The gentlest cleanser (was Re: Need tinted sunblock)

[Guest guest]

I didn't realize that Aquanil was mostly water and glycerin. If

someone wanted to they could create their own " wipe off " cleanser

using distilled water and glycerin since plain glycerin is available

at most drugstores. They could bypass the other ingredients in

Aquanil that way.

Yes, you're right about the sodium lauryl sulfate being the bad guy

surfactant. My mistake!

About the Aveeno Cleanser, this extra gentle one might work out for

you. You never know. I did buy one of the newer Aveeno liquid

cleansers myself that has the same packaging as the clarifying

cleanser. It wasn't the clarifying one, but this one had soy extract

in it. Unfortunately, it didn't agree with my skin.

If your new Aveeno cleanser doesn't work and you're still interested

in the Creamy Baby Cleanser, I noticed that it's on sale for $3.99

for 8 ounces at http://www.cvs.com . I think you're on the east

coast, and I believe CVS drugstores are located there and in the

midwest. I bought mine at Walgreens on the west coast and have seen

it at Longs too.

Take care,

Matija

>

> > I looked up Aquanil on http://www.drugstore.com and found the

> > ingredients:

> >

> > Purified Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Benzyl

> > Alcohol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Xanthan Gum

> >

> > I happen to react to cetyl alcohol, and many on the list may not

> > react to fatty alcohols. However, I would imagine that the benzyl

> > alcohol might not be great for rosaceans in the long run. As

well,

> > sodium laureth sulfate can be a very irritating surfactant for

> > some.

>

> Thanks, Matija. My understanding is that it's almost pure water and

> glycerin, that the rest of the ingredients are present in very

small

> amounts. But that's not to say that even small amounts could not

> irritate. I imagine pure glycerin would just slip off the face

> without any cleaning action.

>

> I remember our discussion on cetyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol isn't a

> fatty alcohol; its drying and is a known irritant to some.

>

> Are you thinking of sodium lauryl sulfate? I thought laureth was

the

> gentle alternative?

>

> > I hope that the Aveeno Creamy Baby Cleanser works for you. Let us

> > know one way or the other.

>

> Thanks. I will. But I didn't order the Creamy Baby Cleanser, I

> ordered the Extra Gentle Cleansing Lotion. Did I screw up?

>

> Marjorie

>

> Marjorie Lazoff, MD