Earlier, I asked you for your favorite ways to clear up acne and you delivered. So far, we've received nearly 60 comments, and in order to make it all a bit easier to digest, I've gathered together a few of my favorites, focusing in on the remedies you recommended most. From ice to benzoyl peroxide to taking the holistic approach, here are 10 of your top treatments.
Cetaphil cleanser is one of those gold standard drugstore products, but I hadn't heard very much about the rest of the brand's line until I saw this review of Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer For All Skin Types With SPF 15 ($11) by reader ajkenyon. Here's what she has to say:
"I love Cetaphil cleanser so much, and I figured the moisturizer must be just as good, right? Well, wrong, unfortunately. I love the SPF, and it does make my skin very soft. But it just doesn't absorb well, and it leaves my face looking shiny and blotchy. I'll definitely keep using the cleanser, but I'm going back to Lush for my moisturizer!"
Found something that's not up to snuff from a brand you otherwise adore? Write it up on our Product Reviews pages, then. While you're there, you can see the thousands of reviews others in the community have written — there's something new every day.
Here’s a classic if I’ve ever seen one. Cetaphil’s Daily Facial Cleanser ($11) is gentle and aroma-free, perfect for anyone with sensitive skin or for those who like creamy formulations. Fifty-nine readers have reviewed this iconic product, as did CRob; and, here’s why she likes it:
I've used Cetaphil for about 12 years and it's been the perfect answer to my problematic skin. I tend to be oily in the Summer, super dry in the winter; I break out occasionally, and have been diagnosed with rosacea. All the while, Cetaphil has been the best solution for treating my cranky skin kindly.
If you have a favorite cleanser, whether it’s a cream, gel, foam, or in bar form, we want to hear what you have to say about it. Head over to the Product Review section, and check out my Cetaphil review, too.
When a tube of Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion ($10) crossed my desk, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I am a huge fan of Cetaphil's cult (and dermatologist) favorite Gentle Cleanser, but on the other, I feared it would probably just be yet another greasy body lotion.
Now that I've used it for five days in a row, I'll admit that I should have given this moisturizer the benefit of the doubt. It is nowhere near "heavy" in consistency, but you can tell while rubbing it in that it is going to hydrate better than your average, watery body lotion. It has a silky-fine texture that forms a light, non-greasy film on your skin that reminds me of a glycerin based hand cream–smooth, yet not slippery. It soaks in pretty quickly, maybe a little too quickly for my liking. Nonetheless, it left my skin feeling very soft.
While I am a big fan of this moisturizer for daily use, I am not sure it is deserving of the "Ultra Hydrating" title. It would probably be better suited for those of you with normal to moderately dry skin, rather than those of you battling severe dryness. It is also worth noting that although the product is "fragrance-free," it has that distinct "non-smell" kind of smell, which Mr. Bella accurately described as that of water balloons. It's not strong, but it's not exactly fragrance-free, either.
I kicked off my series on acne by helping you identify your acne type with this quiz. Now that you know what ails you, it's time to talk about what you can do to help clear up your skin.
Keep in mind, no matter how severe you think your acne is, the best way to start treating it is with the mildest products, working your way gradually towards stronger ones until you find what your skin responds to the best. No need to jump right into retinoids when a gentle cleanser will do!
First up are product and treatment options for those of you with mild acne vulgaris. As a reminder, this is the most mild form of acne, consisting of mostly non-inflamed lesions such as blackheads and small whiteheads. These can pop up anywhere, but they are typically found on your nose, forehead, and chin. If this describes your acne, read more
Planning on taking a tropical vacation this winter? The next time you are at the beach, collect a heaping handful of sand and seal it in a Ziploc bag. When you get home, put the sand in a bowl next to your bathroom sink, and as you are washing your face, add a pinch of sand into your cleanser to create an at-home exfoliator on the cheap.
You shouldn't scrub too hard, and I recommend only using this sand concoction once every other day since you wouldn't want to over-exfoliate and strip your skin of its natural oils. I love this simple recipe; it reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Sandbar Soap, which I still think is such a simple yet smart invention. If you try it at home, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Talk with any beauty editor or dermatologist, and chances are, they'll recommend Cetaphil ($10.47). The gentle line of face cleansers and lotions is favored for its ability to dissolve dirt without overdrying skin. And yet, I never tried the cleanser until this year.
I'm glad I finally did, because I've found an affordable everyday cleanser. The great thing about Cetaphil is that it doesn't overpromise. It just does what, at a basic level, a cleanser is supposed to do: get rid of the dirt and excess oil. I'm not crazy about the scent, which is ever-so-vaguely reminiscent of a doctor's office; then again, the fragrance is pretty soft, so unless you're mentally taking notes (for, say, your Doing Drugstore review), it probably won't bother you. For people with sensitive skin, or anyone who's lucky enough to have low-maintenance skin, you really can't go wrong.
Sure, I love fancy cleansers because their packaging is sleeker, or they have wonderful scents—and truthfully, I'll probably continue to try those out from time to time. But I'll have a hard time finding something as good at this price, that's for sure.
Welcome back to my five-part series on Fantastic Facial Creams for your skin type. (What skin type do you have? Tell me here.) Yesterday, I gave you the best face lotions for oily skin, and today, we'll explore face creams for dry skin.
There are actually two kinds of dry skin: oil dry and water dry. Oil dry means that you don't have enough oil in your skin, so you'll want to use a cream that contains natural oils. Water dry means that your skin is dehydrated and typically manifests itself in fine lines all over your face. If this is your skin type, drink plenty of water and look for a product with a humectant. Here are my recommendations for both types of dry skin.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($9.89) is formulated to soothe and nourish water-dry skin. It has an oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-greasy texture, and it contains humectants that enrich your skin with moisture. It's also great for sensitive skin, since it contains no irritation-causing lanolins or parabens.
For two more fantastic facial creams for dry skin, read more
Welcome back to Model of the Week. This week's magnificent model is Malibu native Caroline D'Amore. As a young girl, D'Amore studied ballet and jazz, and she credits dancing with giving her the confidence to start modeling. By age 12, D'Amore had fallen in love with being on stage, but her family wanted to protect her from "the biz" until she was older. At age 17, D'Amore moved to the Big Apple to begin modeling.
You might recognize her from photos in Teen Vogue, Seventeen, Cosmo Girl, Flaunt, Nylon, and Paper. Caroline has also ruled many a catwalk, including those of Stella McCartney, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Agent Provocateur. When she's not modeling, you can find her on hikes, at the beach, or in a DJ booth spinning records. D'Amore also appears in the indie movie “Daydreamer."
Fab has the scoop on D'Amore's style, and I've got her beauty secrets. To read my interview and see a gallery of images, when you read more
I need a new day time moisturizer with SPF. It has been ingrained in our heads that we must use sunscreen on a regular basis and I try to abide by this. While I like the moisturizer I've been using, this Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, SPF 15, Fragrance Free, $9.99, surprise! It expires this month. It actually has an expiration date on it and it perfectly lasts me about a year and a half. I would recommend this Cetaphil moisturizer but I'm wondering what your tried and true daytime moisturizers with SPF are.
Let's all go beauty marking to help me find a new daytime moisturizer with SPF. I would prefer it to be lightweight, but moisturizing, and an SPF of 30 max. Be sure to come back and tell me when your Beauty Marks are up and tag your choices with daytime moisturizer SPF. To learn what a Beauty Mark is and how to make one, click here.
To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more
