Help! Skins having a nervous breakdown!

[makeyerowndamndinner]

Have eaten and drunk a load of crap over christmas (very nice it all was too) but the result is that my usually clear and even toned skin has completely rebelled.

I have blotches, spots, and I look terrible. I really need to look my best over the next couple of weeks so HELP! What can I do?

I've been desperately chugging water and juicing every fruit and vegetable in sight, plus steaming, scrubbing and masking over the last few days but I still look terrible. I'm supposed to have a date in a few days time and at this rate he's going to take one look at me and run screaming.

Wise women of mumsnet - I need you!

Nor mine

Am blaming central heating, too much junk food and the cold which has left me with v dry cracked lips and nose. Sounds attractive.

Am trying liz Earle Superbalm and lots of fruit and veg. May try a face mask or exfoliator later on.

Same here. This morning my face was a right scare. I actually considered putting on some make up just to be home to spare DH the trauma (didn't in the end, that way he'll find me prettier when I recover :o )

I find that drinking loads of water & herbal tea 'calms' the skin down (specially the redness & spots). I wouldn't go to crazy on scrubs, masks etc because too much 'attention' might just irritate our skins even more. Just cleanse, moisturize, apply whatever you use for spots with a cotton bud and drinks loads of water & get rest.

Good luck to us!

Chablis Vitamin E oil works a treat for cracked lips & nose. I would love to wear loads of funky coloured lipstick but my dry lips won't allow it. So far Vitamin E is working better than any posh balm.

Whenever my skin is misbehaving I go straight back to my sensitive Freederm wash. I use it with a cheap face exfoliating sponge and follow it with a soothing toner on cotton wool. Also, try and let your face see daylight. It sounds stupid but daylight and fresh air really seem to help when my skin is miserable.

Stop doing so much to it! drink your 2ltrs of water a day and just cleanse tone and moisturise.

I've just started using snail slime from holland and barrett and it is very good for calming spots down.

Eucerin 5% urea cream helps with central heating induced dryness. Use as a night cream, relief is almost immediate. Sorry, cold weather is just bad for skin.

Aha! I seem to have found the saviour.

Dermalogica overnight clearing gel. You cleanse your skin then put a thin layer of this stuff all over and wait until it is absorbed. Don't put moisturiser on, just leave it to work on its own. Vast vast improvement by morning. I have now used it two nights in a row and I'm looking heaps better.

Hooray!