Face wash for sensitive skin hurts my face - now what

[hattyhathat]

I've been using cerave face wash and it has started hurting my face! What can I use instead?

Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser (face wash), has been my saviour when my skin is irritated and sore. I have the one with the blue pump (a lot of places seem to only have green so I have to grab for it when I see it!) because my skin is also extremely dry. Hope you find something that suits op

I have sensitive skin and used to get eczema around my eyes so I use Dermol 200 Shower Emollient to wash my face. You have to ask for it at the pharmacy but you can buy it over the counter.

Nah I'll just try some ultrabland ans cetaphil

I had the same issues, my skin was terrible.

I’m now using Clinique with no problems, my skin looks great. I use the redness solution cleanser, light toner and redness solution moisturiser.

I love a good oil cleanser

Try bobbi brown or dermalogica

I use a bit of coconut oil and warm water.

What are you putting on your face after washing it? Could it be something that is aggravating your skin that the cerave is showing up?
I say this as someone with sensitive skin that tried oil cleansing - left me a spotty mess - you need to wash the oil off (oil does attract oil but try washing up the roast potato pan with olive oil ..). You'll end up needing to use the Cerave afterwards anyway.

Do you wear makeup? I'd stop using that until your skin calms down and make your skin care regime as simple as possible, whether that is just using water or doing oil cleansing or washing with an emollient.

I use this https://www.cosycottagesoap.co.uk/products/moisturising-shea-butter-facial-soap
Really gentle, no nasties helps my skin cope!

Hi OP I’m going to recommend an app you might find useful called Yuka which allows you to scan beauty products and food products to see what chemicals / additives they contain. You may find you are being triggered by a specific thing. CeraVe actually has products which are graded good and graded bad so you don’t necessarily have to write off the whole brand. I’ve added screenshots of 3 cleaners - the one being graded excellent is a cheapy vegan one from Wilkos.

Simple face wash

Cerave was awful for me too - it made me red and bumpy and sting-y immediately, which I assume was an allergic / hives type reaction. I also have atopic / rosacea prone skin and like a PP, cetaphil works great for me. Jojoba oil based products have also been really effective for me for moisturising - I use the Jojoba Co range but I'm sure there are others. I really like their probiotic moisturisers.

Curel is a really nice range for sensitive skins. Some bigger Boots stock it and there is a starter set.

Mine is prone to rosacea and sensitive too but I’ve also realised that things sting when my skin is very dehydrated. So I tend to layer light layers of hydration with toning essences and hydrating mists.

I tried the redness range once actually and had a similar reaction- they let me return it

Ooh thank you!

I remember I used cetaphil when I was on accutane so I might go for that. Just find it odd I was ok with cerave and now I'm not.

Another vote for body shop camomile, I love it

I've had to stop using cereve too, I've just gone back to la roche posay and my skin is 100x happier.

Do you wear much make-up?

When sensitive skin flares, the best thing you can do is strip back your routine until its virtually non existent. Wear make up as little as possible and when you don't, unless your face is visibly dirty, stop cleansing for a few days. Use luke warm water to remove as much as make up as possible and then your settled upon gentle cleaning agent to remove the rest. Garnier oil micellar water is pretty good.

Depending on how stripped your skin has become, it shouldn't take long to heal. I usually allow approximately 2 weeks but it can be less

I use a Gallinée cleansing bar. It looks like soap but isn't. It's pretty much the only thing that I've been able to use for longer than a few months without reacting to it. It's gentle enough for all your most sensitive bits so less stuff in the shower too and no plastic. If I want to exfoliate, I use it on a little cotton cloth. You just need to keep it dry between uses as it goes soft very quickly!

https://thefrenchpharmacy.co/collections/gallinee/products/gallinee-cleansing-bar-100g

Cetaphil gentle cleanser suits my rosacea prone skin

La Roche Posay - only need a little bit.

Oil cleansing breaks me out unfortunately.

Superdrug Simply Pure. Super gentle.

I wear foundation or tinted moisturiser every day I might stop for a bit