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Original poster

Is it too late to save my face?

81 replies

insaneinthemembrane77 · 04/04/2023 22:09

I’m 45, have always been quite lax about skin care 😬Dove soap and a moisturiser. I don’t have too many lines (just yet) but have started to notice my face becoming puffier and big bags/puffiness under my eyes 😫it looks terrible.
I’ve decided on a skincare overhaul…any experts out there to tell me if I’m making the right choices?
I've now started using a Nivea cream cleanser for sensitive skin at night with s Nivea night cream and then Tretoin a few times a week. In the water I just use water to clean my face and then use Garnier Vitamin C illuminating moisturiser, followed by a tinted bb type cream with factor 50 in. If in direct sunlight (at the beach etc) I use sunblock factor 50 on my face)
Should I add an eye cream in too at night?
Can my skin be saved/rejuvenated?
What do you all do/use and at what age?

OP posts:
gwrachod · 04/04/2023 23:11

I only use water and a flannel on my face most days. Gentle soap occasionally if I look grubby!

No moisturiser, no routine, no make up. I'm nearly 50.

My skin is aging a little, as it should be, but most people think I'm quite a bit younger than I am.

Just saying, no one has yet managed to convince me that this stuff makes a difference.

If it did, surely I should look like a wrinkled old prune by now?!

But I don't.

sharingiscaringnow · 04/04/2023 23:18

Remembering to take cod liver oil does wonders for my eye bags and skin generally. Far more than any cream I put on it.

Moonshine5 · 04/04/2023 23:18

*Dove is not a soap

Original poster
insaneinthemembrane77 · 04/04/2023 23:18

How does it mess up your DNA 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
insaneinthemembrane77 · 04/04/2023 23:20

I don’t drink these days, haven’t really for around 5 years

The puffy under eyes and above them is the worst, I never had it before, my eyes are so dry. No idea what’s causing this but this is the worst part

OP posts:
Wtfishappeningnow · 04/04/2023 23:22

I put Vaseline on my eyes before bed. Helps a lot

Original poster
insaneinthemembrane77 · 04/04/2023 23:25

@Wtfishappeningnow Helps with puffiness? Do you put it under the eyes?

OP posts:
WhatsitWiggle · 04/04/2023 23:27

I'd add in hyaluronic acid, it helps keep moisture in the skin, apply before your moisturiser, morning and night.

I'm using Superdrug products, mainly Me+, as I wanted to see if I could keep up a regime before spending £££.

I use a cream cleanser at night, micellar water in the morning. Retinol 0.1% at night (every other night) glycolic acid toner in the morning. Caffeine eye cream, spritz of Vitamin E spray, the Hyaluronic acid then my moisturiser which is L'Oréal Skin Expert Collagen.

I've been doing it about 4 weeks now. I've noticed my pigmentation has reduced, fine lines are less noticeable and dark circles have reduced too. I'm 48. My skin is so smooth, I had lots of little bumps before that have gone.

Original poster
insaneinthemembrane77 · 04/04/2023 23:33

@WhatsitWiggle Whats the difference between using a cream cleanser and micellar water?
Do I still need the H acid when using the Tret? It seems a lot

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 04/04/2023 23:42

@insaneinthemembrane77 Grab a copy of the Caroline Hirons book about skincare.

There are lots of various chemicals which work brilliantly but you need the right ones.

I’m 45 and owing to genes have no wrinkles (mixed ethnicity) but I have redness, some scarring and an acne prone.

My skin looks better now than it was in my 20s owing to the skincare I use and it’s not all expensive.

Work out what it is you want to improve (texture/radiance/scarring etc) and go from there.

I use salycylic acid in a cleanser for acne, glycolic at night in a toner for brightness and niacinamide for pores and redness.

WhatNextNowForDS · 04/04/2023 23:44

That superdrug collagen cream in the shiny blue box - optimum? - is said to be botox in a box!

WhatsitWiggle · 04/04/2023 23:46

I use the cream cleanser at night because of removing make up, whereas in the morning I just want to freshen up so I prefer the lighter micellar water.

Hyaluronic acid isn't harsh on your skin like a vitamin A product (retinol / tret). It's moisturising so if your skin is dry then it's good to use both. Mine was about £5 from Superdrug.

FetlocksBlowing · 04/04/2023 23:53

I misguidedly took a selfie today and was not happy with my puffy/crinkly under eye area, nicely magnified by my glasses!

(Excuse the gloopy looking mascara)

Anyone got an eye cream recommendation? Exactly where and how do you apply your eye cream also 😊

Novatherova · 05/04/2023 00:25

ladyofshertonabbas · 04/04/2023 22:29

Not too late, loads you can do. The Ordinary will have products for you, inc caffeine eye cream. Maybe a lighter cream around the eyes- Simple brand?

think puffiness comes from within, sadly. Factors like exercise, diet, hydration, heating etc drying the eyes, sleep deprivation, booze. I’m puffy. I hate it. Heating being in less has helped.

Have you tried eye masks? X

Novatherova · 05/04/2023 00:51

Morning routine -

Wash face with cerave foam cleanser (has salicylic acid in) then tone with glycolic acid, then hyaluronic acid, niacimide acid, then moisturise.

Night routine - double cleanse with caravel, Rose toner, hyaluronic then niacimide, moisturiser.

Use ordinary red peel one per week, salicylic acid mask one per week (only use rose toner followed by hyaluronic and moisturiser.) Both masks night time, build up to 10 mins each. Red peel can sting, start with 3 mins then build slow to 10.

Also use eye masks (amazon do great ones that have gold in) few times per week. Reduces puffy eyes, dark circles etc.

I'm 38 so noticing eye lines will start using eye cream when I get round to it. And also retinol but scared to use that.

I get botox too.

Novatherova · 05/04/2023 00:53

FetlocksBlowing · 04/04/2023 23:53

I misguidedly took a selfie today and was not happy with my puffy/crinkly under eye area, nicely magnified by my glasses!

(Excuse the gloopy looking mascara)

Anyone got an eye cream recommendation? Exactly where and how do you apply your eye cream also 😊

I've got eye mask recommendations and just dot the eye cream under your eye in the crease and lightly pat it on. 5p size each eye is enough.

Novatherova · 05/04/2023 00:54

FetlocksBlowing · 04/04/2023 23:53

I misguidedly took a selfie today and was not happy with my puffy/crinkly under eye area, nicely magnified by my glasses!

(Excuse the gloopy looking mascara)

Anyone got an eye cream recommendation? Exactly where and how do you apply your eye cream also 😊

Goes on last too

DramaAlpaca · 05/04/2023 01:33

gwrachod · 04/04/2023 23:11

I only use water and a flannel on my face most days. Gentle soap occasionally if I look grubby!

No moisturiser, no routine, no make up. I'm nearly 50.

My skin is aging a little, as it should be, but most people think I'm quite a bit younger than I am.

Just saying, no one has yet managed to convince me that this stuff makes a difference.

If it did, surely I should look like a wrinkled old prune by now?!

But I don't.

Exactly the same here, and I'm almost 59. I'm very much about minimal skincare, literally all I do is SPF in summer. I have very few lines and I've been told I'm ageing well. The best thing I do for my skin is drink loads of water. I realise it's mostly genetic.

Stickly · 05/04/2023 02:17

I don't think I've seen anyone reccomend cerave cleanser to wash your face, i used to avoid cleansers as everything dried my skin but its lovely. I'm thinking you could try a facial roller or gua sha to reduce the puffiness.

MarshaMelrose · 05/04/2023 03:08

It's NEVER too late to start a good skin regimen. Nithing expensive required. A gentle cleanser, a nourishing serum, niacinimide, an emollient and occlusive moisturiser, tretinoin and spf 50.
Then experiment from there

Abcdefgh1234 · 05/04/2023 03:18

Cerave cleanser
corsx snail serum (korean product)
la roche posay cream
tretinoin (everynight)
spf everyday

i’m 34 and i start using tret when i was 30. Planning to have routine botox when i’m 40.

ladyofshertonabbas · 05/04/2023 06:40

@Novatherova not tried eye masks! Which are good?

Bottlesofhot · 05/04/2023 06:48

Can anyone recommend a good sun cream that isn't super oily for my face? Most sun creams make my skin break out in a bad way.

missfliss · 05/04/2023 06:49

insaneinthemembrane77 · 04/04/2023 23:20

I don’t drink these days, haven’t really for around 5 years

The puffy under eyes and above them is the worst, I never had it before, my eyes are so dry. No idea what’s causing this but this is the worst part

Peri menopause can cause dryness - particularly dry eyes.
Oestrogen could be your friend here.

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