Skincare - Idiot's Guide Needed!

[miniaturepixieonacid]

I will be 40 next year. I have never used anything on my skin apart from soap and water.

Recently, I've started to realise that isn't enough. I didn't know that the average 10 year old has a full on daily face care routine (!) and I didn't know it was important to wear a face moisturiser with SPF even in the UK. I do nothing!

So, please help me with any tips on what products I should buy or avoid and/or tell me your own skin care routines. I don't want to look middle aged before I have to!

I was the same as you OP (but older!), and I've taken a lot from the Caroline Hirons Skincare book. there are product recommendations, but mostly it's just helped me understand my skin, how it works and what it needs

Is it mainly anti-aging you're thinking about? (Presuming you must have pretty unproblematic skin this far if you're good with soap and water?) Do you wear make up? Have any other issues you think you'd like to improve? I'm a big fan of keeping it as simple as possible if you can!

PurpleFresias Thank you, I will definitely look into that book.

LelloChip Anti ageing, yes. And I recently had a (benign) mole on my back looked into which has made me think more about skin cancer, though I always wear a hat in the sun anyway. Relatively unproblemmatic skin (a few spots in my teens and 20s but nothing dramatic). I almost never wear make up on my skin, just a bit of lipstick and occasionally mascara. I'm really clueless! I'm never going to look pretty, I'm just thinking I'd like to make the best of what I've got before it's too late really!

Oh god, avoid Hirons. She used to be helpful but it's all about buying more, more, more products now.

Look at Cerave, La Roche Posay, The Ordinary?

Honestly, I would just keep it simple.

Wash your face morning and evening. I rub the Aldi hot cloth cleanser into my face then wipe it off with a warm flannel.

Find a moisturiser that you like and don't worry if it's a cheap one. I use a lighter one in the morning and a richer one at night.....both cheaper end brands.

SPF if you'll be outdoors....the SPF in moisturiser isn't enough so use a proper one after your moisturiser. Garnier do a spray one for over makeup that's nice.

Wash, moisturise and SPF with whichever products feel most comfortable on your skin.

Or you could spend a fortune on a complicated range of products which promise the earth and fail to deliver.

Well if you don't wear make up, soap is probably cleaning your face just fine. A specific facial cleanser might be less drying/feel a bit nicer but if you get on with soap I wouldn't think that's a necessary.

Moisturiser I think most will benefit from, won't do anything groundbreaking but hydrated skin will look a little plumper, fill out tiny lines etc. Like PP said, doesn't need to be expensive. Something light if you have normal skin, a richer one if it's on the dry side (sure people can recommend brands for you, I like cerave, or eucerin for drier days)

If you get one with a decent amount of SPF then that would be fine for days you don't spend long in the sun, but a separate SPF is better if you're spending any time outside. Sun protection is the one thing that can really help slow down ageing from sun exposure.

The only other ingredient that really does anything from an ageing point of view is retinols/retinoids. It's simple enough to throw one into a basic routine, but depending on the strength etc you can have a period of side effects, and SPF becomes a must.

There are plenty of other creams and oils and serums etc that might all offer tiny improvements in various ways, but moisture and sun protection should be your staples. Can always play around and add extra steps to your 'routine' later!

Thank you! I have downloaded the book on Kindle Unlimited but will start simple for now with an SPF moistuiser and see how I go then!

I'm mid forties, and I cleanse, tone and moisturise. That's it. Have tried a few serums but can never notice any difference with them.

I don't spend a lot, just usually grab whatever is on offer. Currently using Nivea Q10. I try to get a day cream that is spf30.

I use body shop camomile cleanse, have recently started to Sue a toner as my dd said I should and moisturise. I have a serum and night serum and us some eye cream. I love the Superdrug Naturally Radiant range.

Such a good idea to think about a simple daily skincare routine that becomes second nature after a while, and your skin will love you for it too! Twice a day cleansing with a non drying cleanser is a must. I love Squalane Cleanser from The Ordinary (I’m 60 but my daughters, one a teen, use it too). After cleansing in the morning it’s always good to moisturise. Even oily skin needs moisture. As we age though, our skin generally becomes drier, so find a suitable light moisturiser (there’s also a good, reasonably priced range at The Ordinary) to plump up and soothe any flaky areas. SPF30 (all year round, even here in the UK on cloudy days) is your best investment against future damage. Heliocare is excellent. In the evening, cleanse again. A soft, clean flannel soaked in fairly hot water, squeezed and held to the face is a lovely way to open pores and make your skin feel extra clean after cleansing. I moved to using a retinoid based custom formulation from Monderma and the difference is visible. Retinoids can take some adjusting to and many people give up on them too easily imo. A good provider (they’re only available on prescription) will start you on a low strength. The results surpass anything you’ll buy off the shelf. Skin & Me and Dermatica do something similar. The third night-time step is moisture cream, particularly if you find retinoids drying (this passes by the way…). You’ll wake in the morning with a lovely glow! Ps Eye creams in my opinion are a waste of money. Even at 60 I don’t use them, and simply pat my regular moisture cream very lightly around the eye orbital area. I also take Perfectil Original: Hair, Nails & Skin (available at Boots and Superdrug) as a good, all round daily supplement.