I love this sub to death a bit. I've spent the last two weeks just lurking and trying to absorb as much information as I can and I'm sure my head is about to explode. With that, I was hoping I could get some advice on my routine.
Some background: I'm almost 30, live in San Francisco, my skin is dry (after reading the sidebar and articles, I do think it's dry rather than dehydrated) and I am prone to a mean cystic pimple or two around my period. Luckily, I have pleasantly discovered that rigidly consistent use of AHA seems to keep them away or minimize the damage it's done. I have some PIH, closed comedones below lip area, and redness around nose from previous cystic pimples. I'm mainly trying to fade the scarring and keep my skin from constantly feeling so dry. My body is so dry (but sweaty) that my optometrists have asked me to take fish oil supplements because they can see the dryness in my eyeballs.
AM Routine: 1. Wash face with water 2. Bioderma Micellar water 3. Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion 4. Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Silk Creme (I'm just trying to finish this up) 5. Nivea Sun Protect Plus Creamy UV Essence Essence or Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel
PM Routine: 1. Mineral oil to take off makeup 2. Acne.org's cleanser 3. Bioderma Micellar water (I have been waiting 15-20 mins after doing this to ph-balance my skin as I have no idea if this is a ph-balancer) 4. Paula's Choice 2% BHA 5. Acne.org's AHA <-- This is running out so I plan to replace it with Cosrx's AHA? 6. Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion 7. A sheet mask if it's that enjoyable time of the week 8. Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Silk Creme 9. Elta MD Moisturizer (running out)
Ponderings/Questions/Help my confused brain please D: -- - I'm waiting for my bottle of OST C20 which I will plug in the PM routine before the BHA, and Benton's High Content Steam Cream and Essence. I'm guessing the Steam Cream goes ... somewhere or in place of the Elta MD Moisturizer? And the Essence after all the AHAs in the evening and before the sunscreen in the AM? (This was the most confusing sentence I have ever read) - Does everything look in the right order? Should I be adding something or rearranging something in the name of happy, moisturized skin? - I was testing PC's BHA on my chin and upper lip area (where my acne can be brutal) and half way through the follwoing days I realized my skin was peeling like CRAZY. I used to use PC's 2% BHA when I was in my late teens and early 20s and never experienced this reaction. I know that my chemistry probably changed, but I'm not sure if I should just give up on the thing, keep trying, or add a different BHA.
Thank you so much to anybody who manages to get through this ramble.