Sunscreens can provoke acne. Read the ingredients and look for ones with a physical block. Titanium Dioxide is not as comprehensive a block as Zinc Oxide, but it is fine. Find one with a combination of the two. It is the PABA, or para-aminobenzoic acid in sunscreens that cause a skin reaction.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the chemical sunscreens:

Here is a link that might be useful: Article

Thanks for the link, dilly!
I don't think it's the sunscreen but I'm open. I really think it's hormones as the spots only occur like clockwork certain times of the month and never the rest of the month.
I use Olay Complete SPF 30 Defense Daily UV Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin.
I'll have to look at the ingredients.

I'm not too concerned about that though ...I know they'll disappear soon enough.

BB, your sunscreen choice is good, but you could kick it up a notch by switching to Olay's Complete Ageless Skin Renewing Lotion, SPF 20. Yes, the spf is a tad lower, but the base has lots more good for your skin things like antioxidants, cell-communicating ingredients, etc. This is their updated, state of the art formula.

You use alpha hydroxy acids to exfoliate. AHA's gently peel back the top layer of skin. This is easier on your skin than manual exfoliation such as using a washcloth or scrub. However, I like to boost my routine by using a scrub once a week anyway. The brand, Alpha Hydrox makes good products. As for a manual scrub, I like Clinique's 7 Day Scrub Rinse Off Formula. Boots also makes a good one, sold at Target.

Beta Hydroxy acids also exfoliate, & go deeper into the pore, preventing blemishes as well as smoothing fine lines. A good one to try is Pro Activ's Clarifying Night Cream which includes retinol in the formula. It's good for dry skin that occasionally gets blackheads & blemishes.

You need a moisurizer with all the bells & whistles! No need in this day in age to simply coat your skin with a do nothing formula! You want antioxidants, vitamins, cell-comunicating ingredients & anti-irritants in your product. Olay's Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer, Mature Skin Therapy betters many dept. store brands with its state of the art formula.

Supplement your routine with a good retinol product once or twice a week such as ROC Multi-correxion Night treatment or Alpha Hydrox's Night Res-Q.

There is no one product or ingredient that will save your skin, but we are fortunate to live in a time when science has produced some very effective products for us.

Oh, & when you remove & apply your makeup...be gentle! Best wishes!

Just realized I didn't address your question about soap. You're right, never use soap on your face, no matter how high-end, expensive or upscale it is.

One of the most gentle cleansers around (& completely fragrance free & reasonably priced) is Boots Extreme Sensitive Foaming Face Wash. It does not remove makeup well though. I like using it in the morning & then use Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap Mild at night. It is also very gentle but whisks away the makeup very well too! Ignore the word "soap" in the title...it is just a mild liquid cleanser that foams up nicely.

Cetaphil at the drugstore is also mild & perfect, but doesn't remove makeup so well either.

BB, I have similar issues at age 45. Freckles that have turned into age spots, check. Acne during PMS, check. Unfortunately the corresponding problem I have as I get older is that the acne that crops up during PMS seems to take forever to go away. I get this big bumps that just don't budge. Anyway, about 6 months ago the dermatologist gave me a prescription for Retin-A, which he said would address both concerns. I honestly don't feel like it's doing too much for the acne, but after a few months of daily use I finally noticed that the sun spots/age spots are fading.

I use Cetaphil to wash my face. One thing I need to do more is exfoliate -- it's one of those things I'm always going to do "tomorrow"...

One thing I've always had a hard time finding is a moisturizer that doesn't make me break out. I'm using an oil-free one by Neutrogena but it doesn't seem to moisturize quite enough (and I don't even have dry skin).

The good news for those of us in our 40s with more oily skin? I had a facial recently (which I do maybe twice a year -- I wonder if more frequent facials have any real benefit?) and she said she never would have guessed that I was 45 because my skin had "such good oil production." Guess that's the silver lining on my acne-ridden cloud.

Stinky, thank you so much! That was amazingly helpful and what I wanted to know.
Sue, yes that oily skin is going to be a wonderful blessing some day! At least that's what I read all the time.
I had a grease pit until I was 40.
I KNOW I need Retin-a or Renova? but haven't wanted to plunk down the $$ for a tube. My insurance doesn't cover it these days. And, it really makes the skin ultra sun sensitive? I am outside a lot although always with sunscreen.
I used it years ago for acne and found it a drag back then, having to wait 20 minutes after washing my face before applying it....but I was single then and much more time aware at night. I would come in late and fall into bed. Barely washing my face.

About the Retin-A... no one told me to wait 20 mins. after washing my face!? Interesting, my DS has it too and I was in the dr's office with him and she also didn't tell him to do that. So maybe that isn't necessary. (On the other hand, maybe that's why it's not working on my acne!) My insurance doesn't cover it, I don't think -- it costs me $25 for a tube of the cream but it lasts me a LONG time. Several months. Finally, I haven't noticed that my skin is extra sensitive to the sun but I have mostly been using it in the "off season" so far.

I'm 46 and can still get acne during PMS. I started trying different products from a health food store until I found one that works. It's Niora Naturals and does not cost an arm and a leg! My local store no longer carries it, so I purchase it on-line.

I used to use Zia's acne treatment mask and LOVED IT! It was not available for quite a while, but I just checked and it looks like it is again. I'm off to purchase it.

I also use Eucerin extra protective moisture lotion (SPF 30) as recommended by a dermatologist.

Here is a link that might be useful: niora naturals

I keep trying to use Retin A/Renova, but can't get past the peely skin phase. Also, since you are supposed to wait 20 minutes after washing your face to apply it I often fall asleep before I can get it on my face!
I bought several tubes last year when I was in Mexico - it costs a fraction of the price there and is available over the counter.

I had a prescription for Retin-a a couple years ago I never filled and it was going to be over a hundred a tube, which I thought was high for something I wasn't sure about.
I'll have to look around, I would like to try it again.

Thanks everyone for the other links and tips, I'll look everything up and give it a try.
Although, my makeup is difficult to remove so something that is gentle might be good for skin but not if I can't get the makeup off: Revlon Colorstay for normal/oily skin. I LOVE this makeup. Really lasts all day, even sweating.

BB, Glad you found a makeup you really like. The Clinique Liquid Soap should get the Colorstay off. If not, you could try Olay's Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths to remove the makeup, then follow up with the Clinique or Cetaphil for further gentle cleansing. I've done that when I had on stubborn makeup & it didn't seem like too much. Just be gentle.

You may try one of the over the counter retinol products in lieu of the harsher (& pricier) Retin A. While not as potent as prescription strength, these products still have some beneficial ingredients. My fav is the ROC product I mentioned earlier.

Definitely into skin care and use Jan Marini skin products at night. They have glycolic acid in them. The product line was recommneded by a cosmetic surgeon I have used. She also recommends Cetaphil for a cleanser and Neutrogena Health Defense Moisturzier with SPF 45 for daytime. Cetaphil come highly recommended by many dermatologists. I buy the large size at Costco.

Anykind of spotting on your skin will not be easy to get rid of without the help of a professional. Just be careful of who you use, if that is the route you decide to use. They are all not equal.

The Jan Marini products may leave your skin a little dry at first. She recommends you introduce the products gradually starting with the cleanser on one area at a time. You can get them on-line. I use the cleaner and the bioglycolic cream.

i love the Caudalie products from Sephora. ESP the tinted moisterizer!

Thanks for all the new info!

Hi, that sounds quite interesting, I will try to take your advice!

My spamdar is high but still all good info. Tretinoin has helped more than anything.