Reddit reviews Stridex, Single-Step Acne Control, Maximum, Alcohol Free, 90 Soft Touch Pads

Without seeing pictures or knowing your skin issues its hard to be specific with recommendations, so I'll try to be as general as possible.

For a beginner, its better to take things slow. I know that when I got into skincare, I wanted to jump into as many things as possible because I just wanted things fixed and I wanted perfect skin, but it doesn't really work that way. If you introduce too many things at once and you break out, it can be hard to find what is responsible for it, and sometimes what's responsible for it isn't even a specific product but rather your skin just simply freaking out from all the changes.

It's hard to give a blanket statement on what ingredients are harmful and beneficial. I find Hyaluronic Acid amazing for my skin, but some people posting on here say it breaks them out. On the flip side, my skin hates benzoyl peroxide, but others find it really helps their acne. Finding this out can be a trial and error process.

If you are looking for a more general overview, one site that really helped me when I was getting started was: https://simpleskincarescience.com/index/

If you are bored one day, or looking for more info try reading it for a while. I'd recommend taking a look at the pH article, and the ingredients articles to start with.

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As for what i would personally recommend:

Face cleanser and moisturizer is the first step, which you already have. Personally I would recommend cerave foaming facial cleanser (if you have more oily skin), or cerave hydrating cleanser (if you have more dry skin). You can find a list of recommended things from other redditors here.

For a moisturizer, I always liked cerave moisturizing cream, but if you are having success with the lotion, I would stick with it. You can find a list of recommended things from other redditors here.

Since you are battling acne, I would try a BHA exfoliant as well. Not only are exfoliants great for your skin, but salicylic acid can help against acne. When using exfoliants it is very important not to over-exfoliate. Your skin will start getting too dehydrated and you will make things worse. This is easy to prevent by simply taking things slow. Exfoliate once every few days to start with, and if things go well, start doing it every other day or every day. I would recommend against exfoliating any more than that (stridex, which I recommend below, wants you to do it up to three times a day! That's way too much).

When using an exfoliant, it is very common to go through a purging period, where all the oil/dirt/impurities under your skin are brought to the surface, and you break out. While this sucks for the short term obviously, it will make your skin much nicer in the long-run.

I would recommend stridex. It's cheap, and its effective. You can find a list of recommended things from other redditors here.

To start with, I wouldn't suggest that you do anything else, especially if you are changing your facial cleanser and moisturizer. Once you have gotten into a routine with your new products, you can always ask again for help.

Some other things to keep in mind to help with your skin are just the every-day habits that you employ. I know for me, getting a consistent amount of sleep is super important. If I start going a few days without my 8 hours, I will break out. Other things that are important are monitoring stress, and drinking a lot of water. If your skin is breaking out as a result of the stress from your relationship breaking up, you might find that your skin goes back to normal after a little while, without doing anything.

Hope this was helpful, and if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Sure!

Step 1: steam your face or a hot steamy shower. Open the pores up! Refrain from any harsh cleansers or scrubbing other than gentle gentle gentle.


Step 2: swipe a stridex pad or any other salicylic acid based toner over the spot. Wait 15 min. It gently dissolves the dead skin layer that is clogging the pore, and begins to break down the layer of oil and crud that is keeping all of the fluid and pus inside.


Step 3: spot treat with Aztec clay mask, mixed with apple cider vinegar. You must mix the betonite clay mask with the Apple cider vinegar, to balance the pH and avoid burning your skin. It smells funky as hell but it is an acne killer, every single person on this thread will agree that it’s amazing for acne. It will draw it to a head quicker. This is great as a full face mask, be aware that it will pulse and tingle intensely as it dries! Your skin will be bright red for 30 min to an hour after removing it.


Step 4: wait 10 min until it dries and carefully peel it off the zit. It may even take the clogged pore top with it, opening it up for extraction — use an extractor tool or pore vacuum and do NOT just go squeeze it. If it does not come to a head repeat this again tomorrow! Do not do the full mask every day, the spot treatment is ok daily only on blemishes. As a full mask it’s best to use it once or maybe twice a week at most, or you risk compromising your lipid/moisture barrier and going through some seriously not fun times. Always follow up with a good oil free moisturizer.

This is the best way to completely drain this blemish, without forcing the pus further into your skin and creating even more breakouts down the line.


All of these products are easily obtained on Amazon, or any major grocer that has a health food section or oriented towards health. I know for a fact that Gelsons, Whole Foods, Erewhon, sprouts all carry the Aztec betonite clay mask and apple cider vinegar. Any chemist or pharmacy will have stridex wipes and benzoyl peroxide & maybe even the extractor tool as well. If they do not have the extractor, pick up some Hydrocollegial bandages as well as small diabetic lancets (Tiny needles used for blood sugar testing) if you don’t have anything you can use at home to poke it with.


Now steam your face for 5 to 10 minutes to open your pores then see if you can gently lance the pimple with a lancet or sterilized small needle. (It must be sterilized and rubbing alcohol for a few minutes first, or you will get an infection.)

Gently pierce it, then allow it to drain and very carefully apply pressure straight down to the sides of the blemish. Do not squeeze directly into it, again super bad. Once you’ve gotten as much out as you can, slap a hydro colloidal bandage on it and sleep with it on. The bandage will suck all of the fluid and pus out, leaving you with a flattened bump in the morning that you can apply a little dab of benzoyl peroxide on. Benzoyl Peroxide is an anaerobic substance, it penetrates all the way to the base of the skin through multiple layers to target acne bacteria. It’s best used as a spot treatment and will fry the crap out of your face. Always use sunscreen after using these medicines!


Products mentioned:

Stridex, Single-Step Acne Control, Maximum, Alcohol Free, 90 Soft Touch Pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074GF1PNL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uGWFDb3Z0AY3M

Aztec Secret - Indian Healing Clay - 1 lb. | Deep Pore Cleansing Facial & Body Mask | The Original 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay - New! Version 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014P8L9W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8GWFDbDHXR0ZP

Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, 16 oz (1 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E3B30WW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xHWFDbXYZFBTS

CHIMOCEE Professional Surgical Blackhead Remover Tools, Blemish and Splinter Acne Pimple Removal Kit, Come Done Extractor Tool for Whitehead, Pimples and Zit Popper Leather Case with Mirror, Pack of 6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072KK5J8K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VHWFDbRHCCA6C


Nexcare Acne Cover, Hydrocolloid Technology, Invisible, 36 count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BRGUNV2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-KWFDbZBFA91H


Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Treatment Gel with Maximum Strength Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Medicine, Pimple Cream for Acne Prone Skin with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide, 1 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NR1YVYU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xLWFDbMR0TMZ0

Most people have luck clearing CCs with AHAs - I like Alpha Skin Care 10% Glycolic Gel. You might see greater results by using a BHA like Stridex alongside your AHA. More stubborn CCs can be treated with retinoids.

It also helps to find out what's clogging your pores and eliminate anything suspicious from your routine. CosDNA is super helpful in flagging potentially clogging ingredients in your makeup and skincare products. Personally I avoid any ingredients that are a "2" or higher, but it all depends on how clog-prone your skin is.

The easiest chemical exfoliant happens to also be one of the least expensive and most popular. It’s Stridex in a red box. You can pick it up at virtually any drug store, grocery market, or general good store as well as online.


Considering your routine, I would suggest using it at night, as the step before your application of aloe vera. Wash your hands and take one pad out of the container. Gently wipe your entire face once over with the damp pad. Wait for it to fully dry. Your face may feel tight and that’s okay. It’s also okay if it doesn’t feel tight. Once it’s completely dry, you can use the aloe vera.

My current routine:
wet face

apply CeraVe Foaming Cleanser(https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Foaming-Facial-Cleanser-Washing/dp/B01N1LL62W/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1543554976&sr=1-4&keywords=cerave%2Bfoaming%2Bfacial%2Bcleanser&th=1)

After having applied cleanser to all of face I use this brush for approximately one minute anad then I rinse my face with water(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071DZG44Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

After using the brush/finishing the cleansing process I use one of these pads and I apply it to all of my face
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074GF1PNL/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1#customerReviews)

I let my face air dry for like 30 seconds after using the stridex pad and then I apply this moisturizer lotion (https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-Hyaluronic-Ceramides/dp/B000YJ2SLG/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1543554993&sr=1-5&keywords=cerave+moisturizing+cream)

I believe that I need to start using some sort of sunscreen, no? If so what should I go for? I don't really know where to look for them just by searching "facial sunscreen" on amazon. (https://www.amazon.com/EltaMD-Clear-Facial-Sunscreen-Broad-Spectrum/dp/B002MSN3QQ/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1543555607&sr=1-4&keywords=elta+sunscreen) This one looks good based on the reviews but 1.7 ounces for $25 is kinda pricey considering that I'll be using the same amount of sunscreen as I would for my lotion. I have normal skin. Any advice on my current routine or input on what sunscreen I should get that's great for the price would help. Thanks.