Another moisturiser and/or sunscreen has given me a face-full of spots! Arrrgh. *pics*

[LividofLondinium]

This is probably more a rant/crying onto other MNer's shoulders than looking for advice (although any would be good of course), but yet again I've woken to a face-full of tiny spots.

I'm 47 and it's only since I turned about 42 that I've had trouble finding either a moisturiser or a sunscreen (or combination of the 2) that doesn't upset my skin. My skin isn't dry or oily, and I don't consider it "sensitive".

I used to use Olay (with added SPF 15 I think it was) with translucent powder on top - fine until I hit 42. If I was outside a lot during the day I used to use Boots Soltan Face Once (SPF 30 or 50) with powder on top. Used to be fine, now it's not. I then tried without the powder on top in case that was the problem...nope...spots.

I tried Body Shop Vit E moisturiser...spots.

Thankfully I've solved the moisturiser issue with REN, but the sun protection is still a problem. Yesterday, after reading very good reviews about how it doesn't cause spots, I tried Simple Kind to Skin Protecting Moisture cream SPF 30, which felt lovely but look at the state of my face! It also feels very slightly tingley and irritated.

I was going to try Ultrasun Face SPF 50 tomorrow ( I'll be outside for a few hours so want proper protection) but...well, my heart sinks.

Another that I'm going to try is La Roch?e-Pos?ay Anth?elios XL Tint?ed BB Comfort Crea?m SPF5?0+ because that has a lot of good feedback, and was recommened to me because it's unlikely to cause spots. We shall see.

Doing some research it seems it's a common problem for sunscreens to cause spots, so looks like I have the choice of protecting my skin or having a bad complection.
Anyone else have this trouble?

Yes, it is a really common bugbear. I have the same problem.

Are you cleaning it off properly at night? A hot cloth cleanser or balm cleanse is most likely shift it properly.

What works for me, might not necessarily work for you (as you've seen with the good reviews) and so it is just trial and error until you find 'the one'. I know that certain textures suit me better than others (really thick or dry stuff doesn't work on me) and that I should avoid highly perfumed ingredients. Currently, I'm getting on with Zelens 30spf daily face and LRP Hydraphase UV intense.

Maybe look for look for some with salicylic acid in? Head over to bigbuttons' continued skin care thread and join us

I like the Clarins one which you put on top of your own non-spf moisturiser. It is very white at first, though. Not at all greasy.

Have you tried Avene Hydrance?

Actually, looking at the pics again, have you seen a GP about possible rosacea ?

Yes it looks like roseacea
I get pustular rosacea in the summer.

Ultrasun gives me spots. I now use Heliocare Spf 50 from Amazon and love it. No spots. It's a Spanish brand I think..

Ultrasun Face along with almond or wheatgerm oil works for me.

It's really trial and error, Ultrasun is one of the very few which doesn't give me spots.

Are you cleaning it off properly at night?
I wash my face at night with mild soap and warm water, then put REN moisturiser on. It feels as though I've got it off.

Maybe look for look for some with salicylic acid in? Head over to bigbuttons' continued skin care thread and join us
Will do. Thanks

Have you tried Avene Hydrance?
Not yet. I'll add it to my list of ones to try. Thanks. I'll see if I can get a sample first!

have you seen a GP about possible rosacea?
Yes it looks like roseacea
No, I hadn't even considered it was anything other than blocked pores caused by the products. Reason I say that is because if I go without anything on my face, or just use REN and my mineral powder foundation, I don't get the problem. Well, maybe one or 2 spots, but not like this. It's only like this after using sunscreen, moisturisers with SPF, or the other moisturisers I mentioned It's only with the Simple that my skin has also felt slightly tingly (so much for the marketing BS of it being oh so delicate for even the most sensitive skin!)

I now use Heliocare Spf 50 from Amazon and love it. No spots
I'll add that to my try list too, thanks. How does it feel on your skin? I've found even those that say "light" and "non-greasy" still feel sticky

I've used mineral sun block powder with far better results, spots-wise. The only reason I'm looking for alternatives is that, from researching it, you need to apply LOADS to get the SPF marketed (I'll write a whole other thread on that!) which just isn't feasable. So I'm not convinced by it's protective claims

I would say mild soap and water isn't enough to clean sunscreen off and would recommend a mild balm or hot cloth cleanse. I like Clinique's take the day off balm - massage onto dry, dirty skin (incl can eyes & lips) and then wipe/massage off with clean flannel/muslin cloth which has been run under hand hot water and squeezed out. Repeat the cloth step a few times rinsing between each one and then pat dry. Use a clean cloth/flannel every time.

Sounds like a faff but it takes about 2 minutes tops and breaks down all of the suncream, make up and general grot of the day.

And YY to I mineral powders being balls. Fine as a top up to trad sunscreen, SPF in make up or BB cream, but not suitable as a standalone SPF.

Is it like the oil cleansing method Squeezy? I tried that and did like the nuturalness of it, but found it hard to get the balance right; take too much oil off and I got dry patches, not take enough off and I got the odd spot. Maybe I should try it again, then wash with soap, then put on my REN. Oh god, it's all so confusing...I never had all this trouble as a teenager! It's kind of fun trying different products...except for the collection of used once spot-inducing stuff that's filling my bathroom cabinet. I need to find a local "swap your beauty products" group

Yes, the method is similar but it doesn't leave as much residue. Tried the ocm but found it left a film on my skin and was really messy and gross.

I'm the same, livid. Tonnes of used once or twice tubes, jars and bottles gathering dust in my bathroom. I tend to try and use them up in different ways -

facial SPF that breaks me out, use as a neck, chest and back of hand SPF
facial oils that broke me out / gave me a rash, add a couple of drops to body lotion to make it richer
Serums that were too greasy for my face - use on my neck and chest
Exfoliating acids that were too harsh for my face - use on knees, elbows and feet to take off dead skin cells and keep skin soft

Looks like rosacea to me too. I have just the same but in the centre of my face, mainly if I use certain products, (although there is slight redness all the time) and mine was triggered in my mid 40's, by a stressful time combined with a reaction to a face cream (annoyingly the most flattering tinted moisturiser I've ever found, the Laura Mercier one). I can't use any products with Oxybenzone in, check for this op as it is a common allergen. I'm also iffy with other chemical sunscreens such as methyloxycinnamate, so i think that it may well be chemical sunscreens that you are reacting to. If so, then you need sun protection with mineral screens only, e.g.titanium dioxide or zinc. Honesty one needs a chemistry degree to work through the ingredients lists at times! I use Avene mineral screen from the Garden pharmacy www.garden.co.uk/sun-tanning/avene/high-protection-mineral-cream-spf-50-50ml.html or clarins mineral screen (all their other sunscreams make me react, this is the only mineral one www.havens.co.uk/clarins-uv-plus-hp-day-screen-high-protection-spf40-19589p.html?utm_source=googleShopping&utm_medium=pla&utm_campaign=products&gclid=CLS7vcHwosUCFc3MtAodUUQA7Q
The avene one is pretty white on, but you can use it under foundation, and it is fine for small children too.
The thing that really calms my skin down if I do have a reaction is this www.dr.hauschka.com/en_DE/products/sensitive-care-conditioner/
This completely restores my skin to normal again, it is a month's course. And if you suit REN then it should suit your skin.

Methylisothiazolinone is another common (and almost unpronouncable!) cause of reactions. REN and similar brands don't use this (its a preservative) , but others do, although Clarins have removed it from their creams as dermatologists are seeing so many reactions. It is really worth checking anything you use for this, and avoiding it in future.

Oh and personally I avoid mineral powder sunscreen, which I did use for a while, as there is some research now showing that inhaling the fine titanium dioxide particles is very bad indeed. So stick to cream formulae, with mineral screens only.
Many people assume that they are reacting to the oilyness or perfume in sunscreen when it is the sunscreen agent itself that is causing the reactions.

Tonnes of used once or twice tubes, jars and bottles gathering dust in my bathroom. I tend to try and use them up in different ways
Me too. I end up with more sunscreen and moisturisers that I can only use on my body that I know what to do with! Got a lifetime supply of the stuff

Wow, thanks for all the info SirVix it's really encouraging

Looks like rosacea to me too...mine was triggered in my mid 40's, by a stressful time
Strangely I was going through a particularly stressful time when this started too.

I can't use any products with Oxybenzone in, check for this op as it is a common allergen
I'm also iffy with other chemical sunscreens such as methyloxycinnamate, so i think that it may well be chemical sunscreens that you are reacting to
Will do, thanks. Made a note to avoid Oxybenzone, methyloxycinnamate and Methylisothiazolinone. It really helps knowing what might be causing this rather than blindly keep trying different products (which probably all contain the same nasties!)

Honesty one needs a chemistry degree to work through the ingredients lists at times!
LOL, yes! And need to be a good detective to wade through the list of ingredients to spot the nasties. And have a good dose of skepticism to wade through all the marketing bullshit

there is some research now showing that inhaling the fine titanium dioxide particles is very bad indeed
Oh no! I've been using mineral powder foundation too

The heliocare cream is a bit glowy to be fair so I'm switching to the gel. I've taken to using a dusting of powder over the cream to prevent shine as I prefer a matte look.

Twitchcoco, I find most of these suncreams too oily looking on the skin, even when they say they aren't.

Yay, SirVix, I've just looked at the list of ingredients on my Ultrasun Face SPF 50 (that I haven't used yet) and it doesn't contain those 3 nasties you mentioned! Nor does La Roche-Posay Anthelios Spf 50+ Ultra light tinted fluid...so I've just ordered that Oooh, feeling so excited at the possibility of nailing this skin issue I shall have to do some testing and report back.

Looked at the ingredients list on the Simple I used and it contains methyloxycinnamate, so maybe that was the problem. Real shame as it felt lovely on the skin, not sticky at all

Can you look at the ingredients of products you can and can't tolerate and see if you can see a pattern? My skin reacts similarly to silicones, and in layman's terms, the longer the silicone name the worse it is (eg dimethicone less troublesome, cyclepentasiloxane really bad). As a very rough rule of thumb, I avoid ingredients ending in -cone or -xane. Interestingly, my sensitivity started during a stressful year too and has stayed. Oh and yes definitely double cleanse to fully remove sunscreens.

Good that you found what to avoid Myrtle How did you find out it was silicone?
You're right, so when I get the chance to really analyse it I will do. See if I can find a pattern.

After a huge reaction to sun cream,I will not be wearing any other than what's in my make up,I will be sitting in the shade and wearing a hat

I would suggest not using a soap if you have rocasea.

I've never been able to work out what causes a reaction so I just keep the number of products and ingredients as low as I can.

I use dermalogica ultracalming cleanser which doesn't aggravate roseacea.
I too sit in the shade taking my vitamin d supplements!!!