Evaluate my skin regiment please...

After joining this site I found out that there are better products out there for my skin than the "crap" at Walmart.

After some careful consideration i decided to purchase some Kiehl's products.

I ordered these products:
1. facial fuel energizing face wash
2. facial fuel energizing scrub
3. ultra facial moisturizer SPF 15

My skin type is combination. I have a moderately oily forehead and the rest of my face is normal to dry. And i am 28 if that is a factor.

Before using kiehls my face was bland at most. Dull...some smile lines and very faint forehead wrinkles. I dont have severe acne but I will get an occasional zit every now and then.

I have been using these kiehls products religiously for about 3 months and my face i think has gotten worse. The wrinkles on my forehead are getting deeper by the day and so are my smile lines.

Also I am breaking out more and my face looks even more dull and fatiqued.

I get plenty of sleep...drink over a gallon of water a day and exercise regularly so these changes are not being brought on by my lifestyle.

I am tempted to switch products but not sure what I should try. A lot of people rave about the Clinique 3 step system and also about MenScience products. Decisions...decisions...

And also is there any other products/treatments I can add into the mix to improve my skins appearance. I use a cheap St. Ives mask twice a week but i dont notice any difference.

I have read about retin-a, copper peptides, micro-dermabrasion kits, etc...

Any info from you guys would be great.

Thanks!!!

Some of the 'crap' from Walmart is really good! Adding a retinoid as a night cream and decent sunscreen to your regime would brighten up your face, fade wrinkles and deal with breakouts. If you're not prepared to see a dermatologist you can buy an over-the-counter retinoid from Avene or Skinceuticals - both of whom make formulations that rival prescription retinoids. Neutrogena Healthy Skin is another excellent option for those who have never used a retinoid before, it has a good concentration but not so high that it'll irritate your skin.

As for sunscreen, if you're in the US you may want to try the new Olay Regenerist SPF50 which offers great sun protection as well as antioxidants and niacinamide which'll even out your skin tone and fight those breakouts.

That'd be a good base to start from, if you visit my blog and read a couple of posts including Skincare 101 (link below) you can then figure out what else you can add to your routine to achieve the results you want - perhaps a new face scrub or AHA product. My email address is there too if you have any follow-ups.

http://scform.blogspot.com/2009/04/s...r-routine.html

Ive heard about those facial fuel products, mostly good things. Sorry to hear you havent had the same results. I have been using some of that same crap from WalMart, after switching from the notorious proactiv years ago.

I want to also relieve some of the lines as well as lighten up the circles under my eyes, dont know what to use for that though.

Maybe try a different brand?

I use Baxter of California's products and they have been pretty good for me.

Usually the process is like so for me...

-cleanser
-toner
-oil free moisturizer/night cream (depending on time of day obviously)
-scrub (1-2 times a week)
-clay mask (1-2 times a week with the scrub)

First thought is that you're overdoing it and need to cut back and take it easy on your face.
Wrinkles? Well you are getting older. Try a different line. Sephora is good about giving you samples.

Overall a lot of this stuff is overrated so don't waste too much money.

Originally Posted by bankboss

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I want to also relieve some of the lines as well as lighten up the circles under my eyes, dont know what to use for that though.

Try reading through these:

http://scform.blogspot.com/2009/04/eye-treatments.html
http://scform.blogspot.com/2009/04/r...must-have.html

I've used every one of the kiehls products you've listed with great results, except for the shaving cream. I only use Art of Shaving.

The scrub is a powerful one. How often do you use it and how long do you scrub for?

In fact, I've used almost all Kiehls products and find them to be the best, not just for the price-point but better than the pricier labels: clinique, Lab Series, Fresh, Aveda, Biotherme....

Go to your dermatologist and get on accutane! There is really no other way to control oil production. I've been off for over 7 months, and I only use Cerave wash / lotion (walmart crap!) with Retin-A / Accuzone.

If your skin is dull and your wrinkles are getting a little deeper, you might want to consider their Dermatologist Solutions lines, which has a scrub or a peel to renew your skin. I'm currently using the "chemical peel" and it doesn't irritate at all. In fact, my skin got a lot smoother within a week or two (although I still have some post acne discoloration) and I've heard of people having even better results than me. The only part that I don't like is that it never really dries so it may seem uncomfortable going to sleep in it. I haven't tried the scrub yet, but I think it's a more direct and extreme way to go about renewing skin.

For oiliness and acne, I use their blue herbal moisturizer which acts like a mattifier. Its salicylic acid concentration isn't very strong though, so it's not going to be a miracle acne killer without a spot treatment but it's comfortable to wear.

Hopefully, some of this helps, even though you may not be too happy with Kiehl's right now. Luckily, though, they have a great return policy so you can just return your stuff for a 100% refund. I don't know if you bought your products from an actual Kiehl's store but even if you didn't, you could probably exchange them for other things without any question about where you bought it.

In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. After I remove the icepack, I use a deep pore-cleanser lotion. In the shower, I use a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey-almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb mint facial masque which I leave on for ten minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after-shave lotion with little or no alcohol because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm, followed by a final moisturizing "protective" lotion.

Originally Posted by weeks

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In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. After I remove the icepack, I use a deep pore-cleanser lotion. In the shower, I use a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey-almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb mint facial masque which I leave on for ten minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after-shave lotion with little or no alcohol because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm, followed by a final moisturizing "protective" lotion.

Do you like Phil Collins?

I would try Cerave cleanser + lotion if that stuff you ordered doesn't work out. I tried all kinds of crap on my face and just ended up irritating it more than anything. My face seems to prefer the more mild regimen.

thanks for the tips guys. i have ordered some other kiehls products and i really like facial fuel moisturizer spf 15.

i am going to try some menscience products this week...and then i will work on a more drastic measure. like a nice microdermabrasion, peel, etc...

thanks for your help!

The word your looking for is "regimen," not "regiment."

Of course, "poofery" would work too.

Originally Posted by youdee

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Try reading through these:

http://scform.blogspot.com/2009/04/eye-treatments.html
http://scform.blogspot.com/2009/04/r...must-have.html

thanks for the links!