Skin getting more sensitive in 40s?

[BellsAndFootfalls]

Is this a peri menopause thing? I’m early 40s and over the last year my skin has been reacting to everything that I used to use with no issues. I’ve stopped using retinol, vitamin c, eye creams, even micellar water makes the skin peel off my eyelids.

I’m down to cerave face wash, Clinique moisture surge and avene cicalfate! At my age I’d love to be using retinol but I just end up with burning red patches that last for weeks!

Anyone else had this?

Yes. It’s awful. I’ve developed sensitivity to all my favourite products. I’ve switched to all “clean” products which are much, much more expensive.
Try glycolic acid instead of retinol.

I can't use anything with an active ingredient eg anti aging etc, just plain moisturiser. I have developed some rosacea though which doesn't help!

If you want to use a vitamin A, try a retinal instead of retinol. Despite being a step closer to proper retinoic acid, it's actually less likely to cause any sensitivity.

I used retinol at various grades for a few years, then went up to tret but have come down to retinal and will stick with it. I find I can use it every night with no trouble. I was using the ELF Youth Boosting serum (I predict they'll change the name of that as it doesn't indicate it's a 0.06 retinal so the equivalent of Medik8 6 for a third of the price!) but it was out of stock when I ran out so I got Geek and Gorgeous which is 0.05. Both are great.

I still built up the retinal over a couple of months to get to using it every night.

My skin definitely became more sensitive to highly scented skincare- I now tend to stick with la Roche Posay Toleriane as a moisturizer and CeraVe cleanser.

Micellar water isn't particularly nice stuff, leaves a film on the skin which really then needs cleansing off so a bit of a shot in the foot when it's marketed as a quick answer to cleansing.

I've stopped using an acid toner at all, I used to use glycolic a couple of nights a week, but I don't really bother now. I'm happy with what vitamin C and retinal do. However, if you wanted a gentle acid toner, then malic is supposed to be one of the gentlest. I do have a bottle of Sali Hughes Placid 5 acid toner that is very gentle. I am using it up on my hands and chest and it is very nice.

Are you using anything with hyaluronic acid in? I find that makes my skin sensitised in some products. Like the CeraVe hydrating cleanser made my skin itchy and sore, but the oil cleanser doesn't.

Thanks for the tips! That's interesting about hyaluronic acid, it's in the face wash and the Clinique moisture surge. Maybe I should eliminate those too. My skin is so dry, I actually use the moisture surge intense because anything else makes my skin feel very dry and tight