Hi.

Im trying to find a product for after shaving which is for sensitive very dry skin, but doesn't make my face shiny. If I were to wash my face and not apply any kind of moisturiser my forehead flakes and my whole face feels tight. This has been a problem for years (yes ive seen dermatologists) and have tried many products with varied results (below), I also have a good diet. When I mention shiny, I meen my face (especially nose and forehead) always looks shiny and greasy after applying product.

Some products I've tried:

Neals Yard moisturiser: extremely shiny / caused breakouts.
Neals Yard aftershave balm: shiny / caused breakouts.
Clinique moisturiser: Extremely shiny / skin still flaked.
Clinique post shave healer: shiny shiny shiny.
Nivea post shave balm: shiny / still had tight face.
Nivea sensitive post shave balm: The shiniest face ever.... looked rediculous.
Anthony Logistics aftershave balm: Still had dry face.
Loreal Men Hydrating Energetic Moisturiser: Shiny face / lasts about a week.

Product im considering:

LAB SERIES oil control daily Hydrator:

........but do I want to spend another 40 pounds on a small bottle of product that might not work. I know cost shouldn't be an issue when you really need a solution but I have spent silly money on the most useless products and am a great target for marketers claiming to have the solution.

If anyone has a similar condition and knows a product that works (moisturising & no shine), please let me know what it is.

Thanks

Sounds like your skin is dehydrated (flaky patches, tight feeling but breakouts and oil indicate this). As a rule, dehydrated skin REALLY benefits from products with hyaluronic acid in, as it helps the skin retain water. You should also make sure you're not using a cleanser that is too harsh either, as it will just be stripping the skin of more moisture, hence you becoming more dehydrated, and your skin trying to produce more oil as a result - so you'll become more shiny! A balm cleanser might be the way to go.

As for products to moisturise, I don't know if it will be enough on it's own to help your skin, but my husband who has similar skin often steals my Olay Anti-Wrinkle Instant Hydration Serum as it is very moisturising, but seeing as it's a serum, also very matte in texture. It has hyaluronic acid in it.

It's only £5 in Superdrug at the mo so it might be worth you giving it a go, although I'm not sure it will be totally moisturising enough on it's own. Maybe the rest of the line is worth checking out, too? Have only used the serum myself.

Another tip, if you're really stuck, is to make sure you're exfoliating your skin well with a chemical exfoliator after you wash your face a couple of times a week, which will help renew the flaky bits and control oil. Again, my husband uses the Nip + Fab Dragon's Blood pads, as they have hyaluronic acid, so they aren't as drying as others are.

Another thing you could do is use blotting paper on your nose and shiny areas after moisturising and throughout the day. It won't prevent breakouts but will take away the shine.

Hi Mrs Checks. That's a very helpful reply, thank you!

I currently use Bulldog face wash, which apparently isn't very harsh, and it's certainly the best face wash I've used to date. I will certainly try the chemical exfoliator you recommend. I will also try the serum..... I can't really complain if it doesn't work for a fiver.

Oh to be one of those blokes that can slap any old rubbish on his face and be fine.

I'll let you know how I get on ☺

You're welcome! I hope something works for you - I know what it's like to have trouble with your skin, and I think a lot of skincare brands don't really sell many products that help people with dehydrated skin - although that seems to be changing a bit now, thankfully!

Good luck!

Hi Mrs Checks. As promised, an update on how I got on with those products.

1. The Dragon's Blood pads. I've been using them for a couple of weeks. The first time I used them it stung like mad, but after a few days I got used to the stinging and it seemed to work well as a cleaner but I'm not sure if I've noticed any difference to the condition of my skin.

2. The Olay. I used this for a week. It's certainly mattifying, but I need about 20 pumps worth of liquid before it moisturises, which worked out at about 1/4 of a bottle. Even after that I was getting dry patches.

Conclusion: I will carry on using the pads until they are gone. I will discontinue using the Olay.

I am still very grateful for your suggestions. I will try anything in my search for a product that works.

Frustratingly I was conned at the Clinique counter again. I am such a mug! The chap told me to try the mens Oil Control Mattifying Moisturizer. So I handed over my £26 in the hope it would work.
Well moisturising my a#$! Mattifying maybe, but almost instantly my face felt tight and the skin flaked. Another product for the bin

Perhaps my choice is simple: Mattifying products = uncomfortable flakey skin or moisturising products = slippery shiny oily skin.

You could try the Indeed labs Hydraluron serum under a moisturiser. It's a hyaluronic acid serum designed to help hydrate the skin more.

Try products not just marketed for men. They're no different it's generally all in the marketing. A good skin care counter should be able to give you a sample or put some on you to see if it suits you.

Do you moisturise at night? If not try a heavier moisturiser at night when shine isn't an issue to see if that helps keep your skin from flaking.

The only product suggestion I have is expensive but my mum always had quite bed flaky skin on her face and tried a lot of products. Only the Decleor neroli serum and Hydra floral moisturiser have worked for her to stop it flaking.

Hi Jane. Thanks for your suggestions.

I don't really have an issue using products marketed for women just as long as they don't leave me smelling feminine.

I've not tried 2 products at the same time before but guess I'd be willing to try, however it will just add to the time it takes me to get ready every morning, which is already far too long for a bloke. If those serums are as hydrating as described why do they need a moisturiser afterwards?

I've certainly used moisturisers that stop the flaking (Clinique's Maximum Hydrator for one), but they always leave me looking greasy as hell.
At the moment I use L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Quenching Gel in the evening, and before that some pricey moisturiser by Lab Series. The problem remains.

OP are you drinking plenty of water? I tend to have problems with dry patches and flaking when I don't drink sufficiently well.

The serum protects the inner layer of the skin (the dermis) and the moisturiser works to protect the outer layer (the epidermis). So the roles of both are quite different. The serum also enhances the moisturiser to work better, the moisturiser also acts as a sealant to the serum. Sounds like lovely marketing tactics lol

Hi Lushness. If I'm honest I probably don't drink as much water as I should, well not unless the water content in tea and coffee counts
Can drinking more water really make things all better? If so then perhaps ill try that instead, afterall im sick of spending so much money on products that don't work as advertised.

For me personally yes. When my skin acts up it's normally because I'm dehydrated. When I actively drink a decent amount my skin looks a lot better. I know it's not the most exciting drink in the world but there's little point in spending lots on topically applied products if you're not giving what the body needs internally also.

Obviously continue to cleanse and moisturise etc

Hi 5hane, sorry to hear the products weren't great for you, I guess everyone's skin is different so it's hard to predict these things.

I would also second the recommendation of Hydraluron (another hyaluronic acid product) but it sounds to me like you'll need a moisturiser over it, as the Olay product didn't work for you.

Another thing I've just started using personally, although is on the pricy side, is Clarins Blue Lotus oil for dehydrated but oily skin. My skin is loving it! It's about £33 though so maybe see if you can get a sample if you're interested in it? I know oil sounds scary and not mattifying, but I use it at night then in the AM just use the Olay serum and a bog standard moisturiser after cleansing (using an Avene one at the mo) and my usually dry, tight skin is nowhere near as dehydrated as it usually is.

Don't give up! I'm sure you'll find the right products eventually.

Hah, pass. Good question. The Indeed one I mentioned says it has no actual moisturising ingredients that make skin feel soft, just hyaluronic acid to increase moisture retention in the skin.

Hope you find something. I use Cetraben on my flakier patches at night (far too greasy for in the day) and Nivea creme if I'm not flaky.

In the day I use an spf but looks like others have had some good suggestions. The Aldi stuff got rave reviews! Look for oil free.

Are you married or do you have a live in partner? Because my husband pinches my Monsia Intense Moisturising Day Cream with SPF-15! No greasy residue at all and he finds that it stops all razor burn dead.

Thanks Jane. Would be nice if there was a product that was a moisturiser and serum in one.

Hi Lin, thanks, ill look into that stuff.
Not married. My GF stays a few days a week, which is just as well because I doubt she would put up with how long I spend in the bathroom 7 days a week, as I try to fight my skin

Thanks Mrs Checks. Perhaps I should find a moisturiser that contains the hyaluronic acid?

Yeah I think you should - Glycerin is another good ingredient to look out for, also vitamin e can help.

Off the top of my head, the brand Eucerin (available at Boots) does some moisturisers with hyaluronic acid and glycerin as active ingredients. They are often marketed as 'anti ageing' because hyaluronic acid also helps plump fine lines up, but don't let that put you off! Maybe have a look at their products that contain urea for dry skin, too.

Think im gonna stick with the Dragon's Blood pads for a bit longer now though.
Seems less flaking before bed when using the pads rather than the Bulldog facewash.
No good for mornings though as areas of my skin starts flaking as the day goes on.
Definitely looking into Eucerin.

The cheap Nivea one is as good as any of the poncey, rip-off ones and doesn't make your face "shiny". You must have freaky skin.

Tried it, hated it.
Thanks for reminding me I have freaky skin. Very helpful.

In case you decided to look at Monsia Skincare, here is a review that may be of interest http://mystylespot.net/2014/08/you-n...em-review.html I am not suggesting that you need help to look younger - I use it because it makes my skin feel smooth and MH tells me that it has a healthy glow!

It's not just you, Nivea would make me break out so not for me either.

Looking now TYVM

It shouldn't matter but glad im not on my own.

My 'bargain bucket' recommendations:

The Dove For Men series is great, the best lower-priced range out there in my opinion.

I know you've tried the Nivea post-shave balms and you weren't impressed - neither am I to be honest - but I find the Nivea for men intense moisturiser (the one that comes in a glass jar) to be very good after running or swimming when I find my skin needs an extra moisture 'boost'. I don't recall being too shiny afterwards.

The Botanics range by Boots is also one that I've had good experiences with, as well as the Bulldog moisturisers. If you like the facewash it might be worth trying the rest of the range.

What shaving product (gel/foam/etc.) do you use? I use the Lab Series Shave Cream and before that I was using the Dove Shaving Cream (I actually only nought the Lab Series one because the shop was sold out of Dove and Lab Series was the only cream they had!) - I definitely find that the creams (as opposed to gels or foams) are kindest to my skin.