Can anyone recommend face care i.e. Facewash, moisturiser etc as the company (sk:n) i was using has stopped making it :(

[hypo66]

My face is very sensitve to any external elements and is very mich combination of very dry or very oily. I'd really appreciate any ideas/recommendations

[shaws Administrator]

I have recently bought some of the following products after having an awful experience . The good thing is that you can get samples of the products so that you can find out before you buy if it suits your skin.

I think these, for me, has been the best products I have ever used.

paulaschoice.co.uk/shop/ski...

[TSH110]

My doc prescribed Cetraben emollient cream which is basically paraffin. It does work and I have very sensitive skin but I wonder how good it is for the body to be absorbing this stuff. I'd rather be treated so that my dry skin resolves, than slaver this stuff all over me but it beats suffering dry, flaky, itchy, bleeding skin. Perhaps someone knows of something more wholesome sounding!

[Ruby1 in reply to TSH110]

I suspect paraffin is used as the base for very many more expensive creams. I was advised to use aqueous cream for my son when he had eczema, for both washing his skin and moisturising it. It's really cheap and works amazingly well. I don't think it would be good for oily skin though.

[TSH110]

Oh sounds like it is not that bad after all go here and navigate to paraffin:

paulaschoice.co.uk/le

arn/ingredient-dictionary/

[Hidden]

My daughter has bad trouble with most manufactured products that touch the skin - shampoo, creams including sun cream etc. but has found products by Burts Bees are usually OK. They are expensive though. She now makes her own cleansing face lotion/moisturiser with milk and adds a little lavender, geranium, frankincense and carrot seed essential oils. She makes it in one of those tiny jam pots every few days and keeps it in the fridge. She uses coconut oil if she goes out in the sun, and has made another lovely face cream with coconut and rose hip oils. Most of these can be bought very reasonably online. Jane x

[lucindajethol in reply to Hidden]

I hope you don't mean coconut oil as it gives no sun protection whatsoever. It may make you brown if you have olive skin but it certainly is a NO NO for going out in the sun with sensitive skin. I might add its a great after sun though for after you shower,because it is so pure and moisturizing. Has she tried Eucerin moisturizers from Boots they are a nice product to use on the skin. Most shampoos contain a lot of detergent agents has she tried AVEDA Shampoo and Conditioner a bit expensive but well worth it. I had a terrible reaction to Puiz Buin last year the ALL DAY one but I will never ever use it again, even if they change the ingredients. There was a big feature in the Daily Paper about it and other creams that contain this particular preservatives that cause this reaction. Its only the ALL DAY one apparently. They also do an allergy one which is just fine for sensitive skin and does not hurt the eyes.

[Slj1970]

This is great stuff.

superdrug.com/radiant-skin/...

[Fruitandnutcase]

I use Liz Earle's face wash it comes complete with a couple of reusable muslin clothes. It comes in a pump action bottle, you put it on then wipe it off with the wet cloth. It smells a bit 'herbal' so I'm not sure if it would suit your skin if it is very sensitive. It is not too expensive and lasts for ages. You could always go to their counter and ask for a trial size and see how it goes.

I also use Lancôme facial cleanser milk and their toner, that is lovely and gentle, that is quite expensive though I never really use soap if I do I use a non soap bar like Dove - my husband has dry skin with a tendency to eczema and he is fine using Dove - no problems at all.

Jane's daughter's coconut and rose hip oil face cream sounds lovely!

[ourfriendsinthenorth]

Hello, I agree with slj1970, I started using these products and haven't looked back since after years of struggling to find a reasonably priced skincare which didn't aggravate my skin - they do a facial wash which is also very gentle and non-aggravating,

superdrug.com/radiant-skin/...

[EmJB]

I use Neal's Yard organics for a cleanser and organic coconut oil is an amazing moisturiser.

[ianessex]

wife and I use body shop stuff, she likes the aloe Vera range best, plus I usually order online when they do good sale like 30 or 40 % off,,

[Essybabe]

Liz Earle is wonderful. However, I currently use an organic Castile soap with any essential oils I fancy (tea tree & lavender), followed by coconut oil.

[Hidden]

Mine is also super sensitive and bone dry - typical for Hashi's. I use Simple

[kiltis]

I use cold pressed coconut/almond/argan and apricot oil for cleansing and moisturising. Nothing chemical and it works really well for me.

[mountaingoat83]

I really like Forever Living products, which are aloe-based. I have both oily and dry skin and I use the Sonya balancing cream on my face. I also whack the pure aloe gelly on just about anything that's wrong with my skin, it's great! It's sold by distributors rather than in shops so you could google to find a local one.

[Ruby1]

Have you tried using just water on your face? I rarely use more unless I've been wearing foundation as I am quite sensitive to many products.

I find garnier creams and Simple are the only ones that don't get my eyes itching and running, and aqueous cream as I've mentioned below, but that is too greasy for oily skin. I have heard good things about Liz Earle products too.

I would avoid anything with palm oil in if I can because of the effect on the forests and wildlife. (Must check if garnier has it in!!)

[mstp]

Look up Moo Goo products. The background to them is very interesting. I've just bought a few of their products and have been quite impressed.

[puncturedbicycle]

I use the oil cleansing method. Massage in any neutral oil (I'm using almond oil at the moment but have used olive, coconut and a mixture of olive and castor, which is meant to be good for oily skin) and remove with a hot flannel. It is cheap, easy to use, contains no additives or fragrance and is free of petroleum products. Makeup comes off with ease and it doesn't sting eyes or dry skin. Apparently a lot of people with oily skin and/or acne find it helpful as it works with the oils in your skin rather than stripping them off.

A couple of years ago I received some great frankincense cleanser from Neal's Yard as a gift. I use other products from that line but the cleanser made my skin itch like crazy. My skin was never particularly sensitive but now I have to be careful.

[Coastwalker]

I use slightly watered down Vaseline for my night moisturizer as my skin is so sensitive, it works wonders and I'm sure it has helped keep the wrinkles at bay

[janiebell]

Dr Houschka is an amazing make but very pricey. I am hashi and have very dehydrated skin but with an oily nose and forehead although under the oil it still feels tight and flaky. Houschka's rose day cream is gorgeous - really emollient but not greasy and its made of pure organic ingredients, etc. I also make my own creams by buying the ointment base form Neals yard (very reasonable for a big pot) and add rosé hip oil which is pricey but a little goes a very long way and is excellent for wrinkles, uneven skin, marks etc. those two added together with some franckinsence and geranium essential oils and you have an extremely effective cream which won't cause any probs and would cost an absolute fortune somewhere like Space Nk!!!! Most creams - even the high end ones- are so full of dodgy ingredients just to keep them fresh,perfumed, etc so it makes sense to make your own and so much cheaper and just as effective. I was a beauty editor on a national mag so I know!!!!

[puncturedbicycle in reply to janiebell]

I love the Dr H lightweight moisturising day cream. Super texture, lightweight but moisturising, very gentle on sensitive skin.

[hypo66]

Thankyou everyone! i dont know how I managed before I found this site - its brilliant!!!

[Dad72]

I know it sounds a bit weird but I use just a bottle of conditioner for my hair. Shampoo takes the skin off of my forehead so 1 or 2 washes with a good conditioner does the job. I hope this helps.

[puncturedbicycle]

This is a great idea. I've even added a little manuka honey to mine but it does give it a bit of an odd texture. The only problem is that it's a little messy to put together.

Do you use a special blender for yours or do you use an ordinary blender and put it in the dishwasher?

[BadHare]

Hi,

I use Avene or Aderma wash bars, which last quite a while. They're oat based, & don't aggravate my oily or dry bits.

I rarely use moisturiser an anywhere but my feet, but use these brands when my peri-oral dermatitis starts.

Mel

[Jacquid]

Aveeno......all their products are brilliant and I have the most difficult skin ever!! It's cheap too and often on offer at Boots

[Karen09]

Erno Laszlo - nothing as good as Erno Laszlo since time began.

ernolaszlo.com/

Been using it since I was in my 20's. Nothing else works as well, feels as good and gives me such great results for all this time. Expensive, but once you know what your skin type is, you can usually pick up the main items through outlets like Amazon.