I also subscribe to a few subscription boxes and I’m dealing with some skin issues that are new too me. I’ve got several products I’ve heard great things about or ones that get great reviews so I’ve ordered them and now it seems like almost every skincare product I have has some negative ingredients that’s not good for my skin, cause bad reactions, or just don’t work I’ve spent the last week checking most of the products I have on here too see what I have that does work or would be beneficial. You said you’ve found maybe 3 products that you really liked would you mind sharing what those products are ? Thank you
Similar boat here! I get a lot of sample sized products, so it's not so difficult for me to get through them. Typically they're generally moisturizers/hydrators. Here's how I balance things out: I stick to my standard cleanser for consistency. If I have a particular serum I really like, I'll use it daily (or however often depending on actives). If my subscription has yielded serums I might swap out my am serum with it, or use them together (e.g. an HA serum probably won't conflict with niacinamide or gentle exfoliant serums). When it comes to creams, gel creams, and occlusive petroleum type products (of which I am swimming in), I'll just pick one to go with in the pm. I also have combination skin, so I might use something a bit heavier on my dry spots and something lighter (gel cream usually) on my normal to oily areas.
I'd recommend only opening a few products at a time (once the seal is broken the expiration clock ticks faster). See how you like the consistency, application, feel, and how your skin feels after a few uses. If all else fails and your face doesn't like a product due to an ingredient or sensitivity, you could try restricting that product use to your neck/chest/hands etc. I find that even if my face is too sensitized by a product, the rest of my body's skin is not subject to the same rules. If your subscription has a pause or non-monthly option, utilize it
Balancing adult acne which I’ve never dealt with acne so it’s extremely frustrating. Add to that I have combo skin that’s dry in some areas and also gets easily red or irritated. I’ve got Graves Disease & diabetes so my hormones can also give my skin issues, I also suffer from under eye puffiness side affect from my thyroid disorder. So I’m trying to navigate so many skin issues at once .
What products I can use in combination.
What products you can, can not, and which you must combine
Allergies and sensitivities to certain products
How much i can use without irritation
Finding products that work well together.
There's so many (lol).
1. Figuring out how to use actives and/or direct acids without my skin absolutely freaking out
2. Everything about adult acne
3. Managing product use when sometimes I have a reaction and sometimes I don't
4. Trying to find *ANYTHING* that works for my skin in the summer months without prompting a Vesuvius style eruption of acne
5. Moisture + makeup = slip 'n slide
I'd like to clarify point #3 with an example:
I absolutely love BanillaCo's Mr.Honey & Miss Flower (that's what it's called-ish) "cream". However, it is fragranced and more of an occlusive formula (think vaseline). It's wonderful during the ever dry winter months. I generally use it with no problem, but I have had occasions of sensitivity. In the winter, if I wait too long after a shower to apply my products (namely when the telltale tightness and feelings of dryness make themselves known), I will experience irritation from products I otherwise hadn't had a problem with.
One particular night such an event occurred and I ended up having a burning rash all over my face to the point I needed to wash all products off. This is an example of a situation I *know* results in sensitivity, but there are more instances that I haven't yet sniffed out the cause.
Back to #3, it's difficult to predict how products will interact with my skin when certain ingredients and formulations don't always react poorly. Sometimes it's just the status of the skin such as dryness or compromised barrier that leaves it vulnerable to certain ingredients and fragrances. *That's* the difficulty. How does one manage their products and find something that's soothing, when even low irritancy products can be stinging and ouch on compromised and irritated skin? Thank you for coming to my TED talk XD
Scheduling it all. I've got tons of products from monthly box subscriptions. I can't figure out a way to balance knowing which ones to try out, nor stick with the same products every day because I'm swimming in them. Very rarely do products knock my socks off... but every once in a while (seriously I can think of 3 out of over 100) I find a product that I think I will order to keep using, but feel dumb spending money on it when I have plenty of unopened other brands to try out. Anyone else have this issue? I was hoping I would find some sort of direction here. Or at least be able to see how others felt about the product to see if I should keep it to try or pass on to someone in a gift basket.