Let's talk about skin care.

clebl24

I'm getting to an age where Mother Nature is starting to play dirty tricks on me. I miss being able to run out with no makeup w/o looking like death. Shortly before I found out that I was pregnant, I splurged on the Rodan + Fields reverse regimen.  My doctor advised against using the skincare line while pregnant. So, my question is, what skin care are you using to reverse aging and is it also pregnancy safe?  

chickyclg

I just wash my face and use moisturizer, stay away from anything with retinol.

WombThereItIs

I am a skin care product whore. 

Right now I've pared it down because I'm tired AF but my core pregnancy regimen is:
oil cleanser (the face shop rice water)
cream cleanser (the face shop rice water)
witch hazel toner (I used to use a salicylic acid one pre pregnancy but it is a no no now)
glycolic gel (not a peel, it's a lower concentration for exfoliating)
2% benzoyl peroxide (because blackheads)
vitamin c serum (Paula'a choice)
Biore UV sunscreen (very light but it's important with the glycolic acid)
clinique moisturizing gel

if I'm really tired I will skip the glycolic gel, benzoyl peroxide, serum and sunscreen. 

For makeup i am I am very low maintenance. CC cream, light dusting of powder and blush for shine control, mascara, and brows. 

pshaortao

Skincare is very minimal for me. I just wash my face everytime I shower and use a face moisterizer afterward.

livin541

I use Nerium products, they are completely natural and backed in 10 years of science. It's better than anything else I've ever used, honestly. And not a big regimen- just one night cream and a day cream which even this tired mama can handle. If you are interested in trying it let me know- I can send you some  

Edit- posted too early. 

megchelle

I'm not using anything for age reversal but I use Dove soap on my face and coconut oil to take off my eye makeup. No breakouts and I am prone to them!

hp_momma

I'm not doing anything for age reversal yet, but I really want to try R&F after baby is here and probably once I'm done breastfeeding. 

Right now now I do minimal because my skin is very sensitive. I like Aveeno products the best. Face wash in the shower, moisturizer with sunscreen for the day and a night cream for bed. 

I do need to find something to help these dark circles under my eyes, but nothing has ever worked for me! 

onebadmotha

@WombThereItIs - reading your regimen made me feel incredibly lazy. I generally do Cetaphil face wash followed by moisturizer. Then again, my face is a pimply mess this pregnancy, so any tips and tricks for that would be appreciated

Kipperoo

WombThereItIs, that is a seriously impressive skincare routine! 

I recently switched to Garnier Micellar Water and I love it. Literally, it is the only product that I use--it's an all in one cleanser, eye makeup remover, and moisturizer. I should be using something anti-aging, too, but I figure I'll get serious about that after this baby comes along. 

RainyDays86

Agreed @WombThereItIs, very impressive.  Your skin is going to look awesome when you're old.

SparkySunDevil

Is anyone else dealing with a rash on their face?? I've developed a red, bumpy rash. It's not itchy. It's all over the left side of my face. It's also in my eyebrow and on my eyelid on the right. 

Trying to decide if my body is freaking out to something I'm putting into it. Or if this is just some unfortunate pregnancy thing I get to deal with. 

pshaortao

@SparkySunDevil Rashes are the worst! Have you started using anything new or do you use anything in that area? Otherwise it could be pregnancy related =/

livin541

@h&pmomma my dark circles have always been an issue for me! This is after about 10 days of the new eye serum I've been using getting better!

livin541

arels483

I'm really missing my retinol cream right now. I use an oil free & salicylic acid free face wash and a plain moisturizer with sunscreen. I'm obsessed with my Palmer's lotion right now. I've been bad and used a scrub that has 1% of salicylic acid in it, but the skin on my chest and shoulders was out of control! It's not great now, but I'm doing a better job resisting. 

LCRbelle

I love coconut oil! I use it to take my makeup off/wash my face.  If I'm experiencing a break out I will just mix a bit of face wash in with my coconut oil! I have the weirdest combination skin. It'll be dry and oily at the same time. 

SparkySunDevil

pshaortao said:

@SparkySunDevil Rashes are the worst! Have you started using anything new or do you use anything in that area? Otherwise it could be pregnancy related =/

The only thing "new" is the z pack I was prescribed for a sinus infection. Today is my last dose, so I guess we'll see in a few days if that was the cause. I've had it before and never had a problem though. And if it were an allergic reaction, I'd think it would be more widespread. And this is strictly located to my face. I do have psoriasis....but this doesn't look or feel like that. Idk....its so weird.

ChristinaWild

I'm so glad this thread got started. I needed some good ideas. My skin is terrible right now - my pores are so clogged that it looks like I never wash my face, and I just got a facial 2 weeks ago. Any one have any tips on pore clearing masks that work well? 

WombThereItIs

@ChristinaWild ooh skinfood black sugar scrub! Use your usual cleanser then rub it in and give yourself a good scrubbing for a minute or two and wait 10-15 minutes before washing off. It makes my skin feel stupidly smooth. 

ChristinaWild

@WombThereItIs - thank you!! I'm going to go buy some at lunch. I've never had my skin seem as icky as it does right now!!

Wildflowers and Ferns

@SparkySunDevil  I got a very very similar rash around 7w, and it lasted for a week and then went away without any treatment.  It covered my whole face including eyelids and ears, then stopped spreading.  My doctor said it looked allergic, but I hadn't really eaten/used/encountered anything new.  

nda_roxybabe

A couple years ago I had horrible cystic acne. The derm gave me a variety of things, but they didn't help much. I decided to have my IUD removed and switch back to an old face wash I'd loved. I know the IUD removal was of some help, but I really credit my skin clearing up to the face wash. It had cleared up my skin a few years before all that as well. Why I ever stopped using it, I don't know. Now if I stupidly don't take it on vacation I'll break out again.

My current regime is wash face with above face wash in shower (I shower at night), use Norwex cloth and vaseline to remove straggler eyeliner, apply Pacifica anti aging moisturizer. In the morning I rinse, not wash (at my derms recommendation) use the Pacifica moisturizer again and apply makeup. On weekends I'll play with the cleanser samples I get in my Birch Box since I am showering in the morning. I also will do a random mask about once a week.

If anyone is interested in the face wash it's called Skin Script.

MrsFox2008

Not going to lie I wash my face maybe once a week. If I wash it too often I break out like crazy I've found cleaning it once a week with a facial cleanser and rinsing it everyday with water works perfect for me. note:I dont wear any kind of foundation on my skin so it's not like I let make up build up haha! 

SparkySunDevil

Wildflowers and Ferns said:

@SparkySunDevil  I got a very very similar rash around 7w, and it lasted for a week and then went away without any treatment.  It covered my whole face including eyelids and ears, then stopped spreading.  My doctor said it looked allergic, but I hadn't really eaten/used/encountered anything new.  

I just talked to my doctor and they're assuming it's an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. They're updating my file so it's not prescribed again. They're not concerned since the rash is the only sign I've had. They told me to take Benadryl and use a hydrocortisone cream for the itching (which started today, though it's not unbearable) 

clebl24

@SparkySunDevil I hope it clears up. 

tenfour

i just use moisturizer and i like an oil of olay serum. also it's all about sunscreen. 

SparkySunDevil

clebl24 said:

@SparkySunDevil I hope it clears up. 

Thank you! It's mostly a cosmetic inconvenience. Unsightly. But I'm over it. 

ChristinaWild

@WombThereItIs  - I bought that SkinFood scrub you suggested, and WOW! What a difference. Thanks for the recommendation. My pores thank you, also!

mrsrep123

Sunscreen help! I still have not found one that I'm in love with. I try to stick with the least amount of chemicals in my products... any suggestions???

sweaterboots

I am 33 and have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and without warning, two years ago, my skin completely changed skin-type from Oily & Acne-Prone to Normal/Combination.  This was right before my wedding so I went on a friggin MISSION and tried so many different kinds of skincare until I finally found my magic unicorn regimen, as my old blemish-fighting regimen left me suddenly tight, dry, scaley, and broken out from the dryness.

Face Wash: I found that Origins "Checks & Balances" face wash is the most incredible cleanser, and has the most gentle & delicious vanilla-y mint scent.  I don't feel dry or tight after and it's just wonderful.  My new dryness issue and the resulting acne disappeared. 

Moisturizer: This part is a little embarrassing, mostly because of expense, but I trust you ladies.  I got a sample of Pacific Amore Future Response moisturizer from Sephora and fell. in. love.  Well little did I know how much it is ($190). I said no WAY and tried a million other moisturizers, and nothing compared. I ultimately decided to buy a jar and see what happened.  To make myself feel better, I think to myself "People spend $300 on jeans!  This is my SKIN for crap-sake!".  I have to buy about 3 jars a year and I really do love it so very much. I make my own jeans or get affordable pairs from Levi's so I feel it's ok to have this be my ultimate splurge.  If you are open to having the same mindset, that your skin is a worthy investment, this is a magical formula with Green Tea and Japanese Mushroom.  It has a very soft, distinct tea scent.  My skin is born anew.

nda_roxybabe

@sweaterboots OMG, I got that sample too! BEST thing EVER. Seriously, haven't found anything I like as much, despite trying many many.  Haven't justified it yet, but... now I think I may. 

SJsMommy

I have been using the bare minerals skin care line since it came out about a year ago, and really like it. It consists of a cream facial wash, skin longevity serum, and a moisturizer. I wash my face twice a day and usually with my Clarisonic facial brush. The clarisonic has worked wonders for my breakouts! 

sweaterboots

@nda_roxybabe Sister, I get it! I haven't told anyone I use it because it's so expensive I feel like a jerk...but when you think about how much a month we spend on rent, clothes, etc....It's your skin, the clothes you wear 100% of the time!  I have saved $ too by not needing 5-6 products. I literally use just the Origins Face Wash & this lotion and that is it!  My skin has never looked better.  Let me know if you end up going for it!!

livin541

@sweaterboots I totally believe that investing in your skin is so worth it. I've actually been really surprised to find out that more people than I would've thought spend a fair bit on their skin.

My biggest issue has always been finding a simple routine. I have a hard time not just falling into bed each night, so more than one-two steps and I'd never do it. 

sweaterboots

@livin541did you ultimately find a routine that works for you?

If not, and if have a Sephora near you, maybe ask them for a sample of the Pacific Amore so you can try it? They might even give you extra if you tell them a single sample isn't enough to see how your skin will react.

Also, Origins has small travel-sized versions of the Checks & Balances cleanser if you were interested in trying without investing in the full bottle. It's so gentle and just yummy feeling and smelling. I do also use Origins "Never a Dull Moment" fruit scrub, but only once a week or so in the shower.

I have always had bad skin growing up, and having a simple routine has really been amazing...though I'll admit it's partially because my skin changed from oily & blemish-prone to Normal (with the right products)!

mrsrep123

sweaterboots said:

@livin541did you ultimately find a routine that works for you?

If not, and if have a Sephora near you, maybe ask them for a sample of the Pacific Amore so you can try it? They might even give you extra if you tell them a single sample isn't enough to see how your skin will react.

Also, Origins has small travel-sized versions of the Checks & Balances cleanser if you were interested in trying without investing in the full bottle. It's so gentle and just yummy feeling and smelling. I do also use Origins "Never a Dull Moment" fruit scrub, but only once a week or so in the shower.

I have always had bad skin growing up, and having a simple routine has really been amazing...though I'll admit it's partially because my skin changed from oily & blemish-prone to Normal (with the right products)!

@sweaterboots you are my inspiration right now!!!

sweaterboots

@mrsrep123 you go girl!!

I'm passionate about it because I value my current skin so much, having had just painful & abysmal skin all my life. I used to cry as a teenager because my skin just hurt so much, I had so much deep acne. Now that it finally balanced at 33 I will fight tooth & nail to keep it! I guess one positive is I mastered makeup because I had to try so hard to cover up my cystic acne!

Sephora is SO good about returns if it breaks you out, and they will give you a sample of anything you want to try good luck and I hope you find your unicorn!!

mrsrep123

@sweaterboots
Yes, I've had problem skin since a teen as well. VERY oily skin that if I wasn't on oral birth control, I had acne all over my face. Trying everything over the counter as well as prescriptions were so disappointing. Now that I'm pregnant with my second and think I'm done and not wanting to resume the pill or get my tubes tied (yet), I really need to invest time, $ and effort in my skin. It's a bit daunting, though, as I try to find more natural/less chemical products. Guess the research starts now... thanks again for the motivation!

livin541

@sweaterboots I did finally find a routine that works for me! My mom of all people actually made me try what she was using, and I fell in love! The fact that's it's backed in science and all natural (plus no animal testing!) sealed the deal for me  

mrsrep123

livin541 said:

@sweaterboots I did finally find a routine that works for me! My mom of all people actually made me try what she was using, and I fell in love! The fact that's it's backed in science and all natural (plus no animal testing!) sealed the deal for me  

@livin541 what products are you using?

sweaterboots

@mrsrep123 just FYI almost all Origins products (if not all) are free of phthalates, parabens, and other nasty stuff! If you're looking for makeup Tarte at Sephora has great choices that are phthalate & paraben free. Lush cosmetics also has GREAT lipsticks free of all that junk