I use a dime-sized dollop of pure aloe vera gel, a drop of jojoba oil, and a drop of vegetable glycerin. Depending on the season, I vary the size of the glycerin drop; more for winter, less for summer. Mix it up in your palms and spread over your face. I also use herbal soap to wash with, and since I started this regime, I’ve had no zits, which is exciting for me, because I used to be a total pizza face.
My current favourite is Origins “Constant Comforter” but I’ve recently got hold of some goat’s milk moisturiser which is turning out to be pretty fab.
Another vote against Clinique’s Dramatically Different - makes my skin tight and tingly, which really can’t be good.
I’ve recently fallen in love with Ole Henkriksen’s skin insulator which provides a lovely warm layer of protection during cold winter weather. No dry patches, no flaking. But not the cheapest solution either.
People think I’m nuts, but a once a week vaseline facial in the winter. Yep, vaseline. Put a thin layer of vaseline on your face. Steam in with hot washclothes for a minute or two, wipe off the reside with a cotton ball.
Other days its either Neutrogena or Olay - depending on what is on sale at Walgreens.
Not to mention it’s way overpriced for a very basic moisturizer. Scent-free Oil of Olay has never done me wrong. Also- a humidifier! Whatever you do, don’t use harsh acne spot treatments. They’ll dry you out and turn you red in the winter months.
Something else everyone here should do is exfoliate on a regular basis, whether you’ve got dry skin or oily skin. Once you’ve gotten rid of the dead, dry skin cells, your moisturizer of choice will work a lot better.
What do you use for very sensitive, dry skin that is allergic to damn near everything? In the winter, if I look at myself funny in the mirror, my skin starts flaking, but scrubbing it with anything like vigor, let alone using a washcloth or something rough, is a big mistake.
It sounds counter-intuitive, but you don’t scrub with a scrub. Get a pea-sized gob of a scrub and lightly move your fingertips over your skin in a circular motion. Scrubbing it in hard will just irritate your skin and make tiny tiny cuts in your skin.
Another vote for Cetaphil. I’ve been using it for years, and every now and then I get conned into trying some fancy woman stuff, and I end up using it on my feet.
Cetaphil rules, even without anything added. It just smells “clean”, another asset.
P.S. I have very dry skin and psoriasis. If I’m not careful in winter I get break-outs on my face. Regular use of Cetaphil has kept it clear.
Don’t use soap on your face. If you feel you must use something, try the Cetaphil cleaner first. Both lotion and cleanser come in pump-top containers and are super easy to use.
Good luck!
Can you reccomend any good exfoliating products for people with sensitive skin?
I have always used the Cetaphil moisturizer, and it seems to work pretty well. I have considered trying other products, just never have. Maybe I will give that ponds dry skin stuff a try based on the review above. I used to have pretty bad acne when I was younger, but thank Og, its pretty well under control now. My skin is still so dry and sensitive though. I hate that!
Are any of these products (specifically Cetaphil) face only? My entire body is covered in a dryness-rash as we speak. . .
Gestalt.
I use Cetaphil on my face and body. It’s specified on the bottle that it’s good for both.
Another vote for dropping the soap on your face. Soap dries the skin. If you really have a problem with dry skin, you also want to watch out for products containing sodium lauryl sulfate or its close chemical cousin, sodium laureth sulfate. These are common detergents, and they’re common because they are cheap, stable, play nicely with other chemicals, and don’t cause allergic reactions in very many people. They’re a product chemist’s dream, but they are drying and some sensitive people can have a problem with that.
I use Vaseline Intensive Care Mild Facial Cleansing Mousse and follow up with the Daycreme from the same brand. Cheap and cheerful and they do the job, even with a job that has me outside a couple hours each day. My skin is happy enough with those, without using a toner; your skin may vary and all that.
You can also get facial cleansing wipes that claim to have cleanser, toner, and moisturizer all in one. I’ve used them on vacation to avoid spillage (and they don’t count as liquids when flying!) and I like them, but they’re more expensive and IMO wasteful to use every day.