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I started getting pimples when I was around 12 years old. I remember Maria (my sister) calling me “pizza face”. I have had acne ever since. I never really learned how to properly take care of my face when I was younger.
I remember using Oxy-Clean and other harsh acne products. I would wash my face, trying to get all the oil off. My face was very oily. I developed a terrible habit of picking, this made my acne worse.
I now have scars on my face from the years of picking I did. I felt lost, I had no idea how to treat the problem. I would wash and pick, my face was always irritated and inflamed, which I know now, leads to more pimples.
This would make me feel defeated and disgusted with myself. It was a never ending cycle. Nothing helped, I tried different cleansers, nothing made a difference (looking back, I know I could have done more).
If I could go back I would have:
- used a gentle cleanser morning and night
- not picked or touched my face
- used some oil blotting paper during the day
- drank lots of water
- used a clay mask every few days
- nourished my skin with an oil free moisturizer
Oh if only I could go back in time. I am sure I would have still had acne, but it would have been minimized and I wouldn’t be left with as much scarring. I often wonder if my adult acne is from all the damage I did to my skin in my youth.
I am now 32 and I still have acne. It has subsided a bit over the years, I am not as oily as I was in my teens and early 20’s, but the acne has not left. I always have an under-layer of inflamed skin and at least 5 – 10 active pimples on my face. I have tried tea tree oil and lavender oil, I have done clay masks. They help, but it’s not enough.
About a year ago I was at my wit’s end. I was so tired of having acne, I just wanted my face to look normal. I reached out for help.
My sister told me about chemical exfoliates and the website www.acne.org. At this point in my life I had ditched the chemical products for a decade, I had eaten organic for that long too. I do think that my healthy diet helped my skin but it never totally cleared. I was willing to try anything, I didn’t care if it was a chemical anymore.
So I followed the regimen at acne.org. It called for washing your face in the morning with a sensitive skin cleanser and then putting benzoyl peroxide lotion (this is the lotion I use) on your face. You then apply an oil-free moisturizer (I actually use facial oils as moisturizers) to combat the drying effect of the benzoyl peroxide. You do this again at night before bed.
After about a week my face got used to the benzoyl and after about 2 weeks my face was clear! I couldn’t believe it, I hadn’t seen my face like that in 20 years! I felt like a million bucks. I could be around people and not feel like all they saw were my zits.
I love it, I love how my skin looks. The only problem is I am now a slave to it. If I don’t use benzoyl peroxide every morning and night, I start to get pimples again. I don’t mind having one or two blemishes, it is better than what I used to have, but I hate that I may have to use this product for a long time.
I also worry, because benzoyl peroxide can speed aging and lead to cancer, plus all the other nasty ingredients in most benzoyl peroxide lotions are toxic (luckily I found the lotion I now use, which is free of these chemicals). It is a love/hate relationship. I love the way my skin looks, but I hate knowing that I am putting toxins on my face.
I am at a loss and don’t know what to do. I want to use natural and organic on my skin but I want my acne to go away. Is there anything out there that does that? Update May 2017 – I did find something that works 😀 See below for more info.
I want to find an alternative to the benzoyl peroxide. I need something that goes deep into the pores and cleans them out, like the benzoyl does. I am thinking of trying to use a clay mask mixed with apple cider vinegar every day. I will combat the drying with a moisturizer. If it works, I will let you know!
Update March 2016 – I am still using benzoyl peroxide to control my acne. I tried to go off of benzoyl a couple of times. I tried using a clay mask mixed with honey and vinegar 3 times a day, but this did not work. I also tried a product called MooGoo Blemish Cleansing Cream which is a great product (they make amazing shampoo and conditioner) but it didn’t clear my skin.
I am so thankful for all the wonderful and helpful comments that people have left on this post. I have been asked what my routine is so I will share it with you here.
My Current Skin Care Routine:
- Wash with an organic cleanser ( I am using this one right now)
- Gently pat my face dry with a clean towel
- Apply benzoyl peroxide lotion ( I use a paraben and formaldehyde free lotion that you can get here)
- Wait a few minutes
- Apply my facial oil or balm ( I am using this and this right now)
- In the day, if I plan to go outside, I apply a sunscreen ( I am loving this one right now)
And that is it! A simple routine that keeps my skin clear.
Update May 2017 – I have gone off of benzoyl peroxide! To make a long story short, I was having problems with my lips getting dry, itchy, and swollen. For months I was dealing with this problem and I assumed it was the benzoyl peroxide that was causing it. I contacted many online experts, as well as my doctor and no one thought it was caused by the BP. I was still convinced, so I went off of BP and bought a bunch of makeup to cover the acne I knew I would end up with.
It was back in April when I quit BP, and I am still off of it. I decided to utilize this break to try out a natural skin care line that is formulated specifically for adult acne. a skin care line called Moss. I have been using Moss for a month now and it seems to be working! It isn’t the same as BP in that it doesn’t work as quickly, but it is lessening my breakouts and helping my skin be its healthiest. Moss is supporting my skin to heal itself and I can see that my under-layer of inflammation is going down and the amount of large pimples I get is decreasing.
To go back to my lip issue, I have recently learned what the problem was, I have developed a sensitivity to beeswax! I know now that it was not the BP that was causing my lip issue (though I have my suspicions that BP played a role in the development of my sensitivity to beeswax by damaging my skin barrier). I have been off of BP for a month and have not put a single thing on my lips. About a week ago, I decided to wear lipstick, right away my lips got itchy. The next day I put on a homemade lip balm, and my lips got itchy again. The next day my lips were swollen and irritated. So now I know what the problem was, it was all the lip balms and products I was using with beeswax in them.
Even though I now know that BP was not what I was reacting to, I still don’t really want to go back on it. I loved how BP cleared my skin, but I didn’t like knowing that it was essentially stripping my skin of its protective barrier. For now I am happy to be using Moss and I am ecstatic that it is slowly but surely clearing up my skin.
My Current Skin Care Routine:
- Wash my skin with Moss’ Revele oil cleanser or CLNS Green tea cleanser.
- Pat my face dry
- Apply Moss’ Potenci moisturizer in the am
- Apply sunscreen in the am
- In the evening I apply Moss’ Illumina exfoliating treatment and Potenci moisturizer.
Tell me please, does anyone have experience with acne? Can you recommend products that have worked for you?
Yours In Beauty,
Andrea
Hi.
This is a great article that stresses the importance of what we put onto our skin. Its so nice to see that you are focussing on subtle and organic products that are actually going to do positive things for our bodies and the environment.
We agree with your ideas about using oil free and organic cleansers.
Best wishes and lovely website.
Lovane and Jade
Thanks so much!
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for this post. I too suffered from acne and I wanted to share some of the things that I did and continue to do in order to maintain great skin as well as good health: Drink a warm glass of water with lemon 1st thing every morning to help regulate the ph in your body. Note: Wait 30 minutes after you brush your teeth to drink you lemon water and use a straw because lemon is highly acidic and it can erode part of the outside enamel layer of your teeth. It’s actually recommended that you drink lemon 1st thing in the morning and then waiting 30 minutes to brush your teeth but some people would rather brush their teeth first thing in the morning. I just started drinking Turmeric Golden Milk (using almond milk), because I hear that Turmeric is also great for skin. I drink 8 to12 cups a water a day! No refined foods at all. No gluten. No sugar. No dairy- use almond milk or coconut milk instead.
I wash my face with Black African Soap (day and night). I have used an Apple Cider Vinegar toner in the past and that is also wonderful! I do 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 distilled water, I store the mixture in a glass bottle in the refrigerator and apply all over my face with a cotton pad or ball day & night. Lastly, I use a moisturizer day and night after I have applied my toner. I use jojoba oil and I purchase it from http://www.heatherloraine.com/item.php?cat=20 I have the golden jojoba. After I started incorporating the skin regimen I described above, my skin changed drastically!!! My acne disappeared, including my redness and my scars have been healing! I also had rosacea and these natural products saved my skin. Also, use a good sunscreen. Protect your skin from the sun! Here are some good options! http://kimberlysnyder.com/blog/2013/10/16/how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-sun/ Also, ACV is not only good to use topically, but you should also consume it. I dilute 1-2 tablespoons of ACV in a glass of warm water and drink it 1-2times a day. SO good for your skin and overall health, once again. The best ACV is http://bragg.com/products/bragg-organic-apple-cider-vinegar.html You can find it at Whole Foods or Vitamin Shoppe. I sleep on a clean pillow case EVERY night. And I know this one is challenging, but please do not touch your face or pick as much as you possibly can – this habit will spread the bacteria and it continues to be a never ending battle. Also, it is important to try to use non-toxic makeup if you use any. Read more about it here: http://kimberlysnyder.com/blog/2012/07/12/10-best-non-toxic-beauty-productstips-to-get-your-summer-glow/ I actually use Vapour Organic Soft Focus Foundation and I love it, it’s very natural.
Please take a look at Kimberly Snyder’s blog- She has written many posts in regards to good health and its connection to acne, just type in keywords such as “acne” on the search engine and you’ll see several posts. She lists foods to avoid and what is also good to fight acne. I have incorporated a lot of them and it has helped me tremendously. Note: The key is do best you can and be ok with it! Don’t stress. Quite honestly, once I accepted what I looked like during my dark moments and stopped thinking about my acne and stressing and feeling depressed and anxious over it, I stopped breaking out. It was really that simple and miraculous!!! I was just left with dealing with healing the redness, scars, and the remaining pimples I had through eating good healthy foods, exercise, and good products for my face. Focus on healing instead- both INSIDE and out.
I hope this help out! I think you are a beautiful person, inside and out and I admire you for sharing your story with all of us. Thank you!
Gabriela
Thanks so much for your very informative comment Gabriela! I will have a look at Kimberly Snyder’s blog 🙂 I would love to try black african soap and Apple Cider Vinegar on my face. My diet is pretty good, I avoid processed food. I have yet to try to avoid gluten and dairy, I do only consume sprouted grains and farm-fresh milk.
I drink water, though I could probably drink more. I do have issues with picking my skin, and obsessing over any pimples I get.
I also love Vapour Organic’s foundations. I would love to try the soft focus one, I have only tried their luminous one (you can read my review for it here)
Hi! I have cystic acne on occasion so I started to do some research. I found Vasseur skin care out of San Diego CA. Her products changed my skin completely. I ordered the clear skin kit. It completely changed everything for me, plus her ingredients are organic and safe for the skin. I have recently added in a few serum’s and enhancing creams and I have never been happier. Go check out her site and read some of the reviews. After all, the reviews are what convicted me to take the leap. Good luck with your skin care journey. You will find your way. It just takes time.
M
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Michelle 🙂 I will definitely go and check it out! Anything to help my acne would be a blessing.
Much Love,
Andrea
I have a similar skin background to you. I started breaking out early on (genetic – both my dad and brother have the same skin). I used BP for years and unlike you it never really helped much. just made my skin red and irritated. I had to cover the redness with makeup it looked like I was sunburned. I think it also contributed to how sensitive my skin is now. I tend to bad cystic acne on the lower half of my face (chin and jaw, especially before my period), blocked pores etc.
I gave up BP around a decade ago – I wanted to use more natural products and stop my face being so red. But i never found a real alternative for a long time. Then I started using a local (Australian) brand called Moogoo, the cleanser was great for clearing up my skin and I couldn”t use anything else for a long time (It’s like a natural version of Cetaphil). It was only last year I found the Holy Grail BP alternative! The Acne Cleansing Cream. here are the ingredients :
Aqua, Squalene (Olive), Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Standardized Green Tea ECGC), Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Fractionated Coconut), Dimethyl sulfone (MSM Organic Sulphur), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Polysorbate 60 (Food Grade Emulsifier), Resveratrol (Japanese Knotweed Extract), Piroctone Olamine, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Allantoin, Whey Protein, Coconut Acid, Palm Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (Stabilised Vitamin C), Tocopheol (Natural Vitamin E), Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract.
http://www.moogoo.com.au/acne-cleansing-cream.html
I know, it looks like just a regular moisturiser and the oils are not idea for acne skins either! But I started using it a tiny bit twice a day and the redness went away, my skin was softer, and it pretty much shrinks acne overnight. Moogoo actually markets the cream as a BP alternative too. I have heard some people say it does nothing for active acne but prevents it. But it does help my active breakouts.
It is rather heavy for oily skin in the daytime and especially in summer. I started using it at night only, and my skin was super clear last year. People at work were asking me what I was using on my skin. last summer I got more adventurous and tried other organic skin care brands. Then I learned about using high linoleic oils for acneic skin types. (I still got clogged pores and breakouts on my chin once a month).
I bought some rosehip oil and stopped using my beloved ACC. I liked the rosehip oil, it did help clear up my pores, but my skin can get irritated easily (especially in winter) and it was constantly red this winter just from washing it. I started using my ACC again (not every day as i think overuse does clog my pores a bit) and overnight the redness faded and it started drying out my breakouts.
Currently I am using Yuli Cell Perfector at night (to help with scarring) and I use a high linoleic oil over it (Currently Sunday Riley Artemis). Most nights I will mix in a small bit of ACC with the oil (I am thinking it will balance out the oleic oils in the cream). Some nights I skip the ACC altogether when my skin is behaving. I also use it to spot treat pimples and old red marks twice a day (it really does fade them).
The Acne cleansing cream doesn’t work for everyone though. i heard 2/3 people found it useful. I bought a bottle for my brother and he said it actually broke him out and made his skin worse. (he went back to his BP – I don’t know what else I can get him to try).
It’s only $18 AUS too, so thats not bad.
Anyway, sorry for the super long e-mail. But this cream really helped me. I wish it was available when I was a teenager. I think Moogoo have stockists in the US now too(if you decide to try it).
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions,
Rebecca.
I am so happy to hear that you found an alternative that works. You sent me this comment at the perfect timing, actually.
I have had to stop using BP recently, because my eyelid started breaking out in a rash, so I am really needing to try something else.
I actually cried, because I had to give up BP. I hate having acne. I am sure you feel the same 🙂
I so hope that I can buy this Moogoo cream!
I really am grateful for you reaching out.
I don’t miss the BP at all. I should have given it up sooner when it didn’t work – i just thought my acne would get even worse if I didn’t use something. I’m sorry you had to give up something that was working for you.
I just wanted to mention a lot of things have contributed to my skin improving. But the Moogoo cream was the most notable thing. i am still amazed how well it works and no matter how long I study the ingredients I can’t figure out what’s in it that helps so much!
I also eat better, exercise regularly and am in the process of fine tuning my skin care routine. i went a bit nuts this year and tried so many new things, my skin was overwhelmed. I am better off going a bit minimal and not using too many layers of products. And one new thing at a time!
Something else that might benefit you – I discovered a book called “Skin Cleanse” by Adina Grigore this year too. She suffered a lot of skin problems so she just gave up all skin products and just washed with water and that’s it. I did this in July (Australian Winter) when my skin was breaking out and oily and irritated. I was dry at first so I moisturised with just rosehip oil. I was shocked how the redness went away and my normally oily by noon skin was not oily by 8pm! I still do this once in a while if my skin is playing up or irritated (red and blotchy). When you leave your skin alone it can get balanced and heal. Then you add back your products slowly and you can see what works and what doesn’t. I found I need a high linoleic oil because my sebum does get sticky on it’s own. I also need to exfoliate and I need my Moogoo creams because breakouts just heal quicker with it.
Ya, I wonder what makes the Moogoo cream work. The squalene is good for skin, as well as the sulphur and green tea. The oils are good acne oils, the coconut derivitives of Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride concern me a bit, because they are supposedly pore clogging.
High linoleic acid oils are supposed to be great for breakout-prone skin. I have been using hemp oil lately. I have used Argan oil, but it is expensive. I have only been using BP for 2 years. It worked, but there were things I hated about it. I hated having to wear a sunscreen, because I hate wearing stuff on my face all day. I also found BP made my skin more sensitive. I got major chapped lips when I went camping and now my eyelid is itchy all the time. I would love to find a more gentle alternative.
I have heard that reducing your carb intake is good for acne, and using herbs that support liver detox. Dandelion tincture and Milk Thistle tincure are great for that.
What is your current daily skin care routine? How old are you? ( I am 33).
I have wanted to try Yuli’s products, what is the skin perfector like?
I have heard of using just water to cleanse your face and not applying any products, I should give it a try. A few years ago I tried the oil cleansing method, I used Castor and jojoba oil every night. It didn’t seem to make my face any better.
I have never heard of Sunday Riley Artemis, what is that?
That is all the questions I have for now, I look forward to hearing from you 🙂
Andrea
I am 34. My skin hasn’t changed since I was a teenager (is that good or bad?) Currently I am using lots of Yuli products (started in August). I mainly use Halcyon to wash AM and PM. Tone with the Panacea (this is a great toner – it actually makes my skin less oily – not sure how, though). I tried a small bottle of the Cocoon Elixir (for sensitive skin) too and it didn’t do much for me. Mostly I use a toner to re wet the skin for oil application. Day time I use Yuli Liquid courage (you will like it has Jojoba and Argan) it is super light and my 7ml sample bottle is not even half used. I dab a bit of the Moogoo on any old red marks or acne. I live in Queensland so it’s getting very warm and sunny now so I have to use sunscreen. I mix Andalou CC spf 30 (sensitive line) with Juice Beauty oil free moisturiser SPF 30. They both have 20 percent zinc so I figure that’s ok. I don’t like wearing sunscreen either, but I will burn and it seemed to have kept my skin young looking I guess. I don’t wear foundation anymore so this is the closest thing.
PM if I wear sunscreen I massage with Pumpkinseed oil, wipe with a natural makeup remover towel, then double cleanse with Andalou 1000 roses foam wash. tone with Panacea, apply Yuli Cell Perfector. I was leaving it at that, but I contacted Yuli and they said you can add oil or cream 20-30 seconds after application. I then add my high linoleic oil – Sunday Riley Artemis with some Moogoo ACC (or not if I don’t need it). Sunday Riley isn’t actually a natural brand, but she has four oil blends that everyone likes (green and non green types). I also have Juno – it’s full of seed oils for antioxidants and no essential oils. The Artemis has black cumin seed oil, plus some citrus essential oils (so I don’t use this when I go out during the day).It’s marketed for congested, breakout prone types. It’s very thick, but it’s also dry and absorbs completely. My skin loves it right now – even the essential oils.
I was using Rosehip oil since the beginning of the year but my skin doesn’t like it as much now. Maybe my bottle needs throwing. I still have some Pai Rosehip oil left to use at night. I am also waiting to try a few other high linoleic blends I bought, but I have to do it carefully so my skin doesn’t rebel.
I have used the Cell Perfector over a month now (probably too early to see real results). I do like it, it feels nice, none greasy and contains some great ingredients and doesn’t break me out. It also make my skin look smoother and less red at night. I think the texture of my cheeks are improving. I am going to finish my bottle and decide then whether to repurchase or not. If you have scarring it’s worth a try (but expensive!).
I mask twice a week (Yuli Pure, May Lindstrom or plain rhassoul) and use acid twice a week (my skin doesn’t like manual exfoliation). Just a mandelic acid from Garden of Wisdom.
In winter I was washing with water a lot – skin was so irritated. But as it get’s warmer I can tolerate my cleanser better and I’m liking the Halcyon a lot. (But so expensive).
I suggest for you – do the water only thing now when you are giving up BP anyway. Use your favorite oil if you feel too dry. My skin was actually fine by day 3 all on it’s own. Manually exfoliate if you get scaly. This might make the transition go better. If you can find the Moogoo cream, use it daily as a moisturizer at night (alone or mixed with your face oil), spot treat during the day. If your skin isn’t irritated or sensitive, you probably don’t need to skip your cleansers like I did. It improved my skin straight away. If you do get clogged pores, just skip a few days maybe. Or just spot treat if you want to ease in slowly. I love the calming effect it give my skin so that’s why I use it all over.
Diet – I think that some people get clear skin cutting out carbs and dairy and whatever (you probably have to try it and see). But many years ago I got into healthy eating to lose weight and got a little bit crazy with calorie counting and daily exercise. I just ate low GI, kept eating dairy and increased fruit and veg. My skin got really clear too, but I just got too thin. I was still wearing makeup and sunscreen every day. I figure dairy and carbs aren’t my enemy.
I tried OCM years ago too! I break out if I don’t wash the oil off right. All that steaming and hot washcloth rubbing was too much on my sensitive skin. And i have to use high linoleic oil. But it’s good to keep the pores clean. I just use oil now to remove sunscreen.
Last thing, I recently found a brand that specializes in natural products just for acne. It’s called Moss Skincare (http://mosskincare.com/). I bought the Clear resolution face oil (high linoleic) to add to my pile of oils to try out. But the owner has a blog you might like she talks about supplements, diet and treating different types of acne. She’s also an acne sufferer herself.
Well, hope this helps.
Best of luck,
Rebecca
Thanks for sharing all this info Rebecca! I am going to get my hands on some MooGoo Cleansing Cream, I will let you know how it works!
Hi Rebecca, just wanted to give you an update. I managed to get some Moogoo cream. I used it for a couple weeks, with no other products, but my acne just came back again 🙁 I did seem to make my face look better than it would have if I wasn’t using anything, but I was still breaking out. So, I went back to BP (sigh). I am happy I have something that works, I just wish it wasn’t a chemical.
Hi,
Sorry for the late reply. I’m sorry you’re back on the BP. Are you still using the ACC aswell?
I have a few more suggestions for you – The moss skincare line I mentioned before. You should have a look at the web site. Unless you are sensitive to essential oils, the products are quite nice.
Also, have you ever tried Pai skincare? I was having skin troubles back in November – red, irritated and breaking out (I was using too many different products again) so I went super minimal and just used some Pai cream cleanser, and Pai moisturiser (am) and Halcyon cleanser with pai rosehip oil to moisturise (PM). I bought a Pai sample pack a while back and never used it. They also have a Blemish Serum you use at night (I am on my second bottle), and a mask. Three weeks on my skin is much calmer and clearer and I don’t seem to need my ACC much lately, even in humid Summer. I am also using Moss Zen oil to spot treat (non irritating even for my fussy skin). I had to give up all my fancy face oils for the time being, but I am trying to stick to this routine.
I know it seems like I’m just throwing more products at you, but I think you have to try things to find what works. And give them long enough to work, unless they break you out of course! I think that ACC is great but pore clogging alone.
You could also give the Skin Cleanse a go as a kind of skin detox- worked well for me.
I hope you can give up BP for good. Good luck,
Rebecca
Thanks for all of your recommendations Rebecca 🙂 I have not tried much of Pai skincare, just their rosehip oil and a moisturizer. I did check out Moss skincare and I really want to try some of their products.
I have been using the Moogoo Acne Cleansing Cream in conjunction with the BP (I like the antioxidants it contains). I have recently learned that antioxidants can help combat acne. I think I have figured out how Moogoo’s ACC works, they use antioxidants to combat the acne. So, what happens in acneic skin, is that the squalene in our pores gets oxidized and becomes extremely comedogenic. Acne-prone skin does not contain enough antioxidants to combat the daily oxidation, and oxidized squalene results. If we can add more topical antioxidants, we can stop the squalene from oxidizing.
I know that experimenting is the best way to find products that work. I will experiment again, but for now I am using the BP because it works.
Hi again,
I guess if you have to use BP the ACC will keep the irritation down. I suppose I am not using it as much now because the Pai cleanser keeps my skin from getting red after washing.
I was using the Moss Clear Resolution oil and salvation balm for a few months with good results. I plan on introducing them back eventually. You should definetely give them a try.
If I hear about any other products, I will let you know 😉
Rebecca
Thanks so much Rebecca! Your help is much appreciated 🙂
Hi Andrea! The thing that has really helped control my acne has been sulfur. It’s reallyyy strong but also pretty natural! I typically use sulfur soap morning and night and then spot treat with sulfur ointment. You can purchase different percents of sulfur in your soap- the highest is 10% I think. I started out with the 5% sulfur amount but that didn’t help as much so I switched to the 10% and that’s where I saw the most improvement. The spot treatment is great too- it helps quickly get rid of existing acne. I was surprised by how fast my existing acne went away- it was the most effective spot treatment I’ve honestly ever tried. For the sulfur soap, I use Braunfels Labs 10% Sulfur Soap and for the spot treatment I use De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment 10% (maximum strength). The sulfur soap is completely vegan and I’m not sure if the ointment is vegan but it is paraben free. I typically just buy these straight from Amazon.
Also, hormone balancing and cutting out dairy have helped me a lot too and I’ve heard probiotics are great for you skin also. 🙂
Anyways, thanks and hope this really helps!
Thanks for sharing your story Callie 🙂 I have not tried sulfur soap, but I have heard of sulfur being used to treat acne. I will have to give it a try, might be better than the benzoyl peroxide 😀 It looks like these are really affordable products. Braunfels Labs 10% Sulfur Soap is only $7 and De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment 10% is only $8!
Hi Andrea, I’m so sorry to read about your journey. Acne is the worst, and I am pretty much in the same place as you – I’ve been using all-natural for ages, but am getting pretty desperate I’d be willing to try anything 🙁 I’ve recently just purchased a 2% salicylic product, hopefully that will help because I really don’t want to use BP either. Are you still using it? Could you tell me if you’ve found anything else that helps?
Hugs. You are not alone, and for what it’s worth you’re still really beautiful 🙂
Thanks for your kind comment Denise 🙂 Yes I am still using BP, it is the only thing that works. I tried a few other products recently but they didn’t do the trick. I can’t tell you how much better my life is when I don’t have a face full of pimples. I struggle everyday with the fact that I am using a chemical on my face, but the results are too important to me. My quality of life is better, I feel more confident and I feel like I can go out in public without feeling ashamed. I haven’t tried just using salicylic acid, but I have thought of giving it a chance someday. I am not sure if it would be enough for me, because it gets washed off, rather than left on. I should try it though. I have also thought of trying sulfur soap, but again, I haven’t gotten around to it.
Even though I am using a chemical on my face, my skin feels so soft. My skin feels like it is better condition now than when I wasn’t using BP. I attribute this to all the facial oils I have been using as moisturizers. I could never have used facial oils when I had acne.
If you do decide to try benzoyl, I have a product recommendation: Skin By Pom BENZD, it is a paraben free benzoyl peroxide lotion that I use. You can get it on Amazon.
I know you may not want to consider this but accutane saved my skin. My acne was heridetary as well and starting from 15 I had extremely oily skin coupled with regular and cystic acne. I literally tried thousands of dollars worth of creams and pretty much everything under the sun. Doctors even tried specialty acne compounds from the pharmacy and nothing worked. Yes it is extremely potent, but you work closely with your doctor (report any changes in mood etc)and you have to go for blood work to monitor your liver and cholesterol so if there is any sign that something is amiss in your body they will stop treatment immediately. I had some hair loss and dry peeling skin, and had to go get blood work which I hate but let me tell you what i got out of it was worth EVERYTHING. Smooth normal toned skin, no thick layer of oil after an hour of washing my face. After spending years with low confidence and painful skin I was free. No more waking up and running to the mirror to see what has cropped up on my face while I was sleeping. I could do sleepovers and workout without having to slather on makeup ! I didn’t realize how depressed I was and how I held myself back until after I had ‘normal’ skin.
You are still using a harsh chemical (Bp) and may continue to do so to maintain results. Or, you can do 6 months of oral treatment and be done, possibly for life (my skin has been great for 12 years and counting) and never have to slap on another chemical again. I now use plain ground quick oats to wash and it’s the best gentle skin cleanser there is.
Again I know it’s a serious drug but my doc said nothing outside of accutane will touch cystic acne, (and my derm is one of the best in Canada). I’ve been on both sides of the acne fence now and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. I have no problem with the use of chemicals and drugs when they are used responsibly and correctly. I know what it is like to have acne. I know how much it hindered my self-esteem, how much it held me back from doing what i wanted to do and be who I wanted to be, so I totally get how amazing it is to find something that works! I have not looked into accutane, but I am intrigued now for sure 🙂 I don’t think my acne is as bad as yours was, so not sure if I would want to take that route. That is amazing that you don’t have to stay on it though, I find that to be fascinating. It must change the way your skin behaves. It sounds like quite the ordeal to go through, with all the blood work and such, but I am happy to hear that it worked for you 🙂
LOVE this post! Thank you so much for your post! I’m going to tbe yo your skin care regime, I just ordered the benzd, hopefully it works!
Thanks Crystal 🙂 I hope it works for you too. Let us know the results!
Hi Andrea! Do you do your routine listed above (updated March 2016) morning and night? Or do you just use the BP at night?
Thanks!
I use it both day and night. I have tried to only use it at night, but I start getting breakouts. I pretty much have the same routine now as I did then 😀
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Andrea, if you can believe it, I stumbled on your site looking for more natural ways to deal with acne. I am 65 years old and HAD very bad cystic acne for at least 40 of them. Tried EVERYTHING, every treatment, anything with any hope of working. I went through 5 courses of Accutane. I’m surprised I still have a liver. It would work for awhile and then come back. I can’t use BP because of the redness, itching and burning. Horrible scaring because I, too, am a picker.
Let me say this first……if you don’t need this type of medication, don’t go trying to get a doctor to prescribe it. I would much rather take a natural route (now), but for 40 years…it didn’t matter…just get rid of the acne. I have high blood pressure and was taking a diuretic. One day on acne.org, I noticed that several people had mentioned Spironolactone as working really well. Spironolactone is a diuretic that helps acne, but can only be taken by women since it suppresses the hormone androgen, which men need. Anyway, the next time I went to my doctor, I asked her to change my diuretic to Spironolactone. It was a miracle. No more oily skin, no more acne, scars diminished, hair on my legs thinned out, my breasts firmed back up….basically, I “girled” back up again and don’t look anywhere near my real age. My facial skin firmed up, eyebrows calmed down. It’s amazing. I told my doctors that they could take me off of everything else, but that one I was going to fight for.
Breaking out now because of a new “female” doctor who has decided to add progesterone to the regime because I’m old. It is breaking me out like crazy. No cysts, but acne bumps. And all of this while I’m on Spironolactone and trying to be natural with rosehip seed oil, etc. Its calming down somewhat, but I’m taking myself off the progesterone….rather have the nice clear skin again….it was so nice not to have to worry about it.
Anyway, just a thought.
Hi Joan, thanks so much for sharing your story with us. It must be incredibly frustrating to still have acne at your age! I am glad you found something that works for you 🙂 I actually need to post an update to my journey because I have recently gone off of BP again. I am trying an all natural skin care line that is specifically made for adult acne. It is a luxury, high-performance brand called Moss Skincare. I have been using it for just over a week and I am finding my acne is diminishing! I am super excited because this line is also full of anti-aging compounds and is super nourishing to the skin. The only problem is it is quite expensive, so I have to save up to buy it, but clear skin is worth it to me! You can get Moss online at Alyaka, they have free worldwide shipping 🙂