Acne Prone :0(

[daniellematko]

I have seriously oily, acne prone skin.  I thought I'd be done with the breakouts after puberty (I'm 28!) but I was way wrong.  I'm in need of an effective face wash and acne serum.  I've tried Murad, Organics, Philosophy, DDF, Derma Doctor, and everything that the drug store sells.  Any suggestions on what else I can try?  Thanks!

[kaiticure]

go to the dermatologist, it's frustrating blindly picking out products you think will work for your skin. I also use the clarisonic with a gentle cleanser.

[oliviabt]

@Pancake, I also suffer from oily/combo skin and breakouts, at 29, and have experienced remarkable results using the Clarisonic Mia. My pores are tighter, I hardly ever break out anymore, and my skin looks radiant. I understand it’s an investment, but for me it was totally worth it since it worked so well, and buying many different products that didn’t work really started to add up!

For your skincare regimen, Perricone’s new SUPER line is amazing! It's formulated with super-foods loaded with antioxidants to balance and increase the overall health of your skin. Check out the Face & Eye Cleanser with Acai, Acne Treatment with Green Apple, and Hyper Hydrator with Coconut Water.

[glassgirl]

You've gotten some terrific suggestions already.  In addition, take a look at what else is ending up on your skin.  You have already tried some great products...but take a look at what type of makeup you're using.  Could it be too emollient?  What are the ingredients?  And where are your breakouts occurring?  Could these breakouts be fueled by what you are using on your hair (i.e. shampoo, conditioner, styling products)?  Another BIG recommendation: I absolutely agree with someone else's suggestion to change your pillow case every night.  AND make sure that you do NOT use liquid fabric softener when putting your pillow cases, sheets or towels in the washing machine...or fabric softener dryer sheets when putting your pillow cases, sheets or towels in the dryer.  This can be a HUGE culprit for breakouts!  If you need to add some type of fabric softener, use plain white vinegar. 

[casigray]

I've never heard of not using fabric softener on your pillow cases or towels, but that makes a lot of sense!! That's a great tip, I'm going to try that!!!

[anna507]

Oh gosh...I just did a huge rant on youtube about this.  I bet it's the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and surfactents in those cleansers.  I have A HUGE sensitivity to them... 41.8% of people in a study of 1600 have a sensitivity to them.  It is a primary cause of contact dermitis and causes irritation which then produces your oily skin.

[timothybcat]

I'm very oily in the t-zone, and being 35, it's not the same acne I had twenty years ago. What actually helped me was becoming more more gentle; I found that products targeted toward "acne-prone" skin are too harsh for me, and the more I strip the oils from my face, the more active my oil glands become to compensate. I would use gentle products such as Clinique's system for oily skin, and although it seems conterintuitive--moisturize! I've found Josie Maran's line to be very effective; believe it or not, her Argan Oil doesn't make me break out, so maybe you'll have some luck with that (it also helps with scarring). Tea tree oil products also work wonderfully, because the oil is a natural antibacterial.

There are also some things you can do to keep your skin from being irritated: One, use a noncomedogenic moisturizer with sunscreen. Two, change your pillowcase often. Three, NEVER go to sleep with makeup on. Four, clean your telephones every day, and use a tissue when you use someone else's (seriously--the bacteria phones transfer to your skin will totally make you break out). The main thing to remember when choosing a product is that everyone's skin is unique, and even if someone else's suggestion doesn't work, there will be a product out there that works for you.

I really hope whatever advice you follow works out, and would love to hear you share it!