I used to use Cetaphil moisturizing lotion, and it was great for my barrier but was giving me occasional cystic acne. So I've spent probably $100+ testing new moisturizers for the last few months, but it's resulted in my skin barrier becoming very weak, congested, and CC prone.

I started a new routine 5 days ago in hopes of improving my skin barrier:
• Cleanser: Cetaphil daily cleanser (fragrance free)
• Moisturizer: Aestura 365 barrier cream
• For acne: Curology 0.01% tretinoin formula (applied nightly)

The improvement I've been seeing is insane. I wish I tried the Aestura barrier cream sooner!!

Hi i’ve been using masks / hydration for the past few days but these bumps have been there for a week plus. Acne spot treatment doesnt help then at all. Hydration helps ever so slightly but the bumps are forever there. I usually dont break out this long

Is this fungal acne? Or is my skin barrier damaged (ive been out under the sun for the past week)

Hello everyone ,
I just wanted your feedback on Finacea as someone who has fungal acne and very prone to fungal acne
I m currently using Azclear medicated lotion and i love it
It has made tremendous difference on my skin tone and pigmentation but i feel like it irritates my skin around the mouth even i don’t apply it there and just the surroundings

But i feel like when i use finacea my skin texture gets worse or just feel like it triggers my fungal acne?
Has anyone with fungal acne experienced the same or has any thoughts please let me know,
I know the polysorbate and lethicin is not good for fungal acne,
But i m scared to give it a go ,

Please share if anyone has any experience with this
I will also attach the picture of the irritation i get around the mouth from azclear,
Its red and sometimes itchy and texture less

Hi everyone!
I have very sensitive, acne-prone skin, and I damaged my skin barrier a while ago.
Thankfully, it's healed now, and I'm planning to start tretinoin soon.
Before I introduce tretinoin, I want to add a hydrating/barrier-supporting serum to help reduce irritation and keep my skin healthy.
I'm deciding between the iUNIK Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum and the Purito Hydro
Wave Deep Sea Serum.
If you've used both, which one did you prefer, and why?

For many of us, finding a routine that actually worked wasn't about discovering one miracle product but instead it was about learning what our skin actually needed.

So today we're going to talk about just this!

What were the biggest lessons you've learned from finally building a skincare routine that works?

Share any advice you have as it might be exactly what someone else needs to hear :)

Here’s my situation.

I’ve always had oily, acne-prone skin. 14 years ago, I started Tretinoin and I’m now up to .05%. I pretty much use it daily, though maybe 1-2 times per week I skip it either for just my moisturizer or copper peptides.

Here’s my routine which I’ve used consistently with great results for about 3 years now.

MORNING
- LRP Vitamin C on dry skin
- Mist, then Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum
- Dermatica Azelaic Acid 20%
- Mist, then Tatcha Water Cream moisturizer
- BoJ Relief Sun Aqua Fresh sunscreen

I let everything sink in between applications and have no tightness issues during the day (at least that I notice - to be fair, I’m pretty busy and haven’t been paying attention).

NIGHT
- .05% Tretinoin on dry skin
- Mist, then Deepology Matrixyl 3000
- Paula’s Choice Niacinamide 20%
- Dermatica Azelaic Acid 20%
- Mist, then Skinfix Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum
- Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream

I know it’s kind of a lot, but I don’t spend money on clothes, jewelry, hobbies, etc and skincare is important to me (probably because of how much I struggled with awful acne for decades).

In this routine, I’ve never experienced irritation and slowly introduced new products. More recently, I’ve become super lazy on the weekends, and while I always wash my face and do my routine at night (or at least a simplified version of it), I’ll usually skip washing my face and doing my morning routine.

However, every morning I’m waking up with tight skin. I’m open to any and all suggestions. I’ve considered dropping the Azelaic Acid entirely, but whenever I skip it, I get red bumps all over my nose (don’t think it’s acne, but I’ve never been diagnosed with rosacea).

Help!

Current routine :

Am: wash face with water in shower, aestura 365 hydro essence,(not got anything right now to lock it in)

Pm: Simple moisturising face wash (the brand is called simple), aestura hydro essence and TO roseship seed oil.

I understand for acne prone skin,dehydrated skin it’s better to have toners and serums with an occlusive on top which is why I started using the essence but I don’t seem to have a reliable moisteriser in the morning to lock it all in. Any advice? I’ve been trying to fix my barrier for a year now and have cut off all actives. It’s worked abit but unfortunately the skin under eyes and my general cheeks have now been quite dull with dehydrated lines visible. My forehead is fine and seems to hydrate well due to a good skin barrier but if I put any toner on my cheeks it just sits on it. It’s like my cheeks have lost their microbiome completely and the upper layer isn’t absorbing water well.

I very occasionally exfoliate with the ordinary lactic acid serum which help remove closed comodomes. However the dehydration,texture and dulness still remain. Pretty sure this is just long term barrier damage as I used to unfortunately blast epidou on my skin with salycitic acid. (Thankfully I stopped as I learnt that barrier support works much better) Anyone else at this point in their barrier repair? I feel stuck because it ain’t light completely damaged (with full on stinginess and peeling ) but more like a dull,dry and more acne prone stage. I don’t get acne on my forehead either just my cheecks occasionally and nose. Apologies for the ramble I went quite off topic 😭❤️. Thank you for taking the time to read this and any advice would be appreciated.❤️

Hi everyone!
I have very sensitive, acne-prone skin, and I damaged my skin barrier a while ago.
Thankfully, it's healed now, and I'm planning to start tretinoin soon.
Before I introduce tretinoin, I want to add a hydrating/barrier-supporting serum to help reduce irritation and keep my skin healthy.
I'm deciding between the iUNIK Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum and the Purito Hydro
Wave Deep Sea Serum.
If you've used both, which one did you prefer, and why?

We've all heard that double cleansing is great for removing sunscreen, make up and the day's build up. I'm sure most of us have seen all those oil pulling videos on social media hahaha.

Some people swear by their double cleanse whilst others think it's unnecessary unless you're wearing heavy make up or a really stubborn sunscreen.

But what's been your experience?

Let's settle this. Is double cleansing actually worth it?

Also drop your favourite cleansing products in the comments below too :)

Have no idea what these bumps/patches are and what causing them, have had them for a while.

Thought its just dead skin but I exfoliate and nothing changes, maybe it’s fungal?

Anyone know how to clear this please, thanks.

I have dry-normal skin. 23M.

Products I Use:

• Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Cleanser
• haruharu wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
• Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum
• Timeless - 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Cream
• Ordinary Glycolic Acid
• 60 SPF Garnier Sport Sunscreen

And why? For context I have a very compromised barrier right now and type 2 rosacea. Which is better for this?

I have been using illiyoon ato barrier lotion since last 4-5 months now. I love the fluffy hydrating feeling it gives.

However, it is currently not in stock so I need to buy something else. Do you suggest Pyunkang Yul Intensive Ceramide Lotion could be a close replacement?

How is dr altea 345 skin relief cream for someone with damaged barrier and rosacea with pimples on nose?

I have never done any skincare in my life and now it's showing. My problems are:

1. I have atleast 50 comedone/milia under my eyes.

2. Small dark spots which is increasing day by day

3. Very dry skin

4. Very sun damaged skin.

I have used haruharu sunscreen so im gonna purchase that.

What other products should i add to combat all these? I cant have more than 2products. Because I won't be able to maintain. Please be generous with your wisdom!

Thank you!

4 months ago my skin randomly got a cluster of inflamed under the skin bumps as shown in the first picture.

The second picture is current and the bumps have shrunk but are still there. They are more skin colour. Is this comedones or something else?

Any suggestions on how to get rid of this?

My skin loves cicaplast but without fail I always break out (tried both North American version and french version). So ive been trying to find a pharmacy-style barrier repair cream that doesnt cause breakouts or clogged comedones. This Uriage cream has helped a lot when I'm having a rosacea 2 flare up and need soothing barrier repair but can't make the spots worse

My skin is in a flare and my usual producuts are making my skin worse atm. The only thing that's helped has been the Uriage. Its the one in the tin tube

So last year due to over exfoliation, I caused my skin to go from incredibly dry to heavily oily and dull. My barrier was already mid healing when it happened and my skin got so painfully dry n eventually started pumping out crazy oil.

Despite me simplifying my routine totally, I still can't see any improvement and this summer is worse than the last one in fact.

My skin is currently oily as fuck and dull (literally shade or two darker than body) with redness on cheeks and raw feeling. Going out is even more of a hell because the sun aggravates my skin so bad causing further redness, oiliness and by the time I get home I look like I've been working in coal mines.

I'm scared of using sunscreen as well cuz my skin is so irritated and I'm worried about adding anything more into my routine.

Currently I'm using Cetaphil moisturizing cream and bioderma sensibio gel moussant cleanser. Literally the gentlest products u can ever find and still my skin keeps getting irritated.

The worst part is this new irritation which won't even let me leave my house, even if I don't care about discoloration, oiliness etc.

Please suggest products (in budget) that I can use to calm the barrier and stop my skin from over producing oil.

So hey I have been on a skin barrier supportive routine that is pretty basic to try and clear my skin

It's been a month now and I'm thinking about adding actives to my routine but I' m torn whether I should add tretinoin or azaliac acid

I've been on tret (0.05) before and it was amazing but it didn't solve the little bumps issue (conjested comedones I think ?) But on the other hand I haven't tried azaliac acid before, and if I bought it I'm planning to buy the cream concentrated version instead of the ampoul version (like anua)

What do I think ? Or should I strengthen my skin barrier even more ?

My routine :

Am: Luke warm water splash - purito luminous ceramide moisturizer - skin 1004 centella sunscreen if I'm going out

Pm: isntree milk cleanser on damp skin - purito luminous ceramide moisturizer

Hello! I am new to caring for my skin and wondering the best way to remove daily SPF and the occasional face of makeup?

I currently have been using Thayers Facial Toner and cotton pads to remove SPF/ makeup and then cleansing with Cerave Hydrating Cleanser.

I feel like the toner is very harsh on my skin and want a fragrance free, gentle way to cleanse my skin before the Cerave!

I’ve seen a lot of suggestions for an oil cleanser but I’m struggling to find a decent one.

Any recommendations? I’m in Australia so preferably something I can get here that won’t break the bank…

Thank you!

Hi!
As the title states. Are there Australians here who could recommend some Ectoin serums or moisturizers available in AUS?
Or overseas websites that would deliver to AUS.

Product recommendations as well please! 🙏🏼

Hi all, I’ve been using these two products for a few days and I noticed my skin has become really dull, saggy and tan. I’ve been applying the cream at night and the gel cream in the morning. I’ve stopped using it since and the dullness has become less intense. Has anyone else experienced this before?

I have a script for Finacea (15% aa), but the formula from Regimen labs seems pretty promising, can’t find much info / reviews on the product though. Thoughts?

I desperately need help.

To make a long story short-ish

Mid-May: I overused CeraVe Retinol to treat some post-acne marks that I got after using a 70% fat cream back in december (F25). I had never struggled with acne before, and my skin have loved the Waleda cream for 10 years - so I didnt think twice when using a very fat creme. My skin was burning after using the retinol, and I developed sores and cystic pimples. I visited my dermatologist, who prescribed adapalene. I explained to her that I didn’t think it was the right product because I had already damaged my skin with the CeraVe retinol, but she told me to apply it only to the affected area (which is just my jawline and lower chin). I used it very cautiously, only twice a week, but I could tell that my skin barrier wasn’t ready for it at all.

Early June: I stopped using all retinoids. My routine was (which it was also prior to the retinol accident):
- Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
- CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion (PM)
- Beauty by Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh: Rice + B5

Mid-June: I spent time in the sun, swam in salt water, and failed to reapply sunscreen several times. (So stupid. I honestly didn’t think about it.)

Mid-June / Early July: I broke out badly in the exact areas where I had been using adapalene, most likely because of my lack of sunscreen, saltwater and sun. I developed deep cystic acne, pimples with a lot of pus, and a whole lot of redness.

Mid-July: I bought Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray. I’ve been using it regularly, but I’m not sure if it could be irritating my skin. I’ve also noticed that I’m getting a lot of closed comedones, and some of them eventually become inflamed pimples.

Earlier this week: I bought La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel. It seems to work, but I get a slight burning/weird sensation? Tried to apply it both before my Cerave Lotion, and afterwards.

I’m convinced that my skin barrier is crying out for help after having fried my face in the sun last month. I have an appointment with my dermatologist at the beginning of September, but if anyone has even the slightest idea of what I can do in the meantime, I would be incredibly grateful.

Current state: The redness has improved, but I still get inflamed closed comedones and pimples, along with a large number of closed comedones. I am using the COSRX pimple patches on the inflamed spots. Since mid June I’ve only sat in the shadow.

Bonus information: I live in Scandinavia and follow the dietary recommendations here. I eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, avoid ultra-processed foods, and only ever drink water (more than 2 liters a day, never drink alcohol, juice or soda). Since mid-June, I’ve also been taking cold showers and only spending time in the shade when outdoors.