Please help me sort my skin out

[Hueandcry]

Posted in menopause but no replies so trying here instead

I'm 54, post meno & my skin is super dry but I also have blackheads/spots around my nose & chin. Nothing is working. I tried a pink clay mask for the t zone to help the spots but all that did was dry my skin even further. Suggestions please but nothing too expensive- I already have a drawer full of products that haven't worked

Please see a dermatologist.
After years of bad skin I finally went to see one privately about 8 years ago and started roaccutane - a low dose over a long period.
Absolutely sorted me out (fingers crossed!)
I'm not for a moment saying that particular treatment is for you, but she took time to talk to me and consider different options.
I know you don't want anything expensive but when I think of all the money I wasted on products over the years my heart sinks.
I pay £100 per consultation (a couple close together to start to monitor things, but then about once every 10 months) and whatever the prescription costs.
Bad skin honestly ruined my life. This is the best money I've ever spent.
Oh, she also gave me the option of asking my doc to refer me to her so that I could join her NHS clinic but, to be honest, I liked the flexibility of seeing her privately.

Have you tried cleaning your face using oil rather than soapy stuff? I've been doing it for years and it got rid of my blackheads and stops my skin feeling dry. I use something I make myself that's meant to be like ultrabland from lush (but I've never actually tried ultraband).

You're supposed to double cleanse, using a gentle surfectant afterwards like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, but I find I don't need to to keep spots at bay, and it makes my skin feel a bit tight and dry so I only do it every couple of weeks.

This is the recipe for the cleanser I make:

• 1 tablespoon beeswax (big bags of pellets on amazon)
• 5 tablespoons almond oil (I buy from sainsburys)
• 1 tablespoon clear honey
• 2 tablespoons glycerine (again I buy from sainsburys)
• half a tablespoon of rosewater (guess where I buy this )

put in a jam jar, microwave for 1 minute to melt the wax pellets. When it's cooled a little but still liquid, put the lid on and shake it to mix, then shake every 5 minutes or so until it sets to ensure it doesn't separate.

As for dermatologists, dermatica are an online one. You don't exactly get the personal touch, but they are very easy to use. I get retinol from there and it's very convenient.

I’ve just moved to The Ordinary and it’s made a difference to blemishes and the firmness of my skin. It’s about £5 per bottle so worth a try

I’d see the dr too, acne is just a bacterial skin infection.

Wow @BernardBlackMissesLangCleg thanks for the recipe! Unfortunately there isn't a Sainsburys near me but im sure other supermarkets will do

@jendifer - may I ask which products from the Ordinary you use?

I have had acne since having my children, my oldest is now 30! Mine is better now I am on the mini pill but I still get acne from time to time on the chin and nose area. I have taken roaccutane twice but the results only lasted a very short length of time and for the side effects it was not worth it.
I did use the Jan Marini line of products for a couple of years.
Now I use normal sensitive skin cleansers, rather than anything harsh to clean my face from makeup. Normally Clarins or Nivea.
I also like anything with glycolic acid in it as it helps sheds the skin cells.
I had a Murad facial last month and I came out glowing and very little breakout afterwards so I have ordered this
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0094QRX10/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8
I am also using this on a nightly basis
www.renskincare.com/collections/face/products/ready-steady-glow-daily-aha-tonic
Following with a moisturiser
I have watched a few of the Facebook clarins facial videos and find I am much gentler on my skin now which I do this makes a difference.

@Hueandcry I use the caffeine under eye cream, the one that begins nia for other wrinkle areas and then a serum for blemishes and a primer. I tend to use olay moisturiser.