To ask what your daily skincare routine is?

[CityCommuter]

Due to sensitive skin I cleanse my face using Simple Micellar water and Simple eye makeup remover. In the morning I apply Simple Face wash and rinse it off in the shower. This is followed by No7 toner, Nivea Q10 eye cream and Q10 moisturiser. I don't use face masks much as they tend to irritate my skin and give me spots

Makeup wise I use No7 light reflecting foundation and No7 under eye pen concealer, a slick of No7 sensitive eyes mascara, a dab of No7 loose powder and little brush of No7 bronzer - I use a cherry colour bees wax lip balm for a hint of colour.

I think the products I use are gentle and are calming to my skin but a friend said today that all the products I use are actually shit to use her own word!. She recommended all these ridiculously expensive products that she knows I can't afford and tbh I don't know if they're that good anyway!

What do you use or recommend I use?

@secular39

I'm a skin care nerd.

Your friend is talking peanuts.

I would use simple miscellar gel wash or CerVae hydrating cleanser.

Actives: (depending on what you want to tackle eg, acne, hyperpigmentation, anti aging). I would always incorporate a niacinamide. Paulas choice do a niacinamide 10% booster and the ordinary.

Anti aging: Retinol... Paulas choice do a 1% or 0.3 percent retinol. I would opt for the 0.3% as retinol can be irritating.

Vitamin C is mixed as it's unstable and goes off quickly. There are good ones out there but very few.

And then you can use the CeraVe moisturising cream followed by SPF.

Please watch Dr Dray on YouTube re.skincare. She is sneezing

You do need to fork out more the actives. But the ordinary do good stuff at affordable prices.

Do not listen to the posters who don't do anything but I wash their face with water and a bar of soap! (Good lord) or the ones that are telling you not to bother. They have little to no idea about the anatomy of the skin

I know plenty about the anatomy of skin thanks (and the difference between acid and alkali )

I suffer from hyperpigmentation and I'm mixed race. Therefore, if you are of skin of colour, we usually suffer or at risk of hyperpigmentation. I also have normal skin but acne prone skin but not oily.

My routine is;

AM

1.CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
2.Paulas Choice Anti-aging resist toner
3.Paulas Choice Omega 3 complex (moisturiser) or CeraVe Moisturising cream (depending on budget!)
4.Supergooo SPF40 matte sunscreen(reapplied every two-three hours).

PM:
(Double cleanse due to sunscreen)
1.Simple facial oil
2.CerVae Hydrating cleanser

1. Niacinamide

4.Alpha Aurbutin 5.Paulas choice omega 3 complex.

Exfoliation: I exfoliate once-twice a week.
1.Mandelic acid

Extras:
1.Paulas choice retinal 0.3% with Backu...
I do this twice a week but not on the days I exfoliate

@Lachimolala

Where is everyone getting their tretinoin from? I want to try it but I thought you needed a prescription.

It's basically retinol or whatever stem from the vitamin A it's under but tretinoin is very strong as it's prescription and sued for those who have severe Acne. It's not something I would use for a long term basis... although it's wonderful. I would start off with a low percent retinol...I think Paulas choice do a 0.5 retinol... and a few other companies..Start with that then see

It's basically retinol or whatever stem from the vitamin A it's under but tretinoin is very strong as it's prescription and sued for those who have severe Acne

My daughter was prescribed it for what was just mild acne. Much worse than just a few spots but no cystic acne. It is strong, in that she is having to moisturise twice/day and she built up her usage over the first few weeks.

It’s been so good though, once she got through the purge the improvement has been almost miraculous. I’ve just dropped her off to an day sporting event and it’s so nice to have her make eye contact again and not try to hide her face with her hair.

We are in Australia and saw a private dermatologist.

The whole skincare routine, aimed at women, seems to me yet just another con.

There was a big to do on Twitter the other night praising Caroline Hirons; I’d never even heard of her, but was fairly put off when I saw she uses Botox and fillers

I wash my face with soap in the shower as I’ve run out of a more sensitive facial wash. Then I moisturise with Nivea. I like to use Clarins but I’ve run out and can’t afford to replace it.

If it’s at all sunny I put factor 50 sun cream on my nose and cheeks.

But all this serums and toner nonsense- waste of money.

AM - Wash my face in the shower, Apply moisturiser or sunscreen. PM - wash my face in the shower apply tretinoin.

@Lachimolala

Where is everyone getting their tretinoin from? I want to try it but I thought you needed a prescription.

I get mine from skin and me,

@VestaTilley but just because someone has Botox and fillers doesn't mean they don't know about skincare. It doesn't alter the actual skin texture etc and I would rather someone was honest about treatments they've had
I've had Botox 3-4 times but my skin now is purely from skincare as my last lot was 2 years ago

If anyone uses a retinoid you MUST use sunscreen
I was on prescription retinoid and have sun damage 😭

Nicinamide is the shit! Both my DD and I swear by it. And only £5 from the ordinary

@VestaTilley

A lot of it is gimmicky but if you have a skin issue, there are solutions
Many people have oily skin naturally and need solutions to help stop a build up which leads to acne. Some prescription meds are harsh
Some people have dry skin and need some assistance. Not all skin care is rubbish - the basic principals should be gentle cleansing, gentle exfoliation, moisture if/when needed, sunscreen always and then target specific issues such as oil or dryness, acne

I use temple spa and really like it.
I've also just started using Antipodes avacado night cream but my OH doesn't like the smell of it - it is quite strong!!

Loving this post so following with interest. Also, what are peoples views on Caroline hirons? I have recently read her skincare book and I feel a bit more overwhelmed than I did before!

I don’t follow anyone who is an aesthetician

I do follow qualified dermatologists on YouTube though

The point is Caroline Hirons doesn’t look like she has good skin particularly she just looks like she has had lots of Botox/fillers and uses fake tan I was surprised at her age

She is great at marketing herself though

Those I know who do have good skin (used to work as a beauty therapist) do the least maybe facials but the routine is simple they are not using the latest marketed product (and unlikely to smoke/drink heavily)

@Menora

I don’t follow anyone who is an aesthetician

I do follow qualified dermatologists on YouTube though

Exactly. Though I do like Dr Vanita, she is a doctor but a cosmetic formulator. I also like the dermatologist Dr Dray on YouTube

@hanketypankety

Loving this post so following with interest. Also, what are peoples views on Caroline hirons? I have recently read her skincare book and I feel a bit more overwhelmed than I did before!

She’s very Marmite. If you ‘get’ her she’s extremely knowledgeable and straight to the point although some of her advice I semi ignore. She also drinks Coca Cola over water which irks me and she loves the needles a little too much.

If you don’t understand where she’s coming from she could be a little too direct and opinionated which some people will find hard to ignore.

She’s great for the masses and daytime tv and is almost singlehandedly responsible for our skincare obsession, she carry’s an enormous weight behind her name.

I’m a follower but not a disciple if that makes sense?

I use the Ordinary products. So

AM
Cerave face wash
Hyaluronic acid with Niacinamide powder mixed in
Agirilene
Natural moisturising factors
UV mineral sunscreen factor 30

PM
Double cleanse with cerave and glam glow face wash
Then hyaluronic acid
Then either lactic acid or retinol (I alternate)
Natural moisturising factors cream
Cold pressed rosehip oil
Twice a week I use a salicylic acid face mask

Do you find the mineral sun screen is too chalky/clay? It makes me turn a shade of grey 😂

Morning:
Facial wash
Compound (AHA, Retinol, Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid)
Moisturizer
Sunscreen

Evening:
Tonic (doubles as makeup removal)
Facial wash
Prescription retinol
Eye cream
Night cream

@Menora

Do you find the mineral sun screen is too chalky/clay? It makes me turn a shade of grey 😂

This has been my biggest barrier. I have the supergoop Matte which isn't too bad and doesn't leave a white cast- that much when rubbed in well. My children use the Pipette, which has a nice feel but does leave a little bit of a white cast

I'm 53. The pandemic has totally changed me. I used to wear YSL foundation and YSL and Clinique makeup generally. Now I wear no foundation, no mascara, no lipstick. Most days just eyebrow pencil and tiny bit of eyeliner - a bit of bronzer if I feel rough. These changes mean my skin care has totally simplified too. Face under the shower morning and night - Simple face wash at night if wearing bronzer. My expensive moisturisers and serums are replaced by Aveeno baby. My skin has never been better. I can't believe I wasted so much money on such expensive products in the past - and certainly would still be if the shops hadn't shut!

I use Simple face wash (recommended to me by a Dermatologist) and toner, then La Roche Possay Effeclar + duo moisturiser (the only one that doesn't cause me breakouts) and then apply Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base before I put on my make-up.

In the evening I use the same face wash and toner and then Garnier Moisture Bomb.
I also use a Red Clay face mask twice a week.

I had terrible post-partum cystic acne and saw a dermatologist who told me that most expensive skincare products are a con and they always recommend Simple and Boots Sensitive skin range for anyone with acne as people end up spending £££ on products that are too harsh for their skin.

Use a hot wash cleanser in the shower every morning, and evening before I go bed.

Put on a serum, let dry then put on spf moisturiser.

Drink 2 litres of water, don’t smoke.
Get 8hrs sleep
Limit alcohol.

Wear a hat when the sun is hot.

Id make sure none of the products I use have any alcohol in them.
And ditch the toner, very drying.

@isettled, is your spf 50 cream a facial one or standard all over spf? Many thanks!

"It's basically retinol or whatever stem from the vitamin A it's under but tretinoin is very strong as it's prescription and sued for those who have severe Acne. It's not something I would use for a long term basis... although it's wonderful"

It's the only thing proven to help with wrinkles and plenty of people do take it long term. It's available without prescription and cheap in Spain.