(Part 3) Top products from r/SkincareAddicts

Combination/ oily skin (so normal in my cheeks, oily on my t-zone and chin), sensitive, acne-prone (cystic/nodular and other). Very sensitive to Avobenzone (it makes my face sting like it's on fire!), other chemical sunscreens might give me acne- still figuring it out.

EltaMD UV Pure spf 47

Price: currently $22.99 for 4 oz on Amazon Prime. It USED to be a lot cheaper. I bought it for around $18 this past September.

This is an all-physical sunscreen that's very gentle for sensitive skin. It's definitely one of the best all-physicals I've tried (and believe me, I've tried a LOT). The most unique part about it is that it dries completely matte. If you have very dry skin, it is probably too drying, but for oily skin like mine it's pretty great. It've very hard to find a non-greasy sunscreen that doesn't contain a lot of alcohol. It does have a white cast, but it's definitely not as bad as some others (though it's not the best I've tried- that honor belongs to the now discontinued Banana Boat Natural Reflect). It's best for wearing under makeup, I think. The price is not too bad considering that you get 4 oz.

Ideal for people with very sensitive, oily, and pale skin. CosDNA link for ingredients

edit: I should add that I wore this sunscreen on a trip to the Dominican Republic this past December. I am very burn-prone owing to the fact that I am a). pale as fuck, b). taking minocycline, which makes you extra sun sensitive, and c). using a strong prescription retinoid. I spent several hours a day on the beach and did not get burned (though I did make sure to re-apply after going in the water). I probably wasn't even applying the correct amount, either.

There are a lot of good suggestions here already. As someone mentioned, Lush products can be really harsh. They tend to include a lot of oils that can actually be quite irritating, worse if your skin barrier is damaged from dryness, so it's probably best to stay away from that brand while your skin is healing. Cerave is the best, since the ceramides it contains will help repair the skin barrier and help your skin retain moisture better. The cream is great, but you probably need even more moisture than it can provide, so you may want to layer under something like Vanicream, which is ultra moisturizing and hypoallergenic and contains some mineral oil to seal everything in (but isn't sticky at all). In my experience, used in moderate amounts, Vanicream also works really nicely as a moisturizing makeup primer for dry skin. I also recommend & Other Stories Plush Balm as an occasional salve. It's made with cocoa butter, shea butter, and other great healing ingredients, but can be comedogenic if you're acne-prone, so for me personally I can't use it more than a couple days per week.
Removing makeup with something like a cleansing oil (Neutrogena makes a good affordable one) followed by Cerave hydrating cleanser is also good to prevent your skin from drying out. Try to avoid the urge to exfoliate too often while your skin is healing, as it can damage the new skin that's forming! In my experience chemical exfoliators like Cure Aqua Gel are less harsh when my skin is going through a particularly dry, sensitive skin spell. Good luck!

Some things that might help:

Anything that goes near your chin (hands, chinstraps, jacket collars, pillows, etc) needs to be washed regularly and thoroughly. Try to touch your face as little as possible!

A good cleanser and chemical exfoliant can help you out. Some commonly recommended products here on SCA are CeraVe's foaming cleanser and Stridex pads (the red box, not green box). Both will help keep your skin clean and remove any bacteria that are causing you problems. It is important when using an exfoliant that you use a lotion afterwards so your skin doesn't get too dry, moisturized skin feels and looks better! Another common product here is CeraVe's lotion (there's a pump kind that's thinner, and a jar kind that's thicker and creamier).

Hydrocolloid bandages are a godsend if you have any active acne! If the blemish is 'open', cut off a small portion of the bandage and put that on the offending zit after you wash and moisturize your face for the night. By the time you wake up, most (if not all) of the fluid from the acne will be absorbed into the bandage, leaving the blemish flat and less red.

I hope this information is helpful to you! Acne can be so painful and embarrassing, but it can be managed and fixed. Best of luck! :)

That is odd! Having been on tretinoin so long, did you ever pick acne while using tretinoin? Could these be picking scars that showed up very late? Tissue damage from picking? I don’t think the shaving with moisturizer on would do it, you would definitely notice more cuts if that were the case. Regardless, I would try adding in hydrating serums. Hyalauronic acid, look to the ordinary for a good hyalauronic acid serum. Try a hyalauronic acid toner if you’re more comfortable with that. After you wash with warm water, use the toner, then serum (if you opt for both, either way always use before moisturizer), then moisturizer/spf. Maybe even try a hydrating cleanser. The brand simple has a micellar gel cleanser great for dry/sensitive skin. Also, look into barrier repair from the brand bioelements. I’ve had clients see great results on their scars with the barrier repair moisturizer. Just focus on rehydrating and rebuilding your protective barrier, helping your skins tissue rebuild itself is most likely the best way to get rid of and prevent the scarring. They seem more like tissue damage scars, especially since they’re more pronounced around the cheeks where you have more adipose tissue.

EDIT to add a link to the barrier repair. They changed the name to barrier fix! Bioelements Barrier Fix Daily Hydrator, 1.7 Oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NN3W2JH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cUhQDbMG63RCJ

I use the Boom! toothy tabs from Lush (containing charcoal) and have definitely noticed a difference to tooth brightness and my overall oral health :D I started using them because the enamel on one of my teeth is destroyed and was very prone to plaque formation/slight yellowing and I read that bicarb based tooth cleansers can help, so I started using toothy tabs. Here is the link if you're interested: https://uk.lush.com/products/boom

My parents from India also have many anecdotes about their parents using a charcoal based tooth powder and that by using this they were able to maintain sparkling, white teeth until their old age. I have never tried it myself but have many family members who swear by it (and have blindingly white teeth to boot). Here is a link to it: https://www.amazon.com/Monkey-Brand-Black-Powder-Ayurvedic/dp/B000BP0NAQ

Good luck!!

Skin type: Normal, acne-prone

Product name and price at the time of your post: Bye bye blemish drying lotion, <$9 for 1 or ~$20 for a pack of 3

A quick summary of the product and why you like it, in addition to any information people should know before trying it out, if applicable: It's a bomb sulfur-based spot treatment with some zinc and salicylic acid in it too. It helps bring zits and cysts that aren't to a head to a head and dries them out if they are at a head. You will need q-tips to use it. Directions say not to shake it but I've used it both ways, honestly, and it works either way. It is pink so it's best to apply at night or when you aren't going anywhere. I like that it actually dries and doesn't get in my hair or on anything I happen to touch to my face (looking at you, De La Cruz sulfur ointment, though you're still nice as a mask for 30 min or so occasionally) and actually seems to work better. Downside is I seem to go through it pretty quickly when fighting a breakout since I put it on all the spots and do it daily till they're gone. Oh, and it's drying, but not as bad as benzoyl peroxide or other spot treatments.

Agreeing with the other comment, salicylic acid, and/or glycolic acid.

I would try BHA (salicylic) first - it works like a charm for me. But I have to be diligent with it - 2x/day, every single day. Stridex Pads in the red container or Clearasil Rapid Action Pads are great, inexpensive options that I currently have and use.

https://www.amazon.com/Stridex-Med-Pads-Size-90ct/dp/B000NUN8BK

https://www.amazon.com/Clearasil-Rescue-Treatment-Cleansing-Packaging/dp/B0012MXUEI

If after several weeks you notice no changes, try switching over to an AHA (like The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid, mentioned here already). Hope this helps-Good luck!

You could try something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Oil-Free-Acne-Daily-Scrub/dp/B000NWDSAE/ref=pd_sim_194_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000NWDSAE&pd_rd_r=TQ00X11M1D4EDP902EWW&pd_rd_w=bW4qk&pd_rd_wg=nouuH&refRID=TQ00X11M1D4EDP902EWW&th=1

Your derm might recommend something, some even stock their preferred product. Depending on the doctor your see, they might recommend a daily wash, daily cream, and/or treatments like chemical peels, lasers, or topicals.

I really like Thayers Witch Hazel. I find that it's not as drying as other toners I've used, and is inexpensive. It feels really nice putting on. Just make sure you follow up with a moisturizer.

I also have chronically dry hands and it gets painful and itchy in the winter. O'Keefe's hand salve is amazing - I've gone through several of them already.

I have KP, and the products that finally got rid of them for me were Glytone products (body wash and moisturizer), but I suppose anything with glycolic acid would work. Just a word of advice, if you apply them with bare hands, the skin on your hands will start to peel. Nothing dramatic, but I wasn't expecting it although it should've been obvious.

This is the kit I used.

Mine were mostly on my upper arms, but that product line has products especially for your face. Also, make sure you use sunscreen as your skin will be slightly more sensitive.

This happened to me all of the time. I have tried all kinds of creams and moisturizers but I didn't have constant improvement until I started taking phytoceramides. Also make sure you stay hydrated. My problem seemed to heal when I treated it internally vs. externally. I also do use an eye moisturizer morning and night. Sometimes if I don't have to go anywhere I'll use coconut oil-- but you tend to look like a glazed donut.

Edit: formatting

Here's a link for italy towels on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C8DR1U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_DU8LybJYW1AH3
Sit in a hot water bath for at least 20-30 minutes and then scrub your skin. Rolls of skin will come off, don't stop scrubbing until these don't come up any more. Then moisturize your legs after you towel dry. If this isn't a solution, I recommend seeing a professional or ask some family/friends.

As a moisturiser he uses the 500ml aveeno cream with active colloidal oatmeal and as a a cleanser he uses Simple Kind To Skin purifying cleansing lotion.

He debates about using sunscreen in the morning but he doesn't want to have a white cast left on him.

He's going to the GP(UK) on Monday and he hopes that he can be referred to a dermatologist and have the chance to have an allergy test and see what he can avoid and what not, yeah he doesn't know the allergies

By hydrocortisone cream on bad spots you mean the white & dark patches?

Apply Ammonium Lactate Lotion twice a day. It contains lactic acid and alpha hydroxy acid.


Perrigo Ammonium Lactate Lotion

Buy an electric shaver and learn how to use it properly! My life has changed after buying this :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018A32XS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?qid=1462310111&sr=8-1&keywords=female+electric+shaver&pi=SY200_QL40

Are you talking about these? I use them for my Simple Cleansing Micellar Water and nail polish remover.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035RF85C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B0009VNI40/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1504019523&sr=8-14&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=aloe

When I bought it, I literally just typed 100% aloe gel. You should be able to find a european brand.

My little sister has terrible exzema and would ALWAYS cry that everything burned and would beg to wipe it off. We tried this lotion and it was so awesome, would calm her flare ups down too.
Genes Vitamin E Creme Swiss Collagen Complex Moisturizing Creme for Dry and Sensitive Skin 16 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013QOIGC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Rl6RAbAQZXGHG