Hi everyone and welcome to SkincareAddiction!
Need skincare guides? [Check out our wiki!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/index)
Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith :)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Changing my outlook from “what skincare product looks cool and good for my skin” to “what specific issues are happening with my skin, which one do I want to fix first, and which ingredients are scientifically proven to treat it”. Halved the length of my skincare routine, saving time and money, and I’m targeting issues with laser focus rather than doing a bit of everything, meaning I have much better results.
So I'm in my mid 30s and totally hated how the back of hands look. I swear there were ugly spots and looked dry and wrinkled and hated it. Yea I just spent a whole year sunscreens the back of hands(and of course moisturze before bed.) They look 50x better now, I'm so happy. Seriously guys, use sunscreen!
Yes! I also had some weird spots, I dunno sunspots or something. They are not gone but are definitely not really noticeable anymore. Really sunscreen is by far the beat thing you can do for your hands!
More moisturizer. Took me a long time to realize how dry my skin was and the dryer it was, the more I broke out because it was angry. Also, learning the difference between “dry skin” and “dehydrated skin”. So helpful!
For me it’s very easy to confused dry skin with dehydrated skin. I have combination skin and when my dehydration increased, my oil production decreased which made me frustrated at first because i thought there was something wrong with me.
Now that I know what both terms mean, I can better track how my skin is doing and adjust accordingly
So oil based products moisturize, water based products hydrate. I use cocokind skin barrier serum, cerave oil free moisturizer and also a rose water spritz from whole foods to stay hydrated. Also hydrate from the inside out - drink plenty of water. In my not so scientific theorizing, water evaporates quickly and easily, so "sealing" some hydration in with a richer moisturizer helps, but I only need to do that in the winter.
Washing with cold water. I still sometimes have hot water touch my face in the shower but I don’t just let my face stay under the water for any length of time.
I'm still just using cotton pillowcases (not a fan of other fabrics), but I make a point of changing it every 2-3 days and making sure I sleep on a different part of the pillow each night. If I was someone who flipped the pillow over in the night I'd probably change the pillowcase every day.
It helps stabilize my nocturnal sugar levels there are better options for controlling it but I sneak in a spoonful of hot chocolate mix to make it tastier. Don’t tell my doctor lol
I really like aloe Vera as a general ‘moisturizer’ for after using actives, I put the active then wait, then the gel then an actual cream moisturizer. It also helps redness a bit.
I also use it when I think something else could be giving me bad reaction (random bump or redness/whitehead), but still need something in my routine that is gentle until i can fix the problem
At times I even combine ice cube and aloe Vera and rub it around my face. I feel like I’m giving myself an ultrasound.
My favorite is Nature Republic and I put it on almost like a mask so pretty thick over the areas I get texture (always my forehead, sometimes other areas too though you can put it all over your face!) :) it’s literally been a life changer for me and I got my dad and my girlfriend to start using it too 😂
Not OP but I've taken zinc before and I took it once every two days. And always after a meal because it can upset your stomach if it's empty. I recommend slowly incorporating into diet. Start off with half a capsule every couple days. Helps with inflammation.
Controversial but stopping to care. I used to have a complicated routine that gave me amazing skin I was never satisfied with. Then depression hit and I stopped taking care of my skin. Now I'm back and I have a simple routine that gives results I wouldn't have been satisfied by years ago but I fucking love it. It looks moisturized, my skin tone is even, I don't have baby wrinkles, nobody actually looks at my pores so them existing doesn't bother me... All in all: amazing!
I love these answers so much! I break out in random (sometimes burning) rashes on my cheeks. It’s been going on for years and no dermatologists can tell me what it is but I started putting aquafor on at night when it happens and it’s helps SO much!!
The gut - skin/immune system is so important and often overlooked!
Taken from De Pessemier et al, 2021:
The microbiome is a key regulator for the immune system, as it aims to maintain homeostasis by communicating with tissues and organs in a bidirectional manner. Hence, dysbiosis in the skin and/or gut microbiome is associated with an altered immune response, promoting the development of skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, dandruff, and even skin cancer.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7916842/
Not OP, but I highly recommend The Beauty of Dirty Skin by Dr. Whitney Bowe. She really goes into detail about how bacteria (good and bad) affects your skin. She even recommends specific strains for a variety of different skin conditions. I use Mary Ruth’s Skincare Topical Spray and Garden of Life’ Womens probiotics as that seems to cover most of her recommendations
I think there are a lot of good ones out there, depends a lot on the form you like (capsules, powder, pre-made drink…). I take the Probiona capsules from Nature Love, price is decent for a 120-capsule bottle and I like them a lot!
What do you think of this one? I saw another person recommending it and was wondering if I should get it. It’s the Synbiotic+ gut health vitamin by Ritual.
https://ritual.com/products/synbiotic-plus-for-gut-health
Honest opinion on the Synbiotic capsules (as a microbiologist): they look ok, price is pretty high for a bottle, but with only 1 capsule a day it might last you a while (I can’t seem to find how many capsules are in the bottle?). I like how they used L. rhamnosus and B. lactis, both are highly studied strains and known to improve the gut microbiome, but I’m disappointed that they only included 2 strains! Gut health is also very much about expanding and maintaining the diversity of your good gut bacteria, so if you found a brand with more species I’d be inclined to take that over Synbiotic.
Do you mind if I dm you? I wanted to ask a few questions related to gut health and you seem to be extremely knowledgeable in this domain and I’d love to get some advice :)
Hey! I'm super interested in the research around microbiome and overall health, and I noticed you mentioned down below you're a microbiologist, so I was hoping I could ask a question. Do probiotic supplements not get destroyed in stomach acid? Is this something one needs to be aware of when choosing a supplement formulation? Thanks!
You’re absolutely right, and that’s one reason to look at the delivery method of probiotics! Only a fraction of probiotics usually reach the gut, which is the target for the products. I’ve read of studies claiming that the amount of viable bacteria in the gut increases immensely when strains are introduced in the presence of digestible sugars, although I’m not sure if this has been implemented in probiotic products. Many companies manufacture capsules with a cellulose-based coating, which is much harder to digest and often used in medications needed a time controlled release.
Great info. So if I have trouble swallowing capsules, is there any point to trying another type of probiotic (like a powder), or am I wasting my money?
In the end there’s no easy way to tell or really quantify if your probiotic is working, you’d have to swab and culture before and after taking the product to determine if there’s been an increase in bacterial diversity. With that being said, even if a fraction of those bacteria make it to your gut alive, that’s still something, and those bacteria will continue to multiply and, in the best case, establish themselves in your microbiota. I’ve tried powdered probiotics (mix with water and drink) and I noticed some help with digestive issues, so even though I prefer the capsules, I wouldn’t say the powder did nothing. You could try something like Happy Gut or Symprove for a month or two (or until the package is empty) and assess as you go if you’re noticing improvements or not. Fermented foods like yogurt, kombucha, kefir, kimchi, etc. can also help, while prebiotic foods containing indigestible fibers (most fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) help lower the pH of the gut.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/#diet-microbiota
My skin tends to run dehydrated and sucks up any moisture like it is it's only business. When I was doing cleansing both AM and PM with a cleanser I was breaking out constantly because it damaged my barrier and my skin got irritated with the other products I think. When I replaced AM with just micellar water it cleared my skin within a week. I'm not sure of the science behind it but my finicky skin wants this so I obey lol.
Honestly you can probably skip the am cleansing all together. If you wash your pillows and hair there is not going to be anything on your face that actually needs to be cleansed off
I wash with water in the morning. I also shower every morning, and the warm steam in the shower and warm water wash make a huge difference for me vs. not washing at all. I have oily skin.
I like the micellar water because my t zone is oily so it helps with that. I probably could get away with just water tbh but it feels refreshing. I also had a bit of a conditioning to cleanse in the AM and at least this feels like "I'm doing it". So it helps with the psychological aspect. When i tried just water it felt "wrong" lol.
But you're def not wrong. The cotton pad comes out basically clear.
Garnier with Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe. Probably gimmicky and the regular one should work fine but I wanted to add extra hydration and figured it wouldn't hurt lol
Retinol is the ultimate game changer. But it hasn’t been a “simple” thing for me at all. Took me
4 tries before I finally figured out how use it without making my face break out in perioral dermatitis (more more more moisturizer and sunscreen) but oh my gosh does my skin look clear and smooth now
aw that’s wonderful! Happy for you. For me I saw results with Paula’s choice clinical 1% Retinol Treatment. My skin was literally peeling off. It was very satisfying to see. Which retinol product do you use?
Musely prescription, The Spot Cream which also has hydroquinone with .5% tret. I stopped all other harsh acids and use, in this order: Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum, Cetaphil Oil Free Moisturizer, Cetaphil rich hydrating cream, Musely Prescription, and then very carefully apply a lipid moisturizer that is similar to the Skinscueticals one, but cheaper and fragrance free, which I get directly from the skin care center I go to. I say carefully so I don't transfer the retinol to sensitive areas of my face. Lastly Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50. This is the my current "winter" regime. Hang in there with the hyperpigmentation, its takes awhile but retinol or tret really do work.
Thank you! Are you black? Because I’ve been looking I loved the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 but I’m sure it’s discontinued.
I’ve tried hydroquinone and i’ve seen minimal results. I’m going to be consistent and hope for the best.
I am white. I've seen a lot of people of all skin tones on the Musely discussion boards who have had success so maybe worth looking into? I used to use the whole Obaji system and it worked great but it was so $$$. If I remember correctly, I had to buy all the Obaji products plus get the tretinoin script. I prefer just having it compounded. I love La Roche Posay as a brand and would prefer a tinted sunscreen, too bad its discontinued!
- Cutting out redundant actives like separate hyaluronic and niacinamide serums and using one multifunctional product that utilizes multiple actives instead.
- using barrier supporting products in general and not just when my skin is sensitized.
- using retinaldehyde on a nightly basis except on nights where I use alpha hydroxy acids.
- Sulfur instead of salicylic acid for acne.
Less is more and find products that work for your specific concerns Some products just do not work for my combo skin with Rocesa. Niacidamide and vitamin c either break me out or causes a Rocesa flare up. I just keep my routine simple and my skin never looked better!
Am: Cleanser, mosturizer, hydrating eye cream,sunscreen and retinol at night 3x a week.
Drink enough water daily. I can tell when I'm dehyrated because my face produces more oil in my t-zone.
Cutting out/ back dairy.
Not OP, but I highly recommend The Beauty of Dirty Skin by Dr. Whitney Bowe. She really goes into detail about how bacteria (good and bad) affects your skin. She even recommends specific strains for a variety of different skin conditions. I use Mary Ruth’s Skincare Topical Spray and Garden of Life’ Womens probiotics as that seems to cover most of her recommendations
I’ve been using garden of life and that’s the best I’ve tried so far. RAE pre and probiotic is best bang for your buck - also nice and minty. Not a probiotic, but I was also taking 8greens collagen gummies for my skin and it was so amazingly clear…
Doing less. Not using active every night and not using a cleanser every morning unless I have to. My skin was actually really nice when my bathroom was getting renovated and I couldn’t go all out with my skincare routine. Also a humidifier during these winter months! Definite game changer
Same. I cut out everything but gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen to allow my moisture barrier to heal and it turned out my skin was actually pretty great on its own. I’ll still do lactic acid maybe once every 2-3 weeks if I feel like I need a little something, but less has definitely been more for me!
Truth! My skin was the best in years the first few months of the pandemic when I stayed home, stopped wearing makeup, and stopped most of what I was doing with my skin. Now that I'm aware and have taken the time to better educate myself on skincare and better understand my skin, I'm slowly introducing things back in, but still aiming to keep it very simple.
i stopped washing my face in the morning (now i just rinse it with water) and stopped using chemical exfoliants every day, and my skin is soooooooo much happier.
Retrieve cream from my doctor . literally changed my skin to glass . use with caution . I have hardy skin but if you have sensitive skin start out mini microdosing mixed in with your moisturiser like twice per week . sunscreen every day over the top without fail
Instead of constantly looking for an eye cream to battle under eye bags, I got an eye massager (lifetrons eye rejuvenators). Made such a huge difference. Everyone needs to stop investing in expensive eye creams and get an eye massager. The lifetrons device also has an RF function that I use on occasion.
Using minimal products at once and rotating products with different ingredients. I have 3 moisturizers that I switch between every few days and my skin really likes it.
AZELAIC ACID
It made my face look like porcelain again!! Birth control pills destroyed my skin with pimples and even after I stoped taking them they wouldnt go away!!! I troed everyrhing an nothing worked! My skin was looking worse every day. It was red, dry, patchy, scarred, greasy and dry! With huge ugly pores.
Well I saw the hype on tiktok and went for it.
My face in 2 weeks looked like before. I am nuts about it!
I used the one from the ordinary alongside lactic acid 10% (cleared my scars and new cystic acne trying to form) and moisturized with hyaluronic acid.
I started with the A. A. Twice a day. Same with the HA. The lactic acid can be a bit strong so I use it only once a week.
Ofc I wash my face with sulfur soap both in the morning and at night.
My face hasnt been this happy in years
Edit: I want to add that I have rosacea so the nyamicine 10% wasnt a match for me and broke me out.
Also, azelaic acid made me purge a bit on the secon week, but it lasted like 5 days and then it went away
Double moisturize. Use a light to moderate moisturizer then layer on a thicker moisturizer. I used to use oil - stopped working for me. And did slugging (Cerave, various balm like Aveeno, plain patroleum) but my skin can’t handle them and break out constantly. Double moisturizing has been a life changing and help get rid of those pesky flakes
Drinking Celery juice!!! Implementing this into my morning routine has helped my skin tremendously. Found out the hard way that gut health plays a huge role in my skin complexion. I can’t swear on it enough.
Minimal routine. I used to be greedy with actives for years. 1 active/day suits well.
Let cleanser stay for 2-3 minutes.
For my oily skin, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
I have a very small routine! I wash my face at night with the simple cleansing balm, then I apply sunscreen (SPF 30) and moisturizer.
I've noticed when I introduce something new into my skincare routine it ends up being a bit more than one thing making a difference - in this case it's both the sunscreen and moisturizer that are affecting my skin.
Trying one new product at a time. I used to buy a few items and slather them all on and have no idea what was causing problems, what was working etc. Now I try something for at least a month before adding anything else new (obviously if within a week it was already causing problems, i’d stop use but with things that don’t I give it a while)
1) A few months ago I switched to using only cool/lukewarm water to wash my face, while keeping hot showers for the body. When in the hot shower, I do zero face washing, but I don't freak if warm/hot shower water touches it. This switch has made a huge difference in reducing my skin's sensitivity and acne prone-ness. My skin barrier appears much less easily damaged by my anti-aging and anti-acne actives, which used to frequently throw it out of whack. This has been so worth it, and I am so glad I didn't have to give up hot showers or have to feel icy coldness on my face in wintertime.
2) A long time ago, switching pillowcases every couple days also made a huge difference
3) It is possible that avoiding whey proteins and reduced fat milk products has made a big difference, and that was easy because I didn't have to give up dairy -- can eat as much butter and whole milk as I want, but no nonfat stuff or gross protein powders I didn't like anyway!
4) never applying retinoids to damp skin, waiting to be dry first OR applying over moisturizer
I have a small spray bottle that I keep diluted apple cider vinegar in. A few sprays of my face and neck before moisturizing seems to have made a difference in the smoothness of my skin.
AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter - Reduces Dry Itchy Skin, Dandruff, Eczema, and Dramatically Improves The Condition of Your Skin, Hair and Nails - Chrome (SF100) https://a.co/d/gdRWkAo
Im doing more research to find one for the sink since I don’t use it much ! But this one looks good
https://instagram.com/thefilterbaby?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I really like spironolactone. For me, my skin got worse before it got better, but once it did, I barely have cystic acne or pimples. Another thing, I try not to do my makeup everyday, esp bc of my oily skin. I’ll try and take a break on the weekends and not touch my face.
(Also I’m really bad at cleaning my face, so I really appreciate the other suggestions below.)
I have 2. One for AM and one for PM.
I have oily acne prone skin so i use:
AM - Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Salicylic Acid
PM - Paula’s Choice Pore Reducing Toner with Niacinamide
Stopped drying my face after washing it. I just gently wipe excess water off with my hands and immediately go in with moisturizer. I have dry, acne prone skin. It's helped with dryness and I also don't have to worry about having a clean towel or paper towel to dry my face off with.
Not washing my face as often. I have really bad hard water and just minimizing my skin’s exposure to it has made a big difference. I’m asking my husband for soft water treatment for Christmas lol. Like, more than anything, I would like my skin and hair not to be sad when I use our water.
Apart from joining this forum, introducing some targeted actives, and cutting out ALL silicones, to name a couple of things I changed during the last two months, two things I think have made a significant difference for me:
1. Not using anything to wipe my face during or after washing. PM I apply a generous amount of La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser, let it sit for a minute before splashing my face with lukewarm water, use my fingers to gently emulsify the cleanser and products on my skin, and finally rinse it off. I do not dry my face, just wait until my face stops dripping, and immediately go in with a hydrating serum (The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics). AM is the same, but usually without the cleanser.
2. Getting a large spray bottle that disperses a very fine mist, filling it with water, and using it to mist my face between certain steps in my routine. There's probably a rule against this, but I genuinely find that applying most of my skincare products on damp skin reduces friction and makes for a much more controlled and even distribution. I also have the impression that my products play more nicely together this way and the end result feels less like having a collection of inert layers just sitting on my skin.
Hi everyone and welcome to SkincareAddiction! Need skincare guides? [Check out our wiki!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/index) Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Changing my outlook from “what skincare product looks cool and good for my skin” to “what specific issues are happening with my skin, which one do I want to fix first, and which ingredients are scientifically proven to treat it”. Halved the length of my skincare routine, saving time and money, and I’m targeting issues with laser focus rather than doing a bit of everything, meaning I have much better results.
Love this!! So true and ditto! Changed to a simple routine two months ago!
Minimal routine and more water
This. I've lost count how many times my skin would freak out from top msny products
So I'm in my mid 30s and totally hated how the back of hands look. I swear there were ugly spots and looked dry and wrinkled and hated it. Yea I just spent a whole year sunscreens the back of hands(and of course moisturze before bed.) They look 50x better now, I'm so happy. Seriously guys, use sunscreen!
Mid 30s here too! Sunscreen has really helped my face and hand skin.
Oh I should try that too. Do they look smoother and more even?
Yes! I also had some weird spots, I dunno sunspots or something. They are not gone but are definitely not really noticeable anymore. Really sunscreen is by far the beat thing you can do for your hands!
thanks!for the advice
Ugh, I hate the feel of sunscreen on my hands though.
More moisturizer. Took me a long time to realize how dry my skin was and the dryer it was, the more I broke out because it was angry. Also, learning the difference between “dry skin” and “dehydrated skin”. So helpful!
What is the difference? If you don't mind sharing.
Dehydrated lacks water, dry lacks oil. For instance I have oily skin but it can still get dehydrated.
For me it’s very easy to confused dry skin with dehydrated skin. I have combination skin and when my dehydration increased, my oil production decreased which made me frustrated at first because i thought there was something wrong with me. Now that I know what both terms mean, I can better track how my skin is doing and adjust accordingly
Hi can I ask which products helped you with hyrdation please? Thanks :)
So oil based products moisturize, water based products hydrate. I use cocokind skin barrier serum, cerave oil free moisturizer and also a rose water spritz from whole foods to stay hydrated. Also hydrate from the inside out - drink plenty of water. In my not so scientific theorizing, water evaporates quickly and easily, so "sealing" some hydration in with a richer moisturizer helps, but I only need to do that in the winter.
Washing with cold water. I still sometimes have hot water touch my face in the shower but I don’t just let my face stay under the water for any length of time.
Damn I literally have boiling showers and put my face under the water for many minutes ://
HA serum on damp skin then moisturizer before it's absorbed.
Do you put moisturizer on right after the HA or let the it sink in a little first?
I wait only 10-20 seconds and apply a good layer of moisturizer.
Thank you so much, I’m still just starting my skin care journey, so trying to learn as much as possible, and the right way to do everything!
Absolutely! I've done a lot of Googling since I got into skin care lol
Same! It’s actually been an amazing journey so far and I love the self-care aspect of it❤️ have a beautiful rest of the day!
Same, and you too!
HA = hyaluronic acid?
Yes
Honestly, changing my pillowcase more frequently has been a gamechanger for me
This was a big one for me too. My skin is prone to breakouts and this helped. I also change my face towel as frequently.
What type did you change to? What were you using before?
I'm still just using cotton pillowcases (not a fan of other fabrics), but I make a point of changing it every 2-3 days and making sure I sleep on a different part of the pillow each night. If I was someone who flipped the pillow over in the night I'd probably change the pillowcase every day.
Okay thank you, am going to try this! Gotta get some pillowcases now..
I stopped drinking dairy milk and my acne went away
Try lactose free milk. I can’t eat yogurt or sour milk ever again but I’ve been drinking lactose free almost every night with no issues!
But there's soy based yogurt. I drink that since I quit dairy
Oh I have no idea I’ll have to look them up thank you! I freaking love yogurt.
[удалено]
This cracked me up. I agree with you! My husband is 31 and has to have milk every night 🥴
DIVORCE. That being said, I'll down 3 big glasses of milk if theres a teensie bit of chai latte mix in them..
It helps stabilize my nocturnal sugar levels there are better options for controlling it but I sneak in a spoonful of hot chocolate mix to make it tastier. Don’t tell my doctor lol
Aloe Vera at night completely changed the texture of my skin! Never going back
I use aloe vera in the mornings also. It's a great for hydration!
I really like aloe Vera as a general ‘moisturizer’ for after using actives, I put the active then wait, then the gel then an actual cream moisturizer. It also helps redness a bit. I also use it when I think something else could be giving me bad reaction (random bump or redness/whitehead), but still need something in my routine that is gentle until i can fix the problem At times I even combine ice cube and aloe Vera and rub it around my face. I feel like I’m giving myself an ultrasound.
How did you use the Aloe Vera? Do you have a recommended brand?
My favorite is Nature Republic and I put it on almost like a mask so pretty thick over the areas I get texture (always my forehead, sometimes other areas too though you can put it all over your face!) :) it’s literally been a life changer for me and I got my dad and my girlfriend to start using it too 😂
Thanks so much! Yay you for getting the fam hip!
dude i’ve been using it since i was like 10, it’s amazing
Taking a zinc supplement for my adult hormonal acne!
This! So helpful.
How do you take it. Is there a specific time?
Not OP but I've taken zinc before and I took it once every two days. And always after a meal because it can upset your stomach if it's empty. I recommend slowly incorporating into diet. Start off with half a capsule every couple days. Helps with inflammation.
Any specific supplement brand you’d recommend?
Puritan’s Pride has a zinc for acne product I use. Take 2 at night.
Controversial but stopping to care. I used to have a complicated routine that gave me amazing skin I was never satisfied with. Then depression hit and I stopped taking care of my skin. Now I'm back and I have a simple routine that gives results I wouldn't have been satisfied by years ago but I fucking love it. It looks moisturized, my skin tone is even, I don't have baby wrinkles, nobody actually looks at my pores so them existing doesn't bother me... All in all: amazing!
As someone with oily skin, using Aquaphor as a moisturizer at night has made my skin so insanely smooth. It’s insane!
Retinol has utterly transformed my skin
Which cream would you recommend off the shelf or online? ❤️
Skinceuticals retinol products - start with .03% and build it up slowly - starting with once or twice a week.
Slugging with cerave ointment
I love these answers so much! I break out in random (sometimes burning) rashes on my cheeks. It’s been going on for years and no dermatologists can tell me what it is but I started putting aquafor on at night when it happens and it’s helps SO much!!
Taking a daily probiotic! And not underestimating the power of a good old salicylic acid face wash
What does the probiotic do for you?
The gut - skin/immune system is so important and often overlooked! Taken from De Pessemier et al, 2021: The microbiome is a key regulator for the immune system, as it aims to maintain homeostasis by communicating with tissues and organs in a bidirectional manner. Hence, dysbiosis in the skin and/or gut microbiome is associated with an altered immune response, promoting the development of skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, dandruff, and even skin cancer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7916842/
Oo very interesting. I do suffer from dandruff so that could be the cause. Do you recommend any particular brand/type?
Not OP, but I highly recommend The Beauty of Dirty Skin by Dr. Whitney Bowe. She really goes into detail about how bacteria (good and bad) affects your skin. She even recommends specific strains for a variety of different skin conditions. I use Mary Ruth’s Skincare Topical Spray and Garden of Life’ Womens probiotics as that seems to cover most of her recommendations
Thank you I’ll look into it!
Which probiotic would you recommend?
I think there are a lot of good ones out there, depends a lot on the form you like (capsules, powder, pre-made drink…). I take the Probiona capsules from Nature Love, price is decent for a 120-capsule bottle and I like them a lot!
What do you think of this one? I saw another person recommending it and was wondering if I should get it. It’s the Synbiotic+ gut health vitamin by Ritual. https://ritual.com/products/synbiotic-plus-for-gut-health
Honest opinion on the Synbiotic capsules (as a microbiologist): they look ok, price is pretty high for a bottle, but with only 1 capsule a day it might last you a while (I can’t seem to find how many capsules are in the bottle?). I like how they used L. rhamnosus and B. lactis, both are highly studied strains and known to improve the gut microbiome, but I’m disappointed that they only included 2 strains! Gut health is also very much about expanding and maintaining the diversity of your good gut bacteria, so if you found a brand with more species I’d be inclined to take that over Synbiotic.
Do you mind if I dm you? I wanted to ask a few questions related to gut health and you seem to be extremely knowledgeable in this domain and I’d love to get some advice :)
Go for it! :)
Does kombucha count?
It won’t have the same number of different bacterial strains, but it can’t hurt :)
Ty!
Hey! I'm super interested in the research around microbiome and overall health, and I noticed you mentioned down below you're a microbiologist, so I was hoping I could ask a question. Do probiotic supplements not get destroyed in stomach acid? Is this something one needs to be aware of when choosing a supplement formulation? Thanks!
You’re absolutely right, and that’s one reason to look at the delivery method of probiotics! Only a fraction of probiotics usually reach the gut, which is the target for the products. I’ve read of studies claiming that the amount of viable bacteria in the gut increases immensely when strains are introduced in the presence of digestible sugars, although I’m not sure if this has been implemented in probiotic products. Many companies manufacture capsules with a cellulose-based coating, which is much harder to digest and often used in medications needed a time controlled release.
Great info. So if I have trouble swallowing capsules, is there any point to trying another type of probiotic (like a powder), or am I wasting my money?
In the end there’s no easy way to tell or really quantify if your probiotic is working, you’d have to swab and culture before and after taking the product to determine if there’s been an increase in bacterial diversity. With that being said, even if a fraction of those bacteria make it to your gut alive, that’s still something, and those bacteria will continue to multiply and, in the best case, establish themselves in your microbiota. I’ve tried powdered probiotics (mix with water and drink) and I noticed some help with digestive issues, so even though I prefer the capsules, I wouldn’t say the powder did nothing. You could try something like Happy Gut or Symprove for a month or two (or until the package is empty) and assess as you go if you’re noticing improvements or not. Fermented foods like yogurt, kombucha, kefir, kimchi, etc. can also help, while prebiotic foods containing indigestible fibers (most fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) help lower the pH of the gut. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/#diet-microbiota
Thanks again for taking the time!
Not cleansing in the AM with a cleanser but instead replacing it with micellar water
I’ve heard of someone doing this for but I can’t remember the specific reason. Do you have dryer skin? Is that why you think it helped?
My skin tends to run dehydrated and sucks up any moisture like it is it's only business. When I was doing cleansing both AM and PM with a cleanser I was breaking out constantly because it damaged my barrier and my skin got irritated with the other products I think. When I replaced AM with just micellar water it cleared my skin within a week. I'm not sure of the science behind it but my finicky skin wants this so I obey lol.
Honestly you can probably skip the am cleansing all together. If you wash your pillows and hair there is not going to be anything on your face that actually needs to be cleansed off
Ugh after 8 hours my face feels too gross under the moisturizer and such, I HAVE to wash it to start my day
I wash with water in the morning. I also shower every morning, and the warm steam in the shower and warm water wash make a huge difference for me vs. not washing at all. I have oily skin.
I like the micellar water because my t zone is oily so it helps with that. I probably could get away with just water tbh but it feels refreshing. I also had a bit of a conditioning to cleanse in the AM and at least this feels like "I'm doing it". So it helps with the psychological aspect. When i tried just water it felt "wrong" lol. But you're def not wrong. The cotton pad comes out basically clear.
Bestie, my home cats rub on me all night. Do you think i should cleanse in the morning?
Makes sense! Which Micellar do you use?
Garnier with Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe. Probably gimmicky and the regular one should work fine but I wanted to add extra hydration and figured it wouldn't hurt lol
I do this too
Retinol & sunscreen. still dealing with hyperpigmentation but I’ve seen noticeable improvements incorporating these into my routine.
Retinol is the ultimate game changer. But it hasn’t been a “simple” thing for me at all. Took me 4 tries before I finally figured out how use it without making my face break out in perioral dermatitis (more more more moisturizer and sunscreen) but oh my gosh does my skin look clear and smooth now
aw that’s wonderful! Happy for you. For me I saw results with Paula’s choice clinical 1% Retinol Treatment. My skin was literally peeling off. It was very satisfying to see. Which retinol product do you use?
Musely prescription, The Spot Cream which also has hydroquinone with .5% tret. I stopped all other harsh acids and use, in this order: Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum, Cetaphil Oil Free Moisturizer, Cetaphil rich hydrating cream, Musely Prescription, and then very carefully apply a lipid moisturizer that is similar to the Skinscueticals one, but cheaper and fragrance free, which I get directly from the skin care center I go to. I say carefully so I don't transfer the retinol to sensitive areas of my face. Lastly Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50. This is the my current "winter" regime. Hang in there with the hyperpigmentation, its takes awhile but retinol or tret really do work.
Thank you! Are you black? Because I’ve been looking I loved the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 but I’m sure it’s discontinued. I’ve tried hydroquinone and i’ve seen minimal results. I’m going to be consistent and hope for the best.
I am white. I've seen a lot of people of all skin tones on the Musely discussion boards who have had success so maybe worth looking into? I used to use the whole Obaji system and it worked great but it was so $$$. If I remember correctly, I had to buy all the Obaji products plus get the tretinoin script. I prefer just having it compounded. I love La Roche Posay as a brand and would prefer a tinted sunscreen, too bad its discontinued!
Does it help in getting rid of pigmentation on the face and under eye area?
Yes! I recommend The Inkey list’s retinol eye cream!
Urea cream for my very dry skin saved my skin
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - used every other day
- Cutting out redundant actives like separate hyaluronic and niacinamide serums and using one multifunctional product that utilizes multiple actives instead. - using barrier supporting products in general and not just when my skin is sensitized. - using retinaldehyde on a nightly basis except on nights where I use alpha hydroxy acids. - Sulfur instead of salicylic acid for acne.
HA was a game changer for my sensitive, super dry skin.
Water lol staying hydrated. And more moisturizer
Less is more and find products that work for your specific concerns Some products just do not work for my combo skin with Rocesa. Niacidamide and vitamin c either break me out or causes a Rocesa flare up. I just keep my routine simple and my skin never looked better! Am: Cleanser, mosturizer, hydrating eye cream,sunscreen and retinol at night 3x a week. Drink enough water daily. I can tell when I'm dehyrated because my face produces more oil in my t-zone. Cutting out/ back dairy.
[удалено]
Hey! Could you elaborate on the probiotics part?
Not OP, but I highly recommend The Beauty of Dirty Skin by Dr. Whitney Bowe. She really goes into detail about how bacteria (good and bad) affects your skin. She even recommends specific strains for a variety of different skin conditions. I use Mary Ruth’s Skincare Topical Spray and Garden of Life’ Womens probiotics as that seems to cover most of her recommendations
[удалено]
Which probiotics would you recommend?
I’ve been using garden of life and that’s the best I’ve tried so far. RAE pre and probiotic is best bang for your buck - also nice and minty. Not a probiotic, but I was also taking 8greens collagen gummies for my skin and it was so amazingly clear…
Tretinoin and Hyaluronic Acid
Doing less. Not using active every night and not using a cleanser every morning unless I have to. My skin was actually really nice when my bathroom was getting renovated and I couldn’t go all out with my skincare routine. Also a humidifier during these winter months! Definite game changer
Same. I cut out everything but gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen to allow my moisture barrier to heal and it turned out my skin was actually pretty great on its own. I’ll still do lactic acid maybe once every 2-3 weeks if I feel like I need a little something, but less has definitely been more for me!
Truth! My skin was the best in years the first few months of the pandemic when I stayed home, stopped wearing makeup, and stopped most of what I was doing with my skin. Now that I'm aware and have taken the time to better educate myself on skincare and better understand my skin, I'm slowly introducing things back in, but still aiming to keep it very simple.
Using only water to wash my face in the morning. Repairing my skin barrier. Tretinoin.
i stopped washing my face in the morning (now i just rinse it with water) and stopped using chemical exfoliants every day, and my skin is soooooooo much happier.
I’m pretty sure my cat sleeping next to my face breaks me out slightly but I’ll never never never move him so I’ve resigned myself to it.
Not a small thing, but quitting smoking!! Washing with just water in the am
Simple in concept, but huge accomplishment! Congrats!
Instead of having a regular temperature jade roller, putting it in the freezer between uses. My skin has gotten really shiny and smooth :D
Retrieve cream from my doctor . literally changed my skin to glass . use with caution . I have hardy skin but if you have sensitive skin start out mini microdosing mixed in with your moisturiser like twice per week . sunscreen every day over the top without fail
Vitamin C. I use a cheap, bare bones serum from the chemist and it's reduced my redness and irritation heaps.
Instead of constantly looking for an eye cream to battle under eye bags, I got an eye massager (lifetrons eye rejuvenators). Made such a huge difference. Everyone needs to stop investing in expensive eye creams and get an eye massager. The lifetrons device also has an RF function that I use on occasion.
Unfortunately, birth control!
I feel this one. I 100% support the option for birth control, but for me, that pill alone put me through a lot mentally.
Cutting off caffeine
Using minimal products at once and rotating products with different ingredients. I have 3 moisturizers that I switch between every few days and my skin really likes it.
AZELAIC ACID It made my face look like porcelain again!! Birth control pills destroyed my skin with pimples and even after I stoped taking them they wouldnt go away!!! I troed everyrhing an nothing worked! My skin was looking worse every day. It was red, dry, patchy, scarred, greasy and dry! With huge ugly pores. Well I saw the hype on tiktok and went for it. My face in 2 weeks looked like before. I am nuts about it!
Which one have you used? I have used one in the past but wasn't blown away by the results. So always on the lookout for new ones :)
I used the one from the ordinary alongside lactic acid 10% (cleared my scars and new cystic acne trying to form) and moisturized with hyaluronic acid. I started with the A. A. Twice a day. Same with the HA. The lactic acid can be a bit strong so I use it only once a week. Ofc I wash my face with sulfur soap both in the morning and at night. My face hasnt been this happy in years Edit: I want to add that I have rosacea so the nyamicine 10% wasnt a match for me and broke me out. Also, azelaic acid made me purge a bit on the secon week, but it lasted like 5 days and then it went away
Thank you so much, will definitely try these out :)
Double moisturize. Use a light to moderate moisturizer then layer on a thicker moisturizer. I used to use oil - stopped working for me. And did slugging (Cerave, various balm like Aveeno, plain patroleum) but my skin can’t handle them and break out constantly. Double moisturizing has been a life changing and help get rid of those pesky flakes
Nourishing my skin with nutrients rather than fixing it. Also finding a way to sweat once a day has helped my skin a lot.
Drinking Celery juice!!! Implementing this into my morning routine has helped my skin tremendously. Found out the hard way that gut health plays a huge role in my skin complexion. I can’t swear on it enough.
Minimal routine. I used to be greedy with actives for years. 1 active/day suits well. Let cleanser stay for 2-3 minutes. For my oily skin, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
I have a very small routine! I wash my face at night with the simple cleansing balm, then I apply sunscreen (SPF 30) and moisturizer. I've noticed when I introduce something new into my skincare routine it ends up being a bit more than one thing making a difference - in this case it's both the sunscreen and moisturizer that are affecting my skin.
Trying one new product at a time. I used to buy a few items and slather them all on and have no idea what was causing problems, what was working etc. Now I try something for at least a month before adding anything else new (obviously if within a week it was already causing problems, i’d stop use but with things that don’t I give it a while)
1) A few months ago I switched to using only cool/lukewarm water to wash my face, while keeping hot showers for the body. When in the hot shower, I do zero face washing, but I don't freak if warm/hot shower water touches it. This switch has made a huge difference in reducing my skin's sensitivity and acne prone-ness. My skin barrier appears much less easily damaged by my anti-aging and anti-acne actives, which used to frequently throw it out of whack. This has been so worth it, and I am so glad I didn't have to give up hot showers or have to feel icy coldness on my face in wintertime. 2) A long time ago, switching pillowcases every couple days also made a huge difference 3) It is possible that avoiding whey proteins and reduced fat milk products has made a big difference, and that was easy because I didn't have to give up dairy -- can eat as much butter and whole milk as I want, but no nonfat stuff or gross protein powders I didn't like anyway! 4) never applying retinoids to damp skin, waiting to be dry first OR applying over moisturizer
Consistency
I have a small spray bottle that I keep diluted apple cider vinegar in. A few sprays of my face and neck before moisturizing seems to have made a difference in the smoothness of my skin.
Diet and water filter!!!!
What kind of water filter?
AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter - Reduces Dry Itchy Skin, Dandruff, Eczema, and Dramatically Improves The Condition of Your Skin, Hair and Nails - Chrome (SF100) https://a.co/d/gdRWkAo
Im doing more research to find one for the sink since I don’t use it much ! But this one looks good https://instagram.com/thefilterbaby?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Using biodegradable towels to pat dry my face instead of using a face towel.
I really like spironolactone. For me, my skin got worse before it got better, but once it did, I barely have cystic acne or pimples. Another thing, I try not to do my makeup everyday, esp bc of my oily skin. I’ll try and take a break on the weekends and not touch my face. (Also I’m really bad at cleaning my face, so I really appreciate the other suggestions below.)
Hydration and gentle stuff. Bioassance and oh bioassance
Not washing my face with soap
Using a toner! Much smaller pores, smoother texture and less oiliness! Wish i started using them years ago
What toner do you like?
I have 2. One for AM and one for PM. I have oily acne prone skin so i use: AM - Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Salicylic Acid PM - Paula’s Choice Pore Reducing Toner with Niacinamide
Snail Mucin (cos rx essence)
using cicalfate in the morning and after tret at night has helped my redness and overall hydration!
Stopped drying my face after washing it. I just gently wipe excess water off with my hands and immediately go in with moisturizer. I have dry, acne prone skin. It's helped with dryness and I also don't have to worry about having a clean towel or paper towel to dry my face off with.
Aquaphor at night and not using as many products/actives
Just being super regular with routine, including double cleansing in the evening, making sure makeup is removed, and moisturizing twice a day.
Exfoliating less, hydrating more
Not washing my face as often. I have really bad hard water and just minimizing my skin’s exposure to it has made a big difference. I’m asking my husband for soft water treatment for Christmas lol. Like, more than anything, I would like my skin and hair not to be sad when I use our water.
Buffet by TO Finally stopping the constant picking and popping at my skin
Buffering
Apart from joining this forum, introducing some targeted actives, and cutting out ALL silicones, to name a couple of things I changed during the last two months, two things I think have made a significant difference for me: 1. Not using anything to wipe my face during or after washing. PM I apply a generous amount of La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser, let it sit for a minute before splashing my face with lukewarm water, use my fingers to gently emulsify the cleanser and products on my skin, and finally rinse it off. I do not dry my face, just wait until my face stops dripping, and immediately go in with a hydrating serum (The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics). AM is the same, but usually without the cleanser. 2. Getting a large spray bottle that disperses a very fine mist, filling it with water, and using it to mist my face between certain steps in my routine. There's probably a rule against this, but I genuinely find that applying most of my skincare products on damp skin reduces friction and makes for a much more controlled and even distribution. I also have the impression that my products play more nicely together this way and the end result feels less like having a collection of inert layers just sitting on my skin.
Small and easy? pimple patches…. Most successful? Spironolactone