Let’s chat about skin care. I hated my skin for a long time and thought it was horrible. I tried so many acne products but none of them helped. I finally realized I didn’t really have acne, I just had very sensitive skin. Anything I put on my face has the potential to give me break outs, bumps, and splochiness. I always thought my skin was oily but I eventually realized most of the oiliness I had was a reaction to too much drying and striping of the skin and not enough moisturizing. Now I try to be gentle! I still get the occasional pimple but I try to not over react. I have to fight the tendency to go Type A OCD on impending bumps. Especially those deep hormonal ones. I use to get those ALL the time, they are the worst. Luckily, lately I only have to deal with those a couple times a year. My treatment is, ibuprofen every 4-6 hours and walk away from the mirror!
So after years of struggle, I finally hit upon a cleansing regime that keeps my skin at a pretty even keel. I use….
Philosophy purity made simple, one-step facial cleanser
When I started using this, it took my skin a few weeks to get accustom to it. But I loved how clean it made my skin feel. Now I use it day and night with good results. I wash my face with my hands, no cloth, to avoid irritation. Sometimes I get lazy and wash too fast. I have to remind myself to really work the cleanser into a lather and rinse completely. Any soapy residue on the skin equals break out for me.
philosophy on a clear day oil-free all over acne treatment
Although my skin is pretty clear, I am still fighting some enlarged pores. Across my nose mainly. My skin is a tiny bit oily in the t zone but also dry. So make up and what not gets trapped. Since my skin is so sensitive and thin, I have a bad reaction to exfoliates. I normally end up scrubbing lightly with a wash cloth once a week and even that leaves me with redness and bumps the following couple days. With my nose surgery coming up I am really determined to clear up my pores as much as possible. I’m sure my skin will go nuts from the trauma and having the cast and tape across my face for a week is going to be gross lol. I’ve used the Clear day treatment in the past with pretty good results but then I slacked off. The last week I have starting using it again. I apply it across the t-zone right after cleansing. Let it soak in, then follow up with my moisturizer. What I like about it, is that the Salicylic acid content is low, so I can use it twice a day and it will not over dry or cause a reaction. I’m going for slow, gentle progress.
philosophy when hope is not enough replenishing cream while you sleep
I use this moisturizer day and night. It is very thick but it soaks in and leaves my skin soft. Once it really warms up, I should switch to something lighter but I haven’t found anything I like as much yet. I originally used philosophy’s Hope in a jar, which is thinner, but that gave me break outs.
philosophy dark shadows eye and lip brightening balm
The latest addition to my Philosophy regime, is this eye brightener. I’ve noticed in my pics lately that under my eyes is looking pretty gloomy. The ridiculously pale plus thin skin also means I can see a vein under my right eye. I JUST started using Dark shadows. In fact, I’m only using a sample now. I didn’t buy it right away because I was really not expecting it to work. Surprisingly though, it does lighten and brighten right away. I’m going to have some major shiners after my surgery. I don’t think this product is going to make much of an impact on that but for the every day slight darkness I have, it seems to help. I’ll finish up the sample before deciding if it’s worth purchasing.
So things have definitely improved with my skin over the last few years. But I am still not completely pleased with it. I have some non-pimply bumps, those clogged pores I am fighting, and sometimes dry flaky patches. I have been thinking about try the Clarisonic brush. I am worried that it will be too harsh for me though. It’s an expensive experiment!
So that is my long winded skin care story lol. What’s yours? What products do you use??
If anyone with sensitive skin has tried the Clarisonic, I would love to hear your opinions about it.
I use the Philosophy Hope in a Jar at night and have really liked it. I’ve been intrigued by the Purity wash but really try to avoid cleansers that lather (i.e have sulfates) as it really strips my skin of moisture. I use a cream cleanser now and it’s made all the difference in the world! I do have slightly sensitive skin and have dealt with acne all my life (up until a few years ago) so I’ve literally tried everything. Re: the clarisonic…I have the Mia and use the super-sensitive brush head. So far, it’s been great. I only use it a few times a week for a deep exfoliation.
Keep us updated on the Dark Shadows stuff! I have tried so many treatments to help with my shadows and NOTHING works.
To Shannon and AppGal: YSL Touche Eclat. This is the best thing ever. Especially during the summer, I can get away with just this highlighter and mascara. Under eyes, above the brows, and around the mouth. See if you can get a sample at the YSL counter. It’s $40, but it has a brush applicator so it lasts a long time.
Appgal- I wonder if Purity is a little to drying for me.. But I just love how it removes make up. I should probably look for something a little gentler for AM. I hate experimenting though. It almost always leads to disaster! Thanks for your thoughts on the clarisonic!
Abigail- Thanks for the rec! I’ve been wanting to try that for a long time but then completely forgot about it. Will pursue!
Since the Clarisonic is so expensive, you could try using a face brush first to see how your skin reacts. Shiseido makes a really nice cleansing massage brush, as does Earth Therapeutics.
I purchased the Clarisonic almost a year ago. I read all the reviews on the Sephora website before deciding to purchase and for the most part everyone just raved about it. I was so excited to try it. After two weeks of use I was so broken out I didn’t know what to do. I thought maybe it was just removing impurities in my skin and I just needed to wait it out. I used it for about another month and didn’t see any improvements in the breakouts. I know it sounds strange, but I had bumps in places I had never had a pimple before. Anyway, I finally gave up. I too have officially decided that I have sensitive skin. Once I find a product that works for me I have to stick with it because my skin and new products just don’t mix. I just broke out the Clarisonic again and I’m going to give it another try. I think where I went wrong the first time was I was using it too often. I decided this time around to only use it once or twice a week and see if I can gradually make my skin accustomed to it? Not sure if this is a good idea or not but because I spent so much money on the brush I thought I should at least give it another try. I have really thin, pale skin and it gets really dry around my eyes. I still haven’t found an eye cream that I really like. It sounds like we may have similar types of skin, do you have any eye cream suggestions or have you heard of anything that really works? I don’t necessarily have any wrinkles or crows feet yet, but I’m afraid if I don’t start using something now that I may eventually end up with wrinkles sooner than I would like. Not trying to talk you out of the Clarisonic just thought I should share my experience. It seems like mine is the exception because most people don’t have the problems that I did.
You would think at my age I would have learned my lesson . . .
In an effort to try get Clarisonic benefits on the cheap, I tried the Neutrogena “Wave.” As Amanda found with the Clarisonic, it broke me out.
You could say I am obsessed with my skin, probably to the point of being a little BDD (body dysmorphic disorder). Even at age 44 I have oily, acne-prone skin, and now I have to worry about wrinkles too!
Here are a few things I have learned.
1. Go for the pharmaceuticals right away. The cosmetics industry is so rife with hype (and I’m a sucker for it just as much as anyone) that it’s easy to waste money on products that not only don’t do anything but may actually be bad for your skin. It’s worth it to see a doc and get on a retinoid–the only product that is FDA-approved to treat wrinkles.
2. Less is more. You need fewer products than you think (again with the hype). For example, I thought I needed moisturizer, but it only seemed that way because I was stripping my skin with harsh cleansers. Left alone, my oily skin barely needs a moisturizer.
3. I really liked “The Skin Type Solution” by Dr. Leslie Baumann. She has a very specific skin type analysis and gives objective recommendations about specific products. For example, I always thought of my skin as tough rather than sensitive, but she explains that acne should be treated as a form of sensitivity. drbaumann.com
I know I’ll never stop dabbling in new products (am already intrigued by the Dark Circles, LoL) but remembering Dr. Baumann’s advice helps keep me reasonable.
Thanks for this post! I, too, have a very pale complexion. I have nasty blue veins under my eyes and have never found anything that works to diminish them. Please do keep us posted on Dark Shadows b/c if you think it works, I’ll try it!
I am devoted to DHC skin care products, especially the olive soap, Q10 face cream, Q10 eye cream, and the cleansing oil. I was skeptical about olive-oil based products, as I have slightly oily skin, but I was pleasantly surprised. DHC rocks. Their hair care products are amazing, as well.
I think I have very similar skin to you, oil t-zone and enlarged pores yet still dry (which is rather annoying!). I have the Clairsonic and love it. I feel like it makes my skin less dull and have noticed my pores getting smaller. I’ve been trying a variety of cleansers with it and so far the Cetaphil daily cleanser is doing the trick. I use a variety of moisturizers depending on how dry/oil my skin is that day. I’m definitely going to give the Philosophy one a try.
hi shannon,when i read your post it felt like my own skin care story!
my skin is super sensitiv but with purity and hope is not enough i have found my HG regimen.
thanks for sharing.
have you tried the hope is not enough serum? i use that in the winter when i am even more sensitiv and dry.
I love my Clarisonic. Since I got it last year, I feel my skin is so much smoother and I feel so clean after I use it.
Your skin sounds so similar to mine. I too use Purity Made Simple day & night, but I use Philosophy’s Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash as well. The most effective exfoliator by far can only be prescibed by a doctor, Retin-A (tretinoin cream), and it’s proven to fight wrinkles. I apply mine every night before my moisturizer. It also makes your moisturizer more effective. If I’m going thru a flaky stage from the Retin-A, instead of applying it direct, I’ll just blend in a small amount with my moisturizer for a few nights. By the way, my moisturizer is Rhonda Allison (LOVE so many of her products) Nutrient Glaze. It’s so lightweight and loaded with good stuff. I’ve tried Hope In A Jar, but I just can’t get past the odor. Every morning I apply Rhonda Allison Daytime Defense. It is SPF 30 with Zinc Oxide (clear, of course), plus it’s an antoxidant moisturizer. I mix in a drop of my Smashbox foundation with the Daytime Defense for a bit of coverage. I’ll stop now before moving on to makeup, lol. Just thought I’d share.
I have a question for anyone who uses the Clarisonic brush and really likes it. Do you use the brush to remove your makeup or do you remove makeup before using the brush. And also, how do you clean the brush head and how often do you clean it? I just keep feeling like maybe I’m not getting the brush clean enough. I’m hoping to get better results with my Clarisonic this time around and was hoping for a little insight on what works best for everyone else. Thanks!
I know it’s cheap and it’s probably not the best stuff in the world, but I have been using the Biore Skin Preservation system for about 6 months now, and it works better for me than anything else ever has. I had been using the Clinique anti-acne face wash that had salicylic acid in it, but I found it was too harsh and wasn’t really decreasing my pimples. The Biore system is much gentler and I don’t break out hardly at all any more. I use the Clean Things Up face wash in the morning and in the evening. I also have very thin, pale skin, and my eyes are pretty set back into my head, so I get horrible dark circles under my eyes. I like the Biore eye brightener, which is called See the Future. After I apply it, I use the Clinique All About Eyes Rich eye cream, which helps my undereye concealer stay in place better. I also use the Biore day moisturizer, which I like because it has sunscreen in it, and that is just called their Dual Fusion Moisturizer. I also use the Biore Hard Day’s Night moisturizer before bed, which is great because it makes the skin really soft without being too thick. For a drug store brand, it’s really great and cheap, which is good for the law student budget!
I really like the philosophy face care line too! My skin history sounds similar to yours–breakouts during puberty, tapering off in high school, and now sensitive skin with a troublesome T-zone. I’ve also tried almost everything and nothing else quite works like purity made simple! I’ll have to try on a clear day!
One of my girlfriends bought a Clarisonic last week, and I’m waiting for her reviews before I consider buying one…
Alexia – Thanks, that sounds like a good idea!
Amanda-Thanks for sharing! I am really worried about having that same reaction and about how to keep the brush clean. I think I’m going to hold off for now. I haven’t come across a great eye cream. I’ve just been using my regular moisturizer. I need to find something though. The wrinkles are starting to appear!
Hexicon- Thanks for the tips! I definitely think it’s time for me to see a derm. Dh has been on me to do so for years (because I complain about my skin so much) but I was always afraid they’d give me some “worse before it’s better” rx and I have no interest in that lol.
JKW-I tried a couple DHC smaples in the past and liked them. I’ll have to check out their hair products!
Krystin- I know, it’s totally annoying lol. I’ve been thinking about trying Cetaphil, I heard it’s very gentle. Thanks for your thoughts on the Clarisonic!
Anon- I haven’t tried the serum yet, I’ll check it out!
Rosa- Thanks for your thoughts on the Clarisonic!
Tshirt girl-I’ve been thinking about trying the Philosophy exfoliater but have been chicken. Thanks for the rec on Rhonda Allison, I checked out her site. I REALLY have to find a good and heavy sunscreen for after surgery…
Stephanie- Thanks for the recs! I am going to look for that eye brightener.
Jinah & everyone -Thanks for commiserating! It’s nice to hear I’m not alone in this skin battle lol.
Now question- Can anyone recommend a brand of cleansing cloth for sensitive skin?? It’s another item on my post-op list. Also looking for a heavy duty sunscreen
I use a face cleanser from my dermatologist’s line, and Dr. Weil for Origins Face Lotion and Serum. My skin is sensitive with some breakouts, and it does not tolerate many products.
Clarisonic was on my wish list for a long time, and I recently gave up because its price is too high to pay for the mixed reviews I have read.
Hi Shannon
based on your post- if your skin is easily irritated, I wouldn’t get the clarisonic. I think it is great and works well for me, it is a great exfoliator and really cleans your pores, prob why people are complaining about constant breakouts with it. def talk to a derm (make sure you find one that is interested in cosmetic derm and this kind of skin care) so you get the results you want! good luck!
Hi Shannon! This is my first time commenting on your blog. I found you a couple months ago and yours is one of my favorite blogs!! I love your style and you’re so beautiful. I never would have known from your pictures that you have problem skin! Well, I just wanted to say I have bad skin, too! I’m fair and have thin, very sensitive skin, too. Although, I also have a lot of redness in my skin. Have dark circles under my eyes, too, which is hereditary (and very annoying!). I had typical hormonal breakouts when I was a teenager, but it got really bad when I went off birth control when we wanted to start trying for a baby–9 years ago. I’m 37 now and my skin is worse than when I was a teenager! I started breaking out all over my face and neck. I visited a couple dermatologists and they tried lots of things–internal and external and nothing helped. They recommended Accutane, but I didn’t want to go there. So I tried Proactiv and that’s the only thing that helped it get *somewhat* better. I know lots of people with sensitive can’t use it b/c it’s too harsh. Probably why my skin didn’t get lots better using it. Then about a year ago I started using Yaz birth control b/c it’s supposed to help with severe PMS (had that too!) and help your skin, and it made a BIG difference. Not that I’m recommending that, just sharing that that worked, too! But my skin’s still not totally clear. One other thing that helped was making sure I moisturized my entire face. Like you and some other posters said, I thought I didn’t need as much moisture b/c of all the oiliness (T-zone), so I only moisturized the dry areas, but I learned that the breakouts might be b/c I have sensitive skin which was reacting to the lack of moisture! Who knew?! But now I moisturize everything and it’s much, much better. I’m still using Proactiv although I don’t use the benzoyl peroxide treatment step. Too harsh. I’m tempted to try philsophy now, but afraid of messing things up! LOL I think I will try the dark circle treatment though! Sorry for the long-winded comment. I just wanted to share that you’re not alone! Hugs!
Chic city gal & crewlade drinker- Thanks for your thoughts. I think I will hold off on the clarisonic and look for a less espensive manual brush. Maybe even a really soft tooth brush…
Amy- Thanks for sharing your story! I take Yaz too and it has made a difference for me as well. Especially on those hormonal break outs. My skin was a MESS after having dd. Face, neck, back, ugh *shiver at the thought* I nursed for a long time and I think that really drug out the hormonal roller coaster
Thanks for your reviews and recommendations. I am in a new struggle with my face and skin. After dealing with acne in high school, I finally got it under control. Now in my mid-20s, I’ve stopped my birth control and BOOM, high school face all over. boo hoo.
So I’m in a state of trial now, but I do use Purity, and do love it. I also use Target Brand exfoliate face wash, wish I think I need to avoid. I always thought since my skin was oily, I didn’t need to moisturize much – but after reading your story, probably need to rethink…
Anyways – thanks for sharing!
MeggyD