Skincare for spot prone skin

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I'm 6 months postpartum and feel like my skin has gone to pot. Always suffered with spots really, but cleared up for around a year, now back with a vengeance. Mostly around my chin so think it's hormonal, but having a better skin care routine can't hurt!

Feel completely overwhelmed looking at all the different skincare on offer and don't know where to start. Can anyone recommend a good moisturiser/face wash (do you actually need toners etc ?? I'm totally clueless lol) and anything else that has helped their spotty/aging skin. The cheaper the possible. Thanks in advance :)

I got pretty bad hormonal acne during pregnancy which didn't clear up afterwards. Been using Skin&Me Daily Doser for a few months now and it's pretty much cleared it all up. It's about £25 a month so not cheap but worth it for how my skin is now.

Oh and I just use a face wash in the shower in the morning and light moisturiser and then in the evening use a cleansing balm and a night cream. Happy to recommend specific products that have worked for me if useful!

Something with salicylic acid in it. Paula's Choice BHA toner, the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo range etc.
CeraVe face wash.

I second the Paula’s choice BHA and cerave face wash. I’d suggest a hyaluronic serum too as often dehydration can make spots worse.

Meant to also say, the Paula’s choice seems expensive but it lasts for so long as you use such a small amount each time.

I have very spot prone skin. I use Cerave foaming hydrating cleanser and Simple 'light' moisturiser (simple is the name of the brand)

I tried the whole expensive skincare routine lark and it only ever made my skin worse. If you have sensitive skin like me then less is best.

When my skin was at its absolute worst (also postpartum) the thing that helped me the most was good old dove soap, the sensitive version, and a hot flannel. Lots of people swear by it and now so do I.

I used skin and me. Was great when they had included the antibiotic. Once they finished my skin went back to normal. They wouldn’t add the antibiotic again.

I use simple dash wash and Nivea soft cream. My face is better. I think the fussier the routine the worse my skin got

If it is bothering you then do an e-consult or phone call and photo with your GP. They will likely prescribe a (prescription)cream like Epiduo ( that has Adapalene and Benzyl Peroxide in it) or one with high strength Salicylic Acid to target and dry up the spots. I think you have to be careful with acne medications if you are breast feeding.

They may also prescribe a moisturiser such as Doublebase or perhaps Dermol which is a fantastic moisturiser and also a soap substitute so great for cleansing/washing the face and has an mild antibatcterial agent in it too. You can buy Dermol and Dermol 500 (which is a bit lighter than Dermol) and Doublebase over the counter in some chemists and supermarkets. Online chemists such as Weldrick's and Medino seem to sell them cheapest at around £8 for 500ml pump for Dermol. I keep a pump of Dermol beside the bathroom sink and it has revolutionised our family skincare. No more wasting money on very expensive brands.

You can buy Acnecide gel (which GP's sometimes prescribe)over the counter. It has 5% Benzyl peroxide in it.

Inkey and Cerave are popular skincare brands that are " affordable" with spot prone skin targeted products

If you want a strong SPF day cream with extras then this Boots one at £8 is being compared favourably to the more expensive Paula's choice brand
https://www.boots.com/boots-spf-niacinamide-moisturising-lotion-spf50-50ml-10331095

I thought I had acne on my chin area for too many years but it turns out I had rosacea.
I did try a cream from the GP and it did work a bit but I didn't like the texture.
I know use Dermatica for rosacea and my skin has cleared no more acne like pustules or swelling on my chin.
They do an acne treatment, upload 3 photos, answer a few questions and the dermatologist will prescribe the treatment for you. You can try the first month for £2.90 and you can also delay it if you haven't used it all up.

Try personalised skincare for just £2.90, plus £10 off your next month.
Head to www.dermatica.co.uk and checkout with code 3LW935
www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/3LW935
I wish I had found it years ago!

Interesting. I need to check this out.

I rate La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and Avene cleance range.

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA (as PPs have said) is genuinely a miracle worker! A bit pricey but a bottle will easily last months as you use so little and only 2/3 times a week due to the strength

Avène is my favourite brand for moisturisers. French skincare with all the benefits but less of the price as they’re a non-profit company which I love!

I use The ordinary. It's very affordable, can't recommend the brand enough. I used to have terrible skin, but now that I have a morning and night routine it's never been better. I use the cleanser first. Then apply serums: Niacinamide and zinc serum / salicylic acid. I was also using one of their retinol products to help with pigmentation and scarring but stopped with pregnancy. I let the serums sink in and then apply the moisturiser. A little goes a long way. I was so sceptical at first but moisturising really helps to clean up spots and makes your skin feel so much fresher.

Use an oil free moisturiser and niacinamide as a serum. Salicylic acid pimple cream and tea tree oil if needed to treat them.
I double cleanse with a balm and a gentle cleanser/alternating with an oily skin cleanser so I don’t strip the skin and cause oil production. I generally only get pimples now if I’m slack about using the niacinamide.

You forgot to mention that you get a freebie if someone uses your code.

Thanks so much all for taking the time to reply! Having a look through the recommendations now

I’ve had decades of ups and downs with acne. I remember than pre pregnancy and during pregnancy, my skin was lovely. A while after birth, it went to pot for a short while and naturally resolved. Hope that happens to you.

I found skin and me sorted my acne, but as I couldn’t stay on clindamycin forever, I’ve stopped my subscription. I now use benzoyl peroxide in the evening and salicylic acid in the mornings. Don’t forget to use SPF! That has pretty much kept it under control. I do highly recommend Mario Badescu drying lotion for when you feel a spot coming on. I swear it has stopped several spots in their tracks.

I would also look at your make up and check there’s nothing that might aggravate your skin. Give your make up brushes a wash, etc.

I also found the combined pill great for my skin, especially oil control, but I appreciate it’s not for everyone (including me now, sadly).

I just wanted to point out only because this has happened to me !!
Had a terrible outbreak on my skin always suffered with acne 47 years old !
I was trying so much stuff I used the Paula’s choice Cerave u name it I tried it and it turns out I have sensitive skin and those products were to harsh !
The skin lady I spoke to said exfoliating face is only needed max 2x a week Paula’s choice usage says up to 2 x a day my skin was getting worse due to over using it !
If u are having a flare I honestly recommend using a wash or a soothing cleansing milk a soothing toner and a moisturiser stick to a simple routine x

I've been struggling with hormonal acne for a couple of years and the three things that are currently keeping it at bay are Lymecycline from the dermatologist/GP, Lyonsleaf zinc and calendula cream and Lyonsleaf beauty balm cleanser. My skin is the best it's been for a few years now and I'm hoping to stop the Lymecycline soon and carry on with the topical treatments. I've found natural products work better for me than chemical containing ones.

Tretinoin triggered off awful periorofacial dermatitis that took months to clear.

i can recommend the entire URIAGE Hyseac line
worth checking it out
for targeted spot action-Synchroline SR roller

Retinol based cream from the GP saved my skin and made it look younger to boot!
I also worked out that sugar made me break out - if I ate a lot of sweets I would always break out a week or so later. Ditto dairy. It took me decades to make this connection. I still get the odd spot from time to time but these things have helped make me mostly clear.

Dairy always makes me break out on my chin.
The best cheap face wash I've tried is one by Simple, called Moisturising Facial Wash. It's gently foaming but not super drying. I use a muslin cloth while wshing my face about once or twice a week to exfoliate very gently. And I also sometimes use Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser for a bedtime face wash or if my skin is feeling a bit dry and thirsty. It's a bit more pricey though. But an excellent product and fab at removing makeup if you wear it (I don't).
I also really rate a face wash by Burts Bees, which I found via a recc on here. It's fab! It's called Natural Cleanser Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. Kinda feels minty fresh on your skin and makes it tingle, smells lovely but it's too rich to use every day.