Help me sort my skin out...please

[Tinks15]

I have large pores all over face, small under the skin bumps on my chin & forehead area & some large spots on my cheek & jawline currently (these come & go often). These are my problem areas I absolutely hate that I have to wear make up all the time to cover my horrible skin up. Would love to be able to go make up free some days.
I’ve tried so many different skin care brands over the years some of them are: the ordinary, Superdrug, bodyshop, Kiehls I don’t know what to try next!
Does anyone recommend anything? I don’t want to break the bank either.

Have a look at The Ordinary. Quite reasonably priced and lots of specific products for specific problems

I’m an aesthetic practitioner so I may be able to offer some advice op x

Is there anyway you can take a picture of your face (you can block out your eyes) so we can see what your skin is like ? x

What’s your skincare routine like at the moment? I had similar congestion around my jaw and sorted it with a combination of salicylic acid and a retinol, but you would need to look at your routine as a whole. Have a read here: www.carolinehirons.com/2013/06/routines-cheat-sheet.html (though you probably don’t need to be doing all the steps she lists but it’s a good overview) and here: www.carolinehirons.com/2011/08/spots-cheat-sheet.html

Have you thought about fungal acne? It can give lots of small bumps under the skin. I had it on my jaw and forehead forebears before I figured out it was fungal. Give it a Google.

Find the skin care threads on here, OP. Excellent advice and lots of reasonably priced products recommended.

Common advice I've seen on lots of threads.

1. Double cleanse, first with an oil based cleanser to take off makeup or SPF (DHC, available from look fantastic sample size is around a fiver, or I think Simple do one that is very good value), and then second cleanse with a gentle wash or lotion/cream cleanser to clean your skin. La Roche Posay Toleriane, La Roche Posay Caring Wash, Avene extremely gentle.

You could do a swipe with a hydrating toner or just one that is non astringent and alcohol free. Rose water from the chemist is fine, or those mineral water spray things from Avene or LRP.

Large pores can be a sign of dehydrated skin apparently.

Hydrating serum of some sort - lots of options out there. The Ordinary have marine hyaluronic and HA plus B5, vichy have mineral 89, superdrug have something with a name like pure and simple.

A face oil like squalane or rose hip. Adding oil can stop your skin from producing too much.

Moisturiser (keep it simple and mineral oil and silicone free if you can).

SPF.

Salicylic Acid is great for exfoliating your skin gently, clearing those blackheads. It apparently doesn't increase your skin's sensitivity to sunlight but I always wear SPF anyway. I use Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting Liquid I think it's called. On look fantastic for about a tenner for 30ml which lasts ages (I apply with my finger tips not on cotton wool so as to not waste any). Make sure your skin is perfectly dry before using or it might sting, and only use oil or moisturiser after because you might make it ineffective by adding water based products. Cosrx do a blackhead remover liquid thing as well but only in a big bottle so more expensive to try out. I think they've a whitehead version too.

Any of the other acids and/or retinol will make you more sensitive to sunlight so you have to be really careful to apply SPF every day.

Don't use harsh oil stripping products, as your skin just produces more oil to protect itself. Don't use hot water, just tepid.

Thanks everyone. CtrlU here are a few pictures taking earlier.

See your dr. Don’t waste your time on skin care like I did.

Yeah maybe that’s what I need to do

There’s no shame in it. At least they can help.

I had bumps with rosacea so could be that? I tried Soolantra via Superdrug online doctor, cleared it right up. Deffo worth seeing doctor.

No shame I just been there done that years ago & they weren’t very helpful maybe this time round i’ll have better luck.

Agree with @econowifey

I’d go to the gp and ask for a referral to a dermatologist.