Acid toner advice

[CwtchyQ]

Where do I start? I've looked at Bravura but I'm none the wiser - the lady on the video basically said they all treat the same issue (lactic, salicylic, glycolic?)

I am mid-20s and had really bad teenage acne due to PCOS, but now my skin is actually quite clear and I only have a few small spots - but plenty of massive pores to make up for it, and oily to boot. My skin looks awful without makeup - totally uneven and red in some parts. I'm currently double cleansing and using dragons blood pads and moisturiser before bed, but really want to try a stronger acid toner.

Any advice on where to look and what I'm looking for would be really appreciated - so fed up of my skin right now.

[CwtchyQ]

Bump!

[ChrissieLatham]

Alpha h liquid gold is good

[NiteFlights]

Olay glycolic 'anti wrinkle toner' with the purple label is good and quite cheap. I think it's as good as the Nip + Fab glycolic pads. Olay also do a night time glycolic serum 'resurfacing elixir' which is a bit stronger and more expensive but still quite good value - it's a bit sticky though. I like these as they are alcohol-free and don't irritate my skin. Worth a try before spending £££. Another thing I've used which I dare say isn't recommended is the Palmers AHA & BHA body lotion on my face, under moisturiser. This contains salicylic acid. Again not too harsh and not expensive.

[Ferrerotoffeemint]

I initially used clearasil 5in1 pads which have salycic acid in to clear my congested skin and bumps and now they have cleared up I am using alpha h liquid gold which is clearing up the redness and old faint scars a treat.

[Ferrerotoffeemint]

The first couple of days of using each can make your skin go a bit alarming but after it settles down they do the job very well.

[janknitti]

I use Bravura products. I have oily skin, open pores and was prone to cystic acne especially on my chin. I cleanse with a gentle cleanser and use LRP Effaclar toner and then bravura glycolic acid serum or bravura hylauronic acid serum (def spelt wrong but putting toddler to bed !). I really like both but the glycolic really helps keep my skin clear but doesn't dry it out. Happiest I have been with my skin for a long time !

[CwtchyQ]

Thanks everyone - plenty to be trying out here! Really appreciated

[Dachshund]

Alpha H Liquid gold really is a miracle product for me, I only use it once a week max as it's quite strong and my skin is in pretty good nick to start with. Wake up glowing!

It's also currently on BOGOF on Cult Beauty 😍

[CwtchyQ]

Thanks dachshund! I'm sold!

[XiCi]

Yes liquid gold is fabulous. I don't know anyone who's tried it that doesn't love it. I can go out on a (sadly now rare) night out with friends, sink a skinfull and wake up after a few hours sleep with fresh looking,plumped up skin. Bit of a miracle at my age

[XiCi]

Having said that, your skin sounds like it would benefit from a BHA (you can use both, I use BHA in the morning and LG at night. The BHA is great for oily skin as it unclogs pores and prevents break outs. Paula's Choice is a popular BHA product. Cosrx, a korean brand, do a BHA which is a gentler form of salicylic acid which might be better for you given your areas of redness. You can get it here www.amazon.co.uk/Cosrx-Blackhead-Power-Liquid-100ml/dp/B00V4JPZD8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457171049&sr=8-2&keywords=cosrx&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
Or slightly cheaper direct from Korea from ebay sellers but you can wait a week or two for delivery.

[CwtchyQ]

Thank you so much XiCi, I really appreciate you taking the time to link! Will get some, it's quite reasonable on Amazon

[XiCi]

No probs. It goes on straight after cleansing, then ideally a 20m wait to let it work it's magic then carry on with moisturiser etc. I've been using it for about a year and love it.

[FrustratedFrugal]

Just a quick reminder, AHAs make you more sensitive to sun damage. I got a precancerous patch on my upper lip last year after experimenting with glycolic acid. So protect your face with high spf sunscreen and high spf lip balm and avoid direct sunshine. BHAs might be safer. If your skin becomes either red and patchy or very glassy and shiny, you may be overexfoliating. Chemical exfoliants can be a good thing but everything in moderation!

[Wolpertinger]

I would agree with XiCi as you have oily skin you should be looking at salicylic (sometimes called BHA) and not AHA at all. Paula's Choice is v good and for me it takes the redness down too and I am meaning to try the Cosryx when my current Clinique Mild Exfoliating (very mild, OK but not really good enough) runs out.

However your pores are your pores. They don't open or close and they are the size they are. To cheer yourself up, spend a day seriously looking at other womens' pores and you will quickly see yours are perfectly normal Also look at your own from the distance other people will see them in the mirror, not close up with a magnifying mirror I instantly felt much better about mine doing this.

[yazzy85]

I second the Paula's Choice bha toner. Very good for oily skin and I also use the Clinique Mild in winter when skin is less greasy.

[CwtchyQ]

Thank you frustrated - how awful about the precancerous patch! Glad they caught it in time. So salicylic acid is safer in terms of sun damage? I do wear spf 50 in the summer on my face, but I do have to admit that at other times I just rely on the spf in my foundation, which I know is pretty useless.

wolper it did occur to me the other day that everyone has them to varying degrees, I think perhaps comparing myself to celebrities is a bit of a reach and probably where I'm going wrong!

Thanks for the recommendation yazzy, I need to go and check it out - who is this Paula?!

[Cizzbot]

My sons acne has cleared completely ( he is 20 ) with a regime I worked out from trawling the net. He now has absolutely gorgeous skin.
Wash with Peter Thomas Roth BHA 2% acne wash and some times benzyl peroxide ( from boots 5%)
Swipes his face with pixi glow tonic ( 10% glycolic acid )
After toner spray with LPR serozinc
Applies benzyl peroxide cream after the serozinc spray. ( twice a day only )His face stung at first.
Moisturiser is either LPR or embryolisse.

This regime seems scary I admit and it was a trail and error thing not all introduced at once. He got so down abput his skin that now it has cleared up he religiously washes his face 3 times a day. Am, after work and pm. Even when he's been out on the booze he still washes his face. The benzyl peroxide 5% wash or cream I think we're the most affective with the acid toning.
Liquid gold is fantastic it is 10 % glycolic and a leave over night treatment that you cannot put anything on top of as it changes the ph and the product doesn't work.he does use a lot of moisturiser. I got most of this from CAroline Hirons cheat sheet on acne which is brilliant.

He hasn't been using these products during the summer but would need high sun protection if sunny. This is only what worked for my son. I'm not a skin care specialist.

[Cizzbot]

Wolper is spot on. No one notices anyone's pores only their own. And no matter what a product says nothing closes them. Paula has a website called Paula's choice or beautipedia, that reviews skin care products. But not by her by people who work for her. As she has her own brand of skin care they always recommend Paula's own brand for everything. Never having used her products I can't comment. But they are popular and certainly less expensive than less potent high end skin care.