Hi everyone!
So, after trying recs for years and having persistent troublesome skin, I felt like I needed to start from square one with advice from an actual researcher and not a beauty professional or a friend, and tried Dr. B's book. One of my big problems is that I can't deal well, psychologically, with clogged pores (blackheads and whiteheads) and deeper acne issues. I pick at them constantly! When I have a good routine, I tend to leave them alone and let them clear up, but as soon as the routine fails, I start again. For an eg of a routine that failed, I used Alba's line for more than a year: coconut milk cleanser, pineapple toner, and seaweed renewal lotions. I read the book, and found out that coconut was a huge no-no! No wonder I thought I had cystic acne.
My main issue though now is frustration. I never thought I had really sensitive skin, until a derm gave me a glycolic acid wash and differin to use. OUCH!! Horrible redness and flakiness and just tight pain! Then a friend gave me a few recs, including jurlique foaming cleanser and herbal recovery serum, that left my skin all red little bumps, and also tight and painful.
I understand the idea is not to bombard your skin with a ton of new products, but what do you do to make it so that you can go out during the day?
I tried Dr B's recs: LRP Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser and Atopalm MLE face cream, and got a HORRIBLE reaction with red blotches and little bumps like acne. My pores swelled up huge and what were minor blackheads that only I noticed were now much more visible. It looked like hives this morning.
It's winter in the Northeast and I'm stuck with nothing! I don't feel entirely comfortable washing with EVOO, and vaseline isn't really moisturizing, so I still have flakes on my nose and chin. So far, I can still use and love Estee Lauder Daywear tinted moisturizer SPF, but I'm dry with just that (b/c I can't tolerate a night cream). My face felt horrible with the Toleriane, so I'm going back to Eucerin Redness Relief Cleanser--drying, but no other significant problems (yet). I tried the DDF sulfur mask (works ok!) and Caudalie, but I'm swearing off that until the red bumps go. The other Eucerin RR products immediately caused negative reactions. I'm using Benzoyl Peroxide on the few pimples that popped up with PMS. And the holidays start tomorrow, and it's terrible, but I don't like seeing everyone with my skin a mess. Unfortunately, I'm obsessing and it's getting me even more unhappy----
Any suggestions for how to fix the routine, or at least make it livable for a few weeks? Any ideas for what caused the reactions in Toleriane? Before I read the book, I would use products for months before I realized they weren't working or were the cause of the problem---clinique 3-step, cetaphil cleanser for sensitive skin, anything with SA
Olay has worked ok as a moisturizer for me in the past, any acne problems there?
Oh, I'm a D21 S38 N W (I forget the last 2 scores!), and 26 yrs. I have redness and usually have very minor acne (1 or 2 pimples) I also have no problems with fragrances, etc., on the rest of my body.
(And sorry if I seem a little crazy---but this product mess is really making me crazy! I'm getting tired of fussing...)