I need to sort out my skin care regime HELP!

[navyeyelasH]

At the minute I use makeup wipes and occasionally remember to moisturise with this from garnier.

Every morning I wash with some elizabeth arden stuff which I randomly bought because the advert was convincing (has some other intervene products too).

I need a skincare broker, not just someone who is going to sell me their own products IYSWIM? Does such a thing exist? I normally just go to a department store and have probbaly used most things by most brands over the years!

I don't know what my skin is like, which is the main problem I think. I probably get spots once every other month, normally around my period and have 1 or 2 confined to my nose. But lately have had weird spots (possibly boils?) on my jaw line / middle of head (!). They never have a head, are lumpy and red and go after about 4/5 days, if I leave them alone. I ahve a few back heads on my nose which aren't that visible I don't think.

Would it be helpful to have a picture do you think so you MN experts should advise or is there a person in RL I can go and see? I know I should cleanse, tone and moisturise but that's the extent of my knowledge!

I'm 25 and don't smoke if that's important and I drink LOADS of water, don't like tea or coffee, and have a good diet I feel. Am partial to chocolate and red wine though , although even then only once a fortnight if that!

wow, you're young and have a healthy lifestyle - that's half the battle. I don't know of any skincare brokers, but having tried various products over the years (Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancome), I am very happy with the Liz Earle system and buy their products online. The best thing, I think, particularly for spots, is that their cleanser comes with a muslin that you use to wipe your face so it gets really clean and feels very fresh. Toner also helps to prevent spots, and the moisturiser is also very good, unless your skin is dry, the "normal" moisturiser is probably the best. You can order trial sizes of their products.

I would recommend ENVIRON products and microdermabrasion every 4-6 weeks.

If you live in north london, I can recommend a wonderful facialist. It sounds like you need extraction too and not all facials offer this.

I have heard rave reviews of Liz Earle stuff. A bunch of my friends in the U.K. use it. But it's difficult for me to get because I don't live in the U.K., so I stumbled upon the Boscia line of products. Sephora.com carries them. I love Boscia. All their stuff has willow herb in it to compbat redness and break-outs. I'm a bit older than you are but my skin still acts like a teenager occasionally (grr)and it's been wonderful since I started using Boscia.

hmm see here is the problem - 3 lovely replies (thank you btw) but 3 different products!

AIBU to just use a bar of soap and leave it at that

I think as well part of the problem is that I never know if something is working? I think my expectations are too high?

GAH!!!

I've recently decided to overhaul my regime lately as my skin is just not looking as fresh as it used to- I have similar probs to yours.
A beauty therapist told me to use alcohol and oil free products. Alcohol is in most wipes and toners and dries the skin, which then produces more oil to compensate and clogs the pores.
I've decided to cleanse, tone and moisturise (all I can cope with) with products from the same range as they are designed to work together so more effective than the sum of their parts IYSWIM.
I'm using Dermalogica which is pricey but feels amazing and cheaper than frequent facials I recon.
Good luck, my downfall is having the motivation time to do this twice a day

If you go to a facialist that offers a range of products, she will assess your skin and offer one that best suits you. A consultation will cost you nothing.

You should give a product a min of three months to see if it works, but you do need to use as directed.

An absolute must is to remove your make up at the end of the day!

Blackheads will only come out through gentle squeezing, which can be done at home after a hot bath.

More often than not, those who work on beauty counters are geared towards sales and are not qualified therapists, so I would contact your local salon.

IKWYM - I was always swapping products and ranges so my new mantra is just to stick with one range and be consitant.
My skin has improved and feels better to me, but I'm aware that I inspect my skin far more closely than anyone else would so I'm sure the same applies to you

I think you'd know it's working if your skin feels comfortable and looks good. That's what I noticed first, how comfortable my skin felt. Have also used Dermalogica in the past... yes, vvv pricey... didn't really do it for me...

Jacksmama - I agree with you on Dermalogica, it was awful on my skin - made me very dry and itchy.

I have used loads of different products but have been using Liz Earle cleanser (with muslin) for past month and am very happy with it.
I am 10 years older than your 25 years but prone to breakouts and the Liz Earle hot cloth stuff really seems to work.

I have heard great things of dermatoligca tryingTLG but they only do it at beautician style shops right?

P1umpudding so a facialist is my version of a broker? How do I go about finding a good one? I am in new area and none of my friends would use one so can't get a recommendation! Also didn't know it takes 3 months for something to work I usually give it a week tops .

Thanks for the help ladies, keep it coming. I'm going to get on google and see what comes up in my area.

I agree you should not ask beauty counter ladies, they work on sales targets.
A decent beauty salon will give you free advice, samples and are very friendly.
I get a staff discount on the Dermalogica BTW and have the large salon sizes so not as pricey!
Have also heard good things about Liz Earle and a friend who is mid 40's with amazing skin swears by Origins... Oh and good genetics, sleep and water.

Yes, I think a facialist is your version of a broker.

Dermalogica is great for some people, but not for others. Unfortunately you need to try these things, or you won;t know. If your budget allows, have a dermalogica facial to see if the products are suitable. You can also ask for samples. I think you'll know in about a week if a product really isn't for you. You can buy Dermalogica from salons or authorised suppliers - some pharmacies are stockists.

Clarins used to be brilliant for me, but now it make makes my skin greasy and my make up slide off.

Whilst I'm on the subject of make up, you should assess your foundation too as this could be the cause of break outs and pore blockage.

What are you trying to achieve (try and be specific).

Hmm I think I'm trying to achieve blemish free skin with an even tone without the use of makeup. At the minute I have odd random red patches & blemishes. I just want my skin to look really clear.

I use mac foundation at the min, and it's great but I want to start wearing less makeup day to day IYKWIM? There are just so many products that I'm overwhelmed!

I wonder if it would be worth it to be referred to a dermatologist to make sure you don't have rosacea? Just wondering because of the redness and blemishes you mentioned.

I am in my late thirties and have had difficult skin for years - firstly weird hormones, then dryness during pregnancy, then the whole aging and break-out-prone skin thing... I had days when I felt like the world's oldest teenager!!

My mum has a book by a dermatologist in which the author asks you a million questions about your skin, and then gives you a skin type. It's very specific, sensitive vs not, dry vs oily, aging vs not, and pigmented vs not. My type for example was oily, pigmented, sensitive and aging. (Doesn't that sound fabulous dahling... hollow laugh...) Anyway, the author gives lots of recommendations. She especially likes products by LaRoche-Posay. (I've used their Antheos sun screen and love it.) I do have to say that I sort of disagreed with her assessment of my skin in a few areas but it did point me in the right direction of what products to look for (a balancing toner rather than a oily-skin-stripping one, for example).
I've emailed Mum to ask her the title and the name of the author, as soon as she emails back (probably tomorrow) I'll come back and let you know.
I think as far as products are concerned, it is a trial and error thing, but personally, having had red patches and blemishes, I'd recommend trying relatively gentle, balancing products ike Liz Earle or Boscia. For the longest time I tried the minimalist route (soap and water, end of) thinking everything was irritating my skin. But the soap was stripping it so it got oilier. Now I do the cleanser, toner, oil-free moisturizer route, with an eye cream and a gentle salicylic acid blemish treatment that I mix a few drops of in my evening moisturizer.

Sorry, this ended up a bit long, but hey-ho... for what it's worth!

Ok if you go to this link there is a picture of my Sunday Morning make up free, dishevelled face. I am dossing around the house cleaning so look a right state and plus I have a 'tache in that picture (dies!), that is never normally like that!

I smudged the eyes in attempt to disguise myself; which doesn't quite work. Ho-hum.

That book sounds fab tee072, I think my skin in possibly combination with normal zone, oily zones and dry zones!

opps, I mean Jacksmama not tee072!

Hi,

Its difficult to recommend products as its very much trial and error finding something which suits your skin.

For the record I use a caudalie face wash in the morning and do the full cleansing thing in the evening with Eve Lom products.

The thing that has made the biggest difference though to my skin is using the muslim face cloths as part of the cleaning routine, it has completely cleared up my skin of blackheads and other nasties and leaves it so soft.

I also have combination skin and the moisturiser that I find works best is Clarins sensitive skin day cream.

Good luck!

Can you buy the muslins alone or do they only come with a product?
Stupid question but I'm guessing that they are not similar to the ones that you use for cleaning up baby sick?

I have just had a browse around the liz earle site and you can buy them on their own, here.

I'm going to order the small sizes and 2 cloths and give it a try. Thanks everyone. Now I need a perfect tinted moisturiser

I have hyper sensitive skin and use Dermalogica ultra calming cleanser. I also like Clinique Dramatically Different Gel along with Skineuticals C/E Ferulic. I have absolutely no idea what ferulic means, but the C/E is brilliant... (presumably vitamin C and vitamin E)

my dh got me this philosophy set for Xmas and I am totally addicted. It's sorted my skin out. It looks clear and bright, I highly recommend it.

I also adore Eve Lom.

Like Madonna, I was completely in love with crystal clear treatment - pricey but it works!!!

crystalclear.co.uk/PageDisplay.aspx?id=treatments

Unfortunately I have moved to somewhere that doesn't have a crystal clear treatment centre and my skin has really deteriated since!!!!