Sensitive/reactive skin help

[Indecisivejo]

My skin is extremely sensitive and reactive, very dehydrated but also prone to breakouts (sensitivity type ones as apprised to oily skin)
I'm currently using dermalogica ultracalming cleanser which tbh I do quite like, and intensive moisture balance which can sometimes sting, makes my skin red and shiny to start with. I have tried the ultracalming mist which burns and the barrier repair which seems to dry my skin out and cause breakouts for me.
Am fed up of spending money on products that are not particularly that effective! I need fragrance free products as fragrance even low on ingredients list is a no no for me. Cannot use anything Clinique and the few simple skincare products I've tried I've reacted to grrrr, also used Avene and la Roche posay both of which I did not rate at all.
Anyone else have similar issues?

[Indecisivejo]

Am I really the only one on here with such sensitive skin?

[midnightmoomoo]

When my skin is being that sensitive I use Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser and their Skin Recovery Cream, but if you've already tried them that's probably notice help.
What about trying epaderm? It's for excema, my son gets a big pump from the Dr but they do small pumps in the chemist. That's more soothing than Aveeno when his skin is bad.
Green People do an unscented range which is very good too, they do a cleanser and moisturising cream which is excellent, but have lots of other unscented products in the range too.

[Indecisivejo]

Thanks for your reply.
The trouble with epaderm is it's basically just petroleum which is so heavy on my skin it makes it sweat and break out!
There really needs to be more fragrance free skincare ranges it really pisses me off tbh and Avene, la Roche posay etc annoy me because they are so big on sensitive skin yet put fragrance in lots of their products which makes the choices for sensitive skinned people very limited! Rant over lol

[midnightmoomoo]

In that case it's definitely worth looking at the Green People unscented range. It's brilliant and no nasties.

[maybemyrtle]

Is it just fragrance that you're sensitive to, or other ingredients?

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Last Roche Pose Tolerain cleanser. Designed for sensitive skin. My skin can't tolerate many cleansers, most lead to my face either tightening,drying and flaking or coming out in hundreds of skin coloured bumps. I can use Clarins but the only other one I don't react to,or suffer dryness from is this one.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

*posay.

Just seen you've tried some of theirs though,was it the toleraine you tried?

[tea4two4three]

Look for products which say 'gentle' on them and for sensitive skin. Boots No7 gentle cleansing lotion (it's the pink stuff) is really gentle and olay complete care sensitive day cream is light and calming. If you need to get intense once in a while alphas liquid gold with glycolic acid toner (pricy but you don't have to use it often) is good for brightening the skin.
I have very sensitive skin and also hormonal acne. This keeps my skin soft and supple. I use panoxyl on the area I get acne, very sparingly as it's super drying, and then moisturise after. You also have to be sure to let your skin dry and absorb any products naturally, so wait about 10mins before applying the next product. Also keep in mind that it can take a week or two for your skin to adjust to a new product so don't be disheartened if products out are trying aren't great at first.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Use E45 wash and Alleregenics cream from Hol?and and Barret- I ditched all the so called gentle stuff and just use this now and my skin has never been better.

[lovetomatoes]

Lots of the dermalogica Ultra-calming range uses lavender. As an essential oil it is quite likely to be the cause of the burning ( I know my own skin reacts to it). Quite a few of the products in the range don't have it; it's clearly listed in the ingredients. As lavender calms the mind it's often thought to calm the skin as well but this is a logical error IMO.

[Siolence]

Pai skincare. Free of anything nasty. I'm allergic to lots of things including phenoxyethanol, SD alcohol, heavy Shea butter type creams break me out. I've been through the ultra calming, aveene, LA Roche posay and Pai seem to be issue free for me. If only they did make up. Though Jane Iredale seems to be okay on my skin. (Crosses fingers)

[Indecisivejo]

Pai is too expensive :(
I have tried the unscented green people range but it broke me out I think the base is too oil rich, it was years ago now though and I'm older so may not be as bad now.
I'm not sure what other ingredients I react to I just know fragrance for definite.

[Floisme]

I have very sensitive skin and when it's really bad I use almond or coconut oil for everything. I buy it from the grocery counter as I reckon if I can put it in my mouth, it's probably ok for my face. It always sorts me out (and it's cheapie cheap).

[maybemyrtle]

It's really helpful to work out both what your skin likes and can't tolerate, makes skincare shopping so much easier. If you're not sure, I'd start by going for things with the simplest/shortest ingredients lists, and obviously avoiding any known triggers. It's boring laborious but keeping notes and looking for common ingreds in products that do and don't work really will pay off eventually. I went the natural route (my preference, may not be yours). Be aware too that not all oils are created equal, I can't use coconut for example, and rosehip does nothing for me, but sweet almond, raspberry and safflower are all fab.