Skin care products for an 22 y/o boy (exfoliate or not?)

[snurresprätt]

Hey everybody, I have been reading alot of posts in here the last few weeks but this is my first own one. I'm having a hard time navigating in this jungle of different brands and ingredients. I have read lists of ingredients to avoid/look for. I discovered that the current products I'm using contain several om the "not recommended" ingredients (such as alcohol, parabens and propylene glycol). To me it seem that its easier to find information about these "bad" ingredients than the "good" ones.

I have read good things about AHA, BHA, Copper peptides and different Vitamines but I find it hard to distinguish which of these are actually good for my skin type. I have understood that experimenting with cell growth at my age is not a good idea. I have also read that exfoliating with AHA at early age might not be the best thing to do but I have been looking for a way to treat the rough parts on my chins.

If anyone could help me with pointing out a few "key ingredients" that might be suitable for me I would be very thankful. My skintype is normal/oily, not very sensitive with a few breakouts per month. I have blackheads on my nose and the oilest part of my face is my cheeks (large pores here) just below the eyes, parallell with the nose. Also my skincolor is slightly uneven.

My ambition is to just keep my face healthy and moist, reduce oilyness (slightly) and minimize my pores, prevent breakouts and make my skincolor more even.

I realize this might be a very complex problem. So if you don't have any specific tips I would be happy for any directions to new helpful information about skincare for someone at my age.

[orangehrzn]

If your skin is not sensitive to BHA, try Paula's choice BHA exfoliators.

[snurresprätt]

Thank you for your answer.

My skin is fine with BHA. I have now read a little about the Paula's choice AHA and BHA exfoliators, and they seem very popular and free from bad ingredients (still having trouble indentifying the good ones). I visited their homepage and I noticed that there were less options in the section for Men. Only 1% BHA Gel and 2% BHA Liquid were available there, although they have the same ingredients as the ones in the "ordinary" section. According to the product FAQ it seem to me that the 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel was the most suitable for my skin type, but this is not listed under the Mens section.

I would be very thankful if anyone knew if any of these ingredients are "not good" for men.

Ingredients for 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel:

Water, Methylpropanediol (slip agent/water-binding agent), Salicylic Acid (beta hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Hydroxyethylcellulose (gel-based thickener), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidants), Epilobium Angustifolium (Willow Herb) Extract, Bisabolol (anti-irritants), Phytosphingosine (skin-conditioning agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH balancer), Tetrasodium EDTA (preservative).

[orangehrzn]

No such thing as separate ingredients for men and women.

Choose the product according to the desired function. If you want to use it during the day, something shiny on your face won't be appropriate.

[snurresprätt]

Thanks. I think I might try that one and use it as a night gel.
I was hoping to get some help with choosing a new cleanser/toner as well. My current one has made even my oiliest parts very dry.

I have been looking up a few cleansers/toner from a danish brand called Ole Henriksen. I would be glad if anyone had any comments on them.


Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Face Mist (toner):

-Water (Aqua), Sodium PCA, Betaine, Panthenol, Oleth-20, Allantoin, Aspalathus Linearis (Red Tea) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinesis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Limonene.


Ole Henriksen Pick Me Up - Face Tonic Mist:

Water (Aqua), Hamamelis Virginina (Witch Hazel) Distillate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Zinc Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Rosa Canina (Rose Hips) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Calcium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Magnesium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Rubus Fructicosus (Blackberry) Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mixed Citrus Extracts, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Macroystis Pyrifera (Sea Kelp) Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Glycerin, Oleth-20, Xanthan Gum, Methyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Sorbitol, Benzophenone-4, Potassium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyehtanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Yellow 5.


Ole Henriksen On the Go Exhilarating Cleanser:

Water (Aqua), Cexyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sacrosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, PEG-150 Distearate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Calcium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Magnesium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Zinc Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), L-Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Distillate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Macrocysitis Pryifera (Sea Kelp) Extract, Ulmus Fulca (Slippery Elm) Bark Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Annatto Extract (Natural Colour).

I also wonder if its a good idea to use just a cleanser or just a toner, if so, which would be the best choice (cleanse or toner)?
If anyone has any comments on these or suggestions of other brands to look up, I would be very thankful. What I'm looking for is a gentle cleanse and toner as I lately feel I have been overworking my skin by continuously cleaning with dehydrating products containing alcohol and applying thick layers of moisturizer afterwards.

I know my questions don't open up any interesting discussions, I'm sorry for this.

/Erik

[Discohouse]

i'm a 25 year old male, and have read all of Dr. Todorov's articles, and the best for you right now at your age is to use antioxidants and sunscreen religiously. Try making your own antioxidant creams like stated in Dr. Todorov's DIY package. I would recommend you to use a combination of vitamins a, c, and e, or try using green tea, grade seed etract, and alpha lipoic acid DIY cream. These contain good things for your age, and also help with inflammation, which is also a contributor to aging of the skin. When you get older and start to notice wrinkles, then that is the time you can start to use proven medical products such as a tretinoin cream (retin a), vitamin C at 10% concentration, and AHA at about 8% concentration. For now you dont want to use anything that can irritate your skin, since that will contribute to skin aging.
Make sure to buy a sunscreen with not just a high SPF factor, since SPF only measures UVB, and UVA is not measured by it. UVA is a major contributor to skin aging. Unfortunately, in the USA and Canada, sunscreens don't provide information on UVA factor, but knowing what ingredients have been proven to block UVA can help when choosing a good sunscreen. Try using ROC's sunscreens, or La Rochey Posey Anthelios sunscreens. They contain the highest amounts of the right ingredients I have seen in the market in Canada for UVA and UVB protection. Hope this helps!

[messmorph]

[antdatt]