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Original poster

Cutting out skin care products improves skin?

82 replies

bertiebow · 07/10/2015 21:17

Really curious about what others thing of this. I have had mild acne for about a year and have tried various things to try and fix it. When I was younger I was lucky enough not to get teenage spots and so never really bothered about my skin, just used wipes or baby lotion as make up remover and splashed my face with water in the morning.

I've been reading quite a bit about people who have cured their acne by cutting out all skin care products. Seem like a lot of people have pretty drastic success with letting skin heal itself e.g. here - www.acne.org/not-washing-or-water-only-reviews-1202/

Has anyone else tried this?

OP posts:
TheUltimate · 07/10/2015 21:19

Yes I tried for around 6 months. Muslim cloth and hot water only. Did it work? Not for me! But all skin is different, you need to try techniques (and stick with them for a while) to find out how they work for you.

TheUltimate · 07/10/2015 21:19

Muslin* sorry, damn autocorrect!

annandale · 07/10/2015 21:25

I asked a friend with lovely skin what she used, she laughed and said 'nothing'.

For acne though, see a dermatologist.

MeganChips · 07/10/2015 21:28

It works for me. All I use is Micellar water, acid toner and a very basic serum.

I spent years with bad skin including acne, congestion and perioral dermatitis and the more miracle cures I tried, the worse it got. Now it's good enough to go without foundation.

Original poster
bertiebow · 07/10/2015 22:15

The stuff dermatologists seem to recommend don't help me - benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, even Cetaphil isn't great. Really not keen on taking anti-bs, they don't seem to work half the time anyway and I don't think my skin is bad enough to justify it.

Just aiming to get my skin good enough or be brave enough to go without foundation and then use very little...

OP posts:
MeganChips · 07/10/2015 22:45

Have you tried antibiotic lotion? It's pretty effective but not systemic.

I can't recommend acid toner highly enough though, it's brilliant and really helps keep everything in check.

Original poster
bertiebow · 07/10/2015 23:01

I have tried Clearasil pads, but the alcohol content in them is very high and a bit much for me. Also tried Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion but didn't notice much change...

OP posts:
Judydreamsofhorses · 07/10/2015 23:02

The best advice I ever had was to treat my acne-prone skin as "sensitive". So many products for problem skin are really harsh and strip/upset the oil balance, making it over-produce and exacerbating the spots.

WaggleBee · 07/10/2015 23:03

I'm curious too. I can see the logic but I ran out of moisturiser last week and couldn't get anymore for a couple of days and my skin broke out and went flaky. Going completely without would be a brave move.

Which toner do you use please Megan? I tried alpha h liquid gold and the gentle Clarins one but both made my then clear skin break out. I really want to try another one though.

Wolpertinger · 08/10/2015 08:22

Clinique Mild Clarifying is lovely but only about 0.5% salicylic - it only works if your acne is really really mild.

I hated Clearasil pads due to the high alcohol - they felt raw on my skin and not that great for the acne either.

To give salicylic acid a proper trial you need a 2% BHA product from Paula's Choice. That got rid of 99% of my acne and the rest went with a retinol.

chanie44 · 08/10/2015 08:38

my skin isn't traditionally sensitive, but it has cleared up loads since I started using a natural cleanser.

I said on another thread that I'm not convinced we should be using lots of different products on our skin.

mudandmayhem01 · 08/10/2015 08:42

I don't use any products apart from sun cream or tinted moisturizer ( not everyday) which I wash off with plain water. My skin is pretty good.

happyending14 · 08/10/2015 08:47

I do wonder this myself. I have started using a serum and have developed ten spots. I find this with a lot of moisturisers too. For me, it's choose the spots or dryness.

PurpleDaisies · 08/10/2015 08:58

Another convert to a more minimal approach here. When I was using face wash, toner, serum, moisturiser and sun cream every day (sometimes with make up) I was either flaky or spotty. Now I've ditched the serum, only use moisturiser if I need it and only wear make up for special occasions my skin is miles better. I think a lot of products are great marketing over real usefulness (as a scientist the claims made based on "studies" of 12 women who were using nothing before and were given this beautifully packaged free sample to use don't stand up to any scrutiny).

Stick to not smoking, using dog, eating well and seeking medical help for acne problems and you can't go far wrong.

PurpleDaisies · 08/10/2015 09:01

Using dog?! Spf is what that should say!

And also use what suits your skin. People keep telling me about the wonders of oil cleansing but it gave me the worst outbreak of spots I've had since I was a teenager.

ruddynorah · 08/10/2015 09:01

I used to have dreadful skin. Oil cleansing works for me. Clear skin. No products.

ToysDontWorkNoMore · 08/10/2015 09:12

I use mildly acidic (lactic acid) sensitive cleanser on my face. I have brought it home from Scandinavia where it comes in huge bottles and is cheap as chips in supermarkets and pharmacies. It is what is recommended there for acne or sensitive skin and is also good for babies, washing of the nether regions, etc. The only other thing I use is oil free spf if I am going out for a longer time on a sunny day. Make up (with tinted moisturiser) on special occasions. I have very good, mostly spot free, skin and look younger than my age.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 08/10/2015 09:13

My skin is pretty good. I wash with Angels on Bare Skin (Lush) and moisturise with an SpF15 moisturiser once a day and that's it. I also don't wear make up.

Nabootique · 08/10/2015 09:58

I use a shit load of products and my skin is generally good (suffering a bit at the moment with stress/hormonal breakouts). I've tried all sorts, including a really pared down routine, but it doesn't work for me. I know people who use a wipe and some Nivea and have fantastic skin, but everyone is different.

0dfod · 08/10/2015 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PennyPants · 08/10/2015 11:23

Am: baby wipe and suncream
Pm: I massage my face with 100% argan oil then wash it off in the shower.
Once a week: homemade face scrub.
I never wear foundation.
Drink loads of water and hardly any sugary drinks.
Dead easy and cheap.

PennyPants · 08/10/2015 11:25

*no alcohol baby wipe

Glitteryred · 08/10/2015 11:53

My skin broke out for no apparent reason recently after taking great care of it and being the best it's been in ages.

After a few days of trying various options with no results I pared down my routine completely and the red pimples have all but gone.

This morning I just Wiped my face my a damp muslin cloth, it does feel a bit tight but I'm too worried to put anything on it in case it breaks out again.

I will have to wear make up tonight so will have to think carefully which product to remove with, use my toner and then I'll follow that with a clearasil pad then nothing.

Bishboshbash · 08/10/2015 12:00

I still use products on my skin but just make up remover/Vaseline moisturiser but I have stopped washing my face with water and it has improved my skin a lot.

nancy75 · 08/10/2015 12:02

I wash my face in the shower and use johnsons baby lotion as a moisturizer, no spots no wrinkles and have never worn foundation. I am 40, if i do ever think i need a face care routine i end up with spots and greasy skin so now I just don't bother.

I am often told i look younger than my age but it could all be luck, my mum is 60 and also has no wrinkles so i could just get it from her