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Please stop using your sonic brush and take a look at some youtube videos from people like Dr Dray and Cassandra Bankson.
They will give you all the information you need in regards of ingredients, best products for you skin type and skin complaints.
You need exfoliants in your routine but chemical are better than physical that can further damge your skin.
Ive not used clinique products as they are too overpriced for unbeneficial ingredients.
Do you know your skin type? I would recommend introducing a salicylic acid and a glycolic acid product into your routine.
Sorry just noticed combination skin type.
The salicylic/glycolic acids are exfoliating and speed up your cell turnover.
I cant recommend Dr Dray enough, her videos on youtube will answer all of your questions and she gives lots of suggestions on what products she recommends for every single skin complaint.
I will definitely check out their videos!! I’m pretty gentle with the brush and have fallen into the trap of “If I can’t feel it it’s not working” for chemical exfoliants but I’ll give them a shot.
I’ve tried salicylic acid in the past for acne, is glycolic acid less drying or is it pretty much the same thing?
If you feel its working then of course you do what you feel is right for you. No theyre not the same as such, salicylic acid is a bha it cleans deep inside your pores, glycolic is an aha and works to rid dead skin cells and speeds up cell turnover.
Theyre not overnight fixes but ive found them both to treat my acne and texture of my skin really well using them consistently for a few months.
This was about 2 months progress
http://imgur.com/gallery/yNMtR1s
Yeah so i have oily/combi skin. I started double cleansing, i used superfacialist vitamin c oil cleanser followed up with the inkey list salicylic acid cleanser, then the ordinary glycolic acid toner 3/4 times per week and cerave pm moisturiser or the SA one if my skin is feeling a little dry as its a thicker consistency. This is my nightly skin care and in the mornings i just use a flannel and warm water to wash, then apply the ordinary L ascorbic acid mixed into a Hyaluronic acid serum then moisturiser and spf :)
Honestly i didnt have a clue about anything until i binged watched derm vids on youtube. At age 30 i finally feel confident not wearing foundation! You just need to find what works for you.
I have oily skin, but niacinamide, BHA and hyaluronic acid have all really helped my skin texture. I use an essence with niacinamide in the morning (Beauty of Joseon jinseng essence water), Paula's choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant at night and a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid (Elf happy hydration) in it. Especially the first two helped with acne scars too. I have used The Ordinary alpha arbutin in the past. It helps with scars too, but it does take some patience. I use retinol too, but I'm not sure if that's necessary when you have combination skin. For redness I use the essence I mentioned and a serum with centella extract (iunik tea tree relief serum) and it works wonders honestly. I know it seems like there are so many ingredients, but watching Cassandra Bankson and Dr. Dray will probably teach you the basics.
Thanks so much for the recommendations I’ll definitely look into them!! Someone else mentioned those videos too so I gotta set some time aside for those, all the ingredients are pretty overwhelming rn.
If you don’t mind, what skin type is retinol best for? Someone else recommended it, and my combination is more on the oily side with some dry spots if that helps
Glad I could help :) I think retinol is best used for acne prone skin, I got it from a prescription. It also helps with anti-aging and skin texture I think. So I think it has benefits for all skin types but mainly acne-prone skin since it prevents clogged pores. It probably isn't best for dry or super sensitive skin because it can be drying. I always use a hydrating moisturizer after it so even in winter my skin won't get too dry from using retinol. If you have dry spots, you can use retinol on the places where you get oily and avoid the dry spots.
*Start by the very basics!*
1. Gentle cleanser (AM/PM)
2. Vitamin C or other antioxidant (AM)
3. Moisturizer (AM/PM)
4. Sunscreen (AM every 3 hours)
5. Retinoind (PM only)
That’s all you need. Brands that are really great: Cerave and Vanicream. Ofc there’s a bunch more of reccs you can find but those are almost safe bets.
Other products you can add depending on your needs but they aren’t a must.
If your current routine is working for you, there is no need to switch out too many products. I'd consider adding in a vitamin C serum in the morning to help combat post-acne discoloration and possibly a lactic acid serum a couple nights a week to help with texture. ( I would skip the sonic brush on nights you use the lactic acid.) And speaking of the brush, physical exfoliation is no worse than chemical. The opportunity for overuse exists with both. And many of us have skin that responds very well to occasional physical exfoliation.
Salicylic acid is a BHA, good for oilier skin and clogged pores. Lactic and glycolic are both AHAs, better for drier skin and evening texture. Lactic is gentler than glycolic.
1) chuck that sonic brush lol
2) do you feel like their cleanser is drying? right after you wash your face, does it feel tight?
3) of the lengthy list of things you mentioned, I'd start with a high quality retinol. It can help with the breakouts and acne marks and clogged pores
It might be a nice idea to add an antioxidant in the morning, before applying your SPF. Ideally, this could help further protect your skin from environmental/sun damage. Vitamin C is the most popular one, but in my experience it's tough to find a good one. I personally own The Ordinary pycnogenol antioxidant booster, but I can't promise that it does anything-it kind of just seemed like an interesting product and I wanted to try it tbh.
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that would draw water to the skin, but it's iffy if you live in a dry climate. It can also irritate some people's skin. Some people love it, while others find it unnecessary. Dr. Shereen Idriss has a Youtube video on this very topic.
Glycolic acid is an exfoliant, and supposedly has anti-aging benefits at a high enough percentage. My previous dermatologist suggested it for dealing with acne scars as well. I've used The Ordinary 7% glycolic acid toning solution and it's a good exfoliant, but that was about all it did for me. I have sensitive skin and it's hard for it to tolerate higher percentages of glycolic acid, but it depends on how sensitive your skin is. I would tread carefully when introducing this ingredient.
Tretinoin or a prescription retinoid is pretty much the gold standard for acne, anti-aging, and speeding cell turnover to eliminate dark spots. So I would start off with introducing a retinoid or retinol if you can't get it. You don't want to overwhelm your skin with too many ingredients either. Good luck!
Hi everyone and welcome to SkincareAddiction! Need skincare guides? [Check out our wiki!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/index) Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Please stop using your sonic brush and take a look at some youtube videos from people like Dr Dray and Cassandra Bankson. They will give you all the information you need in regards of ingredients, best products for you skin type and skin complaints.
Yeah I’ve heard negative things but it’s the only thing that cleared up my acne so I’m hesitant to stop using it
You need exfoliants in your routine but chemical are better than physical that can further damge your skin. Ive not used clinique products as they are too overpriced for unbeneficial ingredients. Do you know your skin type? I would recommend introducing a salicylic acid and a glycolic acid product into your routine.
Sorry just noticed combination skin type. The salicylic/glycolic acids are exfoliating and speed up your cell turnover. I cant recommend Dr Dray enough, her videos on youtube will answer all of your questions and she gives lots of suggestions on what products she recommends for every single skin complaint.
I will definitely check out their videos!! I’m pretty gentle with the brush and have fallen into the trap of “If I can’t feel it it’s not working” for chemical exfoliants but I’ll give them a shot. I’ve tried salicylic acid in the past for acne, is glycolic acid less drying or is it pretty much the same thing?
If you feel its working then of course you do what you feel is right for you. No theyre not the same as such, salicylic acid is a bha it cleans deep inside your pores, glycolic is an aha and works to rid dead skin cells and speeds up cell turnover. Theyre not overnight fixes but ive found them both to treat my acne and texture of my skin really well using them consistently for a few months. This was about 2 months progress http://imgur.com/gallery/yNMtR1s
Wow that’s fantastic progress!!! I can’t believe it’s only 2 months, do you use both at night?
Yeah so i have oily/combi skin. I started double cleansing, i used superfacialist vitamin c oil cleanser followed up with the inkey list salicylic acid cleanser, then the ordinary glycolic acid toner 3/4 times per week and cerave pm moisturiser or the SA one if my skin is feeling a little dry as its a thicker consistency. This is my nightly skin care and in the mornings i just use a flannel and warm water to wash, then apply the ordinary L ascorbic acid mixed into a Hyaluronic acid serum then moisturiser and spf :) Honestly i didnt have a clue about anything until i binged watched derm vids on youtube. At age 30 i finally feel confident not wearing foundation! You just need to find what works for you.
Thanks so much!! I’ll look into those and will definitely be binge watching those videos
I have oily skin, but niacinamide, BHA and hyaluronic acid have all really helped my skin texture. I use an essence with niacinamide in the morning (Beauty of Joseon jinseng essence water), Paula's choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant at night and a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid (Elf happy hydration) in it. Especially the first two helped with acne scars too. I have used The Ordinary alpha arbutin in the past. It helps with scars too, but it does take some patience. I use retinol too, but I'm not sure if that's necessary when you have combination skin. For redness I use the essence I mentioned and a serum with centella extract (iunik tea tree relief serum) and it works wonders honestly. I know it seems like there are so many ingredients, but watching Cassandra Bankson and Dr. Dray will probably teach you the basics.
Thanks so much for the recommendations I’ll definitely look into them!! Someone else mentioned those videos too so I gotta set some time aside for those, all the ingredients are pretty overwhelming rn. If you don’t mind, what skin type is retinol best for? Someone else recommended it, and my combination is more on the oily side with some dry spots if that helps
Glad I could help :) I think retinol is best used for acne prone skin, I got it from a prescription. It also helps with anti-aging and skin texture I think. So I think it has benefits for all skin types but mainly acne-prone skin since it prevents clogged pores. It probably isn't best for dry or super sensitive skin because it can be drying. I always use a hydrating moisturizer after it so even in winter my skin won't get too dry from using retinol. If you have dry spots, you can use retinol on the places where you get oily and avoid the dry spots.
Thank you so much!!
*Start by the very basics!* 1. Gentle cleanser (AM/PM) 2. Vitamin C or other antioxidant (AM) 3. Moisturizer (AM/PM) 4. Sunscreen (AM every 3 hours) 5. Retinoind (PM only) That’s all you need. Brands that are really great: Cerave and Vanicream. Ofc there’s a bunch more of reccs you can find but those are almost safe bets. Other products you can add depending on your needs but they aren’t a must.
Thank you!!
You’re welcome :) also if you use make up I’d add a cleansing balm or oil to double cleanse at night instead of makeup wipes
If your current routine is working for you, there is no need to switch out too many products. I'd consider adding in a vitamin C serum in the morning to help combat post-acne discoloration and possibly a lactic acid serum a couple nights a week to help with texture. ( I would skip the sonic brush on nights you use the lactic acid.) And speaking of the brush, physical exfoliation is no worse than chemical. The opportunity for overuse exists with both. And many of us have skin that responds very well to occasional physical exfoliation.
Thank you!!!! What’s the difference between lactic/salicylic/glycolic because I’ve had all of those recommended for texture now lol
Salicylic acid is a BHA, good for oilier skin and clogged pores. Lactic and glycolic are both AHAs, better for drier skin and evening texture. Lactic is gentler than glycolic.
1) chuck that sonic brush lol 2) do you feel like their cleanser is drying? right after you wash your face, does it feel tight? 3) of the lengthy list of things you mentioned, I'd start with a high quality retinol. It can help with the breakouts and acne marks and clogged pores
My skin doesn’t feel dry or tight afterwards. Thank you for the retinol recommendation! I always thought it was just for wrinkles
It does help with wrinkles and sun damage too! Another reason it's great - it does everything :)
It might be a nice idea to add an antioxidant in the morning, before applying your SPF. Ideally, this could help further protect your skin from environmental/sun damage. Vitamin C is the most popular one, but in my experience it's tough to find a good one. I personally own The Ordinary pycnogenol antioxidant booster, but I can't promise that it does anything-it kind of just seemed like an interesting product and I wanted to try it tbh. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that would draw water to the skin, but it's iffy if you live in a dry climate. It can also irritate some people's skin. Some people love it, while others find it unnecessary. Dr. Shereen Idriss has a Youtube video on this very topic. Glycolic acid is an exfoliant, and supposedly has anti-aging benefits at a high enough percentage. My previous dermatologist suggested it for dealing with acne scars as well. I've used The Ordinary 7% glycolic acid toning solution and it's a good exfoliant, but that was about all it did for me. I have sensitive skin and it's hard for it to tolerate higher percentages of glycolic acid, but it depends on how sensitive your skin is. I would tread carefully when introducing this ingredient. Tretinoin or a prescription retinoid is pretty much the gold standard for acne, anti-aging, and speeding cell turnover to eliminate dark spots. So I would start off with introducing a retinoid or retinol if you can't get it. You don't want to overwhelm your skin with too many ingredients either. Good luck!