Need help with skincare products - Having a bad breakout with wedding on wednesday and need a new set of products.

[BusyJessica]

Hi everyone I am having a bit of a skincare crisis!

I have oily skin thats prone to blackheads, whiteheads and spots. Since last monday i've been getting loads of blackheads and whiteheads and big red spots. I cover these with makeup but you can see all the pores through the makeup.

I've been using The Body Shops tea tree oil range but found it no use at getting rid of the blemishes just good at cleansing the skin around the spots.

Ive been looking at this Eucerin cleanser. www.boots.com/en/Eucerin-Purifyer-Cleanser-200ml_954655/

And this Vichy cleanser www.boots.com/en/Vichy-Normaderm-3-in-1-Micellar-Solution-200ml_1235345/

If anyone has used these please tell me if it was good, im leaning towards Vichy because I tend to like them. If you have any other miracle products please post them. The only products I am opposed to are Benzyl Peroxide containing ones because they are too harsh and I don't have pitted acne.

Thanks, Jessica

[Karcheer]

I'm hesitant to say this as it might curse me but I've normally got dreadful skin. For the last week I've been using my normal cleanser (but double cleansing) and slapping on loads of aloe Vera and e45, my skin is much Improved.

[BusyJessica]

Thanks, it's interesting what can work.

[Wolpertinger]

If you like Vichy I'd go with that. You can't sadly cleanse spots away, you will need a treatment product and benzoyl peroxide is v effective.

However if you are set on not having it, you can stick to the Vichy range and have something like their Normaderm cleanser and some Vichy Hyaluspot. I wouldn't pick the micellar as it won't have any special powers over any other micellar water and you want something v bland that is not going to strip you skin in any way - the 3 in 1 cleanser would prob be better but the classic recommendations are Cetaphil or Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser.

Bear in mind though that this is NOT going to sort you out for a wedding on Wednesday as controlling acne is a longterm process and you shouldn't be changing everything all at once. And as acne is an inflammatory condition, stating a treatment can initially make things worse rather than better- you need 6 weeks of regular use to assess if something is working or not.

So what I would do in your situation is just swap the cleanser and put some Vichy Hyaluspot on the big spots several times a day to try to make them as small as possible come Wednesday (I love this product, it really works) and do a makeup cover-up job.

If you haven't watched Lisa Eldridge's youtube video on makeup for acne then you should - you are probably stressing far too much about your pores as well, stand back from the mirror the distance someone else would be and see how visible they are then? Do you go around all day noticing other people's pores? Usually people with oily skin have amazing glowy skin in between the spots but have lost confidence.

Next - after Wednesday - you need some salicylic acid on your skin. This dissolves in the oil and exfoliates the black stuff out of your pores clearing up the blackheads, so making your pores look smaller, and preventing you from getting spots. If you use a good salicylic product daily there is a fair likelihood you will stop getting the spots at all or at least get a lot fewer and the blackheads will def go. A mild version to start is Clinique Mild Exfoliating Lotion (this almost but not quite works for me), budget option is Clearasil pads, Nip Fab Dragons Blood pads are v popular here, the gold standard and my favourite by far is Paula's Choice 2% BHA which clears up my acne without fail. Sadly Vichy Normaderm lets itself down here and doesn't have a great all over face product which is a shame as the rest of the range stupid micellar water aside is great.

Finally you then want a nice oil free moisturiser and again the Vichy Normaderm ones are lovely.

[KindDogsTail]

BusyJessica
Wolportinger seemed to give good advice.

I think before Wednesdy anything you can do to just bring the inflammation down would be the most helpful.

I can't remember the thread but I remember on a similar thread that someone very much recommended La Roche Posay

www.boots.com/en/La-Roche-Posay-Effaclar-3-Step-Anti-Blemish-System_1518646/

Best wishes for your wedding

[BusyJessica]

Thanks for the advice, i decided to go with the Vichy cleanser and Eucerin night treatment, It has made a big difference but my skin is triggered by hot weather so it should work better with a longer time frame and cooler weather.

[KindDogsTail]

It is good it has made a difference already.
If you don't already know this, it is worth being extremely careful about what sun cream you get for your face. A lot can give terrible spots, so you need to buy one that is made for sensitive skin and is anti-comedogenic.
Also exfoliate so there is no hard, dry skin (from the sun) blocking your pores.

[Kennington]

The Vichy lotion in the green bottle contains salicylic acid which will help get rid of blackheads and also reduce redness too.
I would also wash face with a flannel and a bar soap.