Moisturiser for the uneducated!

[HappySonHappyMum]

Am 45 and it's become clear to me recently that I need to start some sort of moisturising routine as I am beginning to look like a wrinkled prune. The main reason I don't use it is that I hate the feel of creams on my fingers and my face as rub it in (I use a spray sunscreen that doesn't need rubbing in - I hate it so much). Can anyone recommend a moisturiser that will help? I realise it's a strange request. I have dry skin, that's quite sensitive.

If your skin is dry and sensitive you're going to need something that involves rubbing!
La Roche Posay nutritic intense is good, as is good old Nivea blue pot and Astral.

My skin is dry and sensitive and still get occasional spots (sigh), and the best thing I have found is to use a hot cloth cleanser (superdrugs are great), a serum - currently No. 7, and Cerave moisturiser.

Is it a sensorial thing? Maybe something slippier would work? Or a gel cream? The Cerave pm moisturising lotion is very siliconey so doesn't feel like a cream at all. Failing that, not something I'd otherwise recommend as it's rather wasteful of product, beauty blender do one for skincare specifically. If you get yourself a little spatula to smear the moisturiser on your face globally and finish off with a BB you'd avoid the finger face issue. You'd have to clean the BB after every use though.

Have a look at FaceTheory- I have dry skin and their products have transformed me!

Natural ingredients and vegan/cruelty free if that's important to you

I use the Regenerating moisturiser, it's rich but still sits well under make up and makes my skin so soft!

Thank you for your suggestions - it is a sensory thing, thick creams on my fingers really bother me for some reason, and rubbing cream in just makes it worse. I like the idea of something slippier though that's gel based - they might soak in quicker - so will have a look at Cerave. Are there any other gel based products that anyone would recommend?

Clinique do a Hydrating jelly- that might work for you?

How about a facial oil or serum?

Neutrogena do a gel based moisturiser that I find quite refreshing and effective. It comes on offer quite a bit; I've certainly never paid the advertised price on this page.

www.neutrogena.co.uk/skin-care/hydro-boost-gel-cream-50ml/11433775.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=sitelink&utm_campaign=go-gb-eng-ps-neutrogena-hydroboost&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0NfvBRCVARIsAO4930kN-mEeu4H1OyCwqwAr2pNXelikc0fWqgybG5FIppR-2WkBIh6UiYkaAoGYEALw_wcB

Place marking as my Dd hates the feel of cream on her face. She is currently using superdrug vitamin E serum.

Clinique Moisture Surge is brilliant stuff, I love it! It's water-based rather than oil, which is great for me as I have oily skin but dry patches and occasionally ezcema on the sides of my face, but using Moisture Surge has almost eliminated this. It absorbs very quickly and isn't greasy at all.

As @SteelRiver said, Neutrogena also do a good water-based moisturiser if you're looking for something more budget-friendly.

Real Techniques do a Complexion Blender brush which is designed to apply skincare. Or a facial spray? The Aqua one by L'occitane is supposed to be quite moisturising.

An oil or serum (or oil in serum) maybe OP?

I use clinique dramatically different gel, it dries quickly and doesn't leave my face feeling wet or sticky.

Sebamed gel is the dogs bollocks OP.
It has so many soothing ingredients, but manages to hydrate the skin without causing breakouts or blocked pores.
It's a gel formula, but sinks in quite quickly.
Good value too.

I used facial oil, however my skin was dehydrated rather than dry, no cream and worked wonders.

Wow - I'm so pleased so many of you have tried to help. I thought you might think I'm a bit nuts not being able to cope with cream on my fingers and face! I'm going to look up every single one of these suggestions. I really appreciate your help.

The ordinary Hyaluronic Acid might be good. It's not a stripping acid, but a moisturising agent. It's the stuff that they inject into you if you get fillers. I'm making it sound much, much worse than it is. It's not oily and it absorbs really quickly. Anyway, take a look. It's a good basic moisturiser and cheap as chips.

Tried lots of fancy moisturisers in the past but really like Aveeno. I use the standard lotion on my face. It's perfect for my sensitive skin. Absorbs into the skin well.

Hyaluronic acid, try medik8 hydra B5 intense. It goes on slightly thicker than water

Would you consider a spray/mist type product? I use Dermaologica's Antioxidant Hydramist a few times through the day and night when I'm at home with no makeup. It's made a difference to my tight, dry, uneven-textured skin.

DS has eczema and we've had spray emollients before for him. Might be a good option for you (I use various cheap emollients that he has rejected at various points, they are much more moisturisin than beauty brand moisturisers), here's one: Emollin.

could you use a (damp) piece of flannel or cotton wool to apply moisturiser? could you imagine that?

Loving the idea of the spray mists! Going to totally look into these - I suffer from Eczema and don't use make up often as I find it irritates my skin. I don't dye my hair either as it brings out my psoriasis. So I look like a wrinkled grey haired old witch . Nice skin would be a bonus!

This would possibly be a good alternative to a night cream if you want an effective product
theordinary.com/product/rdn-matrixyl-10pct-ha-30ml?ccm=6afb414ca0a748bd85ed7ead6c4e6729f133993f2fd49d2697d9aa1f3700dc05f70102cb1d00da802a8fe86a4f7a904b2cc58b019d79610ab89b7e00b33f328bc753a4096d6833cfdfd104393f7b6d2e3b0d91dadfb7df36405170720d22c8337887ce9fb039359d909b8ebfd2b71ec8803be886bab9e05530f034967f3254ddc58504d0e42ff2ba03ef315df7b5fbf3&ccvis=1

Ah sorry crosspost - if you have sensitive skin definitely patch test as The Ordinary products are quite “active” with their ingredients

If it’s possible to crosspost with a 2 hour span 😂