Perimenopause dryness plus fragrance allergies: which face creams are left?
On Mumsnet's menopause board, a woman in perimenopause asked for help with a face that had become severely dry. She also has eczema and several contact allergies, fragrance and linalool among them, and said the usual eczema moisturisers were no longer enough. She wondered whether to move to an ointment.
Seventeen replies followed. The main lines of advice:
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Ceramide creams came up most: CeraVe Moisturising Cream and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume each got several votes, and one person suggested Korea's Illiyoon ceramide cream.
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Check every label, even the classics. Nivea's blue tin and Weleda Skin Food were recommended, then flagged by others because they contain fragrance ingredients such as limonene or linalool, which would rule them out for her.
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Others mentioned Clinique Dramatically Different, Avène, Eucerin, Cetraben, Oilatum and an unperfumed Olay Regenerist.
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Layering a light serum, then cream, then a little oil or ointment on top was suggested to hold moisture in.
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Moving to an ointment, at least at night, was broadly supported.
Desk note: The AAD's menopause advice is to wash with a mild cleanser instead of soap, moisturise after bathing and whenever skin feels dry, and look for hyaluronic acid or glycerin. It also recommends daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+ and warns against at-home microdermabrasion on thinning skin. With known contact allergies, a dermatologist can help you check new products safely.
If you have fragrance allergies, how do you screen a new moisturiser before buying?
Original thread: Mumsnet — Very dry skin on face, cream recommendations · Reference: AAD — Skin care during menopause
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