how do you wash with aquaous cream?

asparagus1968

do you mix it with water, or smother your face in then wipe off?
or something else....?

newthrift

Face or body I would always damp the skin first as you may find it acts as more of a moisturiser otherwise.

jenniewb

Use a muslin cloth or cotton flannel (the microfiber types don't work as well when trying to remove the cream IME).
I've only used this on small patches where I had very dry skin which turned out to be eczema. I found it really difficult to remove without feeling a greasy residue which irritated me on a whole different level. I'm not sure if maybe the point is that you don't remove all of the residue but for me it just didn't feel comfortable, hence using the cotton cloth to get the cream residue from my skin. Maybe someone else on here will have had a better experience and be able to explain how it works better than me!

ruby_eskimo

I was always told to apply to dry skin and then use a damp flannel to wipe away. To be honest, I never found it effective on patients with dry skin.

asparagus1968

thanks all. maybe I should try a few different ways and post results!

geri1965_2

I apply it straight to my face and wipe it off with a wet flannel.

lessonlearned

Please be aware that aqueous cream is not a good idea, especially for long term use. It contains SLS - sodium laurel sulphate which is a known irritant and which is wholly unsuitable for excema prone skin and it is particularly damaging for children or for the elderly.

Check out the excema society's website for more details.

Tbh I am horrified that the NHS still dishes out advice to use aqueous creams and products like cetraban. They are petroleum based, and contain chemical irritants which will thin and damage skin over the long term. It beggars belief that they still prescribe this stuff and use it widely in hospitals and care homes.

Have you considered the oil cleansing method. However, again take care. I use the oil cleansing method but I do not mix olive oil with paraffin liquid as is often suggested. Again LP is derived from petroleum so I won't put it on my skin. I just use olive oil and find that works well.

I speak as an experienced and qualified beauty therapist.

I would recommend that you dO not use these products. Use pure SLS free creams and natural oils.

You don't need to spend a fortune on specialist creams from health shops. Oils such as olive oil, grape seed oil are cheap and make perfect moisturing face and body oils, safe for sensitive delicate skins. Coconut oil is fantastic, costs more but a little goes a long way.

My advice is to go natural, avoiding Products containing SLS, and petroleum based products.

geri1965_2

lessonlearned wrote: »

Please be aware that aqueous cream is not a good idea, especially for long term use. It contains SLS - sodium laurel sulphate which is a known irritant and which is wholly unsuitable for excema prone skin and it is particularly damaging for children or for the elderly.

When used as a leave on emollient it *may* cause irritation to the skin. It's perfectly safe as a soap substitute.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/DrugSafetyUpdate/CON254804

asparagus1968

I didn't say I had eczema, or that I was using it on recommendation of NHS.....

lessonlearned

Unfortunately the NHS recommendations are out of date.

NICE issued guidelines in 2010 against the use of aqueous cream because it contains SLS and parabens. Regrettably it is still being prescribed and can be bought freely OTC,

Asparagus. There is no need to be quite so terse.

I offered you some advice in good faith as a trained beauty therapist. I explained my reasons and suggested some natural alternatives.

I am not trying to sell you any products and have nothing to gain.

I will just say this, Even if you do not have excema I would not recommend using aqueous cream on your face for the long term. There are gentler alternatives.