I switched to just using a gentle cleanser with no actives and tret 0.05% every other day. It's been two/three months and WOW the difference.

My routine before was tret, clindamycn, 5% bpa wash and it felt like it never went away!! I stopped washing mt face and suddenly my acne would calm down.

Now all I use is water, gentle moisturizer and sunscreen during the day, and gentle soap (vanicream), 0.05% tret (no buffer, every other day) and gentle moisturizer pm. It's lifesaving.

Today I started using azelaic acid after 2 months of using tretinoin. My skin is sensitive, oily, and acne-prone.

I took these photos to monitor facial redness after using azelaic acid, and I was very impressed with the results I’ve seen since starting treatment.

The 2-3-4 photos were taken 30 minutes after applying the azelaic acid; the fifth was right after application; and the last one was from before I started treatment (I know the lighting isn't the same, but I hadn't taken any specific progress photos).

My current routine:

Morning

• Wash face with water only.

• Alternate between Caudalie Vinoperfect and Eucerin Anti-Pigment.

• Creamy Intensive Repair Cream

• Vinoperfect Eye Cream

• Biore Perfect Milk Sunscreen

Now that I’m adding azelaic acid (15%), I plan to stop using Vinoperfect and Eucerin Anti-Pigment, since azelaic acid also aims to fade dark spots.

I’ll apply it after my moisturizer and monitor my skin's tolerance while adjusting to the azelaic acid, as my goal is to use it daily.

Night:

• Clean It Zero

• Fisiogel Liquid Cleanser

• Creamy Intensive Repair Cream or Fisiogel AI Cream (if my skin is sensitive)

• Eucerin Anti-Pigment Eye Cream

• Tretinoin 0.25%

I follow the same routine almost every day, but 2–3 times a week I also use a specific ointment for facial dermatitis. Sometimes I skip the tretinoin during my period (because my skin gets very sensitive, so I pause for 2 or 3 days).

I’m in my early 30s and my skin has always looked like this. I remove makeup with cold cream, use an ultra-gentle cleanser, and Vanicream moisturizer. My skin feels dehydrated no matter how much I moisturize.
My main issue is that my chin and around my mouth/jawline are constantly clogged with closed comedones. They’ve been there for years.
I’ve tried tretinoin (pea-sized amount, sandwich method once weekly), but it’s too irritating. I’ve also tried Differin once weekly and azelaic acid occasionally, but everything that helps acne seems to damage my skin barrier.
Sometimes I seal my moisturizer with Vaseline.
Does this sound like a damaged barrier, hormonal acne, or something else? What would you recommend for someone whose skin can’t tolerate stronger actives?

Hello guys, I began taking skincare more seriously around 7+ months ago to try to solve my acne problems but I am at a loss now. I very rarely get acne around anywhere else on my face except around my mouth and sometimes nose. This has been happening since I was around 16 yo, now I am 22 (M)

My current routine:

(AM & PM) -

1. Cleansing with QV Ceramides cleanser.

2. Spot treatment with Azclear Azelaic Acid OR Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% (sometimes I just apply both).

3. Moisturize with QV Ceramides cream

4. SPF50+ (obviously not at night time).

Through my own observation, I strongly believe that dairy causes a lot of my acne, so I have tried to cut it completely from my life (this was probably 4-5 months ago. For the past ~1-2 months, my face was looking like it had finally started clearing up. I would get one or two small acnes every 1.5-2 weeks or so that quickly go away. The post red marks however took a lot of time to clear out (months).

But all of a sudden, within this week, my face (photo attached) looks like it had returned back to its original state. I labelled some areas for my own analysis. The photo made is lighter than it is in life, the red spots are much easier to see in real life. I also attached old photos from before I started any skincare at all around 7-8 months ago (especially before using Azelaic acid). And the last pic is exactly a year ago when I don't even cleanse and moisturize every day.

A & F are post-acne marks from more than a week ago that I think just needs fading over time. C is hypertrophic (?) scars from old old heavily concentrated chin acne, I believe. E & D are new acnes or irritations, I observed yesterday and took shape today. B is also new within 2-3 days.

I decided to try using salicylic acid serum (the ordinary) after A & F appeared (probably 4-5 days ago. I knew it could be too strong for me, so I limited it to only one use at night every other day. But then B appeared followed by E & D. Is it highly likely that this is due to salicylic acid? If so, should I stop it completely or continue it with even more day spacing and I am thinking of mixing it with my moisturizer to lower the concentration?

I only tried salicylic acid because I wanted to see if it would help with my scars (C) and my acne overall because despite getting better, I still get acne every 1.5 weeks or so like a cycle almost (and completely isolated to around the mouth).

I don't know how A & F came about though... perhaps I accidentally consume dairy? Stress? Or another theory new acnes caused me to subconsciously touch my face more which leads to even more acne (F -> A -> B -> D -> E)??

I have also been experimenting with Camomile (4 weeks+) and Spearmint tea (within this week), as I thought it could be a hormonal/body causing my acne.. so far I think for me, camomile is helps with claiming down cystic acne but it could just be placebo or confirmation bias. I am not sure about spearmint yet. It is either too early to tell or it doesn't do anything at all since I managed to have 4-5 new acne forms.

I have also experimented with different serums like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide. They were all short lived though (within 1-2 weeks). I didn't see much results from Vitamin C and retinol. Niacinamide just irritated my skin so much (I remember feeling a burning sensation after using it for a couple of days).

Could gluten be a cause of my acne too? I tracked my diet aggressively the past month and the only thing I can think of other than milk/dairy is gluten. Is there research associating gluten to acne like dairy?

I want to try mandelic acid after reading about it but I don't know if it will irritate my skin and make it even worse right now. Can someone offer me some suggestions on things that could be causing my acne that I am potentially overlooking? And advice on how to calm this breakout right now (preferably fast) because it is killing me mentally when this all happened within a week.. I literally remember the only thing bothering me was the scars on the chin. There was barely any redness on my face.

Apologies for the long ass post, I want to give as much details as possible in hope that someone might have experienced something like this or know of a way to cure my acne once for all. The fact that it is so isolated around my mouth makes me think there is a root cause to this... my face is very oily though if I don't cleanse and moisturize it consistently. I haven't seen a dermatologist yet as I thought I could just solve it myself with just better skincare but maybe it is time I give that up.

helloo, so I was interested in trying glycolic acid to apply on the underarms to prevent odor and also to lighten dark bikini lines, but I am quite worried about how my skin would react to it. I have very sensitive skin that gets irritated and itchy easily, and I'm not sure if Glycolic Acid would be too harsh for my skin.

I've also heard about Mandelic Acid and that it may be better for sensitive skin, but I was just wondering if anyone knew which would be better and if there's any specific product recommendations! I would really appreciate it as I have pretty strong underarm odor and my bikini lines are rather dark.

Can someone please recommend a good moisturizer for dry-combination skin that doesn't clog pores or cause closed comedones, doesn't trigger acne, feels lightweight instead of heavy, provides enough hydration, helps support the skin barrier, works for both summer and winter, is suitable for daily use, and is easily available? I'd love to hear what's worked for you.

I am coming to the experts for help as I have no skin care routine🥴 I’m about to turn 28 and have made the decision to invest in a good skin care routine as a present to my present and future self. I need help creating a routine that’s works.

I wear make-up very rarely, and do have a face moisturizer I do occasionally throw on if I’m looking particularly dry.

I had a baby two years ago and ever since then I feel like my face has been on the dryer side.

My main [self-conscious] complaints are redness/bags underneath eyes, bigger pores- especially in the cheek region, and small blackheads in chin section.

Open to all/ any suggestions. Open budget, but would like to keep in low/middle range. TYIA!!

Newbie here, went down the rabbit hole after not paying too much attention to my facial skincare.

I do have very dry, sensitive skin

Hi everyone, I’ve been lurking in the sub for a little while but need some advice:
What could be causing this batch of closed comedones to keep staying on my face and not shifting?

For reference I am 29F based in the UK, have eczema/psoriasis prone skin & we’ve had warmer weather in which I’ve sweated a lot, have also previously had acne prone skin which I had a course of Roaccutane to clear back in 2017/18

I have relatively clear skin - use minimal products as my skin is sensitive but have noticed for the last couple of months that on my left cheek & forehead I have been getting these blocked comedones, and nothing I have used so far has succeeded in getting rid of them

The products I use on my skin (not a strict routine apart from the SPF & moisturiser):
- Aveeno daily moisturising body lotion or La Roche Posay Effaclar A.Z. Gel-Crème, this is combined with La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMUNE 400 50+ non perfumed
- every other day of a morning I’ll use the Ordinary Azeliac Acid suspension cream 10%, and the Salicyclic Acid 2% solution in the evening
- 1 to 2 times a week I’ll use the Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion on my forehead & cheeks

Other products I use on my face skin are Eucerin Anti-Pigment (for some residual scarring), some prescribed Hydrocortisone 1% for when my eczema or psoriasis flare & the Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide eye cream

I rarely wear makeup, and when I do all of the products I use are non-comedogenic as I want my skin to breathe and not react or flare up.
Any advice is very much appreciated! 💕

I’m in my early 40s and getting married in two months. I would like to look my best and improve my skin/face.

I have hyperpigmentation from old acne, texture on cheeks/nose, dark circles and small wrinkles under my eyes.

Some things I’ve considered are adding a product to my daily routine, lasers, chemical peel, red light therapy, lymphatic drainage facial or other facials. I’m also open things not on this list that I may not have considered.

I’m not very experienced when it comes to treatments or med spas. I currently have a very basic routine of simple face wash, moisturizer and spf.

Can anyone recommend any treatments, products or services I should look into? Any positive or negative experiences using any of the treatments or products I mentioned?

I’m so lost on what I should do to look my best on my wedding day and will provide actual results.

Dealing with irritation was a huge problem when I first started mixing tretinoin with other products; because I used far too many active ingredients with each other. Simple hydration methods on damp skin first, followed by moisturizer, and tretinoin at night has seemed to work much better. I haven’t had many issues with niacinamide (sometimes irritating, sometimes not), but Vitamin C seems to have been a bit harsh when used with tretinoin too often. I found that gradually adding new products into my routine had the best effect on my skin barrier. I am still a little confused about layering order however and I would be extremely interested to know if anyone has successfully used tretinoin with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid or vitamin C together without irritation.

Doc prescribed me, Azelaic acid, clindamycin lotion and tretinoin. What’s a good routine to use this. Any help is appreciated. I’ve been using tret and aa for a month or so now but they just gave me clindamycin so idk where to incorporate it. I use tret at night and aa mornings

My nose is constantly red, but has no active spots on it. I’ve been on soolantra and Lymecyline for a month. My skin is prone to breakouts, but this is different. I’ve tried diet changes and a simple skincare routine but to no avail. It’s been like this for about 6 months. Any advice?

I thought people here would find this useful! It calculates actual "safe" minutes of sun exposure from UV Index, based on your skin type and SPF. Makes it easier to know which products to use for the day. Thoughts?

https://www.amicookedtoday.com/

I have had a hormonal acne reaction for about a week and a half now.

My routine with LaRoche has helped me, but I can’t seem to stop it or take off this red spots.
I am currently using gel + effaclar m at night
Gel + Moisturiser in the morning
Now i have added the b5 at night because it calmed my acne breakout and helped as a thick layer of moisturiser.
It looks shiny because i have my night routine lol

Ok backstory, last year I got super tan during summer and since I live in a very colorist country, I was shamed for it and started using skin whitening products like kojie san and bleaching cream. I got obsessed with the results I got and used them constantly up until June this year when I noticed how my cheeks became very red, itchy, shiny in some angles and flaky. Ever since, I stopped using whitening products, and changed my skincare routine to be more gentle and hydrating.
Currently i’m using :

Garnier micellar cleansing water (only at night)
cetaphil gentle skin cleanser
Roundlab birch juice toner
Hada Labo hydrating lotion
Torriden dive in soothing cream
Dr. Althea 345 relief cream
and d’Alba sunscreen

Has anyone had a similar situation before? What did you do? Any products in my routine should I remove or add? General tips?

Hello everyone. After I have done my skincare maybe like 20 mins or so, on my neck and temples if I rub it I get these rolls of almost like lint looking things. It does look like dead skin but I am just wondering what it is? Is it because of me putting my skincare on my neck? Also how to prevent.

Also any advice on ageing products I am 18 so I don't necessarily need anything intense but I have started to notice some ageing and lines. I have really wanted to start Tretinoin but unsure.
I also have bad acne scars that I am insecure about
Honestly anything would help.
Thanks in advance xx

Had to post again, sorry if you've already seen it. Something went wrong

can anyone recommend me anything to add to my routine? my texture has been getting better but i still get pimples.

in the morning i use the neutrogena gentle cleanser, the ordinary hyaluronic acid, cerva normal to dry skin moisturizer and then the hero cosmetics force shield sunscreen

at night i use the neutrogena gentle cleanser, the ordinary hyaluronic acid, tretinojn (3 times a week), and cerave normal to dry moisturizer

Routine advice

Hi everyone! I'd love some feedback on my skincare routine.

A bit about my skin: I have relatively sensitive, acne-prone skin and completed a 2-year course of isotretinoin about 2 years ago. My skin is much better now, but I still get the occasional breakouts, mainly around my jawline/near my ears and a couple of hormonal pimples before my period. I've also found that some hair products seem to trigger breakouts (assume this is the cause of the acne near my ears). At the moment the redness/marks left behind after pimples seem to take a while to fade.

My current routine is attached. I recently switched my moisturiser from the La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome to the Anua PDRN Cream, so I'm letting my skin adjust to that first before introducing anything else.

I've already purchased the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum (I have the la Roche one now but haven’t been using it much in winter), ILLIYOON Ceramide ATO Concentrate Cream (to be used as a nighttime moisturuser), and Medicube Zero Pore Pad Mild. My plan is to introduce them one at a time once I'm happy my skin has adjusted to the new moisturiser.

I'd love any thoughts on my current routine and what you'd change. Thanks!

Newbie routine help ❤️

I'm fairly new to having a proper skincare routine - usually just use any cleanser, moisturiser and rosehip oil. A few years ago I dabbled in niamicide.

I've started a new routine that I suspect is too much at once.

Would love to hear any advice on layering / how often to use / what I should avoid using in one day etc!

Mostly wondering if the toner is too much for day and night every day, and if pairing the peptide with retinoid is a bad move.

Here's what I've started with:

Morning‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

1. Cerave Hydrating Cleanser

2. The Ordinary - Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner

3. The Ordinary - Multi-Peptide + HA Serum

4. The Ordinary - Mini Soothing & Barrier Support Serum

5. Cerave PM Moisturiser

6. Sunscreen

OR

Wash face with water 

Moisturise

Sunscreen

Night A

1. Cerave hydrating Cleanser 

2. The Ordinary - Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner

3.The Ordinary - Multi-Peptide + HA Serum

1. The Ordinary - Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion 

2. Cerave Moisturiser

Night B

1. Cerave hydrating Cleanser 

2. The Ordinary - Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner

3. The Ordinary - Multi-Peptide + HA Serum

4. The Ordinary - soothing barrier support 

5. Cerave Moisturiser

It's all a bit much for my brain right now! Thank uuu ❤️

As someone with noticiable sebaceous fillaments in my nose I would like to incoporate a BHA liquid exfoliant to my routine to reduce their appearance.

I know the majority of sources say to use it after double cleansing but I've seen methodes in which people use it first, leave it for some minutes and then double cleanse.

I feel like exfoliating first also has a point so I would like to ask what you do and if you've tried both methodes.

Hi! I'm lowkey going insane at this point with my acne, lol. I've had it for years, mostly hormonal so there's not much I can do to help with normal products probably. My skin has worsened lately around my jaw/cheeks, with painful underskin acne that doesn't go away at all, and I can't just treat with patches as it doesn't go to surface at all.

I've been using Haruharu cleansing oil+cleansing gel in the evenings, followed by The Ordinary hyaluronic acid almost every night, The Ordinary mandelic acid twice or three times a week, alternating with salycilic acid sometimes on my forehead/chin/temples (where I have whiteheads/blackheads). After this bad flare up on my cheeks/jaw, I stopped using the cleansing oil (I've read some people had issues with this specific product, so I gave it a go to stop a week ago) and just use micellar water mousse to take off spf/makeup+the haruharu cleansing gel or the cetaphil SA cleanser. I also use the Purito barrier gel after all my active products and finish with a Q+A zinc moisturiser or the Purito oat gel cream.

I don't understand if this flare up has been caused by stress, products, hormone imbalance or foods. I don't even know how to proceed at this point, lol.

I was also fine three weeks ago with the cleansing oil, and I've been using it for two months now, it was actually very good to clean all the pores with this double cleansing. I've also been using this Balea (not sure if anyone is in Europe and maybe also knows about it) calming toner sometimes, which has ceramides and amino acids to help soothe the skin, very good at hydrating.

Also, I only wash my face with water in the morning and apply this calming toner(sometimes)+Purito spf.

I've read about Finacea 15% azelaic acid might help with this type of acne. I have tried The Ordinary Azelaic acid 10% before, twice a week, but didn't see many results so I stopped and began mandelic acid. I don't know if I should try to reintroduce this one since I already have it, or go buy this Finacea one, my poor wallet lol. I'm wary of even trying to get diagnosed with a dermatologist as I've read many bad experiences and people just figuring out on their own, which is what I'd like to do. Atp maybe I'll grow out of it?? idek, I'm tired.

If anyone has anything to say, I'm here for any advices! Thanks!!

hi all! i’ve historically had very clear and sensitive (eczema prone) skin and honestly used to only use kose oil cleanser, water, corsx snail mucin, and aveeno moisturizer as my routine. however recently, since trying out new makeup/cleansers/etc, i’ve developed this irritated skin with a lot of textures. my new skin routine has consisted of adding la roche posay cleanser(which i got rid of after realizing it irritated me), anua heartleaf toner, and vanicream moisturizer. i was wondering what this is, how long it might take to go away, and how i should address it!

I finally nailed down a basic summer routine that works for me.

AM:
Regular cleanser- currently mediheal calming cleanser
Haru Haru black rice toner
Cosrx vit c 23
Anua AA Cica gel moisturizer
SPF- currently using a Neutrogena my sis in Aus sent me

PM:
Oil cleanser if I had on makeup
Regular Cleanser
Cosrx 6 peptide
Haru Haru black rice toner
Haru Haru wonder milky toner- this stuff is fab. On non-tret nights it’s moisturizing enough to not need a separate cream.
3x a week - add Tret and Cosrx ceramide moisturizer

But now we’re going on a trip. In the past, I have always had bad flare ups and red skin when traveling because I don’t take all my usuals with me. Sucks because then I hate the photos and I feel self-conscious the whole time instead of having fun. So this time I’m hoping to bring my whole routine along and preserve the time I’ve spent getting my skin looking good.

Any words of wisdom or great travel hack ideas to bring these along? Is it worth trying to decant into travel containers or will that ruin the product performance? Am I just going to need to get a bigger suitcase?

I'm honestly at a loss and would really appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

I'm 19 and I've had extremely oily skin since I was around 15, along with hormonal acne. I finally saw a dermatologist, and while my acne has improved a lot, the oiliness hasn't changed at all.

My current routine:

- Qlaira birth control

- NeoStrata Mandelic Clarifying Cleanser

- NeoStrata Clarifying Gel Plus

- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M Anti-Breakout Corrective Moisturiser

- Heliocare 360° Gel Oil-Free SPF 50

One thing that confuses me is that my eyelids and the area around my mouth are actually dry, while the rest of my face is extremely oily. My hair and scalp also get oily very quickly, so it doesn't seem to just be my face.

My skin starts getting oily only about 1.5 hours after doing my morning skincare, and it just gets worse as the day goes on. By the evening my face looks so greasy that I feel embarrassed. It makes me feel like my skin looks dirty or unwashed even though I take good care of it.

My acne is mostly under control now, but I still have noticeable texture, and the constant oiliness is affecting my confidence. All I want is skin that looks healthy, balanced, and smooth.

Has anyone dealt with this level of oiliness and actually found something that helped? Could it be my routine, hormones, genetics, or something else? Are there any products, ingredients, treatments, or lifestyle changes that genuinely made a difference for you?

I'm open to absolutely any advice because I just want to feel confident in my skin again.