I got a bunch of samples and used them last night and my skin is peeling and dried up. I used, blemish fighting solution and 2% beta hydroxy gel. Did I do something wrong?

#1 - the 2% BHA is VERY VERY STRONG. It is ALWAYS suggested that you start with the 1% lotion (if skin not very oily) or the 1% gel (if skin very oily). If you get dry skin at all, you need to go with the lotions, not the gel. The lotion will help give your skin a little moisture while still delivering the exfoliation.
#2 - You are peeling because this is what the BHA does...it exfoliates your skin. Again, you started with too high of a concentration and your skin is too sensitive to it right now. Start with the lower concentration and only use it ONE time a day, or maybe even every other day. Then work up to two times a day if necessary. After that you go to 2% (and by after I mean it could be a year or so if you ever even really need to, some people have the 1% work for them just fine).
#3 - I don't know which blemish fighting solution you went with but if you went the strongest you can get (which is what I'm betting since you went the strongest you could get BHA), you need to drop down one. This is what will dry out your skin if you are not really oily. Go with just the regular blemish fighting, not the extra strength one.

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Ok, I will order the 1% lotion. I'm pretty sure I went with the lesser strength for the blemish stuff. I don't know if I'm imagining it but even though my skin is peeling a little, is dry, and I've only been using the products for 2 days, I honestly think it looks much cleaner and less clogged, which is pretty extraordinary considering I've tried everything on it. Thanks Silver

The Blemish Fighting solution is a Benzoyl Peroxide solution, it will dry you out too if you use it all over. I use the BHA Lotion as my nighttime moisturizer and just use the Blemish Fighting Solution on individual spots, sometimes only every second night.
My skin is very resilient because it's so oily, but if I used both products all over every night, I'd be an oily cornflake.

^definitely what jess said!!! high strengths.

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Oily cornflake lol. I have no idea why that is so darn funny. I'm backing off from the products to give my skin a break, I will just use the moisurizer. What is your favorite product??

I just use the 2% BHA lotion as my moisturizer, every night...that and an eye cream. I only use the Blemish Fighter on spots. If I get feeling tight or dehydrated I blast my face with Fix + from MAC. It hydrates and soothes.
My favourite daytime mosturizer is MAC too, the Day SPF light moisture lotion. I dig the SPF (full-spectrum)and it doesn't break me out.

What does fix+ do? Is it oily? Also, I'm looking to find a good eye cream. Is the one you use Paula's or MAC?

The blemish fighter works extremely well I've noticed. My skin is dry but it looks good. I like the Paula's stuff.

It's a water-based mist, it has soothing botanicals and humectants as well as anti-irritants in it. It's a nice hydrator.
I use a MAC Eye cream (either Fast Response or Moisture Feed Eye) mixed with the Paula's Choice Completely Emollient Moisturizer.

Bump...I'm thinking of buying some of the products from this kit:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/pro...406&PAGETYPE=S

I am going to stick with the clear skin regimen 2.5% BP gel because it's cheaper and it works, but I need a new cleanser and I have been breaking out a lot lately.

Has anyone used this cleanser (skin balancing) and moisture gel before? Should I try the 2% lotion or gel before the liquid? My skin is very oily in the T-zone, and not really dry anywhere. I'm a bit hesitant to spend so much money at once, but I really want to do something to make my skin behave.

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honestly if your skin is that oily you'll need the liquid. My skin is mostly dry and I have the lotion. I just have the joy of having dry skin and a little bit of acne. Yay me.

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I can't say I've tried the cleanser or the moisture gel (I don't bother with moisturizer as my skin makes PLENTY and I use a neutrogena cleanser) but as far as the 2% (BHA I'm guessing?) goes - you can use either the gel or the liquid. Just depends on your perference. I was using the liquid but found that it took forever to dry. I'm now using the gel, but I find that can flake if you put on too much. I think I'm gonna go back to the liquid when I'm done with the gel and just try to use less.

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Now, what should my halloween costume be?

hey, way up there, old posts, which strength of the blemish fighting solution did you use?

At night I:

Wash-Neutrogena Extra Gentle (still leave me dried out. )
Toner- Biotherm something...it's great stuff, I buy it in bulk whenever I can.
Exfoliate-Paula's Choice 1% BHA Lotion
Benzoyl Peroxide-Acne Fighting Solution (2.5%)

In the morning I:

Toner-biotherm stuff again (couldn't live without it!)
exfoliate- Ultima 2 Skin Renewing Toner w/ 2% BHA Liquid (I don't think it's as strong as the Paula's Choice stuff)

I have a paula's choice moustirizer that was recommended for dry skin with oily spots (which is me) and it is not moustirizing enough, so I am a bad girl and just use cheapo Olay Sensitive Skin Lotion...I don't think it hurts my skin but it doesn't really help it either other than making it silky-soft.

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I don't use any of Paula's Choice yet...but have been using a 2% BHA liquid and I cannot believe the difference it has made on breakout and clogged pores. The stuff I get is about $10 more so I'm thinking of trying PC instead.

The Neutro Extra Gentle is not that gentle. Try the Olay Sensitive Foaming instead. The cheapo Olay skin lotion is a nice formulation. The price doesn't say anything about qualtity! Have you tried the Cetaphil with SPF? It also has a good PPD (UVA protection), if you avoid the sun it's a nice sunscreen.
If the pH of the Ultima is correct (and I recall it to be), it's as strong as the PC, but PC's formulation is nicer.

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I just got my PC's stuff-- the Skin Balancing Cleanser, the 2% BHA liquid, and the skin-balancing moisture gel.

How much of the BHA liquid do you use? Should the pad be totally saturated? I hope it clears up my skin, which has been icky lately.

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Best don't use it with a pad, pour a small amount in your palm, then apply on your face. Otherwise you waste too much product.
Be aware that you could have a purging period, if there is something to purge like clogged pores etc.

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I have used olay sensitive foaming and hated it. I really like the neutrogena extra gentle a lot, so I'm sticking with it for now. I loove that freaking olay lotion, I was in desperate need of some and I didn't want to wait to order from paula (and her moustirizer for dry skin with oily spots was way too drying for me, I sometimes use it at night) and so I just picked it up at albertsons because it was on sale...how amazing was that? I adore it so much.

I've never tried the cetaphil SPF. My mom uses cetaphil cleanser and baking soda for her manual exfoliant (usually before she puts on self-tanner) and she loves it. What's it's ingredient? I am super-wary of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because my skin is prone to break-outs and I don't need another thing to clog my pores! but unfortunately avobenzone isn't always photostable () and can kind of burn if I accidently get it too close to my eyes or if I burn a little by accident and reapply.

I know the pH of the Ultima is good...I also know the PC one is nicer, I think I'll probably order it because I am running out of the ultima...then again, I really like the ultima so I'll probably just use it. I need to upgrade the 2% BHA Lotion in the near future, though..the 1% is working wonders but I think the 2% would perform miracles!

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Hm, I don't know what's in the Cetaphil- I bet you find the ingredients online, though. It's stable and it has an okay PPD for an US s/s, too (around 8).
The best stable US s/s would be the Neutrogena Dry Touch SPF55. PPD is at least 12. I couldn't use that except in winter or grey weather (or I get discolorations, freckles...), but if you wear sunglasses and a hat, it should work.The only stable Neutrogenas are those with helioplex.
Hey, get the 2%BHA liquid! It works great for many people!

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maybe I will...but it may not be great for my skin that I use two BHA products in a day (though lately I haven't used my ultima in the mornings because my face got a little bit sunburned at the lake. )

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