Hey guys, I need a little help :(
I have hyperpigmentation from a big breakout that only cleared once I started using Panoxyl. The acne under my jaw is STILL THERE although I've tried everything and I can't use salicylic acid washes because they break me out, especially around my ear. I also get random acne, then dark spots cause I pick my skin :P ( I promise I'll stop ).
l need another cleanser because I found out Benzoyl Peroxide interferes with retinol, and other popular brands don't work for me e.g CeraVe, Cetaphil etc. I might try CeraVe Foaming again though, cause I'm desperate. I am considering the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser below (it has no salicylic but I haven't tried it yet), however it is a bit expensive for me. I don't mind spending the $20-ish on the LRP, it'll just be upsetting if it doesn't work or makes stuff worse :(
My range is until $20 for a cleanser. They don't last long so I don't see a point spending more. Maybe if it is a large product and I like it a lot. But I would prefer not to initially buy a large product, so I can test it out.
This is my Summer routine because I don't have to moisturize in the AM (I have very oily skin), I'll switch stuff around in the Fall/Winter. The only reason I wash my face at night is to get rid of the sunscreen, but I have to also wash my face in the morning, cause it feels too oily not to, but I may be over cleansing? Maybe, I'll stop double cleansing in the morning, once should be fine.
Basically, I need a PM cleanser that works with retinol and is not greasy. I am also considering Azaelic acid from The Ordinary($13~), and Adapalene from Differin($18~) if things don't get better by the end of next month(August). But I really don't want to spend too much. I am also prefer to not include Hyaluronic Acid (I might be sensitive to it).
Thank you :)
P.S. The retinol moisturizer really works for me, but it is a bit comedogenic, so I might switch in the future to something else, but that really isn't my concern right now. If I get Adapalene, I'll probably have to change moisturizers anyway.
P.P.S. I use Glycolic Acid as a spot treatment, and I don't moisturize my face after because it makes me really oily. I have a lot of spots though, so it's basically all over my face already.
Hi! My first recommendation that I recommend for everyone, is for you is to check out Dr. Idriss on youtube. She is a dermatologist and explains the science behind things so well. She also gives great product recommendations.
From my own experience, I'd say stay away from Cerave completely. Pretty much everything by them has some amount of hyaluronic acid in it which I also am sensitive to.
Secondly, I really recommend trying to wash your face once a day. It's possible that you're overproducing sebum due to washing too often and stripping your skin of it's natural oils. I'd check out Dr. Idriss on her video for cleansers and see what she recommends for your skin type.
I also highly recommend adapalene if your skin can handle it. I started using it and it shrunk my pores and healed up my breakouts.
I wish you all the best! Good luck!