La Roche or The Ordinary for Acne

[Oliveisme]

Hello Mumsnetters! Help please. My daughter is 14 years old and has acne. She manages (mainly boots/superdrug products) with what she's currently using but I'm thinking about getting her something from La Roche or the Ordinary. I haven't used either brand before but have read reviews and was wondering your thoughts/experiences and recommendations. Your help is most appreciated 😉

Probably the ordinary. Salicylic acid, an anti oxidant & the nicanamide & zinc. If you email them they can suggest a regime.

An led light mask with blue light would help too, cheap on eBay. They usually have red as well for healing.

I wish my mum had helped me, I'm sure she was happier when I looked bad

Yes I second the suggestion above of emailing The Ordinary to find out what they suggest.

I had a spotty rash around my temples and a congested area (maybe rosacea?) on one cheek and within a couple of days of using salicylic and niacinamide it had mostly all gone.

If they suggest a number of products it may seem like a faff but I only use a few drops (in my palms, pressed on my face and neck) and it dries quickly so it's actually pretty easy to get it all done.

Oooh thank you for your replies. Will have a look on Ordinary and get in touch with them. Will look on eBay too for LED lights. Thanks everyone!

The ordinary is perhaps a little complicated for a 14 year old to maintain as they are single ingredient products so you have to use loads of different things. Which actually works out more expensive and time consuming than using a good cleanser and treatment moisturiser like the Effaclar/Normaderm etc. Plus to be totally honest, I find most of the ordinary products a really weird texture!

Go on the skincare thread on here and ask what they suggest? They are really helpful

My sister has some ‘back-ne’ - acne on her shoulders - and has had great results with the ordinary

My daughter (also 14) started using Effaclar at the beginning of the year. There was an obvious difference in her skin after day three. I’ve not looked into the ordinary as La Roche worked so well, it’s also easily sourced and relatively affordable

I’m not impressed with the Ordinary at all after hearing great reviews. LRP Effaclar cleared up some (admittedly mild) acne on my forehead really quickly.

The Ordinary had an excellent PR campaign and prices that seem cheap but combined actually isn't as good as it seems. Everyone I know who has tried it isn't rebuying! I tried the caffeine Serum and the primer and they were terrible. The primer was absolutely raved about by the beauty bloggers etc but I found it awful.

Whereas dermatologists will recommend Effaclar.

I am 53 and have always been spotty, since I was around 13. Not acne as such, just spotty. I have really oily skin, which leads to blackheads and blocked pores and big red sore spots that take ages to heal. I have tried almost everything, cheap stuff, expensive stuff, Proactive, Dermalogica, etc. I read about Effaclar on the internet, bought some, and it has been a complete game changer.

I use the wash, clarifying toner, Effaclar Duo and then the Matt moisturiser - it is a bit drying. I had a big purge and got really spotty which took around 4 weeks to clear, but now my skin is much clearer and a lot less oily. I am just praying it lasts.

I found Effaclar was really great for my acne.

However for mindblowing results, Paula's Choice every time.

Get her to a doctor. Don’t waste her skin and her youthful beauty, and don’t waste your money. The most useful and effective products will come from your doctor.

Huge thank you for all the replies. I don't normally share my 'mumsnet' posts with my daughter (it's my 'me time' iykwim) but i let her read your replies and she went away and did her own research. Think we'll try La Roche and see how she goes with that. Cristiane we have seen our doctor who prescribed her quite a strong cream (can't remember the name) which didn't help at all but made her skin sore on application. Yes you're right it is expensive/young skin etc but what's a mum to do but try and help! Thanks again for all your replies.

Long time acne sufferer here.

Most products that actually do the job do sting a bit. The secret is to try and reduce irritation.

To do this you need to wait 10-20 minutes after washing to apply the cream, use a small amount on alternate days and build up, and then wait another 20 minutes to apply moisturiser.

I have spent a fortune on products over the years so save your money! In my experience things like la Roche posay are nice but don't do anything that a £5 tube of benzoyl peroxide won't do.

It really depends on how bad her acne is. If its very bad as mine was as a teenager then a course of roaccutane is the only way to ge rid of it permanently.

However that said if its not too bad she may just need to be more scrupulous in removing her make up etc and wear foundation thats not cheap and consists of decent ingredients.

You really need to take her to see a decent dermatologist asap and not rely on what your GP etc has to offer. The sooner the better really to avoid scarring.

I had an outbreak a couple of years ago from constantly using wipes to take my make up off (in fact your daughter should not be using make up removing wipes of any description as they can cause terrible acne)

I suggest to cleanse her make up she tries Murad for blemish prone skin (M&S sells this) - two times once to remove her actual make up and again to clean the skin on her face. Fill the sink up with warm water, wash face with water and murad, use a wet flannel to wipe off the make up till the water is clean. rinse flannel well, then wash again with fresh warm water because she is now washing the skin on her face. Pat face gently do not rub.

Even if it seems like a Pfaff to remover her make up like this every night, it is really important for her to do it, get used to it, and enjoy the benefits to her skin. Try to do it early evening and not leave it till shes too tired later on.

I also found clearasil salicylic wipes amazing for getting rid of my spots after cleansing followed by LRP effeclar duo. I did this for around 3 months and my skin cleared up so I then used different products entirely as my skin had now changed condition.

Definitely La Roche. The Effeclar May be a bit strong for her so I'd just spot treat the worst areas of possible.

A gentle cleanser like the Toleriane Dermo Cleanser would be good.

She could try the Ordinary Salicylic Acid for spot treatment. Niacinamide is very Marmite - some love and some hate as it breaks them out more.

She could try the Rosehip oil which has healing properties. It seems counter intuitive to add oil but it can help. Watch Liah Yoo videos on acne, about nourishing and adding beneficial, gentle things to your skin to balance and encourage it to produce less sebum, tackling the root cause etc.

I don't agree that doctors know best. Nearly all of the creams we've had for my DD's acne have been ineffective. He also prescribed Clindamycin which, after research, decided she wouldn't take as it can cause quite serious digestive issues. She's now trying Epiduo from the dermatologist (but I wasn't very impressed with her particularly either).

i have acne prone skin and an oily skin.I want to know which cleanser is best?la roche or the ordinary serum?.I am confused between these too.

@Fatiiiiii this thread is 8 years old, I’d suggest you start a new one and you’ll get good advice