Foreo Luna - worth the cost?

SaveSomeMore_2

I have problematic skin that is oily yet very sensitive (stinging), congested, with enlarged pores and occasional deep cystlike acne. I've told in the past by the NHS it may be mild seborrheic dermatitis or something along those lines. All in all not nice!

I've tried the usual suggestions: gentle cleansers (from creams like Liz Earle to gentle foaming ones), AHA/BHA exfoliants (Effaclar Duo/Strydex etc), zinc treatments, hylauronic acid serums, Nizoral etc but these haven't made a massive difference.

I was looking at cleansing brushes to ensure my skin is properly cleansed and free of irritants/blockages (as this supposedly helps). The clarisonic ones looks way too harsh and not very hygienic but the Luna looks like an improved offering.

Has anyone tried one of these and would you recommend? If so which would you recommend (they have the mini, combination, sensitive, ultra-sensitive and a men's version! I'd fit into most these categories).

It is very expensive though, so failing that, does anyone have any cheaper recommendations (be they lotions and potions or gadgets) to tackle hyper-oily hyper-sensitive skin?

cashewnut

If your skin's too sensitive for topical treatment then maybe visit your GP for oral antibiotics or dianette? I use benzoyl peroxide at night but it CAN sting. Sometimes it helps me to ditch it for a day or two.

I haven't tried cleansing brushes, sorry.

indiepanda

Clarisonics have a choice of different brush heads, including one for more sensitive skin so I wouldn't rule it out. I can't comment on whether using one would help your issue as other than the sensitivity, my skin sounds to be a different type.

fixx

Have you considered Oil Cleansing? It's not for everyone, but some people have had amazing results with it - I really liked it. Very natural, not at all harsh, and cheap

There's a really good thread on here with loads of details and advice, worth a browse:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/917733

(I used 70% jojoba oil, from Holland and Barrett, and 30% castor oil, from Boots)

SaveSomeMore_2

cashewnut wrote: »

If your skin's too sensitive for topical treatment then maybe visit your GP for oral antibiotics or dianette? I use benzoyl peroxide at night but it CAN sting. Sometimes it helps me to ditch it for a day or two.

I've been on antibiotics for skin (ocular rocasea, Doxycycline I think?) in the past but they didn't do much.

I try to avoid anything too harsh like benzoyl peroxide - I can see it sterilizes the skin so helps the acne, but it is very drying/harsh so I think it can often cause more problems than it cures.

fixx wrote: »

Have you considered Oil Cleansing? It's not for everyone, but some people have had amazing results with it - I really liked it. Very natural, not at all harsh, and cheap

There's a really good thread on here with loads of details and advice, worth a browse:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/917733

(I used 70% jojoba oil, from Holland and Barrett, and 30% castor oil, from Boots)

I tried it briefly, cannot remember what oil I used though (think I've tried Safflower Oil once and also Jojoba). I don't think I liked it though as it was messy, time-consuming and I think I probably ended up overdoing it with the hot cloth to remove that residue feeling (the problem I have with Liz Earle!). I might give it another go.

I'd looked into cleansing balms as it seems to offer the same effect with less mess (the Moa balm sounds good but its expensive, £9 for 50ml). i feel terrible spending money on skincare as it isn't very MSE but it is hard facing the day when your face isn't playing ball!

And how on earth did you hunt down castor oil? I've been looking everywhere for it for my itchy scalp but I've heard it is no longer sold in most pharmacies due to it being an abortifacient (no Boots near me sell it).

donnac2558

The Luna has different models, BUT the one for sensitive skin is £145 only. I have mild rosacea and was told not to buy one even the sensitive.

I do own a Clarisonic since 2009(still going strong), I use the delicate head and only use it three times a week.

Pixie(available from M&S) do a Glow Tonic which is suppose to be for the most sensitive skin even though it has 5% glycolic acid. It is suppose to help blackheads and blocked pores.

fixx

SaveSomeMore wrote: »

I've been on antibiotics for skin (ocular rocasea, Doxycycline I think?) in the past but they didn't do much.

I try to avoid anything too harsh like benzoyl peroxide - I can see it sterilizes the skin so helps the acne, but it is very drying/harsh so I think it can often cause more problems than it cures.



I tried it briefly, cannot remember what oil I used though (think I've tried Safflower Oil once and also Jojoba). I don't think I liked it though as it was messy, time-consuming and I think I probably ended up overdoing it with the hot cloth to remove that residue feeling (the problem I have with Liz Earle!). I might give it another go.

I'd looked into cleansing balms as it seems to offer the same effect with less mess (the Moa balm sounds good but its expensive, £9 for 50ml). i feel terrible spending money on skincare as it isn't very MSE but it is hard facing the day when your face isn't playing ball!

And how on earth did you hunt down castor oil? I've been looking everywhere for it for my itchy scalp but I've heard it is no longer sold in most pharmacies due to it being an abortifacient (no Boots near me sell it).

It's not for everyone, and does take a couple of weeks to start seeing results. I used a small pump bottle to dispense small amounts to get rid of the mess.

Castor oil - I know a number of Boots stopped stocking it, I haven't actually checked since I moved, but you should be able to get it off eBay or Amazon too.

God luck with whatever method you use, I hope you find something that works for you!

Candyapple

donnac2558 wrote: »

The Luna has different models, BUT the one for sensitive skin is £145 only. I have mild rosacea and was told not to buy one even the sensitive.

I do own a Clarisonic since 2009(still going strong), I use the delicate head and only use it three times a week.

Pixie(available from M&S) do a Glow Tonic which is suppose to be for the most sensitive skin even though it has 5% glycolic acid. It is suppose to help blackheads and blocked pores.

Don't bother with Glow Tonic, tried it and it's not worth the money - does absolutely nothing for oily skin.

OP read this:
http://www.carolinehirons.com/2012/05/acne-cheat-sheet.html

Also try this cleanser (personal recc)
http://www.beautybay.com/skincare/mariobadescu/acnefacialcleanser/

I wouldn't bother with facial brushes manual or otherwise, the first thing you need to get under control is your skin/acne and learn how to deal with it internally.

Have you had a blood test to check your hormone levels?

robbyfine

Personally, I got myself a Foreo mini - hot pink. It looksvery very cute

The pros - 1) 60 min to charge, and last for about 3 months. This is so much better than clarisonic which takes forever to charge. 2) portable size - very easy to travel around with. Easy to store compared to clarisonic. 3) gentler on the skin compared to clarisonic. Personally I never had problems with clarisonic, but I certainly had friends whom find clarisonic too harsh and causes peeling of the skin. 4) No need to replace any brush - although I think the battery life is about 5 years, then you have to change it.

The cons:
- 1) takes a while to get used to on holding and maneuvering. Tricky areas around the nose are abit hard to get to. 2) it doesn't exfoliate as well as clarisonic, but then that's why it is more gentle on the skin.
Good luck!

Chlorine7

I bought a Magnitone and I love it. Much cheaper than a Clarisonic and I really do feel the difference in my skin.

I don't use it everyday and it won't stop hormonal spots but I feel like it has helped. Plus I charged it in November and haven't needed to since!

SaveSomeMore_2

donnac2558 wrote: »

Pixie(available from M&S) do a Glow Tonic which is suppose to be for the most sensitive skin even though it has 5% glycolic acid. It is suppose to help blackheads and blocked pores.

It sounds good and its available on QVC as a duo (so I could return it).

However it says "heavy in Aloe Vera". For some reason despite Aloe supposedly being a humectant and "good for skin" (drawing water to the skin much like Hylauronic Acid) I have a bad reaction to it in products. I've even tried pure Aloe which left my skin really tight and parched feeling. Perhaps I have an allergy to it?

Candyapple wrote: »

Also try this cleanser (personal recc)
http://www.beautybay.com/skincare/mariobadescu/acnefacialcleanser/

I wouldn't bother with facial brushes manual or otherwise, the first thing you need to get under control is your skin/acne and learn how to deal with it internally.

Have you had a blood test to check your hormone levels?

Cleanser sounds quite similar to Toleriane which I'm going to have to go back to (it isn't perfect, and I'd stopped using it due to cost, but it is widely recommended by dermatologists).

I definitely think it is more seborrhoeic dermatitis what I have rather than classic acne (the red oily yet flaky patches on my brow and either side of my nose for example).

fixx wrote: »

It's not for everyone, and does take a couple of weeks to start seeing results. I used a small pump bottle to dispense small amounts to get rid of the mess.

I think the OCM probably works best for people with simple dry or oily skin to balance it.

If I do have Seb Dermatitis that is to do with irritants and fungus on the skin, so I'm guessing heavy cleansers and oils (whilst definitely being moisturising) may have the side effect of trapping these irritants rather than washing them away?