How to exfoliate tired 55 year old sensitive skin

[Baldieheid]

I'm 55 and winter is doing an absolute number on my face. I'm dry, tight and very ruddy cheeked and am feeling rather papery. Cardboard, actually.

I wash with cerave gel and a cotton flannel, moisturise with cerave atm, but usually its super drug vitamin e cream. In all other seasons this does me fine, but I need more help in winter.

I'm looking at different exfoliants including good old scrubs (my only experience) and liquids, and I'm bamboozled.

I have eczema and dry, sensitive skin. Budget is pretty tight.

Would anyone please be kind enough to recommend products?

I wouldn’t exfoliate. I would worry that it would exacerbate your sensitive skin. It sounds to me like your skin has gone very dry. I know mine does this time of year. I use a facial oil or very rich oil based moisturiser at night to counteract this. An AHA serum could also help lock in some more moisture.

I was given a vitamin e facial oil in my Christmas stocking so have that already. He also got me a day and nighttime serum. All from the superdrug vitamin e range.

Next stupid question - do I use the oil before, after or instead of moisturiser? And where do the serums fit in? I've tried them and they feel nice but I'm still tight after they've been absorbed. Should I use moisturiser as well?

I wouldn't exfoliate either beyond a gentle rub with a flannel and using your own judgement over how hard to rub. I have never understood the effort and expense that goes into getting rid of dead skin cells that are about to drop off anyway.

As regards moisturisers, oils and serums - I use oil only. I have sensitive, ageing skin and I've found out the hard way that what works best for me is as few products and as few ingredients as possible.

Hmm, that's what I've been doing, using the flannel. So it's probably a bit more moisturiser I need. I agree te keeping it simple. I tried other products a few years ago and by day 2, looked like I was burned. It was very painful. It wasn't cheap either, and I had to give it away.

The suoerdrug stuff suits me, as does cerave, so I'll just ramp up the moisturisers.

Yeah I found that sensitive skin is a very personal thing and that there's a bit of trial and error involved. Now that I've found what works for me I don't deviate.

In theory I believe the order to apply products is serum first then either oil or moisturiser, but if your skin in sensitive I would just go for the oil at night and perhaps moisturiser in the day then add in the serums after a while if your skin is tolerating the first two products well.
I also second all the advice @Floisme has given.
I too have gone all in with the products in the past and upset my skin.

As regards moisturisers, oils and serums - I use oil only. I have sensitive, ageing skin and I've found out the hard way that what works best for me is as few products and as few ingredients as possible.

Snap!

I wouldn’t be scrubbing too hard, - it sounds as if you’ll have no skin left. But do find a very pure oil you like and spend time massaging your face with it. Use plenty. (Mine tend to come from the food aisles.)

Importantly - what’s your diet like, @Baldieheid? And how are your stress levels at the moment? I have generally satisfactory and quite glow-y skin, but a period of unusual stress (and disruption to my usual pattern of eating) has left my skin more grey and dry than I’ve ever known. Are you getting enough sleep? Consuming lots of olive oil and fish oils and vegetables? Try to prioritise this, whatever other demands there are on your time and energy.

(Also, are you taking any prescribed medication that may be affecting your skin?)

Thanks ladies.

Stress is super high.l so that is contributing. Sleep is low to non existent. Had a bereavement, a serious health scare with DH, an accident with DH in December that he's fortunately got away with, we're both self employed and his earnings have taken a dive, our mortgage has doubled in the last year and we are on the bones of our arses.

Yep, it's probably a bit more than exfoliation that I need. It just hadn't occurred to me....

Food aisles? Do you mean you use something like olive oil on your skin? Interesting.

I've seen bran oil, and avocado oil on the shelves too. Any favourites?

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is a good gentle exfoliant with no scrubbing involved. It's dear (to me) but lasts for ages and you can usually get it on offer somewhere.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is brilliant, expensive though at around £50 for a tub that last me 3 or 4 months with daily use.

I originally bought some sample sachets on Ebay as was reluctant to splash out, so maybe worth a try first.

Foreo Luna is another gentle exfoliating tool you can use with cleanser but again bit of an investment as pricey.

Oils overnight are the best thing for moisture in my opinion, and you don’t have to splash out too much, Superdrug have a good selection.

Argan oil is a lovely rich moisturising oil. I have a tendency to eczema, with very irritable skin, and I find this very nourishing and soothing. Neal’s Yard sell it.

I have very sensitive skin and have to avoid anything with perfume or dye in it. Love Dermalogica daily microfoliant. Only use it once a week & find the smallest size one lasts quite a while. If you have a Dermalogica stockist near you they are often very generous with tester sachets. (Just explain you need to trial it due to your sensitivities.) Had only ever had one bad reaction to Dermalogica - think it was the moisturiser with SPF in it.

Thank you. I'll see how I get on with the oils.

Food aisles? Do you mean you use something like olive oil on your skin? Interesting.

I did at one point - but it’s too heavy for a facial oil for me. I do use it as body oil mixed with whatever essential oils suit the season. For my face I use Black Cumin Seed Oil.

It’s worth experimenting to see what works for you.

I use St Ives scrub twice a week and a facial oil whenever we have a dull winter's day with low UV. Skin at 61 is looking dewy! Otherwise Simple moisturiser with SPF.

Facial oil is Waitrose own brand, btw.

Food aisles? Do you mean you use something like olive oil on your skin? Interesting.
During my first and worst ever skin flare up the only product I had that didn't make it worse was olive oil from the kitchen that I tried it in desperation. I'd still be using it if it weren't for the salad bowl smell, although the light olive oil might be better, I just haven't got round to trying.

For moisturiser now I switch between almond oil, avocado oil and wheatgerm oil. The first two are from the grocery counter - they're unperfumed with no other added shit which suits me, plus I reckon that if something's been passed as safe to put in my mouth then it's probably ok for my skin. I normally buy the wheatgerm oil from Holland & Barrett.

I hope life gets easier for you soon.

I would do a thick moisturiser like astral and then a layer of vaseline at night. No exfoliating

If you've got redness and burning, its possible you've got rosacea. I've had it and it eventually went away with treatment. Nothing helped except for prescription medication from the doctor. Please go and get checked by a GP.

It can flare up later in life and you can have a lovely combination of spots, redness, flaky skin and burning. It's worthwhile getting your skin checked, because there could be a solution to the issue that no skincare will solve.

You're already exfoliating by cleansing with a flannel. That could even be the cause of the sensitivity. Don't add a gritty exfoliator on top.

If you want to add glow, best thing you could do is add a Vitamin C.

Which CeraVe are you using?

I love the CeraVe hydrating cleanser, but the moisturizers aren't enough for me.

Agree it sounds like you need moisture not exfoliation - I have really sensitive skin, with eczema and it can be very dry and the blue pot Nivea absolutely slathered on is my go to. Bonus of being cheap 😄

I'm 60 and spend a lot of time outdoors so my skin gets quite dry.
I use the Aldi skin polish (think it's a Liz Earle dupe) with a flannel and moisturise with either Lidl or Aldi moisturiser or Nivea in the white pot. The blue Nivea is too thick for my face, it drags my skin and clogs my pores.

Serum, moisturiser, then oil.

So much wonderful advice, thank you, all.