Confused? Help me on where to start....

[srburk]

The necessary background info: I'm 37. I have always had acne, save a short stint in my 20s involving bcp..which I will never ever do again. Now, add to the acne....new blackheads (grrr), closed comedones (double grrr), some wrinkles at my forehead and eyes, and large pores on and next to my nose. I have a very oily t-zone and eyelids 10 months out of the year, as I live in a very humid place that is 100+ degrees in the summer. I am very pale and it's fair to say my skin is sensitive to things (I am allergic to something in Neutrogena's moisturizers, for instance, and to fragrances in other products).

Right now, the red acne is getting under control with Cetaphil cleanser, either Neutrogena On The Spot (2% benzoyl peroxide) or Neutrogena Stress Relief Acne Gel (salycylic acid...basically I switch off when one stops working), and then an oil free moisturizer (usually Purpose spf 30, as the scent is next to nothing...but I don't love it as it balls up and rolls off the longer you have it on, which is annoying).

I want to do something to fix the texture issue and the blackheads, or at least make their appearance less. I know I cannot use the Vitamin C stuff....I am allergic (if I eat too much ascorbic acid in foods..I either break out in a rash and/or my tongue swells to twice it's size for a week...fun!). I am tempted by the BHA and AHA toners....and the Green Tea and Aloe serum, but I can only try one thing at a time very carefully (and I do wear a sunscreen every day...the aforementioned spf 30 moistuizer if it's just everyday running around, and a stronger uva/b specifically made for face straight sunscreen if I know I am going to be out.

So....long story short...I don't know what I should be looking at exactly, or what would be best to try first.....

[royalgoddessbeth]

Use Pore Refining Toner and lightly scrape at pores with a clean paper clip after a shower.

I like to recommend the Super Serum, that has anti-aging qualities as well as helping with breakouts. I'm 34 and I no longer have the breakout issues I had just a short year ago because of modifications I've made in my skincare- and have changed to a natural approach.

The AHA/BHA toner is beneficial in exfoliation and preventing breakouts.

The Firming Moisturizer w/Renovage is also great.

Hope that helps!

[zooeyblue]

I have super sensitive skin and have bad reactions to products with citrus . . . so, I have never tried the Pore Refining Toner. The word "orange" in anything for my face has never been a good thing for me, but you may be different! I am late 30's, and my skin started going bonkers in my late 20's. It is pretty well under control now, and a big part of that is SN products.

I do love the BHA toner, and use it every night. I use the AHA toner 1-2 times a week. I absolutely love the Green Tea & Aloe serum. Cannot be without it. If my skin is having "issues," I will use it alone. The Firming Moisturizer was nice in the winter (my skin leans to dry then!). Now, the Raspberry Moisturizer is working nicely.

Personally, the Super Serum was a little strong, so I would proceed with caution. The great thing here is you can get samples of everything and not empty your bank account!

Definitely try the Green Tea & Aloe serum. I think you would also like the BHA toner. I hope they work well for you!

[extemter]

I would recommend starting with Green Tea and Aloe serum and BHA toner because they're the mildest and least irritating.

The Green Tea and Aloe serum is what I use as moisturizer when I'm too scared to apply anything else to my very inflamed acneic face. It feels just like aloe vera gel -- slightly sticky during application but elegantly smooth and matte upon drydown. I especially like it for daytime.

The BHA toner leaves my skin clean and refreshed without residue. I use the undiluted BHA toner without irritation. The BHA should help break up sebum.

The AHA toner stings, leaves a lasting slightly sticky residue, and smells and tastes fruity/tart/acidic. I prefer to use it diluted: either by spraying it on my wet face immediately after washing or mixing a single serving with witch hazel. AHA is effective at helping slough off the top layer of skin and consequently gives me rough flaky skin for about a week. AHA doesn't attack sebum like BHA does.

The Pore Refining toner also leaves a residue and smells like orange. I suspect it gives me whiteheads but I'm not sure. I use the Pore Refining toner in the same manner as AHA toner, i.e. diluted.

I suspect that the Vitamin C Peptide serum and Facelift Vitamin C/DMAE/Peptide serum also give me whiteheads, but I'm also not completely sure.

As promising and as wonderful as the Super Serum sounds, I don't dare to try it because it's contraindicated with acids and I would probably stupidly use it with acids. I sometimes use a glycolic acid face wash as well as SN's AHA toner.

In summary:
Recommended: Green Tea and Aloe serum, BHA toner
Recommended with Reservations: AHA toner
Not Currently Recommended (subject to further testing): Pore Refining Toner, Vitamin C Peptide serum, Facelift Vitamin C/DMAE/Peptide serum

[srburk]

Thanks so much for the advice....I'm cautious using anything that contains citrus oil. I've not had a reaction to anything specific, but I am very sensitive to consuming Vitamin C in food. So I'm glad there are samples, too. I got a sample box of Olay Regenerist (that I plan to give away as there was some stuff in there I'm pretty sure would break me out), and the serum/moisturizer in there contains green tea and aloe, so maybe I shall just cut out the middle man. I don't need a heavy moisturizer during the summer, anyway.

[zeebs]

I love the BHA toner for clogged areas. It doesn't sting me and I have pretty sensitive skin. IDK what to recommend otherwise, but it sounds like you got some good rec's from others.