I know it's been done to death but please help me find a good cleanser and moisturiser?

[HexagonAlley]

I'm 34, Asian skin, lots of acne scars and still get big lumpy outbreaks on my jawline. Dry sensitive skin.

I have to wear waterproof mascara or my lashes don't stay up (some weird thing that started around a year ago...droopy lashes even after curling ) and I wear makeup everyday.

So I need a really good cleanser. I've tried double cleansing? But found it too harsh and such a faff with the washcloths.

And I need a decent day and night moisturiser. I've been using no 7 serum and night cream but I'm now wondering if that's also responsible for all the jaw outbreaks.

Any ideas for a cleanser and day/night moisturiser for me please??

Use Olay wash clothes sensitive - rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry
Use this bha
Wait 15 mins
Then I'd maybe use a benzoyl peroxide on the spots to disinfect
Then I use a fragrance free serum from Olay regenerist

I'd see my doc about the lumps especially on jawline

Neutrogena extra gentle cream cleanser. I take off my makeup with a wipe (also neutrogena) and then use this.

I've found this moisturiser is fab for my dry acne prone skin: here

When my skin is breaking out, I use Jan Marini Biolgycolic lotion at night after cleansing. Sorts it out in a couple of days, I swear by it. Careful using on very dry areas however.

origins have great cleansers that have sorted out my breakouts I love never a dull moment and perfect world and the moisturisers are lovely too. I also use elemis tri enzyme cleanser for a change

I Use Shu Uemera's oil based cleansers and never had problems with breaking out (I have sensitive skin). It is great for taking off waterproof mascara, and does not strip your skin, also means you don't need to have a make-up remover and cleanser.

If you are worried that your moisturiser is causing breakouts - why not take a month break and see if things improve. For moisturiser, I use a Vitamin A based moisturiser recommended by my dermatologist (Environ AVST). Great product, not too expensive, and seems to do the trick.

It sounds like you have oily/combination skin and hormonal acne.

You need a non-foaming bland cleanser like Cetaphil (recommended by every dermatologist for a reason). Cleanser actually isn't the key product you need, nor is moisturiser, don't be sucked into any cleanser with fancy claims as the products only spends seconds in contact with your skin.

Then you need an acid toner (this is the most important bit!) - AHAs (glycolic or lactic acid) if just spots, BHA (salicylic acid) if blackheads as well. I'm currently using Clinique Mild Exfoliating Lotion which is great, also love Paula's Choice 2% BHA and Efflaclar Duo. Will also help with the acne scars.

Finally then a moisturiser - I stick with oil-free and really like Cerave which irritatingly you can only get on Amazon in the UK.

Once you've done all that and found something you like in each category, your next step should be a retinol as it will help with both the lumps/acne and the scarring. Something like Avene Ystheal.

Then and only then would I start looking at a serum as it's not the key product for your issues.

Check out Dr Sam Bunting for advice - there are Q+A on here with product recommendations and a really recent youtube video with Caroline Hirons.

OK, re-read your OP - definitely combination skin as dry with jawline lumps.

What your dry bits like, your jawline hates - I'd prioritize the jawline treating it as combination and you will probably find the dry bits are happier too.

Thank you all esp kundry

I highly recommend cetaphil cleanser am and pm and I occasionally use the merumaya balm as a weekly treat. I always use waterproof mascara aswell as I'm prone to the droop too! I think a separate eye makeup remover is best, my personal fave is the Nivea bi phase one.

As for moisturiser I like simple light for day and kiehls midnight recovery oil at night. Really good for spot prone skin.
Hope that helps x

I have no time for Caroline Hiron but recommend seeing a dermatologist. I did and the advice was broadly as recommended on this acne website.

Agree about Caroline but she seems to have got a bit more sensible recently - possibly as she's doing more stuff with actual dermatologists

Her basic advice is sensible - clean your face with a non-foaming cleanser, use an acid and a retinol, SPF in the day, just she seems to want you to spend gazillions of pounds doing it. Which is fine if you have the cash but it's totally possible to do the same for less.

And then she has weirdness about mineral oil, oils on oily skin, taking loads of supplements... - no, you're right, she's still giving random advice.

Another vote for Shu Uemura cleansing oils.

Double cleansing just means cleaning twice btw - I don't like using cloths so I don't, but I do always double cleanse if I've been wearing makeup. Don't use wipes to remove makeup, really bad for skin.

I was on dianette for years before DS. That was 4 yrs ago and skin was lovely and clear up until a year ago. Have been back on the antibiotics and topical applications but pg again so can't take anything anymore.

So I think cetaphil cleanser. Do I need a different day and night moisturiser? Does it matter?

Is the acid/retinol ok in pregnancy?

Also any other recommendations for an acid toner and retinol product? I have no clue about either of these and they sound important!

I use clarins foaming cleanser and aveeno daily moisturising lotion, my skin used to be like yours. Now it's so much better

I also have the bumps/dehydration thing. I found a duo that works really well for me- La Roche Posay Effaclar foaming cleanser, then their Hydraphase Legere moisturiser. Seems to deal with the blemishes and the dehydration.

A BHA, like the one I linked to, will help the way your pores work and help with oil
An AHA usually removes the dead skin cells that get left on the skin and block the pores
Benzyl Peroxide will disinfect and dry any spots you have

If you use the wash-cloths and a tepid water rinse as recommended earlier usually you can get away without an AHA until after your skin has settled down completely. Ditto is you use a decent, inert, wash off cleanser.

The thing you need is a very very simple routine that you use morning and evening for at least a month before trying anything else.

I am unsure that clarins are particularly helpful for acne, ditto shu uemura oils.
Sounds as though your acne has a hormonal element...see your gp and ask for a referral.

Defo hormonal ronald hence dianette for 2 years. It's the only thing that worked after over a decade of acne but no good now I'm pg of course! Plus I hated being on it for so long...lots of side effects.

I am still a little confused about when I'm supplied to use all this stuff: cleanser, toner, moisturiser SPF ,aha/bha, glycolic, serum. Seems like a lot of stuff to me and not sure of the order it should all go either

You've listed too many products!

Cleanser
No toner, unless it contains acid it's a waste of money
Acid of some description - either BHA or AHA, not both (they do exactly the same thing except BHA does blackheads better), glycolic is an AHA so not a separate product
Serum - if you want to, depends what you want it to add as serums are all v different
Moisturiser
SPF - only in the morning (obvs), can be in your moisturiser, doesn't need to be a separate product

So start with 3 products (cleanser, acid, moisturiser) and work from there - I've got some faves but it's fun playing around with new products.

Thanks Kundry.

So
I was thinking:

Cetaphil cleanser
Paula's choice 2% (going with your recommendation as I know nothing about it)
La roche posay hydra phase uv moisturiser SPF 15. This is because I had a tiny sample tube and it's felt really nice the last few days. Is SPF 15 ok? Does it matter is I use this at night too? Or something else?
Avene triacneal for the glycolic acid at night a couple of times a week? I just looked it up and it sounded like it might work for my skin.

So...still stuck on a night cream?

Hexagon

Less is more

I wouldn't change everything all at once. I'd start with say the Cetaphil for a couple of weeks, then add something else and go from there. It takes a while to decide if something suits you or not especially as at the beginning you may get spots coming up as you skin settles. You may not want a glycolic if you like the 2% BHA or you may still want it.

If you like something go for it - it doesn't matter if you use SPF at night but it is a bit pointless,plus SPF15 isn't really enough for the day.

Just do one thing at a time or you can end up spending a fortune.

ronald I know...I'm all in a tizz. Maybe it's pregnancy brain.

Ok thanks both. Will start small....