Skin Care Advice - Pleasanton,CA

Updated on February 25, 2011
T.F. asks from Pleasanton, CA
21 answers

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

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

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.
Victoria

1 mom found this helpful

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S.L.

answers from Fresno on

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?...

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E.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

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.

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

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.

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P.W.

answers from Dallas on

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.

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M.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I teach skin care with Mary Kay and they are the only company that formulate their products to work together with no adverse reaction. All clinically tested and hypoallergenic and most opthamologist tested so they won't blind you. Don't know where you're located but you can go to our website and find a consultant in your area to give you a complimentary facial. www.maryKay.com/pink4me. Hope this helps.

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L.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Jafra has a line of skin care products for hypersensitive skin, though most of my clients find they can use most of our "regular" products without a problem. Jafra's products are patented and guarantee results and satisfaction. Send me a message if you want more information. I do personal, no obligation consults as well and wouldn't mind coming to Pleasanton, if you're interested in trying the products before making a decision.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I like Aveeno moisturizer.

The important thing is that you DO moisturize.

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D.M.

answers from Denver on

Only wash once a day - at night - rinse in the shower. Be sure to use sunscreen - get a moisturizer with sunscreen for ALL year round. Also moisturize, moisturize, moisturize... especially at night. I like the origins line. It also couldn't hurt to go to a dermotologist for an eval for YOUR skin. Welcome to your 40s... : )

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E.H.

answers from San Francisco on

There is a great site for skin care info and products called Ayla.

http://aylabeauty.com

Go to the advice page...you will find a lot of good info about how to find the right products for your skin type (how to figure out your skin type) and reviews from testers from different ages and skin types. You can also click on consultation to help you get a good idea of what kind of skin care products to use.
I don't know the first thing about skin care or skin care products, so this site has helped me a ton.

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L.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Calendula cream is what i use and my skin is also super sensitive. Try California Baby brand, you can find it at whole foods. And moisturize every night before bed-especially around the eyes.

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J.R.

answers from Glens Falls on

I think a mild soap and a moisturizer with sunscreen (like 30 spf) for day and a mild exfoliating cleanser and moisturizer at night is all you really need. An eye cream is nice (I always ask for samples) because regular moisturizer in the eye area stings my eyes so I bet it would bother your sensitive skin. Use your pinky or ring finger when applying lotion around your eyes, the skin is thin here and rubbing just makes it worse. Drink a lot of water, stay out of the sun and don't smoke. I'm sorry to say there is no skin care product that is going to help your eyelids - it just happens to some of us. I used to blame it on the fact that I smoked for many years but my sister who never smoked got just as bad so I think it's more likely genetic. I had upper eye lid surgery in my early 50's and I am so thankful that I did. I swore I would never do anything like that but it got so bad it was actually painful and it has made a huge difference!

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M.E.

answers from San Francisco on

Going to a department store like Macys to get some samples might be helpful. Also Sephora for samples. Some places might take returns if the product bothers your skin. I personally use DHC, which I buy online. Don't be intimidated by the prices of some of the nicer facial moisturizers - they usually last for a couple months.

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M.F.

answers from San Francisco on

My whole family has issues with sensitive skin, dry skin, skin allergies, ezcema, etc. I have tried tons of lotions/creams but in the end, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream was the best. That is the one in the round tub. The Cetaphil lotion is ok but you really want the moisturizing cream. I wash my hands a lot so most lotions just wash off but the Cetaphil cream seems to stick it out through most of the day. I use it on my face too but I don't know how much it will help with bags or wrinkles. I am interested to see what everyone else recommends for that....

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M.A.

answers from San Francisco on

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.

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A.B.

answers from San Francisco on

This is my job....to teach skin care. I have SUPER sensitive skin, everything broke me out until I found Mary kay. This is why I started selling it, because it saved my face. Now, it's been 16 years and people think I'm at least 10 years younger than my actual age....I can't say enough about the products. There are several lines so there's definitely one for your skin type. Let me know if you'd like more information. You can find all my information contact and otherwise on my web-site: www.marykay.com/alicerenee as well as a picture if you are curious about my face.

Good luck if finding what works for you!!!
A.

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L.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi T.,

I am 46 and like you I found that my skin started to change. When I was about 40, I noticed some laugh lines and the texture of my wasn't smooth. A girlfriend introduced me to the Arbonne Anti-Aging Skin Care line and it has changed my skin forever. The aging lines are less apparent and my skin is smooth again. I loved the Arbonne products so much that I became a consultant after 6 months of using them. Arbonne's skincare is made with botanical extracts and does not contain any animal by products or mineral oil. All of our products are hypoallergenic and I have many clients that have very sensitive skin.

The main things you want to help your skin are as follows:

1) Cleanser - something gentle that doesn't strip your skin of natural oils.

2) Toner - this helps restore the PH Balance of your skin to 7 (same as water). It helps the acid mantle on your skin keep away bacteria that causes blemishes and other skin issues.

3) Eye Cream - Use this around the orbital of your eye to keep the area moisturized and also firm up the skin.

4) Moisturizer - the sun is a big cause of aging. You might be allergic to the PABA in the sunscreen. Arbonne has a day moisturizer with SPF 20 that doesn't contain PABA. If your skin really can't tolerate sunscreen, you might just want to moisturize at night with a intensive night cream. I love Arbonne's night cream.

I hope this gives you a good idea of a basic skincare system. There are other products that are wonderful to add to your skincare regime like facial scrubs, facial masques and serums, but you need to start off with the basics first.

I really enjoy helping people with their skincare needs. There are many choice out there for skincare so I think you'll want to try out some things and figure out if you want a more natural product or one that contains chemicals. The skin is one of the larges organs of our bodies and absorbs whatever you put on it.

I will be happy to send you a sample of Arbonne's RE9 Advanced Anti-Aging Skincare or meet with you for a consultation if you are interested. I live in Redwood City so I'm not that far away from you. You can contact me at ____@____.com can also go to my website at ____@____.com of luck to you in your search for the right products to meet your skincare needs.

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C.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I started using Mary Kay a few years ago and their TimeWise line is fantastic. I too have sensitive skin but I've had not problems with any of their products. And I think it's made a tremendous difference in the aging of my skin (I just turned 40). I don't sell the product, just love it!
C.

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P.F.

answers from San Francisco on

T., I'll keep this short incase some of your other answers cover this. I have been a consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics for over thirty years. In that time I have had many clients with sensitive skin and after they have tried these products, they have hugged me and toldl me that Mary Kay has the only products that they are able to use. I am happy to go into detail with you regarding specific products if you'd like to contact me. I look forward to seeing a smile on your face.
P. F.
____@____.com

B.R.

answers from Redding on

You are asking at a perfect time! Bellamora just came out, and is the first to actually deliver vitamins, nutrients and collagen to to your lowest layer of skin, immediately! Seriously, it is lightening sun spots, age spots, scars and fine lines wthin minutes. Crazy, but it has helped me and now my friends are using it too.They have a patent for their formula, it is one of a kind. Their product comes in a 5 piece kit so there is no guessing on what to use. There is no sunscreen in their moisturizer, so great for the sensitive skin. I too have sensitive skin and now I am receiving compliments on my skin! Never before has anyone noticed my skin before?! check out the product and story here: www.cocobelle.mybellamora.com ....if you have any questions please contact me! ____@____.com...I can also get you some samples so you know what you are getting into! ~B.

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