Okay I have to admit that at the ripe old age of, er 34 that I have seen changes to my skin. That which was previously moist and glowing is now sadly dry. flaky and red. Now I realize that this a fact of turning, er 24 but I am getting a little sick of greasing my face and getting no results other than looking like I have a fire hydrant between my eyebrows.So I am asking for assistance- what do you do to even out redness?
There’s a lot of information on the interwebs, no shortage of opinions. My recommendation for where to start finding skincare information is to look for a source that cites actual scientific research to back the claims on ingredients and products. Marketing departments can say whatever they want about their moisturizer because their job is to say whatever needs to be said to sell it. We all know how they are about marketing perfume! So look to sources that explain — with information from *publicly available* research, not hidden ‘company research’ — why ingredients are good or not good and what they are useful for. I’ve come across several places, and one I always recommend when people are jumping down the skincare rabbit hole is Beautypedia. You don’t have to buy anything, you can simply look up what all the names on the backs of your products are, their merits and downsides, and get better informed. There is no magic answer and a lot of trial and error (where all the suggestions for sampling first come from, just like in Perfumeland!).
I went through the exact same thing – had dewy ‘oily’ skin all my life and then hit 40 and all of a sudden I saw a dry patch. WTH is that!! Figured out the right balance of mild cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing and I’m at peace 🙂
Good luck in your journey!
Look at the ingredients of your products. Fragrance and fragrant plant oils in skincare products can cause irritation that presents as redness and dryness. Simpler is usually better till the problem resolves. My dermatologists recommend CeraVe and Vanicream products. I love the CeraVe PM lotion, the cream in a 16 ounce tub(which is what I use everyday for body but I’ve also used on my face on the red areas) and their dry skin cleanser. The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra lotion is fabulous for calming red areas and can be layered under thicker creams. Paula’s Choice came out with a line called Calm for sensitive and I have only tried the serum so far but it is really good. Paulaschoice.com also has a section on their site under ” expert advice” that you can research skin problems such as dryness and sensitive skin and what to do about it even if you don’t want t buy their products. I’ve been there and know the problem doesn’t go away over night and it takes some trial and error to find what works for you.
I use Dr.Schwab’s rescue cream at night…amazing stuff! It’s actually formulated for cancer patients to help soothe radiation burns and chemo skin, and the company sends it to them free…anywhere in the world. Their products are made here in San Diego, certified organic, no animal or petroleum products. I took them on as a client when I tried their products..,so full disclosure! Great people and products! Check them out at http://www.perfectskinsandiego.com
I also take two tablespoons of extra Virgin olive oil at night, and add coconut oil to my morning coffee. My Thyroid is dead, so I need extra skincare help, or I look like a zombie with her skin falling off.
I love your nutritional advice. Healthy choices make such a difference. Thyroid issues are very hard on the skin. Good for you on finding products that work. It’s very time consuming. Plus I love people supporting local owned businesses. They seem like a very good company.
They are awesome! I’ve been using their pumpkin mask to help get rid of my winter flakes. Smells good enough to eat. I’ve toured their facility, and their clean room sparkles. It’s where every product is manufactured. Such great people!
I’m 69, and I can tell you, the older you get the worse the dry skin problem gets. I use Palmer’s cocoa butter body oil in the shower, their face oil after shaving, and Neutrogena eye cream for the dry area under the eyes. I supplement this post shower and post bed with body cream for the worst spots, feet, arms, elbows. I also keep a humidifier going in the bedroom at night, and stay hydrated. I favor neutral fragrance products so they don’t interfere with whatever fragrance I’m putting on for the day.
Try jojoba oil infused with lavender or chamomile, and carrot seed essential oil? Bound to be anti-flake, calming, and preventive against sun burn
I have parched fair skin, and heat with wood, so in winter, I bring out moisture any way I can. I sleep with a cold mist humidifier, drink scads of water and avoid harsh anything on my face. I have had fantastic results with the Rodin Olio face oil, combined with Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar. The Rodin is not cheap, but, 1 bottle lasts 6 months so I indulge. I use a Clarasonic every 3 days or so to ensure clean, exfoliated skin. (with any creamy cleanser that I know I will not react to) and a quick swipe of Ocean Salt exfoliater from Lush on eyebrows and lips to smooth and brighten ( also great for body skin – love this cheapie)
Make sure you are drinking a lot of water, eat healthy, moisturizer is good and necessary but won’t fix it. Be healthy and try to let the effects of time remind you of the wisdom and personality you’ve gained. You are valuable as a human being simply because you are, not because of how you look.
Delurking to say that my husband gets the exact same thing, Tom (only his extends into his eyebrows, too) and I just exfoliate him when it happens. It seems like it’s dry because of the flakiness, but as Katherine explained above, that’s not the case at all. It’s akin to cradle cap in babies. Some people use Head & Shoulders shampoo to wash the area, but plain old exfoliating works fine for the hubs. (I use Neutrogena Pore Refining Cleanser, but any exfoliator should be fine)
I can’t say what is causing your particular condition, but I have rosacea, which also manifests as dry, flaky red skin. This is hopefully not what is causing your problem, but I would be cautious using retinoids at first. They have a lot of benefits, but a lot of people can’t handle them.
I have had good results with Clinique Redness Relief cleanser and moisturizer (I use LOTS of it!) over just a tiny bit of Metrogel (it is expensive and I thought you needed an rx for it!). Be wary of products with alcohol. Also, be careful that you are not getting any shampoo or conditioner on your facial skin and change your pillowcase frequently. Sometimes it’s just the little things that make a difference!
OK, I have nothing to add — I’m just giggling at everyone on the perfume thread saying “you absolutely have to sample first.” 🙂
Check out Paula’s Choice. I am not affiliated with them, just extremely impressed with the effectiveness of their products and the low price. I agree with the person above that exfoliation is probably needed; you (or one of the PC customer support people) would need to determine BHA vs. AHA, which formula and at what strength. Also: she’s absolutely right about sampling first.
LOVE PC! And she’s a wonderful person who I met and interviewed for another blog. Her products are a steal in my opinion, but please sample first.
Ohhh, thanks, Katherine! That is awesome to know. I have heard great things about retain A. I’m also making a note of the Dr. Ohhira’s. I am just a skincare junkie who has also had to change as I’m going on 30 and my skin is no longer cooperating like I’m used to. My skincare routine seems to have started to help, but it’s a bit complicated. I use a gentle milk or oil cleanser on my face first, and then about three times a week I use my Clarisonic (which I am in love with) or another exfoliator on my skin. I also have problem spots between my eyebrows, so that is an area where I focus. I then tone with rosewater and clary sage. (This is supposed to be good for hormonal acne, so you may not have to worry about that, although it has helped me tremendously and smells heavenly). Then I put camellia oil under my eyes and Caudalie’s moisturizing sorbet or L’Occitan’s Immortelle moisturizer over it. And about 2-3 times a week, right after I tone, I do a sheet mask of some type, and these seem to be very soothing, plumping, and moisturizing for my skin. I hope this helps! Good luck, it is so hard when your skin starts to change. I feel for you and winter is not helping things for me.
Oh my word, I do not know why a link to Sephora appeared in my post. My apologies, I don’t work for them or really even shop there. I don’t know how that happened or how to remove it!
Oh my word, it happened again. Ugh.
I love that you treat your skin with a little TLC! I really like Caudalie, but I know that some people are sensitive to fragrant products on their face. The rosewater and clary sage is really nice AND it’s terrific aromatherapy. Adult onset acne is tricky to treat and it’s very trial and error. It’s completely different than teenage acne. I’m happy that you found a program that works.
I have found great luck with the rosewater and clary sage, but I feel like just paying more attention to my skin in general is probably what ultimately did the trick. I also just like it as a routine, because it is so pampering. Definitely a stress-reliever for me to do that in the mornings and evenings! I am definitely going to incorporate some of your advice as well.
I’m a licensed medical esthetician and I’m wondering if you need a light chemical exfoliation? I know it sounds counter intuitive, but dead skin naturally exfoliates slower in the winter months than the summer months because we usually don’t sweat as much. The lactic acid in sweat combined with sebum helps to exfoliate the skin naturally in summer months.Sometimes the redness is an inflammatory response-Metrogel (now in generic form) Or a good retin A mixed with a moisturizer is another option. Both have clinical studies showing they help remove precancerous legions from the skin as well. There is absolutely zero research that I’ve seen on snail secretions, but I use the Mizon All in one black snail cream (not really a cream, more like a gel) over my Retin A every night and it keeps my face from feeling so dry. Another product that I seen some positive results is the Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic Magoroku skin lotion (as thick as vaseline, or la mer). I don’t work for any of these companies or a skincare line, but I’ve tried literally everything under the sun and for my clients, these work. They aren’t expensive usually less than $20.00. I’ve used the $500 creams on clients and the $10.00 creams. Neither work better than an old fashioned Retinoid or chemical peel followed by simple hydration and sunscreen. No one should have to spend a lot of money and I recommend sampling first. Never purchase a product before sampling.
Katherine, Thank you! You are a wealth of information!! 🙂
Thank you!
No tips but I am following… 37 and this dry winter heat is killing my face. I just ordered a tin of German nivea to try at night. I loved perricone’s face finishing lotion under mu in the past, and I just reordered it. Try a sample from sephora and see if it works for you?