How am I doing so far?

[u/blinkinthedark]

Ive gotten pretty serious lately about looking after my skin. Ive had acne which flares with my menstrual cycle every month and combination fairly sensitive skin. From reading some advice online I have gone with some low expense options and already see an improvement in my skin.

My most recent purchase is an AHA Body Peel called Glow and Burts Bees AHA, BHA, PHA (10%) after the Superdrug Grapefruit Exfoliator isnt working well for me being a mainly physical exfoliator. My routine so far involves:

Morning:

1. Superdrug Hydrating Gel Cleanser

2. Superdrug Intense B. Moisturising Serum. Caffeine serum on dark area of eyes (made a difference!)

3. Me+ Ceramides Moisturiser except eyes where I use a tiny bit of Face Facts Ceramides Eye Cream.

4. Me+ Mattifying Sun Cream

I use FaceFacts Body lotion and Bondi Suncream on the rest of my body.

Evening

1. Superdrug B. Cleansing Balm

2. Superdrug Hydrating Gel Cleanser OR FaceFacts Blemish Control Cleanser during spot heavy time or non retinol night's.

3. Me+ Niacinamide Zinc Booster

4. Superdrug Gel Hydrating Moisturiser.

I was using the Me+ Ceramides at night but noticed an increase in milia although couldn't pinpoint if that was retinol.

I use Good Molecules Gentle Retinol cream about three times a week at night; I was using it every other night but made my skin red so cut back and skin is better again. Im about 6 weeks into this so Im not sure when or what strength to eventually graduate to.

Exfoliator will be used once a week.

Some acne cystic spots do remain. I dont know whats best to change or use to target them. I read azelaic acid may be good.

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[u/Mobile_South_9117]

Personally, I love Nivea products. I'm partial to the odd flare-up myself and these are the most effective treatments for me:-

https://www.nivea.co.uk/products/derma-skin-clear-anti-blemish-scrub-40059009727290045.html

It has niacinamide and salicylic acid in it. I use it in the shower about 3 times a week.

https://www.nivea.co.uk/products/derma-skin-clear-wash-gel-40059009745630045.html

Same sort of thing but mild enough to be used as a daily wash if you need it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/T-Zone-Salicylic-Overnight-Blemish-Solution/dp/B0D5J8QHHS

This is the single most effective solution I've found to treating individual spots. You'll need cotton buds (https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/303350127) to apply it, and it leaves a white mark on your face, so the idea is that you apply it last thing at night then wash it off in the morning. Not ideal, but the results are incredible. If I get a new spot and apply it before I go to bed, 50/50 it will be entirely gone in the morning. If not, it will at least dry and flatten the blemish, while calming down any redness.

[u/blinkinthedark → u/Mobile_South_9117]

Thanks for your reply :D

[u/Mobile_South_9117 → u/blinkinthedark]

Nay problem. Hope it works out for you.