Crap skin- spots AND wrinkles.

[opalescent]

Please help me sort out my skincare, I'm struggling to find products that address my various issues!!
I don't have terrible skin, but I am a bit spot-prone, and often seem to breakout when using cleanser and moisturiser. As a result I seem to veer toward drying my skin out, and avoiding products, which then makes me look wrinkled and parched- and I still end up with spots anyway!!
I'm early 30s, and I know I need to be nurturing my skin before it's too late, but I seem to be in a grey area between anti-ageing and spot fighting ranges- v frustrating.
My current routine is- wash face with dove soap, followed by no. 7 moisturiser, for oily skin. If I'm having a breakout I don't even bother with the moisturiser, as I'm worried about clogging up more pores.
That's it!
Help!!

Hopeful bump!!

I have the same! I find applying witch hazel stick (boots) to spots every night to be very effective ! And cheap.

If you can afford it, the dermalogica range is very good. Ideally have a facial and let them recommend which products you need but their moisturisers are v good and light and the daily exfoliator is excellent

I like the Alpha H range. Not cheap but their micro cleanse exfoliator and liquid gold have got my oily prone to spot skin well under control. Drying out the skin can cause more problems than it solves, especially once the skin starts aging too.

I definitely rate Dermalogica and Alpha H, but also have a look at Murad who do a whole range for your very skincare issue: it tackles acne and ageing in one (acne & wrinkle reducer it's called, IIRC). LaRoche Posay Effaclar also good for spot-prone skin and less expensive (often on 3 for 2 at Boots).

You sound like your skin is very dehydrated, though, and if you embark on a really good skincare routine now it should help. I'd ditch the Dove soap as it's won't be doing your skin any real favours and use a good gentle cleanser. Make sure you exfoliate regularly (chemical exfoliants are not as harsh as the older "scrubs") and always use moisturiser - it won't clog your pores if you use the right one.

That's so helpful, thank you all. I like the sound of la Roche posay, as it's a bit cheaper. Having said that, I do have some John Lewis vouchers. Do may browse the murad range!

I have cystic hormonal acne problems and very dry skin.

My doc said to make sure you look for moisturiser that says it's Non Comedogenic - they are designed to avoid blocking up pores.

I use Neutrogena Moisture for sensitive skin on her recommendation. It's good and it's CHEAP

I have just started using Avene extremly general cleanser and skin recovery cream as recommended on this threat!

Look at my post a few days ago might get done tips from there

Thanks catflap, I don't seem to be able to search posts on my phone, did you have similar skin issues? How are you getting on with the avene products?

It's early days so can't say yet, but see it recommend a lot for troubled skin on here and gets good reviews!

Also the la Roche Posay is highly recommended for spotty skin

I'll second the Avene suggestion, I always have the Extremely Gentle Cleanser in my bathroom as it's my fail safe 'won't sting my skin' cleanser. I have recently bought the Skin Calming Cream and it's lovely....hasn't brought me out in spots and doesn't feel greasy!

Following the advice on another thread, I've just bought some Johnson's baby lotion to cleanse with, cheap, and it's lovely and smells fab!

I think the soap might be during your skin, causing oil and hence spots. My doc recommended cetaphil cleanser. It's extremely mild. www.boots.com/en/Cetaphil-Gentle-Skin-Cleanser-236ml_1238606/

I'm 29 and my skin sounds like yours, I just bought a clarisonic.... Will see how it goes.

I'd also rate liz Earle cleanse and polish.

Same probs, decade older! For cleansing you could try a hot cloth type one liz earle or Soap and glory. If I feel particularly bad spot wise I will use this La Roche Posay cleanser. www.boots.com/en/La-Roche-Posay-Effaclar-Purifying-Foaming-Gel-For-Oily-Sensitive-Skin-200ml_1102632/

La Roche Posay effaclar Duo is brilliant for me in clearing up red patches and spots on my cheeks. This is definitely worth a try if you have a breakout. I find though its not generally moisturising enough all round so will also use something else.

I have just finished a pot of Crème de la Mar which I loved, but decided it was just too pricey to buy again, so have just started using Avene Skin Recovery Cream, following recommendations on here, and it has dealt with dryness perfectly fine, no tight feeling after cleansing and skin smooth and soft (but doesn't give the kind of glow I got after using Crème de la Mar).

For anti-ageing have worked my way through many varieties over the years, but particularly liking Lancôme Genifique which I got some samples of. Also recommend on here in other posts is YSL Forever youth Liberator which is next on my list to try.

I usually buy testers from ebay or get samples from counters before splashing out on the more expensive things due to bad reactions in the past. But usually can rely on mumsnet recommendations!

I get spots if i eat cheese, it took me years trying different creams and moisturizers with little or no results. Apparently there is too much fat in cheese, but i love it. Now i eat cheese only once or twice a month and get few spots in couple of days after, but not as bad as before.

Such a helpful thread. My skin is terrible at the minute - red and spotty on my cheeks. Both are new and I am finding it really depressing

Dairy in general can cause spots/acne if your prone. Esp cheese. It's to do with hormones in milk. So take it easy on dairy products. If you're having milk make sure it's full fat, skimmed or semi-skimmed has more hormones in it. And organic makes no difference. Am on my phone but will try and find the page of info, worth reading.

I've got the same issues and used to go about trying to sort them in the same way as you. My skin has been transformed by following the advice here:

drsambunting.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/what-to-do-when-acne-and-wrinkles-co-exist-part-1/

I wasn't going down the massively expensive prescription route so researched and did it on the cheap. Currently using Cetaphil cleanser (started out with Neutrogena foaming acne cleanser but moved on as skin improved), Paula's Choice 2% BHA lotion followed by Sunsense Daily Face SPF 50.

BHA lotion was a total revolution for my skin - the spots just disappeared. La Roche Posay Effaclar range essentially does what the advice says, minus the Retin-A which is prescription only. The big change has been not expecting a cleanser and moisturiser to do everything but adding in the salicylic acid or BHA. It really gets down into your pores and sorts them out.

Here

Kundry I barely understood that blog but it looks interesting! What are the must have products and are they all available without prescription?

OK, it possibly helped that I am a doctor although clearly I knew nothing about skin!

I've read her whole blog in an obsessional manner and she has a Q&A on here as well which is much clearer and includes product recommendations.

Advice seems to boil down to either a gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil or a gently foaming cleanser with salicylic acid in - most of the Neutrogena spots range would fit the bill.

Followed by something with either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to leave on your skin - I had Neutrogena spot treatment that previously I'd only ever used on individual spots so I used it over my whole face. Twas brilliant. I think this is what Effaclar Duo does - a friend raved about Paula's Choice so I bought that. The US Paula's Choice website is also packed with info about what actually works in products and does reviews of other ranges as well, although with a US focus.

And finally an oil-free, non comedogenic moisturiser. In the day this should either contain or be followed by sunscreen to prevent more wrinkles. At night it should have retinol in it which is good both for spots and preventing wrinkles but you must use sunscreen. I haven't added the retinol step yet as I've been doing one thing at a time but there are lots of other posts on S&B about it.

That's great Kundry thanks. Which Neutrogena spot treatment is it? And do you literally just slather over your whole face and leave it on? My skin feels tight and dry at the minute so am a bit concerned that it is very sensitive all of a sudden. It's the suddenness that has shocked me - I have wondered if I have developed rosacea.

It was one of those on the spot things that is supposed to miraculously reduce your spot in 4 hours but never does. I've loads of these cluttering up my bathroom cupboard as I kept buying them and then being disappointed. I spread a small blob over my face (ignoring the instructions not to ) rather than slathering as such.

This article is clearer - although obviously she thinks her products are best, there's loads of advice for practically every issue and recommendations about other brands.

www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/acne/_/how-to-treat-acne-and-wrinkles

Thanks kundry I will read it tomorrow. Going to bed a bit earlier would probably help my skin

Kundry has some really good advice.

Cleanser and moisturiser will never really help per se, you need a treatment to unclog/block pores. BHA is brilliant. I use the Jan Marini Bioglycolic lotion which has glycolic acid (for wrinkles and texture) as well as BHA in it.

Cutting out dairy, double-cleansing with very gentle makeup remover and moisturiser and finishing with the lotion has basically sorted my skin. I use a cetaphil moisturiser in the morning under my foundation.

Try this m.boots.com/mt/www.boots.com/en/Vichy-Normaderm-Anti-Ageing-Anti-Imperfection-Anti-Wrinkle-Resurfacing-Care-50ml_1247726/#un_jtt_addtohome_hidden

Plus try and use a gentle cleanser like Avene or Cetaphil.