Skincare for Changing Skin: Adult Acne, Dark Spots, Wrinkles, and Dark Circles

Question

Hello,

I would like to ask for advice regarding my skin concerns. I am currently 37 years old. Previously, I had good skin with no acne and didn't use much skincare. For makeup, I used L'Oréal sunscreen and BSC foundation powder, which I've used for over 10 years without changing.

Approximately one year ago, perhaps due to hormonal changes, my face suddenly became oilier. I developed a lot of clogged and inflammatory acne, especially on my cheeks and chin. Currently, I have many dark spots from acne. I have switched my sunscreen to The Body Shop essence-type, which helps reduce oiliness. Clogged acne is still present but not as severe as initially.

Therefore, I am looking for skincare suitable for my current skin condition. I found this website and believe it could be a good solution for finding what suits my skin.

I have two questions for your team:

Currently, I have significant dark spots from acne and wrinkles, but I don't want to use creams with too many ingredients as I fear they might cause more clogged pores.
If I were to use ready-made products first, which one would be better between:
- Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (Pitera)
- Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum
Would these be okay? Which one is more suitable? I am hoping to reduce dark spots and wrinkles.
I have a problem with dark circles around my eyes, including the sides. I also have wrinkles and deep lines.
Could you please comment on the following ingredients for an eye cream? Are they okay?
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) >> 10%
- REGU®-AGE >> 5%
- WaterLock™ >> 1%
- Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker) >> 1%
- Water >> 83%

Thank you,
Warin

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Skincare Recommendations for Changing Skin Concerns

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your skin concerns. It's common for skin to change over time due to factors like hormones and age. Addressing these changes with targeted skincare can be very effective.

1. Addressing Dark Spots and Wrinkles

Considering your concerns about dark spots, wrinkles, and potential for clogged pores, let's compare the two ready-made options you mentioned:

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (aka Pitera): This ingredient is known for revitalizing and hydrating the skin and is used in anti-aging products. While beneficial for overall skin health, its primary focus is not specifically on targeting dark spots or stimulating collagen for wrinkles as directly as Vitamin C. At high concentrations, it might also feel greasy, which could be a concern for your currently oily skin.
Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum: This serum contains 15% L-Ascorbic Acid, a form of Vitamin C known for its effectiveness in whitening (helping fade dark spots and acne scars) and stimulating collagen synthesis, which helps reduce wrinkles. It is a liquid serum format, which might feel lighter on oily skin compared to a cream. Given your goals of reducing dark spots and wrinkles, this option appears more directly aligned with your needs.

Recommendation: Based on your specific concerns with dark spots and desire for wrinkle reduction, the Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum would likely be a more suitable choice to start with. It directly targets hyperpigmentation and supports collagen production.

2. Proposed Eye Cream Formulation

The ingredient list you've proposed for an eye cream targeting dark circles, wrinkles, and deep lines is well-formulated and includes highly relevant active ingredients at appropriate concentrations:

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) at 10%: This peptide is excellent for reducing the appearance of expression lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes. 10% is an effective concentration for this purpose.
REGU®-AGE at 5%: This ingredient is specifically designed to address dark circles, puffiness, and improve skin firmness around the eyes. Using it at 5% is within the recommended range for visible results.
WaterLock™ at 1%: This provides hydration and helps strengthen the skin barrier, which is beneficial for the delicate eye area.
Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker) at 1%: This acts as a gelling agent to create a suitable texture for the eye cream.
Water at 83%: The base of the formulation.

Comment: This combination of ingredients directly targets your concerns for the eye area. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 works on wrinkles, REGU®-AGE addresses dark circles and puffiness, and WaterLock provides essential hydration. The concentrations are appropriate for an effective eye treatment. This formulation appears promising for addressing the issues you've described around your eyes.

It's great that you are looking into specific ingredients to address your changing skin needs. Starting with targeted serums or well-formulated products can make a significant difference.