Just going to rave about finally finding a cleanser!

[WanderingNotLost]

I decided that this would be the year I finally start taking proper care of my skin. Treated myself to the no7 protect & perfect serum, day & night cream so wanted a good cleanser as before now I'd only really used face wipes.
Bought the Bioré charcoal cleanser with high hopes after reading all the great reviews... it brought me out in freakin' hives!!! It was like eczema on my face, so dry and sore, and the skin on my neck went all bumpy, like I had permanent goosebumps. Took a few days of antihistamine cream, hydrocortisone and epaderm to get it back to normal.
So, on a whim in Boots whilst browsing cleansers I spotted the Garnier oil-infused micellar water cleanser- "for dry and sensitive skin" and thought fuck it, can't be worse than the last one!

OMG. My face instantly felt softer. And it was alarming to see how much dirt was left behind by the face wipes!

So, the routine now is: Nivea dry skin face wipe to take of make up
Wash with cetaphil gentle cleanser, rinse off with warm water
Garnier micellar water to finish
Then epaderm in the hopes my eczema doesn't make a comeback
No. 7 P&P serum and night cream.

What do you think? Seem good or overkill?

[WanderingNotLost]

Just realised there's a whole other thread for raving about skincare stuff. Sorry... I don't wander into S&B very often!

[BusterGonad]

Over kill, ditch the wipes they are horrendous for your skin, I would either use the wash or the water. You are imo stripping your face too much. You don't need to cleanse it 3 times!!!

[EmbarrassingBaddie]

Agree overkill with the cleansing. Cetaphil is very gentle but as pp says you don't need to cleanse 3 times. Imo cleansing and taking your makeup off are part of the same thing.

[NicknameUsed]

I just use The Bodyshop Camomile cleansing butter when wearing make up. It was recommended on MN.

[BusterGonad]

The Body Shop Camille is good but I found that to be stripping on a daily basis, but yes as a makeup remover (I wore it daily though) it can be good. I get on best with a creamy cleanser wiped off with damp cotton wool. Very gentle and very effective and then a eye make up remover or merciler water for the eye make up left behind. I also have dry sensitive eczema prone skin.

[BeforeWeFade]

I agree w/ others that the cleansing steps in this routine are a bit overkill.

If your skin has a tendency to feel or easily become dry and irritated, I would recommend cleansing with a balm cleanser and a warm flannel at night. Balm cleansers feel wonderful when they are being massaged into the skin, and removing it all with a flannel soaked in warm water really does get all of the makeup off. And my skin never feels dry or tight after cleansing with them.

In the morning, I use a tiny bit of gentle foaming cleanser to remove any lotion or serum that I applied before bed.

I am using M&S's Rose Cleansing Balm right now and love it, but there are several other companies that do great ones: Pixi's Nourishing Cleansing Balm, Simple's Kind to Skin Purifying Cleansing Lotion (a budget option that works similarly) and Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm are all popular.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Sorry, but I agree with the others that it sounds a bit harsh on your face, especially if you have sensitive skin. I love Emma Hardie balm but it's £££££££££. I recently discovered REN evercalm milk, which is cheaper but lovely.

[Marmalade85]

I use garnier miceller water to take my make up off and to cleanse at the same time.

[LooksBetterWithAFilter]

I use a micellar water to take my make up off then a hot cloth cleanser but I'd ditch the wipes.

[CaoNiMa]

The Garnier oil-infused micellar is my holy grail. I discovered it a few months ago, having never previously found micellar water to be much use. It must be the oil that makes this one special. I love it. And not expensive!

[MooMinCow]

Too much cleansing! I would also use the micellar water before the Cetaphil. is an interesting video about micellar water and it's possible drying effects on skin.

[Deathraystare]

I am not surprised the charcoal cleanser did that if your face is sensitive!!!! Harsh!!!!

I really really over the Garnier oil in miscellar water cleanser. It is not oily and leaves my eyes and face clean and comfy!

[onlyconnect]

If you put epaderm on before the serum, can the serum soak in? Doesn't epaderm act as a barrier?

[burnishedsilver]

I'd take the make up off with the micellar water first, then the face wash. Having said that, if you're skin feels great maybe don't rock the boat.

[MaccaPaccaismyNemesis]

In the evening I use a face wash, eye make up remover and a moisturiser. The morning routine is cleanse, tone, serum, eye cream and moisturise. Only been doing that since the summer and my skin is so much better. I definitely think you don't need to clean so much, it will strip your skin. I use a mix of decleor and Lancome products. I found miceller water made my skin feel very dry.

[AgathaMystery]

I thought micellar water was for emergencies, like wipes. Micellar water is surely for when you can't double cleanse properly?

[WanderingNotLost]

onlyconnect I cleanse and put on the epaderm pretty much as soon as I get home in the evening, serum & night cream before bed, usually about 3 hours later.

[ephemeralfairy]

You should always double cleanse. Use the micellar water to take makeup off, then a cream or balm cleanser to actually cleanse your skin.
My favs are Boots Botanics balm hot cloth cleanser, Avene cream cleanser for dry skin, REN Evercalm and Clarins Anti-Pollution cream cleanser. I agree that triple cleansing is overkill though.