Skin, or thoughts on organs of any kind

Well, I had a lengthy reply tapped out, but I'm on mobile and it got eaten. First and foremost, step away from the alcohol. It's very drying.

I'll be back with suggestions and my routine.

 

All right, here goes.

Again, step away from the alcohol. Over the long term, it can make your situation worse. If you wish to apply a toner, check out Thayer's alcohol-free witch hazel. It is generally easily found anywhere that also sells organic food. Some people are sensitive to the high tannin content in witch hazel. If it is not to your liking, I would suggest looking for a liquid BHA or AHA (beta hydroxy acid and alpha hydroxy acid, respectively; they function as chemical exfoliants, which can help to prevent breakouts in the first place; BHA is most commonly found as salicylic acid, while common AHAs on the market include glycolic acid and lactic acid).

I use Thayers instead of a liquid BHA, but liquid BHAs that I've seen recommended by other people include Stridex in the Red Box and Paula's Choice 2% Liquid BHA.

I do have experience with AHAs. I like Alpha Hydox's 14% Swipes; they are on the strong side, but my skin tolerates them well, and I only use them once a week before I use a mask. For a more frequent AHA, I use St. Ives Exfoliating Pads . However, because my skin is sensitive in places, I only apply these to the apples of my cheeks, my chin, my nose, and my forehead.

Before you use any product all over your whole face, patch test.

Do you have any kind of routine? Sticking to a daily and weekly skincare routine can help pin down any issues that are causing breakouts.

My daily routine:
Morning
--Wash with Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing
--Pat on Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator

--Apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
--Apply Aquaphor under eyes and on other trouble spots, especially my sensitive patches
--Apply sunscreen after moisturizer is absorbed

Evening
--Remove makeup with Clinique's Take the Day Off Balm .
--Apply AHA if it's the night to do so
--Once AHA is dry, pat on Hada Labo hydrator again (it has hyaluronic acid, which helps make my skin mochi mochi, or bouncy like the Japanese rice cake, mochi)
--Apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
--Apply Aquaphor under eyes

Weekly:
--Apply the Alpha Hydrox AHA the night before using Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask on my T-zone
--Use a Hada Labo sheet mask to moisturize on Sunday night for more mochi mochi feeling
--If I have a pimple (which happens, I have hormonal chin acne due to my Mirena), I apply Persa-Gel 10 and if it's a really big, bad boy, I apply a colloidal bandage, which can be cut down to fit over a pimple and suck out the gunk.

Things I do not do:
--Pick
--Put alcohol on my face
--Use Biore pore strips
--Scrub my face with anything harsher than a baby washcloth
--Use anything remotely like St. Ives scrub, which is the devil's work

I owe a great deal to the people responsible for Skincare Addiction While I've always had pretty clear skin, they helped get my chin acne under control, and I feel like my skin is more beautiful than it ever has been.

If anyone has any retinol recommendations, I'm all ears, as I need one.

 

I definitely prefer playing on the upright organ to the upright piano...