Help me find my perfect moisturiser

[Fuckinellitsme]

I've recently developed a violent allergy to (I think, after narrowing it down) SPF. My skin is very temperamental and I am fully expecting it to resolve at some point in the future but until then I'm resigning myself to using an SPF-free moisturiser. Just as well I won't be going out much for the foreseeable!

My face breaks out readily, is a quite congested, oily one minute and dry the next. I'm 47 and don't have much in the way of wrinkles but open pores aplenty. And it's very, very sensitive at the moment. I find I have to change up my creams regularly because as soon as my face gets used to something (usually after a good few weeks of breakouts while it does), I have a few weeks of it looking ok before it becomes sensitive to it/spotty again. Oils and rich creams are a no-no. And I don't have loads to spend.

I don't ask for much do I!

Given than impressive list of needs can anyone help? I love the idea of tried and tested heritage stuff - I used plain old Nivea for ages until my skin got all huffy with it.

Thanks!

What about Avene? Really sensitive.

Thank you, I'll have a look!

I've also just been looking at this, anyone have any experience of it? I'm quite drawn to utilitarian skincare, the bells and whistles stuff breaks me out and doesn't seem to benefit my skin at all. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07CG2TD9F/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I am same age as you with similar skin type. I have been using Dr Organic Rose face wash and moisturiser from Holland and Barrett. Am very happy with it. No spf, my skin has improved and is good under makeup.

Highly recommend Avene A-Oxitive Aqua Creme

My skin sounds similar to yours and I don't have a big skincare budget, I am trying Olay sensitive (the unperfumed white one) at the moment and it's OK so far.

I'd second Avene, I'm dry/greasy/sensitive/porey and it works for me, I use the Moisture Riche cream (not the 30SPF, which my skin doesn't tolerate).

Unless I'm mistaken SPF just stands for skin-protection-factor - ie, the effectiveness of the sunscreen component in a cream. So different creams may have different sunscreen compounds in them. You're probably right that that could be one of the things setting your skin off though.

I know it's hard when your skin is bad - but is there any chance you could manage to give it a complete break from all products for several days before trying something as gentle as possible? Hope you can improve things soon.

Diprobase (under a fiver and recommended by pharmacist)

I recommend Avene as well

Similar reactive skin to you, I've found Astral (cheap, blue pot, similar to original nivea) to be really really good. I've tried numerous brands but this one just looks great. I also use body shop drops of youth serum which has cleared my face right up.

bookish I had a look at the drops of youth serum. The reviews are really good, think I will try it 😊

Mine is like yours. Oily one minute and dry the next. I absolutely love the sea weed range from the body shop its light but its still moisturising for me. I've just ordered the factor 50 facial spray from the body shop to spray over the moisturiser as it doesn't contain spf.

I recommend Avene too. My skin swings wildly from sensitive to dry to oily but it's been much better since using various different Avene products. It even managed to calm the angry red rash I had from chemotherapy and steroids.

could it be peri menopause rather than an allergy?

I use that exact Cerave moisturiser that you've linked to. I also use their hydrating cleanser and their foaming cleanser.

I've used a lot of expensive skincare and I don't think any of it is any better than Cerave.

I have the Cerave moisturising cream - it's nice and hydrating, but I find it quite greasy on my skin. I generally have dry/normal skin, but touch my face hours after applying it and my fingertips feel greasy.