Skincare Saviours

As I mentioned in a previous post, I suffer from a very annoying bout of acne on my chin. This started back in February when I wore a certain fake tan which should have been suitable for face and skin - it was not.

So for the past 5 months, I've tried various gels, creams, lotions and potions to remove the little blighters but very little worked.

I went to see my doctor about a month ago who gave me a prescription of Oxytetracycline (I've had it before and it seemed to do the trick). But I couldn't understand why I was taking the medication and nothing was happening. Spots would disappear, then reappear even worse than before.

Then it hit me! I needed skincare products that didn't make the claims of clearing acne and were most likely too harsh for my skin, making the situation even worse. I therefore took 2 of my regular skincare products - which seemed to be working - and bought the complimentary products. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the results. Though I still have scarring and that will take a while to clear, the spots are now mostly gone and my skin feels much fresher than it did even 2 weeks ago!

But what are the magical products and do they cost a fortune? Thankfully no. They're just your regular run-of-the-mill drugstore products which do an amazing job of letting the medication clear the spots and keeping the skin comfortable and able to heal rather than interfering with the process. I've listed the products below and each product links to the best price I could find online.

The morning belongs to Neutrogena.

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Moisturiser and Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Facial Wash 

I will admit, I was not completely blown away by the facial wash. It was fine, it didn't irritate my acne and it smelled fresh and fruity. Basically, I had nothing against it. But then I combined it with the moisturiser...

I often see, "for best results, follow with our...." and think that they are just trying to flog me more of their products. But this combination is absolutely worth it.

The moisturiser is so cooling on the skin. When you walk out of the bathroom, the slight breeze of just walking makes your skin feel cool and fresh (like when you've just used mouthwash..just me?). It really does just feel wonderful on the skin, without overpowering it.

The two combined create a lovely pair which keeps my skin comfortable all day and also, as a side note, make for a great primer - my makeup stays on much better when I use these.

The only downside is the moisturiser does not contain SPF, so either use a face suncream on top or at least make sure your makeup contains SPF.

And onto the night where I have come back to a brand normally targeted at teenage skin, but I maintain is one of the best skincare brands..Simple!

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes and Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Night Cream

Firstly, never EVER pay full price for the wipes. They are always on offer (either buy 1 get 1 free, 3 for 2 or 3 for £5) so stock up when you see an offer!

Secondly, I must apologise to my skin for continuing to use a retinoid cream instead of switching over to something like this night cream. I had read up that retinol/retinoid cream is great for treating acne, so I continued to use it, unaware that my medication does not work in conjunction with taking retinoids - topical retinoids couldn't be that far of a stretch! I switched to the Simple night cream knowing it would be much lighter, keeping my skin comfortable at night but not drowning it in unnecessary ingredients that do more harm than good.

I cannot recommend the combination highly enough. My skin feels cared for, but not overpowered.

Simple just do good skin, and at a not bad price tag either..

So the products listed above helped my skin when combined with prescribed medication. Always make sure you see the doctor first as you will most likely save a huge amount of money buying every miracle cream under the sun when a simple antibiotic will do most of the leg work.

Are there any products that you think are "hidden gems" when it comes to acne? Leave me a comment below and follow me on Twitter!

Love Nicola x

Products vs Acne

                     

I have a mild case of adult acne on my chin. It's painful and it's a pain in the ass. 

If you find yourself in the same position, the best thing to do is definitely to go to the doctor first as they may prescribe you antibiotics to clear it right up (I'm half way through my batch). 

However, while I've had these horrible spots on my face, I've tried a few products designed to combat them. 

But did they work?

1. Neutrogena VISIBLY CLEAR Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash (£4.69 - Boots.com)

The claim: "Cleanses deeply to help eliminate spots and blackheads. The refreshing gel purifies the skin without overdrying whilst a wave of pink grapefruit uplifts the senses with a burst of invigorating freshness." 

The reality: I'll start with the scent - it is very uplifting and wakes you up without having a horrible citrusy scent to do so. The product didn't aggravate my acne - it never felt itchy or tight and your skin does feel comfortable after use. However, this did not stop new spots appearing and went some way to minimising spots but did not completely clear my skin. 

I would agree with their "non-drying" claim and that this is a refreshing and invigorating facial wash, but it did not get rid of my spots. That being said, this is a nice face wash for someone with acne as it is not harsh and leaves the skin feeling comfortable. 

Verdict: 6/10 for freshness, hydration and generally being a nice face wash for sensitive skin

2. Freederm Sensitive Facial Wash (£4.99 - Boots) 

The claim: "Gently penetrates the pores to thoroughly cleanse the skin, helping to control excess oil and fights spots, leaving your skin softer and smoother."

The reality: This is the strangest treatment I have ever tried. Firstly I was terrified to use it after reading reviews about the nasties in the product, but I gave it a go. For the first while, I was delighted. My red spots firstly flattened and then turned from red to pink. I was well on my way to ditching the acne for good. Or so I thought. Suddenly the treatment stopped working and the spots resurfaced. I can only assume that this face wash fights less aggravated blemishes but does not have the tenacity to deal with full-on acne - granted it is an over the counter treatment and more intense treatments designed for acne would most likely need to be prescribed. 

I have no photo of this product because I tossed it. I don't know who I would recommend this to as I feel it would be too harsh for someone with just oily skin and it may strip it too much. But it is, in my opinion, not effective on acne. It also smells very medicinal and is very messy due to the gel like formula. 

Verdict: 3/10 for price and that it did some work at the beginning of use

3. Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes (£3.25 - Boots.com) 

The claim: "Perfect blend of ingredients to help to refresh and tone your skin. Perfect for even sensitive skin." 

The reality: I was in a bind one day. I had run out of micellar water and didn't have anything to remove my make up. I had (foolishly) turned my back on these little beauties and for the life of me, I can't remember why. I have used other facial wipes which have felt so harsh, scratchy and drying, but these are fantastic. They are so gentle, soothing and refreshing that I feel they are perfect for acne prone or sensitive skin. They remove make up well - not every last trace, but they don't claim to do so, so I can't hold it against them. 

These are the UK No 1 and I can see why. They are the only wipes I keep in my cabinet! (They're also ideal for removing make up swatches from your hand, FYI). 

Verdict: 8/10 for being the best facial wipe on the market

4. Vichy Normaderm Night Detox (£15 - Boots.com) 

The claim: "Helps to control the production of sebum and purify the skin. Blemises appear reduced, pores look less visible, complexion looks radiant and skin feels clean and purified." 

The reality: I had such high hopes for this product based on the claim and the reviews. This was supposed to be one of those wonder night creams that you applied before bed and you were supposed to wake up to beautiful, radiant skin. That did not happen. I don't know why, but my acne did not agree with this. Spots grew larger and redder and even spread further up my face. I stopped using this while keeping all other parts of my routine the same to check it was this product and the acne went back to its normal state. I can't explain it, but for my skin it didn't reduce blemishes (it increased them) and my complexion was worse for using it. 

From the reviews, this clearly works for some people - maybe for those with blemishes but not quite full on acne. I wouldn't repurchase and I can't tell you how sad that makes me! 

1/10 for ease of application

5. REN Bio Retinoid Anti-Ageing Cream (£44 - cultbeauty.co.uk) 

The claim: "Deeply nourishing and hydrating it will reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles leaving skin looking smoother, firmer, more even toned and radiant." 

The reality: I realise this is an anti-ageing cream, but I started using this for my acne, sort of by accident. On cultbeauty.co.uk, I had purchased a REN Skincare pack filled with miniature REN products. One of those products was the Bio Retinoid Cream and (again in a bind), I used this when my other night cream ran out. I started using because the feel of it is very nice and my skin feels comfortable when it is applied but I had no idea Retinoids are often used to treat acne. I found this was much like the Neutrogena wash. It didn't dramatically change my acne, but keeps the area comfortable and moisturised without feeling oily. So at the moment, I don't feel my acne gets worse using this. 

For a product that does not claim in any way to treat acne, this is a great little night cream and they live up to their promise of being suitable for sensitive skin. It feels very nice on the skin and that's essentially what I'm looking for in a night cream. Plus it has Hyaluronic Acid (my fave!) 

Verdict: 7/10 for feel, look of skin after use and for inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid 

So what did we learn? 

None of the products I have tried have rid me of my acne. 

The only thing I have used that has resolved the situation is antibiotics. So I would suggest making an appointment with the doctor and keeping skin as comfortable as possible by avoiding overly drying products (specifically those designed for oily skin - not all people with spots have oily skin and this could strip away necessary oil forcing your skin to pump out more sebum to compensate and making the situation worse.) Instead use products designed for sensitive skin, like the Simple wipes and follow the handy tips below. 

1. Wash your face with tepid water - overly hot or cold can aggravate acne. 

2. Try not to touch or pick spots. This can cause them to spread. 

3. Try to avoid primers. The ingredients can form a seal over skin which can trap sebum and make spots worse. 

I hope this was useful for all my fellow acne sufferers! 

Love Nicola x