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HELP- severely dry skin on face!

35 replies

Springinglover · 05/09/2018 13:47

For the last few months I’ve had severely dry skin on my face. Ive stopped wearing make up Mon-Fri (I work from home so rarely see anyone) as putting on concealer has become a massive chore due to the fact that 5 mins after I put it on, I look like I have eczema or something? It goes all dry and crusty Sad.

If I want to try and ensure this doesn’t happen then I have to scrub my face with an exfoliater, slap on some blue Nivea, Smashbox primer and hope for the best. Usually it works to a good extent but sometimes (like today!) not Sad

Can anyone recommend anything for this?

Sometimes I probably am a bit dehydrated which doesn’t help, but even if I down bucketloads of water it doesn’t really help. I cleanse, use a Nip & Fab dragon’s blood pad on my face each evening and moisturise morning and night religiously. I’ve always had quite dewy skin so am unsure why it’s always so dry nowadays! I’m not on any hormonal contraception!

Any ideas gratefully received!

OP posts:
userblah · 05/09/2018 13:58

Stop using the nip and fix

userblah · 05/09/2018 13:58

Sorry typo nip and fab

user1499173618 · 05/09/2018 14:01

Stop your current skincare regime and switch to what is, IMVHO, the best skincare brand on the market: www.bioderma-uk.com/our-products/hydrabio-skin-care-range

Ragaroo · 05/09/2018 14:19

I think dehydration is a long term issue so just downing a lot of water here and there might not help, try to be more consistant.if the problem is dead skin then try a salicylic face face and exfoliating sponge. Eczema is usually a bit itchy but perhaps see a doctor for advice xx

goose1964 · 05/09/2018 17:42

A moisturising face mask should help, I've had this problem in the past and it's been the most effective treatment

ChishandFips33 · 05/09/2018 20:33

I find glycerin and rose water from Boots very moisturising (feels 'sticky' at first but that soon goes)

Aveeno is good too

AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy · 05/09/2018 21:10

Aveeno Cream WITH COLLOIDAL OATS. NOT the lotion.

Miracle stuff!

And, porridge for breakfast, if you can.

EthelThePiratesDaughter · 05/09/2018 22:15

What does porridge do for your skin?

I swear by Neal's Yard Rose facial oil. I massage a few drops into my skin before bed.

AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy · 06/09/2018 11:20

Well, it’s cleared my son’s acne having tried just about everything else, prescribed and otherwise.

The Aveeno with Oats is very moisturising and healing. Had a skin condition recently which meant the top layer was just rolling off leaving very raw skin underneath. Within one week, it had healed with using the Aveeno 3 x daily. I have never seen skin heal so quickly. If it can do all that, it MUST be good.

THIS...

*Oats have traditionally been viewed as healthy to eat, however their popularity has exploded in recent years with not only the addition of innovative products but also increasing awareness of their cholesterol lowering properties. They are also increasingly recognised as an ingredient with very low allergenic potential, but very high, proven, therapeutic value.

Oats (Avena sativa) are a cereal that has been used since Roman times to soothe and heal the skin, whilst reducing inflammation and redness. Natural oat extracts offer a new source of oat-based cosmetic raw materials with a guaranteed content of the potent active ingredients, including as avenanthramides, proteins or beta glucans.

Avenanthramides are known to suppress histamine release at very low levels, whilst oat beta glucans improve pro-collagen synthesis, helping to plump up the skin, reduce wrinkles and restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Other oat components, such as oat oil and hydrolysed oat proteins, also offer unique cosmeceutical benefits thereby making the humble oat multifunctional in use.

Oat Cosmetics, a new UK-based supplier of cosmetic ingredients, has worked with partners (eg Ceapro in Alberta, Canada) to offer a range of unique, renewable, natural oat-based actives produced using state-of-the art, proprietary, ‘green’ extraction technology.

We all know that eating your daily porridge or muesli offers health benefits, but what do oats have to offer the cosmetics formulator? Figure 2 shows the location of the major active phytochemicals in the oat kernel*

mai5x · 06/09/2018 11:23

A moisturising mask once a week would help. I use the Garnier Moisture Bomb mask once a week!

Also, what concealer are you using? A few of them leave a sand like texture on the skin once they've been applied...

AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy · 06/09/2018 11:23

Here’s a link

www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/Ingredients__the_humble_oat_comes_of_age/57401

It enhances collagen production too!

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 06/09/2018 11:24

Aveeno, the vitamin e range from body shop and their camomile cleanser.

BowiesJumper · 06/09/2018 12:23

I get really dry skin. Eucerin is the dogs. I usually use aveeno but have been a bit dry lately and it hasn't been cutting it, so I needed to bring out the big guns -

I use the 5% as a daily moisturiser and it sinks in really well and does make me feel baby soft.
boots - eucerin urea 5%

But if you have really dry patches, you could try the 10% to fix it, before reverting back to 5%?

boots - eucerin urea 10%

If I were you, I'd use a cream or balm cleanser, then the superdrug pure serum to help with the dehydration, and then the eucerin moisturiser for the dryness.

Springinglover · 06/09/2018 13:09

Thanks all. I’ll try a moisturising mask- though slightly worried the effects would only last a day and I’d have to keep doing it every day, but it would be good for a night out I guess!

Am off to boots in a bit so will get some Euecerin (sp?) too. Really hoping I can combat this as I’ve never had dry skin and it’s getting really annoying now!

I use Smashbox highlighter stick concealer thingy! It’s very creamy but at the moment, within 2 mins goes all flaky! It never used to, so it’s definitely my skin as opposed to the concealer!

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 06/09/2018 13:15

Treat your skin as gently as you an
I swear by Aveeno Dry and sensitive cream( it's in a box)
Around £6 in Boots/ Superdrug
I use it as my daily moisturiser

dontgobaconmyheart · 06/09/2018 14:15

Came to say 100% the Eucerin 5% face cream, it works wonders for me when nothing else will work.
Agree with PP, try to stop or at least take a break from the nip and fab - what are you cleansing with?
If you aren't already I'd consider something moisturizing, no foaming cleansers or harsh gel based things. Try a very basic balm cleanser or an oil cleanse, nothing with alcohol or fragrance etc.
If it's really dry and sore consider a light face oil, or put a few drops of jojoba oil on the skin or in your moisturiser, I find it really soothes it when it's drastically dry@

sue51 · 06/09/2018 14:18

It might be worth a try to put some facial oil no before your moisturiser. I use clarins orchid facial oil on any dry patches. It's expensive but you only need a drop or two. I also have a cod liver oil capsule daily and eat plenty of oily fish to keep dry skin at bay.

Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 14:32

I don't know what the dragon's blood pad is but I'm assuming it's some kind of acid/chemical exfoliant? If so stop using that ASAP and see if it helps. I bet you anything you are stripping off the moisture barrier of your skin and it's drying out really fast, producing more dry skin, and it's a vicious cycle.

Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 15:00

Just looked at the dragons blood pads and they have salicylic acid and witch hazel in them - either one of those used every day on my skin would dry me out completely. I can only use acids on my skin a max of 1-2 times a week and I cannot physically exfoliate AT ALL (seriously, I can't even rub my skin with a towel - have to pat it dry with a soft microfibre one) or my skin goes bright red, rosacea everywhere and literally I have face dandruff.

Anyway I'd bet even money that's your culprit, and then you're physically exfoliating as well to get off the resulting dry skin so making it worse not better.

Have a read of this and see if it sounds familiar: blog.reneerouleau.com/dry-tight-irritated-skin-your-moisture-barrier-might-be-damaged/

AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy · 06/09/2018 20:32

Be gentle with the outside of your skin. Eat well....what you put in makes a difference...OATS OATS OATS!). Be careful, Botox is a poison.

MrsBartlettforthewin · 06/09/2018 20:39

I have terribly dry skin and have been suffering with it a lot this summer. So I've change my routine to Avene for dry/dehydrated skin. It has done wonders for my skin, I don't feel like I want to scratch it if anymore which is a win. Plus the red patches have gone. Really great stuff.

gigi556 · 06/09/2018 20:46

I also have dry skin. Have you tried a hot cloth and oil wash routine? Basically don't use soap on your face. Wash with oil and hot water. Or a cream cleanser? I use rose water toner, a facial oil and then moisturizer. Neal's Yard products are really good but pricey. I mostly make my own stuff and buy from here - www.naturallythinking.com. Neal's Yard has a great beauty book with loads of easy recipes for skincare.

BusterGonad · 07/09/2018 06:04

Do not use those acid peel pads, so damaging to dry sensitive skin!

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 07/09/2018 08:32

I developed incredibly dry skin after having dc1 and tried every lotion and potion going, spent a fortune. What worked was eating more oats, washing with water only (no wipes, peels, exfoliation, cleansers...) and using clarins day moisturiser. (The pink one with spf 15). I used it or just plain water to remove makeup, which I did asap every day. Incredible how quickly it went back to normal after over a year of painfully dry skin! Now I can use products again if i want to, but generally don't bother.

BusterGonad · 07/09/2018 08:54

I use a creamy cleanser, (baby lotion, yes I'll get flamed for it) then wipe of with damp cotton wool, no toner, then I use Origins night-a-mins or A Perfect World and their eye cream. My facial skin is soft and plump but I do have a few lines, bring nearly 40 I don't that.

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