What moisturiser to try next if skin won’t tolerate CeraVe PM

[TheSockMonster]

I don’t usually use anything on my incredibly sensitive skin, but have started to get very dry skin around my ears which is slowly spreading to my jawline, so really need to find a moisturiser I can tolerate. I have no idea what to try next though!

I bought cerave PM facial lotion as I know lots of people with sensitive skin do well on it. Unfortunately I’m not one of them and I’ve been unable to work out which ingredient is causing the problem. Has anyone had a similar problem and, if so, what has worked for you?

Thank you!

In case it is helpful... I woke the day after starting it with a nasty cyst-like spot on my chin, so stopped applying it to my chin and t zone. Then a few days later my cheeks became flushed and came out in lots of little bumpy spots, so I avoided those areas. Then it started to sting a bit on application. This is the point at which I gave up completely!

I would try cetaphil or aveeno cream and stop everything else for a few days. Are you using a cleanser ? I would use a gentle cream based one which isn't harsh on skin like cetaphil.

Cerave was uncomfortable on my sensitive skin. I use the Avene sensitive range.

I love nivea soft moisturiser. But maybe you'd be better with an oil?

Aveeno is a good one to try, or Avene Skin Recovery cream although that's more expensive (£16 ish)

Childs farm unscented is very good

Ooo thank you, lots of recommendations. I was a bit worried the advice would be give up and brown paper bag over the head...

@redferrari I tried La Roche Posay Toleriane cleanser a month or so back, but had a bad reaction to that too. It brought me out in spots then made my skin red and warm to the touch. I don’t usually get spots, but about 5 years ago I had a very bad breakout around my chin, nose and mouth that was only solved by going cold turkey on all cosmetics, skincare, etc. I think the original breakout was caused by a steroid cream I was prescribed for a rash.

@PolloDePrimavera would an oil be more likely to cause spots? Or is it down to individual ingredients?

I wish I could work out which ingredient caused the reaction, but I suppose it’s just trial and error!

Have you googled perioral dermatitis? Worth looking into given your description of the initial breakout. Watch Nadine Baggot on YouTube - she's done a video about it.
I have it and can only use Eucerin Urea cream

Cerave can be stingy on sensarive skin. If very try then try LRP Cicaplast baum. It's really good for sore skin.

My skin reacted the same way to it. I suspect it was the niacinamide for me as it also reacted to something else with it in. I haven’t tried anything containing it since and have been fine.

Is this the cream you use @Bitconfused75?

Yes, perioral dermatitis, that was it. I knew it had a name, just couldn’t remember it! Nice to meet a fellow sufferer, but sorry you’ve been through it too.

I thought I’d got rid of it for good, but it sounds like it might just be waiting for a chance to return

Are you able to cleanse or use any make up? I’d like to think I could wear make up again one day. Also, what sunscreen do you use? I react to all sunscreens, but can tolerate mineral (barrier) ones so long as they’re only worn for short periods. Mostly I get by with big hats and holidaying in cold places!

Currently trying to sleep but my bloody face still feels like it’s on fire!

Just to add my skin isn’t generally sensitive. I usually use Dermalogica moisturisers. I try others but always end up going back.

I’m googling and bookmarking everyone’s suggestions, btw. Thank you.

Good shout on the niacinamide @foilflower, that is in both the cerave PM and the cleanser I reacted to.

That's the one. I use Cetaphil or almond oil to cleanse and have very slowly built up using serums and make up but have to be careful.
I think I did it with too much swapping around and harsh products - so I keep it really simple now.

On and sunscreen Biore Watery Essence is great.

I have sensitive skin and I've found Eucerin to be v good.

I have allergic skin and swear by Eucerim Antiredness Soothing Care (not the one with spf). I can't tolerate any other moisturiser. I can't tolerate any spf for more than a couple of hours either.

Sorry Eucerin!

Also recommend eucerin

I haven't used Cerave PM but have very sensitive skin and used Cerave smoothing cream on my arms for KP (which it was very effective tbf) but unfortunately started getting a large spotty rash so had to stop.

On my face I use unscented Tropic skincare Skin Feast moisturise and more recently the nighttime one (which is a bit pricey I think but v effective) they do which has ceramides called Skin Dream.

My skin seems to be fine with both of them. .

I had perioral dermatitis and used almond oil to cleanse and Bioderma Cicabio as a moisturiser which cleared it and then I very cautiously added in more products, mostly Bioderma.

Dr Sam Bunting has some videos PD which are worth watching

Good luck with it, it was awful, so uncomfortable. My skin is really good now, by the way, clear and glowing!

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream.

Another one for Eucerin! I also have dry sensitive skin. I use an anti age one. Going to give the anti redness one a try! I also use this which is great for particularly dry patches www.boots.com/eucerin-aquaphor-soothing-skin-balm-40ml-10131555

I use Tropic clear skies cleanser, it is quite gentle and not overly drying. Doesn't smell great though.

What else are you using on your skin?

Thank you, I have a lot of tabs open on my phone at the moment with all the products recommended. I am going to give my skin a week or two to recover, so I have time to have a good look.

@Tweetypietwo I don’t really use much on my skin, just a little eye make up as the skin around my eyes is pretty robust. I use Bye Bye Under Eye concealer on the dark circles under my eyes plus mascara. I remove my eye make up with coconut oil and cotton pads, being very careful not to touch the rest of my face. Other than that, I wash my face before bed using just cool/lukewarm water and clean hands. I have tried a few things on the dry skin around my ears, but no successes yet. A friend swore Tropic balm would get rid of it, but I used it for nearly a year and, whilst it gave temporary relief, the general condition of the skin has slowly worsened. It ran out about a month ago and since then I’ve been using coconut oil in a sort of ad hoc fashion (simply because it was what I had to hand!) which also offers little more than temporary relief. I think it needs an actual moisturiser, which is what started this quest! I briefly tried la Roche toleriane cleanser about a month ago, in the hope of finding a cleanser I could tolerate so I could start experimenting with make up again, but sadly had a reaction to it. I then decided to forget cleansers and make up and just concentrate on finding a moisturiser!

I will watch the YouTube channels recommended later today, thank you

I've reacted badly to both LRP and cerave. I don't know why i keep trying other ones but the one that i keep going back to is avene tolerance extreme emulsion, they do a rich moisturiser and a lightweight one and neither make my skin react.