Moisturiser in the morning + make-up and other questions.

[creamhearts]

My 2015 New Years Resolution is to have a skin care regime because I currently have none. I have loads of nice moisturisers because I have a make-up habit and get lots of freebies, so have plenty of Clinique/Dior/Lancome to use up. My skin is pretty good, not spotty or really any wrinkles (yet!) and I get compliments on my complexion quite a lot but as I am 30 I feel like I should be doing something.

I have sorted out my night routine, take make-up off (with baby wipes), use Lancome Visionnaire on my face and Clinique All about Eyes on my bags eyes. Do I need to wash my face or use a cleanser if I am taking all my make-up off with baby wipes?

In the morning I am washing my face in the shower (currently using Clinique Rinse off Foaming Cleanser but I also have a Lancome face wash) and then I am a bit stuck. I wear make-up very day and usually straight after my shower I just stick on primer and then apply foundation, do I need to moisturise in between washing my face and putting the primer on? I don't have dry skin, if anything it leans towards oily.

I have all sorts of serums and creams I could use during the day if needs be but I always thought that my foundation would be moisturising enough?

When I have used all of my stash up I am happy to explore other cleansing routines but for now I want to use up what I have. I also have Lancome eye make up remover, toner and cleanser if they would be better than baby wipes?

Any advise or comments on my new routine would be welcome :) Thank you.

[5446]

I would checkout Caroline Hirons who is a bit of a skincare guru.

I would avoid baby wipes and anything foaming. You also need a cleanser after removing make up - at the moment there is nothing actually cleansing your skin.

I love Emma Hardie or Clinique balms as well as the Alpha H range. I would use up your Lancome etc first and then check out other brands etc. Feel Unique is good for smaller versions of products to try out.

[TheMD]

Hello:)

Just my 2p:

Re your nighttime routine - as 5446 said, there is nothing actually there to clean your skin. The wipes take some make-up off (and shift the rest around your face) but you need some structure there.

I would start with a cream cleanser and a hot flannel - Superdrug Vitamin E is nice, Liz Earle and Clinique if you have money to throw at this. This is to take your make up and SPF off. I actually double-cleanse (with Una Brennan Vit C facial oil as 1st cleanse) in the evenings but it might be a bit much to take on if you haven't done much so far.

When all the cleanser is off, use some form of exfoliation - I can't recommend much without knowing how sensitive your skin is but First Aid Beauty Pads were fine on my mum and her skin flares up at EVERYTHING.

Next is serum/oil - your choice. Depending on your skin type, you may not need to use a separate moisturiser after the oil. Do use one after serum as this is simply a lock-in, protective layer over the treatment.

Morning routine - the purpose is to prep your skin for make-up so yes, you absolutely need to at least use a serum before primer. I do this: hot cloth cleanse, serum, light moisturiser/SPF, fountain and the rest of my make up. (I don't use primer)

I hope that makes some sense? It might sound really time-consuming and laborious but it really isn't once you get the hang of it and my skin has been transformed by this routine (well, by proper cleansing - I'm a ex-wiper too)

[TheMD]

foundation, not fountain!

[ZacharyQuack]

I agree with TheMD. If you must use wipes to remove your makeup, wash your face afterwards to both remove the wipe residue and to clean your skin.

Consider adding a SPF, either seperately or as part of your moisturiser, to your morning routine.

Proper cleansing and sun protection are the best things you can do for your skin. The rest is just icing.

[mammmamia]

Baby wipes are really harsh for your face. I love boots no 7 cleanser, the pink one. Very gentle.

[Bumpetybumps]

One word- SPG 25+

If you start now you will look 10 years younger at 50 and 60!

Don't rely on foundation with SPF; you'd need to use a 10p coin worth to get protection.

Use a product that is meant for everyday high SPF25+ under your make up. You should apply a moisturiser underneath though Estee Lauder do a good Day Wear spf 50 which is quite oily and I don't need another moisturiser as well.

[creamhearts]

Thank you for your advice, I will finish my baby wipes and use some of the cleanser I have. Will also investigate which moisturisers and serums I have that are not oily and try some suncream under my foundation.

[radiobedhead]

I second (third? Fourth?) the advice so far - ditch the baby wipes and ditch anything that foams.

Cream and oil cleansers and flannels are what you need.

My skin can be oily and like you I avoided oil based stuff. I was wrong. I've been using oil cleansers and oil treatments for over a year now and my skin is the best it's ever been.

In the morning I use:
Cleanser (a creamy one)
Tone (pixie glow, Ren or Estée Lauder - blue bottle)
Spritz toner if I can be bothered
A good vitamin c serum
Moisturiser (estee lauder oil free, has a higher spf than the one with oil)
Then make up.

In the evening:
Cleanse (sometimes use an oil cleanser)
Tone
Then either a serum (advanced night repair is good and you can find it anywhere)
Followed by a moisturiser (estee Lauder again and I have one very expensive one for night)
Or an oil (Clarins lotus oil or aesop parsley seed oil - only a tiny bit of this one though and often followed with a Kiehls moisturiser)

I use lots of other treats too. The Ren mask is great - I wish I could remember it's name! Orange packaging, like a mini skin peel. And their one minute mask.Also a detoxing clay mask - everyone does these. I have a creamy moisturising mask from Nuxe. Also have loads of other bits and bobs.

Trial and error op andi promise it won't take you five minutes when you know what you're doing!