What's the best way to cleanse DRY SKIN? (The more natural the better)

[franch]

Skin has got dry lately (I'm 36 so should be moisturising properly by now) but I have a history of mild hormonal acne, and also have very open pores, prone to clogging.

Up till now I've used mostly foaming cleansers (washed off with a muslin), but a beautician recently advised me to give them up and use oil to cleanse instead, because of the dryness. On her advice I've been using wheatgerm oil, left to soak in then wiped off with tissue/cotton wool. It feels great and my skin is much softer and healthier, but my pores are clogging up. (I do wear makeup and live in a dirty city!)

I clearly need to move on from 'detergent' type wash-off cleansers, but (sadly) don't think the oil is right for me. What should I do?

I prefer natural products.

Franch, stuff is nice, I think.

THIS stuff, that should read!

Hello MI

Your link's just taken me to the akamuti homepage - was it a specific product?

Yes, it was the orange cleanser under 'face products'. It really is very nice indeed - I take it off with a posho muslin.

Ooh sounds IDEAL - it even mentions congested skin, that's me - thanks so much. Is that a damp muslin you remove it with?

Yes. I think it's worth a go - nice price, and it smells lovely.

Akamuti's shea butter is quite divine for hands and feet too - thick as anything, so it can leave footprints, but oh so very effective.

oh, the wild rose beauty balm from Neal's Yard - tis oily but not oily iyswim, and you use a muslin to take it off

I didn't like the wild rose balm myself - it oiled up both the cloth and my skin!

Lush Ultrabland Lush Ultrabland Lush Ultrabland Lush Ultrabland Lush Ultrabland

Cheap, gorgeous, effective.

MI: damp muslin?

Thanks MrsB and Snaf

Yep. I will admit I buy posho Eve Lom muslins because I do prefer them - wish I didn't.

Hmm, so how are they different to baby ones, MI?

They're fine-textured and double-layered. Honestly. They do wear out after a bit, though. I tend to feel that buying cheaper cleanser than Eve Lom (ie less than £100 or suchlike) kind of justifies them.

I do tend to get a bit evangelical about it! However, I suffered with acne for years after ds was born and only now am confident about my skin again (the antibiotics have helped, sure, but I'm positive it's the Ultrabland really!)

It's very natural, with a rosewater, peanut oil, beeswax and honey base. You put it on (it's quite thick so you only need a little), allow it to 'sit' for a minute on the skin, then take it off with a muslin soaked in hot water. My skin always feels amazingly soft afterwards and I no longer get dry, flaky patches.

And here endeth the advert...

Although I see Mrs B recommends the Lakeland pudding ones, and washing them every day, which I might try!

(Or you could buy a pack of 5 biggies from Boots and cut 'em into four. Each one lasts about a week or so if you rinse them well afterwards.)

Double-layered, indeed...

Honestly, I used baby muslins for ages before stumbling on the EL ones and I absolutely promise you that I was horrified to discover how much better they were.

Think I might order Ultrabland AND the orange one, hey why not

Might even invest in posh muslins ......