Ask TBI: Looking After Oily But Dehydrated Skin

Question: Could you please recommend a skin care regime or even just a cleanser and moisturiser for oily but dehydrated skin? I have spent a small fortune searching for the right products without much luck! Some cleansers can be too harsh and some moisturisers too rich - Sinead.

Weekly Worship: Avène, Amazing Concealer and Elizabeth Arden

Price: £6.50 / $12.00 150ml

Stockist: Boots / dermstore.com

The Avène Thermal Spring Water is a product I've loved for a long time, so it's about time I gave it a shout out. Some people say these sprays are just tap water in a can, but I disagree.

This Avène Thermal Spring Water calms and soothes the skin and provides a much-needed refreshment on hot days, long days and tiring days. It's special because it contains Avene's famous Thermale Spring Water, which is infused with trace elements and silicates - a perfectly balanced mineral composition ideal for sensitive skin. Over 300 stringent biological, pharmacological and clinical studies have proven the skin-healing and soothing benefits of this miracle water, so bulls**t it is not.

What I love most about this product is that it has a million different uses. One of which is to dampen makeup brushes in order to apply loose pigments, make shadow colours pop and transform eyeshadows into liners.

Price: £19.50 / $28.00 6ml

Stockist: M&S / amazingcosmetics.com

This is the best concealer I have ever used.

I have the worst dark circles and struggle finding a concealer that covers them completely, without the need of a thousand layers. However everything changed when the Amazing Concealer from Amazing Cosmetics came into my life. It conceals perfectly, blends like a dream and it so pigmented that only the tiniest amount of product is required - so say goodbye to dark circles and the dreaded concealer crease!!

It is pretty costly however, as such a little amount is needed to cover the eye area and one application lasts all day, one tube should go the distance. I honestly couldn't imagine life without it!

Price: £35.00 / $40.00 15ml

Stockist: John Lewis / Macy's

Elizabeth Arden's new eye gel is part of the Flawless Future Powered by Ceremide collection and it is everything. Ceremide - an innovative ingredient included in some of the best Elizabeth Arden products - provides the skin with a huge number of benefits (find out more here).

This Flawless Future Rejuvenating Eye Gel tightens, brightens and hydrates and leaves even the most tired of eyes looking refreshed and wide awake. It soothes the eyes the second it is applied and its ophthalmalic tip allows for solid control over how much product comes out. I have now been using this eye gel daily for the past three weeks and my fine lines are reduced and the whole eye area significantly more hydrated .

Understanding...Rosacea

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin disease that causes redness and swelling on the face. Symptoms begin with episodes of flushing, however other symptoms develop when rosacea progresses. These symptoms include:

- Burning and stinging sensations 

- Permanent redness
- Acne
- Small blood vessels becoming visible

1 in 10 people in the UK are thought to develop rosacea, although in most cases the symptoms are very mild. In addition, rosacea usually develops over a long period of time and is more common in women.

What causes rosacea?

Although rosacea is a common skin disease, the exact cause of it is unknown. However several triggers have been thought to make the condition worse.

Rosacea triggers include:

- Sun exposure 

- Exercise
- Cold weather and wind
- Heat
- Alcohol and caffeine
- Stress
- The menopause
- Certain medications
- Certain foods (spicy foods and yeast extract for example)

How do you treat rosacea?

There are various different ways to help prevent and treat rosacea. These include topical treatments and oral treatments, IPL treatment and lifestyle changes. The NHS has a great list of various rosacea treatments - you can view it here.

There are also a number of skincare products available that help to combat redness and irritation.

Recommendations

1. Dr. Nick Lowe Redness Relief Calming Cream 50ml (£15.49 urbanretreat.co.uk / $25.56 feelunique.com)
2. Dermalex Rosacea Cream 30g (£18.99 Boots)
3. Skinceuticals Redness Neutralizer 50ml (£69.00 blissworld.co.uk / $66.00 skinceuticals.com)
4. Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser 200ml (£7.00 amazon.co.uk / $8.79 drugstore.com)

Understanding...Cleansing

According to the Oxford Dictionary, to cleanse is ‘to make something (especially the skin) thoroughly clean’. Cleansing is that simple - it's just a technique that rids the skin of dirt, make up, sweat, excess dead skin cells and other pollutants.

Cleansing is the most important step in a skincare regime and it should occur at the end of each day. Some people choose to also cleanse in the morning, however this normally depends on their skin type and skincare needs.

How should I cleanse my skin?

The best way to cleanse is to deeply massage a gentle cleanser into your face and neck to ensure that all of the dirt is lifted out of your pores. It is important to focus on the more congested areas of the face, such as your t-zone. When you are done, simply rinse your face with lukewarm water.

Doing a double cleanse (aka cleansing twice) can also be very beneficial, especially if you wear a lot of makeup. An initial cleanse will remove makeup and excess oil from the skin; whilst a second cleanse will completely purify the skin.

Now cleansing may seem very simple, however there are important things to remember:

• You should only use a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type 
• Your chosen cleanser should contain little to no alcohol, as alcohol dries and irritates the skin 
• You should spend a minimum of a minute and a half cleansing your skin 
• If you choose to cleanse your face using a sponge or washcloth, ensure that it is washed every 2-3 days as these tools are breeding grounds for bacteria 
• You should only use lukewarm water to rinse your face, as hot water dries the skin and reduces its oily protective layer 

Recommendations 

1. Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh 450ml (£56.50 Selfridges / $67.00 www.shuuemura-usa.com) 
2. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 100ml (£12.75 John Lewis / $24.50 us.lizearle.com) 
3. Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser 200ml (£24.99 / $34.99 www.antipodesnature.com)
4. Avène Gentle Milk Cleanser 200ml (£11.50 Boots / $18.00 www.dermstore.com)