Skin care for really sensitive skin

[Reservoir13]

I have browsed the forum a bit and see you have great advice on many types of skin care. Now my question: I have really really sensitive skin, especially around the eyes. I am allergic to perfume in skin care, as well as to lanolin (and most likely to other ingredients, but they weren't tested at the time). Currently, after trying several options (dermalogica, paula's choice, clinique, etc.), the only cremes that my skin is not (always) reacting to are the cetomacrogol cream I use in the evening and the eucerin ultra sensitive cream I use in the mornings. Basically, anything that has more than 5-10 ingredients is very likely to give me problems. I would love to use other products, notably a concealer, as I tend to get red spots and hormonal acne regularly. However, I have not been able to find any that are acceptable to my skin. And even with my current skin care, if the skin gets slightly damaged, I immediately get eczema for weeks. I then use a cortisone cream to make the eczema go away and then - if the skin appears ok again - I can slowly start using my usual creams. Not ideal, and I am very afraid that at some point my skin also starts reacting badly to the cetomacrogol and the eucerin and I'll be lost again.
In the past I tried scrubs, but that was a big mistake as well. So I'm stuck with sore skin around my eyes, bumpy skin on my cheeks and occasional outbreaks on my chin and nose. Not happy! Any advice is very welcome!

I have similar skin. I use Boots Fragrance Free Cleansing Lotion - a snip at £1.50 and also use a Eucerin 5% Urea Moisturiser.

Have you tried Lily Lolo cosmetics. They are mineral based and have very few ingredients. My skin has been happy with their powder foundation.

I'm under the care of a consultant dermatologist and on some serious meds (immune issue, rather than just skin) but here's the general advice my consultant gave me around sensitive skin care:

• use as few products as possible. More expensive doesn't necessarily mean something is better. Steer clear of perfumed products.
• retinol, Vit C etc is now added to a lot of skin products but she advised me to steer clear.
• Eucerin was a brand she recommended.
• Many people with sensitive skin react to sunlight. She recommended Altruist suncream, has been great for my very dry eczema prone skin.
• I had proper allergy testing (ie blood test) which identified a few food areas, cats/dogs etc. I already knew I was allergic to perfume and detergent. She advised not to cut out food groups randomly without proper testing unless you know from repeated specific reactions something triggers a breakout.

Ultimately though it was medication that sorted my skin.

I find the La Roche Posay skin products really good and non-reactive

You sound like you may have Rosacea.
Can you post a picture?
I have sensitive skin and find Cerave skin care fine for me. I also really like Rosehip oil at night. I also get eczema occasionally and use hydrocortisone cream. I've switched to non-dairy products and find this makes a huge difference. Also finding out I was very intolerant to sweeteners really helped my skin.

I get hives, eczema, dermatitis. Allergic to artificial perfumes. I can use Faith in Nature products, Neal's Yard and Lavera which are often organic ingredients and they do makeup. There's a particularly good moisturizer by Lavera called All in one cream made from shea butter and almond oil, it's in a round tin..... Sorry can't do links,

Any of the French pharmacy brands like la Roche Posay, Vichy or Avene are good for sensitive skin. In addition to the natural brands mentioned above you could try Weleda. Also take a look at the oil-cleansing method - it's very good for reactive skin.

CeraVe , seriously it's miraculous.

La Roche Posay's Toleriane range is specifically formulated for sensitive skin.

Went round and round in circles for a couple of years after skin started to react. Now use L'Occitane and it's been amazing. Their Aqua facewash is lovely and Shea light comforting face cream is great. I also use their body cream & shower oil. I know it's not cheap, but it seems to be keeping my itchy rashy patchy eczema skin calm!

La Roche Posay Toleriane (they also have a rosacea range)
Avene
CeraVe

It sounds like you were using products with actives which were upsetting your skin barrier. Essential oils (Neal's Yard, and some Dermalogica ranges) aren't for everyone. Clinique is unfragranced so good- but its initial demographic was problem, oily skin and so a lot of products are harsh oil strippers.

You probably need to repair your skin by using something bland and then take it slowly if you're introducing actives.

What was the Paula's Choice?

Ah, just spotted this is an old thread bumped by someone promoting their own business. As you were.

Download the SkinSafe app.

You can also send them a list of your allergens and they will create a custom filter for you.

Don’t trust the results completely as there can be errors, but it is a really good starting point for finding products.