Moisturizer Help

[readyin07]

I am in my mid30s and starting to worry about fine lines and all that jazz. My skin tends to be dry, but can also break out from time to time so I don't like to use anything too heavy or greasy. Recently, I have been using Olay Pro X and then Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair. I use an SPF moisturizer for day, an eye cream, a night cream and from time to time a wrinkle treatment. Today my skin is a hot mess, super dry with red scaly patches. It "burns" when I apply any sort of cream so I have stopped using anything. My skin is medium toned, but can tend to be sensitive. I am assuming the retinoids and whatnot that I have been using - or the combination of them - have been a little too harsh.

So, a few questions:

1. What kind of anti-aging products should I be using? I have tried department store brands in the past (Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clinique) and not been that impressed. Or should I keep using what I am using and alternate it with something less "strong."

2. Can you recommend a super gentle moisturizer and/or night cream for right now until my skin is back to normal ? CeraVe? Cetaphil? Philosophy?

[kimmygibbler]

If I were you I would alternate your current anti-aging treatment with a gentle moisturizer. I use Cetaphil every night (cleanser and moisturizer); I've used both for years and always had good results. If you're looking for a good anti-aging treatment, I don't think it gets much better than Retin-A. Last year I went to a dermatologist to get a mole checked and while I was there I mentioned some skin concerns (dark spots leftover from blemishes, the start of fine lines, freckles, etc.) and she wrote me a prescription for Retin-A. A tube of the generic form costs me $40 and lasts about 3 months; my skin has never looked better!

[awkwardpenguin]

I find Cetaphil moisturizer too greasy and prefer CeraVe, but I really depends on your skin.

I would pick one anti-ager and stick with it. Combinations can be too harsh on sensitive skin.

[Deleted]

Cut down your retinoids -- you maybe don't want to use them every day.

I'd cut out all antiagers until your skin calms down, then add them back in gradually.

I use a glycolic acid toner from DDF and an antioxidant serum (Skinceuticals Phloretin CF) in the morning, along with Boscia's Enlivening Amino-AG eye cream. At night I use Retin-A and a DMAE serum from Makeup Artist's Choice, along with Revive's Moisturizing Renewal Eye Cream. But my skin can tolerate that stuff.

When my skin is acting up, I switch over to Vanicream as my moisturizer. It is really good for aggravated skin. Cetaphil's moisturizing lotion for dry, sensitive skin is also great for me (but there's no such thing as too greasy on my skin).

[electricmayhem]

I just went through and did a total overhaul on my moisturizing routine, specifically to combat some of the things you mentioned (aging, dryness).  My current combo is CeraVe cream (not the lotion--the one that comes in the huge tub) in the morning, followed by sunscreen--Shisheido Urban Environment SPF42 (not MM, but fluid, lightweight, doesn't interfere with my makeup application and doesn't break me out).

At night I do makeup removal with Clinique's Take the Day Off (LOVE this), followed by Neostrata Ultra Smoothing cream, then CeraVe (still working on the eye cream).   The Neostrata has really helped with all of my dryness and leaves my skin feeling very smooth.  I really like CeraVe.  It's completely unscented, very gentle, good for my dry skin, really inexpensive, and the container is huge (which was important--I like to apply cream liberally and felt I had to be kind-of skimpy with higher-end moisturizers to really make them last).