Apologies for epic length post coming up.
Oooh I am joining this quiche for sure. I am 49, have no spots, blackheads or skin texture issues really, my skin is delicate and thin with lots of fine lines around the eyes and tends to look dehydrated and easily sun damaged. Also very saggy and jowly - my collagen has deserted me.
I've been trying to establish a serious skincare regime for the last few months with varying degrees of effort success and I lurked on the other thread and took myself off to the CH blog. I am also a recent fan of Dr Brandith Irwin's website. I found CH very entertaining but I ten to trust Brandith's advice more, and I took issue with one or to things that CH said - namely:
that most of us go overkill on the SPF. I think she looks as though she has a fairly olive/oily skin that can probably cope with more sun exposure than mine, which is thin and pale and prone to freckles and brown spots and burns very easily.
Also….
that pores don't open and close like doors, and 'pore closing' product do nothing more than creating an optical illusion of them closing, or looking smaller. I don't imagine that they open and close much but every facialist and sauna/steam treatment enthusiast knows that extraction of blackheads is easier when steam is applied and pores are open, and that an astringent or a splash of cold water will close them up again. Fucking with that law is just like heresy and too much for me to cope with. Baby steps, baby steps…
I love that she tells us we can mix and match and rotate stuff though - when you are an indecisive spendthrift like me that helps a lot.
I got carried away at duty free the other week and bought a few different cleansers before I read that we should avoid foaming ones. I bought a Clarins and a couple of Dr Kiels, all of which foam, and so far I am a bit disillusioned by each of them - they feel a bit harsh and drying. One of the Dr Kiels ones kills my eyes as well. The packaging gives the impression of something simple and pure but that's obviously not the case. Have definitely learnt recently to pay more attention to the ingredients list on each product in future.
I also bought the hot cloth cleanser from Boots No 7, (quite nice) the No 7 balm cleanser (nice) and the No. 7 gel/oil cleanser which is far and away my favourite so far. All of them seem better than the expensive brand ones, which is interesting.
I haven't managed to source any Liquid Gold yet (I alive outside the Uk)
I have been using Filorga products for a few months on the advice of a cosmetic dermatologist.
I have the eye cream, the night cream with hyaluronic peel, and the foaming hyaluronic cleanser which now I have finished I won't replace, due to it being foaming. She told me that it doesn't really matter what moisturiser you use so long as you have something hyaluronic, a decent serum and a decent lightweight SPF of factor 50 over the top.
I also have organic rosehip oil. Not sure what this does Vitamin C perhaps?
I have Estee Lauder's overnight repair thingy which I really like - it feels like it's good for me iyswim.
I have Boot Protect and Perfect serum, which I've been using half-heartedly on and off for a few years.
I have a Clairisonic cleansing sonic brush which I use about three of four times a week for a couple of months. I think the pores on my chin have been much less congesting since I've been using it.
I have the Bravura hyaluronic serum which I have used almost daily for about a year (these things seem to last ages for me, which makes me wonder if I am doing something wrong )
I have been using the Boots No 7 Lift and Illuminate moisturiser for about a month which feels lovely but I worry that I might prove to be a bit rich and heavy in the long run….just managed to clear lots of teeny tiny blocked pores on my chin and don't want them back again.
I have some Vitamin C powder (some Japanese brand, very expensive, can't remember which) that you mix into a paste with your moisturiser. Been using it for about a week, have no idea about it, it seems a bit gimmicky but I'm trying anything.
I've been using the Clarins Purifying Toner (acid, exfoliating) for about a fortnight. Happy so far.
I have also just bought (and not really used much yet) the Filorga serum (hyaluronic acid and Vit A/retin A) and the Filorga vitamin A oil (basically a retinol/retin A, not quite sure of the difference.)
Finally, I have the Bravura hyaluronic acid peel which I have done three or four times, but a bit sporadically so far. I am determined to keep up the regime now and have high hopes of a noticable difference. I fancy that one of my horrible sun spots is already fading.
Phew.
I am overwhelmed and broke now, but I am ploughing onward, ever determined.