What should I be using on my skin?

[SausageSmuggler]

I've wasted so much money on stuff that doesn't work and my skin really gets me down some days I think I need some non biased recommendations.

I'm 25, my skin is very oily and spot prone but I do get the occasional dry, flaky patch especially in Winter - annoyingly the dry patches often appear in the oily areas. It can also look dull and uneven at times just to add to the fun.

I saw a no 7 range for 25-35 that was anti ageing but do I really need that yet? I thought one benefit of having oily skin was that you don't get as many wrinkles when you get older. Also are ranges like clarins and clinique really worth the money? I don't mind spending more (within limits) if a product works but i'm getting frustrated with the stuff that doesn't.

Can anyone suggest anything?

I am 27 and for the last few years I have had spots around my period time, I have started taking agnus castus and vitamin B complex because it seems like a hormonal imbalance and these have helped others so I thought why not.

I have also starting using vichy Norma derma, face wash morning/evening followed by day or night moisturiser. I have seen a massive 100% improvement in my skin even over my period when it usually goes haywire. The norma derm doesn't dry my skin like others products I have tried and isn't as expensive.

Also started using bare escentuals make up ( thanks to MN) it wasn't great at first due to the dry patches around healing spots but now it's great, covers scars and is still there in the evening when I get home after 11 hours at work. Even passed the meadow hall shopping challenge when everything else would melt from the oily patches but gather around dry ones (yuck)

If the spots are hormonal then topical creams/washes will only go so far is what I have found, but touch wood I have finally found something that works.

Unscented dove soap and a muslin to cleanse and a Olay day and night cream, the basic ones, not the ant-aging?

Liz earle really sorted my skin out, you can buy small travel sizes, the cleanser is a must i use it just at night followed by the clinique toner, and the liz earle moisturiser if my skin feels it needs it, in the morning i just sweep toner over my face, then moisturise, it did feel odd not washing my face in the morning. Bare minerals makeup made a real difference too.