If your skin used to be bad but isn’t anymore, what worked?

[Spaggybollynese]

I don’t have acne or a serious enough issue for prescription medication, but ongoing breakouts, dry/oily, uneven skin tone, sometimes angry flare ups or blotchy patches, looking a bit meh

If you used to have low grade bad skin, what did you change that actually worked?

Skin and me - has transformed my skin. I'm 6 months in and zero spots or breakouts.

I used to get acne when I ate dairy so I cut it out. Then I got pregnant and I've been fine since!

Running 5k a couple of times a week. It got all my pores open and flushed through with perspiration, followed by a hot shower.

Wrinkles kept at bay by using Vaseline/petroleum jelly (Ican London Rose), spots and black heads prevented on nose by Rugby 10% Benzoyl peroxide, moisturiser from Dr Jackson's (day and night), dark spots banished with Luminosa Skin Lightening Moisturiser and Lumineux Blemish Reduction Cream and acid peels from SR skincare, Paula's Choice clinical Niacinamide 20% on my nose, Lancome tonique confort after taking off make up, Gruum facial sun cream and around my eyes I love Nuxe Merveillance Lift.

I do sometimes use Elemis marine cream, Clinique dramatically different and Clinique moisture surge and products from a German brand from QVC M.Asam.

Sometimes of an evening I take my make up off and slather on Jason Aloe Vera as a leave on face mask.

Those saying skin & me, how exactly does it work? Have heard of it on here but that’s all

Tret (I get mine from Dermatica).
LED face mask.
SPF 50.

Have pretty good skin now!

Skin and me here too.
My prescription is tretonin, azelaic acid & niacinamide.

Ovranette

I have had bad skin for 30 years which they thought was acne. Constant redness, spots, pustules and swelling in the chin and nose area.
I went to sign up for Dermatica for the anti aging treatment and they replied that I had rosacea. After a few weeks of the rosacea treatment my skin was so different and after a few months I didn't recognise the face in the mirror as it wasn't me! I have been using it 2 years now and I so wished I had known of Dermatica all those years ago.
It's similar to Skin & Me where you answer a questionnaire, upload photos and the dermatologist prescribes your formula.
I like that it's easy a couple of pumps each night to keep my skin happy. The rest of the time I use gentle products.
I have a referral code for the first month of Dermatica for £2.90 if interested and the second month reduced.

Alpha H liquid gold has been a godsend for me

Pregnancy for me. I don’t get spots anymore! I used to be plastered with cystic acne. It’s unbelievable.

My skin was lovely when I was a teenager. Horrendous acne ridden breakout city from age 21. It’s been stedily better since 30 and now it’s back to being lovely again.

It becoming awful coincided with several pregnancies. If I’d tried any lotions and potions I might blame them for the change, or credit them with the improvement. But I’ve always washed it with soap and water and a flannel.

Yes please for the referral code!

@ChilliPB what LED face mask do you use? What benefits do you find?

My skin used to be terrible. Acne all over cheeks and neck.

What worked (and have listed in order that I did it)
Stopped using oil on my face (no - oil DOES NOT attract oil - it mixes with it. Washing my face with a gentle non oily cleanser and using non oily products helped)
Coincided with that not using 10 steps of products on my face.

My skin cleared up loads from just doing the above

Then
I did give up dairy for a bit which seemed to completely clear.. and weirdly enough I didn't get spots when I started eating dairy again

So no acne from doing the above (although now eat all the cheese)

It then improved in terms of clarity and overall condition by using tretinoin and azeleic acid through Dermatica or Skin and Me.

I'm so happy with my skin now. It's been a long time coming.

When you say proper soap bar, not being thick but what does that mean, as I thought most of the soap bars in the shop are proper soap bars.

Lux being fragranced would probably give me a reaction, but obviously i know everyone is different.

Where do you get the Tretinoin from? Thanks.

@Spaggybollynese here you go.

Try personalised skincare for just £2.90, plus £20 off your next month.
www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/3LW935

It's a really nice light texture and so easy for the results it gives. I keep mine at my bedside so I always remember to put it on. My skin is normal now, smooth, no spots etc and no swelling. I delay mine each month so I receive it about every 5 weeks as it lasts a bit longer for me.
They have some really good before and after photos on Insta and there is a Facebook group too with one of the staff members as admin.

Refined sugar certainly affects mine (rosacea and acne) but religiously following Tropic skincare regime morning and evening made a huge difference

I have started using the CurrentBody led mask for the eyes and I think they might be a difference but I am going to take some photos in a few weeks to compare. I got mine from QVC when on offer and pay over 3 months.

I also agree with the oil method idea, but at the same time you don't want to strip your skin or leave it without any moisturiser etc too.
Can I ask what gentle cleanser you use?

I am trying and hoping I will find something one day lol, as I have gone through quite a few! And always had issues.

I use the Garnier original pink lidded Miceller Water, but I would rather follow with a wash at least a few nights a week.

So I have used for quite a while which helped clear up some areas. The CeraVE SA wash, but I have to limit use because otherwise it does burn a bit and cause redness but that is the counter affect of the SA. But it is good.

Tretinoin and Korean skincare.

It was either having a baby (? Hormones) or moving out of a city (? Pollution). Both happened around the same time so can't be sure what one it was, or maybe a combo of the two!

I'd like to know this too. It looks like you pay a subscription, but how many products do you get?

Glycolic acid toner (I use The Ordinary) with Acnecide for breakouts. It’s been a revelation and cheap as chips. Recommended by someone on here (thank you if you’re reading!)