Sensitive skin experts!

[Redanditchy]

Hi, any sensitive skin of skincare experts out there, I am desperate for your help please! I've always had dry, sensitive and excema prone skin (not really roascea) and no acne issues. I have had series of bad reactions to the skincare which is supposed to be for super sensitive skin.

La Roche Posay toleriane and Avene recovery cream (which I think was recently reformulated) have both given me strange pimpley rashes and red skin. Cerave basic moisturiser burns as soon as I apply it and leaves my cheeks red.

I am currently using the L'Occitane light comfort cream which does not cause any reaction but isn't quite moisturising enough. This seems odd because it is fragranced and I think people will sensitive skin are meant to avoid that.... the thing my skin loves most in the world is Estee Lauder ANR which is now horrifically expensive and also technically not meant for the hyper sensitive.

Is there a specific ingredient in these 'safe' brands which is causing me trouble? I can't narrow it down. Does anyone else react to them?! I'm spending a fortune trying to find a simple, comforting moisturiser which makes my skin feel good and I'm sick of reacting to things which should be completely safe.

I've really struggled as well. It's really frustrating, not to mention expensive.
I've come to the conclusion the less I mess about and especially cleanse, the happier my skin is. The best face & neck moisturizer for me is Paula's Choice calm restoring moisturizer.

I haven't tried it but there is apparently an app called Yuka, you can scan things and it gives the products ratings for endocrine disruptor, irritants, allergens etc.

My friend was telling me about it and I just haven't got round to installing it yet. It works for her and she is working out what 'good' things she is reactive to. I believe there is a free and a paid version.

I sympathise, I react to supposedly safe things and have resorted to water wipes and day 2 of a kiehls serum.

Ooh thank you both. I will definitely check out the app and look at the Paula's choice stuff.

It's so galling to spend quite a bit of money on the least luxurious, boring skincare only for it to make things worse!!

Aveeno Calm and Restore range is very good
I've recently bought the night cream to add to the serum and moisturiser I have and I have had no reaction to any of them
Around £10 each and easily available so maybe worth a try

I agree that less is more
Honestly I have wasted so much money over the years trying to find something suitable and at 58 I'm relieved I've finally found products which help

Ah I use the aveeno body cream regularly but have not tried their face products. That could be a great suggestion, thanks!

If you have a moisturiser that works but it's not quite enough try adding bio oil to it. I do this and even recently when I've had to give up my normal moisturiser because it's started to burn the bio oil doesn't burn at all.

I had a horrible experience with Cerave, a severe reaction which made my skin burn and break out in rashes. I’ve since learned that some of its products still contain parabens.

This might be useful as it tells you which Cerave products contain parabens and also gives a list of brands that don’t.

https://flawliz.com/does-cerave-have-parabens-the-shocking-truth/

I find the hemp facial moisturiser from Body Shop is really good for my ultra sensitive face. And it costs about £9

Mines very sensitive and I use bio derma sensibio water to clean it at night and found 'the nue co' moisturiser to be excellent. Lift weight products that care for the skin barrier work for me, nothing too heavy. And soolantra got rid of my rosacea.

Guinot creams have been an absolute life saver for me, I use the Firming Cream on a morning and the Hydra Sensitive cream on an evening. This came about after I sought out some professional advice from a beautician after a really bad time with my skin, which I would highly recommend if you can do it.

If you look on the INCI decoder website, it might help you to isolate a specific ingredient that's common to the ones that have irritated your skin.

Where is your rash when you get it? I get perioral dermatitis occasionally which is a sore rash around my nostrils and near my mouth.

Thanks - will have a look at that decide website.

I also get perioral dermatitis around my mouth plus general stinging in the cheek area. When I have broken in strange pimples (not really spots), they have also been on my cheeks.

When mine comes I use Toleriane Dermallergo in the morning (not the ordinary Toleriane in the white packaging, it's in blue) and LRP Cicaplast at night. I have though ordered some metronidazole cream after it being recommended on a Nadine Baggott video. I hadn't realised it was bacterial, I always thought it was just superficial ouching!

I sympathise OP, I have very sensitive, very dry, eczema prone skin and am under the care of a consultant dermatologist (and on medication) as a result.

Here’s the advice my consultant has given me and what I use in case helps:

Cleansing - either Body Shop camomile balm or Eucerin miscellaneous water for sensitive skin, depending on how dry your skin feels. Mine is much dryer in winter.
Moisturising - Clinique Dram Different moisturiser for daily use. Top up very dry patches with one of the Eucerin moisturisers for dry or sensitive skin.
Steroid cream for bad eczema flare ups - feel free to try natural alternatives but most people with life long atopic eczema will need steroid creams at some point.
Suncream at the slightest hint of sun - Altruist, dermo recommended and the best I’ve ever used. And not pricey.

Try to avoid using lots of products, perfumed products, anti aging retinoids etc as they can be harsh for sensitive skins.
Also look at any foundations/BB creams/tinted moisturisers etc you use. I mainly stick with Boots No7 Bare essentials line.

Finally it would be worth having allergy testing (via blood test) if poss. Mine identified cats and dogs as severe triggers.