Have you got beautiful clear skin? Because I haven't, and it's pissing me off.

Do you have any great skin tips that have worked for you? Mine is combination skin, and by the age of 25 I fully expected it to be clear. What am I doing wrong? Am I just cursed? Or can you recommend a good concealer?

Comments from people without naturally perfect skin (Pamie ...!) very very welcome, before I start wearing a paper bag to work.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Answers

Jackie--

I empathize with the problem! I'm nearly obsessed with the quest for perfect skin. So far my skin's not perfect, but it is better than it was, say, a year ago. (I'm 22.) Some ideas:

Check out Paula Begoun's website, "Cosmetics Cop," and click on Skin Facts. There are some good tips there. A few gripes: she recommends Cetaphil cleanser, but for me it left my skin not-clean-enough. The Pond's cleanser-and- toner-in-one that she recommends, though, is good.

Find a good moisturizer. I like Pond's Oil-Free beauty cream (or whatever it's called). It comes in a little tub and the only downside is that it has a fragrance. I use this at night.

You're in the UK, apparently, but if you have any access to the drugstore cosmetics line Jane, which is marketed at teenagers, go buy their Oil-Free foundation. There is actually a really decent range of colors, and a lot of the makeup addicts in alt.fashion agree with me that this foundation is as good quality-wise as expensive department- store foundations. It's $3.69 at my drugstores, and I think you can get it at drugstore.com if you can order from there. It has a really nice, natural-looking finish, with good coverage. And the best thing: it has never broken me out. No, I don't work for them!! :)

Okay, this post came out longer than I intended. Anyway, good luck!!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Sorry--I screwed up! The moisturizer is Oil of Olay, not Pond's.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Oh, Jackie, I'm 40 and dealing with the same problem. It is not fair to have to deal with zits and wrinkles at the same time! Let's face it, Mother Nature is a heartless bitch.

I've had very good luck with Neutrogena's new anti-acne products. I don't know if you can get them in the UK, but their anti-acne lotion with vitamins and salicylic acid, which I use twice a day, has made an appreciable difference.

For a moisturizer that doesn't cause breakouts, I like Estee Lauder's Anti-Oxidant Lotion SPF 15. It's expensive, but worth it to me for the way it makes my skin look better.

If you don't find anything that works at the drugstore, I'd recommend seeing a dermatologist. There are some great prescription products around these days, or she can help you find the right regime of drugstore products. You also want to make sure you don't have rosacea, which can only be treated with prescription products.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

You might not like the first part of my answer, but trust me, it will make you a lot happier in the long run.

Stop hoping for perfect skin. After a certain point, I don't think you can get it without a miracle and some corrective surgery. Settle for "reasonably okay" skin, because it's a more attainable goal. Stop looking at close up photos of people like Pamie. You will always have pores. Those people are mutants. Visible pores are a sign of, um, sexual virility, good judgment, and courage. I just made that up, but I'm sure it's true.

Don't be afraid to see a dermatologist. I still get breakouts, but the vast majority of my serious acne problems went away after a round of accutane. I should have done a second round; maybe I will someday. If you don't have really serious acne, you can probably use something less hard core.

If you're on the pill, experiment with different versions. Ortho tricyclen is supposed to be the acne miracle pill. Not for me -- it makes my skin worse. Not only do I still have acne, my skin is dry and flaky and I can't use any of my regular skin care products. Other pills have the opposite effect on me.

There are some really awesome new products on the market. Alpha hydroxy acid (in an oil-free gel base) is the best thing in the world. Vitamin C treatments really do seem to lighten up the red marks left by previous breakouts, too. Neutrogena has a few good products, as does a company called Roc. You'll need to shop around in your neck of the woods, though, to find similar products.

I find that the topical acne treatments aimed at teenagers -- extra strength salycilic acid, benzoyl peroxide, even sulfer treatments -- are too harsh for me now. When I was a teenager I used to slather that stuff on my face twice a day without a thought. Now I only use topical treatments when I actually have a breakout. I use Peter Thomas Roth 10 percent benzoyl peroxide gel, which is really strong and practically burns a hole through my face; I'd buy the 5% gel if I had it to do over again. I only use it when I have a breakout, and I wash it off four hours later. It does the trick, for the most part. (PTR also makes a benzoyl peroxide face wash that will practically take the porcelain off your sink. I can't use it.)

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I'm with you - zits and wrinkles in your forties is just fucked up. I have more problems with my skin now than I did when I was a teenager. Go figure.

Anyway, after a few years of trying every sort of acne stuff you can think of with *no luck*, I discovered by accident (read about it in one of my mom's health magazines) that peanuts and other legumes make lots of people break out. Turns out this is a very common but little known food allergy. Just giving up peanuts and making sure not to eat anything with peanut oil in it has solved 3/4 of my skin problems.

Going cold turkey on acne products solved the other part. I know this doesn't make sense, but my dermatologist said they often do more harm than good and she was right. Even for people with really greasy skin like me. Took a couple of months for the zits to go away, but now I just use a moisturizing shower gel (Trader Joe's brand) to wash my face and Origins confused skin regimen to moisturize it and my skin is clearer than it has been in years.

I still break out before my period, but not too badly, and I zap them with that pimple zapper stuff. Not sure it works, either, but it makes me feel better.

No idea if any of this is helpful, but it worked for me. Good luck.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I cannot sing the praises of Philosophy proudcts enough.

On A Clear Day is the bomb, baby. Switching this with the Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil Face Wash occasionally, does wonders.

http://www.philosophy.com

But I agree with Beth - you've got to accept that (as the On A Clear Day jar says) unblemished skin does not exist. Embrace your pores!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

i have to agree with the ortho tri-cyclen bit...it's *supposed* to be this great pill for acne...but it has made my face worse. where i usd to have tiny blemishes that only *i* could see...i started to get these huge-ass growths! and it really did a job on my self-esteem. i mean, if *i* was grossed out by my face, who else was?

and after complaining of my woes to one of my very best friends...she divulged her "secret". tea tree oil.

the body shop carries an entire line...and while i've found that overworking the skin with too many products tends to cause breakouts as well...i chose 2 products and i have had excellent results in less than a month!

i use the tea tree oil bar soap in the morning in the shower - on my 't-zone' and after the shower i use the tea tree oil on my blemishes, topping it off with an oil-free moisturizer. i use st. ives - they don't test on animals.

at night, i use the soap all over my face and follow up with the oil and moisturizer.

if i notice a blemish trying to pop through - i use the oil various times throughout the day. and while i still get blemishes, they are minimal and disappear much quicker...without drying out my skin.

btw, i'm 27 and i too thought pimples were for teens. which is ironic cause i didn't breakout as a teen. i think alot of it has to do with hair products. i think it's a combo of the hair brushing the face and the hair rubbing all over the pillow at night. i try to change my cases frequently. it helps to have a few sets of pillowcases!

one more thing...i hate concealors. i hate powders, cover-up - whatever you want to call it. i think it's important to let the skin breath and to keep the 'infected' area clean...not pile it up with dirty make-up. it will only take longer for it to go away!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

In the last year my complection has improved dramatically. I think it was a combination of ditching a lot of stress (aka boyfriend), ortho-tricyclene, moving out of the arctic wonderland, and the all amazing Origin's Never A Dull Moment exfoiliator.

And I'm not willing to reverse any of those things to find out if only one was the key.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Oh, Colleen reminded me of something that helped my skin a lot: I read somewhere (probably some idiotic magazine) that makeup applicators and old makeup can spread bacteria and cause breakouts. Makes sense to me. The tricks the magazine suggested: don't store the applicator in your powder compact, or if you do, keep the plastic shield and turn the applicator upside down so the part that touches your face doesn't touch the powder. Wash or replace applicators on a regular basis. Discard makeup after a few months even if you haven't used it all.

Now another question: does anyone have a recommendation for a daily moisturizer for oily skin? The skin on my cheeks just beneath my eyes tends to get dry and flaky. Oil free moisturizers burn and make my skin turn red, but I'm afraid to use anything oilier because it will make me break out. I'm allergic to aloe vera and sensitive to a lot of scents, so something hypoallergenic would be ideal.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I have to agree with Colleen on the pillowcases - change them regularly. Also, never, never, never go to bed with your makeup on. Make sure your skin is clean before you start mushing your face into the pillow.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I will modestly state that I have very good skin, or did until I got rosacea and my face got all red. That's what comes of hubris, I guess.

Anyway, my advice is to keep your skin really clean. Wash twice a day. Don't touch your face - train yourself not to lean on your hand or idly touch your nose or any of that stuff. Change your pillowcase every other day.

If you still have acne and you're out of your teens I think it's worth it to see a dematologist. Get professional advice about what to put on your skin. I don't know if you have it in the UK, but Accutane is prescribed here for acne and seems to work well for some people.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Ah, a topic near and dear to my heart.

After I had my stroke I had to go off the pill, causing my poor face to, well, explode. It's been a couple of years, and it still hasn't gotten better, but I have my products down pat, having thrown thousands of dollars at this problem between dermatologists and drug- and department-store products.

Beth: for a moisturiser that doesn't make you break out, try Clinique's Skin Texture lotion, oil free formula. It has a really nice clean non-smell, isn't greasy, doesn't make me break out, and does the job.

For a cleanser, I use Clean & Clear Continuous Control Daily cleanser, which has 10% Benzoyl Peroxide. I know that seems strong, but it's fairly gentle. I occasionally alternate it with Cetaphil _bar_ soap (not the cleanser, which doesn't clean as well, IMHO).

For really bad days, I slather Neutrogena's Oil-absorbing Acne Mask all over my face and sleep with it on. Works really really well in emergency situations.

In between icky skin times, I use Alpha Hydrox oil-free formula. Really nice for evening out flaky blotchy skin. If you've picked or squeezed something on your face and made it worse, sleep with a dab of Neosporin on the spot. Makes it heal faster and prevents scarring.

Last night I tried Pond's overnight blemish reducers, those little medicated sticky-tape things you dot on your face and sleep with. I chose the Pond's product over Neutrogena's because it had tea tree oil and .5% salicylic acid, as opposed to Neutrogena's more harsh 2%. It worked really, really well on the big scary spots, but not so well as a preventative on the tiny not-so-scary spots.

I also asked Ben how he'd feel about me coming to bed with sticky tape spots all over my face and he asked, "On purpose? Or like you stuck tape to your face while wrapping a present and forgot it was there?"

I didn't pursue it.

-Sara http://fauve.cc

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

See, that's why I rate you guys so highly!!! Thank you for all this advice ... keep it coming (as I'm obviously not the only one with this particular problem!).

Beth, you're right - I may as well accept I'm never going to have 'perfect' skin. Damn. What's really annoying is that my two sisters had crappy teenage skin that came right when they hit their 20s, whereas mine has steadily got worse with age.

I think stress may be a factor with mine. I've noticed that the busier I get, the worse it gets ... which sounds like a good argument for a long holiday to me. I'm off to Family Planning next week anyway, so I'll talk to them about the pill I'm on (it's called Cilest - has anybody heard of it, or is it a UK thing?) And I'm going to do some research about whether dermatologists are covered by NHS over here.

Well, having revealed my bad skin and prematurely grey hair in one day, I'm now going to go home to contemplate my cellulite and think about how I need to pluck my eyebrows, so catch you all tomorrow!!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I find that the more crap I put on my skin, the worse it gets. I am *very* fair and have fairly sensitive combination skin. I've never been able to use things like Noxema or facial masks or anything else and find I'm just better off without them. I get a lot of compliments on my skin too! (Which amaze me mostly because I do so little to it.)

What works best for me is a *very* mild soap - washing once in the morning, once in the evening. If I get a zit, I *might* put some Nutrogena zit creme on it - but I have to be careful, because, again, the creme aggrevates my skin and turns it red (in addition to the already red zit!)

I also don't usually wear makeup on the weekends, don't go in the sun much (because I burn), and don't drink much/do drugs at all- which can all affect skin. I do, however, have a wicked habit for sweets & chocolate...

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I've tried everything. EVERYTHING. Finally, my skin has cleared up and I think it's due to a couple of things:

1) my dermatologist: I didn't have bad acne, I had persistent acne (one or two pimples, clogged pores, etc). She's prescribed different things until we found something that worked consistently.

2) a new cleansing routine: go to www.zerozits.com, home of Sage products. This is a line that was reviewed by another site I frequent and take advice from, www.cosmeticconnection.com. I use the cleansing grains and facial shampoo (both regular strength). My skin has never looked better.

And of course it never hurts to: 3) drink plenty of water 4) exercise

I actually get compliments on my skin now! I know it's frustrating, but keep trying and be well informed. You'll find a regime that works for you!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I have good skin, and the reason for that is very weird, but true nonetheless. It's because I swim.

I don't use anything like moisturizer (sp?) or whatever all the rest of that stuff is, and I was lucky in my teen years, but when I got older my face starting breaking out sometimes. I assumed it was just fate kicking my butt to make up for missing that particular trauma in high school. But when I started swimming with a masters' group (5 mornings a week) my skin once again became Absolutely Perfect.

My husband, who has had really bad acne his entire life, including the constant breakouts when he was a teenager, didn't believe me about this for years. He would complain constantly about how I had perfect skin and his was a wasteland. Finally, he agreed to take a swimming class just to stop hearing me tell him it was his own damn fault for not even trying. He swims two or three days a week, and his skin has been immaculate for over a year now.

I think it's a combination of the fact that an hour in the water is like washing your face one hundred times, and the fact that no bacteria can survive in your typical chlorinated pool. Most people who complain about their skin to me don't believe me when I tell them about this and won't try it. Everyone I know who has tried it, though, has successfully acquired clear skin.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Never had problems with my skin till after 30 - now it's a major pain, so thanks for all the suggestions here! I already do or have done most of them, but will try some new ones.

Agree about the swimming - it's the only thing that really has ever worked for me, but I am too fat now to appear in public now in swimwear and don't have access to a private pool or chlorinated hottub.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

The only time I ever have a problem with my skin is about a week before that most wonderful time of the month and I get like, 1 zit maybe 2 of them. Other than that, I think I have pretty decent skin.

I wear NO makeup and I drink 1 gallon of water a day. Oh and I don't use soap to wash my face. Just warm water. Soap just strips the natural oils away and makes the skin produce MORE that you don't need so.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I am a skin care junkie!

Good skin is a little bit genetic luck, and a little bit finding the right product. My two cents is to drop the drugstore labels, and back away slowly. A cheap moisturizer is nobody's friend. If you have been using the pharmacy brands, like Oil of Olay, and aren't sure where to start, I recommend Hope In a Jar (link is a product review I wrote), a Philosophy brand product, if you have normal(ish) to combination skin.

There are a few tricks to good skin. Myself, I wash with Noxema - never waste your money on anything you rinse off, said my grandmother, and she had great skin. It is cheap, and I like the smell, and it gets the oil, without drying out the rest. next step is undereye creme. I like la Prairie, but so far, the Philosophy one is holding its own. a lip area moisturizer is a good thing, if you are over 30, and/or a smoker. Those little lip lines are so aging!

And then, over it all, the very best moisturizer you can afford. This is your face - the first thing people notice about you, so not a place to skimp. Drug store brands carry a lot of cheaper filler stuff - like tallow - which are not great for the skin. Use it liberally, and often, and don't stop at the chinline when moisturizing your face - or you will end up with a dry line along the chin.

Women who stay away from foundation like products seem to have the greatist skin, so i avoid cover up stuff. and the sun.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Ooooh, This topic is really helping me. I'm a makeup and skin care novice who discovered wrinkles around her 29 year old eyes last year.

I'm using Estee Lauder stuff and that seems to keep the breakouts mostly under control. Still get one here or there, but they're much smaller and go away faster.

I have fair skin which is mostly on the dry side, but sometimes oily in the summer around the T zone.

I use their foaming face wash alternated with another face wash of theirs. Every couple of days I use their face wash exfoliant. For moisterizer I use there 100% Time Release Moisterizer (so can't spell), and it's the greatest stuff. It's really light and it doesn't feel like I'm wearing a three inch layer on my face all day. It covers and it lasts all day. Baby smooth skin.

I also use other stuff around my eyes. The best one I've found is Estee Lauder Uncircle. Mostly gets rid of the black bags under my eyes and erases that 'didn't sleep nearly enough' look. I'm also starting to use their Time Zone Eyes at night.

I don't wear makeup on any kind of regular basis, because I need help with that! I don't know what I'm doing with makeup! Not to mention that I can't get out of bed one second earlier!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

First of all you need a really good sunscreen/moisturizer to wear every single day. You need a sunscreen that will protect you from UVB and UVA rays AND one that contains ZINC OXIDE. This will offer you the most protection from the sun and also give you good moisture. Oil of Olay makes a good one that is fairly inexpensive. My dermatologist told me to use this product because I was using like a 35 spf sunscreen on my face and still getting sunspots. She said the zinc/protection from both rays combo was the key. She was right, I don't get sunspots anymore and my skin looks so much better.

You will always have pores, but you don't have to have dirty pores! Exfoliating is so important to help your pores and your skin in general. Burt's Bees makes a good scrub that is all natural and won't cause break outs in sensitive skin, plus it smells really yummy. He also makes a great mask called Green Goddess which is also all natural and good for deep cleaning your pores. His products are also very inexpensive and so so good for your skin.

I love pore strips and I even invested in an electric pore cleanser that is rechargable and basically sucks your pores. My pores have shrunk and the overall appearance of my skin has changed.

I use to buy Lancome and Clinique skin care systems. What I have discovered is that it doesn't matter what skin care products you use as long as you follow a basic routine. Cleanse, exfoliate, tone(I use witch hazel), moisturize.

The thing to remember is, you are definitely born with your own skin, and you will always have that skin and whatever issues come with it. But you can make your skin look and feel better.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I decided that I was going to have better skin. It was sort of like a New Years' resolution. And it's actually worked, unlike some of my other resolutions.

1) Non-soap, non-chemical cleanser. I use Lush's Angels on Bare Skin or Burt's Bees Orange Essence cleanser.

2) Wash 2x/day.

3) Moisturizer every time you wash. See #4 if your skin is oily.

4) Retinol. I don't know about its anti-wrinkle properties, but that Neutrogena Healthy Skin anti-wrinkle cream almost totally fixed my face. Retinol supposedly slows down sebum production.

5) Facial exercise. No kidding. I started doing this at Christmas time, and while it's not the cure-all the hype claims, it's certainly improved my skin tone. Seems to help with little spider-veiny things, too. And you can do it while watching TV so you feel more virtuous. Once you have it memorized you can do it anywhere, any time you're bored.

6) Drink lots of water. Drink lots of green tea. Don't drink soda. That may be just a superstition but it works for me.

7) Sunscreen.

8) If you must wear makeup: Neutrogena's Healthy Skin makeup actually does seem to do something good for my skin. I can see a difference if I use it for a week or so.

This whole business probably takes about an hour each day here and there. But I've looked at pictures from 6 months ago and pictures from now, and my skin looks all dull and broken out in the old ones and a lot brighter and clearer in the new ones.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I know there's no such thing as "perfect skin", but my skin was damned near close till about 3 years ago. I used to get complimented on my skin ALL THE TIME as a teen and in my early twenties. When people asked what I did, I merely told the truth. Absolutely nothing. I washed my face with plain old regular soap, and never wore any makeup (expect the occasional lip gloss). And I probably had like 5 pimples over the span of my teen-early twenties. OH the days of yore!!!

Then after I started taking the pill... I woke up one day and I suddenly didn't look like myself anymore. I started breaking out non-stop. I also had no idea what to do about it...what to put on it...if I should see a dermatologist or not. My friends told me that it was just my time to have skin like everyone else and that I should just deal with it. I've since stopped taking the pill, and my skin is STILL jacked up. I've never been used to putting anything on my face, so I'm sure of what products I should use. I just wanted to thank everyone for the tips. I'm gonna try out some of those products. (Fingers Crossed) Hopefully I can bring my skin back to "normal".

-Z

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Cetaphil! It's the best cleanser I've encountered.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Oh, I forgot I wanted to comment on something Clementine said.

You mentioned that Cetaphil doesn't get your skin clean enough? Something that people have to be careful of is confusing clean with tight and dry. It is normal for your skin to have natural oils, these oils actually protect your skin. Cetaphil is what most dermatologists recommend. People tend to not like it because it doesn't completely strip your face of the natural oils. It is cleaning, and in fact it is cleaning better. You just don't realize it. I use to hate using moisturizer because I hated any kind of oil or shine on my face. But once I started using moisturizer every day, my skin adjusted and found a fair balance. Now instead of wanting that tight, dry, clean feel, I look for something that leaves me with a little moisture.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I just discovered Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick. It uses lavender and tea tree oil and works great for those monthly breakouts. Tea Tree Oil, who knew?

I've always had problems with acne and didn't get it under control until I started using Retin-A by suggestion of my dermatologist. Honestly, it was the best move I ever made. My pores haven't dissappeared, by my skin tone and breakouts have improved dramatically.

I'm also a big fan of the Clinique skin care line.

Thanks for the topic -- I love girly product swaps!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Beth, You mentioned something about Vitamin C treatments for redness left behind from old breakouts.

Please tell me more! I have what looks like a zit on my forehead but it isn't - it's completely smooth, it's just this red spot that never went away. Luckily it's not too big so i can easily hide it with cover cream. Having bangs helps to keep it covered too. But it annoys me. I would love to know more about how to get rid of it.

My cleaning habit is this: I use a soap at night, just about any non- fragranced soap really. It's a bit stronger i guess, so i like to use it after producing oil all day long. I put on moisturizer before bed. In the morning i use Herbal Essence cleanser and then some Clearasil to fight any zits i might have at the time. Again, i follow it all up with moisturizer.

My skin's not perfect but it's getting better since i stopped being lazy on those really really late nights and stopped allowing myself to make excuses for skipping out on washing.

I also occasionally use a face mask (i try different kinds) and a couple of times per week i follow my cleansing with a tea tree oil astringent. Too often makes my face dry.

I hate skin problems. Don't we have enough problems to deal with without having pimples too?! Grrr.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Cetaphil cleanser never made me feel clean either. I need lather ! I switched to the bar version which lathers and now I always feel clean. I use it at night to take off my makeup before bed. I use Purpose in my morning shower. I've sworn off any acne products and threw away all of my prescription stuff. I've used 2 dermatologists I went to the first one for 6 years(woman) and the second for 3(man). The second one actually gave me enough advice and information that I don't need him anymore. I take an extra 25,000 units of vitamin A every day and I use an Alpha Hydroxy solution on my face every night. My problem was combo skin that did not "shed" properly hence it would clog my pores and I'd break out. 2 years ago my skin went from oily to dry - overnight (this is how I came to dump all my expensive prescriptions) so now I use Neutrogena moisturizer in the morning (SPF15). It also comes in a sensitive skin version. You might want to try it Beth.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I too have very sensitive skin and have found that the only skincare system I can use and not worry about is (the horribly expensive) Shiseido Vital-Perfection line. There is no sunscreen in the moisturiser though, so when I go outside I use (the horribly expensive) Lancome Bienfait Total. When I was younger I could use the Clinique line (and still do use their lipstick, eye shadow, lip & eye liners, etc) but as I get older, and drier, my skin gets more and more sensitive. My hometown finally got a fitness centre with an indoor pool and after 3 months of swimming 5 days a week for an hour or so, I had to quit. I had eczema that was bleeding and my face was so sensitive it hurt to touch it... I'll swim outside all summer long without any major problems, but the chlorine is just too harsh for me.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

If it's out there, I can almost guarantee I have tried it.

I had terrible skin all through high school and after, and then all of a sudden, it cleared up. I had two glorious years where I would maybe get one pimple a month. My scars faded...slightly (I am ghostly pale, and squeeze or not squeeze, they ALL scar in some way or another).

Then I went back on the pill. Ellesse, to be specific. Stupidly it took me nearly two years to figure out why I was suddenly back in the land of cystic acne. Finally I put two and two together and realized that I was getting a horrid breakout all over my chin the week before my period, every month without fail.

I did two things. I switched to OrthoTriCyclen, which I know doesn't work for everyone, but didn't make anything worse. I also went to the dermatologist and agreed to go on Accutane.

I've been on everything. Minocycline, tetracycline, at least two others I can't remember, and every prescription topical you can imagine, from Cleocin-T to Differin to three separate concentrations of Retin-A (which worked for awhile and helped fade scars). Now, after eight weeks on Accutane and six on the Ortho, I am just about pimple free. In the last six weeks I've had two. Two. Tiny. No one knew they were there but me.

I can use moisturizer for the first time in my life and it is glorious. I started out with a Ponds product for Sensitive Skin, because it was four dollars and I was tired of wasting money. I recently upgraded to a Neutrogena ten dollar moisturizer with a bunch of vitamins and stuff. :-)

As far as makeup goes, I wear M.A.C. foundation, the pressed compact powder finish type. It's one of the only lines with good, pale colors that don't cost a million dollars. I swear by their makeup. It's worth the money. I used to throw away so much money on a billion cheap lipsticks that never looked good; now I have three (a browny base, a pinky base, and a reddy one for going out).

Other good skin products I'm fond of...Spot Remover by Origins. Terrific all natural acne topical stuff. I also like Oil of Olay's soap free cleansers.

Does anyone have any shaving advice for we of the perpetually sensitive skin? IN the shaving heavy summer months, I always get those little red spots...and Beth, what sort of Vitamin C products have you found that fade scarring? I'm really trying to find something that isn't a $3000 facial peel.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I'm one of those people who never had to try to have clear skin. I didn't have a particularly rocky road through adolescence hormonally speaking. I'd get the occasional zit, but I never had a full face breakout like my brother did.

Some folks suffer from biological acne problems and have to seek treatment and that's completely different from stress-related breakouts.

I still only suffer from the occasional zit or group of blemishes, although these days they tend to crop up on my chest and back rather than on my face.

But my "regimen" is fairly simple: drink lots of water, get enough sleep and wash my face on a regular basis. -What_ I wash my face with is irrelevant as long as I maintain basic hygiene.

If I get really sweaty, or if I put sunscreen on, I use the Clinique stuff my Mom got me into when I was 16 to give my pores a good cleaning out: quick lather with facial soap, cleanse with witch hazel based cleanser and then give the old skin a drink with the moisturizer.

But I don't do that even remotely close to daily.

The real clincher for me is sleep: if I don't get my 8.5 hours, chances are high that I will break out in some way shape or form until I've gotten enough rest.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

My skin was horrible. Broken out from living in NYC and then I went to Texas for 6 weeks and it completely dried out, i looked really old. So back in NYC, I spent a small fortune and went to Ling Skin Care. I got a facial and tried their products. I have to say, they completely transformed my skin. They told me to stop drying it out. I can't afford to buy their products all the time, so my modified drugstore version of their regimen is as follows:

Cetaphil 2x a day. At night, rub it around on your face and then before you rinse it off, mix in some apricot scrub -- Freeman or St. Ives or whatever. Exfoliate. (using Cetaphil alone doesn't do this, that's probably why some people feel like their skin wasn't clean enough) Then rinse with tepid, not hot water.

Use a toner. Use witch hazel, or something with as little alcohol as possible.

Moisturize. Always. I usually use Ling's moisturizer, but I also use Neutrogena. I avoid anything with SPF because it irritates my skin.

After that, use an alpha-hydrox or glycolic acid cream -- like Neutrogena Healthy Skin.

This regimen has really helped me. I used to skip around and try every different thing, but i've stuck with this for over a year now.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

You all have good tips. Unfortunately, genetics plays a big part in skin problems or lack there of. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is vitamin E. I use vit. E cream mixed with vit. E oil(25,000 U) @ night. You could use a less potent cream for the day. It also has gotten rid of small stretch scars from weight loss/gain. Ret. A Rx from doc works well for some people too.....

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Did someone mention shaving?

I just discovered this shave cream made by Alba Botanica -- it's not foamy like regular shaving cream but it's creamy, balm- like texture protects a little better -- especially in the "sensitive" areas. They also have luscious scents -- my fave being the Cocunut Lime.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Melissa--

MAC lipstick! I agree, I have never used a better brand. Twig for days and Del Rio for special, fancier occassions. I'll never go back.

And if you save your empty tubes you can take them back and for every six empty tubes you get one free lipstick!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I'm NOT an esthetician (facialist) but I've worked with them. Best advice I ever heard about evaluating skin care products: "Are you satisfied with the results?" Best advice I can give about skin care products -- take it slow and easy when introducing new products. Use only one new bit at a time, and give the new product at least 2 weeks, if not 3, to affect your skin. If you use too many new things, you won't know if which new product is the culprit or if it was the combination, or your skin just reacting to the sudden change.

Cleanser is definitely where you can skimp. I use generic cetaphil. See above for "yes, it's clean".

Dermalogica is a very good brand - very simple without a lot of frangrance or other things that might cause a reaction. They also have an Oil Control Lotion which I use in the summer.

I currently use a lot of DeCleor which is really expensive (employee discount) but the results are worth it. I see this with myself and other clients who use the stuff. It involves using essential oils on your skin to help with imbalances and I've actually noticed my T-zone is less oily. Yes, less oily, even though I'm putting oil on my face. I can explain this more if anyone cares. At night I use Essential Balm which feels icky at first, and then you notice it's (I'm going to try not to squeal with delight here) actually clearing out blackheads.

~Ann

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

A question for all--what the heck is toner for? I have some rosewater lying around that I spritz with when I'm hot and sweaty, and I also have a tea tree oil one for when a roommate is in the bathroom and I need to clean my face. But are these toners? I don't use them every day, at all. Should I?

All toner-related info and help will be appreciated! By the way, thanks, Jackie, for starting this topic. :D

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

On Cetaphil:

I forgot to mention that when I did get those rare zits as a teen, I had a specific regimen for getting rid of them.

I'd spot-wash them with Cetaphil. Worked like a charm.

And I also forgot about the eczema, mostly because it only showed up on my face once, during an extremely stressful time in my life. But it has shown up on my hands and arms much more often.

My skin may be clear, but it is sensitive to fungi.

My doctor prscribed something whose name I've forgotten and the common anti-fungal Lotrimin.

Only the Lotrimin ever seemed to work and then, only if I caught an eczema break out before it had a chance to really run on me.

I have damaged fingerprints as a result of one eczema brakout -- all of the skin the first three fingers of my right hand peeled off, leaving behind scar-lines that interrupt my prints.

So if you suffer from common mild eczema, Lotrimin might be a solution to discuss with your doctor/dermatologist.

As for shaving -- I stopped shaving, so I don't have to worry about the red dot syndrome anymore, but before I stopped, using the conditioner that I use on my hair, instead of soap, seemed to have a beneficial effect on the follicles -- left me much less tender after scraping my legs and underarms bare.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

For those of you who are talking about prescription acne treatments, they're probably easier to get than you think. I'm 25 as well, and although my skin isn't all that bad I (like Jackie) figured it was about time I outgrew monthly zits. My regular doctor was happy to prescribe it for me during a routine physical, I didn't need to see a separate dermatologist, and it's covered by my health insurance. There are lots of different varieties (I wound up with just plain erythromycin, a topical antibiotic). You'd be amazed what percentage of teenagers are on these sorts of medicine these days - it's much more common that you'd think.

My main gripe about it is that it does make your face more sensitive to sun, and sense I work outdoors I have to be really careful about slathering on the sunscreen. Here's hoping that my skin will "grow up" soon and none of this will be necessary!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I'm lucky to have good skin. When people ask "what's your secret?" I answer honestly: 1. Pick the right parents. 2: stay out of the sun.

Seriously; the women in my family age well. And I've never, ever tanned in my life, which means there's very little sun damage.

Other than that, I use Clinique skin care products. Just the basic line: mild facial soap, mild toner, and the plain ol' moisturizer. I never wear foundation. Just some concealer under my eyes, and sometimes a hypoallergenic loose translucent face powder for fancy occasions.

And I love those Biore pore strips. Icky, but kinda fun!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Oh one of my favorite subjects! Skin!! Jackie you sound just like me, my skin has been a problem for a while. At the age of 30, I've finally started to figure it all out

I loved reading this thread by the way. I ask people all the time what they use, I find it fascinating actually.

OK, here's what I do...

1) Cleanse... Lately I've been using DHC's Gentle Cleansing Foam, it is what it is and I like the smell. Sometimes I use my daughter's Cetyphil cleanser, I like how it doesn't dry out my skn.

2) Exfoilate... I use a good wash cloth in the shower for this one, I have a couple that I stole from a hotel back in the 80's and I still use them, they're REALLY rough and get the dead skin off. Also Remede's Sweep is great, it's available at Bliss.

3) Tone... Guinot's Clarifying Toner, it's expensive but worth every penny and it smells divine!

4) Moisturize... My current favorite is Prescriptive's Flight Cream. I also like Clarin's Multi-Active Day Cream. Another good one is Luberderm with sunblock. -For the eyes I swear by Clarin's Eye Contour Balm!

5) Treat... When my chin breaks out, as it is want to do every month, I blast it with Keihl's Blue Astringent. And Crest toothpaste, dabbed on the blemish, gets rid of them overnight!

I change my pillowcase every other day or so, get enough rest (even with a 7 month old) and drink plenty of water. I'm happy to report my skin has never looked better.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Here's something that finally worked for me, if you can believe it: Proactive. Of Judith Light fame. I was desperate and decided to give in to the testimonials. I don't know if it was due to the low percentage of Benzol Peroxide, or if it was just because I stuck with the program instead of being half-assed about it. I had the hormonal surface-y pimples mixed in with the cystic kind from time to time. I still can't believe it works as well as it does.

Can anyone recommend a really good self-tanner for sensitive skin? The few I've tried (Coppertone, Estee Lauder, Eliz. Arden) all make my skin itch pretty bad after a day or so.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Retin A has done a little bit. As has tetracycline.

Biore strips make me break out. I've tried the Almay ones, and they don't.

I've been using Neutrogena moisturizer, Aveeno oil-control cleansing bar, and philosophy's exit strategy (and on a clear day occasionally). I don't like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (they both stopped helping after a while), but the sulfur creams seem to help (there just aren't enough of them around).

I haven't tried it, but the Body Shop has a new line of Vitamin C products. A bit pricey, but might be worth it. There are also several brands of 'vitamin C serum' around, I know J/a/son has one. Also a bit pricey.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

Clementine -

Toner is used after you wash your face and before you moisturize; the theory is that it "gets off the cleanser residue."

Frankly, I think that's hogwash. Your cleanser shouldn't leave a residue. Mine certainly doesn't. Toner goes back to the days when people used cold cream to take off their makeup, then had to use something to get the greasy cold cream off. I won't use makeup that doesn't come off with a gentle water-soluble cleanser, so I don't need a toner.

That being said, many women (some men these days, too, I hear) like the feeling of using a toner. I think it's a waste of money, but if you like it and it doesn't irritate your skin, go for it. I think rosewater would be pretty gentle (unless you're allergic).

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

WOW, I'm sorry I came in on this forum late! I know genetics play a part in whether or not you have good skin. My mother has beautiful skin (at almost 57 years old) -- Sill youthful and clear. I also have nice skin but only because I watched my mother and tried to copy how she took care of her skin:

She never wore any makeup on her face except a little creme blush and lipstick when she was going out. I am 30 years old and I never wear makeup on my face. If I am going to a wedding I use Benetint for my cheeks and mascara and lipstick. People notice how nice my skin is because I don't cover it up. I like how I look better without makeup on and I am so used to being without it, I could never work up a routine where I leave the house in anything other than moisturizer and lipgloss. I really believe this is why we have good skin. NO FOUNDATION, POWDER, BLUSH, CONCEALER etc. plus sweating during the day, touching your face, taking all that crap off at the end of the day -- its gotta make you break out, I would think. I am really just too lazy for that. If we are a little oily or have a break out, we ride it out -- don't touch it or pick at it or cover it with makeup, it will make things worse.

I wash my face (like my mother) with a simple, gentle cleasner with little fine, gentle scrubbies in it or Noxema/Cetaphil and a gentle buff puff. I ALWAYS moisturize after. How I clean my face depends on the season since my skin reacts to weather (dry in winter, oily in warm weather -- I change products accordingly). It took me a long time to realize this and now that I change my products with the season I get hardly any breakouts.

Drink alot of water (at LEAST 8 glasses a day), exercise (at least 20 minutes a day - it increases circulation and is great for your skin). I treat myself to great moisturizers for face and body (Kiehl's) and I keep my routine simple (cleanse & moisturize, every day, twice a day). I get a lot of sleep. I quit smoking almost 2 years ago and I keep drinking to a minimum. I use 15 sunscreen at the beach.

Your skin is probably not as bad as you think (we are all our own worst critics). This girl I work with has beautiful fair skin with freckles all over it. She swears she has the worst skin ever. Everytime she comes in with that "GAWD, look at this HUGE cluster of pimples on my face" I tell her she's nuts because it's usually one little bump, hardly noticable.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

Clementine:

Toner is anything that helps to remove any traces of cleanser or makeup that might be left behind. It also helps tighten your pores. Someone mentioned Witch Hazel? It works great and doesn't have a lot of alcohol which is a good thing. Plus you can find it in the grocery store for less than 2 dollars. Works great for oily skin.

Shaving? I read in one of my mags that someone was coming out with new "shave oils" that were great for shaving, but I have yet to find them. Anyone know?

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

I was just reading that link about why women wear makeup, and maybe that's why younger women do, but it's not why *I* do. I didnt wear it when I was young because I had great skin then. Now I cannot stand looking in the mirror without makeup, because my skin is going through a really bad time and I wouldn't be able to face going out in public without some makeup on.

So the reason I wear makeup is not to attract men (gad no, I am glad most of them leave me alone now). It's to cover up thuings and smooth things out enough so I can stand looking at myself.

And I was just wondering if she thinks many lesbians wear makeup to attract men too? I don't *think* so. ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

I agree Judy - when my skin is behaving itself I wear nothing but a touch of blusher (because I'm the palest girl in the world otherwise), but when my skin is playing up there's no way I'm parted from my concealer! With the greatest respect, if you're one of the lucky ones with good skin you don't know what it's like to have bad skin!! You wouldn't, I'm sure, run around in hotpants if your thighs were dimply and orange-peel like, and similarly, I won't run around with a naked face!

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

I agree with Judy and Jackie. My skin started breaking out when I was nine, years before I started wearing makeup. I've tried going without concealer to see if that would help, but I find that my skin actually seems to break out more when I do that ... possibly because the makeup I wear always has some kind of oil absorbing action going on.

Re vitamin C products: on days when my skin isn't too oily, I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin face lotion, which is SPF 15 and has vitamin A, C, and E, as well as an alpha hydroxy acid. I read somewhere that it's the Vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acid that reduce the redness, but since I've used lots of alpha hydroxy acid products in the past without that effect, I think it's the Vitamin C. Note that this product isn't oil free, but it's not terribly greasy.

I also really like Neutrogena's multivitamin acne treatment. It's similar to the other lotion, but it has salicylic acid (1.5%) and it's less greasy. I use the Peter Thomas Roth stuff I mentioned before very sparingly for bad breakouts, and at night (when I remember) I use RoC "retinol actif pur" anti wrinkle treatment. I don't use it for wrinkles, though (I don't have any yet); I use it because it also seems to reduce redness and make my pores less visible.

I don't use toners or any harsh exfoliators; both make my skin much worse. I only wash with gentle cleansers unless I'm having a particularly oily day (usually just before my period, or if I took a nap during the day without removing my makeup). I have found that, ironically, some of the anti-aging products work very well on my acne. My favorite cleansers are Cetyphil and Oily of Olay's Daily Renewal Cleanser, which has a bit of salycilic acid but is extremely gentle.

And sunscreen. Got to wear sunscreen. I don't sunburn despite my very fair skin, but I wear sunscreen every day.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

dove moisturizing soap. a moisturizing mask once a week. spf moisturizer in the morning (bjore), and a stronger one at night (nivea). body moisturizer, heavier in the wintertime. shaving the legs constantly (exfoiliant). a loofah. very little makeup, but when i do, i try not to smudge and i try and remember to wash it off before i go to sleep. lots of water. laughter. chap stick.

and when all else fails, one good stick of concealer.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

Oh, yeah. Forgot about the shaving. Do you get the red bumps that are teeny little nicks? Use a good shaving emolient (I like hair conditioner) and change blades more frequently. However, if the hairs are turning in and then getting a little infected, which happens usually with the bikini area because pubic hair behaves differently -- well, there are products designed to help lessen or eliminate that. Some from high-end skin care lines.

But, here's a dirty little secret : Go to the men's grooming section in the drug store and look for products designs specially for African-American men's beards. Same thing -- coarser hair with more of a kink to it, so this is a product that helps lessen or eliminate the ingrown hairs.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

In response to the person who said she followed that link about makeup and feminism, and that she didn't agree with it, I'd just like to say that I've done another couple entries about it, to try to clear up what I meant initially, and that also some people have been pretty vehement about it in my forum, if you want to go look at what some unbelievably angry and defensive (as well as some interesting and intelligent) people have to say. Site is here.

As far as skin care goes, I've basically given up. I had acne for a long time in my teens, and it cleared up more or less on its own once I turned 20. I still get occasional breakouts, and for awhile I was fighting them with all of these anti-acne treatments. Then I just quit using the anti-acne treatments and started using Cetaphil instead. Net change in my face: zero. Except that now it's not as dried out all the time.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

Okay, checked my moisturizer, and it's also the Neutrogena Healthy Skin one that Beth mentioned. I just started using it; glad to hear it may help fade the scarring! I'm not too nuts about the way it smells, though, and am not sure if that smell fades after it dries.

Jackie--We are cosmic M.A.C. twins; I have worn Twig nearly every day for two years and Del Rio is my going-out lipstick. :-) I recently branched out and bought 3-D; it's sheerer and looks really great with their dark pinky lip pencil. :-)

Re: makeup making skin terrible...I had horrible breakouts before I was allowed to wear makeup. Good skin is pretty much genetic.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

Just another one who has been breaking out much longer than wearing makeup (I think since I was about 10). Recently (like in the last six months), I've started wearing foundation almost every time I go out or deal with people (Cover Girl Simply Powder Foundation- love the stuff). Just to even out the color a bit. (and fend off (un)intentionally cruel comments from people).

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2000

Another vote for Cetaphil. It's the simplest and one of the best. Another good one is Johnson & Johnson All Over Baby Wash [btw, it's identical to their Purpose Face Wash, except you get twice as much for half the price].

I've always had very good skin, and I've stayed out of the sun. In the last 6 months though, I've gotten rosacea and patches of dermatitis. *It's always something*.

Avon's ANEW line of AHA products is very good and inexpensive. Paula's Choice is another good line [she's the one who writes the "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" books]. They're at cosmeticscop.com

I was in the UK on vacation recently and bought a bunch of stuff at Boots [their brand]. All very inexpensive and good. I love Boots...it's a million times better than Walgreen's or Rite-Aid. But they don't ship outside the UK, so in a couple of months I'll feel sad when my stuff runs out!

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2000

It seems that I may be developing rosacea. My skin is very fair, but not in that translucent Cate Blanchet way, it is fair in a pink as a little pig sort of way. I have started using Guinot Creme Anti- Rougeurs 109 to counteract the redness. It seems to be helping. I also make sure to use foundation with yellow or golden tones. The best concealer I have found is Prescriptives in the yellow/orange family.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 2000

Carmen, if you think you're getting rosacea, got to the dermatologist. I thought I had it around Xmas, but hoped it would miraculously disappear [file under duh, I know]. I put off going to the derm until March, when it got worse. She prescribed MetroCream, which seems to be [slowly] helping.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 2000

I also have rosacea and am using Metrogel, a steroid cream, and for a while was taking tetracycline. These have helped clear up the breakouts I was having. Next month I'm going to have laser treatment to get rid of the broken veins and extra blood vessels that make my nose red.

I use BeneFit concealer and their "Get Even" powder.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2000

I just want to say that I read this forum, got inspired last week and started a new skin care regime. My skin is significantly clearer and softer, and its all thanks to you guys. I used Origins Fine Tuner (because my skin was confused about being dry or oily) which appeared to just dry everything out, so now I use Clinique moisturizer and its really working.

Yay forums!

-- Anonymous, May 05, 2000

I have good skin, and the reason for that is very weird, but true nonetheless. It's because I swim.

I can relate, but one word of caution: the skin on your neck and the rest of your body may get dramatically drier by comparision. My usual breakouts ceased in January, after I resumed my daily morning workout, but I now have to use a lot more lotion on my neck and skin to keep it smooth and supple.

-------------------------------------

-- Anonymous, May 05, 2000

Clear skin, what's that? Never heard of it! I'd be normal if I were on Planet Zit. I took Demulen 1/35 birth control for almost 11 years and during that time I had clear, porcelain-like skin. I decided to go off the pill(in 1995 at age 29)and w/i a short time I started breaking out with every kind of zit imaginable. I tried every OTC product as well as prescriptions and injections of cortisone and when nothing helped I tried Accutane. It worked great while on it and my clear, porcelain-like came back but after going off the medication all the acne came back, just as bad as before. I finally stopped going to the dermatoligist(1997). I then decided to try ProActiv, Serious Skin Care, Epicuren, Purpose, Dermalogica, etc. Just 7 months ago I went back on the pill(Orthotricyclen)b/c I'm still suffering. The breakouts are better BUT I still have acne 24-7 although it is smaller and less cystic. It's all over my jawline(ear to ear). I use a combination of products based on whether my skin is oily, dry, red, etc. I now get an Epicuren facial once a month and do Microdermabrasion from time to time. I feel that I'm in more control of my acne now but the days of wearing a ponytail are over. I've also added the following vitamin supplements to my diet: Lecithin, Acidophilus, CoQ10, St. John's Wort, Evening Primrose and MSM. I take them throughout the day. So it's been a total of 6 years that I've battled this beast and I hope to win one day! Now if I could only shed the few pounds that I've gained from the pill. Ugh, trade in one set of problems for another, it never ends.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001

Ive had zits on my late teens.I've tried everything on the market.Im using extraderm 4 now.Its not sold here in the states but I ask someone to buy it for me from the Philippines.Its like an astringent except that it combines tretinoin a derivative of retinol and hydroquinone.It takes care of the redness and the breakouts and the hydroquinone lightens and makes the scar fade!It kinda even the scar too! Im thinking of using accutane?Is it effective.Everone is saying its the new miracle cure and that you only have t use it like a year and it'll make you clear for ten years!is this true? Gotta remember that pillow case changing thing and the 8 glasses a day too!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001