Facial Hygiene & You!

[rezn0r]

just stop shaving, looking like jesus is the best. atreides probably won't bang me anymore but i gave up shaving a long time ago. i realize this isn't really helping the thread, sorry.

[Atreides]

my skin can't take shaving every day actually, so I only do it every other day. My facial hair doesn't grow that fast but I can't make it to 3 days without looking slobbish, but 2 days keeps my skin nice and clear, with the added bonus of super manly stubble half the time.

[five]

if your insurance covers it, acutane is pretty good. Took it for about 3 months, acne is gone forever now. just have to deal with 3 months of super dry face/lips.. but that's bearable. haven't had a breakout since i finished it. only thing i do to clean my face is wash it twice a day or whenever it feels gross.

[Shalyn]

I agree with all recommendations for Aveeno... I have tried out a lot of products and nothing works like that foaming cleanser line.

Normally what I do is I take a face towel, put it under really hot running water, squeeze out the water and put the towel on my face (kind of like steam cleaning heh); I do this about two times. After that, I use the cleanser and then use the towel again to take the cleanser off of my face. This process is almost like a weak exfoliation. After most of the soap is removed, I splash my face and remove the rest of the soap, turn the tap onto it's coldest and then repeat with putting the towel under the tap and then squeezing out the water and resting the towel on my face. I don't know how much this will work if you have really oily skin but I have pretty good skin as a result (very rarely get any kind of pimple), so it might be worth a try, if only the last part of using the cold water to close up your pores. I use a toner afterwards and then my lotion. I actually use Jamieson Provitamina vitamin E gel-cream because it's gentle and your skin tends to drink it right up.

[Atreides]

his skin problems don't seem anywhere near severe enough to warrant accutane. The stuff works (although not for everyone) but you definitely should have moderate to severe skin problems that have been resistant to other treatments before you even consider dealing with the side effects

[Blabj]

Head and Shoulders Classic (not 2 in 1 conditioner or any of that BS) left to sit on my face for a minute or two when I'm in the shower every morning.

[wonderlust]

i've tried a lot of products from drugstore brands to high end brands, i found mario badescu works the best for me. (oily skin is not so bad anyways, it keeps you looking young!)


http://www.mariobadescu.com/Acne-Regimen-Oily-Skin

there's also another separate tab for men's care:

http://www.mariobadescu.com/mens-skin-care

for those one or two large pimples you get, i've never used anything better than their buffering lotion. they are small bottles but they last for awhile. if you can only get one item, this would be it.

http://www.mariobadescu.com/Buffering-Lotion

[Gorki]

Im not sure if it's been mentioned in here but what does anyone know about getting tons of tiny bumps all over their upper arms. Ive always been told its from my shits rubbing but some of those fuckers can get huge. pic incoming

[Twentytwo]

Drink a ton of water daily, and change your diet to more natural foods. Less sodium and preservatives in general. You'll notices a big difference if you do both within a couple weeks. Atleast it's worked for me in the past.

[Rowe]

Get a good moisturizer every time you wash and rinse your face apply some moisturizer. After you shave wash your face and apply moisturizer. Dry skin is irritated skin, avoid cleansers with sodium lauryl sulfate, that stuff is harsh on a lot of people's skin. When you wash you strip away the natural oils of the skin that get funky, but your skin wants oils so wash away the dirt and oils but replace the oils with a moisturizer.

[Ralan]

I've got about 5 mins before lunch break is over so if this has been said my bad. You should check your habits as well. I kept getting breakouts when I was younger in the same spot on my left cheek. Turns out when I'd sit down at a comp I'd just prop my head up on two fingers, and it was that spot. But because it was such a habit, I didn't even think about it.

[Caiti]

Skip the scrub every day and go with a gentle cleanser instead. You can exfoliate your skin once a week or so, but chances are you won't even need to do that if you don't overdry it, unless it's like the dead of winter or something.

Using a gentle cleanser and a good exfoliater is key. As far as choice in cleansers go, everyone has different opinions. Personally, I like a cream cleanser (I use SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser, runs ~$25). Others go for a foaming cleanser. As mentioned, Aveeno is a good inexpensive line.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to moisturize. I have Sath hooked on Eminence Pink Grapefruit-C Gel, it works really well for oily skin. Runs about $58 retail, but I don't think he has found something that has worked as well for him.

Edit: If you are going to splurge on something, I'd recommend it be a good moisturizer. If you are unsure about which to use, you can get some good product recommendations at a beauty counter (like in Macy's or the like, I'd head for the Clinique counter personally as they are inexpensive and have good skincare products). If they have some, they typically give you samples to try out too.

[Manako]

My secret concoction is a honey-asprin face mask, it works wonders!

Take 3-4 aspirin and add a few drops of water until they crumble, add a teaspoon of honey and mix, apply to face. Wash off after 10 minutes. Do 1-2 times a week. Leaves your skin feeling supersoft, and cleansed. The honey is naturally antibacterial and moisturizing, and the asprin is anti-inflamitory.

My daily routine is Boscia face wash, non-alcohol based toner (currently nutrogena) and oil free moisterizer. I'm probably going to start using Boscia exclusively once my toner and lotion run out, its a bit more expensive but its paraben free and works well.

[vagus]

To be honest an electric razor is the best to prevent the bumps. I think this Christmas i'm gonna ask for one. Lol. Mind you i'm asian and my facial hair isn't a lot, but whatever. Lol.

Ok, anyone in Canada i need a good moisturizer. I currently used Biothem Aqua Power.

[wonderlust]

Im not sure if it's been mentioned in here but what does anyone know about getting tons of tiny bumps all over their upper arms. Ive always been told its from my shits rubbing but some of those fuckers can get huge. pic incoming

its keratosis pilaris and it's hereditary, there's nothing that can cure it but there are treatments i.e. alpha hydroxy acids, vitamin A creams such as Retin A, Tazorac and Differin etc. chemical exfoliants work too.

[Venga]

I shower in the morning and use Nivea face wash. I use E45 afterward to keep moisturized cos i get quite dry skin!

In the evening i wash my face with the same stuff and then use giorgio armani skin care for when i sleep. Keep me looking fresh!

[Nyx]

its keratosis pilaris and it's hereditary, there's nothing that can cure it but there are treatments i.e. alpha hydroxy acids, vitamin A creams such as Retin A, Tazorac and Differin etc. chemical exfoliants work too.

It supposedly improves with age and often fades away almost entirely as well.

[Jefe]

My secret concoction is a honey-asprin face mask, it works wonders!

Take 3-4 aspirin and add a few drops of water until they crumble, add a teaspoon of honey and mix, apply to face. Wash off after 10 minutes. Do 1-2 times a week. Leaves your skin feeling supersoft, and cleansed. The honey is naturally antibacterial and moisturizing, and the asprin is anti-inflamitory.

My daily routine is Boscia face wash, non-alcohol based toner (currently nutrogena) and oil free moisterizer. I'm probably going to start using Boscia exclusively once my toner and lotion run out, its a bit more expensive but its paraben free and works well.

A friend recommended this for an exfoliant (minus the honey).

[Drex]

You should check your habits as well. I kept getting breakouts when I was younger in the same spot on my left cheek. Turns out when I'd sit down at a comp I'd just prop my head up on two fingers, and it was that spot. But because it was such a habit, I didn't even think about it.

Ralan makes a pretty good point. Recently, I had a couple small red bumps start popping up on part of my jaw line. After I started paying more attention to that part of my face, I noticed that I tend to prop my head up with my hand right on that spot. When I ditched that habit the bumps went away. I had a similar problem with my cheek when I was playing soccer a lot, and caught myself rubbing my face with the shoulder of my shirt often. Pay attention to your habits regarding parts of your body that get breakouts.

[Mikus]

To be honest an electric razor is the best to prevent the bumps. I think this Christmas i'm gonna ask for one. Lol. Mind you i'm asian and my facial hair isn't a lot, but whatever. Lol.

I'd say electrics are a case by case. I bought a high end Norelco(sp?) a few years back when I had severe razor burn on my neck. The electric made it even worse and the shave itself sucked. I kept at it for a little over a week and gave up. This is due to in my opinion my hair in general and lifetime skin issues.

As far as Accutane, it is a fucking MIRACLE drug. Cleared my face up in 3 weeks and I've been I'd say 98% acne free for over 7 months now. It also has helped with the razor burn a little bit.

Atreides suggested in a different thread Bump Patrol and that is now my go-to aftershave. I used Nivea aftershave balm, Nivea shave gel, and usually a Shick disposable before. After the Accutane I've switched up to only Mach 3, Bump Patrol shave gel and Bump Patrol aftershave and the results have been amazing. I still have a little bit of burn but it's MUCH MUCH less then before.

Walgreens was out of regular Bump Patrol so I ordered the maximum strength to try out and today, first try, I like it. Soothing. I also have on order some Geo F. Trumper's Coral Skin Food. It's been stated by numerous shave sites, product reviews, and in a different BG thread this product is amazing to mix into your aftershave routine. I can't wait to get it and try it out!