Dull,dull skin! What works?-I want so much to glow!

[dropinthe]

Even after giving up smoking over 2 months ago I still have got the dullest skin in the world.Have tried facials,exfoliating,flash balms,night cream but still look like a teenager on drugs!(am A respectable housewife of 36 not a spotty teenager1)
Any suggestion???

How much water do you drink a day?

i have estee lauder illuminating lotion and boots do a pump tube which had liquid and bronzing pearls.when you pump the stuff out the pearls break up and give a lovely healthy appearance on skin. both really good ive found

Not enough and KNOW that this is a solution but have trouble drinking much more than a litre a day!

s/m-do they act like a fake tanner?

drinking water is the best thing for my skin plus vitamins (loads of C) - also have you read about the 3 day diet that helps your skin by Perricconne -- basically a low carb, high salmon diet that is fab... my skin looked great after I did it... you need to make sure you are getting loads of essential fatty acids in diet..

Am not! What about supplements-any that work like Imedeen?

And excercise.

no not really. the estee lauder one just gives a pearly glow. i found one in superdrug the other day - there own brand vitamin e lotions and stuff and they do illuminating lotion too. only cost £1.99 a tube whereas EL one costs about 20 quid a bottle. (although has lasted ages)!!
so i now use the cheap one for work and the expensive one for weekend and evenings

dropinthe, I think it takes a good while for improvements in your skin to show.

The exfoliating every day has been the thing that's improved mine, as well the regular cleansing and moisturising routine, drinking more water etc. Not all exfoliating products are ok for every day - I use dermalogica's daily microfoliant - I've had it for about 4 months, used religiously every day (boring I know), but it has made a big difference.

imdeen is way expensive from what I can see are just fairly ordinary vitamins... I would go for a good vitamin with extra EFAs... then force yourself to up the water and stick to strict skincare regime... my friend has just started using something from Space NK called Freeze (meant to be like Botox) and she looks amazing.... going to buy some for me!!

Skin works from the inside out - good diet and LOTS of water is the best option.

L'Oreal microdermabrasion really works for me, It does work and with teh £5 off voucher at boots (spend £10 get a £5 skincare voucher) it is just £8.99. Water is teh other thing, but it will take at least 3 or 4 months to renew all your skin after teh smoke effects

Space NK-expensive!Superdrug-NOT! Will increase the water and the EPA's-havent got an exfoliator I could use daily-only weekly as have the T zone problem!
Exercise-I wish!

AND congratulations on giving up smoking! Good on you!

crunchie -- bought the micrderm stuff 2 months ago and forgetten to use it... on your recommendation now off to try it!!

Cheers Hunker-am v pleased with myself-can breathe much better but obviously the oxygen isnt getting through to my skin!

liz earle cleanse and polish makess your skin really glow you get it from qvc

ermmm, pregnancy?

I use liz earle now (as recommended by mumsnet a couple of months ago) and it is fantastic! If you order off their website they send freebies too - their skin brightening stuff is good too. I have had loads of comments about general glowingness since starting using it. I do also drink 3 litres of water a day as well though......

LOL Flum-had two of those-quite enough thank you!
Liz Earle-v expensive????

3 litres a day? Must be pissing like an elephant?

It's about £40 for cleanser and cloth, toner stuff and moisturiser. Lasts a long time. Has worked out cheaper than Clinique which I used to use.

Lol re: elephant. Your body gets used to it _ i don't go any more ofetn than most people