Making my skin oilier than before… question for Katie36551
Hi, Katie, I’ve read many of your posts on this board. I read one of
your posts about cleansers that strip the oils from the skin, causing
even more oiliness. That seems to be the problem I have come to. I
swith my cleanser between prescription benzoyl peroxide, a triclosan
cleasner and Purpose cleansing bar. Then I slop on the Benz Per.
lotion (terrified that if I don’t, my acne will come screaming back
with a vengence)My skin has finally cleared about 95% by having
switched to the more gentle cleaners (triclosan & Purpose) between
the BP and by discontinuing Retin-A micro (my skin improved greatly
using it for about 2-3 months, it was baby smooth and beautiful, but
then it got terrible again…it clogged my pores and made me very
greasy.) I now have been using OTC Stridex BP lotion 2.5% and have
added zinc, magnesium and calcium to my vitamin intake. I think this
has helped also (zinc is VERY important to your skin)Anyway, my
questuion is this… I have looked to try to find in your other posts
what you might use to clean your skin that may not strip the oils,
making that oil slick within hours of having washed my face. I
remember reading about using oats & milk? Also, won’t the oils in
Miracell clog pores and cause breakouts? Thanks!
October 30th, 2004 at 11:00 am
Let me reply on the Miracell.
That’s what I thought at first. My face was
VERY oily. Now it’s moist and pretty much clear. It hasn’t been like this in
years! About 4. My theory is that when the skin is hydrated with enough water
and oil, it doesn’t need to absorb any of the other oils that it comes in
contact with. When your skin is really dry, it will soak up any oils that it
comes in contact with….good or bad. Am I making sense? How about my theory?
Hi, Katie, I’ve read many of your posts on this board. I read one of
your posts about cleansers that strip the oils from the skin, causing
even more oiliness. That seems to be the problem I have come to. I
swith my cleanser between prescription benzoyl peroxide, a triclosan
cleasner and Purpose cleansing bar. Then I slop on the Benz Per.
lotion (terrified that if I don’t, my acne will come screaming back
with a vengence)My skin has finally cleared about 95% by having
switched to the more gentle cleaners (triclosan & Purpose) between
the BP and by discontinuing Retin-A micro (my skin improved greatly
using it for about 2-3 months, it was baby smooth and beautiful, but
then it got terrible again…it clogged my pores and made me very
greasy.) I now have been using OTC Stridex BP lotion 2.5% and have
added zinc, magnesium and calcium to my vitamin intake. I think this
has helped also (zinc is VERY important to your skin)Anyway, my
questuion is this… I have looked to try to find in your other posts
what you might use to clean your skin that may not strip the oils,
making that oil slick within hours of having washed my face. I
remember reading about using oats & milk? Also, won’t the oils in
Miracell clog pores and cause breakouts? Thanks!
October 31st, 2004 at 4:38 pm
HI, SOMETIMES SHY … I’LL DO MY BEST
Hi, Katie, I’ve read many of your posts on this board. I read one of your
posts about cleansers that strip the oils from the skin, causing even more
oiliness. That seems to be the problem I have come to … My skin has finally
cleared about 95% by having
switched to the more gentle cleaners …
SO MANY OF US WANT TO ATTACK THE OIL SLICK, THE TRAPPED OIL IN THE ACNE, OR
BOTH THAT THE "DRY IT UP" APPROACH IS MOST COMMONLY USED … AND THE
MANUFACTURERS MAKE A FORTUNE
Retin-A micro (my skin improved greatly using it for about 2-3 months, it was
baby smooth and beautiful, but then it got terrible again…it clogged my
pores and made me very greasy.)
INTERESTING … HADN’T HEARD THAT, BUT THANKS FOR SHARING THAT ONE WITH THE
GROUP.
I now have been using OTC Stridex BP lotion 2.5% and have added zinc,
magnesium and calcium to my vitamin intake. I think this has helped also
(zinc is VERY important to your skin) …
I ADMIT I DON’T KNOW THE VITAMINS / HERBS LIKE I KNOW OTHER THINGS … MAYBE
YOU COULD EDUCATE US ON THESE THINGS AND EXPLAIN THEM.
Anyway … I have looked to try to find in your other posts what you might
ANYWAY, POUR ABOUT A TBSP.
use to clean your skin that may not strip the oils, making that oil slick
within hours of having washed my face. I remember reading about using oats &
milk?
TOTALLY AWESOME STUFF. GRIND UP ROLLED OATS IN A BLENDER. THEN, MEASURE A
"PART" … MIX WITH A WISK 1 PART GROUND OATS, 1 PART POWDERED MILK, 1 PART
SUGAR. HAVING USED A 2/3 C "PART," I NOW HAVE 2 C. OF THIS POWDERED
CLEANSER, AND STORE IN THE RUBBERMAID FLIP-TOP BEVERAGE HOLDER I BUY AT THE
GROCER. ESSENTIAL IN ANY STORAGE IS TO NOT LET WATER IN, AND DO YOUR BEST TO
AVOID STEAM. I TRY TO IMPRESS MY SON TO KEEP IT AT THE SINK, NOT IN THE
SHOWER … HOWEVER, AS HE DOESN’T LISTEN, I ONLY FILL HIS PART-WAY BECAUSE
I’LL HAVE TO THROW OUT TOO MUCH OTHERWISE
INTO YOUR PALM, CLOSE UP YOUR CONTAINER WITH OTHER HAND … THEN DRIP FROM
YOUR FREE HAND WARM WATER INTO IT, MUSHING IT … YOU’LL WANT TO "LIQUIFY"
THE MILK AND "GUMMY" THE OATS, A PASTE OF WHATEVER CONSISTENCY YOU PREFER.
LET THE POWDER DO THE WORK RATHER THAN SCRUBBING WITH PRESSURE … USE AS YOU
MIGHT SOFT SOAPY LATHER, YOU CAN EVEN THEN LEAVE IT ON AS A MASK WHEN NEEDED.
YOUR SKIN WILL FEEL DRIER BUT WON’T BE DRIED OUT, AS OAT PROTEINS ARE FAMOUS
FOR THEIR WATER RETENTION.
Also, won’t the oils in Miracell clog pores and cause breakouts?
HONESTLY, THOSE OILS THAT I’M FAMILIAR WITH DON’T NORMALLY CLOG, CAN’T SAY ON
THE REST BUT IT’S DOUBTFUL. JOJOBA, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN CLOG ACCORDING TO A FEW
SOURCES BECAUSE IT’S TECHNICALLY A LIQUID WAX. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO MOST LIKE
OUR SEBUM, A FLUID PRODUCED BY OUR BODY THAT CLEANSES. MOST SOURCES SAY
JOJOBA HELPS DISSOLVE EXCESS OILS WHILE ALSO REPLACING TOO-FEW OILS … THAT
HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE, AND I’LL NEVER NOT HAVE JOJOBA AGAIN. AVOCADO OIL IS
WONDERFULLY SOFTENING, ALSO. IF YOU’RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ALL THE OILS THAT
MIRACELL HAS, START WITH A FEW … I STRONGLY ADVOCATE JOJOBA FOR ACNE, AT
LEAST OVERNIGHT IF YOU TEND TO OIL-SLICK DURING THE DAY. MEANWHILE, IF
YOU’RE WEARING MAKEUP (SORRY, DON’T KNOW IF YOU’RE MALE OR FEMALE), A DROP OF
JOJOBA IN WITH YOUR NON-ALCOHOL TONER IS A GOOD WAY TO PROTECT YOUR PORES …
AND POWDER OVER AN OIL-FREE FOUNDATION HELPS … BETTER YET, LOOK INTO THOSE
MINERAL-POWDER MAKEUPS WE’VE BEEN DISCUSSING, SUCH AS BAREESCENTUALS …
Thanks!
NO, THANK YOU … TRY SOME OF THIS AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU DECIDE AND HOW IT
WORKS OUT.
- KATIE
November 1st, 2004 at 1:16 pm
Perfectly … just to technically clarify as to why we need both, though …
the water is the hydrator. However, it evaporates unless the oil is there to
slow that evaporation (oil is lighter than water and rises to the top, or
surface). The oils also help maintain flexibility and softness. Folks with
too much oil have a really hard time resisting the "stripping" mentality, as
they’ve learned to associate that stripped feeling with cleanliness … so
it’s quite an adjustment to learn that moist and soft, unclogged,
pimples-free-to-erupt is the goal, and the skin will adjust more toward
normalcy (just not overnight). As to the pimples-free-to-erupt, I can feel a
deep one starting, and have experienced it taking 2 weeks with much pain just
to surface into a huge, red mass … and have also experienced a "quick exit"
… that is, as soon as I feel it starting, it has surfaced in unclogged
pores and freed itself of the beginnings of the "collection." No pimple
(red, swollen, bumped) ever had to come up!
How about my theory?
Excellent !!
November 2nd, 2004 at 4:45 am
Thanks for the info on the oats, I’ll try it tomorrow! I’ll also
check out jojoba oil. I know everyone here knows that feeling of
being nervous to try something different, for fear of the acne coming
back or getting worse. Does anyone use an oil control lotion to
absorb the oil during the day?
As for the vitamin aspect, I wish I could remember where I read it,
but I bet if you look up acne and natural remedies or supplements,
you will find some info about how important vitamins and minerals are
to the skin. Zinc is an immune system booster and so is vitamin C.
Both are good for the skin- they help your skin be more balanced and
able to deal with the bacteria that cause acne. I read that Magnesium
was good for hormone balance (yes, I’m female, and my hormones wreak
havoc with my face and back!) Calcium is also very beneficial to the
processes that your body needs to keep everything in check.
Thanks again for the information!
November 2nd, 2004 at 9:53 am
> everyone here knows that feeling of being nervous to try something
> different, for fear of the acne coming back or getting worse.
Sometimes, especially if much has been formed deep down, it must all "clear"
first. If your new regimen leaves your skin moist and soft, bear with that
for a good time. Females especially may take a little longer to adjust
depending upon the hormonal factors involved … anywhere from 1 to 3 cycles.
Be sure to cleanse and "feed" the zits, too … you’re actually feeding the
skin certain things to assist the total effort, and the zit spot is broken,
irritated, or at the very least inflamed. You can treat with all kinds of
things like a slice of raw potato (I’d be tempted to rehydrate the buds into
a neater paste), onion, parsley and thyme in honey … but feed with things
like aloe, follow with toner and jojoba. If aloe juice isn’t handy, Dessert
Essence sells a clear tube called 99% Aloe Gel.
Does anyone use an oil control lotion to > absorb the oil during the day?
I haven’t, but my mother has in the past. I do know that our skin changes
often - hormones throughout the cycle (men have cycles, too, just not nearly
the same as women), throughout 3-cycle quarters, and from season to season.
Tapioca starch or cornstarch has been used … not sure if arrowroot’s okay
around eyes or not. However, the jojoba and your not stripping oils should
help your skin become more balanced. Other (cheaper) options are to take
along blotters, or to visit the restroom and dampen a paper towel with water
(not dripping) to blot with, then apply a little makeup powder (that works
well).
- Katie