I've never looked after my skin before and need to start. Can anyone help me with a beginners shopping list for sensitive skin?

[Ggsoph]

I'm getting married and hitting 30 this year so thought it was about time I grew up and started taking care of my skin! I have no skin care routine at all so need some budget friendly essentials to get me started.

I have super sensitive, dry skin and have suffered from eczema all my life. Years of hyrocortisone use have caused Seborrhoeic dermatitis around my eyes, nose and mouth. I've just started a two month course of antibiotics to sort this out.

A friend pointed me in the direction of Caroline Hirrons blog but I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the different steps she recommends. Help!

[SomewhatSilly]

What's your budget?

Perhaps start with the body shop cleansing oil and butter, and then the clarins exfoliating toner followed by your specialist moisturiser? Assuming you use one! Definitely test products first if your skin is v sensitive but those are the ones I started with.

Personally I think diet and lifestyle has much more impact than what you put on. Getting enough sleep (ha bloody ha if you have young kids like me, I know), and reducing sugar consumption are important.

[SomewhatSilly]

Also look at whether you're getting enough healthy fats in your diet. Think she recommends Lamberts fish oils on her blog - don't just take any old brand without checking their credentials as a lot of the cheaper brands are at risk of containing rancid oils or not being particularly pure. Taking those is actually counter productive.

Look at incorporating EVO and EV coconut oil into your diet too.

[SomewhatSilly]

Sorry, EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

[Ggsoph]

Thanks for the tips.

I'm cutting out sugar and will look into fish oil too. Diet wise I'm pretty good but I know I need to drink more water and less coffee!

I've got £50 set aside this month to get me started. I've always used GP prescribed moisturiser (Doublebase) but it is greasy and only seems to work for a few hours, so I'm open to suggestions!

[macskater]

You should think about going to a Clarins counter for advice. Their products are by far the best in the price range, much gentler than many other products

[DaddysBigTummy]

I have sensitive skin which is prone to redness and dryness and gets sore round the sides of my nose in the wind. I use Cetaphil gentle cleanser which I bought from my local chemist when I couldn't be arsed to go to Boots to buy my usual La Roche Posay cleanser and I really like it. My skin hasn't been as spot free as it now for a long time! I use La Roche Posay Roaliac moisturiser but when my skin is sore like it is now because of the weather, I use Cicaplast Baume B5 at night and it's so good. Any flaky, dry patches disappear overnight and I wake up and my skin feels a lot better.

[Ggsoph]

Thanks Daddys and Mac- I'm in the middle of nowhere so online shopping is my friend! I will try and get to a clarins counter soon though.

[ElizabethBathory]

I have sensitive dry skin and a tiny bit of eczema on my cheeks. I find the simpler and more consistent my routine, the better. Clarins moisturisers always work for me, although recently I've been using Logona Wild Rose day and night creams (got them off Amazon) which are great and my skin is very calm and not dry at all atm.

I don't bother with toner, I just cleanse and moisturise, plus exfoliate gently once or twice a week.

[specialsubject]

there's nothing you need to do to look after skin beyond feeding it properly from the inside, not smoking, removing makeup from it and protecting it from excessive UV.

with your health conditions you should be even more careful with what you put on it.

there's no cream that has any effect at all on wrinkles.

[LaCerbiatta]

I think Clarins is not a good idea. Many of their products have methylisothiazolinone which is thought to be responsible for a surge in allergic reactions and eczema and has now been banned by many brands.

I'm a fan of balance me cosmetics. They've really made a difference to my skin, are very rich and nourishing and 100% or almost 100% natural. (They're on offer in waitrose at the moment ;))

[ElizabethBathory]

But, if you skin with a tendency to be dry, moisturiser does make it look brighter and less wrinkly, by plumping it up! I eat loads of good fats and drink tons of water, but I still get dry skin and moisturiser gets rid of that. Doesn't have to be fancy moisturiser.

My comparison is my dad, who eats a similar good diet to me but who has the dry skin I inherited. He doesn't use moisturiser and he's a flakey mess and his skin cracks!

[Ggsoph]

Thanks for the tips - I will get some samples of Clarins before I buy.

I read about the balance Me products on CH blog they do look good. Has anyone tried Hydroluron. My friend described it as 'life changing' but I'm a bit nervous of the word acid in anything I put on my skin!

[Catswiththumbs]

Avene is great. Really gentle. I like the milk cleanser, the moisturiser and the thermal water is great to spray and soothe if it's looking red/dry/tight.

[teta]

I would be really careful about any treatments on your particular skin.I would have thought the less products you use the better.A bland cleanser- the Cetaphil range is really good or I use Cliniques Cleansing Balm.A simple day moisturiser and maybe some rose face oil at night or for dry patches.At 30 you really don't need major skin care apart from sunscreen.I have skin like yours and have reacted to so many products over the years( including Clarins) that I now just keep it simple.I really damaged my skin by using harsh spot treatments when I was a teenager and consequently have permanently rosy cheeks as a consequence.

[Ggsoph]

Thanks for all the advice. It's good to hear from people who have skin like mine- friends often say 'oh I have sensitive skin and x product is fine' but I think there is a difference between eczema prone skin and 'just' sensitive skin, if that makes sense.

I'll step away from the beauty blogs and just get a few gentle products (and keep hoping in vain that I grow out of the eczema like I was promised when I was 8 )

[naturelover]

I'll echo what others say and advise you to keep it simple - the fewer gentle products the better. And introduce things one at a time so that you can figure out which one(s) cause any sensitivity you have.

People on here swear by Avene and LaRoche Posay. I have no experience of either.

My sister has eczema and uses that Neutrogena cleansing bar and a very cheap basic moisturiser.

What I do have experience of is eczema (my son) - his is very much linked to diet and he can't tolerate dairy. Good fats in his diet make a difference and also probiotics (live goat yoghurt in his case). But you can buy acidophillus capsules if you can't/don't eat yoghurt.

[nomorebooze]

please don't do clarins, really don't find it good on sensitive skin! this comes highly recommended, read reviews on boots sounds perfect for you:)
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser....

[ElizabethBathory]

I think you just have to try out different things and find what works. People on here swear by La Roche Posay but it does literally nothing for me and the Cicaplast Baume B5 caused what looked like tiny broken veins whenever I used it. Clarins, OTOH, has never caused me any problems and gets me compliments on my skin whenever I use it. And plenty of 'natural', paraben-free etc products are great, but many (e.g. Origins) contain ingredients that react v badly with my skin and make it red and flakey. It's trial and error...

[ElizabethBathory]

And don't get me started on coconut oil as a cleanser - it broke me out and dried my skin like crazy for some reason.

Ooh, just remembered another thing that does work for me OP - rosehip oil at night :)

[MysterySpots]

I would go for Clinique but if you are under the care of a dermatologist I think they would give you the best advice. Anything perfumed etc would probably cause your skin to flare up.

[RonaldMcDonald]

My darling D has excema and was told that this was excellent by the dermo

[AlfAlf]

I have hyper sensitive skin, and am currently getting on really well with REN Clearcalm replenishing gel cream as moisturiser and Evercalm cleansing milk.
I recently gleaned that I should steer clear if any foamy cleansers, and my skin has calmed right down without them.

[Bonsoir]

I have fine, pale, sensitive skin that is prone to peri-oral dermatitis and the odd blackhead and I am officially in love with my Clarisonic. Even my sceptical DP, who works in the cosmetic business, can see a visible difference in my (already quite well cared for) skin after 6 weeks or so.

[sherbetpips]

Stay away from any of the big brands - Clarins, Clinique, etc. Way too strong for sensitive skin. Even the most sensitive Clinique products will strip the moisture out of your skin. Non greasy skin doesn't need toner.

You also need to avoid too much water especially very hot or cold. If you do prefer to 'wash' use a moisture loaded face wash such as Simple moisturising face wash. Boots do a great sensitive skin serum that you can put on next followed by moisturiser. Again avoid perfumed products - I am currently getting away with using Nivea Q10 daily essentials (not light)- works really well and doesn't cause flare ups in me or my BF who has exczema. Marks and spencer also do a range called Pure Daily Skincare - I am currently using the nightcream but the daycream and face washes look good too. At night I would probably keep using your diprobase as it doesnt matter if your skin is greasy then.

[RonaldMcDonald]

I'm really unsure about clarins for sensitive and ezcema prone skin, I cannot state that strongly enough.