I never use soap on my face. It dries it out too much. Instead, I rinse my face and pat it dry. Then, I use a mild over-the-counter cortizone cream above my eyebrows, on the bridge of my nose, and on my cheekbones. Sometimes I also have to use it around my mouth. This is to keep my eczema under control, because if I don’t use the cortizone those areas get very itchy and flake, sometimes become red and crack. (I am only talking about my face here, I also have eczema on the insides of my elbows and sometimes those quarter-shaped spots on the rest of my body)
Then I will take a few drops of Eucerin, rub it on my hands, and apply it all over my face. This keeps other areas of my face from getting too dry. I know supposedly that Eucerin is too “heavy” to put on my face, but if I do I get less redness and pimples. The last thing I do will be to apply Blistex, because my lips also get dry, crack, and bleed.
Whenever I use makeup, two things will happen: either I will get major nasty pimples or my skin will dry out. This includes lipstick – my lips will flake and crack.
Should I just give up on the idea of makeup entirely? I’m going to have to go on interviews for lawyer-type jobs soon, and I need to look professional. Do interviewers dislike women who don’t wear makeup? I think that they might – that they might think women who don’t use the stuff aren’t trying, and don’t know what it takes to look professional.
I know I’m not the only person who has this problem. Does someone know how to deal with this?
p.s. I’m also stilll clueless on how to apply makeup. Should I go to a makeup artist or will they cause me to break out too?
For years everytime I tried a new product on my face, I would get a horrible burning and itching sensation. Made me swear off makeup totally, and being in High School, this marked me as “Very Strange, possible Dyke”
A lot of makeup companies are very proud of their sensitive skin lines. I shopped around and found in this case, you really do get what you pay for. I order my skin creams from a place called Lush that uses all natural ingredients, and my makeup is Bobbi Brown.
Either call or stop in to your local mall and brouse the makeup aisle. Ask if they skin care for special needs skin. Many places will give you samples to try, and do a mini makeover for free to see if you like it. That way, your not blowing a chunk of money on crap that makes you break out.
It takes time to figure out what works for you. It’s hard not to loose your patience and say “Forget it!” But in the buisness world, a little makeup goes a long way. People treat you a little better, a little more adult, when you do. It sucks, but that’s the world we live in. Good luck, and let me know how it goes.
Yeah, I’ve heard good things about Clinique. Maybe I will check them out. I also saw a lot of Lush stuff when I was in England, but the stores smelled so strong I never even got close to the makeup before fleeing the place! I didn’t even know Bobbi Brown was a makeup brand. The things I learn every time I come to this place
I will check those out. Thanks for the suggestions. I wish I didn’t have to do this, but as you said, people do treat you as more “adult” when they see makeup. Anymore I feel like a clown after I put the stuff on. I guess I must conform! Thanks.
There are also tinted lipbalms, made by many companies, which will give your lips a bit of colour and shine.
And tinted moisturizers (I like the one by Marcelle), which can help even out your skintone a bit. I find Marcelle products very non-irritating, and I have very sensitive skin (although, not as sensitive as yours).
Almay, Clinique and Marcelle are all good lines I believe. Good luck!
Clinique is a bit expensive, more so than the drugstore, but the products are great. And, when I started buying them, I had no idea how to put on makeup. The technician (they send them to school to learn this stuff) showed me how to use the products properly at no charge, and made it easy to do.
My skin is a lot like yours, Elysian, though not quite as bad. I use the warm water and washcloth only skin cleaning regimen, too, and my skin looks just fine. I don’t bother with makeup most of the time - it isn’t even an issue to me. If you think you need a little for interviews, I would suggest a little eyeliner and some mascara. You could also apply a little lip pencil all over your lips for colour, and gloss it all over with vaseline to keep your lips hydrated. That keeps most of your skin free of makeup, but gives you a little colour around the eyes and lips.
As an aside, do you have the dry, itchy scalp too, and have you found anything that works if you do? I have been using Herbal Essences dandruff shampoo and dry scalp conditioner, but they’ve stopped stocking the conditioner around here, so I will need something else when my supply runs out.
I used to have the dry, itchy scalp, but somehow it just went away after a while. I tried very hard not to scratch it, and applied my brush and comb gently. I don’t know if it would make any difference to you, but I use the Aussie Moist shampoo and conditioner. It’s not for sensitive skin, but that’s why I use.
Maybe I could get away with the minimalist approach for interviews. I really would have spending a lot of money on Clinique and ending up with stuff that makes my skin shrivel up and die. However, I’ve heard that they give samples, so I may try that and see how it goes.
I use Lush too. I have sensitive skin and I love their non-soap facial cleansers. Ever since my husband brought me a bag of Lush stuff from Germany, I’ve been hooked on it.
Elysian I’m pretty sure that with a lot of the more expensive brands such as Clinique etc they will take back products if you have tried them and had an adverse reaction. For example, I once got a cleanser from Shiseido that made my skin feel like it was absolutely burning up and I took it back and told them my problem and I got a full cash refund.
Brand wise, for what it’s worth I really like Clinique too. They make a great range called Different Lipsticks that are like a cross between a lip balm and a lipstick (so not such dense colour - more natural looking) that are very moisturising. They might feel okay for you.
Sometimes I’m wary of those “free makeover” at the makeup counter offers as you can’t tell how hygenic the whole setup is. E.g. do they wash brushes and sponges out between customers, that sort of thing. I’d be careful of this if you break out easily. I don’t know that much about it though, maybe everything they use is disposable?
Elysian, my skin is very much like yours – especially my face. I don’t wear make-up for various reasons, one of them being it really dries out my skin even more. If you do wear make-up, I’d go with a moisturizing foundation and skip the powder because that can make the skin look flaky. MaxFactor makes some good stuff, but it’s really expensive.
Have you tried Aquaphor for your lips? It’s great stuff, and your lips shouldn’t flake if you wear it under your lipstick.
What moisturizer do you use for your face? I’m always having a hard time finding a good one.
I have very sensitive skin, too. I wear little to no makeup. Every now and again, I’ll wear mascara, eye shadow and eye liner.
You should really try washing your face with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It really turned my eczema-ravaged face around. I can’t even tell I had a pretty bad breakout a few years ago. I also moisturize with Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. Between cleasing and moisturising, I use a very mild toner from the Body Shop – calendula and soy, maybe.
Cetaphil is very easy to find. I usually get it from Target, but I’ve seen it in drugstores and Wal-Mart.
I’d also recommend Clinique. I went through a time when I was in my late 20s when I started breaking out terribly (I never had an acne problem as a teen), and my dermatologist told me to use it. She also said not to use Avon or Mary Kay products, as they can aggravate skin problems, since they usually have added fragrances.
I use the Clinique Stay-True foundation and their blusher, and never have problems. It’s more expensive than drug store brands like Cover Girl, but it’s worth it.
I always use the one-two punch of cortizone cream (cream, not gel!) and Eucerin (for moisturizing) on my face, Iris. That always works pretty well. If I do without one of the steps my skin gets all itchy and scaly again.
I’ve never used the Cetaphil stuff, I will look for it next time I’m at Target. I’m so wary about trying new products because of the nasty dryness. But if you have eczema like mine, and it works for you, I’ll try it. I’ll need a soap that will wash off whatever hypothetical makeup I may aquire in the future.
Sounds like Clinique is the almost unanimous choice of Doperwomen! I still need to have someone tell me what colors are the best, though, and that probably means a makeup artist of some sort. I thought about going to MAC, but no one has suggested them in conjunction with dry skin. Does Clinique have makeup artists in their mall booths?
I’ve never even heard of Aquaphor before. I always use the Blitex stuff because everything else seems to dry my lips. But I will try it if I see it anywhere.
I just wanted to ask: Do you really feel you need foundation, blusher, etc.? Could you not just use a moisturizing concealer where you need it, and stick to eye makeup? (I can’t see how eye makeup would make you break out?)
I rarely, if ever, use foundation, powder, or blush, because I have somewhat sensitive skin, and I really don’t feel I need it. I’ve also found that just having eye makeup on is enough to look professional.
I just use a little bit, just to even things out. I only wear make-up for work and going out. By “goin out,” I mean out at night, special occasions, not out running errands.
I hate that flat “made-up” look, and I hate when you can see a line right at the jawline. Clinique is very light, and I just use a few dabs under my eyes and to cover a few broken blood vessels (capillaries?) and to smooth out my natural color. I dab it on with my finger and then go over it with one of those sponges. The regular size jar seems to last forever.
Elysian I have very, very, very sensative skin all over and usually get at least one dry skin-flaking-splitting-rash-like-thing a winter. That being said I absolutely swear by Bare Escentuals http://www.bareescentuals.com/
The face make up is ground minerals, very light, non pore clogging. I’ve slept in this stuff and had no problems at all. And the colors! They have this teal eye shadow that just cannot be replicated in a lab. (I’m 23, I still have occasion for teal eye shdow.) There lip stick is sub par, but their lotions and perfumes are all very easy on the skin. I’ve never tried their hair care so I can’t speak to that.
They’re based here in San Francisco but I think they’re spreading out more. If there’s no store near you you can buy it off QVC or the website has other links.
Everyone I have recommended this to has loved it. Give it a try.
