Need moisture!
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free skin care · Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:29 am

Ive been stuck with the notion that because of my active oil glands, i hv to use only ultra light moisturisers. Im starting to suspect more n more that my skin is under-hydrated!! Can see flaky skin all the time with zero glow. My skin type is dry on the surface but active sebum production beneath so could be prone to clogs and break-outs. Can anyone recommend a gd moisturiser suited to my skin type? Ive been using the same moisturiser for the past 2 years which is by Renaissance of Switzerland called Derma Control Base. Its very light n elaves a minty feel. Ive tried a few samples of Sothys Hydro-optimale gel which i find ok...bt dont see any visible effects of that...help me get that nourished dewy look!

free skin care · Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:43 am

It sounds like you might benefit from sebum balancing. Oftentimes when skin is appears oily, it is because it is overproducing too much sebum in response to either an overly harsh cleanser, or too light of a moisturizer, or both.
The body keeps over-producing sebum because it is being stripped of it's own natural protective moisture barrier. If you use a moisturizer with a non-comedogenic oil in it, such as jojoba oil, most of the time it will balance the skin & your sebum production will decrease.
Have you tried Dr. H's Normalizing Oil? I haven't tried it personally, but I know many have used it with great success. You could also try straight jojoba oil, or a moisturizer that contains jojoba oil as the only oil component in the emulsion. Also, how much water do you drink a day?

free skin care · Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:51 am

Thanks! I doubt its the cleanser cos i hv always been using a very gentle cleanser... Gentle Cleanser by Belle Wave (all these products my facialist introduced to me and i have been using for the past couple of years) and only recently changed to Sothys Purifying cleanser which i am quite liking at the moment. I also use the Sothys Normaling Milk cleanser for make up removal now, which i hope will help in balancing sebum as you suggested. Perhaps its the mosituriser thats not strong enough then? What non-comedogenic? I still need to attune myself to the idea of using oil on my face which sounds like im applying my way to a big breakout! For such oils like the Dr H Normalising oil, does it mean that they completely replace the moisturiser so all u need to do is to apply the oil and that should suffice? I m a religious user of sunscreen cos i hv hyper photo senstitive skin (currently hv freckles and pigmentation)...does it sound like oil and sunscreen = zits?? I drink about 1.5L of water a day...could do with more i guess.

free skin care · Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:23 am

Hi mojocat, I use either Jojoba oil or Dr Hauschka Normalising Day Oil under my sunscreen.
I prefer the Jojoba with sunscreen as its not as greasy.

free skin care · Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:03 pm

Just jojoba oil on its own? Where can i find that? Is that as good a moisturiser as one from a professional skincare line? I thought there would be other ingredients in the moisturiser that would be beneficial for the skin.

free skin care · Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:44 am

Mojocat

I had the same problem as you for a long time, I didn't know what the heck was causing my skin to be oily and at the same time dry, flaky (and red looking too).

You can get pure jojoba oil from most health shops, but try to get one that is 100% cold pressed and organic, as it will have no pesticide or hexane residues from extraction.

Jojoba is very light, I use it on my lips and it is soaked up very quickly and does not feel greasy at all.

I use a mixture of about 1:1 of jojoba, evening primrose, with 10% carrot oil (like Dr Normalising oil), and some essential oils. I use it very lightly at night and helps with the crazy sebum.

Hth

free skin care · Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:27 am

Wow... i might give the jojoba oil/Dr H a try altho i must say there's a huge psychological barrier i hv to overcome in applying oil to my face! Still prefer the conventional moisturiser if anyone else has recommendations! Miranets, since our skin types are 'similar', do u mind sharing what other skincare products u are using/have used and found to be effective? Thanks!

free skin care · Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:46 am

I know I had the same psychological barrier Laughing

My preference is the Jojoba it's so versatile, I also use it as an eye make-up/face make-up remover, for my hair, nails....everything Rolling Eyes

As a moisturiser it does cancel out any oil production I have during the day, I find I only need a very small amount and I also like to use a toner (witch Haxel mixed with rose water) beforehand.
Jojoba oil has to be the most inexpensive and effective moisturiser I have come accross Wink

I have just bought a new bottle from Neal's Yard for about £7.

free skin care · Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:16 pm

Mojocat

It was also really hard for me to accept that my skin needed more oil! But I was totally convinced when I started rubbing some plant oils into my neck and shoulders for pain relief, and I didn't have a single breakout - not like with other creams and moisturisers.

If you are still a bit unsure of using oil based moisturisers then you're not alone.

I only use a very very tiny amount of that oil mixture at night, and mainly in my t-zone. I find that if I use too much around my temples and cheeks, I still can get tiny bumps, because I am lying on it. Also, my brow, eye area breaks out easily from any sort of oil, natural or not.

So oils are not 100% breakout proof, just depends on how sensitive your skin/pores are.

Here is my current sort of routine- it is always changing but I tend to stick mainly with natural lines without SLS, parabens or petrochemicals.

Washing
Currently, in the morning I am washing with Miessence face wash (it is mainly oil based - safflower oil, with herbal extracts and aloe vera gel). I massage this with kaolin clay and let it dry a little before rinsing off.

I was using a sample of Dr H CC for about 2 weeks, I also mixed a little kaolin clay and let it dry completely.

It doesn't leave that clean tight feeling when you rinse off, but I find my skin has not had any problems with blocked pores or breakouts though. And with the help with MMU, it is not as oily during the day

At night, I use a gel cleanser by Akin (Australian brand), I was also using a gel cleanser by Living Nature (Nz brand) but it was a bit too stripping. The AKin cleanser is great, doesn't have a foaming effect but really leaves my skin soft. And it is very deep cleansing too. It will def be a permanent part of my routine.

I haven't tried many other natural gel cleansers, as either they are too expensive here or cannot even be found locally.

Toning
I am using a mixture of 1:1:1 of water, ACV, green tea, with EOs in it. Not really sure if this 'helps' as I am using everything at once. But certainly doesn't cause any breakouts.

Moisturising
During the day, now being winter here, I use Dr H quince day cream (it is a bit greasy for me if I don't wear MMU over it). Also once or twice a week, especially after scrubs or masks I use the Dr H Revitalising mask and leave it on all day.

In summer, I use Living Nature Balancing moisturiser. It smells a bit strange, with the flax/kumara (sweet potato) extracts. It is very light, non oil based. Mainly things like cetaryl alcohol (fatty acid) and wheat extracts and such. I still get oily break through but again light MMU helps a lot.

I'm terrible and don't like using sunscreens because they are just too thick for me. I end up with more breakouts and blocked pores. But I don't burn easily anyway.

This is getting long, but just a last bit-
Other must have products for my oily skin are Dr H clay cleansing mask, once or twice a week to declog pores, you really start feeling those little bumps come out after washing it off. Also I make my own mixture similar to Epidermx, for weekly exfoliation.

Hth

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