Any exfoliator advice for a 'seedy' chin please?

[keatsybeatsy]

I don't have great skin (nothing major, but certainly not glowing) - but, recently, I've noticed that I really need to use an exfoliator to get out all the little 'bits.'

This maybe won't make sense but . . . if I jut my chin out (lovely), I can see little seeds in my pores. I can squeeze those out - takes ages and is gross - or I can exfoliate a lot, scrub with a towel, and then expect to see them again the next day (also lovely). A few on forehead, cheeks, side of nose (lots there actually) too.

I wear make-up every day. I've been using Estee Lauder and Clarins but it's too gentle. Micellar water is no good, and OCM method seems to leave lots on my face.

I'd rather have something cheaper that I can use lots and make my face feel really clean - any suggestions (preferably something I can get in Boots or supermarket as I'd like it today and don't live near 'proper' shops!)?

I'm late 40s, don't smoke, vegetarian - so I should be less of a state really .

Thank you .

[fuckinglondonballs]

Hi OP. Rather than go for a grainy scrub I would go for acid exfoliatiors. Try this by Ren. Use morning and night after cleansing m.marksandspencer.com/mt/www.marksandspencer.com/ren-clarifying-toning-lotion-150ml/p/p22228871

Or this www.carolinehirons.com/2013/01/clarins-exfoliating-toner-my-most.html?m=1

And maybe this once in a while, also exfoliating www.renskincare.com/p/3036/Glycolactic+Radiance+Renewal+Mask

And I use this clay mask because I also get blocked pores. m.boots.com/mt/www.boots.com/en/Sanctuary-5min-Thermal-Detox-Mask-100ml_1109873/#un_jtt_addtohome_hidden

You could go and have a facial and ask if they can squeeze your blackheads out. If they don't do 'extractions' then go elsewhere. Then start using a good toner.

And for a cleaver you can use coconut oil from the supermarket. Just massage in really well and use a hot flannel after.

[fuckinglondonballs]

Sorry just seen you don't like ocm - it leaves lots on your face... Oil or spots??

[OneLittleLady]

If you have a superdrug or can order online, the Vit E exfoliator cream is really good and as an added bonus is not tested on animals and is vegetarian and vegan friendly. Also cheap!

[MrsCripps]

Sounds like congestion- avoid anything that is too harsh/to minimise pores you will end up dehydrating and I had terrible spots.

I use a clean white flannel and a cream cleanser- it has improved my skin enormously. Currently the Burts Bees Soap Bark and Camomile one.
Remove makeup, gently apply cream, ring flannel out in warm water and use to remove cream, the action of the flannel stimulates without being harsh.

I have oily spot prone skin and my skin looks amazing now.
Exfoliating with a product everyday is too harsh.

[keatsybeatsy]

Thank you all so much!

fuckinglondonballs - it's make up that seems to get left on when I try OCM.

MrsCripps - so what would I take the make up off with first? I don't seem to get spots if I exfoliate every day but maybe I'm just too old for them . . .

I can get the Boots and Superdrug ones today and order some more - I appreciate this so much .

[fuckinglondonballs]

You can cleanse twice OP. Cleanse,rinse, repeat.

[fuckinglondonballs]

Oh and start on dry skin. Much more effective I find.

I find the toners every day are fine. I wouldn't use a scrubby exfoliator though.

[MrsCripps]

I use the Clinique - the oil one that you shake and remove make up.
Then do the hot flannel thing.

There was something on here a while back (I think) that some people do have visible pores that look blocked but are actually normal.
Cant remember what they were called but them coming back daily rings a bell!

[MrsCripps]

Sebaceous filaments!

[Kundry]

You need a salicylic acid exfoliator as it dissolves in the oil so unblocks pores. AHAs will be good but you need salicylic to really get in there. Effaclar K gets a lot of love on here, I use Paula's Choice 2% BHA or a Bravura London salicylic, there are lots of them out there. Exfoliating should be done by the product, not by you scrubbing.

However you may have clear pores with sebaceous filaments - they look like a pale blackhead and you can extract the filament but it comes back straight away as it's part of a normal pore.

Salicylic will make them look less obvious but they probably look far worse to you than anyone else - Caroline Hirons has a nice line on her blog that everyone she's met complaining of large pores has in fact got normal pores

[kelper]

As an aside, thank you for this post OP, i had to google what OCM was, and have just tried it with some cold pressed orange oil i had, and my skin feels lovely!!

[unusuallyboard]

Sebaceous filaments tend to grow larger if you leave them. Not nice at all, and they are quite visible I think, especially if left

Salicylic, pore extractor tool and exfoliation, along with cleansing regime as mentioned, need to be done regularly to keep them away.

[safetyzone]

Agree with acid exfoliators - AHA (glycolic acid) or BHA. Paula's Choice has some good options.

[keatsybeatsy]

This is all great - unusuallyboard . . . a poor extractor tool you say? I like the sound of that .

I think they probably do seem worse to me as you can't see them if I have make-up on, and the ones in my chin do need to have me jutting my chin out (it's a beautiful sight) and I don't do that in public.

So, I have ordered Burt's Bees stuff, got the Superdrug stuff, and bought some coconut oil. Then came back and there were even more suggestions, so I'm going into town tomorrow and will order some stuff online as well. Which acid would be best do you all think, and where do I get it?

You're all so helpful and haven't made me feel like a weirdo at all - fantastic .

[keatsybeatsy]

Do you think any of these would be any good?

Acid pads: www.amazon.co.uk/Stridex-Daily-Salicylic-Maximum-Strength/dp/B000NUN8BK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1402158651&sr=8-3&keywords=salycic%20acid&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Cheap: www.amazon.co.uk/Biore-Pore-Unclogging-Scrub-135ml/dp/B008LUK19Q/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1402158779&sr=8-10&keywords=salicylic%20acid%20scrub&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Avon: www.amazon.co.uk/Clearskin-Professional-CLEANSING-Problem-Skin/dp/B003MQ4J1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402158929&sr=8-1&keywords=salicylic%20acid%20avon&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I do have a few spots on my back and saw this: www.amazon.co.uk/OxeDerm-2fl-oz-Spray-Treatment-Salycilic/dp/B004OB2C2K/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1402158702&sr=8-7&keywords=salycic%20acid&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Marylou2]

I had a similar problem but control it with Clarisonic in the morning and hot cloth cleanse at night.Also use Alpha H liquid gold every other night.

[fuckinglondonballs]

No no no OP! No scrubs. No harsh acne shit. Gentle stuff that works. Scrubs and harsh shit will just aggregate your skin.

I recommended two toners up top. Also there is Pixi glow tonic. One of those.

[Blamenargles]

I get really congested skin but iv finally found a routine that seems to be working (thank you caroline hirons)

I take my make up off with body shop camomile cleansing oil then second cleans with clarins cleansing milk.

then first tone with clarins exfoliator brightening toner
then second tone with a standard clarins toner

if my skin does break out I use la Roche posey effaclar duo this is my holy grail product

then body shop vit E moisture serum then finish off with clarins hydraquench

You should be double cleansing even if you keep everything else really simple I really recomend the camomile cleansing oil. I rub it all over my face with make up on rince and there isnt a single trace of makeup left and I wear a lot of makeup, then your second cleans can really clean your skin.

[MrsFlorrick]

Ocm. And aspirin face masks.

[Botanicbaby]

at risk of sounding like a loon, I mix a little bicarb of soda with water to form a paste and use that as a gentle exfoliator. It is not harsh at all and my skin always feels amazingly clean afterwards.

have tried numerous pricey exfoliators in the past and this one actually works even if it is more of a faff than just squeezing it from a tube.

[keatsybeatsy]

Blamenargles - I've tried so much Clarins and it just doesn't do anything for me. It's nice, but my face never feels clean. I also bought a truckload of Roche Posay after I saw recommendations on another thread and see no difference at all.

My skin doesn't seem to get aggravated by harsh stuff, but maybe that's just superficial - maybe exfoliators are causing this?

Last night, I tried double cleansing instead of just going at it for hours with my first cleanse. Then thought I'd just keep trying until it seemed totally clean and there were none of the seeds left - 5 cleanses and a bit of a squeeze . That wasn't even Double Wear, that was just normal foundation and basic powder.

OK- I'm going to make a list today. I'll probably end up using so much that I won't know which one is working, but I'm absolutely convinced that there's something in there that will do the trick.

Botanicbaby, that sounds fine to me and I'll give that one a go too!

I'm actually just wearing Clinique City Block today as it's so hot and sunny, so will be interesting to see if my pores still seed-up by tonight.

[Kundry]

Don't buy too much at once! And don't change everything all at once - one thing at a time or you won't know what is helping.

Pick the product you are least satisfied with, be it cleanser, toner/exfoliator or moisturiser and change that and only that for at least 2 weeks, preferably longer.

Do you see a difference? If it's better but problem not entirely solved stick with the new product and change one of the others.

Cleanser - gentle, no beads, scrubs or any other supposed exfoliating particles.

Toner/exfoliator - should contain AHA or BHA/salicylic acid but does not need to be 'extra strength'

Moisturiser - oil-free, non comedogenic, in the day time have SPF.

And have a google of sebaceous filaments. If that's what you have you will go insane trying to extract them every day. They are meant to be there and always will be there.

[Cocolepew]

Well now I know what I have on my chin! I'l stop poking and looking in magnifying mirrors

[MissLeserables]

This has been SO helpful, thank you OP for starting this thread. I have these little blighters too - DH calls them my 'insect eggs'. Nice. My skin is also really congested generally but there are some brilliant ideas here, I'll be giving some of them ie the cheap ones a go

[keatsybeatsy]

Just to report on my first two-week trial . . . .

I tried the coconut oil but it felt horrible and the smell made me a bit nauseous so I gave that up quickly - it might work for others; I didn't try it long enough to be able to tell.

Spoke to online shop where I had bought some Roche Posay (which didn't seem great) and got advice. Have been using three of their products and can't see any difference at all. In fact, it may be worse - face never feels that clean. Moisturiser is really greasy, one of the cleansers seems to just sit on my face.

So - onto the next batch to try .