Thread: Skin care: post puberty/pre-wrinkles

Hi,
I need a new skin care routine. Somehow, I slipped out of a regular one and I can't seem to figure out how to get back on track. My skin is on the oily side, so I do tend to get break outs every so often. Although they're not bad--just a zit or two at a time. I'm also wanting to make sure that I take care of my skin as I get older (I'm 31 now).

Does anyone in a similar boat have any favorite products, or tips? I used to use philosophy, and I liked it, but it's a little pricier than I feel I can justify, especially since my husband is going to be a student again next year. I guess I'm willing to splurge on a great product or two, but I'd rather not shell out $50 for an ounce of moisturizer. Would getting regular facials (like, once a month) be beneficial?

I'm 55 and have always had oily skin and breakouts. My teenage son started using Proactiv with great success so I gave it a try. It's worked wonders for me but I have to pair it with a good moisturizer because it will cause dryness.

I was under the impression that Proactiv was for more serious acne than what I experience, and would probably be too harsh for me. When I say "break out", it's usually one or two blemishes at a time, and they're pretty small. Not the larger, more welt-like ones I got as a teenager. But thanks for the suggestion.

Somewhere on Bhuz I found a thread on skin care and someone recommended Paula's Choice. I got everything I needed for under $75. Let me see if I can find the thread...

Honestly, it's one of the best line of products I've used for hydrating without provoking my already oily skin. It also helps the ocassional blemish. I use a Neutrogena facial cleanser, the inexpensive stuff at the drugstore, and then use PC's line for everything else (mask, exfoliate, toner, moisturizer, and skin lightening).

I used Clinique for a while before Paula's Choice but it's just too expensive to keep up with the care.

Edited to add: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...skin-care.html - This was the thread. Some of the gals on here really know their stuff, like Azhia, so there are really excellent recommendations that have helped my skin tremendously without killing my pocketbook. Big thanks to them!

I'd think the single most important thing at your age would be using a product with sunscreen in the mornings as a daily habit. That will do more to keep you beautiful for a long, long time than anything else you can do.

Do you wear makeup most days? If not, you might want a tinted moisturizer for that extra bit of lovely --if so, then the tint is pointless.

My personal preference is Olay. Great products, good prices. www.olayforyou.com has an online quiz to help you choose the products that suit your skin. I keep mine simple -- at your age, a cleanser and a sunscreen/moisturizer was all I used, and I don't get spendy with the cleanser since I really want it to cleanse, not treat.

A weekly home microdermabrasion does wonders, but if you can afford to treat yourself to a nice spa treatment once in a while, why not?

I've been told to avoid special eye creams, since they often DON'T contain any sunscreen so using them can actually contribute to the aging of the skin around the eyes! I started using a night cream after 40 when I began to need the richer moisture.

I think Neutrogena offers a great line as well.

I'm 26 and kicking into wrinkle prevention mode. (Also a greasy girl). Also, a former skincare consultant, weighing in ..g.:

First and foremost, I'm a firm believer in reading ingredient labels. Vitamin C is a kickass ingredient for our middle-of-the-road age group. It stimulates collagen production for firmness and it's a potent antioxidant that's widely believed to prevent wrinkles and sun damage. DMAE and alpha-lipoic acid are also good ingredients to look out for. Really, anything with antioxidants is great - pomegranate extracts, white tea, green tea, acai berry, etc. For extra anti-aging protection, you might want to use a Vitamin C serum under your moisturizer - serums, as a rule of thumb, are more concentrated than creams.

As far as the occasional breakouts, I like to spot-treat with a tea tree roll-on stick, either from Burt's Bees or Desert Essence. Dries up the bad boys without killing your complexion.

My current favorite products are Alba Sea Mineral cleansing gel (seaweeds are great for detoxing the skin and have tons of antioxidants, and this cleanser leaves you dewy-soft. Cheap, too!), Avalon Vitamin C toner (nice and gentle), Avalon Vitamin C Oil-Free Renewal Cream (as a night cream - KILLER antioxidants and a great rich-yet-non-oily texture), and Rachel Perry Calendula-Cucumber Moisturizer (nice lightweight, yummy smelling day cream with SPF 15). All of these are available at health food stores.

Cetaphil as a cleanser is great....it is cheap, cleans your skin without leaving it 'squeeky' and because it is so mild it won't inflame your skin.

Also, retin A cream used under Drs orders is worth thinking about.

Olay moisturiser works for me.

Remember, rubbing moisturiser on your wrinkles won't get rid of them...prevention is the key - no sunbaking, use suncreen, don't pull and tug away at your skin...all the sensible stuff. Forget face yoga - that will encourage wrinkles with all the contortions.

Definitely no sunbaking here! You're completely right that the best route is protection. Although I worry that years of swimming, sailing and lifeguarding have taken their toll. I never wore sunblock when I was little because at the time I just thought it was for people who burned--which wasn't me. I was never one to lay out, or go to tanning beds, I just got a tan from being outside so much. By the time I was a lifeguard, though, I gave myself a fresh coat of high SPF sunblock several times a day, and sat under an umbrella. I'm sure I've done some damage, but then I went to high school with girls who got wrinkles from tanning beds by the time they graduated.

I've been reading about Paula's Choice and will give it a try, and be on the look out for anti-oxidants. I know I've seen the Avalon products at my health food store, and I know I've seen cetaphil. Thanks!

oops, posted twice!

Satin Worship, is Rachel Perry an all-natural line? It sounds lovely so I'd like to try it. ..g.:

Here's my thing: I've had skin trouble since I was a baby. Not just breakouts but sensitivities to many things. I've been to a million dermatologists and here's what I've learned:

If your skin is oily it's probably due to not being moisturized well enough. Your body is over-compensating for the lack of water. To fight it, heavily moisturize before bedtime and double your water intake. I know people treat skin care like everything happens topically, but you really do need to work from the inside out as well.

Eat lots of fruits. They have tons of good vitamin c (which Satin already mentioned for topical use too).

I second getting some tea treel oil to spot treat (it also helps with a number of skin ailments). Just make sure to add a couple drops into a little water rather than adding it straight to your face.

I use all Avalon Organics skin care line, making sure to use their spf moist. daily. I also use Bare Minerals makeup, which is the only make up I'm not sensitive too.

And don't try ProActiv! (sorry gals) I did and my cousin has. I was allergic. My cousin wasn't but as soon as you stop using it you're skin goes nuts! It's also very harsh, lots of chemicals.

So there's my novel for ya!!!! ..c::

Originally Posted by maliam

Satin Worship, is Rachel Perry an all-natural line? It sounds lovely so I'd like to try it. ..g.:

Rachel Perry is a natural line that you can get at a lot of health food stores. (I haven't seen it at Whole Foods, but I buy my Calendula Cucumber cream at The Vitamin Shoppe, and the smaller indie stores have it). It's my fave. It has the greatest silky texture, leaves your skin a little dewy, and smells like yummy guava. Cheap, too!

Word to the Wise: RP is not a 100% natural line, but it's damn close. I'm pretty sure they got rid of the parabens, too.