Help, my face is collapsing...!

[EllieorOllie]

In the last 6 months I've really noticed the ageing process kicking in. It's like I hit 31 and my face just gave up trying to fight gravity.

I have wrinkles under the outer edges of my eyes, deep forehead lines, crepey eyelids and I'm starting to get wrinkles around my mouth. It's horrendous. I can kind of cover it all with make up except the forehead lines but I'd like to try to do something a bit more proactive about it.

My skin is dry and sensitive so I guess I need a moisturiser that's going to suit my skin and help my craters a little. I don't think the dryness particularly helps the appearance of the wrinkles. All recommendations gratefully received, upper budget of about 20 quid for a moisturiser.

Any other suggestions for wonder products also welcome.

Lastly I could do with a non-shimmery taupe powder eyeshadow, under a tenner. Pretty please!

[LondonInBoots]

I noticed a real difference in my 53 yo mum's face using, oddly, the Lidl anti-aging moisturiser, far more so than ever using expensive moisturiser, may be worth a try. Bio oil is good too. I'm no help with non-shimmery eye shadow though!

[shineonucrazydiamond]

Christ. 31? Try being almost 41! However, I am pretty sure i still look OK in terms of no facial collapse just yet! I put this down to the following products which i use religiously...

1. REN Rose serum oil. It's not cheap at £42 for 30 mls but it is the business. Use twice a day under moisturiser.
   

1. Elemis Pro Collegen Marine Cream - this works too. Around £50 a pot.
   

Another tip if you have dry skin/lines round your eyes... don't take foundation round your eyes..blend it out at the top of your cheeks. This will stop it settling in any wrinkles.

[shineonucrazydiamond]

I have just re read and seen your budget. Hmmm.. in the case I am afraid I don't know!

[CuriousMama]

31? I'm 44 and still no wrinkles? I am a freak though

I saw Salma Hayek on tv recently, she looked amazing. She said her tip is to cleanse etc... very well at night and not to wash in the morning. She says you're washing away all the good oils and also your skin has done all that repairing during the night and you wash it all away.

I like Liz Earle products as they don't make my eyes sore.

[ThatVikRinA22]

i reckon all moisturisers are roughly the same tbh - its more to do with your skin type being dry that is the cause of your wrinkles.

just use the best one you can afford that is made for your skin type.

i use whatever is on offer usually. i quite like the boots no 7 protect and perfect range and its often on a 3 for 2, so next time im going to get day cream, night cream and the beauty serum. i found the beauty serum really evens out my skin tone wonderfully - its meant to do great things for wrinkles but luckily, at 40, ive not got too many....(i think i need to work a little more on my eye area now though!)

ive got a pot of the elemis marine cream and while its nice, i cant say ive noticed a huge difference.

[CuriousMama]

Would this suit you? If you contacted them they may send a free sample?

[EllieorOllie]

I know, my Mum is 62 and looks bloody amazing . How I copped at 31 I will never know. I look about 18 in the photos from my 30th.

Can't do Lidl stuff, it makes me react.

shineon your suggestions sound lovely but unfortunately I'm a student so it's way out of my price range at the mo. I was looking at rose facial oil though as I know that's highly recommended on here.

curiousmama that's interesting about Salma Hayek because now you say that I realise my skin looks worse since I started using cleanser in the morning (Clinique foaming one). It makes me feel more awake but may well not be helping my skin.

The Liz Earle looks nice, might be able to stretch to that...

Vicar, was thinking about No 7, I do actually have some advantage card points to use up and some other offers so may well take a look at that.

[CuriousMama]

Just splash your face with cold water, that's what Salma does
Email Liz & co and tell them you're on a budget, can't risk stretching to £18ish quid unless you're sure it won't react to your skin and I bet they send you a sample.

[CuriousMama]

I also think it's your skin type and not aging, once you plump up your skin with moisture and it balances out you'll look like a young pup

[CuriousMama]

Can I just ask, what's your diet like? Are you getting plenty of oils in nuts, advocado etc... or taking essential oils? Using olive oil?

[HalfSpamHalfBrisket]

Just checking - you don't smoke do you? If you do, stop now as this can have a huge effect on your skin.

[lurkingaround]

Sorry but Salma Hayek is talking shite.

Something as simple as not washing your face in the morning keeps you young? What a load. Would that it were so easy and cheap. More like laser, Botox, fillers, and you name it I'll have it.

Don't smoke, daily sunscreen, eat well, maybe Retin-A, be careful when picking your parents.
After that it's Botox and the like.
Sorry but that's it.

[CuriousMama]

lurking she uses her own range of cosmetics too so could be that?

It's genes with me, must be because I smoked and drank from a young age 10 although gave up smoking unless drunk and don't drink regularly now. I think being too thin can make you look older as you age tbh. Eating a good balanced diet is key. And it helps if you can keep stress levels down but that's easier said than done.

[ppeatfruit]

My DD is 31 she says as soon as she stops going out with mates on alcoholic binges her skin looks 10 yrs younger after 4 days She doesn't smoke and eats very healthily drinks a lot of filtered water but it's the lack of the booze that makes a huge difference.

I recommend the above and colloidal silver moisturiser from the H.F. shop about £15. I eat for my blood type and look a hell of a lot younger than a lot of my friends who are younger than me oh and a good night's sleep too!!

[lurkingaround]

Ah, the bullshit all makes sense now Curious

[alemci]

the olay stuff isn't bad. i use the firming lotion.

I found some rose oil in tK max. not the one on here. haven't used it yet.

must admit i woke up today and felt my skin was a bit saggy around my jaw. i am 45.

just be careful in the sun in the future and watch the diet. what about Avon cremes. they are reasonably priced

[futterbingers]

I've started using Aldi anti ageing hyaluronic acid gel and hyaluronic acid moisturiser with factor 15 spf. They were both about 8e each, which is probably about £6 each. I've had a couple of people comment on how well my skin is looking, glowing even! The only eye cream I can tolerate is an Avon one, its part of the Anew range and I think I got it on special offer.
Some general advice would be, always use an spf, take as good care of your neck and chest as your face (I didn't, now my neck makes a liar of my face!). Keep hydrated, don't smoke, and don't frown.
As for the eyeshadow, try Inglot, they have a great range of colours.

[EllieorOllie]

lurking I know what you mean, but I think curiousmama might have a point about it being to do with my skin type rather than simply ageing, so presumably doing less face washing with soapy products will stop my face from drying out as much.

I don't smoke but I'm too thin, I'm a stress had and I probably drink a bit too much too regularly, so plenty to work on there!! Changes to diet sound interesting ed well.

Am already a Liz Earle customer so hopefully they will oblige with samples.

Damn, and there was I thinking I'd go and buy some magic serum and that would be that!

[EllieorOllie]

*stress head

[CuriousMama]

Nope it starts from inside I'm afraid. The Mediterranean diet is good. And stop being too thin!!

Try a breathing technique perhaps? I've suffered from panic attacks and am off meds now. I try to do a technique I read about where you breath with your mouth in a round O shape and sort of breath out as if trying to steam up a window iykwim? I can't find it on google think it was in Prima? Anyway it may help your stress and also get more oxygen to your blood, which is good for you. Do you exercise? That's good for your skin too. Yoga? I may have already said this as I tend to repeat myself?

[squoosh]

If you're too thin then putting on a few pounds will make the world of difference. Deflated balloons are wrinklier etc. Include lots of good fats in your diet, don't wash your face in the morning (I'm with Salma on this one), lots of sleep, don't rub at your face and all will be well. And buy a rosehip oil, they last for aaages.

Disclaimer: Not comparing you to a balloon!

[lurkingaround]

Yes, don't be too thin, there comes a time when a woman has to choose between her face and her bum. Unfortunately.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Save up for botox for forehead lines and then spend less on any old moisturiser with a decent spf.

I like a balm cleanser as have dry skin - Eve Lom or Vaishaly.

And m&s autograph do good non-shimmery eye shadows.

[squoosh]

For good pigmenty eyeshadows at a really good price (£3 for a palette of 12!!) try the MUA range at Superdrug. Much better than the price would suggest. This Undressed palette is vvvv similar to Urban Decay's Naked palette which is £36.

www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/12-shade-undressed-palette

[EllieorOllie]

Right, off to bed having had a big dinner, snacked on almonds, drunk water but no alcohol, slathered on moisturiser and massaged bio oil into my forehead wrinkles. Hoping to wake up looking a decade younger

Mrs CB you might be right about the botox. Years of squinting due to short sightedness has led to forehead lines that cannot possibly erased without surgery sadly. Use a balm cleanser anyway at night, so that bit's sorted.

Oh and squoosh I'll definitely try mua, my local superdrug doesn't have the full range but I've heard great things about it.

Thanks for all the suggestions s&b ladies.