Super Sensitive Skin

[JT234]

My skin is so sensitive I can only wash it once a day at night. I'm looking for something I can use in the morning to gently cleanse my face of the moisturizers and oils I use. I know micellar waters remove makeup but I was worried they might be too stripping for my skin. Please help!!

[WinglessOne]

@JT234  I saw earlier in this thread where you mentioned your skin is more touch/pressure sensitive than ingredient/product sensitive. I understand why folks recommend just water rinsing in the morning (and washing at night). But washing just once a day can do more harm than good, depending on your skin type (dry, oily, combo), how acne prone you are, and what products you currently use on your face. Or it could work great for you! You’ll need to try it for a couple weeks to find out. Water alone won’t clean excess oil from your face, though, especially if you’re unable to rub your face much while rinsing. 

I’m about to suggest something you’ve already considered and my dermatologist scolded me for: use a hydrating micellar water or other liquid makeup remover and either cotton balls or a very soft cloth, like a plush microfiber cloth (Makeup Erasers are good for this) to gently wipe your face in the morning, then rinse. My new favorite makeup remover is Paula’s Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover: it’s oil- and fragrance-free, and contains aloe vera and green tea extract. It doesn’t leave my face feeling stripped or greasy. Oh, here’s something else you can try in the morning that you can apply with a cotton ball and don’t even need to rinse off (and I bet my derm would approve of this one): IT Cosmetics Miracle Water Micellar Cleanser 8.5 oz/ 250 mL . I recently used that AM and PM during a bout of illness that had me on bedrest for weeks, so I couldn’t stand much at the sink or in the shower. Sephora also sells a mini size of that cleanser. It really does work the way IT Cosmetics claims: instead of rinsing it off, you can pat it into your skin like a serum. It won’t strip your skin dry. It hasn’t replaced my AM or PM cleanser, but I like having it on hand for times when I can’t use my usual cleansers. 

Now, I said my derm scolded me for the micellar water suggestion because I used to water-rinse my face in the morning and only wash with cleanser at night. Some mornings I’d use micellar water on my face before rinsing. My derm insisted that once-daily wash routine was very bad for my mostly-dry combo skin: it was causing more frequent breakouts, even though I was exfoliating regularly. I politely argued with him about it but, honestly, I knew he was right (plus, he’s the one with the med degree, not me 😂) and I was just being stubborn. My problem wasn’t really that I couldn’t wash twice a day, it was simply that my nighttime cleanser was too drying. So I had to switch to more hydrating cleansers. My skin’s probably different from yours, so a cleanser switch may or may not help you, especially since it’d require you to rub your face (as gently as possible) in the morning. But that’s something else to consider. 

[ValThe]

Honestly, especially during the winter, it's not necessary to wash your face in the morning with anything other than water. Keep your pillow case clean, clean your face at night as usual and in the morning just rinse off your night time moisturizer.

I am a fellow sensitive skin person with dry skin and limiting how many time I strip my face has really helped with irritation and breakouts (likely because my skin is not freaking out from being stripped). I do double cleanse at night too if that helps. (oil based cleanser + milk/soy cleanser) And do invest in a good moisturizer to protect that skin barrier.

Good luck!

[quspork]

Do you know what specific ingredients you are sensitive to, @JT234?

[JT234]

It's not really ingredients it's more like touching my skin irritates it. And I have to use cool water when I was my face. I just want to touch my face as little as possible in he morning so it does get red and irritated.

[Manwitch]

Do you use any other products at all that could be making it worse? what other products do you use?

[quspork]

Honestly then, I'd just splash a bit with water and call it a day for the morning, @JT234. Washing in the a.m. isn't required. 

[Manwitch]

Look up double cleansing, which involved using an oil based cleanser first (for makeup, sunblock etc), followed by a regular, water based cleanser. try using soft, washable cloths for cleansing, too. like bamboo baby othes or flannel ones, and you are using them gently wipe off the cleanser (cleanser applied to dry skin, run cloth under warm water, gently wipe away). . and use a clean one every day. Avoid any cleansers that are foaming or full of anything, like acne ones. they always overdry. For your regular, water based cleanser, focus on "gentle" and "sensitive skin" ones. I highly recommend Cetaphil's Gentle Daily Face Cleanser (says it is for sensitive skin). it's super gentle and hydrating, and I've actually used it as a moisturizer once when I was broke. lol.