If you have dry skin, what do you use to wash your face?

[lindberg99]

I've tried the oil cleansing method (because I also break out once in a while too). I thought it would be great for my dry skin but my skin still feels tight and dry after. Honey seems a little better.

Is there anything I can use to wash my face that won't give me that tight, dry feeling after? Should I do the oil cleansing but then just wipe off the oil as opposed to using a wet washcloth?

Any advice is appreciated since winter and dry weather is on its way!

[lifeguard]

I honestly almost never use anything on my face except water. I get the occassional breakout from hormonal cycles or stress but usually find my breakouts are worse if I use anything on my skin - I think when you overdry it it compensates by producing too much oil.

[His Own]

My skin is also dry and sensitive. I LOVE washing with cold cream. You can buy Pond's at any drug store or Wal-Mart, etc. After washing with the cold cream (You do it pretty much the same way you use OCM) I don't need any moisturizer, as cold cream leaves the skin feeling soft, moist and creamy.

If you want to make your own homemade cold cream, this link will take you to a recipe and instructions that I use:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ad.php?t=13006

Whatever you do, I hope you solve your dry skin problem very soon.

[riboflavin]

I have very dry skin and started washing with honey only and then applying a small amount of coconut oil. So far, no more dryness! I have been doing this for a few weeks.

[lindberg99]

I used the honey again this morning and that does seem to be the best so far. I used jojoba oil after for moisturizing.

His Own - I couldn't see the cold cream recipe because I don't have a user account. Is there any way you could copy the recipe here? Thanks!

[His Own]

Homemade Cold Cream Recipe

"His Own - I couldn't see the cold cream recipe because I don't have a user account. Is there any way you could copy the recipe here? Thanks!"
______________________

Here is my recipe for old-fashioned Homemade Cold Cream. I ran into the idea of using cold cream on another board. Some of the ladies there absolutely swore that it was the very best thing they had ever found for skin cleansing, even some who had oily skin and acne. They mostly liked Pond's cold cream, and as it's not expensive, I decided to try some.

WOW! My very sensitive, fairly dry skin LOVED it! It works on much the same principle as the OCM, but for me it works much better than OCM ever did. Because of my usual reaction to anything with fragrance, I tried, in vain, to find reasonably priced fragrance-free cold cream. Then I did some research, and found quite a few recipes for making one's own homemade cold cream

I tried numerous cold cream recipes, and here is (my altered version of) one of them, my favorite of the recipes by far. It is the most accurate because the beeswax is measured by weight rather than by volume. It is also (happily!) the easiest to make.

HOMEMADE COLD CREAM

1/4 teaspoon borax
1/4 cup distilled water
1/2 cup mineral oil, or another oil that is liquid at room temperature (Almond is nice)
1/2 ounce (by weight) grated beeswax**(see below)

Dissolve the borax in the water in a (one cup) glass measuring cup. Set aside.

Dump together the oil and beeswax in a larger (2-cup) glass measuring cup.

Heat the oil/beeswax mix in a microwave until the beeswax is melted in and the mixture is clear.

Heat the borax/water mix in a microwave for a minute - almost to boiling.

Slowly pour the borax/water mixture into the oil/beeswax mixture, using a stick blender to mix as you pour. Now beat well with the stick blender until the mix is glossy white and thickened up some.

Pour the (hot) cold cream into an 8-ounce jar with a lid.

Let it cool to room temperature.

Done!

NOTE: If you don't have a stick blender you can beat the cold cream with a whisk or in a regular blender, but the cleanup will be much more difficult. By using glass measuring cups and a stick blender you will be able to simply wipe most of the excess off with paper towels, then wash in hot soapy water. Cleaning plastic measuring cups, and a whisk or (worse yet) a blender of this wax-containing product is difficult and a pain in the neck. Since I make this a lot now I bought a cheap stick blender from Wal-Mart for about $10. It was well worth it.

I hope this helps someone in her quest for clear and happy skin.

**Edited to add: For those who do not have the means to weigh the wax, just a little over two tablespoons is what you want to use.

[eurobin]

Mostly nothing, just water. Once or twice a week, I lather up a Dove bar in the shower. Honey is great but even that, daily, is too much for my skin. I find it's best to just mostly leave it the heck alone.

I am a moisturizer + SPF freak though.

[lindberg99]

Those of you who just use water, do you wear make up? I do and I really feel the need to use something to wash it off at night.

I need to find a good moisturizing cream now too. I swim 2 or 3 mornings a week and that really dries out my skin. I can't use jojoba oil in the mornings because it is not really easy to take in my gym bag because it always seems to make a mess.

Thanks for the cold cream recipe!

[Parthenia]

I have very sensitive skin and rosacea. I don't use meds for the rosacea. I wash with just water, and moisturize with a thick unscented body cream afterwards.

I do wear makeup. At times I've worn foundation, but it's hard to find one that doesn't make me break out, isn't insanely expensive, and actually matches my skin tone. I haven't bothered with it lately (like years). In the summer I rarely wear makeup, in the fall and winter I wear eyeliner and shadow. I wash it off with warm water and a little cold cream (I've made my own, too, similar recipe.)

[lifeguard]

I don't really wear make-up - so the rare times I do I use a make-up remover cream at the end of the night.

[eurobin]

Originally Posted by lindberg99

Those of you who just use water, do you wear make up? I do and I really feel the need to use something to wash it off at night.

Only very rarely (like to weddings and stuff... I'm sure that makes a difference though.)

[~*max*~]

I have very dry skin too, and have to apply moisturizer immediately after washing. I'd love to find something more gentle. I used to use Cetaphil cleanser, which worked nicely, but I am trying to go more natural. Does anyone know if there are any natural cold creams?

[EricaLeigh]

You may have to adjust your ocm with a higher ratio of olive oil to castor oil for the cooler months.

[kindnepenthe]

I have very dry skin as well. On days I wear makeup I wash my face with Pond's Cleansing Face Wash and then lotion up with Vasaline Intensive Care lotion afterward.

On days I don't wear makeup [which is most of the time] I wash with a homemade scrub made with sugar, olive oil, honey, and just a bit of lemon juice, just enough to make it creamy. I leave that on for a few minutes and then when I'm done I put on the same lotion above.

[ShivayaMama]

I use Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser. It does not have any drying agents, and then I use a nice, thick moisturizer twice a day.

[sunnysandiegan]

Are you drinking enough water (and/or other non-caffeinated liquids) to hydrate your skin from the inside?

[SageR]

Originally Posted by sunnysandiegan

Are you drinking enough water (and/or other non-caffeinated liquids) to hydrate your skin from the inside?

Also consuming good fats will help. Fish oil, flaxseed oil, or coconut oil as a supplement in addition to whatever you are eating in your food.

I use a mixture of 1 part vegetable glycerin and 3 parts rose water (I mix up a cup at a time in a glass bottle, shake well before using), applied with a flannel cloth every evening. Once a week I do a baking soda exfoliation in the shower - just make a paste with it and very gently rub a little area of my face at a time, then follow up with the rose water/glycerin. I haven't had to use moisturizer since I started using this cleanser.

[Awaken]

Thanks for these great ideas. Dh and I are really having a problem with any type of face wash causing major dryness, yet if we moisturize afterwards our faces get all greasy! I had a sample of a great natural cleanser/moisturizer but it ran out and it's like $50 per jar so I was hoping for something more affordable...love the cold cream, honey/sugar scrub, and baking soda ideas.

Another thing that works for me is witch hazel. I use a cotton ball of it on my face a couple times a day and that seems to work well without drying. I didn't know if that cleaned the skin enough though- but if some of you just use water and are ok, then it sounds adequate!