Recommended me some products for acne prone, greasy skin

[BarrytheFatcat]

Hello all, I'm 36 but I seem to have worse skin then when I was a teenager 😩

At the moment I use St ives apricot scrub and classic oil of olay to moisturise, but it seems to make my skin worse and my skin feels greasy even after I've just cleaned it.

I've tried googling or looking on boots website for good products but I get blinded with science or the products are too expensive.

So can you mumsnetters recommend me some good products to try please 😊

This. I had to wait a week for it to come back into stock for ordering online but may be in bigger stores.

www.boots.com/the-ordinary-aha-30-bha-2-peeling-solution-10267772

Review here
www.glamour.com/story/the-ordinary-peeling-solution-aha-bha-review

But do a patch test!
theordinary.deciem.com/patchtest

I have been using Dermalogica daily Microfoliant and nommoisturiser as I had very spotty skin. My skin is still a bit greasy but I don’t get spots any more. I had tried so many other scrubs and washes and cleansers before finding the dermalogica. It took about 4-6 weeks to finally calm down my skin.

That apricot scrubs terribly bad for acne skin, it’s so rough.

I wouldn’t bother exfoliating daily it’s very irritating for acne. I’d just cleanse daily and do see the dr, it’s not normal to get spots at your age.

I don’t moisturise, my skins too oily to need moisturiser.

Don't use a scrub! Ever, on any kind of skin.

Paula's Choice (or Nip &Fab) 2% salicylic toner is good.
Effaclar range from LRP is amazing.
The Dermalogica- for breakouty skin is good, but can irritate as it contains some essential oils like ginger- it's not for everyone.

Cerave wash off cleanser
A salicylic
A gentle moisturiser- don't imagine that greasy skin doesn't need hydrating. Cerave also do moisturisers.

I’m late 20s and have always had terrible oily skin and have spent a small fortune on lotions and potions. Over last few months I’ve found what works for me and I finally feel comfortable without make up and my face no longer looks like I’ve smeared grease on it by the end of the day! But it is a bit trail and error.

AM:
La Roche Posey cleansing wash
Once a week St Ives Apricot scrub
Dua cream on my chin (prescription- I don’t even know if I still need this but I’m too scared to stop!)

La Roche Posey Efacer cream

PM
Biore charcoal to remove make up (if wearing any)
La Roche Posay effacer toner
Alternating Nip and Fab Retinol overnight cream and Paula’s choice BHA

Eeeeee apricot scrub, discontinue use straight away, so bad for your skin
Check out james welsh on youtube and hyram they have brilliant advice.

Id get a gentle cleanser, toner and maybe introduce a serum and id recommend a moisturiser like neutrogena water gel to start. I like using temple spa way to go cleanser and aldi vit c cleanser, glycolic from the ordinary, niacinimide from the ordinary and neutrogena moisturiser or glow recipe.

I would definitely recommend an exfoliating acid toner like glycolic acid. Dead skin cells are good at causing spots. Salicylic acid also good.

Jojoba or sesame oil to clean face.

Not sure about Oil of Olay but lots of moisturisers aren't non-comedogenic and cause me to break out. Garnier ones seem particularly bad for me.

What's your diet like?

What’s your diet like OP?
As I think with skin Problems, so much of them are caused by diet. Skin products won’t do much until your inside is healthier.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

See I'm so clueless I didn't know that exfoliating scrub was so bad for my skin!

My diet hasn't been that bad for the last couple of weeks because I've been on a diet I've been having special k for breakfast and nothing but salad for dinner and I've cut out all crap and alcohol so I don't understand why Ive got such bad skin.

Il check out all your suggestions and try a few things mentioned.

I have always had awful skin (genetic as it runs in the family and DH with an identical diet doesn’t). Avene products work well for me (although I only use the wash and moisturiser as I’m not a make up wearer).

Do you drink loads of water? That might help.

Special K and salad won't be particularly good for your skin either although cutting out alcohol should help, you need to eat healthy fats and ideally fish oil.

Sugar and too many starchy carbs aren't good for my skin.

Cerave foaming cleanser am and pm. Nip n fab glycolic acid pads at night

I’ve just turned 40 and have had terrible cystic acne over the last year.

My skin has finally started to clear over the past 2 months after using a salicylic soap, morning and night, that I bought from Amazon. I was using Cetaphil for ages but I think it was too gentle and not cleansing enough for my skin!

Also, try giving up milk and dairy products. It’s tough at first but I have noticed a massive difference in my skin by giving up and using salicylic soap.

Good luck. Acne totally destroys your confidence and I hope you find a solution soon.

Cerave salicylic wash for dry,rough, bumpy skin although mine is oily has really helped.

Nip&fab salicylic toner as mentioned above...they also have a milder version you could switch it up...super drug have offers. You need to unclog the pores and Salicylic acid will help do to this and help with scarring.

Cerave moisturiser is non pore blocking.

You will also need a spf on top of moisturiser in day because of salicylic use. I use Nivea spf 50 shine control or bioderma dry touch spf 50 photoderm max.

I also use face masks...will be trying sukin sensitive pink clay.

Stay away from scrub.

I change my pillowcase daily and rarely have dairy.

Try and eat anti inflammatory foods.

Helping to keep cysts at bay touch wood...I think it’s the Salicylic acid that’s really helping.

I have the same type of skin as you. Things that have helped me on a budget are:

Sudocrem & rosehip oil together as an overnight facemask at least twice a week. This has been the best discovery for my skin ever!

Never using a towel to dry my face - always use loo roll to pat dry.

Retinol serum (I use The Ordinary as it is good value)

Aldi caviar night cream

Elemis pro collagen cleanser & hot cloth every night (OK this is pricey but it smells gorgeous and does last for months)

I switched to cerave cleanser and it's bloody good really noticed a difference x

I second Hyram. That man is fabulous!

As almost everyone has said. Put down the scrub. Burn it.

The peeling solution is good, but for the love of God, don't use it until you've used a few less strong acids first. And please invest in some sunscreen.

Acne prone skin needs you to protect the outer layer, if it's damaged, for example by a scrub, it will cause more bacteria to cause more mayhem.

First start off with a gentle cleanser, the Ordinary squalane cleanser or CeraVe (can highly recommend both)

Salicyclic acid direct on the spots
Niacinamide and zinc on areas prone to spots
Hyaluronic acid to seal moisture in
At this point you can look at a peptide such as Buffet or perhaps azaelic acid (not together though)
Follow by adding a nice light oil, and finally moisturiser - recommend NMF or a cerave one and for the love of God SPF!

Once you've got a routine you can start to look at retinols or retinoids, acids and finally the bha/aha peel but you first need to start a routine.

Also, look at taking a supplement, evening primrose oil is great and maybe collagen too to help your skin from inside.

You're going to get as many suggestions as there are people with acne. What works for some won't work for others, that's what makes acne so frustrating to treat. You'll need to try any products for at least 6-8 weeks before trying something new, go to your gp and ask about topical or oral treatments if it's really getting you down.
Ive has acne my whole life to varying degrees and I'm 39. This is what I have learnt.

Diet is a misnomer designed to make you feel like your acne is your fault. It isn't. It's most probably hormonal.
Drinking loads of water is a myth
Acne prone skin is sensitive skin
You should not strip oily skin with harsh cleansers as it will irritate and increase sebum production

FWIW I use the following which has given me the best skin I've had in years
A glycolic toner - I use beauty pie. I hear Pixie Glow Tonic is good too. Glycolic acid is the single thing which has made the biggest difference to my skin.
A non foaming cleanser - I use Emma Hardie but Aurelia worked for me too as well as Eve Lombard cleanse twice - esp when wearing sun screen.
Retinol of some kind. The ordinary is good, as is the beauty pie one.
Some kind of Hyaluronic Acid
Sun screen.
Acnecide Cream for breakouts.

I recommend checking out Caroline Hiron's blog if you're new to this. It has some sound advice but I don't see her as the guru some seem to.

I have bad skin too (PCOS), I use the Effaclar range from La Roche Posay (face wash, toner and moisturiser). I also use their Anthelios sun cream as all other brands either cause massive breakouts or leave me looking like I’ve rubbed olive oil all over my face!

Boots sell the range and I will buy it there when it’s on offer, but Look Fantastic also sell it and currently have a 3 for 2 offer on: www.lookfantastic.com/brands/la-roche-posay/oily-blemish-prone-skin.list

I use the purifying cleansing gel, the clarifying lotion and the Mat moisturiser.

Oh and I also use Caudalie Night Detox oil which is expensive but you literally use 5 drops each night so it lasts for ages.

www.cultbeauty.co.uk/caudalie-vineactiv-overnight-detox-oil.html

Diet is a misnomer designed to make you feel like your acne is your fault. It isn't. It's most probably hormonal.
Drinking loads of water is a myth

Thanks for saying this, I wholeheartedly concur.

If you were allergic to dairy you’d get the shits, not spots!

Niacinamide from the ordinary has really helped my spot prone oily skin

I have acne prone greasy skin but my skin is actually very sensitive too...which a lot of oily skin types are. I find la Roche possay effaclar 3 step system suits me, keeps the skin clear and comfortable, I alternate between this and liz Earle. I always moisturise, if I don’t my skin produces more oil to compensate. You should only exfoliate once maybe twice a week, definitely not every day, this will be aggravating your skin.
Hope your skin improves for you, I know how frustrating it is.

I have had acne since I was a teenager.

I have tried various potions and lotions (and spent a fortune).

My advice get a referral to a dermatologist

Yes water is always good.