skincare routine for dry skin

Eczema has been a central personality trait of mine since puberty. It's hard for it not to be, like some cartoon character from the 90s, always reaching for either a tin of Vaseline or my favourite Aldi handcream to lather on. From the age of 15 I've been plagued with dry, unmanageable skin that is moodier than I can be- and that's saying something. I managed it as well as I could through my teens; in a cycle of Aveeno, E45, and Nivea Sensitive moisturising lotions and it seemed to keep the worst of it at bay.

When I was 18 and in my first relationship, the condition worsened and ran riot over my entire body. For almost a year I struggled to control the scales that covered my arms, legs, scalp, neck, tummy, bum and face. It got so bad that I had to stop wearing makeup for a good six months because it was just falling off me in clumps- not sexy. Finally, sick and tired of feeling so self-conscious, I went to an actual doctor and got the advice that I've been using since. There isn't a cure, and even following my advice to a T I still suffer to a lesser extent- hell, the pinky finger on my right hand is so swollen that I haven't had a fingerprint in a year- but this is a good baseline start. As a running start your doctor might prescribe heavy duty prescription steroid cream (but talk to your doctor about usage limits and risks) and/or antibiotics, but it's important to establish a strong skincare routine that will stand for you from here on out.

1. Superdrug aqueous cream

Of everything that I'll list here, aqueous cream is probably the most vital. All these other sensitive moisturisers are so full of alcohols (some are good for your skin, but a lot just dry you out more) and fragrances that you may as well douse your face in dust for the same hydrating effect. This is what I use to moisturise my entire body, sometimes twice a day. Pop some on your arms, legs, face, chest and neck as soon as you get out of the shower, the more the better! I've tried a lot of brands, but my favourite is Superdrug's own brand. 500g will only set you back £2.99 and it's usually on offer for buy-one-get-one-free so you'll be sorted for a solid three months for almost nothing.

2. emulsifying ointment

This is for the days when your face is on its way, or already is, out of control. I don't know what kind of magic unicorn tears is in this stuff, but it's a lifesaver. I refuse to wear face masks with my condition, but this is basically the eczema-friendly version. When your face is super dry, exfoliate with your favourite wash (mine is next on the list), apply a good two layers of aqueous cream, and finally apply the ointment liberally all over your face. I find the best results occur after I sleep in mine, then wake up with the softest face. Do be weary- this stuff is super greasy so make sure to keep your hair out of it. I get the Ovelle brand that's £4.99 in Boots. It's a bit more expensive than aqueous cream, but I don't use it very often and it's worth it for great results.

3. Simple Moisturising Facial Wash

If I want to apply any kind of foundation or makeup to my face, it's vital to have a clean and smooth canvas. I exfoliate every morning with the Simple face wash, and it's the best one I've tried. It's abrasive enough to eradicate those pesky dry patches for a smooth foundation application, but not so harsh that it damages already sensitive skin. I buy in bulk from Bodycare, only £2.29- sorted.

4. Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser

As an avid makeup lover, trying to find a moisturiser that keeps my skin hydrated but doesn't interact negatively with my foundation has been a struggle I've dealth with for years. There's nothing worse than applying a nice face to discover that it just disintegrates within a couple of hours. Thankfully, I discovered the Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser (make sure to get the 'rich' version and not the 'light' one) that hasn't given me any issues. Aqueous cream is the devil for foundation, unfortunately, so this is a must on my bathroom shelf. I pick mine up from Bodycare for £2.29.

5. Revlon Colourstay foundation

Foundation is another one of those things that I struggled with big time. As a girl on a drugstore budget, finding something that won't break the bank but that's not made from sawdust was nearly impossible. I tried Rimmel, Maybelline, L'Oreal.... Expensive bottles that I used once or twice with my fingers crossed only to spend half the day with my makeup disintegrating, along with my hopes for a flawless face. Revlon's Colourstay foundation (again, make sure that it's for normal to dry skin) has answered my prayers. I think I got it recommended from a YouTuber a good two years ago and I haven't had any problems since. Yes, if I get particularly bad dry patches on my face they will be noticeable (I just pat on the tiniest amount of water-based handcream and avoid touching it till it sinks in when it's really bad), but for okay days it looks flawless. I wait till Boots has its '3 for 2' deal and pick up three in one go to last me for the next few months. At £12.99 each without the offer, you'd be mad not to.

6. Johnson's baby lotion

Rule number one is to never sleep in your foundation. Your skin needs a lot of TLC and moisturiser and it needs constant attention. Rule number two is to not use makeup removing wipes, they're never a good idea. When it comes to removing your daily masterpiece, I just use Johnson's baby lotion on cotton pads. Super simple, smells great, and won't irritate your skin. Stellar. I get mine from Bodycare for £0.99, it's definitely one of those things that I bulk buy and get a year's stock of!

7. Garnier Micellar Water

For the longest time I refused to use micellar water to remove my waterproof makeup. I had a Neutrogena oil-based remover that was incredible, and I was weary of all of the hype around something so new. But after a bit of digging into the benefits for eczema sufferers and getting a travel size sample, my mind has been changed. Micellar doesn't have any nasty alcohols (the worst thing for dry skin- it only dries it out more) and it's super gentle. Since there's no need to rinse, you can save your face from the harshness of water. Make sure to clean off makeup using cotton pads, they're not as rough on your skin. Again, Boots to the rescue (make sure you get an advantages card, points add up really quickly!), £2.99 for 400ml. Next!

8. Lacura Intensive hand cream and Vaseline

I'm the kind of person who can leave my phone in a corner all day and not touch it once, but I can't go five minutes without my Vaseline or hand cream. Water hurts, dust hurts, smiling hurts (I do that a lot). I apply both several times an hour, and I go through a tube/tin of each every month. This all adds up over the years. I want something that won't aggravate my eczema, but also helps to keep everything hydrated. Vaseline lip balm is the obvious choice. No point in going somewhere expensive for this one, I just bulk buy in Wilkos- at £1.50 you don't have an excuse to not have a stash! My hand cream of choice is from Aldi of all places- and it only costs 70p! This one has glycerin and reminds me a lot of the fancy Neutrogena one that costs a fortune and works just as well to keep my hands soft for longer.

Having eczema and dry skin sucks- a lot. A good skincare routine is essential, and even then your skin could just decide that the seasons are changing and that's enough for a breakout. Is that just me? I've never tried a Lush bath bomb, or anything else migraine-inducing (that much perfume is not good for your skin, trust me). I freak out if I can't find my Vaseline. I rarely, if ever, use lotions or potions or fun products in my hair or on my skin. But I save a fortune on expensive creams, toners and oils that have become the staple of everyone elses' routine- simple and basic is best in terms of skincare.

Let me know if there's anything else that you think should be integral in any skincare routine, and make sure to follow me on Instagram @lapetitemis to keep up with my other blog posts and updates!