You have a couple options here. First STOP gouging them with tweezers…you are setting yourself up for, infection, scarring, the list goes on and on!! There are tools specifically designed to help properly extract the milia as well as the underground cysts. They are called lancets and they are designed with a razor sharp edge that safely pierced the skin so you can extract the blemish easier. Once you have lanced the blemish you should then use and extractor tool to remove it. You can get a Double Loop or Wire extractor it is preference, they both work extremely well. Next you will want to look into Skin Rx Clinics Microdermabrasion Peel. It is formulated with a combination of Glycolic Acid and the same Corundum Crystals used in machines at Doctor’s offices or Salons. The unique 2 in 1 combination of Glycolic Acid and Corundum Crystals will peel away the dead, dull cells and revel renewed refined & retexturized skin. Once that dead skin cell buildup is removed then you can lance and extract the blemish with ease. I also recommend Skin Rx Clinic Jojoba Exfoliating Cleanser to help keep your skin clean and exfoliated and A Glycolic Lotion for the day  to keep you hydrated.

I can imagine you have tried a thousand products, without results. So I absolutely understand you frustration and lack of trust in products. I will be completely honest with you…when you are dealing with age spots which are an overproduction of melanin they are extremely hard to get rid of. Now don’t get me wrong, you can diminish the look and lighten the dark discoloration of the spots but to say you can completely get rid of them would be lying. With that being said I do have suggestions and options for you. If you have tried everything on the market from Skin Lighteners to bleaching agents with no success it’s safe to say they are not going to work for you. But before we completely rule them out I want to make sure the skin lighteners you have tried contain: Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid & Glycolic Acid. Skin Rx Clinic offers a Skin Lightener with all 3 key ingredients. It is essential that they contain all three lightening agents. Other option is a Lactic Acid At Home Peel. Lactic Acid is  an AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) derived from sour milk. It is a superior exfoliant and because it is a naturally occurring metabolite found in the body it is highly recommended for the treatment of Hyper-pigmentation (dark spots). Because it is an at home peel you are not paying for the doctors visit and can perform the peels when it is convenient for you on a more consistent basis. It is better to peel less severely more often than it is to peel more severely less often, and an At Home Peel allows you to do just that. Skin Rx Clinic offers Lactic Acid in 3 strengths…30%, 40% & 50%. I always recommend starting at 30% or 40% Lactic Acid depending on the severity of the discoloration and working your way up to 50%.

Let me just start by saying as a makeup artist by far the hardest task I have had to overcome is finding the perfect bronzer! Just when I was about to give up I came across Mineral Secrets Congo Safari Bronzer. It is the only bronzer I have ever tried myself or used on a client that doesn’t leave even a hint of that fake orange bronzer color. It has 3 different shade of bronze swirled together in a tiger pattern. You can also use it as a highlighter on the brim of your nose and cheek bones. It’s a must have for the summer & winter…to keep a that perfect sun kissed look year round!

There are several factors to address when dealing with acne and blackheads. First you want to make sure you are using the proper cleanser. This makes all the difference. By keeping the skin exfoliated and killing pore clogging bacteria you can prevent the breakouts from occurring in the first place. Skin Rx Clinic carries a Jojoba Exfoliating Cleanser. It is give a deep down clean feeling and contains Jojoba beads to naturally buff away dead skin cell build up. That in combination with Salicylic Acid allows the skin to breath even under makeup. You should also use a good moisturizer. This will assure your skin stays properly hydrated throughout the day and as a result will not over produce oil and clog the pores leaving room for bacteria to grow. Skin Rx Clinic also carries a Glycolic Face Lotion that is lightweight and beneficial in helping prevent and clear up acne prone skin. Now that we have touch base on what to do before you apply your make up to keep your skin clear, let’s talk about the right kind of makeup. I am sure you have noticed the Mineral Makeup crazy, and rightly so…it is fantastic! You also have options;  Mineral Secrets carries a fantastic line of mineral makeup products, Pressed Mineral Base, Loose Mineral Base and Liquid Mineral base. These are all oil free products made of mineral pigments and will not clog your pores or cause acne causing bacteria to grow. My personal preference is the Liquid Mineral Base. I love its texture and it provides medium coverage without feeling heavy and wearing off mid day! But if you prefer a powder base the Loose Mineral Base is light weight and provides minimal coverage, the pressed is also lightweight as it is still a powder but it provide better coverage. One you decide on what type of Mineral Makeup you prefer the rest is easy…just apply and feel how natural your skin feels and looks!

HI Kiley, let’s take a couple steps back and start with your skincare routine. You mentioned you wash your face am and pm, that’s good! I am curious as to what you do next. Your skincare regime plays a role in your makeup application. If you start with over or under hydrated skin your make up will reflect that! For example if you are using a moisturizer that is too heavy to penetrate the skin thoroughly, it won’t properly absorb, resulting in a layer of buildup that sits on the surface of the skin. When you then apply your foundation it cannot bind properly to the skin and you are left with that thick, sticky, heavy make up feeling you dislike so much. So start with a good moisturizer. I recommend Skin Rx Clinic’s O2 Rejuvenating Day Crème.  It hydrates the skin with moisture binding Hyaluronic Acid, helps the skin to accept nutrients and fights free radicals. Not only will you hydrating the skin you are also preventing aging. Now that I’ve touched base on Skincare let’s get to your question. I am going to assume you have heard of mineral makeup. I am also going to assume you are only aware of the Powder side of mineral make up. I am going to introduce you to the Liquid side of mineral makeup. Mineral Secrets carries a line of mineral make up that is by far the best mineral makeup I have ever worked with as a makeup artist. I suggest looking into Mineral Secrets Liquid Mineral Foundation. It has a velvety smooth texture covers like a liquid and dries like a powder. It will keep you hydrated without that oily feeling and it is mineral based so it wears all day without smudging and transferring. It also has a natural SPF factor of 15 so you are protected from damaging sun rays.

I do have some recommendations for you:  You first want to pick a treatment product, a power product so to say…

• Microdermabrasion Peel… this will help with:

-Reducing unsightly razor burn, bumps and ingrown hairs on face, under arms, bikini & legs
-Assists in removing and preventing acne on face, chest, back and arms
-Reduces fine Lines, acne scars & uneven texture.
-Diminishes the look of sun damage, hyperpigmentation & brown spots.
-Dissolves pore clogging bacteria that causes blackheads & whiteheads

• Glycolic Acid Peel-If you would like to get a peel I would suggest a low percentage Glycolic Acid Peel…maybe 30% or 40% Buffered Glycolic Acid. If you are a beginner or this is your first time performing an “At Home” peel. If you have had a Glycolic Acid Peel before, and this is not your first experience you then could use 50% or 60% Glycolic Acid. Like with any acid you should do a patch test on your cheek and jawbone before placing it all over the face…this will ensure you do not have a reaction.
• Also, the Glycolic Lotion would be something to think about. It is a light weight, oil-free, glycolic treatment lotion ideal for acne or oily skin. Fights blackheads, lines and large pores!
• The 15% Glycolic Smoothing Gel is also ideal for treating acne and acne scars and it is good to use to prep the skin before performing a 30% or 40% Glycolic Peel. It still contains 15% Glycolic Acid it is just not as invasive as the peel but you will still get results!
• If you want to perform a peel, the Glycolic Acid is the way to go as far as addressing your specific concerns. It is designed to refine and renew the skin, and as a result minimizes scarring and fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps to balance & maintain sebum (oil) levels to reduce the amount of sebum the skin produces!

All of these products contain Glycolic Acid…Glycolic Acid is specifically designed to treat oily, acne prone skin. It is formulated to resurface the skin and minimize pore size and scarring. You would not want to use all four of these products together. You should follow the links and see which product you think will be best for your specific skin. I just gave you a reference to go by as far as what products treat your concerns! Please let me know what your thoughts are once you review the suggested products! After you have decide what treatment products to pick we can see what Face wash and moisturizer would be best compatible with that product! Let me know what questions you have and I will gladly answer them!

The good news is I can help!! It will however be a process and we will have to address your concerns individually! Your best chance at seeing a result would be a chemical peel. I would suggest Skin Rx Clinic’s Jessner Peel judging by the extent of the damage you described. Here is a link with a day by day documentary of a Jessner Peel: http://skinrxclinic.com/blog/jessner-at-home-skin-peel-documentary-journal/ and here is an informational link from the website explaining exactly what concerns the Jessner Acid addresses! This is where you would begin…review this info and let me know what questions you have and we will continue from there.

Today is your lucky day, because have a solution for all of your mentioned concerns. First as far as foundation goes Mineral Secrets Liquid Mineral Foundation is the best I have ever tried! It has great coverage, a velvety smooth texture, it last all day, and it is a breathable makeup so it won’t clog your pores. It covers red/blotchiness like nothing I have every used and it is Matte so it absorbs oils. Just when you thought I described the best product on earth (which is exactly what I did) they also carry a Camoufleur Concealer that is a pliable concealer, meaning it moves with your skin so it won’t cake and crease into lines or pores, and it provides better loner lasting coverage than your traditional concealers.

Nothing worse than that orange look from the wrong shade make up! So I do have some advice. I have been a make-up artist and skin specialist for a while now and matching skin tone is one of the hardest skills you have to acquire. So when I say I know what I’m talking about I say it confidently. Mineral Secrets carries a Mineral Base line of cosmetics. They have the traditional Loose & Pressed Base Minerals, but they carry a Liquid Based Mineral Foundation as well. And that is what you should be using. Advanced technology delivers all the benefits of mineral makeup powders in an easy-to-use hypoallergenic liquid powder. It has a velvety smooth texture and provides medium coverage. It is a breathable make up and will blend right into the skin without looking like you are trying to cover up your freckles. Mineral Secrets Liquid Mineral Foundation is also a natural sun screen (approximately 15 protection) with its Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide ingredients. As far as your skin tone the Liquid Base come in two colors that I am sure will match…Porcelain & Linen. I would suggest getting both colors to custom blend a color that’s perfect for you, but if you have to chose only one Porcelain has a pink undertone and Linen has a yellow undertone and is the lightest shade. I also suggest using Mineral Secrets Loose Porcelain Finishing Powder over the Liquid to provide a matte finish, oil absorption and ability to diminishes pores. If you would like to give your skin that sun-kissed glow without looking orange Mineral Secrets carries a Kenya Safari Bronzer that is perfect for the skin tone you have described. Using the bronzer will also help tone down the look of your freckles if you choose. This combination will be your savior…

My recommendation to you is Mineral Secrets Liquid Mineral Foundation Base. You get the same coverage as a full coverage foundation except it is a Liquid to Powder so you don’t feel like you have on heavy thick caked on makeup! Mineral Secrets Liquid Mineral Foundation is still mineral based so it will allow your skin to breath prevent pore clogging bacteria to build up and make your skin worse. If you still want a little more coverage you can get a Mineral Finishing Powder to put over the liquid foundation. As far as clearing up your skin you have a couple options…a good cleanser is a must (and it has to say it removes makeup or it doesn’t) plain and simple and if your face wash isn’t going to take your makeup off its also not going to clean your face! So SkinRxClinic carries a cleanser call Jojoba Exfoliating Cleanser. It is specifically formulated with Jojoba Beads, AHA’s, Salicylic Acid & Grapefruit Oil to remove make up, dirt & debris and impurities on the skin. Jojoba Beads are natural exfoliants that help buff away the dead cells that are preventing your anti-acne products from penetrating deep enough to clear up your skin. I also recommend trying a toner…SkinRxClinic also carries a Glyco-Lactic Toner that has worked wonders for my clients in the past! Its a mild, non-alcoholic toner. It contains natural, active plant extracts and AHA’s to gently exfoliate, soothe, clarify, and resurface the skin.