Facial care/beauty products for guys

[kensterz]

Okay, I'm a male and I don't want to sound stereotype or anything, but I decided to post here about my skin problems.

So I was suggested these products by a member on here who is real cool.

Garnier nutritioniste detoxifying gel cleanser for general face washing.
Clean and Clear benzoal peroxide spot treatment to get rid of blackheads and oil on my nose.
St. Ives blackhead/blemish control for my bacne. I have terrible bacne and my friend who suggested these also did too, but since he's used this, after about a month almost totally all of his were gone.

So it seems the St. Ives product will work well, so I'm really not too concerned about that, but of course with the different skin types and all, it might not work, but I'm hoping most likely it will.

My main issue is my nose area: blackheads, giant gaping holes the size of moon craters when these blackheads/oil is emptied, and the crevices on the side of my nose. Here is an example of the type of nose I have:

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/1831/nose1ny6.jpg

The red circle indicates the "crevice" area I'm talking about. There are all these very small white things, lots of them, that kinda look like dandruff or salt grains, but I think it's small fragments of oil, maybe. They feel very dry and I can brush some of it off if I wipe the side with a piece of cloth or something and you can see the white residue on the cloth (yes, it's gross, I know). They usually only appear right after I shower, but an hour later, they seem like they're totally gone!

Same with my blackheads and the white stuff protruding from the pores on my nose where blackheads are not visible. I can almost squeeze them out right after a shower, but an hour later it seems all of the oil has gone back deep down inside the pore, and the blackheads are still a bit visible, except they're furthur inside so I can't squeeze them out.

So I'm going to shop at Target for these 3 products I was suggested, but if anyone has some suggestions it would be nice. I don't like squeezing because it hurts my nose and it feels like it's making my nose bigger, lol. I also don't want to use the Biore strips even though it's a quick solution, I think it has bad long-term effects.

[HeatherAC]

Kensterz, they're whiteheads. Nothing unusual and most of us get 'em. Sounds like you have a pretty good plan of attack, just remember that overscrubbing will not help you and will actually stimulate more oil production.

Make sure you're washing GENTLY in the morning and before bed - and in between as needed. Most of that gunk is oil, dirt, etc......it will never go completely away but you can manage it well with proper maintenance.

Also, check out sephora - they have quite a few higher end skin care lines just for men - you may find that you like those better. Also L'Oreal and Nivea both make men's skincare lines, as does Neutrogena - you can find them in your local Target or Walmart or Walgreens or whatever is in your area.

[arobot]

Exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells, use benzoyl peroxide for the white heads and salicylic acid for the black heads.

Do not wash more than twice a day, it will result in an overactive sebaceous gland which will cause you to break out even more.

[bttrthnb4]

As far as the bacne is concerned, I have trouble with that especially in the summer months, and the Neutrogena Body Clear scrub works really well for me, I also use a daily scrub from Neutrogena called "Oil-Free Acne Wash", it's really cut down on the facial oil for me.

Good luck! Those things suck :(

And don't squeeze them! You'll just end up irritating them more and try not to touch your face, that'll just spread bacteria from your hands further into your skin.

[Xeric]

Try using a face lotion too. When you dry out your skin a lot and dont rehydrate it the body will produce even more oil to make up for your face being dry. Use something with a full spectrum sunscreen in it too.

[LECTER]

Kensterz, they're whiteheads. Nothing unusual and most of us get 'em. Sounds like you have a pretty good plan of attack, just remember that overscrubbing will not help you and will actually stimulate more oil production.

Make sure you're washing GENTLY in the morning and before bed - and in between as needed. Most of that gunk is oil, dirt, etc......it will never go completely away but you can manage it well with proper maintenance.

Also, check out sephora - they have quite a few higher end skin care lines just for men - you may find that you like those better. Also L'Oreal and Nivea both make men's skincare lines, as does Neutrogena - you can find them in your local Target or Walmart or Walgreens or whatever is in your area.


Exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells, use benzoyl peroxide for the white heads and salicylic acid for the black heads.

Do not wash more than twice a day, it will result in an overactive sebaceous gland which will cause you to break out even more.


As far as the bacne is concerned, I have trouble with that especially in the summer months, and the Neutrogena Body Clear scrub works really well for me, I also use a daily scrub from Neutrogena called "Oil-Free Acne Wash", it's really cut down on the facial oil for me.

Good luck! Those things suck :(

And don't squeeze them! You'll just end up irritating them more and try not to touch your face, that'll just spread bacteria from your hands further into your skin.


Try using a face lotion too. When you dry out your skin a lot and dont rehydrate it the body will produce even more oil to make up for your face being dry. Use something with a full spectrum sunscreen in it too.

http://www.lordoflondon.com/stuff/bateman2.jpg

:D

[kensterz]

Exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells, use benzoyl peroxide for the white heads and salicylic acid for the black heads.

Do not wash more than twice a day, it will result in an overactive sebaceous gland which will cause you to break out even more.

The salicylic acid product for my blackheads I'm using now might be a little strong on my skin, but it worked for a while. I broke out tremendously after I started using the product, but as I kept using it, they started to go away. I guess I just had to get used to it.


Try using a face lotion too. When you dry out your skin a lot and dont rehydrate it the body will produce even more oil to make up for your face being dry. Use something with a full spectrum sunscreen in it too.

I heard lotion actually dries your skin out more than it's purpose of moisturizing your skin.

[Xeric]

The salicylic acid product for my blackheads I'm using now might be a little strong on my skin, but it worked for a while. I broke out tremendously after I started using the product, but as I kept using it, they started to go away. I guess I just had to get used to it.



I heard lotion actually dries your skin out more than it's purpose of moisturizing your skin.


depends on the lotion.

[kensterz]

depends on the lotion.

Really? Hmm...what about scented products? I heard scented products are more prone to dryness, too.

[Jordyn]

you have almost the exact same problems i have, and i just went to a dermatologist this wednesday and was prescribed some goodies that work pretty well.

anyway, the sides of your nose...the white flaky stuff...mine looks like im sun-burnt bc of the peeling. i have Seborrhoeic dermatitis on my face, apparently, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seborrhoeic_dermatitis). u can use something like selsun blue on your face, but i use a prescription topical cream, $15 from pharmacy, need a Rx though, called Desonide lotion 0.05.

i used to think it was just the typical dry skin, and ive even bought several brands of those expensive lotions from them cosmetic counters in dept stores, none hv worked.

for the blackheads, again, i was prescribed retin-A ($15 at pharmacy w/ my insurance card). i dont have pimples, i just dislike big pores and blackheads.

so those hv been working well so far. face wash i just use aveeno and moisturizer i use clinique (both cheap stuff)...only those 2 creams i use prescription stuff.

[user9438904904]

O/P...

for oily skin and bacne try pantothenic acid or B5 as its known. b5 is a powder that u ingest. 10g a day for 2 weeks and then drop to 5g a day. it works, trust me. on 500mg of test + 400mg of eq a week u can be sure i know about acne ;) best part is no messy creams, benzyl burning or other stuff. b5 and a fragrance free, non-comedogenic, moisturizer like lubriderm or cetaphil is all ya need. PM me if u want to know where to buy a tub of b5 for cheap. (no i dont work for them :) )

[kensterz]

One of my biggest concerns are side effects and long-term effects or any possible damage at all, either to my skin or internally due to these products...I really like to stay natural, natural as I don't take any supplements and only eat food for my diet. But since showering with normal bar soap doesn't cut it for me, I resorted to using these products. I buy one, and then I have to start buying all this other crap to complement its use, and it turns out my skin problem isn't just a problem, it's multiple issues with blackheads, dry skin, oily skin, blah blah blah. Ah, why do things have to be so complicated.

[arobot]

Cetaphil is amazing, very gentle and doesn't dry you out. I'm on Accutane, which drys you the **** out, so it's the only thing I can use without peeling.

[kensterz]

Cetaphil is amazing, very gentle and doesn't dry you out. I'm on Accutane, which drys you the **** out, so it's the only thing I can use without peeling.

Yea, I've heard a lot of negative comments about Accutane drying out your skin.

[SecondsOut]

anyone else just throw some soap on their face in the shower and call it a day?

[arobot]

Yea, I've heard a lot of negative comments about Accutane drying out your skin.

I don't consider it negative. I remember before I took it years ago my skin was oily as hell. As long as you use a gentle cleanser, there's not much of an issue.

[Xeric]

Really? Hmm...what about scented products? I heard scented products are more prone to dryness, too.

Scented products usually aren't the best, mostly because the products focus is more on making you smell good, and I've seen scented lotion dry out skin a lot so i generally wouldnt go that route. Also using bar soap on your face is horrible for it, bar soap in general is bad because a lot of bar soaps leave a film on your body and you definately dont want that on your face. Unless of course its a cleanser bar for your face.

[Jamie M]

They won't usually prescribe accutane unless you have pretty bad acne.

[lisa+kay]

i just got off a cycle of accutane and i was so happy with the results!!! over the years, my dermatologist had prescribed different antibiotics and creams ... nothing helped. i had "nodular acne". i think that's what it's called. i was really scared at first, when he suggested accutane --- you have no choice but to be scared. they make you read all this material about the possible side effects. it freaked me out!!! but everything was fine. i'm assuming it would help with all kinds of acne problems. you should check it out.