Post # 1
Member
5217 posts
Bee Keeper
I’m currently looking to spend some money on a really good moisturizing cream for my face. I’m typically pretty product savvy, and spend a good amount on my makeup, but am having zero to no luck with finding a good moisturizer that I really, really like.
My skin background is– I struggled with acne for years and went on Accutane 6 years ago. I have some hormonal breakouts still, but nothing like it used to be. However; Accutane did age my skin due to the extreme drying out, plus I’m just getting older. So my skin (to me) looks dry and there’s some uneven tone with redness and light scarring. I really try to stick to organic and wax/paraben free products amd find something that moisturizes well and helps “plump” a little where I feel like I look “dull”– around the eyes and forehead.
Some products I have considered but want some honest feedback on before plopping down close to $100 for:
Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar
Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker
Strivectin Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer
Boots No7 Luminate Night Cream
I’m open to any suggestions, these are just ones that caught my attention due to some of the reviews.
Post # 2
Member
167 posts
Blushing bee
I have had great luck with Philosophy Hope in a Jar. It is a great moisturizer that is not greasy/oily. I have to say though that I don’t have the same skin issues as you do. I have a blemish here or there, but nothing major. If you have a Sephora near you, you can usually get a pretty good size sample if you go to the store and ask one of the associates.
Post # 3
Member
1594 posts
Bumble bee
Mrs_Amanda: I haven’t tried any of the ones you are looking at, but I wanted to throw what I use in there in case you want to check them out too.
I love love love Origins Make a Difference Plus+ face moisturizer and/or treatment. I have dry skin and some red splotchiness around my face, but this helps me even everything out. it was suggested to my be my facial lady a few years ago and I’ve never looked back. The treatment is a little lighter, the moisturizer a little thicker.
Here are there links if you interested:
Treatment: http://www.origins.com/product/15352/23830/skincare/moisturize/moisturizers/Make-A-Difference-Plus/Rejuvenating-Treatment
Moisturizer: http://www.origins.com/product/15352/23831/skincare/moisturize/moisturizers/Make-A-Difference-Plus/Rejuvenating-Moisturizer
Also, their Checks and Balances face wash is magical. Gets frothy and foaming and leaves the skin with some moisture becuase it doesn’t strip the face like most do.
http://www.origins.com/product/15342/11226/skincare/cleanse/face-wash-and-cleansers/Checks-and-Balances/Frothy-Face-Wash
My skin acne-wise wasn’t terrible, but my husbands was really, really bad. He should have gone on accutane, but didn’t. He’s been using these products and others from their line for about 4 years now and the difference is night and day.
Post # 4
Member
198 posts
Blushing bee
Mrs_Amanda: I can only speak for myself, but I honestly make most of my own skin products. Most of the store-bought creams are either comprised of ingredients that exist in my own kitchen, or ones I would never want to put near my face. I think creams and the like should be healing you, not just making your skin look superficially more taut/plump.
I use an eye cream made with aloe/vitamin e cream/essential oils/grated beeswax – smells incredible, isn’t greasy, and has helped even out my eye-area skintone significantly!
For face cream, during the day I use a simple one made from beeswax, vitamin e, and some shea butter.
My night cream is a whipped body/face butter made with pure lard, vitamin e, cocoa butter, shea butter, and essential oils. It is so incredibly moisturizing and has the added bonus of healing any skin problems I might have!
After making my own products (with my Mother-In-Law – she really got us into it), I will never go back. Why on earth would I pay $100 a tiny bottle for a subpar product? This option saves money and gives better results 🙂
Post # 5
Member
2662 posts
Sugar bee
I have the same sort of history as you and found my skin completely dried out and lifeless. I switched to The Jojoba Company which keeps breakouts and oily patches in check and it’s also cruelty free and eco friendly. My skin now looks fed and that was an immediate reaction!
Post # 6
Member
3088 posts
Sugar bee
Anything attached to Skinceuticals is awesome!
Post # 7
Member
9230 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Mrs_Amanda: I keep it simple with Ponds cold cream at night. I rub it all over my dry face to loosen up dirt and makeup, wipe it off with a dry (or slightly damp) face cloth and call it a day. I had acne when I was younger and now I rarely get a zit, my face is smooth and clear, and it’s super easy and cheap! Since I started using it I’ve gotten compliments on my skin which NEVER happened before!
Post # 8
Member
5217 posts
Bee Keeper
cooperlove: oh this is good, I have been contemplating Origins as well. There’s a store near me so I may just pop in and get a sample.
Post # 9
Member
5217 posts
Bee Keeper
LilliV: I tried Ponds YEARS ago, but I remember it making my skin feel like it had some residue on it, do you feel that way?
Post # 10
Member
5217 posts
Bee Keeper
howdoyoudo: I will definitely look into that.
anonybeez2011: that sounds amazing! Care to share exactly how you make the face cream? The night cream with lard sounds…. scary haha. I would be worried my skin would freak out and massively break out
Post # 11
Member
198 posts
Blushing bee
Mrs_Amanda: Haha not a problem, my skin is fairly well-behaved most of the time. For the face cream, you basically melt down your beeswax in a double boiler (or put a mason jar with the wax inside into a pot of boiling water to melt it down), and then mix in the vitamin e, shea butter, and any essential oils you might like for scent/healing purposes. In terms of ratios, this website has a pretty decent recipe!
http://www.robinskey.com/diy-beauty-luxurious-homemade-all-natural-face-cream-recipe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=diy-beauty-luxurious-homemade-all-natural-face-cream-recipe
Her recipe includes more “butters” but those are honestly optional. It’s more about what products you like best. I absolutely adore http://www.wellnessmama.com for recipes and such for skin and body care. Her recipes are wonderful!
Post # 12
Member
1594 posts
Bumble bee
Mrs_Amanda: You really should! I’m so sensitive to skincare and makeup products but Origins doesn’t cause issues for me or my husband.
Post # 13
Member
85 posts
Worker bee
I really like Boscia’s Tsubaki oil. I am oily/sort of acne prone (hormonal), and was really afraid of putting more oil on my face, but this stuff really cleared it all up! Now i get less oily, and just have a great glow. It’s really moisturizing, especially for the eye area. Plus, it makes the marks I leave on my face from picking at it disappear by morning (terrible habit, I know).
Because I get windburned easily in the winter, I have some of First Aid Beauty’s hydrating cream for my eyes (night cream? not sure, super thick cream that is great for irritated eye skin). Boscia and most of First Aid Beauty products are free of the most harmful chemicals put in makeup. The boscia line is healthiest for skin, and they have mini-lines tailored to different skin needs, like dry skin, or aging skin, etc. I would highly recommend checking them out!
I’m a Sephora whore so all of this stuff came from there. However, I hardly ever experiment with their products. When I find something that works, I stick with it forever. These work!!
A non-sephora brand that is also really good for dry faces is Ursa Major. They are based in Vt, and know how to deal with dry skin or winter-damaged skin. Also chemical free, and you get a lot for your money.
I would be wary of the products you listed that contain retinol. It’s great for anti-aging, but make sure you put on sunscreen at all times when out in the sun. The retinol will make your skin look better but also more vulnerable to sun damage without sunscreen, damaging it more in the long run. The irony!
Good luck, Bee. Hope you find something that your skin loves!
Post # 14
Member
9230 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Mrs_Amanda: sometimes if I lay it on really thick (for example when I have heavier make up than normal on and need to get it off) I will rinse with water to get rid of that residue feeling. Otherwise it feels just like I put on moisturizer but got to skip a step!
Post # 15
Member
11375 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Day:
Nude oil from Sephora is amazing. Yes, it’s oil. But it absorbs into the skin and leaves a glow. Give it five minutes before you out on another moisturizer and your sunscreen.
I use philosophy hope in a jar and their vit c booster with their serum. I put those on after 5 minutes for the Nude oil.
My skin is sensitive so I use oil of Olay 50 spf, as it’s the only sunscreen that doesn’t burn.
Night :
Sometimes I sleep in Caudalie moisturizing mask. Otherwise I use a light glycolic lotion from Peter Thomas Roth via Sephora and after it absorbs I top it off with nude oil around eyes and cheeks.