(Part 4) Top products from r/SkincareAddictionUK

There's been a post recently on one of the skin care subs about someone meeting a scientist who worked on the Nip/fab glycolic acid products who said it was formulated to be too weak to do any damage in case of lawsuits, so maybe give up with that brand. Look into other brands tho- Amazon is actually really great for having a whole bunch of skincare stuff in one place with budget friendly and cheaper yet multibuy options. I'm linking mainly to Amazon in this post too, so just a heads up.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that your skin is dehydrated and sensitive from all the harsh products you've tried, so let's try something different. Your acne may well be hormonal though, you should talk to your GP about getting your levels checked.

Face wash wise, I'd recommend you start with either Cetaphil gentle cleanser, or Eucerin Sensitive Skin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. Both of these are super gentle and won't strip your skin or make your face feel tight after washing.

Use a microfibre or muslin cloth to cleanse with, they're cheap and great gentle physical exfoliators. Be gentle, you really don't need to scrub hard, just gentle circles.

For a budget friendly and honestly fantastic face mask that's known for clearing skin and giving glowy complexions, ignore the overpriced hype of Aztec Healing Clay and buy a bag of calcium bentonite clay (which is all that is in Aztec healing clay btw) and a bottle of apple cider vinegar - mix about a tbsp of the clay with enough vinegar to make it foamy and use it twice a week. You can use this on body acne too- I use it on my back and bum about once a month.

You're going to want an AHA/BHA you can use Niacinamide daily and or The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 30ml, 10-Minute Exfoliating Facial twice a week. Leave a few days between using this and the calcium bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar mask tho. There are loads of AHA BHA products on the market but The Ordinary has fantastic reviews and is what is says on the label- percentages and everything, which to me puts it head and shoulders above many other products in the same price range. You can mix your own AHA/BHA's for far cheaper but it's a little trickier than the super easy recipe for hyaluronic acid serum in the next paragraph.

Now this stuff isn't necessary but it has a pretty huge and immediate impact on how your skin looks and feels. Making your own hyaluronic acid serum (this stuff forces moisture into the skin and moisturised skin is far less prone to irritation and spots) is super easy. Buy the powder, some glycerin and a preservative and make your own, there's a great website with instructions here. Trust me when I say you will save a shit load of money with this. You will also see results fast. If you want to buy/try first tho, I'd recommend The Ordinary. I keep my hyaluronic acid and AHA/BHA bottles in the fridge, it probably does little to extend the life span of the products but it feels super nice to put on cold serums (and sheet masks!).

Now, to moisturiser. I've heard great things about YES to Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Balancing Moisturizer for dealing with acne prone skin, also about Bioderma Hydrabio Gel-Crème Light Moisturising Care and Vichy Normaderm Anti-Blemish Care you get a free cleanser that's supposed to be quite good with that link too btw.

Suncream is really, super fucking important- I use Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+/PA++++ and cannot reccomend it enough- it neither smells like suncream nor feels like it and it looks nice and kinda satin matte on my face too. Any suncream is better than none tho- just make sure you wash it all off at the end of the day.

I know that all together the stuff in these links comes to a bit of money but these products will last you bloody ages for the most part and they're super well reviewed and mostly unlikely to do much damage to you or further break you out.

It does look like rosacea could partially be what’s going on (not a doctor, and you should see one since rosacea can progress to be quite serious). If it is rosacea, in my experience you’re going to need something specific for it. And nothing in your current regimen will likely treat it.

Azelaic acid and metronidazole are two topical drugs commonly used.

• This paper from 2003 found that azelaic acid gel, like Finacea, twice per day was more effective than metronidazole. Note that Finacea/azelaic gel is prescription only and expensive, in the US at least
  
  
• This paper found that azelaic acid cream, like Melazepam, was equally effective as topical metronidazole, with higher satisfaction.
  
  
• For my own skin, metronidazole cream seems to be much more effective than azelaic acid cream (Melazepam), and its more cosmetically elegant. But I wouldn’t put too much importance on my personal results.
  
  So, azelaic acid might be a good place to start; doubly so since you don’t need a prescription and it is assumed to be safe during pregnancy. And there’s good evidence for azelaic acid on acne, as well.

i use Fruit of the Earth Vitamin E cream that my mom gave me, i don't think it's availabe in store but you can buy it online here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fruit-Earth-Vitamin-Skin-Cream/dp/B001L1R6T0/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506087291&sr=8-2&keywords=fruit+of+the+earth+vitamin+e+cream i love the cream because it's thick and moisturising as my last step to seal everything in and it has a good size so it lasts me for months. i have more dry/normal skin but i used this when i had oiler skin and still liked it although i think i enjoy it more now. you can go in with a lighter hand than i do though. it has fragrance as the last ingredient but no essential oils (thank goodness!)

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!

La Roche Posay's Cicaplast Lip Balm is my hand-down favourite lip treatment, and it's currently 1/3 off with free shipping at Look Fantastic.

Then I layer on a plant oil based lip balm like Yes To or my favourite; Crazy Rumours

I find that petroleum based products are best as barriers for when it's really cold, but once your skin has started breaking down you need the broad range of fatty acids that varied plant oils provide, to help with supporting the healing process.

Hi all - I use this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B002KDTGVE?pc_redir=1406137960&robot_redir=1

I had treatment for acne from a nurse and she recommended this. I've been using it for two years - I don't use moisturiser underneath, just this. It's not greasy and it doesn't block your pores or leave you with a sticky film on your face - I love it and I would recommend it to anybody.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B002KDTGVE?pc_redir=1406137960&robot_redir=1

There isn't really much out there that is like an everyday body lotion with SPF. I read about the Aveeno Daily Moisturiser with SPF30 from somewhere on reddit and I think it fits what you're looking for. Think it's an American product though as I couldn't find it in Boots or any UK online shop. But the amazon link above is about £13, which I think is quite pricey for a moisturiser but I don't know, could be ideal for you.

I recently purchased [Alpha Hydrox Oil-Free Formula](http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000052YM8/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1456842842&sr=1&keywords=alpha+hydrox( to replace my old AHA (Derma E Overnight Peel). Most nights I use a BHA, but twice a week or so I use my AHA, and it is lovely. I didn't experience any redness or stinging or flaking, and the next day my skin is so smooth.

My skin is combination/oily, prone to clogged pores, acne and PIH.

Thanks for that eye-opener, what would your opinion on the following be:

http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1574/5047/3--step/Step-3-Moisturize/Dramatically-Different-Moisturizing-Gel/with-pump--Combination-to-Oily-Skin-Types
Clinique's dramatically different moisturizing gel

https://www.boots.com/en/Clean-Clear-Dual-Action-Oil-Free-Moisturiser-100ml_914/

http://www.bravuralondon.com/moisturise/blackheads/azulen-moisturiser-50ml.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sebamed-Clear-Face-Care-50ml/dp/B003NTJJR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416959934&sr=8-1&keywords=Clear+Face+Care+Gel

The Neutrogena one on the frontpage that can be found at the 99p store is my HG sunscreen/day cream atm. When that runs out, I don't know what I'm going to do either because I like you have not had great luck with sunscreen.

It's 30 SPF, but they do have a 100 SPF version that you can get on Amazon.

That serum you posted! An evening of primrose oil + vit e cream, hemp seed oil sunblock, bare minerals cleansing foam (already have this and I adore it, lasts for months) and a tea tree body wash.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0013G3AHK/ref=ya_st_dp_summary

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001VC9T9Y/ref=ya_st_dp_summary

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007RY6DCG/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007RY6DCG/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Oh man I got it for £11.99 a few weeks ago but the seller has put the price up to £17.96 now, must have been a fluke: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003U7OYK2/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1

It's cheaper on other sites but I haven't ordered from them.

Try this one

The UK doesn't have a CeraVe equivalent AFAIK. The closest pharmacy style product is [Balneum Cream] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Balneum-Cream-50g/dp/B003JHYRVE/) (not to be confused with Balneum PLUS). Ingredients are buried in the description.

Other than that moisturisers with some of the same ingredients as CeraVe are cosmetics, the ones I have tried have fragrance for example. [Link to the relevant section] (http://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddictionUK/comments/2ohd33/the_high_street_moisturisers_reviews/cmn45nb) of the moisturisers mega review thread (in sidebar).

Bear in mind I am not acne prone so my product reviews may only be of limited use to you. If you do find something/ try the Balneum Cream please come back and add to the mega review thread.

HTH!

I'm still patch testing but I like it so far :) no white cast or anything! Here's the seller I bought it from. The only thing I have noticed is that it's really difficult to get out of the bottle... like I tried unscrewing the top to see if the straw-type thing you usually get in pump bottles had fallen out and there wasn't one at all. I have to pump it several times to get a small amount out. Is yours the same?

I use the Avene Tolerance cream - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Avene-Tolerance-Extreme-Soothing-Cream/dp/B002D48QVQ - it's a bit expensive but I don't think I'll use another moisturiser again! My skin randomly broke out in a bumpy red rash back in October after I over exfoliated and it was the only thing that cured it.