Need Advice on Face Cleaners

I use Neutrogena wash face and on-the-spot. They work good on me. I am 35 years old, and I still get pimple once a while. I just have to keep washing my face every mornings and nights.

I used pro-active for a long time and it did clear up my skin and worked really well, like you i'm 30 and my acne is worse then when i was a teen! Frustrating! I think mine is due to my birthcontrol because that's when i started breaking out. Anyways i tryed the walmart brand "Acne-Free" and it really works well, i've just been using the foaming face wash and the spot treatment. I use the extra-strength but if you have sensitive skin i would try the regular first.

i've always used the neutrogena original bar soap on my face. I love it, but i didn't have really bad acne either.

I've never tried Proactive. I use the Clean & Clear acne advantage system. They have a cleanser for sensitive skin, and an oil free moisturizer, plus an "on the spot" gel that zaps pimples in about 24 hours. I like it, plus its not expensive and you can get it just about anywhere.

A.,
I just stopped using proactiv - it made my face oiler and more prone to breaking out. I called proativ after the first 30 day trial, and was told that it actually takes 30 days for acne to form and that is why my skin hadn't reacted to using the proactiv yet. Well, another month or so later, my face is oiler than ever and full of little pimples, so i stopped using it. My husband used it for two days (he NEVER gets a pimple) and his face broke out. Waste of $60 if you ask me. I did buy the Neutrogena with Micro Clear about a week ago and what a difference! I did also see that Neutrogena and other brands make the "same or better than proactiv" types of face care. I haven't tried, but they are a bit cheaper and you don't have the risk of proactiv charging your card every month.

i have always had acne problems very much like you described. i have tried proactive and it seemed a little too harsh for my face. i have very sensitive skin. i just make sure i wash my face every night before bed and use a good moisturizer. i personally like clinque. they have a face lotion i have been using for years. the face wash i use is clean and clear with exfoliating stuff in it. i never use bar soap on my face. another helpful thing is too be sure to drink alot of water. as far as your pores, alot of lines have a pore minimize. i haven't used any myself so i can't recommend a brand for you.

I used Proactive for awhile.... I dont think it worked all that well... I have been using just the plain Neutrogena bar soap and that helped quite a bit but then I decided to try the Acne Free... I love it more.. No major breakouts since. It had the steps just like proactive. For the blackheads... Use an exfoliater. Neutrogena also has a grapefruit based cleanser that exfoliates and both myself and my daughter use it and love it...

Check out www.theoilcleansingmethod.com. I have been using this for months and love it. I never thought it would work, but it does and several people I know, many with problem skin, have started using it and love it, too.

proactive has been great for me. I am in my early 30s and have battled acne all of my life. I have taken all of the big medications for acne and now that I am older Proactive keeps it under control. I would suggest trying it once through the offers they have for first time users. See if it works for you. If it does, you may not need to order it as frequently so you can try getting what you need through the mall vending machine. Good luck!

Hi A.. I had the exact same problem that you have. My face was always oily and breaking out. I tried every type of cleanser such as Avon, Mary Kay, Neutrogena, Clinique, etc... and nothing ever worked. When I got pregnant, my acne was very bad so I tried ProActive. It worked very well but the problem was that I have sensitive skin and I was allergic to it. I finally went to Sephora and started using a cleanser from DDF. It is the only thing that has ever worked on my face. Now I get compliments on my skin and I never had that before.

Hi A.. I've been in your shoes...and I have to say ProActive Solutions is absolutely worth the money. I ordered the product almost 10 years ago at a time when I was desperate and it worked wonders after about 2 weeks and within a month, my skin was the best it had ever looked...and it still works for me today. I've recommended it to several people over the years and everyone has had terrific results.

I dont know about proactive, but you need something that is made without mineral oil (under many other names too) that clogs your pores, that is pH balanced so it doesnt strip your skin of the good stuff and that is made without fragrances that irritate the skin.

If you're interested, you can check out our new Clear Advantage line:
www.jennifernewton.myarbonne.com

Good luck!

J. Newton
###-###-####
____@____.com

Hi, A.!

Yes, I'm STILL mad at my mom for telling me that once I passed the teen years, my zits would go away! :)

I've never used ProActiv, but I do use Unblemish, which was created by the same doctors (Rodan and Fields) that made ProActiv. One product will not work for EVERYbody, so of course there will be some who swear by Proactiv, and some who say it didn't work at all. Only you will be able to tell, after you use if for two months. And because it takes the skin that much time to adapt to anything new, whatever you use, make sure you use it for two months before giving up on it. (Unless, of course, it gives you a rash or something!)

Anyway, the reason I use Unblemish is because it was developed 10 years after ProActiv, (so it's later and greater!) and it doesn't dry out my skin, which I've heard is one of the biggest complaints from ProActiv users. But, because I'm such a fan of Doctors Rodan and Fields, I'll bet either one works well for most people.

If you want to check out the Unblemish line, you can go to the website www.jcapper.myrandf.com to do so. You can also find the ingredients used in the products on the website, so you can compare to other things you look into.

Good luck! J.

Hi A.. The only thing I have found that really helps my skin is a cleanser from Origins called Checks and Balances. You only need a little bit and the bottle seems to last forever. At almost 32, it is the only thing I have found that helps my oily and sensitive skin.

If you don't mind spending the money go to Dillards and buy Clarins. I have been using it for 8 months, and no reaction. I have used everything possible and I always have an alergic reaction, any where from a week to a couple months, all the cleansers caused my eyes to burn & I couldn't use mascara or cheap eye shadows, but I dropped in to Dillards one day and they did a spa treatment with Clarins and it felt and looked great so I bought several of their products. I was upset because I didn't have make up on and Christian dior was doing a make over, so I let them do one they have a certain mascara, that the brush was real thick & angled. I had the makeup around 8 hours, and never bothered me at all. usually certain eye makeups and all mascara's start bothering me within the hour and not once did I have problems.

I have sensitive skin as well. My skin still breaks out, even though I'm 34, and it is irritating. I have been using Origins line of skin care products and they work well for me. I do have an occasional break out, but it seems to be much better. I use their 'checks and balances' wash and 'Have a nice day' daytime spf lotion (not cream). It's not too heavy during the warm summer months. Good luck!

Melaleuca has some great facial products. I think it works better than Pro-active. Send me a message if you would like more info.

Proactiv, used religiously for 2-3 months should clean you up. You have to use all 3 steps every day.

Hi, I've had pretty good results with what I've been doing, and it's cheap. I use Dr. Bronner's pure castille peppermint soap diluted with water (you can find that soap at Whole Foods or a natural food store). I use it on my face and in the shower- it's pretty much the only soap I use, and it's super cheap! When I do have a breakout, I use a little bit of deodorant bar soap, just on that area. I use a moisturizer every day that has alpha hydroxy acid and sunscreen. Finally, I am pretty sure that switching to mineral makeup has helped- you can get free samples at http://www.everydayminerals.com
Good luck! :)

Proactiv, Proactiv, Proactiv!!!!! I never had acne until I had my son and ever since I have it now and it's so embarassing and makes me self conscious. Proactiv is the only thing I've found to help, and man does it help!! It's really not that expensive. The package I get is about $60 and lasts me 3-4 months. It's worth $20 a month!!!!
Good luck!!

My neighbor and her daughter use Pro-Active and love it.

My skin is pretty sensitive, and I've had a real rough time too with exactly what you mentioned. I used to get small blackheads around my nose, and had big pores too - and would get what I'd call "the star of india" somewhere on my face about every 3-4 months.

I had tried clinique, and several other types of "famous brand names" at the cosmetics counters, olay stuff, and other stuff. None of it worked well at all. Ivory soap did okay, but it did usually dry my skin just a little - but it by far, was the least irritating to my skin to that point. All the others made my skin looked like I'd aggravated it.

I've used Amway's Moisture Rich "system" for about the last 12 years...it has a cleanser, a toner, and moisturizer, and I also use the alpha hydroxy serum. It took about 2 weeks for my skin to get used to it when I first started with it, but it's looked great since! Smaller pores, hardly ever any blackheads, and reduced "star of india" occurances.

I've got some Mary Kay products you're going to love! Truly! And Mary Kay comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We've got a wonderful product to shrink your pores while smoothing out your skin -- Microderm Abrasion. I, too, suffer from lots of oil & acne, but MK has cleared up a lot of problem. I can offer you a free facial so you can try it...try some others, and figure out what you like. It's truly wonderful...really!! Good luck!

I hate to say it A., but you have completely set yourself up to receive loads of product offers! LOL Not a bad thing, but my suggestion is for you to do your research. How do you know what the best product is? Because everyone is going to be telling you they have the best! What I know to be absolutely true is that you want to make sure products are free from parabens. Parabens are added chemical preservatives that actually speed up the aging process. I've used just about every skin care line out there, but my absolute favorite skin "health" line is Sense!

Hope this helps!

Good luck in your search,
D.

A. - What you are experiencing is so normal for women your age. ProActive is NOT worth the money. It's full of what we call "junk fillers" which are not good for your skin. Bar soap is so very drying to your skin. You need a daily cleanser with salicylic acid in it that will be gentle on your skin but help prevent breakouts and reduce the size of your pores, along with a spot treater. Then use a gentle moisturizer and at least 15 SPF UVA/UVB daily (even on rainy days). If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I own a facial aesthetic clinic in Heath, and this is what we specialize in....affordable gorgeous skin! G. ###-###-#### www.rejuvenationsclinic.com

my son had horrible acne all through high school and we went to dermatologist and tried a variety of things and meds after trying over-the-counter stuff and ordering ProActive which appearently works for some people, but certainly did not for him. The dermatologist tried a variety of creams, washes, antibiotics, etc. Finally, told the dermatologist we had to have something that worked, and my son had to go on this really strong medicine for six months, called Accutane. It was also expensive. It made his mouth dry and chapped around his lips. He was willing to do this for six months because he wanted to look better. After you're done with the medicine, the acne does NOT come back. A year later, he still looks WONDERFUL.

This medicine can cause serious birth defects, and believe it or not, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A BOY, every month he had to sign a paper saying he would not get pregnant! (Incredible) So, the fact that you have had your tubes tied...the doctor may be willing for you to take this medicine.

I had acne well into my 30s also, so I know exactly how you feel. After my last child, I started using Retin-A and have never looked back. It was like a miracle - within a couple of weeks, I was completely acne-free for the first time since I was a teenager. Go to a dermatologist, who will start you on the mildest dosage. There are also other acne meds on the market now, through your doctor, but Retin-A did it for me.
Whatever you do, don't fall for the various cosmetic company come-ons. When you have the kind of adult acne that you are describing, you need medicine, not cosmetic soaps and creams.

Just a thought...I knew a lady that had adult acne until she found out that she was sensitive to dairy products.
It's worth a try!

Those over the counter acne cremes do not work. First your skin needs moisture. Acne cremes dry out the skin making your skin react by producing more natural oils to counteract the topicals you use. Second, when you keep your face dry it causes more pimples and wrinkles. If you go to the doctor, there is a benxoide peroxide 2% wash that you can be presecribed and after you use, you pat your face dry. Then you follow up with putting lotion on your face to keep your skin balanced. Many think lotions will add oils to the skin creating pimples but it does the exact opposite. If you want to get something over the counter, Nutragema soap for face and light non-scented lotion like Cetaphil or Eucerine Cream for the face may work. It is inexpensive and this routine could stop it all.

A. -

I am an Arbonne girl all the way! I've been using these products for the past 4 years and love the results. They are botanically based do not have mineral oil, animal by-products, or fragrance in them, which means they are pure, safe and beneficial for sensitive skin. Let me know if you would like to try a sample pack.

L. L.

I know you got a ton of responses but I must re-enforce that ProActiv is so worth the money!! I have been using it for about 4 years now and it has helped my skin tremendously. I am 33 years old and still get pimples!! They ship it to you like every 8 weeks or so. What is really cool too is that they have makeup and stuff you can buy too on their website. But to buy it you do have to be a member but it is worth a try!!

I have the same problem. 30 years old and I get acne bad around my chin only, and I also was on birth control until I had my tubes tied a few months ago. I have tried everything under the sun and nothing has worked 100% for me. Currently I am using the Wexler line from Bath and Body Works and I am seeing the most improvement with it. I just switched to their acne line about a month ago, and I can say that my acne is much better than it was. I am not breaking out as much, and when I do they are not as noticable. I am hoping that over the next month or two my skin will fully adjust and then I will have even fewer...if any...problems. This line is pricy, but I have found better deals on the website than in the store with it. And it ships pretty quickly too. Message me if you have any questions about what I use in this line or if you have any other questions.

I love ProActive, not only clears acne, it makes your skin feel great. I recommend going to Tuttle or other mall kiosk and buying the kit there, that way you don't have to lock into monthly shipments. It pans out to be same price with s&h, plus you get the mask free everytime at the mall,not with mail order. They have a 30 day money back guarantee, if it doesn't work take it back to mall and get moneyback. I also like the mall kiosk because I don't go through it as fast as they send it mail order, so it ends up being cheaper. Good luck.

Hi A.! I have read the responses and found that the one most important thing that worked for me was making sure my skin was really clean before going to bed and cleansing again in the morning. I use Avon and Mary Kay products. I use the Avon equivalent to Pro-active only in the morning. I also use Mary Kay's Acne treatment sparingly on my trouble spots only in the morning and before the lotion with the Avon product. At night, I remove my eye make-up first with Avon's eye make-up remover. Then I use Avon's completely clean cleanser or pads. I used to have acne every single day. Now, the only time I break out is when I have A LOT of stress in my life. I also had some bad reactions to facial products. The best thing about these two companies is that if you don't like it or it doesn't work for you, you can get your money back. Good Luck! C.

I like Isadermix from the nutritional line I sell, Isagenix. You can get to my website www.bodywisellc.com . It has a link for Isagenix. I am a massage therapist, very active with 3 kids and just turned 40! My skin has never looked better. Water will help eliminate toxins and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Sincerely,
B. T

you can try African Black Soap. There are several types that you can get in a bar form, but the kind I really recommend comes in a huge block that the store clerk cuts it down in chunks for you and sell it by the pound. Not sure where you live, but you can go to any culture shop and get either one, or you can go get it from Trader's World from this African Shop. I think it is in aile 6,7,or 8. Then you can use 100% Shea butter as a moisterizer. You will not belive the results. My co worker had the same problem with acne and excema and she now swear by it. I will find out more detail information for you. If you cannot find it, email me back and I will mail it to you if you like.

wife and mother of 4 (4,6,8,&10)

A., like others, I have found a line of products from Arbonne that I dearly love that are paraben-free (as Dena suggested). I personally have not used the acne products, but I've heard rave reviews from others that have. If you'd like more information on these, please contact me. I'd love to help you!

Hi A.
I am an independent Shaklee distributor and can $$$ back guarentee you that our skin care line will work for you when you work it. I don't think I am allowed to give you my web site but if you write back I can get you the info. It's proven to work great. Good Luck
S.

First of all, you have oily skin and believe it or not it is a blessing - you will stay younger looking longer! Also, I happen to be a new Jafra consultant and would love to give you a free facial and figure out what we could do to balance out the oil on your skin. The most common problem is using too harsh of cleansers (soap is pretty bad for it) that strip away all the oil (good and bad) so then your skin spends the day, or night over compensating to reproduce the oil you actually need. Send me a note, and we can schedule, it is really pretty fun.

My sister uses ProActiv and loves it.

Kohl's also has a line of products for acne-prone skin. It's part of the Good Skin line, called All Right. I've heard good things about it, and it's probably more reasonably priced than ProActiv.

If you're on birth control, you might also want to talk to your ob-gyn. There are certain brands of the pill that are known to minimize acne.

Hope this helps.

A.,
What else do you do for your skin care regimen? In addition to a good cleanser, toning, and moisturizer are a must, so maybe you need to tweak or add one of those. Also giving yourself facials, using a scrub at home and getting facials done by a professional (I go to a school from time to time). I fell in love with Beauticontrol products, everything is alcohol free and oil free and is designed more for your age (where your hormones are). I pretty much always use the 30s line and LOVE IT! I signed up to be a consultant bc I love it so much but just order from time to time to get the products for myself, friends, and family. I am not sure if you are close to Columbus but if you want to try something I wouldn't mind if you want or you could find a consultant near you and they could hook you up with an at home facial type of thing.

It's NOT just about your face cleaners.....it's ALSO about your diet, hydration, alkaline/acid balances. I'd recommend ALFALFA. I've seen more people clean up their acne w/ adequate hydration and/or alfalfa than ANY face cleaner!

Alfalfa helps the alkaline/acidic balances which is part of the acne problem. You can get it at Wal-Mart. The ONLY people who can't take alfalfa are people who take blood thinners. Otherwise, it's safe for everyone and does not interfere w/ anything else.

I am 34 and over the past 10 years my acne has gone from ok to bad. My mom told me to try Pro Active....it worked like a charm!!!!! I hated spending the money but that was the only thing that worked...i tried everything under the sun before Pro Active. Now my skin looks wonderful...i do have a pimple pop up every now and then, mainly right before i start my period.
I did try Acne Free --1/2 the cost of Pro Active. $20.00 for 4oz of each cleanser, toner and lotion. The best value is from Sam's, 8oz of each for $25.00. Acne Free works just as great as Pro Active for much less.

One of my customers is a Rodan & Fields consultant and from what I hear, they are a "natural" Proactiv, made by the makers of Proactiv.
I've never used it myself (I do not have problematic skin) however, I recommended it to someone else who does and it's the only thing that's helped her.
The consultant's name is Jennifer, and here's her # so you can call and get more info: ###-###-####

Hello A.,
I know exactly what you are talking about. I found a skincare product that I love it is called skinlogics clear by BeautiControl. I actually fell so in love with their skincare products (not just the face wash) that I actually started selling the line! If you would like some more information on the product please let me know I would love to do share some tips with you...hint, sometimes acne can be a result of sensitive skin. A word on Proactiv, it has a daily exfoilant in it which can irriate your skin over time. Please drop me an email at ____@____.com, respond to the post or even give me a call I would love to hear from you.
Have a great day,
J.