Skin care nightmare - please help!

[hugandroll]

Hi, I need the collective wisdom of mumsnetters.

I have combination/dry skin that is also sensitive (yay!). The problem I have is products that are gentle enough to avoid tight, dry, red skin leaves my oily patches oily and I get blackheads and the products that will really clean my face leave me red, blotchy and sore.

Today I used a sample of Clinique foaming facewash that was in my bonus box, it was for normal skin and I'm all red and really sore. Their foundation on the other hand is one of the only ones I can use comfortably.

Please help me find a facewash that I can use. I'm mainly concerned with the redness and soreness tbh but if I can have my cake and eat it too then I will. I'm going to boots tomorrow to purchase a facewash, toner, makeup remover etc (I have foundation and moisturiser that I am getting on with).

Thank you in advance :)

Have a look at Avene, it is sold in bigger boots. In my bigger branch there is usually someone floating who can advise on aveve, la roche posey and a few other more independent brands. Sometimes they have samples too.

Both companies have their own websites so you can have a look at their products in more detail.

My skin is sensitive and I have found more perfumed things set me off as does anything with essential oils. Also over cleaning can set me off. Most cleansers are my enemy and I cannot use toner. I use an Avene cleanser, rub it into my face then remove with damp cotton wool. Also use a la roche posay face scrub every 3 days which is really good.

Not sure if that helps at all but sensitive skin is a complete pain in the arse!!

What about this face wash?

la roche posay

I have stopped using any products they just seem to irritate my skin so much! I use baby wipes at night - the sensitive ones and then in the morning I use dead sea black mud mask soap. I read about it on yahoo answers of all places as being good for spots. Not had a spot in months and skin is much calmer, less oily and much fewer black heads. Only of skin is feeling really tight do I use some no7 night moisturiser bit only v sparingly. I use their day cream too but only now and then.
When I first bought that soap I used it morning and evening - mistake its too strong - once a day is plenty.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish is brilliant.

Love Liz Earle too.

I have your skin and have been all around the houses. I have to admit i was hopeful with Liz Earle as I have heard so many good things and my Mum swears by it, but my face hated it, took me weeks to calm my skin back down.

Atm I am using this and I think it might be my holy grail, my skin has never been so soft and comfortable the moisturizer is very good too.

If you go in they will give you samples, so you can try it without having to splash out.

You need Cetaphil. It is used for people who have had plastic surgery and is a) extremely gentle b) very cheap and c) will sort/even your face out. You can either wash it off, or do what I do, which is wipe it off with a face flannel, so there is a bit of (gentle) exfoliation going on.

Or you could try Bioderma Eau Micellaire for dry skin, which is also excellent, but Cetaphil will sort your skin out for you. It made a visible difference to mine (to the extent that people commented). I think you can get it in Boots, but if not, you will find it online.

Dermalogica Ultracalming.

Thank you everyone I have a lot to research there. Will see if I can get samples of some if not all of them as I'm fed up of wasting money (as I'm sure you all were before you found the right fit).