Help: 20 years of acne and now I have 'normal' skin... what do I do with it?

[lowcrabdiet]

I had a lovely posh facial today. I told the therapist I had very oily skin and acne. After approximately 2 mins she told me I actually have normal/combination skin and my breakouts are caused by using unnecessarily harsh products and foundation

So now I don't know what the heck to put on my face. I'm so used to all the anti-blemish, mattifying, oil free stuff I don't know where to start (I did actually have hideous acne for years, it just seems that I have finally grown out of it!)

The therapist was lovely and recommended lots of posh products but I'm on a budget. So cleanser/toner/moisturiser wise I'm thinking something from the shelves in boots. For foundation I can stretch to something from a counter.

So all you lovely normal skinned people, what should I be buying?

Can I ask what you Effaclar afficionados use it with, in terms of cleanser? I've been wondering whether to try it - my skin was fantastic whilst I was pregnant and is pretty rubbish again now.

I had really bad acne (think big boil like affairs) but I have to say a fairly strict routine of cleansing first with LRP effaclar purifying foaming gel and then with Avene cleanance gel. Toning with a very gentle toner and using Vichy normaderm moisturiser has totally sorted my skin. Quite frankly I can't believe the difference. When I go away and forget even one of the products I get spots again. So it def works for me. I do this routine every night and just wipe with toner and use an SPF moisturiser in the morning. Good luck. Acne made my life a misery. I still life in fear of it returning!

Glad to hear it's made such a difference, Mrsap :)

I thought Effaclar was a cream/moisturiser but thinking about it, I think there's a cleanser and a moisturiser, and together they're called Effaclar Duo. I've had mixed results with Avene and Vichy Normaderm in the past (although the latter's concealer is bloody brilliant) but might look again at their cleansers.

Laquila I double cleanse so I use LRP Effaclar micellar water to start with (and to remove makeup, it's brilliant for that) then I use Bravura Rejuvenating Cleansing milk to cleanse (it's got a little glycolic acid in) and I remove that with a damp hot face cloth gently.
Then I use the LRP toner. Then the Effaclar Duo and if I have a minor breakout (which actually these days is very rare) I will dab a bit of the LRP A.I cream on it.
It all sounds a faff but it really does work and you get used to the whole routine.
My skin is for the first time clear and it's amazing after a good 12 years of spots to get that. My chin was horrendous before!
It does take a while for the Effaclar to work and you will prob get the purging stage with it (I definitely did!) but it bloody works and I couldn't live without it.
I always liked foaming wash cleansers but was told by a Derm that they are no good for acne prone skin and you need to be using a cream cleanser and a toner. Also to be gentle to your skin and treat it like a piece of silk. So no more harsh scrubbing!
HTH