Hi, it's been a few more weeks, just thought I'd pop in with a progress report. So my skin is not quite clear yet, but I am not giving up on these products as they are slowly but surely giving results. I find that any pimples I do get now heal MUCH faster. I've had a couple (I think 1 or 2) bouts of breakouts since this l last posted: two or three semi-deep cysts? (I don't know if I will call them that anymore as they aren't nearly as big, red or painful as the ones I used to get. They are still under the surface and hard though). But they healed remarkably quickly. To be quite fair, these breakouts seem to be triggered by me being lazy with the regimen. As always, the non breakout prone areas of my face look absolutely wonderful. Baby's bum smooth and radiant!

I do have a tip for those that may be experiencing BP-induced dryness in the more sensitive, usually clear areas of the face (for me, it was under-eye to upper-cheek, temples, and jawline). This started about a week into the regimen. I found that applying the BP before the Regenerist, caused the BP to migrate to areas of the face that I didn't want it to be on. Thus I was left with some flaking and even dry, bumpy patches under my jaw. I then switched the order of the two and it seems to have corrected the problem. I now apply my BP lotion only to breakout-prone areas AFTER I've applied regenerist all-over. No more dryness, and no more smeared BP to where I didn't need it! Now, the BP'd areas are not quite as soft when I'm done, but I'd rather have that than the flakes and WRINKLES! by the lord, the dryness made it look like I had under-eye wrinkles! If need be, I'll apply a little additional Olay sensitive skin lotion on the BP'd areas after it's dry if I plan to wear makeup.

Again, will keep posting. From experience, I know that it's frustrating to read acne regimen posts only to find a lack of progress updates or reports back in the long run. Zhalva is doing a great job here so I'd like to add my 2 cents in!

you know i gotta try that. i use my benzaclin before my regenerist deep hydration cream and i still get dry spots in certain areas of my face. i was afraid to change it for fear that the benzaclin wouldnt get absorbed or something. i am going to do that tonight. thanks for the tip!!

Hi everyone I've been sneaking around this Acne.org website reading and doing my own regimen with Oil of Olay night recovery treatment. Its been 3 weeks and honestly nothing has changed for me NOW NOW dont get me wrong! I'm absolutely obsessed with this regimen idea that Zhalvajegirl has going. She is right about repairing the skin cells and the Oil of Olay cream does work in improving the look of your skin! Now I have noticed that my acne goes away and heals because the BP 2.5% is working GREAT! BUT as the day progresses new acne replaces the old If anyone can tell me how long it takes for my face to clear or a time frame at least so I can TRY and shoot for a goal here. I know Zhalvajegirl saids it takes awhile but what is awhile? 2 weeks, a month, 6 months?

Now I'm not gonna give up I will keep at this regimen so here is my breakdown on what i use and do...

Nighttime:

Wash face with Centaphil Gentle Cleanser

Apply BP 2.5% Gel

Apply Oil of Olay Night Recovery Treatment

Morning:

Wash face with Centaphil Gentle Cleanser

Apply BP 2.5% Gel

Apply Neutrogena Oil Free/Combination Skin Moisturizer

So far I still breakout and have no control of it currently other than the acne clearing up and coming back again. Now I recently done an experiment on myself that my friend suggested. He told me that my skin was drying out from the BP (which is true it is) so I changed my cleanser from Centaphil Daily Cleanser to Centaphil Gentle Cleanser. That helped in terms of my skin being really dry after a shower. BUT the areas where BP were applied still get dry. I use the BP twice a day Morning and Night so that my skin can get use to it.

Area of acne location: upper and lower cheeks

NOW I spoke to my friend again telling him how discouraged I was by this and he said my skin is still dry and that dry peeling skin blocks pores and when oil, dirt or bacteria along with dry peeling skin WILL CAUSE ACNE no matter how much BP you put on your skin. So he said to try and experiment to prove the theory. I said OK what do I have to do? He told to me to look in the mirror I tell me where my acne was located on my face. I said on my upper and lower cheeks (cant you see!) He saids yes I do see but why dont you have acne anywhere where you SHAVE? He told me shaving does and excellent job of exfoliating the skin!

Experiment: Shave lightly the affected acne prone area of skin

LORD BEHOLD my skin tone even out, acne from last night disappeared in the morning, and that area of skin looked better and i didn't Breakout like I usually do throughout the day! Now i decided to see what happens if i didnt shave that area for 3 days, guess what? I BROKEOUT ughhhhh so I have come to conclusion that I have oily/combination sensitive skin but the BP is drying my skin causing dry skin which mixed with dirt or bacteria or oil or just plain dry skin peeling is causing my acne. But when I shave that affected area the acne slightly goes away and the skin tone evens out nicely.

Now I'm stuck I dont know what to do next as I dont wanna shave my upper cheeks everyday! I'm still going forward with the regemin but i'm getting quite discouraged, you know the old saying

"So close yet so far"

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions please let me know I've done alot of research so I can vouch for this info lol thanks Zhalvajegirl for giving me hope and everyone on this forum! I will keep you guys updated as I'm HELLBENT on getting the face I deserve!

Hi everyone I've been sneaking around this Acne.org website reading and doing my own regimen with Oil of Olay night recovery treatment. Its been 3 weeks and honestly nothing has changed for me 🙁 NOW NOW dont get me wrong! I'm absolutely obsessed with this regimen idea that Zhalvajegirl has going. She is right about repairing the skin cells and the Oil of Olay cream does work in improving the look of your skin! Now I have noticed that my acne goes away and heals because the BP 2.5% is working GREAT! BUT as the day progresses new acne replaces the old 🙁 If anyone can tell me how long it takes for my face to clear or a time frame at least so I can TRY and shoot for a goal here. I know Zhalvajegirl saids it takes awhile but what is awhile? 2 weeks, a month, 6 months?

Now I'm not gonna give up I will keep at this regimen so here is my breakdown on what i use and do...

Nighttime:

Wash face with Centaphil Gentle Cleanser

Apply BP 2.5% Gel

Apply Oil of Olay Night Recovery Treatment

Morning:

Wash face with Centaphil Gentle Cleanser

Apply BP 2.5% Gel

Apply Neutrogena Oil Free/Combination Skin Moisturizer

So far I still breakout and have no control of it currently other than the acne clearing up and coming back again. Now I recently done an experiment on myself that my friend suggested. He told me that my skin was drying out from the BP (which is true it is) so I changed my cleanser from Centaphil Daily Cleanser to Centaphil Gentle Cleanser. That helped in terms of my skin being really dry after a shower. BUT the areas where BP were applied still get dry. I use the BP twice a day Morning and Night so that my skin can get use to it.

Area of acne location: upper and lower cheeks

NOW I spoke to my friend again telling him how discouraged I was by this and he said my skin is still dry and that dry peeling skin blocks pores and when oil, dirt or bacteria along with dry peeling skin WILL CAUSE ACNE no matter how much BP you put on your skin. So he said to try and experiment to prove the theory. I said OK what do I have to do? He told to me to look in the mirror I tell me where my acne was located on my face. I said on my upper and lower cheeks (cant you see!) He saids yes I do see but why dont you have acne anywhere where you SHAVE? He told me shaving does and excellent job of exfoliating the skin!

Experiment: Shave lightly the affected acne prone area of skin

LORD BEHOLD my skin tone even out, acne from last night disappeared in the morning, and that area of skin looked better and i didn't Breakout like I usually do throughout the day! Now i decided to see what happens if i didnt shave that area for 3 days, guess what? I BROKEOUT ughhhhh so I have come to conclusion that I have oily/combination sensitive skin but the BP is drying my skin causing dry skin which mixed with dirt or bacteria or oil or just plain dry skin peeling is causing my acne. But when I shave that affected area the acne slightly goes away and the skin tone evens out nicely.

Now I'm stuck I dont know what to do next as I dont wanna shave my upper cheeks everyday! I'm still going forward with the regemin but i'm getting quite discouraged, you know the old saying

"So close yet so far"

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions please let me know I've done alot of research so I can vouch for this info lol thanks Zhalvajegirl for giving me hope and everyone on this forum! I will keep you guys updated as I'm HELLBENT on getting the face I deserve!

It took a few months for me before I even noticed any results. I started my regimen sometime in February and I didnt notice the changes until around July, and even then I still had a few pimples here and there. It was such a great improvement (for me anyway), that I just stayed with it.

It sounds to me like your problem is the exfoliating part. Have you thought of switching your cleanser to something that has exfoliating beads? As for the dryness, I use to have that problem as well, but this was before I started my regimen, and so I can't really say for sure that it was the 2.5% BP that caused it. Some days I have applied BP and didnt follow it with any lotion or moisturizer and I didn't have any dryness issues. So again, can't really expertly tell you what is causing your dry skin problem. BP? Weather? Not enough moisturizer? Not drinking enough water? Could be anything. I have to say though, now that I think about it, I can't remember the last time I had any dryness on my face :think:

I was going through my files on my old PC the other day and I stumbled on some old pictures. This taken around July of 2007. I wanted to share this one in particular so you guys can see just why I am soooooo sold on the BP+Olay regimen, and why I am so biased. This is how my skin was BEFORE my regimen. Gross, I know, but there it is...

Zhalvajegirl do you think if I use Epiduo (2.5% BP, .01% adapalene [a retinol]) substituted for your plain 2.5% BP it will irritate my skin too much to have the retinol in the olay cleanser/moisturizer/serum PLUS the Epiduo?

I'm really trying to decide between this oil of olay method and this Philosophy kit (cleanser, retinol cream, moisturizer):

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtm...tegoryId=C10462

I just realized something.

The periods of time in my past when my skin didn't break out that much was when I was using the regenerist night cream, I worked at a grocery store and it was easy access. (My skin is good now- but just for informational purposes, it worked for me!) I am starting to use it again and I still really like it.

As for the people who are worried about price vs. amount- it truly doesn't take much cream to moisturize. It's thick but not heavy. It's a very pleasant smooth feeling and doesn't require more than a large pea size usually. It's better to spend the money on it rather than 100 other products that don't end up helping your skin.

I want to try regenerist because I have had good experience with olay, (the anti aging plus acne control is great but i need a change) but my wedding is coming up and I don't want something to work for a little bit and then quit right before the big day. What do you guys recommend as the sweet spot for switching to this, if any of you have the same problem of needing to rotate products?

Hi Everyone!

I just had to come on here and share my experience with you all having read this thread. I am a 27 year old female and have been suffering with adult acne on and off over the last 7 or 8 years.

I have been on and off minocin over the years along with the pill and duac. Around christmas I had a massive breakout- the worst yet. My face was full of cyst type spots, in places i never got them before. It was awful and looked awful. I went to my doctor who gave me a prescription for minocin and duac. In the mean time i spent a fortune on make up to try and hide the spots.

After two months- no improvement which is unusual for me as i almost always had a total improvement wth minocin.

Instead of improving, the duac was burning my skin and making it look worse!

then i remembered that a few years ago when i had been using olay regenerist (a gift) my skin was immaculate.

Four days ago i went out and bought the regenerist 3 point cream, the serum and the night cream (yes it was pricey but i was desperate)

Today, there is a MASSIVE improvement! it's incredible. I really recommend this product to anyone struggling like i was...

regime..

day:

wash face with dove soap

apply serum

apply 3 point cream

night:

wash face with dove soap

apply serum

apply night cream

apply tiny amount of duac if necessary.

best of luck everyone...hope this helps!

Me again!

I'm crazy about olay stuff now. After a couple weeks, I went out and bought the Olay dual action cleanser+pore scrub. It's like a foaming cream cleanser with a ribbon of fine exfoliating granules in gel cleanser, the ingredients say it has salicylic acid, but it is not listed anywhere else on the packaging so my guess is that it's at a rather low concentration. i LOVE! this cleanser! Gentle enough for every day use, removes makeup well, and rinses soft and clean with no residue! Feels like it preps my skin well for anything I'm going to put on it after.

I've been pretty lazy with the regimen, sometimes forgetting to put the BP on, sometimes forgetting to wash my face altogether in a day when I'm in a rush. (tsk tsk) and yet, I still see improvements. If I forget too many times during a week, I will get maybe 2 pimples, but they go away fast once I get back on my game. I currently have NO ACTIVE PIMPLES. My skin is not perfect, i still have bumps and red marks and some scabbies leftover from previous breakouts, but it's been several days now and I have not gotten a new pimple and all this post-pimple stuff seems to heal MUCH faster with the Regenerist working it's magic. I am ACTUALLY at a point where the marks bother me MORE than the pimples. Bought the Olay Definity night spot treatment for this, have yet to try.

So in summary, I've been using Regenerist night recovery cream since mid-January 2011. It is now mid-March and my skin has improved drastically but is not quite perfect yet. I suspect i will still get the odd blemish here and there around that time of the month, but compared to my cyst-littered cheeks/chin of the holidays, this is wonderful!

Again, will keep coming back until I'm clear, or it stops working!

Just for clarification this is the routine i've fallen into and like. Same for night and day:

Olay Dual-Action Cleanser+Porescrub

Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream (sparingly all over)

Panoxyl 5% BP aqua-gel (only to breakout-prone areas)

If I'm going to apply foundation (I use a mineral powder formulation) I either skip the BP, or wait for the BP to dry and apply a tiny bit of whatever gentle, non-specialized/medicated moisturizer I have on top. My skin doesn't feel tight, but it will flake in certain areas if I take a brush to it. This is maybe once or twice a week.

quotes of my old posts so u don't have to search.. with a lot cut out =)

Hi, it's been a few more weeks... So my skin is not quite clear yet, but I am not giving up....pimples I do get now heal MUCH faster.....To be quite fair, these breakouts seem to be triggered by me being lazy ..... non breakout prone areas of my face look absolutely wonderful.

 

Again, will keep posting. From experience, I know that it's frustrating to read acne regimen posts only to find a lack of progress updates or reports back in the long run. Zhalva is doing a great job here so I'd like to add my 2 cents in!

 

A quick re-cap of my last post in this thread if anybody is tracking progress.

 

For this 22 year old with acne-prone, combination/norm/sensitive (I've never figured it out. I get shine and flakes in the same place...) skin, Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream:

-made my non-breakout prone areas (upper cheeks, nose, jaw) skin very smooth and radiant

-moisturizes exceptionally to combat acne-medication induced dryness

-does NOT feel greasy or heavy, nor did it cause any additional oil/shine compared to the lighter moisturizers I mentioned.

-did not break me out

-made my previously ineffective BP lotion work

-seems to be fading hyperpigmentation and smoothing out some very, very shallow acne scarring on cheeks. (again, will report later)

 

I'll be back with more news later once I give my breakouts a chance to heal.

I want to try regenerist because I have had good experience with olay, (the anti aging plus acne control is great but i need a change) but my wedding is coming up and I don't want something to work for a little bit and then quit right before the big day. What do you guys recommend as the sweet spot for switching to this, if any of you have the same problem of needing to rotate products?

This is not your typical acne medication that your skin builds up a tolerance for. In my experience, the longer you use it, the better your skin becomes! I would start using it ASAP and be super super faithful to it as to not fall off the wagon and have to re-heal. At least until your wedding =P Then go ahead and get lazy. LOL.

UPDATE

Hey everyone, I started this regimen about 1.5 months ago and just wanted to update everyone.

I am blemish free! For the first time in 12 years. I love love LOVE this regimen. I am so grateful to Zhalvajegirl!! The only thing I'm dealing with now are all those left over red marks, but I'll take them over breaking out all the time.

Give this regmin a try!!!!

congrats HelloLovve!!! Good to know it's working so nicely for you plus you are clear!

I sometimes use the fragrance-free Regenerist Serum, and I love it. Plus, it has niacinamide, which can help fade marks and lighten skin. My skin always seems to look a little brighter and healthier when I use this serum!

This link talks a little about Olay's study on niacinamide: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/cosmetic-ingre...iacinamide.aspx

UPDATE!

Just thought I'd share a before & now (not quite after!) photo for you all.

Products (in order):

Olay Dual Action Cleanser+Pore Scrub

Olay Regenerist night recovery cream

Panoxyl 5% benzoyl peroxide gel (applied over acne-prone areas)

Regrettably, I took the before photo in dim, indoor flourescent lighting so the photo turned out grainy and unclear. I've pointed to "inflamed" acne spots. Inflamed means I can feel the bump with my fingers and it's irritated. The remainder of the marks were from recent cysts/zits that had occurred since September, which is when I started to break out. Most were still doing that flaky thing that old acne tends to do, or I could still feel them but they were in the healing stage.

The after picture is much better quality and taken in natural lighting (if you zoom in, you can see my pores and the tiny hairs on my face ) There is one active bump on my cheek but it is really quite mild. Otherwise, the rest of my face feels completely smooth/soft to the touch, no bumps, no flakes. If I touch my cheek blindly it feels like PERFECT skin. You can see, however, that I'm left with tons of dark spots.

My other cheek was actually twice as bad, but I did not take a before picture of it. The results are the same: It is now COMPLETELY smooth to the touch, but with more severe hyperpigmentation. I am now applying Neostrata HQplus Lightening Cream to the marks.

PS, that really dark spot in the middle is a beauty mark lol

tangt88,

Wow! That's a huge improvement! Congrats! I think you guys should try to pinpoint what in these products you think it is that might be making the improvements, because what if one day the formula changes or they're discontinued? I'm wondering if niacinamide might have much to do with these results. Are there also salicylic acids (BHAs) in these products? Are they free of fragrance? Free of skin-irritants? These could all be factors that might be helpful to be aware of for future reference.

UPDATE!

Just thought I'd share a before & now (not quite after!) photo for you all.

Products (in order):

Olay Dual Action Cleanser+Pore Scrub

Olay Regenerist night recovery cream

Panoxyl 5% benzoyl peroxide gel (applied over acne-prone areas)

Regrettably, I took the before photo in dim, indoor flourescent lighting so the photo turned out grainy and unclear. I've pointed to "inflamed" acne spots. Inflamed means I can feel the bump with my fingers and it's irritated. The remainder of the marks were from recent cysts/zits that had occurred since September, which is when I started to break out. Most were still doing that flaky thing that old acne tends to do, or I could still feel them but they were in the healing stage.

The after picture is much better quality and taken in natural lighting (if you zoom in, you can see my pores and the tiny hairs on my face 😛 ) There is one active bump on my cheek but it is really quite mild. Otherwise, the rest of my face feels completely smooth/soft to the touch, no bumps, no flakes. If I touch my cheek blindly it feels like PERFECT skin. You can see, however, that I'm left with tons of dark spots.

My other cheek was actually twice as bad, but I did not take a before picture of it. The results are the same: It is now COMPLETELY smooth to the touch, but with more severe hyperpigmentation. I am now applying Neostrata HQplus Lightening Cream to the marks.

PS, that really dark spot in the middle is a beauty mark lol

I think that's a really great improvement for two months!

I think I'm going to try this regimen, too. I've been using the products in my signature since September. My skin started clearing up sometime in November and was progressing well until about a month ago. Now, I'm getting acne that is persistent and stubborn. I keep trying to think of what has changed and I just don't know what happened.

The thing is, I also started tanning in November but I am only going about once every two weeks now. Maybe this is causing the breakouts? Either way, I'm fed up! I have mild to moderate acne but it is sooo persistent.

Anyway, I have some questions about the cleanser you're using. Do you wear makeup and, if so, does it remove it thoroughly?

There were three or four Olay cleansers that looked really nice and I don't know which to pick!

I sometimes use the fragrance-free Regenerist Serum, and I love it. Plus, it has niacinamide, which can help fade marks and lighten skin. My skin always seems to look a little brighter and healthier when I use this serum!

This link talks a little about Olay's study on niacinamide: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/cosmetic-ingre...iacinamide.aspx

Sorry for multiple posts - do you know if there is a difference between the recovery cream and this serum? I think I read they're pretty much the same with the exception that the serum is fragrance-free?

I sometimes use the fragrance-free Regenerist Serum, and I love it. Plus, it has niacinamide, which can help fade marks and lighten skin. My skin always seems to look a little brighter and healthier when I use this serum!

This link talks a little about Olay's study on niacinamide: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/cosmetic-ingre...iacinamide.aspx

Sorry for multiple posts - do you know if there is a difference between the recovery cream and this serum? I think I read they're pretty much the same with the exception that the serum is fragrance-free?

 

The Recovery Cream doesn't have the best review here: http://www.beautypedia.com/search.aspx?bid...IzGISpWR25kz50=

Think I'd stick with the serum! 🙂 http://www.beautypedia.com/search.aspx?bid...3wBy+XFgyfre8M=

The Recovery Cream doesn't have the best review here: http://www.beautypedia.com/search.aspx?bid...IzGISpWR25kz50=

Think I'd stick with the serum! 🙂 http://www.beautypedia.com/search.aspx?bid...3wBy+XFgyfre8M=

Alright, thanks for the help and links!

Alright, thanks for the help and links!

Happy to help!

Hi....

Congratz all who got clean skin frm this !!!

Seemz like OLAY z working...

I have some

*Black headz

*Markz

*Pimple (not so much pmples. They come 1 for 2 weekz, like that. Bt When pimple come they raise 2 so big)

*scars

I hv littlebit Oily skin.

Which (OLAY) product should I use now ? Somebody Pls help me.....

Just bought the fragrance free serum, cost me A25 it better work!!!

Alright, thanks for the help and links!

Happy to help!

 

Does a little bit of the serum go a long way?

When I use the serum, I often use it as a moisturizer, so I use about as much as I would normally for a moisturizer (2 or 3 pumps). However, if I were following with a moisturizer, I think one pump would probably do just fine.

Hi....

Congratz all who got clean skin frm this !!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Seemz like OLAY z working...

I have some

*Black headz

*Markz

*Pimple (not so much pmples. They come 1 for 2 weekz, like that. Bt When pimple come they raise 2 so big)

*scars

I hv littlebit Oily skin.

Which (OLAY) product should I use now ? Somebody Pls help me.....

I think you need a product with a salicylic acid (BHA). Also, as soon as you see a blemish forming, try dabbing it with tea tree oil to see if that might stop it in its tracks. There's a link in my signature that might help you further with basic skin-care questions. 🙂