Help my poor dry face!

[ShortLashes]

I've got dry patches on my face and am really red and blotchy. Problem areas are forehead, around nose and a small patch on my chin. I'm pregnant, which may be contributing along with the cold weather and heating....

Anyway, I thought I'd do the sensible thing and buy some E45 cream but everytime I use it my face stings like hell (3 days in now)....it does subside after a few minutes. Is this because the cream is doing its job on my broken skin, or should I stop using it? It's unlikely I'm allergic surely, since it is meant to be ok for sensitive skin and even babies. Any recommendations for alternative creams or tips to improve my face?

I put Vaseline on my face over night for a week or so when mine flares up. It calms it down enough to start using my usual moisturizer.

Vaseline gave me horrible spots when I put it on overnight, and I never usually have any.

The best thing I've found is Oilatum Junior cream (brilliant value) or Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream (££ but worth it because it's awesome!)

I'm a bit of a broken record with this bit Cicaplast Baume is what I would use, at night because it's very thick and white. It calms things brilliantly though.

E45 is weirdly quite irritating for some people because of the lanolin. Lots of dermatologists don't prescribe it.

E45 is overpriced rubbish full of crap like lanolin (as pp says) which can't make things worse.

You'd be better off with a £2tub of plain Aqueous Cream from the chemist (you can also get Aqueous ointment which which is - unsurprisingly - much thicker and stickier - excellent for cracked heels, might I add!).

But I'd go for my old standby of cocoa butter/olive oil though. I get eczema on my face and that is the only thing which calms down the awful parts, so it should also help with your sore bits. Even plain almond oil would be soothing for your skin.

^^ "E45 is overpriced rubbish full of crap like lanolin (as pp says) which can make things worse."

unfortunate typo in prev post sorry

Palmers cocoa butter or aveeno with a thin layer of baby gel on top after a couple of minutes-a couple of times a day.

I have v dry skin at times and it's the only thing that works well for me

I use Wheatgerm oil overnight. It doesn't smell very nice, but I don't care because it works!

Try Cetaphil op? It's got a nice texture.

Also important to make sure you are exfoliating the skin. I have a Braun facial cleansing brush that cleans and exfoliates well.

Aveeno is the bomb!

When my face is like that I can't use any commercial moisturisers or emollients at all. Everything just makes it worse. If something's stinging you, it's not good.

I use Diprobase ointment which is essentially Vaseline until the flare up is calmer.