Yesterday was a busy one! Between coaching Girls on the Run, working and a blog event, I was out and about all day and happily crashed in my bed when I arrived home a little after 9 p.m.
Dr. Kulbersh/ Katie / Jen / Kseniya / Me / Brittany / Jen
Last night I headed to Dr. Kulbersh’s office to learn more about skincare and left with a sampling of Image skincare products I’m excited to try. As a I briefly alluded to in a past blog post, I feel like my skin hasn’t been the best lately (truthfully it’s the worst it’s been in years), so when Jen organized the happy hour meet up at Dr. Kulbersh’s office, I immediately marked it on my calendar and knew I wanted to attend. Plus, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet some Charlotte-area bloggers (and see Brittany again)! When I lived in Orlando there was such a great community of bloggers and I’m thrilled to be back in a city overflowing with bloggers again. (FYI for any Orlando bloggers out there –> Definitely check out the Central Florida Lady Bloggers Facebook group. They organize tons of fun meet ups!)
If I notice any positive changes with my skin following the use of the Image products, I’ll let you know! And if you’ve had great experiences with certain skincare products, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I recently went off birth control (no, not trying to get pregnant – just didn’t like the way I felt on it and I’m not crazy about the hormones) and my skin totally freaked out. I’ve actually talked to quite a few friends who had the same thing happen with their skin, so I’m hoping some of you out there may have experienced something similar and may have some skincare recommendations for us! I’m looking to up my skincare regimen to try to get my skin back to a good place.
Workout + Breakfast
Today’s workout was another Pure Barre class. I’m determined to get my 20 classes in this month and complete my studio’s challenge! I want that discount next month!
Once I made it home, I prepared a bowl of cinnamon banana egg white oatmeal.
Served with some sparkling water on the side!
Yum!
Question of the Morning
- If you have a skincare regimen you love or use certain products that you would recommend, please let me know! I’m in the market to switch things up and get my breakouts under control.
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I feel for you – skin issues are the worst! I have dealt with acne my whole life. No store bought creams (including proactiv) ever worked for me. I ended up loving benzac 10 (you need a prescription for it). My acne must have been hormone related because since I had my baby my skin has cleared right up! Hope you find something that works for you.
My skin freaked out for the same reason as yours, and the most effective change I made was buying one of those exfoliating brushes (the Clarisonic Mia, specifically). My skin still isn’t quite as clear as it was while on the birth control, but it’s much better than it was before. Plus, this is the only effective treatment I found that doesn’t involve any funky chemicals or a trip to the dermatologist.
I know I have good skin genes, so my regimen may not be helpful as far as being the reason my skin is good. Have you talked to a dermatologist about your skincare? I am thinking of making an appointment for a checkup and just to make sure I am doing what I can for the problems that I do have.
So glad you’re getting cozy with the Charlotte-area blogosphere! 😀
I went off Birth control in February and my face is still a mess. I would love to hear any secrets you find out!
Acne is the worst! I had great skin as a teenager, but when I hit my late 20s, bam – the acne started. I went off BC a few years ago and had the worst breakouts! I attributed it to the hormone fluctuations, but I also saw a dermatologist to weight my options. I have struggled off and on with cystic acne for more than a decade, which IMO, over the counter products do nothing to treat. You need prescription products to treat the kind of acne I have, so I would recommend seeing a dermatologist as well. I’m not saying my skin is clear 365 days a year, but I have drastically reduced the amount of breakouts I get per year. Good luck!
Oh, I am so relieved to read this comment and know I am not alone in the weird adult-onset breakouts!. My skin was also pretty much perfect all through adolescence and my early 20s. Then I went on birth control and my body freaked out. I’ve been battling mild to medium acne for the last few years, and it’s so frustrating. I never dealt with this when I was younger, so I had no idea what to do for it at first. Even though I’ve been on and off BC (and am currently off), my skin has never gone back to the way it was before. The comment above and this blog post have made me really want to make a dermatologist appointment and see if there’s something more that I can do (I’ve found OTC stuff effective but not to the extent I want).
Re: suggestions. Two small things that have worked for breakouts: 1) put honey on a zit and cover with a band-aid overnight. 2) be diligent about face-washing every night.
Ah the same thing happened to me last year when I went off birth control! I am 28 and thought I was supposed to be past breakouts!
Here are some things that have made a significant improvement in my skin for me:
Estroblock (taken with a liver support supplement)
Using Hemp oil as a face wash/moisturizer (putting oil on your face seems counter intuitive but it has a 0 on the clogging scale whereas coconut oil has a 4 out of 5! I had to learn that one the hard way)
Cutting out excess sugars and carbs (they mess with your hormones which mess with your skin)
Exercise (you seem to have that one down :))
Daily Probiotic
Switching my foundation to a more natural brand – I use Physicians Formula BB cream
Another possibility is taking a hormone test and seeing where your levels are, that way when you know what hormones are high or low you can make specific adjustments for your body.
And doing my own personal research, here are some websites I like: http://thelovevitamin.com, http://www.saragottfriedmd.com, http://highonclearskin.com
I hope this was helpful!
Christa
I think the best thing you can do for your skin is to use completely natural products. Acure is hands down my FAVORITE brand, and I use their facial cleanser, scrub, and day moisturizer. Truly natural products that are good for your skin and good for the planet! Find them at Whole Foods, or even on Amazon or I herb.
For a toner, I use Thayer’s Cucumber Witch Hazel toner. It is alcohol-free, so extremely gentle on the skin, but it is so refreshing when I get out of the shower and after I wash my face at night.
I also love Badger products. I user their Damascus Rose Antioxidant Facial Oil before bed every night, and it keeps my skin super hydrated. Other pure oils, like Jojoba and Argan, are also ideal for moisturizing. I also just ordered some Marula Oil, which is supposed to be even better for skin tone and hydration. You’d think that putting oils directly on your face would cause breakouts,but generally it is the exact opposite and keeps acne at bay, while soothing and healing current breakouts.
Anyway, just a few products to look out for! I switched to a completely natural skin care regimen a few years ago and could never go back to “conventional” products now. It just seems to icky to put tons of chemicals on my skin–especially my face!
I often use EWG’s Skindeep website to check on different products–they score different brands/products and break down the different ingredients to tell you whether or not they are safe for use.
I highly recommend all Murad products! Go to Sephora and get some samples. I started using it maybe 2 years ago and it completely got my skin under control.
I cannot recommend the Clairsonic facial brush enough! I noticed a huge change once I started using it. I use whatever normal cleanser I like, not the line they swill with it. The Neutrogena orange pump cleanser with Salisylic (spelling?) acid is what I use. I really feel it cleans my face so much better and gets up more gunk. I would also recommend quarterly facials. They can do extractions and exfoliate your skin to clear up breakouts. I go see my facialist when I start to see the blocked pores (like little white heads stuck under my skin) before they turn into a bad breakout! My skin looks like I have little red mosquito bites on it for the rest of the day after the extractions so I just plan to stay in that night and they are gone by morning!
I went off birth control and my skin did the same thing, it was the worst it’s ever been in my life. My cycles became very irregular too, and I was eventually diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and I now acne is a key symptom. The only thing that has helped me is eating a very low carb diet (less carbs = less insulin released and thus less androgens/exccess testosterone which cause hormonal acne). It might be something to look into if you also experience irregular cycles.
I feel your pain, Julie! I had the same issue for the last 3 years off of BCP. Hormonal cystic acne. I’ve tried everything I was able to- medicated to over the counter to all natural products and to the most expensive lines.. Nothing worked until now (I still have breakouts, just very minimal). It may take time for your hormones to get back to the levels it should be. Since I can’t take anything thats medicated, I use a gentle wash such as Cetaphil and Aveeno moisturizer with sph 15 and the aveeno makeup wipes . After being patient with it for 2 months and not playing around with anything new, everything cleared up and I haven’t had a cystic zit all year! Best part, its the cheapest products too!
Julie, I am glad you mentioned this. Breakouts are tough to deal with. Your skin always looks fabulous!
I gave up on BC a year ago, and my skin has freaked out, both on my face and on my back. I hate using harsh products to treat breakouts though.
Hopefully I can gain some insight from fellow readers, too. Thanks for sharing!
My skin freaked out when I went off birth control last november, I actually had a breakout all over my back that was extremely uncomfortable and difficult to get rid of. A couple of things helped.
1) Taking DIM – it’s an all natural supplement that regulates your estrogen and thus can really help your skin!
2) Eating an extremely low GI diet – virtually no sugar or alcohol, very low carb, whenever possible. I didn’t stick to this 100% (who could?!) but I noticed some improvements from keeping my eats clean.
3) a short cycle of Spironolactone. I didn’t want to be on any pills any more which is why I went off BC, but I needed spirono to get the breakouts under control. My skin cleared up in about 2 months and then I was able to slowly taper off spirono over the course of another 1.5 months. Now I’m off all meds and my skin is pretty clear, aside from the occasional hormonal breakout.
Hope that helps! I find that breakouts / acne are 90% internal and only about 10% external. Topical products can help but generally won’t fix a problem if the hormonal and blood sugar regulatory issues aren’t addressed first.
I highly recommend Kiehl’s products. I have gone back and forth for years between Kiehl’s and drug store brands. The drug store brands work for a while for me and then my skin freaks out. At that point, I always switch back to Kiehl’s and it clears everything up, almost immediately. Plus, their staff are really well trained and can recommend the correct products for whatever skin issue you are trying to correct. Their products are more expensive than what you might get a the grocery store, but the quality is well worth it, plus they last forever.
Julie, I also experienced the same issues with my skin when I went off BC. I also stopped because I was concerned about long-term effects and didn’t like that I was adding hormones to my body in what I now consider an unnatural manner. Unfortunately, I haven’t found ‘that product’ that has helped my skin get back to the place that it one was at. I will certainly let you know if I do, and I would like to hear if these products help you regain clear skin too!
Julie I had the exact same thing happen to me! I had amazing skin pre-birth control and post birth control it was a war zone! My dermatologist emphasizes natural remedies and recommended I try Andalou Naturals Clarifying kit.
It worked wonders!!!!! I highly recommend it. You must be diligent doing it at morning and night. I instantly noticed a feeling of freshness on my face. The ingredients are natural products. For example, the cleanser is made from citrus kombucha!!!
This kit is also on sale right now for $14.99 and the Whole Foods stores in the Midwest. Not sure about east coast though.
I hope you give it a try!
I’m sure going off the birth control has something to do with it, but I wouldn’t doubt that all the change and stress in your life these last couple months with your move plays a part in it too. When we moved to Arizona, I broke out worse than I had in a very long time. Just something to consider! I’m curious to see what others say here in the comments though because I have large pores and breakout fairly regularly so I’m always looking for new skincare regimens that won’t break the bank!
I had similar issues with hormonal related acne and my doctor switched me to spironalactone. It has similar effects on acne of the BC but not some of the other side effects. My dermatologist out me on it and it has worked wonderfully…I have really sensitive skin and use Vichy skincare products and found they work really well.
Loved reading through these comments for tips and recommendations…I have the opposite problem. My skin was always fine (just breakouts around my period) and then I went *on* BC last month and my skin is freaking out. My wedding is in like two weeks so YIPPEE for that ;-P If anyone has suggestions for stuff that works FAST, I am all ears!! I’ve been faithful about washing my face several times a day (and right after working out), trying not to touch my face at all and using products that are supposed to dry it out, etc. AUGH! just so annoying!!
Yes, me too!! My skin was great all through my teens and early 20s, but then I started BC, and my skin has been a mess ever since. I assumed others had had this problem, too, but you wouldn’t know it from Googling — until this comment thread, I had never heard anyone else mention BC creating acne that never existed before.
Quick fixes that have worked for me: spot treatment with crushed aspirin + water, or honey and a band-aid overnight. I take my cues from this post – http://www.crunchybetty.com/27-quick-and-crunchy-home-remedies-for-pimples.
Hey Lauren!
As someone who’s dealt with the same kinds of issues all her life, I totally get where you’re coming from. I actually had to switch BCP a few times to find the one with a low-enough hormone dose to not cause a bad reaction with my skin. In your situation, I wanted to point out a couple things from experience. 1. If you’re washing your face multiple times a day, make sure you’re using something gentle. A lot of times we think constantly washing keeps our skin clean, but in some cases it can cause more irritation or dryness. Definitely wash after a work out, and clean things that touch your face frequently (examples: cell phone, pillow cases, makeup brushes) because those can be a culprit too. For fast-acting stuff, I like to stick to spot treatment medications, like Clean n Clear acne spot treatment. Or in a jam, I’ve actually used white toothpaste on my face overnight and it’s worked like a charm….just take your pillow case off your pillow =)
I hope this somehow helps!!!
-Ashlie
I have struggled with acne for basically my entire life. I’m talking frequent dermatologist trips, every OTC and prescribed medicine you think of (internal and external), different kinds of birth controls, chemical peels… The list goes on and on. The only thing that has seemed to work is going natural! Apparently my bad skin wasn’t totally because of my body, but rather what I put on it! It makes sense. We care so much about the things we put IN our body, shouldn’t we also care about what we put ON our body?
My routine looks something like this:
Night:
-1 part Castor Oil to 5 parts Coconut Oil (The castor oil is the “dryness” component. You’d have to play with this ratio to get it just right). Take about a tablespoon and rub all over face and neck, taking this time to really massage your face. Place a warm, wet washcloth over and let your face heat up a bit. Then wipe it all off with the washcloth
-Toner made with apple cider vinegar and water mixtures (I use about a 1:4 ratio ACV to water, but I also tend to have oily skin)
-Mixture of coconut oil with a few drops of tea tree oil and lavendar oil. I use a VERY small amount and rub it in my skin as a moisturizer
Morning
-Small amount of coconut oil rubbed in the face and wiped again (just to remove anything that settled during the night) This isn’t really to deep clean like the castor/coconut oil mix. Just a quick refresh
-Same ACV/water toner. I actually put it in a small spray bottle and just spray it on
-Coconut oil moisturizer (no essential oils in this one)
I also use a baking soda water mix once or twice a week to exfoliate.
I couln’t even begin to tell you how this has changed my life. My skin is soft and bright and I rarely get a breakout. When I do it’s usually very small and a dab of straight tea tree oil gets rid of it within a day or two. If you do go this way remember that as with everything else, there is an adjustment period. Right after I started using this oil method I broke out, which actaully was a good thing! It was removing all those impurities that were built up in my face! I highly highly suggest trying this!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this! I appreciate it!
I was having stress-related skin issues, and regular facials and using the Rhonda Allison products my aesthetician recommended definitely helped. She also recommended the EltaMD UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45, which is great. Good luck!
The exact same thing happened to me when I went off birth control because I didn’t like how I was feeling. And my face freaked out. I even tried going to a dermatologist and doing differin gel and an oral antibiotic – totally didn’t help and just made my face ridiculously dry. Now I’m using proactiv and it’s helping but it’s slow because I can’t use it as often as recommended because that also dries out my skin. So frustrating! Can’t wait to hear if these products help you!
I just started trying Coconut Oil (which seems counter intuitive) but have been loving it so far!
I went off BC pills around this time last year and my skin went bonkers! From my experience and research, this is just because of the crazy hormonal fluctuations your body is going through…much like puberty all over again. That being said, I kept all product off my face (except some eye shadow/liner here and there). I used only water to wash my face and in the winter when my skin got a little more dry, I put a touch Jojoba oil on it. This routine of keeping things off my face and eating a clean diet cleared up my face really well and it even helped me to regulate my cycle fairly quickly!
Sorry for the long response, I usually don’t comment but have been reading your blog for awhile! Love your content! Let me know if you need any help with the skin care. It really should be simple…our bodies know how to take care of itself if we just step back and let it! 🙂
Proactiv was amazing for me and cleared my skin up like nothing else! I never used the toner(too drying), but rather just the cleaner and the moisturizer and the spot on control(I think it’s technically a mask, but you apply it to actual acne at night and when you wake up in the morning, poof it’s gone!) Be careful though, it will bleach your sheets and towels if they aren’t white.
Mine has gone CRAZY since getting pregnant! It actually wasn’t too bad when I went off BC, but I swear it got bad the DAY I got pregnant (at the time, I thought it was a sunscreen I used). This makes things especially difficult since I have to be so careful about what I use (nothing with salicylic acid, which is found in most acne skin care products). I switched to The Body Shop’s tea tree oil face wash and it’s not making it worse so that’s a good sign lol. But I’ve also read that since it’s hormonal, nothing may help 🙁
Oh, and I forgot to mention – I got the Clarisonic Mia for Christmas, and I do find it makes a difference. I seem to go through fazes where I stop using it (that extra 2 minutes in the shower is apparently too much for me, haha) and I have found that since I started using it again, my skin is getting slightly better…
Since going off BC, I have been dealing with the same struggles and constantly battling acne in my chin now. I have been loving Glam Glows face mask and notice a positive difference when I use the white one a couple times a week. I also have to be a lot more careful of drying my skin out in the winter, which is what usually happens and causes me to break out. So this fall/winter I am switching to an oil based cleanser to be used to remove my makeup at night. I would love to hear if this works out for you though! You’re not alone! 🙂
I’m still working on getting mine under control, but I have the Clarisonic Mia and use it with the Fresh soy cleanser it came with and it seems to work really well for me when I use it consistently. Also, if you want to go a natural route, applying a little coconut oil or tea tree oil (both which have natural antibacterial properties) before bed has worked for me too.
In the past years I noticed that consuming dairy products was a huge trigger to my complexion. I switched to almond milk and only treat myself to frozen yogurt/ ice cream on special occasions. (My cheese addiction is a different story…) Acne on different parts of your face help identify the cause, so it’s useful to consider possible triggers.
http://www.skinacea.com/acne/acne-face-map.html#.VDVXMvldX08
ALSO – This was a major whoa moment for me … I’ve been reading Katie’s blog (sweettater / honeystuck) for ~5 years now and it is so crazy to see you both in the same picture. I don’t know why I’m surprised, as you both probably attend the same events. Just one of those colliding worlds moments. 😉
I’m curious to see how you’re going to feel after being off birth control. I’ve been on birth control for five years, and I really hate what it’s done to my body. I would love to see if you’ve noticed a big difference after a month or so!
In regards to skincare, I think I’ve tried every product under the sun and always go back to a particular brand. I cannot say enough good things about Philosophy products. I use their Purity Cleanser and Hope in a Jar Moisturizer. They’re Retinol Night Cream also works miracles. It’s a little pricey but a little bit goes a long way! 🙂
My skin did exactly the same thing when I went off BC. I also went off the pill because I didn’t like the idea of taking hormones. The first time I went off my wedding was about a year away. I could not get my skin under control so ended up going back on a few months before my wedding just to get my skin to clear up! Now I am back off for the last year and a half and it is finally starting to get better. I still get more zits than I ever did on BC but it is better every month. I hate being 30 and just now dealing with all the skin problems I managed to skip earlier in life!
I started using Image (Clear Cell) earlier this year and love it! If you end up buying the full size bottle just know that a little goes a LONG way. I get about 6 months of use per bottle.
PS have you ever Googled “what do my pimples mean?”
There is a surprising “method to the madness” when it comes to break outs. Most chin/ mouth break outs are due to hormones. However after an indulgent weekend- if you notice a pimple pop up on your forehead- it’s due to unhealthy eats that your liver is trying to process. Fascinating.
http://thebeautygypsy.com/what-is-your-acne-telling-you/
I heart Google.
I’ve never been on birth control, but I can totally relate to the acne! I had horrid acne from third grade through college. It kind of just went away after college, but I’ve been getting bad jawline/chin acne for the last year or so which is most definitely hormonal. I’ll be reating all the responses to see if I can find a good product to try!
I am completely sold on the Arbonne RE9 line due to its natural ingredients and the fact that everyone has said that my skin is looking younger!!!
I use the Image brand and love all their products – especially the moisturizer with sunscreen. I live in Colorado and my skin is very dry due to the low humidity. I use their products with a Clarisonic brush and get regular facials which seem to help.
Glad to hear you like their stuff! I am hopeful!
Hey!! Hope that your day is going well. I was having a problem with my skin as well & had read all the benefits of using tea tree oil on your skin so I bought some & my skin has really improved since then. All I do after I wash my face is wet a cotton ball and then put a few drops of the tea tree on it then apply it to my face almost as if you would a toner! Hope this helps!
Wait, I LOVE your whole outfit… where did you get the top and skirt!? My skincare regime is non- existent… I stick to basic wipes to clean my face twice a day… pretty boring, but it works!
Thank you! The top is from H&M and the skirt is from RueLaLa but the brand is Tart!
I had the worst skin ever from the time I was 18 until about 29. I finally read to try coconut oil and I thought it couldn’t hurt. I started washing my face twice a day with coconut oil. At night I add a little baking soda sometimes to make it more of a scrub. Within 2 weeks my skin was totally clear and I haven’t had a break out since! Women at work even ask me what I use on my skin which is CRAZY to me because I always had the worst skin! I highly recommend organic coconut oil!
Definitely trying this! Thank you!
Love that La Croix water! 🙂
I don’t have much advice for skin care products, but I wanted to thank you for sharing that with us about going off BC. I’m always curious to see how else going off the pill affects women … I completely lost my period after going off of mine. So freaky — it makes you rethink all the years you spent on the pill.
Looking forward to hearing whether these products work for your skin! =)
I love every products from Origins, they smell so good + it’s organic 🙂
I’ve had the best luck of my life with Liz Wolfe’s Skintervention Guide (http://purelyprimalskincare.com/)
The oil face wash is reminiscent of a spa treatment – but daily and at-home! I was scared to think about putting oil on my face at first, but haven’t looked back!
I wish I had a blog back when I lived in Orlando so I could have attended the Central Florida Lady Bloggers events. There are a lot of bloggers in the Bay Area, and I’m just starting to meet them. It’s been fun. Sorry about your skin mishaps — I don’t have any recommendations other than lots of water and changing your pillowcase a lot. That may help!
Something else to consider is that it might be based on the change in water. It might sound strange, but when I moved from NY to DC my skin broke out terribly and my doctor mentioned that the water is different. If that’s the case, you just need to find products that work with where you are now (plus the change from the meds). Different products work for different people, but I just started using Paula’s Choice 2% salicylic acid and it’s life changing. You get $10 off your first purchase (use a KERF discount code) and free shipping so it’s not a big loss if it doesn’t work out. They also offer all products in sample size- amazing for travel.
I cannot say enough great things about Arbonne skincare products! They are all natural, chemical free, vegan, and 100% clean. I have had great success, along with a lot of my friends. I would love to let you know more about them, I have before/after pictures too!
I had really bad hormonal acne bumps across my chin. I got prescribed Epiduo (a topical treatment). It take less than two weeks for my skin to be completely clear. It made it more sensitive but eventually my skin adjusted. With the coupon on the Epiduo website, it also knocked the price down for me to about $25 for a 3-month supply. That stuff is pure gold! I highly recommend it.
I’ve always had a fairly moderate level of breakouts. I’m a beauty-product whore, always trying out new products. I have combination skin, and my favorite products that I always go back to are:
– generic witch hazel as a morning/evening astringent (does WONDERS for evening out skin tone)
– Origins Starting Over Oil-Free moisturizer
– talc-free makeup
Recently, I’ve had the best skin I have EVER had (I’ll be 30 in a couple weeks). And I owe it ALL to trying out Whole30. It has completely reset my body and mind in the most positive way. I’m 21 days in and my skin is incredibly smooth and virtually breakout-free. The Whole30 lifestyle is not something I will fully maintain after my 30 days (I miss cocktail hour!!!!), but I’m really curious to see what will have the most dramatic effect on my skin when I start bringing back certain foods.
It’s only 30 days. It’s a great way to reset your skin, body, and mind. And it goes by surprisingly fast because I’m totally satisfied with everything I eat (except I want a beer, dammit!).
Agree with this! My skin was amazing after completing Whole 30! I attribute it to cutting dairy and sugar.
Coconut oil! I use an all natural coconut oil based cleanser I picked up at Sprouts Grocery ( I can’t for the life of me remember the name but email me if you want to remind me to look when I get home from work) and then I keep a little glass jar of unrefined organic virgin coconut oil in my bathroom and use a tiny bit as moisturizer. There was a transition period but now I just break out a tiny bit right before my period comes. Nothing terrible. I have switched to all natural body care and can not imagine going back now. I have normal/dry skin but have heard coconut oil even works for oily skin.
In the past I’ve had success with Rodan & Fields’ Unblemish line. They are the same makers of Proactive, but have more formulas for different types of skin. There are definitely some strong chemicals in it, but it also works, so it depends on your priorities in skin care. It’s also pretty expensive, which is ultimately why I stopped using it.
I had a perfect complexion all through my teens and twenties, and I washed my face with whatever shampoo I was using that day. HA! Now I have hyper sensitive skin and can barely find a moisturizer let alone makeup that works for me. I did recently start using Boots No. 7 from Ulta, and it seems to be working. I use their intense serum moisturizer and tinted moisturizer. I wash my face thoroughly before bed with either Bliss face wash or Cetaphil (don’t get the sensitive skin – it isn’t soap it is like conditioner and will break you out), and only wash my face with water in the morning. The more products I use the worse it gets. I have tried and liked the No. 7 face wipes while I travel and will try the face wash once my other stuff runs out.
Good Luck Julie!!
My skin freaked out when I got off birth control as well – Though what I should say, is that it freaked out when I got off the pill. After a few months I pulled the trigger on getting the birth control implant (it sits in your upper arm for 3 years, and your body processes the hormone differently than oral contraceptives, I went with Nexplannon) and my skin is pretty great now without any sort of expensive skin regimen.