If you have really sensitive (and thus dry) skin - what skincare and make up ranges do you use?

[moodlumthehoodlum]

I am at my wits end. I have such dry and sensitive skin at the moment, and I just can't seem to get a moisturiser or foundation that doesn't either bring me out in hives or look dreadful.

Any ideas? I'm open to any suggestions.

I too have unbearably dry skin, and have been searching for years. I FINALLY got my hands on one of those tubs of Baby Bottom Butter in Waitrose, and I am so impressed. It only contains olive oil and camomile oil, and no chemicals or preservatives whatsoever, but it works like a dream! Of course it is too oily to use during the day, but for the first time in years, I have woken up with skin that is STILL moisturised. Super cheap too, so it can't hurt to try it!

I have bad eczema and very dry skin.

I tried the "EUCERIN" body stuff and shower gel and my skin is a lot better.

My mum is also using it.

No scent.

It has got urea in it (don't look that up to see what it is, you don't want to know!) - same stuff that's in the flexitol foot cream that everyone swears by.

Am interested in recommendations for face cleanser and foundation though - have never heard of chantecaille - where do you get it from?

I use Liz Earle hot cloth wash, but didn't really like any of her moisturisers, the rubbing action of the muslin cloth takes off all the dry flaky bits but doesn't irritate my skin. I use Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter very sparingly at night and find I don't particularly need a daytime moisturiser anymore, although I occasionally use Aveeno. In the summer I use Sunsense facial sunblock (which is slightly tinted) or in the winter I use Nars Skin Brightening Serum, usually instead of moisturiser rather than as well as.

Make-up wise I've never had a reaction to Boots No7 but have reacted to lots of other big names including Clinique. I don't wear make-up very much but when I do at the moment I'm using either Benefit Some Kinda Gorgeous or Bare Escentuals (but not the primer serum which was agony), Becca or No7 mascara and No7 lipstick or Burt's Bees lip gloss.

So PhDiva - do you use the bottom butter on your face in the evening then?

Diprobase I have had before for the children, so that's a good idea - thanks.

Eucerin - I have heard of, but not tried, and I think I might know what urea is

Am going to go and wail at the bobbi brown lady this weekend, and see what she can sell me.

Origins. Fab.

The other stuff like Eucerin is AVENE - based on oats. it is for dry or allergy type skin- the larger BOOTS stock it.

Really surprised to see a poster saying do not use Clinique- I had bad eczema on my face for over 10 years and it was the only product that I could use without irritating it.

oh I forgot to say
If I don't use Clarins Extra-comfort toner prior to moisurising my face is a mess within a couple of days

Worth a try?

Yes Avene is good (but I think it's AVEENO that's based on oats) - no parabens and no perfume.

But for my really dry patches I am finding the Eucerin better.

And their shower stuff has sls in it

check out the beautybible website in their FAQ, their book is also really good at analzying products for diff conditions, all price brands

I use green people aloe vera body wash on my face about once a week. The rest of the time I just wash with water. I moisturise with Neal's Yard frankincense or Clinique yellow.

I liked the Liz Earle cleanser but as I don't wear make up don't really need a proper cleanser. The rest of the LE se to go with this had perfume in, I think.

Son's prescription diprobase for body . Although my leg and arm skin isn't too bad these days so can use a lot of more mainstream products.

Clinique made my skin much, much worse. I think I got sensitised to it or something but ended up with big patches of rosacea that won't really go away. I can use Eve Lom cleanser, which is WONDERFUL - leaves my skin really soft and properly clean. Haven't tried Liz Earle...

Can anyone recommend a decent foundation for ultra-dry and ultra-sensitive skin? I know everyone raves about mineral ones but I can't see how they would work on such dry skin.

P.S. DD and I can't use the Diprobase she was prescribed - nasty reaction to it. I find plain Aqueous Cream BP is gentler.

P.P.S. Anyone else mildly miffed that they BF for ages hoping in the process to prevent allergies but their DC ended up with eczema anyway?! (I suppose it could be worse eczema if I hadn't done so... but still it doesn't seem to be the ultimate preventative!)

verso I BF for 6 months and my DS got eczema, hayfever and slight asthma- as both me and DH have at least one of these, it is not surprising. I learned too late that whilst BF you should also avoid eating the foods that can cause allergies- mainly dairy and wheat/gluten. Might have helped-who knows. My DS was put onto baby formula soya after weaning.

Make up- well, I am a fan of Clinique but if you aren't then that's no good.

You could try Dr Hauscha or Aveda.

moisturiser: Aveeno contains oats and is so soothing
Foundation: \link{ www.avene.co.uk/public/avene/html/toolkit/flash/site.php?langueHtml=en\Avene} or Lilylolo mineral dust foundation.
All the above have a calming effect on my extremely dry skin.I have eczema as well.
Stop using soap too as this can really hurt dry skin.Dove is the devil BTW - do not be persuaded by ads.
Moisturise at least 3 times a day and have plenty of days off where you wear nothing on your skin at all except moisturiser.
Try taking piriton for a couple of days to see whether this helps calm things down too.

Avene which can be bought in Boots

Ooh no, cremola I haven't put soap near me or DD for YEARS (makes me sound like a manky old cow ). DD's nursery were encouraging them with handwashing a while ago - all very laudable apart from the massive weals she ended up with all over from using their supposedly 'sensitive' soap. They have a clear rule now - no soap or handwash of any kind for her!

Dove is pretty heavily perfumed anyway so I wouldn't buy it. I find a lot of these supposedly 'kind' products are too fragranced for me to be able to use them. One thing that surprised me when I used an Eve Lom tester was that even though it is quite 'smelly' it doesn't react with my skin.

I very rarely wear foundation, tbh, because I've never found one I'm comfortable with and prefer my skin to 'breathe' - but sometimes do think I would look a bit more 'polished' for work if I had a bit of slap on, so all tips gratefully received!

Thanks for the Avene recommendation btw.

If you have eczema on your face you can now get Protopic from a dermatologist- it is not a steroid and will not thin your skin- it works by supressing the immune system at a localised level.

You need a referral from a GP- my son has used it for a while now and it makes his life more bearable.