Help for dry chemo stressed facial skin - Ren or Biossance experience?
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Anonymous
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I'm going through weekly chemo and one of the side effects for me has been extremely dry, dull and flaking skin, along with some pimples on chin. I had my routine down to great products that worked for me, including AHA/BHAs, but all those things are now too drying and not working. I drink a ton of water but that's not helping with my face.
I rediscovered a bottle of Fresh Seaberry Cleansing Oil that was way too oily for me before, but now seems to really help matters! I don't love the rest of the Fresh line though so I'm looking for some suggestions and want to keep it to clean skincare lines. Looking at Sephora, some of the best reviewed products that fit were from Biossance and Ren. Does anyone have recommendations or experience with those lines, or other ideas? I need a good moisturizer and maybe facial oil and serum. A lot of blogs recommend Aquaphor and Cetaphil but those just don't work for me. TIA! |
Anonymous
I love the Biossance squalane. I use it as the final skin softener, additional 'moisturizer' after my other serums, etc. A bit pricey but I prefer Biossance over other squalane products I've tried. You don't need a lot of squalane oil either, just a dab or two. I suggest getting a couple of free sampler sizes of Biossance squalane from Sephora or order the travel size from Biossance before you plop down your money. I was so cheap that whenever I was at a mall, I'd get Sephora samples to see if it really worked. I didn't buy Biossance squalane for three months as, again, you don't need much. |
Anonymous
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Have you tried Avene's Tolerance Extreme products? I had to switch to them after I developed perioral dermatitis.
https://www.aveneusa.com/concerns/skin-affected-by-cancer I started by trying this sample kit: https://amzn.to/2MsYNzo It's a month's worth. I use the mineral water spray followed by the cream morning and evening; I use the cleansing lotion in the evening before the cream. You might also look at Osmia Organics -- because perioral dermatitis leads to dry, red, flaking, burning skin and pimples, it sounds a lot like what you're suffering from. The black soap especially is very soothing and non-drying: https://osmiaorganics.com/collections/perioral-dermatitis In fact I'm wondering if you've seen a dermatologist for a diagnosis? https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rashes/perioral-dermatitis Whatever you do, don't use topical steroids on your rash -- either prescription or non-prescription. It may cause a temporary improvement but it will come back worse. My derm put me on Oracea, a very mild antibiotic, to help clear it up, and now I'm religious about sticking to the Avene or Osmia products. I also never use toothpaste with SLS, as that is a common trigger. And exfoliation is a no-no -- either manual or chemical. Good luck -- perioral dermatitis is awful in its own right and I'm so sorry you're dealing with it on top of cancer. |
Anonymous
| I've been dealing with very dry flaky skin as well. This past weekend I stocked up on two things at the Whole Foods sale: the lightweight Weleda skin food (I've tried the original skin food but for my face it feels too heavy), and mad hippie antioxidant serum. The combination has been fantastic. The antioxidant serum is a combination of several very hydrating oils, and then the light skinfood is a great way to seal it all in without feeling too heavy. My sand-paper dry skin has been feeling so much softer and plumper. And bonus: both of these products together cost less than any biossance product (which are overpriced and overrated IMHO). |
Anonymous
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Have you tried going simple and washing with a goats milk bar soap? I have very sensitive, easily irritated skin and that is the only thing that doesn’t set my face on fire.
Zum almond is a good one, nature by canius unscented and legends unscented all work the best for me. A plus - the milk is a mild aha and helps with flaking. |
Anonymous
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Oh look at the Betsy bar at zum
https://www.indigowild.com/betsy |
Anonymous
| Have you considered the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair cream? I think it is clean. It is very moisturizing; my skin drinks it up without sitting too heavy and never irritates. I don’t have chemo experience to speak from but have sensitive, reactive, 40+ skin and this never disappoints whether my skin is at its best or dealing with a flare up of rosacea or perioral dermatitis. |
Anonymous
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Thank you all so much for your help - I'm trying it all!
I'm getting cheap sample sizes of the Biossance squalene and their heavier moisturizer. PP, I have and love Weleda skin food but had no idea there was a lighter one for face - I'm definitely going to try that since I use it anyway. I had tried the heavy one but too much for my face and didn't help where I needed it. A friend just gave me the Avene mineral spray and I'm going to start that and will look at the other products you mentioned. I will ask my oncologist about prescriptions that might help. I had looked at First Aid Repair cream but some of the reviews said it was a little heavy where they had breakouts, however it's a good price so I might try it if the above don't work. Lastly will def get the Zum bar and look at Mad Hippie when I'm in Whole Foods/MOMs next. I appreciate all the suggestions! |
Anonymous
| OP, I'd take it slow and not jump around between products. I'd start by going to a dermatologist and get their recommendation for something super gentle as well as a diagnosis and a plan of action going forward. You don't know what fragrances (even natural fragrances), ingredients, or whatever might actually make the situation worse, so keep it very simple, eliminate what you're using and take it down to even just washing with water and avoiding all products, and see what the derm says. |
Anonymous
| Look at Evan Healy's products. They are of excellent quality. Her rosehip oil is amazing. The combination of hydrosol+oil works wonders on my face. They also have some cleansing milks and cleansing oil that are very gentle. |
Anonymous
| Avene is lovely. I have dry skin and breakout and it works wonders. It’s very soothing. |