It Is Like I'm A Teenager Again

Since turning 30 my skin has been a mess.  I think it is because I went off the pill to have a baby, went back on, and then changed birth control again.  (Sorry, my four male readers.)  But the thing is, I'm sick of it.  I'm 35, not 16, and acne is just unacceptable.  I've been to the dermatologist, I've tried a million and a half products, and nothing, no, nothing has worked.

I've been running and working out and losing weight, and I still hate the way I look.  I know, it is stupid, but I do.  And cover up and foundation and make up can only do so much.  I want clear skin.

I'm contemplating spending way too much money on the Clarisonic cleaner.  A woman at my office swears by it.  I was talking about it on twitter last night and it received nothing but glowing reviews.  I've read every review on Sephora and Ulta and Amazon.  Doug is telling me just to buy the thing so we don't have to talk about it anymore.  But if I spend $200 and it doesn't work, I'm really going to be pissed.

You all were so kind when I asked for makeup recommendations.  I never had bad skin as a teenager and I'm so not loving it now.  I'm not going the accutane route because I'm already sun sensitive from the Lupus.  So, besides that, tell me, what skin routines work for you?  My skin is really sensitive and apparently, prone to break outs.  I've tried, Philosophy, Murad, Nutrogena, AcneFree, Juice, DDF, Boscia, and Dermalogica.

And, if you have the Clarisonic, is it worth it?  Did it solve your problems with breakouts?  Because I'm seriously having to restrain myself from running to the mall and going to Sephora and getting it right now.  The only thing that is stopping me is that it is raining.  And it would be a pain.  And the $200.

    

Comments

[Scary Mommy]

Try it. If it's not amazing, return it. Sephora will take anything back. Have you tried Proactive? I have friends who swear by it. And, you know, it worked for Britney Spears.

[Leandra]

A woman whose blog I read is using the Wonderbar? I don't know that much about it, but it's supposed to really help problem skin.

[baltimoregal]

Proactiv is actually pretty harsh so I wouldn't recommend that with the Lupus.

Being sun sensitive/sensitive myself I like Origins [http://www.origins.com/] and Mario Badescu [http://www.mariobadescu.com/] products. They have more natural ingredients without being an herbal-fest and have a big variety of products.

Mario Badescu especially addresses a lot of skin problems, from rosacea to all different kinds of acne. And they have an amazing zit-zapping overnight drying lotion- works overnight on the worst zits, seriously. I swear by it.

Also- these won't break the bank.

[TJ]

I used Proactiv in high school and early college and I absolutely swear by it. It worked fast and it worked well and it wasn't overly harsh - I have what someone once called "princess and the pea" skin, where the tiniest little rub or irritation shows up and doesn't go away for EVER.

I don't know if I outgrew my skin issues or what, but I eventually kind of just stopped using it, and I don't want to be a huge bragger or anything, but I have, occasionally, received compliments on my skin.

Additionally, I also really really REALLY love the Neutrogena transparent facial bar. It's really gentle and leaves my skin feeling really soft, and worked really well on the occasional breakouts I got for a little while after college.

[cindy w]

I can't do Proactiv because I'm allergic to benzoyl peroxide. The zits go away, yes, but I also get red & puffy and my eyes swell shut. Hardly worth it.

Let me know if you try the Clarisonic, I've also been so tempted to try it but have never had the nerve to drop $200 on it.

[Amanda]

If you are already prone to break-outs then you don't want to use the Clarisonic. It stimulates your pores and cleans them out, but what that really means is that there is increased oil production, which helps minimize fine lines. However, the stimulation in oil production will exacerbate the acne.

I have had both a doctor and aestheticians at a super luxe spa in Las Vegas tell me -- and then proceed to refuse to use it on me since my skin is prone to breakout.

Not sure what the answer is though; I'm still looking myself.

[Kari Weber]

I agree with the buy it-and if you don't like it-return it route... Sephora is a lot like Nordstrom in that way...

[jenna]

have you consulted a dermatologist? i think breaking out starts from inside, not what you put on the outside. my 2 cents!

[Jen K]

I know you said you tried Neutrogena, but I am not sure which product, so I wanted to suggest Neutrogena's Advanced Solutions package. It is their response to Proactiv. I have super-sensitive skin, so I can only use it once a day, rather than the recommended twice daily. It has totally cleared up my post-baby acne.

[Laurin]

I had this issue at 40. I was so pissed off. Tried a bunch of stuff, but the guy at acne.org cured me. Essentially, his regime is to use a mild cleanser, use benzoyl peroxide spot cream as a cream (use a really large glob all over your face), then moisturize. Give your face time in between the steps to dry/soak in. Be as gentle as possible to your skin as you do each step, and stop touching your face (if you do). My face was a little bit dry and irritated for a week while my face got used to the bp, then I had clear skin. It works. It will cost you almost nothing.

[liss]

Argh, I could have written this post (except that I don't want to try Accutane because I'm going to be trying to get pregnant in a couple of months). I did a couple of courses of Accutane when I was in my 20s, and I will say that the side effects were not nearly as bad as I had expected. I know it's different for each person and that some people have terrible side effects, but I did not have a lot of extra sun sensitivity, and I think if you did it in the winter you'd probably be fine on the sun front. It is strong stuff so there are a whole host of other reasons not to go on Accutane, just thought I'd chime in because in my 34 years (including over a decade of super-frustrating adult acne), Accutane was the only thing that cleared up my skin totally.

One other product that I had some success with a couple of years ago was BenzaClin (which is now available in a generic). It's a mixture of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin (an antibiotic), and I did notice some improvement. Fast forward a couple of years and a baby and it seems to have lost its magic for me, but it might be worth a shot for you.

My guess is that the Clarisonic probably won't solve your problems, but if Sephora's return policy is as good as everyone says why not give it a shot? And if it works please let us know!

[Headless Mom]

Like you, I always had great skin. Until I got pregnant, then it was all over. Lately (like for the last 2 or 3 years,) I've been using Cetaphil liquid face wash. Get it at Target or Costco. Best stuff ever. I break out less and it's not drying, which I also have a problem with. I've also discovered their face cream (not lotion, the cream for my dry skin,) and I adore that too. FWIW!

[kim.hormone-colored days]

My skin is a wreck, so I'm not sure I should be giving advice. But I'm maybe on similar meds and also very sensitive to the sun- and that can be part of the problem. I've been told that prednisone prevents the skin from replenishing as it should and therefore causes pores to become clogged more easily. That helps potentially define the problem, though it's no solution. Sorry. I mostly hide behind my computer and avoid mirrors and IRL meet-ups.
(Kidding! Mostly.)

[Susan]

Have you tried Paula Begoun's products? Or read her recommendations of other products to try? Her website is here:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/
She seems to know a lot about makeup and skin care and uses studies/science to back up her recommendations. She sells her own things, but also recommends products made by others (mainstream and not-so-mainstream). I've bought some of her products and liked them. Anyway, give her a look!

[Susan]

Here's a link to details about treating acne on Paula's site:

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/acne-and-acne-treatment.aspx

You probably already know most of this stuff, but to me it was revelatory.

[caramama]

I used Proactive, and it was great... at first. Then, my skin stopped responding to it and it just made things worse. I've had a handful of other people tell me the same thing. So I won't use that again.

One woman recommended to me getting weekly or bi-weekly facials. I really think that would probably do the trick for me, but I just can't afford that.

That's all I've got. Well, that an a current breakout on my own face. I've got a referral for a dermatologist, but haven't had time to go yet. Please let us know if you find something that works.

[ParisPerson]

Are you sure you don't have rosacea, often called "adult acne"? It is an inflammatory skin problem (I know, just what you need on top of everything else). Like you, I never had skin problems as a teenager and this hit me several years ago. In addition to horrid red, painful zits, my face would turn red at the slightest provocation. Mine is linked to my inflammatory arthritis (not RA, thank goodness). I use a prescription cream (called Rozen here in France), which has cleared it up and wear an SPF 50+ sunscreen every single day. Skin is much better. Peels and scrubs are a real no-no with this problem.

[Clarisonic]

We are excited to hear you are considering the Clarisonic. If you have questions we are here to help. We also have a special promo running right now. If you purchase from Clarisonic.com and use the code CRAVE at checkout you can save 20% on your purchase. Shop today and save. Cheers!

[AmandaJo]

I'm in my late twenties, and my skin has recently gone to shit, too. I blame the baby, but why my precious little snowflake would have done something like this to me, I just don't know.

I also have very sensitive skin and am super carful about the sun, as it has never been my friend. My skin's been noticably worse but manageable since I had the baby, but the last two weeks it's been a giant breakout nightmare- I'd love to hear what you decide and how it works.

[Mama Bub]

Pretty much EVERYTHING makes my skin break out. Anything that is strong will just make my breakouts much, much worse. However, I love Kiehl's. I buy it at Nordstrom, so I can return anything I don't like. My skin feels completely clean, but nothing I use irritates my skin making me break out. Honestly, I'm having my first clear skin days in ten years.

[TUWABVB]

I know we chatted briefly on Twitter, but I just wanted to send you some links and encourage you to try this stuff - granted, everything works differently on different people, but I was at my wit's end and this really helped:

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P181704

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=L031RBQPMCELUCV0KRRQIGQ?id=P73517&categoryId=RPYMAL&shouldPaginate=

If you have any questions, drop me a line and I'll be happy to help. It took me a long time to find a solution as well.

[Superjules]

Accutane was the only thing that worked for me. Anything topical made me break out or my skin peel off and any of the other Rx meds gave me freaky weird side effects like burns on my hands.

[Angela]

jojoba oil!
http://www.acne.org/jojoba-oil.php

I have always had problem skin (oily, flaky, blackheads, painful cysts), and in the two months I've been using jojoba oil, my skin has changed into skin I barely recognize. It did take 2-3 weeks to really show an improvement, but I could feel the difference after one day. I feel like after 20 years of fighting my skin, I'm finally treating it well and it's thanking me. I quit using salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and anything harsh and I'm trying to use natural or gentle products only.

It took a little trial and error to find the frequency/amount that worked best for me. Right now I massage my face with about 10-12 drops before I get in the shower. I try to do this for at least a couple minutes. Then I take a shower, and wait to wash my face until the end so the jojoba oil can really soak in. I wash my face with something gentle (usually cetaphil, although I love my son's California Baby Tea Tree and Lavender Oil Wash , and I recently tried a sample of a Korres cleanser that was great). I sometimes still use this Booth's face scrub because I just can't seem to give it up and it smells so good, but I am trying to use it less frequently. After my shower I add two drops of the jojoba oil to my moisturizer (Korres Yogurt moisturizer). Then at night, I wash my face with cetaphil and moisturize with about 6-8 drops of jojoba oil and no additional moisturizer. You can also use it to take off eye makeup.

I use this brand, but only because that's what my local hippie store carries. I assume any 100% jojoba oil would work the same. It's about $12 for 4 oz. I'd say that I've used maybe 1/4 a bottle in about 2 months. I did put it in a different bottle with a dropper so I can control the amount a little better. I guess the reason this stuff works so well is that the jojoba oil isn't actually an oil, but a wax ester that closely resembles the skin's natural sebum, and tricks the skin into thinking it doesn't need to produce the oil.

It's seriously changed my life. I have been leaving the house without a smidge of makeup on the weekends, and I used to cover up my zits to check the mail! You should give it a try. It's super cheap, and what do you have to lose?

[Angela]

My links didn't work. I use this scrub:
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2203217&productId=xlsImpprod1110470&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80184

and this brand of jojoba oil:
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=76437/Jojoba_skin_care_oil/Aura_Cacia/Moisturizers

[Kara G]

For the last year I've been using a great organic range that has completely cleared up any breakouts and really helped with my ever-changing-as-I-enter-my-thirties skin. It's called Talulah. You can buy direct from their website, or you can call a boutique in Richmond, Va (called Visage) and place a phone order and they'll ship to you for free if you're in Va. I use the Vanilla Bean Cleanser, Green Tea Leaf Toner and Oma Face Serum No. 2. They also do 'taster' packs, which are a little spendy for tiny amounts, but gives you a real chance to try before you commit to a whole new range. I love the products and am recommending to everyone I know. They smell fantastic too.

[Corey Feldman]

Coffee. It can be a little messy for the bathroom, but finely ground coffee is a great scrub and keeps my skin clear.

[Carabee]

I'm late commenting, so I don't know if you've made a decision yet, but I would heartily recommend visiting a dermatologist. I had good skin as a teenager and early twenties and then started having trouble in my late twenties. I spent years and I don't know how many hundreds, thousands?, of dollars on over the counter stuff (including Proactiv) that never really worked. I finally broke down and went to a derm and he prescribed some lotions. I have had great skin since. We've changed it up a couple of times as my skin has changed, but no complaints overall. I wish I hadn't wasted those years and money, miserable, before I finally went to a dermatologist. Before you spend $200 on something like Clarisonic, I would really, really think about visiting a dermatologist.

[Mary Price]

I had acne in my 30's too. It went away eventually. At least enjoy your youth while you have it.

[Dawn Payfoot]

I also consider my health in choosing my beauty products. I am well-oriented with organic cosmetics.
It's already tried and tested that organic beauty products are far more effective and safer compared to chemical based cosmetic products. It's they are now becoming very popular these days.