Skin still dry after moisturising - what else can I do?

[Littlemiss74]

I’m 48 & my skin feels dry & forehead lines seem to getting rapidly more prominent. My skin has always been good and clear but I just hate the dry tight feeling on face & neck despite moisturising. I use a foaming cleansing wash which I know probably isn’t helping but I like the feeling of cleaning with water & a flannel. I’ve read up on things like retinol but I worry about using this as my skin is already a bi thinner due to medication.
I don’t want to have too many steps in a regime as I won’t stick to it.
Also dark undereye area (always had this) & dark on top eye area / I have hooded eyes that seem to be getting smaller. Have bought so many concealers but they end up showing the wrinkles & creases even more!

Can anyone help please with skincare/make up suggestions? I look knackered

Change to a gentle cleansing balm or oil.
If your skin is still feeling dry, add hyalauronic acid serum before your moisturiser.

What do you use? Maybe you need something with a higher oil content. For me blue Nivea is the only thing that works in the winter months.

What are you using? Both for cleansing and moisturising?

I had a big problem with skin dryness including dryness on my eyelids and I tried loads of creams. In the end I swapped to an emolient for both washing my face and moisturising and my skin has been brilliant since. I dampen my face, spread the cream over and then use warm water and a sponge to wipe it off.

like other posters have said using a more gentle cleansing balm or oil would help. Hyaluronic acid patted into damp skin before you’re moisturiser will help keep the skin hydrated. I also read that as people get older they try to combat the dryness with thicker creams when really the skin needs exfoliating to absorb moisture better. A chemical exfoliater like Paula’s choice BHA works well without being abrasive

If skin is dry, it would benefit from an AHA toner, rather than a BHA which are more geared to oily/blemish prone.
I'd leave actives (acids, Retinols etc) alone until the dryness is better though.

Do you drink enough water?

Eat more good oils

I’m using Cerave cream to foam cleanser & Olay anti wrinkle spf 15 moisturiser. I’ve been mixing in a bit of serum I got as a sample from estee lauder which feels nice when i put it on but later my face feels quite dry again. I just look pasty & would love to have a more healthy glow. I’m at loss with make up too, nothing seems to look right, foundation feels drying & shows the creases but not sure tinted moisturiser is enough. Does anyone have any recommendations for flattering make up when you’re 48 please, I just keep wasting money on things.
I do try & drink a fair bit of water each day & I’m making an effort to eat better.

Are you in London? The water in London is quite drying. I’ve never had dry skin or hair but I have to pay special attention to moisturising and using hair conditioner here.
Apparently you can install some kind of a water softener system in your house. Might worth looking into it.

No. 7 is a great range for mid cost. I use their lift and luminate moisturiser with the matching serum underneath. Suits my dry skin really well. For face wash I use kiehl's pineapple and papaya - I'm 48 and my skin is bright and Dewey looking. I also use their sheer coverage Intelligent Foundation over the pore blurring primer.

I layer moisturiser with facial oil at night.

Hylaronic acid will be your best friend...... On before moisturiser! Hooded eyes..... Currently contemplating surgery 😭🙄

Try using a Rosehip oil as a moisturiser - Trilogy, Pai or Facetheory do them, all well priced.

Make sure you’re actually feeding the skin from the inside out, with plenty of water and good nutrients in foods.

I would look at doing a chemical exfoliant such as an AHA to remove the dead skin cells at the surface of your face, then a basic hyaluronic acid serum and light moisturiser. It doesn’t have to be hugely expensive/branded, and lots of the more premium names will add additional ingredients like fragrance that can actually cause irritation.

Don’t be tempted to use granular exfoliants in place of the chemical ones, it’s like taking sand paper to the face.

I've had dry skin all my life. Moisturizer is no good for this as it's water-based. What you need is more fat-based skincare. Not based in the UK so can't recommend concrete products, but I've even used Vaseline at a pinch for short-term relief.

I have dry skin and it would flake off on that. You need a creamy cleanser for dry skin (don’t rub too hard), and a moisturiser for dry skin. You could also try a facial oil at night if that’s not enough. The most important thing is swap out your cleanser - sounds far too harsh,

And I would leave exfoliation of any kind alone until you’ve sorted the dryness out - it will just make it worse

I have been using the body shop camomile Cleansing balm and its so lovely on your skin. I'm 48 also, skin is def changing. I also use oil, either no 7 or luxe oil. Smells lush

Drink more water and ditch the foaming cleanser - you can still use a flannel and water with either a cream or oil based cleanser. Super Facialist vitamin C cleansing oil is particularly good and is often on offer.

An oil

I imagine you're using a routine that was fine in your younger days. A balm charger (you can use a flannel and water to remove), a glycolic acid wipe, a serum of your choice, then hyaluronic acid, then a moisturiser (I use nighttime ones all day), then your spf. Do it all again if an evening but instead of spf, put Vaseline or EA8hr, or similar. Your dry skin will melt into lovely soft skin.

Try Garnier Body superfood. Its so gentle and deeply moisturising. I have seen it on offer. But its a really great, I bought some food my colleague at work and she says its the best ever. I always had very dry skin on my face, but this totally gets feeling so smooth and fresh and moist.

Stop using foaming. Use a balm and wash off with flannel. This is physical exfoliation it's enough. Then apply a hydrating serum, then moisturiser then an oil or dry vaseline over.

My favourite moisturiser is La Roche Posay it's not too expensive

Oil! Omg you need good oil. A non foaming cleanser followed by hyuralonic acid followed by something like the Aldi rose oil.
That's all you need at night.
Overnight the skin repairs itself. So in the morning do not scrub! Just splash with water, more hyuralonic acid and more oil. Just 4 drops. Then your SPF on top. And a higher spf. Go for 50, the Garnier one in a little bottle is good.
In 1 week you will feel better