I drink too much water for my skin to be this dry!

[Ouch]

I'm so upset...angry..pissed. I was once someone who no skin issues, not even acne. Then in Feb. 2007, I started experiencing a couple of allergic reactions (till this day). I dont know if was the hydrocortisone cream (which I stopped after 3 applications) that the dr prescribed but my skin got soooo dry that it began to peel. For like 3 weeks, one side of my face was lighter then the other. It since has gone back to normal but my skin has remained sooo gosh darn dry!

And my lips. Oh boy my lips, I got to go to bed with blistex slathered on them suckers and slather it back on right after brushing in the morning or else they get dry and tight 2 seconds after brushing.

Because of this sudden case of dry a** skin, I've gotten wrinkles that look like thin scars. Wrinkles that you have to be all up in my face to see but their there lol. My forehead is wrinkly and so is this always dry spot on my face. This is truly a nightmare.

Does anyone have any recommendations (perfer natural ingredients) for the extra, extra, extra dry peeling skin on my face? I'll be forever grateful. I've tried the ol' vaseline trick but I hate the way it leaves my face all greasy.

[Sasha Fierce]

I would visit a Clinique station. I have very dry skin and from what I understand, exfoliating is the key to getting that dry dull skin off so that the renewed skin cells will come through. I know exfoliators are like astringints and seem drying but i think they are necessary to get that dry skin off. Then you follow with a moisturizer. Clinique has a great three step line: cleanse/exfoliate/moisturize. And the ladies at the counter will be helpful in picking products best for your skin. I am currently trying out the AVEDA line which i think is pretty good so far. Clarins also has a great moisturizer.

P.S. My aunt used the vaseline method and all it did was cake her dry skin onto her face leaving it looking a little crusty and peeling at times. First cleanse, get those dead skin cells off (exfoliate), then moisturize.

[Sasha Fierce]

Oh yeah, I belive AVEDA has natural (plant extract) ingredients..not sure about the other too. But Aveda had the three step process as well.

[Ouch]

Thanks a mill. :)

[Nonie]

What do you use to wash your face? A soap or a cleanser? Soaps may be drying due to the alkaline content...unless it's a neutral soap. Have you trield the oil cleansing method? I cannot rave enough about that method. I used to have dry patchy skin with an oily T-zone. Now my skin isn't dry at all. I do use olive oil soap every other day or so, but otherwise, it's EVOO all the way and I don't need a moisturizer. I've done this for so many months (I lost count) and I am never going back.

Also do you consume oils? EVOO, coconut oil, flaxseed, cod liver oil... If not, you might want to add them to your diet/supplements. In an effort to lose weight, we cut out all fats/oils without realizing that we might need them for other things (I believe they nourish our skin).

If you're taking as much vitamin C as I do (3000+ mg), it can be drying so you may need to drink even more water than you're drinking. I think that's because it's water soluble so you pee the excess a lot (if it isn't time-released) and so lose a lot of water.

Also don't forget, you perspire a lot this season, so even if you don't feel wet, you're losing moisture so might need more water than you're used to drinking.

OK, I'm gonna tiptoe outta here coz I'm out of ideas....

[Ouch]

What do you use to wash your face? A soap or a cleanser? Soaps may be drying due to the alkaline content...unless it's a neutral soap. Have you trield the oil cleansing method? I cannot rave enough about that method. I used to have dry patchy skin with an oily T-zone. Now my skin isn't dry at all. I do use olive oil soap every other day or so, but otherwise, it's EVOO all the way and I don't need a moisturizer. I've done this for so many months (I lost count) and I am never going back.

Also do you consume oils? EVOO, coconut oil, flaxseed, cod liver oil... If not, you might want to add them to your diet/supplements. In an effort to lose weight, we cut out all fats/oils without realizing that we might need them for other things (I believe they nourish our skin).

If you're taking as much vitamin C as I do (3000+ mg), it can be drying so you may need to drink even more water than you're drinking. I think that's because it's water soluble so you pee the excess a lot (if it isn't time-released) and so lose a lot of water.

OK, I'm gonna tiptoe outta here coz I'm out of ideas....

YES! I have the dry skin with an oily T-zone toooo but even my t-zone gets peely sometimes.

I use whatever bar of soap is in the bathroom lol. Its what I use to do before all this. Last week it was Irish Spring's Aloe bar soap and this week its Ivory's bar of soap. On top of that, I've used St. Ives Apricot Scrub (gentle) a total of 3-4 times since I bought it on May 7th. It leaves my skin soft but I still see peeling when I towel-blot my face dry.

I consume no oils except the corn oil my mom cooks with lol and if I do consume vitamin C in my foods, I bet its a little bit lol.

[Ouch]

Do tell of this "oil cleansing method." Please. :)

[Nonie]

Here's one of the first places I ever saw the OCM:
http://www.forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=5612

But it's a well known method among LHCF-ers. I'll be back with the thread on it. Honestly you ought to try it. Your face will be transformed. Instead of scrubs, how about getting a microdermabrasion product. I think scrubs can tear deeper than they need to as the particles are much larger than microderm ones. Using an AHA might even be better as they remove dead cells more gently than the manual methods. But to be honest, I have managed to do without either and I'm way past 30!

[Nonie]

Threads on the Oil Cleansing Method:

I LOOK Like I am 15 Years Younger! (http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77778)

Washing Face With Olive Oil - Candycane (http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6395)

Olive Oil Check in... (http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8258)

OLIVE OIL (http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8302)

I'm loving the castor oil/olive oil cleansing method (http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59548)

[MzPrince]

Are you using a daily moisturizer after cleansing and exfoliating? Mosturizers are a must.

[Ouch]

^ ^ ^ No :( . I'm actually new to having a REAL skin regime. I always just washed my face with whatever bar of soap is in the bathroom and put on whatever lotion thats in the bathroom right after. That's what I always did. Up until recently I used "Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Rich Hydrating Lotion."


Thanks Nonie for them threads. I went to the kitchen and saw the EVOO bottle with a liiiiitle bit still left. :lol: Hopefully I too will be able to testify the wonders of EVOO and the method.

[Ayeshia]

you need a healthy dose of Omega 3's like Nonie suggested. I take Cod Liver. All the topical products on the world are not going to help that dry skin if you are lacking something in the inside.

[gn1g]

drink the oil. EVOO helps tremendously.