my face needs help!

[CakePigeon]

I'm relatively new to S&B but please help me!

I have dry/combi skin and have used Clinique 3 step for ages with good results (no more dry patches yay) but only in the morning. I used to just use a face wipe at night (slap on wrist I know!) but last week switched to using a wipe then my three step so now I'm doing it twice a day. I have also bought a heavier moisturiser from Body Shop to use at night as well and my skin has gone crazy argh!

Now I have dry patches near my mouth, itchy bits, red bits I look a mess! Is this just my skin settling down into the new routine or has something gone terribly wrong?!

I'd rather not invest in a whole new set of products but I will if that's what it takes!

Thank you lovely lovely mumsnetters for your help

Think I would step back from the new night routine and just wash face gently at night. Then slowly re-introduce products one at a time to see which is upsetting your skin.

Well it sounds like using a wipe in the morning too is just too drying for your skin.

If your routine was working before, why did you change?

Thanks loveleopardprint I will try that

polly it worked before to the extent that I didn't get dry patches but my skin still wasn't great and looked very dull in the mornings so I thought I was doing the right thing by cleansing properly at night too... Maybe not

Oh oops, I think I misread.....do you mean you're now doing the three step twice a day?

Yes, if you wear makeup you should do a proper cleanse at night, so do your three step then, but I doubt you'd need to do the same thing in the morning too (That could explain the dryness), perhaps try a mild face wash instead? Wipes are ok for removing slap, but not brilliant at cleaning bare skin as they can leave a bit of a film.

Try sorting out your cleansing routine first, then if your skin settles down re-introduce your new night cream.

Thanks polly yes,sorry, I meant to say at night I just use a wipe to take off makeup and then do 3 step and in the morning I do my 3 step again. You're probably right about that being a bit OTT I'll try and find something more gentle for the morning, thanks

I would still use your your 3 step in the evening but just water in the morning as you don't have any actual dirt on your face....believe me I am an avid Clarins fan and love their using all their products but have grown to realise you skin after being throughly cleansed the night before really does not need any harsh washes on it etc etc.....just water and a slight touch of moisteriser where needed-not all over...again something i have realised after years of plastering my face in moisteriser-I think the more moisteriser you use on your face the more it needs it.....

A beautician once told me that Clinique formulations are addictive for youe skin, and any attempt to try different things will result in a reaction. I don't know how true that is, and I've never used Clinique products so not very helpful of me. You just might need to ride it out for a bit, or switch altogether.

Thanks for your help everyone, I shall scale it back a bit and hope my skin recovers!

I use Clinique 3 step morning and night and never had a problem with using it twice daily, always thought that you were supposed to. I am type 3 oily though, so no dry skin.

I get makeup off with Clinique take the day off for eyes and wash away gel cleanser for the rest of my face, which I find good. I wonder if some ingredient in the wipes is reacting badly with something in the 3 step products now that you are using them at the same time?!

Yes I had thought I was supposed to be using it twice a day so I was expecting my skin to get better rather than worse maybe it just doesn't suit me...