Monday 23 May 2011

Clear Skin Routine.




I know you're probably thinking I have enough skincare (I really do) but my skin has been particularly bad (as in blemish prone) recently and I needed to find a routine for the next month or so that will help.
I purchased my Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser again as it's a really amazing product which really helps clear up my skin & I've run out recently so it's good to finally repurchase.
I also bought a tub of Sudocrem which is by far the best antiseptic spot treatment for overnight use. For a while I've been using the Sudocrem in the tube, thinking it was the same. I have since found out that it's not the same, it's a cosmetic and not medicated so therefore, a bit useless!
You would think that as it has the Sudocrem name on it, it would also be medicated and the exact same product as in the tub!
If you haven't tried Sudocrem for blemishes before, I highly recommend!

Finally, I also bought this Clinique Anti-Blemish solutions introductory pack for £30 which I think is slightly steep for the size of the products you get but I'm desperate! After cleansing with Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, I use the Clinique Cleansing Foam to get rid of any excess makeup and grime. I like that it's a foam as it's easy to use and quick.
I follow this with the Anti-Blemish Clarifying Lotion, say what you like about Clarifying Lotion (or as I like to call it, paint stripper) after cleansing and washing my face, the cotton pad came back orange which meant my skin was still holding on to foundation and dirt! Lovely.
Anyway, I see that as a sign of a good cleanse so I will be keeping that up. I do find it quite stripping so obviously it's important to follow with a good moisturiser and you will know yourself if your skin feels like it's dry and tight. You may only need to use the Clarifying Lotion a few times a week if you think it's too harsh.

The moisturiser is great, a lot better than the "Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel" which I feel leaves my skin drier than it was. I think moisturisers are better if they're creams, unless you have particularly oily skin (I don't). If you do feel like your skin isn't as hydrated as it should be, you could always try using a hydrating serum underneath your moisturiser or use a heavier moisturiser a few times a week or at night as the Clarifying Lotion can be really drying.

I also use my Liz Earle Clear Skin Kit once or twice a week to help prevent blemishes.

Overall, after one use my skin is a lot clearer! I had a few of those horrible under the skin very painful blemishes coming up which have gone over night! I'll definitely be keeping up this routine for the next few weeks as I think the problem with my skin is that I change my products too much and don't stick to a routine.
Hopefully keeping to these products will give me clearer skin!

What products do you rely on when you're going through a breakout?

26 comments:

  1. Great post - I like to use Oilatum and I have the SBC Propolis gel which is fab for spots at certain times of the month - brings them down straightaway :)

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  2. I've stopped using the Clinique Anti-Blemish products. I always thought "Yes, these are great - anti blemish here we come!" but they completely killed my skin and made everything so much worse! :(

    At the moment, I can't get enough of the Liz Earle Clear Skin Kit. Or the Tea Tree Blemish Gel
    from the Body Shop. <3 x x

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  3. I need to purchase this kit asap, my skin has been so awful ! xo

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  4. Sudicrem sounds like a miracle worker, does it contain benzoyl peroxide?

    I've had same issues for not sticking to a skincare routine- those painful under the skin blemishes were caused because I was switching cleansers and moisturisers too often... So now if I want to try a new product, I always go one at a time! Otherwise my skin will get crazy again, booo...

    xx

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  5. Oh i didn't know about the sudocrem in a tube was different to the tub...not impressed with that. I really need to get a good skincare routine :) xx

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  6. I've been using panoxyl acnegel, i dont actually have acne but it dries your spots out almost instantly!its amazing!and only 2.99 over the counter in boots.
    I worked a boots a few years ago and used to use and abuse that discount,i loved it!x

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  7. This was a great post, I've been having the same problem with my skin, I think part of the problem is I sometimes fall asleep with my makeup on after a night out. However working from home I go through stints of obsessively cleaning and moisturising my face. This week has been one of those times and my skin is a lot clearer already so going to be keeping it up!

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  8. Oh also, YES for Sudocrem, that's what I use on spots as soon as they appear and providing I leave them alone after that it works wonders!

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  9. I have the Sudocrem tube too, thanks for letting me know! What a waste of time that was! xx

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  10. I keep hearing about using Sudocrem on your blemishes, but I've never actually used it, think I might try it! xx

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  11. I love the Clinique Acne Solutions system! I had really bad acne (nearly cystic) last summer and after trying a whole bunch of different things, settled on Clinique's skincare. If you use a moisturizing toner before you apply Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, I find that it really helps to seal in moisture. Alternatively, when your skin calms down (it takes a few weeks for the system to really 'work'), you can switch to using the clarifying lotion every other day to prevent your skin from drying out too much.

    I do want to try some Liz Earle products after reading this post. Have heard great things about them!

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  12. I have so much love for the liz earle cleanser! It really is amazing! So is Sudocrem, apart from I used to slather it on my blemishes and go to bed and wake up in the morning with it in my hair which is NOT a good look haha!
    Rachelle xxx

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  13. Asif the sudocrem in the tube is different! Wondered why it didn't make a difference on my spot! x

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  14. I find that the gel is also drying, however after reading some reviews on the web I found out that the gel is used to 'seal' moisture, so is best used on top of the dramatically different moisturising lotion (which I use daily) and found that using it this way round really helps!

    So use the lotion (it really is the best moisturiser I have ever used, sinks in straight away and doesn't leave your skin feeling dry or greasy!) and then use the moisturising gel on top to seal in the moisture, works great as a skin primer as well!

    Kaylea x

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  15. I'm a massive advocate of sudocream I usually use it after shaving aswell to prevent lumps/bumps and redness I find it really works. I'd love to be able to use clinique stuff but I find it just a little too harsh on my super sensitive skin :(

    Sarah
    http://fashionismyh2o.blogspot.com/
    xx

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  16. Ahh love good old Sudocrem! Seems to be a little miracle worker (most of the time). I really want to try some Liz Earle products as I have heard so much about them. Really great post! x x

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  17. I didn't know that about the sudocrem in the tube, I love it though (the pot version!) and it is a life saver. I've been trying out the tee tree products from Body Shop at the moment, the facial wash is lovely and I don't feel like it strips my skin of oils which is good. I am also trying the blemish fade night lotion, which is meant to help fade spots/scars and it is AMAZING, you can see the difference after one use so I would definitely recommend!

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  18. ooohh thanks for letting me know the tube of sudocrem isn't the same as the tub! i just bought a tube cos it was easier to throw in my makeup bag but i'll stick with my ever faithful tub! xo

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  19. I've been using the clinique anti-blemish stuff for ages. I'm so prone to break outs and it works so well for me! I agree the toner/clarifying lotion thing is really quite harsh but so good if you don't overuse. Also, i recently discovered using a really small amount of a build-up tanner (of course a face specific one) is really good for drying out my spots. Totally bizarre as you think it'd clog pores even more really! x

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  20. My skincare routine is non existant as I mentioned before, so this is all great to read! I really need to get my bum into gear. Got some nice moisturiser from the dermalogica clean start range, and the rest of their stuff looks lovely too so might give it a try. You tried any of it? My mum uses the stuff from their main, 'older' range, and swears by it. That and bloody Creme De La Mer (could have DIED when she told me how much she spent!) Sudocrem reminds me of my mum and gran, if in doubt - its the answer for EVERYTHING! haha xx

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  21. I swear by Sudocrem! Put it on overnight and wake up to literally flawless skin, so annoyed that the one in the tube isn't the same :( xxx

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  22. I've been tempted to buy the anti-blemish kit for a while but after using the 3 step system for type 3 I was really put off :/
    Sudocrem has never really worked for me :( I think I'll try it again on nasty spots and hope for the best!
    Thanks for this post :}

    xx

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  23. Hmmm I've heard good things about the Liz Earle stuff, may well have to invest in that because I suffer from spots AAALL the time. They're not the big kind but the little pimply annoying kind. Really helpful to hear how other people stay on top of their routines! ♥ Claire @ Jazzpad

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  24. I have actually started suffering from some blemish prone skin recently as well, and am struggling to clear it. In the past I have tried Proactive, but it is super harsh. After a week of use it actually becomes extremely painful to use. I bought the Clinique Acne Solutions a week ago and so far have really liked it. It definitely made it a bit worse the first few days, as it brought everything to the surface, but now after a week of using it, it has started working wonderfully. It is clearing things up beautifully.

    Right now I actually use "Bare Minerals Purify Facial Cleanser" before the Clinique cleanser, and it completely removes my makeup. And it's extremely gentle. Once I finish that off, I definitely will have to check out the Liz Earle stuff. I would try Sudocrem, but being from the US, we dont have it here.

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  25. Aside from getting all the skin products I need, I also go for diamond peel treatments regularly. Works for me!

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