I keep mine to a minimum using a combination/alternating treatment routine of aha, BHA, salicylic acid face wash, a pH balancing face wash, retinoids and vitamin c.
I scrolled through ten top responses of essentially “nothing get over it” before finally getting to your comment, an ACTUAL helpful answer. You’re correct, these things will help!
Do you have a schedule for combining/alternating routines for a week? Which of these are good to use simultaneously and which are not? Do you use retinoid every day or do you skip when using one of the products?
Using retinoids and vitamin C are both new for me, and I just started using them this year. I wish I had started sooner!
I’m using Naturium “Vitamin C Super Serum Plus” which contains retinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and salicylic acid. When I use this I don’t use anything else, except for maybe my snail and bee Venom lotion.
As for a schedule, not really. I just use whatever I think my skin needs most that day. I use BHA more than aha. Aha, maybe once or twice a week, either in a mask or toner form. I take breaks at least once a week where I just wash and moisturize.
Since I’m using a lot of products on Sundays, various brightening Essences toners, etc., if I have any doubts when I get a new product or I’m trying something different I Google it to make sure the products I’m using can be combined.
Of course, maybe it goes without saying but I’ll add it here, make sure you’re using sunscreen with these products!
Seconding. Just started seeing a derm and this is what the routine is supposed to look like once I get a hang of it
What products/brands are you using?
Primarily: CosRx good morning face wash Cosrx salicylic acid face wash Soonjung 5.5 foam cleanser
I alternate using whichever one I feel like on the day or which everyone’s closest to the shower/bathroom sink at the time to be honest. If I’m using actives I use one of the pH balancing- ones either good morning or 5.5.
Then I use a spray of Cosrx aha/bha clarifying toner, after it sits for a moment I add either their BHA Power Liquid or the aha 7 power liquid.
On days that I don’t use actives, I use Benton snail bee toner, high content Essence and high content lotion. I can use this with some of my actives so if I feel like I want to I always Google it first to make sure because I have bad memory tbh and I use a lot of products.
Once or twice a month I use the beauty of Joseon apricot Blossom peeling gel. They have a nice glow-deep serum I’m using too
These are the ones that I use for this particular issue, I have a bunch of others that I’m trying to use for my melasma problem but I won’t list them here because it’s a lot more.
I will add that it is also super important to keep your skin HYDRATED with lightweight gel/water-based moisturizers, especially with all those activities. A hydrating toner is also really good for these as well! I have these and my skin loves ferment-based toners, I just started the Byoma brand one and it was like instant glow and minimizing of those bumps.
I’m 42 and have the same thing since before I can remember. They are so annoying.
So I’m going to follow this thread.
I can’t comment on the post so I’m replying to you and will tag OP! I used to have bumps on my skin just like that, almost frame perfect. They’re practically gone now, here’s my thoughts on what might’ve helped with mine:
- Deep cleansing: I use an oil based cleanser as my regular cleanser (bonus: gentle on my skin!). Once a week or so, I’ll just reeeeally cleanse my face. Like do the same motions, but take like 10, 15 minutes to wash. That helps break down the gunk! I also use a mechanical exfoliator like 2x a week in the shower. Do a lot of research on how to use those before attempting; you want to make sure you won’t damage your skin.
- Actives: probably the most impactful thing for my overall facial health was getting on tretinoin. Acne, wrinkles, pores, tret does it all. You need a script from a dr for that, though. If you cannot make it to the doctor right now, tretinoin is in the retinoid class of actives, the same as retinol. You can find OTC retinol at most drugstores
- Moisture: I’ve noticed that the better I moisturize my face, the less I get large pores and sebaceous filaments everywhere. Adding moisture from a regimen means my face produces less moisture (read: oil) from the inside. Also, consider that your body’s moisture needs are seasonally-dependent. If I stuck to my summer lotions at this time of year, I’d have these little guys pop up again, since my body would start producing more oil to make up for what it needs.
I will also add as a disclaimer that I did have adult acne and am on spironolactone, too. I don’t think that was responsible for getting rid of my sebaceous filaments, though, just the acne
Hope this helped!! Good luck on your guys’ skincare journeys
I don’t have much hormonal/cystic acne but I do have a lot texture and I was planning on trying oral spiro to help ? Is it known to help with closed comedones?
Paula’s choice AHA gel exfoliant greatly reduced mine
How many times do you use it in a week?
This helped mine too. I exfoliate once a week, if I do it more I tend to break out so you might need to experiment and see what works for you.
Also washing my face for a while minutes has generally improved my skin texture.