u/Inevitable_Radio2628

Hi everyone,

I damaged my skin barrier about 2 months ago after overusing retinol, and my skin has not been the same since. It started with burning, dryness, and flaking around my cheeks, nose, and lips.

Since then, I simplified my routine and focused only on barrier repair. I use the Avène Tolérance Gentle Cleanser and the only moisturizer my skin somewhat tolerates is Avène Hydra 10. It calmed the redness a bit, but my skin still feels dehydrated, dull, fragile, and uneven.

I tried Avène Cicalfate and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast, but both made my skin worse (more redness, dryness, and flakes). I think my skin may react badly to zinc because both products irritated me. Most moisturizers now either burn, itch, or make my skin feel tighter, especially heavier occlusive creams.

After a month, I tried reintroducing a toner and my skin flared again immediately, so I realized my barrier still isn’t healed.

Now even sunscreens that used to work for me (Avène and La Roche-Posay) sting and burn. I ordered the Aestura Barrier Mineral Sunscreen but I’m nervous because I may also react to mineral/zinc sunscreens.

I keep seeing these recommended for damaged barriers:
- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion
- Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream
- Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel

Has anyone with very reactive/dehydrated skin tried these? Which one would you recommend starting with? Also open to sunscreen recommendations for extremely sensitive skin 😭

I’ve already bought so many creams that reacted badly, so I’m scared to keep experimenting. I just want my healthy glowy skin back.

Any advice would really mean a lot ❤️

Hi everyone,

I damaged my skin barrier about 2 months ago after overusing retinol, and my skin has not been the same since. It started with burning, dryness, and flaking around my cheeks, nose, and lips.

Since then, I simplified my routine and focused only on barrier repair. I use the Avène Tolérance Gentle Cleanser and the only moisturizer my skin somewhat tolerates is Avène Hydra 10. It calmed the redness a bit, but my skin still feels dehydrated, dull, fragile, and uneven. I tried Avène Cicalfate and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast, but both made my skin worse (more redness, dryness, and flakes). I think my skin may react badly to zinc or heavy occlusive that dry my skin out because both products irritated me. Most moisturizers now either burn, itch, or cause red dots everywhere and then make my skin feel tighter, especially heavier occlusive creams.

After a month of my skin calming down, I thought it would be okay to reintroduce a toner as I wanted to start working on my uneven, dull skin, but then my skin flared up again immediately, so I realized my barrier still isn’t healed. Now even sunscreens that used to work for me (Avène and La Roche-Posay) sting and burn. I ordered the Aestura Barrier Mineral Sunscreen but I’m nervous because I may also react to mineral/zinc sunscreens.

I keep seeing these recommended for damaged barriers:
- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Lotion
- Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream
- Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel

Has anyone with very reactive/dehydrated skin tried these? Which one would you recommend starting with? Also open to sunscreen recommendations for extremely sensitive skin 😭

I’ve already bought so many creams that reacted badly, so I’m scared to keep experimenting. I just want my healthy glowy skin back.

Any advice would really mean a lot ❤️