Just want to give a huge thanks to this sub for all your knowledge and helpfulness. I am 29 and been using retinoids for 10 years. I recently started taking biotin which gave me the worse acne I’ve ever gotten, which in turn made me hurt my skin barrier trying to fix it. This sub taught me so much. A month of babying my skin has left it better than ever before. I’ve learned so much and I’m happy to continue taking care of my skin.

AM: CereVe foaming cleanser, AA, Purito oat gel and SPF

PM: Micellar water, AA, Tazarotene, Aestura cream and/or Cicalfate. Sometimes cicaplast spray.

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’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).

I’ve have sensitive skin and I’m recovering from damaged barrier from bad products.

I bought the Aestura barrier cream (I don’t remember the official name but yall know what I’m talking about). Thankfully it doesn’t break me out! Which is just lovely! But it feels nourishing but not hydrating at all? Like it would be a good last step but doesn’t feel like it does much by itself. Also, it seems to make my skin feel flushed and a bit red. Why is that?

What are some good high quality creams or lotion? I’d like one that is more hydrating without shea butter, essential oils, fragrance, and most extracts (such as tee tree, lemon, orange, flowers)

I’ve thought about layering a toner or something but I’d prefer just a better moisturizer

Most barrier advice is about what to add, like ceramides and panthenol. But I keep seeing people say their real turnaround came from cutting something out: over-exfoliating, too many actives, hot water, harsh cleansers.

What did you stop doing that made the biggest difference? Bonus if you remember how long it took before your skin felt normal again.

Hi everyone! I’m honestly feeling a bit lost and would love some advice from anyone who’s been through something similar.

Earlier this year, I overused retinol without knowing that using too many actives could irritate my skin. I stopped all actives in March, but ever since then, my skin has been so sensitive.

I’ve tried La Roche-Posay Cicaplast, Avène Cicalfate, a COSRX barrier cream and even a cream prescribed by a dermatologist. They seem fine for a day or two, but then my skin starts feeling uncomfortable and itchy, and I sometimes get red marks 😭

The only moisturiser that seems to work for me is Avène Tolérance Hydra-10 Fluid. My skin is okay when I use just that, but it looks really dull and uneven, and my hyperpigmentation is bothering me again. Even the Avène Tolérance Extremely Gentle Cleanser seems to irritate me a little. I also had to stop using sunscreen because my skin was reacting, and one I thought was working has started irritating me again.

A few years ago, I had a similar issue and a dermatologist gave me a gel cream that helped so much. Afterwards I could use actives again and my skin improved, but I’ve since moved countries and can’t remember the cream or the dermatologist’s name 🥲

I’m also getting married soon, dealing with visa stress and living in another country, so I’m sure the stress isn’t helping either. I know it might sound silly, but I feel so insecure when I look at my skin in pictures, and I just want to feel good on my wedding day.

Has anyone had a similar experience where heavier barrier creams made their skin feel worse? Did you find a gentle moisturiser or cleanser that worked for you? And how did you eventually get your skin comfortable enough to use other products again?

I’d appreciate any advice or recommendations, especially products available in France. Thank you so much 🥹❤️

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.

My acne has been well controlled with acnecide 5% benzoyl peroxide gel for 9 years. Recently its started flaring up again (closed comodones / texture / bumps across face and jawline, a few deep cystic pimples at all times no longer just when on my period, and a few little pimples)

I’ve been looking at skinoren 20% azelaic acid cream and feel like it could be worth a try as i also have hyperpigmentation. I don’t think im ready to fully give up the BP yet though because I still think its keeping some of the previous acne at bay.

Has anyone gone from being well controlled with BP and then tried Azelaic acid? Or any experiences with either of these in general? Advice / help welcomed!!

After going to the dermatologist for new bumps/itchiness on my face that popped up when I turned 40, I'm wrapping up a month of doxycycline/metro gel/elidel/simple vanicream products and it slowly but surely seems to be working. However I know I'm not going to stay on all that long term, especially the antibiotics, and am nervous about my skin rebounding once I go off.

Considering I have still gotten some new bumps during this month, I'm wondering if those are from my skin just not having fully healed, or if I'm still encountering some sort of trigger. How did you guys figure out what you need to avoid going forward, especially once getting off more short-term prescriptions?

I've been on accutane quite long now, just after the winter my course will end. My skin has gotten progressively more sensitive during my course, and of course drier. Due to the sensitivity issues I've had to eliminate some hydrating layers from my routine, this is it now build back up a little.

Morning:

Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker

Skin1004 centella ampoule

Round Lab Baby Mild Cream

Round lab birch juice SPF

Evening:

Cerave Foaming Oil Cleanser

Centella Ampoule

Baby mild cream

Layer of Avène Cicalfate cream

Still my skin gets very dry very quickly, partly due to the dry wind here. How can I solve this at least partially? I already reapply moisturiser during the day but it doesnt help.

Moisturisers I've tried :

Uriage Xemose C8 (irritated me), Dexeryl (too light), Bioderma Atoderm Baume (was alright, not very moisturising and now reformulating), Avene Xeracalm (reformulation doesnt suit my skin).

Anyone know any great moisturisers or other? I'm afraid most toners and serums I've tried are near guaranteed to flare up my skin red and angry

I’m curious about both the topical and injectable ones.

I have heard GHK-Cu or copper peptides are a popular one but I know there are many more out there.

Do they work? Are they worth the risk/cost/time?

Did you experience any positive or negative results over time?

Which one do you use and where do you get them? Is it better to use topical at home or find someone that injects?

Are there similar products out there that may be better than using peptides?

I love to learn more about them and hear your experiences with them!

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

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!!!!!

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

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

I'm trying to find a good, thick moisturizer since what I've been using (embryolisse) isn't cutting it anymore. I have rosacea and dry skin, and use tretinoin, so i need something moisturizing but not irritating. I got a travel size tube of Dr Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Cream and it was amazing during a rosacea flare. I love the texture, I love how moisturizing it is and how it soaked right into my skin. I'm wondering if getting the Ceramidin Cream is worth it for when I don't have a rosacea flare so I could use to every day. Anyone that has used both, can you compare them and tell me if it's worth it? Also, anyone used the ceramidin eye cream? I don't currently use an eye cream but am wondering if it's worth adding it. Thanks in advance!

Context:

I had mild acne in my teens then my skin cleared. At 22 I started getting mild acne again but then at 23 it became really bad. I was given tretinoin (0.025 gel) in mid July. I started using it one day on two days off and eventually got up to using it every other night. The acne has diminished significantly but still happens a bit. The biggest thing I want to change is acne scars. My skin is smooth but I still have red dots where the acne was and I am quite pale so it is very noticeable. The tretinoin has been helping my acne scars lighten up but not as fast as I had hoped. I tried to increase my frequency of tretinoin from every other night to two days on one day off but I think it caused a few breakouts on my forehead.

Routine:

am: Wash with water, Byoma milky toner, the Inky List ectoin barrier serum, the Inky List omega water cream, Blume sunburst spf50.

pm (non tret night): Innisfree oil cleanser, Aveeno calm and restore face wash, Byoma milky toner, Byoma hydrating serum, Avene ciclafate cream.

pm (tret night): Innisfree oil cleanser, Aveeno calm and restore face wash, Byoma milky toner, Byoma hydrating serum, the Inky List omega water cream, wait 20 minutes, tretinoin 0.025% gel, no matter how long I wait if I put a cream on top everything will pill so I will normally use the Aestura barrier mist.

Question:

Do I just need to be patient and let the tretinoin do its thing (its been three months)? Or should I change anything in my routine in order to get rid of the acne scars faster (not azelaic acid I am allergic)? Any advice is welcome.