Hey everybody! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Well, I've just about had it http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/mad.gif. I'm a 20-something who never had breakouts until, oh, about 3 years ago. I feel like I'm 14 again! I've tried every OTC remedy available for acne, I wash and tone my face religiously and I even eat pretty healthy. But alas, I can't seem to keep the breakouts at bay. Now I'm wondering if it isn't the cosmetics I use. I've never been one to spend frivolously on make-up -- all my stuff comes from my friendly neighborhood discount store (lol): Revlon ColorStay Foundation, Jane loose powder, Cover girl blush, Max Factor mascara, etc. I'm wondering if it may not be worth it to try some higher-end cosmetics. I'd be more than willing to spend the extra cash if I thought my skin would react positively to the more expensive brands like Clinique or Mary Kay. Can anyone give me some input? Particularly if you've experienced the same problem! Thanks so much! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Daisy

Well, I really recommend Clinique because it's totally worth the money. They have a really good make up line. Also I ALWAYS wash my face with their acne solutions face wash..it made my skin look so pretty! hehe. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I'm not sure about the high end cosmetics, but I use a teatree soap on my face, and it works really well. Also, I use clearlogix acne spot treatment on my face, also a great product.

Hi,

I really don't think your make-up is the problem--especially if you were using the same products before your adult onset acne. I think I know what can help you. I have heard wonderful WONDERFUL things about an anti acne line called Proactiv Solution. I don't think I'm allowed to post their number, but you can search online for them. A lot of celebrities back this product and it has changed some of my friends' lives. You should see their infomercials--they make me cry from the success stories. They show real before/after photos that are incredible and talk with real people who have used it and swear by it and aren't paid to endorse the product. I really think you should give it a try. Hope this helps! Best of luck to you!

Take care

The same thing happened to me. I saw a Dr and she told me that it was hormonal. She wanted to put me on Diane 35, but I decided to go the natural route. I am seeing a naturopath who has put me on herbal supplements, a disgusting root and leaf drink and a special diet. The first month was terrible, I had the worst break out of my life (she said that this was my body ridding itself of toxcins), but it has since settled down, I think my body is slowly adjusting. My sister who just turned 21 had the same thing, but decided to go on Diane 35...and in a short time has seen a vast improvement. So see a Dr they should be able to help in accessing what is the cause...when you breakout in your 20's after a period of clear skin and you haven't changed anything, it is usually hormonal. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

As far as make-up goes I do think its better to pay for a more expensive product. For me personally, the Clinique line is fabulous. I've never had a break-out using their products whereas Revelon, Maybelline, and Cover-Girl have all caused me problems.

Take care and good luck!

Nic http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Thank you everyone for your replies! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Like you said, Kitty, I don't think that my cheap make-up is the only culprit...but I'm still going to try out some Clinique. (It's time for a little "shopping spree" anyway! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif)Oh, and I've gone the Proactiv route. I LOVE the system, especially the cleanser, but it didn't seem to do a whole lot for me. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Sweetie? Where can I find the teatree oil soap? I've heard so much about tea tree oil; it seems to be the modern-day panacea!

Rainbow? What is Diane 35?

I just picked the tea tree up at Shopper's Drug Mart. I use the Thursday Plantation stuff, and I have the Atmosphere tea tree shampoo. The only thing bad about it is that it doesn't smell too great

Diane 35 is a birth control pill, but it is prescribed to people with acne and/or excess hair. It balances out your hormones. It is available in Australia, but people from the US have ordered it over the internet...it is not exspensive. If you do a search on this site you will get quite a few posts about it.

As for make-up I have used both expensive brands and inexpensive. For things like mascaras, eye-liners etc...I wouldn't bother with the expensive brands Maybelline and Loreal are great...as for make-up such as foundations, sometimes it is better to spend a little more, to get the right shade, non-oily, long lasting, better coverage etc...but I know heaps of girls who use the oil free foundations available from maybeline and cover girl and they look great. I think the most important thing is to make sure that you remove your make-up properly at the end of the day so your pores don't get clogged and keep your make-up applicators clean so you don't spread bacteria all over your face.

As for tea-tree oil I have just started to use the 100% oil on my blemishes...it is fantastic! If I feel one coming up, I dab some on tea-tree oil with a cotton bud (I think Americans call them Q tips) 3 times a day...and this stops them from surfacing. Blemishes that have already surfaced dry up really quick if you do the same thing. The only thing is it can be quite drying so towards the end of the healing process I switch to a pimple cream that contains tea-tree it is by clear skin and is really great.

If you have been using maybelline and cover girl with no problems in the past, I doubt that is it now the cause for the breakout. If you started breaking out in your 20's after having clear skin and you have not changed anything in your diet or skincare routine or been under stress or had an illness (these can all cause breakouts) then I would see a Dr because it sounds as though it could be hormonal. This happened to me.

In addition to using what the naturopath gave me I have recently had a glycolic peel which has improved my skin heaps...if you want more info on this see my posts on the 'acne' board and on the 'beauty and cosmetics' board I got heaps of great info from people.

RB http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

In what department can I find tree-oil? Is it with the soap or the moisterizers? Does it come in a bottle or a bar? Thanks in advance

Thank you so much, ladies! I'm going to try to find some tea tree oil this evening! I'm so excited! LOL! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif

Hi!

You can get tea tree oil at Trader Joe's and The Body Shop has great tea tree oil products.

Tea tree oil is fantastic. Australian Aborigines have been using it for 1000's of years to cure and treat numereous aliments. Appart from pimples it is a great treatment for cold sores and herpes, clears a stuffed up nose, cleans and heals cuts and abrasions, kills fungal infections and numerous other complaints.

I have been using tea tree products for about a few months now...and it has really helped my skin. I had a massive breakout after some herbal medication. I used it during mt teenage years with success. I have found that the pimples I have treated with tea tree oil don't leave as noticeable a red mark as pimples that I did not treat and they heal so fast! The mark fades faster as well. Once it has healed I rub a little cream that contains tea tree oil in it on the red mark and it fades heaps faster than the ones I did not treat...this also seems to work on old red marks, but not as fast as new ones. The cream I use is by 'Clean Skin'. I use this once the pimple has dried up from the tea tree oil, beacuse it finishes off the process of healing without causing flaking skin...the product is 'Anti-Acne Cream' from the Clean Skin range by 'Mentholatum' it is an over counter product...I buy mine from a grocery store. They have a web site, you could e-mail them to find what stores stock their products.

I don't know about in the US but in Australia teatree oil is readily available from grocery stores, pharmacies, cosmetic departemnts etc... In grocery stores it is usually with the antiseptics or skincare products.

It is very important that you buy 100% tea tree oil...some are mixed with alcohol, they are not as effective. As for buying at the body shop or other brands that contain tea tree oil I think that you are better off buying products from a brand like Thursday Plantation they are heaps cheaper and I have found that their products are superior...they were pioneers in tea tree products and have a good reputation worldwide...they sell soap, cleansers, oil, moisturisers etc...

If you can't afford to buy a huge range of products I would suggest that you just buy the oil. Use it straight (undiluted) on your pimples. You can also add the oil to your cleanser or moisturiser as a cheaper alternative to buying ready made products.

Thursday Plantation have a website that has heaps of info and tells you where you can buy their products, you can also buy them over the net. If I give you the address they will remove this post, but type in 'thursdayplantation' with you know what before and after. If you live in the US click on the section for US customers, it will take you to a site where you can buy the tea tree oil products online or look at the bottom of the page and click on store locator, this will take you to a page where it will tell you which stores in your state sell Thursday Plantation products.

RB http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

[This message has been edited by RainbowBright (edited 06-01-2002).]

Hi Daisy,
I've gone through having blemishes in my 20's fairly regularily. It came and went at times, but could always count on some imperfection on my face at one time. I've started a new regime and it's really working for me.
I wash my face in the morning with Spectro Jel, use Neo Strata lotion (alpha hydroxy product - 8% glycolic acid with an spf 15), and I use their eye cream. As for make up, I don't like Clinique, as their products don't work for me and their foundation colors didn't match my skin color. So I use either Almay Skin Stays Clean liquid make up or Lamcome Teint Idole and I use a bit of a bronzing powder with blush, and I don't need to to put foundation on my whole face any longer, due to the fact I have my skin under control. I don't know for sure if your makeup would cause you a problem, but if you don't have the right kind for your skin type it will. When I clean my face at night I use Neutrogena Deep Clean cream cleanser. It's oil free and find it really penetrates. I occasionally use Elizabeth Arden Modern SkinCare Clear the Way Mask..it's great when you need to get ride of blemishes. Then when I go to bed, I don't use a moisturizer at night any longer, I just put on eye cream. I think this is what is making a huge difference, along with sticking with the alpha hydroxy Neo Strata lotion every day to keep my pores clear. So I think cause I'm combination skin, moisturizing at night, even if it's oil free, was just too much, unless you are really dry, I would recommend using nothing, but always treat the eye area. I'm amazed that I'm able to cut back on my make up application, as I couldn't do that before.
Hope you can get something out of my experience and what is finally working for me after so many years. I did have to go on Accutane when I was in my very early 20's, cause I had bad acne and way too much oil. So that helped of course and ever since it's never been that bad, just the little something all the time.
Let us know what you are up to.
Cheers!

Hi Daisy, the only thing I've found so far to control my face has been Mary Kay's creamy cleanser. I am big on natural stuff and would figure out a way to make my own stuff, but this cleanser is the only thing that really helps me. It is expensive, but it really lasts awhile. I only use a dime size at a time. Then, after that, I use my own stuff to moisturize. The best thing I've found for that is lavender oil. You can use sesame(doesn't clog the pores) and put lavender essential oil in it. Use one or two drops and massage into your face. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn't cause more problems, and actually helps get rid of breakouts.

The Clinique foaming face wash is very nice. They also have a 7-day scrub cream.

Hey everybody! I want to thank you all so much for your replies! I'm giving the tee tree oil and Neo Strata a shot for now, but have copied this post so I can keep a list of all the products you all have had luck with!

Thanks again for all your help! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Love,

Daisy

Have you been on the acne board? There are a lot of good tips there. This one guy has a post called "Gone in 3 days". I've had problems with acne since my 20s, and I'm 34 now. I haven't tried what that guy suggested, but am going to. Check it out. It's really interesting. My GYN put me on Yasmin birth control pills, and it has helped tremendously. But I had the worst break-out EVER when I first started them. I'm getting off the pill, that's why I'm gonna try that guys regimen. Good Luck with everything!

Is the Clinique eye make-up better than the cheap brands like Cover Girl and Maybelline? Is Clinique mascara good?

It's not so much the cost, but what ingredients are in it. You can get acne from your makeup, cleanser, shampoo, sunscreen etc. if they have comedogenic ingredients in them. Sage Advice has a list of comedogenic ingredients on their site. It's very helpful.

I personally can't use any of the drugstore cosmetics or even Avon. It all makes my face break out. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif So I've become somewhat of a slave to the label. I know that when I was pregnant, my face REALLY started to break out...and my friend recommended Clinique's skin care system; the soap, cleanser, and acne "on the spot" treatment. It really cleared things up for me.