Why does my face feel so dry no matter what I use?!

[Jemster]

My face always feels and looks dry and I just don't know where I'm going wrong. I've tried washing with water and facial wash and tried no water and just cleansing and toning but when I apply moisturiser it just doesn't make me look or feel moisturised. Since having 2nd baby a year ago my face has really changed. Dark circles and skin under eyes is dry too despite using clinique all about eyes. Tesco concealer looks flaky and dried up on me.
Please could anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong as I'm sure the dryness makes me look even more tired and old than I am (38). Thanks

Try coconut oil. i use it to wash and moisturise.

Oil cleansing method - it's sorting my skin out.

Don't forget that diet is important in keeping skin healthy too. Are you drinking enough water? Are you getting enough fruit and veg in your diet? Try taking a multi vitamin (with vitamin E) and a fish oil every day and up your intake of avocados, oily fish, green veg and nuts.

I have always had really dry skin and, if possible, it got drier when I was pregnant with DC2.
Someone on here recommended Eucerin and, for the first time ever, I knew what people meant when they said that their skin was 'hydrated' (as opposed to dehydrated I think :)) I started with one of the slightly cheaper moisturisers but moved on to the 'anti-aging' ones quite quickly and haven't looked back. I use their cleanser and toner at times as well though usually use water.

It's age I'm afraid. What helps me is lots of oil inside and out. I started taking capsules of fish oil (around 1000 of omega 3 a day). I have my salads and soups with oil. And I put rosa mosqueta oil on my face morning and evening just because I found it in my bathroom cupboard. But once it's finished I am buying Nuxe oil which is supposed to be great for under moisturiser.

Another vote for coconut oil. I use it for Oil Cleansing Method and skin feels like velvet and possibly looks a bit plumper too. My very dry skin absolutely loves Astral moisturiser - bright blue pot, can buy in Boots/Superdrug/Tesco, medium size pot for about £4, lasts for ages.

Agree with diet advice - loads of water, not too much sugar, plenty of fruit and veg, no smoking (although I do a bit), cut right down on alcohol and caffeine. And as much sleep as you can manage.

I agree with all the above except get your thyroid checked too :)

Do you have dry skin (skin needs oil) or dehydrated skin (skin needs water)? To check which you are: when you get out of the shower and towel off, does your skin feel temporarily plumped (in which case, it's dehydrated), or is it irritated & screaming for a moisturiser (in which case it's dry)? If you're dehydrated rather than dry, look for products which contain hyaluronic acid, I am this skin type & can recommend lots of products!

Either way, I would add a suitable serum into your daytime routine and stop using toner. The hot cloth cleansing method is wonderful for my skin ; I mainly use Superdrug's Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser, which leaves my skin feeling comfortable before I apply serums etc.

For night, consider getting a facial oil to use before night cream (I use this on my face, eye area, neck & hands. Boots Botanics and Marks & Spencer Pure both have facial oils in their range, which I strongly recommend, both under £10. I think my use of oil is the thing that has protected my skin from the prolonged winter.

A brilliant cleanser that doesn't dry your skin and infact seems to moisturise it is LUSH Ultrabland facial cleanser. You smear in all over face then wipe off with a wet/damp flannel or cotton wool. Its so gentle you can rub it in your eyes and they won't be irritated at all. I love it!

Oil cleansing with a hot cloth, drink lots of water, eat lots of good fats and supplement with more.

Ciciplast by La Roche Posay - fab stuff!

A friend of mine had very dry and bright red skin on her face. She tried everything.
Then she was advised to only wash her face with water and not use anything no cream no serum
She said at first it was really dry and painful but after a while her skin felt great and she has lost the redness.
She has stuck with that and reckons her skin self regulates itself and creams are not good for it.
I don't know just her experience hope you find something :0)

The dry skin under your eyes may be caused by a reaction to the eye cream or concealer. I have had reactions which gave me dry flaky skin even using some premium brand eye creams and using YSL Touche Eclat. The problem was solved by using Clarins Eye contour cream, they have one called"special" which is for very dry skin. I also use Dior skinflash as a concealer.

My dry skin also seems to have improved using an exfoliator a few times a week, I use a No7 one. I use an Olay cream face wash. Also fab is Estee Lauder Night repair serum, and always use a good night cream for dry skin as these are thicker and your skin will feel lovely in the morning.

I have found that I really do need to use a day cream especially made for extra dry skin, over the years i have had very good results with Clarins, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden. They may seem expensive but you need to use a lot less than cheaper creams and if they work for you you will feel so much better, ask the ladies at the counters for advice and you will most likely get samples to try before you have to shell out.

Soundevenfruity - I have very dry skin and have the Nuxe oil, it smells lovely but it's not that moisturising tbh... I use coconut oil to take off makeup and then use that or cream moisturise.

Was also going to say look at your diet. Natural oils eaten help the skin.

Soundevenfruity- yep, Nuxe is not that great at all. Sort of nice on your body and smells lovely but not really moisturising at all. I find rose ip oil much, much better.

I second Eucerin Hyaluron Filler (make sure you get day cream for dry skin) and for night rose hip oil followed by lots of Embryolisse (or Eucerin night cream, I guess, but I haven't tried it yet).

Oh, I've had a couple of people waxing lyrical about it.

Of fashioned Nivea in the blue pot. And cut out the toner?

Lots of fab ideas here, I second Nivea blue pot as a super thick overnight mask, and La Roche Posay Cicaplast moisturiser.

And no no no to any toners or aggressive exfoliants until you're more balanced.

Another thing - this long winter means central heating for months on end, which has really dried out my skin.

I say it every thread but Neals Yard is very good git dry skin, very nourishing, rich creams. I find when I use other ranges they're nice but don't 'do' much, but with NYR I feel like the products actually nourish the skin and it improves in quality over time.

Their avocado and vit e moisturiser for example might suit you, I use it as a winter night cream.

Sorry about the git. No idea where that came from.

Eucerin Q10 cream has revolutionised my horrible dry face.

Highly recommended.

I've always had dry skin so it's not age related for me. Loads of great advice on this thread but I would add: exfoliation is really important for dry skin because you need to remove the layer of dry dead skin cells on your skin in order for the moisturiser to work properly. I've been told this by several facialists and it makes a big difference to my skin. Don't over do it with the exfoliation of course, as it could cause major irritation, but do it gently and a couple of times a week at least. My skin looks so much brighter, plumper and more even for it. Also, as soon as you've exfoliated make sure you add moisture back in, with an moisture mask or just a good moisturiser.

And yes do get your thyroid checked. I had mine checked because I'm skinny with a fast heartbeat as well as having dry skin, so doc thought mine could be overactive. It wasn't :) Another facialist also told me (don't know if it's true but kind of makes sense) that your skin cells 'turn over' roughly every 28 days, but people with very dry skin might have cells that turn over more like every 15 days, meaning exfolation is important to get rid of that dead, dry top layer.

Finally - I know loads of people recommend oils but I don't find them moisturising at all for some reason! My skin soaks up creams much better. Rosehip and coconut oil do nothing for me compared to a really rich cream.

Oh and the advice to eat more oils/avocado/oily fish and drink water also doesn't help me. I'm just naturally desiccated