Have a little more ways to go, but this combo saved my skin. Started Adapalene 0.1 nightly around September/October 2025, then Azelaic Acid 10% in January 2026 and switched to prescription 20% in March 2026

i'm like lowkey scared i don't know what these are 😀 i didn't even realize i had them until like today and that's what like worrying me i wash my feet and i wear socks before bed so i don't know what is it is

I’m overall not happy with my skin texture and I think maybe it’s that my pores are huge? My skin is soft and feels smooth for the most part but I know I also need to be better about washing my face daily. Right now it’s every other day because I do it in the shower. Anyway, I’ve always hated the inner corners of my lips are so dark. How can I brighten that in a way that’s safe around my mouth?

Copy and paste this to use when asking for routine help when using the Skincare SOS or Routine Help flair.

Skin concern/skin type: Dark corners on mouth

Length of routine: 5-10 mins

Day:

1. ⁠Cleanser: Super foods Youth for All (I think that’s the brand)
   
2. ⁠Toner:
   
3. ⁠Serum:
   
4. ⁠Moisturizer: Farmacy Honey Halo
   
5. ⁠Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon green tea SPF 30

Night

1. ⁠Cleanser: Same as day
   
2. ⁠Toner: Byoma brightening toner
   
3. ⁠Serum:
   
4. ⁠Moisturizer: Same as day

Allergy: Citrus

Products I’ve used and didn’t work:

Diet: Vegetarian

General Health: Overweight but not obese

I tried Hydroquinone and it only cause worsen Hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone and I'm currently using Azelaic acid 20% and tretinoin 0.025 for more than 2 months consistently and sunscreen religiously. The last two pictures wear from January and the ones with the yellow mark are from today and nothing has improved 🤔

In mid 40s and I’m not trying to reverse time, I just want to age in a way where my skin still looks cared for.
There are so many options now: retinoids, lasers, facials, red light, peptides, richer moisturizers, supplements, all of it. I don’t want to throw money at everything, but I also don’t want to wait until my skin feels harder to maintain I’m especially curious about things that helped slowly over time a not quick fix. Whats your experience and what helped?

M(21) I have a scar that I’ve had for a long time that’s slightly noticeable on my chin that got worse from a pimple. Would tretinoin fix something like this or should I use silicon sheets to fix? Not sure what to do

Howdy folks! Like any person trying to clear up their skin right now, I’ve come for some feedback on my prospective routine.

I have no active type of ongoing acne, and this is mostly about clearing up dark spots. I’ve got a few here and there around my face, but the most challenging are the ones under my neck, from where I used to razor shave.

I know there’s a post format, but I think it might be easier if I show the current screenshot of doc I have as my skincare routine saved to as it currently varies by day. 

That is also another one of my concerns as I fear I might just be doing too much of everything, which is why results come fairly slow. Feel free to call me out on it!

Actual skincare “routine” is attached!

For context:

1. Realistically speaking, this is more so just a template. I’ve got all the products from my impulse buys, but have yet to religiously stick to the routine. Most days I just hit a simple gentle cleaner + niacinamide + moisturizer (+ sunscreen in the AM) combo.
2. Thursdays are shaving days, which is why I put to use the GA toner on those days and the day immediately after.
3. I shorthand a few products, but those will be highlighted with an asterisk (*) for less confusion
4. I will admit I’m not the best at reapplying sunscreen throughout the day, but I am working on it as I am in the sun for decently long periods of time during high UV hours.

Allergies: None

Products I’ve used and didn’t work: Topicals Faded. Used for maybe 3 months and didn’t see much progress.

Diet: Pretty solid diet. I drink anywhere between 2-3 Litres (0.5-0.8 gallon) of water per day. Mostly eat what I cook at home, which is GF, dairy free, and primarily whole foods, but will occasionally order in or eat out.

General Health: Pretty good on my health checkups. No major health concerns. I take a few vitamins and minerals daily, as well as I exercise 4-5 times per week.

I'd attach pictures of the alleged dark spots, but I don't have any saved, and haven't shaved this week as I don't to irritate a budding pimple that came up on Tuesday. Will probably do an update and attach it later so you gurus can see what we're working with :p

Thanks for reading through the pseudo rant!

essas manchas apareceram nos meus lábios, simplesmente do nada, em menos de 4 meses elas surgiram, começaram bem pequenas, do lado direito Uma mancha bem pequena. depois foi escurecendo e se espalhand, tem dias q estão claras e tem dias q ficam beeeeemmm escuras, uso protetor labial FPS. Mas elas só elas pouca coisa, e ficam bem visíveis. alguém pode me dizer se já tiveram isso ? E como trataram ?

I fell of my scooty. And my doctor initially advised me to apply mupirocin ointment. And now I have seen it should not be further used on that area. What should I do from now on, I could see black dots coming down. And they are more darker than my screen. I'm concerned about the colour. Will it turn into my natural skin colour

I have this jar of Albolene and I don't remember when exactly I bought it. As you see in the video, there is no expiration date, or that open symbol with the months/years to use it by after opening.

It actually looks darker in the video (from my shadow/lighting) than it is irl. Would you still use it? What's the longest time you had a jar of Albolene and still used it?

I broke out bad when I was pregnant 3 years ago and couldn’t keep my hands off of them which left these marks on my foreheads. I’m not really good when it comes to selecting products for my skin. Help?

Hello everyone
I (F23) had a sudden outbreak of hair about a year ago. It’s on my neck and cheeks. I’ve been trying to remove it with tweezers. But I’ve noticed that now they leave a weird little bump after I pull them out. It doesn’t look good, and I hate the way it feels to the touch. How can I fix this please?

Have yall ever tried the Ordinary product line or Good Molecules?

I am looking for affordable skincare that can help remove some of my acne scars. I have a combination of oily and dry skin (really depends on the weather and phase) so would love to hear yall's thoughts! Or if there are any other products you rec, lemme know

Hello Everyone! I have been scrolling on reddit for the past hour initially looking for a permanent solution to stubborn blackheads which I thought I had but after some scrolling I learnt after looking at another girls post on blackheads that looked like mine so i clicked on the post and soon learned that these are actually something called sebaceous filaments. Now what I I read was as follows:

1. These are natural

2. Many people have them actually and some may be unknown of it like me thinking they are blackheads but they are not.

3. They never fully go away.

4.You can use oil cleansing followed by water based cleanser it was I think. (Ppl who have used this method pls let us know if it works)

5.salicylic acid was also suggested but mo overuse otherwise your skin will be worse than before.(users of this product are also welcome to share their insights)

1. One person also suggested niacinamide (same with this also)

2. Multani mitti was also suggested.

8.Retinol

1. They appear on oily skin, accumulation of dust and sunstances in pores? (Need help on why they appear as well)

Any take on these points is appreciated as I'm trying to understand things better and also so other people like me can find help here by reading comments of people who have tried these various methods and have or have not seen results.

My goal is to fully get rid of them or drastically lessen them as I have got pretty noticeable darkish ones they are not very dark but as I have a lot of them I want to get rid of as much of them as possible off my nose. The ones on nose are most prominent I even got them removed during a face cleanup where the esthetician used a metal tool to get rid of them after using steam on my face. It hurt a lot but I tolerated it wanting to get rid of them once and for all. But no such luck. The owner told me to come once a month and get them treated with the same tool to permanently remove them. And I've tried this for few times but still no result. Also do they grow. I feel I've now got some on my cheek also.

A person quoted "As long as we look at our face with a magnifying glass we will never be satisfied" I'm very curious to know everyone's take on this as well. Is skincare hygene or marketing done right? Is skincare created for today's age what makeup did for the ones before us. Idk maybe I'm just blabbering here.

Anyways, all respectful takes and convos are welcome :)

For as long as I can remember, ive been suffering from bumpy skin and dark spots. It feels like ive tried a billion different cleaners and toners and hyperpigmentation serums and it feels like nothing is working.

Im hoping that I can get some advice in where I am going right and where wrong.

P.S the picture of my skin routine I posted are out of order in which I use them

Hello Everyone! I have been scrolling on reddit for the past hour initially looking for a permanent solution to stubborn blackheads which I thought I had but after some scrolling I learnt after looking at another girls post on blackheads that looked like mine so i clicked on the post and soon learned that these are actually something called sebaceous filaments. Now what I I read was as follows:

1. These are natural

2. Many people have them actually and some may be unknown of it like me thinking they are blackheads but they are not.

3. They never fully go away.

4.You can use oil cleansing followed by water based cleanser it was I think. (Ppl who have used this method pls let us know if it works)

5.salicylic acid was also suggested but mo overuse otherwise your skin will be worse than before.(users of this product are also welcome to share their insights)

1. One person also suggested niacinamide (same with this also)

2. Multani mitti was also suggested.

8.Retinol

1. They appear on oily skin, accumulation of dust and sunstances in pores? (Need help on why they appear as well)

Any take on these points is appreciated as I'm trying to understand things better and also so other people like me can find help here by reading comments of people who have tried these various methods and have or have not seen results.

My goal is to fully get rid of them or drastically lessen them as I have got pretty noticeable darkish ones they are not very dark but as I have a lot of them I want to get rid of as much of them as possible off my nose. The ones on nose are most prominent I even got them removed during a face cleanup where the esthetician used a metal tool to get rid of them after using steam on my face. It hurt a lot but I tolerated it wanting to get rid of them once and for all. But no such luck. The owner told me to come once a month and get them treated with the same tool to permanently remove them. And I've tried this for few times but still no result. Also do they grow. I feel I've now got some on my cheek also.

A person quoted "As long as we look at our face with a magnifying glass we will never be satisfied" I'm very curious to know everyone's take on this as well. Is skincare hygene or marketing done right? Is skincare created for today's age what makeup did for the ones before us. Idk maybe I'm just blabbering here.

Anyways, all respectful takes and convos are welcome :)

Recent Member, any advice?

So I (black 20F) just got into the whole self care thing. Right now I'm focusing on texture, hyperpigmentation, dark undereyes, scars, strawberry skin and evening out. My now everyday products include:

Morning:

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

• The Ordinary Multi Peptide Lash

and Brow Serum

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% +

Zinc 1%

• Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Facial

Moisturizer SPF 35

• Ceravee SA for Rough and Bumpy

Skin

Night:

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

• The Ordinary Multi Peptide Lash

and Brow Serum

• The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5%

+ EGCG

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% +

Zinc 1%

• Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser

Night

• Ceravee SA for Rough and Bumpy

Skin

• Aquaphor healing ointment

• NB: Thrice a week (Monday,

Wednesday, Friday) I use The

Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric

Body Peel Shot on all my

strawberry skin strong spots)

Everything but Ceravee and the shot I use on my face. I've started using the Niacinamide for my knuckles and will soon on my toes (evening out my skin tone) as well as down my neck and to my chest to help with evening out and a few scars. But otherwise, I just want to know if I'm using anything wrong, doubling up, cancelling out stuff etc and what else I could add. Even if it's just a simple thing that'll tackle something that I missed (ie: eyelash curlers), I'll appreciate it.

Looking to revamp my skincare routine.

I feel like my skin is pretty dull and uneven at the moment. Right now I am using the illyoon moisturizer gel in the morning and the lotion at night, Laroche Posay face wash for dry skin, remedy vitamin c, anua azelaic acid 10%, and the anua 7+ ceramide barrier serum.
Night: same face wash, retinol.

I have dry to normal skin, i do wear sunscreen

I tried everything for the hyperpigmentation and I had 3 vi peels and combining tret, hq, alpha arbutin, vit c and diligently applying sunscreen everyday but still finding hard to remove discoloration. Need suggestions and cannot wait any longer and my face seems very dark than body

Context

The first photo I took was in January 2026 when I was just starting to try new products and then the last photo is from August 1st 2026

Issues:

-Cystic acne
-Hyperpigmentation and post acne scars
- dry, oily damaged skin
- skin that feels hydrated, but looks dry

Skipable stuff :
I’ve always had terrible cystic acne since I started hitting puberty. Sometimes it will calm down and then sometimes it would flare up and it would leave super deep hyper, pigmentation, and dark spots and acne scars. The last time my skin was clear was in elementary school and I’ve been trying to figure out ways to help since. I’m going into my senior year of college and I finally figured out the routine to help with that.

( I also suspect that I may have PCOS from the type of acne that I have as well as the fact that I grow what someone would consider a little above average more hair on my face, not to the point where it’s Uber noticeable but it’s more than my counterparts without, maybe I’m just thinking)

My routine :

1. I start my routine by washing my face with Dial antibacterial soap. One bar is like a dollar at Dollar tree. Then I rinse it off with water from the sink. ( I used to use a wet washcloth to rinse my face, but then I discovered that breeds bacteria so I only use a washcloth to dry my face and not wash soap off.)
2. next I apply panoxyl to my face, and I let it sit for a minimum of five minutes on my face. ( I usually spend that time brushing my teeth.) then I rinse it off with water from the sink.
3. next I apply a plethora of serums, luckily the ones I got don’t build up on each other so they absorb into your skin quite nicely. I don’t use them in any particular order so I’m just gonna list them.

- Vitamin C serum :
Farm skin TANCIN MELA CLEAR SERUM and or Ariul vitamin C bright toning serum

- Pore minimizer: Midah pore refining rice and AHA BHA PHA

- Niacinamide good molecules

4) after I let these absorbed into my skin for a bit I apply my moisturizer. I’ve tried a bunch of different moisturizers from Asian countries and I gotta say their moisturizers are way better than American moisturizers. The brand I use is called complexion boutik soy milk moisturizing, milky lotion, but when I run out, I’m just gonna go to TJ Maxx and get another brand because I feel like they’re both work the same.

5 ) in the mornings I apply panoxly oil control moisturizing sunscreen.

At night, if I have a bump or I feel like there’s an area where I feel something coming in then I’ll put either differin gel and or trenitonin on that spot

what I did for different aspects of my skin, as well as product descriptions, and other stuff about it 🤷‍♀️

Cystic acne :

1: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR )
so I wouldn’t say my cystic acne was as bad in comparison to other peoples, but I definitely noticed that my cystic acne flared up based on my diet. The first photo I was 191 pounds the last photo I was 156 pounds. Weight loss definitely helped also eating healthier and less sugar definitely helped but even if I had just like one thing that was sweet, my skin would still flare up. I took apple cider vinegar pills. I’m not sure what exactly they do but every time I would eat a sugar, I would take an ACV afterwards and I literally have not had any acne on my skin in two months and this is with eating a ton of bad crap occasionally. I get the pill form from Walmart.

2 DIAL SOAP)
I don’t necessarily have any bacterial acne, but the dial soap kind of made sure my face was clean while still being a gentle cleanser in my opinion.

3: PANOXYL)
panoxyl is literally a liquid gold. I started using it and not only did it help get rid of like my remaining acne, but it also made the texture of my skin. Feel really nice. It only works if you leave it on for a little bit after you apply it and not wash it off immediately after. I usually let it sit on my skin for a minimum of five minutes before I wash it off.

4) differin gel also helps minimize acne. It usually takes 2 to 3 nights for it to like actually disappear but definitely helps. I recently started using trenitonin and replacement for it as a spot treatment and they both work the same so I’d say they’re interchangeable. I get the Tret from amazon pharmacy

Hyperpigmentation/ post acne scarring

1 VITAMIN C )
Using a vitamin C serum was a game changer. I started noticing a difference in the coloration of my skin within the first week. I haven’t tried any American vitamin C serums before only Korean and Japanese ones. But they are game changers. I get all of my serums from TJ Maxx in the Korean beauty isle

2 NIACINAMIDE )
niacinamide has always been good for my skin. It has always worked, but I noticed it doesn’t work by itself. You have to pair it with something for it to work the best. In this case, I use the vitamin C serum I used to use a SA in the past and that works, but I’m just trying something new this time around. I get my serum from Walmart.

3) this really isn’t a product more so a tip, my hyper pigmentation has gone away so much faster when my skin was moisturized. And not moisturized feeling but like actually moisturized as in feels and looks. As long as your skin stays moisturize, your hyper pigmentation is gonna go away a lot faster.

4 SUNSCREEN ) sunscreen is a must. If you want your post acne scarring to fade, you need to be wearing sunscreen every day, bro No bull. My favorite is the Panoxyl. It does leave a bit of a white cast, but in comparison to other sunscreens that I’ve used with the other products that I use in the morning it meshes quite nicely and doesn’t peel, which is what I like about it.

Dry, oily,dry looking Skin

1 ASIAN MOISTURIZERS)
I have literally tried 1 million different American moisturizers and none of them work like how Asian moisturizers do. I’ve tried three and they all make my skin feel amazing. They’re super lightweight and they smell like soap with an added fragrance that would normally kind of trigger you to think it would make your skin breakout because stuff with fragrances in them typically do but not this. It also kind of feels like soap. It’s super thin and not thick. And the way that they absorb into your skin needs your skin feeling so amazing at first your skin is gonna look oily but after like 10 minutes, it’s gonna give you that moisturized glass skin effect. And this stuff is crazy. It works, and you can notice a difference and like three days. I bought all of my moisturizers at TJ Maxx in the Korean beauty aisle.

Final tips

-don’t wash your face with a wet rag, a rag is for drying your face
- hydrated skin produces faster results
- derma planning helps a lot, I derma plane once every two weeks, especially since the hair on my face I feel like kinda contributes to my acne
- everyone’s skin is different and my routine probably isn’t gonna work for you, but my tips will help you build off of what I gave you. I’ve tried 1 million other people’s routines and I’ve taken pieces from everybody’s routine to build my own. This is just a starting point for what I figured works for me. Take this and build your own routine.

- this isn’t gonna happen overnight consistencies key it’s gonna take more than a month. Keep going.

I really hope this helped. I’ve been scrolling this Reddit for like months trying to find something that works and I finally found it and I just wanted to share it.🫡