[Pudding]

Hey forum friends,
Okay I am 46 years old and my skin is a mess. I really do not have the money to go get facials. I still get pimples at my age. I am beginning to wonder if really my skin is so dry that it is over compensating by making more oil. My skin is flaky and dry in some areas and oily in others. Are there any really good products out there that do not cost an arm and a leg? Is a facial worth the money or can I do some of the things myself? If I do go get a facial are they going to try to push high dollar products my way? Help my facial skin is a mess! Have any of you used Cetaphil cream on your face?

Beth

[SKL]

I'm no dermatologist, but I'm 42 and still get pimples too. Here's what I do to keep them at a minimum (meaning I can actually go for days without a zit):

- no chocolate whatsoever. I know it's good for some people's skin, but it gives me zits 100% of the time.

- no fried foods, or if I do indulge occasionally, don't touch my face; wash hands and face asap.

- use Aveeno products at least daily: foaming face soap with salicylic (sp?) acid, and moisturizer with salicylic acid. Aveeno is not super cheap but it's not super expensive either, and it works, so to me it's worth it. It has oatmeal in it, which naturally exfoliates in addition to cleansing. I feel this makes it more effective than competing products.

- use generic Oxy 10 on the areas most likely to get zits.

- eat lots of fruits and veggies and try to get enough sleep.

- Ideally, face washing before bed is recommended. I don't have time to do this any more, but it helped when I used to do it.

- I don't use make-up at all, which I think helps. My sister, who has skin like mine, uses Clinique products, which are designed for our kind of skin. Clinique is relatively expensive but may be worth the investment.

Good luck!

[DPline]

I will be 40 at the end of this month and my face still breaks out pretty regularly if I am not really careful. (Certain times of the month are worse.) I have found that Clean & Clear Foaming Cleanser used religiously twice a day keeps the breakouts to a minimum. Then Clearasil Medicated Pads on the particularly oily spots once a day. (More than that and it gets to dry and makes more oil, and then more breakouts.) And I only use a water based foundation so as not to add any extra oil.

[Dickons]

I have used "distilled witch hazel" and soap and water for years and seldom, if ever have any issues and am told I do not look anywhere close to my age. The witch hazel is available at your local drug store and is very cheap. I use it to tone my face once or twice a day and if I feel a pimple starting I use it several times on that spot throughout the day and they go away most of the time before becoming noticeable. Witch hazel is also perfect for getting the itch out of mosquito bites etc. Ask the pharmascist about it next time you are at the store or do a quick google search.

Kind regards,
Dickons

[DPline]

Do you use the witch hazel 'straight' or do you 'cut' it down with something? I have tried witch hazel and it irritated the heck out of my skin, but my skin is really sensitive.
Just curious.

[Dickons]

I use the distilled version of witch hazel so it has been through a process- not sure what you used. I use it on a cotton pad that I wipe my face with, for me it is far better than any of the expensive cosmetic formulas. It also works to reduce swelling etc so to me it is perfect and so cheap it is worth seeing if it works.

Kind regards,
Dickons

[Mommy K]

If you are shiny all over then an oil removing product will work.

If not-The reason you are breaking out is that you skin needs to be exfoliated.The dry flakes need to be removed, because they are trapping oil underneath. The problem with using overdrying products to clear up the pimples, just adds to the flakiness, and the cycle never ends. When you moisturize over a flaky skin-the flakes are not being removed-just made transparent.

You can get a cosmetic product with a chemical exfoliant called retinoids, or a salacylic acid ingedient. They disolve skin flakes. They are less strong than the Dr. prescribed kind (retin-a micro etc.) Then use an oil free moisurizer on dry areas-not all over. Or you can use a face scrub when there aren't active red pimples. If you use the exfoliating scrub with an active breakout, it spreads it under the skin.

I was a clinique consultant in my younger days for many years, and this is a very common problem. (not pushing clinique here-there are many many great other brands)

Never use a product with a fragrance-many people get reactions from fragrance.
A european facial in a salon will extract the zits. A department store facial will sell you thier products.

[Slatond10]

Cetaphil is actually the name brand a dermotologist recommended to me for a cleanser. I don't currently use but remember liking it when I did!

Currently I use an Aveda cleanser and lotion. It is a bit expensive but not to bad! I have very (VERY) sensitive skin all over including scalp so I normally try to use something that doesn't bother me. Most (not all) Aveda products ( i.e. shampoo/conditioner, cleanser/lotion and makeup as well as perfume ) I can tolerate w/ no issues.

Good luck finding something that works for you.

[Devora]

I'm an old fashioned Oil of Olay gal --- the face cleanser at night to clean followed by the original pink lotion. Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. But keeps my face clean and moisturized.

[cborsa7]

I'm an old fashioned Oil of Olay gal

I'm with you. Have always used this product for day time and love it. Have never used a soap on my face..ever.

Pudding..good luck. I think everyone's skin is so different you just have to try and find what works best for you. My fav? Nothing but good ol vaseline and my hubby uses nothing but olive oil.

[spragup]

I use the Neutrogena Deep Cleaning creme and the mask...it was recommended by my dermotologist because I started having problems with my face after my hysterectomy...I can really tell a defference...Use it every day...works like a charm

[tooskis]

I know you don't want to spend a lot of money but I have to say, Obagi is absolutely the BEST skincare line (NO, I don't sell it!! It's not a home-based selling product.) My doctor turned me onto the Obagi program. I have had troubled skin all my life but now my skin looks incredible. Not only do I not get any pimples (NONE!), the pigment in my skin is better, dark spots diminished and pores are smaller. It's pricey but you can get a starter travel pack that contains their whole regimine for less cost. I swear by this stuff.

[sak9645]

... my hysterectomy did wonders for my face, though it made all my other skin too dry. The hormonal variations used to make me break out terribly, and sometimes made my face shine like a full moon. Many women's skin eruptions are hormonal and pretty much unavoidable until menopause or hysterectomy.

I'm 63 now, and I'll still get an occasional pimple. However, I can even wear makeup daily, now, without having it affect my complexion. I put it on over a good moisturizer that doesn't clog the pores -- there's a brand called #7 that Target sells that's almost as good as Estee Lauder's Day Wear Plus, and much cheaper. I wash it off with something like Neutrogena's Clean and Clear (name may not be exactly that, but close) or almost anything else, including plain old soap and water.

Try steaming your face, if you want to clean out your pores. You can buy a facial steamer in a store; I use it both for facials and for opening tight nasal passages when I have a cold or sinus infection. Start with a clean face, then use the steamer, and finish off with a cold splash.

I have never had a facial. I'm sure it would be lovely, but it's not terribly necessary. If you want to indulge yourself, use an inexpensive "mask" (used to be called a mud pack) once in a while, but it's not really necessary. Some people may find the masks too irritating, especially those that try to tighten the skin.

Teenagers find anything with benzoyl peroxide in it good for pimples; my daughter uses various products with it for her 13 year old skin eruptions. However, I cannot use it, as it is extremely harsh on the skin and can make pimples look and feel worse. If you do choose to try it, don't apply too much or too often

Sharon.

[Quesita]

I have what polite ladies behind cosmetic counters call "medium sized pores." And I have very oily skin, except under my eyes. I have a constant battle against blackheads.

I use a wide range of over the counter products. I like the Aveena stuff that was previously mentioned, and I like the Oil of Olay with microbeads. I also use *gasp* Noxema. A few others. I go back and forth. I use two items in ths shower every morning, usually one exfoliating thing, and once cleansing. Before Liana, I did over the counter masques twice a week. Now, almost never.

Also, before Liana I got facials at least every 3 months. Now, less than I should. Yes. They will try and sell you everything. Some more of a hard sell than others. Nod your head, and don't buy the stuff! Seriously. I once bought an undereye cream that made everyone around me ask if I was sick or if I hadn't slept the night before. Took me a couple of weeks to make the connection. It made me look TERRIBLE. And it cost about $90. Dumb, dumb dumb.

You know, some of it is what you eat. Some of it is environment. And some of it is who you are. Everyone who has every looked at my face told me I ate too much fatty foods and fried foods. I'm a vegetarian.

[bhouston]

On the same line as skin care.....does anyone have blotchy red skin ....rosacia....no breakouts...just terrible red skin....I am wondering if any of the products mentioned above is being used for that as well...Beth in Idaho