If your skin doesn't like OCM or Liz Earle C&P, what does it like?

[YouAreAMouseInAMaze]

So it turns out my skin hates MN's two most favourite skincare things. They both give me spots; LE has given me proper red lumps on my jaw that never get a head on them.

Just using baby lotion and cotton wool works OK but I turned to the above to try and get rid of open poors and congested skin round my nostrils.

So what should I use to put my skin straight?

mine does too

i use very boring old olay facial wash cloths in sensitive fragrance free
add a bit of water they foam up and you use them gently on your face
rinse with tepid water
pat dry

i use a bha for open pores
i like the neutrogena one

Clinique take the day off balm (totally unfragranced balm, like lard but it works)
Balmology neroli cleansing balm (if I had the money I would use this all the time)
Good things manuka honey cleanser (cheap, and does what it says)

For toner I use pixi glow tonic which is an exfoliating one, also used REN exfoliating toner

Skin is pale, easily irritated and prone to erupt in spots if it feels like it

Clinique take the day off balm.

Cleanse and polish brings me out in little red bumps.

Jan Marini Glycolic Cleanser. Amazing stuff.

Cetaphil

Body shop vitamin e range. It's frequently on offer.

Body shop vitamin e range. It's frequently on offer so is good value.

Have a look on Caroline Hirons blog, she's my go to skincare reference. There are loads of suggestions on there for difference cleansers.

I'd steer clear of baby lotion as it contains mineral oil which is bad for breakouts. Also stay away from foaming cleansers as they make the ph of your skin alkaline which is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Also ditch the cotton wool and buy some facecloths. Cheap ones and use a fresh one every day. Double cleanse with something like lush dermabland to start off with. Wash your face with running, hand hot water. Don't fill the bowl with water as you are just swirling dirty water on your face.

I really disliked Liz Earle yet loads of people rave about it but it just made my skin breakout. I've just changed my skincare regime after a period of neglect skint phase and suffering a bad breakout. So far so good.

One of the best cleansers I have used is L'Oreal cleansing milks- various types for different ages of skin! It's cheap and effective. A more expensive version would be a cleansing milk by Clinique.

TBH unless you are meticulous about using a clean cloth washed at a very high temp and rinsed well, then using a polishing cloth can introduce bacteria and also aggravate any spots you have already- all that rubbing is not good for skin already irritated or spotty.

I've recently used a REN rose cleanse and polish and TBH have not noticed any difference (I have good skin anyway) between it and a cheaper cleanser.

I use 2 applications of cleanser wiped off with cotton wool, then splash my face with tepid water and use a cloth to wipe over and remove any cleanser still there.

I don't like LE- too thick and all that pulling and rubbing of your face to remove it isn't good imo.

Elemis Cleansing balm, my holy grail cleanser.

Korres is wonderful I have problem skin and use their sensitive/oily face wash - will never buy anything else for my skin now I've discovered it!

I too struggle with sensitive skin and the only thing I've found that works is the Dermalogica Ultra Calming Cleanser.

I know it's really expensive (breaks my bank) but after a bit of hunting if found a website that sells it quite cheaply and they always send a bunch of samples too - Lafantine

If anyone can find it cheaper I'll be very grateful!

I've got really sensitive skin with rosacea. My skin hates all Liz Earle products - had a hideous reaction to the cleanser even before I was diagnosed - & I can't put oils on it either. All neat oils, even if applied for a very short period for cleansing purposes, just make me sore, hot & red.

I use Purity Organics conditioning cleansing lotion & really like it - no irritation or spots, & it's quite cheap too. Used to get it from Superdrug, which was where I first saw it years ago, but I can only find it online now.

I'm a big fan of Alpha H - the balancing cleanser. And Liquid Gold sorts out congestion issues really well. Not especially cheap though.

Ditto for Alpha H - that plus water has totally transformed my skin over the past two years, from acne prone and acne scarred to totally clear and smooth.

I haven't tried liquid gold. I'm contemplating it. What SPF did you use after it. Would SPF 15 be okay?

Nivea sensitive micellar water and Eucerin or Nivea moisturiser.

Thanks for the recommendations - I read Sam Bunting's blog and got hold of some Avene Very Gentle cleanser (or something like that). I've been rubbing a blob into my face and removing with cotton wool. From day 1 of doing it I didn't get a single extra spot and the ones which I had have healed.

I think my skin just gets very aggravated by over-stimulation - rich cleaners, heat, rubbing with flannels etc. I don't have oily skin generally.

I liked the look of Take the Day Off balm so may get hold of some of that soon.

I looked at Caroline Hiron's blog and think she talks a lot of sense but was a bit at her saying not to bother with sunscreen which is something dermatologists seem to be pretty unanimous on. But in terms of dealing with spots etc. I think she had good advice.

C&P makes me break out like nothing else, I think it's the Shea butter. I've been using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo for over a year now (face wash and moisturiser) and it has been revolutionary in transforming my spotty, hormonal skin. I spend so little on skin care now, but have the best skin if my adult life. It's on 3 for 2 at Boots now, def worth trying. I wouldn't ever change.