Face cleansing - SOMETHING's godda change! Help, please

[PacificDingbat]

I don't wear foundation or tinted moisturiser normally, so have never used cleansers etc. I don't get spots either (or the occasional one doesn't bother me enough to do anything much about it other than waiting until it's gone ).

But my skin is increasingly dry, I am 47 and after each shower the skin on my face feels dry and tight, it looks blotchy and I am desperate to get moisturiser on it. I am now using a night cream as my daily moisturiser because it's the only thing 'heavy' enough to make my face feel comfortable.

Any ideas what I could use in the shower to wash my face with? I am v much a water and (Dove) soap kinda woman - I don't want any kind of complicated 'routine' because I know I wouldn't stick to it.

So, is there any kind of oil based product I could just use while I have my shower without much faff??

TIA.

Stop using soap and water to wash your face!

Use a very gentle cleanser, such as a micellar water, at night to remove grime. Use a moisturising foaming cleanser in the shower. Use a Clarisonic if you want - even better.

Only then wear moisturiser.

Ok, I will have to google everything you've send, bonsoir - might as well be a different language . Thank you.

Eve Lom cleanser from the John Lewis website. Yes, it does work best if you do the full muslin massage technique described in the packaging, but it is still fabulous if you use it in the shower with a derma flannel (see amazon). Has sorted my ageing wintry combination skin. Don't think too much about the price tag- you wear your skin everyday and one pot lasts almost forever!

There are tons of foaming cleansers you can use easily in the shower. I use Origins Checks and Balances, smells and feels gorgeous and leaves my skin feeling really fresh, but there are loads of cheaper ones from Loreal, Garnier, Nivea etc.

Cleansers aren't just for make up removal, they remove oils, sweat, dead skin cells and all the yuck from the environment (airborne pollutants, grime from you touching your face absentmindedly etc) that have built up during the day.

If you are dry skinned, go for something creamy rather than foaming (foaming will be too astringent and will dry you out more). Something like a cleansing balm or Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, both go on dry skin pre shower, just rub a bit onto your face and then flannel it off in the shower. It's very quick and easy, not faffy at all. Super drug do a lovely comforting creamy hot cloth cleanser too, a vitamin E one, it's very similar to the Liz Earle but much cheaper and often on 3 for 2.

I was thinking along the lines of a foaming cleanser.

But do they not leave your skin all taut and dry-feeling too?

Hm, and the derma flannel - I've eyed them up before...

Oh,, Usedtobe, you speak my language - x-post with you!

Soap will be drying your skin out. Shu Uemura do a range of lovely face oils but it sounds as though no soap, a cream cleanser and muslin would sort you out.

The shower water is probably too hot for your skin too. Flannel and a balm cleanser will take seconds to do

body shop do a camomile cleansing oil, which sounds like it would suit you.

I have the Elemis Cleansing balm and works great on my combination skin

I'd also highly recommend Liz Earle cleanse and polish. I'd forgotten how good it is til got some more for Xmas and the moisturiser just melts into your face and smells divine!

You definitely don't want a foaming cleanser. An oil cleanser would be best. I'm currently using cliniques take the day off cleansing balm, it's excellent, I'll definitely buy again. I'd put it on just before you step into the shower, massage it around, then once in the shower wipe off with a damp flannel.

I see that everyone is telling you not to use soap - I beg to differ. Neutrogena does a facial cleaning bar which comes in a normal and unscented variety. I've been using it for years and when I see it on the shelf in Boots I buy 2 or 3 to keep me going.

I've always been one of those people who doesn't feel clean unless I've washed my face with soap and my cleansing routine which may be bizarre for some is to take make-up off using a cream based cleanser (usually one of the L'Oreal ones) and a cotton wool pad, wash face with the unscented version of the soap, pat dry and give a quick once over with a cotton wool pad soaked in a light toner. I then apply moisturiser.

When I had more money I sometimes used one of the Clinique or Clarins foaming facial washes but my face never felt clean. I'm sure they would be fine for a non make-up user though.

I can't remember how much the Neutrogena soap cost off hand, but it's definitely less than £5.00. I did have to resort to ebay once when it was out of stock in Boots and I couldn't track it down in any of the local chemists and the postage ended up being more than the soap itself.

I'm incredibly low maintenance.

Microfibe dish cloth (£1 for two)

Steam cream

Finito.

It's the best my skin has ever been. It must be good, I got face matched for foundation in boots the other day, and the lady was so impressed she called over two lady's from the other premium counters to have a look

Well, Honey, I know you are a gorgeous dragon .

What on earth is Steam cream?

Thanks to everybody else - I shall start 'cleansing' instead of 'washing' .

only on good days.

Steam cream you can normally pick it up for about £8. It feels light but is protective enough for windy dog walks and is a good base for slap too.

It is also good for schlepping on dcs intent on frolicking in snow storms to prevent chafed faces.

Oooh, I now covet one of those tins!
Thanks, Honey

Ok, I've got my Steamcream (in a gorgeous Glasgow tin).

So, what do I do with it now? Use it as a cleanser? A moisturiser? A bit of both??
Honey?
Honey?
You there, Honeydragon??

Steam cream is a moisturiser

I like to think of it as the perfect hybrid of old fashioned Nivia and Oil Ulay, before they ponced the fuckers up and stuck them in £29 jars.

The principle is all the good natural essential oil and botany stuff soaks in your skin making it all dewy and babies arse like, whilst still providing a protective layer like cold ream would do but not leaving your skin feeling like you bathed in lard.

I basically use it am and pm after I've washed my face as its fine under make up and doesn't sit on your face if you don't want to wear make up.

It's all I use.

Apart from when I'm going through a looking rough phase, then I bring out the big guns and use the pretend Botox venom stuff from lidl which is fucking magic.

Also when it's really cold and windy I attack the kids with it as it seems to protect them from windburn and inclement weather rather well.

Oh and it's used on all various household members dry scabby bits as and when required.

Ok, so you use it as a moisturiser?
Until now I've always used whatever was £9.99 or less at my local chemists so brands change from time to time .

And just the microfiber cloth for washing with, yes?

It all sounds suitably low-tech for my liking, thanks.

And Steamcream does smell rather lush.