Moisturizing Lotions and Soaps

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
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I've read a few articles about today's OTC lotions containing chemicals that are bad for your skin, resulting in quicker aging of the skin. I have to use lotion because my facial skin gets really dry and flaky, and eventually without lotion my face gets lumps and rashes.

I'm not sure if these stories are just scare tactics to get you to use natural lotions, or whether it is something to be concerned about. Does anyone have any suggestions for facial lotions that aren't loaded with petroleum products or other harmful chemicals? Some of the articles I've read suggest using olive oil, I was going to try that.

I currently use a Vaseline Facial Lotion, which has the following ingredients.
WATER, GLYCERIN, PETROLATUM, STEARIC ACID, DIHYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, HYDROXYETHYL UREA, GLYCERYL STEARATE, ISOPROPYPALMINATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, DIMETHICONE, POTASSIUM STEARATE, PETROLATUM, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, FRAGRANCE, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHONAL, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Is my face going to melt off over time? D:
 
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tcG

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2006
1,202
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Yeah, that shit isn't ideal.

There are plenty of natural moisturizers you could use. There's probably something more ideally suited, but olive/coconut oil would certainly work.
 

KidNiki1

Platinum Member
Oct 15, 2010
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Yeah, I was advised by my doctor to use cetaphil daily, and not allow hot water to touch my face when showering.


o_O

do you have some sort of skin condition? that's not really my business, but unless you do, i would recommend trying for a few weeks some sort of natural face scrub. cetaphil isn't any better for your skin... have you read the ingredients list on that?

try some sunflower oil and sugar mixed into a slightly gooey paste and just kind of rub your face lightly. then rinse with warm water.

or a tiny bit of baking soda dissolved in warm water and then dip a washcloth in it and gently wipe your face.


the cetaphil is stripping your natural face oils right the hell off and then drying out your skin. this is all just my opinion of course, but try something light and natural to clean it for a few weeks and see how it does.

if you dont want to try changing how you clean your face, well first of all, then why be worried about the stuff in lotion when your soap is just as bad, but i guess you could use a small amount of olive oil, although that might smell. you could try sunflower or coconut oil as well. just dont use a lot. and i would put it on right after you get out of the shower when your skin pores are opened from the heat and will absorb better.
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
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The doctor doesn't say I have anything wrong with my facial skin other than normal dryness and rashing. There are days where the hairs on my face literally pull a lot of skin as they grow, so I end up having large flakes on my face. I can exfoliate the flaked skin off, but then I have a red rash in the spots where the skin was peeling off.

Thanks for the suggestion about the natural solutions, I've been looking for alternatives for the reasons I stated above, and like you said, I'm probably robbing my natural oils by using these products.

I asked about the olive oil because I've read that some people use it not only as a moisturizer but it can also be used as a facial wash. I'll try out the sunflower oil and sugar mixture too.

At this point, I'll try anything, I'm sick of my face looking like I used sandpaper on it each morning.
 

KidNiki1

Platinum Member
Oct 15, 2010
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I have heard of the oil face washes as well. I used to have really dry skin on my face, and then i stopped using soap and switched to a sugar scrub. my face doesn't go from really dry to really oily anymore and still feels pretty fresh and clean. you could even try just a wiping with a washcloth in the shower for a few weeks to see how that goes.

plus, compared to the prices of face products, a homemade sugar scrub is super cheap!
 

KidNiki1

Platinum Member
Oct 15, 2010
2,793
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Lotion for moisturising or for acne etc?


right from the op

I've read a few articles about today's OTC lotions containing chemicals that are bad for your skin, resulting in quicker aging of the skin. I have to use lotion because my facial skin gets really dry and flaky, and eventually without lotion my face gets lumps and rashes.

I'm not sure if these stories are just scare tactics to get you to use natural lotions, or whether it is something to be concerned about. Does anyone have any suggestions for facial lotions that aren't loaded with petroleum products or other harmful chemicals? Some of the articles I've read suggest using olive oil, I was going to try that.

I currently use a Vaseline Facial Lotion, which has the following ingredients.


Is my face going to melt off over time? D:
 

wirednuts

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2007
7,121
4
0
nothing beats noxzema for your face. nothing, period end of story.

I like to use walgreen's apricot scrub first, which makes my skin look younger by taking off the dead cells on the surface. then, a good workthrough of noxzema. it cleans ALL the oil out, and does not dry your skin. it leaves your skin as natural as it could be.

noxzema was also the only thing that ever kept my acne away. you have to use it every day, twice if you can. but after about 10 days or so, your acne will start going away and it wont come back until you stop using noxzema. I don't know why people don't use it more, and I don't know why they don't advertise more for it. the stuff is a godsend for facial skin.
 

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,153
5,112
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I have found timing to be more important than the actual lotion type.
Step out of shower, quick towel pat down then apply lotion in the steam filled bathroom.
I find it pointless to do it any other time.

Get some basic, old fashioned baby oil and rub it in as soon as you turn the shower off (after a brief towel off).
 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
9,943
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My SO swears by straight coconut oil. Puts it on her skin after every shower. Age spots have disappeared and her skin feels better. I don't have dry skin, so I don't have much use for lotion, but when I have used coconut oil it does feel better.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
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nothing beats noxzema for your face. nothing, period end of story.

I like to use walgreen's apricot scrub first, which makes my skin look younger by taking off the dead cells on the surface. then, a good workthrough of noxzema. it cleans ALL the oil out, and does not dry your skin. it leaves your skin as natural as it could be.

noxzema was also the only thing that ever kept my acne away. you have to use it every day, twice if you can. but after about 10 days or so, your acne will start going away and it wont come back until you stop using noxzema. I don't know why people don't use it more, and I don't know why they don't advertise more for it. the stuff is a godsend for facial skin.

Not every product works for everyone.

I found a good cleaning with any soap followed by a layer of Nivea soft is fine for me.
 

Cappuccino

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2013
4,018
726
126
Not every product works for everyone.

I found a good cleaning with any soap followed by a layer of Nivea soft is fine for me.
Soap is bad, don't use soap, it drys up your skin twice as fast. I use this every morning and bed time http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod1670059 my skin is super smooth now. Before I use e45 lotion, its good, but gets quite greasy.

Make sure to cleanse your face first then apply the lotion, ofc you can skip but cleansing is a must imo.

I've tried using extra virgin oil, but it made my skin really dry, but it all depend your skin type ofc. Maybe use organic extra olive oil? I used the cheap one maybe that made my skin dry lol. :)
 
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Cappuccino

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2013
4,018
726
126
The doctor doesn't say I have anything wrong with my facial skin other than normal dryness and rashing. There are days where the hairs on my face literally pull a lot of skin as they grow, so I end up having large flakes on my face. I can exfoliate the flaked skin off, but then I have a red rash in the spots where the skin was peeling off.

Thanks for the suggestion about the natural solutions, I've been looking for alternatives for the reasons I stated above, and like you said, I'm probably robbing my natural oils by using these products.

I asked about the olive oil because I've read that some people use it not only as a moisturizer but it can also be used as a facial wash. I'll try out the sunflower oil and sugar mixture too.

At this point, I'll try anything, I'm sick of my face looking like I used sandpaper on it each morning.
How often do you wash your face? Do you wash your face with warm water or cold?

Oh and e45 is PERFECT for dry skin, but like I said its greasy. So apply it when your going to bed, so no one can see your oily face :D
Then when you wake up try the cream I linked above, trust me it's absolutely worth getting. (Cleanse first)
 
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tcG

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2006
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Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap is a natural soap that has been around for decades and it's still made of natural oils using a traditional process. It also ends up being more economical than most other soaps since it's so concentrated. I've been using it for years.

Here is the ingredients list on their "Baby Mild" variety: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Organic Olive Oils (w/ Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E

It's good stuff. I would use that (or no soap at all as people have been suggesting) plus coconut/olive oil or some other natural lotion.
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
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Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap is a natural soap that has been around for decades and it's still made of natural oils using a traditional process. It also ends up being more economical than most other soaps since it's so concentrated. I've been using it for years.

Here is the ingredients list on their "Baby Mild" variety: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Organic Olive Oils (w/ Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E

It's good stuff. I would use that (or no soap at all as people have been suggesting) plus coconut/olive oil or some other natural lotion.

Nice, that's what I'm looking for. I'll give that a shot...thanks!

I tried the olive oil today instead of the vaseline mens facial moisturizer, and my face feels more comfortable. It might be a placebo effect because I'm actively thinking about it, but it had a more "full" moisturizing affect when I applied it, like it actually absorbed into my skin. With the other lotion, it always went on thick, didn't absorb well and actually had a slight burning feel to it after a few minutes of applying.

My face is still a little itchy but it looks better, less red. Hopefully over a few days this redness and itchyness will go away. It's usually much worse though, so I'm optimistic that this might be better for my skin.
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
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So my wife was at the store and they didn't have the Dr. Bronner's, but they did have Olivella Olive Oil Liquid Soap, so she picked it up for me.

I don't know if this stuff is any good either, it has a lot of ingredients I'm not too sure about (I don't even see Olive Oil), and fragrance which I'm not interested in.
AQUA (WATER ),POTASSIUM OLIVATE ,SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE,PERFUME,SODIUM CHLORIDE,TETRASODIUM EDTA,bHt.
It advertises this:
Olivella is a neutral vegetable soap made with 100% Virgin Olive containing no animal fats, no harsh man-made chemicals, no dyes
I guess I'll try it, but still keep my eye open for more natural soaps.

She also picked me up some plain virgin olive oil to use as a moisturizer.
 
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tcG

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2006
1,202
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Good news about the olive oil! Makes sense that it would seem to absorb more... I'm curious to see how this new regimen works for you. I've long been an advocate of natural food/cosmetics (I've even been known to use deep clay from my backyard as a natural mud mask), so I'm interested to see what the results in this little anecdote are.

That soap looks meh to me. Dr. Bronner's is likely cheaper/better! The ingredients list is certainly cleaner. Perhaps keep looking for it locally... it's available at a surprising number of places here in Texas - grocery stores, health food stores, etc. - presumably because of how long it has been around. I suspect the "baby mild" variety would be perfect for you. It also comes in really good smelling varieties like eucalyptus, almond, peppermint, et. al., (and all from truly natural oils), but I suspect some of them would be too astringent.
 
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