Melbourne

No problem, glad to have warned you.

I’m not exactly sure when the formulation changed (to be able to check by bottle date) but I burned my face with Cetaphil at least a year ago. Complaining again because I’m revisiting my options.

I went to Neutrogena extra gentle cleanser but that’s now been changed into some foaming and creamy cleansers that I haven’t yet tried out.

Not entirely sure about the Clearasil. I still have combination skin but as I’m getting older it’s getting weirdly dehydrated so I’m trying to steer away from anything foaming to see if that helps.

Agree, I’m not able to use salicylic acid every day. If I use it it’s only once in a blue moon (because physical exfoliation is too rough) and as a drop or two of serum mixed into lotion to dilute it. (I’ll keep one bottle of a cheap brand like Beauty Glam or Kmart on hand - also good for rubbing under arms before antiperspirant.)

If anyone has sensitive skin and would like a heads up these were the other things I tried:

Cerave cleanser and lotion are good on my skin but you can’t buy them with your regular supermarket shop and while the lotion is lovely and hydrating it’s quite light and doesn’t have a lot of staying power so you can still get dry. Still the best known options.

The tube of Cerave cream isn’t very moisturising, feels more like a really thick barrier cream that sits as a residue on your skin.

Reviews say the same about the Cerave tubs which also contain niacinimide (can cause redness and soreness or breakouts) so I give the tubs a miss.

Ego Sunsense Daily Face SPF 50 varieties have also changed to include niacinimide so I stopped buying it. That had been a little oily/shiny but was the only high protection facial sunscreen I found that didn’t sting…

I used the Nivea SPF 15 moisturiser for many years as a teen and young adult but that recently began stinging after reformulation and then got discontinued. In hindsight I wish I had used something with higher protection.

I tend to dislike QV products in general with one exception. The foaming unscented QV wash is ok for body but stripping on face. I might use it in the shower if trying to remove sunscreen but for regular use, no.

EDIT: Also sorbolene stings and reddens my skin. This may be due to the glycerine, or the surfactant/detergent in it (as sorbolene was made to be a soap free skin cleanser). Some people may get away with using it to cleanse or remove makeup and then washing it right off but it always causes a red sore reaction for me regardless.

Current routine: After finishing the cleanser bottle I kind of cracked the shits about the price of Cerave face wash and having to go out of my way to buy it so have just been rinsing my face with water or a quick wash with very diluted Balnea sorbolene ‘soap’ in the shower… kind of stripping but oh well.

I tried the Dove sensitive beauty bar on my face at the sink but it’s unexpectedly drying and can sting if I’m not careful.

I’m still using the Cerave lotion but having to top it off with an unscented body lotion to seal the hydration in (Vaseline brand) because it’s so very light.

For sunscreen I was using Olay SPF 30 Sensitive which was tolerable and not greasy but could be a bit stinging and thick to wash off.

Now I use Neutrogena SPF 15 moisturiser which is fine but nowhere near the level of sun protection I want. I keep the little pump bottle of Olay in my bag as a backup.