30 day skin bootcamp - who's with me?

[LittleOyster]

I've done a lot recently to up my S&B game, but my skin is still looking rather lacklustre, probably because I spend most days chain drinking black coffee then, come bed time, crash out without removing my makeup.

Anyway, (due to a looming event at which lots of pics will be taken ) I've decided it's time to get tough - I'm going to go all out for 30 days and see how much my skin can improve, and whether I can get that elusive glow. Does anybody want to join in?

Here's some of the stuff I thought I might do:

• Double oil cleanse, apply vitamin c toner and rosehip oil/castor oil nightly.
  
• Consume at least 2 litres of water daily, at least 5 portions of vegetables, plus krill oil and multivitamin.
  
• No sugar, alcohol, gluten or dairy. Green tea instead of black tea/coffee
  
• Sweat, raise heartbeat etc at least three times a week.
  
• Sleep at least 8 hours a night.
  
• Use facial brush to exfoliate at least three times a week, plus weekly turmeric mask.
  
• Facial exercises daily.
  
• SPF 50 EVERYDAY, plus hat and sunglasses when sunny.

[Jmangel]

Place marking as would love to do this when I get back from holiday in a next weekend - just don't think it's realistic with my home visit to Ireland looming tomorrow!!
So which facial exercises?
What will you eat - typical day diet please as the no gluten or dairy seems tricky. Recipe ideas please.
Also the turmeric mask - mix it into some plain yoghurt? Good for anti redness?
Excited now - having an awful rosacea flare on my nose at the minute which I'm sure is due to poor diet and not enough water and too much coffee!!
Best of luck.

[LittleOyster]

I think I'll go for a paleo type diet, Jmangel - so lots of meat, fish and eggs with vegetables mixed in. But I won't be strict and will add in legumes and gluten free grains when I feel like it.

And yes, for the turmeric mask probably yogurt maybe with a dash of honey, or perhaps just a simple green tea base. I mixed one up the other day, but - oh yes - it was YELLOW. I lost my nerve, didn't put it on my face and just ended up staining my pjs!

Re: facial exercises, I've got this book:
www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Minute-Facelift-Program-Beautiful-Wrinkle-free/dp/1402753721/ref=sr_1_11ie=UTF8&qid=1469867910&sr=8-11&keywords=facial+exercises?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

No idea if they'll work, but I did some for the first time today and they certainly felt blimmin' odd!

Anyway, have a great holiday.

[RobberBride]

If I can offer you advice from bitter experience, changing that many things in one go - even if you've tried them all before - is a recipe for making your skin go mad. 30 days before an event, I wouldn't risk it. Maybe just change a few things (more water, less sugar, spf50, facial exercises, proper cleansing) but be careful with things like oil cleansing or your skin might purge.

[Jmangel]

Well now I really have no excuse as I have that book - must search it out.
I have used turmeric mask before years ago - iirc it did stain a little so only a night time activity. A muslin cloth rub the next morning got the stains off.
Paleo hey - sounds hard core - (runs away frightened).
If you could post a "what I've eaten today" update on this thread, would be really helpful. My diet mostly consists of bread and pasta, I know, I know, so don't know where to start.

[ProjectGainsborough]

I could get involved in this. Have a list next to my computer which I ignore on a daily basis. So:

8 glasses water to replace my 8 cups of tea.
Facercise.
Sweat (ie exercise) 3x weekly.
Remember to take my vitamins.
Smoothies / veg daily and up my oily fish intake.

Pretty good at cleansing etc, but can anyone recommend a hydrating mask?

[LittleOyster]

Ooh, thanks RobberBride, maybe I shall have a re-think - drop the vitamin C toner and facial brushing, as they're quite aggressive (I make my own vitamin C toner and it can be strong stuff!) I'll focus on the lifestyle changes, plus facial exercises as things have started looking a bit droopy. I'm ok with oil cleansing, as (when I am not slobbing out) this is my regular routine.

[LittleOyster]

A fellow pasta-addict here, Jmangel, so paleo will be tough, but I've done it before and quite like it once I get going. Yes, posting food choices here sounds like a great idea. Will definitely keep me on it! Thanks for the tip re: turmeric.

YY to oily fish - need to add that to my list too, Gainsborough.

[OliveOrTwist]

I'll join you!

I've stepped up my routine massively over the past couple of months. Started double cleansing and using serums etc. I need to take it a step further by fixing my diet and sleep. I'm really going to struggle with 8 hours a night, I'm a night owl so often up far too late meaning I average about 5 but my face desperately needs more.

I did a glycolactic renewal mask this morning for the first time. It's lush! My skins never felt so soft and firm

[LittleOyster]

Welcome, Olive!

What's a glycolactic renewal mask and where can I get one? Is it very spendy?

[OliveOrTwist]

It's this: http://www.renskincare.com/uk/face/by-product-type/masks/glycolactic-radiance-renewal-mask.html

Sorry for the long link i don't know how to link nicely on the app! I had a free sample. I dubiously slathered it on my face this morning, I've not used anything like this before and was a little worried the acid would make my face melt But it was a bloody revelation! Annoyingly I've already bought a few skincare products this month so I can't really justify buying it right now. It's on my list for next payday!

[OliveOrTwist]

I've just realised I don't actually know if it is acid or not, but it sounds acidic and face melty with a name like that

[squoosh]

I love that Ren mask too Olive

[OliveOrTwist]

Squoosh it think i'm fast becoming a REN fan. I'm new to their products but I really like what I've used so far. The mask smelt surprisingly delicious, I expected it to be chemically.

[LittleOyster]

Ooh, that does look really lovely. Could definitely do with something a bit acid-y to sort some hyperpigmentation I got earlier in the year as a result of hormonal upset. However, this looks a bit advanced for me right now - at the moment I am not even keeping up with a daily deep cleanse! Maybe at the end of 30 days of being good and graduate on to this or something similar...?

Speaking of which, I'm planning on getting started on Monday, which is the first of the month. Just have to resist the temptation to spend tomorrow gorging on bread, cheese, cakes, etc!

[OliveOrTwist]

I like your thinking oyster. If I'm good all month, eating well, sleeping well and drinking more water and less wine, I will reward myself with that! A good incentive!

My skin definitely feels better since I started cleansing properly and using a serum which I've been doing for nearly a month but it's so sensitive to diet which causes me to break out. It also looks dull when I don't get enough fluid and/or sleep. Seems counter productive to invest in all these lovely products if I'm not looking after it on the inside as well.

[BlueEyedWonder]

This is much more drastic than what I've been trying the last 3-4 weeks but I've found a regular and consistent routine, morning and night, has made my skin feel smoother and firmer.
Double cleansing with Clinique facial wash.
Using Clinique sensitive skin toner AM and Nip and Fab facial pads PM.
Using Clinique moisturiser AM and Origins night cream PM.
More water. No alcohol.
Less sugar.

[LittleOyster]

That's encouraging, BlueEyed. I need to do some acid toning I think - might get the Nib and Fab glycolic pads you use.

Seems counter productive to invest in all these lovely products if I'm not looking after it on the inside as well. Yes, Olive, that's exactly what I have been thinking.

[MadSprocker]

I need to get back to a better routine after my indulgent holiday.

I didn't wear much make up, but found that wearing heavier suncream on my face has cause a lovely spot on my cheek.

Because we were in warmer climes, I layed off acid toning, which I think made a difference to my skin not feeling as good.

I treated myself to the Emma Hardie cleansing balm before I left, so using that every night, and going back to my daily Origins moisturiser with SPF.

[LittleOyster]

Then join us, MadSprocker!

Ps. Why did you not acid tone when on holiday, was it due to concerns re: sun damage?

[LittleOyster]

Oh, Sprocker's mention of sun cream has reminded me of something: do I need to stockpile my LRP facial suncream before summer ends, or will I be able to find it easily enough in winter? (This is the first year I have been using a 'proper' one, as opposed to just relying on SPF in bb creams, etc.)

[MadSprocker]

Yes concerned about extra damage to the skin, even though I stayed in the shade, wore a massive sun hat only one by the pool

Sitting on here with spot cream on.

[JSpen]

Really need to do this too, mid 30s and my skin has been looking so pale/grey and suddenly feel like it's really starting to droop. I eat way too much sugar and I wonder if that has a big impact. Going to start with more water, more exercise, less sugar and face exercises. Started using spf 50 daily the last year but wish I'd done it years ago as a lot of people say this is key.

[LittleOyster]

Oh god yes, JSpen, I know how you feel about sunscreen. This is the first year I have bothered much, and I am 33.

On a more positive note, sugar addiction can be beaten really quickly. I started avoiding sweet treats a few months ago, and now don't miss them in the slightest. And previously I was the kind of person who would get dressed and go out in the middle of the night in search of chocolate!

YY to facial exercises. Let's see what they can do to arrest the droop. I am starting to get nasal labial sag: as yet it's very subtle, so hopefully can be prevented from getting worse.

[ProjectGainsborough]

Did well yesterday. No booze, only 3 teas (a miracle for me), salmon for dinner and lots of veg.

Need to improve my water intake and sweet tooth, though.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

Keep it simple. Clean your makeup off, gently cleanse your face and then tone (I actually use very cold water to tone!). Sunscreen for me is in the form of a Clinique CC cream. Moisturise.

You do not need to drink litres and litres of water every day; you get water molecules from everything you consume and you can cause yourself kidney problems by overdoing it. No 'detoxes' ever work; your liver is able to the job perfectly well.