FFS I need a moisturiser for spotty yet ageing skin

[ratatouillepudding]

Please help! I need a night cream that won't break me out/clog my pores but WILL help my poor ageing face. Late 30s. My skin is kind of dry and dehydrated on my cheeks, shiny on my nose and spotty on my chin. Yes it's delightful. Please help. I recently tried Dr Jart ceramidin cream but clogged up my face no end. TIA

What spfs are people using? I must say I have avoided them because they all feel like they block pores or make me shiny, and like pp said it can feel pointless when it's so grey outside and I might not even leave the house... I tried a LRP "gel" one for oily skin the other week and really hated it, it was thick and hard to rub in, not what I expected at all, I was hoping for a light gel/water texture.

OP if you are using any retinol or even vitamin c products you really should be using a good strength SPF every day, otherwise you may cause more damage to your skin, as they make your skin far more sensitive to sun damage.
Honestly, there's no point in using 'anti ageing' stuff if you're not going to use SPF regularly.

La Rochay Posay do some good ones that aren't thick or greasy.

The balm cleanser you're using might need to be cleaned off with a second water based cleanser. And you should wear SPF to prevent ageing, but especially with retinol as that increases your skin's sensitivity to light. UVA is what causes ageing and cancer and it penetrates through glass and is strong all year though. The LRP shaka fluid might be ok to start off, it's easy to get anyway and it's a light fluid. I'm using Heliocare mineral.

The avene extremely gentle cleanser somebody mentioned above is my favourite. I rinse it off with water. I double cleanse with it if I feel the need, but I don't wear makeup and my sunscreen is very light so I don't feel I need to use an oil or balm cleanser before the avene.

I like the CeraVe PM, and the moisturising lotion in the big bottle. LRP cicaplast in a thin layer at night over the top on any drier bits.

What vitamin c and retinol are you actually using?

Feeling pretty worried now, I've been using 1% retinol for years without a regular spf 😳 every single one I've tried just feels wrong on my skin on a daily basis, like it's suffocating it, or too greasy. I guess I just have to keep trying.

I will look into the prescription websites too.

Ps am using Paula's choice vitamin c and retinol.

I absolutely swear by Cerave products. The smoothing face wash is fab, and any of the moisturisers. I also use Superdrug vitamin E oil and have done for years. My skin is the same as yours OP, dry, oily and hormonal spotty, but these products definitely help.

Neutrogena hydroboost is great for my similar skin. The face wash, solid serum. I also use a foreo UFO which seems to reduce break outs and plump up fine lines.

Exactly the same skin as you op. The last year finally managed to sort my skin out and can now go makeup free. I use boots retinol every other night, boots advanced night cream every night and the light day cream. Its the first moisturiser ive bought that doesnt leave me looking greasy and hasnt caused any breakouts.

I've settled on the beauty pie SPF. It's light and not greasy.
SPF every day from now. Ditch the retinol for a while. When you go back to it only use it at night.

There is no need to wash your face in the morning. Your skin has made its natural barrier overnight. If you strip that off it will be pumping out oil in the day to try and regulate.

@ratatouillepudding Tret is a lot stronger, that’s why it’s on prescription, albeit you can buy it over the counter in some EU countries. I don’t pretend to understand the difference between all retinoid types though, it all seems super complicated!

Finding a sunscreen you're happy with is a big challenge, OP. The way it is measured in labs for effectiveness is grammes over area so you have to make sure you're putting the right amount on too. As far as I can figure out this is 1.25ml for your face, with the same again for your neck. I was using the LRP comfort/sensitive eyes/sensitive skin one but when I measured the correct amount into a spoon I realised I wasn't using enough - despite using a lot - and the correct amount was way too sticky and greasy. The shaka fluid is better but I'm much happier with my Heliocare mineral, even though it's a tiny bit too pale. I started with Clinique city block (I think that's the name) many moons ago but when I started looking after my skin again I started using Bare Minerals Prep Step I think it's called. But that's more a primer, is very expensive for a 40ml bottle and it's very runny so it's hard to know if you're applying the right amount. Switched to LRP for budget purposes mainly. The Inkey List do a mineral one I use for top ups but it's only factor 30 and you can't use it near the eyes. It's a great colour for me though, totally disappears. The LRP shaka stings a tiny bit when I'm using retinol, hence sticking with mineral screen for the moment.

If you look up the difference between 30 and 50 it's not much until the aspect of UVA and not wearing enough comes into play. If you're not applying enough 50 you'll still get good protection, with 30 not so much. 30 may not offer enough protection against UVA regardless.

Biore watery essence gets mentioned a lot. Purita was extremely popular before Christmas but tests showed SPF 50 to be more SPF 19.

Frezyderm is supposed to be absolutely excellent.

Avene do two mineral ones, one is tinted. Keep meaning to try both.

Bioderma performs well in sunscreen testing. Also available in Boots. I haven't tried because octocrylene is an ingredient and that seems to be the thing that stings my eyes.

I know I'm forgetting another one that gets recommended but the name won't come to me.

@ratatouillepudding

Please help! I need a night cream that won't break me out/clog my pores but WILL help my poor ageing face. Late 30s. My skin is kind of dry and dehydrated on my cheeks, shiny on my nose and spotty on my chin. Yes it's delightful. Please help. I recently tried Dr Jart ceramidin cream but clogged up my face no end. TIA

Rosehip seed oil - Buy from Naissance online - magic stuff xx

Just saw your update re Paula's choice. Which ones are they? The hunt is on for an affordable vitamin C on the fantastic skincare threads on here.

I've seen people recommending the Paula's Choice anti wrinkle SPF. I'll see if I can find the exact one. I think it might be spf30 though.

www.paulaschoice-eu.com/resist-anti-aging-youth-extending-daily-hydrating-fluid-broad-spectrum-spf-50-m7800.html?dwvar_m7800_size=fullsize&cgid=anti-aging

Think it might be that one that gets the love, but there's another factor 30 that might be it. It's a moisturiser rather than a SPF but seems to be a light lotion so it might be ok to put on the correct amount. Anything I've looked at regarding how much SPF you should wear from Paula's choice puts me off as they are vague about it and talk about layering sunscreen to get enough i.e. use it in your moisturiser, primer and makeup, and I don't wear make-up.

There's another PC one I've seen getting recommended but it's definitely 30.

@ratatouillepudding

Feeling pretty worried now, I've been using 1% retinol for years without a regular spf 😳 every single one I've tried just feels wrong on my skin on a daily basis, like it's suffocating it, or too greasy. I guess I just have to keep trying.

I will look into the prescription websites too.

Sorry, didn't mean to scare you - I would say that using any SPF is better than none, so maybe even if you find a moisturiser with spf in it, or make up with added spf. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

Retinol works because it helps to increase cellular turnover, and get rid of the dead skin layers on the surface of your skin, while pushing up the lovely new skin cells at a quicker rate.
However in thinning the top layer, you are effectively reducing your natural defence against sun damage, pollution, free radicals etc.

I agree with others that say maybe stop using the acitves for the moment, and concentrate on getting your basic cleanser, moisturiser, spf right. Then very slowly add one at a time and see how your skin reacts.

Unfortunately, skincare is hit and miss - what works for me may not work for someone else, so just suggesting brands, or individual products may not be useful.

I think what happened over the last 10 years has been brilliant in that we are more knowledgable about what skincare ingredients work in what ways etc. and there is a move away from just buying big brand name products, where you are effectively paying for the packaging and advertising, even though the product itself does very little.
However the downside is, people seem to buy loads of cheaper actives (i.e. from the Ordinary), slap them all on the skin at the same time - and wonder why their face melts off!

A lot of these are hardcore ingredients that can do a lot of damage if misused.

I always recommend Eucerin Gel Cream spf. It's brilliant, sits well under makeup and doesn't feel like spf

Thank you very much everyone. I am now making a list of SPFs to try!! I think I'm just going to have to buy a bunch and see, so annoying you can't just try samples. Was so disappointed with the LRP one I just bought I felt it didn't match it's description at all. Lots of very helpful suggestions though so thank you and I will try some, as well as all the other cleanser/moisturiser shouts.

@Apileofballyhoo thank you v much for your help. It's the PC C15 booster vitamin c I use and the 1% clinical retinol. They're not especially cheap so I don't know if they'd count as affordable?

I hear what you're saying about stopping all the actives. Maybe I do need to. I just get a bit panicky thinking about that because I worry I'll break out but maybe I won't.

Oh and I meant to say I've tried a couple of the Paula's choice spfs via samples with my other orders and really didn't rate them. Thick and gloopy.

And thank you @Mulletsaremisunderstood for your help too! So many helpful replies I'm going to miss something I know

Just looking at the heliocare spfs, seems pretty hard to tell the difference between the oil free gel, the airgel, the water gel, and the mineral one. Anyone who's tried them please let me know!!

Pictures of the bottles there for you, OP. I'll find a couple of links in a minute. Yeah, Paula's choice isn't cheap but have a Google for the price of Skinceuticals Vitamin C! There's a brand called Timeless that do a dupe but it can't be got in Europe now.

The Eucerin range is fabulous.

Cerave PM was not moisturising enough, I gave it to dd.

Oh I've only tried the mineral but I think botemp, the OP on the skincare threads, bought a tinted one thinking it was mineral and was pleased enough with it. But I don't know which one it was, that thread was last year or the year before I think. The advantage of mineral ones is that they are less likely to irritate your skin. Your skin doesn't seem particularly sensitive judging by your retinol and vit c use, so you could try any really. The Heliocare mineral is a bit like a primer. It's not supposed to leave a white cast but it definitely makes me look paler, just not outrageously. I'm white but I suppose I have a yellowish skin tone. Doesn't sting my eyes or my skin though so it's a win for me.

Frezyderm velvet spf is worth a try if you aren't getting on with some of the others, I really like it. I hated LRP, Paula's Choice and Avene ones o tried as they get gloopy. The Frezyderm is kind of a gel and disappears so you can't feel it once it's settled in.

More great suggestions thank you.

I've ordered the heliocare oil free gel and the boire watery essence. Will look up the frezyderm one, not heard of it!

Now need to sort out which moisturiser to get. And maybe a new cleanser 🤪

I love Frezyderm. It's my favorite, amd being a redhead I have tried a loads!

Moisturiser wise you can't go wrong with Clinique moisture surge. I try loads but always go back to it, the texture is lovely and no grease whatsoever with it.

As a budget one the Simply Pure serum at Superdrug is a good backup.