I'm A Crone Who'd Rather Not Prune

January 31, 2022 9:11 AM

After an adult lifetime of struggling with oily skin (and frequent breakouts), my skin is starting to finally calm down in my mature years (Hooray!) However - this means that I actually do get some dry-feeling skin in winter. Can you recommend a simple moisturizer that I can use now and then?

I am not in the habit of elaborate skin care; I wash my face in the morning in the shower with plain soap and water, go easy on the makeup (I never got into makeup either), and maybe slap on some benzoyl peroxide at night if there's a blemish; and that's been it. My skin always tended towards oiliness throughout my adulthood, so I avoided moisturizer; and between the oiliness and some amazing genes, that's been working just fine. In fact, the few times that I thought "I really should start using moisturizer", it's always caused some kind of breakout, and when I stop, it stops.

But hitting menopause has calmed that oiliness down - and this winter I've actually started to feel it when the weather is dry; my face just feels dry, and slightly uncomfortable. It doesn't look it - it's more of a feeling of very slight discomfort.

Is there some kind of simple, very light moisturizer I could use only in winter? I am still a little loath to use it regularly lest it trigger a breakout (I do still get those), but I think maybe an on-occasion light moisturizer if the weather is especially cold would at least be a little more comfortable. I'd also like to not shell out a gfrdillion for this either, so drug-store brands are totally fine.

posted by EmpressCallipygos to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (26 answers total)

Hi! I'm your age and your beauty routine sounds as easygoing as mine. If your skin responds to it in the same way as mine does (which can of course not be guaranteed or predicted), then swapping the soap out for Aleppo soap might already be enough. It leaves a teeny tiny bit of olive oil... not enough to feel greasy, but enough to not feel dry.
I actually use it all over, including my hair. It feels stroppy during washing, but fine afterwards.
posted by Too-Ticky at 9:16 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

I highly recommend this gel moisturizer from The Body Shop. I have dryer/combination skin but this is the only thing I’m willing to use through a North Carolina summer. The texture is closer to aloe Vera (but without the stickiness) than a typical moisturizer. It goes on very light and doesn’t feeling oily or greasy after. (Note that they also make a regular moisturizer so just double check the container if you buy in store).

Versed makes a similar product that’s a bit easier to find, but I don’t think it feels quite as nice as the body shop one.
posted by raccoon409 at 9:18 AM on January 31, 2022

I’m probably a bit older than you and have a similar routine. I’ve used Oil of Olay Complete moisturizer for years and years. You can find it everywhere, it’s $10 or even less if it’s on sale, it contains sunscreen, and if you want you can even mix in a little liquid foundation. It doesn’t feel greasy, and I use it in the morning and before bed.
posted by bookmammal at 9:20 AM on January 31, 2022 [5 favorites]

I buy slightly fancier stuff now, but in a pinch (and for travel) will still pick up the dermatologist's favorite Cetaphil - and the 2oz travel bottle will last for ages, if you want to try it for cheapest.

The other thing I've been using this winter is Bio-Oil, which I had recommended by a dermatologist decades ago I think, for scars and acne discoloration. I wash my face, put on moisturizer, and then keep the Bio-Oil at my desk so that a few minutes later when my moisturizer has sunk in I put a few drops of oil on my hands, rub them together briskly, and smooth them over my face (and then the backs of my hands - the other place that gets dry AF in winter), just to hold that moisture in a little better. It was mostly at my desk because of my hands and a healing cooking burn, and I can dab a little on whenever I think about it, but I do feel like with the heat running the oil has helped as a bit of a barrier. It's not at all greasy, but I'd suggest getting the trial size and doing spot tests on your hand and face before committing. I also occasionally use it on my lower legs when they get snake-skin in the winter, right after I shower.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:29 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I'm post-menopause and *still* dealing with breakouts, but I find the Trader Joe's Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion does the job and even has SPF15 sunscreen as a bonus. I think it's $3.
posted by DrGail at 9:31 AM on January 31, 2022 [5 favorites]

I think Cerave face lotion will do the trick. A bottle lasts forever and you can find it in any drugstore. I have super dry skin so it’s like, step one in my moisturizing regimen, but it is a very effective light moisturizer on its own.
posted by cakelite at 9:34 AM on January 31, 2022 [10 favorites]

We sound similar, except I'm a few years away from menopause. The term you want to look for is noncomedogenic, and I found the basic CVS brand to be fine. There is also a version with SPF 15.
posted by coffeecat at 9:36 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

My skin has always been a dry/oily combo so I've always had to do the moisturizer tightrope--now that I'm in my 40s the dry side has gotten more aggressive. I've been using Differin moisturizer to split the difference. It's a little pricier than like, basic CVS brand or CeraVe but I find it works great for soothing the dryness without triggering breakouts.

Caveat: I am actually on prescription meds for acne, but that's more the hormonal cystic variety. Nonetheless, it's probably a small factor.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 9:46 AM on January 31, 2022

I'm a fan of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. Their marketing makes it sound super duper over the top more moisture than you've ever experienced!!! But I find that the water gel texture actually makes for a pretty light moisturizer, if you use it to spot-treat the driest areas.
posted by neushoorn at 9:53 AM on January 31, 2022 [6 favorites]

I had acne into my 30s, and sometimes still get it in my 40s. But most of the time, I don't even use soap - I just give my face a good scrub morning and night with water and a washcloth. It keeps things clean without drying out, and I find that I don't need to add moisturizer (unlike for my hands which I obviously wash with soap).

If I want a deeper clean, I'll sometimes use St Ives Apricot Scrub in the shower. I like that it has walnut shell for the scrubby bits, not plastic, and it's not drying.
posted by jb at 10:27 AM on January 31, 2022

Given that your skin breaks out in response to some ingredients and the dryness is minimal, you might want to try just patting a few drops of oil on your face while it's still a bit damp after the shower. A lot of people use jojoba oil for this; my skin prefers sunflower oil (fwiw, its benefits have been demonstrated in various dermatological studies - this is true for jojoba, avocado, and some other oils too). I buy organic sunflower oil for cooking at the grocery, for me it works beautifully.

After I wash my face, I pat it dry but not completely, so it's still just a bit damp - then I put 4-5 drops of oil on my hands and pat that in all over. The oil seals in that bit of water, soaks into my skin, and seems to offer a bit of protection from the elements too.

I love that oil is one ingredient only, light on the skin, super cheap, easy to find, scientifically vetted, and (for me) works!

Of course what is great for me may not be great for you - this goes not only for oils in general, but for different types of oils too. It could take a few tries to find the right one (but in most cases, if doesn't work you can just use it up in the kitchen).
posted by marlys at 10:46 AM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]

I try face goos against each other on the L-R of my face. I recommend the technique because some things that seem fine at the time correlate with worse outcomes before the test bottle is empty.

The current moisturizer winners for me are rose hip oil, CeraVe something, and Night of Olay. They seem indistinguishable in medium term effects. Some nights I just think, do I want to smell like a hippie or like my grandma?

Oh, and grocery-level gentle baby soap is helpful in winter, too, but I wish it were solid. I’ll try Aleppo with olive oil.
posted by clew at 11:35 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

I’ll second jojoba oil. I combine it with aloe, which helps spread the oil and make it less greasy-feeling (by itself, aloe is actually drying). This combo helps clear up my skin if I get acne.
posted by Comet Bug at 12:04 PM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

You may have sensitive skin. Olay complete sensitive (must be the sensitive formula) is the best—not greasy or oily at all, has never clogged my pores, provides a light spf without feeling or smelling like sunscreen.

Oils take some getting used to. For a real treat/splurge and a light intro to oil, try Josie Maran face milk. It’s argan oil plus water, and it doesn’t feel oily. It’s never clogged my pores and on dry days I use a little more, oily days I use a little less. It honestly makes my skin look so nice and feel so comfortable, I stopped using my complicated skincare routine.
posted by kapers at 12:05 PM on January 31, 2022

Also, you may already know this, but anything that dries out your skin can cause an overproduction of oil. So your soap may actually be stripping your skin, causing both dryness AND oiliness. Fun!

That’s why the advice we breakout-prone grew up with—strip your skin with soap and avoid any oil—is no longer recommended. The advice from dermatologists today is to find a balance, using a simple non-drying cleanser like Cerave or Cetaphil, and moisturizing even if you’re oily.
posted by kapers at 12:26 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]

I like Trader Joe's Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer for my face. It comes in a pot and it's like $9 for 2.5 oz but it feels very light and smooth and doesn't smell weird or give me breakouts.

If I need sun protection I either use the other TJ's Enrich stuff (mentioned above, less expensive than the gel) or the Oil of Olay stuff it's a knockoff of (which is more expensive but can feel a little more moisturizing/less chalky) OR the slightly thicker, higher-SPF Olay Complete Lotion Moisturizer. The latter is the one of the only SPF-30 products that does not give me breakouts on my face.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:26 PM on January 31, 2022

Response by poster: Just one quick re-direct:

Also, you may already know this, but anything that dries out your skin can cause an overproduction of oil. So your soap may actually be stripping your skin, causing both dryness AND oiliness. Fun!

My own skin has historically done better with soap and water, however; cleaning gels or liquid cleansers haven't done so great. It also prefers nearly-daily exfoliation. And the advice about "you shouldn't dry out your skin with soap after all" is always what prompted my trying to switch to something else, and my skin decided that no, it still likes soap better. *shrug*

And when I say my face "feels" dry, it's not like "I touch my face and it feels dry and flaky to my fingers", it's more like "I'm sitting here typing and my cheeks seem like they could use a little lotion or something". It's just my cheeks, too - and ironically when I actually do touch my face with my fingers it feels like it's the usual "slightly oily".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:59 PM on January 31, 2022

Best answer: It sounds like my skin is a lot like yours. I will use Lubriderm daily moisture unscented, and if my skin isn't feeling too dry I will water it down a little by getting my face a little wet first (usually just by not drying after washing/rinsing). I only need to do this in the winter. I use soap in the evening and rinse in the morning, and only need to moisturize in the evening unless it's a really cold day.
posted by flimflam at 1:11 PM on January 31, 2022

Hello! I’m (nearly) 32 with oily / combo skin, acne (hormonal) AND in menopause. It’s so fun!

I’ve had to do so much trial and error with skincare to get my current routine that seems to work. And like you, I got some dryness and needed something that didn’t break me out or make me an oil slick.

I really like this moisturizer: cetaphil daily oil free hydrating lotion.

It’s at most drugstores and pretty cheap. It’s VERY lightweight and feels like slightly silky water. Would recommend a try!
posted by Crystalinne at 1:26 PM on January 31, 2022

I find moisturizers with sunscreen can be a bit thick and gloppy so you might want to avoid that if you are inside most days.

Neutrogena makes a light moisturizer that might suit you: Oil-Free Moisture. You can find it at drugstores or Target. It's not the cheapest ever but pretty close to the same price as the Cetaphil or CeraVe moisturizers.
posted by tuesdayschild at 2:04 PM on January 31, 2022

Best answer: I love this Simple Hydrating Gel Cream. It's under $5, fragrance free, doesn't contain a lot of nonsense, and sinks right in with no oily/lotiony feeling. It is the perfect amount of moisturizing for my (generally) oily skin in winter when it feels dry.
posted by ourobouros at 4:59 PM on January 31, 2022

Instead of a moisturizer per se, you might like a hyaluronic acid serum. It goes on very light and reverses that dry tight feeling without there seeming to be much of any residue and there’s no scent. I have used the artnaturals brand from Target.
posted by Tandem Affinity at 8:29 PM on January 31, 2022

Can't get any more simple and straightforward than Pond's Dry Skin Cream, which has been around since the 1850's. I've been using it every day for over 30 years as my only skincare product and have been blessed with happy, problem-free skin. One 10 oz jar costs about $6 and will last me more than a year, since it is very rich and creamy (but not greasy) and a little goes a long way. Also doubles as a great makeup remover!
posted by platinum at 9:30 PM on January 31, 2022

You could try pure raw coconut oil as well. It's super cheap, smells nice, comes in big jars, and solidifies any time the ambient temperature is below about 27°C. If it's solidified you can just scrape up a tiny bit with a fingernail, and it will melt as you rub it between your hands before transferring it to your face. Use just a tiny trace, so little that your hands don't feel a need to get rid of the extra afterwards.
posted by flabdablet at 8:43 AM on February 1, 2022

What plain soap do you currently use?

You might want to try switching to washing your face with soap and water at night, and then in the mornings just rinsing or using a washcloth with plain water. That simple change would give your skin the time to "recuperate" overnight from the soap and water wash, and you would start your days without the (possibly drying even if minor) effect of the soap.
posted by Majorita at 4:52 PM on February 2, 2022

Response by poster: So I got some of the Simple lotion above, and I think using that at night (after properly washing with soap) and using a light touch will do the trick. (Marjorita, I already wash at night and rinse in the morning.) I already notice a difference; although the weather warming up a bit today might be helping as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:51 AM on February 3, 2022 [1 favorite]