Facial Hygiene & You!

[Atreides]

i mean, if it works for you then go with it, it just sounds like it'd be way too harsh for me. A lot of stuff that works for one person doesn't work for others, so a lot of finding a good skincare regimen is definitely trial and error. Most of mine is super gentle/fragrance-free/hypoallergenic so it works for a lot of people, but that's no guarantee of course.

I mean, I randomly stumbled upon Bump Patrol, which is an aftershave marketed towards black guys (because of razor bumps or whatever). Just so happens that for my skin, it's an unbelievably effective spot treatment as well as the best aftershave I've ever used, yay black people! lol

[Ghost_Wheel22]

If you get breakouts after shaving then make sure you're using a sharp blade on a DE or Mach III (Mach CXVI or whatever cut hairs below the skin and tend to cause ingrowns and irritation) and only doing a pass with the grain and across the grain at most. And use a quality shave cream/soap and not crap in a can.

As far as a facial moisturizer I personally use Nancy Boy Moisturizer:http://www.nancyboy.com/index.php?ma...products_id=16

Costs about 20 bucks, lasts me about a year, and moisturizes the hell out of your face yet goes on light and oil-free.

[Kiro]

Yeah of course, I'm just going off of my experiences. One of my ex-girlfriend's used that ProActive stuff and she said when she started using it her skin became way worse if she didn't use it. All that chemical shit you pay for in products makes you dependent on said product.

I find just doing the most basic things keeps your skin healthier in the long run compared to the other stuff.

[Atreides]

that's definitely something I've noticed with benzoyl peroxide yeah. Low % BP (2.5%, I'm so fucking serious about not using anything more powerful than this, holy fucking shit) will clear up most skin problems, but your skin becomes dependent on it.

If it wasn't so effective I'd definitely try to give it up, but it definitely worked for me where virtually the entire catalog of prescription dermatological medicines utterly failed me so it's a small price to pay for clear skin.

[Caiyuo]

Do you spot treat with BP or apply to your whole face? I think I remember seeing the latter as something to slowly graduate to on acne.com, but I've never thought to try it.

I had similar problems as OP up until about 2 months ago when I switched my moisturizer to Aveeno Active Naturals Ultra Calming after talking to Atreides about it and it's helped a ton. I'm not even sure if the oilyness was due to my skin or just using the wrong moisturizer because I notice my skin dries out incredibly quick after showers. I've never left it alone long enough after the fact to see just because of how irritating it was.

[Atreides]

i use it in a thin layer all over my face, followed by moisturizer all over that. My acne was probably moderate and it really works to control breakouts for me, I'm not sure if I could get by with just a spot treatment.

[vagus]

Atreides has offered a lot of great tips that i've learned over the years. Wish someone had told me years ago. Lol. OP, it seems that your skin condition is quite mild and treating it will require some trial and error. It's different for each person. The cleaning part Atreides has gone into detail, but the shaving part seems to have been left out.

If possible try to keep the blade as sharp as possible. Don't be afraid to change often. Before i start, i use a cloth and warm up the face. Then I use a simple shaving gel and shave against the grain. After each stroke, i rinse in the shower and continue with the shaving. Once I'm done, i turn to cold water and close up the pores. Once out of the shower, i put on some shaving cream after patting the face dry. Like Atreides suggested alcohol based might be required.

Good luck.

[Kiro]

The only problem with keeping the blade sharp on razors is it costs so goddamn much for replacements. It's something along the lines of $25 for 3 new sets of razors for the Mach3? Shit is ridiculous. That's why I go to a barber to get lined up/shaved, lol. Only costs $10.

[vagus]

The only problem with keeping the blade sharp on razors is it costs so goddamn much for replacements. It's something along the lines of $25 for 3 new sets of razors for the Mach3? Shit is ridiculous. That's why I go to a barber to get lined up/shaved, lol. Only costs $10.

Sometime it's cheaper just to buy a new razor, which comes with 4-6 blades. Just gotta look out for the deals.

[Caiyuo]

As far as actually shaving goes, I was always told if I'm going to shave against the grain to first shave with the grain and again after shaving against in a 3-step with/against/with process. It's one of those things you never really know if it holds any water, but any shave problems I've ever had were related to after-shave so I've stuck by it.

[Crowort]

Surprised nobody has talked about the oil cleanse method.

Basically you use a mix of castor (cleaning oil) and just about any other oil, thou normally olive, sunflower and jojoba are talked about. Suggested starting out with 50/50 mix, use more castor for oily, less for dry skin. I'd say start with 25% castor too and 75% of your other oil myself. You need to tweak it for yourself.

You massage the oils into the face, then steam the face with a hot wash cloth. The gentle wipe the oil off.

Shockley your face doesn't feel oily nore dried out if you have the ratio of oils right. Too much castor oil can infact dry the skin out.

[Hitoshura]

Cetaphil is one of the best over the counter face washes I have ever used, they sell a huge bottle at Costco and it lasts me half a year. It doesn't over dry unless you use a ridiculous amount, you don't even need to use much.

[Crowort]

Too save on razor costs I've just lately started using a double edge safety razor (a years worth of blades costs the same as 2 packs of Mach 3s or that)

I'm still in the early stages myself. It takes more time and is more work but my face is starting to respond well to it now I'm getting the blade angle down.

Seems with practice you can do it in about 10 mins, but atm it takes me about 20.

[richardd]

.

If possible try to keep the blade as sharp as possible. Don't be afraid to change often. Before i start, i use a cloth and warm up the face. Then I use a simple shaving gel and shave against the grain. After each stroke, i rinse in the shower and continue with the shaving. Once I'm done, i turn to cold water and close up the pores. Once out of the shower, i put on some shaving cream after patting the face dry. Like Atreides suggested alcohol based might be required.

Good luck.

oh man, this is great

i've been shaving after i shower just so i can get rid of the gems/dirt buildup or whatever on my face. i never thought about actually running cold water and closing up the pores.

one problem i have are bumps and ingrown hairs from my noob shaving days lol. its right above my neck and below my chin, so its incredibly hard to see. but i've been using tweezers and managed to get out a few. i just wish there was a more convenient way. the lady at the salon told me that im going to receive bumps no matter what, and that the only way to get passed it is with using an electric shaver lol

[wop]

Use a good cleanser, I prefer foam based ones as you really feel "clean" after cleansing.

I use Shiseido Future's Solution Foam cleanser.

To close close up pores and to balance off ph of my skin, I use the Softener from the same Future's Solution range.

Next 2 steps is what I call to replenish and cell repairs, I use a serum and La Mer's eyecream.

Lastly, and obviously, indulge myself with:-

http://makeup411.com/411_product_ima..._de_la_Mer.jpg

That's my step by step towards healthy and glowing skin.

[Tricen]

Did anyone mention astringent or whatever?

[Atreides]

Use a good cleanser, I prefer foam based ones as you really feel "clean" after cleansing.

I use Shiseido Future's Solution Foam cleanser.

To close close up pores and to balance off ph of my skin, I use the Softener from the same Future's Solution range.

Next 2 steps is what I call to replenish and cell repairs, I use a serum and La Mer's eyecream.

Lastly, and obviously, indulge myself with:-

http://makeup411.com/411_product_ima..._de_la_Mer.jpg

That's my step by step towards healthy and glowing skin.

Too bad a 1oz container of creme de la mer costs 150 bucks lol

[Aevis]

i haven't seen this mentioned yet, but do you get enough sleep @ op? i for myself don't have the easiest to deal with skin either but in general i'm fine with my daily hygiene routine, which only consists a cleanser + cream. however, if i have a hard week like stress @ work and not sleeping more than 5hrs a night for the whole week, i'm done. shit will start to evolve around day 4 and if i notice it soon enough, i can dodge it by forcing myself to take some real sleep for the next 2-3 days.

same stuff when go out, get wasted and try to do it again on the following evening. my skin won't be happy on 3rd day. maybe i'm just getting old, but a somewhat reasonable sleep schedule is my best weapon to fight any facial problems.

[wop]

Too bad a 1oz container of creme de la mer costs 150 bucks lol

60ml for £160.. USD$250 , lasts about 3 months applied to face

they actually do a jumbo version for people that wants to spread all over their body:

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Cr%C3...html?cgid=1013

[Atreides]

yeah that's pretty crazy lol. I mean... I know Creme de la Mer is pretty much the top of the line when it comes to beauty creams, but shit