flaky. but you knew that.
Hello!
I need some help!
Well, I always need help of the mental variety and also of the spatial, just because.
But today I need special help.
I have somewhat oily skin that has decided to become magically flaky yet outbreaky. It obviously needs moisture, but it also doesn’t need clogging. I exfoliate twice a week, and I’ve varied that to try and test the impact on the flakitude, but the flakitude stands firm. Basically, my skin is a giant pain in the ass, and it probably has something to do with the hormones but really? The hormones can bite me.
I want recommendations for moisturizers from anyone who uses one they love. Except my mom, who will say something about aloe vera gel and I will resent her because my mother’s skin is like butter. Not a word out of you, missy!
A couple requirements:
… it has to be available in stores
… it has to not cost the earth (no la mer recommendations, because I’d already have it if I could afford it)
….it has to not suck
… it can’t be MAC Moisture Fix, because that’s what I already use.
Ask your friends with nice skin! Ask yourself! Ask your friend at the office! Help me!
Tell me now! I’ll go buy it after work!
Seriously!
Go!
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:39 am
Krikey, me too. My skin has been freaking out for the past month or two. Dry, oily, flaky, and rosacea, all at the same time. WTH is going on?!
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:43 am
I’ve never had rosacea, and we’re in totally different climates, but hopefully this will help you out, too! Speak up people!
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:45 am
Neutrogena Oil Free for Sensitive Skin. It’s pretty much the only moisturizer I use, because it doesn’t light my face on fire.
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:53 am
I’ve had tons of trouble in the past few years. Eucerin really worked well, but what turned the tide was getting ketoconazole from my doc. Don’t know about Canada; ask your pharmacist (or whatever you call them up there; probably phaurmaucists) if it’s available OTC. It really does the trick, only needs one application usually.
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I second the Neutrogena Oil Free - I use the one with SPF 15.
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
This line is great, I really noticed a difference after using it.
http://www.aveeno.com/productListAction.do?pid=11003
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Use Philosophy stuff! I switched because amalah told me too (at http://www.alphamom.com/site/smackdown/) and this stuff is so worth it - Purity Made Simple - http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P7109&categoryId=B70. I ran out last week and seriously nothing else compares.
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I also use the Neutrogena and I feel like what I have now is specifically for combination skin. It does not have sunblock though, which is the downside. During the summer I usually wear the Neutrogena Healthy Defense, which has SPF 30, because I am capable of burning my nose in under 15 minutes. Curse you, pasty skin!
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I have used the Purpose line by Johnson & Johnson for years — available in drug stores here for about $10 a go. I have flaky skin with breakouts too, and I swear by this. Very mild, good for all skins types, and absorbs fast so you don’t feel like you have a bunch of gook on your face. I’ll send you some from DC if you want to let me know how to do that! Email me and I’ll put a little package together!
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I use the Neutrogena Active Copper moisturizer with SPF20. My skin is mostly normal-to-dry, with some oiliness in the T zone… which I guess makes it “combination”. The Active Copper is nice because it’s creamy enough to soothe the dry bits, doesn’t cause breakouts, and doesn’t irritate my skin the way alpha-hydroxy lotions do.
February 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 pm
About a month ago, my skin started developing red, flaky patches. I was using Clinique, but have switched to Cetaphil - 11.49 at Shoppers - and all dryness is gone, it’s lite, not oily….
February 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Oh, also? The drier my skin gets, the more it breaks out. It sounds counterintuitive, but I think maybe it’s all the dead skin clogging my pores. Or something.
February 23rd, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Neutrogena Pore Refining Cream (SPF 15). Love. It.
February 23rd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
As most-likely the “old-timer” here but totally going through the hormormal hell as well as aging skin, I will go ahead and give my advice.
First off - it is not about the moisturizer only. Most likely, you need little of that to begin with. Moisturizer does not rid you of flakiness - exfoliators do.
I have tried nearly everything known to man for my very similar problem. I was still having breakouts, flakiness and redness until about a year ago. (And I was 48!) That is when I read Paula Begoun’s Beauty Bible and cosmetics books. Then I went to her website (and other sites) to further research what she was claiming.
After coming to the conclusion that what she claimed made perfect sense, I started following her advice. She recommends the most effective ingredients and products. And they are usually not the expensive name-brand products.
(I did decide to purchase her own line of products online because they were inexpensive and uncomplicated. With no extra irritating or unproven ingredients.)
Guess what? No more redness, no more flakiness, no more breakouts (not one!)in over a year. I have clearer, smoother, firmer and younger looking skin. Seriously. I know I sound like a commercial, but it really happened to me.
For breakouts and flakiness, you MUST exfoliate after cleansing and before moisturizing. For exfoliating, stay away from the masks and scrubs. Use a gentle leave-on exfoliator lotion/gel like beta-hydroxy acid (best for those who still breakout and get clogged pores). I use it every other day, alternating with a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid lotion for removing the upper layer of flaky skin.
Then use an oil-free moisturizer only. And always start with a gentle cleanser.
Adding an antioxidant (C & E) rich lotion to the post exfoliation process is also warranted for anyone 30 and older.
And ALWAYS using a good sunscreen - with minimal ingredients for less chance of irritation.
BTW - She recommends many good products besides her own, but I have found nirvana with her own line so that is why I am recommending it.
If you are interested in finding out more about Paula, go here: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/about.asp?ID=13
Good luck!
February 23rd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Oooh, yes, Cathie… I’ve heard a lot about her, and seen her on a few shows talking about her claims and her own products. What put me off her initially was that she was so dismissive about some things that dermatologists recommend, and recommending of some things that dermatologists completely frown on.
There was a panel she was on with Pat Wexler — one of the top derms stars go to, etc — and they totally butted heads. I am a complete dermatologist fangirl (despite the fact I’ve never been to one… weird) so I found that a little hard to take. But I’ll check her out again.
Another one of my friends swears by her recommendations, too.
February 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
My skin bites too so I use Neutrogena Clear Pore treatment in the evening (you sleep with it on), then in the morning under my makeup I use Oil of Olay’s Skin Age Defying Daily Renewal Cream (moisturizes and prevents wrinkles!)
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I’ve used, and liked the Neutrogena line also. I also like the Clinique “Dramatically Different Moisturizer.” It feels light and is absorbed quickly.
Generally, look for something with “non-comedogenic” (meaning it won’t clog your pores) on the label.
Good luck!
February 23rd, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Hi Meg…I use Dove daily mositurizer with SPF 15 in the morning and the Dove night cream for sensitive skin at bed time. My skin is fairly sensitive and dry and this stuff’s super cheap and you can get it anywhere. I even like it better than Clinique! My skin is really soft and not flaky like it has been previous winters.
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:42 pm
NeoStrata AHA. It’s what my doctor gave me when I had my first chemical peel and I’ve loved it ever since.
BTW - it’s a small, small world. I linked here from the salon letter you wrote about Alec Baldwin. I saw the name Meg and said “it can’t be” but it WAS you. Hi!!
February 24th, 2007 at 3:40 am
I would recommend the following moisturisers. I’ve had success with all of these…
Oil of Olay
Thalgo
Neutrogena - Daily with SPF15
QV
February 24th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I have been using Dove deep moisture day cream. It is very light and gives my dry face skin moisture all day. It has never clogged my pores and caused breakouts–it’s just really light. Plus it has SPF 15. Cost $9CDN at Walmart and lasts me a couple months.
February 24th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Go with Zia moisturizer. They sell it at organic stores.
February 24th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Mo: Zia is SO nice (but expensive!!).
Meg: I never had rosacea, either, until the last few months!
I forgot to mention, when I got a facial recently, the aesthetician told me to quit using soap, start eating flaxseed oil every day and drink more water! I haven’t been super good about implementing her recommendations yet, but I think my old favorite, Dr. Bronner’s, probably IS too drying.
Kat James in “The Truth About Beauty” also says we need to quit being so harsh on our skin. She says a lot of our skin ailments are rebound problems caused by products. I am working to eliminate chemicals from all my body care products. I just bought the cleansing milk and moisturizer from Avalon Organics’ sensitive skin line. I’ve also started using Bare Escentuals mineral foundation, which is supposed to be calming. I’ll let you know ….
February 25th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Hi Meg - I’m with Patia on the water. When I’m being good about drinking more of it, my skin is better.
I have a very small “product budget” and I have skin with similar issues…although my breakouts are infrequent, it’s still combination. I’ve been using Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizing lotion for years. It seems to do the trick - I put more on at night than I do in the morning, when I mostly just use a little as a base for any makeup I wear (foundation and concealer look wrong on me without it - and even then….)
Recently I’ve started using Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Cleanser because my sister did and I LOVE it. I need to get the moisturizer too and see if that helps. It’s got soy extracts which are allegedly supposed to even out your skin tone. I can’t say I’ve seen that but it really doesn’t dry me out. It also smells really good and has a good texture (I find a lot of cleansers and moisturizers just feel gross on my skin…this one doesn’t.) I used to use Neutrogena and like the cleansers, but oddly the oil-free moisturizer was too heavy for me.
My skin is so dry from winter that I can’t stop itching…or feeling itchy even when I’m really not. It’s really getting on my nerves! Good luck.
February 25th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I third the water thing–I drink about a gallon a day and my skin is in pretty good shape for an old broad.
Also, I’ve never had good luck with Neutrogena–but for moisturizer I use Eucerin Plus For The Face (and it’s SPF 15). It only takes the tiniest bit and never makes my skin feel greasy or ‘heavy’.
February 25th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
My dermatologist told me to use Cetaphil, the face wash and moisturizer and to STOP EXFOLIATING. So I did and it’s been mostly great ever since. Cetaphil is very gentle but an effective cleanser.
The dermatologist said that too much exfoliating is bad for your skin, that constantly sloughing off face skin cells is too harsh for the face. She did say that if I did feel the urge to exfoliate to use Dove exfoliating face wash which I’ve tried but when I use it, my face gets dry and flaky and takes about 2 weeks to recover so I stick with the Cetaphil, 2 or 3 times a day since I work out alot and it’s gentle enough to allow for that many uses in one day.
February 26th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
In regards to the above comment on Neutrogena Pore Refining Cream: I question why the SPF if it is designed as a night cream.
February 26th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Hi Meg,
Okay, I’ve got really sensitive and dry skin and I’ve tried ALOT of different products. By far the best one I’ve ever used is Demalogica. I know you don’t want to spend lots of $$$ but your skin is worth it and this product is worth every penny. There are many formulations that will work for different kinds of skin. My esthetician recommeded it for me a long time ago, and she was correct. You should go to a really good esthatician and get a recommendation but, I think Deramalogica rocks. My esthetician works from her home (not far from where you live) - she rocks to. If you are interested I will get you her #. You should try the dermalogica - you can get samples from a dermalogica distributor. My esthetician is a dealer or Shifeon on Robson is as well. Just so you don’t think that my esthetician is pushing it only ’cause she’s selling it, it’s not the case. She does alot of product research and only will use and recommend products that she believes in and uses herself.
Shannon
March 12th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
ok, i’m a little late but Clinique works really well…I use the gel (not lotion) face cream, the bar soap for oily skin and turn around/renewal cream (forgot the name). I started using Clinique early last year and see a big difference. Hope that helps!
April 20th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I just wanted to put my two cents in. I know this is really late! But I know I can help. I can tell you run to the clinique counter. They can help you. First off the problem is lack of exfoilation. You need to use a gentle exfoilator. You need to use the 3 STEP!!! This will help you need to use a makeup remover. I can’t see your skin so I can’t tell you what skin type you are but I am telling you I know I am a consultant. I can’t give you the correct products on line but you are probably a skin type 3 normal to oily. You need to use all three steps. The Soap (which we now have a liquid formual) the clairfying lotion and the gel. If you use makeup you need to use a makeup remover before hand because the liquid soap nor the bar are made to cut thru makeup nor sunscreen. You’d only use it when you’ve worn makeup or sunscreen that day. After you use the 3 step use the turn around concentrate. Not only is going to give you a chemical exfoilation, but it will help to control your oil and reduce break out up to 60%. Your makeup will look awesome. To see how much dead skin is on your face and why these products are not working get a piece of tape, put it on the back of your hand (scotch tape) pull it off. See all that dead skin??? Thats why anything and everything you’ve tried doesn’t work there is no way for any treatment or lotion to get past all that dead skin. I have been through the same thing, I understand. And now I get it. If you have any questions please ask me. But go the counter so someone can look at your skin. Because no one can see it over the computer.