Help beauties! Alternative to benzoyl peroxide or new primer!

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

So I have been using the duac generic brand of benzoyl peroxide (it starts with a c) for my mild acne, it has been amazing thus far but now I'm realizing it's really start to dry out my skin and cause flaky patches! I have also been looking for a new primer because my make up never stays on (I use bare minerals powder foundation)! Recently I tried korres pomengranate primer which is amazing and my absolute favorite so far but now my skin is turning red and breaking out on my cheeks which I never did before! I read online that the witch hazel which is in the primer can react badly with the benzoyl peroxide and cause dryness, redness and acne, which is what I am starting to get now! Please help! Is there another acne alternative for over night treatment or a new primer that does not have things in it that reacts badly with benzoyl peroxide?

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

P.s I have also tried the hourglass primer but that gave me break outs, but no allergic reaction to the benzoyl peroxide!

Apr 15, 2014

Ileene M.

The other option besides benzoyl is salicylic acid also for acne.

Apr 15, 2014

Kitty K.

Tea tree oil is known for being similar to BP.

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Thank you for answering ladies! Lline I have tried salicylic acid and that also gave me redness ad dryness as well 😔

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Kitty I do have tea tree oil that I use as a spot treatment, but I find that to be very drying, I usually put it on my cyst that I get sometimes during that time of month and it always dries them right up, but I could be wrong, maybe if I use it sparingly?

Apr 15, 2014

Shauna S.

Ahh I hate benzoyl peroxide I'm extremely allergic to it. My boyfriend used to use it for his acne and it made his face 10x worse and dried it out like craaazy. It's very harsh on the face and is known to have bleaching agents in it. I personally wouldn't use it, one time my boyfriend dropped a small amount of it on the floor and wiped it up immediately and it actually burned a hole straight through the carpet. I suggest going to the doctor to get something else for acne or try using African Black Soap, it's really helped clear up my boyfriends acne in a very short period of time plus it's not harmful to your skin. For primers, check out bare minerals primer, cover fx primer, and tartes primer.

Apr 15, 2014

Shauna S.

Also check out the skincare line Avene. It's amazing for acne prone skin and it's super gentle on the face. I used the Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser. They have a huge range of products for all skin types and concerns. 
http://www.aveneusa.com/products/concern/oily-acne-prone-skin

Apr 15, 2014

Brandy S.

I was prescribed erythromycin for my cystic acne (its kind of a rollerball-type toner) it doesn't dry me out nearly as bad as duac did and doesn't leave me with redness. I do moisturize a lot though, and I use hourglass primer with a foundation from tarte( really good line for sensitive, acne-prone skin)

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Thank you shauna! My cousin is actually trying African black soap so I will ask her how she is doing with it as well!! And I will deff look up that brand online!

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Hey Jenna! What retinol treatment do you use? Is it something you can get in the store and if so which one and which brand/type do you use?

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Jenna how many times do you use a retinol a week? Do you use it before you go to bed?

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Brandy do you get hormonal cystic acne or just randomly?

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Thank you Jenna! I will deff look into it! It sounds amazing! Lol.

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Do you use a primer over it and then apply your make up after?

Apr 15, 2014

Nicole B.

Thank you Jenna! I really appreciate it! I think I might try it and see how it goes because it looks like it's my cheapest option right now besides going to the dermatologist and spending money just for me to walk in there! Lol thank you!

Apr 16, 2014

Brandy S.

Nicole- it is only hormonal. Right before and during my period.

Apr 16, 2014

Monique R.

I wear bare minerals with their prime time primer & it works great for me. :)

Apr 16, 2014

Natalie K.

Nicole what amount of salicylic acid was in the product that you used? You could try using a product with1% maybe 2.5%

Also Sulfur is an option that works really well. Spot treatment, or mask option.
If you want something you can use in the day time try Peter Thomas Roth Acne Pads or Dr. Dennis Gross Acne Pads.

Apr 16, 2014

Nicole B.

Thank you brandy I must look into that then because that's exactly what I get!

Apr 16, 2014

Nicole B.

Monique I actually have the free one that they gave me that came with the bare minerals kit so I am going to try that one today!

Apr 16, 2014

Nicole B.

Natalie the cleanser I was using had 2% salicylic acid in it but I have also heard great things about sulfur treatments as well! I just purchased this Mario bedescu buffering lotion that works great as a spot treatment which has sulfur in it, but I'm afraid to put it on my whole face because it seems like it can be very drying, but I would love to sulfur mask that wouldn't be so drying for me! It's something I have to look online for!

Apr 16, 2014

Katherine L.

Hey,

I also suffer from acne mainly on my face and I know how annoying it is trying to get rid of it at the same time as wearing makeup products that make it worse! I used BP too and it also dried out my face and made my makeup basically peel and flake on my face! Eww!

I live in the UK so I'm not sure if you have the same products for me but I used the Clinique 3 step anti blemish and their spot clearing gel to make my acne better. Also I use one of their primers, it's the yellow one that reduces redness. It doesn't break me out and also helps the acne to look less aggressive when I have my makeup on. Hope that helps! X

Apr 16, 2014

Brandy S.

Nicole-- some really good natural remedies for cystic acne are drinking peppermint tea and taking evening primrose oil tablets everyday. I've noticed a big change since starting these. I also use a clarisonic and that helps clean the excess sebum from my pores.

Apr 16, 2014

Caitlin M.

I use Aczone which is an antibodic topical gel in the morning and then a generic retin-a type cream at night called Tretinoin, both by prescription. At first I was quite dry but my skin has adjusted nicely now and is much more balanced and my acne is mostly under control. I'd ask your derm for a sample of the Aczone and see if you like it any better. Just don't use benzoyl peroxide at the same time, it can interact with the skin and temporarily stain it orange. It will also be too drying to use them both at the same time.