I need skin care recommendations

[Madratlady]

My skin looks awful, I'm prone to spots and usually have a few red, noticeable ones but I also have blackheads and humongous pores. I'm not sure what skin type it is, possibly combination as it often feels dry but gets greasy as the day goes on.

I use a face scrub twice a day and moisture before bed. I don't wear make up because it makes my skin loads worse.

I need a good skin care regime and product recommendations. Nothing too complicated and nothing too expensive though please.

Stop scrubbing!!
Your skin will wonder what the hell has hit it and be churning out oil to compensate
Use something like a cleansing balm with a hot flannel, then a chemical exfoliating toner which is much much gentler. Moisturise after that

I don't know about any cheaper brands. I have crap skin and don't take the risk
Mine has been loads better since I started using Benefit.
Dermalogica is very good too

I know some people don't rate her but it's a good basic read. And she's changed my skin (I go without foundation most days now)
www.carolinehirons.com/2013/06/routines-cheat-sheet.html?m=1

Ive just posted about this on another thread - personally i've had amazing results with these
shop.igennus.com/Pharmepa-STEP-1-RESTORE-pure-EPA-fish-oil-60-capsules.html
and changing to Neals Yard products - cleanser, rose face oil and moisturiser. I've stopped scrubbing and trying to dry my skin out as I read somewhere that you need to stop mistreating your skin and instead put oil back into your body so it no longer tries to over produce sebum. Anyway, i'm a couple of months into my new 'regime' and am ecstatic at the results. Good luck OP.

Yy to fish oil (or flax oil if you are veggie)

Thanks I'll have a look at those links. I will ditch the scrub and get something gentler. I don't mean budget brands by the way, just not super expensive. Though I might keep my simple moisturiser as its good for more sensitive skin.

I'll list what I use spot prone combination skin (list in order of use)

Am - any cream cleanser with cotton wool. Lush rose toner. Hydraluron. Nip + fab instant radiance wrinkle fix moisturiser
PM - Clinique take the day off balm (lasts FOREVER), or coconut oil, or good things creamy manuka honey cleanser. Sometimes I use dermalogica pre cleanse before
Toner - REN clarifying toner or bravura calendula toner
Moisturiser - nip + fab again or sometimes REN omega 3 optimum skin serum

Blimey, stop scrubbing

Something gentle needed-aloe range from the body shop? La Roche posay? OCM?

NO SCRUBBING AT ALL. Sorry for shouting but no just don't do it.

Use la roche posay effaclar duo+ instead, it's got salicylic acid in it. I've always reacted badly to salicylic before but this one helped in a matter of days.

I never use any scrubs now but my skins really clear & smooth.

OK no scrubbing. Got it!

Scrub has been binned but I need a replacement. I like the look of the Neal's yard stuff with all it's natural organiccyness. They do a starter set with 3 different products. So do Benefit and clinique.

I've had a personalised skincare plan tailored to me by Bravura, and the products are great, my skin has never felt better and had so little problems! they have products specifically for redness, blackheads etc so you should have a look at them, their products all have a high end feel but are all reasonably priced. best of luck to you x

Neals yard
Clinque 3 step you may as well use paint stripper

I agree, clinique is very harsh!

Cliniques very harsh. The toners got acetone in it, I mean, wtaf is that about?.

Read that caroline chest sheet that goodasitgets linked to and the acne cheat sheet. It's life changing stuff. Well, it was for me anyway.

Buy enough flannels to have a clean one twice a day, a bottle of la roche posay physiological gel cleanser and a tube of effaclar duo+.

I have combination skin, I like the Body Shop aloe cleanser. I didn't have it for a few months at the beginning of the year and really noticed the difference. Apart from that and nivea sensitive cleanser I don't use anything, apart from the neutrogena spot treatment for any spots that do come (generally sweat related, I do a lot of exercise).

I hardly ever wear makeup, but if I do I used the mineral stuff. The primer particularly is really good for my skin. I react to an awful lot of things, but that feels like it's not there, iyswim.

Wilkos do lovely flannels for 33p each,I have a big pile! Get the white ones, the coloured ones tend to run in the wash.

this and this have changed my skin appearance in a few days, loving them both

Not cheap but amazing and sadly cannot go back to normal moisturiser (so maybe I shouldn't recommend it!) but I love Dr Bragi completely changed my skin.

A couple of people here have recommended the body shop aloe cleanser and that's actually pretty cheap. Is the toner and moisturiser from the same range worth a try?

I have lots of flannels thanks to IKEA!

I have really sensitive skin which is prone to eczema. I use two products.

Pai is a lovely gentle organic brand set up by a girl with problematic skin. My skin likes most of their products which is v unusual.

The other is Cetaphil which was recommended by my Skincare consultant.

Mad-the whole aloe range is lovely, specifically the day and night cream. I'd avoid the foaming face wash, seemed drying, but tbh I don't really understand face wash so never buy it usually!

The face wash is the one item in the range I do use (being understanding of face washes - seriously, I like a face wash, I don't feel clean otherwise, just personal preference) and yes it probably is drying, but that's what I like about it - my "T" zone can look quite greasy, especially when it's warm, and it sorts it out. I put moisturiser on my cheeks, then I think it's all balanced.

Oddly though I haven't tried the rest of the range - I use nivea sensitive day cream and Aldi night cream. Spread myself around!

I've heard the same about the Body Shop aloe range, I have had a nosey at it but the cleanser seems to be in a stiff bottle, looks as if it could be a devil to pour out, is this the case?

Is the SP15 day lotion OK or the normal day cream?

Pie trap

Day cream is nicer than the lotion. Buy in line, much cheaper than in store.

wow - the oldest thread in the world. I was going to recommend somewhere but not sure if anyone would read it