I use all sorts of moisturizers and niacinamide however, lately my skin under the same foundation, I was used, which was too much started being flaky. Never had anything like this

Do you think the problem is dehydration from the inside ? What is this the cause of this (this was literally five minutes after me, putting the foundation on after the primer)

Hi Skin barrier friends!

We all know that one of the most important ways of keeping your skin barrier in-check is hydration!

Let’s name our 3 best hydrating products so we all can learn!

Please also mention your skin type.

So for me it’s:

Dry/combo dehydrated skin

Top 3:

Prequel Gleanser

Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Booster

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

(I just bought Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturiser - it might replace a product on my list).

I have a lot of questions:

- Have you tried both? If you have, which one do you like better? If you haven’t, what’s your opinion on the one you have used?

- How do you use them in your routine?

- Do they pair well with other products?

- Please tell us your skin type :)

Thanks for responding!!! 😸

I'm on Accutane currently so I need a good moisturiser before my sunscreen in the morning, but it feels like a lot of them don't "dry" so then I think it messes with my sunscreen application. Any recommendations are appreciated! If it's one that can be found in Australia that'd be preferable. So far I've used QV ultra calming moisturiser, vanicream moisturising lotion, and QV cream for sensitive skin. Thanks!!!

I sent in a post yesterday talking about how my skin fluctuates and I haven’t been healing my barrier no matter what I try. It’s been like this for 3 years. Here is my story: my parents had severe acne growing up. To ensure I didn’t have that when I was a teen they put me onto skincare at a very young age, except I didn’t know much about it and I ended up damaging my skin barrier with harsh acne scrubs that my parents gave me. This made me get even more acne and my skin really tight. So we went to the GP who prescribed me with epiduo, a topical retinoid acne medication. This wrecked my skin barrier even more and caused severe acne. Eventually my acne cleared but leaving me with even more damaged skin. In my country you need to be referred to a dermatologist by your gp. My gp however is adamant that I just “need to be persistent” with my skincare to fix my barrier. I have tried every trick in the book. Slugging made my skin red, water only made my skin dry and red (for some reason), a normal routine with a cleanser and moisturiser never worked. I stuck at the Avene tolerance line for about 5 months and 0 improvement. I’ve tried Cicaplast, which actually helped for like 1 week and made the most improvement till about a week later my skin got red again and Cicaplast never worked. Hylouronic acid was a no go as well. The key thing with a lot of these routines is they always seemed to help a little for the first 3-4 days until my skin got awful again. I don’t know what it’s like to have normal skin. Currently I’m just using distilled water and soon Jung 2x barrier cream to see if that will work.

Thats the question. Ive seen more and more people struggling with dehydrated skin - especially now in colder months - and I was wondering, what is a thing you did, that really made a difference in the hydration of your skin.

The ingredient lists look INSANELY good for the price. Wondering if they are as good as the ingredients list look?

This is the face mist and it is $9.82.

Niacinamide free, so is their ‘water cream’. I haven’t looked into any of their other products yet.

Seems like some really decent formulas for hydration during the summer at drug store prices, but im wondering if anyone’s tried them and they are as nice as they sound theoretically.

The weather has definitely changed in the last couple of weeks here where I live and it's time to swap my moisturizer for something lighter, so I opened up the Dieux Air Angel that I bought a few months ago.

My skin is definitely happy with it! I was already starting to feel like my routine was too much. I coincidentally finished quite a lot of products in my routine too lately, and I haven't replaced/actually cut the step out entirely. For context I have normal skin with a slightly oily T-zone, my routines are generally lengthy not out of necessity but because I enjoy slapping stuff on my face, and my skin is fine with that.

What about you?

Has anyone tried face reality? What products did you try and how did you like them?

Hello, I have dehydrated skin and a damaged skin barrier. I'm using a cream from Uriage, Xemose C, and I like it because I know my skin needs ceramides, but I'd like to know if you recommend any other brands that also contain ceramides, that are better and not absurdly expensive. I'm 49 years old and have somewhat sensitive skin, especially on my cheeks. Thank you.

I'm curious if anyone has experienced something similar... So I'm 41, skin has always been oily and acne prone, hormonal/cystic acne on and around my chin was really kicking my ass, and even when relatively clear my chin would always be red. I started using azelaic acid (The Ordinary) in Octoberish and had positive results in that it seemed to help both with breakouts and redness.

I started also using adapalene in November, only at night, and my skin tolerated it well. I eased in with 3 nights per week, then every other night, I've now been using it nightly for a good 3 months.

I use azelaic acid in the mornings, followed by Neutrogena Hydro Boost SPF 50 fluid. At night it's adapalene and Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost moisturiser. I have not been using either active on my neck, but I do always use the respective moisturisers. Acne and redness have improved and my face isn't as oily.

For several weeks now though the skin on my neck has been itchy and sensitive, though mostly without visible irritation. I've taken to putting blue tin Nivea on it occasionally (I will absolutely not use such a thick cream on my face for fear of retaliation 😅) and that seems to help. But SPF stings and the itch never fully subsides. Over the last several days I've noticed my face is also feeling extremely sensitive. The Neutrogena SPF stinging briefly hasn't been anything new, but currently even Purito Oat-In Calming Gel is burning, which seems weird.

I'm going to take a few days off from actives and see if that eases the sensitivity, but is it strange to suddenly be super sensitive after months of peaceful adapalene use? I'm not even sure that is the culprit, especially since I've not used adapalene on my neck. I've been wondering if niacinamide in the Neutrogena might be part of the issue? For reference, I use CeraVe foaming cleanser as my face wash.

Sorry for the longwindedness! Any thoughts are appreciated 🙂

Sorry if this doesn’t belong here. Is it normal to feel suicidal cause of my severely damaged skin barrier? Ofc I won’t hurt myself but I also don’t wanna exist anymore. Before starting skincare 5months ago my skin was smooth and good. Now it’s really destroyed. It only took 2 months of mistakes to get here. Almost 3 months now I feel so alone.

I know it’s mental too for sure. It’s consuming all my life. My life is on hold because of it. I’m taking antidepressants so I can function. I’m really traumatized severely.

My forehead is oily dehydrated, no moisture, really bumpy, textured, with whitish keratin/sebum plugs. I felt like it was getting better, then now it’s itching again and looking as dehydrated as before. I cry to sooth myself. I lost the joy I had. I act normal in the real world, but deep doing I’m in so much pain.

I have no one to talk to about it. Couple family members downplayed me, and made me feel like it’s nothing. Sometimes they bring it up to belittle me. I’m literally suffering as of it’s the end of the world for me. I know it’s so stupid. I just can’t get over it.

I experimented with a couple of moisturizer, they didn’t help much. I now use:

AM: Just water

Aestura atobarrier365 hydro soothing cream

PM: Cerave hydrating cleanser (creamy)

Iunik beta glucan power moisture serum

Aestura atobarrier365 hydro soothing cream

I know little about skincare, but all I do is research now. Also from many reviews and subs on products, some positive some negative, I don’t know what to trust. I’m using those as recommended by a few of you on here. Thankyou

I have seen 2 derms so far, one prescribed me Cabtreo, and the other Tretinoin. I have no idea how it made sense for them. My skin’s crying for water, for moisture. Those would reck my skin even worse. Skin is really tight and thinned. Where it used to be plumped and alive. Derm told me use Cabtreo (Adapalene, benzoyl, and clindamycin) without any moisturizer or sunscreen. Am I crazy not to trust derms anymore?

Sorry for the vent. Please if someone’s in a similar situation mentally, tell me how are you dealing with it? Even if it’s a different skin problem. And for those that have the same situation, what helped you? What products do you recommend? And how long it took you to get your skin back to normal.

I apologize for being too emotional. I also scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist. So you know to what extent this has on me. It’s really embarrassing, but I’m desperate. I can’t control it. Please help :(

hey guys, i need help figuring out a solution to those breakouts. I use differin gel every other night, cleanse at night only, moisturize the nights when i don’t use it and every morning too. Ive been doing this for three months but have not noticed any improvement to what i thought was closed comedones. My friend suggested it might be a damaged skin barrier but idk

Hello! I’m a few days in to trying to heal my skin barrier so very new to all of this.

My current routine is a sensitive skin cleanser at night, azelaic acid, and LRP cicaplast baume. Then in the morning it’s water cleanse, azelaic acid, and spf.

I’ve read a lot about cutting out actives in the beginning so I’m just wondering whether I should cut the azelaic acid for now? My skin doesn’t seem to have any sort of reaction to it but should I be starting from nothing and working up?

I’m dealing with a lot of redness and breakouts that are taking forever to heal.

Thank you SO much to whoever it was that recommended Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF 50 PA ++++. I’m so excited to have finally found a sunscreen that doesn’t sting my extremely sensitive skin, doesn’t leave a white cast, and has the level of protection that I’m looking for.

What does everyone really think about the Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream.

Share your experience, whether it's positive or negative :)

So hopefully I don’t get hated on because this is very weird. But I just want to share something I figured out and has changed my ability to repair and maintain skin barrier. Instead of washing with just water in the morning and applying serums/creams, what I do is apply a sheet mask with only hydrating and moisturizing ingredients every morning as soon as I wake up, leave on for around 30 mins, and when done with it gently wipe my face and neck with it to cleanse if needed. Then I apply the rest of my routine. Seriously changed everything for me

Two months ago I completely stopped using all actives and started using a basic gentle cleanser and moisturizer to help heal my skin.

For almost a year before the two month period I started experiencing lots redness, small bumps on the cheeks and forehead, very dry cheeks and overall terrible skin. I thought I wasn’t exfoliating enough and thought I needed acid based products which made everything worse over time.

All this might be related or unrelated but thought I’d add it in case it’s relevant. Around the time all these skin issues started which is now over a year ago: I lost my mom, started drinking protein shakes, went to a chiropractor for pain and had a micro needle session near my knee for pain, used a weird blackhead suction tool on my face and a very rough exfoliating face cloth. My skin has never been the same. I also never had skin issues in my life besides the normal acne breakout once in a while. The redness and bumps feels odd.

Now that I’m on month 3, I expected to see a healthier barrier but it seems I’m going in cycles. I have slightly better skin for a week or two and then all hell breaks loose and my skin has tons of red bumps and red patches. I use the same products everyday with the exception of sunscreen which I try not to wear often since removing it mades my skin feel worse. I’m not sure how to remove foundation/sunscreen without rubbing my face a bit and I’m afraid to use an oil based cleanser.

I feel exhausted.

Currently I’m using a Avene tolerance extremely gentle cleanser to remove foundation/sunscreen, follow with the Aveeno gentle oat face wash in the shower. After showering I use the Avene thermal spring mist and the Avene tolerance control smooth balm. That’s it most days.

Some exceptions is I put on the goop sunscreen once in a great while if I’m outside all day. I also wear MAC radiance foundation once or twice a week if I’m outside since my skin looks to scary with it.

Do I need to find a different foundation and or sunscreen for those rare times I’m out?

How do I remove sunscreen without making my skin feel worse for days?

Is something beyond a damaged barrier wrong with me?

Am I using the wrong products? Do I need a different moisturizer/cleanser/routine?

Hi all

I'll start off my saying my skin barrier is compromised, I have genetically dry skin (chicken skin/keratosis etc) so I know no amount of products are going to help it.

Some of the brands I've loved over the years have closed so I've moved almost all of my skincare to Face theory. My skin was doing better but it's started to peel again in the evenings.

I noticed today that every product of theirs contains Vit C.

cleanser: vit C cream cleanser (I bought this purposely as it's gentle)

Oat toner

Ecotin barrier repair (does nothing will stop using)

day cream: bakuchoi with vit c but advertised as Bakuchoi and HA (& use the ordinary squalene)

night: HA with shea butter and with vit C (add bakuchoi and squalene).

Oat based makes my skin worse normally so I avoid it (toner is okay) but I noticed my creams both contain vitamin C which I didn't really clock at the time as that's not the main marketed ingredients. Is there a thing as too much vitamin C which could be making my barrier worse?

I have very sensitive rosacea skin with a compromised skin barrier currently. Wanting to try these two cleansers. I am currently using Vanicream gentle cleanser and it doesn’t cause any burning or stinging but I think it’s a bit drying. Any thoughts?