Gentle salicylic acid toner?

[margaritasbythesea]

I'm trying to solve a problem with blocked pores that look a bit like milia but not much. I've tried The Ordinary Retinol, Nip and Fab glycolic pads, azaleic acid (which I used for rosácea) niacimide, none of which have done anything at all for the problem. This is over the period if about three years, all used for months at a time.

They don't come out at all. I have tried a sterilised pin but they just return.

I'm now wondering about salicylic acid, but as I have rosacea I am cautious about trying new products. Could anyone suggest one to try?

BHA is really helpful with rosacea, it's not that harsh as other acids but if you want to try a gentle version first Paula's Choice has a 1% in their calm range, not so much toner but more like a silicone gel that layers pretty easily. Their 2% perfecting liquid is the bee's knees. They do samples/trial sizes for both.

I have rosacea and I use salicylic acid for blocked pores. Instead of using a toner everyday, I use it as a treatment once a week, followed by a mud mask.

My thinking is that the salicylic acid dissolves whatever is clogging the pores, then the mask sucks it out. I thought using an everyday product would be too much for my skin.

I use Garden of Wisdom Salicylic Acid Serum for 15-30 minutes, followed by either Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask or By Sarah London Green Clay Face Mask.

I’ve been doing that for over four years now with no sign of it aggravating the rosacea. At first I used Bravura Saicylic Peel, but I prefer the Garden of Wisdom now as it’s less runny. At first I did it twice a week to cover up existing congestion, but now usually once a week is enough to keep on top of things, although I sometimes do twice a week if I’ve been wearing a lot of make-up.

Oh, mean to say I had milia at first, but they shrank and went away gradually over time with the salicylic/clay treatment. It took a while for them to go totally, but I did see profess quite quickly.

How about the Ceave salicylic acid cleanser?

Cerave!

Thanks for your replies. I feel much more confident about trying something now. I'll have a look at the products you've mentioned.

I said toner as I am quite happy with the cleansers I use at the moment (LRP Toleraine and Body Shop Chamomile balm) but I suppose it doesn't have to be a toner.

I've got a 30 ml tester if the Paula's Choice 2% in my amazon basket. Would tbis kast me ling enough to show an effect?

Sorry for typos

If just using on the affected area it'll last you a really long time, couple of months easy.

I like the Ren Clarimatte clarifying toner

Thank you.

Just coming back to thank botemp for the Paula's choice Bha suggestion. I chose to try that first and have now used it twice. I know this isn't a long enough time to try a product but it has made more difference to the problem in that time than anything else I've tried in the last two years.

It was really getting me down, so thank you very much

Hi @margaritasbythesea, I love the Paula’s choice- it’s fab.
Just a word of warning about the chamomile balm that you use from the body shop. I used this for a while but found it left me with lots of little clogged pores! And I loved it. But when I looked up the ingredients, the second or third one is highly comedogenic so I ceased using it and my skin improved. Xx

Thanks for the tip off. I've just started using it and, thinking about it, I have noticed the problem getting worse. I thought it was because I had run out of the other toner I was using. I won't buy the balm again.

It feels really nice though!

You're welcome Margarita, good to hear it's working well for you. I don't suffer from milia but IME balm cleansers often leave some product behind, I tend to prefer oil cleansers.

I see it's been pointed out already but I think swapping out the body shop balm cleanser is a good move. I had the same issue with it- very soft skin but it did congest my skin. Paula's Choice is fab as is La Roche Posay Effaclar but I do find that over using salicylic acid causes me breakouts so use sparingly and ease in until your skin is used to it, every other day at first etc.

Thanks for that, both.

I tried the Body Shop because I have been using LRP with no ill effects for three years but was wondering if I could improve by using a different cleanser once a day. Seems not with this one.

Very grateful for having had it pointed out to me.

Sorry meant to say LRP Toleraine