Acne scars products

[abeamaurice]

I’m just looking for a skincare routine or product recommendations. My skin is oily and I have a chronic skin picking issue, which probably creates more acne but I feel I pick at my acne because I fear if I allow my skin to do it’s thing and not pop black heads/pimples then they will become much more intense. I currently use cera ve SA foaming cleanser and ponds cream moisturizer but I don’t think it it’s working. If my face felt clean and not greasy all the time I would possibly pick my skin less I think. I need to heal existing acne scars, unclog my pores, possibly restore my skins natural barrier and prevent future acne. 

[lmaster]

@abeamaurice The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Hyperpigmentation Treatment 1 oz/ 30 mL is great! tarte knockout daily exfoliating cleanser 4.19 oz/ 124 mL The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Blemish + Blackhead Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL 

[quspork]

What kinds of scars do you have, @abeamaurice? Discolorations or textural ones? You may want consider switching to a gentle cleanser and then adding a leave-on BHA treatment instead of the wash-off SA cleanser. That might help get the breakouts under control a bit better. The most important aspect would be to try to stop the picking though. Have you tried using pimple patches over the blemishes to stop yourself from picking?

[abeamaurice]

I have been using pimple patches and I find sometimes it makes the pimple worse/more red than it was. Some of the scars are discolouration and some of them are textural. I’ve tried countless face washes, but all drugstore grade- I tried neutrogena skin balancing face wash it made me break out horribly, used biore brightening exfoliating scrub but found it didn’t help, then tried aveeno active naturals goat milk cleanser, I felt like my face wasn’t actually clean after using it, then tried aveeno clear complexion foam wash, it made me break out, then now using cerave. I just feel lost when it comes to even picking a product that would work. 

[quspork]

@abeamaurice Here are a few cleanser recommendations: Philosophy Purity, Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser, fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser, KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser, First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser – Gentle Hydrating Cleanser 

You could then follow that with BHA (two or three nights a week). Some options for that: SEPHORA COLLECTION Clarifying Peel Pads 60 Pads, Stridex pads, Paula's Choice Mini Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner for Clear Skin 1 oz/ 30 mL, CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Then follow with moisturizer: belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb .84 oz/ 25 mL, Caudalie Vinosource-Hydra Moisturizing Sorbet 1.3 oz/ 40 mL, Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream 1.7 oz/ 50 mL, CosRx Oil-free Moisturizing Lotion, Etude House Moistfull Collagen Emulsion

For help with the discoloration scars, a good ascorbic acid (vitamin C serum) would be helpful. My favorite is Tiam My Signature C Source (available at K-beauty retailers). And for the textural scars, a good AHA would be beneficial. You can add that in two nights a week (not the same night as the BHA). My favorite AHA is Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One AHA Lactic Acid Treatment but you could look for any mandelic, lactic, or glycolic acid product.