I have noticed that there are a few things that trigger my eczema and I thought I'd share it with all of you. For those with eczema, or any kind of skin sensitivity, it is important to identify triggers that set off the skin irritation so as to reduce the likelihood of eczema. Ultimately, I would like to be able to stop topical steroid creams.
1. Alcohol
A very common ingredient found in so many skincare products/cosmetics. It is difficult to avoid it but it is do-able. Alcohol stings my skin and makes my skin turn red. After a few hours or by the next day, my skin will start to itch. It is a common skin irritant but cosmetic companies still include alcohol as it has it's uses - helps product absorb faster, leaves a refreshing feel for those with oily skin, etc. My advice is always look through the ingredients list and avoid products with alcohol featuring prominently on the top of the list.
Problem is, so many skincare products have alcohol within their first 10 ingredients. In most products, alcohol is the second ingredient after water, which means there is a lot of alcohol to potentially irritate your skin. I can't avoid alcohol a lot of the time. The 2 serums I use - Shiseido Whitening serum and Kose moisture serum - both contain alcohol. What I do is a mix it into my Avene Skin Recovery Cream. Yes, I know serums should go first before cream so work at it's best. But given my skin condition, the only way for me to get whitening benefits is to mix the serum into the cream to make it a whitening cream. I mix by rubbing the cream and serum (sometimes both serums) together in circular motion between my palms. After doing this, I feel that a lot of the alcohol evaporates with the heat generated by the rubbing. I then gently spread then pat the cream into my skin. So far, this works for me.
2. Exfoliants
Manual scrubs and chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs irritate my skin but I do have blackhead and clogged pore problems to deal with. What I do now is I only use AHA cream (Avene Cleanance K Cream-gel) only at my t-zone area where I don't get eczema flare-ups. To deal with my cheeks, I use a very mild AHA face wash but only once a week or once in 2 weeks.
3. Harsh chemicals
Chemicals like retinoids and sometimes even Vitamin C makes my skin red and itchy.
4. Some natural skincare products
Since I'm working on this list I thought it would be good to debunk the myth that natural skincare products is safe on sensitive skin precisely because it is natural. Not.True. Don't fall for these irresponsible sales tactics the sales staff use. I've gotten burnt many times by natural skincare products that turn my face red and burns my face like mad. When you buy natural skincare, it is very important to know what goes into it. If you read websites like environmental working group's you'll know how much harsh non-natural and natural ingredients are used. In general, I am wary about natural skincare products, especially if you cannot by sure the ingredients are truly natural or just chemical derivatives of it. I prefer to use skincare brands specifically developed for sensitive skin instead.
5. Dry skin
The moment I don't have sufficient moisture/oil on my skin, it will start to itch. I have to layer on my moisturiser immediately after cleansing before allowing the skin's moisture any chance to evaporate. Immediately after cleansing, I pat dry my skin, use toner and follow with my moisturiser mix (as described above). The Avene Skin Recovery Cream works for me as it is oily enough to counter my dry skin. Creme de La Mer also works but it is also very expensive. Although strictly speaking, I do not have dry skin, but more combination skin. However it is important for me to use products for dry skin as products for normal to combination skin do not provide enough oil/moisture balance for my skin.
It is important to know your skin well. If you have eczema-prone skin like mine, try to identify your skin triggers. It is likely that your skin triggers are different from mine as sensitive skins tend to be a mystery. Just observe how your skin reacts to certain products and if the same reaction occurs repeatedly and results in skin irritation, that might very well be your eczema/sensitive skin trigger.
Share your skin triggers with us so we can all get to know our skin better!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Review: Laneige Multi Cleanser
4-in-1 multi cleanser with papain enzymes, removes makeup, removes sunscreen, cleanses and exfoliates skin.
Review:
I use this cleanser on days when I am lazy to double cleanse - days when all I have on is a layer of sunscreen and don't want to go through the oil cleanser, face wash regime. This cleanser saves time as it can remove my sunscreen and cleanse at the same time. (When I use makeup, I will still use an oil cleanser.) Do note that sunscreen has to be removed using a makeup remover. If you are using a water-proof/water resistant sunscreen, I'd still suggest using an oil cleanser.
This cleanser foams well and cleanses well. My skin is left clean with no tight of dry feeling. I did not feel any skin irritation or sensitivity. The exfoliation is very mild and after foaming I can hardly feel anything. It is the papain enzyme that is responsible for the exfoliation and is gentle enough for daily use. The scent is not over-powering and is a nice refreshing scent that I like. Those who are sensitive to fragrances might have to be more careful though.
Price-wise, I think it is reasonable at $33 for 180ml, almost the same price as my other Avene cleansers.
All in all, a good all-in-one cleanser perfect for the lazy day or days when you get home so late you just want to quickly cleanse your skin and go to bed.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Review: Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Protective Emulsion W SPF15
A brightening daytime moisturizer developed with a focus on environmental stressors such as UV rays, air pollution and dryness to provide comprehensive protection.
•Recommended for normal to oily skin.
Review:
I can't say I like this Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Protective Emulsion W SPF15, unfortunately. Water is the first ingredient and alcohol is the second. So the moment I applied this to my skin, it smelled strongly of alcohol. The tingly effect of alcohol (and alcohol itself) irritates my skin and makes my skin feel very uncomfortable. The moment I felt this, I layered on Avene's Skin Recovery Cream.
Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Protective Emulsion W SPF15 has SPF 15 but definitely not enough sunblock protection. It is a must to apply another layer of sunscreen over the emulsion if you are going outdoors. Honestly, I think if you are getting the moisturiser from the Shiseido White Lucent series, buy the one without SPF so you can use it both day and night. There is no need to buy separate day and night creams.
The texture is runny and can spread easily. The emulsion absorbs reasonably well (mostly due to alcohol, which helps with absorption). So this is suitable for normal to oily skin. Those with dry skin or sensitive skin should definitely avoid this emulsion as the alcohol will end up further drying up your skin.
In terms of brightening ability, this emulsion alone cannot do much. For brightening effects, it is best to buy the Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum instead (word of caution, this serum reeks of alcohol too).
I wouldn't recommend purchasing this product. Alcohol content is too high. Brightening effects are limited.
Have you tried this product? Share your thoughts =)
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