Skin Care Tips and Tricks

[Disneyphile]

So, does anyone have any special skin care or beauty secrets they'd like to share?

I just ordered a pore vacuum, because it's cheaper than using Biore strips all the time. I'm hoping it will work better. What do you use for deep cleansing? I notice that my skin is much more hydrated and clear when I drink more water, so I suppose there is something to be said about internal care too.

Also, I watched a Hollywood "secret beauty tip" show and they said that olive oil is wonderful for skin and hair. Have any of you ever tried using it before?

I also have roseacea on my cheeks. I've been able to keep it at bay with some new sea kelp moisturizer, but I wish the redness would fade. Any tips for that?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I try to keep it clean (morning and night is best for me) with a gentle foaming cleanser. I use Shiseido Pureness Foaming Cleanser.

I love a good exfoliant - not one that scratches off dead skin, but which dissolves it away. The papaya enzymes in Origins' Never A Dull Moment make my skin very happy - but I only use it once a week or so. (I'll out my husband: he uses it before he shaves and he loves it too.)

After that, I like to sweep away any debris with Clinique Clarifying Lotion.

I'm super-oily so the only moisturizer that has ever worked for me is Lush brand Enzymion. I also love other fun Lush products, like their bath bombs and their shower bars.

In the more-embarrassing-skin-problem corner, I have seborrheic dermatitis so I pretty much absolutely have to shower within 24 hours of the previous shower - but if I miss it for any reason, I find that a rinse with apple cider vinegar pretty much immediately clears up any problems. Swapping back and forth between dandruff shampoos helps more than using just one, but really, the vinegar is better than anything else.

When doing home-made facials, I have quite enjoyed using egg whites in the past. You slather it on and let it dry, and then rinse, rinse, rinse (preferably in the shower so you can use full water power.) It's totally disgusting, I'll admit it. But my skin has never felt better.

Bottom line, though, is that not everything works on everyone. But it's fun to try to see what does.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

In the more-embarrassing-skin-problem corner, I have seborrheic dermatitis so I pretty much absolutely have to shower within 24 hours of the previous shower - but if I miss it for any reason, I find that a rinse with apple cider vinegar pretty much immediately clears up any problems. Swapping back and forth between dandruff shampoos helps more than using just one, but really, the vinegar is better than anything else.

Okay, I need some help here. My son has a lot of hair and I have had him using Neutragena but I finally read it says not for prolonged use!!! I have told him to switch back and forth between it and a regular shampoo. Also, I took him in and then thin out his hair.


What is this with the vinegar???? Please help!!! I have now worried I have harmed him in some way by having him use it so long but he really has problems.

Okay, not to mention he is 13 and now I need to get on him about issues. Phisoderm, is that what it is called? Does anyone use this? I haven't used it but I've heard rave reviews about it.

Me, my skin is very delicate and dry. It definitely has changed over the years. It is not balanced and clear and occassionally, I do get a blemish. But, I can not use the Oxy 5 type stuff on it as it actually will burn my skin!!! I put some on one night and the next morning, when I looked at my face, much after I'd washed my face, there was a red mark where I'd placed the cream!!!!

Help!

Oh, and I want a pore vacuum, I can not use those Biore strips, when I tried, that is when I got some red veins. There is a warning on the package not to use it if that happens; that happened many many years ago.

Great idea for a thread, DP!!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by MouseWife

What is this with the vinegar???? Please help!!! I have now worried I have harmed him in some way by having him use it so long but he really has problems.

I'm happy to help. I went through too many years of being embarrassed not to speak up about it.

As I understand it, dermatitis is caused by a concentration of fungus that eats at your scalp. There's no preventing it, it just happens to some people who are more susceptible.

Originally Posted by Mayo Clinic

Malassezia lives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by your hair follicles and causing irritation that leads to increased cell turnover. The result is a large number of dead skin cells. As the cells fall off, they tend to clump together with oil from your hair and scalp, making them appear white, flaky and all too visible.

If you don't shampoo daily, the skin flakes build up. Sometimes even if you do shampoo daily, the skin flakes still build up. So what you've got to do is freak the little bugs the hell out. If they get used to a certain pH (say, you're using Neutrogena regularly) they're going to be able to fight it better. So switch to one that uses a different ingredient every month or so. Tar-based, Selenium-based, zinc-based... my preferred shampoo is Nizoral, a Ketoconazole-based product.

But as I said earlier, the best thing I can ever do to my scalp is, after shampooing, to pour on a 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, rub it around a little and let it soak. Yes, it will sting a bit, but it's worth it. Rinse thoroughly - and yeah, he'll probably smell a little of vinegar that day. But I find I only have to do this infrequently and it totally settles things out for weeks afterwards.

[MouseWife]

Thank you, LSPE!! That sure sounds like what he has. Of course, he doesn't want to admit he has a problem and just as you say, it is a sensitive subject. Thanks again!

[CoasterMatt]

It rubs the lotion on it's skin, it does this whenever it's told.

It rubs the lotion on it's skin, or else it gets the hose again.

Now it places the lotion in the basket.

[Not Afraid]

Sun screen. Sun screen. Sun screen.

[lindyhop]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

Also, I watched a Hollywood "secret beauty tip" show and they said that olive oil is wonderful for skin and hair. Have any of you ever tried using it before?

I get catalogs from a company called DHC and all the skin products are based on olive oil. I've never ordered anything but they always include samples in the catalog. The olive oil skin cleanser removed my makeup really well but the oily feeling was kind of strange to clean with. The product I really want to order is Velvet Skin Coat. The instructions on my little sample say "This smooth-gliding primer instantly fills in fine lines and creases and softens roughness." I love how my face feels with this stuff on.

[Not Afraid]

I use tea tree oil when I get a blemish. It seems to do great work in record time without drying my skin. Trader Joe's has a little vial with a roller tip on it. It's great for bug bites too!

[wendybeth]

Tori has very sensitive skin, but the Proactive line really works well and she's had no side-effects thus far. She has to use unscented (Cetaphil) bar soap and follow up with Cetaphil creme to keep her excema under control, so I was nervous about trying anything that might irritate her skin. It really does work- I've been pretty impressed with it!

I mostly use Dermalogica prods, but the only thing I use with any sort of regularity is their Total Eye care creme. Good stuff.