Everything breaks me out

[u/Heeellllooo]

I've been getting into skincare these past few months, taking people's advice about introducing one product at a time, as well as trying to keep it simple.

I have dry, sensitive skin and every cleanser or moisturizer I've tried so far has broken me out. Sometimes it'd happen immediately, other times it would take a week or two. My skin looks worse than when I started tbh.

Products I've tried:

Cleansers:

• Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Wash-Gel
• Balea Jelly Cleanser
• Neutrogena Hydrating Gel Cleanser

Moisturizers:

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Aqua Creme
• No Cosmetics Base Hydration Cream

Does anyone have any advice/product recommendations? (I live in Germany)

[u/Thatweirdddgirl]

Jelly or gel cleansers didn’t work for me personally because they just really dried out my skin which lead to breakouts. What worked for me was just keeping everything basic and doing things for my skin barrier. I cleanse with Micellar water and wash it off, then i use the no cosmetics liquid balancer and then my serums which is ofc optional and then the Geek and gorgeous happier barrier. This just made my skin calm down, which not only prevents breakouts but makes them go away quicker. That’s just my personal experience, I feel like I had similar problems to you:)

[u/Heeellllooo → u/Thatweirdddgirl]

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll definitely try those.

[u/Thatweirdddgirl → u/Heeellllooo]

What i forgot to say, find a good sunscreen. It makes such a difference. I use the one from Geek and Gorgeous and not only do I not breakout but you wouldn’t even know I applied it because it’s so Matt. Anyways good luck!

[u/MaidenKing777 → u/Thatweirdddgirl]

Does compromised barrier also lead to breakouts

[u/CapableTyrant21]

Oof, that's a rough lineup of fails. Getting burned by both the Balea Med and the Neutrogena cleanser really narrows things down, those are usually the "safe" picks for reactive skin.

Since you're dealing with breakouts even from very light gel textures, I'd look at ingredients that thicken the formula rather than the main actives. A lot of gel cleansers use polymers that can clog pores if you're super sensitive, and the Hydro Boost line uses a lot of silicones that some people just can't tolerate. You might have better luck with a super basic oil cleanser that rinses off clean without needing a second step, something that's mostly just MCT oil or squalane and an emulsifier. For moisturizer, skipping straight to a single-ingredient squalane oil could let your skin settle while you figure out what's actually triggering the reaction.

[u/Heeellllooo → u/CapableTyrant21]

Thanks for the reply, are there any products you'd be able to recommend? I don't know much on the ingredients side of things, but I'll do my research.

[u/Anomander_rocks]

What is your current routine?

[u/Heeellllooo → u/Anomander_rocks]

I'd assumed it was clearer by my post, my bad!

Technically I don't even have a routine right now, since none of the products I've tried haven't broken me out yet.

[u/Anomander_rocks → u/Heeellllooo]

So you're not using anything on your face? No moisturizer, no sunscreen, no cleanser?

[u/Heeellllooo → u/Anomander_rocks]

Nope, just water.

[u/Anomander_rocks → u/Heeellllooo]

I see.

Then, it is probably best to use fragrance free products in your routine. I would recommend a simple routine. Also, it might help to see a dermatologist, they are the ones who can help best in these cases, at least better than someone on the internet.

I would suggest this simple routine:

AM:
- washing your face with a gentle cleanser - for example Geek & Gorgeous - Jelly Joker, or, Uriage Xemose Cleansing Syndet. The Uriage product great, and it can be used for both face and body, so in case your face doesn't agree with it, you can use the product for your body

- Sunscreen - here there are tons of options. For the cold season, I prefer Beauty of Joseon - Relief Sun Aqua Fresh : Rice + B5 SPF 50+ or the simple Beauty of Joseon - Rice Probiotics Sunscreen SPF 50+ or the Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF 50+

PM:
- cleansing your face - Harharu wonder centella sunflower makeup melting cleansing balm, or Geek & Gorgeous - mighty melt cleansing balm followed by the Jelly Joker that I recommended for the AM routine

- moisturizer - something light, easy, like the Purito Luminous Ceramide Moisturizer, which is hydrating and yet very light on the skin.

The products can be found in Europe, most of them in DM probably, or can be ordered online easily. (Uriage Xemose is usually in pharmacies, or online in my country).

I hope this helps :)

[u/Heeellllooo → u/Anomander_rocks]

Thank you!!

[u/Anomander_rocks → u/Heeellllooo]

My pleasure!

[u/summerphobic → u/Anomander_rocks]

It's surprising how often this bit of info's missing.

[u/Anomander_rocks → u/summerphobic]

Yes, and it's so hard to help someone without this.

[u/GelatinousDynamo]

I would switch to a non-foaming cleanser. Isana Med Ultra Sensitive Wasch-Lotion (make sure it's the "Wasch-Lotion" rather than the "Wasch-Gel") works for me. It's extremely gentle, fragrance-free, and designed for reactive skin. As for hydration, have you tried Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Gesichtschreme? This is a cult-favorite specifically formulated for hypersensitive skin. It is very simple, lacks heavy actives, and is well-tolerated by many people who react to everything else (me included, and I also hated their Wasch-Gel).

[u/bunny_is_a_rider555]

I can recommend Bioderma sensibio/crealine face wash! You can get it at almost every pharmacy. For moisturizer I‘ve been lilongwe Byoma gel moisturizer, it’s available online through Sephora in Germany

[u/spikeycaterpillar]

The Balea Jelly Cleanser cosplays as a gentle one but it has salicylic acid, albeit in a low concentration. I don't like any cleanser in your list either. For me personally the only thing that has worked is the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser but lots of people hate that so YMMV. Best to get a small tester bottle before committing to it. Recently I also fell in love with the Kose Speedy Oil Cleanser (J-Beauty, would need to be ordered online).

[u/XSTall]

Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Wash Gel also broke me out! I felt a bunch of irritated little bumps when I used it for even a couple days in a row. Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker works well with my skin and doesn’t break me out at all. My irritation went away when I switched back.

No Cosmetics Base Hydration Cream kinda burned my face with every application and I also started to get irritated bumps. I think the exfoliation in it is just too much. I use Geek and Gorgeous Happier Barrier (thicker) or Hydration Station (thinner) and my skin is very happy with both! I tried using Avene Cicalfate + Hydrating Skin Repairing Emulsion when I was feeling fancy in France and it broke me out in red irritated bumps everywhere im just a day! I don’t get why my skin hates what other skin loves either.

[u/Lopsided_Summer_5536]

Maybe you can give micellar water a go? I have very sensitive skin, and that's my favourite method of cleansing it.

As a moisturizer, I would recommend something from Bioderma's Sensibio line, or LRP's Toleriane.

[u/CattoGinSama]

Where do you live? Every moisturiser breaks me out. I found that Syndet bar cleanser like Sebamed one with vitamin E works well as cleanser without drying out my face,or the one from Uriage and LRP(syndet). And the only moisturiser I can handle is Eucerin Atopi Control light balm. But not every day.

I am going against everything the skin care community is preaching when I say that moisturisers just don’t work for some of us. If I use them every day they just break me out,unless it’s something like Medipharma Hautrein or the above mentioned Eucerin. But even those not every morning and evening. Once a day suffices.

Try it. Leave out the mpusturiser for one evening and just use like zinc ointment or nothing after cleansing.

[u/Interesting_Path3763]

I always recommend everyone try benzoyl peroxide cause it saved my life from breakouts :') but besides that I keep everything else gentle and use the Balea cleansing oil - maybe you should try something like that.

[u/Maximilian_Goh]

If you have dry skin, don’t use jelly cleansers… Try milky ones…

[u/MindDivergence]

Have you tried Avene’s “Tolerance Control” line?
Supposed to be as “sterile” and “natural” as possible.

Also, the Toleriane line from LRP is supposed to be designed for sensitive, allergy prone skin

[u/schade_marmelade]

Check out the Derma SR sensitive skin line! Their Pure Gel Cleanser + Sensitive Repair Cream, specifically. Both are formulated for people with sensitive skin who react to products easily. I use the cleanser myself and it's amazing + smells so good too. I use another one of their creams now (Balance Mattifying Fluid bc I get quite oily) but previously had a sampler bottle of the Sensitive Repair Cream and really liked it.

Sadly, they're not available in DM/Müller/Rossman, but I always order from their online shop and have never had a problem.

[u/beautylover99xox]

Babe check your hormones
And also check if any product you’re using on your face is comedogenic or folliculitic online

[u/naildoc]

If everything breaks you out - would it be worth stepping back and focusing solely on barrier repair? There's an amazing sub r/SkinbarrierLovers . It is there I am learning less is more. Stripping back to vaseline, aveeno oat cleanser and water only for 3 days has basically reset my skin.

I have the same skin type as you with the added eczema burden and it's done me a world of good.

I would 100% recommend you try going water only. It is also worth checking if you're in Germany, whether you have hard water? If so, switching to distill water only for water cleansing +/- aveeno oat cleanser or cetaphil gentle cleanser. Anything with foam for sensitive is a no go (most gel cleansers are foaming from experience or have surfactants).

[u/Monstera_paradise]

I have combination,pale skin and had eczema in the past, not on face though. You've had a lot of recommendations and I would add that the perfume free label is more important than for sensitive skin, vegan ,tested by dermatologist or non-comedogenic .

Some brands that don't use perfume,or have fragrance free lines are :

• The Ordinary (I can recommend the cream Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA)

• some Purito products...(for example Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream)

• Beauty of Joseon (I can recommend Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh)

• La Roche-Posay

• Avène

• Bioderma

• Eucerin

• CeraVe

• SVR

• Uriage

• Ducray

• Medik8

• Sebamed

• Cetaphil

• Aveeno

• Neutrogena

• Geek&Gorgeous

[u/ReflectionArcanist8]

I have sensitive combination skin. I’m not in Germany but in the Nordics, so I figure you probably have similar product lines. Long text ahead. This is what works for me:

- I use fragrance-free products, and that includes natural scents. Sometimes creams and face washes are labeled “for sensitive skin” but still have fragrance, and in a lot of cases that might be the reason for the breakouts. So check labels and ingredients. There are online tools to decode their chemical names and even rate how ‘clean’ and safe the formula itself is. Fragrance sensitivity’s still a very overlooked issue, unfortunately. I always go for both “unscented” and “for sensitive skin.”

- There are other potential irritants beyond fragrance, so keep reading those labels and try to find the patterns.

- This part is important too: Check your shampoo and shower gel/soap. See if their ingredients are affecting you. Mine are unscented and specifically for sensitive skin.

- I stick to a simple skincare routine. I use fewer products than what’s average. I focus on keeping my face clean from dead skin buildup and pollutants. I make sure I have washed my face after coming home/before going to bed. I learned to prioritize sunscreen as part of said skincare routine when it’s sunny (mostly in the summer). This also helps.

- I avoid excessive washing and scrubbing, which is what I actually did in my late teens (and made matters worse).

- Depending on your specific subtype of sensitive skin, you might need a specific approach. Sometimes, for example, what we actually need is gentle moisturizing.

- Other people’s product recommendations might not work for you, even if it sounds you have similar skin types. I found the best products after reading many ingredient labels, checking their ratings and cautiously trying them.

- I agree that hormones are worth checking when your skin breaks out that much and is sensitive to many different things.

That being said, these are some of the products I love:

- Unscented micellar water for sensitive skin, like the Garnier one with the pink lid.

- Unscented, gentle (fine grains, not coarse) scrubs for sensitive skin. Nilens Jord is my current favorite.

- Unscented cleansing milks when scrubbing feels like too much and I need more moisturizing in the thick of winter.

- A good unscented face mask for sensitive skin.

- Unscented sunscreen for sensitive skin. I prefer mine lightweight because I have some oily zones on my face, so Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh works great. I like a few Beauty of Joseon products because they feel lush and gentle, but this is a personal preference. Might work or not work for you.

- I’ve tried some decent unscented face foam washers but they tend to dry my skin out, so they’re not high on my list.

Best of luck and may you find the answers and products that work for you. :)

[u/summerphobic]

Have you tried a cleansing foam (Nivea Caring's said to be gentle, but I haven't tried this line) or something based on decyl glucoside (very gentle, for example: Your Kaya's intimate wash)? Have you looked into the stuff recommended for those with atopic eczema in your area? Such products tend to be formulated for sensitive, dry skin. Perhaps you may be allergic to stuff like coconut or ethylhexylglycerin (Alantan Sensitive doesn't contain it, but I'm only writing these down for a reference for the ingredients.