Seeking a Good Skin Regimen

If you are in the fort Collins - Loveland area call Dr Braun. She is a world renowned esthetician. She can set you up with a great routine that is inexpensive. Everyone that has gone to her loves her. No matter what skin type they have.

Hi K.-
I have sensitive skin and tend to still break out- even at 34! When I was pregnant with my now 5 month old son, the breakouts got even worse. I've tried the ProActiv several times, and it usually ends up drying out my face and then the acne returns. I finally tried SkinID (online at skinid.com) (runs about $40 per 4 piece set- which they say is a monthly supply,but lasts me much longer) and ever since starting in September of last year, I've only had a total of 4 blemishes. They ask you several questions regarding what kind of makeup you use, where you live, how much sleep you get, what kind of skin you have, what kind of acne, etc. and then fine tune it to give you a regimen all your own. I Have been very satisfied with it- I definitely would recommend it! Hope this helps!

Hi K.,
Let me know your email and I can send you a toxic 12 list. There are so many people that have problems due to the ingredients. In the UK there are over 1100 banned chemicals while in the US we have only 10! This is critical info not only for your skin care, but all your personal care products. The average woman exposes her body to 126 chemicals per day with personal care products alone!

I've had amazing results with a ECO-Cert certified organic skin care line called True Elements from Nikken. It has top of the line ingredients and the entire process from seed to packaging is part of the certification. Best of all, it has a 30 day guarantee, a little goes a long way and is very affordable. I used to never get compliments on my skin until now. I have clients of all ages who use it.
nikken.com/product/technology/#trueElements scroll down to the bottom of the page and open the product brochure. Email me and I'll even show you how to get the products at wholesale.

More info on improving your health by reducing the toxins in your environment is available at livinghealthiernow.com.

Good luck on your quest.
Take care,
S.

I have skin that breaks out quite often if I don't stick to my cleaning regimen. I use a Bella Bar to clean my face every morning and evening and even during the day if it starts to feel greasy. I steam my face with a hot clothe, scrub my face with soap, rinse with hot water & then rinse with cold water. Since beginning this regimen and using Mia Bella's mineral makeup that includes soy proteins and vitamin e, my face has cleared up tremendously. Good luck finding something that works for you!

Make it a GREAT weekend!

S.

My advice is to use olive oil. I also have combination skin. I use light olive oil as a moisturizer. I've had only one major blemish since I started using it and I'd swear that some of my pores have shrunk. I seems counter intuitive to use oil on your face but it works because it is closer to your natural skin oil than anything else. A little bit goes a LONG way, like a dime size spot for your face and neck. It takes a few minutes for it to absorb, but it will absorb. I sent the olive oil with a few drops of jasmine essential oil. Good luck.

Check out www.cosmeticscop.com -- she reviews existing products, but also offers her own. Ever since I started using the regimen she recommends for blackheads, my skin has been so much better.

I have used and love the Herbalife's Outer Nutrition line for 2 years. People have noticed a difference with my skin and say I look younger. I alternate between the normal to oily nutrient based line and the skin activator anti-aging line. The thing I love about the products is they are natural (no chemicals) and pharmaceutical graded which means good quality with hardly any impurities/fillers in them. www.shopherbalife.com/O. is my website if you'd like to take a look.
-O.

I use Walmart's version of the Nutrogena face cleaner-the one that looks like liquid Dial in the pump bottle. I rinse after I get out of the shower with witch hazel on a cotton pad (I like the pads better than cotton balls for this) & I use age-defying (I think that's what it's called) oil free Mary Kay face lotion. I break out horribly at certain times of the month & with stress & I really think using the witch hazel steadily has helped with that. The lotion is light enough for my face (I can't stand the heavy greasy feel of most other lotions) & while it doesn't prevent breakouts, it doesn't cause them either. I'd look into Mary Kay.
My mom has used MK for as long as I can remember & once when she was holding my baby, one of the old ladies at church asked when she'd had a baby-she was 48 at the time. Can't get a better testimony than that!

Have you tried Mary Kay? I am a consultant and have the same skin as you are describing. If you find one in your area tell them about your skin they may be able to help you.
Good Luck!

Try the Murad line. You can order it online, or over the phone. They have reps on the phone that can help you, but there is plenty of info online as well. It's a little pricy but it works. Hope this helps, take care and God bless.

A. J

It looks like you've received a ton of recommendations!
I've been using Artistry products for the last 2 years. Artistry has a great line of products that can help with several skin conditions. I have a couple products in mind that I could recommend.

I loved the products so much that I am an Artistry Beauty Consultant.

I do have samples but what I would like to do is offer you a free consultation. I use a skin analysis machine that looks at the skin down to the DNA level. This has been a great resource in identifying individuals skin conditions. Let me know if you're interested.

Thanks,
C.
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____@____.com

First of all - I don't sell any kind of cosmetics and I've used numerous different kinds. My favorite for the price has definitely been Mary Kay. They have amazing skin care products. They have redone their formulas over the past few years and have really great products tailored to different skin types and are all very easy on sensitive skin. In my opinion, they are premium quality products that are as good as Clinique, Mac, Lancome - any of the Nordstrom high end brands - at a fraction of the cost. I'm sure you can find a Mary Kay rep in your phone book or maybe at marykay.com? It is definitely worth it to give them a try. The best part is that they have a 100% guarantee on their products. Even if you open them and use them - if you don't like them, you can get a full refund.

So I know you're going to get a million product recommendations, but I have to throw mine in, too. I don't think there is anything better than Paula's Choice products. She's known as the "Cosmetics Cop," and has published several big review books detailing what ingredients are more or less likely to make skin break out, and she came out with her own line of products a few years ago, all very evidence-based. They are no-frills and not in fancy packaging, but they are free from irritants and have only the stuff that will make your skin healthy, and a little goes a long way. She lists a "battle plan for acne" on her site, (www.paulaschoice.com) as well as a "battle plan for wrinkles," and you can browse various product reviews of other brands, too. Her battle plans can use her products or others, and she is very fair in her reviews about what's good and what's not and what's good but overpriced. These products are designed for very sensitive skin since they have only what's needed to be effective and nothing extra--many people with rosacea like them, and I use Paula's Choice cream on my 3 year old who has some eczema.
I can honestly say I am no longer tempted by the department store cosmetics counter, because these products are by far the nicest I've ever used, and her AHA exfoliant and non-slimy moisturizer keep my skin smooth and pimple free. . . finally. Best wishes!

I use Sonya Dakar. She is an esthetician that formulated her own product line after not being happy with what she could find on the market. She has received national recognition for her product line in both print and on TV. She has many different products that can be tailored to meet your specific skin needs. You can also choose a basic regimen or get a full one, like I have. She is a bit pricy, but after having struggled with skin issues my entire life, I have finally found a product that works very well for me. I hope she never goes out of business as I don't want to every use anything else. If you are in the Denver area there is a day spa in the Cherry Creek area that sells it. Let me know if you are interested and I can get you the details. I personally get my products from the Spa at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Hi K., I used to have the same trouble as you...combination skin, breaking out eventhough my skin was super dry. I tried everything and nothing seemed to work. Then, I found a miracle product line that has given me super healthy and smooth skin and I almost never get any break outs. It's called Ling and their website is www.lingskincare.com. I highly recommend it but, before checking it out, I need to warn you that it is expensive. I would start with the purifying facial cleanser and the facial tonic for dry skin. These two products alone will give you amazing results. Then you can move into moisturizers that are right for you. I really like Clear Light, Cell Repair and the daily sun screen. Over a few years now I've basically become addicted to Ling and it's my little guilty pleasure. The products last a long time and I truly wish I would have discovered them years ago to prevent the damage I caused my skin over the years with using the wrong stuff. I truly hope this helps you. Good luck!!!

Do you have an idea what ingredient in certain lotions makes you break out? I know it can be hard to figure out sometimes, but if you can then you know what to avoid. For instance, I finally figured out that aloe and my face are not friends, which is why I had trouble with some of the supposedly hypoallergenic and all-natural products.

Some of the anti-aging products contain chemicals that cause problems for sensitive skin, too. Is alpha-hydroxy a possible problem for you?

I wish there were some one-size-fits-all answer, but your best bet may be trial and error. For example, I have somewhat sensitive skin, yet can use Mary Kay's Timewise moisturizer with sunscreen (and no, I don't sell the stuff - it's what I use, so it's the best example I've got). My best buddy, who does not have sensitive skin normally, breaks out in welts if she touches the stuff. Other Mary Kay products give her no trouble at all. One reason I like Mary Kay is that you can try products out before you buy them.

You can also test products at the cosmetic counter of your favorite department store. I've done this in the past, and I always explain to the salesperson that since I have sensitive skin, I won't be buying anything until I've had it on me for at least a day to know whether it's going to cause me problems, and that if it works, I'll be back. Once I've explained my purpose, the salespeople I've been to for help have been very accommodating. One young lady even took me to a competitor's counter because she felt that nothing in her line would work for me.

Good luck!

K.,

I have the same skin, oily in some areas and dry in others. I use Arbonne NutriMin C RE9 line on my face. I do not use lotion in the summer for the most part because it seems to make my oily spots worse (any lotion will do that), so I just use the face serum:

http://www.arbonne.com/products/anti-aging/nutriminc/face...

It is anti ageing, but no real blemish control, but since I have started using it my break outs are few and far between. It is spendy, but one bottle of it lasts me 6+ months. I also use the facial scrub, body wash, perfume, some makeup, and their foot lotion. I do use the face lotion in the winter because my skin seems drier then. I LOVE it. They are on the list of Mamasource business in my area. They are sold at in home parties, but I think you can also order straight offline. My mother sells it and she got me started on it. The stuff lasts forever so I do not have to buy it often. I have used it for 4 years now. I highly recommend it!

I've had problems with my skin most of my life it's gotten much, much worse after having my 2 kids. I have tried EVERYTHING! Over the counter, prescription, facials, and eventually I resigned to just having bad skin forever. Recently I decided to try skinid, by neutrogena, and I have to say, I am pretty happy with it. I still have some hormonal breakouts once a month, but nothing like I had before. You do have to order online and it sends automatically every 30-90 days depending on how you set it up. But it's the first product that has actually helped and compared with others I have tried, the price isn't too bad. I usually use more natural-based products and this one is not, but it works and for now, that is what I'm looking for. One complaint I have is that the line does not come with a moisturizer and the one they offer online is really expensive. I just get a neutrogena lotion with spf from the store and that seems to work great.
Hope I didn't overload you with info. I know how frustrating this topic can be!! Good luck!

K.,
About 20 years ago I went to a Dermatologist because I kept getting red blotches on my face and lotions broke me out. He told me to use Eurcerine Cream. Make sure you get the CREAM not the lotion. It will seem too thick but trust me it works and DOES NOT break you out! I have used it everyday for the past 20 years when I get out of the shower. I am 51 and everyone thinks I look like I am in my late thirties early forties. You won't be sorry.

I have been using Arbonne for the past year and love it!! It's a bit pricy, but it's all natural and not tested on animals. My skin has never looked so good. I am not a sales person for this organization, just a dedicated customer.

I've been using Olay's anti-aging, anti-blemish line. The cleanser is very inexpensive (about $6 for the bottle - lasts me about 2-3 months cleansing once a day). The all over moisturizer and the under eye moisturizer are a little pricey in my opinion, but I'm pretty cheap. They're about $15-$20 each depending on where you buy them, but they also last a very long time depending on how often you use them (and whether your kids decide to empty them out or not!). You can find them pretty much anywhere (Walmart, Target, Smith's, Walgreen's, etc.). I really like them, and they keep my skin very clear when other factors aren't playing a role. I'm sure you're aware that your skin can be drier, oilier, broken out or not based on what you consume. The more water you drink, and the less junk you eat, the clearer your skin will be naturally. So just watch the other factors that make you break out, try the Olay, and see what happens. It's nowhere near as expensive as some of the other options out there, and in my opinion, works just as well. Good luck finding something that works for you!

Hola,
I just recently went to a dermatologist for the first time. I'm 32, have 2 boys and have oily/dry skin and break out in the t-zone and chin area. He put me on a medicated wash with hydrogen peroxide in it, I think, and prescribed Retin A, which is great for blemishes and for aging at the same time! My insurance almost didn't cover the Retin A, because their normal drop off is 29 years, b/c no one over 29 gets adult acne, I guess. And because they consider it cosmetic after that, b/c it does have an anti-aging property. Bottom line, my skin is doing MUCH better and I have been very happy with the results. Good luck! Stay out of the sun! And wash every night! (I slack on that a lot)
L.

I use a product called Arbonne RE9 and it is awesome. I am 38 years old with two teenage boys and I have been using it for four years. I have a horible problem finding skin care that works in the past. It is expensive probably $30 a bottle but it lasts me forever!!! If you go online or find someone who does parties you could earn it for free... that's what I do. My face breaks out in t-zone and I am allergic to everything. I have tried stuff from tv like the cindy crawford one I think it's called natural beauty (too greasy), oil of olay (foaming face wash was the best), body shop sensitive skin (didn't rinse well), neutrogena, cetaphil, mary kay (rash)and stupid amounts of others. I am not good at washing my face regularly, maybe three or four times per week. so the bottles last me 8 months or so but even at that they keep my skin nice so the price is more than worth it. Good luck it is incredibly frustrating, i know...

Michelle