totally confused about skincare - 31, combination skin, acne...

[ItJustIsntEasy]

Over the last few years I have gone round in circles trying to find a steady skin routine that suits me but to no avail. I have tried Eve Lom, Liz Earle, coconut oil, jojoba oil, Nivea cleansing cream, neat lemon juice for night cleansing. I have tried pure vitamin E oil, jojoba oil and various rubbishy other day and night moisturisers. Not to mention toners and other bits and bobs at random. But nothing seems to really 'click' for me and my skin remains blotchy, sensitive, rough textured and spotty. I have fairly recently started using Devita Solar Protective SPF 30 moisturising cream for day time - I really like that as it doesn't make me break out and it is organic / non-chemical / no parabens etc. What I would love are recommendations for products that are not too £££, not too fussy to use, preferably natural / organic. I find that despite having acne (PCOS hormone issues) it isn't really dry so lots of anti-acne stuff is too harsh and drying and I am starting to get fine wrinkles now... Help? Any ideas?

maybe I should be more specific - I suppose I would like a cleanser, either cream-wipe off or else hot cloth, a serum that I could use at night under a moisturiser or under my day spf moisturiser, and finally a night moisturiser....Total cost of about £40?? Thanks!

My skin is naturally much the same and has been loads better since I've been using the clinique toner as my basic skin care. I take make up off with Simple, then have a good scour with the step2 purple stuff, and that's it. I think I will be a wrinkly old lady as I don't use moisturiser. I used to, but my skin is much better without.

I really like La Roche Posay effaclar range. In fact all their range. The stuff they do for sensitive skin is great too. I tend to use their effaclar ( for oily acne prone skin ) for a couple of days, then their sensitive stuff for a couple of days, to kind of balance everything out, because otherwise it's a bit drying.

Not organic or totally natural, but definately paraben free.

I also love Clarins lotus facial oil, for oily skin.

Sounds like your skin is v sensitised. Try Dermalogica Ultracalming cleanser, can be wiped off or rinsed off. It's really soothing on my similar skin, but not so hot at removing makeup unless you use water with it.

Find a toner without alcohol, that's the key. Clarins do a good one apparently, I have Shu Uemura moisturising lotion which I love, it's a confusingly named toner but has chemicals to slough surface skincells and also hyaluronic acid to boost moisture. So halfway between a toner and a serum I guess! Feels v fresh on skin, kind of like very watery water

I don't have a holy Grail moisturiser I'm afraid, trying various things ATM. I currently just use Neal's Yard Rose facial oil at night, which combined with the SU lotion stuff seems to leave me glowy and soft in the morning. And Nivea thick cream once a week or so overnight is lush.

You could try UltraBland from Lush as your cleanser. I've only just started using it but it seems to leave my skin lovely and soft. It says on the tub that anyone with problem skin should use it exclusively for a month to re-balance their skin.

You put it on to dry skin and then take it off using a damp face cloth - although I guess you could use a muslin cloth instead.

They do toner, moisturiser etc at Lush too but I haven't tried any of them. But it meets your organic requirements and isn't too expensive either.

All that money you are spending on products...use it to pay for a session with a private dermatologist.

I paid £90 for one session 18 months ago, then £8 for a private prescription and £26 for a cleansing wash.

Skin sorted. Honestly. Even my acne.

Ooh, I have the same problem.
Place marking to come back and read when I have more time.

Another vote for Clarins lotus oil here. I am a similar age to you with combination skin prone to spots. Started using it about a month ago and it has made such a huge difference - my t-zone gets so much less oily and my skin just feels so much softer and is really glowing. Its quite £££ but very very worth it and as you use just a few drops each time it should last a fairly long time. I also use the sanctuary hot cloth cleanser, which I like, though want to try some others too. I just use a cheap night cream (Olay), to balance out the cost! I also like rosehip oil to help with wrinkles and scarring from spots (I use that under my day cream in the morning and then the lotus oil in the evening).

Not sure if it will be of any use, but your skin sounds very similar to mine. I use E45 cream and have for years. It's cheap, Unperfumed, moisturises my skin just the right amount and is a good base for makeup.

My acne is hormone related and is an ongoing battle. The best thing for that I find is just witch hazel and tea tree oil for flare ups and Savlon to aid the healing/redness. Hormone regulating supplements like Evening Primrose are good for balancing hormones but with PCOS I'm not sure what you're meant to take/avoid.

Oil cleansing method is your friend and costs pennies.

Ok I have eczema break outs, clogged pores and spots at times altho skin seems quite dry. I use Clarins eyemake up remover, Clarins cleanser and toner (when I can be arsed) or a simple wipe at times. For follow up I use Bodyshop aloe vera night cream. Day time I use Body shop Vit E serum followed up with Clinique Dmatically Different. All seems to keep my skin quite balanced. I am 49 (sob) but look younger. But i would say that the dogs bollox is the Avon (yes really!) Anew double eye treatment that has a gel for upper eyelids and cream for under. Tis luchs and the under eye wrinkles look so much better (and my eyelashes are quite glossy too).

wow thank you for all your responses - disappeared to put kids to bed and got a nice surprise on my return! Will read through now with interest...

I could have written your post a few years ago! I spent my twenties trying (and spending a small fortune on!) so many different brands to clear up my spots - eve lom, clinique, elemis, Liz Earle to name but a few. I'm now 34 and my skin is so much better now that I use dermatologica. I think partly it's settled down with age but the products really suit me - I use Special cleansing gel (double cleanse at night) and the active moist moisturiser (or skin smoothing cream if it's a bit dry). Once a week I Use gentle cream exfoliant followed by either sebum clearing mask or Skin refining mask depending on if I have a spot ( and I mean literally one spot on my chin, gone are the days when I can get to double figures counting spots). The products aren't the cheapest but last for ages.

Good luck - I really hope you find something that works for you.

I'm 33 and in the last fortnight: after struggling with the same problem have found the Clinique anti blemish range. The difference is amazing - from day one I noticed a difference

I use the face wash, clarifying toner and moisturiser. The trial pack of all three is about £30 from Boots and you can get all three proper sizes for £47.50.

I can't recommend it enough!