u/ElyreHood — reddlx

Hello! I'm very new to skincare, so few days ago I posted asking for help about my routine. My main concerns were the redness of my cheeks and the fact that my T-Zone still feels slightly oily despite using a very well recommended moisturizer. Other concerns of mine were blue/purple dark circles under my eyes and big visible pores on my nose, cheeks and forehead.

I am currently following this very simple routine:

Cleanser: Cerave Hydrating Cleanser (for normal to dry skin)
Moisturizer: Cerave Facial Moisturizing Lotion (pm) (for normal to dry skin)
Sunscreen: For the face, Cerave invisible hydrating fluid sunscreen (spf 50). For the body, Cerave invisible hydrating lotion (spf 50).

I have got combination, sensitive skin. My cheeks are always some amount of red, and I've got seborrheic dermatitis mainly on my scalp (if that influences anything).

Someone recommended to me adding the The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% serum after cleasing, because it helped their redness problem. It did help controlling the oiliness of my T-Zone. However, having used it a couple times, not only does it feel terribly sticky (even applied on damp skin and using moisturizer right after), but it is also making my skin burn and my cheeks even redder.

The first time it stung for a few minutes and then calmed down, even if it made my cheeks red. But after using it today it started burning, made my redness much worse, and never stopped burning. From what I've seen, Niacinamide isn't really recommended over 5% concentrations anyway, and having seen some people's skin becoming irritated or breaking out because of it online I don't think this product is for me, even if it helped with the T-Zone problem.

In addition, my cerave moisturizer already has niacinamide on it (4%, says reddit), so I'm not very sure stacking it is doing much good, which put me off from seeking another niacinamide serum and left me at a loss on what could help then. If stacking does help, do let me know!

So the question is, what can I add to my routine then instead of TO Niacinamide 10% that's not over the 25-30 euros threshold? I've spent many hours researching this morning, but I couldn't really find what would be best to help my redness and combo skin. I'd appreciate some advice, please! For reference for product recs availability, I'm from Spain

Thank you very much in advance

Hello! I'm very new to skincare, couldn't even fully figure out my skin type other than it seems sensitive (gets red and or itchy really easily), I do have seborrheic dermatitis, and my hands can get really dry and itchy if I'm not careful, to the point of even flaking. So I went for the safe option and started out with the basics of cleanser-moisturizer-sunscreen and opted for going with normal to dry skin Cerave products.

However, I'm still a little unsure on whether these products are working for me or not, so maybe I could get a little guidance in here, if you'll be so kind!

Right now, I'm using:

Now, onto the questions

- Moisturizer: I haven't been too prone to breaking out (other than the occasional spot here and there) ever since I passed puberty, especially since I actually started a skincare routine. However, even with the skincare after a few hours my nose and forehead seem a little too shiny and they feel a little greasy to the touch (like... my finger doesn't glide as easily as it does through my cheeks, and it does feel like there's a very thin layer of something on it after). Which is the main reason I'm unsure about the moisturizer, even though it feels light and nice right after applying.

I have seen some people recomending Neutrogena water gel for combination skin, but I've seen just as much people recomending the moisturizer I'm already using, and the Neutrogena one doesn't have ceramides and isn't fragance free (which, from what I've gathered would not couple well with my skin being sensitive) so I've been hesitant on giving it a try. I have also seen its alternative, the Neutrogena gel cream, but that seems to be aimed towards dry skin. Any advice on the moisturizer front?

- Sunscreen: Another thing I haven't been too satisfied with is that the sunscreen leaves my skin looking too shiny for a few hours, even though it does not leave a white cast at all. I'm not too sure if that's just a problem with all suncreens and I'm supposed to simply get used to it, do let me know!

Also, since these sunscreens do say they are hydrating, maybe I'm overwhelming my skin with too much hydration? My nose and forehead still feel kinda greasy on the days I stay at home and don't use the sunscreen.

- Dark circles and permanently red cheeks: And for my final question, I have no idea what to do about my dark circles and the redness on my cheeks. The dark circles are kind of indented inside the face, but also coloured blue/purple. And my cheeks are always the tiniest bit red, which gets worse some days for apparently no reason and definitely get much much redder if I move around/do exercise/feel hot.

I have had bloodwork done and usually deal with vitamin D deficiency, but my last bloodwork I got done a month ago came back fine on vitamin D and the dark circles are still there. I also usually struggle with a proper sleep schedule, but it's been pretty consistently 8/9 hours for 3/4 weeks and I've seen no improvement.

As for the red cheeks, I am not diagnosed with rosacea, nor does my case seem as bad as what shows up when I google it, but I suspect that must be what it is (or, more like my only lead jkdsj). Not too sure if skincare can solve it, but I'd appreciate advice if you have any to give! I would like to avoid going to the dermathologist about this if possible, however

Thank you very much in advance!

Edit: I should probably also note for product recs, I'm from Spain! And also, I don't wear any makeup, if that's relevant at all hahaha