In the last 2 months I’ve found myself battling temperamental and irritated skin. It has been rather unusual, as I’d gotten my routine to a level where I was comfortable with how my skin was faring.
And it was faring very well indeed!
And yet, there I was, facing inexplicable breakouts and dry, irritated and bumpy skin on my cheeks. My skin was dull and I’d lost any healthy glow I’d worked so hard to achieve. It’s frustrating when you have your skin just where you want it, and then have it go bonkers without knowing why.
It reinforces my belief that achieving and maintaining good skin is not a goal. It is work in progress. So I went back to square one, and thought I’d share some of the products that helped my skin along the way.
Can you identify the problem?
The first thing of course, is to try to identify the problem. In my case, I couldn’t. I had my suspicions, but they didn’t bear out as accurately as I thought it would.
I had attributed it first to a product and then to a facial. But it didn’t make sense, and I wasn’t sure what to believe. So, I’m still investigating, even as my skin is starting to heal and recover.
I’d shared in the past also some tips for helping irritated skin recover, and it is worth reminding ourselves of it. I even re-read it to remind myself LOL! :D
RELATED READING: When your skin gets irritated, KISS it better! READ HERE
When I realized that my regular routine was only exacerbating my irritated skin, I switched to some tried and true products, all of which quickly helped my skin get back in shape.
Caudalie Grape Water Spray (READ REVIEW)
The first item I turned to was the Caudalie Grape Water Spray. My skin was dry and quite uncomfortable and my facial mists in circulation at the time wasn’t helping.
I was a bit at a wits end until I remembered the Caudalie spray. The aerosol mist cools my skin, and the grape water drenches my skin with hydration.
RELATED READING: Have you tried the moisture sandwich technique yet? READ HERE
But more important, my skin started recovering. My skin seemed to maintain and hold onto moisture and hydration better. If you want a facial mist to try, you could hardly go wrong with the Caudalie Grape Water Spray :)
Oskia Restoration Oil (READ REVIEW)
I told you about this just very recently, and it has been quite a God-sent product for my skin!
The oil, applied on damp skin, somehow seems to help my skin recover more quickly. I had been struggling for a while to boost the hydration and moisture, and also to soften the skin. Nothing much was working until I remembered that I still had some Oskia Restoration Oil.
A few days of using this oil, and my skin noticeably softened. It still isn’t back to the condition it was pre-irritation, but it’s getting there!
May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon (READ REVIEW)
One of my favourite (and most expensive) products in my skincare collection! I had run out, after giving the last bits in my previous tub to help my dad cure his skin that had reacted to a bee sting.
It so happened that May Lindstrom was running a promotion with a generous gift with purchase, so I bit the bullet and bought a fresh tub. It wasn’t a moment too soon, for when it arrived, I immediately slathered this blue balm on my skin.
The balm turns to an oil on contact with skin, and it feels and smells amazing. Not only did it calm my senses, it also softened my skin and helped nourish it.
It almost seems to draw a blanket of balmy goodness over my skin, soothing, comforting, and most importantly, healing my poor irritated skin.
I don’t use it together with the Oskia Restoration oil, as it’s too rich that way. Instead, I use them at different times. Some days, I use the Oskia Restoration Oil, as a serum, and on other days, I use the Blue Cocoon as an all-in-one treatment.
I hesitate to say “Buy this!”, but if your budget permits, do. It is such a boon for dry or irritated skin.
Antipodes Hallelujah Lime & Patchouli Cream Cleanser (READ REVIEW)
I’d been trying my hardest to use up my gel facial cleanser, but have finally capitulated and acknowledged the fact that it isn’t working out haha! So I dug around my cupboard and came up with an old favourite from New Zealand natural brand, Antipodes.
The Antipodes Hallelujah cream cleanser is one of my favourites. It is soft and gentle on skin, but leaves skin feeling soft and clean. The lovely smell is a bonus of course! :D
K.I.S.S – Keep it Simple, Stupid!
So these are the 4 products I’ve been sticking to in the most recent few weeks. It does coincide with the period that I’ve been quiet on the blog, but it is also a reminder to me to not be overzealous.
As much as I enjoy using and trying different products, my skin is obviously not enjoying it as much as I am :P Texturally, I have gotten it to a condition that I’m happy with.
But as I said above, achieving and maintaining good skin is a work in progress, not a destination. You never ever truly get there, but the journey is as important as the destination :)
Do you have products you turn to when your skin acts up?
I must say that I’ve forgotten how to deal with breakouts after not experiencing it for a while haha! So that’s a work in progress all on its own! I’m still trying to work that one out!
Paris B
The dry irritated bumpy skin on your cheeks may be mild eczema. I have drier skin now that I’m older and I have bumpy skin on my chin that was diagnosed as eczema. After over two years of trying all kinds of products, I finally got rid of it using the following products and your beloved “moisture sandwich” routine.
I cleanse with HABA powder squalane cleanser, then I apply HABA squalane oil with Vitamin C (it’s called Medicinal Whitening Squalane). This solves 2 problems in one go: brown spots and dry irritated skin. I pat-pat-pat on my chin especially and cheeks and wait a couple of minutes. Then, I pat on Hada Labo premium lotion (thick transparent fluid). Wait a couple of minutes then apply a cream which contains Shea butter. I use the Korres Greek olive oil night cream but any Shea butter cream will do.
HABA has shops and an online store in Singapore. Not sure if it’s in KL.
Hi Evie, I did think if it might be eczema, but it doesn’t seem that way. It’s all gone by now, so perhaps it isn’t. Or perhaps it is, and healed itself :D Thanks for sharing the routine that worked for you! And happy to hear the moisture sandwich helped too :D We don’t get HABA here, as far as I know but I’ve known about the brand for years! Not tried anything yet though :D
If your skin has redness along with those bumps it could be mild rosacea. Be wary of fragrances in ur skincare too!
Thanks for the warning Liping! :) It didn’t have any redness – I was monitoring and it eventually went away. Sometimes, when I’m overzealous with exfoliation, I do this to myself haha
When I experienced redness and bumps on my face from using some unsuitable product couple of years back, I washed my face in the morning with manuka honey and water, used only aloe vera gel and no other skincare, not even sunscreen, it worked like magic! Everything cleared within a week I called to cancel my appointment with the dermatologist ?
! instead of ?
Thanks for sharing what worked for you Tessa! Stripping everything back to the basics does usually help in most cases :)
Usually go to Sothys, but a friendlier version of it can be found at Physiogel. Helps me within 3 days!
Glad to know! Lucky Physiogel is relatively affordable!
OMG I laugh out loud when I read the K.I.S.S part. On IG I often see people saying Press Reset or Minimalizw, but this one really knock into the head. Good one. And I do agree with this.
I have a few go to products whenever my skin is irritated or not acting correctly. I have combination skin, bordering oily, constant dehydration due to nursing, once a while hormonal acne. My skin is also weak against any acids. So I have to quite careful when I am playing with them.
So my constant go to:
– Bonair Aloe Vera Toner for soothing redness
– Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief for compromised skin
– Purito Centella Buffet Serum – for inflammed skin
For my dehydrated skin issue, layering toners and you moisture sandwich tips helps a lot. Thanks for that.