Help, what's happened to my skin?

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I use Neutrogena visibly clear pink grapefruit wash & have done for a while. At first it was brilliant but now I've always got spots. Only ever a few at a time but always at least one. My skin is worse than it was as a teenager (was blessed not to get acne as a teen). It also looks quite blotchy.

Any reason why this would happen & can anyone recommend a different product?

I'm 39 & have what I think is combination skin (dry cheeks, greasy nose). Don't tend to moisturise daily, only when my skin feels tight.

Help?

I am in love with the Clarisonic Mia and Clarisonic Refreshing Gel cleanser for clearing up skin problems.

All the Neutrogena cleansers I have tried have been much too harsh - in fact my oily skin improved vastly when I stopped buying products targeted at oily skin and just concentrated on having clean, non-sensitized skin instead. Have you tried Superdrug Vit E hot cloth cleanser?

I can only guess that this wash is making your skin dryer and that is the reason for the spots. Try gentle face washes as Simple or other and use a hydrating cream. I am really pleased with Vichy Normaderm at the moment, hydrating, non comedogenic and anti - wrinkle.

So I bought a Nivea foam cleanser apparently for sensitive combination skin and my face felt so tight after using it that I don't think I'll be using it again. Back to the drawing board.

Well, you didn't go with any of our recommendations!

Do not buy anything aimed at oily OR combination skin! They will all be way too harsh. Try the Vit E Superdrug stuff I mentioned or anything else which claims to be a hot cloth cleanser (Boots No 7 one is also nice though pricier, and Boots Botanics do one I've seen recommended on here). Honestly, just stop going for anything blueish or greenish or foamy or washy, they are stripping your skin and making it over-produce oil.

La Roche Posay Efaclar cleanser and Efaclar moisturiser will sort your skin out. I think they have a reduction in Boots at the moment and have also seen the 2 together on offer in my local independant chemist.

I know I didn't MadBus...was in the shop & couldn't get on the thread

Will jot down the recommendations & go shopping tomorrow!

Yes definitely you are stripping your skin and forcing it to be oilier to compensate. At 39 it's quite likely you don't have combination/oily skin anymore, but you are making it like that. Go for a hot cloth cleanser. I second the botanics hot cloth one as it doesn't contain parabens and is quite gentle. I haven't tried the super drug ones, but lots on here recommend them.

Oh and try a plant based facial oil instead of moisturiser. I know it sounds counterintuitive when you feel your skin is oily, but it can help a lot.

At 39 you're too old for foaming washes etc - try switching to an oil or milk cleanser - anything that doesn't foam! And use a moisturiser!

My skin doesn't look old though, honestly I don't have wrinkles.

A question from the ignorant though, what is 'hot cloth cleansing'?

Foaming cleansers are no good for anyone!! They turn your skin alkaline and dry it out, hence more oil/blemishes.

You need a good oil or balm cleanser, a nice acidic toner (salicylic acid, and some glycolic would do no harm in your late 30's), a good antioxidant serum & a decent moisturiser.

Remember, no mineral oil, and watch the jojoba oil too, not can be pore clogging.

Have a look at Caroline Hirons blog, her commandments have done great things for my skin!

Hot cloth cleansing means to use a face cloth run under the hot tap to remove your cleanser. So use your cleansing oil/balm/cream, then remove with a warm face cloth.

Most hot cloth cleansers come with the muslin cloth included, certainly the Superdrug Vit E one and Boots No 7 does. I use mine for a week and then wash on high with bedding, but it's good to change them more often really once you have a few in stock.

I use a hot normal flannel to remove my balm or milk cleansers, not a fan of the muslins. Principle is the same tho.

I don't have wrinkles either - but your/my skin is not that of a teenager and it needs moisture, not oil reduction! Try a a more moisturising change of regime (agree with rec of Caroline Hiron's blog - she has good tips on dealing with breakouts too), and see what happens. Honestly think moisturiser everyday is non- negotiable however spotty someone is.

I suppose I've of the mindset that if I moisturise daily my skin will get used to it & then I'll need to use it. At the moment I just don't see the need.

I agree with posters saying that stuff is stripping your skin. I use sensitive dove soap or Anne French cleansing milk, then try a basic spf olay moisturiser as they don't block pores.

Have you started taking any new medication lately? My mentaller meds make me spotty!

So I have the Superdrug Vitamin E cleanser. After I use it my skin feels a bit 'tingly' & sensitive, is this normal?

How long before I notice an improvement in my skin (I have the mother of all spots right now!)

Anyone want to talk me through tinted moisturisers while we're here?

Hmm, maybe you need something even gentler then. It doesn't make me tingly. Possibly the Boots Botanics is the next try? One very sensitive cleanser often recommended here is Cetaphil, but I don't know anything about the texture, ie whether it's a wash or a creamy cleanser. On the other hand, it could just be that your skin is getting cross because of a lot of chopping and changing and will settle down. I would normally expect to see improvements within a month.

I don't use tinted moisturisers I'm afraid. What are you using at the moment? If your skin is a bit sensitive at the moment, two ranges I've never had any problems with are Avene and La Roche Posay, one of them may do a tinted moisturiser.

Skin definitely tingly & a bit sore when using the vit E. It feels very dry & have more spots then ever

Am in France at the moment so stuck with it but keep looking at the much cheaper Clarins stuff!

Try again I guess!

Ooh if in France go into a chemist and have a look at Bioderma. I used a gift pack of various samples recently and found them very gentle and people have raved about them on here. Failing that it sounds like Cetaphil is your girl.