Cleansing/moisturising routine for oily upset skin? I'm at my wits end!

[OwlMother]

I have been having real problems with my skin got the last six months ago. It feels really oily, and has an alarming amount of blackheads and spots- not spots with heads, more under-skin- lumps iykwim. Im aware that I've been probably been using the wrong cleanser and moisturiser but what would help?

All the different sales attendants at the various counters in JL tell me they have the answer but of course they would say that. Has anyone got skin like this and are you willing to share the answer? If it can be purchased in an average high st or similar that would be easiest. I can get to Frasers, JL and space nk. Thanks!

[Kundry]

OK, I've just posted this link on someone else's thread but it's good here too!

www.getthegloss.com/article/how-to-deal-with-adult-acne

You need to step away from makeup counters and head to Boots.

Start with a gentle non-foaming cleanser like Cetaphil, La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel or Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser.

For blackheads and spots you then need a salicylic acid exfoliator such as Effaclar Duo.

Finally you need a gentle oil-free moisturiser such as Effaclar H or Cetaphil.

If you search Dr Sam Bunting on Mumsnet she has done several Q+A about exactly this and her advice is brilliant - I've gone from face full of spots and blackheads to lovely clear glowing skin.

[Frontier]

I've had difficult, oily, spotty skin all my life (now 45). About 6 months ago I decided I was going to stop messing with it, stop wasting money and learn to live with it.

I now do the hot cloth thing using only aqueous cream and follow up with Simple light moisturiser. My skin's still not perfect but it's way better than it's ever been (and the whole thing costs less than £5)

[midnightmoomoo]

I agree with Frontier, go back to as little as possible. I have sensitive, combination skin and I've just been through another spotty phase, which included one of those time of the month whoppers on my chin!

I bought the Neutrogena two in one face wash/mask which I use in the morning and again at night after I've used Avene Gentle Cleanser to take my make up off. Then every couple of days I've used it as a mask on my chin. I then use Simple moisturiser. My skin is the clearest it's been in yonks, and although I'm fighting the urge to use more products, I'm making myself keep to this pared down routine as it's working.

The other, boring bit is keep an eye on your diet, cut down on sugar/crap and drink more water. This but I'm not so good at!!!!

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

I agree that the Le Roche Posay/effeclar stuff is well worth trying, it seems to be working well on DD and it's not too expensive.

[Iggly]

Best thing for me - body shop clay face mask (in a blue tub). Wet face while in shower, put the mask on and leave while I wash the rest of me. Then wash mask off with a bar of soap. Pat dry face then moisturise with nivea for dry skin. My skin was clear when doing this just oily but I can never stop that.

Also drinking loads of water makes a huge difference.

[OwlMother]

Thanks for all the help, I'll go to Boots tomorrow- presumably they have most of this. I'll have a read of the article, presumably make up and things also has an effect.

[midnightmoomoo]

If you're going to boots, they do both Simple moisturisers in the travel size, they will be with the range of mini holiday sizes in a different aisle to the skin care. They do a light and a rich which is also a lotion so not really rich. Good way to try before buying full size! Neutrogena had 1/3 off I think it was so might still be on offer. The Avene Extremely Gentle cleanser is £8 I think. Happy shopping!

[Saurus72]

I post this on every thread I see about spotty skin, but it has just been so amazingly effective, I want to spread the word!

I had spotty, hormonal skin for about 15 years. I started using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo face wash and moisturiser about 1 year ago, and now my skin is completely clear. I just don't get spots any more - it's a massive relief and I can't recommend these products highly enough. I have also saved a ton of cash, as before, I was always on the lookout for the next miracle cure. Now, I just use the face wash twice a day using a muslin cloth to remove it, followed by the moisturiser, plus an eye cream. That's it - no additional exfoliators or face masks etc. Life changing.

[Saurus72]

Re: Simple. That made my skin break out horribly. Just FYI.

[Carpaccio]

It could be that you're using too harsh products for your skin. If you treat it as oily when it really isn't, you can end up with it reacting by producing more oil. You might find that you have dehydrated skin, which means that your skin needs moisture, not oil. There are loads of products on the market for dehydrated skin - Clinique has the Moisture Surge cream (I haven't used it myself, but you might be able to get a sample), Shiseido Ibuki is great (I've used the cleanser, serum and moisturiser and it's been amazing).
If your skin generally is oily and dehydrated, you might even find that a good moisturising serum will be enough for you.

Do you have blackheads or sebaceous filaments? If it's sebaceous filaments, then they are completely normal, but you can deal with them by cleansing every day and using an acid toner (I like Pixi Glow Toner). A lot of people believe that the little black bits on their nose are blackheads, but they are really just sebaceous filaments.
If it's blackheads, they will need extracting.

I personally didn't find that the LRP Effaclar series did anything for me when I had spots. I do however like using Avene TriAcneal on the spots. It's used in the evening just on the bad areas and I find that in the morning it seems to have helped loads.

The spots under your skin could be spots or a reaction to ingredients, such as bismuth oxychloride. If you're using products like mineral foundation that contains bismuth oxychloride, then try to not use it for a while.
If they are spots, I recommend the Avene TriAcneal cream.

[WildBillfemale]

Avene cleanance facial wash (blue in the clear bottle) is for sensitive/acne skin. It worked wonders on my adult acne, I didn't use anything else as it didn't strip my skin, just washed with this and left it to rebalance itself.

[yazzy85]

is the la roche posay line better than clinique? I have been using clinique and haven't still cleared up.

[rootypig]

My skin is also all over the shop at the moment - god knows why, was ok for years.

I'm trying LRP Effaclar face wash and moisturiser but three weeks in things are not better and I think I'll just go back to my usual gentle routine and wait for it to settle.

Have you considered diet? I am trying to cut back on sugar (hard because I am a true addict), get more roughage (lots of leafy greens, they are quite cheap too), porridge every morning is supposed to be excellent, some form of oily supplement.

[Carpaccio]

yazzy85 I don't know which Clinique products you are using, but I used the Anti Blemish Solutions stuff (cleanser, toner, moisturiser) and it really helped me.

Effaclar did absolutely nothing for me - I tried several of the creams: Duo, AI and Mat, as well as the micellar water which smelled of mold.
I'm generally not a fan of La Roche-Posay's products - their sun cream for acne-prone skin gave me more spots than I have ever had and it took forever for them to clear up. LRP suggested that I bought some more of their products to see if that would help.
Their Cicaplast products are good and their mascaras are decent too.

Avene is similar to LRP - their product ranges are similar but might agree more with your skin. Their products generally seem to work much better for me.

[Abra1d]

My skin only really stopped breaking out when I switched to cleaning it with virgin olive oil and a warm flannel. Only rarely need to moisurise now as well. No spot.