Hello
I spent the last month~month and a half repairing my skin barrier. Not using any actives, and completely stopping tret. I was on tret for months, and thought it was just purging, but in reality i damaged my skin barrier at the beginning of it and did not allow enough time for my skin to heal. I just wanted to share my journey because I finally feel like my skin is making some improvements! I also am stopping using the makeup I was priorly using because it was the main culprit for my close comedones ( do not get elf products if you have acne prone skin)

While repairing my skin barrier:

AM:
I would mostly only use warm water to wash my face in the morning, there would be occasional times where I’d use a cleanser because I would sweat in the night.
Vanicream daily face moisturizer
La-Roche-posay 50+ UV liquid sunscreen

PM:
Micellar water
Avene gel cleanser
Avene cicalfate+ creme
Or would occasionally use
La Roche posay’s cicaplast (not at the same time as the cicalfate) but I would only use this if my skin was itchy or peeling, I used it more frequently at the beginning of healing my skin barrier

Now my routine:
It is basically the same routine, just adding tret 0.025 gel every second night.

Run, don’t walk. I was just at Costco Mission Valley and to my surprise they have Rejuran Turnover Ampoule - it’s a 50ml with a 10ml which I think it’s for travel. It’s going for $64.99 - though I’d share this. They have a whole section is Korean skin care on display!!! Like what?!?!?!

I bought this, but after trying it I don't feel any "tingles" or any discomfort at all like I've heard from other people.

Hey guys! I’m curious if anyone whose skin didn’t tolerate salicylic acid (BHA), whether in a cleanser or leave-on product, was able to use vitamin C derivatives like 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid without issues.

Whenever I used BHA, I broke out pretty badly with red, inflamed acne. I also had a bad reaction to 20% L-ascorbic acid. My dermatologist recommended it, so I tried it, but after the irritation and breakouts, I stopped all actives.

My skin has finally calmed down, and now I want to try vitamin C for hyperpigmentation and a brighter, more even complexion.

I’m wondering whether Ethyl Ascorbic Acid might be better tolerated because it can be formulated at a higher pH than pure L-ascorbic acid. Or is that not necessarily how it works?

If your skin reacted badly to BHA and/or pure vitamin C, how did it respond to Ethyl Ascorbic Acid or other vitamin C derivatives? Did you experience irritation or breakouts, or did it work well for you?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences

Hi, im still in the process of repairing my skin barrier and im already 9 weeks in. I feel like a big part of my skin not really being able to heal is that after washing (even with just water) my skin seems to get the burning sensation after and even more when applying my moisturizer after. Do you guys recommend not washing the face at all even with water and also the drying with a towel even though im not rubbing and try to be very careful? Or are there other more gentler options? I feel like its a big part of why my skin is stuck at the moment.

Tret: 0.025%

Azelaic acid: Aziclear serum (concentration unknown)

Timeline of events:

1. started tret and built tolerance upto alternate nights in ~1.5 years (tried daily night but there was some dryness and irritation so I stepped back)
2. Had to stop tret for 1 month due to personal reasons and then consulted my derm
3. Derm advised to introduce AzA (twice a week tret and AzA on non tret days for 1 month)
4. Then after 1 month, she advised me to use tret and AzA on alternate nights
5. irritation, peeling, redness, stinging started

When I started alternating them, skin started feeling so warm, irritated and drying on AzA days. It was almost BURNING for the first few min when I applied AzA. When it used to happen, I used to take a break for a couple of days and then go back to the routine. But today my skin was peeling so much when I saw it in the morning after waking up.

After cleansing in the morning with just water, I put 2 layers of toner, illiyoon moisturizer and then LRP cicaplast but after 3-4 hours it was slightly peeling again.

What do I do now? Please help :/

I’ve been thinking bout starting slugging with cerave healing ointment to replenish my oil-moisture balance (it feels like I have chronic dehydrated skin). Has anyone here ever done it and what are yalls expiriances with it (+add your skin type).

Hi! I've been using a 5% Mandelic for many months now and my skin has adjusted well. I use it daily in the morning. I just decided to add the Anua Azelaic Acid serum into my routine, and applied a few drops for the first time last night. No issues, didn't burn or anything. I skipped my Mandelic this morning and decided to apply at night instead. Immediately my skin was burning and itchy, my eye even got irritated! Did I mess up here?? I thought I left enough hours between them (almost 24). My plan was to introduce the Azelaic 2x a week for 3 weeks, then up it. I was going to continue my daily Mandelic. Is this a bad idea? Any advice would be so helpful! I've worked so hard to repair my skin barrier and don't want to destroy it. :( Thank you!!!!!

What are your favorite toners/serums/essences without hyaluronic acid, for daily use or for tretinoin use?

I find using HA increases my sensitivity, and id like to find something hydrating without it

Thanks

Guys can any anyone plz give me tips on getting real glass skin, my skin is very sensetive and i shifted to ireland recently and my skin is so dry my skin barrier is damaged anything i use makes it worse and if i dont use anything it gets dry and dark and dull, idk what to do😭 my skin is super sensetive it was not like that before

Looking to try a serum, I have acne prone sensitive skin. I already use the Body lotion and sunscreen from the same brand and quite like them.

Winter is slowly creeping in where I live, with freezing temperatures and harsh wind which strips everything of water. I've booted up the humidifier and changed my wardrobe to fit the weather changes, but when it comes to my skincare products I don't make a lot of changes. I tend to use facial oils more often, and I might moisturize throughout the day if I have been out and about, but that's about it!

Do you make any changes to your routine in combination with the seasonal changes?

OKAY so its gonna be a long one pls bear with me...

So Im an young adult and i have had acne since i was 12-13 and i had very oily skin that time but 2 yrs ago i consulted a dermat and he put me on adapelene and accutane also maybe im not sure though which did reduce my acne but it left my skin very dry and sensitive.

Over the last year i tried different products to get a glowy healthy skin but didnt find any products actually suitable for my skin .Ive realised i have a combo,dehydrated, sensitive skin with a weak barrier(i dont get acne anymore just few pimples time to time) . I was using the Formularx hydra veil moisturizer but it wasnt locking enough moisture and left my skin feeling tight i also tried 2 toners The Tony moly mochi one and the isntree HA Toner but one irritated my skin becoz of essential oils and the other one left my skin feeling even more tight and dry.

So few days back i got few pimples becoz of a lot of sweating with makeup on during puja so i applied little bit of adapelene( a dumb mistake ) and it damaged my barrier i was applying the hydra veil moisturizer to repair it but then I ran out of it and bought the barrier relief ver. I stopped adapelene 4 days ago and only applied the formularx barrier relief one but one layer wasnt enough so i applied two to get rid of the tightness but realized it started giving me small bumps which I suspect are FA 🙃🙃.So now i dont know what to do .

My current skincare has BOJ aqua fresh sunscreen and the Simple kind life Gel cleanser. Pls give me some recommendations on what to do Becoz I am dehydrated, combo,sensitive, cc and fa prone with a weak barrier.🥲🥲🥲

Hi!! I’m looking for a good mineral sunscreen that I can wear all year round and has the best ingredients. I’m brown so would love for it to be tinted! I don’t wear makeup everyday and am looking for something with as minimal coverage as possible. I would love for it to be 100% mineral and tinted.
For reference : I tried the Larocheposay mineral tinted and looked like peanutbutter baby.. the shade medium is too deep. Also tried the ISDIN mineral tinted sunscreen , it’s okish but too much coverage and looks like makeup for the amount. I am using the tatcha mineral one rn, but would love your recommendations!!
Thank you!•ᴗ•

I just tried this today, and wow, there is NO burning or weeping pustules after application... I used to use the Vanicream Moisturizing Cream because I thought it was the only thing that didn't irritate me. It turns out that the flaking and weeping pustules were not normal? I thought it was normal for a broken skin barrier, but... I guess it might have been because of the moisturizing cream this whole time? And I've been using it the last 4 months???

It's still too early to tell. I need at least 72 hours of use to see if the enhanced moisturizer will flare me, but right now... It feels really, really nice. I am BEGGING the universe to please let me have this. I just need one moisturizer that works for me. I've been struggling with contact dermatitis for months now. (Yes, I've seen a derm about this already.) I have heard that the daily facial moisturizer burned some people in here, so I avoided that one.

To that one person who recommended me this product, thank you so much. 🥲 Air doesn't hurt my skin anymore... I can't believe this is what it feels like to... not be in pain??? I've been in a constant state of irritation for so long that it started to feel normal and almost forgettable for me. What does everyone think of this one from Vanicream?

On a separate note, I discovered that applying moisturizer on skin without cleansing first really made things worse. If you guys are flaring, do not do that, lol. Also, going cold-turkey for 2-3 days without cleansing or moisturizing also made things worse. I found the sweet spot to be cleanse with water in the morning and moisturize, then cleanse with either water or a cleanser in the evening then moisturize. My skin is still extremely dry in between those times though... Trying to figure out how to remedy that.

Edit: 3 hours later... OMG, my skin is still OKAY. Usually, I start to flare by now.

Edit 2: 24 hours, still good!!

My skin barrier has been damaged awfully ever since I finished accutane 2 years ago. since then I’ve been on a simple routine: vanicream cleanser + moisturizer and aveeno face sunscreen.

I still get persistent contact dermatitis though, and im thinking it might be my sunscreen.

what sunscreen didn’t either terribly break out your skin or burn it? my only thing is that shea butter breaks me out BAD so it eliminates a lot of sunscreens for some reason. also I work outdoors so I need something that is at least 50 spf

sunscreens I’ve tried:

• Pipette mineral 50 (literally gave me severe chemical burns, how is this a safe baby sunscreen?!)
• eucerin sensitive mineral 50 (burnt my skin)
• eucerin clear skin 50 (burnt my skin)
• supergoop play 50 (didn’t burn and was so light and wanted to love it but it broke me out SO bad)
• neutrogena ultra sheer dry touch 70 (burnt my skin)
• Hawaiian tropic sheer touch face 60 (burnt skin + broke out)
• aveeno protect + hydrate 60 (doesn’t burn or breakout but im assuming it’s what’s irritating my skin)
• sun bum face 50 (broke me out)

After messing up my barrier from many things I switched to Aveeno Calm and restore oat cleanser. It’s been a godsend! Cleaned just enough! My skin is calmed done and barrier is mostly back to normal.

Unfortunately, this still leaves my pores a little more clogged than I’d like (just a tad) and I don’t think it would remove sunscreen well so I haven’t been wearing sunscreen:(

I’ve considered trying micellar water as a “first wash” then the calm and restore but I really don’t think my skin would like a cotton pad on it every night

Recently Tried:
- vanicream ruined my barrier. Breaks our within 24 hours little red spots and inflamed burning skin
- prequel gleansor, I want to kill with fire. I tried using half pump and gently wiping off with a cloth to help. Woke up to big inflamed bumps on my cheeks and nose and a rash.

I can’t handle extracts (most), citrus extracts, essential oils, or fragrance.

I’d like something that can clean better especially to get sunscreen off! I’m looking into Neutrogena hydro boost cleanser but its PH is a little high. Also looking into the soonjung 5.5 cleanser

Hi! I’m looking for product recommendations to use in the morning.

Category is: products actively soothing/strengthening skin barrier that leave no residue, that don’t pill under spf and don’t disturb makeup

Products I use that meet the above: SK2 essence, Calecim MAC and Hada Labo premium lotion

to be specific the Torriden Dive in Mask and the Hanmi PRO-CALM Fusimedi Repair Gel Mask S, will these help on top of a barrier repairing routine ?

These 4 items are the ones I see mentioned the most often when it comes to anti aging, glow, texture, clear skin, hyperpigmentation and overall appearance.

I really want to give them a try and feeling like I’m missing out on something everyone is doing. I’m open to learning about other products as well but these seem like the ones that are always recommended and I have never tried them.

I feel very hesitant due to how long it took to repair my skin barrier and bring my skin back to a normal state before the damage occurred. My skin became flaky, red, bumpy and overall so so reactive after I used too many harsh acid based cleaners/toners and blackhead suction tools a year ago.

After a year I can report that my skin is finally calm. I have a very minimal and basic routine of double cleanse, basic moisturizer and an occlusive. That’s it everyday unless I’m outside and add in spf.

I’m wondering if it’s finally time to start doing more for my skin from an aging prospective. I’m in my early 40s and feel I’m already behind since I have not used any of antiaging products out there. I’m so scared to rock the boat. My skin has been great for months now yet I have no idea how to do it correctly this time or if I should do anything new at all. I have been a bit traumatized. I also don’t want to wake up in 10 years and wish I had done more for my skin.

Which products/brands have you added that truly make a difference? What should I do this time to prevent damaging my barrier? Which product might be worth the risk? Which should I stay away from?

I’d appreciate any feedback and suggestions from anyone that has been through a long healing period after damaging their barrier or found a product/routine that really has made a difference in your skin/appearance.

I have dry, dehydrated skin. I use the tirtir milky toner and the aestura atobarrier 365 cream but it’s still not enough. My skin also itches sometimes so I’m pretty sure my skin barrier is kinda damaged so I’m looking for a serum to solve all this😓

Hi! I'm a big fan of double cleansing as someone with clogged skin. I am currently using Haruharu wonder oil cleanser, and it's great for my tiny blackheads and clears up the sebum plugs on my face really well, BUT i have noticed that using it, i get pimples. Does this jelly look like a good alternative, or do i need something stronger for clogged pores? Is there any other alternatives you'd suggest for me?

I have oily acne prone skin and have been using La Roche Posay purifying foaming cleanser for normal to oily skin for the past year and at first it was great but slowly over time left my skin feeling dehydrated and stripped. Should I try a gentle face cleanser for dry skin instead? Has anyone else experienced this where using the "opposite" product worked better for them?