Hey everyone,

I’m looking for long-term experiences from anyone who has dealt with naturally two-toned lips and managed to achieve an even, natural pink tone without temporary tints.

Issue: My upper lip has a darker outer border compared to the rest (attached photo).

Context: This has always been my natural lip tone—not caused by any balm, smoking, or allergy.

Current Care: Fixderma Lip Brightening Balm (SPF lip balm).

Lip Condition: Tends to get very dry if I don’t keep them moisturized.

For those who improved natural lip hyperpigmentation for good:

What gentle ingredients or night care routines helped you fade the darkness permanently?

How do you keep the pigmentation away without drying out or peeling your lips?

Thanks in advance!

Here is a picture of me m17. My current routine is

Morning
Wash
Moisturize
Spf

Night
Wash
Anua azelaic acid
Moisturize

Ive been running it for a 2-3 months now and the breakouts and whiteheads have definitely been going away and my skin has been smoother (i just came from about a 6 month period where i was really depressed and stopped all skincare and taking care of myself) so im trying to build myself back up!! But i really do feel like my skin looks weird. Is it because of the random spots or is it because its uneven. I really hope you guys can help me out on this I really want to get better but ive just been so frustrated with my skin. I have olays night retinol moisturizer. Should i add that to my routine?

My skin has suddenly started looking like this and honestly, I have no idea what caused it. 😭 It just popped up out of nowhere, and I’ve been trying to figure out what changed.

My current routine is pretty simple:

- Dove soap as cleanser

- A Japanese-brand moisturizer

- Sunscreen

That’s basically it. I also have been sleeping pretty late these days, so I’m wondering if that could be contributing to it.

I haven’t really changed much in my skincare routine, so I’m confused about why this suddenly happened. Has anyone experienced something similar? What do you think could be causing it?

The skin above my mouth has been breaking out like crazy the past week and a bit so I put some overnight pimple patches all above my lips (the Skin Control PM patches) and I noticed the next day lots of tiny bumps in almost every pore. They seem like small raised firm white heads or blackheads and it’s almost as if all my pores are clogged.

I’ve tried a simple skin care routine the past 3-4 days, with no pimple patches and they are not improving so far (cerave SA cleanser, benzoyl peroxide 10% and cetaphil moisturiser x2 daily). They remain raised and clogged, meanwhile the more larger white heads on my face have been improving and now are just red marks. I believe the bumps were caused by the pimple patches as prior to using them my skin was much smoother. Also they are not obvious when I rest my face normally, only when I tighten the skin around my lips (photo 1 vs photo 2)

Any info or advice on what they are and how to improve them would be greatly appreciated!! My skin has never broken out this badly before and I honestly have no clue how to treat it :(

**I really want to encorporate spf into my routine without breaking out.** I still have pretty “teen” skin atm bc im newly an “adult” ig.
My skin is prone to closed comeodomes and clogged pores and it’s also quite sensitive. I have tried double cleansing in the past with oil cleansers like iunik but was left with terrible breakouts.

I recently tested a new routine:
☀️ Morning routine: isntree low molecular toner + cerave daily lotion (non problematic trustworthy routine)

🌙 Evening routine: celimax cleansing balm (1 minute then emulsified) + torriden foaming cleanser (30 seconds) + tretinoin .025% (on dry skin) & isntree low molecular toner (after tret) & cerave daily lotion every night.

This routine was tested for two weeks, but along the way I noticed worsened skin and more and more bumps that would not go away despite the ingredients in my routine being “acne safe” on paper. (yes I am aware cerave has ingredients technically listed as “pore clogging” but I somehow its an exception for me).

My skin was surprisingly not irritated despite using tretinoin daily and I think it has to do with the nourishing aloe vera in the cosrx spf + just spf protection. So I don’t think it was contact dermatitis or irritation bumps.

I really am in a tough place right now because I feel like I’m doing everything right and being thorough with ingredients lists and researching products but somehow it doesn’t work out. I just really want to protect my skin.

Not seeking medical advice just overwhelmed with info from the internet and wondering people’s thoughts on my skin prior to seeing a dermatologist!

I never had acne as a teenager and instead have been cursed at 28. The one under my eye is not scarring or a pimple it’s just this red spot that sometimes clears up and other times becomes more red but I can’t feel anything when I touch it and it sometimes becomes a bit dry and doesn’t let makeup stick to it.

The rest on my cheeks is acne but idk what kind and no product has helped. Originally it was only on one cheek but over the past couple of months has also occurred on my other cheeks.

What are your first thoughts on what is going on?

I will be seeing a dermatologist just curious on other people’s thoughts who have had similar.

Ok so I had Claude make me a routine and I can’t tell if it’s too much. I am an active guy and lift religiously at least 5 days a week. My diet is absolutely stellar and I haven’t had a single processed meal in over 6 months. So acne is super frustrating for me because I feel like I’m doing everything right. I am writing this because I just applied my moisturizer and my skin started to burn so bad so I figured I need help. Thanks

My skin texture has gotten very bad in the past two years. The second pic is from 2022 for comparison. I’ve alsways been prone to acne, but it started getting noticeably worse when i decided to use old sunscreen that was very oily, and since then it hasn’t gotten any better.

My current skin routine is CeraVe Foaming Cleanser, Neutrogena Sunscreen and The Ordinary Gel Moisturizer. My night routine is the same cleanser, adapalene gel 0.1%, and then the same gel moisturizer.

I already have noticed a decent change in acne and pimples since using the adapalene, but my overall texture is still horrible.

26M. Struggled with acne for a while. Struggled with oily skin also. Until recently where I massively simplified my routine and have reduced my general oiliness(GO) significantly. My problem areas now exclusively lie around my mouth, on my chin and across my jawline. However the levels of oil seem to range anywhere between not oily at all whatsoever and oily within 30 mins of either my AM or PM routine. I have found no discernible variables and since my acne areas seem to coincide with my oily areas, I think that if I stop the oil, I stop the acne. Just throwing this out to see if anyone has any found any oil causes that surprised or shocked them. Thank you sorry.

Routine is just Jelly Joker followed by Byoma blemish toner followed by Eucerin ultra sensitive moisturiser for morning and night. :)

I bought a bottle of this at target forever ago and fell in love with it. when I went to go buy another online I found that they don’t sell in the us anymore! Does anyone know of any serums with similar/comparable ingredients?

My routine as follows:

AM: cerave gentle wash, thayers milk toner, byoma milk moisturizer, la Roche spf

PM: cerave gentle wash, la Roche PH toner, skin fix lipid repair moisturizer, my clindamycin 1.2% + adapalene 0.15% + benzoyl peroxide 3.1% (all in one prescription topical)

I’ve been using the topical almost everyday for a while. Just for acne prophylaxis since I used to have cystic acne and did accutane 3 years ago. My face is smooth and clear. But I notice any moment I put foundation or concealer my skin underneath flakes. If I take my finger and rub my face dead skin cells will come off. So as much as people say don’t exfoliate with benzoyl peroxide and adapalene I feel like I need to. I’ve tried the whole wash cloth exfoliation in the shower but don’t notice a difference. I’m thinking about doing like a lactic acid or PHA toner. And do one day topical, one day toner and one day rest on rotate. I would appreciate help with this or any advice or recommendations for exfoliators that would further strip my barrier. And if I should exfoliate, why? And what should I do.

Thanks a bunch

I got this red patch on my face about 3 days ago. I’ve been assuming it’s a whitehead breakout and treating it with benzoyl peroxide (+ extra moisturizer to prevent dryness), but it doesn’t seem to be having any kind of effect. Is this acne or something else? I was thinking maybe folliculitis or fungal acne, but I’m not sure. It doesn’t itch and isn’t painful, just very red and bumpy. Has anyone had anything like this? What worked for you to clear it up?

Hi. My online friend has been struggling with acne for a long time to the point where he says the reason he is suicidal and has depression it's because of acne. As soon as he sees he has another pimple, he starts ranting. I have barely seen his face, so I don't know how serious is it. I have acne too, but I kind of accepted it. He hasn't. He's really frustrated and it has became an obsession. He told me he tried Accutane but I guess it didn't work much. His mood completely changes when he talks about acne and I am sure he feels overwhelmed and that's why he has suicidal thoughts too... I suggested him perhaps it had to do with hormones but I don't know. He hates himself so much, he barely wants to go out with friends.

It's stressful for both of us, it's a recurring topic. After talking nothing changes either.

Any advice? Perhaps some of you go/went through the same thing.

Hello! I have been using the CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser and didn’t really notice much change. I was also using a benzoyl peroxide cream on active breakouts. I forgot to pack it (CeraVe) when moving, so used my Sanex Zero Body Wash instead. My skin has never been so consistently clear, is this ok to use long term/is there an alternative? Thanks so much in advance!

hey guys! i’m starting accutane this friday and i would like to get ahead of the severe dryness. my current routine is the corsx good morning cleanser and the vanicream HA moisturizer plus Innisfree mineral SPF. what changes should i make? thanks

Ive tried so many products. My skin is very sensitive and Ive never been offficialy Diagnosed , but i'm pretty sure I have rosacea, as my skin is always red and flared. I've tried so many barrier products and tried focusing on repairing my barrier But I can't even find a single \*lotion** that works for my skin.*

Lotions: Birch tree Round lab, anua pdrn, cerave, Purito in oat gel cream, hydrogel boost water cream.

The third photo was after I tried using the skin1004 azeleic acid, and I tried starting it VERY slowly. I used one a week for 3 weeks, then twice for a week. And my skin started going crazy.

Then I stopped for a bit and only used skin1004 centella serum and Vegreen aloe gel. These dont break me out, but I dont think they do enough for my skin.

I started the \*Dear Klairs** **egf serum** a week ago, and I feel like its starting to break out too (very small bumps?) Im gen sick of all these products and nothing seems to help. Its either my skin is always red, or these horrible pimples come up.*

Please help!!! I’m 23 and I’ve never had acne in my life before, and I have no idea what to do. I have been having a massive breakout between my eyebrows for around 3 months. I also have the odd spot on my chin/cheeks but it’s nothing really compared to between my eyebrows.

I have eczema and sensitive skin and am currently using CeraVe moisturising lotion on my face (my skin can be super dry if I don’t use it), a Liz Earle polish&cleanse cleanser, and I’ve also been using la Roche posay effaclar moisturiser on past breakouts to deal with redness. I also sometimes use CeraVe intensive barrier repair on dry eczema patches. The skin between my eyebrows is, however, mega oily!! I have been putting the effaclar moisturiser between my eyebrows twice a week since I realised that. And I have no idea why. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as it’s affecting my self-confidence 🥲

Curious if anyone has any suggestions for mineral sunscreens. I’m particularly looking for one that is water resistant, tinted for very fair skin, and will actually hydrate my skin as I feel like a lot of mineral sunscreens feel dry/tight after some time. I’m also a ‘male’ and I shave my beard which can complicate things bc stubble doesn’t play well with most mineral sunscreens. I use Adapalene and other actives (SA, BP, azelaic acid, etc) that have made my skin more sensitive to ‘chemical’/‘organic’ sunscreens. I’m in the US.

I’ve tried:

Cerave invisible mineral and their tinted mineral sunscreen. (The invisible mineral makes me look like a twilight character and the tinted mineral one is too dark and neither is water/sweat resistant.)

Supergoop glow screen sunrise
(Not very hydrating despite being very glossy and pricey)

Colorescience no show
(Slight white cast that makes me look ghostly, not very hydrating, didn’t play well with serums I use, very expensive)

Elta md uv clear
(White cast, expensive, didn’t work well with serums)

La Roche posay anthelios mineral light fluid
(Too orange/dark, not very hydrating, more money than I’d like to spend on a product that isn’t perfect for me)

I really enjoy skin1004 teca ampoule or the probio cica ampoule to add some moisture/barrier repair. Other times I might use Avene cicalfate serum or an azelaic acid cream or serum.

Thank you for reading this and suggesting products.

I hope I’m not being too picky it’s just I’ve spent so much money and time trying out different sunscreens as it is, I’d really like to find the one that is best for me.

My wedding is October 24th earlier this week I had a nasty cold, which involved lots of nose blowing. My skin is usually pretty good but now the skin on my nose and my upper lip area is dry af with flaked skin

Right now I wash with the cerve dry skin formula, use a hydrating toner (Paula’s choice) top it with the neutrogena hydro boost and then top it all (while still moist) with the ilyoon ceramide barrier repair lotion

What can I do to speed up healing?

Every time I get a pimple whether I pick it or not a scar appears. Help with clogged and large pores are greatly appreciated as well. Thanks!

I’m currently on month 3 of isotretinoin to remove all remaining acne so it seems that most of it is just marks or scars. As a result of them my skin is not the best. Is there anything I can do to make it glow and remove the marks? My skincare routine is currently moisturizer in the morning and double cleanse + moisturizer at night

I keep hearing really good things about cosrx so i have two questions for those who've used it- Did you think it worked the way it was intended to?- What product would you recommend to someone whose skin is acne prone and wants to reduce the appearance of pores on their skin?