To think face creams make no difference? Or am I using the wrong ones?!

[Happpp]

I’ve tried a lot. I still look old and haggard and the lines are still very much there (I know they won’t go entirely with a cream). I’m 42. What do people make of face creams?!

The biggest difference I’ve seen recently is using G15 from the Ordinary twice a day. My jowels and lines have improved.

I disagree somewhat. You can’t turn back time and the damage done completely, but you can certainly improve it. I didn’t start proper skin care until my mid 40’s.

My skin is good and I have hardly any lines at 58. It’s mainly genetics, my Dad was East Asian, so I’m mixed race. Plus being raised to not go in the sun a lot and always wear a hat. A mixed diet of Asian and English food plus being raised with hardly any cake, biscuits or puddings so never much sugar. I do wear a Clinique moisturiser with spf 40. I’m also allergic to all perfume. At my NHS medical as a teenager when I told the Dr I was allergic to make up he said women shouldn’t wear make up anyway as it ruins their skin.

Tretinoin is proven to help with everything from acne, texture to wrinkles.

Moisteriser doesn't need to be expensive, nor does cleanser.

It's the sandwich method. Both ends of your routine can be cheap as long as the middle bit has the core ingredients that are proven.

None of it is pricey though. Skin & Me for the Tret.

Learn whether your skin is dry or dehydrated (it can be both whilst still looking oily). That will help you decide what moisteriser you need.

I personally like to incorporate acids into my routine.

The most life changing product I have ever tried is Dr Dennis Gross Intensive Peel Pads.

Yes they are expensive, but I use one pad a week so they last forever. I cut one pad in half and then seal it back in the packet with a bobby pin. So one pad does me on a Sunday and a Thursday night.

Don't try these unless you are willing to keep going though, because you will become obsessed!!!!!!
I would sacrifice just about everything in my self care routine to have these.

(be careful if new to acids and tret. I still do one night on, one night off with actives. Actives are skincare with active ingredients that can cause irritation).

If all of these potions make skin look young why does anyone look over 40 ? Surely if they worked there wouldn't be a wrinkle to be seem on anyone.

Says a man! I love makeup and enjoy wearing it. Pretty sure it’s an extra layer of defence to pollution and sun.

Do you know if you can use the peel pads if you are using tretinoin? I thought I saw somewhere once not to use Tret with exfoliating acids but may have imagined that!

Isn't this only available on prescription? Do you have to go to a dermatologist?

I like a good vitamin C cream, I think it makes the world of difference to my skin.

Tropic super greens makes a massive difference to my skin - just need to remember to use it! 😊

I was always very skeptical of skincare routines but I started looking a bit haggard after children. I followed Caroline Hirons advice and my skin looks better than ever. Smooth, very rarely spots, fine lines look reduced. I felt that the improvements weren’t just visible when my best friend who I don’t see often asked what I’d done to my skin.

I use retinol and growth factors. Serum and a moisturising spray as a lot of my fine lines were caused by dehydration.

There is a good facebook group run by Caroline Hirons that gives lots of advice.

Can anyone recommend a a good moisturiser with spf? Budget up to about £25 max.

Me too, turns out my skin type was totally different to what I thought it was! With rosacea and flaky spots I was treating it with dry/sensitive products. I'm actually oily dehydrated (and sensitive!), discovered via Body Shop testing in my mid 40s.

I've had some success with gentle Korean skincare products containing ingredients such as centella. Cosrx snail mucin has been a game changer for me. It balances the oily T-zone and keeps more sensitive areas hydrated.

Haven't tried tretinoin yet but K Secret Retinal has helped with resurfacing and lines. Also while not cheap, Sunday Riley Good Genes helps my poor rosacea red nose when it gets a bit congested. And liberal factor 50 application every day - again, gentle water based Korean ones suit me best. Skin 1004 hyalu-cica goes on nicely in the morning.

My skin looks better at 48 than it did in my late 20s, so it's never too late 😊

You have to be very, very careful of your skin barrier.

This was my routine for 2 months.
Then I moved to one day on/one day off for actives.

Day 1 - Peel Pad/acid
Day 2 - No Actives
Day 3 - No Actives
Day 4 - Tret
Day 5 - No Actives
Day 6 - No Actives
Day 7 - Peel Pad/Acid
Day 8 - No Actives
Day 9 - No Actives
Day 10 - Tret
Day 11 - No Actives
Day 12 - No Actives
Day 13 - Peel Pad/Acids
Day 14 - No Actives
Day 15 - No Actives

I find that if I don't use any acids then I do get a bit of dullness and clogged pores still, even though the tret does help with that.

Many dermatologists say it is absolutely fine to use both as long as you start slow and listen to your skin. Peeling is normal when beginning tret, but if you are peeling then lay off the acids. Any burning or excessive redness, take a break etc.

Most people I know use both successfully, it just depends on the individual how long it takes to build them into regular use.

I have to do one day on and one day off or my skin gets irritated.

It's important to also be aware of fragrance and other irritants.

Vanicream is the best moisteriser I've found paired with actives.
I also double cleanse but I made sure my cleansers have no acids or things like it vit C.
I look for the words hydrating and soothing.

I used to really struggle with adult acne and huge pores, but my skin is clear, has a glow and is much more refined now. Unfortunately if I stop the peel pads then I notice within about a week 😭

I just use nivea q10 and some foundation mixed in

I find it does make me look better

If I don't use it people ask me if I am all right

i buy very cheap moisturizer and cleanser. IMO the most effective skin care are serums which you can tailor to exactly what you want. All moisturizer does is provide a barrier to help your skin retain moisture.

There are lots of online providers - Dermatica, skin and me.

I just cleanse, use spf and tret and my skin looks really good

Then you are using the wrong ones. The right products will definitely do something. However if you are just starting the anti aging products, they aren’t going to wipe off 10+years! You need to start in your 20s to preserve what you have and delay the onset of wrinkles, etc.

I’m a big fan of Byoma skincare - it’s reasonably priced and sorted out my seriously dry skin. It’s great on older skin. Their milky toner is fantastic, and they have a vegan micin serum that’s just magic.
the L’Oréal night serum is amazing but so pricey. I’ll try the Revolution Pro dupe when I run out.
The ESPA tri-active neck serum is incredible - smoothed out the crepiness in my neck and décolleté. I’ve just run out and it’s expensive but definitely saw results.

I'm 59. I started using tretinoin three years ago. I don't use it during the summer. I like Clarins and Shiseido moisturisers, but they're too expensive. There's no evidence that they're any better than a good functional moisturiser.

I don't want to look younger, but I do want to look good. I'm very happy with my current skincare. I will probably start using less expensive creams, as they're likely to be as good.

I've been using spf for 25 years and wear a hat in proper sun. I use the ordinary stuff and always moisturise. I don't at night though, because I don't like the feel of it. I tried retinol at night, but I go to bed at different times , so my routine is shit and I didn't stick to it.

My mum used olay her whole life. Her skin was better than mine, but:
Her job wasn't as intense
She rarely drank
She denied herself sugary things
She didn't go running.

I was hoping the sunbed and fag queens of my youth would be looking worse than me at our age, but that doesn't seem to have happened. I think a lot really depends on genetics and how elastic your skin is.

My jaw is quite close to my neck, so I'm going to jowl quite badly.

Oh, and hormones. I can do absolutely nothing different but my skin will suddenly turn to shit for a while.... then it's fine again.

Avoiding the sun is the key to youthful skin. I live in Australia (but grew up in the UK) and am shocked at the age of the people around me that grew up here.

This is mine at 42 (forehead!)
Smoked for 20 years, used tret for 5 years and sun avoider