Blocked pores, pigmentation, broken veins & saggy skin - help

[TimeWasting]

Sooo...
33, 2 kids, DD is 16 weeks, so inadequate sleep etc.

I get dry skin, but greasy tzone.

In the past I used Clinique 3 step, but its too drying since kids.

My current 'regime' is to wash with Simple face wash and moisturise with Aveeno cream.
No dryness on my face, skin feels nice to live in. I've been doing this for at least a year. Nothing else I've tried feels nice.
But it doesn't look so great lately. Spots, blackheads, plus I've got broken veins, pigmentation and sagginess and generally yeuch.

I'm thinking a weekly facial of steam/mask/scrub would help the blackheads and general yeuchiness, is there anything else I can do?

Have a search for the oil cleansing thread. I've been doing this for 2 weeks (so has DH :) ) and I've got much evener skin, smaller pores and less blackheads. Its very cheap to start, less than 3? investment for castor oil and olive oil, so even if it doesnt work you won't be too put out. I am very pleased with it so far.

I would be looking into diet or maybe some vitamins as well as you can't fix everything just from the outside IMO.

I did try oil cleansing method a while back, the first couple times were ok, but didn't like it after that. My skin felt dry, not sure if I was over rubbing it.

Glycolic Acid, I recommend Alpha H liquid gold. It's really helped with my blackheads, and my broken veins are actually fading. It's supposed to help with pigmentation and fine lines too.

You just wipe the liquid over your face with cotton wool, every other day before bed. I also use the accompanying glycolic acid moisturiser. I give my face a break from it every few days.

I'd tried so many things before this, and this is the only thing that has really made a difference.

Glycolic is definitely the way to go - wish someone had told me years ago

Is it ok to use on dry skin?

Absolutely- it will get rid of all dry bits as well. My skin is dryish and a home glycolic peel worked miracles - all dry bits completely gone now! Totally evens out skin tone, banishes blackheads, open pores et al.
You do need a good moisturiser - either carry on with the one you like already or get one which also has glycolic in it , so exfoliating as you moisturise

You could try an asprin mask if you want a really cheap scrub - asprin has BHA in it (aka salcycic acid) which is found in a lot of toners and cleansers.

Just dissolve 1-3 pills in a tiny bit of water, mix it into a mask or honey or yoghurt or whatever and apply for 10-20mins. Wet hands, rub it in circles and rinse off.

Don't use at the same time as an AHA though (although you can get products with both).

I could have written your post (if you added something in about hideous craggy forehead, but that's another thread).

I have just started trying something off the back of rave reviews here

It sounds utterly utterly mad, but it does work and is good if you are trying to avoid anything too chemical-y. (I am dreaming of a proper skin peel but will have to wait as am pg).

And yes, it is a bit smelly.

Have you though of using a dermal roller? 2 of my friends have been using one and you can really see the difference in their skin.

Don't think I'd dare use a dermal roller. The vinegar sounds good though.

Project thats so interesting. Do you have to use that brand or can you use any organic brand?

No. Mine is Heinz.

It is proper organic ACV, though. Only the best for me...

Simone are your friends doing it at home or in a clinic, just to be nosey?

Derma roller is something I would love to try but again, not allowed when pg.

Thanks - I'm off to the health food shop tomorrow :)

PG - yes, doing it themselves at home & they said its really quick and easy to use. I think they bought them from Amazon or Ebay. I was so impressed with the results, their skin just looks amazing. Im going to buy one myself asap.

I was just posting about this on another thread! I have had spots and blackheads in my 30s to rival my teens, but with the obligatory flaky dry bits on my cheeks too. I have found that this combination works for me: Mama Mio Clean Slate cleanser www.mamamio.com/uk/clean-slate.html and the Mighty Moisture www.mamamio.com/uk/face/mighty-moisture.html - it?s the only moisturiser that doesn?t bring me out in zits but still makes me feel plumped up if you know what I mean! ;) Good luck xx

I'm going to buy the Braggs vinegar and I'm considering some Argan oil to try.

The Aveeno cream has kept my skin wonderfully soft and kept the dryness at bay, but it has silicon in it and would prefer to use something more natural.

I've bought an unfiltered organic cider vinegar - not Braggs but identical stuff. I have drunk 3 teaspoons of it - quite an intense experience! I'm going to do the hair rinse once per week but I'm going to hold off on the skin treatment until I get further along with oil cleansing, see how that goes. Please report back on your vinegar results and I will do the same!

For anyone who has used the vinegar on their hair, does it strip the colour?
From what I can gather online it does so Im thinking it wouldn't be suitable for colour treated hair?

I'm another one who recommends aspirin face masks. I use one once a week for a few mins while lying in the bath and my skin is much clearer, brighter and I have far ledd clogged up pores. People have noticed, which is nice

I used it as part of a deep cleanse on my hair alongside baking soda (am trying a lot of natural crap rememdies at the mo) and one of the two did take a bit of the colour out. I would imagine that diluted as part of a rinse the effects wouldn't be too bad, but I would go with whatever Dr Google says!

I'm having more success using it as a toner - I even think it is fading my hyperpigmentation. It's a bit sting-y, but I find diluting it 50/50 with water helps. And obviously I go to bed smelling like a chip supper, although that fades pretty quickly.

If your drinking ACV be careful, dilute it with warm water as it is (obviously) extremely acidic and can damage your oesophagus. Add a drop of honey to make it more palatable :)

On your hair it helps restore it and your scalp to a healthy ph.

Totally want to try a dermaroller now! Anyone tried it?

Fox - thanks for the tip. Its much nicer in a glass of water!

If you've got broken veins avoid steaming and scrubbing like the plague, will only make the veins worse or cause new ones .