Acne and Me: Overcoming the dreaded dots

I'm an ongoing experiment!! My life with acne. from skin care to makeup, i want to share with you my journey from science nerd to...nope, still a science nerd🤓. Happy Hunting (acne that is)!

[acneandme]

Review: Curology

“A custom for your ______ and no one else’s” is the motto for Curology.com.  Here is what I think about how curology has worked for me. 

So my first review in a while will be my experience with Curology. I started using Curology...wow...1/30/2017 was my first shipment. That makes me 3 years in right now. I really thought it was only a year ago.

Disclaimer: This review is my own opinion based on my reaction with this product. This does not mean it will work the same for you. This review is just my thoughts about this product. 

                             First Things First: The Curology Process🥼

From what I remembered, they ask a bunch of questions ranging form your skin type to what you are looking to battle (skin care wise of course) and asked for pictures of your face so they could prescribe you your bottle. From that, they “assign” you a NP-C (Certified Nurse Practitioner) and tell you what ingredients are going into your custom bottle. Mine is

4% Niacinaminde

1% Clindamycin

0.25% Zinc Pyrithione

I asked my friend, who had recommended Curology to me, what was in her bottle and who her NP-C was. Low and behold, same active ingredients, same NP-C. Not surprising. We both battle with acne and so it makes sense that we have the same bottle and NP-C. However, a little part of me wished that it was slightly different so that I could see that it was customized for my skin. But as I only sent photos, and I’m not paying for the “consultation”, it’s not a realistic wish.  When I first started, they only had one size (the large size 3-month supply) and shipped every 3 months. Then they started the monthly bottle which was smaller and everyone was defaulted to it. I’ve since then changed it back to the 3-month bottle because there’s no shipping charge haha. 

                                   Now, Let’s Get to The Science 🤓!

Here are how the Active Ingredients in my bottle work to combat acne

Niacinamide: A form of Vitamin B3

Niacinamide is an antioxidant. A really powerful one that is said to be great for anti-aging as well as for acne. Niacinamide acts as our body’s repairmen. Simply, they see damage caused by free radicals and repair them (for example: skin damage). 

Free radicals are byproducts our body produces when our cells are working (i.e.:ATP production in mitochondria). They can also be found in your body due to things like smoking/drugs, pollution, UV rays, alcohol, heavy metal radiation, etc. These molecules have missing electrons (if you remember from Chem class, unstable molecules will do their best to become stable). If they steal an electron from one of your healthy cells, it can warp and damage the cell. (Note: not all free radicals are bad. We do need some to help our body. I’ll do a big post on free radicals soon). Niacinamide will see these damaged cells and wok to repair them by stimulating protein production, strengthening the skin barrier and improving elasticity. It can also “self oxidise” itself and stabilize the free radical by donating one of it’s own electrons. 

You can get more information here and here 

Clindamycin: An Antibiotic

Clindamycin is an antibiotic known to fight Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), when used in conjunction with other medications, which is a major bacteria that causes acne. They are usually found in pores feeding on the excess sebum in your cells. These bacterium will stick, grow and propagate in those follicles that and will clog your pores. Those clogged pores are the perfect environment for them to continue to grow and can cause major cystic acne if not taken care of. Your body’s immune response to this bacteria can cause major inflammation and of course, pain. 

Clindamycin halts the protein production of P. acnes which stops the growth and replication of the bacteria.

You can find more information about it here and here

Zinc Pyrithione: An Essential Mineral

Zinc Pyrithione is an essential mineral that is said to regulate hormonal imbalances and aid in the destruction of bacteria and fungus. Like Clindamycin, it helps to stop the growth and replication of P. acnes and also its friend, Pityrosporum. It’s also great as an anti-inflammatory agent to reduce swelling caused by the acne infection.  

You can read more about zinc here and here

                                                 My Review✔️

Cons

- Not cheap: It’s probably my most expensive skin care item in my regimen. My one month supply is over $20

- Wasteful Packaging: This bottle is very heavy plastic and it is not recyclable. And the cardboard used for the treatment is a little too much packaging 

- Can’t gauge how much is left: Because of the heavier opaque packaging, I can’t tell if I need another bottle. Especially since I travel for work, I don’t like to not know if I need another bottle. 

Pros

- Very lightweight: This formula absorbs pretty quickly in the skin. I only use 1 pump a day

- Unscented; No chemically smell here

- It works: It takes about a month or so, but my acne has been smaller and has gone away quicker. I don’t get the flaking after my acne as I used to (but it could also be because of my moisturizer)

- Personal NP-C: Whether or not it’s the same NP-C for everyone or it is just multiple people under one name, I like that I have a direct messaging line to them. I recently messaged them to see how I can get another precription to help with my acne scarring so my next bottle will be slightly different. I’m excited to see how it goes!

Final Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5 Stars

[acneandme]

2020 Update: A Little Late

Wow is 2020 coming in like a roar. A big life changing roar to everyone in the world. 

It’s definitely been a very dynamic 3 months and 4 days to say the least. Between my life, my home, my job, everything has been changing quite quickly. But, at least it’s never boring *winking face*

I know, I say this every year I try to return to this blog , I’m back! haha. But now, I have no excuse. Like the majority of the world, I am quarantined in my living quarters until further notice. I hope all of you are safe, sound and enjoying this time to really rest (if you are able to). For those essential workers, whomever you are, I’m praying for safety and health during these turbulent times. It’s a war zone where we can’t see the enemy coming, but hey, isn’t that life? ;)

(As you can see, I still ramble on like no one’s business) Onto my skin! You can see my story of how I was when I first started this blog almost 10 years ago by clicking here!

My face, in the last 3 months, has been going through a lot of change. Between getting a month long cold to the changing weather and stress, I was breaking out a lot by mid February. However, by March, my skin was readapting and my breakouts did not come as often. 

Here are the skincare products I’ve been using the past year. I’ve been finding this combination of products works really well for me. I will be explaining them in the order I use them.

1. Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment $24/5oz tube

AM/PM Cleanser

I absolutely adore this cleanser. My sister’s friend had recommended it to me and I was hesitant. I didn’t want to pay $24 for a cleanser, honestly. As a lover for my drug store brands, I really didn’t think that it would be any better than Neutrogena. However, my favorite Neutrogena cleanser (the grapefruit creme cleanser) was discontinued and I wanted something that was both effective and still gentle on my skin.  After a month of using this cleanser, I was completely sold. I will do a full review on this but let’s just say I will never go back to Neutrogena and I am very tempted to see what else they have in their collection. 

2. Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner - Rose Petal $10.95/12oz.

AM/PM Toner

This smells amazing. It’s such a nice light rose smell and so gentle. The ingredients are all natural so I know exactly what is going on my skin. It feels so refreshing. I actually have a small spray bottle that I put this in to spray on my face during the hot summer days in New York. I got mine at Target but you can find it pretty much anywhere. They also have other scents like coconut water, cucumber, lavender and unscented if rose is not your flavor. One bottle lasted me about 5-6 months. It’s so worth it.

3. Curology Acne lotion $24.90/12ml (~.5oz) includes shipping

PM Lotion

Ok, so this was a bit pricey. $24/month for a pm cream? I was super skeptical about their “custom made” routine but a friend had recommended it to me when I ran out of my lotion (I want to say I was using Proactiv but wanted to try something new). It worked. Am I wowed? I do find that my pimples have had a shorter life span since I’ve used it and I no longer have cystic acne. I will definitely be doing a review on this product because there’s a lot of things to be said about it and I want to properly give you all my pros and cons. 

4. Proactiv Advanced Dark Spot Correcting Serum $60/3oz.

PM Serum

I got this as part of kit that was $83.82 (with shipping) so I didn’t pay $60 for it. I’m not going to lie, I think it really helps with my dark spots but it’s very strong scented. In a bad way. I can smell the chemicals and it burns my eyes at times. I am only using it to finish it up. i have another dark spot treatment that I will be using after this. Definitely only use this in the pm because of how strong this is. 

5. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel $28/125ml(~4.2oz) 

AM/PM Moisturizer

If you have oily or combination skin, this is must. The gel version is light and moisturizing enough. Just because you have oil on your face doesn’t mean your skin is hydrated. In fact, it probably is oily because it needs more moisture so it’s trying to trap any moisture in your body (oil is hydrophobic so your body is literally creating a barrier to keep the moisture in). I’m not saying I’m still not oily, but I am less oily than I used to be. My need to blot is definitely halved. I love Clinique. There are so many things I want to try but my wallet says otherwise so I’m going to stick to this for now.

And that’s it!! I didn’t add my masks only because I haven’t been super consistent with my masks. I also want to try a few homemade masks so we shall see how that goes! I’ll see you guys soon (I promise this time)!

[acneandme]

Have you tried the Yes to Tomatoes! line? I've used the roller ball stick and it's actually the only thing that has ever worked for me, even over proactiv. It helped lighten my acne scars too

Hello! I have tried the a few things from this line which gave me a really bad allergic reactions. =( 

[acneandme]

what's the best way to tackle oily skin? my t-zone is so oily all the time, and whenever i touch my face (like for an itch or something, i dont rub my sweaty hands over my face or anything) i am guaranteed to get a spot there! so annoying! think it's a mixture of very oily skin and ridiculously huge pores! i hate my skin!

I have the same problem. I'll put on my makeup in the morning and be all "Oh, I'm nice and matte. My makeup looks awesome". An hour later I'm a greasebag. I always bring touchup with me. If I don't have anything, I will take a tissue and blot my face. I made a vow to myself to never touch my face because if I did, I may start popping pimples. Hahaha. I've heard a little milk of magnesia works well as a primer. But ti tell you the truth, its hard to get rid of oily skin!! I"m still dealing with it today.

I hoped this kinds helped! Happy holidays!

[acneandme]

hello! firstly thank you for making such a wonderful blog, it has helped me loads :] i have a lot of box/rolling scars on my cheeks and forehead, and am thinking of visiting a dermatologist (my doctor is useless!) to go over some options for post-acne. what are your experiences with laser scar removal/microderm, would it be worth while/helpful? i'm quite scared about it as well as i dont like talking to people about my acne :[

Hahahaha!! Thanks! I love hearing that. 

Definitely look for a good dermatologist. THey can help with smoothing out those scars. I've only done at home micro dermabrasion. I was told that laser was safe and helped a lot, but I'm too afraid! lol. Microdermabrasion helped to smoothen out my face overall, but for my boxcar scars, it didn't do anything. I have one that is across my left cheek that I really want gone, but I can afford to do that now (maybe when I get rich one day. =D)

I get what you mean. For the longest time, I could never look someone in the eye because I don't want to see them looking at my acne and judging me. I eventually got over it because I started working a lot more and because I have oily skin, my makeup would be virtually gone by the time I left. No one really treated me differently so I was like "eh, I guess they don't really care". Hahaha.

So to sum it up: 1. Dermatologist! and 2. You are your own worst critic.

I hope this helped and thanks for your follow! Happy Holidays! 

[acneandme]

I'm 20 and for some reason my face is breaking out so much more than it ever did as a teenager! I got so frustrated that I went to my GP, who gave me a weak benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin gel, which ruined my face! The spots I put it on stayed for weeks and weeks then scarred, and now I'm covered in red hyperpigmentation! I have oily and very sensitive skin, was thinking of trying salicylic acid to help the redness, what salicylic facewash would you recommend? And does it stop break outs? Thanks!

Look for a dermatologist.That is my first suggestion, because dermatologists specialize in skin. They spend at least another two years in school for it. Tell them your problem. Tell them what you gp gave you and work with him/her on a correct regimen for you.

Personally, I really like my neutrogena pink grapefruit cleanser. I've been using it for months and I love it! Look for toners that come with ingredients like aloe vera or green tea, because those ingredients are anti-inflammatory so they will help reduce redness. If you aren't allergic to soy, I would try the Neutrogena visibly even moisturizer. It worked well for me and it has spf to protect your skin from the sun (SPF is a must if you use acne products bc salicylic acid and BP make your skin especially senstive to the sun's UV rays, which is verrry badddd).

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know! =D

[acneandme]

I have a huge red rash covering my entire face & neck. I went to the doctor's & he said it was actually acne, so he gave me some Epiduo. I've been using it twice a day for a week now & NOTHING is happening. The rash/acne is still there & it's hideous. I am no longer leaving the house as I can't bear to have people stare at it. I can't even look in the mirror anymore. Makeup helps a bit but not much. I use ProActiv which stops big pimples but not this. Any ideas?! :(

A rash?? Is it painful or just like scarring? Well, first thing is to go back to the doctor and tell him that it's not working. Think back to when it first started. Was it after you touched something and then touched your face? Were you using a new product on you face? Rashes can be the result of many things. I am really sorry, but to tell you the truth, I don't know what to say. Just draw a map of when it first started and what you were doing when it came up. Sorrry!! =(

[acneandme]

Have you tried Clarisonic? If so, what are the pros and cons of this product? Is this type of physical exfoliation more effective than a chemical one?

Yes, I have.  When I use it, I feel like my face ends up soo much cleaner after I shower. However, it is expensive. For me, this brush was an extra step when I had a lot of painful acne because I didn't want to touch my face (I literally felt like crying when I touched my face when my acne was really bad). Now, I don't really use it. I only use it every other week just to make sure my face it nice and clean.

I would recommend it if you had the money, but if you just want a brush for your face, look at drugstores. It;s so much cheaper.  

[acneandme]

Hello. I suffer from... not the worst acne, but pretty severe stuff. I've tried netrugena (sorry can't spell) , clearsil, clean and clear, and numerous prescriptions gels (which I hate but use religiously) and washes. It seems like every time I try something new it shows some improvement, then stops working, like I'm building a resistance to it. I'm too overwhelmed by all the information and sciencey stuff to follow (sorry), but is there any simple advice you can give? Thank you so much =]

Hi! Sorry for the delay. Um, simple stuff...Basically, what I would do is take everything that you use that that doesn't seem to work (you know your skin pretty well so if you used it for months and nothing happens, don't use it). Try not to overwhelm your face with too many products. Cleanser, toner moisturizer and/or a spot treatment. Catalogue your face. Look for one acne spot. It could be one that just popped up. See how long it takes to disappear/fade. All your acne probably didn't come all out at once right? So, don't look at your entire face and say it's not working until you try it out and make sure it's not just because of the difference in time between each spot. LOL, am I making sense? Hahahahaha. I hope this helped 

[acneandme]

Proactiv much?

Hey guys! I know, I know, it's been...months. I did see that I have quite a few questions from you guys and I will answer them ASAP!! But first, I want to do my Proactiv update. This was an ongoing routine that I tweaked through the months because some products worked better than others.  This is also going to be my 3-month update because that was how long I wanted to test it.

Before I get started, I hope everyone was safe during the hurricane that hit the North East last October. I had no power for about a week (up until the blizzard). Everyone stay safe and have an awesome thanksgiving!

Like in all my updates, here are my faces of the months. My last update was in July (oh em gee) so i will show you my last face that I you guys saw before my huge hiatus.

::A Little Backstory::

So, for those of you who have never subscribed to my page, here is my original post on my acne about a year ago.  This was back when I had pretty baaaad acne. Right now I would say that I have light-moderate (during those special days of the month where my hormones decide they like roller coasters. Hahaha). Most of problems right now is hyperpigmentation and some scarring.

Basically, the whole reason I wanted to try proactiv is because of their dark spot remover. The clinique dark spot corrector I used to use is really breaking the bank (at $49.50 for 1oz..ohemgee) and I wanted to try something different that wasn't that expensive. Proactiv has this $29.95 deal for the 3-step system:

I mean, I can cancel whenever so why not?! 

::THE PRODUCTS::

My box!

Step 1: Renewing Cleanser

Site Description:

This medicated exfoliating cleanser kills acne bacteria as it gently removes makeup, pollutants and excess oil.  Benefits Benefits • An oil-free, soap-free acne cleanser.  • Tiny exfoliating beads are designed to gently remove dirt, excess oil and dead skin cells to help keep pores from clogging.  •Prescription-grade micro-crystal benzoyl peroxide (2.5%) starts killing acne-causing bacteria on contact.  •At the same time, chamomile extract and other soothing ingredients help keep skin balanced and hydrated. 

Active Ingredient: Benzoyl Peroxide, 2.5% Inactive Ingredients: water (aqua), magnesium aluminum silicate, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, sorbitol, dimethyl isosorbide, disodium PEG-12 dimethicone sulfosuccinate, tridecyl stearate, neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, polyethylene, cetyl esters, anthemis nobilis flower extract, sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, xanthan gum, tridecyl trimellitate, propylene glycol, imidazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum).

As you can see, the cleanser has a few harder particles to it. It gently exfoliates your skin, but its nothing too "exfoliate-y" I guess. Out of all the products, this was what I thought was the mosh "meh" of the them. I still prefer my usual cleansers/exfoliators. 

Pros:

- It feels nice on your skin

- Light exfoliation won't irritate bigger more painful acne

- Nice clean feeling after you wash it off

Cons:

- It smells like plastic to me (It's a weird smell. I don't much like it. I prefer a light or unscented formulation)

- I don't think it did much for my acne. I usually can, I guess, feel if a cleanser is working. I don't know. It just felt like I was using my cetaphil cleanser. 

- I still had to use my purity cleanser to remove my makeup because I still had makeup residue after i got out of the shower. 

Rating: 3/5

::Step 2: Revitalizing Toner::

This alpha-hydroxy toner continues the exfoliation process begun in Step 1 to help keep pores clear.  Benefits Benefits • A salicylic acid formula designed to help clear up acne and prevent new acne breakouts from occurring.  • Glycolic acid helps to keep pores clear by exfoliating away dead skin cells. • Its botanical-rich blend of chamomile, aloe and panthenol (vitamin B complex) is designed to help hydrate the skin.

Active Ingredient: Salicylic Acid, 2.0% Inactive Ingredients: water (aqua), alcohol denat., butylene glycol, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, glycolic acid, sodium hydroxide, portulaca oleracea extract, ethylhexylglycerin, polysorbate 20, disodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate

I really liked this toner. Glycolic acid helps to even out skin tone by slawing off dead skin cells and salicylic acid helps to clear my pores. A nice refreshing (a bit painful if you have open pimples due to the alcohol in the toner) 

Pros:

- No scent!! 

- Very refreshing and really revitalizes my skin.

- A boost of salicylic acid and glycolic acid to help with acne and hyperpigmentation

Cons:

- Can be painful

Rating: 4.5/5

Step 3: Repairing Treatment Lotion

This medicated treatment kills acne-causing bacteria deep inside pores to help prevent breakouts and keep skin clear.  Benefits Benefits • Wear this treatment day and night—alone or invisibly under sunscreen, moisturizer or makeup—to disrupt the acne cycle and help give you a consistently clear complexion. • Its prescription-strength micro–crystal benzoyl peroxide (2.5%) enters deep into cleansed pores to start killing acne–causing bacteria on contact.? • Soothing allantoin, aloe and panthenol are designed to help clear and maintain hydration.

Active Ingredients: Benzoyl Peroxide, 2.5% Inactive Ingredients: water (aqua), ethoxydiglycol, cyclotetrasiloxane, cyclopentasiloxane, propylene glycol, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, panthenol, allantoin, xanthan gum, ceteareth-20, carbomer, triethanolamine, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum).

My favorite of the 3 steps. It absorbs so well. It really helps to heal my acne.  

Next are some extras that i also got free with my purchase. I'm not going to go into lengths like I did with the actual 3-step routine. 

::Green Tea Moisturizer::

This was a travel size moisturizer. They do sell the regular 1oz(?) size as well. I've used it before. It's very light and moisturizing. It has a cooling feeling to it, but if you have drier skin its not going to be enough. I like it. This will probably going to be in my travel bag whenever I go places.

::Daily Oil Control::

This does not control my oil. It feels light on your face. It kind of goes liquid-y when it touches your hands and face. I had so much more expectation for this because it really felt like it would work. An hour later, I was blotting my face with a tissue. -_- sigh.  I don't know what I am going to do with this. I'll probably keep using it until its gone. ITtdoesn't break me out so...why not?

::Oil Free Moisture::

This is a little more moisturizing that the green tea one. It has spf 15 which I like however it has more of a white cast than any other spf I own. I like the moisturizer. I probably won't repurchase it because I have other moisturizers that have spf and enough moisture but don't leave that bad a white cast.

::Dark Spot Corrector::

  Sooo this was the reason I wanted to retry proactiv. It got pretty good reviews and it was free with my purchase so why not?! I like it, but I also don't like it. I feel like it does help even out my tone pretty well. It has hydroquinone, so if you are allergic don't get it. I don't like it because I can't use it with my aloe vera jelly. It balls up. I also have to be careful what primer I use because it may ball up. Its weird because my products are all water based just like the dark spot corrector. It works as well as my clinique dark spot corrector did but is so much cheaper!

ONTO THE ROUTINE...

::SEPTEMBER::

Ok, for the first month, I used it exactly as they said to:

Morning:

Step 1 cleanser

Step 2 toner

Step 3 lotion

Dark spot corrector

Daily Oil Control

I skipped moisturizer because my skin didn't feel like it needed it. 

Night:

Step 1 cleanser

Step 2 toner

Step 3 lotion

Dark spot corrector

Daily Oil Control (yes I put it on at night too)

Green Tea Moisturizer

My observations: 

The cleanser didn't feel like it really did anything. I won't repurchase this, but I'll probably bring it with me when I go camping or traveling just to use it up. Everything else was fine, but I really didn't think this was enough to get rid of my existing acne. Any new ones that popped up were significantly smaller and lasted less than usual which was awesome!

::OCTOBER::

Morning:

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Clay Cleanser

Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-in-1 Toner

Step 3 lotion

Dark spot corrector

Daily Oil Control

Naruko Tea Tree Anti Acne Sunscreen

Night:

Philosophy Purity Cleaner 

Neutrogena Grapefruit Cleanser

St. Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub

Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-in-1 Toner

Step 3 lotion

Aloe Vera Tea Tree Jelly

Daily Oil Control 

This seemed to work a lot better. My acne really reduced and my face just seemed so much cleaner. I wanted to finish off my neutrogena toner because I had a little left. I didn't want to waste it! The dark spots were still fading at around the same rate so this routine seems to work

::November::

Morning:

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Clay Cleanser

Step 2 toner

Step 3 lotion

Dark spot corrector

Daily Oil Control

Naruko Tea Tree Anti Acne Sunscreen

Night:

Philosophy Purity Cleaner 

Neutrogena Grapefruit Cleanser

St. Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub

Step 2 toner

Step 3 lotion

Aloe Vera Tea Tree Jelly

Daily Oil Control 

The only thing I changed was the toner because I used up my neutrogena one. I liked the proactiv one so I'm using it. Everything is working well. So far so good!!! =D

Anyway, I know this was reeeeaaaallly long. I'm so sorry I've been MIA these months. I will definitely be getting to the questions! But for now, I bid adieu. 

[acneandme]

I am 19 - female. I started getting acne when I was 13. I tried literally everything out there, nothing worked. Earlier in the year, I FINALLY gave ProActiv a go & OH MY GOSH it worked so well! I haven't seen a pimple since! Waking up to a flawless face has been amazing <3 but due to medical reasons, I have to quit using it... & now the breakouts have already begun :( is there anything at all you can suggest?!

Why can't you use proactiv? Is it the benzoyl peroxide? You can substitute BP with tea tree oil, sulfur, salicylic acid, etc. I like the neutrogena grapefruit cleanser. It worked really well for me as well as the st ives apricot scrub fo acne. hmm...what else...

[acneandme]

How did you apply the Missha perfect cover BB Cream to cover up your acne? I just ordered some bc I thought your post was amazing but I am having trouble covering up some of my spots. Did you use a concealer or any other make up too?

I use mostly either a flat top synthetic bristle brush (my go to is the studio flat top from ELF cosmetics that's $3) or my Avon ergonomic reusable sponge. I used to use my fingers but i forget that here is still foundation residue on my fingers and i end up getting it on my shirt or pants. For the brush I spray a little water on it so it doesn't absorb the bb cream and everything mostly goes on my face. For the sponge I make it slightly damp for the same reasons. Depending on how lazy I am, I will leave it as is, use my finger and spot treat with the bb cream, use a separate concealer or go over my entire face with mineral foundation of extra coverage. The Missha PC is one of the fullest coverages I've ever seen for bb creams (about a high medium coverage to almost full depending on whether you use your fingers or a brush) but it doesn't cover everything. Most of time I don't mind leaving it as is, but when I need extra coverage I mostly use my min foundation over it. It helps to unshine my face a little as well. :)I hope this helped!

[acneandme]

Hi, have you tried MD formulations face & body scrub? I love it! I had really bad acne, and that scrub has really helped my skin :)

Hey!! No I haven't tried that! I will check it out. It looks pretty interesting. Thanks! =]

[acneandme]

I'm not sure if you have bad acne? But I do, and it seems the only thing that has ever helped me was Accutane. It honestly controls my life, from my scars to the unbelievably oiliness of my skin. It drives me insane, to the point where it really gets me down. Idk, guess i'm just looking for some positive intake, maybe some advice for what works for "ice pick" scars, or very oily skin?

I used to have really bad acne. I would say it has gotten 90% better. I could never touch my face because it was so painful and i hated looking in a mirror or even going out. Even now, I can't look people in the eye because I'll just think "oh they can see all my scars and acne". It's ridiculous really. 

Are you off accutane now? Is your acne coming back or are you just dealing with post acne (which I absolutely positively hate almost more than acne itself because the scars are pretty permanent). For icepick scars (i have quite a few that you can't see through my stupid computer camera). The only options to remove them or at least make them much less noticable, are in office treatments like Punch excision and grafting and then laser resurfacing. In ice pick scars, the collagen and skin cells in that area are destroyed leaving that pit. It's not like hyperpigmentation where it is only melanin that gets distributed within the cells. 

I have yet to find a solution to really oily skin. I have tried a countless number of products that says it's the holy grail of oil control and 5 minutes later, it's as if I was running a marathon. I just blot my face...a lot. With tissues, blotting paper (way too expensive for what it does), I make sure I am hydrated enough (which for some people, not being hydrated enough is the reason they are getting oily. Their body is trying to keep as much water in the body so it is secreting oil so water can't released in the atmosphere).

Sorry, I can't help much. Post acne and oiliness are still my biggest concerns. There isn't a day where I wish that somehow, someone would find or invent something that can fix this without causing my wallet to go on a diet. hahaha. If I find that something, you will all be the first to know! =D  

[acneandme]

Hello there! You seem to be doing a wonderful job at combating acne, but I have been following your blog for a while and you are done some serious things wrong and I just really want to help you out. Here is a link to pore clogging ingredients on from Face Reality Acne Clinic in the SF bay area, a scientific institution dedicated to studying and repairing the damage from acne. facerealityacneclinic. c o m/ articles/ pore_clogging Please read everything they have to say! Good luck!

Hi!! Thanks for the advice. I just read through the majority of the site (i'm a fast reader! hahaha) Most of the things (besides making appts with them) I've actually done (zinc. I 've used it. It worked well), am doing (skin care according to my skin's needs), and are thinking of doing (ice on pimples) 

I completely agree with the noncomedogenic label. This labeling on products can be very misleading. Each person's skin is unique. While some products may be noncomedogenic(aka non comedone forming aka non acne/pimple forming) for some people, that's not true for others. Ingredients like jojoba oil or olive oil is great for those with dry skin. Everyone needs some sort of oil on their skin. It's the excess oil that kills you.  It's a very relative term (Just like "all natural" isn't the same as organic. The FDA doesn't regulate the term "all natural"). Thats why I always say to read reviews. See if the reviewers have similar skin types because what may cause pimples in those with oily skin most likely will not cause pimples in those with dry skin. 

One thing I didn't agree with was with what they said about Isopropyl myristate.

This ingredient is found in a large amount of products because it is used a binder and an absorber. It gives you that nice "absorbed" feeling and knocks out the oily feeling of products. To tell you the truth, the data that I found regarding this ingredients is a jumble of flip flopping acne or not answers. I think it's fine to use (and to tell you the truth, the more exepnsive the skin care the more chance of Isopropyl being an ingredient in it) unless you can't. I can use it. Most people can use it unless they can't or are allergic. For some it's comedogenic and that wouldn't be typical acne, but would be acne cosmedica, which once you stop using, that "acne" will go away relatively quickly.

Here is a link that kind of explains experiments to test ingredients and link it to acne (though you may have to pay for the full article...I have a subscription (coughnerdcough) so I kind of read the whole thing. The same goes for all ingredients. Not everything is going to work 100% on your skin. Example: Soy bean extract is being used these days to help fade dark spots. It apparently is a miracle worker and is used in all different post acne lotions and serums. I BREAK OUT WHEN I USE IT (because i really am allergic. I can't touch anything that is soy like tofu (which I still eat but i shouldn't), soy bean sprouts (which I definitely cannot eat), soy milk (can drink it), etc). So it is comedogenic for me. But the label says it's noncomedogenic and there are tons of reviews raving about how soy bean extract is a miraculous break though. (Sorry for the rambling. It just irks me when people give you absolutes. There's no such thing as always or never in science unless it's math). 

Anywayssss, This website is really dedicated to picking the" right acne products for your skin and acne type". This is totally what I believe in as well. 

Here are some posts that I have done as well and it actually correlates well with what is on the website. 

Supplements

Diet

Switching Cleansers

Acne of Beginners (hahaha)

PIH

Thanks for the link though! It's nice to know other people have the same concepts as I do. =D

[acneandme]

Hi, have you tried Burt's bees acne solution? I've had really bad acne for 10 years, and I've tried all kinds of products, from presciptions to all-natural and organic. I've heard so much positive about Burt's bees, and I'm thinking about trying it.

I have tried the burts bees acne their acne lotion. I was really disappointed in it though. It's more expensive then the other brands that I'm used to using (neutrogena, clean and clear, etc). I really had better expectations. I used the entire bottle and I didn't see much difference in acne reduction. I wouldn't buy it again. But I haven't tried anything else in their line though. BUT I absolutely adore their lip balm (the original one). It'a my fav lip balm in the world. 

Of course I am just one person. Just because I had a bad review doesn't mean that it won't work for you. See if you can catch it on sale anywhere in stores. For it's retail price ($18), it's not worth it. 

Hope this helped!

[acneandme]

I'm 20 now and have had acne since I was 13, my dr put me on various anti-biotics then birth control, which really cleared it up until now - I feel 13 again it's so bad! It's just started scarring my cheeks and I'm so scared they're going to end up as bad as my forehead :( Do you have any advice for clearing up the red hyperpigmentation and box scars on my cheeks? I have VERY oily skin and only use soap to clean it as every time I've used a branded face wash it makes my skin so much worse! xxxx

Are you no longer using birth control? If you are, it could be that your hormones are trying to stabilize itself and you re breaking out as a result. 

What soap are you using? Bar soap? I did that once and my face was sooo bad. hahahahaha What brands have you used?

In terms of hyperpigmentation, there are a lot of things out in the market that are to help hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C, arbutin, glycolic acid, etc. I did a post on it a while ago that has more info on it. BOx cars scars are more difficult to remove because that is an actual scars. Microderm or laser scar removal at a dermatologist's office will probably be the best to get make your face smoother. 

I have really oily skin as well. It sucks. I have yet to find something to help me stay oil free throughout the day without blotting. Will let you know if I find anything =D