I'm not sure if I should, but this is a cross post from DSNW. If it's not allowed, let me know and I'll remove it.

Here is my update since then:
I have new numbers. I figured, now that I had my flaking skin fixed, I would re-take the quiz. Here is what has happened:
D-24.5
S-43
P-29
W-56
My skin isn't as dry anymore. It itches, but doesn't crack, so that is a step up. However, to get m skin healed, I guess I gave up something in the sensitive area, because I have been constatly breaking out in the past three weeks. I think my P score went up because I have more problems that gave me a clearer look at how my skin reacts (less "e" answers). Boy did my W score go up. For 26, the wrinkles in my forehead sure are stationary. They don't go away, ever.

I have HUGE pores that always look bad, but my skin is so sensitive and on the dry side, so I'm not sure what to do. Now that I've got the flaking gone, I'm ready to work on the breakouts and sensitive skin. Any help? If I could control that, my P score wouldn't mean much because it is mostly from how I react when I get cut or injured. The rest of that score is because I've got my irish freckles on my shoulders (too much sun when I was younger).


My original intro:

My name is Lindsay, I turned 26 in March, and for as long as I can remember I've been using products for oily skin. I had constant breakouts, sometimes my skin would hurt, but then there would be those few days where it all semed to be working right. I'm sure you've all gone through something like that. About a year ago, I decided that maybe I had oily, but sensitive skin, and switched to dove sensetive skin cleanser. I used an oil controlling moisturizer. (Opps.) I got so frustrated with my breakouts (although I had a one or two more clear daysevery few months).

In November this yearI started using proactive. My friend had used it before her wedding to clear up her skin and thought it was great. I started using it and some of my problems cleared up for a few weeks. I was over joyed. Then my skin got so dry that it cracked and flaked off. I quit using it only to have an immediate breakout the next day. I talked to my friend and she said she had the same reaction when she quit using proactive.

I went back to Dove for sensetive skin (cleansing cloths) and got the dove cleanser for sensitive skin. Things got a little better. My skin wasn't so flakey, the cracks started to heal. In January I found the book. I was in the middle of jobs and couldn't afford new products right away, so I had to wait.

At the end of February, I started my new products. I was using:
Dove Energy Glow skin brightening facial cleanser
Dove sensitive skin facial lotion
Mary Kay oil-free eye makeup remover
Aveeno Positively Radiant Anit-Wrinkle Cream
occassioanly I use the proactive refining mask (sulfur acne treatment)
And I finaly got a humidifier - what a difference

I have a borderline P/N-P issue, and sinceI am only on the somewhat sensitive end (33), I went with the Enrgy glow cleanser.

The Dove facial lotion is the same one I had been using. I didn't want to try too many new things at once. I've cut out most of my make-up. I still use mascara and Mary Kay cheekers, and true colors eye shadows (only contains the mineral pigment, nothing else).

For the first time in my life, i had someone this week tell me that my skin was glowing. I'm still breaking out around my mouth where my skin was also the driest when using the entire proactive line. I'm still getting a few small red dots on my cheeks. I always thought these were part of my "break-outs" but after reading somethings on the forum, I'm begining to think that maybe it is very mild roseasia. Any opinions? I know I have allergies to any anti-biodics. I know I am alergic to some foods (like shellfish). Most of my allergies are topical (my skin peels off in layers if my boyfriend's dog touches me, I get hives from some lotions, etc).

My skin turns red everytime I touch it. When I get upset, angry, yell, or even get loud enough to talk over my students when they are doing group work, I turn brigth red. If I blow my nose, it is red for about 15 minutes.

I am very prone to wrinkles, and would love to start on this roblem. I already have some wrinkles on my forehead that are always there. But from what I've read, I should work on repairing my skin barier before I try too many wrinkle creams.

At the moment I don't have inssurance so I can't even go to a regular doctor, much less a derm or allergist. Hopefully I'll have it in a month or so.

I think the most useful posts I've seen as a newbie are the posts where people have documented what is going on every day or week or however often. It gives me hope that eventually I'll find the right combination for me. I'm just so glad that I can limit my search to things in the reccomended products instead of all of the other stuff I was going through.

BTW - how long should I wait before I decide if a product is working for me? How long should I wait before adding a new product? I know that if I react, I should quit that one right away, but how long do most of you wait on average?