If you love your morning skincare routine...

[Goostacean]

... what is it?

I’m almost 30, finally decided to step up and take care of my skin- future me will thank current me, I hope! To this end, I bought The Ordinary Squalane cleanser, their Vit C cream and a night cream at bedtime. That’s working nicely for me- I have time to use them, and I feel pampered and clean afterwards.

For the mornings I bought micellar water, toner with retinol, sunscreen (Clinique City something or other) and a moisturiser. However, I don’t feel clean as I’m not using water on my face (as in, a face wash) and I hate sunscreen so although mine came highly recommended I think in future I need to try a moisturiser with high SPF? I’d like to incorporate retinol but I’ve read you shouldn’t use when breastfeeding, which I currently am.

If you love your morning routine, what is it?

[Goostacean]

Hopeful bump...

[laundryclub]

In the morning I use cleansing balm, followed by face tonic and then moisturiser and eye cream.
On an evening I use a facial cleanser. If I have been wearing makeup I will apply the cleansing balm, let it sit for a minute or two then wash it off. I use face oil on an evening and eye cream.
I exfoliate twice a week and use a mask once or twice if I have time.
I'm the same age as you and only started some sort of 'routine' at Christmas and I have noticed a huge improvement in my skin.

[JMAngel1]

I love mine!
I use vit e hot cloth cleanser
Really hot cloth to properly scrub.
Then Essence to moisturise with my Nu Face device on jaw, cheeks and eyes for 2 minutes.
More essence then TO marine hyaluronics and argeriline
Then etude house spf 50 with a scoop of TO l ascorbic acid powder and reservatrol and ferulic acid.
Then eclat antiwrinkle day cream - really lovely finish and locks everything in.
Then thick layer of nivea all around eye area.

It takes around 10 minutes and it's my me time.

[botemp]

No, you shouldn't use retinol while breastfeeding (or pregnant), it's a risk to your baby's long term health. You shouldn't use retinol during the day either it rapidly degrades in the light.

For the morning just use a simple gentle cleanser like Cerave hydrating cleanser, micellar water really isn't a cleanser, it's more of an eye makeup remover, if you do use it as a facial cleanser it should be rinsed off as it contains surfactants that shouldn't be left on the face.

Spf in moisturiser doesn't give the same (broad level) protection as a standalone sunscreen. There are plenty of more cosmetically elegant SPFs out there, especially from Japan.

[chocolatespiders]

Face wash or scrub in the shower. I have a mix of elemis and dermologica and St Ives The ordinary buffet and than childs farm baby moisturiser and vitamin e eye cream.
Loreal primer before make up.

[Thighmageddon]

Superdrug hot cloth cleanser.
Vitamin c.
Pixi mist.
Hyaluronic acid.
Serum.
Moisturiser.
Sunscreen.

[WowLucky]

I find whenever I resolve to take better care of my skin it gets worse! The more I do to it the more I'm prone to breakouts.

For me water in the shower and a light basic moisturiser in the mornings, wash with aqueous cream followed by a basic heavier moisturising cream before bed (Blue Nivea or E45). I've tried all sorts over the years and my skin's better than it's ever been now.

Lots of water to drink, which I know people will insist doesn't help but it definitely helps me. The skin is visibly plumped up when I'm well hydrated.

[Goostacean]

I feel like the same is happening here, @WowLucky! In reality I think I just get really good skin when I’m pregnant and now I need to find a “new normal”. Funny you mention the water, I’m also about to start a more rigid hydration routine and cut down on sugar, both of which will no doubt help...

[RaN88]

I have mild rosacea so limited to what I can use! In the evening I use a Simple sensitive face wash followed by an Olay hydrating moisturiser. In the morning I use Clean and Clear wash followed by an Avene Paris moisturiser for blemishes. I can't use toners, exfoliants, masks or anything special like that :-( plays havoc with my skin!

[RaN88]

I realise my skin care routine makes me sound 15. I'm 32 :-)

[Thighmageddon]

@RaN88

I have mild rosacea so limited to what I can use! In the evening I use a Simple sensitive face wash followed by an Olay hydrating moisturiser. In the morning I use Clean and Clear wash followed by an Avene Paris moisturiser for blemishes. I can't use toners, exfoliants, masks or anything special like that :-( plays havoc with my skin!

Have you seen your Gp?

There's a type of rosacea that you get spots with and there are prescription creams that can help.

Many here have Soolantra on prescription and it's brilliant on papulopustular rosacea.

[JMAngel1]

Yes to soolanta. I had severe rosacea and soolantra has cleared it completely - now I can use actives with no sensitivity.

[MrsRogerLima]

I have been accused of being a bot before now but if because I honestly do love Tropic Skincare.

Their ABC routine is so easy and feels so luxurious and they have lots of tailored syrums for skin issues and masks the same.

I defy anyone to try it and say they hate it. Honestly.

[Goostacean]

Thanks all! Lots to think about. I’ll have another look at the products you’ve all mentioned. Hoping I can find a routine that works for me!

[Sittinonthefloor]

I love mine - morning; wash with warm water, maybe avene moisturiser with spf; definitely la Roche possay light face sun cream f50 if going to be outside. Evening: wash face in bath with real sponge with soap or avene face wash, if no sun cream worn that day I just wash with water. Avene eye make up remover if I’ve worn make up (& I can be bothered). I love it because it works and it’s simple, I’ve tried other things but they either give me spots or dry patches or stung or were complicated/ time consuming and I ended up skipping them because I am lazy and not that interested. I honestly think my face would look best if I stayed inside and just used water - but as I go out I need spf, which needs soap to remove and then moisturiser to undress.
Like the sound of a machine though - tell more!