Dry Patches in the Winter

Nov 29, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

So I have really bad oily/combination skin and I can tackle it fine in the Summer with using oil-battling products but when it comes into the winter, the exact same areas that are the most shiny, get dry patches.

What annoys me the most is that I still tend to get really oily on top of them dry patches, and I just can't work out why?

I read ages ago that sometimes oiliness can be caused by the lack of moisture in your skin and it produces a lot more as you dry out your skin. But I have changed to a moisturiser for dry/combination skin and yet I still have oily/dry patches on the same spots.

I literally live by Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream at the minute for my dry patches but I wish there was just one moisturiser that wouldn't break me out, get rid of the dry patches and help the oil!

Does anyone have advice on products to try - or even an answer to why my skin produces so much oil and yet still has patches of FLAKY dry skin in the exact same spot?

I feel like I'm totally missing a point and I'm doing something wrong in my skincare to cause this!

Nov 30, 2010

Breanna B.

For daytime I would try a thick moisturizer. Try Hope in a Jar by Philosophy. But oiliness can definitely be caused from dehydration. Your skin is producing oil to compensate for the lack of water it has. So definitely take care of yourself and drink plenty of water. But what I think will really help you is a night cream. Put it on right before you go to bed and overnight it will soak in and soften and moisturize your skin. My favorite is from Origins and it's called Night-A-Mins, they also have a night eye cream. Hope that helps! :)

Nov 30, 2010

shikha v.

Do u wash ur face quite often to get rid of oiliness? well if yes then stop doing so because this will rip ur skin of its moisture and as a result ur skin will produce more oil to compensate for the lost moisture. I also have the same skin type and i use Clinique drastically different moisturizer it does not cause any break outs too hope it helped!

Nov 30, 2010

Nancei V.

A little bit of lanolin will help soothe and soften up the dry patches. I recommend applying it before you go to bed. You can find this product at your local drugstore. Goodluck!

Nov 30, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

I wash my face twice a day and use oil blotting papers the rest of the time!

thanks for the advice. i'm definitely going to try out the Origins moisturisers and the Philosophy ones. I love both those brands but have to try them!

I'll also have to look out for lanolin!

The Clinque products break me out. The only thing I can use is there powders!

Nov 30, 2010

Jennifer T.

I agree with everyone else as to why you have oil on top of dry patches; I have terribly dry skin, but my driest patches would always get this oily sheen covering them by midday, until I started moisturizing regularly. Since I have such dry skin, I can't recommend a moisturizer that would be good for you that I have direct experience with, but I'm currently in love with Korres Thyme Honey moisturizer (for dry, dehydrated skin). Korres also makes a Yogurt Moisturizer specifically for "oily and dehydrated skin" that might be better for you. I suggest going to sephora and getting samples of different moisturizers to find one that works best for you. Good luck!

Nov 30, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

I have always moisturised religiously morning and night though ! :(

But thanks for the advice, I haven't heard of Korres!

Nov 30, 2010

Tamara R.

I used to have similar problems, until I started using this little tip:
I make sure that my skin is moist before I apply my moisturizer.

I know it sounds a bit crazy, but I found that a light mist of water/Fix+/whatever makes a world of difference, not to mention I use a lot less product.

Nov 30, 2010

Jamie S.

I bet it's your skins response to a cleanser that is striping your skin of it's natural oils.... obviously when you do this you get dry skin... and the excess oil is your skin trying to compensate for the natural oils that are being striped!

My advice would be to switch to a natural handmade facial soap that doesn't strip those natural oils but cleanses and is MADE to be good for your skin. Next, exfoliate well to get rid of any flakes from the dry skin (i use body scrub for this). Next, use a good body butter or natural primer as your facial moisturizer - these are thicker and are great during the winter. To combat the excess oil production until your skin has recovered and you're on a good natural, handmade skin care regiment, i would use a foundation, concealing powder, or finishing powder that has natural clays in it - these will go on top of the body butter or primer so while those are doing the moisturizing, the clays are on top of that drying up any excess oil that springs up.

I hope that helps :)

If you have any questions about the products I use send me a message :)

Nov 30, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

See this is what I don't understand!

I use an all natural cleanser and recently switched to natural toner and moisturiser also! I drink like a ton of water!

I am making a switch soon to natural make-up also so I really need to look into what good products are in the market for those

Nov 30, 2010

Jamie S.

Is your natural products handmade and really natural?
If it's from a big company you can guarantee that "natural" is just a word to market the product and the time and care hasn't gone into picking quality ingredients... for example, many companies include fillers in their products (they do this because it's a cheap way to increase volume... even if the filler is natural, doesn't mean it's good for you).

Nov 30, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

Its really natural~ They are making a huge difference to my skin in terms of acne and complexion and they are making my skin MUCH softer than normal but I still get the dry patches :(

Nov 30, 2010

Crystal S.

Okay Louise before you switch products you have to take other things in consideration. If your a smoker,drinker (alcohol/caffeine) or taking an medications such as steroids, antihistamines and accutane they also help dry out your skin. So many people forget the things that we put into our bodies can have an affect on our skin. In order for any product to work you have to use it for 4 weeks non stop, and only use a small portions less is mor. I would recommend that you go to see a professional esthetician get a skin analysis so they can tell you what products you need. Or you can do a homemade facial with avacados they help to lubricate and norishes the skin.

Dec 1, 2010

Jamie S.

Crystal has a great point! Especially with medications! They can cause all kinds of side effects for your skin!

Dec 1, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

I have another appointment next week with my dermatologist and I'll be discussing it. The first time I went she told me to switch to natural products to help acne and it really helped so hopefully she can help the second time too.

And I don't smoke, I don't drink caffeine, I don't drink fizzy drinks and I barely ever drink alcohol. And I have been on the same medications for some time! I barely ever eat meat, I don't like most junk foods and I have a mostly healthy diet. I think I just have dodgey patches on my skin D:

I just don't understand why, because I do everything that everyone says, yet I just can't seem to get rid of these dry patches.

And I really like the idea of a homemade facial. Do you just use avacados?

Dec 1, 2010

Jamie S.

Louise - is there any SLS in your cleanser? Alcohol in your toner? Koalin clay in your moisturizer? All of these ingredients are very drying and/or stripe those natural oils. 

Dec 1, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

I don't use SLS's anywhere, I changed about 2 weeks from a toner with alcohol to one without and in regards to the moisturiser, I don't see Koalin clay anywhere! ;o

Dec 1, 2010

Crystal S.

I use avacados once a month especially in the winter time because my skin can get really dry and dull. Its probably your meds some of them have a drying affect and we over look it. Your dermatologist will be able to help ask her for something topical that you can use daily

Dec 4, 2010

Kaylene T.

I also have oily skin that winds up dry and patchy in the winter. There's a lot of good advice already up there, but I would also consider exfoliating. Sometimes I use the St. Ives Apricot Scrub, but most of the time I just use a brown sugar scrub that I made at home. 1 cup of brown sugar to 1/3 of a cup olive oil plus a few drops of your favorite essential oils (use the 3:1 ratio if you want to make a smaller portion, obviously). The only downside is the the oil separates, so you have to re-mix it every time you use it. You can use it all over your body, but I usually just use it on face & lips. Just be sure to use it at the beginning of a hot shower, so that the oil steams away by the end of it.

Obviously, this is what works for my skin. However, if your skin is overly sensitive, it may not be the best idea.

Also, what do you use as a makeup remover? The wrong brands tend to dry me out like crazy!

Dec 10, 2010

Louise-Lesley J.

i really like the idea of the brown sugar and olive oil scrub but am a little hesitant given the fact i have oily skin - putting oil on it seems counter-productive!

I exfoliate during the summer with coal face (lush) twice a week and in the winter i use it once a week, and a mask from origins once a week too!

St.Ives breaks me out - which is a really shame as they where the products i used all through my horrible acne years in my teens and they worked amazing - i think ive grown completely immune to them now.

i use my natural cleanser as a make-up remover.

ever since i started using natural stuff on my face, i have totally realised that my overly red cheeks which i always assumed was just passed from my mother, are fading! my complexion isn't perfect by all means but it is definitely better!