T.F. asks from Pleasanton, CA on February 23, 2011
Skin Care Advice - Pleasanton,CA
I have sensitive skin, so much so that when I was younger I really couldn't use many products on it even those that were labeled hypoallerbenic. Products have improved and I'm finding this is less of an issue. But because I couldn't use much on my skin I never formed a good skin care routine. Now I'm in my late 40s and think my skin would benefit from this. I've also noticed my skin has aged a lot over the past year or so. I have baggy upper eyelids that are driving me nuts (Think Meryl Streep in "It's Complicated") Anyway, I'd like to take better care of my skin but really have no idea what to do beyond washing it and every once in awhile putting moisturizer on it. Never got into the habit since I didn't find products that I could use. Anyway, So you have any suggestionf for must haves and must dos that will work for sensitive skin? Thanks!
Wow, Great responses. I can see I have a little bit of homework to do. Keep it coming ;-) One thing I forgot to mention which really is the kicker.....I seem to be allergic to moisturizers with sunscreen in them :-(. So hats for me and I do try a new one every so often to see if it will work..... In the summer if I'm going to be out in the sun I wear a hat and use the zinc for your face (love the ghosty look it gives (sigh) and then I wash it off as soon as I can.....UGH!
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S.H. answers from Honolulu on February 23, 2011
I have heard that Cindy Crawford's skin care line is very good.
But I don't know if it is hypoallergenic.
But here is her website:
http://www.meaningfulbeauty.com/
2 moms found this helpful
V.C. answers from Dallas on February 23, 2011
T.,
I use the same skin care as Patty W. There is nothing better. Everyone thinks I am much younger than I am. It cleared up every issue I had with my skin. Also, I have been through so many major crises the last 13 years
that would have otherwise taken a great toll on my face.
V.
1 mom found this helpful
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S.L. answers from Fresno on February 24, 2011
Shaklee has a line called Enfuselle that is all natural and guaranteed to make your skin look younger. The toner helps neutralize the iron in the water after you have washed your face so that the free radicals in most tap water won't keep aging your skin. It has many clincal tests and is clinically proven to improve your skin in as little as one month. It carries a money back guarantee.
Here is a link to their products
http://larkchiropractic.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?...
2 moms found this helpful
E.M. answers from Bakersfield on February 24, 2011
Hi Mama-
This is a great question. I have tried a load of different skin care products--sort of a junkie and test pilot for people who want to try something new. For skin that hasn't been cosmetically cared for, you need to determine 2 things---maintenance or prevention and dry or normal. I know we all fall into different degrees of these two things, but let's start simple.
What is your available spending in this area? Are you on a target/wal-mart budget or a Sephora/beauty counter/online budget?
If the first, L'oreal, oil of Olay, Roc, or Avon. Sometimes the aging washes are too creamy and not foamy enough. And they don't exfoliate.
My favs in these areas are Skin Genesis (stick with the pink and gray packaging). Make sure you get the hydrating everything from eye cream to toner (pink, alcohol free one), to moisturizer. If you want to get crazy, get the skin serum, too. Olay makes a great exfoliator that comes in a purple and gold squeeze tube. They also have a foaming exfoliating wash and moisturizer which are AMAZING. Roc my mother in law loves, but the AHA's can be harsh on really sensitive skin. Avon is a favorite of mine as well. I buy the Mark milk cleanser that foams with the rice exfoliant. For lotion, I used the "see things clearly" gel. For an eye cream, regardless of regime, the clinical lift eye cream and gel (they come in one, 2 part jar) is really great.
Now for the big names- any make up counter can sell you a great product for sensitive skin, but you have to ask yourself if it is cost effective. This is where sephora comes in. You can sample everything and see if you really like it or if you hate it.
I love Skyn Iceland's glacier wash. The lotion wasn't quite thick enough for my skin, but is GREAT if you have oily skin.
I also tried Korres yogurt stuff....and took it back. The whole side of my face broke out. Ick. But it smelled and felt wonderful! I just wasn't a fan of the rashy look.
So now, I am on the Ole Henriksen test. It's been a month and I am in LOVE with these products. I started with only the Sheer transformation lotion. When you first put it on, you think, wow--a little goes a long way, but do I really feel moisturized? Give it about 10 minutes--blow dry your hair, start a load of laundry, make the kids lunch....anything....and your skin will have absorbed that seriously thin yet amazingly moisturizing lotion. WOW! It's $45, I know, pricey. BUT-- that jar is going to last for MONTHS. Eye cream. If you do nothing else, get a good eye cream. Back to Ole, I couldn't figure out which was for which. I mean, it says 18-35 for one and aging skin for the other. Okay. What exactly does that mean? So I sent an e-mail to the Ole Henriksen people and got a response yesterday. This is what they said:
Fresh Start Eye Cream is more of a preventative cream to reduce early signs of fine lines and maintain the youthful look.
Visual Truth Eye Cream is a repairative cream and is most helpful with advanced signs of aging.
We have a third product that would help diminish dark spots around the eyes. It is called Truth is in the Eyes. It is used under an eye cream and is for more severe dark circles and lines around the eyes. It is an ultra gentile exfoliator to help even the surface under the eyes.
If you e-mail them, they ask if you would like a sample.
The Visual Truth Cream is nice. It's thick but not greasy. I don;t have a ton of wrinkles, but I do have some that are starting to really make their mark on my appearance, which is okay to an extent. Aging is natural. I just don't want to have to those funky dark circled crow eyes before I am truly an old woman! Within 24 hours, the wrinkles have softened and my eyes look a little more youthful. Awesome!
I think the overall consensus is that you need a good, hydrating eye cream, a gentle wash, an exfoliator, toner only if you desire it....and a great moisturizer. And it does not have to break the bank.
The very last thing I want to suggest is a sheer foundation. I know, makeup. One more step. Don't people tell you that it has to go from neck to hairline. LIES! Makeup is to even, tone, and enhance your natural beauty. One of my new favorites is The Body Shop's moisturizing foundation. It has spf, so things like nose, chin and cheeks are protected. And skin the brush-fingers work great. Dab a small amount (after your moisturizer has sunk in) on the apples of your cheeks, a dot on the nose, a dot on the chin and forhead, and if you have any blemishes, just enough to blend those in. Dab like you do with your eye cream until it softly blends. Got too much- use the butt of your hand to gently wipe some away and then blend with your middle and ring fingers. Smooth. And if you can, steer clear of powder blushes and what not. Cream blushes (Avon has a great one for less than $10, Tarte makes a great one for around $30, Almay makes a tube of one for $5-$6 and it is really good too, but thinner and can be messier...but still a good blush) are your friend.
Once you have done all the enhancing you can with a good skin care routine, think make up-- a light and sheer bone colored eye shadow on the inner corner of your eye and just under the arch of your brow opens up your eyes. Use a matte neutral on the rest of the lid. I use colors that are almost the same as my skin- the matte, one or two shades darker than skin tone, and the sheer- a shade or so lighter than skin tone. It keeps me looking awake. And then a really basic mascara. I like Benefit's Bad Gal Lash ($9-$18 at Sephora) and L'Oreal's Voluminous or Million Lashes ($6-$9 at WalMart).
I hope this helps.
Here is the site for Ole Henriksen. If it;s in your budget (think long term), he has some great stuff.
http://www.olehenriksen.com/
-E. M
I was reading through the other answers, great stuff by the way, and saw an old favorite that I completely missed. Meaningful Beauty. It is so delicate and yet so good on the skin. No break outs, no issues, and my skin really did glow after using that mask.
2 moms found this helpful
J.S. answers from San Francisco on February 24, 2011
I'm in my mid 40's, have red hair, and the corresponding sensitive skin, and use the basic Olay products. Not the new, more expensive line, but the ol' basics. I wash my face in the shower and use moisturizer (with spf). At night, I just use a warm cloth to take of the light make-up I use, then moisturize. If you wear more make-up, you may need to wash at night, moisturize and just rinse in the morning and moisturize. No one ever believes I'm as old as I am, so Olay must be working. :)
The eyelid thing is genetics. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but that is the truth. That is probably why Julie R. and her sister both have this issue. There is no cream/gel in the world that will fix it. I have a friend (male) that has this issue and his doc said that as he ages he may have to have them surgically fixed because for some people they begin to sag so badly they interfere with vision.
2 moms found this helpful
S.H. answers from Honolulu on February 23, 2011
I have heard that Cindy Crawford's skin care line is very good.
But I don't know if it is hypoallergenic.
But here is her website:
http://www.meaningfulbeauty.com/
2 moms found this helpful
P.W. answers from Dallas on February 23, 2011
Absolutely! I, too, have sensitive skin. I'm in my 50's and it has gotten dryer due to age, but I gotta brag a little. I have very young looking skin and I think it is a combo of heredity, good vitamins and a great skincare program. The skincare is hypoallergenic and naturally healthy with vitamins in it.
I have a simple routine. 3 minutes twice a day. The system should improve your skin within 30 days, or money back guaranteed. I can't put a link here, but if you are interested shoot me a message and I'll send you one.
2 moms found this helpful
M.A. answers from San Francisco on February 24, 2011
Hi,
I'm more of a natural person so I always go natural first. What you need perhaps is something with astringent properties. Common things you can use around your kitchen are lemon and honey. You could make a little paste and massage it into your face at night and rinse in the morning. This can improve the tightness of your skin. Try not to was your face too much since it may dry out your skin. Hope this helps.
1 mom found this helpful
V.C. answers from Dallas on February 23, 2011
T.,
I use the same skin care as Patty W. There is nothing better. Everyone thinks I am much younger than I am. It cleared up every issue I had with my skin. Also, I have been through so many major crises the last 13 years
that would have otherwise taken a great toll on my face.
V.
1 mom found this helpful
D.P. answers from Pittsburgh on February 23, 2011
I like Aveeno moisturizer.
The important thing is that you DO moisturize.
1 mom found this helpful
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