to ask you what I'm meant to put on my face?

[MiddleClassProblem]

Posting for traffic and sage advice

I'm clueless about face creams. I'm now 32 and wondering if it's a good time to start with this. My skin tends to be normal with the odd dry patch a couple of times a year. I don't wear make up so don't have anything moisturisery incorporated there.

I'm bemused by face creams, night creams etc

My mum always used them in my childhood but has recently switched to using suncream daily regardless of the weather but I think she also has other creams for night time. My brother uses cocoa butter.

I have no clue if it even makes a difference (tempted to just do half my face for a few months). I used to be rubbish at keeping any type of beauty routines like moisturising my legs or even shaving on set days. Now having a kid routines are everywhere so I think I might be ready for it now.

Do you use anything? What do you swear by? When is best to apply?

Also I don't like feeling stuff on my face hence the no make up so nothing too greasy or heavy.

Simple moisturiser is good. I only ever remember to use it at night. I use ponds cold cream on my face, wash off with HOT water (ignore their instructions) and do not put make up on top (especially mascara) as it will slide off. That's it for me! I should use suncream/spf but don't, unless i'm out for a long day.

I'm the same with hating the feel of creams on my face. A lot of hyaluronic acid formulations are great for that, they just sink straight in.

The Ordinary makes a few good serums and Asian beauty brands have loads of options.

I'd start by buying the cheapest and work my way up I find superdrug vitamin E creams are fab

I think that the female skincare industry is a bit OTT. I hate most facial moisturisers (I find them cacky and heavy) so I use plain old Aveeno moisturiser on my face and body.

I hate greasy makeup too, so if I'm out and about, I wear Clarins BB Cream. It's SPF 25 and gives a light foundation coverage. It masks a few freckles and stops me from getting sun damage. It is expensive but I find I only use about 2-3 tubes per year so it clearly goes a long way.

i love 'palmers cocoa butter formula' 24 hr moisture face and body, smells gorgeous, leaves skin glowing, moisturised and fresh, best bit it's around a £5 for 400ml and lasts yonks, am regularly told i have very good skin for my age and hardly any lines at 52. mum uses it too and her skin is very good, she hardly has lines either and she's 73.

pip do you cleanse as well or just moisturise? I used to use palmers on my legs and quite liked it.

Another odd question is if you cleanse and tone not with wipes do you need to do it in the bathroom?

😱 I'm 38 and do nothing to my face apart from wash it in the shower in the morning.
I'm watching this thread with a mix of horror and bemusement!

If you do nothing else then cleanse
La Roche posay toleraine dermo cleanser

And moisturise
Try an Avene one or eucerin ultra sensitive

La Roche posay is 25% off at boots at the minute. Massage the cleanser in, remove with tepid/warm water and flannel. Moisturise. Am and pm

The Avene moisturiser I'm using is nice and light - it's called Avene hydrance optimale and says light hydrating cream on it

RedGrapeCornSnake I'm will prob still be you in 6 years 😁

I feel I should try as I think the last few days of sun have dried me out a bit

MiddleClassProblem No, I do it in front of the TV . My system is a lazy system, sitting on my ass with my lotions and potions and cotton wool.

I can't upkeep the bending over the sink routine scrubbing and rinsing, that's why I gave up on Liz Earl clean and polish (which was excellent btw), I'm just not invested enough to put too much effort into it but I'm invested enough to do something because the difference is noticeable, my skin isn't flawless but it's definitely glowing a bit more and more flawless than is was pre cleaning routine.

Lol Rita that would be my approach. I'm hoping for so eyhing I can do on the bed watching Netflix lol.

Also I'm prob a once a day routiner at first. Mornings tend to be all toddler orientated.

Just buy a bottle of the blue Nivea lotion and use it anywhere and everywhere. Face, legs, or on a bit of loo roll to take your mascara off when you go out once a year.
It'll be fine!

Sunscreen , UK ,regardless of weather April to November.

All else are just gunges in pretty packs. Optional.

If you cleanse do you have to use toner after?

I use body shop seaweed exfoliator every morning and evening and a clinique moisturiser. Thats it.

I have spent large amounts of money over many years on skin care "routines" but I honestly can't be bothered with more than one step.

So.

The only thing I use daily is rosehip oil. Liberally. It's amazing. I look so well slept despite having a small baby, and most of my fine lines have disappeared after years of using it. And I take a zinc supplement, which works better for fairly immediate and obvious skin benefit than any of the serums etc that I've tried.

Oh, and if I put makeup on then I take it off with an oil-based cleanser and hot washcloth. Currently I use Anita Grant but any oil based cleanser for sensitive skin would be fine I'm sure, it's the oil that dissolves the makeup.

And if it's sunny and I'll be outside then I use neutrogena matte sunscreen, but I tend to avoid it if possible since it annoys my skin.

But that's it.

Take make up off with baby wipes at night, splash of cold water, then Nivea to moisturise. Splash of cold water in the morning, Nivea again.

I will confess to working for Clarins a few years ago, so got loads of samples, discounts etc. Still preferred Nivea. Or Astral. Both cheap and cheerful, but do the job. I buy which ever one is cheapest in Savers.

You're paying a lot for advertising, perfumes, packaging and an 'image' with a lot of beauty products. If you look at the basic product contents the cheaper ones are often much the same.

And YY to Palmers Cocoa Butter, a lovely all over body lotion.

If you're not really into skincare but want to do something then you just need a few products.
Micellar water is a cleanser, you squirt some on a cotton wool pad and wipe it over your face. It'll remove makeup if you wear it.
Then wash your face with a standard facewash, doesn't have to be fancy. If you don't want to wash your face this is where you'd use toner instead. Again, you just put some on a cotton pad and wipe over. Basic toners are fine.
Then moisturise, for the day you need an SPF. You can get loads of moisturisers with SPF built in which should be fine for the majority of the time in the UK, assuming you work inside.
At night you may want a moisturiser too, you can use a night cream, your day cream or an oil. Not everyone likes a night cream though.

So that's a basic routine, takes a few mins at night, less in the morning as you can just wash your face and skip the cleanser. Three products, none of which have to be expensive and some cotton wool pads.

Is there much difference in using a moisturiser with spf and a sunscreen?

Really basic - but I look OK.

I put No 7 beauty balm cleanser for dry skin on my face and then use a face cloth in the shower to wipe it off in the morning.

Then I put on No 7 day moisturiser with SPF 15.

That's it.

My morning routine:

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
Purifying Lotion (Simple)
Toner (Simple)
Serum
Moisturiser

Evening:

Face wash in shower
Eye make up remover
Purifying lotion
Toner
Serum
Moisturiser

There's a big effectiveness difference between using products with an spf and using a sunscreen. You can rarely apply enough spf-containing-product to achieve the actual spf value, without turning into a greasball or being caked in makeup. So you might think you're protected when you're not.

I just use bio oil in the mornings. Nit sure if that's good or bad though.

Also, with the spf, can you just use a kiddie factor 50 stuff?

I don't see any reason why you couldn't use the kids sunscreen but you might find it a bit thick and that it takes ages to sink in. I wouldn't use my DD's cream for that reason.