What should I be doing for my skin/appearance? Pictures included.

[NomenOmen]

I have - I think - decent enough skin, or at least decent enough that I don't wear foundation, and only occasionally - if I can be bothered, or remember - slap on a bit of tinted moisturiser. I almost never wear any makeup, largely through laziness and lack of habit.

But I have wondered if I am deluding myself in this...

Now, without being brutal, could you please tell me what you think...

From peering at my somewhat equine mug in the mirror, I can see that, on close inspection, the pores on my forehead, on my chin, on my nose (though I don't suffer particularly from blackheads), and on my cheeks by my nose are visible. From a distance, I don't think they are too visible or offensive. I also have some fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead.

I've tried to show all of this in my pictures, although I took them with the camera on my computer, so the quality is not great.

I cleanse, tone, and moisturise (and add SPF) each morning, and at night, with a variety of products, depending on my mood (I've got some Clarins, No7, Dermalogica, Elemis on the go at the moment).

What does the Style and Beauty jury think? If you were me, what would you do? I'm not particularly interested in starting to wear makeup, but I am keen to know if there are things I could do to improve my skin.

Thanks in advance.

I can't advise you as rubbish but give it a wee while and our new resident proclaimed by us the mnetters beauty guru Mrsmartin will hopefully be along to give you the benefit of her wisdom

I think you look great. Pores are pores and not bad things, they have some how been made into undesirable things as another marketing ploy by makers of expensive lotions and potions.

Thanks, Quiet.

You're kind, valium, though I think I look more axe-murderer in the photos, than great... Yes, I tend to agree with you about the wiles of the cosmetics/marketing industry. But I am interested to know whether there is a product which would have a beneficial effect on my appearance, so that I don't have to wear foundation/makeup to enhance myself, if you see what I mean.

Pores are actually completely normal, They aren't doors that open and close.
Natural skin isn't even in tone and it does have imperfections. Its what makes us all unique.

Your skincare routine is fine, Maybe a little too much product imo.

Stick with moisturising and a good cleanser - you're obviously doing something right!

If you want something to give you a bit of 'soft focus' then Bare Mineral's Mineral Veil is good.

It depends how you want to look, if you are happy make up free then I think that's great, personally at 36 I often cba to wear make up, but if I put on concealer, blusher and mascara, I am much happier with how I look in the mirror.

Your skin itself looks good to me, pores do get more noticable as you get older.

But then according to 'new resident proclaimed by us the mnetters beauty guru Mrsmartin' I am disgusting for not removing the hair on my forearms, so what do I know?

Who is this mrs martin and why is she telling you that you are disgusting?

Who actually removes hair form their forearms? I don't know anyone in RL that does that

Do you exfoliate?
I am doing home peels, with bottles of salycilyc acid that I bought off eBay. Is helping with pores, spots and oily skin.
If you don't fancy that boots bo 7 microdermabrasion cream is food too.

I love my hairy forearms. Sign of strentgh

@ your name, smeggyDicks (too much Red Dwarf in my yoof). Yes, I know that pores are normal, but I believe that some things you do can alter their appearance in a more aesthetically pleasing way than others. I'm not too bothered about uneven tone or imperfections - as I've said, I don't bother to wear makeup/foundation. But I am keen to maximise my natural appearance, if that makes sense.

Thanks for the Mineral Veil suggestion, valium, I'll take a look in JL next time I'm in.

I do know someone that removes the hair from her forearms but she has severe hirsuitism from her PCOS and thick dark hair, so fair enough. Don't know anyone else who would bother.

OP - do you wear glasses? Just asking because of that darker line running down both cheeks from the upper part of your nose - looks like glasses have dug in there or something.

Cripes, WildThings. If hairy forearms are a crime, then I'm doomed. I definitely could not be bothered to defuzz my arms, nor my thighs, where the hair is fine and blond and basically invisible, so who cares?!

Sixty - yes. And I use that No7 LE rip-off with a muslin, which is exfoliating.

The rest of you looks fine, btw.

From your pics I think your skin looks great. I tend only to wear eye make up and no foundation and I agree with valium on the pores thing.

My new approach is to work with what I've got. I know I will never have what is deemed 'perfect skin' by airbrushed adverts and celebs who have a make up artist spending hours on their look. So therefore i don't scrutinise myself in the mirror too much or worry about it as yet!

I have stupidly sensitive skin so stick to a basic routine and make sure I exfoliate and twice a week use this, it is my new best buy as it really does leave my skin smoother.

Those are my dark shadows, Thumbwitch - combination of lack of sleep and hereditary factors, I think. They are quite bad , but again, I am typically too lazy to cover them, though I do own a Bobbi Brown dark shadow concealer wotzit so I should dig it out.

PEEPO by Lily Lolo is very good and doesn't look like you are wearing it - cheap too!

Thanks, Optimus. Yes, I think I share your philosophy. I don't want to be, nor could be (ho ho), perfect, but I do want to be the natural best I can be.

My skin is boringly insensitive. I can use just about anything or nothing. I can go weeks without doing anything, and my skin looks just the same as when I religiously c, t, and m for weeks. In fact, I only c, t, and m and all the rest as a kind of superstitious investment for the future, just in case it pays off...

Thanks for the recommendation, valium. Peepo seems very reasonably priced. I might buy some. Just have to remember to use it...

Use a TINY amount of the Peepo and don't be put off by its yellow colour which is a bit alarming at first. You just sort of dab it on and it counteracts the blue in your skin.

Oh, and thanks for the Dermalogica mask suggestion, Optimus. I quite like Dermalogica, so I'll have a go.

Ok, valium, cheers.

I can't see any lines on you at all I wouldn't over complicate your routine as it looks to be working.
But then what do I know, I have hairy forearms

wherethewildthings you were told it was disgusting not to shave the hair on your forearms I have never shaved mine in my life and never ever intend to,god just the legs are too much sometimes in the winter,my dd 12 has insisted on shaving her legs all the way up,I told her she was mad as I don't do above the knee,does this make me a lazy old bag still even if I am I have no intention of ever starting

I love the fact that this place ISN'T 'bout 'gurus', it's just about mnetters and their own experiences... that's precising WHY i love it in fact! :)

I think you've got great skin Nomenomen, it looks clear and healthy and you sound like you have refreshingly healthy attitude to aging and to you looks one that I would do well to emulate