Skincare General: Exfoliant Edition

the skin above my upper lip is always red and is kinda flaky?
like, my lips themselves aren't even especially dry it's just the skin around them
it might be eczema or something idk
should i exfoliate it? it'd get rid of the dead skin but i'm scared it would just irritate it further/make it more red and sensitive
pls give me product/routine recs to try and fix this. right now i use cerave cream on them anytime i remember to and vaseline before i go to bed but it's still here.

>The filaments can't be removed permanently but can be lightened and made smaller by using cleansers and exfoliators.
Stridex pads work for this?

kys

yep. it's BHA baby

Thank goodness.
Is there any way to know if they're filaments or blackheads? If BHA can treat both, does it even matter?

Have dark spots, been drinking lots of water, using exfoliator and sunblock. Wut else do i do

...

see pics. and yes, it does matter because the blackheads can be easily extracted and prevented from recurring by using AHA/BHA

So the big difference is the color? I think mine are filaments, then.
Thanks. I'll just keep using the Stridex pads and moisturizer until they get smaller, then.

A key reason to why many people are a bit confused about this is because sebaceous filaments are structures (made out of oil and dead skin cells) in the pores that later can accumulate more dead skin cells and bacteria and turn into blackheads/acne. It's a sliding scale. Pic related shows some obvious blackheads (red), as well as some areas featuring mainly just ordinary pores (blue).

The surface of the blackheads (open comedones) are generally larger than the standard sebaceous filaments. The sebaceous filaments are simply the somewhat dark small pricks that you can see on your nose. The blackheads are generally darker than the sebaceous filaments.

The area around the blackheads can be higher than the surrounding skin - this is because the pores are filled up with gunk and are getting much bigger than they're supposed to be. You can almost always feel them with your fingertips.

Sebaceous filaments are generally much softer and lighter than blackheads. Blackheads tend to be harder and rounder, even though they can be longer as well. Older and bigger blackheads can often be more round.

The blackheads in the image, for example, are ready for extraction and then chemical treatment. The holes they were in should then get smaller and lighter in color. It's absolutely possible to extract sebaceous filaments as well - it's just that you may irritate and hurt the skin too much - and the SFs will recur (albeit somewhat smaller & lighter at first).

Three weeks ago, I attended a birthday brunch for a friend's birthday with all sorts of greasy food and unlimited mimosas and sangrias. Skin became shit the next few days with horrible breakouts and I am only now recovering after eating clean, drinking a ton of water, and spot treating with benzoyl peroxide.

Anyone experience similar due to alcohol/greasy fried food/too much sugar? Unhealthy lifestyle, never again.

Is it safe to remove blackheads using a comedone extractor, or is it better to just let BHAs handle it?

That explains it.
Most of the dots on my nose all appear to be about the same size, and they're all just kind of gray or brown -- nothing's really black, there, so I would guess that I don't have any blackheads. I guess what really stands out about them is that they're only on my nose (the whole thing) with a smattering on my upper cheeks. There are no pores that look like that on my forehead.

Here's what I've been using the last 3 weeks. Haven't noticed a difference. Are these products shit?
I don't have cystic acne just light break outs and checks get reddish time to time. Somewhat oily skin.

If you're doing it the right way, yes.
Check the FAQ for instructions.

Lighter chemical exfoliation isn't that effective at actually removing bigger blackheads - it's better at preventing them from being formed.

>they're only on my nose (the whole thing) with a smattering on my upper cheeks

yeah. same for almost everyone.

Here's pic.

I drink 3 to 4 litres of water everyday but still the colour of my urine is light yellow instead of silvery white,Why?

how is this related to skincare?
that's a perfectly healthy color.

no bha / aha
they really don't do anything.

Does bio oil really work?

Who here is /CeraVe/ mustard rice?

my face always looks sleep/tired / cracked out. any products to help?

Better diet, sleep more, get some sun

figured. my sleep is horrible.

GA is BS. stay way from this shit and aesop. these products are for ppl with already great skin who just want anti aging ~

BHA/AHA
Which is lighter and better for long term use?

I have kind of a peculiar skincare question. I have really dry skin, so when I have pimples and I hop out of the shower, often times they'll crust over.

Should I allow this to happen or is that bad for the skin?

My OST C20 vitamin C serum is fucked, any alternative Vitamin C serum i can get in the UK ?

How is it fucked?

Oxidized to the point it turns yellow basically, usually I put the bottle in the fridge but forgot to do it for about a week.

I rarely eat junk food, and when I do, I never see a change in my face
However, when I dont drink enough water or drink/eat foods with lactose, acne pops up to say hello. Which is strange because I havent figured out yet what kind breaks me out exactly.
Like, I've cautiously eaten cereal with 2% and had no problems, but ice cream Ive bought at ice cream shops have made my face explode

STHLM, save me pls

that sounds.... disgusting
after you take a shower you should put non-pore clogging lotion on to help with the dryness and play around with some things recommended in this thread to fight the acne
i wouldn't say this is "bad" for the skin since it seems like you're not doing anything at all, but it's certainly not good

bumping

wut?

who has experience with a dermatologists?should I go in for mild acne that hasn't gone away?

>a fucking leaf

Recently started taking Isotretinoin, as prescribed by my skin care specialist to clear my acne.

She was kind of vague about it and didn't say much about how I'd look after this is done.

Is my face going to look fucked up after 5 months of taking this?

it's the nuclear warhead of anti-acne treatments. if she didn't tell you that much about it, then you should get a better derm.

you should definitely read up online about it and learn how you can manage the side-effects.

try not shaving so close or go to a dermatologist and get some topical cream

Someone tell me what to buy, I'm poor but I want healthier skin. I'll give cute pics of me as thanks

Read the FAQ you lazy fuck

show me your badly packed kebab

just got my order from iherb
ive got some eczema pigmentation stuff on my arms and legs and mild acne on face
if theres interest ill update you guys on how its going

Im interested in the spot cream
I was using glycolic acid before but I didnt keep up with it

Also, for anons with sebaceous filaments, I've been using hemp seed oil on my face and concentrating massaging in my cheeks where my pores are funky and my nose and it's made a huge difference
I'd say give some oils a try

yeah i read up about PIH and stuff on /r/skincareaddiction and that particular one had literally everything
hq's aha's, retinol, vit c, all that stuff
sidenote it smells very nice, like that expensive womens skin cream

do you think a sea salt toner makes any sense? it's antiseptic, exfoliating...and so on

sea salt doesn't kill bacteria. it also doesn't exfoliate unless the particles are solid.

>on accutane for 14 months @ 40mg ed
>drink every weekend
>went on a 6 night bender a few months ago
>hammered every night
>get bloods done recently
>liver values are perfect

okay so I am on the diving team at my college so I am in a chlorine pool most days of the week. on top of that I have to be clean shaven(I can get away with going 3 days between shaves though b/c bitch genetics). My skin always is super dry and rough from shaving all the time and going in the pool. Can anyone recommend me a routine that would help deal with these things?

This is just overpriced bs to look cool in bathroom. Doesn't do crap. No effective med grade ingredients

>recommend me a routine

Apply moisturizer.

Done.

That's like $300+ of product right there. Could've went to dermatologist n get RX stuff for that

guys i just wanna buy one complete set of skincare products that has AHA/BHA and retinoid and all that stuff and just stick w it

any recs?

The last 2 threads had heavy discussion on what you have (cant remember it rn but it starts with a p) , go check the archives. Moisturize .

Paulas choice.

good goy

I recently noticed these flesh/white colored bumps along JUST the left side of my cheek in certain lighting, it's really weird. I know they're filled with pus because all it takes is a gentle squeeze to get rid of them but I heard that this only causes more. I think it may be millia. I recently started using PC APA 8 percent exfoliator and her moisturizer with retinol in it, along with some rosehip oil some nights. I use Cerave face wash and sometimes do a clay mask. Am I exfoliating too much? I'll dry brush/wet brush in the shower too. I never had this before and I can't pinpoint exactly what I'm doing differently. I don't wear make-up except for going out which I doubt is causing it. I don't consume dairy either. As for the rest of my skin I don't have acne at all other than the occasional pimple or two (aside from these fucking lil white bumps). I have normal skin too. I do kind of touch at my face sometimes, would that be enough to cause it?

will constantly rubbing things on my face every day not case advanced aging? i would think the pulling at the skin would wrinkle it in the same way that smoking gives you those gross lines around your mouth

STAY HYDRATED FOR CLEAR GOOD SKIN FRIENDOS

T-THANKS BUT SKINCARE IS MORE THAN JUST HYDRATION
REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR SKIN'S pH.

H E L P
E L P
L P
P

The eye contour area will age if you rub it much. I wouldn't worry much about the rest, consider it a massage.

Drinking tons of water is unnecessary don't do jack shit. Just drink enough.

How and why?

TendSkin worked pretty well for me. Contains alcohol though, so I'd recommend applying it reasonably sparingly after applying a baseline aftershave and letting it dry for two to three minutes.

Unless you've got really fucking oily skin, I guess.

I have never done anything for my skin besides conveniently using one of the bars of soap recommended in the FAQ and using a face lotion with SPF 15 sunscreen when it's sunny. My diet is largely healthy, though I do have dairy (not in huge quantities though). I drink water like a fish and get enough sleep, and, looking at my parents, have pretty good skin genetics.

I am still young though-- early 20s. Anything I should start doing now to avoid wrinkles or does that rely on me sticking to sunscreen? I use the same face lotion with SPF my mom uses and she has no wrinkles whatsoever and is 53. Sorry for the noob questions and if it was answered in FAQ.

>does that rely on me sticking to sunscreen

pretty much this plus retin-a

I didn't know what that was so I googled it and it says it's for acne. I don't get acne, so I'm good to go?

it's prescribed off-label for fine lines.
it increases skin collagen. prevents wrinkles from forming. google "retin-a wrinkles".

Cool, thank you user!

Do tear troughs count? If so, how do I get rid of them? Mine are really dark and indented and I'm worried they'll be stuck like that.

HOW
help

They keep coming out in this very same place
I'm already sleeping on a towel, washing properly and not popping them (I popped once, it got red/purple, got "swollen" again and became another pimple
How should I treat it? It's right on the place I wouldn't want any ugly scaring, and this thing is huge and gross as it is now

Oh, it's greasy because of the mosturizer I just put around the eye, and the hair... I can't do shit about it with a pimple like this in the way.

help please

Is Vitamin C a meme? and what about retional

Go
To
A
Fucking
Doctor
If
You
Need
Medical
Advice
Instead
Of
Asking
Idiots
On
The
Internet

benzoyl peroxide

Lmao its just skincare senpai. You're pushing the infection back down in your skin everytime you pop it, and the skin looks already damaged.
Get some benozyl peroxide, holy shit. Fix your skincare routine (or make one, since you need to do more than just a towel on your pillow.)

Do you have allergies/asthma by any chance, user? Do you live in a big city?

The pH of your skin determines how oily/dry itll be, as well as how effective the concentrations of BHAs and AHAs will be.
Staying hydrated is important, and so is a balanced diet, but theres not a super strong correlation between the amount of hydration and how well your skin will be. One can drink 8 cups per day and still have dry/ flaky skin.
skincarerx.com/article-ph
m.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/cleansers

Hey, what is everyone's routine on here?

Make sure to strengthen your spf, as well as see if it protects against UVA too.
30+ is reccomended.

how to identify the actual BHA stuff at say CVS? Do I need an exfoliant if I shave daily/every other day?

>oily face

Morning
>cleanse face with tea tree oil cleanser if I wake up really oily, otherwise just a splash of water
>moisturizer
>sunscreen

Night
>clease face with oil
>rinse, use tea tree oil/salicylic pad depending on face
>apply spot scream if needed
>under eye cream
>moisturizer

Currently using the same moisturizer am and pm but looking for a night cream
Also only dealing with pih and a few red pimples on my lower cheek and chin

>Have really oily skin
>Gentle oil cleanser on my face in the morning
>Shower
>Shave
>Witch Hazel first aid all over the face
>cleanser on the face at night
>2% S. Acid on most of face (currently on the deep cleaning part of a regimine)
>Wash it off good
>Stick face in freezer to moisturize and cool off

Should I witch hazel at the end there? Sticking my face into the freezer to get hit by the cold air seems to be the best way to close up my pores then. Also, what goes into a good cleanser?

You should switch out your witch hazel for tea tree oil.

Where did CA go? :(

Bought a Cerave facial moisturizer today but didn't know whether to get the am or pm if I wanted to use it for both (since I'm cheap) I went with the am. did I do ok or should I definitely buy the pm too?

You did ok. Tbh am vs pm depends on your concerns and needs.
For example, id pick pm since my oily skin cant handle a strong am moisturizer like the cerave.

I didn't know they varied in strengths, I just went with am for the sunscreen support. I have very dry and red skin so I guess am is better for that? Good to know.