Need a really moisturising moisturiser!

[imstilljenny2]

I've always had oily skin but the menopause has given me really dry skin and I don't really know which moisturiser to use as I'm so used to using oil free moisturisers.
My daytime routine is Hada Labo hyaluronic acid on damp skin and I'm currently using an Aldi Day cream on top but my skin is still dry and flaky. I use glycolic acid maybe 1 night a week and tretinoin from Dermatica two or three nights per week. I slug on the remaining two nights with oil, Cicaplast, snail mucin and maybe Vaseline but my skin is still rubbish!
I need a really hydrating daytime moisturiser and would love a recommendation.

Make sure youre drinking enough water, and take omega 3 supplements.

Neals yard rose oil is very good

Add a few drops of oil to your usual moisturiser.

I'm loving the range Your good skin from Boots at the moment and love their nourishing serum which I add to moisturiser.

Charlotte Tilbury magic day cream. It's ridiculously expensive but makes an instant difference to my skin.

Currently experimenting with night time, but I think I will stick with L'occitane's divine range. Also use Boots retinol products two or three times a week. The cream especially leaves skin feeling very silky smooth.

Cerave (moisturising lotion) great for barrier function. It’s really great. I use it for everything and never want to run out! You could follow with something to trap the moisturiser in like weleda skin food.

Weleda skin food does nothing for me as it just sits in my skin, but it will work as a barrier (like Vaseline) to keep an actual moisturiser in.

To be honest though Cerave alone works for me. Also maybe cut back on retinol on one night a week less. Your skin might not have long enough to heal!

Which Cerave is that?

Oil of Ulay 'Olay' beauty fluid. It's a classic for a reason...

Where do you get these from @KalaniM 🙂

@Ohchristmastreeohchristmastree I already use Cerave moisturising lotion but I don't find it that rich or moisturising. I used Weleda Skin food last night but my skin still feels dry today (could have been the glasses of champagne I drank as it was my birthday yesterday!) I'll maybe try Cerave lotion under the Weleda Skin Food tonight to see if that works.

@CarrieErbag prescription HRT is made from yams so I'd be tempted to use that instead of buying something with lack of evidence.

I have very dry eczema prone skin, what are you washing your face with? I find that has a bigger impact for me, I use cerave cleansing lotion in the morning and dhc oil in the evening. In the day I then use hylaronic acid on wet skin, rosehip oil, cerave lotion and thank you farmer spf. At night I use the aldi night oil in the blue bottle and cerave lotion at least an hour before bed so I’m not just moisturising my pillow. Now my skin is happy I also use retinol three times a week.

@Simonjt I currently double cleanse each night to remove make up and spf with Una Brennan Vit C oil and Cerave cleansing wash. My face is tight after washing so I think that's the issue. I'm going to drop the Cerave I think and just stick to the oil. I used to use DHC oil but I don't think it removed my make up as well as the Una Brennan oil.

I got them in Holland & Barrett, their own brand. There are lots of reviews there, which gave me confidence. They’ve made a lot of difference for me.

How long have you been using the tret for and at what strength? I am using the Skin and Me formulation and have no dryness or irritation.

I would give your skin a bit of a break for a start, you are slapping so much crap on it. Stick to Tret or Glycolic for now.

I have acne prone, oily skin that can also be sensitive and dry. I put hado labo (Japan version) on slightly damp skin, my tret if it is the evening, Benton Aloe Propolis gel and then either oil, squalene or Sunblock with silicone. The final step is key as you need to seal the moisture in.

If you have hard water I recommend that after cleansing you wipe your face with filtered water, or use a spray like Avene. Found it really helps. I do a final hair rinse with a jug of filtered water too and have noticed the difference.

@Seaography I'm using 0.025% strength tret. I've been using it for about 5 years and have never really been able to use it any more than about 2 or 3 nights a week. I've done everything like applying on completely dry skin etc etc but still get flaking and irritation. I had stopped for months but my skin is still dry even when I stop it.

Murad Intense Recovery cream is the best moisturiser ever for dry skin. Expensive but worth every penny.

It might be an idea for you to take break from all actives for a while and let your skin calm down.

Stripping back, treating your skin really gently and avoiding anything irritating can really help. If you stop all the irritation you can then see what your skin really needs.

Cut out the oil cleaning as it can be far too drying. Remove makeup etc with a gentle remover like garnier sensitive skin, use a gentle face wash (I like cerave foaming), a spray of avene water, maybe do a light moisturiser and then a little squalene or oil on top. Have a look at sites like beautypeadia or whatsinmyjar to check any products you try are low in irritation potential. Lukewarm water, gentle cloths and no scrubbing! I don't use cleanser in the morning, I just use water and a soft cloth.

Don't constantly swap products around. It's impossible to pin point what is drying you out otherwise

Eucerin 10% from Boots/other chemists/online etc. Skin went like a desert (and ultra-sensitive too!) after chemo and hideous chemical-induced menopause. Tried all sorts (incl Cerave,Nivea and more expensive creams) and the Eucerin 10% worked without causing breakouts. Tightness gone, skin now plump and dewy. Love it and it doesn’t break the bank! (Eucerin do more expensive face creams,with fancy sounding ingredients but they mostly didn’t agree with my skin and either stung or caused breakouts but weren’t as moisturising anyway.) For make-up removal,I only use a balm,either the Elemis Collagen one, or Frances Prescott stick when I’m away from home. If I need a moisture boost eg at night,or been in sun on holiday,I use Decleor Neroli Bigarade serum/oil,which is lovely and doesn’t cause a breakout.

Looks lovely @sausagedogpookie . I'll as it to the list! I've been using Skin Food for the last couple of nights and I've now got a big spot on my chin 😭 Maybe I didn't wash it off properly in the morning? It seemed to really cling to my skin. Thanks all for all the great suggestions.