is it true about moisturisers?

[KhallDrogo]

that once you use them your skin is dependent on them and you cant stop?

Ive always moisturised, for as long as I can remember. Used to be cheap stuff/Body Shop etc. For years I have used Clinique 3 step (missing out step 2) and it has been great at keeping the spots that I am prone to, at bay

I have tried to stop, as part of a money saving exercise, but my skin is a wreck now; lots of spots and angry itchy sensitive skin Its been about a month and it has got progressively worse

Are you not moisturising at all? Or have you switched from Clinique to something cheaper (if so, what)?

some days i dont moisturise at all...others i use the dcs Dream Cream from Lush (which is for sensitive skin/excema)...although Im not sure that is a cheaper option, if I get us all dependent on that!!

I was hoping that my skin would 'balance itself'

Ive tried supermarket brands in the past, which also make me spotty...I do know that for years I had spots and tried all sorts...Clinique stopped the spots and also what I had forgotten about is this tight/slightly sore feeling my face has ..my skin is sensitive, which i forget when Im using my regular C soap and moisturiser...

think Ive talked myself into just buying more actually....its expensive, but Ill just have to budget for it I suppose and class it as a 'necessity'

Even on a budget you can surely afford a tube of Simple. Try Savers or Semichem or Superdrugs own brands are quite good. Your skin will thank you.

I quit altogether for 6 months and only recently went back.
Skin did not improve, but it had been obvious that my previous routine was old, and my skin wanted something different. So it got 6 months breathing space.

Now using a Clinique eye and face moisturiser and skin very pleased. I will go with this until skin says 'no more'!

I think the trick is to try to get hold of samples so that you don't have to throw money away testing out new creams which may not work for your particular skin. Mine loathes anti aging stuff (i'm 38) which bugs me, but I decided to just go with the flow and let my skin make the decisions - I figure it knows far more than I how to take care of itself .

If you are going totally cold turkey on moisturiser, I would also cut out soap as well (if you use it), as that will make your skin feel tight & itchy.

Maybe use an oil based cleanser (obv this isn't going to be cheap unless you already have one) instead. Or - this is what I use - ditch cleanser & just use the Nivea toner with the argan oil.

n.b. I do moisturise - loads, in fact, as I swim a lot - but DD just uses the toner with no moisturiser & has soft skin, though that is prob just youth. I never needed moisturiser till my 30s.

If you aren't moisturising, you need to be soap free, as Banoffee says - soap will remove the oils from your skin, and if you aren't putting them back your skin won't thank you.

You could go all natural - oil cleansing method/cleansing balm, and a bit of rose hip or similar oil to moisturise?

i try not to use soap, but it helps dry up the spots

what is oil cleansing method?

Oil cleansing is literally using oil such as almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil or a mixture of various oils to cleanse your face.

They'res an old thread on oil cleansing I've been reading.? ill try to link it

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/720041-Oil-cleansing-method/AllOnOnePage I was looking at it last week and thought I'd give it a go (all part of my trying to improve myself plan?). I didn't want to be a zombie reviver though by writing on it. I've got as far as buying some oils but haven't tried them out yet. I also have tried "oil pulling" the last few days and my teeth are already whiter- but it is a bit wierd to do.

I use nivea, the blue tubs. Cheap but the best I've tried. I have good skin, but I think it's because I don't use soap or makeup!

Oil pulling?

Oooo...thats exciting. Im going to try that, thanks

It's like gargling sort of and you do it for 15min when you get up and it gets rid of all the bacteria and crap; supposed to have lots of health benefits too- but on that, but my teeth are definitely whiter and my hands feel smooth, like they were really dry before and I never realised they could feel better.

id like to try that...but who the hell has 15 minutes every morning to swish oil around their mouth?!?!

let me know how you get on ido with the oil cleansing

Do you know I do the 15 min as soon as I get up. While making breakfast for the DC. It makes a calmer house hold as I'm not nagging them and they are actually getting on with it. Dd7 interprets for me! Not sure how long it will last though!

Can it be done in the evening instead of the morning?

Have you tried The Body Shop's aloe range?

I second the body shop aloe Vera range. Really sorted my skin out.

OCM ruined my skin and Aloe sorted it out afterwards

Valium...Funny. That is exactly what happened to me. OCM wad hell for my skin.

Perhaps I asked on here and got that advice!

I really wanted to like th OCM but it ruined my skin - I have never even had spots before doing that!!

LOVE the aloe stuff especially the night cream :)

Sorry, can someone tell me more about Oil Pulling??

I'm forever saything this, but try the boots essentials range. I find it works just as well as the expensive brands that MiL buys for me