Ultra sensitive and dry peri skin - advice pls

[Saurus72]

I’ve always had pretty sensitive skin but on the oilier side. Since I started HRT, which has been a life and sanity saver in other ways, it’s now ultra dry, with red dry patches. I use Ren Evercalm range as well as some other products but I just don’t seem to be able to get enough hydration into my face!

My routine is (I’ve included brand names in case anyone else has any random experience of them causing a reaction).

Morning
Either Ren Evercalm cleanser or Susanne Kaufmann hypersensitive face wash. Followed by Evercalm barrier support elixir, Vitamin C eye cream, Evercalm moisturiser then make up (Lisa Eldridge foundation, Beauty Pie under eye corrector, Ilia concealer, Kosas powder and bronzer, Tata Harper cream blush).

Evening
Ren Evercalm cleansing milk or Perfect Canvas jelly oil cleanser, Susanne Kaufmann soothing toner, Evercalm barrier support elixir, Evercalm overnight recovery balm, Evercalm moisturiser and sometimes I follow this with a facial oil (Haeckels). In the morning my face looks dry and often red, with patches of dry skin.

I’m not sure where to go from here - I’m so tired of my skin looking like I don’t care for it. It’s the same year-round, so not winter effects.

Any suggestions would be very gratefully received.

I've always had sensitive and dry skin and I agree with posters that you are using too many products. Less is better for your skin after menopause. Eucerin have a great range of products for ultrasensitive skin.

I use Eucerin Ultrasensitive cleaning lotion/Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser morning and night. In the morning I use SunSense light mosturising SPF 50+ (not a lot, just a very light covering) and at night I use Olay Hyaluron gel moisturiser.

In your case, and considering the dry patches on your skin, I would seriously give a try to pure 99% Aloe Vera gel. It's one of the cheapest products on the market without added crap of any kind, but it has an enormous amount of water that will moisturise and make your skin supple in no time.

I would also check your foundation. Most foundations will make ultrasensitive skin, drier or spotty depending on their ingredients.

I have reduced the number of products I use. Anything with fragrance or that is not a "clean" product is gone, as those were a trigger.

I shower in the evenings because I get up early for work so I just use micellar water on one or two cotton pads to cleanse then one of my moisturisers sometimes the HA first.

I used to use Bioderma but the Garnier one is fine so I use that.

If I'm tired when I get home then I just use micellar water to remove my make up and slap on a moisturiser before I fall asleep

Dermalogica special cleansing gel and the age smart moisturiser took care of my dry patch.

Thanks for the advice/feedback. I’m stopping use of all Evercalm products straight away and I’ve ordered the Pai cleansing oil and rosehip oil. I also found some Beauty Pie Happy Face moisturiser in my stash so I will strip back to those products before making any more changes and see what that does.

Ren uses geraniol and other essential oils. I’ve found my skin won’t tolerate them.
Kate Somerville and Clinique make really gentle and fragrance free face washes. I have switched back to Clinique for just about everything.
Clinique’s 72 hour night cream is heavy enough that you won’t need oil on top of it. I used their moisturising lotion+ and a hyalauronic serum in the day.
Rosehip oil if you find you need an oil.

The rosehip is a very alarming shade of orange but truly is glorious stuff.

I really hope you get on well with it x

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz Ha thanks for the warning! It has a great reputation, have ordered a small size from Cult Beauty, I have high hopes.

Pai is lovely stuff. I discovered Kri skincare, small, female owned and they have a lovely rosehip oil. I use their bakuchiol oil which is divine

I suffer from dryness and now have a very stripped back routine and regular chemical peels.

hylauronic acid is important for hydration, I use mesoaesethic and their hydro cream fusion cream to oil cleanser which is good. Medik8 and Dr Meder products also good for me but I’d recommend finding a good facialist (independent and not tied to a certain brand) and work out with them what works.

I keep hearing ‘pie’ and now ‘cry’

How do you find a good facialist?? I’d love to find someone but no idea where to start

Like the other poster I really like Bobbi Brown's Vitamin rich cream. I also love Simple's vitamin C serum - after nearly giving up because I could not tolerate any others, I thought here goes nothing but it felt lovely and milky on my skin. I also love spraying with Caudilie elixer which smells lovely.

I do sometimes use an oil but cannot remember any names! I use different cleansers but avoid the miscellars as I find I need a milky/balm cleanser. I am using a SBC pump one and also one by Roc. I also use Nivea stuff - the soft tube or pot. I also love the Superdrug Vitamin E range (face wash and moisturiser).

I would try dialling back on the number of products, and also try a couple of days without make-up to see if that helps.

Definitely don't be introducing any AHAs or retinol at this stage.

You could try an aqueous cream or lotion for cleansing initially.

I know that REN sells itself as being good for sensitive skin but the ingredients do contain some irritants, especially herbal and fruity perfume.

You might like to try brands like AVENE or La Roche Posay or Cerave.

AVENE do cleansers that are for ultra sensitive skin (lotion of cream cleanser).

I have good skin now but suffered a lot with facial eczema. I still use gentle products and not many.

I use unperfumed cleansers ( as above or even supermarket brands) , wash with a warm facecloth after cleanser, and then use a simple moisturiser. When my skin flares up I use LRP moisturiser (in a tube) for very sensitive skin.

I do use spf50 every day (Ultrasun Face Lotion.)

I refuse to pay ££££s for cleansers as they don't work any better to cheap ones.

Yes, I’m really surprised that the Evercalm products might not be good after all. Thanks for your suggestions, they do have a good reputation I know, it’s just that I like cruelty free brands so I think these are.

@Saurus72 I used to use REN a lot but I think they are a bit smoke and mirrors and very pricey now.

I love Clinique Take the Day Off (the tub of cream) but it's pricey. It's totally perfume free and gentle.

Being honest, you need to pare your products down to 3 or 4.

1 A very simple gentle cleanser like one from the French ranges (Avene, LRP, Eucerin, etc.)

2 A very gentle moisturiser- forget any anti ageing stuff at the moment.

3 Sunblock spf50 Ultrasun does some facial ones that are for very sensitive skin.

I find Clinique foundation to be non irritating or Bobbi Brown as both are unperfumed, and look for one with no alcohol in it as well.

Yes but those brands support and promote animal testing. I won’t use those!

I have same skin issues OP and I have found Sunday Riley Vitamin C range to be fantastic. I use their clay cleanser on bare skin or their cleansing balm to remove makeup (followed by a second cleanse with the clay stuff). I then use Vitamin C serum followed by Vitamin C moisturiser & spf.

whatever products you use, ensure that you are giving your skin time to absorb them before applying the next step. Facial massage used when cleansing & applying products also makes a big difference. Encourage fresh blood flow to your face throughout the day by doing some basic face yoga. All of this helps keep the skin tissues oxygenated and improve skin tone.

Yes but those brands support and promote animal testing. I won’t use those!

I'm not up to speed on this so apologise if I've misunderstood but the info online says that Estee Lauder companies don't test on animals other than 'required by law' (and whatever that means.)

Mine came recommended (am in North Surrey if any good to you!) but I’d search for a local skin clinic otherwise. You might need to hunt around a bit to find one who is product agnostic but most will do a free intro chat or at least give you the info you need.

Not sure if EL are one such company but I think to trade in china you have to animal test so that may be an example? Apologies that's quite vague but I'm sure I've seen this discussed on S&B board

I work on the less is more principle - less stuff to irritate and less cost! QV Gentle Wash and QV Moisturising Cream can be used for face and body and does not set off my sensitive post menopausal skin. Best of all, it's not expensive and you can buy online.

I use cerave oil to foam cleanser with a micro fibre cloth from primark. Fresh one am and pm.

Then I use Eucerin Ato Control and it's the only that stops my skin from being on fire.

I also use Aldi q10 on good days

Nutrix by Lancôme is very heavily scented I have used before

I bought avene cificate but rubbish

Next on my list is la Roche Possay toleraine riche

I stopped wearing foundation and just do blush concealer and bronzer.

EL owns a lot of companies incl Clinique and BB.

Their statement online says they do not test on animals, either raw materials or finished products. However, they do say that countries who import their products can test on animals if that is their law.

Is that right? Just quoting their online statement.