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Bit nervous posting

30 replies

declutteringnovice · 16/05/2024 02:03

I've spent the past few weeks 'decluttering' household items and sorting rooms. Came to do the bathroom today and getting rid of half used cleaners, soaps and so on wasn't a problem but then I came to my 'skin care' shelf and draw and was stunned and amazed and truth be told more than a little bit ashamed of all the bottles and jars I had that I'd tried for a couple of weeks or a few months and felt no benefit from them but hadn't thrown them, mainly because some were expensive and I bought them after seeing them 'recommended' here and there.

Years ago it used to be so easy, you just found a product that suited your skin and used it, then replaced it when needed. I used Ponds and bought it again when I saw it on Amazon a few months ago and although I was careful around my eyes it made them water and puff up. These days I am uttelry bamboozled by serums, cleansers, foaming things, routines that must be followed with this used first, this thing second and finished with eye products that just make my eyes puffy and water like mad. I've never really had an allergic reaction to anything, other than some of the eye things.

I'm mid 60's now and don't go out much socially. Chronic fatigue and also severe arthritis makes it difficult for me to hold and open certain bottles and tubes etc so I'm wondering if I should just get myself some good quality facial wipes (never have used soap on my face) to 'cleanse' with but then what kind of moisturiser should I get? I'm honestly not bothered about finding some sort of radiant youthful glow as I'm long past that. I just want something easy to use that will properly moisturise my skin (face and neck) without making my eyes water or puff up like golf balls. Surely there has to be something out there. I don't have a lot of money to spare let alone waste but will pay for a quality product that would last more than 3 weeks!

I put 'bit nervous posting' as my title because I thought people would find it laughable that at my age I don't know what products to use. But its true, I just don't, and I don't want to waste any more money. Oh, I forgot to say I went to Boots and local Debenhams before it closed down, and they did those skin assessment things then sold me the 'absolutely necessary items for my skin type'. The Boots stuff didn't suit me at all but I did like the things they suggested at Debenhams - I think it was a bar and two lotions, one yellow and one green if I remember - but I don't know where to find those now as searches for Debenhams Clinic didn't show me the things I was looking for.

Can anyone suggest some safe facial wipes and a good quality easy to use moisturiser please? And finally are face masks any use at all? I read about ladies enjoying a soak in the bath using a face masks and feeling so relaxed afterwards and this is not something I've ever done but think I would like to try.

Thank you.

If it helps, I used to have very oily skin but its changes as I've grown older and now its mostly dry but not flaky or tight or anything, and I hate the lotions and creams that claim to be 'light' then sit on my skin and don't absorb properly. Especially if I'm cleaning later in the day and I can feel the product literally sweating around my hairline, under my eyes, and on my face.

OP posts:
declutteringnovice · 25/05/2024 23:56

Hello everyone. Thought I would post an update to let you know how I've been getting on after all your kind advice and tips.

I bought some lovely soft muslin type face cloths and have been using the Ponds as a cleanser, leaving it on for 5 minutes while I just sit and relax, and then wiping it off with the cloth soaked in warm water. I've been doing this for the past week and it has been leaving my skin feeling really clean and soft without any kind of irritation! Very happy about that. Once, midweek, I used the coconut oil and left that on whilst I had a soak in the bath, then wiped it off with the warm cloth, and again my face just felt clean and soft and not tight or irritated in any way and in both instances, I forgot to say, my eyes especailly have not been itchy or warering afterward so that has been a huge bonus for me.

I also bought a couple of small bottles of organic Almond Oil and have applied just a little before bed and in the mornings (after the cleansing routine) as a moisturiser. It has absorbed well and has not sat on the surface of my skin feeling lardy at all. This is a miracle to me!

I feel rejuvenated and happy with my simple skincare routine, knowing I am not putting anything harmful on my face, and also using the other creams I have on places like elbows and knees and heels, which again is having a really miraculous effect and the products are not being wasted. Thanks to all those who suggested using these items in this way because I would likely have just thrown them away as I have in the past. Use-by dates are all well within calendar into next summer so not likely to run out and when used up I shall simply switch to using the organic coconut oil (the jar I have is huge) so won't need to spend anything extra. So happy with this routine, using just the items mentioned that I didn't feel the need to get any of the Clinique products now!

So grateful to everyone who posted their advice and tips and experience of certain products. Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
SoapCollector · 26/05/2024 10:28

Thanks for coming back to us all op @declutteringnovice so glad you are happy with your new routine 🙂. The oils should last you ages, I also use oils on my hair like a serum, but this depends on your hair type as my hair is a bit fluffy, wild, dry and curly!

Just out of interest what brand of oils and muslin cloths are you using?

declutteringnovice · 28/05/2024 01:54

LifeInAHamsterWheel – Sorry, I missed your post before. I asked a friend to check Primark in her town as we don’t have one where I live, and she said she couldn’t find any and asked a member of staff who told her they ‘had none’ so I don’t know if that meant they don’t sell them at that store or they just didn’t have stock at the time. Haven’t been to Ikea for years and had no idea they sold things like facecloths.

SoapCollector – Never tried any kind of oil on my hair as I always imagined it would be a horrible lardy mess. I keep my hair short these days as severe arthritis in my hands makes it difficult holding a hairdryer so when I wash it I just run a comb through it and let it dry naturally. Hairdresser has commented a few times how thick my hair is and that its in good condition so once or twice a month I use a leave-in conditioner spray as she advised and this seems to work well for me.

To answer your question about what brand of oils and muslin cloths I’m using…

The coconut oil I already had in and mostly use for cooking is NaturaleBio Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Raw Cold Pressed. I got a 1L jar for about £10 a few months ago from the branch of Holland & Barrett in my local Tesco and it sits in my kitchen cupboard (cool, dark place as recommended). Although I used some of the Oil once midweek to leave on my face during my bath, I had to spoon some onto a small dish to take to the bathroom with me as I had no suitable container to transfer the oil into so I could keep it in the bathroom and use for skincare, which is why I looked for other oils mentioned by kind responders here…

I bought Natures Aid Sweet Almond Oil 150ml for £5 at a local chemist (bought a small bottle to test as I wasn’t sure if it would suit me, so happy it does and I’ll get a bigger bottle before it runs out) and Eco Friendly Muslin Soft Cotton Reusable Facial Cleansing Cloths by Panlom, £10 for a pack of 20 🙂

OP posts:
SoapCollector · 28/05/2024 23:23

@declutteringnovice thanks for your reply and all the info you've given. Sounds like you got a really good deal with the muslin cloths. I paid £4.50 for two cloths in Holland and Barrett! I'll look at buying the Panlom ones next time!

Fraaahnces · 28/05/2024 23:43

@declutteringnovice - I know you have said that you have sensitive skin. I can’t recommend baby wipes or face wipes. They are full of irritants. You would be better off using a gentle Micellar water (Bioderma Sensibio). It won’t take off your eye makeup, but it will clean your face. The bigger bottles of Sensibio have a pump. I would also recommend some reusable microfiber cleansing pads. (Softer on your skin). Just keep a laundry bag in your bathroom and chuck them in when they are dirty. Give them a wash & dry with your towels.) You can buy them on Amazon (or Temu or Ali Express - if you can wait a bit for them.) I have some small, thin ones (roughly the size of a makeup round) that I use on my eye makeup (This WILL remove your makeup) and some larger, fluffier ones for my face. I have some circular ones, but I prefer the big, fluffy face washers. (I live in Aus and use a lot of sunscreen, so cover a lot of Realestate with my face washers at night.) Photos of the ones I use.

Bit nervous posting
Bit nervous posting
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