Hi everyone :)

I was just wondering what products you all use for your face. I have been experiencing mild acne lately and I really would like to get rid of it. I suspect it is hormonal.
What do you all think of benezoyl peroxide and salyilic acid? What do you use to keep your skin clear on a regular basis?
TIA

Wash with Dove Soap, and scrub the dead skin cells off. Dove soap is the most mild and most moist, and its recommended most. Don't touch your face too much either. Drink a lot of water too.

I use a buff puff to get rid of the dead skin cells. I became allergic to benzoyl peroxide after using it a while.

If you want some salycylic solution from a company that doesn't test on animals, Bonnie Bell makes 10-0-6 with salicylic acid (the blue stuff).

i usually just scrub with a wet cloth and rinse with warm water, twice a day. if i break out sometimes i'll use whatever cleanser i have around or use a deep pore cleansing mask, i found a brand that is vegetarian standard and against animal testing, so i use it. it's a UK brand called Montagne Jeunesse. but most of the time warm water and a cloth is all i use

if you think it's hormonal, try to find out why. it's better to treat the problem than the symptom. it could also be a food reaction, or a reaction to detergents, something in the air, something you touched with your hands and transferred to your face, etc. try to keep track of what you do and eat and how you feel before and during a breakout.

As I was reading this, I realized that I was sitting with my hand propped on my cheek. Then I realized that I'm in the campus fast-food cafe, and people often use these computers while eating, so undoubtedly animal grease is on this keyboard. That's just gross!

Edited by self to fix spelling error.

I use Freeman facial products (foaming cleansers, scrubs and masks)
They arent tested on, and dont contain animal products, and they always have delightful fragrances, and are made from wonderful botanical combinations,

Oh, and they work in keeping your complexion clear.

Thanks for all the responses so far!

Yumhummus, where can I get Freeman products? I've never heard of them but they sound good.

LadyFaile, your right I really should get to the root of the problem first but I'm not sure how to correct a hormonal imbalance. I'm nursing a 2 year old right now and ever since she turned one and I got my period back my skin has gone to hell!! Do you you have an ideas what I should do?
I've always had really nice skin so this is all new to me, if anyone has any more suggestions that would be great!

I have always had ultra sensitive skin. I used many products that seemed to irritate my skin further and I found that hot water in the morning and at late in the day agrees best with me. My skin looks better than ever. On occasion I have used the clearasil cream for acne. It worked for me. I'm not even sure what is in that one, though....

I just use soap but sometimes the neutragina face wash. It works well. :)

Toothpaste on zits overnight works great. One of the active ingredients in toothpaste kills bacteria..the same crap that causes zits. That's what I would do when I would get the long ago. Worked like a charm.

I've heard the toothpaste thing, but I'm afraid to try it. I'm afraid if I do I'll break out worse. What kind of toothpaste did you use though, just curious. All toothpastes have different ingredients.

Would those all-natural toothpastes do it, too?

Yep, all natural should work also because as I understand it, they all have some type of ingredient that kills 'bad' bacteria. I've never tried with an all-natural toothpaste though. And (please don't shoot me) I don't get zits anymore so I really can't test it to tell you. Maybe some other VB'rs would be interested in knowing though so if you try it maybe post your results.

you're lucky you don't get zits anymore! I'm 23 next month, I shouldn't be getting them either...it's nooo faaiirr!!

Anybody wanna try the toothpaste thing first??

I don't get'em 'cause I don't have that hormonal thing going on (I'm 34 but don't have any plumbing anymore :)) So, yeah, that's an upside to it I suppose.

I never got very many zits, just like one or two now and then, but recently I've gotten about ten all lined up along my scalp line. They're not very noticeable because they're there, but I wonder why there and now.

Skylark: a Chinese herbalist once told me that that happens when your liver is stressed out (energy out of balance).

What would cause my liver to get stressed out? Drinking lots of alcohol comes to my mind, but I know that's not it it because I never drink.

skylark, it sounds to me that your pimples may be caused from hair products. I have whiteheads all on my forhead and around my cheek area. Attractive, huh. I've been trying to get rid of them for a year now... I think it may be time to see a dermatologist.
I'm pretty positive it's all hormonal but my liver could be stressed also.
Poesia, what do you suggest for an overstressed liver?

yeah if they're where your hair brushes your face a lot, it's from oils in your hair. when i was younger my forehead would break out from my bangs, so i grew them out and it stopped.
i'm 22 and still get them so i dunno

skylark do you drink enough water? alcohol isn't the only thing that can stress out your liver, but lots of water should help flush it all out. in theory


oh and natural toothpaste shouldn't do any damage, i tried it a while back and wasn't real sure if it helped or not, but it didn't make it worse at least. they just say to make sure it's a toothpaste and not a gel. all it really does though is dry and harden around the pore drawing out the junk and drying it up. you can get a peel-off or clay masque to do the same thing.

I use Kiss My Face's olive oil bar once a day right now because the winter weather makes my skin dry. :(

I recently started using the Kiss My Face Olive oil soap, and my skin seems firmer, and less acnified (not that I had much trouble there...). also washing my face with plain water throughout the day is really nice...

Well i just wash my face with soap when im in the shower and it usually works because i dont get pimples. But sometimes i get them on my forehead. I have that Neutragina face wash and it dries out the pimples and they go away in a couple days. It works pretty good you might want to try the neutragina face wash.

Friendly suggestion: above all else, keep your hands off of your face. Your hands are the dirtiest, germiest, grossest part of your entire body and all that stuff is getting rubbed into your face every time you put your hands there. That should reduce some breakouts if you're having trouble. Oh, also clean off your phones with rubbing alcohol. You wouldn't believe the oils and dirt that collect there that end up on your face when you talk on the phone. Do this often if you share a phone in your household. It also cuts down on cold germs spreading via the phone.

MRB,
I TRY to keep my hands off of my face, but its hard because it's such an ingrained habit to sit at the computer reading posts with one hand propping up my chin or whatever. I hardly use the phone so that's not a big deal there.

I was told by a Mary Kay rep that only 100% cotton cloths should be used to wash my face. I haven't really looked in stores yet, but do most dept./retail stores care 100% cotton face cloths? My mom never gave a hoot about health and beauty wisdom that most folks take for granted; to her, maintenence was brushing her hair and fixing it the same way every day with a side part and barette.

It very well could be hair products. When I wear my hair down, I smoothe down the sticking-ups along the part line with gel, but lately I've been at work all the time and wear my hair in a ponytail for practicality. This means I gel my hair almost straight back (or else some of it will fall out or otherwise look icky), so certainly some of the gel gets on the skin next to my hairline.

I TRY to drink enough water, LF, but especially today at work, I was so busy that I only carved out enough time for a couple of 30 second drink breaks. Which reminds me, I should go get some water now. If I have it with me, I drink it, but if I don't, I sometimes forget until I'm actually thirsty.