I wash my face with water and Olay Sensitive Skin Wash. Baby oil takes care of eye makeup.

I use Garnier micellar water, and I rinse my face afterwards. I just don't want to leave it on. I started using it about a year ago and like it better than my previous night routine. Then I use Pond's Dry Skin Cream. I've tried other moisturizers from Clinique, Lancôme, etc, but I just really like Pond's!

I do also have a L'Oreal micro sculpting lotion, I'll see how that goes (I'm on my second jar).

During the day, I use a Neutrogena sunblock under my makeup. When I remember.

Eld6161- Thanks. I will research both the Lancome and the Eucerin, although I think I have already tried Eucerin.

Patl8- I have never even heard of Ahava. I will ceckcheck it out. Thanks.

Carolb- I had never thought of checking out Trader Joes. That is an excellent idea and probably at a price point that is perfect for me! This stuff can get really expensive trying one product after another in search for the perfect one.

Mdln- I have read that baby wipes make an excellent makeup remover. I did try them once and they worked great but the ones I had were scented and the scent drove me crazy. I should try them again using unscented wipes.

Catticus - I have tried Vaseline as well as various oils. I think they work great for removing the makeup but my skin is dry and I would like something that my skin absorbs. I feel like the various oils just sit on the surface.

Bpath- that is the same makeup remover I use. It works really well but I have never rinsed it off afterwards.

Tartanmeup - the one time I tried sunscreen it was the white pasty kind. It felt like slime and it took forever to get that white cloud off my skin.

Yes, that is the Origins product I use. I have redness and dry areas around my nose. That is the only cream that I have found that gets rid of the redness and dryness. It feels like the only product that absorbs into my skin. I occasionally wash my face with coal tar and that takes care of the redness but leaves my face very dry. You have given me some ideas of what to look out for in terms of ingredients so that I can me better decisions. Thanks!

I'm with mdln...it's baby wipes for me, too.

As far as a cream goes, you can't get much better than squalane oil (derived from olives I believe) or emu oil. Both penetrate deep and have anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory properties.

Creams don't penetrate skin afaik....but if you want to seal in moisture on your hands, use lanolin. It's super greasy and you'll need gloves, but for amazing results it works (ask any sheep shearer!)

I like this website: https://skinactives.com/ the website has changed a bit since I last visited, so I'm having to re-learn it, sadly.

And a subforum of this website is this one:https://hannahsivak.com/actives-in-your-favorite-brand/

There's a list of the active ingredients in some of your favorite products. Skinactives will tell you what you need to buy to make your own. I've made my own Creme de la Mer (as well as other things)...

The whole thing is fun and you get a nice fresh product with no fillers. Also they would, of course, be fragrance free.

Also I use retinA. And, for a while, I used Neutrogena intensive wrinkle serum. It gave me very peely skin, but that's a good thing for me.

ETA: after taking a better look at the site, I would go down to the bottom of the main page and click on the DIY section....that will give you an alphabetical listing of ingredients...but you're best to go to the subsection that I listed above before you shop for the actives....Under "resources" there is the forum section, and the Dr Hannah Sivak section---these are what used to compromise the majority of the website when I used to buy from there and the resources that I found most useful. Now they've changed it around so that the ready-made items are front-and-center (of course!)...

Penny this is right up my alley. Thank you! I will sit down and check that website out. I vaguely remember seeing it mentioned somewhere else. Maybe a post by you??? What other things have you made besides the creme de la mer?

Probably...I forgot to mention that they also sell their own ready made if you're not into diy...Have fun and I suspect there's not much you need to do in order to stay smashing :)

Penny, I use squalane oil on small psoriasis patches, it really helps! I use Pure Bliss by Rinse. A little goes a long way. I don't use it as an overall face moisturizer, though.

Watched one of Dr Dray's latest video (shopping for skincare at the Dollar Tree) and she talked about wipes. She said use them to break down the makeup but wash your skin afterwards. Btw, I do recall she's fond of Neutrogena's gentle facial cleanser. She's not into pricey skincare at all.

IIRC, that Origins cream you're using contains squalane, friday, And yes, it's a fantastic moisturizer. Those sound like really good web sites, penny. Thanks for sharing. It's important for us to understand skincare ingredients. It's the only way we can shop with confidence. There's just so much out there, all unregulated (except for sunscreen) and so much hype and marketing. Being our own guinea pigs gets expensive, fast.

I bought a book once(when I was much more energetic. and had a bit less allergies), how to make creams etc out of natural products, like, food and stuff.

I remember I made one cream, and I ate it-it was too yummy..))

Here are a couple of articles listing "best" sunscreens (at different price points) that might help whoever's shopping for sunscreen these days. One tip I picked up from the skincare addiction subreddit: ask for samples. Lots of companies offer them and you can test out the product's consistency and feel before shelling out the bucks. Unfortunately, there are a lot of icky-to-wear sunscreens out there. :(

Prevention - moisturizers with spf

Allure - best moisturizers with spf

I was a faithful Allure reader back when Linda Wells was Editor-in-Chief. Of mainstream beauty mags, Allure offered the most thorough and up to date sun care advice out there. They didn't stop at advertising or reviewing sunscreens; they offered real life advice about avoiding the sun from dermatologists and had serious articles about skin cancer. Their message to protect the skin from the sun first (before embarking on any other kind of "anti-aging" skin care) was unwavering. Each May issue, I learnt a bit more about sun avoidance (for example, avoid metal frames for sunglasses because they reflect the sun back onto your cheeks.)

This is great info about sunscreen, thanks all! I do wear it every day, but the one I like isn't made any more.

I've tried several "facial" sunscreens, but they leave a strange cast on my face and/or they're very greasy.

I want one that does more than offer protection, and preferably one that's tinted. (I'm clearly into saving steps!)

As far as anti-aging alone, it's the number one thing you gotta do...Also, don't forget the backs of your hands, ladies and gents! Hands get washed a lot and you need to constantly reapply. Maybe we should start a trend of wearing ladies gloves again :-/

I wash my face with Cetaphil and use Lancome's eye makeup remover. The Cetaphil gets all the regular makeup off easily, even the few times a year when it's caked on for some occasion.

Want to add that I always moisturize after cleansing, while my skin's still a bit damp. I use various all-natural night creams, and during the day, I use Trader Joe's SPF 15 face lotion under the SPF 30 balm, on my neck as well.

I have sensitive, breakout-prone skin too, so I'm always looking for non-irritating, non-comedogenic products.

Penny, I just recently discovered "Think Sport SPF30+" for face. It's a tinted mineral sunscreen but it goes on very smoothly and doesn't leave a cast. With 20% zinc oxide, I wasn't expecting a very elegant formula but was more than pleasantly surprised. It evens out my fair complexion enough that I'm skipping concealer on my chin and around my nose. SPF 30 is fine for my every day but if I were to actually go out in the sun for any period, I'd reach for SPF 50. (I know there's little difference when you get past 30 but I've skin issues and every little bit helps. Also, application error, etc.)

Penny, you likely don't use enough tinted moisturizer/foundation for it to really function as your sunscreen,too :-( (you need to use about a half/teaspoon for face & neck) Although I suppose a couple thin layers might work?

Friday,in addition to squalene your cream has many great ingredients. And a few that can cause problems for some. (like me). One problem with trying to truly mimic some creams is that by the time you buy the ingredients,you did not save much if at all. (ask me how I know)

DIY skin care can be fun and effective but one thing we should never DIY no matter the recipes we find online: sunscreen.

I use tinted sunscreen, Holly. And, ideally, it would be tinted sunscreen plus...

Also I think you have to have the mindset that a lot of fancy creams do have fillers and things that, while they sound good, don't really do anything.. And they charge a LOT for that because consumers and marketing :). For example, Creme de la Mer is basically seaweed and minerals.

There are usually not too many active ingredients that we're paying for, sadly.

I use oil to remove make-up (argan oil at the moment, and some other oil that I decanted into a new container and now cannot remember what it was). I get about 90% of it off, then use soap and water for the rest. Followed by hyaluronic acid serum and more oil for moisturizing. It's easy, and I'm lazy about skincare products.

I will add that Trader Joe's usually has good knock-offs of what's popular. I use their hyaluronic acid serum instead of Neutrogena's Hydroboost because it has fewer ingredients, and it works fine. I also do not use sunscreen, unless I'm going to be in the sun for hours and I want to avoid sunburn. Otherwise, I and my family avoid sunscreen at all costs.

I’ve been using micellar water for a couple of years now as my makeup remover/cleanser all in one at night. I’ve never contemplated that I should wash it off. I just apply moisturizer afterwards and call it a night. For moisturizer I use the Neutrogena hydro boost water gel (a rec from this board). DH andni really like it. They have it at Costco as well.

Why do you and your family avoid sunscreen at all costs, Feathers11?

Thanks for the responses! I feel bad not commenting to each person who took time to answer my question but I am traveling and with no computer. Just my cell. I do read every response.

Using Houzz on a cell phone takes forever to edit because, at least for me, it types gibberish like this:

Using houzz on a cr ceallphonecellphone yatakes forever to edit...

Tartanmeup, we use sunscreen if we're going to be exposed for a period of time that would result in a sunburn without it. Otherwise, I prefer to avoid exposure to the chemicals in sunscreen (and the all-natural types aren't conducive to using daily just yet, although those are mostly what we use when needed). Sunlight is healthy and natural, and covering myself in chemicals to avoid can lead to health complications. I do perform regular examinations of my skin, as does my doctor. I understand this approach is unconventional and considered irresponsible by many, though, especially with children.

We all try to make informed decisions about our self-care, Feathers11. Everyone's skin is different and it's important to know one's skin. Sunscreen is essential for my skin because I burn within ten minutes of sun exposure (yes, just walking around doing errands). I haven't read any studies proving health complications with prolonged sunscreen use but I do opt for mineral over "chemical" sunscreens. As much as I agree that sunlight is natural, I must disagree with you about it being healthy. We've depleted the ozone layer too much for it to be considered healthy nowadays. Skin cancer is the leading cancer in Canada. I'm glad you're examining your skin regularly for changes. If I may make a suggestion: take regular pictures with measurements of any markings. Our memory can be faulty and moles can change quickly.

I agree, Tartanmeup. We choose our battles, and there are plenty of them to choose from, that's for sure. I've never felt comfortable using sunscreen. I've been following the research of Richard Weller from the University of Edinburgh, which offers insights that conventional research hasn't pointed to so far. And, yes, I have pics on my phone of a marking on my back that my dr and I have been tracking for 4-5 years. I advise my family to do the same. Sunlight is healthy for me, and avoiding it is not, for me. :-)

Sunlight is healthy (we need our vitamin D and the sunshine just makes us FEEL good!), but tanning is not. I've had basal cell and MOHS surgery. I use sunscreen ALWAYS on my face (mineral, and very careful about chemicals) and on my body if I'm going to be out more than a few minutes. Besides skin cancer, tanning also ages our skin. I don't need any help with that! Also, those using retinal type products need to be very careful as they will make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

But to answer the original question, I use Cerave moisturizing cleanser (it will take off eye make-up too), and rosehip oil as my primary moisturizer.

Just found some zinc oxide powder that I'm thinking of trying to mix with moisturizer..or makeup...I don't know yet, but it seems like a simple thing to do..Anyway, Amazon carries it. I'll report back :)

Richard Weller is part of the team at Relaxsol. Which is a company developing a "new" ............sunscreen. http://www.relaxsol.com/team/4593053960 

So it goes.

The American Academy of Dermatology, with its abundance of resources and influence, has long been affiliated with sunscreen manufacturers.

Penny, that's not a good idea. You can't accurately test the SPF of something you make. It's a regulated product for a reason. Why sunscreen DIY is not a good idea

Another thing that's not a good idea: mixing your sunscreen with another product.

Sorry, tartan, agree to disagree and all.. :)

I Intend to do my homework and not randomly mix whatever I feel like together...

In the video I linked to, at the 2 min mark, the young chemist explains why it's not a good idea to DIY sunscreen.

ETA: I would hope so, Feathers11. I'd like to think dermatological research results make their way to product manufacturers. A bit like auto manufacturers listening to car safety experts.

Feathers11 Do not misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that Dr. Weller is trying to profit from advocating sunscreen. I am simply pointing out that Dr. Weller and every other derm on the planet recognizes the need for sunscreen. And that Dr. Weller is working to develop a "new" sunscreen that may work differently than those currently available. Depending on what Relaxsol unveils, I might even try it.

Tina about four years ago my husband got first degree burns all over his face and mostly second degree burns on his arms doing a stupid thing like squirting gasoline on a brush pile on an extremely humid days and the fumes caught fire and basically kind of exploded in his face and upper body. After he was pretty much peeled and healed, his doctor at the burn clinic recommended Cerave moisturizer for his face. He has used it faithfully daily as an after shave...his skin is prettier than mine :). Thankfully, no scarring except on his arm where he had a small third degree burn.

The moral of this story is that I have tried all the department store products and a $12.00 jar of Cerave from Walmart works wonderfully. I did not know they made a cleanser....will have to try it.

Dr Dray is always raving about Cerave products, tuesday_2008. L'Oreal recently bought the company and fans are hoping formulas won't change.

Aww...thanks for your concern, tartan...:)

I'll have my husband do some work at his lab, and he can test for efficacy and interactions. If he can't do it, he'll know who can.

As I said, I'm not just going to mix a bunch of carp up in the kitchen sink..

If I purchase sunscreen and apply it to my face, then put makeup on top of that, how much time is needed before it is reapplied? What spf should I use? Does spf depend on my complexion? If you use makeup primer, do you use it after you apply the sunscreen? I am clueless but I do spend a lot of time outside.

Is there a spray on sunscreen that can go on top of your makeup?

Tartanmeup, the author of that video is essentially an educated beauty blogger. While there are plenty of educated people sharing their knowledge via blogs, it does underscore the need to conduct thorough from multiple sources.

Pennydesign, let us know your findings (or your husband's), too.

Hollybar, thanks for the clarification. I'm sure Weller is indeed trying to profit. But I've followed his work and I respect his approach and research in a field whose larger body of work I don't find all that ... <credible>.

Here's an article that might help, Friday. Most derms these days are recommending SPF 30 for everyone. It blocks 93% of rays. SPF 60 blocks 97%. A dark complexion is protected more than a fairer complexion so yes, I would factor that in. If you're outside, it's recommended that sunscreen be reapplied every 2 hours because it breaks down in sunlight and loses effectiveness. Spray on sunscreens do exist and can be applied over makeup. Problem is coverage can be spotty with that application method.

If you currently use a moisturizer under your makeup, you might consider switching to a moisturizer with SPF. That might be easier. Alternatively, you can look into a product like Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue, a hydrating tinted moisturizer with SPF 30. They have a few deep shades. I'm sure there are others on the market but that's one I tried last year and didn't mind at all.

Friday, this is the issue I have, also...My tinted sunscreen (followed by mineral makeup powder with minimal spf, when I'm feeling particularly "oily") is running out. And I can't be doing all these "layers" of skin care that I read about (probably written by 20 somethings)...I'm simply not that dedicated to my skin.

But on long days when I'm outside, I just keep the spray handy and do periodic spritz's....probably not ideal, but I'm pretty pasty so it must work...

Yes, Feathers11, she's a young chemist explaining what goes on in sunscreen testing. She made her case pretty convincingly to me. Not sure what other source could tell me that would change my mind.

I'm super lazy and 100% guilty of not removing make up at night. When I do or have taken make up off at night I'll use good ol' Ponds, I like the Wal Mart brand (equate) make up remover wipes. I have a Palmers cleansing balm I like and I've heard good things about the Clinique cleansing balm.

I was at the mall this weekend trying foundations and the girl removed the samples 2 or 3 times using Estee Lauder Take It Away lotion make up remover. Worked really good but what hit me was after I left the mall with the last samples of foundations on my face...looking in the mirror checking out the foundations, I was thinking "oh my skin looks really good"...not so much the foundations but I was impressed by the fact that my pores didn't look all huge and gross under the foundation after the girl used the lotion make up remover.

Hi ilikefriday,

I'm a sunscreen phobic person due to sensitivities, but I've recently had good luck with this one: https://www.clinique.com/product/1660/40650/sun/sun-self-tanners/spf-50-mineral-sunscreen-fluid-for-face. It goes on easy and is not an oily mess either which is a deal breaker for me. Needs to be shaken up each time.

It claims to not leave a white or gray cast to the complexion, but I find I do get a slight white cast and I'm pretty fair (maybe I am applying too much?). However, I use it with this foundation even-bettertm-makeup-broad-spectrum-spf-15 when I know I will be seen by others and the cast is invisible with the foundation. Both go on easy-peasy and I'm out the door in two minutes. Three, if I am putting on mascara. I wait a minute for the sunscreen to set before I put on the foundation. I use a beauty blender to apply the foundation. Clinque is showing some nice looking deep shades for the foundation.

They have a 100% money back no hassle guarantee if you don't like it or it doesn't agree with you. I have more "fails" in both sunscreen and foundation for one reason or another and I've never been more happy with sunscreen. I order from the website and it ships direct to my house in about a week.

If I am not wearing make up (which is often), I'm kinda OK with this sunscreen: https://www.target.com/p/olay-regenerist-regenerating-lotion-with-spf50-1-7-oz/-/A-11205950 It does have a fragrance if that is a deal breaker for you. I would prefer it did not for myself, but so far, it is not causing me distress, thus it gets to stay in the "not a fail" drawer.

For facial cleansing, I tend to use Cetaphil cleanser or Johnson's baby wash or shampoo. It works well for me. If I am taking off make-up the Clinque Mild bar soap gets it all off. The small bar lasts me over a year so don't let the price tag of a small bar of soap scare you away if you wanted to try it.

Tartan, the article you linked is pretty good, but I do take exception to her using the term ‘exponential’ in referring to the covering provided by layering sunscreen. It is not cumulative, so it would not be exponential in effect either. If you put in a sunscreen with spf15 and a moisturizer with spf15, you don’t have spf30 protection, nor do you have some exponential component of spf15. You just have spf15.

The latest issue of Consumer Report has a good rundown of sunscreens, both lotions and sprays. There are proposed new FDA rules about sunscreens that may take effect, including a cap in spf of 60, certain forms not being available (towelettes, body wash, shampoo, and possibly insect repellent/sunscreen combos), and some others.

"Applying an anti-aging moisturizer with SPF 30, and then a primer with SPF 20, and then a foundation with 15 doesn’t add up to SPF 65 but it does exponentially add sun protection and that’s what matters."

You're right, OutsidePlaying. Wrong adverb.

I turned 49 in January and I got serious about skincare a couple of years ago. I apply sunscreen daily. If I'm out, then sunscreen is applied pretty often. To get that stuff off, I oil cleanse with baby oil. There're a lot of articles and videos about OCM. I'm going to upgrade to Clinique's balm because it seems to emulsify, and wash away, easily. Then I use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and pat in Hada Labo Premium hydrating toner on damp skin. After it dries, I use OTC Differin for my retinoid until I graduate to buying some form of Retin-A. I live in a very humid area, but if I feel dry I add an occlusive before bed. CeraVe cream in the tub, Vaseline, Aquaphor, and such are all good for holding in hydration.

In the morning I shower or rinse with water, apply Timeless Vit C serum, Hada Labo Premium, sunscreen, and maybe makeup.

2-3x a month, I'll use an AHA peel in place of the retinoid.

The three things I've seen the most benefit from are the Timeless Vit C+E+Ferulic acid, Hada Labo's Premium toner with hyaluronic acid and urea, and Differin. Vit C has documented benefits and my biggest visual concern is fading sun damage. The toner is just wonderful for bouncy, hydrated skin and the urea in it is a light exfoliator and moisturizer. Differin is great for skin cell turn-over and and smoothed it out, a lot. Once I add Retin-A, my base will be done and I can see myself playing around with sunscreens, cleansers and occlusives.

I'm a pretty low-maintenance person, for the most part. I buy clothes when I need them. Rarely get haircuts. I tend to spend on the home or family vacations. My skincare has turned into a pleasant way to start and end the day. The routine feels good, my skin feels lovely to touch, and I look better. It adds up to a nice mental lift and I feel like I'm looking after the health of my largest organ ;)

Disclaimer: I don't wear much makeup, just waterproof mascara usually.

Makeup Remove: Paulas Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover

I love this makeup remover for eye makeup. It does a fantastic job of removing very waterproof mascara and never irritates my eyes. I use it nearly daily and never have to wash it off afterwards. I have contacts if that makes a difference. It didn't work well when I tried to help a friend painted with an unfortunate shade of smudge proof lipstick applied by a makeup artist.

I only wish they offered a travel size because I always have to compromise when I travel by air and find myself frustrated with stubborn mascara that just won't come off or smudges around my eye rather than removing.

pricklypear, if you are traveling, just go ahead and saturate some cotton rounds with the remover and put them in a ziploc bag. Personally, I always keep travel sized containers from my past products just for such occasion!

For my face I use Suntegrity 5 in 1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen (20% zinc oxide) which comes in different tints to match your skin. For body sunscreen I use Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen (SPF 30) or Raw Elements Face and Body (SPF 30). Check out EWG Deep Skin website to check what chemicals might be in your products.

As to makeup remover, I use coconut oil to remove mascara and then cleanse as usual. Evan Healy is a natural skincare line that is at a decent price point.

About eight years ago I started cleaning up my skincare, makeup and household cleaning products. EWG has its detractors but it helped me to weed out products with harmful chemicals.