I have super sensitive skin. I use First-Aid Beauty (from Ulta or Sephora)—the cleanser, serum and moisturizer. Once my skin calmed down, I added some other products gradually to ensure they didn’t irritate, like the Fresh brand kombucha essence and their black tea masks.

You're probably going to have to drop some money on something additive to your routine, like a serum, if you want to see real results, and not just prevent your face from falling apart...

as other posters mentioned, you're going to need to do a version of this in the morning and evening. you cannot slack. i don't have many lower price recommendations but what i do have WORKS.

1. Cleanse with a light, oil based cleanser. I like Jordan Samuel. Obviously you can't pick this up at the drug store, but order a few bottles at a time. Repeat cleansing if you're wearing makeup or sunscrean. https://jordansamuelskin.com/collections/cleansers/products/the-after-show-treatment-cleanser-for-sensitive-skin

2. Tone. Use an acid baser toner.

3. Hydrating toner. Use rose water here: https://www.thayers.com/shop-thayers/premium-witch-hazel/facial-toners/rose-petal-facial-toner/

4. Serum. Joana Vargas daily serum: https://www.dermstore.com/product_Daily+Serum_53086.htm x1 a day

5. Hydrate. I love La Mer moisturizer.

I love Effeclar line by La Rose Posay also. Start with unmedicated face wash and then switch to mediated version which has salicylic acid. I have similar skin and this is the best! Also, when your skin gets calm, try Differin at night.

I found this routine really helped to even out everything.

Cleanser: neutrogena ultra gentle cleanser

Toner: Thayers Rose Petal Toner

AM moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Toleraine Moisturizer with SPF (although I tend to have oily skin sunscreen is SUPER drying so I use this formula).

Micelleur water to remove makeup

PM: RetineA with CeraVe PM moisturizer

Thanks all!

I've decided to try some Neutrogena products, and to stay very simple. If that doesn't work I will try La Roche Posay.

It's the night time CeraVe that I was using that I noticed made my skin break out. I get really bad clogged pores when I use it.

With Cetaphil my skin always feels oily still after washing with it, and it leaves a residue on my skin I don't like.

Eyeliner - it never even occurred me to that using it under the bottom lid was dated. I'll give it a try. I'm going to have to stop using it for a while anyway because of the flaky skin. It's really bad. I have crusty, flaky skin where I put eyeliner. It looks terrible, and it flakes into my eyes. Plus it hurts.

I wonder also if I improve my diet and get better sleep if that will help. Life has been super stressful lately and instead of investing in self-care to help, I resorted to drinking more wine and eating crap. It has messed with my ability to sleep.

Regarding Cerave, is that all products? The AM moisturizer with sunscreen is awful for me (itching, redness, pain, breakouts), but I love the PM moisturizer which I use morning and night.

I use Cetaphil Gentle cleanser but don’t wear makeup every day (WAH) and am not sure it’s that great at removing makeup, but is great (for me) as a cleanser to remove the day's dirt/oil.

I also buy a Vitamin C serum on Amazon that, I think, helps. https://www.amazon.com/Claire-ity-Hyaluronic-Anti-Aging-Moisturizing-Décolleté/dp/B00OKY87OS/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?keywords=vitamin+c+serum&qid=1560704439&s=gateway&sprefix=vitamin+c+ser&sr=8-13

I’m almost 48 and have had very sensitive skin my entire life and am always so scared to try something new for fear of what the reaction will be, but the Vitamin C serum feels good (tightens the skin a little when it dries, but I then apply moisturizer and it’s fine).

I have rosacea and use Soolantra every few days to keep the pustules (bumps) away.

On a personal opinion note, I might also suggest no under eye liner to both help with the dryness/flaking and it’s a dated look. (Please ignore this if you really like the liner.)

Anonymous wrote:I have similar skin, and La Roche-Posey Effeclar works well for me - the face wash, toner and moisturizer. I also use micellar water to remove makeup every night.

Sorry, just noticed that you said no benzoyl peroxide... this probably won’t be good for you. But they do have a sensitive line of products that might be better?

I have similar skin, and La Roche-Posey Effeclar works well for me - the face wash, toner and moisturizer. I also use micellar water to remove makeup every night.

1) stop wearing eyeliner
2) You need to give your face a rest. All of that is going on because you are drying it out.
3) Use Micellar water
4) Use products for sensitive skin, or even normal skin, never oily as it is obviously drying you out and wreaking havoc
5) Use Hydrocolloid patches for breakouts

My skin is a mess and I need some advice. I need to find some brands that will work for me. I have:

- breakouts
- oilier skin in the summer
- flakiness in certain areas - bad right under eyes where I apply eyeliner
- beginning signs of aging - fine lines around corners of eyes
- itchiness - my skin reacts to lots of different ingredients

When I buy products to help with the breakouts and oiliness, my skins gets dry and flaky. If I buy products to deal with dryness, then I get worse oil and breakouts. Trying new products often makes everything worse, with itchy, red skin.

I can't use benzoyl peroxide. I can't use CeraVe without breaking out (not sure why). When I go to the dermatologist I don't feel like they listen and are more interested in selling expensive products and procedures.

Anyone in the same boat have luck with over the counter, not super expensive products?