Moisturiser for very dry skin

[neepsntatties]

I have very dry skin and now that I am pregnant it's even worse. I get patches of dry skin on my face and I haven't found a moisturiser that works on it.

At the moment I am using Clarins as I got it as a birthday present. Before that I was trying the oil cleansing method.

Any suggestions for a really good moisturiser that might stop these horrible dry patches?

Liz Earle superskin is fab. I have tried them all and this is now my staple. It works really well with her hot cloth skin polisher and is very gentle. It's expensive, but no more than clarins.

I swear by Niva body lotion on my face, and E45 just about anywhere. Also I've had dry, red and sore patches on my face and ultimately the doc said I had to use 1% hydrocortisone cream occasionally to get rid of those.

Almondape, would you say Liz Earle Superskin is good compared to very basic unperfumed etc like I've mentioned above, or just in comparison to "beauty"/makeup brands such as Clarins?

aaah, good question. Like i said i have tried them all and I don't buy Liz Earle because it is a brand just because it works beautifully. It is unperfumed and rich yet very easily absorbed and when i have run out and resorted to other creams eg Frankinsense cream by Neals yard my skin is just not the same. I used to use body shop vit e cream years ago to blitz really dry patches but they have changed the formula now and it is not as good.
My skin is dry and i am fair skinned (irish complexion)and i am in my 40's. i hope this helps.

Take a look at Euracin products. I've found them to be brilliant. Boots sell it. Really plain packaging (a bit like the E45), but absolutely great.

I use E45 as a daily moisturiser in winter (Factor 30+ in summer.) I buy a tube and squeeze it into a more charming old Olay pot.

I'll second Eucerin, brilliant, brilliant stuff.

My skin is very dry and sensitive and has the occasional mad, red, itchy, blotchy spell. Someone on here recommended it and for the first time ever I understood the word 'hydrated' in relation to skin.

Its not cheap but when its on their Buy Two Get One Free offer I stock up

Also see thread on Oil Cleansing Method below - avoid water on your face if you can.

I have tried everything mentioned above (with the exception of the hydrocortisone...) None worked.

Best I have found has been pure vitamin e oil from holland and barrett, the highest concentration they do (70,000?). Its very sticky though, so only put it on at night. Works a treat.

I found keeping water away from my face really helped too, as that was drying it out more than anything, so only buy cleaners etc that you take off with cotton wool or a cloth.

I found that changing cleanser helped loads with the sore dry patches. I used to use Liz Earle, but this was recommended on MN and I found it much better. I spread it on my face at night and leave it while I brush my teeth and then take it off with a warm, damp facecloth or muslin. The slight roughness of the facecloth lifts off skin flakes and there is still a veneer of oil left afterwards that really moisturises. I only need to use a moisturiser on very windy days now.

Best I have ever found is from Body Shop,it's Hemp handcream in a tube, like a metal toothpaste tube. Costs about £10, but lasts for ages. Dh, who has very dry and sensitive skin, loves it; all the rest of us have pale (scottish) and sensitive skin, and we all love it too.

Not oily or sticky, soaks in beautifully, clears up dryness almost instantly. Even clears up those awful deep cuts you can get at the side of your thumbs in 48 hours. Brilliant stuff.

Oh, and we have tried loads of products for dh's skin: he has dermatitis on his back, which is often all itchy, and thin skin from long term use of steroids (for major breathing problems) - this is only cream we've found that effective at clearing up the dryness, is non itchy, it's fab.

Forgot about Body Shop hemp, that got me through a particularly ed and blotchy faced winter iirc. Smell takes a bit of getting used to though.

I just used make up removing wet wipes to cleanse, Nivea or shops own unperfumed etc. I rip off a quarter strip each morning and find that's plenty, although the packets tend to stop sealing after a while so I keep them in a freezer bag / nappy sack.

Does it itch? is it eczema?
I swear by REN frankinsence night cream, their Omega 3 serum, and Clinique Youth Surge. Clinique also do a rescue type cream for red and itchy skin.

www.renskincare.com

www.clinique.co.uk

If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful remedy I can recommend the Neutrogena Norwegain Formula lip balm that comes in a little tub. I use this on my son's face because I know he'll end up licking off any cream that I put on the dry spots around his mouth, nose and chin. It works well and if it is rubbed in doesn't look at all greasy unlike other things I have tried.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I was in boots today so got some of that eucerin cream to try. I don't know if it is eczema or not, it is not itcy on my face but I do have patches all over the place, but as I said it is worse now I am pregnant so might settle down again.

Going to try that cleanser you suggested too. Fingers crossed one of them is the right one for me.

weleda skin food
weleda almond intensive moisturizer

When you come inside from the cold, give your face a good rub. The temperature change is not good for your skin so a rub will prepare it.