Please help me with my skin!

[ChubbyScotsBurd]

It could be down to the absence of time to sleep/wash these days (DS is 4 months) but my skin is absolutely at its worst right now and I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for sorting it out.

I have extremely fair, pale, translucent skin (DP says I'm blue) with quite rosy cheeks (typical Celt). I get horrible hard spots on my chin and at the bridge of my nose where it meets my brow, blackheads on my nose and I'm generally greasy in a T-zone fashion. However, I also get dry patches on my cheeks, flaky skin on my nose and forehead and look a bit 'peeling'. Niiiiiice .

I wash with either just water or Clean and Clear exfoliator once a day in the shower. After washing, even with water, my skin is tight and dry, so I use Simple moisturiser. If I use foundation I have to mix it with moisturiser or the dry patches on my skin end up orange (even using 'ivory' foundation).

Any suggestions to have me looking less like an aged Klingon before Christmas? [optimistic smile}

Not an expert but i think clean and clear is probably a bit harsh for your skin, and you might be exfoliating too often? Dermalogica is a great brand for sensitive skin but it's quite pricey. HTH.

it's been a while since i used clean and clear but i remember it being really harsh even for my very oily skin. maybe you should try something more gentle.

are you drinking enough water? you could be dehydrated - especially if you're breastfeeding. i've been told that spots on your chin are likely to be hormonal (although not by a doctor ) so whether you're breastfeeding or not it could still be settling down.

other than that, er, you could work with your lighting. buy loads of nice christmassy candles?

at lighting suggestion ... do you know me in RL or something?!

Yes, maybe in my attempts to peel off the dry bits I'm giving my skin a hard time ... out with the sandpaper then

I'd definitely say tone it down with the exfoliating. Keep things really bland and simple. Maybe just exfoliate once or twice a week. Or try one of those cleansers you remove with a muslin cloth - there's the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, or I think Tesco do similar versions for less money. The idea is that the muslin cloth just exfoliates a bit, and isn't too harsh. Moisturise if/where you need it. I've been using the Garnier Pure A recently, both day and night cream, and they seem to be helping.

Message withdrawn

This is what I'm doing now, after spending months and months spending a fortune on a myriad of products for my oily spotty skin, which had got really bad after I had my last baby ( I guess the pregnancy/breastfeeding hormones that I had going on for several years kept my skin looking okay ).

I got this recipe from an American simple living forum, I've been using it for a fortnight, and all my spots have gone, my skin feels smooth and soft and even my blackheads are disappearing.

Here's the recipe:
3oz honey
4oz ground almonds
2oz apple cider vinegar
2oz water
6 drops of lavender oil (optional)

mix together and keep in a bottle in your bathroom, it lasts for quite a long time. Massage into your damp face twice a day and rinse off. It stinks, it's messy ( I tend to use it just before getting in the shower so it's easier to clean off ) but I swear it's worked for me.

Oooooh it's all sounding good, thank you!

Sounds like what you are using is disagreeing with your skin.

Might be worth going for less harsh maybe more natural products, try somewhere like Lush. Loads of chemicals and crap even in products like simple. Your skin should never feel tight after cleansing.

celery certainly will try that receipe as my skin seems to have had a hissy fit in the last 4 months (I have a 24 months and 8 months DD's) and I never had real problems before both PG's! Thanks.