Inspired by another thread - What if you can't wash your face?

[KingCanuteIAm]

Ok, following the "I don't wash my face thread" I suddenly realised that I have the perfect forum to ask for help with my particular ishoo

I cannot use water on my face! It is only the "mask" area (from hairline around my jawline). Getting water on the skin makes it burn, makes it red and sore. Once the redness has passed the area flakes and stays sore. Even a drip running down from my hair leaves a trail.

Sooo, I have terrible skin, there is very little I can use to clean my skin, so far I have found a very expensive rosewater that I can use without any side effects. I can use most moisturisers, cleansers and toners though, as long as I don'thave to wash or rinse them off!

I want to use an exfoliator, my skin is very congested and I have patches that get flakey. I have tried almost everything else so an exfoliator is my next port of call (and possibly last ditch attempt) to get things better, I am well over 30 years old and yet have never had any time without at least some spots

My problem, I cannot find a single exfoliator that does not expect you to rinse them off, it seems that the rinsing action actually helps them to work IYSWIM. I have tried one which I tried to take off with cleanser but that did not work out well - it took ages to get off, left my skin greasy with residue and did not make any discernable difference apart from that!

So, you very clever lot, do you have any ideas what I could try next? Please!

I use oil method to cleanse my face and it clears balckheads wuite nicely and exfoliates.

USe about 15% caster oil 85% olive oil (castor oil is most "cleansing" so reduce if you have dry skin and increase it if you hav oily up to about 25% caster oil max)
Masssage into skin carefully paying particular attenion to areas like around nose and forehead.

Steam face with hot flannel (you might want to miss this bit out)
Remove oil with hot flannel wrung very, very dry.

You might be alright with this as not much water and oil does leave a very slight barrier on face.

Should only be done in the evening, quick wipe over with some toner should suffice in the morning.

Have you tried Liz earle toner?

use extra virgin olive oil its lighter

I was going to say that the oil method is good for blackheads too - something to do with the molecular structure of castor oil getting right into the pores and lifting grime out with it. It's early days for me with it, but it seems pretty good so far.

early days for me too BoF but seems to work well and is darned cheap!

It does sound interesting (more and more so actually!) The only hting is I can't use any water, even a wrung out flannel is too much, I am pretty sure that the oil would not be barrier enough (I would have to try it to be 100% but I am 99% sure!)

you could try with a dry flannel or flannel dampened with your rose water. There a website on it somewhere.

www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

I could try a dry one, if I dampened it with the rose water it would be about £10 per flannel... [grrr]

I should have asked for more rose water for mothers day!

Can I get Caster oil in supermarkets?

You urgently need SENSIFLUID or SENSIPHASE cleanser from Aderma.

What is that Anna?

Excellent cleansers that don't require water or rinsing and really improve skin - they will help with your spots.

Take a look at the full Aderma and Avène ranges - there is lots of stuff out there for skin that cannot get near water.

Huh, so I am not quite the freak I thought I was then? I always assumed it was just me! I will google for those Anna, htanks!

Kew, I have just had a look at the site thanks, how long did it take before yu all noticed a difference?

BOF, how long have you been using it for?

I've done it about three or four times, Canute. I bought the castor oil in my local chemist - I had to ask for it though. But it was only £1.35.

Cheaper than any commercial preparations, so worth giving a go first IMO.

first time I used it my sking felt less dry. I don't have particular problmes with blackheads etc so no real change there.