Help with bad skin tone, visible pores, oily skin etc

[shimmerbubbles]

I've always had rubbish skin and have always been insecure about it - I loved wearing masks during Covid because they covered my face! My skin is blotchy, oily and lumpy with visible pores and the occasional big pimple.

Does anyone have either skincare or makeup suggestions?

My current skincare routine is a bit haphazard - cetaphil or cereve cleanser with neutrogena moisturiser (morning) or a thicker cream (night). I try to go for dermatologist approved stuff as I tend to get breakouts otherwise.

The only foundation that I've ever been REALLY happy with was the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light, which they have now discontinued. With every other foundation I try it's a tough balance between getting enough coverage and looking 'overdone'. I've tried a few primers but they never seem to help.

I'm not in the UK but can get most well-known brands here.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

I've used prescription products and treatments, and over time these are the ones that I came back to. Wash your face daily (I use a Micellar Cleaning Water when I've not worn makeup or am lazy) is a must. I use two different CeraVe cleansers. The Foaming Salicylic Acid is terrific. Try using it every few days and see what works for you. I now use it only on areas where I breakout. I apply Clean & Clear Acne Spot Treatment with Salicylic Acid. It's one of the 10 items I can't live without! I use it twice a day on areas where I breakout. If you get cystic acne it's a lifesaver. Have you used Mighty Patch or the basic affordable pimple patches? These are great overnight as they draw the impurities out of a pimple. My daughter will wear one during the day if she's dealing with a cyst. Daily I use CeraVe moisturizers on my face and neck avoiding breakout areas. Depending on where I shop I can't always find all the products above, but they are on Amazon.

Three probably impertinent questions:

What’s your diet like?
Don’t know how old you are but the good news is that the oiliness will ease up after menopause. In the meantime you can probably improve the blotchiness by improving your diet. Cut out processed food, quadruple your intake of good quality fresh fruit and vegetables. Cut down on alcohol.

Why so much cream?
You almost certainly don’t need it. Use an enzyme cleanser. Follow with Paula’s Choice Liquid Exfoliator. Finish with some light oil to moisturise. (Blot with a dry flannel if necessary.) Use a clay based mask two or three times a week.

Do you really need foundation?
I’d stick with at most a mattifying primer for now. (And definitely no powder.)

Try this for three months - see how it goes.

Benefit Porefessional primer is great for disguising large pores - it's not cheap but a little goes a long way!
I have large pores and they're so annoying, but I find that using a really light skin tint (rather than a foundation, which tends to make my pores more noticeable), with the porefessional over the top works great! And then any spots I cover with concealer.
Hope this helps!

I have oily skin and as mad as it sounds,
add oil. Neals yard or Bodyshop are good.
Also, sulphur cream is great for calming mine down, evening our skin tone and dealing with lumps and pimples.

Thanks so much, I'll have a look into those products.

My skin was very similar I won't go out without make up because my skin tone is very uneven after years of it. I cleanse with pixi glow tonic (prefer branded but most copies are okay) which seems to stop the oil and spots. Use nip and fab retinol which has really helped to resurface flowed by charlottes merical cream. I find Max foundation good for every day or use YSL All hours if I want a really good finish.

Mac foundation....autocorrect!!!!!

Thanks so much. I've just turned 40 so not quite at menopause. But that's good to hear! I probably should have said in my post that I used to use the 3rd gen pill to control my skin (adult acne) and it did a really good job. Unfortunately I had a stroke so I'm not allowed to use it any more, so I'm guessing that hormones are playing a part.

My diet is ok - not perfect but not terrible by any means, and I don't drink. But room for improvement still.

The moisturiser I use in the morning is really light and has a sunscreen in it (I live in a sunny country!) so I feel I need that, but could try stopping the night cream, although to be honest I've only started using that recently anyway.

I really do need foundation for work, there's no getting around that. When I'm not working I try to just stick with some concealer on the bad bits.

Thanks for your ideas.

Oh thanks for the Benefit recommendation - I've looked at their primer before but didn't know if it was worth the money. I might give it a go.

Thanks, I'll have a look at those products.

Thanks, I'll have a look into those products.

You need a product with salicylic in first and foremost. An acid toner. There are lots on the market, upper price range: Paula's Choice has 2% but do does Nip &Fab Teen Fix (don't worry about the teen label!) and loads of others.

Your cleanser is fine, but if you wear makeup that should be removed first. Micellar is OK for make up removing but leaves a film on skin so needs cleansing off after.

Effaclar by La Roche Posay is a very good range for the skin issues you describe. Also contains salicylic.

@YesItsMe44 has some good suggestions.

Cerave cleansing wash helped my skin. I've just discovered Revolution Miracle cream- it leaves my skin so soft and hydrated £10! Also revolution colour correcting primer £6 and their loose banana powder £6 my skin looks the best it has in years. Usually even just wearing a little foundation my skin is greasy and just looks meh.. Isomf these has definitely improved the appearance of my skin.

Oh, I was also going to say, careful with primer - primer is silicone heavy (that's why it works!) and silicones are pore blockers.

I can’t help with the skincare but I also am mourning the demise of Double Wear Light which was perfect for my skin. So far the nearest match I have found is Max Studio Fix which is very similar so would definitely be worth a try, especially if you can get a free sample in store.

I too have rubbish skin. I'm 46 always had a decent diet, plenty of water, low to no alcohol consumption, blah. I've tried so many products over decades, at different price points. After seeing it recommended on here, I've been using Freederm's face wash and moisturiser for a couple of years, nothing else, it's not perfect, but I've found it to be better (for me) than other products. In addition I have Zineryt on prescription for hormonal acne. I also used to like Estee Lauder Doublewear Light but I now use EL Double Wear Stay in Place Matte Powder Foundation, which is brilliant and quick to apply.