I've had acne since I was 16. I'm 24 now. I've tried prescriptions, lasers, peels, changing my pillowcase every single night. 13 step routines, 3 step routines, all of it. Thousands of dollars.

What finally made a difference? Losing my cosmetics bag in a hotel in Europe.

Let me back up.

For years I had an entire bathroom drawer that was just products. I watched skincare content every day, the endless "do this, stop doing that, this serum changed my life" garbage on tiktok. Buy the thing, try the thing, it doesn't work, buy the next thing. Add a step. Remove a step. Repeat forever.

Looking back it was basically an obsession. I know some of you know exactly what I mean.

Meanwhile my brother has perfect skin. Ask him his routine and he'll say "I guess shampoo hits my face in the shower?" That's it. He's also a wildland firefighter. He is covered in dirt and smoke for a living. This has bothered me my entire life lol.

This summer, right before my Europe trip, I had one of the worst breakouts I'd had in years. Then I lost the bag. My 3 step morning routine and 6 step night routine, gone. I had a full identity crisis. It's embarrassing but I actually thought about flying home.

Instead I had a big girl moment and decided to go completely bare-faced for the trip. Three and a half weeks of literally nothing on my face. First time in 5+ years.

My skin got better. Not a little better. Almost perfect.

I was confused. Then I was kind of mad.

Why does my brother, with zero routine and a job that covers him in ash, have better skin than me with a drawer full of products? Somewhere along the way I'd stopped asking basic questions and just kept buying.

When I got home I started paying attention to my lifestyle instead of my products. I kept a note on my phone tracking my skin day to day, and noticed a few things in my everyday habits that seemed to line up with my breakouts. That's a whole other post.

It's been a few months of keeping it really simple now. My skin is the best it's been since I was a kid.

But honestly that's not the part that changed my life.

I don't think about my face anymore. The skin on my face feels no different to me now than the skin on my arm. I never stressed about my arm, so why was I spending hours a week stressing about my face? My face is just my face. And that's okay. That one thought broke the loop.

I threw out almost everything in that drawer. Hundreds of dollars into the trash. It hurt, and it was the best thing I've done for myself in years.

I'm not a doctor and I'm not telling anyone to quit their meds or ditch their derm. Everyone's skin is different and this might do nothing for you. But if you saw yourself in this, the drawer, the scrolling, the routine that changes every month, maybe try stepping back for a bit and see what happens. Worst case you save a lot of money.

Your grandparents didn't have a 10 step routine and they were fine. Sometimes the answer isn't another product.

Happy to answer questions.

I got an abrasion on my forehead about 3 months ago after falling to the ground. The wound has healed, but there's still a visible mark left behind and it doesn't seem to be fading much. The mark is flat, and when I run my hand over it, the skin feels exactly the same as the surrounding area. It's lighter in colour, though, and still quite noticeable.I'm worried that it's going to be permanent, especially since it's on my forehead.Has anyone had a similar experience with an abrasion? Did your mark eventually fade completely, and if so, how long did it take? I'm really hoping it will go away over the next few months. Any advice or personal experiences would be appreciated.

I’ve been seeing a lot of skincare products that have been featuring fruit-based ingredients like watermelon, strawberry, avocado etc, which got me wondering if fruit extracts actually have skincare benefits? I remember the cucumber and tomato skincare from my teens, but then it disappeared making me think it was just a trend and not really beneficial for your skin.

So, I guess I’m wondering if anyone has tried skincare products with fruit extract? If so, did you notice differences in brightness, hydration, or skin texture? I actually bought a watermelon moisturizer that I saw talked about on r/glowrecipe weeks ago, so I’m giving it a month or so to see if I notice any changes.

Hi all,

I've had sandpaper for palms for at least two years.

Running my hands against most surfaces is really unpleasant, particularly fabric.

I have tried different creams in the past six months, from most basic to most expensive :

Nivea lotion, Mixa hand lotion, MKL organic apricot hand lotion, O'Keefe's Working hands, Eucerin urea repair, Eucerin aquaphor, Avène cicalfate, Avène Xeracalm and Laroche-Posay Lipikar.

I had high hopes for O'Keefe's but it didn't work that much.

Most of the expensive creams were given to me by someone who gets a few samples for free fortunately. But these are full size bottles that I went threw in less than 3 weeks.

I usually put a little dollop on at night and then slap a pair of gloves on top.

I LOATHE putting on lotion and touching anything afterwards, which is why I put it in at night with gloves.

By the time I wake up my palms feel good but when I first wash them it all seems to go away as if I had just washed away the goop.

The backs of my hands were really dry and cracked but seem to have healed thanks to the lotions, but so far no dice with my palms.

I'd really like to run my hand along my toddler's face or back without scratching her.

The second pic is the last surface I still feel good about touching, thanks old boy.

Thanks for any help!

Why am I told azelaic acid is good for my skin when it makes me break out, yet it's in most rosacea treatments? My skin also hates niacinamide which is also in a lot of them.

I'm going to try Musely's red rescue which has Oxymetazoline and Hydrocortisone for $72/2 months which is expensive for me. But nothing I try seems to work. Anyone have any luck with those ingredients or the specific product itself or have any other recs?

Hi everyone! Has anyone here tried the Dior mousse? Could you tell me if it’s suitable for extremely sensitive skin?

I’d love to give it a try, but I can’t seem to find its pH level, so I’m not sure if it’s worth buying.

I already have an excellent cleanser that doesn’t irritate my skin; it has a low pH and doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry after drying off (pH between 5.0 and 6.0). I’ve included a photo in the description in case anyone is interested. In general, I highly recommend anything from the Round Lab line, as all their products are perfectly suited for extremely sensitive and fragile skin

UPDATE YALL: they really did fuck up my skin and ended up giving me a large pay out. KNOW YOUR WORTH!! Trust me and document EVERYTHING!

I've had closed comedones all my life on my cheeks, near my mouth and on my forehead. I've tried using a non-comedogenic moisturiser alongside adapalene gel (the 0.1%) for months now and there hasnt been much difference.

heres my current routine (I have oily/combination skin that also gets dry pretty easily)

Morning (in order):

- Wash face with just water

- Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

Nightime (in order):

- Cetaphil Daily Cleanser

- Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

- Adapalene gel

I've had this routine for months and do it every day but there hasnt been much of a difference. I clean my sheets pretty often and try not to touch my face. Should I just give up on using adapalene? I'll take any suggestions at this point lol. I'm becoming desperate.

I have old stretch marks from weight loss many years ago. It’s been about 5 weeks of retinol every 3rd day now and they look the same, but thinking I should take before and after pics because maybe I’m not noticing the change. I’ve made peace with my stripes, I’m mostly curious

I loved the Avene Antirougeurs mask. I also liked the Avene Soothing Radiance mask and the Bioderma Sensibio mask, both of which are also discontinued. So I’m looking for a hydrating mask but not a sheet mask. What are your favorites?

I use the paula’s choice anti redness bha exfoliator. I’n hesitant to use a cotton pad to apply it on my skin as the cotton serves as a physical exfoliant already. I find that the watery and thin texture makes it hard to spread it evenly over my face, and also soaks quickly into my hands. Any suggestions for application?

Hi! I just finished my DE protini moisturizer and wanted to keep the packaging (it’s limited edition) so I wanted to decant the moisture surge into the de airless pump packaging. Would it be so bad? The packaging is not exposed to light and it would be more sanitary. I obviously am going to wash and disinfect every part of the packaging.
Thank you for any answer

Hello all! I’ve been on a quest to find my perfect moisturizer that balances my oily skin but also actually hydrates it. Over the past year or so, I’ve tried the following moisturizers:

• Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel (Favorite)
  • This one was perfect for me; the only reason I don't just buy this one repeatedly is because of the price. At $52 a jar, it's a bit more expensive than I'd like for something used as often as a moisturizer. I absolutely loved the texture of this one, and my skin reacted extremely well to this moisturizer. This lasted me about 2 months, which is pretty standard for my moisturizers.
• Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer
  • This moisturizer was fine. Still made me oily, but very light and didn't break me out. I only tried the travel size of this one for $25, but the full size was only a little less than the Murad one. The texture of this one was very nice as well, it felt like there was nothing on my face when I finished applying it which is sort of ideal for me. I gave the rest of this one to my partners younger sister because it was ultimately too hydrating for me and made me super oily.
    • When I ordered this one from Ulta, a sample of the Peach & Lily Transparen-C Pro Brightening Moisturizer came with, and I did really like that one too! But I'm not looking for a vitamin C supplement.
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer for Oily Skin
  • This is the moisturizer I'm currently using. I like it enough, it's a little thicker than I prefer but it doesn't break me out. It's a pretty simple formula and it's much cheaper than the Murad and full size Peach & Lily moisturizers, but again it still makes me pretty oily so I usually only use it at night.

I usually shop at Ulta since I prefer something I can go grab in person if I need to, but I order from Naturium and Paula's Choice pretty regularly, so I'm not 100% against ordering online. My current routine is pretty solid, I just haven't been able to find my perfect moisturizer or SPF (I'll accept recommendations for everyone's favorite tinted mineral SPF as well if y'all have any). If y'all know any dupes for the Murad, or any good water-gel moisturizers that won't bankrupt me, please LMK! I'm not sensitive to any ingredients that I know of, and I don't mind light fragrance. I'd prefer to keep my moisturizer around $30-$40 max, but if a $50 moisturizer is all that works for me then so be it...

TIA!!

I have a veryyy oily skin, acne prone with big and hurtful pimples. I've tried a lot of stuff. Tretinoin, Epiduo, moisturizers for sensitive skin, niacinamide serums, face masks, exfoliating cleansers, salicylic acid, spot treatments. It was all over the course of years, I did not do everything at once lol, usually I would have 2, 3 products that I was using once daily, following the recommendations of a derm. The serums and spot treatments were things I did before starting to see the dermatologist, that prescribed me retinoids afterwards. Oh, also I made sure to eat less carbs, less sweets and more healthily in general.

So all these products didn't make my skin less oily, I still had acne, my skin texture was not that nice.

All til I decided to see an endocrinologist. With high DHEAS, I was prescribed spironolactone and metformin, and oh boy, my skin hasn't been this good looking since before puberty! I'm not even inclined anymore to buy expensive products. I guess it's kind of controversial saying this here, but cleansing with Dove soap in the morning and spf seems to be enough lol. Now I kind of forget to use moisturizer as well, my skin feels plump and fine without it. The caveat being that now in autumn the skin between my eyebrows gets a little dry so I apply some nivea cream on my front. Otherwise, everything is ok. Texture is nice, I don't breakout even without retinoids. Now I know, retinoids are also antiaging, but I am still young and I'll start some tret again in the future but for now I enjoy my skin as it is, because actives usually irritate my skin so for now, when my face found its zen, I'll keep it some more this way.

I also make sure to eat healthly, hydrate and sleep well. I rarely use foundation, so I guess it's easier for my skin to breath.

Idk, but I rrally feel less is more. Moisturizers used to break out my skin. Even stuff like La Roche-Posay Toleriane fluid. Now that I get clear skin from meds, I feel like moisturizer doesn't even make a difference, in terms of texture or hydration, so that's why I didn't even bother to continue using one.

For reference I have oily and acne prone skin.

Over the past year I’ve successfully incorporated an azelaic acid serum into my AM and PM routine.

Recently I started using a niacinamide serum as well. As far as I can tell, I haven’t had any bad reaction to it.

Next, I want to incorporate salyscilic acid wipes/pads to increase oil control. However, I’m worried about triggering a reaction if I layer too many actives.

Has anyone got experience incooperating these three into an AM/PM routine? As of now, my AM/PM routine is nearly identical, but wouldn’t mind switching it up if anyone had suggestions.

I am planning to start adapalene bpo, I am fairly new to skincare, so I have no idea which moisturizers are suitable for it. I have a fairly dry acne prone skin. Would cerave moisturizing cream be a good choice? Or would bioderma or neutrogena’a collagen bank be a good choice?

I am just 18 and i had acne since I was 12. I had severe acne(all types of acne) cystic ones left scars on my face and this has completely destroyed my confidence and now I am looking for the treatment for my scars. The forehead has a horizontal scar due to a cyst there. The right cheek has most of the major scarring and pigmentation and my nose has some flared up scarring

Hi guys !

I have awful post-acne hyperpigmentation which I HATE and I recently started a routine using products to help it (about 3 weeks now). I saw my skin making progress at first and I was really pleased !! But last night I noticed that the spots ad suddenly gotten darker ? Especially one that has gone completely red. I also noticed I developed some kind of r.ash (i think ?) on my neck/going up to my chin consisting of small dots which have the same colour of my hyperpigmentation (not the raised kind and not itchy). Is it possible that this has done something to make the hyperpigmentation worse/ 'flair' up ?

My current routine is

Morning:

\- a gentle cerave face wash

\- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% to Zing 2% serum

\- The Ordinary Azelaic acid Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

\- Aveeno Positively Radiant moisturiser (salicylic acid)

Night:

\- Pretty much the same but occasionally Acnecide Face Wash 5% Gel (benzoyl peroxide)

\- The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution two times a week

Should I incorporate Glycolic acid as well ?

Feeling disheartened :(

Thank you so much guys

I've used a virtual dermatologist in the past for issues with hormonal acne, so I don't know why I was so stubborn about going again for this. I really thought it was due to the weather, and then I thought it might be related to my spironolactone prescription - although I wasn't willing to give that up since it cleared up my hormonal cystic acne. this patch would have its ups and downs, but it never fully went away.

I finally went to an in person dermatologist last Wednesday and was prescribed tacrolimus ointment 0.1%. it was kinda pricey, $60 after insurance ($100 if | was uninsured), and I was really scared that it would burn like the dermatologist warned me about, but I had no reaction to it at all and the dryness/inflammation is almost gone without a trace. I picked it up from the pharmacy on Saturday morning, and this was taken before any application on Tuesday morning.

I know that the dermatologist is already recommended on here frequently, but please save yourself the headache and go sooner rather than later when you're experiencing issues. learn from my mistakes, haha. I spent the whole summer being insecure about this when I had no reason to be!

it's still too early to tell if this will be a permanent fix or if I have to keep up with the ointment long term, but I'm so relieved to see this area cleared up once again.

Today I committed the ultimate sin and extracted a black head after a hot shower. After, I was consequentially left with a heavily bleeding pore :(

To stop the bleeding and constrict the pore I indirectly iced it for around 10 mins and applied a hydrocolloid patch to accelerate healing.

Im unsure of how to move forward now- how long should I put on the hydrocolloid patch for? Will the pore close up or not considering the other pore I extracted closed up? Would I have to change my double cleansing routine to accommodate to that single pore?

Edit: I forgot to mention I didnt get all the contents of the pore because I didnt want it to bleed further!

Hello! For few months i noticed i have weird line going from my eyelids (circle in a picture) but recently it got worse- whenever im washing my face it burns slightly, also when i apply any cream or serum or whatever. Because of this burning im worried what that might be please help! I have no idea why its there and why it burns
(Also i have horrible eyebags and pores problem, any advice is appreciated) :)

One month ago my derm prescribed me Acnatag gel 10 mg/g + 0,25 mg/g to use at night every other day alongside with some other cosmetic products, so this is the only medicine I’m currently using.

My current skincare routine, as prescribed by derm, is:

- a sebum regulating cleanser to use every morning and every evening

- acnatac every other evening

- Ducray Keracnyl PP+ to use every morning

- Tial skin face mask two times a week

Originally my derm wanted to get me on oral antibiotics but unfortunately I have UC and that really isn’t an option for me :(

Well the results have yet to be seen, and actually my skin has gotten much worse! First pic is my right side of the face 1 month ago, 2nd is now. The left side of my face is a bit better but still got worse than last month.
I was thinking of reducing Acnatac to maybe once a week and see if I get any improvement? I talked to my derm yesterday and she suggested we go down the chemical peeling route two weeks from now.

I should mention that I shave my face every other day and this probably isn’t good for my already damaged skin barrier but I don’t like beard so yeah that’s the only path for me.

I just wanted to know if this is normal in any way. Thank you so much.

I'm 27 and into skincare, but I've realized that the only products I ever try are the ones I find on YesStyle. I feel like I'm limiting myself and missing out on potentially great products that I don't think about, or that I know but don't consider.
So, where did you discover your holy grail products or how do you generally find new ones to try?

I'm mainly asking regular people who are into skincare as a personal routine step, rather than professionals like estheticians who might discover products at industry events or similar.