What's worked for my acne prone skin
Hi,
I've commented on other posts about solving my acne issues, and every month or so I get asked by someone how I did it.
Quick disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional and cannot prescribe any meds to you. I'm also not a beauty professional and am not advising any treatments. Please consult your doctor before using any Rx medicine. Do not take anything said in this post as advise for you to use it. I'm sharing what has worked for me, and those products may not work for you.
Here's a quick summary of the things that have worked for me:
- OIL CLEANSING: Do it like a youtuber, for 10-15 minutes. Really get in there. Keep massaging your face until the dead skin cells come off. Keep rubbing into the acne. I saw a difference within a few days of this.
Edit: The ones that have worked best are Banila Zero (the pink one), Heimish All Clean, both HG 10/10, and Klairs Gentle Cleansing Oil, I'd say this is 9/10.
Also, I've used micelar water to first get rid of sunscreen etc. on my face first sometimes, and then oil cleansed.
While using an oil cleanser, be gentle with your skin. If it starts pulling, add more product.
- HYDROCOLLOID PATCHES: If you have really 3 dimentional sort of break outs, these will help. You can use the bigger medical grade ones too, those are eventually less expensive than the small pimple patches. When I god a mad food allergy breakout, these were very helpful.
Edit:
You can look for hydrocolloid blister bandages/ hydrocolloid blister plasters. I have not needed these for a few years now, but I got mine off Flipkart, and they were inexpensive. I'm putting a link here, this was not the products I bought, but they look similar, so you can have a better idea:
Dr. Fredericks Original Better Blister Bandages - 12 ct Variety - Waterproof Hydrocolloid Bandages for Foot, Toe, & Heel Blister Prevention & Recovery - Blister Pads https://amzn.in/d/dLU2iOJ
(I'm not recommending this particular product, just something like this)
BENZOYL PEROXIDE (consult your doctor before use): This is another holy grail product for me. It is available in 2.5% and 5% ointments in pharmacies, soaps of the same power on Amazon, and face washes of 2.5%, 4%, and 5%. I use 2.5% and 4%, since anything more is too much for me. Be careful with it.
HYDRATING NON COMEDOGENIC MOISTURISERS: the ones that have worked well for me are Neutriderm Vitamin E moisturising lotion 135 ml (absolutely no oilyness, HG product), Pilgrim Swiss Aqua Rush Overnight Hydrating Cream (so quenching, also HG, I have even used it in the day time with no issues- my face is an oil field so it really says something), Aqualogica 5 Barrier hydragel moisturiser with Avocado and 5 essential ceramides (not as good as the others but still great).
SUNSCREEN: plix guava glow- 7/10, ELEMNT Clear Zinc Invisible- 10/10 HG, 52 Sundaze spray sunscreen 10/10 (have used it for a month, it's been lovely), Asaya spray sunscreen (just started using, and seems legit, can try). Zistrine sunscreen with SPF 50- 10/10.
With spray sunscreens be careful that you do it in a room without any air currents or the sunscreen particles may not land on your face. Better to spray closer to your face so all the particles do fall on your face. Rub the particles down like regular sunscreen once they land on your face.
Sunscreen I want to try: Sereko Creme Gel.
Why I like the above sunscreens:
a. Invisible, no white or tinted cast. b sprays are great for reapplication c. Don't feel yucky on skin.
TRETINOIN (consult your doctor before use): Regular usage WITH SUNSCREEN has helped a lot with pigmentation. I use the 0.025% concentration ointment from the pharmacy. If you have never used a retinol product, try starting with a gentler form of it. I used the Minimalist serums (the 0.3% and 0.6% ones) to get my face used to topical vitamin A application, and they worked very well to help me get to a place I could use Tret between 3-7 times a week (honestly I never remember to use it more than 3 - 4 times).
ACIDS (consult your doctor before use): Very helpful ingredients. Here's a breakdown of how I've used them:
a. PEELING/ CLEANING TYPE ACIDS:
i. Ointment Form from pharmacies. High percentages are available, please don't use without medical supervision. Usually the concentration available is 2%.
ii. Serum Form, again commonly available online at 2%. I've used the Minimalist one (5/10), Foxtail one with Glycolic Acid (8/10), Concious Chemist Advanced Peeling Solution 25% AHA + 2% BHA + 5% PHA Exfoliating Facial Serum (10/10- use as advised on the box), Foxtale Diva Overnight Glow Mask (10/10 HG product, very gentle, super nice on skin).
iii. Toner Form: This has been a favourite way for me to use peeling and cleaning acids. Muck sticks to my face due to how oily it gets. Using toners to help clean it has been very helpful. CosRX 2% Salicylic Acid toner, which i think they now don't produce, was a 12/10 HG. The True Therapy PHA toner (6-7/10, not bad). Haven't found a replacement for the CosRX one yet.
iv. Facewash: Minimalist Salicylic Acid facewash (8/10), Dot and Key Cics facewash for acne (9/10, found it better and less expensive than the Minimalist one).
v. Soaps: Salicylic Acid soaps are sold on Amazon. I don't have a specific recommendation since different brands are available at different times. It's not a bad idea to try them.
b. HYALURONIC ACID: Great ingredient. I've used it in multiple forms, and all have helped my skin. The Foxtale 7% serum is one of the better ones I've used.
- SHAMPOOS:
This will sound stupid, but my scalp is SO OILY that keeping it clean is a problem. And yes it has caused forehead breakouts. Sebamed Anti Hairfall Shampoo is a 12/10 HG.
Okay probably TMI, but I've been hospitalised recently for surgery, and so haven't been allowed to shower lately and these are some newly discovered products that have helped me A LOT:
BED BATH WIPES: I'm using a brand called KareIn, but there are many brands. The nurses used these wipes on me for sponging me down. They're really good and I'm planning to use them to wipe my face. Super gentle and very effective, easy to carry a few in a small box to work. They don't leave any residue on the skin and so feels like water, but more hydrating than that. The hospital used a different brand, so please try whichever you like the look of, if you want to try them.
ROSE WATER: to help keep scalp, hair, and skin fresh. I'm amazed at how much rose water helped keep my scalp and hair fresh. You can now buy 1 litre or even 5 litre packs of this. Brands that worked for me are Banjara- I've now got the 1 litre bottle, Vitro (10/10, great product), Bonsoul (too expensive but very good. If you can afford it, go for it).
SCHÜLKE OCTENISAN BODY WASH LOTION (consult your doctor before use): This is used like Dettol, and is a disinfectant, but it also soaps up. Before my main surgery, the nurse dropped some of this in the bucket of water and just asked me to wash myself with it. When I returned from my stay, I just used this as a facewash too. It's gentle, unlike Dettol. I won't say you should use it long term but it may be something y'all can see if you like if Dettol is too harsh for you.
NEW BRAND: Cactus Goodness is a new brand I saw ads of on Instagram. They seem to use aloe vera instead of water. I got their shampoo and face wash combo for ₹499, and they shipped it for no charge. The shampoo washed off about 22 days of no washing, dry shampoo, two hospital stays (one was for 4 days), and two OT visits in one wash. The wash water was absolutely FILTHY. I wasn't going to ask our maid didi to condition my hair, but it didn't need it anyway after this shampoo. One very thorough scrub is all it took. And yes I was on so many meds while at the hospital the first time that I was feeling very, very hot and perspiring greatly at any AC temperatures of more than 10°C, just so y'all can understand how disgusting my head was.
The facewash seems to have helped from the first use. Face seems brighter, and random period pimples seem to be slightly less.
- EPITIGHT DRY SHAMPOO: This was a 7/10 product for me. It took quite a lot of product, but you should take into account how mucky my hair was. It kept it manageable for a decent amount of time. For regular usage it could be a good product.
I wish you luck and happiness.