To all those with poor irritated dry skin, I'm at a loss. Thinking la roche posey or avene?

[ElBombero]

I have tried everything and probably spent thousands :(

Currently on dermalogica and it's bleed my finances dry and honestly my skin has never been worse :(

I have been doing oil cleansing for past week and not notice any change.

I have the derma flannel which I use 3x weekly, on top of exfoliating with st Ives, regular moisturising face masks.

It's honestly awful, I struggle to wear any makeup but need to cos my skin is so red, irritated and so bloody dry.

I need help, serious help. I'm only 30 and my skin looks at least 10 years older at moment.

it may not be the answer but I use Superdrug Vitamin E intensive moisture cream for my very dry, prone to redness, very sensitive skin. it's very cheap and often on three for two so it might be an option until you do find the right product?

I normally use Liz Earle superskin which is a lovely cream, but have the avene antirouge jour for dry skin which is lovely. I tried the lrp cicaplast baume b5 in boots today, and was amazing. I intend to purchase next (can get in eBay for under 8 quid).

good luck,I totally sympathise

Aveeno is fantastic
You can get it in body lotions/creams but they also do face creams too
Has worked wonders on eczema /dry inflamed skin
Think it is the oatmeal in it which makes the difference

Are you not over-exfoliating?

I think you probably need to leave it pretty much alone for a week or two tbh. Deffo stop with the face masks and the St Ives. I don't know what a derma flannel is, so not sure re that.

You could try Cetaphil as a cleanser and the Vitamin E stuff as below. Both are cheap and pretty gentle.

Avene skin recovery cream is soothing and moisturising.

It sounds to me like you're doing way too much to your skin. I have dry and dehydrated skin and my best skincare routine is:

Body Shop Camomile butter - rub on dry, remove with warm, wet flannel (you'll see this referred to as hot cloth cleansing) An alternative is the Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser.

Hydraluron - for the dehydration

Body Shop Vitamin E moisturiser (day or night versions)

I might use Clarins Blue Orchid Oil at night before or instead of moisturiser, particularly in the winter.

Thus routine has sorted my skin out beautifully. I haven't bothered with scrubs or masks since starting this a year ago - really not needed.

I also won an Aromatherapy Associates rose hydrating mask recently. You can put this on over oil at bedtime in place of a moisturiser - skin feels lovely and soft in the morning.

P.S. I was a dermalogica fan for ages but switched to these cheaper products as discovered that it was the routine (hot cloth cleansing in particular) that made a difference for me rather than the poshest products.

The Avene extremely gentle cleanser is another alternative - put it on dry skin then use a hot flannel to take it off.

I have only one thing - you must must try S.O.S. face and body cream from barefoot botanicals. It is just so soothing. I have hideously dry skin naturally, and there is, and never has been, anything for me as good as this.

Have I said it strongly enough? ;)

I would cut back on the cleansing/exfoliating and face masks for a few months at least. You may feel grotty but the chemicals added in these products are harsh. To cleanse you could perhaps use organic oats flakes with organic manuka honey. Not the sexiest combination but natural. Then, rather than moisturiser, use 100% organic Argan Oil (available at a good price from amazon). It blends in beautifully and doesn't leave a nasty stench! If you are feeling brave then go for organic olive oil at night. It works for me.

Thanks.

Ok I'll stop with the exfoliation I just do it to get all the dry skin off but I may be causing the next layer to be damaged?

So you would say cetaphil is safer than oil cleansing?

I've heard a lot about this LRP citaplast been to 2 boots today and couldn't find it. Desperate to buy setting tomorrow and start afresh. Going turkey tomorrow night.

I used to exfoliate with St Ives every other day before I realised that it was actually causing my awful angry spots and blotchiness.

For the last year I've been cleansing and moisturising with La Roche Posay (Effaclar Gel Cleanser + Hydreane Riche moisturiser) with a once weekly exfoliation and my skin is pretty damn incredible. All even and smooth and glowy. I haven't had a single spot in all that time.

Food!!! Eat coconut oil, lovely mixed into just cooked rice. And think about doing a detox to see if your skin gets better. I bet there is a food trigger.

Wow eyeliner, that's a recommendation I'm after!

Also look at if your skin is just dry or may be dehydrated too - you may need to treat both.

Given your skin sounds so angry, I would pair everything right back. Really simple cleansing, hydrating, moisturising routine that you do morning and night with some simple products - LRP, Avene are great as are Body Shop and Superdrug Vitamin E.

No masks or exfoliation until you've given your skin time to settle down.

Hi another day. I'm a bootcamper so have a coconut oil coffee every morning. Good 3l of water a day, minimal processed food

Less is more. Step away from the exfoliator!

I have dry, sensitive, reactive skin. I've recently kicked a 10 year Dermalogica habit as my poor bank account was suffering. I swore by the stuff but I am having great results from Aderma Sensifluid cleanser, Superdrug serum (the green pack) and Simple replenishing moisturiser. I still exfoliate 3 times a week or so with Dermalogica Microfoliant.
The critical thing for my skin (as recommended by consultant dermatologist) is to use as little water as possible in it. Cleansers must be the wipe off variety such as the Aderma one I'm currently using or Avene extremely gentle cleanser.

YY I remember cleansing with cotton wool pads when I was younger. Skin loved it. I will dig out my bottle of cetaphil and use that will cotton wool pads whilst away. Just need a face cream and night cream whilst away. Wish these avene and LRP had counters...

I second the Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser and their Skin Recovery cream. Agree with suggestions to stop masks/exfoliating too, go to as simple as possible to let your skin calm and heal. Drink lots of water and maybe take some linseed oil or evening primrose to nourish.

Agree it sounds like you are doing far too much to your skin. Avene Gentle Cleanser gets a lot of dermatologist recommendations as does Cetaphil. Both La Roche Posay and Avene have ranges for dry, red, sensitive skin - Toleriane and Antirougeurs. Neither involve exfoliation!

If you have spent thousands, a couple of hundred on seeing a cosmetic dermatologist for some proper recommendations may save you a lot of money in the long run.

Thanks everyone

You need Aveeno

Honestly . Stop all the other stuff and use this for a while. Very soothing

Agreed, stop everything!

Go back to Cetaphil if you have that -- it's very similar to the Avene cleansing lotion (I've used both)

I cannot recommend Avene enough, it is extremely gentle and wonderful. They have a number of different moisturisers so you may need to try a couple to see what suits.

And definitely go see a dermatologist if you can, it will be worth every penny (go to a proper one, do some research). You may have some underlying skin condition that can be sorted out.

I would stay away from exfoliating and hot flannels for a while. Heat can make a number of skin conditions worse.

www.clinique.co.uk/product/8388/24569/Skin-Care/hydration/NEW-Moisture-Surge-Overnight-Mask/index.tmpl

I use this. It is bloody amazeballs. I haven't had a single sore red patch since. Maybe ask for a sample from a Clinique counter? I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Having had pretty much the same skin for many years, I get my sensitive, dry and reactive skin under control with one of the following:
Aveeno cream
Avene skin recovery cream
Aderma Epitheliale cream

No exfoliation until your sore red patches are gone. I honestly do not rate Dermologica at all, it may be irritating you.

The cleansers that have been recommended are good too. Also you can just use a bit of Aveeno cream on some cotton wool and cleanse with that, followed by a quick rinse with water.