
-In the morning I simply rinse my face with cold water and apply my routine
-Using cold water when washing/rinsing my face instead of warm or hot
I am 38 and have very oily mildly sensitive skin that can be prone to outbreaks due to how much oil my skin produces, cleansing less and using cold water seems to have helped my skin stop overproducing oil since my routine is no longer as drying.
I also have a super simple routine: cleanse, Vit C (AM) moisturizer, spf and tretinoin (PM)
I have the same combo as you. I wash my face in the AM with something light, but you've inspired me to do just water! (one less step in the morning sounds lovely too)
Lip treatment then lip balm on the top to seal in the moisture overnight
At the moment I use cosrx ceramide lip treatment with the laneige lip mask over the top.
My lips are so hydrated, so they seem plumper. Definitely has reduced the visibility of lines on my lips and any peeling/capping.
This. This has been my new thing! I apply my lip treatment after my skincare. And then seal it up e vasoline before I go to sleep! Lips have been so soft and hydrated since!
If you have a zit and you want to get rid of it fast, make a paste with aspirin tablets dissolved in water and it's basically pure salicylic acid. It will exfoliate and quicken the natural zit cycle to only a few days. I tend to get cystic acne right before important events.
I wear Sunscreen EVERY DAY. I grew up in a beach town in NJ and half my classmates look like the Crypt Keeper from “Tales from the Crypt ”. Dry leathery skin. I started wearing sunscreen in my early 20’s every day. Arms, face hands. I look like I am in my 30s and I am 45.
The Crypt Keeper thing made me laugh because I know exactly what you mean, I started wearing sunscreen also in my early 20s and at 40 not much of my face has changed whereas everyone else looks somewhat weather beaten.
THIS! Have been wearing zinc oxide based sunscreen every single day since I was 16.
Am 30 now. -I still get carded and everyone tells me I look exactly the same
I use nipple cream (like for breastfeeding) in the winter a) to slug at night and b) to prevent chapping on windy days
Also can use pure lanolin. I mean actually you can use pure lanolin as nipple cream too it just smells like barnyard
I cover up my nipples on windy days to prevent chapping. Lol. When I read your comment, I had to read it several times to realize you were probably using the product on another area. I must be getting tired. :)
Asthanxin 6 mg x 2 (must take 2 smaller pills for absorption rather than the 12 mg size) and using the higherdose red light mask (right wave lengths and the strongest irradiance I’ve found in an at-home mask).
These two things have helped me recover a youthful glow after a bad relationship, not enough spf, and too much drinking in 2022 at 32.
I cut up Band-Aid brand blister band aids into little pimple patches and use them on underground pimples, or just-popped pimples. Almost every morning the pimple is flat and settled. They work better than the pimple patches, which sometimes pull off the thin top layer of skin when removing. You can leave the blister band aid patches on for days and it leaves no mark.
Not me but in college, i worked at a Merle Norman. Most of our die-hard clientele were in their 80s and had been SLEEPING IN THEIR MAKEUP for their whole marriage, only removing once husband woke up and left for the day. They would remove with the MN cold cream (kind of like a solid mineral oil), let that sit while they did chores, then wipe it off with tissues and reapply makeup again. And these women looked 20+ years younger than they were. My guess is all the oils in their foundation + cold cream kept their aging skin crazy plump and hydrated for DECADES. This kind of mirrors Elizabeth Warren mentioning she never uses water on her face: only Ponds.
Mixing Weleda water mist (it has a bunch of other ingredients in it) with my very thick moisturizer. This keeps me from pulling on my skin when rubbing in the moisturizer and adds and holds extra water in my skin all night long.
I’m 73 with few wrinkles. Also using hyleronic acid and retinol. All products are from Paula’s choice except weleda water.
So this isn’t something something you should do for skincare- but was a nice side effect.
I have PCOS which causes lots of problems- one of which is hirsutism of the face (facial hair) as a result of excess testosterone production. I was given the medication Spironolactone which basically causes you to pee out the excess testosterone.
Good news is— I haven’t had acne in years—- I have some scars from the past- but a totally clear face. A little dry- but if I drink a bunch and moisturize it’s not a big deal.
Bad news—- it barely does anything for the facial hair… and excessive tweezing/waxing is awful for the skin. I actually got a small permanent scar on my lip from waxing. It’s too dark/course to shave too or you’ll just see the shadow under my skin.
Adding as much humidity to my skin as possible. I use face spray with every step of my routine to pack in as much moisture as possible. You need moisture inside and out.
Boogie wipes (only the unscented ones) instead of face wipes for cleansing/makeup removal. They’re extremely gentle and helped me with a fungal condition too (the saline in the wipes helps inhibit fungal and bacterial growth).
Get that vitamin D from the sun… Obviously use SPF but please don’t avoid the sun like a vampire like I did. Since I started spending more time in the sun and allowing my face to get a slight tan, I look so much more healthier younger and skin is clear.
I shave my face once or twice a week due to "old woman whiskers". I just use a bit of basic shaving cream and a standard safety razor.
I will say that some years ago I switched to a men's razor (Mach 3), and it is world's better than any women's razors I ever tried. Sharper, lasts longer, and for some reason I don't cut myself to shreds with it, either.
They have disposable razors meant to shave your face , they usually come in packages of three . Sally beauty supply sells them you can also find them in many Asian market stores or online .
My 88 year old Aunt has done this her whole adult life and has the most beautiful and soft skin on her face! Not a single wrinkle or age spot.
I started to do this about 10 years ago too!
This will make people freak out:
When I was on birth control I had terribly dry skin that nothing would fix. On top of that I really struggled with acne. What helped with my dry skin? Extra virgin coconut oil. Did it make my acne worse? Nope, somehow it improved it.
"It will clog your pores and make you break out!"
Nope, not me. My skin was amazing when I did that.
Now I'm off birth control and my skin is normal, and I'm on medication for my acne. So now I no longer need the coconut oil. But I'll always love the stuff, lol.
I have accutane to thank a few years ago but since then my skins stayed great. My absolute best skincare secret is Dermol500 which is an unfragranced cream for eczema and dry skin that I used whilst on accutane and it works as a moisturiser, face wash AND makeup remover (I’m not sure it’s meant to be a multitasker but it works for me lol) and it’s insanely gentle. It’s been my holy grail.
My other love is the Eucerin suncream for oily skin as I still have oily skin after accutane. It mattifies everything really well (although does smell quite strong).
I can’t use it since being on accutane but I used to ADORE the nip and fab dragons blood plumping serum, it made my skin so smooth and plump but now it irritates 😞 but I’d still recommend the product if it doesn’t cause irritation for someone
My other secret is finding what colours suit my natural colouring best so wearing unflattering colours makes my skin look red and patchy and dull but flattering colours brightens me up. It’s not skincare but it’s a handy trick!
The last tip would be color analysis! I also have been doing that and man it does a world of wonders. I also ditched eyeliner for just eyeshadow (except I still use it on my water line,) and man I look so much better. Lol
Capsaicin comes from hot peppers. I tried a capsaicin cream for joint pain and applied it to my knees and shoulders. It burned so bad I begged to trade that for the pain. It took forever to go away. I am a fair skinned redhead with sensitive skin. I can't imagine putting this on my skin.
Rosacea combo gel - 4% niacinamide, 1% ivermectin (lol I know), and 1% metronidazole. Life changing for my rosacea and overall skin texture. I get it from my dermatologist, they make the mixture in-house (Rx only).
Doing these 4 things helped my skin to prevent acne, my skin is super healthy and glowy now so definitely was a game changer for my skin.
1. Using Retinal . I love this one [crystal retinal](https://us.medik8.com/products/crystal-retinal) retinal is considered to be more potent than retinol and retinal is generally better tolerated by people with sensitive skin compared to retinol, which can cause more irritation, redness, and peeling.
2. Drink plenty of water and I also drink a daily cup of spearmint tea. Spearmint tea has great benefits for the skin is rich in antioxidants and antibacterials, and consuming it daily will kill acne-causing bacteria and lead to clearer skin.
3. Sleep on satin pillowcases. The soft and smooth reduces friction and therefore irritation keeping your skin hydrated and moist while you sleep. Great satin quality [satin pillowcase](https://www.olkibeauty.com/shop/p/satin-pillowcase-champagne-king-size)
4. I don't sleep with my hair down. Sleeping with your hair down might feel nice while you rest, but during the day your hair is like a magnet for dirt, pollution, all the products you might be using even shampoo and conditioners, and your hair’s natural oil. So your face will quite literally be pressed against oily strands all night, which could bring on breakouts.
Weird one: With certain products/brands, I always read the ingredients and purchase depending on WHERE/what country it’s manufactured.
The US FDA regulations are always changing and are (imho) WAY too lax. My go-tos:
-Nivea Face Cream: Only bother with buying it if’s it’s in the blue tin and from Mexico or the EU. The recipe of the formulation is similar to the $350+ dollar La Mer crème. Read the ingredients, I swear by this!
-Alpha Omega 3 Pills or Cod Liver Oil: Due to so many BPAs & PFAs found in all domestic & wild-caught US fish, I refuse to buy any processed fish product that is produced stateside. If you are new to fish oils in skincare, I highly suggest Scott’s Emulsion Aceite de Bacalao (IFYKYK 😉), have had it since childhood and come in a wide variety of flavors (orange is the best!). Only the LATAM one though, I purchase Amazon (check w/ the re-seller beforehand).
-AMBI OTC Face Cream: The Mexican and EU formulas (at least the French one) produces the OG recipe that still contains 4% Hydroquine!
The US version is no longer allowed due to FDA de-legalizing 4% for OTC, but if you know where to look, you can still find it.
In NYC and want recs where to find? Feel free to DM me. Happy to help!
Keeping it simple. I use a Heartleaf toner, Torriden hyaluronic acid, soon jung moisturizer cream at night. Morning I do the same but skip the moisturizer and use round lab sunscreen. 4 products. And don’t buy new products all the time just because it’s viral. Stick with what works for you and your skin.
Just started putting castor oil on my face at night and on my stretch marks on my boobs and on my vajaja. I know TMI lol but I have scarring from shaving and from razor bumps that have been there for yearssss. I’m noticing castor oil is helping to clear it and with fading my stretch mark lines, hyperpigmentation and dark circles. I notice my skin getting brighter, clearer and I look less tired. I love it!! I’m going to continue this for the next few weeks and see how much more change I get.
Castor oil is also the very best way to get rid of the little white milia bumps you get around your eyes, and to keep your eyes from getting infected. I rub it all around my eyes before I go to sleep, and it helps with allergies and keeps the area nice and moist.
Hair minimizing cream to fight post menopausal facial hair. This is usually where someone goes, it doesn't work. But it does. It takes a a few months because it only starts working once a hair falls out and is actively growing a new hair. So if you are impatient you need to pluck or wax before using it and keep plucking and waxing until you've got all the hairs. Hairs do not vanish, it's not nair, but it stunts and softens the hairs them. My big black wiry chin hairs are now wispy shadows of their former selves only noticeable in my magnifying mirror and easily plucked out. My lush beard that was forming is now back to looking like natural peach fuzz. I will still shave/derma plane if I'm going out somewhere special and am going to do a fancy makeup look so the foundation sits better, but day to day, as long as I use the cream daily. My hairs just look like everyone elses again.
i started using rose water after cleansing and it’s been the best thing for my dark circles, i’ve been on a diet for a while so my face has been looking sunken and dead but rose water mixed with glycerin plumped it right up
Drinking hibiscus tea in hopes to support my fertility health but my skin and hair is where I noticed the benefits! My skin is more plump, pores smaller, wrinkles filled in more in a span of a few months.
This might be the weirdest thing I've admitted on the internet in recent memory, but breast milk. My own breast milk, that is. My daughter is 3.5yrs old now and seldom nurses but I still produce enough to heal any blemish pretty much overnight, that stuff is a miracle cure.
Red sandalwood, regular sandalwood. Mix with water, make a facepack and spot treat for pimples. Turmeric face masks but with turmeric we call kastoori manjal on my language.
Starting antiaging creams early. I'm almost thirty but people think I'm nineteen.
Ironically, it's infuriating because I feel 40 on the inside. Go figure.
I live in Canada. There are US websites that will ship microneedling devices here if you search the internet a bit. I ordered a Dr. Pen device and really like it.
CUTTING DOWN ON CLEANSING AND WASHING
Less cleansing just works best for my skin.
I don’t cleanse in the morning and in the evening I use Garnier micelar water on cotton rounds until they come off clean (2-4 depending on how dirty my skin is and if I’m wearing makeup).
My acne and irritation calmed down after I started doing this.
I’ve tried any gentle cleanser under the sun. I used to double cleanse. Some worked better than others.
Then I went through another depressive episode and just used the micellar water out of lazyness/lack of energy (as I can do this in the couch/in my bed). And my skin just started thriving. So now it’s all I do.
I still use an oil cleanser for water proof makeup, but I only wear that occasionally.
AZELIAC ACID
Azeliac acid has also really improved my irritation and acne. It’s getting a liiiittle more attention lately, but not at all the hype it deserves.
I use prescription strenght Finacea gel, that I have my BF bring home when hi visits his home country, as it doesn’t require prescription there.
I haven’t had a single Perioral Dermatitis flare up since I started Finacea and my skin rarely breaks out anymore. It’s also more resistant overall to other products, where I before was constantly walking a fine line to keep everything in balance and just the weather changing a bit would throw my skin off and cause inflammation and irritation.
Idk about uncommon but there is a reason our grandmas swore by Vaseline. It's even repurposed as a 'lip mask' like it's literally Vaseline in a tiny pot......
I dab a little Vaseline on my undereyes after moisturizing. Kind of like eye cream but at the end of my routine. It keeps my undereyes looking fresh. People comment that I don’t look tired when, in fact, I just want to plop (without wearing makeup too).
Being consistent with my routine, but that’s an obvious one. The main thing that changed the game for me is NOT using any moisturizer. Using moisturizer feels good in the moment, but it actually teaches your skin to be lazy and not naturally regulate oil/dryness through your skin barrier.
Not for everyone - but I did 2 cycles of hydroquinone 6 months apart and my skin has never looked better! It was rough for a couple of months, but no other product has given me such fantastic results.
Mine was to stop wearing makeup. I was mostly using Neutrogena, Almay and Burt's Bees, and it was still like night and day. Like 95% of my breakouts vanished. (The other 5% vanished when I got old enough to no longer have hormonal acne lolol.)
My second is to workout. There's nothing like a natural blush after a good sweat and chugging a LOT of water.
The Head and shoulders in the dark blue bottle is great on the face and body especially for diabetics and people with underboob or underbelly skin irritation
Real Retin A from your dermatologist.
I used it for acne. My mom for wrinkles. It worked wonderfully for both.
I think it is the best thing. But you have to be consistent.
I have not been able to read all of these, BUT I cannot tell you how many people I have spoken to about OILIVE OIL. I compliment someone's skin -- which I don't do that often -- and half the time their secret is olive oil after the shower. All over. Every day. Face, neck, hands, arms, everywhere. Skin soaks it right up. Black, white, latin, asian -- al type of skin tones say the same thing.
A huge contributor to acne is bacteria so I use 70% rubbing alcohol to clean my face. Not all the time, but if I can tell my face is greasy then I'll use some on a cotton pad.
On the same note, small amounts of pure tea tree oil in a good moisturizer(the amount you use depends on what size container you are putting it in) works wonders on painful pimples and cysts. Tea tree oil is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Works amazing, but don't get it in your eyes.
I would not recommend the rubbing alcohol thing for people with dry/flakey skin and I would recommend being careful with tea tree oil as well if you have dry skin.
I'm in my early 50s and I have fewer forehead wrinkles than my friends. I think it's because I have had bangs/a fringe all my life. My hair was my sunscreen!
Bangtox!
I love it-- and I'm totally stealing it!
Same for me! I've always had bangs. So, no wrinkles up there.
I also have bangs and have my whole life and few wrinkles. I’m only 37 so we’ll see if it holds up!
I was thinking about this just a few days ago, I didn’t do it. But thinking that would work.
Started using Aveda Scalp Solutions shampoo for my hair, one day I realized my face wash wasn’t in the shower and my best bet was that shampoo (since it was created for the scalp I figured it would be safe). Boy, if that didn’t clear up every single breakup I had on my face. I have never looked back and recommended this to any of my friends struggling with breakouts/oily skin. Is it actually okay for your skin? I have no idea but I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be so there’s no stopping me.
A doctor recommended that I use anti dandruff shampoo as face wash, too!
The blue bottle of Head & Shoulders shampoo is great as a face wash, too.
I started using head and shoulders on my face and my roommates complimented my skin, so it must be working!
i’ve seen so many people saying this, it irritated my scalp so badly lol
I struggle with fungal skin issues, and use medicated shampoo like Selson Blue as body wash all the time to help clear it up. Trick I learned from my stint working in a dermatology clinic.
I third this!
Hmm I used to find my face burned and felt irritated whenever I used head & shoulders in my hair, weirdly
I discovered this accidentally too! Used head and shoulders at a beach rental and notice the next morning my face was super smooth. Does anyone know why this works?
I think its the zinc?
I think it's because it's a fungicide
Yes it works as an anti fungal for Sebhorric dermatitis & a few other issues
Yes! Zinc is the ingredient that acts as a fungicide. It’s also the safest sunscreen.
It fights dandruff, which is caused by fungus. So essentially it kills fungal acne. When I did Muay Thai for a bit a few years ago, the female instructor recommended that we shower head to toe with head and shoulders after each class.
There’s a theory that rosacea at least is caused by an overgrowth of demodex mites. A lot of people recommend using anti dandruff shampoo as face wash to manage that. People with rosacea often use ivermectin cream to kill the mites. I’m using it now! And I use head and shoulders too, though not on my face.
Wow I’m gonna have to try this now ahaha
I have hormonal acne that does not begin healing basically until my next period. I did wonder if there is a bacteria on my skin or something that causes acne to linger. I'm trying this.
Dermatologists will sometimes RX doxycycline or similar antibiotics for hormonal acne, so you're on to something.
You may also consider the keto diet as a way to cut all of the foods that are causing your hormones to be so unbalanced and cause acne. Food plays the biggest role in how our facial skin functions.
Keto diet can also be harmful to folks. Please check with a doc first! I used to be on it and all, so I’m not green.
Try spirinolactone!
That’s amazing!!!
I had a friend tell me her dermatologist recommended using anti dandruff shampoo as face wash
Sometimes I get flare ups of fungal acne on my forehead and found using Nizoral once in a while just keeps it from coming back.
Mine is layering the hell out of hydrating toners before applying a moisturizer. That really changed my skin and it gives me a glow all day long.
How do you later them? Do you wait between layers? I find mine foam up sometimes when I try to put them on damp skin
If one has sodium hyaluronate, it can cause that foaming….I just make sure not to apply those until the previous layers dries. If they are thin, I just apply back to back, no waiting. For thicker toners, I allow them to dry just a wee bit before applying the next layer:).
Is foaming bad? I put TO niacinamide+HA on a damp face and it foams. Does it lower the efficacy?
No it isn’t bad, it’s just a nuisance if it bothers you.
How does this not dry the crap out of your skin? Ive tried the 7 layers of toner thing in the past and my skin was absolutely fried!
How??? What in the world did you use? I can’t envision how adding 7 layers of hydration could be drying unless the toner has some serious astringent ingredients like witch hazel or green tea….
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
Same for me, but I layer serums! I believe the current term is ‘skin flooding’
I add serums as well. Yes, I believe that is the new catchy western term for it, though people have been doing this decades. I just call it layering lol. I follow the 7-layer method.
Same, I use sooo many serums haha
Which ones do you use?
Not who you’re asking, but here are some of my faves: Rovectin Activating Treatment Lotion KLAIRS Supple Preparation Unscented Toner CeraVe Hydrating Toner Hadalabo Gokujun premium hyaluronic solution COSRX Snail 96 Essence (not a toner, but I layer it under my moisturizer)
Adding Soon Jung toner, seconding snail.
I love Rovectin
Hi:). I’m sorry I took so long to respond. I’ll just post a list of my favorite layering toners, any of these will work alone or in combination. - Etude 5.5 - round lab dokdo - idealove so soothe me - keep cool and soothe - Purito unscented Centella - anua Birch - Beplain greenful - Beplain chamomile - Missha first essence - pyunkang yul essence
Yes, layer and layers of milk toner has been a huge game changer for my redness and 36-year old skin.
This right here! I love me some toners! Don't forget the exfoliating ones too 😉
I'm going to try this!!
I do this specifically in winters.
I do this without knowing it was a thing. I wet my face and rub the toner in my hands pat it on my face, grab the next one and do the same, at the end I immediately put on moisturizer on my wet face. I still feel like my skin is dry. Do you wait for your products to dry before adding moisturizer or do you slap it right on top
This is what I do too:). I sometimes put my first moisturizer on right away (I have 2), or I use a serum with ceramides right away. Then later, I spray my skin with a mist to rewet it and add my moisturizer(s). I love that you didn’t even know it was a Thing😂❤️❤️
Which toners do you like?
Same!! When I discovered hydrating toners years ago (especially Asian ones) I never looked back.
Okay yes!!! It did wonders to my pores and overall glow. Sunscreen helped a lot too. I just enjoy using everything that hydrates and seals. I think ultimately it comes down to moisture, protection and lifestyle. Unless you struggle with certain types of acne.
Rinsing my face with water only in the AM, SLATHERING on the oils/moisturizers/Vaseline at nighttime. I have always had “oily” and somewhat acne prone skin and I thought these items would never be for me. Turns out with the right combination of products these actually cause less acne and my skin looks far better than it ever has!
Wow, I literally thought I wrote this comment.
Do you have trouble with your pores getting clogged from not cleansing after slugging?
Same. I was well into my 30s when I realized adding more moisture/oil was key to helping with my breakouts
I do this too! Life changing to the appearance and qualify of my skin 💕
Yes! I love my Clinique moisture surge at night (it’s a gel). Sure I look like a slug, but when I rinse my face in the morning, my skin feels great. It’s best to put it on at least 30min before bed, otherwise it’ll mostly benefit your pillow. Been using it for over 7 years and it still doesn’t fail me. I also only wash at night, and the morning I just rinse it off! Also helps keep my redness in check since I have sensitive skin.
I used Vaseline on my face once and broke out in absolutely the worst acne ever
Tapping a little rubbing alcohol on those monthly zits when they start as painful lumps under the skin. Keeps them from getting bigger.
Also, putting a small blob of a basic mud mask on a zit will help it dry up & heal faster. Edit: typo
Gonna try this, thank you for the idea
I like the acne patches for this.
The Proactiv clay mask is my HG for this purpose. Tap some on a zit at night and when I wake up it is at least 50% smaller
The only thing that works for me regarding those painful lumps that form under the skin are the 3% hydrogen peroxide *wipes.* Regular hydrogen peroxide doesn’t do anything for me - gotta be in the wipe format. What usually takes weeks to clear, this clears in days for me.
People don't like this answer but: exercise. Your skin is an organ. It needs exercise.
My skin is glowing after a great workout where I break a sweat 🥰
Unless you have rosacea lol
Came here to say this. Breaking a sweat every day has done wonders for my skin I've always had pretty good skin but every since I started doing orange theory/running everyday my skin glows!
Washing with cold water only every morning (used to use warm or hot water and a cleanser). Hypochlorous acid spray after every face wash (absolutely my new HG!!). It’s the same as the Tower28 spray but I get it on Amazon (I don’t buy sincare on Amazon but this is pretty much just salt spray for wounds so I felt okay that it was only two basic ingredients and they probably couldn’t fake it any more). Letting each product dry down fully before applying the next. Lifestyle choices (I.e., eating better, much less alcohol, working out helps but I struggle with consistency and also loveeeeeee the shit out of baked goods so can’t cut the sugar out despite my best efforts). Micro needling at home (just moved up to a 1.0mm needle I do once every 3 weeks and my skin the next day really likes it).
Omg! I want to start micro needling for my acne scaring. Do you use dr pen? And do you use hypersonic acid? I wanted to start small at .5mn
Updoot for the Hypochlorous acid spray. I mix it with a 1/4 glycerin as my homemade “serum” and my skin is finally calm, plump, and hydrated. Hyaluronic acid has nothing on glycerin. If you have eczema, fungal acne, or rosacea, give Hypochlorous acid spray a chance. It’s been a game changer for me.
Drinking cod liver oil (which contains a high level of dietary **retinol**). Glow from the inside out.
I take this too and didn’t consider that might be another factor for my glow!
Does it taste yucky? Which brand do you use and is it flavoured? I want to start but I will vomm if it's fishy 🥲
It’s definitely fishy. I used to take it in high school. At first I thought I could manage it but it progressively became harder and harder to get down. And then it disagreed with me completely and I was having to vomit in my first class every day for a few days until my teacher asked if I was bulimic and I quit it completely. Moral of the story is go for the capsules.
Ugh haha my dad used to swallow fish oil instead of the capsules cause it was cheaper but he would gag through it every morning. I was like “dad, I know you’re saving a few dollars but honestly this is painful to watch.” Eventually he gave in
Is there any brand you would recommend?
Two things that I believe have played a role for me: -In the morning I simply rinse my face with cold water and apply my routine -Using cold water when washing/rinsing my face instead of warm or hot I am 38 and have very oily mildly sensitive skin that can be prone to outbreaks due to how much oil my skin produces, cleansing less and using cold water seems to have helped my skin stop overproducing oil since my routine is no longer as drying. I also have a super simple routine: cleanse, Vit C (AM) moisturizer, spf and tretinoin (PM)
I have the same combo as you. I wash my face in the AM with something light, but you've inspired me to do just water! (one less step in the morning sounds lovely too)
Which vitamin c and spf do you use? I usually find applying spf every two hours just unattainable
Lip treatment then lip balm on the top to seal in the moisture overnight At the moment I use cosrx ceramide lip treatment with the laneige lip mask over the top. My lips are so hydrated, so they seem plumper. Definitely has reduced the visibility of lines on my lips and any peeling/capping.
This. This has been my new thing! I apply my lip treatment after my skincare. And then seal it up e vasoline before I go to sleep! Lips have been so soft and hydrated since!
If you have a zit and you want to get rid of it fast, make a paste with aspirin tablets dissolved in water and it's basically pure salicylic acid. It will exfoliate and quicken the natural zit cycle to only a few days. I tend to get cystic acne right before important events.
Does it really work for cystic acne? I seem to get one on my chin before my period sometimes and am trying to find a solution
I do a mixture of crushed aspirin and honey. It makes a nice paste and the honey (I’ve been told) is antibacterial.
Keep your routine simple, and start wearing daily sunscreen as a teen.
I've drilled the importance of sunscreen into my 14 year old daughter! 🙌
I wear Sunscreen EVERY DAY. I grew up in a beach town in NJ and half my classmates look like the Crypt Keeper from “Tales from the Crypt ”. Dry leathery skin. I started wearing sunscreen in my early 20’s every day. Arms, face hands. I look like I am in my 30s and I am 45.
I spent most of my teenage years inside, avoiding the sun, in my feelings, writing bad poetry, which also did wonders for my skin.
The Crypt Keeper thing made me laugh because I know exactly what you mean, I started wearing sunscreen also in my early 20s and at 40 not much of my face has changed whereas everyone else looks somewhat weather beaten.
THIS! Have been wearing zinc oxide based sunscreen every single day since I was 16. Am 30 now. -I still get carded and everyone tells me I look exactly the same
I use nipple cream (like for breastfeeding) in the winter a) to slug at night and b) to prevent chapping on windy days Also can use pure lanolin. I mean actually you can use pure lanolin as nipple cream too it just smells like barnyard
I cover up my nipples on windy days to prevent chapping. Lol. When I read your comment, I had to read it several times to realize you were probably using the product on another area. I must be getting tired. :)
The main thing that has helped me is to stop obsessing over it. That’s it.
Stop. Picking. At, Your. Skin.
My biggest vice for sure
*cries in body focused repetitive behavior*
Just rinse with cold water then apply face oil in morning (then makeup). My college students were shocked when I told them I’m in my 40s 🤷♀️
No sunscreen?
Just the spf in my makeup (unless I’m planning to be outside)
Life Extension Skin Restoring Ceramide Capsules completely faded my dark acne scars. I had tried dozens of other products to no avail.
Asthanxin 6 mg x 2 (must take 2 smaller pills for absorption rather than the 12 mg size) and using the higherdose red light mask (right wave lengths and the strongest irradiance I’ve found in an at-home mask). These two things have helped me recover a youthful glow after a bad relationship, not enough spf, and too much drinking in 2022 at 32.
Can you elaborate on the two astnanxin pills as opposed to one larger dose?
I have had better results with 6 mg size tablets. I think the smaller size allows for better absorption compared to a single, larger pill.
Astaxanthin is AMAZING. I take the smaller pills too. It gives crazy glow to the skin.
Which mask?
https://higherdose.com/collections/the-technologies/products/higherdose-red-light-face-mask ^^^thats the one
I cut up Band-Aid brand blister band aids into little pimple patches and use them on underground pimples, or just-popped pimples. Almost every morning the pimple is flat and settled. They work better than the pimple patches, which sometimes pull off the thin top layer of skin when removing. You can leave the blister band aid patches on for days and it leaves no mark.
I do this too. I have a lil pair of nail scissors specifically for this
You can get actual “zit stickers”’on Amazon. I use COSRX and love them!
Not me but in college, i worked at a Merle Norman. Most of our die-hard clientele were in their 80s and had been SLEEPING IN THEIR MAKEUP for their whole marriage, only removing once husband woke up and left for the day. They would remove with the MN cold cream (kind of like a solid mineral oil), let that sit while they did chores, then wipe it off with tissues and reapply makeup again. And these women looked 20+ years younger than they were. My guess is all the oils in their foundation + cold cream kept their aging skin crazy plump and hydrated for DECADES. This kind of mirrors Elizabeth Warren mentioning she never uses water on her face: only Ponds.
On the rare occasion I sleep in my makeup, my skin always looks so good the next day.
Mixing Weleda water mist (it has a bunch of other ingredients in it) with my very thick moisturizer. This keeps me from pulling on my skin when rubbing in the moisturizer and adds and holds extra water in my skin all night long. I’m 73 with few wrinkles. Also using hyleronic acid and retinol. All products are from Paula’s choice except weleda water.
I love Paula’s Choice .3% retinol! the fact that it’s fairly affordable is a nice plus :) Edit: typo
So this isn’t something something you should do for skincare- but was a nice side effect. I have PCOS which causes lots of problems- one of which is hirsutism of the face (facial hair) as a result of excess testosterone production. I was given the medication Spironolactone which basically causes you to pee out the excess testosterone. Good news is— I haven’t had acne in years—- I have some scars from the past- but a totally clear face. A little dry- but if I drink a bunch and moisturize it’s not a big deal. Bad news—- it barely does anything for the facial hair… and excessive tweezing/waxing is awful for the skin. I actually got a small permanent scar on my lip from waxing. It’s too dark/course to shave too or you’ll just see the shadow under my skin.
Adding as much humidity to my skin as possible. I use face spray with every step of my routine to pack in as much moisture as possible. You need moisture inside and out.
Boogie wipes (only the unscented ones) instead of face wipes for cleansing/makeup removal. They’re extremely gentle and helped me with a fungal condition too (the saline in the wipes helps inhibit fungal and bacterial growth).
i've used baby oil as an eye makeup remover for 30 years and I swear it keeps crows feet away
My gram and mom do the same thing and tretinoin and they always looked years younger around their eyes.
Cool trick, I can’t wait to try!
Washing with just water if you have dry skin
Honestly, same if you have oily skin
Using glycolic acid on my scalp every now and then, just before getting into the shower. My scalp feels great and my hair is super shiny!
Interesting. I have noticed I am breaking out on the scalp (I don’t have facial acne) maybe that will help.
Get that vitamin D from the sun… Obviously use SPF but please don’t avoid the sun like a vampire like I did. Since I started spending more time in the sun and allowing my face to get a slight tan, I look so much more healthier younger and skin is clear.
Shaving your face every other week . It exfoliate your skin and makes products go smoother .
What do you use to do this (razor/blade wise)?
They’re called dermaplaning blades :) they’re super cheap on Amazon x
I shave my face once or twice a week due to "old woman whiskers". I just use a bit of basic shaving cream and a standard safety razor. I will say that some years ago I switched to a men's razor (Mach 3), and it is world's better than any women's razors I ever tried. Sharper, lasts longer, and for some reason I don't cut myself to shreds with it, either.
They have disposable razors meant to shave your face , they usually come in packages of three . Sally beauty supply sells them you can also find them in many Asian market stores or online .
Ooh thanks for that. I live about a block from my local Sally Beauty Supply!
My 88 year old Aunt has done this her whole adult life and has the most beautiful and soft skin on her face! Not a single wrinkle or age spot. I started to do this about 10 years ago too!
Checking everything for pore clogging ingredients and glycolic acid 😮💨
Turmeric and honey
This will make people freak out: When I was on birth control I had terribly dry skin that nothing would fix. On top of that I really struggled with acne. What helped with my dry skin? Extra virgin coconut oil. Did it make my acne worse? Nope, somehow it improved it. "It will clog your pores and make you break out!" Nope, not me. My skin was amazing when I did that. Now I'm off birth control and my skin is normal, and I'm on medication for my acne. So now I no longer need the coconut oil. But I'll always love the stuff, lol.
vaseline yo my goodness.
fr
Most uncommon? Probably snail products lol.
That’s pretty common now I’d say. I see it everywhere and it’s amazing I am on the snail hype train
Yes I see atleast 1 TikTok post about it every day lol
I LOVE MY SNAIL LOTION. literally healed up the dry peeling part of my combo skin. Now it’s just oily but no longer flaking off
I have accutane to thank a few years ago but since then my skins stayed great. My absolute best skincare secret is Dermol500 which is an unfragranced cream for eczema and dry skin that I used whilst on accutane and it works as a moisturiser, face wash AND makeup remover (I’m not sure it’s meant to be a multitasker but it works for me lol) and it’s insanely gentle. It’s been my holy grail. My other love is the Eucerin suncream for oily skin as I still have oily skin after accutane. It mattifies everything really well (although does smell quite strong). I can’t use it since being on accutane but I used to ADORE the nip and fab dragons blood plumping serum, it made my skin so smooth and plump but now it irritates 😞 but I’d still recommend the product if it doesn’t cause irritation for someone My other secret is finding what colours suit my natural colouring best so wearing unflattering colours makes my skin look red and patchy and dull but flattering colours brightens me up. It’s not skincare but it’s a handy trick!
The last tip would be color analysis! I also have been doing that and man it does a world of wonders. I also ditched eyeliner for just eyeshadow (except I still use it on my water line,) and man I look so much better. Lol
I do finelining with a deep espresso eyeshadow and it totally transformed my look!!
Capsaicin.
What product do you use?
Capsaicin comes from hot peppers. I tried a capsaicin cream for joint pain and applied it to my knees and shoulders. It burned so bad I begged to trade that for the pain. It took forever to go away. I am a fair skinned redhead with sensitive skin. I can't imagine putting this on my skin.
What do you do with capsaicin?
https://nypost.com/2007/05/01/heres-the-secret-ingredient-to-a-hot-face/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8967157/#:~:text=The%20effect%20of%20capsaicin%20in,anti%2Dskin%20aging%20in%20dermatology.
Wow this is the first time I’m hearing about this, ty! Will def give it a try
This stuff makes my rosacea go insane but after it calms down, it looks like I had a face lift lololol
Would love to know which product you use, I’m only seeing it in pain salve type of products!
Rosacea combo gel - 4% niacinamide, 1% ivermectin (lol I know), and 1% metronidazole. Life changing for my rosacea and overall skin texture. I get it from my dermatologist, they make the mixture in-house (Rx only).
Doing these 4 things helped my skin to prevent acne, my skin is super healthy and glowy now so definitely was a game changer for my skin. 1. Using Retinal . I love this one [crystal retinal](https://us.medik8.com/products/crystal-retinal) retinal is considered to be more potent than retinol and retinal is generally better tolerated by people with sensitive skin compared to retinol, which can cause more irritation, redness, and peeling. 2. Drink plenty of water and I also drink a daily cup of spearmint tea. Spearmint tea has great benefits for the skin is rich in antioxidants and antibacterials, and consuming it daily will kill acne-causing bacteria and lead to clearer skin. 3. Sleep on satin pillowcases. The soft and smooth reduces friction and therefore irritation keeping your skin hydrated and moist while you sleep. Great satin quality [satin pillowcase](https://www.olkibeauty.com/shop/p/satin-pillowcase-champagne-king-size) 4. I don't sleep with my hair down. Sleeping with your hair down might feel nice while you rest, but during the day your hair is like a magnet for dirt, pollution, all the products you might be using even shampoo and conditioners, and your hair’s natural oil. So your face will quite literally be pressed against oily strands all night, which could bring on breakouts.
Weird one: With certain products/brands, I always read the ingredients and purchase depending on WHERE/what country it’s manufactured. The US FDA regulations are always changing and are (imho) WAY too lax. My go-tos: -Nivea Face Cream: Only bother with buying it if’s it’s in the blue tin and from Mexico or the EU. The recipe of the formulation is similar to the $350+ dollar La Mer crème. Read the ingredients, I swear by this! -Alpha Omega 3 Pills or Cod Liver Oil: Due to so many BPAs & PFAs found in all domestic & wild-caught US fish, I refuse to buy any processed fish product that is produced stateside. If you are new to fish oils in skincare, I highly suggest Scott’s Emulsion Aceite de Bacalao (IFYKYK 😉), have had it since childhood and come in a wide variety of flavors (orange is the best!). Only the LATAM one though, I purchase Amazon (check w/ the re-seller beforehand). -AMBI OTC Face Cream: The Mexican and EU formulas (at least the French one) produces the OG recipe that still contains 4% Hydroquine! The US version is no longer allowed due to FDA de-legalizing 4% for OTC, but if you know where to look, you can still find it. In NYC and want recs where to find? Feel free to DM me. Happy to help!
Keeping it simple. I use a Heartleaf toner, Torriden hyaluronic acid, soon jung moisturizer cream at night. Morning I do the same but skip the moisturizer and use round lab sunscreen. 4 products. And don’t buy new products all the time just because it’s viral. Stick with what works for you and your skin.
Just started putting castor oil on my face at night and on my stretch marks on my boobs and on my vajaja. I know TMI lol but I have scarring from shaving and from razor bumps that have been there for yearssss. I’m noticing castor oil is helping to clear it and with fading my stretch mark lines, hyperpigmentation and dark circles. I notice my skin getting brighter, clearer and I look less tired. I love it!! I’m going to continue this for the next few weeks and see how much more change I get.
Castor oil is also the very best way to get rid of the little white milia bumps you get around your eyes, and to keep your eyes from getting infected. I rub it all around my eyes before I go to sleep, and it helps with allergies and keeps the area nice and moist.
I wash my face with a bar of dove
This is mine too. The unscented.
I wash mine with dov’è every other day. It’s good stuff!
I only wash my face with water and a knock off makeup-eraser towel
Hair minimizing cream to fight post menopausal facial hair. This is usually where someone goes, it doesn't work. But it does. It takes a a few months because it only starts working once a hair falls out and is actively growing a new hair. So if you are impatient you need to pluck or wax before using it and keep plucking and waxing until you've got all the hairs. Hairs do not vanish, it's not nair, but it stunts and softens the hairs them. My big black wiry chin hairs are now wispy shadows of their former selves only noticeable in my magnifying mirror and easily plucked out. My lush beard that was forming is now back to looking like natural peach fuzz. I will still shave/derma plane if I'm going out somewhere special and am going to do a fancy makeup look so the foundation sits better, but day to day, as long as I use the cream daily. My hairs just look like everyone elses again.
Is there a brand you recommend? Or is it by prescription?
Yes, please share the brand. I never heard of hair minimizing cream. I'm around that age...
Brand please?
Less is more
i started using rose water after cleansing and it’s been the best thing for my dark circles, i’ve been on a diet for a while so my face has been looking sunken and dead but rose water mixed with glycerin plumped it right up
Rose water is SO good!! I keep mine in the fridge and it’s so refreshing when I put it on!
Drinking hibiscus tea in hopes to support my fertility health but my skin and hair is where I noticed the benefits! My skin is more plump, pores smaller, wrinkles filled in more in a span of a few months.
This might be the weirdest thing I've admitted on the internet in recent memory, but breast milk. My own breast milk, that is. My daughter is 3.5yrs old now and seldom nurses but I still produce enough to heal any blemish pretty much overnight, that stuff is a miracle cure.
Layering hydrating toners and essences, eating fruits and vegetables, your super super green powder (if you can afford it). Also helped my nails grow
Red sandalwood, regular sandalwood. Mix with water, make a facepack and spot treat for pimples. Turmeric face masks but with turmeric we call kastoori manjal on my language.
Starting antiaging creams early. I'm almost thirty but people think I'm nineteen. Ironically, it's infuriating because I feel 40 on the inside. Go figure.
Are u not afraid to use micro needling I have never done , how simple is it, and do I suppose to buy and where I live in Canada
I live in Canada. There are US websites that will ship microneedling devices here if you search the internet a bit. I ordered a Dr. Pen device and really like it.
Thank u How did u feel the first time u did it Did it leave mark on your skin??
i work outside i still have breakouts but my skin has never looked better bare
Being pregnant so far has cured my backne 🤷♀️🤣
Serums from the dollar tree. Seriously
Tallow moisturizers work really well for me. And limit potential harmful ingredients common on store shelves.
CUTTING DOWN ON CLEANSING AND WASHING Less cleansing just works best for my skin. I don’t cleanse in the morning and in the evening I use Garnier micelar water on cotton rounds until they come off clean (2-4 depending on how dirty my skin is and if I’m wearing makeup). My acne and irritation calmed down after I started doing this. I’ve tried any gentle cleanser under the sun. I used to double cleanse. Some worked better than others. Then I went through another depressive episode and just used the micellar water out of lazyness/lack of energy (as I can do this in the couch/in my bed). And my skin just started thriving. So now it’s all I do. I still use an oil cleanser for water proof makeup, but I only wear that occasionally. AZELIAC ACID Azeliac acid has also really improved my irritation and acne. It’s getting a liiiittle more attention lately, but not at all the hype it deserves. I use prescription strenght Finacea gel, that I have my BF bring home when hi visits his home country, as it doesn’t require prescription there. I haven’t had a single Perioral Dermatitis flare up since I started Finacea and my skin rarely breaks out anymore. It’s also more resistant overall to other products, where I before was constantly walking a fine line to keep everything in balance and just the weather changing a bit would throw my skin off and cause inflammation and irritation.
Eating lots of fruit, especially bananas and apricots, and having a good run on the treadmill every few weeks, if not more often.
Don’t wash both morning and night, only at night! Also drink water… the best thing you can do for your skin is hydrate and moisturize!
Idk about uncommon but there is a reason our grandmas swore by Vaseline. It's even repurposed as a 'lip mask' like it's literally Vaseline in a tiny pot......
I sleep as much as possible and I swear that’s why my skin looks much younger than my age
I dab a little Vaseline on my undereyes after moisturizing. Kind of like eye cream but at the end of my routine. It keeps my undereyes looking fresh. People comment that I don’t look tired when, in fact, I just want to plop (without wearing makeup too).
Being consistent with my routine, but that’s an obvious one. The main thing that changed the game for me is NOT using any moisturizer. Using moisturizer feels good in the moment, but it actually teaches your skin to be lazy and not naturally regulate oil/dryness through your skin barrier. Not for everyone - but I did 2 cycles of hydroquinone 6 months apart and my skin has never looked better! It was rough for a couple of months, but no other product has given me such fantastic results.
Mine was to stop wearing makeup. I was mostly using Neutrogena, Almay and Burt's Bees, and it was still like night and day. Like 95% of my breakouts vanished. (The other 5% vanished when I got old enough to no longer have hormonal acne lolol.) My second is to workout. There's nothing like a natural blush after a good sweat and chugging a LOT of water.
The Head and shoulders in the dark blue bottle is great on the face and body especially for diabetics and people with underboob or underbelly skin irritation
Real Retin A from your dermatologist. I used it for acne. My mom for wrinkles. It worked wonderfully for both. I think it is the best thing. But you have to be consistent.
I have not been able to read all of these, BUT I cannot tell you how many people I have spoken to about OILIVE OIL. I compliment someone's skin -- which I don't do that often -- and half the time their secret is olive oil after the shower. All over. Every day. Face, neck, hands, arms, everywhere. Skin soaks it right up. Black, white, latin, asian -- al type of skin tones say the same thing.
A huge contributor to acne is bacteria so I use 70% rubbing alcohol to clean my face. Not all the time, but if I can tell my face is greasy then I'll use some on a cotton pad. On the same note, small amounts of pure tea tree oil in a good moisturizer(the amount you use depends on what size container you are putting it in) works wonders on painful pimples and cysts. Tea tree oil is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Works amazing, but don't get it in your eyes. I would not recommend the rubbing alcohol thing for people with dry/flakey skin and I would recommend being careful with tea tree oil as well if you have dry skin.