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Original poster

Moisturiser stings/burns my face - big help please

38 replies

Nowanextraone · 02/12/2023 22:18

Really at the end of my tether. My skin is dry but moisturiser literally feels like it is burning my face and actually makes it bright red before I desperately have to wipe it off.
It has always happened but has got worse in the last few years. I'm 38 years old.

I have tried No 7 moisturiser, Elizabeth arden ones including the 8 hour one, cheaper ones, ones for sensitive skin, and also the 'skin and me' moisturiser.

I cleanse every night, use my skin and me prescription (mild stinging) and then the moisturiser which is awful and usually has to come off.
Every morning I cleanse, prime and then use a light/sheer foundation.

Nothing else stings my skin! I've got elizabyh arden serums etc and they're fine.

What the hell is going wring with moisturiser and does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks so much

OP posts:
OhHowTheDogsStackUp · 02/12/2023 22:20

You could try a big blob of hyaluronic acid over your skin before applying moisturiser?

It works for me. I have very sensitive skin and it reacts badly if I don't do the initial layer.

I use the Hada Labo one.

SoddingWeddings · 02/12/2023 22:36

Stop using the Skin and Me for a start!! You need to speak to them, that's why you pay them.

Wednesdaysotherchild · 02/12/2023 22:39

Skin Salvation cream saved my skin - I couldn’t tolerate anything else after coming off steroids and having some kind of flare up.

MatureCheez · 02/12/2023 22:41

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

Veryverycalmnow · 02/12/2023 22:43

Have you tried eliminating things from your diet to see if there's any improvement? Most moisturiser has always irritated my skin but I don't have dry skin so just avoid using any. I hope you find a solution

MissAtomicBomb1 · 02/12/2023 22:44

It's the skin & me that's the problem, not the moisturiser.
How long have you been using it & what frequency?
You need to build up really slowly. After a year I can still only tolerate it twice a week, anymore and my face becomes very dry & stings like hell!

riotlady · 02/12/2023 22:47

I had this when my skin went through a very sensitive patch, I used almond oil from weleda

Bamaluz · 02/12/2023 22:49

Avene skin recovery cream is very soothing

JaniceBattersby · 02/12/2023 22:50

I’m allergic to all moisturisers and have been for about ten years. I use epaderm ointment in the big tub. Its
basically like Vaseline. Warm it up between your fingers before you put it on and it spreads more thinly.

Bearpawk · 02/12/2023 22:53

Stop using skin and me and try an unscented sensitive moisturiser for a while like e45/ cerave or cetaphil

r0ck · 02/12/2023 22:53

It’ll be the skin and me. I use it and find if my prescription strength is increased moisturiser stings again. Try using the skin and me every other night or even 1-2 times per week and build up as a PP suggested. Another tip they gave me was to put moisturisers on first and then the skin and me cream. I find that helps build tolerance too.

stayathomer · 02/12/2023 22:55

Everything you use sounds very strong/perfumed tbh. I’d recommend you go to someone although tbh every gp, dermatologist and pharmacist I went to just sent me to what are the assumed directions (I had roseacea and my face was literally on fire, don’t know if that’s similar to what you mean.)

Things I changed:

I began to drink more water
eat more hydrating foods
cut down on tea, bread and fizzy drinks
cetaphil gentle skin cleansing wash
avene skin recovery cream (their roseacea products made my face flare up HORRIBLY!!)
le Roche posay spf daily

I now still use the above products but can also mix and match with moisturisers and make ups I couldn’t previously. Best of luck op, hope it works out for you

Oblomov23 · 02/12/2023 22:55

I've had this before, all moisturisers stung. Good luck!

casuarinatree · 02/12/2023 22:57

It will be the skin and me - the active ingredients. You need to introduce any active gradually and build up - start every other day with a tiny amount and then gradually increase the frequency/ amount.

A gentle moisturiser stinging is a massive warning sign for me that something in my routine isn't right (and it is rarely the moisturiser).

Res_Ipsa · 02/12/2023 23:03

If your face is stinging with moisturiser, your skin's moisture barrier is damaged. The work now is repairing it.

You need to temporarily stop the skin and me. You can reintroduce it later down the line. I'd also stop cleansing in the AM, if you can, and just cleanse in PM. Make sure the cleanser you are using is for dry, sensitive skin, such as CereVe or QV.

As another poster said, hyaluronic acid before a thicker plain, unscented moisturiser will help, then seal it in with an occlusive such as vaseline or an oil (such as jojoba or squalane). Do this every night before bed.

When your skin is no longer stinging, you can start to think about reintroducing the skin and me...if you are using tret, try putting it on top of moisturiser.

LaurieStrode · 02/12/2023 23:38

I use coconut oil.

SoapCollector · 03/12/2023 22:20

@LaurieStrode Do you use the coconut oil on its own, or with a moisturizer on top? And do you also use it for cleansing?

Suctionplease · 03/12/2023 22:36

I had this with Dermatica. I now only use it 1/2 per week. I also only use Cerave moisturizer and cleanser after being recommended on here. It is brilliant. My skin is the best it has ever been.

jobono · 04/12/2023 00:09

At the moment my skin barrier is messed up and I can't tolerate anything but Vaseline, I will use that for a week or so then I should be able to go to cerave or LRP Cicaplast but for the next week I need something totally inert which Vaseline is.

Vaseline is cheap and it does work for many but the crap thing about skin issues is that everyone seems to react to things differently but at least it is cheap to try and you may even have a tub lying about.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26431582/

Original poster
Nowanextraone · 04/12/2023 20:50

I can't thank you enough for the help! I think you're right, that the skin and me has wound my already sensitive skin up.

I am on month 3 so at the higher anti-aging dose now and I put it on every single night without fail.
I have stopped since I posted this.

Going to look through all the other suggestions now

OP posts:
BorgQueen · 04/12/2023 21:08

I’ve had terrible rosacea for months, red, lumpy, stinging/burning skin.
I bought some Thunderbird skin rescue balm and it calmed down my face virtually overnight.
I’ve plastered it on at least twice a day since it arrived on Friday and my skin feels very soft and nourished with just the odd red lump and more importantly, no stinging.
It’s £20 so not ridiculously priced and I think it will last for ages as it’s almost solid, like a wax.
I’ve never been so impressed by anything.

OhpoorMe · 04/12/2023 21:30

I had this and have threads on here asking for help last winter!

It was rosacea. One course of treatment and I'm fixed!

Rainbowshit · 04/12/2023 21:41

After I had covid my skin was really irritated. Cicaplast Baume really helped.

bryceQ · 04/12/2023 21:47

You've damaged skin barrier.

Inky List Oat milk Cleanser
La Roche Posay baume

I used those two for a month nothing else and it sorted it for me