Acne
 

I can't believe I'm still dealing with this at almost 40 but I digress. I had a flawless face up until adulthood, you'd think it would be the other way around.

Anyway, with working out comes sweating which causes me to break out around my hair line. Any suggestions? I'd rather have a few zits over fat but having neither is ideal. ;)

I use Neutrogena acne face wash which works pretty good until I started working out. I used to use Acne-Free cleanser (similar to Procativ) but it didn't seem to work as well, however Acne-Free used to make a foaming face wash that worked wonders but of course they quit making it. :/

I use am exfoliating face wash a couple times a week to really get deep down into my pores (this one: http://www.stives.com/Facial-Product...Apricot-Scrub/). Works for me!

^I use that apricot scrub as well in conjunction with the acne soap a few times a week. :)

Mmm, it smells so yummy! :D

I do not consider Acne Free similar to Proactiv at all. I know it's meant to be a cheaper alternative but it has never cleared up an outbreak for me. I believe it might hold it off for awhile but if my skin is going through a Thing, Proactiv is what gets it for me.

I am absolutely hesistant to BUY the product, simply because I think the company has the most shady business practices I've ever seen but their product does work wonders for me. My wonderful boyfriend bought it for me last year when I started having a major outbreak on my face and chest (I normally have pristine skin but every couple of years I have a huge mess going on). I warned him to cancel it right away or else they will continue to send it. He canceled it. It showed up again along with a charge. Whatever, I was still using it so we kept it. He canceled it again. It showed up again. He canceled it again but told his bank to block Proactiv from charging him because he canceled it three times already, and it showed up. Again. Then Proactiv started coming after him about the money he owed them. They basically ignored the fact that he tried to cancel it three times. So yeah, super shady business (I know others who have dealt with this) but product that really works. And you can get it for like $20 when they do a promo thing.

If I'm having a lot of breakouts, the real Proactiv cleanser/toner/lotion combo works the best for me. I only use it once a day, because if I use it at night, it leaves splotchy bleach spots on my pillowcases. :(

Otherwise, my daily routine is a salicylic acid foaming wash (currently Philosophy on a clear day, but it's been discontinued :( ), salicylic acid toner and serum (Boots, less than $10 at Target), and retinol at night. Philosophy used to have an On a Clear Day retinol, too, but they discontinued the whole line. I just started using Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM. It's expensive ($65 at Sephora), but it's a not too oily liquid, and I only need 5-6 drops, so it should last a long time.

If you decide to go for the Proactiv, you don't have to get it from the infomercial company. QVC sells it - that's where I used to get mine. You have to pay shipping, but you can send it back within 30 days, even it's almost gone. One of my local malls has a Proactiv vending machine - just swipe your credit card and pick what you want. I love their toner, and was just about to buy it at the vending machine when I discovered the Boots toner.

Good luck - it's work figuring out what your skin likes, but worth it.

This may sound strange, but I use a surgical wash that has isopropyl alcohol in it. You can get it at any drugstore. It has really worked miracles for my face!

Another thing that really works for me is tea tree oil. I put a drops on a cotton pad with a few drops of water and I use it as a toner. Clears stuff up right away!

acne is terrible :C

Are you sure that it's your workouts causing the breakouts?

My cleansing routine (I have normal/dry skin) consists of alternating Origins Checks and Balances face wash (With or without Clarisonic) and using castor oil and steaming off with a wash cloth. Castor oil is anti bacterial and draws impurities out from the skin like a clay face mask does. I imagine it's not something everyone wants to try but I've been using it a few times a week for 7 months and I wouldn't be without it now.

I like to use Olays Classic Beauty Fluid as my main moisturizer as I don't like to wear SPF all the time. I really like Simple's light moisturizer but for some reason, if i use Simple moisturizers too much they congest my skin a bit.

I've recently been trying out Origins Clear Improvements face mask which I'm really liking. Clay face masks in general are great imo.

I don't use any scrubby exfoliaters etc, I used to and ever since I stopped my skin has become a lot more calm and less sensitive. The only manual exfoliation my face gets is minor stuff from my Clarisonic and wash cloth.