Hey everybody,
So, sadly, I'm not able to wear straight sunscreen because every brand I've tried dries out my skin VERY badly. Right now, I'm using Baby Bum Mineral 50 and it's been great--except for the fact I cannot wear it without appying some sort of moisturizer first. Consequently, for the last several months I've been applying Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream on my face and under the sunscreen. Break-out-wise and feel-wise, the combo has been okay and the Cetaphil did heal my skin barrier. However, the moisturizer has always felt heavy and I've noticed lately that it seemed to be making my skin look red (no idea why...it doesn't hurt or break me out, but I don't exactly want to look like a tomato) and also horribly shiny (mostly likely from the petrolatum). By days' end, I look like a grease monster.
This week I changed tacks and started using Baby Bum Moisturizing Lotion under the sunscreen instead. It was working beautifully with a great lightweight feel, no irritation, no more redness, and no greasy/oily sheen at all. However, it now seems to have caused a cold sore outbreak. I can't be 100% certain the Baby Bum lotion is the culprit, BUT it is the only thing I changed in my routine. I've noticed it contains a lot of sunflower seed oil. Sunflower seeds are high in arginine--an amino acid that I know from experience really aggravates my cold sore problem--but I'm not sure how much arginine is in the oil - ? It also contains a lot of coconut oil and, again, coconut flesh is high in arginine but I'm not sure about the arginine content of the oil.
So, I'm back to the drawing board on this one. I'd love to just wear straight sunscreen, but it is SO drying that doing that for just one day leaves me with much pain and regret. I've tried Vanicream sunscreen and it feels fine, but I'm not a huge fan because it also makes me look super greasy and oily.
Does anybody use a good moisturizer that is lightweight, non-greasy, non-oily, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic? My sensitive skin makes finding the right product an absolute nightmare. Plus, so much of what I'm finding for sale still contains sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and/or other ingredients to which I'm allergic. Does anyone know if sunflower seed OIL and coconut OIL contain a lot less arginine than is found in sunflower seeds and coconut flesh? I've tried researching it, but the opinions are mixed. Or has anyone found a good, lightweight moisturizer that might fit the bill and that isn't jammed with loads of chemicals and unnecessary ingredients? I'm pretty happy with my Baby Bum Mineral 50 sunscreen, so just need to find a new moisturizer I can apply underneath.
Thanks in advance!
I had fungal acne, irritated inflamed oily skin and it was hard to find the right moisturizer sunscreen combo so I feel ya!
I highly recommend Cetaphil Restoring Water Gel Cream or Bioderma Hydrabio gel-creme, both are not heavy at all as their names suggest. No need to use a lot, and just apply to damp skin and wait to absorb before going with sunscreen. Also a big fan of Bioderma sunscreens too or Japanese/Korean made ones; Iām playing with now. They have some amazing formulations compared to western sunscreens but it will be a hunt for the one that works for you. Hope this helps šš
P.s: cold sores are caused by a type of herpes virus that forever lives dormant inside your nerve cells, outbreaks are usually caused by lowered immunity/stress. Something like 80% of the pop has it though.