Using balm to wash face; spots

[something2say]

Hiya,

So I read the thread about amazing skin, Caroline Hiron wasn't it? Bought myself a lovely organic face balm wash, but didn't get flannels.

I have found that products give me spots so I used simple for a long time and that soothed my skin. Now I am getting spots again.

Wondering if it's because I don't use a flannel to clean the balm off? I rinse and rinse and pay attention to jaw line etc, but still.

Should I go back to simple or try flannels first? My skin does look amazing tho, but I started using serum too so it might be that. Maybe simple and serum would keep it looking good but not give me spots?

If your serum contains any silicones such as dimethycone then this is an occlusive and may cause spots, likewise mineral oil or parrafinum derivatives
I would try with a flannel first before giving up too.

I get cystic acne from oils. Olive, coconut and sweet almond oil and shea butter are all terrible on my skin. Oil cleansing was a nightmare - cystic acne, scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Hot cloth and muslin cleansing is a rosacea trigger for me, and rosehip oil ended up on my legs, so steering clear of cleansing balms atm. Mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum) based creams (Nivea etc) are also a bit iffy, they tend to congest my pores and give me spots.

I though my jawline spots were hormonal acne, but they disappeared when I went oil-free. My skin is totally fine with silicones and alcohol. For the longest time, the only moisturizer I could use was an alcohol and silicone based serum. I have now found many other products that suit my skin type and tend to select skincare that does not include mineral oil or natural oils. Hyaluronic acid is a wonderful hydratant and my skin also really likes butylene glycol. I do not miss oily products, a good serum and gel-textured moisturizers are super hydrating and do not irritate my skin. My skin looks better than it has ever done.

The gentlest and most efficient cleansers I have found are micellar water (dissolves mineral makeup and sunscreen) followed by a non-SLS foaming cleanser or castile soap. I would take a break from the face balm and see what happens. Good luck!

Some balms leave a film on the skin, other balms do not. I used the Boots Organics cleansing balm which left a film on my skin and I got loads of spots from it.
I am happy with The Body Shop's camomile cleansing butter and Clinique take the day off cleansing balm. They do not leave a film on my skin.

I apply a 5p sized blob and massage it in with my fingers, then rinse off with a wet flannel/washcloth (a clean one every time). Some people use cotton wool, but I find it a bit wasteful and flannels are not that expensive and last forever.
I like the £1 fräjen washcloths from Ikea, but any will do.

Am not convinced about CH's advice on balm cleansers. She says that acne responds to good oils but is v hazy about what these good oils are - as FruglFashionista says there is a long list of oils, many of them natural oils, which definitely aren't good for acne!

Dermatologists will always say to go oil free for acne and seeing as they are proper doctors, that's been good enough for me.

Why not go back to the Simple if it suited you? If you want to try something else Dr Sam Bunting always recommends Cetaphil, LRP Physiological Cleansing Gel and Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser - I like the first tow and my mum loves the Avene

Finally what's in your serum? If spots are a problem, have you added an acid toner in there?

Hello ladies,

Can't thank you enough for all of this advice!

Not sure exactly what's in my products but will be taking a look later. Your advice about oils and so on is invaluable.

The new regime is making my skin so flawless I can go without the little bit of foundation I used to mix into my moisturises, but these little spots? No!

Will also get some flannels, they don't cost much.

There are quite a few oils in the balm, I have just spied......

Could I ask which balm cleansers you all use?

I go between Emma Hardies Amazing Face balm (£££) and Cliniques Take The Day Off balm (££). Both lovely. I always use a flannel to remove. Neither are the cheapest but a little goes a long way so they last for ages.

I use grape seed oil then massage off with a flannel followed by a waitrose own essentials bar soap on my oily nose and chin
I find the second step gets rid of spots and blackheads