Why does every moisturiser burn my face??

[flintstonewall]

I've tried lots of moisturisers and they all burn my face.

It's like a tight, sunburnt, angry, itchy feeling and my skin actually hurts and is red for days after.

It can very from very mild to full on symptoms like the above. I think it's my skin causing the variation in symptoms, not the moisturisers themselves. As sometimes the same bottle can cause minimal symptoms and sometimes really bad reaction.

I've tried all different kinds of moisturiser, even sensitive skin types, so called hypoallergenic etc. Have tried about maybe 15 different brands.

I'm 34 and getting fine lines and my skin is drier and definitely in need of hydration so I feel I need moisturiser, but how do I use it when it feels and looks like a chemical peel gone wrong?? At least right now anyway, it's at it's worst.

I don't have much money to waste on constantly trying products.

Does anyone have any advice..

I would go to a dermotologist. You'd probably have to pay as I'd assume a long wait on NHS. I've suffered with rosacea and a reaction to salicyclates. I had to change to products that don't have them in for my face and hair.
I have an online prescription for rosacea and it's worked really well.

I had that for years. All I could use was Body Shop Vit E cream.
It seems to have passed in recent years and I use Clinique Moisture Surge now.

I think the point of all of this is that various people's skin might react to various different ingredients but you won't find out until you either do proper testing via a dermatologist or use the process of elimination. If you don't want to spend ££ on the derm route, then the easiest way is to start with products that have as few ingredients as possible so it's easier to narrow down the cause of irritation. This is why many people are suggesting using oil, as it's just one ingredient and it's extremely unlikely to cause irritation, if it's a very unscented oil. So, something like olive oil, hemp, jojoba, sesame, almond or rosehip oil. Its important to get unscented oil and not a blend of oils, as essential oils may cause irritation in some people. Use just that for cleansing and moisturizing and then build on that if you feel like you need something else for your skin, one ingredient /active at a time.

You may also find this useful for checking out how irritating or potentially harmful some products are www.ewg.org/skindeep/

My partner has very sensitive skin made worse by actinic keratosis (sun damage). Creams recommended for eczma sting. The only one he can tolerate is Udderly Smooth (you can google it). However ... you can see from all the different recommendations on this thread that everybody has found their own solution, you couldn't possibly try them all. I agree with pp's that you should see your GP and get a referral to a dermatologist.

I have incredibly sensitive and dry skin, and eczema. I can only use:

• Eucerin body cream (the rich intensive lotion)
• Moo Goo Full cream for face and more delicate body skin
• Hemp seed oil

Try washing your face with silcox base to bring the redness and stinging down. You put some warm water in a bowl and put about a grape size amount in the water and dissolve it in to the water with your fingers. Wash your face with it and rinse with warm water.
I'd also suggest trying olive oil as a moisturiser when your skin calms down.
Be careful of rosehip oil, stings me.
Also don't put anything your trying on your whole face again. Test out a bit on your jawline then a bit on one cheek etc till you see if your whole face can take it.