This is my daily routine, in this exact order & I don't have any problems:
1. Wash face with cleanser (find one that is oil free & contains Salicylic Acid) twice a day, when waking up & before bed. Use lukewarm water.
2. I make my own toner: soak cotton pads with 50% Isopropyl alcohol (you can find it anywhere by the first-aid section in drugstores or grocery stores & it's super cheap) & 50% water. I have a whole bunch of cotton pads already presoaked in a plastic tupperware with the Isopropyl solution & I store the tupperware in the fridge. That way the cotton pad feels nice & cold when applied onto my face.
3. Moisturize with oil-free moisturisers in the morning (before applying makeup) & at night before bed.
Some tips:
1. Don't touch your face with dirty hands.
2. Don't pop or squeeze pimples (you'll just be inviting bacteria into the open wounds).
3. Wash your face the instant you come home from going outside (get rid of all that dust/smoke) or right after you exercise.
4. Scrub/exfoliate 2-3 times a week (depending what skin type you have, obviously if you have dry skin you shouldn't exfoliate all that often).
5. Use a clay mask 1-2 times a week. I like using clay masks because it penetrates deep. Sometimes I use clay masks as a pimple spot treatment (not on the entire face, just the pimple spot) that I apply for a couple of hours or overnight.
6. I find that porepacks work because I have a t-zone problem. For porepacks to work really well, I scrub my face in warm water for at least 5 minutes to open up my pores. I leave the porepacks longer than what's recommended on the box, about 30 minutes. When you peel off the porepacks, I apply my Isopropyl toner to close all the pores.
I don't believe that there's a particular brand that can help clear your face. I use all sorts of brands that are available in the drugstores and finding out which one works for me requires trial & error.
As for toothpaste, that depends on the skin & on the person. I've tried it, didn't do much for me & just made my skin super dry.
I do hot yoga & it's helped me clear my skin. Alternatively, you can sit in the sauna for 15-20 minutes. At home, you can prepare a large bowl full of hot water, put your face over it & place a towel over your head so the steam won't escape. Do this for about 5-10 minutes, then scrub your face with cold water to get rid off all the gunks inside your pores.
Good luck.
ps: for birth control pill, did your OB/Gyn prescribe you with pills of the right level of estrogen?
I use the CVS brand 10%. My doctor said not to rule any as "not working" until about 2 months. It will get worse before it get's better.
