Another adult acne one

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Most likely hormonal. Annoying though not “severe”. Going to try to persevere with Duac but wonder what else I could try. Topical treatments are the only options at present as I haven’t fully stopped breastfeeding.
I currently use a Paula’s choice Resist BHA, 20% azelaic acid cream (not using both of those together twice daily), daily spf. Duac most nights. I’ve recently started to change my pillowcase more frequently as it seems to be more one sided though not exclusively. I seem to be sensitive to certain spfs in moisturisers/makeup or maybe another ingredient that I haven’t figured out yet, so tend to try mineral spf which might not help the pore clogging, though tend not to irritate my cheeks so much. I need the makeup to cover the spots but I don’t like to look heavily caked. Shade matching can be an issue. I used to have beautiful skin, sigh.
Any suggestions that might help are much appreciated!

Have you looked at Caroline Hirons at all? Since I started following her advice on things to avoid for acne my skin has improved dramatically. She has a cheat sheet for acne skin, advising to avoid products containing sulphates, silicone and Shea. My skin goes through stages depending on my hormones, I have PCOS too so topical treatment is only ever going to do so much. I will break out if I use products containing any of those ingredients though.

Duac didn’t having any lasting affect on me. Oral antibiotics worked temporarily. Currently using a prescription retinol to treat mild acne (tend to get a couple of spots before my period) and that has improved my skin very much. I also really like Paula’s Choice BHA and moisturiser and Salicylic Acid from the Ordinary although haven’t needed that since I used tretinoin.

I got my hormonal cystic acne under control (not completely gone but managed) by being kind to my skin and respecting the skin barrier, also benzoyl peroxide. I use low ph cleansers, don’t over exfoliate, try to hydrate as much as I can. Avoid common triggers (citrus, exaggerated perfumes).

Evening: cleansing oil, then foaming low ph cleanser. Some nights an AHA or a BHA treatment. Then beauté pacifique clinical super 3 booster (retinol product) most nights. Have a few other things I sometimes use as well. Moisturiser (just simple one from chemist). Sometimes add drops of a facial oil.

Morning: low ph cleanser. Vit serum. Maybe something else if I feel like it. Add bensoyl peroxide here if I feel I want it. Moisturiser. Sunscreen (at least when it’s not blackest of winter). Bb cream.

Banivani can you suggest the brands for the cleansers, serums, BB cream, spf etc? I can pick up some benzoyl peroxide from Boots. I don’t particularly seek out the sun and drive to work, so my sun exposure is generally minimal.

Brownsauce, I know what you mean about Duac- works fine while you use it but I don’t want I use indefinitely so a plain benzoyl peroxide might be better in the long run. I don’t find Caroline Hirons’ advice to be particularly scientific but would give the cheat sheet a go.

Weirdly, all of the Paula’s Choice spf moisturisers disagree with me. Even the mineral ones. I might try her plain BHA when I run out of my current one.
Thank you.

Ok, the cheat sheet doesn’t list any suitable products that are easy enough to find. Any suggestions?

Have you looked at the dedicated skin care threads here in style and beauty and the cheat sheets there in the first post? There’s a lot more info there about what ingredients you might want to look for and then you’re more free to just stick to stuff within your budget.

I live in Sweden so I don’t always have access to the same stuff you do. I read cleanser packaging and see if they tell me the ph, sometimes I’ve emailed the company and asked. French pharmacy brands can be good. The Asian Beauty Reddit group has a spread sheet with cleanser ph which can be useful too. But just the ph isn’t enough to know if it will suit you, sometimes they’re just wrong anyway.

Anyway sorry for the ramble - these are my current brands of stuff if you want to know:

Babor cleansing oil (HY-ÖL)
Purito Snail All in One BB Cleanser (Which was a chancer that turned out ok, but I’m not repurchasing but am getting Cosrx good morning cleanser instead next which I really like)
The Ordinary hyaluronic acid plus vit c serum
The ordinary niacinamide +zinc
Basiron benzoyl peroxide 5%
L300 ultra sensitive light face cream
Apoteket solcreme ansikte spf 50

Evening same stuff as above but atm also have Paula’s choice bha liquid and P50 exfoliating toner from Biologique Recherche.

Oh and I hate all moisturisers with SPF they all feel horrible on so I don’t wonder that you didn’t get along with them. On the skincare threads there is a lot of discussion about sunscreens you can use instead.

Thanks. Thinking back, I’m sure my skin was better when I used effaclar cleanser but I disliked the smell so did not repurchase. I will look up the Corsx one as I have their pimple patches (worked well for a cyst on my back). I seem to recall cera ve cleanser was also good. Seems there is some truth in the pH of the products.

I absolutely think so - or rather, it's so important to respect and protect the skin's natural barrier so it doesn't have to fight all the time.

If you're wearing makeup and daily sunscreen it's important to cleanse well to take it off, so not cleansing is not an option of course. I find double cleansing makes a huge difference so that's why I use a cleansing oil first. I don't bother if I haven't worn makeup or sunscreen.

Good look with the BP - remember it bleaches towels and clothes :( which is why I wear it during the day. Ruined all my sheets.

Can you use Acnecide? I think it's great.

Having struggled with my skin since my teens. I have found a system that works for me.
A.M - rinse face with water, pixi retinol toner. Clinique moisture surge gel. Duac on problem areas.
P.M - hot cloth cleanse with jojoba oil. Nip and fab glycolic extreme pad. Tretonoin gel on problem area.
My pores are not clogged as much and have far less spots under the skin.

@springgreensunshine is spot on. Acnecide (benzoyl peroxide) is a game changer. I use a garnier active wash, simple toner, acnecide, boots protect and perfect moisturiser and then what ever make up I'm putting on top. That combo took years to work out and sadly the garnier wash is discontinued so I'm in a panic now!

Acnecide is really good, and works just as effectively if you apply, and wash off after 10 minutes. Just avoids the irritation and dryness. Google benzoyl peroxide short contact therapy.

Have you looked into Skinoren / azelaic acid cream? It’s pretty good, you can get it prescribed from your GP but also privately eg Boots acne clinic.

Good tip about washing the acnecide off. I have some Azelaic Acid cream and find it useful for calming my reactive red nose! It works well for post breakout pigmentation, albeit slowly.

I shall see how it goes over the next few weeks and months. The past few days I have been using a cleansing oil (Bobbi Brown, I had a sample bottle lurking somewhere) followed by dermalogica ultra calming cleanser and my skin feels nice and balanced. Using a Jason spf 30 mineral au cream but it is rather gloopy.
SPF is a funny one; many either sting or make my cheeks very tight or are too greasy. I always assumed it was due to my skin not tolerating the chemical but who knows, it might just be the other ingredients or my skin was just sensitised for other reasons. I am thinking of trying the Altruist spf next. Or maybe ultra sun.

I suspect I am not in Triretinoin territory, and I cannot get it without a prescription, but I do wonder if there are any suggestions for the low concentration retinols. I have a Paula’s choice 1% one which turned out to be fairly potent and I think I used it a little too often. Maybe that is worth trying again once my skin has calmed down a bit? Will happily accept suggestions for less expensive ones, though!

I buy tretonoin from med express. No need for prescription. If you have clogged pores and blackheads then I recommend it. Other than slight sun sensitivity I have had no dryness at all.

Well any time I go for a facial they seem to do plenty of extractions. Maybe they’re sebaceous filaments but I hate extractions! I’ll have a look for some.

Sounds as though we have similar skin OP. I like the Altruist as an SPF for body but prefer Bioré Watery Essence SPF50 for face.

I’ve had a few months of absolutely horrendous skin. I normally have mild acne that I can “control” to an extent most of the time but this has been something else - I think it was a reaction to something but still haven’t figured out what. Spots and the scars are taking SO LONG to heal and I’ve been left with tiny little blackheads in my forehead and cheeks that I never had before. I have little bumps - horrible texture a all around my hairline. I’ve been there trying to narrow it down by cutting out various things but no joy yet.

Anyway, before all this my most effective routine was:

Cleanser - rotated between Superfacialist oil, Effaclar foaming wash, Toleriane cream cleanser

Moisturiser - Toleriane Fluide and Effaclar Duo

Night moisturiser - Neal’s Yard rose facial oil and Korres Wild Rose sleep cream

I might be wrong but is there a body shop spf that’s a dupe for the Biore one?

I have the Sarah chapman overnight oil and I’ve been using it followed by Clinique moisture surge overnight mask, buts its only been a few nights. However, my skin does feel comfortable in the morning, so maybe it will help.