Thanks,
Mare
Moisturizer help
Moisturizer help
I've been using/rotating between the Raspberry, Jojoba, and Hemp moisturizer but am finding that my skin is still dry (can see some white flakes on cheeks and chin area). I've got super sensitive skin so I can only exfoliate once or twice a week with a soft bamboo washcloth paired with either the Apricot Cleansing Oil or Kiss Cleanser (diluted in a foamer bottle). My skin is normally combination with a tendency towards oiliness in the T-zone and my rosacea and mild acne is currently under control. I'm battling eczema right now, mostly on my neck, right arm, and ears, as the weather here in Canada has gotten colder and drier. I've cut out dairy and eggs as it seems to cause eczema flare-ups and use a prescribed ointment when things get really itchy and red. I'm thinking of trying the Emu moisturizer and the Daily Defense moisturizer as it seems those are better suited for drier skin. Does anyone have any suggestions as to help with the drier skin, especially since there are times that I want to gouge my neck out
Thanks,
Mare
Thanks,
Mare
Re: Moisturizer help
Hiya Mare 
A quick answer would be to try a slightly different solution. Rather than looking for a moisturiser with richer oils, try adding a serum underneath instead. Let me explain...
What I think you might be needing is to add some hydration to your skin. That's the way of replenishing the water within the skin cells. When skin is dry, it looses this water (for various reasons) and the skin cells shrivel up and get dry, flakey etc which causes skin to get sore, red, itchy, etc. Our skin produces sebum, that's your natural skin oils, and that is there to seal in the water inside the skin cells. Think of it like the water-proof coating! It's a protective layer to help slow down the rate at which the surface skin cells dry out.
A moisturiser usually has a mix of oil and 'water'. That adds a little hydration back and also adds some extra oil on to the surface to help seal it in. Dry skin cells soak it up, plump up / firm up and stay that way until the oily protective layer wears off (sort of, over simplified way of saying it).
If you just use a moisturiser, or a gelled oil moisturiser, you are adding a protective layer on to skin which is already lacking water, so it won't 'do much' to help - it can't hold water in the cells when the water is already lacking! So use a serum first on clean skin - that replaces the missing cell waters (hydration) and then add a moisturiser / gelled oil on top to trap that hydration inside.... and that should make a significant improvement. Once it's balanced, you can fine tune your choices adding in extra things that each different serum and moisturiser offers.
The SN serums are rich in nutrients that don't just add hydration but also help to retain it. I'd recommend starting with the Green Tea and Aloe Serum because I believe that to be the gentlest on sensitive skin and least likely to have additional 'extra' ingredients that may potentially irritate delicate skin. 2-4 drops smoothed over the skin (or as much as it wants) followed by a simple moisturiser. I'd recommend continuing to try Jojoba or Hemp to start with (Raspberry also has a lot of fans) alongside the serum, or Daily Defense if that suits you. That'll give a direct comparison to show what adding a serum can do.
Good luck.
A quick answer would be to try a slightly different solution. Rather than looking for a moisturiser with richer oils, try adding a serum underneath instead. Let me explain...What I think you might be needing is to add some hydration to your skin. That's the way of replenishing the water within the skin cells. When skin is dry, it looses this water (for various reasons) and the skin cells shrivel up and get dry, flakey etc which causes skin to get sore, red, itchy, etc. Our skin produces sebum, that's your natural skin oils, and that is there to seal in the water inside the skin cells. Think of it like the water-proof coating! It's a protective layer to help slow down the rate at which the surface skin cells dry out.
A moisturiser usually has a mix of oil and 'water'. That adds a little hydration back and also adds some extra oil on to the surface to help seal it in. Dry skin cells soak it up, plump up / firm up and stay that way until the oily protective layer wears off (sort of, over simplified way of saying it).
If you just use a moisturiser, or a gelled oil moisturiser, you are adding a protective layer on to skin which is already lacking water, so it won't 'do much' to help - it can't hold water in the cells when the water is already lacking! So use a serum first on clean skin - that replaces the missing cell waters (hydration) and then add a moisturiser / gelled oil on top to trap that hydration inside.... and that should make a significant improvement. Once it's balanced, you can fine tune your choices adding in extra things that each different serum and moisturiser offers.
The SN serums are rich in nutrients that don't just add hydration but also help to retain it. I'd recommend starting with the Green Tea and Aloe Serum because I believe that to be the gentlest on sensitive skin and least likely to have additional 'extra' ingredients that may potentially irritate delicate skin. 2-4 drops smoothed over the skin (or as much as it wants) followed by a simple moisturiser. I'd recommend continuing to try Jojoba or Hemp to start with (Raspberry also has a lot of fans) alongside the serum, or Daily Defense if that suits you. That'll give a direct comparison to show what adding a serum can do.
Good luck.
Re: Moisturizer help
Adding to Cupcake's great advice on incorporating a hydrating element before the moisturizer, I think you would also benefit from light exfoliation.
I had some issues with dry skin during the summer (yeah, i know, hehe); it appeared in patches. I used to exfoliate before too, but adding a very mild scrub into my morning routine started to make a difference. I highly recommend the microderm gel (the cream was too much for me) from SN along with the new Argan moisturizer that I switched to as soon as it came out. I use Raspberry and the Aloe serum during the rest of the year, but I felt I needed a bit extra this time around.
My friend who has just recently started battling with eczema is seeing wonderful results with the combo of the microderm gel, Oatmeal serum and Argan moisturizer. Daily Defense may work for you too. They all come in sample sizes if you want to try them for a few days. I would also add a sample of the Ultimate Luxury powder: it's been making a huge difference for me, making my skin smooth and more even, as a night treatment or even just under the foundation.
I had some issues with dry skin during the summer (yeah, i know, hehe); it appeared in patches. I used to exfoliate before too, but adding a very mild scrub into my morning routine started to make a difference. I highly recommend the microderm gel (the cream was too much for me) from SN along with the new Argan moisturizer that I switched to as soon as it came out. I use Raspberry and the Aloe serum during the rest of the year, but I felt I needed a bit extra this time around.
My friend who has just recently started battling with eczema is seeing wonderful results with the combo of the microderm gel, Oatmeal serum and Argan moisturizer. Daily Defense may work for you too. They all come in sample sizes if you want to try them for a few days. I would also add a sample of the Ultimate Luxury powder: it's been making a huge difference for me, making my skin smooth and more even, as a night treatment or even just under the foundation.
Last edited by egerandi on Wed Dec 22, 2010 3:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Moisturizer help
Cupcake: Thank you for your thorough explanation. I suspected that my skin was a bit dehydrated (lacking water) but thought that a richer moisturizer would help as it contains both oils and water. I realize that I may have to try adding in a serum and hopefully this will help. I have tried the Green Tea serum before so re-incorporating it back into my routine should be no problem
Egerandi: I've been eyeing the Microderm gel and Argan moisturizer so you've just enabled me Also, thank you for letting me know what worked with your friend regarding his/her eczema. I'll be trying samples of pretty much everything you've recommended.
Thought I should add that I love to post on this forum (during the rare moments that I do) as everyone here has always been very friendly and helpful. Happy holidays!
Egerandi: I've been eyeing the Microderm gel and Argan moisturizer so you've just enabled me
Also, thank you for letting me know what worked with your friend regarding his/her eczema. I'll be trying samples of pretty much everything you've recommended.Thought I should add that I love to post on this forum (during the rare moments that I do) as everyone here has always been very friendly and helpful. Happy holidays!